Product Yield Research Articles

Block-scale Oil Palm Yield Prediction Using Machine Learning Approaches Based on Landsat and MODIS Satellite Data

Due to environmental threats and weather uncertainty concerns, oil palm yield prediction is crucial for sustaining crop production. This can be achieved through machine learning and utilising remotely sensed data to predict crop yield. However, the comparative studies on remotely sensed data in adopting the machine learning models are still limited due to the data accessibility. Therefore, we compare and evaluate the prediction accuracy between different satellites, namely MODIS and Landsat-7, using machine learning algorithms and the topology of deep neural networks. Random forest and stacking outperformed linear regression, ridge regression, and lasso regression for both Landsat-7 NDVI (R2= 0.78–0.80; RMSE=1.00- 1.26 tonnes per hectare; MAE=0.77- 0.79 tonnes per hectares; MAPE=0.03-0.04 tonnes per hectare) and MODIS NDVI (R2= 0.60–0.65 tonnes per hectares; RMSE= 2.72–2.81 tonne per hectares; MAE= 1.42-1.55, MAPE= 1.01- 1.02 tonnes per hectares). The Landsat-7 NDVI revealed that neural networks with a deeper network topology (R2= 0.85; RMSE= 1.42 tonnes per hectare; MAE=0.57 tonnes per hectares; MAPE=0.06 tonnes per hectare) outperformed neural networks with a baseline and broader network topologies in terms of performance. In contrast, MODIS-NDVI revealed that the neural network with a wider network topology had the highest overall prediction accuracy and the lowest prediction error (R2= 0.75; RMSE= 2.81 tonnes per hectare; MAE=2.27 tonnes per tonnes; MAPE= 0.13). Because of its higher spatial resolution in comparison to MODIS, landsat-7 NDVI used in neural networks with a deep network topology provided the best model performance. Although the use of NDVI as a single input factor may cause uncertainty in some extents, it is an efficient and reliable method for improving yield estimation with the use of medium-resolution satellites, which has important implications for early warning towards the reduction in yield production.

Management of textile waste in Europe: An environmental and a socio-economic assessment of current and future scenarios

Textile production and consumption continues to grow, and yet textile waste management in Europe remains suboptimal. This study assesses and compares the life cycle impacts of managing selected textile waste fractions via selected technologies, under current and future framework conditions. The study combines environmental and socio-economic analyses with data input from stakeholder consultation within the European Union. Preparing for reuse is the most beneficial management pathway from both an environmental and a socio-economic perspective. Overall, mechanical recycling is the second-most preferred pathway for most environmental impact categories. However, for recycling pathways to be economically competitive against incineration, either CO2 prices will have to increase, or technology and processing costs will have to decrease. The uncertainty analysis identified critical parameters, such as substitution factors and yields of most desirable products from the recycling processes. The results offer a detailed basis for prioritising technology pathways for future textile waste management in Europe.

Bio-hydrogen production from crude glycerol: Optimisation through response surface methodology and artificial neural network approach

Crude glycerol (CG) is the main by-product of biodiesel production from the transesterification of vegetable or animal oils. The CG's high energy content makes it an effective carbon source for bio-hydrogen production. However, the purity of CG derived from the transesterification process may vary due to impurities such as methanol, soap, salt, etc., which influence the hydrogen production yield. The present study investigated the impacts of initial glycerol, methanol, and soap concentration of CG on the hydrogen production by dark fermentation, and the effect of various factors was evaluated and optimised with the response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) approach to maximise the yield of hydrogen production. Both the results of these approaches showed good fitting. The correlation coefficient between actual and predicted values from RSM and ANN models is closer to ∼1, and the lower error shows the applicability of these models. A maximum of 17.67 mmol/L of hydrogen production was obtained via RSM with optimum methanol, soap and glycerol concentrations of 2.75 g/L, 6.07 g/L, and 20.45 g/L, respectively. Besides, the 3-D response surface graphs illustrated the suppressive impact of increased initial concentration of methanol and soap, along with higher initial concentrations of glycerol, on hydrogen production. Further, the outcome of the controlled experiment shows that the presence of impurities (methanol and soap) in glycerol reduces the cumulative hydrogen production by 5 %–17 % compared to the control for over five days.

