Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

{"title":"Fermentation-induced enrichment of phenolics and volatile compounds modulates phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of Dorstenia convexa root and Monodora myristica seed","authors":"Pengren Zou,&nbsp;Honória S. Chipaca-Domingos,&nbsp;Emilio Rosales,&nbsp;Ángeles Sanromán,&nbsp;Hui Cao,&nbsp;Paz Otero,&nbsp;Jesus Simal-Gandara","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated how microbial fermentation modulates the release, biotransformation, and functional properties of phytochemicals in two underutilized spices, <em>Dorstenia convexa</em> root and <em>Monodora myristica</em> seed. Methanol extract yields of plants were increased after fermentation by <em>Aspergillus oryzae</em> and <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em>, while <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> caused them to decrease. Fermentation with <em>Aspergillus oryzae, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum,</em> and <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> at optimal days increased total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC, TFC) of unfermented <em>Dorstenia convexa</em> root (24.01 mg GAE/g dw, 8.38 mg Rutin/g dw) by 17.58%, 12.59%, 2.54% for TPC, 20.56%, 28.43%, 19.20% for TFC, respectively. Additionally, they raised the TPC and TFC of unfermented <em>Monodora myristica</em> seed (6.71 mg GAE/g dw, 4.08 mg Rutin/g dw) by 31.19%, 34.97%, 6.62%, 52.67%, 58.10%, 39.91%, respectively. LC–MS/MS analysis revealed that fermentation enriched polymethylated flavonoids and promoted polyphenol biotransformation, including the hydrolysis of flavonoid glycosides into aglycones and the interconversion of phenolic acids. GC-MS profiles demonstrated substantial changes of volatile organic compounds under the identification threshold, with fermentation mainly modulating esters, alcohols, coumarins, and terpenoids, depending on microbial strain and plant matrix. Fermented plant extracts showed significantly enhanced antioxidant capacities, but exhibited a minor increase (≤2 mm) in the inhibition zones against <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Bacillus cereus</em>. Notably, <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> fermentation markedly improved pancreatic lipase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities of plant extracts, while <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> made them stronger in α-amylase inhibition. Overall, these findings provide instructive insights to transform phytochemicals using different fermentation strategies for improving their nutritional value.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103070"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends, advancements, and challenges in climate-smart agriculture: An umbrella review","authors":"Ruchie Pathak,&nbsp;Nicholas R. Magliocca","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was introduced in 2010 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to help maintain the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of farming operations under changing climatic conditions. Since its introduction, CSA has received global recognition, with many nations incorporating its principles into their national policies. Extensive literature evaluates the benefits and effectiveness of agricultural practices in achieving CSA goals and documents the various factors that influence their adoption on farms. However, CSA has also been repeatedly contested, as scholars and experts worldwide have raised concerns about a lack of conceptual clarity, the prioritization of technological solutions, and the neglect of social, financial, and policy measures. Given CSA's rapid development over the past decade, an umbrella review of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of how CSA has been conceptualized and studied in the scientific literature and to identify remaining gaps to inform future research efforts. The findings reveal inconsistencies in its interpretation; confusion about what constitutes a climate-smart practice or technology; and a tendency to reinforce a sustainable intensification-oriented framing of CSA, as the current scientific discourse pays little attention to farmers, their livelihoods and needs, and other actors and aspects of agriculture. Research needs to go beyond assessing individual agricultural practices or technologies and their effectiveness in meeting CSA goals. Instead, greater emphasis should be placed on participatory approaches that engage diverse stakeholders to co-produce solutions aligned with farmers' needs and