Annals of Agricultural Science最新文献

{"title":"Spectral regions informative for polyphenols and flavonoid content in spinach. Open field reflectance investigation through linear regression and machine learning","authors":"Walter Polilli ,&nbsp;Fabio Stagnari ,&nbsp;Carla di Mattia ,&nbsp;Federica Flamminii ,&nbsp;Gabriele Campanelli ,&nbsp;Cristiano Platani ,&nbsp;Angelica Galieni","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reflectance spectroscopy in the visible to near-infrared range (vis-NIR) offers a non-destructive method to assess the biochemical quality of leafy vegetables. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of vis-NIR spectroscopy to predict total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in spinach (<em>Spinacia oleracea</em> L.) leaves, and to identify robust spectral quality indicators at the leaf level. Two spinach cultivars were grown under open-field conditions across two growing seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022), with six nitrogen fertilization levels (0–250 kg N ha⁻¹). Spectral signatures were collected at the leaf level and matched with laboratory measurements of TPC, TFC, and dry matter content (DM). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) showed limited performance in predicting TPC on a fresh weight basis (TPC_FW: R² = 0.47; RMSEσ = 0.72), while it achieved better results for TFC_FW (R² = 0.68; RMSEσ = 0.55) and DM (R² = 0.63; RMSEσ = 0.61). The random forest (RF) algorithm showed moderate performance for TFC_FW (R² = 0.58; RMSEσ = 0.65) and DM (R² = 0.60; RMSEσ = 0.65) but was ineffective for TPC_FW. Key wavelengths selected by both models showed overlapping regions related to chemical absorption features, revealing partial spectral redundancy between traits. However, the influence of DM on analyte prediction was limited. This work demonstrates the feasibility of developing rapid, leaf-level spectral proxies for nutraceutical traits in fresh spinach, offering a step toward in-field quality monitoring for leafy vegetables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100400"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of cytotoxicity and rat dermal irritation screening of microbial pigments for application in sustainable textile manufacturing","authors":"Sohila G. El-sayed ,&nbsp;Hala B. Khalil ,&nbsp;Khaled M.A. Ramadan ,&nbsp;Khadiga A.A. Abou-Taleb","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global textile industry consumes over a million tons of synthetic dyes annually, posing environmental and health risks due to their persistence and toxicity. Microbial pigments offer a sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the dermal irritation potential of pigments (blue green, brown, red, yellow, rose, and orange) produced by <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Azotobacter chroococcum, Serratia marcescens, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, and Micrococcus kristinae</em> in a rat-based screening model adapted from OECD 404 principles but not fully compliant. No irritation was observed under the tested conditions. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the neutral red uptake assay in WI 38 human lung fibroblasts. The orange pigment was non toxic up to 150 mg/mL, while half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for other pigments ranged from 46.7 to 113.5 mg/mL. Dyeing trials on cotton fabric showed the best performance with the red pigment from <em>S. marcescens</em>. This isolate was taxonomically identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which was 99.8 % DNA identical to <em>S. marcescens</em> ATCC13880. The prodigiosin pigment of LRe6 was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These findings suggest microbial pigments as promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic dyes, though further validated testing is required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100396"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nitrogen rate, density, and plant architecture jointly determine lodging risk in drip fertigated spring maize","authors":"Juan Zhai ,&nbsp;Bo Ming ,&nbsp;Guoqiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuan-meng Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuehong Cao ,&nbsp;Ruizhi Xie ,&nbsp;Keru Wang ,&nbsp;Shaokun Li ,&nbsp;Jun Xue ,&nbsp;Ling Gou","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-density planting has significantly boosted maize yields in Xinjiang China. However, excessive nitrogen application under such conditions has intensified stem lodging risks, revealing inconsistencies between conventional nitrogen fertilization theories and practical production outcomes. Field experiments were conducted in irrigated maize-growing regions of arid and semi-arid region Xinjiang China using subsurface drip irrigation and staged fertilization. Two maize varieties, DH618 and XY335, were cultivated at planting densities of 7.5 × 10⁴ plants ha⁻¹ and 12.0 × 10⁴ plants ha⁻¹. Nitrogen application levels ranged from 0 to 720 kg ha⁻¹ across nine treatments. Increasing nitrogen application significantly elevated stem breaking rate. The stem breaking rate correlated with key factors such as fracture resistance, plant morphology, puncture strength, and dry weight per unit length. Feature importance analysis