Steam gasification of lime dried sewage sludge: Effects of temperature and addition of lime

Gasification shows great potential as an alternative method for energy utilization from sewage sludge. Lime (CaO) is a cheap and commonly used dewatering conditioner for sewage sludge. The calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) generated during the drying process with lime can enhance the pH level of the sludge, thereby providing disinfection properties. This paper investigated enhancement mechanism of Ca(OH)2 on hydrogen gas generation and the effect on gas product yield during the steam gasification process of lime-dried sludge. The experiments were conducted in an electrically heated reactor at 500–800 °C. The forms of calcium present in the gasified sludge char samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to investigate their transformation process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to obtain information regarding the chemical structure in the gasified sludge char samples, with the aim of exploring the mechanism behind hydrogen production from lime-dried sludge. The results indicate that the CaO generated from Ca(OH)2 dehydration acts both CO2 adsorbent and catalyst during the gasification process. The addition of Ca(OH)2 during the sewage sludge gasification process leads to a reduction in the aromatic CH content in the organic matter, while significantly increasing the content of reactive CH3-chains. It also promotes the ring-opening and rearrangement reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing heterocycles and steam reforming reaction of tar. The combined effects of these factors contribute to an overall increase in hydrogen gas yield.

Estimation of Evaporation and Drought Stress of Pistachio Plant Using UAV Multispectral Images and a Surface Energy Balance Approach

Water scarcity is a critical abiotic stress factor for plants in arid and semi-arid regions, impacting crop development and production yield and quality. Monitoring water stress at finer scales (e.g., farm and plant), requires multispectral imagery with thermal capabilities at centimeter resolution. This study investigates drought stress in pistachio trees in a farm located in Yazd province, Iran, by using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images to quantify evapotranspiration and assess drought stress in individual trees. Images were captured on 10 July 2022, using a Matrix 300 UAV with a MicaSense Altum multispectral sensor. By employing the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), actual field evapotranspiration was accurately calculated (10 cm spatial resolution). Maps of the optimum crop coefficient (Kc) were developed from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based on standard evapotranspiration using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 56 methodology. The comparison between actual and standard evapotranspiration allowed us to identify drought-stressed trees. Results showed an average and maximum daily evaporation of 4.3 and 8.0 mm/day, respectively, in pistachio trees. The real crop coefficient (Kc) for pistachio was 0.66, contrasting with the FAO 56 standard of 1.17 due to the stress factor (Ks). A significant correlation was found between Kc and NDVI (R2 = 0.67, p < 0.01). The regression model produced a crop coefficient map, valuable to support precise irrigation management and drought prevention, considering the heterogeneity at the farm scale.

Impact of rice straw mulching on water consumption and productivity of orange trees [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck]

Due to the adverse effect of global climate change on agricultural water management, maintaining soil moisture in the root zone is essential for optimal crop productivity. For effective irrigation, we used organic mulching to increase the yield and water productivity (WP) of Valencia orange in arid/desert climates. Here, the effect of rice straw mulching and irrigation rates [100, 85, and 70% of evapotranspiration reference (ETc)] on nutrient contents, quality, and yield of orange trees was evaluated. Under field conditions, the application of straw mulch significantly increased the concentration of some essential elements and photosynthetic pigments but reduced proline contents in orange leaves. Soil mulching significantly increased fruit and inflorescence retention, and resulted in a higher number and weight of fruit on branches, without compromising their taste or texture, compared to the treatment without mulching. Both irrigation and mulching also affected crop productivity and water use efficiency (WUE). This was evident when yield/fed increased by 22.7–23.8, 20.7–31.5, and 6.2–16.9% under mulching at 100, 85, and 70% ETc, respectively, compared to traditional conditions at 100% ETc without mulch. Although the maximum WUE under rice straw mulch was 5.72–5.84 kg/m3 at 70% ETc, it was 5.31–5.40, and 4.57–4.64 kg/m3 at 85, and 100% ETc, respectively. Organic mulching showed superior results with respect to increasing yields and WP, while saving 15.4% water and comparable benefit/cost with the traditional irrigation when orange trees were irrigated with 85% ETc. Together, this study could be a promising strategy for climate change adaptation and sustainable water management.

