Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

{"title":"Screening of indigenous endophytic diversity of Chickpea for multifunctional PGP traits under changing climatic conditions","authors":"Nikita Kumari ,&nbsp;Kailash Chand Kumawat ,&nbsp;Adhi Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present investigation was carried out to exploit diverse endophytic bacteria from Chickpea. 65 endophytic bacteria were isolated from different tissue samples (leaf, stem, root, and nodules) of Chickpeas. All were tested for IAA production, phosphate, and zinc solubilization. Maximum growth response for salt tolerance was observed in isolate CCN2 (0.95) followed by NKS2 (0.90) at a salinity level of 8 dS m⁻¹. Similarly, in the drought tolerance, maximum growth was recorded with CKN3 followed by NKN2 at 7.5 % PEG-6000 concentration. Significantly high (p &lt; 0.05) production of IAA was shown by root endophytic <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. PCR4 (65.98 μg ml⁻¹) followed by <em>Bacillus</em> sp. NCR3 (60.90 μg ml⁻¹). Significantly, high P-solubilization was observed in <em>Bacillus</em> sp. NKL4 (18.26 μg ml⁻¹) followed by <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. PCS3 (16.94 μg ml⁻¹). <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. (PCS-1) possesses the highest zinc solubilization index for zinc phosphate (2.34), whereas the zinc carbonate solubilization index was highest in <em>Rhizobium</em> sp. CCN4 (2.3). Out of 65 endophytic bacteria isolates, 47.69 %, 44.61 %, 15.38 %, and 66.66 % produced cellulase, protease enzymes, HCN, and fluorescence pigmentation, respectively. Maximum percent growth inhibition was recorded with <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. (67.80 %) followed by <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. (53.57 %) against <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em>. Out of 65, five endophytic bacterial isolates were selected based on multifunctional PGP traits, salt, drought tolerance, and antagonistic activities for traditional bioassays for triple response. The <em>Bacillus</em> sp. NKL2 and NKL1 produced the highest total fresh weight (1.55 and 1.42 folds), total dry matter (1.93 and 1.81 folds), and salt tolerance index (1.94 and 1.81) in the conventional triple response bioassay compared to the uninoculated control at the 8 dS m⁻¹ salinity level. This study showed that three <em>Bacillus</em> spp. (NKL2, NKL1 and NCS1), one <em>Pseudomonas</em> spp. (PCS1) and one <em>Rhizobium</em> spp. (CCN4) were most promising according to PGP characteristics, stress tolerance, antagonistic activities, and classical triple cross-test assay. Therefore, considering such salt-tolerant, mineral-solubilizing potential indigenous endophytic bacterial isolates for producing bio-inoculants could be an eco-friendly innovation for climate-smart agriculture under abiotic and biotic stress challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102075"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low pH-assisted hydrothermal extraction approach to recover bioactive compounds from date seeds for their potential application in emulsion stabilization","authors":"Anuj Niroula,&nbsp;Latifa Alblooshi,&nbsp;Mariam Alalawi,&nbsp;Ahmad Rabbani,&nbsp;Sajid Maqsood,&nbsp;Akmal Nazir","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Date seeds, a major byproduct of the date palm industry, despite recent attempts at valorization, yet remain an underexploited economic resource. This study evaluated whether date seeds can be valorized by low pH-assisted hydrothermal extraction to yield date seed extract (DSE) that is rich in bioactive compounds and capable of stabilizing emulsions. Using an I-optimal design, the effects of extraction time (30–150 min), temperature (30–50 °C), pH (1–6), and date seed concentration (DSC, 5–25 %) were evaluated to maximize bioactive compounds in the extract evaluated as total polyphenol content (TPC) and minimize Sauter mean diameter (<em>D</em>[3,2]) of emulsion. All parameters significantly influenced TPC and D[3,2], with time and temperature positively impacting both. The effects of pH and DSC followed quadratic trends, with optimal values balancing bioactive release and emulsion droplet size. The predictive response surface models effectively captured these trends, enabling process optimization. Emulsions stabilized with optimized DSE exhibited good storage stability under neutral to mildly acidic conditions, however, their stability decreased with increasing salt concentrations. These findings support the potential valorization of date seeds by low pH-assisted hydrothermal extraction to recover bioactive compounds as well