Non-food Research Articles

Dyeability and hydrolytic degradation of polylactic acid fibers under different environments

Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable material derived from industrial crops such as corn and straw, is increasingly recognized in various sectors, including textiles, food, and medicine. However, the dyeability and biodegradability of PLA a key factor contributing to its growing popularity. Herein, we report a sustainable dyeing method for the coloration of PLA fibers with excellent fastness using dispersed dyes. The results showed that the dyed PLA fabric exhibited a K/S value of 8.4, along with impressive grade 4 fastness to both dry and wet rubbing. Additionally, the dyed PLA fabric exhibited increased hydrophilicity and enhanced surface roughness. Most importantly, during the hydrolytic degradation experiment, the dyed polylactic acid fabric experienced a notable 36 % decrease in quality when exposed to a water environment characterized by a pH of 11, a temperature of 40 °C, and a duration of 60 days, whereas the control PLA fabric is only 8 %. The hydrolytic degradation of PLA occurs at its fastest rate when the color of the dye is at its optimal intensity, the environmental temperature is elevated, and the pH level is in an alkaline state. The degradation rate of PLA fabric initially tends to be rapid, followed by a gradual slowdown. This research may provide a useful guideline for the proper storage of dyed PLA fabrics and their use in the textile industry.

The Main Pests Are Insects and Diseases of Agricultural Crops in the South of Kyrgyzstan

In the south of Kyrgyzstan, the largest areas are occupied by agrocenosis of vegetable, fruit, industrial, and grain crops. The article presents the main pests and pathogens of agricultural crops in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The purpose of the research is to identify the dominant pests and diseases of agricultural crops and to find effective biological measures to combat them in the conditions of southern Kyrgyzstan. In recent years, outbreaks of mass reproduction of tomato mining moth (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917)) on tomatoes, cherry slimy sawfly (Caliroa cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)) and cherry fly (Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)) on cherries and cherries, Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineataSay), late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) on potatoes, powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum f. cucurbitacearumPot.) on vegetables, corn moth (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, 1796), bread beetle (Zabrus tenebrioides (Goeze, 1777)) and bug (Eurygaster integriceps Puton, 1881) on cereals, mite (Tetranychus urticae), aphid (Aphidoidea) and cotton scooper (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) on cotton, phytonomus (Phytonomus variabilis) on perennial grasses, winter scooper (Agrotis segetum (Denis et Schiffermüller) 1775), apple moth (Carpocapsa pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758)), apple moth (Hyponomeuta malinellus (Zeller, 1838)), unpaired silkworm (Lymantria dispar Linnaeus, 1758), curly leaves (Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul.), bacterial burn (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill, 1882) Winslow et al., 1920), scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) and powdery mildew on fruit crops, epiphytotic rust diseases (Puccinia) of cereals, oatmeal (Avena fatua) and sunflowers (Barbarea vulgaris) on cereals. An overview of drugs used in crop protection systems is also given. Chemical pesticides still remain the main means of protecting agricultural crops from pests and diseases, in the future, the use of the latest technologies in plant protection, the introduction of new biological preparations into plant protection practice should be used.

Mineralized nitrogen uptake by plants of the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilization in agriculture

The underground transfer of nitrogen from non-food crop residues to cash crops is an important tool to ensure decent crop yields and balance N use in agroecosystems. Laboratory experiments were performed to determine nitrogen migration in spring wheat at different growth stages using labelled nitrogen. In the first stage of the experiment, Artemisia dubia was grown in climate chambers (Climacell CLC-707-TV), with air temperature cycles of 8 h at 15 °C and 16 h at 20 °C, and fertiliz using 15N isotope enriched ammonia nitrate. In the second stage of the experiment, spring wheat was sown and grown to full maturity in two soils of differing soil acidity (pH 3.93 ± 0,04 and pH 7.07 ± 0,08) and mixed with the chopped pieces (3–5 cm mean length) of Artemisia dubia above-ground biomass obtained in the first stage of the experiment. Each soil had four experimental treatments: non-enriched biomass; non-enriched biomass and fertilizer (170 N kg h−1); biomass enriched by 15N and no fertilizer, and 15N enriched biomass and fertilizer (170 N kg h−1). Spring wheat and soil were sampled every two weeks for dry matter (DM), total N and 15N content measurements during the experiment (13 weeks). The results showed that improved crop nitrogen utilization from Artemisia dubia residues were achieved when additional crop fertilizers was not used. It implies that adding additional nitrogen might increase the degradation of plant biomass, but at the same time cause environmental pollution by leaching as plants use it slightly for their growth.

Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: The Role and Contribution of CREA (Italy) within the National Program RGV-FAO

Conservation, characterization and exploitation of agrobiodiversity are key factors to guarantee food security and face future challenges such as climate changes. These issues are the subject of a series of international agreements, such as the Convention of Biological Diversity, with its Nagoya Protocol, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. Italy ratified the Treaty in 2004 and instituted a long-lasting program, RGV-FAO, to implement it. CREA is one of the three organizations involved in the RGV-FAO Program, together with the National Research Council (CNR) and Reti Semi Rurali. CREA maintains a total of 40,186 accessions including cereals, vegetables, fruits, forages, industrial crops, forest and woody crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, and their wild relatives. Accessions are conserved using different ex situ conservation systems (seeds, in vivo plants, vegetative organs and in vitro plantlets), and characterized using genetic, morpho-phenological and/or biochemical methods. Herein, we will present the CREA long-lasting program RGV-FAO with some examples of the use of plant genetic resources in breeding programs, including molecular approaches. Some critical issues related to access and benefit sharing in PGRFA, such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Digital Sequence Information, will be discussed, highlighting their potential impact on food security and on the advancement of knowledge.

Hazardous waste management of novel non-edible Platycladus orientalis seed oil via recyclable yttria-based phyto-nanocatalyst: A practical approach towards sustainable bioenergy conversion

In current scenario of rising issues of economic crises, ecotoxicity and waste management, the search of novel, waste and non-food biomass for green energy production has become indispensable. This study is concerned with Platycladus orientalis, a novel feedstock with a seed oil concentration of 28 % (w/w), optimized via simulation-based response surface methodology (RSM) for biodiesel production. To enhance catalytic activity during transesterification, novel Yttria-based green metallic oxide, a phyto-nanocatalyst, was synthesized using Platycladus orientalis dried seed cones aqueous extract. The Yttria-based phytonanocatalyst was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX that confirmed its structural and elemental composition with 12 nm nano-size and demonstrated the high catalytic efficiency. The optimal conditions for biodiesel synthesis were identified as methanol-to-oil ratio (7:1), catalyst concentration (0.14 wt%), reaction time (105 min), and reaction temperature (80 °C) with remarkable biodiesel yield (96 %). The reusability of the Yttria-based green nanoparticles was assessed over six reaction cycles. Methyl ester formation was validated through FTIR, GC–MS, and NMR analyses. The fuel properties were found to fall within the range recommended by the international biodiesel standards i.e. flash point of 90 °C, density of 0.614 kg/L, viscosity of 4.21 cSt, pour point of −8 °C, cloud point of −10 °C, total acid number of 0.124 mg KOH/g and sulfur content of 0.00002 wt%. With its prolific seed production and wide distribution, Platycladus orientalis is a highly recommendable species for sustainable and eco-friendly biodiesel production. This study contributes to the evolving field of green catalysis, offering a viable solution to environmental issues and waste management challenges in the biodiesel industry.

Enhancing Erucic Acid and Wax Ester Production in Brassica carinata through Metabolic Engineering for Industrial Applications

Metabolic engineering enables oilseed crops to be more competitive by having more attractive properties for oleochemical industrial applications. The aim of this study was to increase the erucic acid level and to produce wax ester (WE) in seed oil by genetic transformation to enhance the industrial applications of B. carinata. Six transgenic lines for high erucic acid and fifteen transgenic lines for wax esters were obtained. The integration of the target genes for high erucic acid (BnFAE1 and LdPLAAT) and for WEs (ScWS and ScFAR) in the genome of B. carinata cv. ‘Derash’ was confirmed by PCR analysis. The qRT-PCR results showed overexpression of BnFAE1 and LdPLAAT and downregulation of RNAi-BcFAD2 in the seeds of the transgenic lines. The fatty acid profile and WE content and profile in the seed oil of the transgenic lines and wild type grown in biotron were analyzed using gas chromatography and nanoelectrospray coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. A significant increase in erucic acid was observed in some transgenic lines ranging from 19% to 29% in relation to the wild type, with a level of erucic acid reaching up to 52.7%. Likewise, the transgenic lines harboring ScFAR and ScWS genes produced up to 25% WE content, and the most abundant WE species were 22:1/20:1 and 22:1/22:1. This study demonstrated that metabolic engineering is an effective biotechnological approach for developing B. carinata into an industrial crop.