prevailing challenges, while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103088"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The physicochemical properties, and post-fermentation prebiotic properties of the type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis modified with salvianolic acid B","authors":"Rongting Min,&nbsp;Aji Li,&nbsp;Houxier Li,&nbsp;Li Yang,&nbsp;Nan Zhang,&nbsp;Jiahui Wu,&nbsp;Xiang Wang,&nbsp;Lei Li,&nbsp;Maochun Xiao,&nbsp;Shiyao Su,&nbsp;Mengling Yang,&nbsp;Jingmei Wang,&nbsp;Zhiqiu Yang,&nbsp;Miaomiao Chang,&nbsp;Xueyong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salvianolic acid B (SA) has significant regulatory effects on glucolipid metabolism. Combining SA with resistant starch endowed this type of starch with unique functional properties. This study represents the first direct complexation between SA and <em>Canna edulis</em> type 3 resistant starch (RS3). The findings indicated that SA has a beneficial effect on the physicochemical and prebiotic properties of RS3. SA and RS3 form a complex via non-covalent interactions, thereby increasing the crystalline and gelatinization temperatures. The ¹H NMR spectrum exhibited aromatic ring signals and increased hydroxyl signal intensity. Concurrently, the solubility of SA-RS3 decreased after composite formation, while the expansion, water absorption index and resistant starch content (59.40%) increased markedly. Fermentation analysis revealed decreases in pH and increases in reducing sugar content, <em>in vitro</em> antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic activity. Interestingly, SA-RS3 substantially increased the relative abundance of the <em>Firmicutes</em> and <em>Actinomycetes</em> phyla, promoted the proliferation of the beneficial bacterium <em>Bifidobacterium</em>, inhibited the growth of <em>Klebsiella</em> and <em>Sutterella</em>, and increased the content of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. This indicates that SA confers antioxidant properties while retaining the prebiotic properties of raw RS3. Consequently, SA-RS3 demonstrates potential for blood glucose regulation and exhibits <em>in vitro</em> prebiotic properties, offering a novel direction for the development of RS3-type functional foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103063"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LC-MS/MS profile of free and bound (poly)phenols and antioxidants in five temperate grassland forages","authors":"Sarah E. Kearney,&nbsp;Nigel P. Brunton,&nbsp;Raquel Cama-Moncunill,&nbsp;Frank J. Monahan,&nbsp;Peter G. Dunne,&nbsp;Dilip K. Rai","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grassland forages are naturally rich in phytochemicals such as (poly)phenols and terpenoids, yet most studies to date have focused on easily liberated, abundant compounds, thus overlooking less abundant and cell wall-bound phytochemicals. As a result, species-specific (poly)phenol profiles in common grassland forages remain poorly characterised. This study addresses that gap by profiling the (poly)phenolic and antioxidant content in free and bound fractions of five temperate forage species: plantain (<em>Plantago lanceolata</em>), timothy (<em>Phleum pratense</em>), chicory (<em>Cichorium intybus</em>), white clover (<em>Trifolium repens</em>), and red clover (<em>Trifolium pratense</em>). Plantain exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (26.98 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoid content (TFC) (17.08 mg QE/g DW), while chicory showed the greatest ABTS^•+ activity (18.46 mg TE/g DW), and white clover showed the highest FRAP activity (25.86 mg TE/g DW). LC-MS/MS revealed substantial phytochemical diversity. In total, 58 distinct (poly)phenols were identified, including several compounds not previously reported in these forage species. Leguminous plants (red clover and white clover) possessed the highest number of quantifiable (poly)phenols (≥22 compounds), compared with ≤16 in the non-leguminous forage species. Principal component analysis (PCA) distinguished species-specific (poly)phenolic markers: cyanidin in red clover, chicoric acid in chicory, protocatechuic acid in timothy, caffeic acid in plantain, and catechin derivatives in white clover. These species-specific phytochemical fingerprints provide a practical basis for forage authentication and indicate that grassland forages are a novel reservoir of naturally sourced antioxidants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103087"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity and ethnobotanical value of Syrian Apiaceae: Integrating taxonomic insights with food, medicinal, and agrobiodiversity perspectives","authors":"Aline Batch,&nbsp;Nizar Issa,&nbsp;Khaled Mawardi,&nbsp;Abdel Aleem Bello","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Apiaceae family is distinguished by remarkable taxonomic diversity and chemical richness, making it a key component of global plant biodiversity. Syria represents an important center of Apiaceae diversity, encompassing numerous endemic and underutilized species of high ecological and ethnobotanical significance. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of wild and cultivated Syrian Apiaceae species, emphasizing their distribution, taxonomic diversity, traditional uses in food and medicine, and conservation priorities. A systematic review of 145 published sources was conducted using international databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science). Data on species nomenclature, plant parts used, preparation methods, ethnobotanical applications, and geographic distribution were compiled following the Plants of the World Online classification. Statistical analyses (HCA/UPGMA) using SPSS identified patterns of ethnobotanical similarity among species based on documented medicinal and dietary use categories. In total, 56 Apiaceae species were identified across 42 genera, 91% of which belong to the subfamily Apioideae. Wild medicinal plants constituted 81% of the recorded taxa; however, only 16 species were actively used for medicinal or culinary purposes, while 22 remained unexploited. Cultivated species represented 13%, and introduced taxa 7%. Leaves and aerial parts (21%), seeds (20%), and roots (18%) were the most frequently used organs, primarily in decoctions and infusions. Seven species were regionally endemic, and three <em>Ferula hermonis</em>, <em>Ferulago cassia</em>, and <em>Johrenia dichotoma</em> were identified as high-priority taxa for conservation. This review highlights the exceptional diversity of Syrian Apiaceae and recommends enhancing the cultivation, domestication, and sustainable use of medicinal and wild taxa for their nutritional value and potential ethnomedicinal applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103094"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canopy management combined with ethylene application enhances acidity and phenolic accumulation of Marselan grapes in Ningxia","authors":"Li Chen,&nbsp;Yueyuan Li,&nbsp;Shuiyan Pan,&nbsp;Weijie Gu,&nbsp;Wanping Li,&nbsp;Keqin Chen,&nbsp;Yulin Fang,&nbsp;Kekun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Warm climate in Ningxia wine region commonly triggers excessive sugar accumulation, low organic acid and inadequate secondary metabolite synthesis in Marselan grapes, deteriorating grape and wine quality. This two-year field trial was carried out to explore whether combined canopy height management and ethephon spraying could balance berry sugar-acid composition and promote phenolic accumulation. Three canopy heights (0.9, 1.2, 1.5 m) and two ethephon concentrations (300, 600 mg/L) were set with single and combined treatments. Results indicate that all three canopy height treatments reduced sugar content and increased acid content in grape fruit. Fruit treated with ethylene exhibited higher total phenolic content. Compared with control, independent 1.2 m canopy cut soluble sugar by 10%–11% and elevated titratable acid by 13%–14%. Single 300 mg/L ethephon increased berry total phenolics by 10%-23% and total anthocyanins by 10%–17%. The combination of 1.2 m canopy plus 300 mg/L ethephon reduced fruit sugar-acid ratio by around 14%, and increased total phenolics, tannins and flavanols by 11%–46%; meanwhile, contents of multiple monomeric anthocyanins and phenolic compounds in finished wine were significantly improved. In conclusion, 1.2 m canopy matched with 300 mg/L ethephon is an effective cultivation strategy to fix high-sugar low-acid problems and enhance phenolic richness for warm-climate Marselan production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103108"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feedlot diets improve yak meat quality by altering rumen microbiota and metabolic pathways","authors":"Xixi Yao,&nbsp;Tahmina Kausar,&nbsp;Wei Wang,&nbsp;Chengti Xu,&nbsp;Haodong Liu,&nbsp;Anum Ali Ahmad,&nbsp;Metha Wanapat,&nbsp;Rabia Tahir,&nbsp;Yanfu Bai,&nbsp;Abraham Allan Degen","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103083","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past two decades, the effects of feeding systems on ruminant meat quality have been widely recognized, yet the mechanisms linking diet, rumen microbiota, metabolites, and muscle composition remain insufficiently