Annals of Applied Biology最新文献

{"title":"Molecular identification of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’ associated with coconut lethal yellowing in Equatorial Guinea","authors":"Assunta Bertaccini,&nbsp;Nicoletta Contaldo,&nbsp;Giulia Feduzi,&nbsp;Agustín Mane Ela Andeme,&nbsp;Egya Ndede Yankey,&nbsp;Luciano Rovesti","doi":"10.1111/aab.12854","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12854","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During the past two decades, a high mortality of coconut palms was observed in the coastal areas of Equatorial Guinea. Reportedly, the palm population has been reduced by 60%–70%, and coconut production has decreased accordingly. To identify the cause of the mortality, a survey was carried out in April 2021 in various localities of the coconut belt. Molecular analyses carried out on 16S rRNA and <i>secA</i> genes detected phytoplasma presence in the majority of the samples. Sequencing and BLAST search of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed &gt;99% identity of the detected phytoplasmas to ‘<i>Candidatus</i> Phytoplasma palmicola’. The RFLP analyses of 16S ribosomal gene using <i>Tru</i>1I and <i>Taq</i>I enzymes led to assign these phytoplasmas to subgroup 16SrXXII-A. In all samples that tested positive, including one from a hybrid coconut palm and two from oil palm the same phytoplasma was identified. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA and <i>secA</i> genes confirmed respectively 99.98%–100% and 97.94%–100% identity to ‘<i>Ca.</i> P. palmicola’. RFLP analyses using <i>Mbo</i>II enzyme on the <i>secA</i> gene amplicon differentiated the phytoplasma found in Equatorial Guinea from those present in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The Equatorial Guinean phytoplasma strain resulted to be identical to the strains from Mozambique, confirming the presence of a geographic differentiation among phytoplasma strains in the coastal areas of Western and Central Africa. The identified phytoplasma is different from the ‘<i>Ca</i>. P. palmicola’ strains found in Ghana and Ivory Coast and represents the first identification a 16SrXXII-A strain in Equatorial Guinea and in Central Africa. Strict monitoring and surveillance procedures for early detection of the pathogen are strongly recommended to reduce its impact and further spread in the country and permit the recovery of coconut plantations.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"262-270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12854","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45895830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Silicon dioxide in the defense indction of soybean against Spodoptera frugiperda","authors":"Michele Gevinski Otolakoski, Bianca Zampieron Bagio, Brenda Gallina Viegas, Crislaine Sartori Suzana- Milan, J. Huzar‐Novakowiski","doi":"10.1111/aab.12853","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12853","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47047476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenological growth stages of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt Bundessortenamt and Chemical Industry (BBCH) scale","authors":"Xiaojie Li,&nbsp;Yingtong Mu,&nbsp;Xiaoming Zhang,&nbsp;Junjie Wang","doi":"10.1111/aab.12851","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12851","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> var<i>. mongholicus</i> (<i>Astragalus</i>) is a perennial medicinal plant belonging to Leguminosae. Its main agronomic and industrial interest is the accumulation of astragaloside IV and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside in roots, two components that play crucial pharmacological roles in the finished pharmaceutical products. Phenological research is a prerequisite for improving the yield quality of cultivated medicinal plants. However, there are no standardized phenological studies on <i>Astragalus</i>. To expand phenotyping knowledge on this medicinal plant, researchers and breeders need a universal scale to describe the development of this plant. This study aims to define the phenological growth stages of <i>Astragalus</i>, based on the existing Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale to provide a standard scale for <i>Astragalus</i>, <i>and</i> grown under temperate conditions of production and climate, proposes a disease and pest control reference. This study was conducted in Inner Mongolia, North China. The existing BBCH scale with a three-digit code was used to define <i>Astragalus</i>'s phenological growth codes, supplemented with pictures. Phenological observations were performed twice monthly, based on the developmental stages. The chronology and duration of each stage were also observed and described according to the accumulation of degree days during the growing season. Based on the data obtained, the influence of the average temperature and GDD on the phenophases was evaluated. The phenological description is divided into two principal growth stages: five for vegetative growth (perennating bud, leaf development, formation of branches, main stem elongation and root development), four for reproductive growth (reproductive organ development, flowering, fruit development and fruit maturation), and one for senescence according to the BBCH scale. Seventy secondary growth stages were described within the 10 principal growth stages. Under each secondary growth stage, six mesostages are also taken into account, which contains the distinct patterns of the phenological characteristics in <i>Astragalus</i> varieties and the process of transplanting seedlings. A practical management program for disease and pest control was also proposed by using the BBCH code and the phenological data proposed in this work. Our study presents the first BBCH scale established for <i>Astragalus</i> cultivated in temperate conditions and a chronology of phenological stages based on the accumulation of thermal time, through growing degree day calculation. This work provides a general tool that can be widely used by