Agricultural Applications Research Articles

Material-specific binding peptides empower sustainable innovations in plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and microplastic quantification.

Material-binding peptides (MBPs) have emerged as a diverse and innovation-enabling class of peptides in applications such as plant-/human health, immobilization of catalysts, bioactive coatings, accelerated polymer degradation and analytics for micro-/nanoplastics quantification. Progress has been fuelled by recent advancements in protein engineering methodologies and advances in computational and analytical methodologies, which allow the design of, for instance, material-specific MBPs with fine-tuned binding strength for numerous demands in material science applications. A genetic or chemical conjugation of second (biological, chemical or physical property-changing) functionality to MBPs empowers the design of advanced (hybrid) materials, bioactive coatings and analytical tools. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview comprising naturally occurring MBPs and their function in nature, binding properties of short man-made MBPs (<20 amino acids) mainly obtained from phage-display libraries, and medium-sized binding peptides (20-100 amino acids) that have been reported to bind to metals, polymers or other industrially produced materials. The goal of this review is to provide an in-depth understanding of molecular interactions between materials and material-specific binding peptides, and thereby empower the use of MBPs in material science applications. Protein engineering methodologies and selected examples to tailor MBPs toward applications in agriculture with a focus on plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and environmental monitoring serve as examples of the transformative power of MBPs for various industrial applications. An emphasis will be given to MBPs' role in detecting and quantifying microplastics in high throughput, distinguishing microplastics from other environmental particles, and thereby assisting to close an analytical gap in food safety and monitoring of environmental plastic pollution. In essence, this review aims to provide an overview among researchers from diverse disciplines in respect to material-(specific) binding of MBPs, protein engineering methodologies to tailor their properties to application demands, re-engineering for material science applications using MBPs, and thereby inspire researchers to employ MBPs in their research.

Isolation and Characterization of Insecticidal Cyclotides from Viola communis.

Cyclotides are cysteine-rich plant-derived peptides composed of 28-37 amino acids with a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and a knotted arrangement of three conserved disulfide bonds. Their beneficial biophysical properties make them promising molecules for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. The Violaceae plant family is the major cyclotide-producing family, and to date, every examined plant from this family has been found to contain cyclotides. The presence of cyclotides in Viola communis was inferred by mass spectroscopy previously, but their sequences and properties had yet to be explored. In this study, the occurrence of cyclotides in this plant was investigated using proteomics and transcriptomics. Twenty cyclotides were identified at the peptide level, including two new members from the bracelet (Vcom1) and Möbius (Vcom2) subfamilies. Structural analysis of these newly identified peptides demonstrated a similar fold compared with cyclotides from the same respective subfamilies. Biological assays of Vcom1 and Vcom2 revealed them to be cytotoxic to Sf9 insect cell lines, with Vcom1 demonstrating higher potency than Vcom2. The results suggest that they could be further explored as insecticidal agents and confirm earlier general findings that bracelet cyclotides have more potent insecticidal activity than their Möbius relatives. Seven new cyclotide-like sequences were observed in the transcriptome of V. communis, highlighting the Violaceae as a rich source for new cyclotides with potential insecticidal activity. An analysis of sequences flanking the cyclotide domain in the various precursors from V. communis and other Violaceae plants revealed new insights into cyclotide processing and suggested the possibility of two alternative classes of N-terminal processing enzymes for cyclotide biosynthesis.

Advances on anticancer fungal metabolites: sources, chemical and biological activities in the last decade (2012–2023)

Among microorganisms, fungi are the ones that have the most imagination in producing secondary metabolites with the most varied structural differences, which are produced through different biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, they synthesize secondary metabolites classifiable into numerous families of natural compounds such as amino acids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, aromatic compounds, cyclohexene epoxides, furanones, macrolides, naphthoquinones, polyketides, pyrones, terpenes, etc. They also produced metabolites with very complex structures that can not be classified in the known families of natural compounds. Many fungal metabolites show different biological activities with potential applications in agriculture, food chemistry, cosmetics, pharmacology and medicine. This review is focused on the fungal secondary metabolites with anticancer activity isolated in the last ten years. For some metabolites, when described, their biosynthetic origin, the mode of action and the results of structure activity relationships studies are also reported.Graphical

