The growth of the human population has resulted in increased food consumption, followed by the intensification of agri-food production. Human activities have a significant impact on the environment, causing, among other things, air and water pollution and the degradation of biodiversity (Rezazga et al., 2024). In an international context where there is intense concern over environmental issues, it is also essential to direct food production toward more sustainable models. In this framework, the use of systems for certifying the environmental footprint of agri-food products can serve as a lever for promoting sustainable production and consumption. The objective of this work is to explore the opportunities for certifying the environmental footprint of products, focusing particularly on some of the main environmental claims: global warming, water depletion, and biodiversity loss—with an emphasis on the “Living Olive Groves” proposal (LIFEO livares Vivos+), an environmentally and economically sustainable management system.The olive sector was chosen as a case study, as it is the primary tree crop in Mediterranean countries and has strong implications for human health and the environment. The study revealed the potential for adopting various mitigation and improvement strategies for environmental performance, while simultaneously pursuing market objectives related to certified products.

The cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase MdCKX4 regulates drought tolerance in Malus domestica.

Abstract A crop tree management study targeting green ash ( Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) was established in a 16-year-old, naturally regenerated, mixed-species, bottomland hardwood stand in southwest Tennessee. The goal was to maintain or improve ascendance of green ash into the overstory of a developing stand that otherwise might not occur. Three treatments were examined: a complete crown-touching release; the same release treatment along with a one-time, fertilizer application; and a control. Initial diameters, heights and crown size parameters were measured in 1996 and 18 years later. The two release treatments did not differ significantly in diameter and height growth response, but statistically outperformed the control treatment. Similarly, crown class scores did not differ between the two release treatments, but were significantly improved from the control. Both release treatments displayed a greater percentage of crop trees successfully competing for upper canopy status compared to the control. Using initial tree diameter as a reflection of crown size and position of crop trees, diameters of 12.5 to 20 cm were more likely to be a component of the overstory 18 years following crop tree treatments. Crop trees less than 12.5 cm in diameter were likely to remain in the subordinate crown classes. Trees greater than 20 cm in diameter were already in the overstory and maintained their upper canopy position. These results suggest that crop tree management can be an effective management tool for improving growth as well as improving overstory presence of green ash in pole-sized, mixed-species, bottomland hardwood stands.

Transitions in agricultural management through crop and noncrop diversification on intensively managed croplands or pastures have benefited biodiversity. However, the extent to which agricultural management benefits species communities present in undisturbed ecosystems remains largely unclear. We quantified the animal biodiversity associated with a range of agricultural systems varying in crop and noncrop diversity and compared these with biodiversity associated with undisturbed reference ecosystems (mostly forests). We added data on agricultural management to three large databases-PREDICTS, GLOBIO, and a database compiled by Kuipers etal.-and grouped 107,386 observations from 151 studies into one of nine agricultural classes. We evaluated the animal biodiversity associated with the agricultural class, including the presence of threatened species, based on four biodiversity metrics (intactness, relative richness, compositional similarity, relative abundance). Biodiversity of monoculture annual and perennial croplands was least like that of reference ecosystems across biodiversity metrics. We found small biodiversity benefits of crop diversification and the presence of sparse trees on farmland. Biodiversity in agroforests and silvopastures was the most similar to reference ecosystems, probably due to a high density of trees, resulting in similar vegetation structure and diversity to undisturbed forests. Over time, biodiversity increased in agroforests, whereas the biodiversity of perennial croplands remained stable. Overall, our results suggested that the extent to which species associated with undisturbed ecosystems find refuge in agricultural areas is influenced by agricultural management, but different types of agricultural systems produced varying benefits. The outcomes of our study highlight the potential of introducing agricultural policies that aim to enhance agricultural management through tree planting and crop diversification to accommodate species that inhabit undisturbed ecosystems.

ABSTRACTThere are high expectations that agricultural practices can mitigate climate change and improve soil health by increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, existing large scale SOC monitoring treats agricultural management as a black box, meaning that observed patterns and trends cannot inform on the option space of agricultural practices to improve or deteriorate SOC stocks. Here, we combine for the first time management data from large scale systematic farm surveys (n = 248,362 farms) and representative soil monitoring data (n = 8834 locations) to quantify the impact of agricultural practices on three SOC metrics across all pedoclimatic zones of Europe (EU + UK): stocks, stocks relative to pedoclimatic benchmarks, and yearly change in SOC concentration. Our findings show that in arable and tree crops, but not in grasslands, management intensity is a significant contributor to SOC loss, with impact varying by soil and climate region. However, we also observed that several practices (e.g., high share of manure, organic management, and a high proportion of leys in crop rotation) demonstrated potential for increasing SOC stocks. Under a scenario where all agricultural land in Europe would be managed as that of the 10% most optimally managed farms in terms of SOC benefit, SOC stocks would increase by 1.58 Pg C across Europe (95% CI: 1.27–1.89 Pg C). Whereas under a scenario where farms are managed as the 10% least optimally managed farms, SOC would decrease by −0.92 Pg C (−1.15 to −0.68 Pg C). However, it is important to note that these estimates reflect steady‐state SOC stocks only (i.e., they do not represent the transient build‐up or loss over time, or interactions with a changing climate). This paper thus quantifies how agricultural practices influence patterns in SOC stocks at the continental scale, identifying leverage points for site‐specific policies to improve SOC stocks.