Field Experiment on Integrated Nutrient Management in Aggregatum Onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)

A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal, U.T. of Puducherry during the summer season of 2023 to investigate the integrated effects of organics and bioenhancers on the growth, bulb yield and quality of aggregatum onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) cv ‘Perambalur Local’. The experiment utilized a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two replications, incorporating two factors viz., fertilizers level (F1 with 6 levels) and bioenhancers (F2 with 3 levels), resulting in eighteen treatments in a factorial manner. The study materials included vermicompost, poultry manure, panchagavya and jeevamirtham, in addition to recommended Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and N, P, K fertilizers. Noteworthy observations were made in the treatment receiving Recommended Dose of FYM (RDFYM) + 75% N + Recommended Dose of P (RDP) + Recommended Dose of K (RDK) + 25% N through Poultry manure, coupled with the application of jeevamirtham at 500 L ha-1 as a soil drench thrice, coinciding with irrigation at planting, 20 and 45 days after planting (DAP). This treatment exhibited significant enhancements in various parameters including maximum plant height at 30 DAP (31.40 cm), leaf girth at 30 DAP (1.94 cm), number of leaves plant-1 at 30 DAP (25.80), fresh weight of top (12.26 g), polar (3.17 cm) and equatorial diameter of bulblet (2.94 cm), bulblet weight (9.30 g), number of bulblets plant-1 (10.00), maximum bulb yield (43.18 g plant-1 and 6.91 t ha-1) and dry matter production of bulbs (788.51 kg ha-1). These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating organic inputs and bioenhancers in optimizing the growth, yield and quality of aggregatum onion.

Effect of deodorization conditions on fatty acid profile, oxidation products, and lipid-derived free radicals of soybean oil

Oxidative stability is a key quality characteristic of edible oils, and the oil’s antioxidant capacity decreases during the deodorization stage. This study explores the changes in radical formation, molecular structure, oxidative characteristics, fatty acids, and main bioactive compounds in soybean oil during deodorization. The lag phase decreased, whereas the total amount of spins of free radicals increased as the deodorization time increased from 90 to 150 min. The total amount of spins and percentage of alkyl radicals varied dramatically under different times and temperatures (220 ∼ 260 ℃). Results showed that identifying and quantifying the formed radicals can provide useful information for monitoring and controlling oil oxidation in vegetable oil refining systems. Therefore, to control early oxidation events, maximize refined oil product yield, and reduce energy consumption in the refining plant, the priority should be to minimize temperature during the oil refining process and then shorten the deodorization time.

A Self-Assembling Pfs230D1-Ferritin Nanoparticle Vaccine Has Potent and Durable Malaria Transmission-Reducing Activity.

Malaria is caused by eukaryotic protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. There are 249 million new cases and 608,000 deaths annually, and new interventions are desperately needed. Malaria vaccines can be divided into three categories: liver stage, blood stage, or transmission-blocking vaccines. Transmission-blocking vaccines prevent the transmission of disease by the mosquito vector from one human to another. Pfs230 is one of the leading transmission-blocking vaccine antigens for malaria. Here, we describe the development of a 24-copy self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine comprising domain 1 of Pfs230 genetically fused to H. pylori ferritin. The single-component Pfs230D1-ferritin construct forms a stable and homogenous 24-copy nanoparticle with good production yields. The nanoparticle is highly immunogenic, as two low-dose vaccinations of New Zealand White rabbits elicited a potent and durable antibody response with high transmission-reducing activity when formulated in two distinct adjuvants suitable for translation to human use. This single-component 24-copy Pfs230D1-ferritin nanoparticle vaccine has the potential to improve production pipelines and the cost of manufacturing a potent and durable transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria control.