Irrigation with Artificial Intelligence: Problems, Premises, Promises

AbstractProtagonists allege that artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising contemporaneous mindscapes. Here, we authoritatively review the status quo of AI and machine learning application in irrigated agriculture, evaluating the potential of, and challenges associated with, a wide range of existential AI approaches. We contend that aspiring developers of AI irrigation systems may benefit from human-centred AI, a nascent algorithm that captures diverse end-user views, behaviours and actions, potentially facilitating refinement of proposed systems through iterative stakeholder feedback. AI-guided human–machine collaboration can streamline integration of user needs, allowing customisation towards situational farm management adaptation. Presentation of big data in intuitive, legible and actionable forms for specialists and laypeople also urgently requires attention: here, AI-explainable interpretability may help harness human expertise, enabling end-users to contribute their experience within an AI pipeline for bespoke outputs. Transfer learning holds promise in contextualising place-based AI to agroecological regions, production systems or enterprise mixes, even with limited data inputs. We find that the rate of AI scientific and software development in recent times has outpaced the evolution of adequate legal and institutional regulations, and often social, moral and ethical license to operate, revealing consumer issues associated with data ownership, legitimacy and trust. We opine that AI has great potential to elicit sustainable outcomes in food security, social innovation and environmental stewardship, albeit such potential is more likely to be realised through concurrent development of appropriate ethical, moral and legal dimensions.

Signalling: Growth Promoters and Inhibitors

Plant growth and development are intricately regulated by a multitude of signaling pathways that respond to internal and external cues. Central to these regulatory mechanisms are the signaling pathways of growth promoters and inhibitors. Various growth-promoting hormones, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids, stimulate cell division, elongation, and differentiation, playing vital roles in shaping plant architecture and influencing various developmental processes. The pathways of these growth promoters involve specific receptors and transcription factors that orchestrate growth in response to dynamic signals. In contrast, growth inhibitors, represented by hormones like abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, act as crucial checkpoints that restrict growth during stress, pathogen attacks, or other adverse conditions. These signaling pathways trigger growth inhibition and activate defense mechanisms, enabling plants to adapt to challenging environments. Balancing the interplay between growth promoters and inhibitors allows plants to allocate resources efficiently and ensure their survival under changing circumstances. Understanding these signaling pathways is not only fundamental to plant biology but also essential for applications in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental management. This abstract provides a concise overview of these essential processes. This knowledge enables us to manipulate plant growth and development for improved crop yields, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Ongoing research continues to unravel the complexities of these pathways, offering valuable insights into how plants delicately balance growth promotion and inhibition to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Facile synthesis of an acrylic acid-co-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid copolymer / polyvinylpyrrolidone semi-IPN hydrogel with excellent swelling and anti-leakage properties

Water scarcity becomes an increasingly serious problem for humankind due to climate change and population growth, especially the water leakage in arid and semi-arid areas. Hydrogel polymers show increasingly important roles on water resources utilization. A novel hydrogel copolymer, acrylic acid-co-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid copolymer / polyvinylpyrrolidone (P(AA-co-AMPS)/PVP) semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogel, was designed and successfully synthesized via a facile one-pot free radical copolymerization method. The main parameters during the synthesis process were optimized, including relative contents of polymer monomers, cross-linking agent, initiator and neutralization agent. Physical characterizations demonstrate that, P(AA-co-AMPS)/PVP hydrogel shows porous three-dimensional network structure, including a crosslinked network structure in P(AA-co-AMPS) copolymers and their intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions with linear PVP. The as-synthesized P(AA-co-AMPS)/PVP hydrogel not only can deliver superior water absorbing capability (up to 1689.95 g g−1) and good reswelling performance, but also shows excellent water anti-leakage performance when being composed with red clay, demonstrating its multi-role applications in future sustainable agriculture.

Chalcones—Features, Identification Techniques, Attributes, and Application in Agriculture

This review article is a comprehensive and current overview on chalcones, covering their sources, identification methods, and properties with a particular focus on their applications in the agricultural sector. The widespread use of synthetic pesticides has not only led to increased resistance among weeds and pests, resulting in economic losses, but it has also raised significant health concerns due to the overuse of these chemicals. In line with the European Green Deal 2030 and its Farm to Fork strategy, there is a targeted 50% reduction in the use of chemical pesticides by 2030, emphasizing a shift towards natural alternatives that are more environmentally sustainable and help in the restoration of natural resources. Chalcones and their derivatives, with their herbicidal, fungicidal, bactericidal, and antiviral properties, appear to be ideal candidates. These naturally occurring compounds have been recognized for their beneficial health effects for many years and have applications across multiple areas. This review not only complements the previous literature on the agricultural use of chalcones but also provides updates and introduces methods of detection such as chromatography and MALDI technique.

Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms Stimulate Physiological Responses of Perennial Ryegrass to Phosphorus Deficiency with Assistance of Straw Compost

Biofertilizers with phosphate-solubilizing microorganism (PSM) inoculations have been suggested to diminish the limitation of phosphorus (P) deficiency in plants. However, their applications in agriculture are restricted due to the inconstant effects of various PSMs. Proper carriers for the inoculations may overcome this shortcoming and improve PSMs’ effectiveness. The objective of this study was to investigate whether straw compost, a type of organic material, can act as a carrier for improving the efficiencies of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi named Acinetobacter sp. and Aspergillus niger, respectively, in soils. We monitored the growth and cellular physiological responses of one type of model plants, named perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), under four soil treatments, including non-fertilization, PSM inoculation alone, straw compost addition alone, and the combined applications of both PSMs and straw compost. We found the combined treatments significantly improved the growth by 14.7% for shoot height and 79.7% for shoot weight, respectively, on average. P and potassium (K) uptakes of ryegrass were also increased by 102.5% and 65.3%, respectively, after the application of both PSMs and straw compost. Furthermore, physiological properties, such as photosynthetic efficiency and P-transportation capacity, of ryegrass were also significantly improved under combined treatments when compared to other treatments, regardless of the types of PSM included. The piecewise structural equation model further indicated that PSM inoculation and straw compost input are synergistically contributing to the nutrient uptake of ryegrass through many direct and indirect ways. We propose that straw compost is a good carrier material for PSMs’ survival and would improve their plant growth promotion ability in soil. Our results provide valuable insights into the exploitation and utilization of P-biofertilizers in agriculture.

Modeling approach for Ti3C2 MXene-based fluorescent aptasensor for amoxicillin biosensing in water matrices

Amoxicillin, a member of the penicillin family, is primarily utilized for the treatment of various bacterial infections affecting ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. Given its widespread application in medicine, agriculture, environment, and food industry, the precise and sensitive detection of amoxicillin is important. This study introduces a novel approach to developing a sensitive and selective fluorescent aptasensor relying on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for the specific detection of amoxicillin. The carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer serves as a energy donor, while MXene functions as an energy acceptor, and acting as a quencher. To achieve optimal detection efficiency, a dual optimization strategy utilizing RSM-CCD and ANN-GA was used to fine-tune experimental conditions. The fluorescence measurements revealed an expansive linear range extending from 100 to 2400 ng mL−1, accompanied by an exceptionally low detection limit of 1.53 ng mL−1. Additionally, it shows an excellent selectivity towards amoxicillin over other antibiotics commonly found in water matrices. The aptasensor demonstrates good stability and reproducibility; effectiveness of the aptasensor was validated by testing in real water samples. This remarkable sensitivity and broad dynamic range affirm the efficacy aptasensor in accurately detecting varying concentrations of amoxicillin in wastewater bodies.

Robust deep learning method for fruit decay detection and plant identification: enhancing food security and quality control

This paper presents a robust deep learning method for fruit decay detection and plant identification. By addressing the limitations of previous studies that primarily focused on model accuracy, our approach aims to provide a more comprehensive solution that considers the challenges of robustness and limited data scenarios. The proposed method achieves exceptional accuracy of 99.93%, surpassing established models. In addition to its exceptional accuracy, the proposed method highlights the significance of robustness and adaptability in limited data scenarios. The proposed model exhibits strong performance even under the challenging conditions, such as intense lighting variations and partial image obstructions. Extensive evaluations demonstrate its robust performance, generalization ability, and minimal misclassifications. The inclusion of Class Activation Maps enhances the model’s capability to identify distinguishing features between fresh and rotten fruits. This research has significant implications for fruit quality control, economic loss reduction, and applications in agriculture, transportation, and scientific research. The proposed method serves as a valuable resource for fruit and plant-related industries. It offers precise adaptation to specific data, customization of the network architecture, and effective training even with limited data. Overall, this research contributes to fruit quality control, economic loss reduction, and waste minimization.