Radial growth response of Douglas-fir provenances during extreme drought across a climatic gradient in Central Europe

Almond trees prioritize C to yield rather than stem growth, and their overall lower NSC stores compared to forest trees may have consequences for resilience under environmental variability. Perennial tree crops store nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) as energy reserves that can be used to persist during both predictable periods of reduced activity like dormancy and more unpredictable periods associated with stress. For deciduous tree crops, which lose their leaves at the start of dormancy, the NSC reserves accrued by that time are critically important for fueling respiration but may also influence processes in the following growing season. To quantify the seasonal NSC fluctuation surrounding dormancy and its influence on downstream processes like growth and yield, we conducted a comparative study of four almond varieties in a commercial orchard (California, USA). Sugar and starch concentrations were quantified in branch, stem, and coarse root when entering and exiting dormancy. We then assessed the correlation between these NSC data and metrics of stem growth and yield in the following growing season. We further explored long-term trade-offs between stem growth and yield using historical data from 2017 to 2022. Overall, total NSC concentrations significantly decreased during the dormant season in all organs. We observed a significant positive correlation between branch total NSC concentration when entering dormancy and yield the next year. However, we unexpectedly found that stem total NSC concentrations when entering dormancy were negatively correlated with stem growth the next year, suggesting that stem reserves were primarily used to support wintertime respiration or translocated to other organs. A long-term trade-off between stem growth and yield was evident; as yield increased, basal area increment tended to decrease. Additionally, we found whole-tree NSC storage to be lower in almond trees compared to temperate forest trees, reflecting prioritization to yield over NSC storage. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of crop tree carbon physiology and provide insight into the resilience of different almond cultivars under changing environmental conditions.

Agroforestry is increasingly recognized as a vital strategy for smallholder farmers confronting the impacts of climate variability. However, empirical evidence on how indigenous agroforestry systems enhance climate resilience and livelihood security in Ethiopia remains limited. This study evaluated the role of local agroforestry practices in strengthening adaptive capacity and improving household livelihoods across different agro ecological zones in northwestern Tigray. Data were collected from 197 households through structured questionnaires, complemented by key informant interviews and field observations, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multinomial regression. The results reveal that farmers employ diverse climate adaptation strategies, including the diversification of crops, livestock, and tree species. Agroforestry emerged as the third most preferred adaptation option after livestock rearing and off-farm employment. On-farm trees were also ranked as the third most important livelihood asset, contributing approximately 34% of total household income. Beyond income generation, trees provided essential resources such as construction materials, livestock fodder, and fuelwood, while also enhancing soil fertility and stabilizing crop yields during drought periods. Statistical analyses further showed a significant positive relationship between tree abundance, crop productivity, and household income. These findings highlight the critical contribution of Agroforestry to Climate Change Adaptation and livelihood resilience in dryland farming systems. Strengthening indigenous agroforestry practices through targeted research, effective extension services, and supportive policy frameworks can substantially enhance climate resilience and sustainable rural development in Ethiopia’s vulnerable agricultural landscapes.

Agroforestry, the integration of trees with crops and livestock, is widely recognized as a sustainable land-use system that enhances productivity, livelihood security, and environmental stability. The present study aimed to evaluate agroforestry practices in Patan Tehsil of Durg District, Chhattisgarh, with a focus on system types, biomass production, carbon storage, and economic returns across different farmer categories. A field-based survey using a stratified random sampling approach was conducted to collect primary data from farmers. The results revealed the dominance of agri-silviculture systems, along with the presence of horti-silviculture and integrated tree–crop–livestock systems. Agroforestry practices contributed to improved farm diversification, enhanced biomass accumulation, and increased carbon stock potential. In addition, integrated systems demonstrated better economic performance and livelihood support compared to conventional practices. Overall, the study highlights the significant role of agroforestry in promoting sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in the region. It also emphasizes the need for clear methodological approaches and standardized procedures for reliable estimation of biomass and carbon stocks.