as to stabilize emulsions. Further studies are recommended to improve salt stability and expand functional applications of DSE-stabilized emulsions in complex food or pharmaceutical systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102078"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144254479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biostimulants-induced improvements in pea-barley intercropping systems: A study of biomass and yield optimization under Ukrainian climatic conditions","authors":"Bohdan Mazurenko ,&nbsp;Md Nasir Hossain Sani ,&nbsp;Dmytro Litvinov ,&nbsp;Svitlana Kalenska ,&nbsp;Vitaliy Kovalenko ,&nbsp;Iryna Shpakovych ,&nbsp;Olena Pikovska ,&nbsp;Lyudmyla Gordienko ,&nbsp;Jean Wan Hong Yong ,&nbsp;Bhim Bahadur Ghaley ,&nbsp;Oksana Tonkha","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The challenge of enhancing crop yields sustainably is critical in modern agriculture. This study investigated the effectiveness of various biostimulants (extracts derived from insect frass, compost, humic material, seaweeds, and fish hydrolysate) on the yield of barley and peas in sole and intercropped systems. Results demonstrated that pea-barley intercrop delivered higher grain yields compared to pea or barley sole crops, with a maximum yield of 7.08 t/ha achieved using compost tea. Barley grain yields in pea-barley intercrop ranged from 4.72 to 5.57 t/ha with biostimulant applications compared to 4.39 t/ha without biostimulant (control) treatment. While pea sole cropping did not show significant yield improvements with biostimulants, intercropped pea yields increased significantly, with humus extract and compost tea enhancing yields by 61.9 % and 45.4 %, respectively. The application of biostimulants also increased the number and weight of seeds per spike in barley and the number of seeds per plant, seed weight per plant, and thousand seed weight in peas. Although intercropping resulted in fewer spikes compared to sole crops, barley produced more grain per spike, with the highest increase observed with seaweed extract. The stimulatory role of biostimulants is associated with their anti-stress action and rhizosphere stimulation for increased N-fixing activity explaining certain increases in productivity, and consequently in the yield of crops, especially in pea-barley intercrop where there is intense competition between species during the generative period of development. Furthermore, the overall land equivalent ratio (LER) for the pea-barley intercropping system was consistently above 1.0, indicating a consistent yield advantage over monoculture throughout the growing season. These findings indicate that biostimulants and intercropping synergistically enhance crop yields and biomass, promoting sustainable agricultural practices by optimizing resource use and minimizing chemical inputs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102074"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating source-sink coordination and pod-setting optimization: A field study on plant density effects for soybean productivity enhancement in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain","authors":"Lei Yang ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Chen ,&nbsp;Wenjun Jin ,&nbsp;Jie Zhou ,&nbsp;Yi Xu ,&nbsp;Ruixian Liu ,&nbsp;Wenwen Song ,&nbsp;Lingcong Kong ,&nbsp;Zhiping Huang ,&nbsp;Xiangbei Du","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increasing plant density (PD) has proven effective in maximizing yield worldwide, but the optimal PD for soybean production in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and its physiological mechanisms remain unclear. To address this gap, a two-year experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of six PDs (135,000, 180,000, 225,000, 270,000, 315,000, and 360,000 plants ha⁻¹) on plant characteristics, source parameters (leaf area index (LAI) and light interception rate (LIR)), sink traits (seed number and weight), pod-setting characteristics (seeds per pod and pod spatial distribution), and productivity. Results showed that as PD increased, individual-level relative productivity variation (RPV) decreased by 2.1% per additional 10,000 plants ha⁻¹, while population-level RPV and seed yield peaked at 315,000 plants ha⁻¹. This indicates that higher densities can offset declines in individual productivity up to 315,000 plants ha⁻¹, boosting total yield by 2.6% per additional 10,000 plants ha⁻¹, driven by increases in LAI (1.9%) and LIR (1.1%). Beyond 315,000 plants ha⁻¹, however, seeds per m² and 100-seed weight declined despite continued increases in plant height, LAI, and LIR, signaling a shift in photoassimilate allocation to stems and leaves