using a Random Forest model quantified the contribution of each variable to lodging prediction. The results identified dry matter/stem breaking force (DM/SBF) as the most influential factor, Eight parameters—including dry weight/stalk breaking force, leaf area/stalk breaking force, ear height, ear coefficient, stalk breaking force, plant height, center of gravity height, moment of force—accounted for over 75.7 % of the predictive power of the stem breaking model, underscoring their significance in determining lodging susceptibility. Higher nitrogen input increases ear height, dry matter accumulation, and leaf area, thereby raising the center of gravity and wind-exposed surface area of maize plants. These changes reduce stem breaking resistance under wind stress, increasing lodging risk. While nitrogen application promotes maize growth and yield, its potential negative effects on stem stability warrant careful consideration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of seed priming on growth, nutrient uptake, and biochemical responses of Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss under drought stress","authors":"Seyed Masoud Ziaei ,&nbsp;Rooholla Moradi ,&nbsp;Hossein Sahabi ,&nbsp;Mohsen Zaferanieh ,&nbsp;Majid Jafari","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Astragalus fasciculifolius</em> Boiss (<em>Astragalus</em>) is an important medicinal plant whose growth and development are negatively influenced by drought stress. To examine the potential of seed priming in inducing drought tolerance in <em>A. fasciculifolius</em>, a factorial experiment with four replications was conducted in a completely randomized design within a research greenhouse at Torbat Heydarieh University, Iran, in 2024. The experimental treatments were two drought stress levels (no stress: irrigation at 90 % of field capacity (FC), and drought stress: irrigation at 50 % of FC) and eight seed priming treatments including no priming (control), hydropriming (HP), priming with gibberellin (GA₃), salicylic acid (SA), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), humic acid (HA), and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂-NPs). The results illustrated that drought stress significantly reduced the growth parameters and macro-elements absorption in <em>A. fasciculifolius</em>. However, seed priming with GA₃, ZnSO₄, and HA could moderate the adverse effects of water deficit, leading to significant improvements in plant height, aboveground biomass, and root nutrient uptake (N, P, K). This was associated with increased carotenoid and chlorophyll (Chl) levels. Seed priming with KNO₃ or SA did not significantly differ from the control treatment in terms of growth, physiological and biochemical parameters. The SiO₂-NPs treatment not only failed to induce drought stress tolerance in <em>A. fasciculifolius</em>, but also resulted in significantly lower growth parameters compared to the control. Essentially, the PCA results clearly demonstrated that seed priming with GA₃, ZnSO₄, and HA effectively mitigated the adverse effects of water deficit on <em>A. fasciculifolius</em> production, possibly through enhanced macro-nutrients uptake and increased photosynthetic pigment content.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of rosemary extract and its residues on meat quality, nutritional composition, antioxidant properties and storage performance of goose","authors":"Lanmeng Xu ,&nbsp;Yuzhi Huang ,&nbsp;Qinfeng Liao ,&nbsp;Kaijie Peng ,&nbsp;Hang He ,&nbsp;Kun Wan ,&nbsp;Lijing Cao ,&nbsp;Jie Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To explore the feasibility of adding rosemary to goose feed, we compared the effects of basal diet (CON), 0.02 % rosemary extract (RE) and 15 % rosemary residue (RR) feed on goose meat quality, nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity and storage performance. Compared with CON, the RR and RE significantly increased levels of muscle glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), essential amino acid (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), while shear force, crude fat, malondialdehyde, and saturated fatty acid levels were significantly reduced (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Addition-ally, the RR group had lower <em>a</em>* value of muscle, total antioxidant capacity, GSH-Px, EAA and PUFA levels than RE group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Notably, the total viable count in RE group was significantly reduced (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Overall, dietary RE at 0.02 % simultaneously upgrades goose meat quality, nutritional value and storage stability, whereas 15 % RR gives moderate but still favourable changes. Consequently, RE is recommended for high-quality goose production, whereas RR can be utilized as an economical, partial substitute for conventional feed ingredients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100402"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation and regression analysis of milk quality-related functional genes and milk components in normal milk of Liaoning cashmere goats","authors":"Siyi Li ,&nbsp;Yining Liu ,&nbsp;Yuan Pan ,&nbsp;Shuaitong Li,&nbsp;Lingchao Kong,&nbsp;Xiaowei Wang,&nbsp;Qian Li,&nbsp;Qiu Zhang,&nbsp;Qingkun Liu,&nbsp;Yanjun Qiao,&nbsp;Jiamei Liang,&nbsp;Zeying Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Goat milk is valued for health benefits like easy digestibility and low allergenicity, with “goaty flavor” as one of its characteristics, yet studies on the milk flavor of Liaoning cashmere goats (LCG) remain scarce. Using milk components as surrogates for flavor, this study preliminarily employed combined flavoromics and transcriptomics to screen functional genes (<em>LPL</em>, <em>FMO3</em>, <em>ACSS2</em>, <em>ACSF3</em>) associated with LCG milk components. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping based on PCR-seq revealed genotype-trait associations: at <em>LPL</em>-C17065T, the CC genotype was superior for milk components milk fat (Fat), crude protein (Cru.Prot) and body size traits, while TT favored cashmere yield; at <em>FMO3</em>-C16170T, CC benefited milk components and body size, and CT was better for cashmere; at <em>ACSF3</em>-C8287T, CC was optimal for milk components and cashmere, and TT favored body size; at <em>ACSS2</em>-G43516A, GA benefited milk components and cashmere, and GG favored body size. Phenotypic analysis showed Total Solids (TS) correlated positively with milk fat and negatively with lactose; milk fat correlated positively with cashmere content and negatively with effective fiber number. After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, Multi-Locus Genotype Combination (MLGCs) (e.g., H2H2, H4H6) significantly affected milk components. These findings provide key genetic markers for LCG breeding and a theoretical basis for its genetic improvement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating strip cropping with grass border enhances soil fertility, maize grain, and nutritional yields in Zimbabwean smallholder farming systems","authors":"Connie Madembo ,&nbsp;Frédéric Baudron ,&nbsp;Arnold.B. Mashingaidze ,&nbsp;Chrispen Murungweni ,&nbsp;Courage Bangira ,&nbsp;Tarirai Muoni ,&nbsp;Christian Thierfelder","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100401","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100401","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Smallholder maize production in sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by soil fertility decline and erratic rainfall, leading to low dietary diversity. A four-season on-farm study (2018/2019–2021/2022) was conducted with six farmers in Murehwa District, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the effects of maize–legume strip cropping on soil nutrient dynamics, crop yield, and total system nutritional yield. The experiment was a 2 × 6 factorial arranged in a split-plot randomized complete block design, comparing sole maize with maize strip-cropped with pigeonpea (<em>Cajanus cajan</em> (L.) Mills), cowpea (<em>Vigna unguiculata</em> L. Walp.), lablab (<em>Lablab purpureus</em> (L.) Sweet), velvet bean (<em>Mucuna pruriens</em> (L.) DC), and groundnut (<em>Arachis hypogaea</em> L.), with and without <em>Brachiaria</em> ssp. (cv. Mulato II (CIAT36087) grass border. Rainfall ranged from 495 to 1053 mm, influencing crop and soil responses. Strip cropping affected soil properties between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, notably pH, exchangeable potassium (K), and soil organic carbon (SOC). Maize + cowpea improved K (+65 %) and pH (+30 %), while maize + groundnut improved SOC (+5 %). Maize grain yield was strongly influenced by season and its interaction with the strip cropping system. Maize + velvet bean yielded 2.4 t ha⁻¹ in 2018/19 and 2020/21, although sole maize produced the highest overall yield (3.2 t ha⁻¹). Maize + pigeonpea consistently produced the highest grain yield among legumes (≈1.0 t ha⁻¹) and total system protein yield (&gt;0.3 t ha⁻¹), while starch yield was highest under sole maize in 2020/21. Overall, maize-legume strip cropping, particularly pigeonpea, cowpea, and groundnut, improved system-level nutrient yield and selected soil properties, demonstrating its potential for climate-resilient smallholder farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100401"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Ulva prolifera-derived bio-fermentation extract on cherry radish growth, nutritional quality and soil fertility","authors":"Wen Liu ,&nbsp;He Li ,&nbsp;Xiucheng Shang ,&nbsp;Baolin Yuan ,&nbsp;Juntian Xu ,&nbsp;Peimin He ,&nbsp;Sufang Li ,&nbsp;Hailong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seaweed extracts are widely used as biostimulants and biofertilizers to enhance crop growth and yield. The green-tide-forming macroalga <em>Ulva prolifera</em> represents a promising and sustainable source for such extracts, valorizing a potential ecological burden into a high-value agricultural input in line with circular economy principles. This study evaluated the effects of <em>U. prolifera</em>-derived bio-fermentation (UF) extract on cherry radish (<em>Raphanus sativus</em> var. <em>radicula</em>) growth, nutritional quality and soil fertility. Plants were treated with UF extract at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 %, alongside pure water (negative control) and Hoagland solution (positive control), over 40 days. Growth parameters, nutritional quality, and soil properties were assessed. Results showed that low-concentration (5 % and 10 %) UF extracts significantly improved root