Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Seed treatment with endophytic Bacillus enhances initial development and increases peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities in cotton","authors":"Livian Yumi Iwaoka,&nbsp;Natieli Jenifer Mateus Corniani,&nbsp;Luana Thais Varize Marcusso,&nbsp;Carlos Augusto Corniani da Silva,&nbsp;Willian Martire Marcusso,&nbsp;João Arthur dos Santos Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104200","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104200","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bacillus</em> spp. are widely recognized as plant growth-promoting agents; however, their effects as bioinoculants in cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em>) remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the effects of seed treatment with fermented broths produced by the endophytic bacteria <em>B. subtilis</em> SB008, <em>B. velezensis</em> SB009, and <em>B. amyloliquefaciens</em> SB012 on germination, seedling development, and physiological parameters. All three fermented broths exhibited hydrolytic enzyme activities, including amylase, cellulase, and chitinase, and produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Under laboratory conditions, seed treatment elicited significant dose-dependent responses in germination and seedling development, with strain-specific effects. Under greenhouse conditions over a 40-day period, SB009 and SB012 significantly increased plant height (16.34 and 16.58 cm, respectively) compared with controls (13.64 cm), in addition to elevating foliar carotenoid contents. Furthermore, SB012 significantly increased peroxidase activity (2996 nmol/min/mg protein) and polyphenol oxidase activity (237 nmol/min/mg protein) relative to controls (638 and 58.9 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). Although the observed responses were statistically significant under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, their agronomic relevance remains to be confirmed under field conditions. Collectively, these findings support the potential application of endophytic <em>Bacillus</em> strains as bioinoculants for cotton production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104200"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637129","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":"Response Surface Optimization for enhanced keratinase production from Bacillus vallismortis Gz4 isolated from poultry farm of Ghaziabad and its antifungal activity","authors":"Varsha Thadiyan,&nbsp;Nivedita Sharma,&nbsp;Divya Sharma,&nbsp;Vibhuti Sharma,&nbsp;Reena Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Keratinolytic bacterium was isolated from soil samples collected from poultry farms and bird sanctuaries. Out of 17 isolates positive for keratinase activity, the most potent isolate, Gz4, obtained from poultry farm soil of Ghaziabad, exhibited the highest keratinase activity (3.64 ± 0.13 U/ml) and was identified as <em>Bacillus vallismortis</em> based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. To enhance keratinase production, various parameters were optimized using both OVAT and RSM approach. Optimal conditions included 48 h of incubation, 3% (v/v) inoculum size, M2 medium with 0.2% (w/v) glucose, 0.4% (w/v) tryptone, 0.3% (w/v) yeast extract, 3 mM Na⁺ concentration, temperature 40°C, pH 9.0 at 150 rpm. Plackett-Burman Design was initially used to assess the influence of ten independent variables on enzyme production. Subsequently, Central Composite Design of RSM was employed to fine-tune four significant factors including incubation time, yeast extract concentration, pH and inoculum size resulting in a substantial increase in keratinase production. The highest enzyme activity (24.97 U/ml) was recorded at the 29th run of CCD. Overall, the optimization process led to 1.3-fold increase in keratinase production. In addition to high enzyme productivity, <em>B. vallismortis</em> Gz4 demonstrated antifungal activity against <em>Fusarium</em> sp. and <em>Mucor</em> sp. highlighting its potential in agricultural applications. This study establishes <em>B. vallismortis</em> Gz4 as a promising candidate for biocontrol of fungal pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104193"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637204","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":"Optimized biosurfactant production from coconut shell extract by Bacillus wiedmannii isolate adopting an explainable artificial neural network and TOPSIS framework","authors":"Humaira Mukadam,&nbsp;Nageswar Sahu,&nbsp;Shikha Gaikwad,&nbsp;Biswanath Mahanty","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Use of low-cost renewable substrate and optimized fermentation conditions is key to sustainable bioprocess development. In this study, a set of agricultural wastes was screened