Common vetch (Vicia sativa) and hairy vetch (Vicia. villosa) are characterized by rapid growth and high biomass yield, making them suitable as high-quality forage and silage. They are also widely used as green manure crops to improve soil fertility and restore ecosystems, playing a significant role in sustainable agriculture. Both species are known to exhibit karyotypic diversity, including variation in basic chromosome number and polyploidy. Moreover, our previous studies have revealed that both materials exhibit excellent germination rates under saline conditions and superior reproductive traits in the growth chamber. In this study, we focused on hairy vetch NTU0012 (2n = 14) and the high-yielding common vetch NTU0014 (2n = 12). Cytological analysis was performed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) following an evaluation of their salt tolerance during germination. We confirmed their chromosome numbers and observed that secondary constrictions can occasionally lead to counting errors. The karyotype of common vetch NTU0014 was classified as 1A (2n =2x=12, x = 5m + 1sm), while that of hairy vetch NTU0012 was determined to be 2A (2n =2x=14, x = 6m + 1sm), showing greater asymmetry (As.K% = 62.81). rDNA-FISH revealed notable differences in rDNA distribution between the two species: V. sativa possesses one pair of 5S and two pairs of 45S rDNA sites, whereas V. villosa has two pairs of 5S and one pair of 45S rDNA sites. Fiber-FISH analysis indicated that the average length of 5S rDNA was 374.37 kb in V. sativa and 399.53 kb in V. villosa. The average lengths of 45S rDNA were 339.27 kb and 364.90 kb, respectively. This study improves our understanding of the genomic structure of Vicia species and provides valuable rDNA information for future genetic research.

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms capable of removing nutrients from eutrophic waters and producing biomass. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the bioremediation performance of three microalgae and one cyanobacterium native to Lake Xochimilco and to assess their potential for biofuel production (biodiesel and biogas) from biomass generated. In photobioreactors, ammonium (96.61–97.06%), nitrate (82.4–100%), and phosphate (83.95–89.71%) were effectively removed from the lake water. The specific growth rates ranged from 0.041 to 0.144 d−1 and biomass productivities from 0.016 to 0.049 g L−1 d−1, with high biomass yield on the substrate. The estimated CO2 fixation rates ranged from 0.024 to 0.092 g L−1 d−1. Chlorella sp. achieved the highest yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) with 91.24% of the extracted lipids. Overall, saturated FAMEs were predominant in the biodiesel; however, the presence of monounsaturated FAMEs such as methyl palmitoleate and methyl oleate enhances their fluidity and oxidative stability. Synechocystis sp. and Chlorella sp. produced the most biogas using biomass after lipid extraction, at 429.5 L kg−1 VS and 404.9 L kg−1 VS, respectively, with over 60% biomethane. These strains represent a sustainable and promising possibility for water bioremediation and generating biofuels.

This study examines the influence of photobioreactor (PBR) configuration on the cultivation performance of Chlorococcum sp. using aquaculture wastewater as the growth medium. Four systems were compared: horizontal without aeration (H-Plain), horizontal with aeration (H-Aerated), vertical with aeration (V-Aerated), and vertical with aeration and red LED illumination (V-LED). Over 14 days, the V-LED system achieved the highest biomass concentration (0.50 g L-1) and volumetric productivity (0.063 g L-1 day-1), accompanied by nitrate and phosphate removals of 94% and 55.6%, respectively. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, p < 0.05) confirmed significant differences among configurations, demonstrating that light quality and aeration act synergistically to enhance growth and nutrient assimilation. While aeration improved CO2 transfer and mixing, it was insufficient without adequate photon delivery. Conversely, red LED illumination mitigated photolimitation in vertical systems, promoting efficient photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. Energy assessment revealed that V-LED offered the highest productivity in expense of power input (1.08 kWh day-1). These findings highlight the critical role of integrated PBR design, emphasizing that optimal combinations of geometry, aeration, and spectral lighting as keys to achieving high biomass yields and efficient nutrient removal in sustainable microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems.

Filamentous algae, characterized by high cellulose content and absence of lignin, present a promising sustainable alternative to conventional plant and synthetic fibers. The present study systematically evaluated the suitability of freshwater filamentous algae as a new resource for textile fibers, targeting applications in moisture-absorbent textiles. Among twelve strains screened, the isolate Rhizoclonium sp. emerged as the most promising candidate due to its high biomass yield (1.04 g dry weight L− 1) after 21 days of cultivation. In addition, it showed superior visible fiber flexibility following air-drying, an essential prerequisite for textile processing. Cultivation conditions were optimized (using WHM medium, pH 8, and thiamin supplementation) to maximize fiber quality, resulting in 8.6% increase in biomass productivity. Biochemical profiling of the optimized biomass revealed a significant enhancement of total carbohydrates (+ 18.0%), alongside reductions in protein (-18.4%) and ash content (-14.9%), supporting improved fiber durability and flexibility. Comparative FTIR analysis showed a strong cellulose signature and marked similarity to cotton, while also revealing high native starch content, further supporting their applicability as bio-based binders in nonwoven products. Functional characterization demonstrated that optimized Rhizoclonium sp. fibers exhibited exceptional moisture regain (~ 12%), surpassing conventional fibers such as cotton and lyocell. Overall, this study establishes native Rhizoclonium sp. as a highly versatile and renewable bioresource for innovative aquatic fibers, underpinning the development of an environmentally responsible algae-derived textile value chain.Graphical Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40643-026-01028-1.

