Phosphate Application Research Articles

Productivity and Nutrition of Conilon Coffee (Coffea canephora) in Response to Slow-Realease Fertilizers

ABSTRACT The low availability of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in the soil is a determining factor in coffee plant productivity. To increase productivity technologies in fertilizers have been developed to improve the use of P and N by plants. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and nutrition of the conilon coffee tree from the application of phosphate and nitrogen slow-release fertilizers. The experiment was conduced in the field and followed a randomized block design, with three replications, in a 3 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with three phosphate fertilizers (conventional monoammonium phosphate – CONV; conventional monoammonium phosphate coated with polymer – POL; and monoammonium phosphate conventional pelletized with filter cake – ORG); two amounts of phosphate fertilizers (Q100 = 100% of the amount of phosphate fertilizer; Q150 = 150% of the amount of phosphate fertilizer); and two nitrogen fertilizers (conventional urea – UC and conventional polymer-coated urea – UP). The experiment was conducted during two coffee harvests (2017/2018 and 2018/2019). Slow-release phosphate fertilizers (POL + ORG), when compared to CONV, showed higher productivity of processed coffee beans, representing an increase in productivity of 6.79% (5067,6 kg ha−1) and 11.62% (6048 kg ha−1) in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 harvests, respectively. The application of slow-release phosphate fertilizers (POL + ORG), in relation to CONV, also resulted in higher foliar P contents in some phenological stages of the coffee tree.

Achieving Thermally Stable YAl3-xGax(BO3)4:Cr3+ Near-Infrared Emitting Phosphors via Chemical Substitution for Plant Growth LEDs.

Indoor plant cultivation has been receiving increased attention due to concerns about sustainable agricultural production. Phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) offer substantial promise as lighting solutions for regulating plant growth. However, the quest for high-performance phosphors with precise responsiveness to far-red phytochromes poses a challenge. Our study proposes a chemical substitution strategy to develop near-infrared (NIR) phosphors, YAl3-xGax(BO3)4:Cr3+. Benefiting from Ga3+ replacement of Al3+, a red shift in the NIR emission of YAl3-xGax(BO3)4:Cr3+ is realized to attain a good alignment with far-red phytochrome absorption centering at 730 nm. The optimized YAl2.5Ga0.5(BO3)4:Cr3+ exhibits a favorable quantum yield of 71.8% and robust thermal stability of 101.0%@423 K, owing to local structural distortion and thermal repopulation caused by Ga3+ incorporation. The fabricated pc-LED combined with the phosphor yields an NIR output power of 40.9 mW and a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 15.4% at 100 mA. Plant growth experiments demonstrate that under NIR illumination from the devices, the average lengths of pea roots and stems gain 127 and 225% promotion, respectively, further highlighting the potential of YAl2.5Ga0.5(BO3)4:Cr3+ phosphors for applications in plant cultivation.

Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Phosphate (Li3PO4) as a Solid Electrolyte

Due to its high thermal stability, environmental friendliness, and safety, lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) is used as a solid electrolyte in battery applications, but it is usually used with dopants due to its lower ionic conductivity, which is required for ion transport. However, due to its stability and environmentally friendly aspect, lithium phosphate is still a hot topic among suitable energy materials that need further research to improve its electrochemical properties. In the current work, a novel synthesis of lithium phosphate was proposed from the raw materials lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na3PO4*12H2O) under suitable stoichiometric conditions using the co-precipitation method. In the set of synthesized samples, a single-phase β-Li3PO4 (named LPO-4) with 99.7% purity and 93.49% yield was successfully prepared under appropriate stoichiometric conditions and pH 13 at 90 °C. The average particle size was 10 nm with a large surface area of 9.02 m2g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of LPO-4 revealed a conductivity of 7.1 × 10−6 S.cm−1 at room temperature and 2.7 × 10−5 S.cm−1 at 80 °C with a low activation energy of 0.38 eV. This performance is attributed to the morphology of the nanotubes and the smaller particle size, which enlarge the reaction interfaces and shorten the diffusion distance of lithium ions. The kinetic and thermodynamic key parameters showed that the β-Li3PO4 exhibits thermal stability in the room temperature range up to 208.8 °C. All these property values indicate a promising application of lithium phosphate as a solid electrolyte in solid-state batteries and a new route for further investigation.

