Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

{"title":"Phenolic acids and grain protein content in wheat landraces and cultivars under zero nitrogen supply","authors":"Barbara Laddomada,&nbsp;Domenica Nigro,&nbsp;Raffaella De Cicco,&nbsp;Gabriella Sonnante,&nbsp;Giacomo Mangini","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phenolic acids are the primary phenolic compounds in wheat with significant health-promoting benefits. Understanding the influence of nitrogen (N) supply on phenolic acid content in wheat genetic resources is crucial to ensure high grain quality under sustainable agricultural systems. In this study, 29 durum and bread wheat landraces and cultivars were grown under two different N levels (0 and 80 kg N ha⁻¹) over two years. Phenolic acid accumulation and grain protein content (GPC) were evaluated in relation to yield components. Results showed a strong N level × year interaction for both grain yield and quality traits. A significant increase in GPC was observed at higher N supply both in durum and bread wheat across the two years. At N0, compensatory effects were detected for grain yield per spike and thousand-kernel weight. The six major phenolic acids, typically identified in wheat, were quantified. Among these, ferulic acid was the most abundant, showing a slight increase under N0. Correlation analyses showed negative relationships of phenolic acids and GPC with yield components, suggesting a trade-off between primary growth and secondary metabolite production. By applying ferulic acid and grain protein deviation indices, we identified durum and common wheat genotypes, especially landraces and old cultivars, retaining high phenolic acids and GPC under N0 conditions. Overall, these results suggest that wheat landraces and old cultivars could be a valuable choice for cultivation in low-N input, in view of more sustainable agricultural systems, especially in marginal areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103221"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148771506","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 impacts of violent conflict on smallholder agriculture: A scoping review","authors":"Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin,&nbsp;Caitriona Dowd,&nbsp;Irene Isele Anetor,&nbsp;Adegbenga Emmanuel Adekoya","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Violent conflict poses a significant threat to smallholder agriculture globally, undermining food security, livelihoods, and rural development, yet a robust synthesis of its specific impacts remains elusive. This scoping review addresses this gap, asking: How do the impacts of distinct violent conflict types and dynamics vary within and across different smallholder agriculture systems? The review is based on a comprehensive search of Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for the period 2000-2024, for which 85 studies met inclusion criteria. We come to four key findings: First, specific types and dynamics of violent conflict are relatively rarely analysed in depth, although there is more focus on civil conflicts than other types, and reasonably strong evidence that violent conflicts in which food systems and resources are targeted have particularly detrimental effects on smallholder agriculture. Second, production systems are most vulnerable to violent conflict when characterised by a high level of reliance on monoculture, external inputs, insecure land tenure and limited access to water and associated infrastructure, although reliance on long-standing practices that have traditionally been more diverse poses risks in highly dynamic and rapidly changing conflict environments. Third, we find contradictory evidence on commercialisation's role, with broad consensus that highly market-dependent models are particularly vulnerable, but a lack of clarity on which levels of commercialisation are desirable. Finally, a complex picture emerges in relation to household characteristics, whereby some features – such as limited labour resources – are widely considered to render households more vulnerable, while other research emphasises smallholders' agency, highlighting how adaptability through diversified incomes or shifts in production strategies can mitigate risk factors. We synthesise these findings and their implications for future research, policy and practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103205"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148771633","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":"Wheat variety dominates Nong-flavor Daqu functionality over compression parameters: A quantitative framework linking crop traits to fermentation starter quality","authors":"Hongshen Wan,&nbsp;Yanling Jin,&nbsp;Shu Bao,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Yuling Zhang,&nbsp;Yue Lu,&nbsp;Pan Ma,&nbsp;Yifan Heyang,&nbsp;Peixun Liu,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Ren,&nbsp;Lianquan Zhang,&nbsp;Hai Zhao,&nbsp;Wuyun Yang,&nbsp;Zhuolin Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wheat variety and compression parameters critically determine Nong-flavor (NF) Daqu functionality, yet their relative contributions remain poorly understood. This study investigated how wheat biochemical traits and processing parameters influence microbial assembly and enzymatic functionality in this traditional Chinese liquor starter. Three wheat varieties with different end-use quality were processed into Daqu bricks under 33 combinations of compression pressure, duration, and loading weight, with full replication enabling rigorous statistical analysis. Variance partitioning revealed that wheat variety exerted a stronger influence (partial η² = 0.890) than compression parameters on Daqu functionality. Weak-gluten Chuanmai93 (CM93) yielded Daqu with superior sensory scores (38.9 vs. 26.2 for CM39) and approximately 17 % higher