The effects of climate change are highly disruptive for reliable and sustainable crop production as crops have been regionally adapted to respond favourably to a set of regular, combined environmental cues. Notably in wheat, the most widely cultivated crop, the timing of floral meristem transitions and flowering is largely regulated by the combination of photoperiod and temperature cues. Identifying and understanding the key genes that regulate the physiological responses to these combined environmental cues has been important for enabling the optimal development of cultivars. Winter-grown crops are important as they provide ground cover, high biomass, and high yield potential. However, they are critically sensitive to the duration and level of cold season temperatures and the onset of the lengthening spring photoperiod. Therefore, to enable climate-robust cultivars, we need to understand and tailor the crop response to the winter environment; the crop must be resilient enough to survive but flexible enough not to require a standard winter each year. Here we detail the challenges and opportunities that are presented by the changing environmental conditions for the adaptation of winter wheat.

With a rising demand for eco-friendly alternatives to wood for pulp and paper production, Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) shows promise due to its fast growth, high biomass yield, and climate adaptability. This study assessed the plant’s morphological and chemical suitability. Fibre analysis revealed suitable average fibre length, diameter, lumen width and thickness of the cellular layer (0.85 mm, 9.723 µm, 3.258 µm and 6.465 µm) for the leaf blade, (0.95 mm, 11.978 µm, 5.159 µm, 6.819 µm) for the midrib and (1.321 mm, 14.648 µm, 5.798 µm, 8.815 µm) for the stalks. Fibre indices, such as slenderness ratio, Luce’s shape factor, and solids factor, indicated good fibre elasticity and collapse potential, favorable for papermaking. Chemical analysis showed suitable composition of 37% cellulose, 25.05% hemicelluloses, and 16.56% lignin, though high caustic soda solubility and ash content suggest low pulp yield. While suitable for general paper production, the high Runkel and rigidity ratios suggest the resulting paper would be stiff, making it ideal for packaging applications.

Regulation mechanisms for simultaneous rapid carbon sequestration and premium biomass production.

Vicia villosa Roth var. glabrescens (smooth vetch) is an economically important legume cover crop valued for its nitrogen-fixing capacity, high biomass yield, and adaptability across diverse agroecosystems. Here, we present a chromosome-scale, high-quality genome assembly of V. villosa var. glabrescens, constructed using PacBio HiFi sequencing combined with Hi-C scaffolding. The assembly spans 3.70 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 4.69 Mb and exhibits lower heterozygosity (0.9%) compared to V. villosa Roth (3.1%). Genome analysis revealed significant expansion of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs), as well as lineage-specific proliferation of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) in V. villosa var. glabrescens. Comparative genomics with V. villosa Roth highlighted gene family expansions associated with trichome development, providing insights into the genetic basis of morphological and adaptive differences within the Vicia species. This reference genome provides a foundational resource for accelerating the breeding of V. villosa varieties with enhanced agronomic traits and contributes to a broader understanding of legume genomics and plant genome evolution.

Recyclable Brønsted-Lewis acidic ionic liquids enable high-yield biomass valorization to platform chemicals in aqueous biphasic systems

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant with excellent agrarian and economic characteristics and has been used since ancient times as a raw material for making fabrics. Industrial hemp, with its high biomass yield per hectare, has great potential for the production of biofuels and valuable products. Regulatory documents in Bulgaria allow the cultivation of cannabis plants only if they are intended for fibres, seeds for animal feed or sowing if they have a content of less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol. The residue of hemp after such processing is characterised by a hardwood-like content of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin but with a very low bulk density. The specificity of the biomass residues and the woody structure of hemp stalks requires an additional mild, wet beating prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. The present work aims to investigate the effect of mechanical treatment of steam-exploded hemp residues on glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis and to determine the optimal pretreatment conditions. The classic steam and CO2 steam explosion methods are used as the first pretreatment step in this investigation. It has been found that the mechanical processing of hemp pulp leads to higher glucose yields after enzymatic hydrolysis, and this effect is reduced by increasing the steam explosion temperature.