researchers, breeders, and manufacturers of medicinal materials leading to better agricultural production and scientific communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"302-319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12851","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43256102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Nematicidal effect of an Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. cystatin (AhCPI) on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood","authors":"María Magdalena Cervantes-Juan,&nbsp;Jorge E. Ibarra,&nbsp;Víctor Olalde-Portugal,&nbsp;María Karina Manzo-Valencia,&nbsp;Marco Antonio Meraz Mercado,&nbsp;Silvia Valdés-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1111/aab.12852","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12852","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The root-knot nematode <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i> is one of the most damaging plant parasitic nematodes in the world. In this study, the effect of cystatin from <i>Amaranthus hypochondriacus</i> (AhCPI) as a potential control agent for <i>M. incognita</i> was explored. In vitro bioassays demonstrated that AhCPI affects the growth and development of eggs and the infectivity of juveniles (J2) of <i>M. incognita</i>, such as mortality and slower development, showing characteristic tissue damage. Mortality levels were quantified by Probit analysis, estimating LC₅₀s of 1.4 mg/mL for eggs and 0.028 mg/mL for J2. <i>In planta</i> bioassays showed that infected tomato seedlings treated with 0.056 mg/mL of AhCPI showed a 60% reduction in the number of galls, as compared with untreated J2-inoculated seedlings. Under greenhouse conditions, three applications of 10 mL of AhCPI (1.4 mg/mL) in the soil around the stem of <i>M. incognita</i>-infected tomato plants, reduced the number of galls by 93 ± 8%, as compared to the control <i>M. incognita</i>-infected plants. The application of AhCPI to the infected plants increased the yield (10.7%) of harvested tomato fruits, as compared to infected plants. These results show the potential of AhCPI for the control of <i>M. incognita</i> in tomato plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"244-253"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12852","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45989178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Boron foliar supplementation as a strategy to attenuate drought stress in soybean","authors":"Paulo César Souza Júnior,&nbsp;Paulo Eduardo Ribeiro Marchiori,&nbsp;Franz Walter Rieger Hippler,&nbsp;Ludmila da Silva Bastos,&nbsp;Paulo Cassio Alves Linhares,&nbsp;Marlon Alexander Peralta Sanchez","doi":"10.1111/aab.12848","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12848","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Drought is the major abiotic stress that limits growth, development and yield of crops worldwide. In this scenario, mineral nutrients, such as boron (B), have been promising for increasing the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses because of their physiological roles in plants. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of foliar supplementation of B in either relieving or reducing the physiological damages caused by water stress in soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.). A greenhouse trial was carried out in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with two water conditions (well-watered and drought stress) and three doses of B (0, 150 and 300 mg B L⁻¹). Foliar application of B was before inducing the water stress, which remained for 20 days during vegetative stage. Plants were evaluated at three moments, according to the water conditions: maximum stress, rehydration and just before harvesting. The levels of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation increased in soybean leaves and roots under water stress, resulting in impaired plant growth. However, the foliar supplementation with B before the stress increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes and reduced the levels of stress markers. Furthermore, B applied foliar increased the nutrient concentration in the leaves of plants and stimulated root growth, which resulted in higher harvest index related to yield. The foliar application of B has shown as an alternative management to mitigate the damages caused by drought stress in soybean.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"220-230"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45649145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Begomovirus diversity in tomato crops in Costa Rica","authors":"Karen Valverde-Méndez,&nbsp;Eduardo J. Hernández,&nbsp;Dennis Matamoros,&nbsp;Natalia Barboza","doi":"10.1111/aab.12850","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12850","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Begomoviruses (<i>Geminiviridae</i> family) are characterized by their high recombination rate and a wide range of hosts, making their control difficult. In Costa Rica, various species of bipartite begomoviruses have been reported, which are <i>Pepper golden mosaic virus</i> (PepGMV), <i>Tomato yellow mottle virus</i> (ToYMoV), <i>Tomato leaf curl Sinaloa virus</i> (ToLCSiV) and the monopartite begomovirus <i>Tomato yellow leaf curl virus</i> (TYLCV). Since the TYLCV first report in Costa Rica, neither additional knowledge has been produced on how this begomovirus has spread in the country's territory nor on the distribution of the other bipartite species. A total of 429 tomato samples collected during the years 2015–2016 were used to study these aspects. Each sample was georeferenced and analysed with various techniques such as nucleic acid hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for the begomoviruses previously reported in Costa Rica. It was found that the presence/absence of the different species can vary, depending on the province. TYLCV is present in the six provinces analysed in this work, with a proportion from 3.7 to 86.6 per cent. Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia are the provinces most affected by tomato-infecting begomoviruses. Fourteen different haplotypes of TYLCV were detected, but all were identified as TYLCV-IL. The distribution of TYLCV was related to the presence of the whitefly <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> MED, especially in the country's main tomato production areas. This information allows the phytosanitary surveillance services to develop strategies for the integrated management of the disease and to contribute data to the genetic improvement programmes of the crop.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"231-243"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43288196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of silicon on the antioxidant system of tomato seedlings exposed to individual and combined nitrogen and water deficit","authors":"Joana Machado,&nbsp;Ana Patricia G. Fernandes,&nbsp;Boris Bokor,&nbsp;Marek Vaculík,&nbsp;Ep Heuvelink,&nbsp;Susana M. P. Carvalho,&nbsp;Marta W. Vasconcelos","doi":"10.1111/aab.12849","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12849","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Exploring sustainable strategies for improving crop water and nitrogen use efficiency is essential. Silicon (Si) has been reported as a beneficial metalloid for plants since it alleviates several abiotic stresses (including drought) by triggering the plants' antioxidant system. However, its role in mitigating the negative impact of nitrogen (N) deficit alone or when combined with water (W) deficit is not well studied. This study applied 0 or 2 mM of Na₂SiO₃ to 3-week-old tomato cv. Micro-Tom seedlings that were grown under the following conditions: control (CTR; 100%N + 100% Field Capacity), N deficit (N; 50% N + 100% Field Capacity), water deficit (W; 100% N + 50% Field Capacity) or combined stress (N + W; 50% N + 50% Field Capacity). The Si effect on tomato plant growth depended on the type of stress. Si could only alleviate stress caused by N + W deficit resulting in a higher root dry weight (by 28%), total dry weight (by 23%) and root length (by 37%). Alongside this, there was an increase in the antioxidant (AOX) system activity with the root activity of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzymes being enhanced by 48% and by 263%, respectively. Si application also enhanced AOX enzyme activity when tomato plants were subjected to individual deficits but to a lesser extent. In conclusion, Si-treated tomato plants could efficiently modulate their AOX networks in a situation of combined N and water limitation, thus mitigating some of the adverse effects of this combined stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"184 1","pages":"50-60"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48248218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence and genetic diversity of raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) in Rubus spp. in Turkey","authors":"Kadriye Çağlayan,&nbsp;Kivilcim Ördek,&nbsp;Mona Gazel,&nbsp;Eminur Elçi,&nbsp;Vahid Roumi,&nbsp;Janja Lamovšek,&nbsp;Irena Mavrič Pleško","doi":"10.1111/aab.12847","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12847","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV), recently renamed to <i>Idaeovirus rubi</i>, is one of the most common viruses infecting <i>Rubus</i> species worldwide but there is still a limited number of genome sequences available in the GenBank database and the majority of the sequences include partial sequences of RNA-1 and RNA-2. The distribution and incidence of RBDV in main raspberry and blackberry growing provinces in Turkey were monitored during 2015–2019 and 537 <i>Rubus</i> spp. samples were tested by both DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. Among the tested samples, 36 samples tested positive for RBDV by DAS-ELISA and 67 samples by RT-PCR. There was relatively low nucleotide diversity among the Turkish isolates. Turkish isolates shared 93%–97.7%, 84.3%–98.9%, and 85%–99.2% nucleotide sequence identities with available sequences in the GenBank, in partial RNA-1, movement protein (MP) and coat protein (CP) genes, respectively. In the phylogenetic tree constructed for RNA-1, MP, and CP sequences, all Turkish raspberry isolates were clustered in a distinct clade. However, the blackberry isolates showed considerable variation in nucleotide sequences and were placed in three distinct groups. The divergent blackberry isolates showed high variability in MP (84.5%–89.3%) and CP (85.5%–89.7%) regions and were placed in a distinct group. The rest of blackberry isolates clustered together with sweet cherry RBDV isolates adjacent to the grapevine clade or together with raspberry isolates. The comparative analysis conducted on three RNA segments of RBDV highlighted the high sequence diversity of Turkish RBDV isolates. This study also emphasizes the importance of regular monitoring of RBDV infections in Turkey, with special regard to those <i>Rubus</i> spp. and grapevine accessions employed in conservation and selection programmes. In particular, the presence of new RBDV genetic variants and infection of <i>Rubus</i> species must be taken into account to choose a correct detection protocol and management strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 3","pages":"209-219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12847","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42073097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Exploiting volatile organic compounds in crop protection: A systematic review of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone","authors":"Aimee J. Tonks,&nbsp;Joe M. Roberts,&nbsp;Audun Midthassel,&nbsp;Tom Pope","doi":"10.1111/aab.12846","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12846","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The 21st century has brought new challenges to the agri-food industry due to population growth, global warming, and greater public awareness of environmental issues. Ensuring global food security for future generations is