Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture最新文献

{"title":"Identification of 4-fluoro-2-nitroaniline and 4-fluorobenzene-1,2-diamine derivatives as new diverse antiglycation agents and enzyme inhibitors: in vitro, SAR, and in silico molecular docking studies","authors":"Said Al Ghawi,&nbsp;Ayoub Al Uwaisi,&nbsp;Abdul Wadood,&nbsp;Quazi M. I. Haq,&nbsp;Issa Al-Amri,&nbsp;Thuraya Al-Harthy,&nbsp;Ghulam Abbas,&nbsp;Raid J. Abdel-Jalil","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01024-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01024-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Discovery of multi-target therapeutic agents remains a popular approach towards identifying chemical scaffolds with biological relevance and for overcoming complex biological disorders. Fluorinated aromatic amines that contain nitrogen heterocycles are interesting targets for discovery as they can alter physicochemical properties that affect enzyme recognition and protein reactivity.In the present study, series of recently synthesized 4-fluoro-2-nitroaniline <b>4a-j</b> and 4-fluorobenzene-1,2-diamine <b>5a-j</b> derivatives were evaluated against the urease enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme and protein glycation to manage stomach ulcer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic complication, respectively. Moreover, structure–activity relationship (SAR) information was combined with molecular docking experiments to ascertain target selective structural requirements.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Among the twenty compounds tested against the urease enzyme, compounds <b>4a</b> and <b>5c</b> showed promising inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 40.42 ± 1.2 µM and 83.24 ± 1.5 µM, respectively. Against acetylcholinesterase enzyme compounds <b>5b</b> and <b>5j</b> exhibited significant inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 102.35 ± 1.0 µM and 123.52 ± 1.5 µM, respectively. Similarly, compounds <b>5g</b>, <b>5h</b> and <b>5i</b> depicted novel antiglycation activity with IC₅₀ values of &lt; 32.0 µM as compared to the rutin used as a standard inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 98.01 ± 1.5 µM. However, these derivatives showed no inhibition activity against the DPP-4 enzyme. SAR analysis of promising inhibitors was established. SAR studies indicated that the fluorinated aromatic scaffold forms a common structural platform for recognition whilst target selectivity is conferred by the terminal cyclic amine together with either the nitro or diamine group. Additionally, in silico molecular docking studies validated the SAR information by revealing stable interactions of these derivatives within the active sites of urease and acetylcholinesterase enzyme through H-bonds, π interactions and hydrophobic contacts. The docking results revealed that these compounds bind to the active site residues specifically, preventing the enzymes from performing their regular functions.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Fluorinated nitroaniline and benzene-1,2-diamine derivatives exhibited selective urease, acetylcholinesterase and anti-glycation activities. Compounds <b>4a</b>, <b>5b</b>, <b>5c</b>, <b>5g</b>, <b>5h</b> and <b>5i</b> were singled out as lead-worthy structures worth further development demonstrating the power of combining SAR and biological screening data with molecular docking simulations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01024-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential application of biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles as an anticontaminant agent in citrus micropropagation systems","authors":"Ghulam Zahara Jahangir,&nbsp;Asma Shahzad,&nbsp;Ayesha Naz,&nbsp;Anabia Shiraz,&nbsp;Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail,&nbsp;Hossam S. El-Beltagi,&nbsp;Saleh Mobarak Alturki,&nbsp;Mohamed J. Hajjar,&nbsp;Tarek A. Shalaby,&nbsp;Lamy Hamed,&nbsp;Ayesha Younas,&nbsp;Rehan Sadiq Shaikh,&nbsp;Sharifullah Sharifi","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01015-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01015-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained attention as antimicrobial agents in plant tissue culture to reduce microbial contamination. The present study aimed to investigate the plant-protective potential of green-synthesized AgNPs at optimized concentrations in citrus micropropagation media. AgNPs were synthesized using juice of <i>Citrus sinensis</i> through an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The optimized synthesis ratio for AgNPs was 1:4 (orange juice: 1% AgNO₃). UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a characteristic peak at 450 nm. Zetasizer analysis revealed a particle size of 100.2 ± 0.12 nm with a zeta potential of − 23.8 mV, indicating stability. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of silver (33.06%), while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed predominantly spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 37.41 nm. The antimicrobial efficacy of AgNPs was evaluated in the micropropagation media of three citrus species (<i>Citrus sinensis</i>, <i>Citrus reticulata</i>, and <i>Citrus micrantha</i>) at concentrations of 2, 3, and 5 ppm. Among the treatments, 3 ppm AgNPs effectively reduced microbial contamination and significantly enhanced plant growth parameters, including shoot length, root length, number of leaves, and chlorophyll content (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Gene expression analysis of the PP2A housekeeping gene showed no significant variation between treated and control plants under the tested conditions.