Three‐Photon Upconversion Luminescence of Gd2O2S: Ho3+, Er3+ for High‐Sensitivity FIR Thermometer and Multimode Anti‐Counterfeiting

AbstractThe performance control and multidimensional applications of upconversion phosphor have become the hotspot and difficulty in current research and application due to the complex luminescence mechanism. Based on the efficient Gd2O2S: Er3+ upconversion luminescence of 1550 nm excitation and design strategy for co‐doped materials, the multicolor (light green to red) and multifunctional upconversion phosphor Gd2O2S: Er3+, Ho3+ is successfully prepared. Benefiting from the clear mechanism of three‐photon upconversion and energy transfer after co‐doping, the novel applications of Gd2O2S: Er3+, Ho3+ can greatly be expanded. This phosphor can be well used as a fluorescence thermometer due to the higher sensitivity (2.46% K−1@170 K), wider temperature sensing range (170–267 K, Sr > 1% K−1), and greater color variation (Δx = 0.2416, Δy = 0.2483) relative to Gd2O2S: Er3+ and other same type of material. In addition, multiple patterns and encoded outputs are also effectively achieved by the combination of phosphors under multiple light stimuli response. This shows the greater application potential of phosphor in the fields of anti‐counterfeiting and information encryption. This study can also provide a new view to study the more high‐performance and multifunctional upconversion phosphor.

Concentration-Dependent NIR emission of Cr3+ in a Two-site Occupancy within K4Ga3Ta(PO4)6

Near-infrared (NIR) light sources have been widely used in spectroscopy. The multi-lattice site occupation strategy is an effective approach to realize the multifunctional application of phosphors. Here, a novel double lattice site-occupied K4Ga3Ta(PO4)6:Cr3+ phosphor is reported. The concentration-dependent luminescence properties of two-site Cr3+ were investigated. The Cr1 site has a dominant role in the luminescence performance of the material. When x = 0.15, the Cr1 site has the highest luminescence percentage, and K4Ga2.85Ta(PO4)6:0.15Cr3+ shows the best luminescence performance. Under 463nm excitation, the emission peak of K4Ga2.85Ta(PO4)6:0.15Cr3+ is centered at 873nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is 188nm. The fabricated NIR device with this material shows potential applications in night vision, compositional analysis, and bio-imaging.

Customized Cyan Phosphors for Efficient Full-Spectrum Illumination and Fingerprint Detection.

Traditional lighting methods have environmental and efficiency drawbacks. These methods are gradually being overshadowed by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) because of their superior color rendering and energy efficiency. In this study, color-tunable NaBa2(Ba/Sr/Ca)Si2O7F:Eu2+ phosphors are successfully designed by modulating the local crystal field environment through homodominant-group cation substitution, thereby allowing for a spectral shift from blue to bright cyan. Detailed structural analysis of the samples demonstrated the synthesis of high-quality solid-solution materials. A comprehensive examination of the phosphor crystal structure, photoluminescence properties, and fluorescence lifetime reveal that the cyan phosphor possesses a remarkable internal quantum efficiency (IQE = 93%) and low thermal quenching characteristics (I423 K/I303 K = 84%). The results illustrate the critical role of Eu2+-activated cyan phosphors in reducing the spectral gap to attain a natural white-light spectrum, which is indispensable for achieving high color fidelity. The practical application of cyan phosphors in the fabrication of high-performance white LED (WLED) (Ra = 96.8) and fingerprint detection is validated, demonstrating their extensive utility in enhancing visual accuracy and identification.

Spraying KH2PO4 Alleviates the Damage of Spring Low-Temperature Stress by Improving the Physiological Characteristics of Wheat Flag Leaves.