crucial. However, pests, weeds, and diseases still significantly contribute to crop losses, and the availability of effective conventional synthetic pesticides is decreasing. To address this, new and diverse pest management tools are needed. One pest management tool showing potential for invertebrate pest management is the exploitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—in particular, the compounds 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone. This review aims to explore the extent to which 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone show potential in the future management of invertebrate crop and animal pests. A significant increase in the rate of publication of literature on the use of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone in crop protection since 2018 is identified by this review, therefore, showing the potential importance of these compounds for use in future pest management. This review also identifies key interactions between naturally occurring biosynthesised 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone, and a range of invertebrate targets. Many of these interactions with key crop pests are sourced from the taxonomic families Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Trichomaceae. However, analysis of the practical application of these sources in an integrated pest management programme identifies clear limitations with the use of naturally occurring biosynthesised 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone. Rather, future focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone for use as a biopesticide product. Overall, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone show potential for exploitation in future crop protection, being abundant in source and diversity of invertebrate interactions. However, their use as a naturally occurring biosynthesised chemical is likely not practical for direct implementation in crop protection. Rather, focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical variants of these compounds for use as a biopesticide.</p>","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 2","pages":"121-134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12846","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42026342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"The stressful life of an editor from a non-predatory journal","authors":"Ricardo A. Azevedo","doi":"10.1111/aab.12841","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aab.12841","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;I hope that the title has caught your attention and perhaps intrigued you. Well, if you are an editor, you may well agree with most of my comments and most certainly have your own set of challenging issues. Thus, I hope you can read this and share your thoughts on social media or with your own editorials.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Am I complaining of being an editor? No, I am certainly not! This is one of the most enjoyable activities I took and despite all challenges that naturally are presented to me, most of the time it is good fun and rewarding. Taking part in the process of publishing someone else's work is terrific. When I see the finalized journal issue, I get—if possible—as excited as the authors, especially if their work is well received, commented, and seen by our scientific community. So, yes, I am totally happy as editor for &lt;i&gt;Annals of Applied Biology&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I want to tell you a little bit more about &lt;i&gt;Annals&lt;/i&gt;. In brief, it is a well-known journal with an excellent reputation within the scientific community, particularly among folks focusing broadly on agriculture. And it is not because one or another metric I affirm that. &lt;i&gt;Annals&lt;/i&gt; (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17447348) is a 109 years old journal, which published its first issue in May 1914 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17447348/1914/1/1) opening with the editorial by Maxwell-Lefroy (see Maxwell-Lefroy, &lt;span&gt;1914&lt;/span&gt;; The Annals of Applied Biology—https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1914.tb05406.x). The Centenary was celebrated in 2014 and in the first issue of that year we included a historical view of the journal (Azevedo et al., &lt;span&gt;2014&lt;/span&gt;—https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12093). We revisited the work published and asked a few colleagues to write about some of the topics that left their mark in the journal in the previous 100 years and how they evolved, advanced. Our mission does not focus on metrics, numbers, or anything like that, but on the impact of what we publish. Annals is published by Wiley (https://www.Wiley.com/en-us), which is endorsing the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). The overarching goal of DORA is to shift emphasis away from journal-based metrics, toward article level metrics and individual author contribution. This supports a broader, more equitable view of research impact. Moreover, &lt;i&gt;Annals&lt;/i&gt; is owned by the Association of Applied Biologists (AAB—https://www.aab.org.uk), a learned society and charity focused across many areas of Applied Biology. This partnership between AAB and Wiley has been very positive for the journal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The COVID-19 pandemic was really something that shook the world and put us all to test in many different ways. What we easily noticed was a major increase in submissions during 2020–2021, followed by a reduction in 2022, while 2023 up to April is showing a similar trend to 2022. Was this a general trend, also observed for other journals? Perhaps, but what is really bothering me is that w","PeriodicalId":7977,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Applied Biology","volume":"183 1","pages":"4-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aab.12841","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44384087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}