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings suggest that green-synthesized AgNPs, particularly at an optimized concentration of 3 ppm, have potential as antimicrobial agents in citrus micropropagation systems under controlled in vitro conditions. However, these results are based on short-term experiments involving limited plant species, and further studies are required to evaluate long-term effects and broader applicability before generalizing their use.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01015-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of sodium nitroprusside applications on antioxidant defense system and oxidative stress in leaf and berry tissues of the ‘Horoz Karası’ grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)","authors":"İbrahim Samet Gökçen","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01021-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01021-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Nitric oxide (NO) has been widely recognized as a multifunctional signaling molecule in plants, participating in the regulation of growth, developmental transitions, and stress adaptation processes. Its involvement in modulating cellular redox homeostasis is considered one of the key mechanisms underlying these effects. In experimental studies, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is widely used as an exogenous NO donor, and several studies have reported a potential role of SNP in modulating antioxidant systems in different plant species. However, information regarding the temporal effects of repeated SNP applications under vineyard conditions and their integrated effect on leaf and grape berry antioxidant responses in grapevines remains limited.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Foliar SNP applications significantly modulated antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress indicators in the Horoz Karası grape variety. Among the tested concentrations, a 300 ppm SNP consistently resulted in the highest activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR), while effectively suppressing malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation in leaf tissues. The effects of SNP were more pronounced during the veraison and harvest periods than in the pre-veraison stage, indicating a stronger regulatory role under elevated metabolic activity. In grape berry tissues, SNP applications, particularly at 300 ppm, reduced MDA levels and promoted higher antioxidant enzyme activities, demonstrating a possible systemic leaf - grape berry interaction mediated by NO signaling.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Repeated foliar application of SNP effectively enhances the antioxidant defense capacity and limits oxidative damage in Horoz Karası grapevines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 300 ppm can be considered an effective dose for maintaining redox homeostasis in both leaf and grape berry tissues. These findings highlight the potential of NO-based applications as an environmentally friendly strategy to improve oxidative stress management and quality preservation in sustainable viticulture practices.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01021-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149034669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in the abundance of the fecal microbiota are implicated in the pathogenesis of diarrhea in yak calves","authors":"Yanbin Zhu,&nbsp;Xiangyan Wang,&nbsp;Youpeng Qi,&nbsp;Zhihao Luo,&nbsp;Changze Cui,&nbsp;Meixian Zhang,&nbsp;Bingang Shi,&nbsp;Jiang Hu,&nbsp;Wangdui Basang","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01016-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01016-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The yak, a species of considerable economic importance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, encounters a substantial challenge in the form of diarrhea during its calf stage. However, research on diarrhea in yak calves remains limited. Considering the strong association between diarrhea and intestinal microbiota, this study conducted an analysis of the fecal microbiota composition in both diarrheic and healthy yak calves. Additionally, a pseudo-germ-free (PGF) mouse model was employed to investigate the causes of diarrhea.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>This study elucidated the presence of microbial dysbiosis in diarrheic yak calves, marked by a significant enrichment of <i>Ruminococcus gnavus</i> (<i>R. gnavus</i>) and <i>Streptococcus</i>. An elevation in serum pro-inflammatory factors was observed in the diarrheic calves. Notably, the relative abundances of <i>R. gnavus</i> and <i>Streptococcus</i> exhibited a positive correlation with serum levels of IL-12p70 and KC/GRO. In PGF model, the anal infusion of fecal filtrate derived from diarrheic calves resulted in colonic damage and inflammation. KEGG pathway analysis indicated an enrichment of the inflammatory bowel disease pathway, with upregulation of transcription factors such as <i>TNF</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IL-1α</i>, <i>CXCL9</i>, <i>NOS2</i>, <i>STAT1</i>, <i>IRGM1</i>, <i>CXCL11</i>, <i>ISG15</i>, and <i>USP18</i> in the colonic mucosa of the D-FMT group (anal infusion of fecal filtrate from diarrheic yak calves). Metabolomic analysis identified 43 upregulated metabolites in the D-FMT group, predominantly associated with metabolic pathways and aldosterone synthesis and secretion. Importantly, Bisphenol AF in the colonic contents demonstrated a positive correlation with the transcription factors <i>TNF</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IL-1α</i>, <i>CXCL9</i>, and <i>NOS2</i>.