Analytical evaluation of the performance of pyrolysis-gasification (Py-Gs) combination within hybrid thermochemical-biological biorefinery

Thermochemical treatments like pyrolysis and gasification, were proposed to circumvent hydrolysis bottleneck of conventional 2nd generation biorefineries. Within this big-picture, the target of this article was to establish the type and amount of bioavailable matter that can be obtained through intermediate pyrolysis of biomass followed by gasification of biochar. To establish the amount of “chemical energy” partitioned among different products’ chemical oxygen demand (COD), which is proportional to higher heating value (HHV) and often utilized for biological systems, was applied for the evaluation of thermochemical conversion of a lignocellulosic feedstock (fir wood). The most abundant product of intermediate pyrolysis was biochar, which retains from 33 % to 40 % of feedstock COD (with temperatures starting from 450 °C). The yield of water-soluble pyrolysis products (WS) slightly increases from 24 % at 450 °C to 27 % at 650 °C, whereas the yield of WI increases considerably with the same temperature. Pyrolysis temperature showed a minor effect on the composition of WS as revealed by GC-MS analysis of main compounds and size exclusion chromatography. Preliminary gasification experiments, performed at 850 °C under CO2 atmosphere, provided gasification rates for different biochars, which was equal to 0.004, 0.005, 0.006 min−1 for biochars obtained at 650, 550, and 450 °C respectively. Syngas obtained from gasification of 450 °C and 550 °C biochar was almost tar-free, whereas gasification of 650 °C biochar yielded a detectable amount of tars (0.4 %). Increasing the gasification temperature to 950 °C sharply increases the gasification rate of biochar obtained at 450 °C, allowing to obtain 55% conversion yield. Within the scope of hybrid thermochemical-biological (HTB) processes, the obtained results show that intermediate pyrolysis, when coupled with subsequent 950 °C CO2 gasification of biochar, can deliver 64% of chemical energy (by COD basis) of the lignocellulosic feedstock as bioavailable constituents, which are defined to syngas and WS based on recent biological studies. Whereas downstream fermentation can process syngas and WS materials in an effective way, such yields could surpass the holocellulose-targeted methods based on hydrolysis.

Metal-Organic Framework Templated Z-Scheme ZnIn2S4/Bi2S3 Hierarchical Heterojunction for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production from Wastewater.

Metal-organic framework derived materials received a lot of attention due to their significant benefits in photocatalytic reactions. In this work, a Z-scheme ZnIn2S4/Bi2S3 hierarchical heterojunction is first developed by a one-pot method using CAU-17 as a template. The specific preparation method endows an intimate interface contact between these two monomers, and CAU-17-derived Bi2S3 possesses a high surface area and porosity, resulting in an efficient charge separation and O2 capture. Thus, for photocatalytic H2O2 production from the O2 reduction reaction, the ZnIn2S4/Bi2S3 heterojunction can achieve an H2O2 yield of 995µmolL-1 in pure water and ambient air under visible light, 4.5 and 4 times that of ZnIn2S4 and Bi2S3, respectively. In addition, in tetracycline solution, ZnIn2S4/Bi2S3 can degrade tetracycline with a degradation rate of 95% by photocatalysis, and at the same time, a final H2O2 production yield of 1223µmolL-1 is reached. Similarly, high yields of H2O2 are also obtained from wastewater containing o-nitrophenol, acid golden yellow, or acid red, and these pollutants are effectively degraded. This work reveals the potential of metal-organic framework-derived materials in photocatalysis, as well as provides insights into H2O2 green synthesis and wastewater treatment.