at the expense of yield sinks. These findings highlight a transition from source-limited to sink-limited yield constraints as PD rises. Additionally, higher PD improved yield by increasing the proportions of 3-seed pod, middle-node pod, and main stem pod. Overall, 270,000 and 315,000 plants ha⁻¹ delivered the highest economic returns and seed yield, attributed to balanced individual and population productivity, optimized source-sink relationships, and improved pod-setting characteristics, making them the most suitable densities for regional soybean cultivation. This study offers new insights into the source-sink dynamics and pod-setting mechanisms under varying PDs and proposes a 22%–40% increase in PD over current standards (225,000 plants ha⁻¹) as an effective high-yield strategy to address the region's soybean production shortfall.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102070"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144213315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cimiciato defect detection in hazelnuts: CNN models applied on X-ray images","authors":"Andrea Vitale ,&nbsp;Matteo Giaccone ,&nbsp;Antonio Gaetano Napolitano ,&nbsp;Flavia de Benedetta ,&nbsp;Laura Gargiulo ,&nbsp;Giacomo Mele","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hazelnuts are a significant crop with an increasing importance, especially for confectionery industry. Insect damages affect hazelnut quality, requiring post-harvest selection based on industrial quality standards which often exceed official regulations. Currently used methods for identifying insect damages (cimiciato) often rely on visual inspection, external imaging or require destructive testing.</div><div>This study compared twelve different pretrained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures applied on hazelnut kernels X-ray radiographs for the automated detection of cimiciato defects.</div><div>Through an extensive training and validation process, followed by testing on a separate dataset, InceptionV3 architecture showed the best overall balance across all performance metrics, including accuracy, sensitivity, and precision, while Xception demonstrated superior specificity and the lowest false positive rate. Lightweight models such as SqueezeNet and ShuffleNet provided fast and resource-efficient training, though with moderate trade-offs in classification accuracy. In contrast, deeper architectures like Inception-ResNet-V2 and Xception, while computationally demanding, achieved greater robustness and generalization capability.</div><div>Our findings suggest that some CNN architectures combined with X-ray imaging could effectively be employed in a reliable and efficient non-destructive selection method for the hazelnut industry, potentially improving product quality control and minimizing losses associated with insect damages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102072"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144270129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of antagonistic yeasts for multi-purpose grape and wine protection: attraction for Drosophila suzukii in pre-harvest and bioprotection during red winemaking","authors":"Andrea Arpellino,&nbsp;Vasileios Englezos,&nbsp;Simone Giacosa,&nbsp;Paola Di Gianvito,&nbsp;Lorenzo Ferrero,&nbsp;Kalliopi Rantsiou,&nbsp;Luca Simone Cocolin,&nbsp;Davide Spadaro,&nbsp;Elena Gonella,&nbsp;Alberto Alma","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Drosophila suzukii</em> poses a significant threat to grape and wine production by directly damaging berries and promoting fungal infections. Several environmental and regulatory issues, together with the emergence of resistance phenomena, limit the feasibility of an extensive use of synthetic insecticides, making the search for sustainable alternatives crucial. Among these, attract-and-kill strategies using yeasts as baiting agents have been proposed. This study evaluated the attraction potential for <em>D. suzukii</em> of <em>Starmerella bacillaris</em>, previously reported to have antifungal activity against <em>Botrytis cinerea</em> and potential as a non-<em>Saccharomyces</em> starter in winemaking. The yeast attractivity was firstly compared with strains with recognized oenological and/or biocontrol activities, showing to be largely preferred, and then was tested for attraction after being sprayed on grapes, confirming the attractant effect on <em>D. suzukii</em> females. In addition, the oenological compatibility of the yeast was assessed by evaluating its effect on grape must fermentation and wine quality. <em>Starm. bacillaris</em> reduced the growth of the undesired yeast <em>Hanseniaspora uvarum</em> and enhanced