saccharifying power (724 vs 618 mg/g·h), concomitant with enrichment of the functional fungus <em>Thermomyces</em> (44.6 % relative abundance). This was likely attributed to higher native enzyme activities (e.g., α-galactosidase, α-amylase, arabinanase, β-1,3-glucanase), starch content, and farinograph quality. Conversely, strong-gluten CM39 promoted protein-degrading microbes, possibly correlating with inferior sensory. Hierarchical clustering revealed that bacterial communities exhibited strong variety-dependent segregation, whereas fungal communities were more influenced by processing parameters. Critical compression thresholds were identified at 6.0 kN (approximately ∼47<strong>–</strong>87 % below peak hydrolase activities at other pressures) and 5.0 kg loading (∼37<strong>–</strong>169 % above minima at other loadings), revealing non-linear microbial responses to physical processing parameters. Network analysis (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) suggested that starch/farinograph promoted beneficial microbes (<em>Thermomyces</em>, <em>Pantoea</em>) and sensory outcomes, whereas protein/hardness drove detrimental proteolysis. Weak-gluten CM93 enabled stable, high-quality Daqu production at lower energy input (6 kN/5 s/4.5 kg). Among all two-way interactions tested, only the variety × pressure term reached significance, affecting merely 11.5 % of properties and indicating largely independent effects of variety and compression parameters. These findings establish a quantitative framework linking wheat biochemical traits to fermentation starter functionality, providing data-driven guidance for optimizing Daqu quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103177"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148644970","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":"System-dependent methane mitigation from forage quality: A three-level meta-analysis of trade-offs between emissions, digestibility, and productivity in ruminant systems","authors":"Ibrahim Osman,&nbsp;Hou Xiangyang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enteric methane emissions from ruminant livestock are a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the effectiveness of forage-based mitigation strategies remains uncertain because of variability in dietary responses across production systems. This study quantified the effects of forage nutritional quality on enteric methane emissions and evaluated the associated trade-offs between emissions, digestibility, and productivity. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using 232 comparisons from 27 experimental studies. Methane responses were standardized using methane production expressed as mL CH₄/g dry matter. Moderators’ analyses evaluated the influence of forage quality parameters such as NDF, DMD, ADF, CP and fermentation characteristics.</div><div>Effect sizes were estimated using the log response ratio (lnRR) and Hedges’ g. Moderator analyses examined relationships among forage composition, fermentation characteristics, and methane production. Forage-quality interventions reduced methane emissions by an average of 8.47% (lnRR = −0.0885; 95% CI: −0.1343 to −0.0428; p = 0.0017), although very high heterogeneity (I² = 90.4%) indicates substantial context dependence. Structural fibre fractions were associated with lower methane emissions, whereas higher digestibility was associated with increased methane production, demonstrating trade-offs between fermentation efficiency and methanogenesis. Methane mitigation and digestibility responses were further shown to be decoupled, indicating that environmental and productivity outcomes are not inherently aligned. Given the predominance of <em>in vitro</em> evidence (92%), extrapolation to farm-scale conditions remains uncertain and should be interpreted cautiously. Overall, forage-based strategies provide a context-dependent but moderate methane mitigation pathway whose effectiveness depends on balancing emissions reduction with feed intake, productivity, and overall system efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of system-level optimization of forage strategies to achieve simultaneous environmental and production benefits in ruminant livestock systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103173"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645288","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":"Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus improves salt tolerance in walnut and is associated with the candidate gene JrPRMT10","authors":"Xu Zheng,&nbsp;Ao Li,&nbsp;Ruining Nie,&nbsp;Xinying Ji,&nbsp;Chengxu Wu,&nbsp;Jiali Tang,&nbsp;Junpei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress is a major abiotic constraint that limits the growth and productivity of woody oil-producing trees such as walnut (<em>Juglans regia</em> L.). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), important beneficial soil microorganisms, have been shown to enhance plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses, including drought and salinity, in walnut and other woody species. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying AMF-mediated salt tolerance in walnut remain largely unclear. In this study, seedlings of walnut (<em>Juglans regia</em> L. ‘Wen 185’) were inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus <em>Funneliformis mosseae</em> (Fm) and subjected to NaCl stress to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which AMF alleviates salt-induced damage. Our results showed that AMF inoculation significantly alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress by promoting the accumulation of osmoregulatory substances, including soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD), and improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. Additionally, AMF inoculation helped maintain the dynamic balance of endogenous hormones, including auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA₃), and abscisic acid (ABA), thereby contributing to enhanced salt tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Further analysis of the protein arginine methyltransferase (<em>JrPRMT</em>) gene family indicated that several members were associated with plant hormone homeostasis. Among these genes, <em>JrPRMT10</em> showed a notable association with hormone-related changes under salt stress conditions. To explore its potential function, <em>JrPRMT10</em> was heterologously expressed in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> to evaluate its role in plant salt stress responses. Under NaCl stress, the <em>JrPRMT10</em>-overexpressing line (<em>OE-3</em>) exhibited a 52% reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with the wild-type control. Moreover, soluble sugar (SS) content significantly increased in all three transgenic lines under salt stress, indicating improved osmotic adjustment capacity. Overall, this study integrates physiological and transcriptomic analyses to provide new insights into the mechanisms by which AMF improves salt tolerance in walnut and highlights <em>JrPRMT10</em> as a candidate gene associated with hormonal regulation under salt stress. Heterologous expression in <em>Arabidopsis</em> supports its salt tolerance function, though its specific role in AMF-dependent regulation requires further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103134"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645291","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 irrigation regimes on starch structure and physicochemical properties of water-saving and drought-resistance rice","authors":"Yang Wang,&nbsp;Danping Hou,&nbsp;Kun Liu,&nbsp;Li Ma,&nbsp;Juncai Li,&nbsp;Dahu Chen,&nbsp;Jinsong Tan,&nbsp;Qingyu Bi,&nbsp;Shi Zhang,&nbsp;LiuQing Yang,&nbsp;AnNing Zhang,&nbsp;Yi Liu,&nbsp;Junguo Bi,&nbsp;Lijun Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice production in water-limited regions is increasingly constrained by drought and water-saving irrigation practices, which can compromise grain yield and quality by altering starch structure and functionality. The starch-structural basis underlying cultivar differences in yield and quality stability under different irrigation remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated and analyzed changes in grain starch structure, physicochemical properties, and grain yield and quality in two varieties, the water-saving and drought-resistance rice cultivar Hanyou 116 (HY116) and the drought-sensitive rice cultivar Xieheyou 836 (XHY836) grown under five levels of irrigation volume. The results showed that drought stress significantly reduced grain yield, head rice rate, starch content, and pasting properties in both cultivars, and altered starch chain length distribution and crystallinity. Compared with XHY836, HY116 consistently exhibited higher yield stability, better milling and appearance quality, smaller increases in retrogradation and digestibility, and smaller changes in starch structure regardless of irrigation. By maintaining a relatively stable starch chain length distribution and crystalline structure, HY116 showed an enhanced resilience of starch physicochemical properties under different irrigation levels, demonstrating superior quality stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103155"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658946","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":"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in raw milk from milk vending machines in Switzerland","authors":"Thomas Paravicini,&nbsp;Corinna Kürbis,&nbsp;Anne Jahnke,&nbsp;Anja Lueth,&nbsp;Roger Stephan","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants that can enter the human food chain mainly via food of animal origin. The present study investigated the occurrence of PFAS in raw milk obtained from milk vending machines across Switzerland and evaluated the results in the context of existing guideline values and available national and international data. A total of 87 raw milk samples were collected between June and October 2025 from ten Swiss cantons and analysed for 30 PFAS using LC-MS/MS. Among all analysed PFAS, only perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was detected at concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ; 10 pg/g). The majority of samples showed PFOS concentrations below the LOQ, indicating generally low PFAS contamination in raw milk. Exceedances of the indicative level of 20 pg/g (commission recommendation (EU) 2022/1431, 2022) were observed in 7 samples (8%), with a clear regional clustering. PFOS concentrations in samples exceeding the indicative level ranged from 54 to 419 pg/g, with a median concentration of 147 pg/g. These values were substantially higher than those reported in the Swiss Nationale Kampagne 2025. In conclusion, raw milk from vending machines in Switzerland generally shows low PFAS contamination; however, the occurrence of regionally confined PFOS hotspots with markedly elevated concentrations underscores the need for targeted investigations and follow-up monitoring. These findings contribute to a more differentiated assessment of PFAS exposure through raw milk and support the importance of region-specific surveillance strategies in direct-marketing food systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103179"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658947","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":"Metabolic profiling of tea quality-related metabolites reveals optimal harvesting positions for Apocynum venetum and Apocynum pictum tea production","authors":"Yu Zhao,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Zhu,&nbsp;Yating Xiao,&nbsp;Zihan Yao,&nbsp;Leyan Guo,&nbsp;Wanqing