The low-temperature stress (LTS) in spring results in tremendous yield loss in wheat production, and the application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) can alleviate stress-induced damage. However, the underlying effect of spraying KH2PO4 on the physiological characteristics of wheat flag leaves under spring LTS remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of spraying KH2PO4 on flag leaf physiological traits and yield under spring LTS, including treatments at 15 °C and spraying H2O (CK), treatment at -4 °C and spraying H2O (LT1), and treatment at -4 °C and spraying KH2PO4 (LT2). The results showed that spraying KH2PO4 significantly increased the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), the peroxidase (POD), and the catalase (CAT), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the flag leaves. Compared to LT1, the SOD, POD, and CAT activities in the flag leaves of the Yangnong19 (YN19) and Xinmai26 (XM26) via LT2 increased by 5.5%, 10.9%, and 3.9%, and 5.4%, 9.2%, and 4.4%, respectively, and the MDA content of the YN19 and XM26 decreased by 10.5% and 9.1%, respectively, at 0-12 d after low temperature treatment (DALTT). Spraying KH2PO4 appreciably alleviated damage to the leaf cell morphology and tissue integrity, and increased the accumulation of proline and soluble protein, the chlorophyll content, and the activities of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The net photosynthetic rate in the flag leaves of the YN19 and XM26 via LT2 increased by 37.9% and 35.9%, respectively, at 0-12 DALTT, compared to LT1. Moreover, spraying KH2PO4 reduced the yield loss rate of the YN19 and XM26 by 13.06% and 16.72%, respectively. The present study demonstrates that spraying KH2PO4 can enhance wheat resistance to spring LTS and maintain the photosynthetic capacity of flag leaves, alleviating the negative effects of LTS on grain yield.

Integrating field surveys and remote sensing to optimize phosphorus resource management for rainfed rice production in the Central plateau of Burkina Faso.

Rice production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is restricted by low water availability, soil fertility, and fertilizer input, and phosphate rock (PR) application is expected to increase production. Soil water conditions and soil types affect the efficacy of phosphorus fertilization in improving productivity. However, these factors are rarely discussed together. In this study, we aimed to investigate the soil types and soil water conditions in the fields, as well as their effects on rice productivity after phosphorus fertilization, and optimize the findings using remote sensing techniques. A soil profiling survey, followed by a field experiment in seven farmer fields, was performed in the Central plateau of Burkina Faso. The following treatments were applied: nitrogen and potassium fertilization without phosphorus (NK), PR application with NK (NK+PR), and triple super phosphate (TSP) application with NK (NK+TSP). Submergence duration and cumulative water depth were recorded manually. The inundation score, estimated using a digital elevation model, explained the distribution of soil types and soil water conditions and correlated negatively with sand content and positively with silt and clay content, indicating an illuvial accumulation of fine soil particles with nutrient transportation. The field experiment showed that although grain yield was significantly restricted by phosphorus deficiency, the increase in yield after phosphorus fertilization was higher in Lixisols and Luvisols than in Cambisols because of the low Bray-2-phosphorus content of Lixisols and Luvisols. The inundation score correlated positively with grain yields after NK+PR and NK+TSP treatments. In conclusion, soils with low inundation scores (mainly Lixisols and Luvisols) showed a drastic increase in grain yield after TSP application, whereas those with high inundation scores showed comparable yields after PR and TSP application despite the low phosphorus fertilization effect. Our findings would help optimize fertilization practices to increase rice productivity in SSA.

Defect-Enabled Superior Negative Thermal Quenching in Palmierite Ba9La(VO4)7:Eu3+ for WLED In Situ Temperature Measuring.

Negative thermal quenching (NTQ) of the phosphors is critically important for both scientific research and practical applications, but the design of efficient NTQ phosphors is still a challenging task. Herein, we report a new strategy for developing NTQ materials by cation-vacancy engineering. Specifically, a new color-tunable Ba9La1-x(VO4):xEu3+ (BLVO:xEu3+) phosphor with abundant intrinsic cation vacancy was developed, exhibiting superior NTQ behavior under 365 nm excitation. The NTQ performance can be modulated via adjusting Eu3+ doping levels, and the emission intensity of Eu3+ ions in the BLVO:0.20Eu3+ phosphor increased by 275% at 473 K compared to room temperature. Furthermore, the reported material emitting bright white light under 365 nm excitation was well-suited for use in white light-emitting diode (WLED) phosphor and fluorescent temperature sensors, exhibiting outstanding color-rendering index (90.1) in lighting and high sensitivity (Sa = 11.83% K-1, Sr = 2.33% K-1) in temperature detecting. Lastly, the operating temperature of WLED at different currents can be monitored and displayed in real time through emission spectroscopy. All of the results demonstrated that the designed NTQ BLVO:xEu3+ can be used as a single-phase white phosphor and optical thermometry. This work provides a fresh perspective for designing high-efficient NTQ phosphors and expands the application of phosphors in WLED in situ temperature detection.