ZmNF-YA1 Contributes to Maize Thermotolerance by Regulating Heat Shock Response.

Zea mays (maize) is a staple food, feed, and industrial crop. Heat stress is one of the major stresses affecting maize production and is usually accompanied by other stresses, such as drought. Our previous study identified a heterotrimer complex, ZmNF-YA1-YB16-YC17, in maize. ZmNF-YA1 and ZmNF-YB16 were positive regulators of the drought stress response and were involved in maize root development. In this study, we investigated whether ZmNF-YA1 confers heat stress tolerance in maize. The nf-ya1 mutant and overexpression lines were used to test the role of ZmNF-YA1 in maize thermotolerance. The nf-ya1 mutant was more temperature-sensitive than the wild-type (WT), while the ZmNF-YA1 overexpression lines showed a thermotolerant phenotype. Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation were observed in the mutant, followed by WT and overexpression lines after heat stress treatment, while an opposite trend was observed for chlorophyll content. RNA-seq was used to analyze transcriptome changes in nf-ya1 and its wild-type control W22 in response to heat stress. Based on their expression profiles, the heat stress response-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in nf-ya1 compared to WT were grouped into seven clusters via k-means clustering. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs in different clades was performed to elucidate the roles of ZmNF-YA1-mediated transcriptional regulation and their contribution to maize thermotolerance. The loss function of ZmNF-YA1 led to the failure induction of DEGs in GO terms of protein refolding, protein stabilization, and GO terms for various stress responses. Thus, the contribution of ZmNF-YA1 to protein stabilization, refolding, and regulation of abscisic acid (ABA), ROS, and heat/temperature signaling may be the major reason why ZmNF-YA1 overexpression enhanced heat tolerance, and the mutant showed a heat-sensitive phenotype.

The effect of different sowing depth on the yield and yield-forming elements of maize

On a global scale, maize is an important food, feed and industrial crop, with an increasing production area (Nagy, 2007 and 2021). Among the environmental impacts, extreme weathering factors caused by climate change are causing serious problems for crop stability, and maize is no exception. Precision farming is today's most innovative agrotechnical approach, which can greatly increase crop safety and reduce costs by exploiting the genetic potential of our soils and the hybrids we use (Torres, 2012). Sowing is one of the most important agrotechnical elements, and with good seeding we can ensure that we have all the requirements of a high yielding, high growing crop (Pepó, 2019). In the case of sowing, it is important to place the seed in moist soil to provide the optimum environmental conditions for the crop to ensure uniform emergence (Széles et al., 2020; Shrestha et al., 2018). Precision planting is the market leading technology in precision planters in the United States, and when cooperating with them we looked for methods to optimise the depth of sowing and to monitor the effect on yield by studying the initial development of the plants. The seeder was equipped with the company's SmartFirmer soil scanner integrated into the seed drill. Automatic seed depth adjustment based on soil moisture is an exceptional solution for uniform emergence and drought protection.

Camelina Intercropping with Pulses a Sustainable Approach for Land Competition between Food and Non-Food Crops