Acetic acid (AA), a natural by-product of ethanol fermentation in yeast cells, is widely present in lignocellulosic hydrolysate as a fermentation inhibitor. Thus, gaining insight into the molecular mechanisms of AA tolerance in yeast is particularly relevant for industrial applications. This study investigates the response to AA stress in two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (ATCC 9804 and ATCC 13007) during different metabolic states (fermentation, respiro-fermentation, and respiration) and external pH levels (3․0 and 4.5). The results show that AA reduces the viability of both strains in a dosage-dependent manner. Moreover, ATCC 13007 is more sensitive to AA stress compared to ATCC 9804. Respiratory metabolism and higher pH correlate with better resistance to AA stress. Catalase activity was observed to increase by 1.5–6-fold under AA stress conditions, in accordance with changes in yeast thiol group content and growth. The influence of AA stress is reactive oxygen species-dependent, and redox balance regulation was found to increase the robustness of S. cerevisiae ATCC 13007 to AA by 2-fold. The study reveals valuable insights into yeast adaptation to stress conditions, contributing to the development of robust yeast strain construction for high-yield biomass and chemicals production.

Pretreatment of Pennisetum sinese Roxb. with the hydrous deep eutectic solvent.

To support the 2060 Net Zero Emission (NZE) target under the Paris Agreement, increasing the proportion of bioethanol blends to 20-30% has become a national priority. However, limited sugarcane-derived bioethanol production in Indonesia highlights the urgent need for alternative biomass sources. Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand (Pakchong grass) presents a promising candidate due to its high biomass yield, low lignin content, and adaptability. This study aims to optimize the bioethanol production process from Pakchong grass through pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation, utilizing a modified simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) scheme. Pretreatment optimization using NaOH (1-5%) revealed that 5% NaOH for 15 minutes effectively removed up to 70% lignin and 78% hemicellulose while retaining 66% cellulose. Enzymatic saccharification using 10 g/L cellulase for 5 days yielded 76.18% glucose conversion without requiring costly additives. Bioethanol fermentation was conducted using six fermentation schemes involving simultaneous (SSF), fed-batch (FSSF), and pre-saccharification strategies (PSFF). Among them, the two-feed FSSF (SE2) produced the highest ethanol yield (32 g/L, 95.41% efficiency), outperforming both conventional SSF (SE1) and PSFF variants. The findings emphasize the importance of synchronizing enzymatic hydrolysis with yeast metabolic activity. This work demonstrates the feasibility of integrated pretreatment and fermentation strategies for bioethanol production from Pakchong grass, offering insights for scalable and cost-effective renewable fuel development in tropical regions.

Optimizing bioenergy biofuel harvest: a comparative analysis of stepwise and integrated methods for economic and environmental sustainability.

Application of a two-level factorial design to investigate the effects of pH, temperature, nitrate concentration, and photoperiod on novel extracellular lipase activity of Nodosilinea sp. LGS3.

IntroductionGiven the growing recognition of Fomitopsis betulina for its bioactive potential, the influence of cultivation parameters on its mycelial development, metabolite production in submerged culture, and associated antioxidant activity remains insufficiently explored.MethodsThis study investigated the effects of various cultivation parameters on biomass accumulation, total phenolic content (TPC), and free radical scavenging activity, assessed using the Folin–Ciocalteu and DPPH assays respectively.Results and DiscussionAmong solvents tested, methanol and 70% ethanol were most effective for phenolic extraction, yielding 20.54±0.11 and 19.39±0.14mg GAE/g, respectively, while some solvents demonstrated strong DPPH inhibition (≥90%). A cultivation at 25°C supported optimal biomass accumulation (5.23±0.10g/L), phenolic compound total yield (101.10mg GAE/L), and antioxidant activity (91.66±0.40%). Static cultivation conditions promoted surface mycelial growth and resulted in the highest biomass yield (5.28±0.15g/L), strong DPPH inhibition (≥90%), and phenolic synthesis (101.75mg GAE/L). Among carbon sources, maltose favored biomass formation, whereas xylose led to the highest DPPH inhibition (89.68±0.91%) and TPC (16.08±0.06mg GAE/g; total yield: 15.92mg GAE/L). Of the nitrogen sources evaluated, ammonium sulfate supported the greatest biomass accumulation (2.64±0.21g/L), while ammonium nitrate enhanced antioxidant activity (80.54±3.10%). Although urea produced the highest TPC per gram of dry biomass (11.32±0.05mg GAE/g), ammonium sulfate resulted in the highest phenolic total yield (18.43mg GAE/L). An initial medium pH of 6.0 was identified as optimal for maximizing biomass growth, phenolic compound production, and antioxidant capacity. The cultivation parameters were ranked in order of influence as: temperature > duration of static cultivation > pH > duration of agitation > carbon source > nitrogen source. These findings provide a foundation for the targeted optimization of cultivation conditions to enhance biomass production, phenolic compound accumulation, and antioxidant activity in F. betulina (GenBank accession: PQ184655). The results contribute to the broader understanding of fungal secondary metabolite production and support future applications in biotechnology and functional food development. .

Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) is a common tropical forage crop valued for its high biomass yields, nutritional quality, and adaptability to diverse abiotic stresses. However, the genetic basis of its key agronomic traits remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from 124 diverse M. maximus genebank accessions, yielding a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data set of 1,261,156 SNPs after mapping to a related reference genome. Population structure analysis revealed three major genetic subgroups within the collection. Using three complementary GWAS models (Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Incorporating Knowledge (BLINK), the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Polynomial Unification (FarmCPU), and the Multiple Loci Mixed Model (MLMM)), we identified 25 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) spanning three major trait categories: (i) phenological and plant-architecture; (ii) nutritional and digestibility; and (iii) productivity and nitrogen-use traits, evaluated under wet-season, dry-season, and greenhouse conditions. Several MTAs were associated with genes related to plant growth and development, lignin biosynthesis, and nitrogen-cycling (including nitrogen uptake and biological nitrification inhibition). Notably, two SNPs were pleiotropic, with one associated with both nitrogen uptake and shoot biomass production, and another shared between crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility. Although a complete reference genome is not yet available for M. maximus, our results provide valuable information for future marker validation and breeding. This study highlights the potential of GWAS as a powerful tool for trait dissection and genetic improvement in tropical forage crops. The research represents a step forward in developing more resilient and productive M. maximus cultivars.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-08007-2.

In Latin America, pasture-based systems form the backbone of cattle production, with tropical forage grasses providing the primary and most economical feed source for ruminants. These grasses are cultivated across millions of hectares because of their high biomass yield, adaptability to poor soils, and suitability for extensive grazing. However, shifting land-use patterns and climate change are pushing forage systems into more marginal environments, where water scarcity and declining soil fertility compromise productivity and nutritional quality. Despite their critical role in regional and global livestock supply chains, tropical forage grasses have historically received limited breeding attention, largely owing to biological constraints such as apomixis, polyploidy, and self-incompatibility. This review explores the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating key morphophysiological traits in tropical forage species, focusing on plant responses to abiotic (e.g. drought, heat) and biotic (e.g. pests, pathogens) stress. We highlight progress in building genomic resources, with emphasis on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, transcriptomics, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which are uncovering trait-linked markers that can inform selection strategies. Additionally, we examine how transgenic technologies and gene editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas can be employed to circumvent reproductive barriers and accelerate the development of improved cultivars. By integrating conventional breeding with cutting-edge molecular tools, we propose a roadmap for developing climate-resilient, nutritionally enhanced tropical forages to support the long-term sustainability of grass-based livestock systems.

Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) is a globally important C4 perennial forage crop valued for its high biomass yield and tolerance to heat and drought. However, its poor cold tolerance severely limits its cultivation in temperate regions. The bZIP (basic region-leucine zipper) transcription factors are known to regulate abiotic stress responses; however, their role in elephant grass’s cold response is unclear. This study aimed to identify and characterize the CpbZIP gene family on a genome-wide scale and analyze its expression patterns under low-temperature stress. Through phylogenetic analysis, we classified 158 putative CpbZIP genes into 13 subgroups, a classification supported by conserved gene structures and motifs. The family expanded primarily through segmental duplication and has been shaped by strong purifying selection. Promoter analysis revealed numerous cis-acting elements associated with hormone signaling and abiotic stress, including low temperature, suggesting the family’s potential role in stress adaptation. Subsequent expression analysis and RT-qPCR validation identified six cold-induced genes. Of these, CpbZIP38 and CpbZIP86 exhibited high basal expression in roots and were significantly upregulated under cold stress. These findings identify promising candidate genes for the cold tolerance regulatory network in elephant grass and lay the groundwork for breeding cold-tolerant varieties.

Innovative protein sources are urgently needed to feed a growing global population and to support the increasing shift toward vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. Mycelia of edible fungi offer a sustainable and efficient alternative food source. In this study, 106 fungal strains were explored for their ability to ferment two different liquid carrot side streams. Among the candidates, Pleurotus djamor demonstrated exceptional potential, with high yields of biomass of ∼15 g L-1 and high protein contents of 31.0 ± 5.9 (optimized orange carrot medium) or 21.6 ± 1.9 g 100 g-1 (optimized black carrot medium), respectively. When used in burger patties and vegan sausage analogs, the mycelia outperformed vegetable proteins in sensory tests, highlighting their viability as a nutritious, versatile, and consumer-accepted protein alternative.