Food Products Research Articles

Physicochemical characteristics of Pangasius sp. skin-gelatin-based-edible film enriched with silver nanoparticles

Background: Edible films intended for food packaging have been produced from hydrocolloids, lipids, resins, and composites, including gelatin. Gelatin is known to have a good filming ability and has been suggested as an alternative to non-biodegradable plastics. Naturally active compounds incorporated into film packaging may not only protect the food product from oxidation and microbial contamination, but they may also alter the physicochemical properties of the film. Silver nanoparticles have been used in food packaging as active agents due to their antibacterial and antifungal properties. The addition may affect the characteristics of the packaging. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of the addition of silver nanoparticles on the physicochemical characteristics of edible film from Pangasius sp. skin gelatin. Methods: Mangrove extract of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza was used to synthesize silver into nanoparticle size. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8%) were added into gelatin-based edible film. The edible films produced were observed for their physicochemical characteristics, including thickness, tensile strength, elongation, water vapour transmission, moisture content, pH, and colour. Results: AgNPs affected the colour of the fish-gelatin-based edible film, as an increased concentration of AgNPs resulted in a darker film. Nevertheless, the addition of AgNPs showed no significant effect on the thickness (145–216 µm), tensile strength (14.58–19.72 MPa), elongation (21.86–54.19%), water vapour transmission (30.91–42.55 g/m2/day), moisture content (9.57–11.16%) or pH (5.92–6.01) of the fish-gelatin-based edible film. Conclusions: The addition of AgNPs has no significant effect on gelatin-based edible film physicochemical properties except colour. Therefore, the incorporated edible film has the potential to be developed further.

Identification of QTL for Alkylresorcinols in Wheat and Development of KASP Markers for Marker-Assisted Selection of Health-Promoting Varieties.

This study evaluated alkylresorcinol concentration (ARC) in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross of Zhongmai 578 and Jimai 22 in three environments. ARC exhibited a continuous distribution ranging from 337.4 to 758.0, 495.4-768.0, and 456.3-764.7 μg/g, respectively, in three environments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant (P < 0.001) impacts of genotypes, environments, and their interactions. The broad-sense heritability of ARC was 0.76. Genome-wide linkage mapping analysis identified four stable quantitative trait loci (QTL) for ARC on chromosomes 2A, 3A, 4D, and 7A. Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker of each QTL was developed and validated in 206 representative wheat varieties. Wheat varieties harboring 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 favorable alleles had ARC of 499.1, 587.8, 644.7, 668.5, and 711.1 μg/g, respectively. This study suggests that combining multiple minor-effect QTL through KASP markers can serve as an effective strategy for breeding high-ARC wheat, thereby enhancing innovations in functional food production.

Physiological and biochemical responses of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under salinity stress in Iran

Saline soil and water present significant agricultural challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran. Around 15 % of Iran's land is categorized as saline. Salt stress disrupts various physiological processes in plants, leading to reduced crop yields. Considering the demand for food and the limitation of cultivated areas is rising, the cultivation of salt-resistant crops is gaining attention. This study was conducted to examine the morpho-physiological responses tolerance of a native cultivar of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv. White Ahvazi) under conditions of salinity stress. Understanding how this native cultivar responds to salinity stress is crucial for increasing its productivity. The okra seedlings were subjected to seven different levels of electrical conductivity (EC) (1.7 as control, 4.4, 6.2, 8.5, 10.6, 12.5, 14.4, and 15.8 mS/cm) after the appearance of their first true leaves by dissolving NaCl salt in Hoagland's nutrient solution. The results showed that morphological traits in the treated samples were not significantly different from the non-treated samples until EC reached a value of 10.6 mS/cm. The increases in EC from 1.7 to 10.6 mS/cm resulted in a significant rise in the antioxidant capacity and content of biochemical constituents. While salinity stress from EC 12.5 mS/cm onwards caused significant induction of hydrogen peroxide free radicals and peroxidation of membrane lipids. The yield was also significantly reduced at ECs of 12.5, 14.4, and 15.8 mS/cm, which were 31.1, 40.6, and 59.6 % less than control plants, respectively. Increasing salinity stress resulted in a remarkable reduction of photosynthetic pigments in plants as compared to the non-treated plants. Generally, it can be concluded that the White Ahvazi cultivar of okra commonly cultivated in Iran had a moderate tolerance to EC with a threshold of 10.6 mS/cm. Thus, this study can contribute towards enhancing food production in regions facing challenges related to salinity.