With increasing global attention toward the need for mitigating climate change, the transition to sustainable energy sources has become an essential priority. Introducing alternative oilseed crops, such as camelina (Camelina sativa L.), into intercropping systems with staple food crops can mitigate ILUC (indirect land use change) and their negative impact on biofuel production. The present study compared camelina + field pea intercropping (ICw + IP, winter sowing) and camelina + lentil intercropping (ICs + IL, spring sowing) with their respective single crops regarding weed control, soil coverage, yields, and camelina seed quality (1000-seed weight, oil, and fatty acid composition). The comparison between different cropping systems was conducted using a one-way ANOVA. Both intercropping improved weed control at an early stage but no differences in soil coverage were found. Camelina seed yield was negatively affected by the presence of peas, whereas the pulse was unaffected. Conversely, camelina seed yield was not affected when intercropped with lentils while lentils reduced their yield in the intercropping. Furthermore, when camelina was intercropped with lentils, a significant increase was reported in 1000-seed weight and α -linolenic acid (C18:3) compared with the sole-camelina. However, both intercropping systems had a land equivalent ratio (LER, based on total seed yield at maturity) higher than one. Defining the best combination of crops and the optimal sowing and harvesting settings remain key to increasing the adoption of intercropping systems by farmers.

Duckweed (Lemna minor D0158): a promising protein source for food security

Duckweeds, recognized as the fastest growing aquatic flowering plants, exhibit substantial biomass production. Recently, they have been emerged as a potential industrial crop for efficient and eco-friendly protein production and nutrient recovery compared to conventional crops. The objective of the study was to determine the biomass accumulation rate, protein content and amino acid analysis of duckweeds (Lemna minor D0158).We cultured L. minor D0158 from its preserved state in the gene bank into both aseptic (in-vitro) and open condition at controlled room. The medium was Hoagland Solution (HS) mixed with sucrose in in-vitro condition while 1/5 concentration of HS (without sucrose) was in the open condition. Subsequently, we determined the dry biomass growth by calculating the weight difference adopting the Bergmann Method, and then calculated the protein percentage following the Kjeldahl Method. Moreover, the amino acid profiling was obtained using the Hydrolysis and Liquid Chromatography Technique. Later on, we compared the results with those of the other duckweeds and soybean together with the FAO requirements. We found that L. minor D0158 possessed the dry biomass growth rate of 6.72 g/m2/d with 33.13% protein content within 7-day cultivation period. Moreover, it exhibited significantly higher levels of branched chain amino acids (BCCAs) than soybean and met the FAO requirements. However, methionine (Met) content was found to be slightly low. The study suggested that L. minor D0158 might offer a sustainable solution for protein food security in future.

A Multiplex RT-PCR for the Detection of Three Viruses and One Viroid Infecting Hemp

Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging industrial crop in the United States. In recent surveys of hemp growers, disease identification and management were determined to be significant priority areas for future research. From previous studies on disease identification in Western U.S. hemp production systems, hop latent viroid (HLVd), beet curly top virus (BCTV), Cannabis sativa mitovirus 1 (CasaMV1), and citrus yellow vein associated virus (CYVaV) were detected at high incidences. In the present study, a multiplex reverse transcription PCR protocol was developed to detect this viroid and viruses from hemp leaf samples simultaneously. Using the developed protocol, the multiplex reverse transcription PCR could detect each virus and viroid specifically in 10−1-diluted cDNA. The protocol was validated on 6 hemp metavirome leaf samples from field-grown hemp grown in 2019 and 23 uncharacterized leaf samples in 2021 from Colorado. Of the samples tested, 95% tested positive for CasaMV1 in 2021. This was greater than infections of BCTV (4%), HLVd (0%), and CYVaV (0%). Coinfections accounted for 4% of samples in 2021. This method offers sensitive, specific, and fast simultaneous detection of three viruses and one viroid from hemp, contributing to large-scale pathogen-free hemp certification schemes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .

Comprehensive analysis of the Spartina alterniflora WD40 gene family reveals the regulatory role of SaTTG1 in plant development.