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study identified <i>R. gnavus</i> and <i>Streptococcus</i> as potentially pathogenic bacteria contributing to diarrhea. Furthermore, Bisphenol AF was identified as a metabolite significantly elevated after FMT from diarrheic donors, which may be involved in colonic inflammatory signaling. These findings provide a foundation for the development of microbiota-based diagnostic tools or preventive strategies to address diarrhea in yak calves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01016-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of phosphate fertiliser application on soil fertility in maize-rapeseed rotation systems","authors":"Lifei Zhu,&nbsp;Zhi Jia,&nbsp;Li Wang,&nbsp;Jianchun Zhang,&nbsp;Lanlan Chen,&nbsp;Yin Yi,&nbsp;Ming Tang,&nbsp;Jing Tang,&nbsp;Jiyi Gong","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01019-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01019-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>In agricultural systems across southwest China, phosphorus (P) deficiency is a primary constraint on crop yields. This study examines interactions among nutrient dynamics, enzyme activity, and rhizosphere microbial communities in a maize-rapeseed rotation system to elucidate the effects of phosphorus fertilisation on soil fertility. The aim is to determine optimal fertilisation strategies for soils in phosphorus-deficient regions.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Field-based pot experiments simulating in situ conditions were conducted with varying P rates (maize: 0–225 kg·ha⁻¹; rapeseed: 0–135 kg·ha⁻¹). Soil properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial communities were analysed across growth stages using high-throughput sequencing and FAPROTAX functional prediction.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Phosphorus fertiliser application initially increased phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), which peaked at the P2 treatment and subsequently declined. Significant increases in soil total phosphorus and available phosphorus contents were observed (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), accompanied by soil acidification. Soil enzymatic activities were synchronously enhanced, with alkaline phosphatase and urease exhibiting significant responses across all growth stages. Phosphorus fertilisation significantly altered the Shannon diversity index of rhizosphere bacteria and drove community structural variation (ADONIS, <i>R</i>² = 0.441–0.625, <i>p</i> = 0.001). The dominant phyla were <i>Pseudomonadota</i>, <i>Acidobacteriota</i>, and <i>Actinobacteriota</i>. FAPROTAX functional prediction revealed that phosphorus fertilisation enriched potential microbial functions including chemoheterotrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, and nitrate reduction during the maize silking stage and across all growth stages of rapeseed.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Phosphorus fertiliser enhances soil fertility by improving nutrient availability, activating enzymes, and reshaping microbial communities. Optimal rates are 150 kg·ha⁻¹ (maize) and 90 kg·ha⁻¹ (rapeseed). Multi-site field validation is needed due to limitations in single-location pots.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01019-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrodistillation boosts the yield and bioactivity of cineole-rich EOs from Lavandula x allardii: an industrially promising hybrid lavender","authors":"Ali Jaber,&nbsp;Alia Khalil,&nbsp;Ahmad Houri,&nbsp;Rana Mourad,&nbsp;Lama Saadeh,&nbsp;Abdel Kader El Hajj,&nbsp;Nathalie Hayeck,&nbsp;Wissam Faour,&nbsp;Ali Yassin","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01014-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01014-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Lavender essential oils (EOs) are widely valued in perfumery, cosmetics, and therapeutics due to their bioactive monoterpenes. However, both plant genotype and extraction technique critically influence oil yield, chemical composition, and biological performance, thereby determining industrial value. Comparative investigations examining hydrodistillation versus steam distillation in certain hybrid lavenders remain limited. In this study, leaf EOs from <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> and the hybrid <i>Lavandula</i> × <i>allardii</i> cultivated in Lebanon were extracted via hydrodistillation and benchmarked against a commercially available EO, industrially produced via steam distillation, and sold in the European market to assess yield, composition, antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Hydrodistillation significantly enhanced EO yield, with fresh <i>L.</i> × <i>allardii</i> leaves producing &gt; 5% (w/w) oil, approximately eight-fold higher than <i>L. angustifolia</i>. GC–MS analysis revealed distinct chemotypes: hydrodistilled oils were rich in 1,8-cineole (~ 67–69%), whereas the commercial steam-distilled oil was dominated by linalool and linalyl acetate (~ 27% each) with &lt; 3% cineole. The cineole-rich oils exhibited superior ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), exceeding both the steam-distilled reference and ascorbic acid (<i>p</i> &lt; z0.05). In HT-29 colon cancer cells, hydrodistilled oils demonstrated stronger cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ ≈ 0.45–0.49 μL/mL) compared to the commercial lavender oil (IC₅₀≈ 1.5 μL/mL). Furthermore, in LPS-stimulated rat monocytes, they significantly reduced iNOS and COX-2 protein expression, confirming enhanced anti-inflammatory activity.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The marked compositional shift toward oxygenated monoterpenes, particularly 1,8-cineole, resulting from hydrodistillation appears to underlie the improved antioxidant and biological performance. Importantly, the use of fresh leaves of the hybrid <i>L.