The Influence of Pressure on the Electronic and Elastic Characteristics of GaP Nanocrystals using Density Functional Theory

The electronic structural and mechanical properties of III-V Gallium Phosphide (GaP) nano-crystals zinc-blende stable (ZB) phase under pressure dependence have been studied via the model of the density functional theory (DFT) in combination with the large unit cell (LUC) approach at (8, 16, 54 & 64) atoms. The exchanges and correlations (XC) energy has been defined in all approaches through generalized gradient approximations of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE), and determination of GaP characteristics in the case where the pressure has been increased from 0GPa to ±50GPa. Elastic parameters like elastic constants (C11, C12 & C44), Kleinmann parameter (ξ), Zener anisotropic factor (A), shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (v), Bulk modules (B) of GaP-ZB structure have been calculated and showed systematic variation with a pressure increase. Our calculations show that Bulk modules and sound speed increase with an increase in the number of core atoms. In this systematic approach, it has been found that the B/G ratio is 1.58 for this compound and it exhibits a negative Cauchy pressure, classifying GaP as brittle. The results were discovered to be consistent with other theoretical as well as experimental results. The present study directly relates to the latest experimental works on the III-phosphide compounds. The current results provide information and direction for further investigation into the fundamentals and potential applications of gallium phosphate (GaP) nanocrystals. In addition, we attempted to compare the results of the investigation with some similar types of compounds that are already documented in the literature. We believe that our study will have a significant impact on both the field of research and contemporary technology based on semi-conducting materials.

Quantitatively Deciphering the Local Structure and Luminescence Spectroscopy of Pr3+-Doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride.

Praseodymium (Pr3+)-doped LiYF4 nanophosphors have garnered significant interest for their potential applications in lasers, phosphors, and quantum memories. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive research on the local coordination environment and luminescence spectroscopy of Pr3+:LiYF4 nanocrystals. This study presents the first investigation of the ground-state structure of Pr3+:LiYF4 crystals by employing the crystal structure prediction method, and a [PrF8]5- ligand complex with S4 local symmetry is determined. The complete energy levels of the Pr3+ ions in LiYF4 nanocrystals are unveiled by using our newly developed well-established parametrization matrix diagonalization method. A novel set of free-ion and crystal-field parameters is derived through a good simulation with 45 experimental energy levels. Many of the emissions of Pr3+-doped LiYF4 are successfully reproduced based on Judd-Ofelt theory, and these transitions are comparable to the experimental ones. Moreover, two new prominent emission bands with their peaks at 675 and 849 nm originating from 1I6 → 3F4 and 1I6 → 1G4 transitions, respectively, are predicted by us for the first time. This study could provide a feasible method to search for practical laser transition channels of solid-state lasers based on Pr3+: LiYF4 nanophosphors.

Soil properties and yield of mung bean [VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK] as influenced by tillage and phosphorous fertilizer management on sandy loam soil in Chitwan, Nepal

Phosphorous application combined with a variety of tillage methods promotes the growth and development of mungbeans and sustainably improves soil health. A field experiment was conducted in Mangalpur, Nepal from February to May of 2021 and 2022 to investigate the impact of varying tillage practices and phosphorous doses on the growth, development, and yield of mung beans, while also analyzing changes in soil physicochemical properties on sandy loam soil. The research was conducted in a 2-factorial split-plot design with three replications. After completion of the study, the plant height (59.43 cm), nodule plant-1 (15.84), pod plant−1 (23.65), and seed yield (1087.76 kgha−1) were significantly higher when phosphorous was applied at 40 kgha−1 and 60 kgha−1. Among different tillage practices, significantly greater plant height (57.21 cm), nodule per plant (15.76), pod plant−1 (24.99), seed pod-1 (10.76), seed yield (1089.92 kgha−1), and 1000-seed weight (48.23 g) were observed in conventional tillage. P at 60 kgha−1 resulted in significantly higher total soil nitrogen (0.207 %) and available P (30.65 kgha−1). Similarly, for tillage practices, statistically higher total soil nitrogen (0.23 %) and available phosphorous (32.45 kgha−1) were observed in zero tillage practices. Furthermore, pH was seen to be significantly higher in conventional tillage (6.12) followed by strip (5.79). A combination of conventional tillage with 40 kgha−1 was observed better in short-term conditions however, for better growth and yield of mung bean and sustainable health of the soil, zero tillage with 40 kgha−1 phosphorous can be suggested for sandy loam soil and environmental conditions present in the study site in the long-term.