The WD40 gene family, prevalent in eukaryotes, assumes diverse roles in cellular processes. Spartina alterniflora, a halophyte with exceptional salt tolerance, flood tolerance, reproduction, and diffusion ability, offers great potential for industrial applications and crop breeding analysis. The exploration of growth and development-related genes in this species offers immense potential for enhancing crop yield and environmental adaptability, particularly in industrialized plantations. However, the understanding of their role in regulating plant growth and development remains limited. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of WD40 genes in S. alterniflora at the whole-genome level, delving into their characteristics such as physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene architecture, and expression patterns. Additionally, we cloned the TTG1 gene, a gene in plant growth and development across diverse species. We identified a total of 582 WD40 proteins in the S. alterniflora genome, exhibiting an uneven distribution across chromosomes. Through phylogenetic analysis, we categorized the 582 SaWD40 proteins into 12 distinct clades. Examining the duplication patterns of SaWD40 genes, we observed a predominant role of segmental duplication in their expansion. A substantial proportion of SaWD40 gene duplication pairs underwent purifying selection through evolution. To explore the functional aspects, we selected SaTTG1, a homolog of Arabidopsis TTG1, for overexpression in Arabidopsis. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the SaTTG1 protein localized in the nucleus and plasma membrane, exhibiting transcriptional activation in yeast cells. The overexpression of SaTTG1 in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering and increased seed size. These outcomes significantly contribute to our understanding of WD40 gene functions in halophyte species. The findings not only serve as a valuable foundation for further investigations into WD40 genes in halophyte but also offer insights into the molecular mechanisms governing plant development, offering potential avenues in molecular breeding.

Chilling stress response in tobacco seedlings: insights from transcriptome, proteome, and phosphoproteome analyses.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an important industrial crop, which is sensitive to chilling stress. Tobacco seedlings that have been subjected to chilling stress readily flower early, which seriously affects the yield and quality of their leaves. Currently, there has been progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which tobacco responds to chilling stress. However, little is known about the phosphorylation that is mediated by chilling. In this study, the transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome were analyzed to elucidate the mechanisms of the responses of tobacco shoot and root to chilling stress (4 °C for 24 h). A total of 6,113 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 153 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 345 differential phosphopeptides were identified in the shoot, and the corresponding numbers in the root were 6,394, 212 and 404, respectively. This study showed that the tobacco seedlings to 24 h of chilling stress primarily responded to this phenomenon by altering their levels of phosphopeptide abundance. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that starch and sucrose metabolism and endocytosis were the common pathways in the shoot and root at these levels. In addition, the differential phosphopeptide corresponding proteins were also significantly enriched in the pathways of photosynthesis-antenna proteins and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms in the shoot and arginine and proline metabolism, peroxisome and RNA transport in the root. These results suggest that phosphoproteins in these pathways play important roles in the response to chilling stress. Moreover, kinases and transcription factors (TFs) that respond to chilling at the levels of phosphorylation are also crucial for resistance to chilling in tobacco seedlings. The phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of kinases, such as CDPKs and RLKs; and TFs, including VIP1-like, ABI5-like protein 2, TCP7-like, WRKY 6-like, MYC2-like and CAMTA7 among others, may play essential roles in the transduction of tobacco chilling signal and the transcriptional regulation of the genes that respond to chilling stress. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of the responses of tobacco to chilling stress.

Valorization of Afzelia bella oilseeds cake in bioethanol production using 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ionic liquid and dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment

The use of renewable feedstocks and the variability of lignocellulosic feedstocks generating fermentable sugars also offer the advantages of the most abundant, sustainable and competitive non-food biomass. The aim of this study is to valorize the oilcake obtained from non-conventional Congolese Afzelia bella oilseeds, after extraction of the oil used in biodiesel production. The conversion of A. bella oilseeds cake into ethanol was carried out using the two methods of pretreatment (with the synthesized ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride and dilute sulfuric acid), followed by hydrolysis with dilute sulfuric acid and fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The lignocellulosic composition of the sample was 47.98% cellulose, 28.15% hemicellulose and 22.3% lignin. Pretreatment with 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride (ionic liquid) showed an increase in cellulose content of around 4.25% and hemicellulose content of around 7.7%, with simultaneous delignification of 12.25%. In contrast, with dilute sulfuric acid, the lignin and cellulose content of the sample fell to 3.88% and 1.88% respectively. Hemicellulose content, on the other hand, increased by only 3.58%. After dilute acid hydrolysis (5% H2SO4), the values for total reducing sugar, glucose and xylose were 66.06±1.34 mg.g-1; 36.25 ± 1.2 mg.g-1 and 29.71 ± 0.6 mg.g-1 respectively. The percentage conversion of sugars was 55.16 ± 0.5% for cellulose to glucose and 53.76 ± 0.75% for hemicellulose to xylose. The hydrolyzed product of the complex polysaccharide was then converted to ethanol using commercial yeast. Results showed an ethanol yield of around 10.3%, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results confirmed bioethanol production. A. bella oilseeds cakes are therefore a potential source for ethanol production.