</i> × <i>allardii</i> revealed an underexploited biomass fraction capable of producing more than 5% EO, supporting a dual-use lavender production model in which flowers remain available for traditional distillation while leaves provide an additional source of cineole-rich bioactive oil. Valorization of leaf biomass therefore offers a sustainable and industrially relevant strategy for producing differentiated lavender essential oils tailored for cosmetic and therapeutic applications.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01014-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactic acid bacteria, corn straw and extruded corn straw enhanced nutritional quality: reshaping the microbiome to improve the silage fermentation of paper mulberry","authors":"Ningwei Wang,&nbsp;Mingxin Wu,&nbsp;Chunze Guo,&nbsp;Yanli Lin,&nbsp;Kuikui Ni,&nbsp;Xuekai Wang,&nbsp;Fuyu Yang","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01010-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01010-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Producing high-quality silage from fresh paper mulberry is challenging due to its elevated moisture levels, reduced amounts of water-soluble carbohydrates, and a scarce population of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This work evaluated the influence of corn straw (CS), extruded corn straw (ECS), and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (L) on nutrition preservation, fermentation performance, and bacterial communities structure in paper mulberry silage.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The impacts of corn straw and extruded corn straw, supplied alone or in combination with <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (CSL or ECSL), on fermentation efficiency and microbial ecology of paper mulberry silage were examined. After fermentation, all treated silages exhibited superior dry matter (DM) levels than the control (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). In particular, the 40%CSL and 40%ECSL treatments enhanced fermentation quality by lowering pH and ammonia-N concentrations while stimulating the accumulation of lactic and acetic acids (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Comparative community analyses revealed pronounced shifts in bacterial composition following additive application, with treated silages exhibiting microbial communities clearly differentiated from the control. At genus level, <i>Companilactobacillus</i>, <i>Levilactobacillus</i>, and <i>Paenibacillus</i> became the most dominant genera in 20%ECS, 40%ECS, and 40%ECSL, whereas <i>Companilactobacillus</i> and <i>Clostridium</i> predominated in the control. At species level, <i>Clostridium luticellarii</i> became the most dominant bacterium in the control. In contrast, <i>Companilactobacillus pabuli</i> and <i>Levilactobacillus namurensis</i> became the dominant bacteria in 40%CS, 20%CSL, 40%CSL, 20%ECS, and 20%ECSL while <i>Lactobacillus</i> sp. PFC-70 was dominant in 40%ECS and 40%ECSL. Correlation analysis showed that <i>Lactobacillus</i> sp. PFC-70 was positively associated with fermentation acid accumulation, whereas <i>Companilactobacillus pabuli</i> was liked to lower ammonium-N concentration. Collectively, these findings indicated that paper mulberry silage with addition of CS, ECS, or their combinations with <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> effectively promote desirable fermentation outcomes through reshaping bacterial ecological succession.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The incorporation of CS, ECS, and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> effectively promoted a more favorable fermentation pattern in paper mulberry, characterized by suppressed ammonia formation and enhanced lactic acid accumulation. These treatments inhibited undesirable bacteria and promoted beneficial fermentation. Overall, this combined strategy represents a practical and efficient approach to enhancing silage quality and utilization of agricultural by-products.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01010-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biofunctional chitosan–lignosulphonate nano-coacervates for sustained foliar delivery of Trichoderma harzianum (Th4d) and enhanced disease suppression","authors":"B. M. Sangeetha,&nbsp;K. S. V. P. Chandrika,&nbsp;R. D. Prasad,&nbsp;N. B. Bharati,&nbsp;K. V. Dinesh,&nbsp;V. Sowmya","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-00998-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-00998-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Encapsulation of biological control agents improves targeted delivery, stability, and sustained release, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in foliar disease management. Nanocarrier-based delivery systems using natural polymers provide an eco-friendly and economical alternative to chemical pesticides. The present study aimed to develop a nano-coacervate based delivery system for <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> (Th4d) using complex coacervation and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, storage stability, antifungal activity, and disease management efficiency.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>A chitosan–lignosulphonate nano-coacervate was successfully synthesized through a complex coacervation technique. The developed nano-coacervate exhibited semicrystalline characteristics with an average particle size of 43.33 nm. The particles ranged from spherical to oblong shapes with irregular surface topology. The formulation demonstrated high entrapment efficiency (99.4%) and provided sustained release of <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> spores. The encapsulated spores remained viable for up to six months, indicating good storage stability. In vitro studies showed significant inhibition of spore germination of foliar fungal pathogens. Pot culture experiments revealed that the nano-coacervate formulation significantly reduced the incidence of powdery mildew in sunflower and leaf spot disease in groundnut compared to untreated controls. Additionally, the formulation enhanced the persistence of <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> on the leaf surface for up to 15 days after spraying and induced systemic resistance responses in treated plants.