Optimizing phosphate application to improve soil quality and reduce phosphorus loss in rice-wheat rotation

How to determine the optimal dosage of phosphorus (P) fertilizer input for an agricultural field is important to maintain soil quality and crop production while minimizing environmental impact. In this study, we set up a 5-year rice-wheat rotation with contrasting P fertilization treatments (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 kg P2O5 ha−1, hereafter, P0, P25, P50, P75, P100, and P150, respectively) per season to explore the relationship between the amount of P input and crop yield, P use efficiency (PUE), balance of P accumulation and loss, ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF), and soil quality. Our results indicate that increased P amounts significantly boosted rice and wheat production of both straw and grain, but the tendency slowed down when the input was over 75 kg P2O5 ha−1. The PUE declined with increased P input and soil P balance of 50 kg P2O5 ha−1 for wheat and 100 kg P2O5 ha−1 for rice. Runoff emerges as the main pathway for soil P loss and escalates with higher P application rates. We emphasize increasing ridge height and controlling water input for basal fertilizer to minimize P loss. The application of P fertilizer increased the soil P pool, with labile P (L-P) and moderately labile P (M-P) increasing by 13–114 % and 23–111 %, respectively, compared to P0. The transformation of M-P to L-P in paddy soil is associated with an increased abundance of Actinobacteria. Low P applications (P25 and P50) increased EMF by 3.27 and 3.58 times, while high P applications (P75, P100, and P150) decreased EMF. Furthermore, P application significantly improved the soil quality index (SQI) compared to P0. The impact of abiotic factors on yield and P loss is more significant than that of biotic elements, with the SQI serving as a dependable indicator for predicting yield. Central to minimizing P loss while maximizing yield is the reduction of Resin-P content and the maintenance of NaOH-Pi levels, suggesting that organic materials may be a good alternative strategy. These findings provide valuable data and theoretical support for optimizing P application in rice-wheat cropping systems, promoting a mutually beneficial scenario for agricultural production and ecological protection.

Pengaruh Bulai pada Perubahan Indeks Kadar Klorofil, Serapan Fosforus dan Boron pada Jagung Manis

Maize production and quality are affected by infection with plant pathogens. One of the maize's essential and main diseases is downy mildew caused by Peronosclerospora spp. Downy mildew is a limiting factor in increasing production and can reduce production by 80-100%. It is because the affected plant cannot produce cobs. Pathogens obtain nutrients from the host cell, which can kill the cell and damage the surrounding tissues, resulting in visible downy mildew symptoms. Boron (B) plays a role in forming phloem, increasing the fruit's number, weight, bunch weight, and diameter. The primary function of B at the molecular level is the cross-linking of pectin in the plant cell wall. Ramnogalacturonan II (RG II) is a pectic polysaccharide that contributes to the mechanical strength and properties of the primary wall cross-linked by borate diesters. Phosphorus (P) controls the downsides in the greenhouse and field conditions. This study aims to measure changes in chlorophyll index, P and B uptakes in downy mildew affected plants. The field experiment used a group randomized design with six natural phosphate (FA) application treatments and four groups of borax doses as replicates. The results showed that the downy mildew decreased the chlorophyll index of the leaves at different levels of attack. The results of P concentration according to the position of healthy plant leaves were significantly different due to P treatment. In contrast to concentration B, there is no real difference. P and B uptake results in downy mildew-infested plants showed a significant difference only in P uptake in leaves with 1 FA treatment. Keywords: boron, downy mildew, maize, phosphate

Effect of rock phosphate direct application on tropical legumes under different soil types of Sudan Savanna