Using Machine Learning to Identify Diseases and Perform Sorting in Apple Fruit

Fruit diseases play a major role in global agriculture, leading to substantial crop losses and influencing food production and economic stability. In this age of Industry 4.0 the fruit sorting is an important part in the food processing wherein this work plays a vital role. In this study, a solution for the detection and classification of apple fruit diseases is proposed and experimentally validated. Deep learning models offer promise for automating disease identification using fruit images, but encounter obstacles such as therequirement for extensive training data, computational complexity, and the risk of overfitting. This study introduces an innovative convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture aimed at addressing these challenges by incorporating a reduced number of layers, thus alleviating computational burdens while maintaining performance. Additionally, augmentation techniques such as shift, shear, scaling, zoom, and flipping are employed to diversify the training set without additional image acquisition. Our CNN model is specifically trained to identify common apple crop diseases like Scab, Rot, and Blotch. Rigorous experimental evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness ofour model, achieving a remarkable classification accuracy of 95.37%. Significantly, our model demonstrates reduced storage requirements and faster execution times compared to existing deep CNN architectures, enabling deployment on handheld devices and resource-limited environments. While other CNN models may offer similar accuracy levels, our approach emphasizes efficiency and resource optimization, rendering it practical for real-world applications in agriculture. Furthermore, our CNN model exhibits resilience to environmental variations and imaging parameters, enhancing its applicability across diverse agricultural settings. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, the approach developed in this experimental work contributes to modernizing fruits and vegetables sorting operations in food processing, crop management practices thus promoting agricultural sustainability. The scalability and portability of our model make it suitable for deployment in both small-scale farms and large-scale agricultural operations.

Effect of Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from Tropical Fruits against Listeria monocytogenes and Cronobacter sakazakii in Model Food Products

Listeria monocytogenes and Cronobacter sakazakii are two important foodborne bacterial pathogens. Bacterial endophytes, which reside in plant cells, can produce antimicrobial compounds to protect the host organism or inhibit pathogens. This study investigated the bacterial community of tropical fruits for their potential to inactivate L. monocytogenes or C. sakazakii in cantaloupe and liquid infant formula, respectively. Tropical fruits including papayas, dragon fruits, and sugar apples, were sourced from several countries. Candidate bacterial endophytes were recovered from these tropical fruits using blood agar and Reasoner’s 2A (R2A) agar and tested for potential inhibition against L. monocytogenes and C. sakazakii. A total of 196 bacterial endophytes were recovered from papayas, dragon fruits, and sugar apples. Among these bacterial endophytes, 33 (16.8%) and 13 (6.6%) of them demonstrated an inhibition zone against L. monocytogenes and C. sakazakii, respectively. The inhibitory strains were identified using 16S rRNA sequencing as Bacillus spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Microbacterium spp., Pantoea spp., and Pseudomonas spp. A cocktail of Pantoea spp. and Enterobacter spp. was used in challenge studies with cantaloupe and significantly reduced the number of L. monocytogenes by approximately 2.5 log10 CFU/g. In addition, P. stewartii demonstrated antagonistic activity against C. sakazakii in liquid infant formula, i.e., it significantly decreased the number of C. sakazakii by at least 1 log10 CFU/mL. Thus, the use of bacterial endophytes recovered from fruits and vegetables could be a promising area of research. Their use as potential biocontrol agents to control bacterial pathogens in ready-to-eat foods warrants further investigation.