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The developed chitosan–lignosulphonate nano-coacervate-based delivery system demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency, prolonged shelf life, sustained release, and improved antifungal efficacy of <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i>. The formulation enhanced phylloplane persistence and effectively reduced foliar disease incidence in crops. These findings suggest that the developed nano-coacervate system can serve as a promising and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional chemical fungicides for managing foliar plant diseases.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Graphical abstract</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-00998-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic carbon reallocation underpins silk elongation resilience during prolonged severe drought in maize","authors":"Yangyang Li,&nbsp;Jinrong Xu,&nbsp;Yi Yu,&nbsp;Ashley Jones,&nbsp;Ray Rose,&nbsp;Pengpeng Zhang,&nbsp;Youhong Song","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01018-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01018-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Drought stress during flowering severely restricts maize yield by impairing silk elongation, yet the metabolic mechanisms that sustain silk function under prolonged severe water deficit remain insufficiently resolved.</p><h3>Methods and results</h3><p>In this study, we combined physiological measurements with transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate severe drought-induced metabolic reprogramming in maize silks of two hybrids exhibiting contrasting drought responses. Severe drought caused pronounced inhibition of silk elongation accompanied by a reorganization of carbon metabolism, characterized by depletion of hexose pools and enhanced allocation toward osmotic adjustment and secondary metabolic pathways. Increased sucrose cleavage and trehalose accumulation supported osmotic stability, while phenylpropanoid metabolism was selectively redirected toward stress-associated intermediates despite coordinated repression of lignin polymerization genes. The drought-tolerant hybrid maintained a more balanced metabolic state, preserving partial growth capacity while activating protective pathways, whereas the sensitive hybrid exhibited an intensified defense-oriented response at the expense of growth. Several metabolites and genes, including α,α-trehalose, D-proline, <i>SH-1</i>, and <i>TPS11</i>, were consistently associated with silk drought resilience.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Together, these results demonstrate that maize silk tolerance to severe drought is supported by dynamic carbon reallocation rather than a mere downregulation of metabolic activity. This study further identified candidate metabolic and molecular markers that can be leveraged to enhance reproductive-stage resilience to severe drought in maize.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01018-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multivariate statistical analysis combined with e-nose and e-tongue assays reveals the geographical origins and processing methods of Ankang selenium-enriched tea","authors":"Yuzhen Yan,&nbsp;Bo He,&nbsp;Fang Yang,&nbsp;Haofeng Gu,&nbsp;Jun Zhang,&nbsp;Zi-Chao Wang,&nbsp;Zhongxiang Fang","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-01012-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40538-026-01012-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>This study explored the effects of geographical origin and processing on phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and sensory properties of Ankang selenium (Se)-enriched tea, and established a rapid traceability method combining electronic nose, electronic tongue and multivariate statistics. </p><h3>Results</h3><p>Geographical origin exerted a remarkable impact on tea quality, showing that tea form Lan'gao contained the highest levels of Se (15.11 μg/g), free amino acids (40.10 mg/g), soluble sugars (39.42 %), reducing sugars (9.77 %), and flavonoids (29.03 mg/g), outperforming teas from Pingli, Ziyang, Hangzhou, and Hanzhong. Unfermented green and white teas exhibited higher contents of tea polyphenols and flavonoids, whereas fermented black and dark teas accumulated more free amino acids and soluble sugars. The antioxidant capacities of the teas followed the order: Lan'gao &gt; Pingli &gt; Ziyang for growing regions, and green tea &gt; white tea &gt; black tea &gt; dark tea for processing types. E-nose analysis identified NS6, NS14, and NS18 as the pivotal sensors characterizing aroma profiles, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) achieved a classification accuracy above 96% for geographical origin and processing method. In comparison, the single e-tongue achieved an accuracy of only 88% for geographical origin discrimination, whereas data fusion of the e-nose and e-tongue realized 100% correct sample identification.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study demonstrates that geographical origin and processing jointly determine the quality of Ankang Se-enriched tea, and confirms that sensory detection combined with chemometrics allows reliable origin verification and adulteration control.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-01012-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}