Color design for cotton fabric by rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the fiber surface using organic solvent-assisted method

The coloration of cotton fabric with wild application has attracted extensive attention to cotton fiber, due to the efficient utilization of renewable industrial crops. However, the utilization of rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides with color is inadequate. Herein, a rapid strategy for constructing multi-color cotton fabric is designed to propose a rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the surface of cotton fiber in a high-temperature organic solvent system within 40 s. The colored metal oxide of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), tungsten trioxide (WO3), and cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) are in-situ synthesis on the surface of cotton fibers by different precursor solutions. The bright-colored cotton fabrics are developed within 40 s as well as satisfactory K/S values of 7.53, 2.67, and 0.98, for Cu2O (Cu2O-Cotton), WO3 (WO3-Cotton), and CoMoO4 (CoMoO4-Cotton), respectively. The stable structure of the various colored cotton fabrics is demonstrated by level 3 of rubbing fastness and washing fastness, and acceptable air permeability. Moreover, assigned to the nature of particles, the colored cotton fabrics are fabricated with thermal stability and better ultraviolet protection factors. The rapid in-situ metal oxides with precursor solutions provide a time- and water-saving method to prepare colored cotton fabrics, which exhibits an ideal efficiency, and practical potential application for coloring and functionalization.

Rapidly engineering an osmotic-pressure-tolerant gut bacterium for efficient non-sterile production of bulk chemicals

The concept of next-generation industrial biotechnology (NGIB) has been presented as a green biomanufacturing approach based on the use of low-cost substrates in an open and continuous non-sterilization fermentation process. However, the realization of NGIB, partially through the utilization of extremophiles, has been impeded by the challenges in engineering these extremophiles. A previously unexplored solution for advancing NGIB is to obtain readily engineerable microorganisms with osmotic-pressure tolerance. Here, Jejubacter sp. L23 strain, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, osmotic-pressure-tolerant bacterium, was isolated from the gut of superworm Zophobas atratus and identified as a new member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, with high 16S rDNA similarity to Escherichia coli (95.2 %). The growth of L23 strain was observed at 10 to 45 °C and pH 4.0 to 10.0 in the presence of 0 to 12 % (w/v) NaCl. We systematically investigated the genetic parts, molecular tools, and manipulation approaches applicable to the L23 strain, and successfully conducted chromosomal genetic engineering, e.g. base-editing and deletion, by using high-efficiency CRISPR systems under low-salt conditions. Furthermore, the metabolic network of L23 strain was rewired to obtain the engineered L23R7 strain, which could display stable expression of exogenous genes and produce bulk chemicals at high yields using inulin, abundant non-food biomass, and salt water without sterilization. For example, 41 g/L isobutanol was produced by utilizing inulin in a 3-L bioreactor through a non-sterile fermentation process. This potent industrial strain holds the promise of promoting the development of NGIB as a sustainable biomanufacturing solution.

Jasmonate enhances cold acclimation in jojoba by promoting flavonol synthesis.

Jojoba is an industrial oil crop planted in tropical arid areas, and its low-temperature sensitivity prevents its introduction into temperate areas. Studying the molecular mechanisms associated with cold acclimation in jojoba is advantageous for developing breeds with enhanced cold tolerance. In this study, metabolomic analysis revealed that various flavonols accumulate in jojoba during cold acclimation. Time-course transcriptomic analysis and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) demonstrated that flavonol biosynthesis and jasmonates (JAs) signaling pathways played crucial roles in cold acclimation. Combining the biochemical and genetic analyses showed that ScMYB12 directly activated flavonol synthase gene (ScFLS). The interaction between ScMYB12 and transparent testa 8 (ScTT8) promoted the expression of ScFLS, but the negative regulator ScJAZ13 in the JA signaling pathway interacted with ScTT8 to attenuate the transcriptional activity of the ScTT8 and ScMYB12 complex, leading to the downregulation of ScFLS. Cold acclimation stimulated the production of JA in jojoba leaves, promoted the degradation of ScJAZ13, and activated the transcriptional activity of ScTT8 and ScMYB12 complexes, leading to the accumulation of flavonols. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanism of JA-mediated flavonol biosynthesis during cold acclimation in jojoba and highlight the JA pathway as a promising means for enhancing cold tolerance in breeding efforts.