ABSTRACT Soil degradation caused by intensive agriculture and urban expansion continues to compromise long‐term agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience. This study examines the role of glomalin‐related soil proteins (GRSPs) in enhancing soil health and promoting soil restoration in northwestern Himalayas. GRSP abundance was assessed in the rhizosphere of Dalbergia sissoo trees of varying ages (< 1, 10, 15, and 25 years) within agroforestry systems and compared with GRSP levels in three crops—mustard, wheat and pea—cultivated under both monoculture and agroforestry systems in the Terai region of northwestern India. GRSP types, including both easily extractable (EE‐GRSP) and total GRSP (T‐GRSP), increased with tree age—reaching up to 4.6 times higher in older rhizospheres. Agroforestry systems consistently showed higher GRSP content and significantly elevated activities of key soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase, cellulase, amylase, urease, and phosphatases, compared to monoculture systems. These enzymes are essential for nutrient cycling and microbial health. The accumulation of GRSP was closely linked with improved soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, and carbon sequestration, highlighting its potential in soil rejuvenation. By promoting aggregation and supporting biological processes, GRSP emerges as a crucial factor in restoring soil vitality and fostering sustainable land‐use practices. The study addresses the systematic knowledge gap on GRSP's dynamics with soil carbon fraction and biochemical indicators across land‐use system in fragile Northwestern Himalayan (covering Shiwaliks and lesser Himalayas) landscape.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) and almond (Prunus amygdalus) are cornerstone crops in the West Bank, Palestine, where bacterial gall diseases threaten yield and long-term productivity. To expand genomic resources for Pseudomonas associated with these hosts, we generated seven complete, chromosome-level genomes from Pseudomonas strains isolated from olive knots and almond galls in the West Bank. These assemblies comprise five Pseudomonas amygdali genomes from olive and two Pseudomonas ogarae genomes from almond, produced using a hybrid long- and short-read sequencing strategy and exhibiting high completeness with low contamination. These genomes constitute the first publicly available, chromosome level genomes for Pseudomonas associated with olive and almond in the West Bank and provide a critical resource for studies of evolution, epidemiology, virulence, and plant growth–promoting traits in Mediterranean tree crops.

ABSTRACT Brosimum alicastrum Sw. (Breadnut or Maya nut), of the Moraceae family, is an underutilised tropical food tree with high nutritional, cultural, and ecological importance in Mesoamerica. Despite its potential as a sustainable forest-based food crop, large uncertainty remains regarding its reproductive biology and fruit morphology, contributing to highly variable and unpredictable yields. This study elucidates the reproductive system, pollination strategy, and fruit characteristics of B. alicastrum in two forested areas of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala: Uaxactún and Sierra del Lacandón. Using forest inventories, canopy-based floral observations, fruit and seedling assessments, and ethnobotanical interviews with local collectors, to assess site-specific variation in reproductive traits and yield proxies. Results demonstrate clear differences between populations. Uaxactún exhibited a predominantly monoecious system with female and hermaphroditic individuals, where nearly all trees showed signs of reproduction. In contrast, Sierra del Lacandón showed evidence of a dioecious population, with a substantial proportion of non-reproductive (male) trees, explaining lower and less reliable yields. Floral morphology, absence of animal pollinators, exposed stigmas, and abundant pollen strongly indicate wind pollination. Furthermore, the fruit is reclassified from a drupe or berry to a sorosis, a composite infructescence formed from the entire inflorescence. These findings reconcile longstanding contradictions in the literature and highlight the importance of population-specific reproductive strategies for management, conservation, and the future development of B. alicastrum as an opportunity tree crop for food security.

Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) is among the most economically important fruit tree crops. Carotenoids in peach fruit have been intensively studied because of their relationship with fruit color and nutritional value. High carotenoid accumulation is generally a desirable trait in fruits and is associated with their aggregation in plastids. However, the understanding of the functions of carotenoid aggregates is still limited, especially with respect to their effects on chromoplast differentiation. The present study revealed that carotenoid aggregates have significant biological effects on peach. Lycopene and β-carotene aggregates promoted chlorophyll degradation and thylakoid membrane remodeling, leading to the differentiation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts in peach fruit and callus. However, the phytoene and phytofluene did not produce this effect in peach fruit. Interestingly, during lycopene and β-carotene aggregation, the stay-green-like (SGRL) gene was significantly activated, and further confirmed that it was an important factor affecting peach chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation. Furthermore, molecular dynamics analysis confirmed that lycopene and β-carotene had a greater effect on membrane thickness and rigidity than phytoene. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of peach carotenoid aggregates and their biological effects, confirming the effectiveness of the transgenic peach callus system.