for extracellular biosurfactant production and biomass growth by the <em>Bacillus wiedmannii</em> isolate. The effects of selected substrate concentration (i.e., coconut shell extract), inoculum concentration, pH, and fermentation time were analyzed using a central composite design to optimize relevant process variables. Although the performance of the developed quadratic models was poor for both responses (R²: 0.885 and 0.814), a hyperparameter-optimized artificial neural network, trained on Gaussian-noise-augmented data, achieved high prediction accuracy (R² &gt; 0.99). Shapley additive explanations and partial dependency analyses revealed nonlinear interactions among process variables. Pareto optimal solutions from genetic algorithm–based multi-objective optimization were ranked using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The experimental validation of the operating conditions associated with the top-ranked solution (biomass: 13.58 g/L, emulsification index: 84.9%) was satisfactory.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104184"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637573","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":"Bioactive extract recovery from hyptis suaveolens leaves using solid-liquid extraction technique: Experimental data modelling and biological activities","authors":"F.O. Aguele,&nbsp;U.N. Onuoha,&nbsp;S.N. Ijioma,&nbsp;E.O. Oke,&nbsp;F.I. Abam","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the recovery of phenolic phytochemicals from <em>Hyptis suaveolens</em> leaves (HSL), a widely available weed in Nigeria, using heat-assisted solid–liquid extraction. The effects of extraction time (50–70 min), temperature (60–80 °C), and solid–liquid ratio (0.2–1.0 g/100 mL) on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH) were evaluated. Extracts were characterized by HPLC, and experimental data were modeled using artificial neural networks (ANN). The optimally prepared extract was subjected to <em>in vivo</em> acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in Swiss albino rats. While antimicrobial activity was assessed <em>in vitro</em> against <em>Salmonella paratyphi</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Streptococcus spp</em>., and <em>Proteus vulgaris</em> using the disk diffusion method. Optimized extraction conditions - 61.28 min, 62.74 °C, and 0.58 g/100 mL - yielded TPC of 33.055, TFC of 7.171, and DPPH scavenging activity of 9.528. The ANN model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.94 - 0.99) for TPC, TFC, and DPPH responses. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and ferulic acid. Acute toxicity test demonstrated extract safety at 5000 mg/kg body weight, while sub-acute studies revealed no deleterious effects on liver or kidney function. The extract exhibited notable antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 6.43 to 10.48 mm. Overall, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicological profiles of <em>H. suaveolens</em> leaf extract underscore its potential for pharmaco-medicinal, food, and allied industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104199"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148651149","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":"Pure monoterpenes as precision tools against soft rot: Fast susceptibility screening of Pectobacterium carotovorum with relevance to crop protection","authors":"Miroslava Kačániová,&nbsp;Zhaojun Ban,&nbsp;Li Li,&nbsp;Jian Lou,&nbsp;Joel Horacio Elizondo-Luevano,&nbsp;Anis Ben Hsouna,&nbsp;Rania Ben Saad,&nbsp;Alessandro Bianchi,&nbsp;Stefania Garzoli","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pectobacterium carotovorum,</em> the causative agent of soft rot in vegetables, is responsible for substantial postharvest losses worldwide. This study assessed the antimicrobial activity of seven pure monoterpenes 3-carene, α-pinene, (−)-β-pinene, (−)-bornyl acetate, D-carvone, (S)-(−)-limonene, and sabinene against <em>P. carotovorum</em> using disk diffusion, determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀), bacterial growth curve analysis, and MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper profiling after 3 and 6 h of exposure. In disk diffusion assays, (S)-(−)-limonene and sabinene produced the largest inhibition zones (6.33 mm), whereas α-pinene, β-pinene, D-carvone, and bornyl acetate showed weaker activity (2.67-3.67 mm). MIC₅₀ values ranged from 0.158 mg/mL for β-pinene to 7.426 mg/mL for bornyl acetate, indicating wide variation in potency. Growth kinetics revealed the strongest suppression by D-carvone (final OD₈₅₀ = 0.88), moderate inhibition by limonene and sabinene, and negligible effects of bornyl acetate and 3-carene. MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper spectra displayed compound-specific alterations in bacterial spectral profiles, confirming