The effect of cultivation technologies on weed infestation and productivity of peas

The current paper has presented the study results obtained in 2020–2023, in the stationary field trial of the FSBSI “KurskFARC”. The purpose of the study was to identify and evaluate the impact of technologies with different levels of soil tillage minimization on weed infestation, the formation of yield structure elements and pea productivity in the conditions of the CBR. There have been studied four pea cultivation technologies, such as traditional (plowing at 20–22 cm, main application of N15P40K40 + top dressing with N34); differentiated (chiseling by 20–22 cm + disking by 8–10 cm, main application N15P40K40 + top dressing with N34); minimal (discing up to 8 cm, main application N15P40K40 + top dressing with N34); direct sowing (no-tillage, main application N5P14K14 + pre-sowing N10P26K26 + top dressing with N34). There has been established the advantage of traditional technology in reducing weed infestation, and direct sowing in the formation of yield structure elements, indicators of grain quality and pea productivity. The traditional pea cultivation technology reduced the total number of weeds by 1.9–2.0 times and their dry weight by 1.2–1.8 times during the period critical for the growth and development of the crop, and by 2.1–2.5 and 1.3–2.0 times before harvesting. The highest indicators of plant density for harvesting, the mean number of grains per plant and unit area, and protein percentage in grain were identified with direct sowing, which made it possible to obtain the maximum pea productivity (2.31 t/ha) and protein yield with the harvest (460.6 kg/ha). The use of traditional, differentiated, and minimal technologies contributed to a reduction of plant density before harvesting by 5.4–9.3 %, the mean number of grains per 1 m2 by 4.2–22.6 % and per plant by 0.6–18. 6 %, protein percentage in grain by 0.25–0.90 %, which led to a productivity decrease by 4.3–10.8 %, protein yield per hectare by 5.3–12.6 %.

Characteristics of the spring common wheat variety ‘Balkysh’

One of the recent breeding work results of the FRC KazRC of RAS was the spring common wheat variety ‘Balkysh’, which was included in the State List of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the Middle Volga region in 2021. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the variety under the conditions of the last years of testing in comparison with other varieties. The study was carried out in the fields with gray forest soils of the Tatar RIA, located in the suburbs of Kazan, in 2019–2023. The variety ‘Balkysh’ is not inferior or superior in productivity and protein yield to the varieties most common in the Republic of Tatarstan; the mean productivity of the variety was 4.31 t/ha, protein yield was 0.54 t/ha. The variety is characterized with high productivity stability. The variety had 25 % of gluten in grain, 13.2 % of protein, 94 units of IDK. The peculiarity of the rheological dough properties of the variety ‘Balkysh’ was a low value of flour force with 109 u.a., 61 mm of dough elasticity, 121 u.ph. of dough dilution, which can be used to form grinding grain batches balanced in quality to reduce the load on dough mixing machines. The variety ‘Balkysh’ is characterized with high field complex resistance to major leaf and stem diseases, with not more than 5 % of damage caused with brown leaf and stem rust over the years of testing; powdery mildew resistance during epiphytoty years was not lower than 6 points (a lower one third of the plant was slightly affected). The variety ‘Balkysh’ is characterized as short-stemmed; the mean plant height was 65.7 cm, which is significantly lower than that of the varieties developed by the TatRIA.

New insight into protective effect against oxidative stress and biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides produced by Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NC4 from fermented eggplant.