development and nutritional quality, with the 10 % concentration yielding the highest root weight (5.1 g plant⁻¹), anthocyanin (4.3 mg g⁻¹ FW), soluble protein (10.1 mg g⁻¹ DW), soluble carbohydrate (23.4 mg g⁻¹ DW), and leaf pigment contents (0.77, 0.27, and 0.16 mg g⁻¹ FW for chlorophyll <em>a</em>, <em>b</em> and carotenoids, respectively). Conversely, higher UF concentrations (20 %–30 %) diminished these growth-promoting effects, although they increased root vitamin C content, soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) levels, and induced soil acidification. These findings indicate that 10 % UF is optimal for enhancing cherry radish yield and nutritional quality, while highlighting the potential of <em>U. prolifera</em> bio-fermentation extract as a dual-functional plant growth promoter and soil conditioner for sustainable agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 2","pages":"Article 100403"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing heavy metal bioaccumulation in radish and soil under wastewater and canal water irrigation","authors":"Zafar Iqbal Khan ,&nbsp;Muzna Shahid ,&nbsp;Asma Ashfaq ,&nbsp;Kafeel Ahmad ,&nbsp;Shehnaz Fatima ,&nbsp;Saqib Bashir ,&nbsp;Ijaz Rasool Noorka ,&nbsp;Muhammad Irfan Ashraf ,&nbsp;Hafsa Memona ,&nbsp;Mahmoud F. Seleiman ,&nbsp;Majed Alotaibi ,&nbsp;Nawab Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater resources are continuously depleting over time due to the combination of various climatic, political and anthropogenic factors. The freshwater shortage has compelled farmers to use sewage water as an irrigation source for vegetable cultivation. However, urban sewage water contains a sufficient amount of heavy metals which can easily damage soil, crops and affect human health. The present study compared the concentrations of toxic metals including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) lead, (Pb) and cobalt (Co) in radish and soil irrigated with sewage water (SW) versus canal water (CW). The results showed that the SW contains a significant number of heavy metals e.g., Cu (1.735 mg/kg), Fe (3.775 mg/kg), Zn (1.885 mg/kg), Mn (0.375 mg/kg), Cd (0.044 mg/kg), Co (0.05 mg/kg), Pb (0.062 mg/kg), and Mo (0.07 mg/kg), leading to increase the accumulation in the radish and soil by increasing their permissible limits. The irrigation water sources also have the potential to affect soil physicochemical properties and proximate composition of the radish. The sewage water irrigation notably increased salinity, nutrients, and soil organic matter, however it also increased the contamination risks. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Bio-concentration Factor (BCF) metrics revealed that sewage water has substantial adverse health impacts due to high metal contamination. There is an urgent need to adopt the innovative management strategies to improve the irrigation water sources to prevent soil health threats from metal pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 1","pages":"Article 100388"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strigolactones mitigate drought stress in maize by improving chloroplast protection stomatal function and antioxidant defense mechanisms","authors":"Shakeel Ahmad ,&nbsp;Tayyaba Zulfiqar ,&nbsp;Haichang Yang ,&nbsp;Muhammad Farooq","doi":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aoas.2025.100389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytohormones and their derivatives are essential components of the signaling networks that regulate plant defense mechanisms against abiotic stress. A novel class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones, strigolactones (SLs), has been shown to modulate various physiochemical processes in plants under drought stress (DS). This study presents unique findings by optimizing the concentration of SLs to mitigate the detrimental effects of DS on maize seedlings. Drought stress significantly reduced plant growth attributes and leaf chlorophyll pigments due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The foliar application of SLs improved growth attributes, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and stomatal traits, while significantly reducing oxidative damage, as evidenced by a decrease in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide (O₂⁻) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the DS + SL3 treatment significantly improved leaf ultrastructure and reduced oxidative damage, as evidenced by decreases in H₂O₂, O₂⁻ and MDA content by 32.49 %, 33.31 %, and 55.23 % (p ≤ 0.05) respectively. This treatment also increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 31.64 %, 49.61 %, 53.18 %, and 101.35 %, respectively. Strigolactones enhanced chloroplast structure, supported cell expansion, protected cell walls, and significantly improved stomatal traits, including number, length, and width. These findings suggest that the foliar application of SLs can mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress by upregulating chlorophyll pigments and activating antioxidant defense mechanisms to mitigate ROS damage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54198,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Agricultural Science","volume":"70 1","pages":"Article 100389"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}