Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Antibacterial effects of Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil and its major compounds thymol and carvacrol against Acidovorax citrulli: Impacts on growth, biofilm formation, motility, and membrane permeability","authors":"Tamiris A.C. Santos,&nbsp;Ana Paula Alves Matos,&nbsp;Larissa de Souza Gois,&nbsp;Fabiany de Andrade Brito,&nbsp;Arie Fitzgerald Blank,&nbsp;Paulo Roberto Glagliardi,&nbsp;Roberta P.M. Fernandes","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104213","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Acidovorax citrulli</em> is a Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch in cucurbit crops, a highly destructive disease for which no commercially available resistant cultivars are available. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of volatile compounds with diverse biological activities. <em>Lippia gracilis</em> EOs are rich in the monoterpenes thymol and carvacrol, both recognized for their antimicrobial properties. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of EOs from seven <em>L. gracilis</em> accessions and their major constituents, thymol and carvacrol, against <em>A. citrulli</em>. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), bacterial growth, biofilm formation, membrane permeability, and swimming motility were assessed. All EOs inhibited bacterial growth by more than 97.4% at 1000 μg mL⁻¹. The lowest MIC values were obtained for LGRA106 EO (500 μg mL⁻¹), thymol, and carvacrol (250 μg mL⁻¹). LGRA106 EO, thymol, and carvacrol at 1× and 2× MIC significantly reduced bacterial growth within 30 min. Thymol and LGRA106 EO inhibited biofilm formation by more than 95% at their respective MICs and increased bacterial membrane permeability within 5 min of exposure, <strong>indicating rapid membrane permeabilization following exposure.</strong> In addition, thymol significantly reduced swimming motility at ½×, ¼×, and ⅛× MIC, whereas carvacrol was effective at ½× and ¼× MIC. These findings demonstrate that <em>L. gracilis</em> EOs, particularly LGRA106 EO, together with thymol and carvacrol, exhibit potent antibacterial activity against <em>A. citrulli</em> and represent promising natural alternatives for the sustainable management of bacterial fruit blotch.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104213"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731061","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":"Microbial additive and biochar co-application enhances biotransformation of kelp waste into nitrogen-retentive, humified biofertilizer with high agronomic efficiency","authors":"Min Xie,&nbsp;Dawei Feng,&nbsp;Derui Wang,&nbsp;Yiran Han","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kelp processing generates substantial quantities of organic residues that require environmentally sustainable management. In this study, kelp waste was co-composted with corn starch residue for 42 days. Three treatments were established: a control (kelp + corn starch residue, C1), a microbial additive treatment (C2), and a combined biochar and microbial additive treatment (C3). The effects of microbial additive and biochar on nitrogen retention, humification, and agronomic performance were evaluated. Compared with the control, C3 reduced ammonia emissions by 65.26%, resulting in improved nitrogen conservation. It also promoted the transformation of humification precursors, including reducing sugars, amino acids, and polyphenols, thereby accelerating humification. At the end of composting, C3 exhibited the highest humic substances (184.07 g/kg), humic acid (HA, 144.90 g/kg), and HA/FA ratio (3.70), together with the lowest fulvic acid (FA, 39.17 g/kg). The microbial additive treatment (C2) also improved compost quality by reducing electrical conductivity and ammonia emissions, enhancing nitrogen conservation, increasing enzyme activities, and promoting humification and plant growth. The germination index reached 114.25%, 160.96%, and 161.87% in C1, C2, and C3, respectively, with both amended treatments showing markedly higher values than the control. Pot experiments further confirmed the superior agronomic performance of C3, with fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, root length, and SPAD value increasing by 59.46%, 64.54%, 26.20%, 2.70%, and 2.96%, respectively, compared with the control. Overall, the combined application of biochar and microbial additive effectively enhanced the biotransformation of kelp waste into a nitrogen-retentive, highly humified biofertilizer with improved agronomic performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104204"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731685","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":"Selective