Conventional sprayers for tree crops typically apply pesticides regardless of whether trees are present in the application area, which increases production costs and raises concerns about farm-ground contamination. To address these issues, an advanced machine-vision–controlled spraying system was developed and retrofitted onto a conventional orchard sprayer to regulate spray output based on tree presence. The sprayer used two stereo vision cameras to detect tree canopy on both sides of the sprayer in real time to automatically adjust volumes of sprays from nozzles every 200 ms. This study evaluated the sprayer performance in a Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ tree production site for spray deposit and coverage under two treatments, turning nozzles on and off based on either tree presence or absence (treatment 2, on-and-off application) and controlling nozzles outputs based on volumes of detected tree canopy (treatment 3, canopy volume proportional application), compared with a conventional sprayer (treatment 1, conventional application). The results of the evaluation showed that the sprayer achieved equivalent spray deposit and coverage ( P > 0.05) under on-and-off application (treatment 2) compared with the conventional sprayer (treatment 1), although the sprayer under treatment 3 had significantly less spray deposit and coverage ( P < 0.05). The sprayer under on-and-off application reduced an average of spray volume ∼75% compared with the conventional sprayer. Based on the experiment data, a return on investment (ROI) of the spraying system with on-and-off application was calculated with annual cost saving of common fungicide and insecticide applications, and the ROI would be applications of ∼154 ha under a simulated condition. Although this initial evaluation of the system showed encouraging outcomes, additional extensive evaluations of the system with various nursery crops were suggested to determine more accurate and realistic ROI and pesticide use reduction.

ABSTRACT The Caatinga biome, South America's largest tropical dry forest, faces critical degradation due to extensive land‐use changes, particularly through the conversion of native vegetation into pasture and subsequent pasture degradation. Agroforestry systems (AFS) have been proposed as sustainable alternatives for rehabilitating these degraded landscapes by improving vegetation structure, biomass productivity and soil functionality. This study evaluated the effects of four contrasting land‐cover systems: (i) preserved native Caatinga vegetation (reference ecosystem), (ii) long‐term pasture dominated by Urochloa brizantha , (iii) low‐density agroforestry with widely spaced tree–crop arrangements and (iv) high‐density agroforestry with structurally complex and closely spaced woody components—on ecosystem multifunctionality, aboveground biomass production, litter deposition, litter nutrient content and key soil fertility and carbon parameters in Oxisols of the Brazilian tropical seasonal dry forest. We hypothesized that habitat simplification through land‐use intensification reduces above‐ and belowground ecosystem functionality by impairing carbon cycling, nutrient dynamics and soil structure. Our findings support this hypothesis, showing that the natural ecosystem exhibited the highest aboveground biomass (22.47 t ha −1 ), litter deposition (849.98 kg ha −1 ) and litter C, N and P contents (357.40, 10.88 and 3.16 g kg −1 , respectively), significantly outperforming managed systems. Among agroforestry systems, high‐density configurations showed significantly higher biomass production (69.76% greater) and improved soil fertility parameters—soil pH (17.65% higher), SOC (18.75% higher), K + (129.41% higher) and Ca 2+ (57.43% higher)—compared to low‐density systems ( p < 0.05). Soil analyses revealed that the natural ecosystem had superior levels of light fraction organic matter, humic substances and total soil organic carbon, alongside lower bulk density and higher acidity. Conversely, pasture had the highest particulate organic carbon and SOC stock, suggesting contrasting carbon stabilization pathways under different land uses. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) distinguished land covers based on multidimensional litter and soil traits, with key indicators such as pH, base cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ), organic carbon fractions and litter nutrient contents explaining much of the variance. These results highlight that complex vegetation systems, including high‐density agroforestry, maintain better soil and biomass functionality than simplified land uses. The study contributes valuable insight into sustainable land management practices aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), emphasizing the need for multifunctional systems to restore ecosystem services and improve productivity in semi‐arid regions like the Caatinga.