Designation and characterization of cold-set whey protein isolate-low acyl gellan gum emulsion-filled gel for enhancing limonene flavor perception: A study on structure, breakdown characteristics, and sensory perception in the human mouth

Flavor perception depends on food structure and oral processing behavior. Emulsion-filled gel (EFG) is a category of soft to solid food products that utilizes the advantages of emulsions to deliver lipid-soluble ingredients, such as the limonene flavor. This paper aimed to design a cold-set EFG system as a carrier to improve limonene flavor perception using whey protein isolate and low-acyl gellan gum (LAGG) (0–0.7% w/w). With increasing LAGG levels, the EFGs shifted towards forming a true gel structure with a brittle and hard 3D network based on the steady shear, amplitude (increasing GLVE′ and decreasing tanδLVE), frequency sweep (increasing K′ and decreasing n′), and uniaxial compassion (increasing Young's modulus and decreasing fracture strain) tests. EFG with 0.7% LAGG needed a higher chewing process, and the fragmentation increased as EFG hardness increased. According to the time-intensity test, the highest and lowest limonene perception were found in the EFG-contained 0.3% (Imax: 5.14, area: 79.20) and 0.7% (Imax: 4.35, area: 57.40) LAGG. In conclusion, by manipulating the structure, custom architectures can be created in the oral cavity, resulting in specific performance and controlled release of their components.

Health-Promoting Effects of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Its Technological Applications in Fermented Food Products and Beverages

Health-Promoting Effects of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Its Technological Applications in Fermented Food Products and Beverages

Comparing life cycle environmental impacts of food access and consumption pre- and during COVID 19 in New York State's Capital Region

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced household food shopping, food consumption, and food waste generation. However, the dietary environmental impacts for different income groups during COVID-19 remain unknown. To analyze dietary environmental impacts for various income groups, a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted based on two electronic food access surveys implemented in the New York State's Capital Region during the COVID-19 pandemic and public and proprietary databases. We found that life cycle global warming potential, cumulative energy demand, acidification potential, and water resource depletion of per capital food consumption in the studied area tended to be lower during COVID-19 than pre-COVID-19. In contrast, life cycle eutrophication during COVID-19 was slightly higher than pre-COVID-19. The environmental impacts occurring at the food production stage were higher than those at the local transportation and waste disposal stages. The lowest income group had the lowest dietary environmental impacts due to their lowest food consumption of all the food categories. The second-highest income group had the highest dietary environmental impacts, since they consumed the most red meat which has a high impact intensity. This is the first study to our knowledge to investigate the differences in dietary environmental impacts among income groups during COVID-19.

Production of fish fillet analogues using novel fish muscle cell powder and sodium alginate-κ-carrageenan based bio-ink

Cellular aquaculture has emerged as a promising technology to address the challenges associated with traditional fishing and aquaculture practices. This study focuses on developing a biomimetic fish fillet structure using fish muscle cell powder (FMCP) and Alg-κ-Car-based bio-ink, exploring its potential for cultured seafood applications. Grouper muscle satellite cells (GMSCs) were isolated through enzymatic digestion and demonstrated robust growth and myotube differentiation with 2% horse serum (HS). FMCP, derived from the differentiated GMSCs, is characterized as a high-protein source with promising seafood applications. Cytotoxicity analysis reveals FMCP's biocompatibility and its ability to enhance cell proliferation. Alg-κ-Car is chosen as the bio-ink due to its favourable impact on bioink stability. The developed Alg-κ-Car-FMCP bio-ink, with favourable rheological properties, facilitates 3D bioprinting of scaffolds mimicking the texture of native fish fillets. These printed scaffolds retain structural integrity when subjected to boiling and frying. Texture profiles indicate that Alg-κ-Car-FMCP constructs possess enhanced hardness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness compared to Alg-κ-Car, with cooking influencing textural changes. Taste sensory analysis using an electronic tongue demonstrates Alg-κ-Car-FMCP constructs present a pronounced umami taste, showcasing potential for desirable sensory attributes in cell-based seafood. This study significantly advances cellular aquaculture for cultured seafood production, offering insights for further research and development in sustainable and innovative food production.

Enhanced detection of UV fluorescence from food products and tissue using lanthanide-doped polymer composite membranes

We demonstrate polymer composite membranes that can be coupled to conventional spectroscopic tools for enhancing the detection of weak UV fluorescence signals. The membranes incorporate a down-conversion phosphor with lanthanide ions allowing for the detection of UV emission from biomolecules commonly found in food products. We also explore their capability to discern between healthy and wounded tissue through measurements of the UV autofluorescence emission from skin. Our results show that the composite membranes have great potential to improve UV fluorescence detection in applications related to the biomedical, pharmaceutical and food areas.

Multiplex Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Based on the Annealing Curve Analysis: Toward an On-Site Multiplex Detection of Transgenic Sequences in Seeds and Food Products.