wine color stability through improved anthocyanin preservation. Overall, the results highlight the potential for using <em>Starm. bacillaris</em> to develop an attract-and-kill protocol for managing <em>D. suzukii</em> during the preharvest period, while limiting the concurrent appearance of rotting agents and reducing the risk of compromising wine quality after harvest, paving the way for the design of <em>D. suzukii</em> control strategies that respect winemaking process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102067"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144230062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Production of single-cell protein by Candida Utilis and Komagataella Pastoris from enzymatically hydrolyzed defatted soybean meal","authors":"Rafi Anowar ,&nbsp;Ana Rita C. Morais","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defatted soybean meal (D-SBM), a byproduct of soybean oil production, offers high protein content but is limited in its effectiveness as feed to non-ruminant animals due to its indigestible carbohydrate fractions. This study investigates the performance of enzymatic hydrolysis of D-SBM to convert its carbohydrates into monomeric sugars, followed by their utilization as a carbon source to produce single-cell protein (SCP) using <em>Candida utilis</em> and <em>Komagataella pastoris</em>. Optimized enzymatic hydrolysis with 22 mg protein·g⁻¹ D-SBM of total enzyme loading achieved a total monomeric sugar yield of 33.0 ± 1.6 %. Cell propagation experiments demonstrated that <em>K. pastoris</em> and <em>C. utilis</em> utilized enzymatic hydrolysis-derived hexoses, namely glucose, as carbon sources. Both yeasts reached maximum growth rates between 2 and 8 h of cultivation, reaching maximum specific growth rates of 0.268 h⁻¹ and 0.177 h⁻¹, respectively. Single cell production was efficient, with yields of approximately 1.3 g protein·g⁻¹ of monomeric sugar consumed, resulting in SCP contents of approximately 41 % from both yeasts. Amino acid analysis revealed a significant improvement in lysine and methionine levels of 67 % and 52 %, respectively, in crude protein from <em>K. pastoris</em> relative to D-SBM.</div><div>This study highlights the potential of D-SBM as a sustainable feedstock for SCP production, providing an innovative approach to repurpose agricultural feedstocks into nutritionally higher quality protein. This transformation can potentially contribute to the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional animal protein sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102068"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In situ growth of β-galactosidase-manganese hybrid nanoflower on polycaprolactone/ xanthan electrospun nanofibers: A novel nanobiocatalyst for efficient lactose hydrolysis","authors":"Shaghayegh Sheikhzadeh,&nbsp;Mohammad Alizadeh Khaledabad,&nbsp;Hadi Almasi","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrolysis by β-galactosidase enzyme is an efficient and eco-friendly way to solve the problem of people with lactose intolerance. However, the activity reduction, instability, and high cost of β-galactosidase become the main limiting step for the practical application. In this study, a novel strategy was suggested to improve this condition. For this purpose, the β-galactosidase/manganese hybrid nanoflower was successfully grown on the polycaprolactone (PCL)/xanthan electrospun nanofiber scaffold to achieve a highly active nanocomposite for lactose hydrolysis. To optimize the immobilization efficiency and find the optimal enzymatic conditions, the effect of four independent variables: enzyme concentration (0.1–0.9 mg/mL), manganese concentration (0.2–0.8 M), incubation time (2–18 h), and incubation temperature (5–39 °C) were investigated using a central composite design. The optimal conditions were determined as a manganese concentration of 0.63 M, β-galactosidase concentration of 0.57 mg/mL, incubation time of 12.6 h, and an incubation temperature of 23.5 °C, which resulted in an immobilization efficiency of 94.87 % and enzymatic activity of 60.23 mM. FESEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, and TGA results confirmed the successful construction of manganese-based β-galactosidase hybrid nanoflowers on polycaprolactone/xanthan nanofibers. The optimum temperature and pH of the free enzyme were changed after immobilization. Immobilization caused a decrease in the K_m and an increase in the V_max. Also, nanoflower exhibited good stability and high reusability. Thus, the manganese hybrid nanoflowers on nanofibers are expected to be a promising support for biological molecule immobilization because of their hierarchical