understood. This study compared feedlot feeding (FDL) and traditional grazing (GRZ) systems in yaks (<em>Bos grunniens</em>) to identify microbial and metabolic features associated with improved meat quality traits. Twelve yaks with similar initial body weight were evaluated for growth performance, carcass traits, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle characteristics, rumen bacterial composition, and metabolomic profiles. Compared with GRZ yaks, FDL yaks showed greater average daily gain, carcass weight, net meat weight, eye muscle area, essential amino acid (EAA) content, and n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio by 63.5 %, 37.3 %, 8.3 %, 21.8 %, 37.3 %, and 30.6 %, respectively. FDL also improved meat tenderness while altering fatty acid balance. Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial phyla in both groups. At the genus level, <em>Christensenellaceae_R-7</em>, <em>Ruminococcus</em>, and <em>Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20</em> were more characteristic of FDL yaks, whereas <em>Prevotellaceae_UCG-003</em> and <em>Rikenellaceae_RC9</em> were more abundant in GRZ yaks. Correlation analysis showed that rumen bacterial taxa were associated with fat deposition, meat color, EAA content, and fiber degradation-related traits.Metabolomic analysis showed that lysoPC(24:1(15Z)), crocin, and related lipid metabolites were enriched in FDL yaks, whereas carotenoid and chlorophyll derivatives were greater in GRZ than FDL yaks. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway (KEGG pathway) analysis indicated enrichment of lipid metabolism pathways in feedlot yaks. This study identifies microbial taxa and metabolites as potential targets for nutritional intervention, providing mechanistic insights and practical strategies to optimize yak feeding systems and improve the industrial and nutritional value of high-altitude yak meat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103083"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of polysaccharide charge characteristics and molecular architectures on the gel properties and in vitro digestibility of heat-induced sesame protein gels","authors":"You-Ke Wang,&nbsp;Fei-Yang Wu,&nbsp;Yu-Chen Ji,&nbsp;Ren-Hang Diao,&nbsp;Hua-Min Liu,&nbsp;Yuan-Qing Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated how polysaccharides with distinct charge characteristics and molecular architecture modulate the heat-induced gelation behavior and in vitro digestibility of sesame protein (SP). Six representative polysaccharides, including guar gum (GU), locust bean gum (LBG), high-acyl gellan gum (GG), gum arabic (GA), κ-carrageenan (KC), and xanthan gum (XG), were incorporated into SP, and the resulting composite heat-induced gels were evaluated for their gel properties, microstructure, and digestibility. Among the tested polysaccharides, linear anionic polysaccharides with rigid helical conformations, KC and GG, formed the densest and most continuous gel networks. These systems exhibited significantly enhanced viscoelasticity, increased water-holding capacity (WHC) by 34.8–36.8%, and reduced water mobility. These improvements were accompanied by increases in surface hydrophobicity (7.4–8.5%), β-sheet content (37.0–40.7%), and crystallinity index (182.1–201.8%). Such structural modifications restricted enzymatic access, reducing gastric and intestinal digestibility by up to 40.9% and 18.6%, respectively. In contrast, the branched anionic polysaccharide XG and the neutral flexible polysaccharides GU/LBG formed relatively weak, heterogeneous, and porous networks, resulting in only modest improvements in gel properties. Notably, GA, characterized by low negative charge density and high branching, acted antagonistically by hindering gel formation and reducing WHC by up to 37.8%, with negligible effects on digestibility. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the charge characteristics and chain architecture of polysaccharides are critical determinants of SP gelation and digestion behavior. Tailoring these structural features offers a promising strategy for designing sesame protein-based gels with tunable texture and digestibility for applications in structured foods and controlled-release delivery systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103101"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148408663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural characteristics of Acanthopanax Senticosus polysaccharides and their improvement of cognitive impairment in mice","authors":"Yue Jiang,&nbsp;Siqi Liu,&nbsp;Xing Liu,&nbsp;Weiwei Tang,&nbsp;Baohe Sun,&nbsp;Yanyan Wang,&nbsp;Xiaoliang Li,&nbsp;Hong Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study characterized the main polysaccharide fractions of <em>Acanthopanax senticosus</em> and evaluated the bioactivity of the crude polysaccharides to provide a basis for subsequent structure-activity relationship studies of purified components. Three polysaccharides (ASPS-Ⅰ, ASPS-Ⅱ, and ASPS-Ⅲ) isolated from <em>Acanthopanax senticosus.