identification of the herb Picrorhiza kurroa and probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum as a potential synergistic synbiotic with fermentation-enhanced physicochemical, biological, and metabolomic properties","authors":"Amit Kumar,&nbsp;Bhawna Diwan,&nbsp;Mohd Adil Khan,&nbsp;Ankita Awasthi,&nbsp;Ekta Bala,&nbsp;Praveen Kumar Verma,&nbsp;Rohit Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although plant secondary metabolites can influence the gut microbiota, their prebiotic and synbiotic potential remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify new medicinal plant-probiotic combinations that exhibit potential prebiotic and synbiotic effects through mutual synergism and reciprocal interactions. Ten Himalayan medicinal plants were screened for selective prebiotic efficacy by assessing the in vitro proliferation of three species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the concurrent suppression of <em>Escherichia coli (E. coli)</em>. The most effective plants were further evaluated for synergism with LAB via fermentation, followed by physicochemical, biological, and metabolomic profiling. Among these plants, <em>Picrorhiza kurroa</em> (PK) and <em>Adhatoda vasica</em> (AV) demonstrated promising prebiotic qualities with prebiotic activity scores (PAS) of 0.50 and 0.44, respectively, while <em>Lactobacillus fermentum</em> (LF) proved to be the most compatible probiotic strain. Unlike AV, fermentation of PK with LF resulted in a significant increase in probiotic growth (2.2-fold), higher total flavonoids (21.16% increase), and enhanced antioxidant capacity (24.02% increase) compared to unfermented PK. Fermented PK notably enhanced cytoprotection and reduced oxidative damage (measured by ROS levels/lipid peroxidation) and inflammatory responses (NO/IL-6 levels) in macrophages and muscle cells subjected to exogenous stressors (LPS and H₂O₂). Elemental analysis and metabolomic profiling revealed that LF metabolised major PK elements (Ca/Fe/K/Na/Cu) and induced biotransformation of large secondary metabolites, including the characteristic iridoid glycosides, into smaller, more abundant compounds. Consequently, the PK-LF combination is identified as a potential synergistic synbiotic, and its fermented product is a superior bioactive material suitable for developing innovative nutraceuticals or herbal formulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104232"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148854133","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":"Effects of paper-mill industry treatment plant sewage sludge and Pseudomonas bacteria on soil biological characteristics and acidity reclamation","authors":"Bashir Ahmadi,&nbsp;Mohammad Bagher Farhangi,&nbsp;Nasrin Ghorbanzadeh,&nbsp;Maryam Khalili Rad","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two paper mill wastewater sludge (PMS) application rates—2% and 4% (w/w)— with and without <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. inoculation, on soil pH, organic carbon (OC), microbial respiration (MBR), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and cellulase activity in two acidic soils over a six-months incubation period. The soils had initial pH values of 4.62 (Soil-1) and 5.47 (Soil-2). PMS raised pH in both soils within the first month to 7.8 and 8.2 in Soil-1 and Soil-2, respectively, with greater increases at 4% and in Soil-2; <em>Pseudomonas</em> did not significantly affect pH. OC increased with PMS, more so when combined with bacteria, though it decreased over time. PMS markedly amplified MBR, especially in Soil-1, where the 4% PMS treatment yielded the highest response (0.6 mgCO₂ g_{dry soil} day⁻¹). MBC also rose, notably in Soil-2 at 2% PMS with bacteria inoculation (1.3 mgC g_{dry soil}⁻¹), indicating pH-dependent microbial responses. MBC trends mirrored those of MBR, initially increasing and then stabilizing or slowly declining. Both soils showed increased cellulase activity under PMS, more pronounced in Soil-1; bacteria sometimes modulated the trend differently between soils. The highest activity (380.46 μg GE g⁻¹ _{dry soil} day⁻¹) was recorded in the 4% PMS inoculated with bacteria. Overall, the combined use of PMS and <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp. represents a novel, low-cost strategy that simultaneously valorizes an industrial by-product and accelerates microbial-driven soil restoration — offering a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical amendments for managing degraded acidic soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104198"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148651148","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":"Physico-chemical analysis of Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke essential oil and its antimicrobial potential","authors":"Shagun Sharma,&nbsp;Ramesh Chandra Dubey","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ocimum kilimandscharicum</em> Guerke has been widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries because of its diverse therapeutic properties. The plant is currently utilized in pharmaceutical and fragrance industries due to the bioactive potential of its essential oil (EO). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics, phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of <em>O. kilimandscharicum</em> EO. Yield was found 0.42 ± 0.05% (v/w). GC-MS analysis revealed Epi-Bicyclosesquiphellandrene (10.74%), Dihydrocarvone (11.44%) and D-camphor (14.12%) as the chief phytoconstituents. ZOI of 10% <em>O. kilimandscharicum</em> EO (v/v) varied from 13.40 ± 0.04 mm to 17.42 ± 0.04 mm and 13.03 ± 0.05 mm to 15.96 ± 0.06 mm, while, 20% (v/v) EO resulted in ZOI ranging from 19.55 ± 0.04 mm to 23.53 ± 0.04 mm and 17.99 ± 0.01 mm to 22.13 ± 0.04 mm in agar well diffusion and disk diffusion method, respectively against some tested bacterial species. In antifungal assay, 10% <em>O. kilimandscharicum</em> EO caused ZOI 14.79 ± 0.08 mm with agar well and 14.05 ± 0.04 mm with disk diffusion method. Similarly, 20% showed 22.53 ± 0.06 mm and 22.81 ± 0.03 mm with agar well diffusion against <em>C. albicans</em> ATCC10231 and MTCC277, respectively, while 22.03 ± 0.03 mm and 22.13 ± 0.04 mm with disk diffusion method. <em>O. kilimandscharicum</em> EO demonstrated MIC of 0.078% in opposition to <em>E. coli</em> MTCC118 and <em>S. aureus</em> MTCC740, 0.3125% against <em>S. typhi</em> MTCC733, 0.078% against <em>K. pneumoniae</em> MTCC432 and 0.3125% against <em>L. monocytogenes</em> MTCC1143. Similarly, analysis of antifungal properties of <em>O. kilimndscharicum</em> EO divulged 0.625% MIC in opposition to <em>C. albicans</em> ATCC10231 together with MTCC277. Thus, the present analysis demonstrated that <em>O. kilimandscharicum</em> has good antibacterial and antifungal activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104203"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731060","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":"Microwave-induced eustress in Datura innoxia: Integrated photosynthetic, oxidative, and cellular responses to a low-dose hormetic elicitor","authors":"M. Masroor A. Khan,&nbsp;Tahoora Batool,&nbsp;Azhar Ali,&nbsp;Saif Ali Khan,&nbsp;M. Naeem,&nbsp;Mohammad Mukarram","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Both biotic and abiotic stresses induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), compromising plant physiology. However, the effects of microwave radiation on plant physiology remain poorly understood. We hypothesised that low-dose microwave radiation exposure would induce ROS accumulation in the alkaloid-producing plant <em>Datura innoxia. D. innoxia</em> plants were exposed to microwave radiation (2.45 GHz) for 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 s, and physiological responses were profiled across six parameter axes 48 h post-exposure. The 8-s exposure raised leaf surface temperature to ∼52°C and proved lethal, whereas sub-lethal exposures (≤4 s; ≤35.6°C) elicited a coordinated stimulatory response. A 4-second treatment increased chlorophyll (~36%) and electron transport rate (~70%) without impairing PSII integrity. Energy partitioning shifted from passive (Y(NO)) to regulated (Y(NPQ)) thermal dissipation as exposure dose increased, with the highest non-photochemical quenching at 4 s. A transient H₂O₂ burst at 2 s, visualised by DAB staining and accompanied by a ∼16% phenolic increase, preceded the photoprotective activation at 4 s. Malondialdehyde content rose monotonically with dose but remained within physiological range. Light microscopy revealed widened stomatal apertures at 2 s and prominently visible guard-cell chloroplasts at 4 s. Collectively, these findings indicate that brief microwave exposure operates as a non-damaging physical elicitor within a narrow dose window (≤4 s), offering a novel non-chemical avenue for modulating photosynthesis and oxidative status in medicinal plants. The sharp threshold between 4 s (stimulatory) and 8 s (lethal) underscores the dosimetric precision required to exploit microwave eustress in biotechnological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104207"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148731686","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":"From by-products to bio-shields: Citrus bergamia peel extract attenuates bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats by regulating inflammatory and redox pathways","authors":"Inès Jallali,&nbsp;Raja Srairi Beji,&nbsp;Wided Megdiche Ksouri","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and severe form of restrictive lung diseases. Treatment with synthetic antifibrotics showed significant slowing of IPF progression. However, they exhibited harmful side effects. Extensive studies on plant natural products has highlighted their significant therapeutic potential. In line with valorizing food processing by-products, this study characterized the phenolic profile and the antioxidant capacities of <em>Citrus bergamia</em> fruit peel extract. We also investigated its in vivo protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, focusing on the oxidative stress markers and histological evolution of parenchymal fibrosis. Peel extracts contained high amounts of total polyphenols (51 mg GAE.g⁻¹ DW), associated to important Total Antioxidant and antiradical activities (TAA, DPPH). The dose of 200 mg.kg⁻¹corresponded to the best concentration ensuring a better recovery of the body weight of the rats. Assessment of oxidative stress in lung tissue showed that treatment with <em>C. bergamia</em> extract restored MDA levels, fully reestablished the SOD, CAT, and GPx activities, especially when used at 400 mg kg⁻¹ of body weight doses. Histological analysis of parenchymal fibrosis degree and severity was assessed using the inflammatory index and fibrosis score. Doses of 200 and 400 mg kg⁻¹ were more effective than prednisone in correcting inflammation and thickening of the alveoli induced by bleomycin, while application of 400 mg kg⁻¹ dose negatively affected the rats body weight. Quantification of the collagen deposition by the Aniline blue-staining method demonstrated that <em>C. bergamia</em> peel extract exerted a potent, dose-dependent protective effect against bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104212"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770688","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":"Understanding insect pest diversity in stored Sorghum and Pearl millet: Evaluating the effectiveness of fumigation, biofumigation, and hermetic disinfestation approaches","authors":"Ambre Vicky Vilas,&nbsp;K. Bincy,&nbsp;D.G. Mokshith,&nbsp;S. Ezhil Vendan,&nbsp;C.S. Vivek Babu","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Significant post-harvest insect infestations hamper the production of millets despite their demand as a crucial food source. Limited data exists on the broad geographic diversity of these pests. This study assesses the pest diversity in stored millets. The Simpson index of stored pearl millet (0.21) is lower than that of sorghum (0.34), indicating a more diverse pest population. The presence of diverse stored-grain insect pests necessitates re-evaluating traditional pest control methods and exploring modern alternatives to safeguard stored millets. As a mitigation strategy, we have reassessed the use of phosphine (500 ppm) to prevent infestations by <em>Sitophilus oryzae</em> (SO) <em>and Oryzaephilus surinamensis</em> (OS). In addition, using hermetic storage bags to prevent SO, <em>Rhyzopertha dominica</em> (RD), and OS in stored millets showed that the commercial hermetic bag (HB2) exhibited 100% insecticidal activity against all insect types. The biocidal potential of essential oils of <em>Ocimum kilimandscharicum</em> (OK-EO) and <em>Ocimum basilicum</em> (OB-EO) was tested against RD and OS with sorghum, and detectable fumigant toxicity was observed from 10% EO concentration. 50% of OB-EO-treated grains showed no frass production even after 120 days. AChE inhibition was observed in RD (96.85%) and OS (95.47%) treated with 25% OK-EO. Docking analysis of the major components of OK-EO (Camphor) and OB-EO (Estragole) with the AChE enzyme revealed binding energies of −5.37 and −4.85 kcal/mol, respectively, suggesting strong binding to the AChE active site and potential inhibition of its activity. Thus, the current study highlights that millets are prone to infestation by stored-grain insects and can be effectively controlled through fumigation and hermetic approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104215"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770678","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":"Ocimum gratissimum essential oil functions as a biofumigant to suppress Ralstonia solanacearum virulence and bacterial wilt in tomato","authors":"Rosie Brahma,&nbsp;Anurag Kashyap,&nbsp;Bhaskar Dowarah,&nbsp;Alinaj Yasin,&nbsp;Sanjib Kumar Das,&nbsp;Prabhash Jyoti Mahanta,&nbsp;Manoj Kumar Deka,&nbsp;Bijoy Neog","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial wilt caused by <em>Ralstonia solanacearum</em> is a major