Monitoring of the introduction of unapproved genetically modified (GM) events is required because the approval status of a GM event may differ from country to country. The on-site methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) offer a technological answer for the rapid GM detection beyond the laboratories. Real-time LAMP assays detecting one GM target were reported earlier. To increase the efficiency of the assay, a multiplex real-time LAMP simultaneously targeting Figwort Mosaic Virus promoter (P-FMV) that constructs region between the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter and cry1Ac gene (p35S-cry1Ac) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) marker gene was developed. The assay could detect as low as 0.1% for each GM target within 45 min. To the best of our knowledge, multiplexing in real-time LAMP using the Genie II system with applicability in GM detection has been reported herein for the first time. The developed method provides rapid, on-site, and real-time GM detection in seeds and food products.

Impact of Globalization on Consumer Food Behaviour: A Comprehensive Review

The current market dynamics, including consumer food behaviour, are profoundly influenced by the processes of civilizational and cultural evolution, as well as the ongoing globalization phenomena. The discourse begins with an exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of globalization and its intersection with consumer food behaviour. It further delves into the broader phenomenon of globalization in the contemporary era and elucidates its specific impacts on the dietary and purchasing habits of consumers. The reviewed studies indicate that globalization has significantly influenced various aspects of consumer food behaviour. These include changes in grocery shopping patterns, an increased frequency of fast food consumption, and a heightened interest in both comfort foods and novel dining experiences. The pervasive reach of global media, multinational food corporations, and international supply chains has facilitated the widespread availability and popularity of diverse food products and dining practices across different cultures and regions. However, globalization's impact is not unidirectional. It has also catalysed the emergence of counter-movements and alternative consumer attitudes. There is a growing preference for locally sourced and environmentally sustainable food products, reflecting a backlash against the perceived homogenizing effects of globalization. Movements such as the Slow Food movement advocate for traditional and regional cuisine as a means of preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, heightened awareness of food safety and quality has led to an increased demand for organic and non-genetically modified food products.

Impacts of estuarine habitat degradation on the modeled life history of marine estuarine-dependent and resident fish species.

Shallow coastal and estuarine habitats play an essential role in the life cycles of many fish species, providing spawning, nursery, feeding, and migration areas. However, these ecologically valuable habitats are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities, causing substantial changes in both habitat availability and quality. Fish species use these shallow coastal habitats and estuaries during various life stages, leading to their categorization into guilds based on how and when they rely on these areas. This differential functional use of estuaries means that changes to these habitats may affect each guild differently. To understand the impact of estuarine habitat degradation on fish populations, it is therefore necessary to consider the full life cycle of fish and when they rely on these coastal habitats. Here, we use conceptual size-structured population models to study how estuarine habitat degradation affects two functionally different guilds. We use these models to predict how reduced food productivity in the estuary affects the demographic rates and population dynamics of these groups. Specifically, we model estuarine residents, which complete their entire life cycle in estuaries, and marine estuarine-dependent species, which inhabit estuaries during early life before transitioning offshore. We find that total fish biomass for both guilds decreases with decreasing food productivity. However, the density of juveniles of the marine estuarine-dependent guild can, under certain conditions, increase in the estuary. This occurs due to a shift in the population biomass distribution over different life stages and a simultaneous shift in which life stage is most limited by food. At the individual level, somatic growth of juveniles belonging to the estuarine-dependent guild decreased with lower food supply in the estuary, due to increased competition for food. The somatic growth rates of fish belonging to the resident guild were largely unaffected by low food supply, as the total fish density decreased at the same time and therefore the per-capita food availability was similar. These outcomes challenge the assumption that responses to habitat degradation are similar between fish guilds. Our study highlights the need to assess not only fish biomass but also size distributions, survival, and somatic growth rates for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of habitat degradation on fish populations. This understanding is crucial not only for estuary fish communities but also for successful conservation and management of commercially harvested offshore population components.