</em> The molecular weight of ASPS-I was determined to be 1.84 × 10⁴ Da, and it was primarily composed of four types of glycosyl residues: T-Glc, 1,6-Glc, 1,4-Glcp, and 1,2-Fruf. ASPS-Ⅱ exhibited a molecular weight of 1.54 × 10⁵ Da and consisted of six glycosyl residues: 1,3-Araf, T-Glcp, 1,5-Araf, 1,4-Glcp, 1,6-Galp, and 1,3,6-Galp. The molecular weight of ASPS-Ⅲ was found to be 2.47 × 10⁵ Da, and its structure was mainly built from eight residues: T-Araf, 1,2-Rhap, 1,4-Rhap, T-Galp, 1,2,4-Rhap, 1,3-Araf, 1,3-Galp, and 1,3,6-Galp. ASPS can significantly improve the cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice. ASPS can improve hippocampal neuron damage and reduce oxidative stress levels. Moreover, ASPS significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of ASK1, p38MAPK, and Aβ, and reduced the protein expression ratios of ASK1/p-ASK1, p38MAPK/p-p38MAPK, and Aβ in the hippocampal tissues. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in ASPS-fed mice. In conclusion, the present results reveal that ASPS ameliorates learning and memory deficits, as well as alleviates pathological damage in the hippocampus of AD-like mice. These effects are accompanied by correlated alterations in the ASK1-p38MAPK signaling pathway and the composition of gut microbiota. The findings provide a hypothetical basis for further mechanistic research, while a direct causal relationship cannot be confirmed based on current data. The results show that ASPS has the potential to be a functional food or natural product for reducing cognitive impairment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103086"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148477020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Film mulching improves reproductive-stage water–nitrogen coupling and yield of rainfed winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) under optimized nitrogen input","authors":"Zijun Tang,&nbsp;Binxiang Qian,&nbsp;Tao Sun,&nbsp;Xueyan Zhang,&nbsp;Zhijun Li,&nbsp;Fucang Zhang,&nbsp;Youzhen Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mulching and nitrogen (N) management are widely used to improve crop productivity in rainfed drylands, but their combined effects on stage-resolved water–N coordination remain insufficiently quantified. A three-season field experiment was conducted on rainfed winter oilseed rape (<em>Brassica napus</em> L.) on the Loess Plateau in China. Three mulching treatments—no mulching (NM), straw mulching (SM), and film mulching (FM)—were combined with five N rates: N0, 0 kg N ha⁻¹; N1, 70 kg N ha⁻¹; N2, 140 kg N ha⁻¹; N3, 210 kg N ha⁻¹; and N4, 280 kg N ha⁻¹. The growing season was divided into phenology-based windows to quantify stage evapotranspiration (Δ<em>ET</em>), aboveground plant N uptake increments (Δ<em>N</em>_{<em>uptake</em>}), and water–N coupling efficiency (<em>WNCE</em>). Seasonal dynamics were evaluated using Logistic cumulative curves, and the process-to-outcome pathway from water–nitrogen coupling to yield formation was examined using standardized path analysis. Compared with NM, FM increased seed yield and water productivity, while seasonal <em>ET</em> changed only modestly. The improvement was mainly associated with enhanced reproductive-stage <em>WNCE</em> and increased aboveground N accumulation during yield-sensitive windows. Model-derived rate curves indicated that FM reduced the temporal gap between <em>ET</em> and Δ<em>N</em>_{<em>uptake</em>} peaks around flowering. Standardized path analysis further suggested that yield improvement was mainly associated with the <em>N</em>_{<em>uptake</em>}-mediated pathway rather than a direct <em>ET</em> pathway. Under the present experimental conditions, FM combined with 210 kg N ha⁻¹ (FMN3) was the best-performing treatment, achieving near-maximum seed yield with 25% less N input than N4. These findings indicate that coordinating mulching and N input can strengthen the reproductive-stage water–nitrogen coupling pathway in rainfed winter oilseed rape, although the broader sustainability of film mulching requires further evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 103085"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148476627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}