ABSTRACT Direct application of low-grade rock phosphate (RP) is a less expensive alternative than the application of chemical phosphorus (P) for small holders relying on nutrient-deficient weathered soils. However, the effect of RP application on growth and yield is unstable for different crop species and soil water conditions. To identify legume species effective for RP direct application, five tropical legumes (cowpea, groundnut, bambara nut, mung bean, and soybean) were tested under two soil types with different water-holding capacities in Sudan Savanna; Lixisols and Plinthosols. The experiment was conducted under three conditions of P treatment, namely, RP application, triple super phosphate (TSP) application, and no phosphorus fertilizer application (0P). Under RP treatment, higher grain yield was obtained in Lixisols, which had a higher water-holding capacity. However, the yield increase was suppressed in the year with more rainfall owing to drastic changes in the soil moisture content, which caused excessive soil moisture stress during vegetative growth periods. Among the five legume species, cowpea and groundnut showed higher grain yields under the RP treatment than did other species. RP application increased shoot biomass but caused small changes in the shoot P and N concentrations. Soybean in Plinthosols had the highest yield ratio of RP/0P, but the absolute yield was low because of the insufficient soil water availability caused by the low water-holding capacity. RP direct application can assist shoot growth and yield, but it rarely compensates for basal yield differences between soil types and among legume species.

Impact of PGRs, polyamines and potassium to improve pomegranate flowering behaviour, fruit set and fruit quality

Ever changing climate is affecting the flowering pattern in pomegranate worldwide. It is the need of the hour to find out some chemicals that can not only enhance hermaphrodite flowers and fruit set but also enhance fruit quality. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators (three), polyamines (two) and other chemicals (five) on photosynthesis, flowering ratio, fruit set and quality of pomegranate fruits. Pomegranate trees were treated at full leaf expansion stage. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (5000 ppm), spermidine (1.5 ppm) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (20 ppm) were the best treatments to significantly enhance hermaphrodite flowers, as the hermaphrodite to male flower ratio was 0.39, 0.37, and 0.35, respectively, compared to 0.22 in the control treatment. Except spermidine, NAA and paclobutrazol, all treatments increased the fruit setting significantly, with potassium dihydrogen phosphate (5000 ppm) being the most effective treatment with 66% fruit set compared to 43% in control trees. In mature fruits, compared to control, NAA enhanced total phenols, ascorbic acid and total antioxidants (3%, 15%, 7%, respectively) followed by ascorbic acid treatment (250 ppm); potassium dihydrogen phosphate (5000 ppm) and putrescine (44 ppm) enhanced the anthocyanin content and hence aril color significantly (11% and 10% respectively). Though the use of NAA in pomegranate production is commercial practice, two sprays of ascorbic acid can also be included to enhance the nutritional quality of fruits. Foliar application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate twice at flowering stage could be highly useful for quality pomegranate production due to the enhanced number of hermaphrodite flowers, fruit setting and fruit color. Overall, use of these chemicals can be beneficial to pomegranate farmers to get more remuneration from harvest.

Preharvest applications of monopotassium phosphate to improve fruit quality and volatilome composition in cold-stored cherry tomatoes

The experiment addressed the effects of preharvest KH2PO4 foliar spraying (20 mmol · L−1) on fruit quality and composition (including volatile organic compounds, VOCs) of cherry tomatoes (‘Caravaggio’, ‘Sugarland’ and ‘Top Stellina’) after 0 (S0), 7 (S7) and 14 days (S14) of storage at 8.0 °C. On the average of the 3 genotypes, the KH2PO4 treatment improved fruit pressure firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), total phenols and carotenoids concentrations, along with the fruits' antioxidant capacity (by up to 17% for FRAP assay). Within the S7–S14 period, control fruits showed the highest reductions in TSS, TSS/TA ratio and total carotenoids (−17, −12 and −45, respectively), whereas treated fruits proved the strongest increase in DPPH (+12%). Sixteen out of 32 VOCs were promoted following KH2PO4 application, including the aldehydes hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenal and the apocarotenoids (E)-citral, (E)-β-ionone, geranylacetone and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Proceeding from S0 to S14, several VOCs decreased more strongly in control fruits, as for hexanal (−48%∖) and total aldehydes (−42%∖, whereas at S14 treated fruits had higher concentrations of linalool, geranylacetone and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (1.06, 52.50 and 79.27 μg · kg−1, respectively). ‘Caravaggio’ demonstrated the strongest apocarotenoid reduction at S14, whereas ‘Top Stellina’ was more responsive to KH2PO4 (mainly for β-cyclocitral, geranylacetone and total terpenes/terpenoids), thus highlighting the central role of the genotype in responding to other experimental factors. Nonetheless, these results suggest that proper preharvest KH2PO4 applications can preserve specific commercial, nutritional and quality traits of cold-stored cherry tomatoes.