A deep learning approach for Maize Lethal Necrosis and Maize Streak Virus disease detection

Maize is an important crop cultivated in Sub-Saharan Africa, essential for food security. However, its cultivation faces significant challenges due to debilitating diseases such as Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) and Maize Streak Virus (MSV), which can lead to severe yield losses. Traditional plant disease diagnosis methods are often time-consuming and prone to errors, necessitating more efficient approaches. This study explores the application of deep learning, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), in the automatic detection and classification of maize diseases. We investigate six architectures: Basic CNN, EfficientNet V2 B0 and B1, LeNet-5, VGG-16, and ResNet50, using a dataset of 15344 images comprising MSV, MLN, and healthy maize leaves. Additionally, We performed hyperparameter tuning to improve the performance of the models and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) for model interpretability. Our results show that the EfficientNet V2 B0 model demonstrated an accuracy of 99.99% in distinguishing between healthy and disease-infected plants. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of AI applications in agriculture, particularly in diagnosing maize diseases within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Highly efficient reactive compatibilization of biodegradable PBAT/EVOH blend by pMDI

AbstractPolymeric methylene diphenyl isocyanate (pMDI) was used as a reactive compatibilizer to improve the mechanical properties of the PBAT/EVOH blend. Initially, pMDI was blended with pure polymers. Adding pMDI led to a 10‐fold rise in the viscosity of PBAT/pMDI compared to pure PBAT, with an enhancement in tensile properties, attributed to pMDI's chain‐extending effect in the PBAT phase. Conversely, a reduction in the elongation at the break of EVOH/pMDI indicated a cross‐linking role for pMDI in the EVOH phase. Notably, the blend with 1 wt% of pMDI showed a high tensile strength of 38 MPa by route II, much above 13.5 MPa for the one prepared by route I, and 14 MPa for the blank PBAT/EVOH blend without pMDI. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, FE‐SEM images, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) results confirmed the occurrence of effective reactions in route II. Modification of the blend with pMDI decreased the crystallinity of EVOH, the size of EVOH droplets, and the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the blends. However, an increase in the pMDI content above 0.5 wt% decreased OTR. Therefore, the modified blends of PBAT/EVOH with pMDI can be used as an efficient compatibilizer or adhesive layer in PBAT/EVOH blends or multilayer films for agricultural or food packaging applications.

Comparing the Potential of Silicon Nanoparticles and Conventional Silicon for Salinity Stress Alleviation in Soybean (Glycine max L.): Growth and Physiological Traits and Rhizosphere/Endophytic Bacterial Communities.

In this study, 20-day-old soybean plants were watered with 100 mL of 100 mM NaCl solution and sprayed with silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) or potassium silicate every 3 days over 15 days, with a final dosage of 12 mg of SiO2 per plant. We assessed the alterations in the plant's growth and physiological traits, and the responses of bacterial microbiome within the leaf endosphere, rhizosphere, and root endosphere. The result showed that the type of silicon did not significantly impact most of the plant parameters. However, the bacterial communities within the leaf and root endospheres had a stronger response to SiO2 NPs treatment, showing enrichment of 24 and 13 microbial taxa, respectively, compared with the silicate treatment, which led to the enrichment of 9 and 8 taxonomic taxa, respectively. The rhizosphere bacterial communities were less sensitive to SiO2 NPs, enriching only 2 microbial clades, compared to the 8 clades enriched by silicate treatment. Furthermore, SiO2 NPs treatment enriched beneficial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Variovorax in the leaf and root endosphere, likely enhancing plant growth and salinity stress resistance. These findings highlight the potential of SiO2 NPs for foliar application in sustainable farming by enhancing plant-microbe interactions to improve salinity tolerance.