Fermented eggplant is a traditional fermented food, however lactic acid bacteria capable of producing exopolysaccharide (EPS) have not yet been exploited. The present study focused on the production and protective effects against oxidative stress of an EPS produced by Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NC4 (NC4-EPS), in addition to deciphering its genomic features and EPS biosynthesis pathway. Among 54 isolates tested, strain NC4 showed the highest EPS yield and antioxidant activity. The maximum EPS production (2.04 ± 0.11g/L) was achieved by culturing in MRS medium containing 60g/L sucrose at 37°C for 48h. Under 2mM H2O2 stress, the survival of a yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae treated with 0.4mg/mL NC4-EPS was 2.4-fold better than non-treated cells, which was in agreement with the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities measured from cell lysates. The complete genome of NC4 composed of a circular chromosome of 2,888,896bp and 3 circular plasmids. The NC4 genome comprises more genes with annotated function in nitrogen metabolism, phosphorus metabolism, cell division and cell cycle, and iron acquisition and metabolism as compared to other reported L. paracasei. Of note, the eps gene cluster is not conserved across L. paracasei. Pathways of sugar metabolism for EPS biosynthesis were proposed for the first time, in which gdp pathway only present in few plant-derived bacteria was identified. These findings shed new light on the cell-protective activity and biosynthesis of EPS produced by L. paracasei, paving the way for future efforts to enhance yield and tailor-made EPS production for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Impact of accelerated aging cycles on the performance of extruded cement-based composites reinforced with non-bleached eucalyptus fibers.

Thermo-mechanical pulping produces well-individualized fibers compared to wood particles and less fragile fibers compared to Kraft pulping, besides presenting higher volume, higher yield, and lower production cost, which can be an exciting alternative for the fiber-cement industries. This study evaluated the impact of soak and dry-aging cycles on the performance of extruded composites reinforced with non-bleached eucalyptus fibers. The cement matrix comprised cement (70%) and limestone (30%). Composites were reinforced with 1 to 5% of eucalyptus fiber by cement mass and tested on the 28th day of cure at 99% relative humidity and after 400 accelerated aging cycles. The water absorption and apparent porosity gradually increased with the reinforcement level. Composites with 4 and 5% fibers showed the highest toughness (0.21 and 0.23kJ/m2, respectively). The aging by 400 soak-dry cycles reduced the composites' water absorption and apparent porosity. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), rupture (MOR), and toughness increased, except for toughness for composites reinforced with 1 and 5% fibers, explained by the cementitious matrix's continuous hydration, fiber mineralization, and natural carbonation. In general, eucalyptus thermo-mechanical fibers were suitable for producing cementitious composites. Cementitious composites with 3% fibers presented a higher MOR, MOE, low water absorption, and apparent porosity after 400 accelerated aging cycles. In addition, the composites with 4% fibers also presented remarkable improvements in these properties. The aging cycles did not result in composites with less resistance, a positive fact for their application as tiles and materials for external use in civil construction.

Calibration, testing and application of the AquaCrop model for bean crop under irrigation regimes.

Crop growth simulation models relate the soil-water-plant-atmosphere components to estimate the development and yield of plants in different scenarios, enabling the identification of efficient irrigation strategies. The aim of this study was to calibrate crop coefficients for a common bean cultivar (IAPAR 57) and assess the AquaCrop model's efficacy in simulating crop growth under different irrigation regimes (T0 - non-irrigated, T1-fully irrigated, and T2-deficit irrigated) and sowing dates (S1-March 21, S2-April 24, and S3-August 23). Successful calibration was achieved for crop seasons with suitable temperatures to crop growth (S1 and S3). However, during periods with suboptimal temperatures (April 24 season), coupled with reduced irrigation supply (T0 and T2), the AquaCrop model did not appropriately account for the combined effects of thermal and water stresses. Despite adjustments to stress coefficients, this led to an overestimation of crop growth and yield. In long-term simulations, the model successfully replicated the variability of crop water availability over cropping seasons, reflecting the impact of precipitation variations. It recommended irrigation strategies for the study region (irrigate at depletion of 120 and 170% of readily available water for sowing on March 21 and August 24, respectively) to achieve high crop yield (> 2,769kgha-1) and water productivity (1,050 to 1,445kgm-3) with minimal application depths (< 150mm). While acknowledging the need for improvements in thermal stress calculations, the AquaCrop model demonstrates promising utility in studies and applications where water availability significantly influences crop production.