constraint to tomato production, with limited eco-friendly management options. This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of thymol-rich <em>Ocimum gratissimum</em> essential oil (OgEO) as a plant-based biofumigant against bacterial wilt of tomato and explored its mode of action through biological and computational approaches. OgEO exhibited strong antibacterial activity against <em>R. solanacearum</em> under in vitro conditions, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 400 ppm and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 900 ppm. In greenhouse experiments, soil drench application of OgEO as a biofumigant significantly reduced wilt severity and bacterial colonization in tomato stems compared to the infected control and showed comparable or superior performance to copper oxychloride. OgEO treatment markedly suppressed key virulence determinants of <em>R. solanacearum</em>, including extracellular polysaccharide production and cellulase activity. Biochemical analyses further revealed reduced accumulation of phenolics and flavonoids in OgEO-treated plants, suggesting alleviation of pathogen-induced stress. Molecular docking analysis supported these findings by predicting favorable interactions between OgEO phytochemicals and proteins involved in bacterial adhesion, membrane integrity, metabolism, and stress tolerance. Collectively, the results indicate that OgEO suppresses bacterial wilt through a biofumigant-mediated multitarget mode of action involving direct antibacterial effects, attenuation of pathogen virulence, and modulation of host responses, highlighting its promise as an eco-friendly alternative for sustainable management of bacterial wilt in tomato.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104219"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148854113","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":"Biochar-amended soil and foliar-applied TiO2 nanoparticles: Mechanistic insights into chromium stress mitigation in rice","authors":"Muhammad Waseem,&nbsp;Saqib Ali,&nbsp;Muhammad Saim Talal,&nbsp;Tayyaba Akhtar","doi":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bcab.2026.104173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chromium (Cr) contamination in agricultural soils has become a critical environmental issue due to increasing anthropogenic activities, posing serious environmental issues. This study hypothesizes that the combined application of biochar (BC) as a soil amendment and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NP) as a foliar treatment would synergistically reduce Cr toxicity and improve the growth and physiological performance of rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.). The objectives were to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of BC and TiO₂-NP in immobilizing Cr in soil, (2) assess their impact on plant growth and biomass, and (3) examine changes in antioxidant defense systems and stress indicators in rice. A controlled pot experiment was conducted using Cr-contaminated soil with various treatment combinations, including BC amendment and foliar application of TiO₂-NP. BC was applied to the soil before planting, while TiO₂-NPs were applied as a foliar spray at a specific growth stage. Plant growth parameters, biomass production, and antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative stress markers, and nutrient uptake were systematically measured. The combined treatment (T6: BC + TiO₂-NP) showed the most pronounced improvement in plant performance. Compared to the control, the root and shoot dry biomass increased by 80% and 98%, respectively, while the root and shoot lengths increased by 39% and 96%, respectively. This treatment also significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, with superoxide dismutase (SOD) 56%, peroxidase (POD) 64%, and catalase (CAT) 80%, indicating improved defense against oxidative stress. Concurrently, stress indicators were markedly reduced, including electrolyte leakage (EL) 48%, malondialdehyde (MDA) 67%, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) 55%. Overall, the results demonstrate that the integrated use of biochar and TiO₂-NPs effectively mitigates Cr toxicity by improving soil conditions, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and promoting plant growth. This combined approach represents a cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly strategy for managing Cr-contaminated soils and ensuring safer crop production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8774,"journal":{"name":"Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 104173"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148637114","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}