Promising Application, Efficient Production, and Genetic Basis of Mannosylerythritol Lipids

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are a class of glycolipids that have been receiving increasing attention in recent years due to their diverse biological activities. MELs are produced by certain fungi and display a range of bioactivities, making them attractive candidates for various applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Despite their remarkable qualities, industrial-scale production of MELs remains a challenge for fungal strains. Excellent fungal strains and fermentation processes are essential for the efficient production of MELs, so efforts have been made to improve the fermentation yield by screening high-yielding strains, optimizing fermentation conditions, and improving product purification processes. The availability of the genome sequence is pivotal for elucidating the genetic basis of fungal MEL biosynthesis. This review aims to shed light on the applications of MELs and provide insights into the genetic basis for efficient MEL production. Additionally, this review offers new perspectives on optimizing MEL production, contributing to the advancement of sustainable biosurfactant technologies.

Modularized Engineering of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 for Efficient and Directional Synthesis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 has found widespread applications in pollutant transformation and bioenergy production, closely tied to its outstanding heme synthesis capabilities. However, this significant biosynthetic potential is still unexploited so far. Here, we turned this bacterium into a highly-efficient bio-factory for green synthesis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA), an important chemical for broad applications in agriculture, medicine, and the food industries. The native C5 pathway genes of S. oneidensis was employed, together with the introduction of foreign anti-oxidation module, to establish the 5-ALA production module, resulting 87-fold higher 5-ALA yield and drastically enhanced tolerance than the wide type. Furthermore, the metabolic flux was regulated by using CRISPR interference and base editing techniques to suppress the competitive pathways to further improve the 5-ALA titer. The engineered strain exhibited 123-fold higher 5-ALA production capability than the wide type. This study not only provides an appealing new route for 5-ALA biosynthesis, but also presents a multi-dimensional modularized engineering strategy to broaden the application scope of S. oneidensis.

120 Gene editing: From the general public perspective

Abstract The public controversy around genetically engineered (GE) products, aka genetically modified organisms (GMO), has been ongoing for almost 40 yr fueled in part by well-funded misinformation campaigns disseminated by activist organizations. Polls reveal that public perception of GE animals is generally negative, with biomedical applications being more positively perceived than agricultural applications. Opposition to GE animals is often conflated with opposition to use of animals in research in general, as well as opposition to aspects of intensive animal agriculture. In general, concerns about animal biotechnology are influenced by views around the moral status of animals, the boundary between “natural” and “unnatural,” and perceived risks and benefits of GE animals to health and the environment (personal and cultural characteristics); the purpose of the application (e.g., disease resistance &amp;gt; fast growth), the method(s) being used, and the motivation of the research group making the genetic modification (public or private); and the species being modified (animal characteristics). There were three factors that aggravated opposition to GE products including 1) a lengthy and expensive regulatory step uniquely associated with commercializing products developed using that breeding method, 2) competing business interests (e.g., organic, non-GMO project) that were able to monetarize fear around the method to extract value (rent seeking) and selling their value-added (more expensive) product that avoided the use of GE, and 3) there is a mandatory labeling requirement to track/differentiate products produced with (or without) that breeding method to enable value-added marketing. Even so, when GE products that people wanted were allowed to reach the market (e.g., Impossible Burger with GE heme, GloFish, AquAdvantage salmon), they met with commercial acceptance. Now it has been suggested that the public will similarly reject animal products derived from gene edited (GnEd) animals, but that idea has only recently been put to the test as such food products were not previously available. A 2022 Japanese paper noted that with regard to GnEd food (gene knock-out tomatoes and fish) there was a “gap between anticipated and actual public response”. They noted that “even though there were some petitions against the use of genome-editing made by consumer groups; they did not develop into a mass mobilization, and media coverage was mostly positive.” These GnEd food products were developed by startups from Japanese universities, required no unique regulatory step before commercialization or mandatory labeling with Japanese regulatory agencies transparently sharing a summary of the information and notification on their websites, and businesses were encouraged to share information on products to respect The right of consumers to know. Successful commercialization of GnEd animal products has so far occurred in countries (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, Japan) where regulations treat simple GnEd products with no “foreign DNA” to be “non-GMO” and analogous to conventional breeding.