Exploring inorganic phosphors: basics, types, fabrications and their luminescence properties for LED/WLED/displays

Abstract The utilization of phosphors in lighting and display applications has garnered significant attention due to their unique luminescent properties and versatile crystal structures. This review article comprehensively examines recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nitride and sulfide phosphors. This article addresses various phosphor crystal structures, including perovskite, garnet, nitride sulfide, fabrications strategies, and their impact on the optical and electronic properties. Furthermore, the review highlights the role of doping and activator ions in tailoring the emission characteristics of nitride and sulfide phosphors, enabling precise control over color rendering and efficiency. Additionally, the article also discusses emerging trends in phosphor technology, such as the development of novel synthesis methods and the integration of phosphors into next-generation lighting and display devices. The basic properties of phosphor materials like CRI, CIE chromaticity coordinates, quantum efficiencies are well discussed. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into the current state of research and future directions in the field of phosphors offering potential avenues for further advancements in lighting and display technologies.

DUV electroluminescence from Bi3+-doped bi-phase yttrium phosphate

Trivalent-doped tetragonal xenotime yttrium orthophosphate phosphors have attracted significant attention as promising materials for deep ultraviolet (DUV) luminescence. In this study, we achieved DUV electroluminescence (EL) using Bi3+-doped bi-phase yttrium phosphate (YPB) phosphor under an AC-driven sinusoidal waveform. Phosphor powder was synthesized via a solid-state reaction with an optimal Bi3+ concentration. The phosphor exhibited a mixed phase of xenotime tetragonal YPO4 and monoclinic Y(PO3). We suggest that the mixed phase within the phosphor particles plays a crucial role in enhancing light generation via a bipolar field emission mechanism in the developed powder-based EL device. It emitted a narrow-band DUV emission spectrum peaking at 243 nm, which was attributed to the 3P1 → 1S0 transition of the Bi3+ ions within the mixed host lattices. Moreover, it has a lower voltage application than the excimer lamp DUV sources. The application of the YPB phosphor in EL devices presents an appealing outlook for future advancements in the development of DUV sources.

Phosphorus-induced restructuring of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and lignin biosynthesis alleviates manganese toxicity in peach roots.

Manganese (Mn) is indispensable for plant growth, but its excessive uptake in acidic soils leads to toxicity, hampering food safety. Phosphorus (P) application is known to mitigate Mn toxicity, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted physiological and transcriptomic analyses of peach roots response to P supply under Mn toxicity. Manganese treatment disrupted root architecture and caused ultrastructural damage due to oxidative injury. Notably, P application ameliorated the detrimental effects and improved the damaged roots by preventing the shrinkage of cortical cells, epidermis and endodermis, as well as reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Transcriptomic analysis revealed the differentially expressed genes enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, cysteine, methionine and glutathione metabolism under Mn and P treatments. Phosphorus application upregulated the transcripts and activities of core enzymes crucial for lignin biosynthesis, enhancing cell wall integrity. Furthermore, P treatment activated ascorbate-glutathione cycle, augmenting ROS detoxification. Additionally, under Mn toxicity, P application downregulated Mn uptake transporter while enhancing vacuolar sequestration transporter transcripts, reducing Mn uptake and facilitating vacuolar storage. Collectively, P application prevents Mn accumulation in roots by modulating Mn transporters, bolstering lignin biosynthesis and attenuating oxidative stress, thereby improving root growth under Mn toxicity. Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of P-mediated alleviation of Mn stress and strategies for managing metal toxicity in peach orchards.