Improved water management can increase food self-sufficiency in urban foodsheds of Sub-Saharan Africa

Rising urban food demand in Sub-Saharan Africa will put pressure on local resource boundaries, such as the available land area and water resources. In assessing the extent to which urban centres can source from nearby areas in future, earlier analysis has concentrated on agronomic measures, aiming at yield gap closure. Here, we address the potential of local water conservation measures to help achieve food self-sufficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2061–2070, along the concept of urban ‘foodsheds’, matching crop-based food supply and demand in the surroundings of large cities for all major food groups. We find that ambitious but plausible levels of water conservation, primarily raising productivity on rainfed lands, have the potential to increase overall food production by 12% and food self-sufficiency levels in all major foodsheds to over 75%, with the region as a whole becoming self-sufficient. The increase in production could limit the projected required expansion of agricultural land use by more than 25%, which has important implications for biodiversity, land use-related conflicts and carbon sequestration.

Analysis of the Aquaponic System Sustainability via System Dynamics Modelling – FEW Nexus Approach

AbstractAquaponic systems integrate aquaculture and hydroponics, recycling nutrient-enriched water from fish tanks to grow plants, significantly reducing carbon emissions, water use and production costs compared to other methods. It is considered a sustainable solution for food production, addressing issues such as climate change and eutrophication. Particularly valuable in family farming, it increases the diversity and quality of food, while reducing its environmental impact. However, despite its potential, aquaponics lacks recognition in public policies, making its widespread adoption difficult. Quantifying its benefits is crucial for strategic planning and the formulation of policies to support family farming and the transition to sustainability, in line with global objectives. Therefore, there is a need to comprehensively quantify the benefits of aquaponics, particularly in terms of the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus, to support decision-making and policy formulation for sustainable agriculture. The nexus concept encompasses highly complex systems requiring robust tools capable of analysing the interrelationships between multiple components. Aiming to analyse the degree of sustainability of aquaponics systems on family property in the FEW nexus context, a System Dynamics Modelling (SDM) coupling Socio-economic and environmental indicators was developed. The results obtained demonstrated the efficiency of using SDM as an analysis and support tool for decision-making. Additionally, they prove the environmental viability of food production via aquaponic systems.

Functionality of Muffins Fortified with Apple Pomace: Nutritional, Textural, and Sensory Aspects

Apple pomace resulting from juice processing and thermal processing (50 °C/12 h and 80 °C/5 h) were optimized in order to obtain apple pomace powders with an organoleptic profile suitable as ingredients in food products. Proximate composition (moisture, titratable acidity, ash, soluble substances, and fat content) was analyzed using ISO standard methods. The Folin–Ciocâlteu method, a DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test, and flavonoid determination were used to assess antioxidant potential and bioactive compound contents. Antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic and anti-proliferative potential were also assessed. Aroma was characterized by a volatile compound analysis performed using ITEX/GC-MS for the by-products, the powder, and some muffins developed with the proposed functional ingredient. For the sensory analysis of muffins, the acceptability was evaluated using the hedonic test and texture analysis was done using the CT3 Texture Analyzer. The cytotoxic potential of the methanol extracts of the by-products ranged between 70.42 and 78.80%. The hedonic test revealed that the evaluators highly appreciated the aroma, which was attributed to the volatile compounds responsible for the pleasant aroma. The addition of 20% apple pomace powder led to similar texture and sensory scores to the reference samples.

Microencapsulation of mechanically extracted annatto for improved use in food products

Annatto is commonly used as a natural colourant in processed food products. Due to its chemical structure, it is sensitive to environmental factors such as oxygen, temperature and light. Carotenoid extraction using chemical methods requires greater expenditure of time and energy, leading to potential repercussions on the quality and safety of the end product. This study aims to encapsulate the Annatto extract (AE) produced using a developed extractor with different concentrations of maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA) used as carrier materials to improve the solubility and stability. The formulation 50:0 (MD: GA) showed a remarkable microencapsulation efficiency 86.28 ± 0.14 % with a process yield 195.75 ± 3.20 g/500 ml, bulk density 0.281 ± 0.012 g cm−3 and water activity of 0.65 ± 0.02. The AE microcapsules obtained good homogeneity and high solubility (>97 %) with a low moisture content of 4.07 ± 0.06 %. Furthermore, it was morphologically characterized as dodecahedron-shaped with a smooth surface and the absence of cracks or fissures offering complete protection to the bioactive compound encapsulated. The presence of bixin and polyphenol was confirmed by the FT-IR bands at 1646.91 cm−1, 1151.29 cm−1 and 926.26 cm−1. The purity was confirmed by the peaks drawn in the HPLC analysis. AE microcapsules were evaluated for heat stability up to 160 °C and storage stability for 60 days. Therefore, AE powders can be used as an alternative to synthetic additives which offer great potential as colorants in food matrixes.