biochemical changes induced by monoterpene exposure. These <em>in vitro</em> results identify β-pinene, (S)-(−)-limonene, and D-carvone as promising candidates warranting further <em>in vivo</em> evaluation for managing soft rot in postharvest vegetables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104205"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148651150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kefir as a source of postbiotics: Functional compounds, health benefits, and applications","authors":"Stavros Plessas,&nbsp;Alexis Galanis,&nbsp;Ioanna Mantzourani","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kefir-derived postbiotics, including non-viable microbial cells, bioactive metabolites, extracellular vesicles, exopolysaccharides such as kefiran, organic acids, peptides, and protein hydrolysates, have emerged as promising functional biomolecules with significant biotechnological potential. Produced by the complex microbial consortia of kefir grains—comprising lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and acetic acid bacteria—these compounds exhibit a broad range of health-promoting properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-obesity, anticancer, antiallergic, and bone-protective activities. Growing evidence supports their safety and efficacy, particularly when generated under standardized and controlled fermentation conditions, highlighting their potential applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, animal nutrition, metabolic therapies, and cosmeceutical formulations. However, traditional or non-standardized kefir fermentations may present compositional variability and safety concerns, such as biogenic amine formation. Additional challenges include limited clinical validation, inconsistencies in regulatory frameworks, and difficulties in process standardization. Future advances in precision fermentation, omics-based characterization, personalized nutrition approaches, and well-designed clinical trials are expected to address these limitations and facilitate the rational development and industrial application of kefir-derived postbiotics as versatile bioactive ingredients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104188"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148651160","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":"Valorization of wood biomass ash as a soil amendment for Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation in post-mining marginal soil","authors":"Abdulmannan Rouhani,&nbsp;Andrzej Cezary Żołnowski,&nbsp;Karim Suhail Al Souki,&nbsp;Sergej Ust'ak,&nbsp;Petr Ryšánek,&nbsp;Valentina Pidlisnyuk","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The valorization of wood biomass ash (WBA) offers a promising pathway for sustainable waste management within a circular economy. This study aimed to assess the effects of WBA application as a soil amendment for marginal soil collected from a post-mining brownfield under <em>Miscanthus × giganteus</em> (<em>M×g</em>) cultivation. A controlled pot experiment was conducted using four application rates of WBA (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%). The effects were evaluated by analyzing plant performance (growth metrics, stress indicators, and elemental accumulation in plant tissues) along with evaluation of the soil chemical properties (elemental composition, pH, and electrical conductivity), soil biological activity (enzyme responses), and soil carbon. Plant height peaked at 2.5% WBA and thereafter decreased at higher doses of WBA. Incorporation of WBA increased soil pH from 6.60 to 7.53 and electrical conductivity from 347 to 701 μS cm⁻¹ in non-vegetated soil, while <em>M×g</em> vegetation partially moderated these increases. Total C rose from 3.40 to 4.27% and total organic C from 2.80 to 3.56% at 7.5% WBA, whereas inorganic C increased only slightly. Nitrogen remained stable (1.8-1.9 g kg⁻¹), with higher values in vegetated soil (2.15 g kg⁻¹). WBA enhanced soil K, Mn, and Zn, but reduced Mg, Fe, Ni, and Co. Enzyme activities, including β-glucosidase and protease, declined significantly at high doses, although vegetation partly mitigated these reductions. The findings indicate that low WBA application can support a favorable soil-plant-microbial balance, whereas higher doses may disrupt nutrient supply and biological functioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104209"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomics-based evidence of the biocontrol potential of Candida tropicalis DAP4 against aflatoxin B1","authors":"Safruddin Lubis,&nbsp;Dimas Andrianto,&nbsp;Romsyah Maryam,&nbsp;Rika Indri Astuti","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the mycotoxins with high toxicity and carcinogenicity. Biological control using non-pathogenic yeast offers a safe, environmentally friendly approach to reducing AFB1 contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of three yeast isolates derived from nutmeg (<em>Myristica fragrans</em>) to decrease AFB1 concentrations. The DAP4 isolate, identified as <em>Candida tropicalis</em>, showed the highest tolerance and decontamination potential. DAP4 demonstrated a time-dependent removal of AFB1 from the culture supernatant, with AFB1 becoming undetectable by HPLC after 72 h at both initial concentrations of 50 and 100 ppb. Whole genome sequencing of DAP4 resulted in a genome size of 10,583,595 base pairs, consisting of 7044 annotated protein clusters. Functional annotation using the KEGG database identified genes encoding putative cytochrome P450 (<em>ERG11</em>), glutathione S-transferase (<em>URE2</em>), and epoxide hydrolase (<em>LAP2</em>), which are potentially involved in xenobiotic detoxification. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a conserved genomic framework comprising 1783 orthologous protein clusters among AFB1-detoxifying yeasts, with DAP4 clustering most closely to <em>Pichia kudriavzevii</em> RWT. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of <em>ERG11, LAP2,</em> and <em>URE2</em> following exposure to 30 ppb AFB1, supporting activation pathways involved in AFB1 biotransformation and glutathione conjugation. Collectively, these findings indicate that DAP4 possesses an active molecular detoxification response to AFB1. Although adsorption cannot be completely excluded, the coordinated transcriptional activation of detoxification genes suggests that enzymatic detoxification contributes substantially to AFB1 removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104211"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731687","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":"Retraction notice to “SPAR methods reveal high genetic diversity within populations and moderate gene flow of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) germplasm” [Biocatal. Agric. Biotechnol. 29 (2020) 101760]","authors":"Sinchan Adhikari,&nbsp;Anindita Biswas,&nbsp;Soumen Saha,&nbsp;Arijit Biswas,&nbsp;Parthadeb Ghosh","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104152","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104152"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melatonin and melatonin-functionalized quantum dots enhance antioxidant defense, attenuate cadmium uptake, and improve yield performance in bread wheat under cadmium stress","authors":"Shiza Mukhtar,&nbsp;Samina Bibi,&nbsp;Muhammad Anas,&nbsp;Munaza Mehreen,&nbsp;Umar Masood Quraishi","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cadmium (Cd) pollution from industrial activities poses a severe threat to agricultural productivity and food safety, particularly in developing countries. This study explores the potential of melatonin in mitigating Cd toxicity in wheat by applying it in two forms: melatonin-coated carbon quantum dots (MQDs) and natural melatonin extract (NM). MQDs were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and confirmed through UV–Vis, photoluminescence spectroscopy, FTIR, and zeta potential analyses. Two wheat cultivars, SKD-1 (metal-tolerant) and Pak-13 (metal-resistant), were grown under Cd stress (50 mg/kg), with treatments of MQDs and NM at 50 and 100 ppm applied through seed priming. This study is first to directly compare melatonin-coated quantum dots with natural melatonin extract in wheat under Cd stress, demonstrating a novel and more effective approach for mitigating Cd toxicity. Melatonin treatments significantly enhanced growth, photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, carotenoids), urease activity, nitrate and ammonia content, and antioxidant defense. Melatonin treatments improved growth, photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, carotenoids), urease activity, nitrate and ammonia content, and strengthened both enzymatic (SOD, CAT, POD, APX) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (TPC, TFC, TAC, DPPH, FRAP), reducing oxidative damage markers like H₂O₂, MDA, and proline. Notably, wheat plants treated with cadmium with 50 ppm of natural melatonin (Cd-NM50) reduced Cd accumulation in SKD-1 grains. Morphological traits such as plant height, tillers, biomass, and grain yield improved, with Cd-MQDs50 showing the most pronounced effects. Stress tolerance indices (STI, MP, GMP, HM, YSI, YI) confirmed enhanced resilience, especially under Cd-MQDs50 treatment. Overall, this study identifies melatonin-coated quantum dots as a potential, environmentally benign nanobiotechnological technique for reducing cadmium toxicity, increasing wheat yield, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices in heavy metal-contaminated soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104214"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770675","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}