structures, high surface-to-volume ratio, easy separating, and excellent performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102058"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144213314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in the chemical composition, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of shrimp paste (Ka-pi) following in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion","authors":"Thanakorn Damsud ,&nbsp;Anantanit Chumsri ,&nbsp;Malinee Chinnanon ,&nbsp;Chalermkwan Ongmanee","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shrimp paste is a traditional fermented condiment made from shrimp, widely produced in southern Thailand, particularly in Trang Province. During digestion, its chemical composition undergoes significant changes. This study aimed to analyze how digestion affects the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and anti-diabetic properties of four shrimp paste samples (<em>ka-pi</em>) from different areas of Trang Province: Koh Kiam (Kp1), Koh Libong (Kp2), Had Yao (Kp3), and Tha Kham (Kp4). The physical and chemical characteristics of the samples were evaluated. Water content ranged from 38.24 to 48.25 %, while water activity (Aw) varied between 0.56 and 0.75. Salt concentration was measured at 6.78–10.65 %, and Brix content ranged from 7.40 % to 9.87 %. Nitrogen content was found to be between 6.22 % and 7.21 %. Among the samples, Kp4 had the highest protein content (49.21 %), followed by Kp2 (42.57 %), Kp3 (35.74 %), and Kp1 (34.24 %). Texture analysis showed firmness values between 1020.05 and 1473.21 g, toughness from 13,267.88 to 20,710.84 g s, and hardness ranging from 35.86 to 113.34 g. Simulated <em>in vitro</em> gastrointestinal digestion revealed notable alterations in the chemical composition, antioxidant properties (DPPH and ABTS), and <em>α</em>-glucosidase inhibitory activity (maltase and sucrase). All changes were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). The findings suggest that Trang shrimp paste retains its protein content and offers potential health benefits, making it a nutritious and flavorful seasoning choice for consumers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 102066"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of fruit trees in reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition security of rural households: A case study of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.","authors":"Fortunate Nosisa Zaca, Unity Chipfupa, Temitope Oluwaseun Ojo, Lavhelesani Rodney Managa, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Rob Slotow, Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101883","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite calls to increase fruit consumption, food and nutrition security strategies often overlook the inclusion of fruit trees in the rural food systems. Hence, this study investigated the role of fruit trees in reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition security among rural households in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Descriptive statistics, household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP), food consumption score (FSC), principal component analysis (PCA), and ordered logit model were used to analyze survey data from 305 households. The results showed that only 29.8% of the households were food secure, while the rest were either mildly (36.4%), moderately (27.9%), or severely (5.9%) food insecure. Moreover, 4.6% of the households consumed poor diets, 23.0% of the sampled households were at the borderline, and 72.5% consumed an acceptable diversity of food groups. The ordered logit model findings showed that growing fruit trees, consumption of wild fruits, household size, off-farm income, access to irrigation, access to training, livestock ownership, and psychological capital significantly influenced household food insecurity and nutrition security. The study recommends the implementation of awareness campaigns promoting the planting of fruit trees and the consumption of locally available wild fruits. There is a need for nutrition-related training programs and workshops to enhance awareness of the importance of growing and consuming fruits among rural households. The collective participation of the private sector, government, researchers, civil society organizations, policymakers, politicians, and farming rural households in building awareness is also recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"101883"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12144314/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144250004","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}