Unveiling the integrated function of metallo‐/ionic‐covalent organic polymers for boosting atmospheric CO2 conversion

Unveiling the integrated function of metallo‐/ionic‐covalent organic polymers for boosting atmospheric <scp>CO₂</scp> conversion

Factors affecting the production of sugarcane yield and sucrose accumulation: suggested potential biological solutions.

Environmental stresses are the main constraints on agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. This issue is worsened by abrupt and severe changes in global climate. The formation of sugarcane yield and the accumulation of sucrose are significantly influenced by biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding the biochemical, physiological, and environmental phenomena associated with these stresses is essential to increase crop production. This review explores the effect of environmental factors on sucrose content and sugarcane yield and highlights the negative effects of insufficient water supply, temperature fluctuations, insect pests, and diseases. This article also explains the mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the role of different metabolites under environmental stresses, and highlights the function of environmental stress-related resistance genes in sugarcane. This review further discusses sugarcane crop improvement approaches, with a focus on endophytic mechanism and consortium endophyte application in sugarcane plants. Endophytes are vital in plant defense; they produce bioactive molecules that act as biocontrol agents to enhance plant immune systems and modify environmental responses through interaction with plants. This review provides an overview of internal mechanisms to enhance sugarcane plant growth and environmental resistance and offers new ideas for improving sugarcane plant fitness and crop productivity.

Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose by Rhizobium sp. isolated from bean root

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural polymer renowned for its unique physicochemical and mechanical attributes, including notable water-holding capacity, crystallinity, and a pristine fiber network structure. While BC has broad applications spanning agriculture, industry, and medicine, its industrial utilization is hindered by production costs and yield limitations. In this study, Rhizobium sp. was isolated from bean roots and systematically assessed for BC synthesis under optimal conditions, with a comparative analysis against BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. The study revealed that Rhizobium sp. exhibited optimal BC synthesis when supplied with a 1.5% glucose carbon source and a 0.15% yeast extract nitrogen source. Under static conditions at 30 °C and pH 6.5, the most favorable conditions for growth and BC production (2.5 g/L) were identified. Modifications were introduced using nisin to enhance BC properties, and the resulting BC-nisin composites were comprehensively characterized through various techniques, including FE-SEM, FTIR, porosity, swelling, filtration, and antibacterial activity assessments. The results demonstrated that BC produced by Rhizobium sp. displayed properties comparable to K. hansenii-produced BC. Furthermore, the BC-nisin composites exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study contributes valuable insights into BC’s production, modification, and characterization utilizing Rhizobium sp., highlighting the exceptional properties that render it efficacious across diverse applications.

Construction of Bi2WO6/g-C3N4/Cu foam as 3D Z-scheme photocatalyst for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to hydrocarbon fuels represents a promising solution to CO2 emission challenges. However, photocatalytic CO2 reduction systems face hurdles in practical utilization for the low efficiency of photocatalysts and challenge in catalyst immobilization. Therefore, a novel monolithic three-dimensional Z-scheme photocatalyst was synthesized by fabricating Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 heterojunction on Cu foam substrate (Bi2WO6/g-C3N4/Cu foam) via thermal polymerization and electrophoresis deposition. A series of characterization results, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption, illustrate the crystalline properties, pore structure, and morphology of the composite photocatalyst. Consequently, Bi2WO6/g-C3N4/Cu foam achieved CO production yield of 33.84 μmol/g cat under visible light illumination for 6 h and retained 96.2 % of initial photocatalytic activity after 30 h of reaction. UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectra, photoluminescence spectra and photoelectrochemical analysis was involved to reveal the mechanism of the photocatalytic activity of composite photocatalyst.The synergistic effect of the Z-scheme mechanism and the hierarchical macroporous structure improves the light absorption, light-induced electron-hole pair separation, and charge transmission. This catalyst construction strategy provides a viable approach for facilitating practical photocatalytic CO2 reduction.