Agricultural ethics of biofuels: big science and global climate ethics

ABSTRACT In the first decade of the twenty-first century, biofuels were recognized as an important element in the overall strategy to reduce climate-forcing greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. Yet scientific research to more fully realize the potential of agricultural crops for liquid transportation fuel requires the coordination of many separate projects housed in different disciplines. Studies predicting and documenting adverse social impacts of plant-based ethanol and biodiesel led to the inclusion of social science components within research teams seeking to develop biofuels. A 2008 rise in global food prices became a centerpiece of this research, leading to a search for non-food crops that could serve as energy feedstocks. Although coordinated scientific research teams have made significant strides toward incorporating social dimensions and broader impacts into what was originally a purely biophysical research effort, a simplistic diagnosis of the tension between agricultural production for food use and agricultural production intended for energy production continues to prevail. Some of the hard questions in the global development of the agricultural sector have been obscured as a result.

Profitability of coffee-based agroforestry system to support farmers’ income in Toba Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Indonesia is a country with the application of agroforestry systems on community land. People who live in Toba Regency, North Sumatra have long applied coffee-based agroforestry systems and have become a hereditary tradition. The purpose of this study is to determine the profitability of coffee-based agroforestry land and economic value for farmers so that it can be developed further. Coordinate points of land distribution, taken with GPS, conducted interviews, profitability analysis and income analysis to obtain farmer land data. Mapping the distribution of farmers’ coffee-based agroforestry land was mapped with ArcGIS 10.8. Four respondent farmers implemented coffee-based agroforestry (Coffea arabica) with a planting distance of 2 m x 2.5 m combined with Gmelina arborea (white teak), Eucalyptus sp. (eucalyptus), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), Pinus merkusii (pine), Psidium guajava (guava), Durio zibethinus (durian), Persea americana (avocado), and others. Based on the profitability analysis, all four farmers’ lands are feasible for further development. The economic value of land depends on the area of land managed by the farmer, where farmers with a land area of 2 Ha have the largest income during 10 years of land management, namely Mr. Bisken with an income of IDR 162,719,500. Utilization of Multi-Purpose Trees Species (MPTS) or plantation and industrial crops can increase the economic value and profitability of farmers’ land.

Biosynthesis of biomolecules from saffron as an industrial crop and their regulation, with emphasis on the chemistry, extraction methods, identification techniques, and potential applications in human health and food: A critical comprehensive review

The dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, known as “Red Gold,” are highly prized for their nutritional and medicinal qualities. These qualities are due to the presence of apocarotenoids such as crocin, crocetin, safranal, and picrocrocin. The concentrations of biomolecules in saffron play a crucial role in determining its quality and commercial value. Ensuring the purity of saffron biomolecules is crucial for their pharmaceutical and food applications, given their significant potential in these fields. Enhancing cultivation practices and harnessing biosynthesis pathways through genetic engineering are widely used methods to boost the production of saffron biomolecules. Nevertheless, achieving optimal purity and output from the final products necessitates the implementation of efficient extraction methods. Additionally, employing effective identification methods is crucial for attaining accuracy in estimating the quality and quantity of these biomolecules. Hence, understanding the biosynthesis, extraction, and identification methods of saffron biomolecules, along with their significant role in human health and food, holds great importance. There is a need for extensive research to enhance the quality of components used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, surpassing the current studies. Thus, this review provides an overview of saffron biomolecules, including crocin, crocetin, safranal, and picrocrocin, along with their properties, biosynthesis, and regulation. Furthermore, the paper delves into the various aspects of saffron biomolecules, including sample preparation, extraction, identification, and quantification. In addition, the paper highlighted the possible health advantages and food uses of saffron biomolecules, as well as detailed information on the role of artificial intelligence have been discussed as a cutting-edge tool for studying various aspects of saffron biomolecules. Furthermore, the study has emphasized the future potential and opportunities for further research on saffron and its biomolecules, which can pique the interest of researchers, scientists, and industrial people seeking new and innovative opportunities.