Dong,&nbsp;Jiaqi Ju,&nbsp;Yifeng Xu,&nbsp;Zhenguo Shen,&nbsp;Li Jiang,&nbsp;Nana Su","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Apocynum</em> tea is a well-known traditional medicinal and edible herbal tea in China, with <em>Apocynum venetum</em> and <em>Apocynum pictum</em> as its two dominant commercial botanical origins. Currently, the widespread whole-plant harvesting practice in industrial production causes severe quality heterogeneity and poor batch consistency of raw materials. However, the spatial distribution patterns of tea quality-related metabolites across different branch and leaf positions in these two closely related species remain largely uncharacterized, lacking systematic comparative evidence. In this study, we employed untargeted metabolomics to profile the metabolite compositions of leaves from distinct branch hierarchies and leaf positions in both species. A total of 4425 metabolites were identified, among which 1081 are closely associated with tea quality formation. We further revealed the heterogeneous spatial accumulation of quality metabolites, identified core differential pathways (phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis), and defined the optimal harvesting positions for each species. This study provides a precise targeted harvesting strategy and solid scientific basis for the standardized production, quality control, and high-value utilization of <em>Apocynum</em> tea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103189"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148738527","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":"Enhancement of sensory quality of Yunnan Catimor coffee beans by anaerobic fermentation: An integrated analysis of microbial diversity, sequencing, metabolomics, and volatile profiling","authors":"Ying Xiao,&nbsp;Bin Sun,&nbsp;Siyuan Yu,&nbsp;Feng Jiang,&nbsp;Ling Yu,&nbsp;Xiaocong He,&nbsp;Shiyu Chen,&nbsp;Meina Zhao,&nbsp;Lei Sun,&nbsp;Chunhua Wang,&nbsp;Jiangtao Tian,&nbsp;Yiming Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study used microbial gene sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and volatile component analysis to examine the impact of anaerobic pretreated sun-drying processing (APSDP) on the quality of Yunnan Catimor coffee beans. The findings demonstrated that APSDP significantly altered the microbial community structure of coffee beans, leading to the pronounced increase in the relative abundances of key bacterial species such as <em>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</em> and <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em>, as well as fungi such as <em>Lachancea lanzarotensis</em> and <em>Hanseniaspora_uvarum</em>. It also significantly increased the contents of organic acids (lactic acid and acetic acid) in green beans and regulated metabolites (terpenoids, and phenolic acid, carbohydrate, and amino acid derivatives) and enhanced the accumulation of volatile compounds in roasted beans, including esters (γ-butyrolactone, ethyl lactate, isoamyl acetate) and aromatic compounds (phenylacetaldehyde). Sensory evaluation further demonstrated that APSDP significantly enhanced winey, fruity, and floral attributes, and improved the overall flavor profile. These sensory enhancements were strongly linked to increased accumulation of metabolites and key flavor-related compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103147"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148739302","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":"Late-stage potassium reduction combined with controlled atmosphere preserves postharvest quality of chicory and mizuna baby-leaf","authors":"Michela Palumbo,&nbsp;Massimiliano D'Imperio,&nbsp;Lucia Bonelli,&nbsp;Vittorio Capozzi,&nbsp;Vito Linsalata,&nbsp;Nicola De Simone,&nbsp;Maria Lucia Valeria de Chiara,&nbsp;Bernardo Pace,&nbsp;Francesco Serio,&nbsp;Maria Cefola","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mineral nutrition management in soilless cultivation systems is a promising strategy for producing ‘tailored’ vegetables with specific nutritional profiles. This study investigated the effect of reducing potassium (K) in the nutrient solution and controlled atmosphere during the postharvest storage on the quality and shelf-life of chicory (<em>Cichorium intybus</em> L.) and mizuna (<em>Brassica rapa</em> L. var. nipposinica) baby-leaf. Three K-treatments were compared: a control (K₂₀₀: 200 mg/L K), a constant reduction (K₅₀: 50 mg/L K), and a late-stage reduction (K_50-7d: K₂₀₀ replaced with K₅₀ seven days before harvest). The results showed that K reduction did not significantly affect crop yield in either species. The K₅₀ treatment achieved the greatest K reduction in plant tissue (up to 65 % in mizuna), but also led to a decrease in dry matter and total phenols. Conversely, the K50-7d strategy reduced the K content by 19 % in chicory (from 556 to 447 mg/100 g fresh weight -FW) and by 32 % in miuzna (from 727 to 496 mg/100 g FW), while better preserving the dry matter content with a value comparable to the control (K₂₀₀). During the postharvest phase, storage in controlled atmosphere (CA, 10.0/20.0 kPa O₂/CO₂ in nitrogen) showed better performance than air storage in preserving visual quality for 7 days. Specifically, the K_50-7d treatment showed better cell membrane integrity, as evidenced by lower electrolyte leakage, and delayed senescence, with lower ammonia accumulation and higher colour retention. In conclusion, combining the K_50-7d strategy with CA storage provides an effective agronomic solution for producing low-K baby-leaf vegetables for patients with chronic kidney disease, while maintaining high quality and commercial standards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 103188"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148739303","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}