Dynamics of combatting market-driven epidemics: Insights from U.S. reduction of cigarette, sugar, and prescription opioid consumption.

Misuse and overconsumption of certain consumer products have become major global risk factors for premature deaths, with their total costs in trillions of dollars. Progress in reducing such deaths has been slow and difficult. To address this challenge, this review introduces the definition of market-driven epidemics (MDEs), which arise when companies aggressively market products with proven harms, deny these harms, and resist mitigation efforts. MDEs are a specific within the broader landscape of commercial determinants of health. We selected three illustrative MDE products reflecting different consumer experiences: cigarettes (nicotine delivery product), sugar (food product), and prescription opioids (medical product). Each met the MDE case definition with proven adverse health impacts, well-documented histories, longitudinal product consumption and health impact data, and sustained reduction in product consumption. Based on these epidemics, we describe five MDE phases: market expansion, evidence of harm, corporate resistance, mitigation, and market adaptation. From the peak of consumption to the most recent data, U.S. cigarette sales fell by 82%, sugar consumption by 15%, and prescription opioid prescriptions by 62%. For each, the consumption tipping point occurred when compelling evidence of harm, professional alarm, and an authoritative public health voice and/or public mobilization overcame corporate marketing and resistance efforts. The gap between suspicion of harm and the consumption tipping point ranged from one to five decades-much of which was attributable to the time required to generate sufficient evidence of harm. Market adaptation to the reduced consumption of target products had both negative and positive impacts. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative analysis of three successful efforts to change the product consumption patterns and the associated adverse health impacts of these products. The MDE epidemiological approach of shortening the latent time to effective mitigation provides a new method to reduce the impacts of harmful products.

Towards sustainable landscapes: Implementing participatory approaches in contract design for biodiversity preservation and ecosystem services in Europe

Agricultural landscapes are the result of the long-term, complex, and intermingled interfaces between nature and culture. Among the stakeholders involved in the production of agri-environmental and climate services, farmers play a crucial role, and their contribution should be duly acknowledged to promote sustainable land management. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to the participatory design of agri-environmental contracts to incentivize landscape and biodiversity practices. To achieve this goal, 13 innovation labs with multi-actor perspective were established across nine different European countries. These groups envisioned a future sustainable landscape characterized by diversity and balance of economic, socio-cultural, and environmental components. Trust-based networks and effective communication channels emerge as vital components for the success of sustainable local production systems. Practitioners emphasize the significance of European-level policies in effecting transformative change and influencing farmers'willingness to contribute to both food production and environmental public goods. They defined concrete contract features such as public funding, hybrid payments, and the presence of intermediaries for the potential of agri-environmental measures. Notably, practitioners perceive a wide range of benefits associated with the implementation of agri-environmental measures, extending beyond economic compensation. Gaining a deeper understanding of practitioners' perceptions of their territories and agri-environmental measures is crucial for policymakers to design tailored and appealing programs that resonate with practitioners'needs.

Plant Disease: A Growing Threat to Global Food Security

The escalating global population has led to an increased demand for both quantity and quality in food production. Throughout history, plant diseases have posed significant threats to agricultural output by causing substantial food losses annually while also compromising product quality. Accurate identification of pathogens, clarifying the pathogenic mechanism of pathogens, and understanding the interaction between pathogens and hosts are important for the control of plant diseases. This Special Issue, “Research Progress on Pathogenicity of Fungi in Crops”, belongs to the section “Pest and Disease Management” of Agronomy. It contains research papers on the identification and phylogeny of fungal pathogens, the molecular genetics of plant fungal pathogens, the molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity, and the molecular basis of the interaction between fungi and crops. These studies encapsulate efforts to understand disease systems within current genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studies, highlighting research findings that could be future targets for crop disease and pest control. The studies presented in this Special Issue promote the progress of fungal pathogenicity research in crops and provide a scientific basis for future disease control, which is of great significance for sustainable agricultural development and global food security.