115 Gene editing: Where are we on campus and where can it go?

Abstract Editing the genome of livestock provides solutions to otherwise intractable problems and can provide a tool to better understand the role of specific proteins during development. The potential benefit for production agriculture is so great that the USDA Agricultural Research Service has invested in 4 positions now located in a research unit at the University of Missouri with a focus currently on swine and poultry. Genome editing can result in introducing alleles from divergent populations or novel alleles to produce animals that have new proteins, modified proteins or animals that no longer produce a protein. Applications of genome editing include improving disease resistance (viral and bacterial), improving digestion, disseminating valuable genetics, improved thermoregulation, changing the body/milk composition, and creating hypoallergenic meat. Changes in these animals will improve animal welfare, animal productivity and the sustainability of animal agriculture. In addition to improving animal agriculture, gene editing has enabled a new understanding of maternal recognition of pregnancy in the pig and a better understanding of molecules involved in growth and development of pigs. With new developments in editing of just somatic cells [somatic cell gene editing (SCGE), rather than germline editing], it will be possible to edit some cells in existing animals and thus change their phenotype. SCGE technologies such as this are being developed via the biomedical community as models to lead to human clinical applications. One such application is to correct cells in the lungs that produce the CFTR protein. Correction of just 10% of the cells in the lungs is estimated to correct the lung symptoms associated with cystic fibrosis. Similar applications in production agriculture might produce animals that have novel phenotypes of an altered carcass composition or better use of nutrients. Application of genetic engineering technologies such as genome editing is limited by biology and the imagination of the investigator.

Controlling the Uptake and Release of Semiochemicals in Channel-type Metal-Organic Frameworks through Pore Expansion.

Semiochemicals can be used to manipulate insect behaviour for sustainable pest management strategies, but their high volatility is a major issue for their practical implementation. Inclusion of these molecules within porous materials is a potential solution to this issue, as it can allow for a slower and more controlled release. In this work, we demonstrate that a series of Zr(IV) and Al(III) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with channel-type pores enable controlled release of three semiochemicals over 100 days by pore size design, with the uptake and rate of release highly dependent on the pore size. Insight from Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations indicates that this is due to weaker MOF-guest interactions per guest molecule as the pore size increases. These MOFs are all stable post-release and can be reloaded to show near-identical re-release profiles. These results provide valuable insight on the diffusion behaviour of volatile guests in MOFs, and for the further development of porous materials for sustainable agriculture applications.

NanoBiofertilizer and its Application in Sustainable Agriculture, Crop Specific Nutrients Delivery and Environmental Sustainability: A Review

Probiotic bacteria are increasingly in demand in the food and feed industries. A growing population and finite resources require efficient ways to maximize yields. Probiotic bacteria are gaining popularity in the food and feed industries due to their unique combination of benefits and values, which include consumer health interests, sustainability values, food innovation, and potential business opportunities. The use of conventional fertilizers can increase crop production but can also cause runoff and toxicity issues. A nanobiofertilizer offers improved crop nutrition and reduces application rates. Slow-release properties minimize environmental losses while nanoscale particle size enhances nutrient absorption. If nanobiofertilizers are closely regulated, they can boost yields without destroying the soil and aquatic ecosystems. In recent years, nanobiofertilizers have received considerable attention. Plant extracts and microbes are used in green synthesis to produce eco-friendly nanoparticles. Crop-specific nutrient release can be tailored using modified nanoparticle surfaces. Controlled nutrient delivery is achieved by smart nanocarrier systems that adapt to changing soil moisture, pH, and microbial activity. Combined applications of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been reported that they can enhance crop growth in synergy. This review presents an overview of the most recent studies on nanobiofertilizers, as well as the issues connected with their environmental implications, safety, and regulation, presenting a roadmap for the responsible use of nanobiofertilizers, which aims to enhance food security while protecting the environment for future generations.

Detection and Classification of Wilting in Soybean Crop using Cutting-edge Deep Learning Techniques

Background: This paper employs deep learning in the classification of soybean wilting, a plant health indicator affected by external pressures, using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a pre-trained model. It highlights the promise of deep learning in agriculture by examining the relevance of wilting, evolution in the agricultural sector and applications in crop wellness monitoring. Methods: A CNN is used in the study to classify soybean withering, with special attention to the VGG16 pre-trained model. Deep learning’s ability to interpret complex data patterns is harnessed for intelligent and accurate wilting detection. A smart detection system tailored for soybean wilting is developed, incorporating recent advancements and addressing associated challenges. Result: The CNN model, notably VGG16, achieves 76% overall accuracy in distinguishing healthy and wilted soybean leaves, signifying a transformative shift in soybean crop health management. The approach offers a precise, efficient and sustainable solution supported by state-of-the-art CNN technology, advancing soybean cultivation practices.