Using CSM-CROPGRO as a template for perennial tree crop phenology modeling – TreeGRO

A field experiment was conducted at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/ Tree Crop Production (TCP) Teaching and Research Farm, Adamawa State University, Mubi, during the 2025 rainfall cropping season to evaluate the effects of fertilizer sources on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Treatments included 300 kg/ha Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) 15:15:15 (T1), 20 t/ha cow dung (T2), and a control (T3), arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Growth and yield parameters were recorded at 3, 6, 8, 9, and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS). Results showed that NPK significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced plant growth and yield. at 9 WAS, T1 recorded the highest plant height (65.41 cm), number of leaves (18.73), and stem girth (2.43 cm), compared to T2 (60.33 cm, 16.42 leaves, 2.18 cm) and T3 (46.27 cm, 13.25 leaves, 1.74 cm). Days to first and 50% flowering were shortest under T1 (41.22 and 47.35 days, respectively), longer under T2 (43.14 and 49.61 days), and longest in the control (46.88 and 53.42 days). Yield components followed the same trend: number of fruits per plant (9.41, 8.26, 6.23), fruit length (14.22 cm, 13.15 cm, 11.05 cm), fruit weight (18.64 g, 16.52 g, 13.84 g), and 100-seed weight (6.83 g, 6.15 g, 5.42 g**) for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. In conclusion, NPK 15:15:15 at 300 kg/ha significantly improved okra growth and yield, while cow dung at 20 t/ha offered moderate improvement over the control. These results indicate that NPK is the most effective fertilizer for optimum okra production in Mubi Northern Guinea Savannah environment. It could be recommended that farmers in Mubi and similar agro-ecological zones should adopt Treatment T1 for better growth and yield performance.

Olive (Olea europaea) is one of the most important crop trees, with olive oil being a key ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. Oleuropein, an oleoside-type secoiridoid, is the major determinant of olive oil flavor and quality. Iridoid biosynthesis has been elucidated in Catharanthus roseus, which produces secologanin-type secoiridoids, but iridoid biosynthesis in other species remains unresolved. In this work, we sequenced RNA from the fruit mesocarp of six commercial olive cultivars with various oleuropein contents during maturation and ripening. Using these data, we discovered three polyphenol oxidases with oleuropein synthase (OS) activity, a novel oleoside-11-methyl ester glucosyltransferase (OMEGT) that synthesizes a potential intermediate in the pathway, and a 7-epi-loganic acid O-methyltransferase (7eLAMT). Interestingly, the use of transcriptome assemblies for 15 plant species from three iridoid-producing plant orders (Lamiales, Gentianales, and Cornales) for orthogroup inference, and integration of two tissue expression panels from Jasminum sambac and Fraxinus excelsior, enabled the discovery of two 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (named 7eLAS) that synthesize 7-epi-loganic acid; by contrast, C. roseus 7-deoxy-loganic acid hydroxylase (7DLH), a known bottleneck in MIA production, is a cytochrome P450. This comparative co-expression method, which combines guilt-by-association and comparative transcriptomics approaches, can successfully leverage large datasets for untargeted discovery of enzymes. Given the increasing availability of expression data from species across the plant kingdom, the methods for gene discovery used in the present work can be readily applied to other untraced pathways.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is one of the most widely consumed fruit tree crops worldwide, with cultivation expanding rapidly beyond its Mesoamerican and northwest South America center of origin. In emerging secondary diversity centers such as East Africa, farmers have long propagated seedling naturalized populations that may hold valuable reservoirs of genetic diversity, yet these resources remain underexplored. To help fill this gap, this study developed the first genomic resources for avocados in Tanzania, where avocado has a long history of introduction and diversification dating to the first Arab incursions and Catholic missionary missions. Low-coverage whole-genome resequencing (lcWGS) data were obtained from 95 trees sampled in Tanzania across the low- to mid-altitude Morogoro region (n = 25) and the Southern Highlands-i.e., the Iringa (n = 20), Mbeya (n = 30) and Ruvuma (n = 20) regions. In order to guide racial assignation, sequences were merged with NCBI-available lcWGS data from 205 avocado trees, including 42 commercial varieties, with reported ancestry. Population stratification as inferred via maximum likelihood phylogenetic inference, genetic principal component analysis, and ADMIXTURE unsupervised clustering suggested that the sampled Tanzanian avocado trees were genetically closer to the West Indian race and more distant from the northwest South American Caribbean and Andean groups. Additionally, while the trees from the low- to mid-altitude region of Morogoro were almost exclusively West Indian type, some trees from the Southern Highlands aligned more closely with West Indian × Guatemalan and West Indian × Mexican hybrids. These trends were equally supported by a subset of 10,460 high-coverage (10×) SNP markers. Together these findings clarify the dynamics of avocado diversification in a secondary center in East Africa, spanning recent introductions from a single Mesoamerican race, adaptation to a wide range of locally geographic conditions, and farmer-driven selection matching local tribal preferences. Characterizing these locally adapted resources is key for identifying underrepresented yet promising provenances, developing resilient and sustainable horticultural production systems, and safeguarding the species' global genetic heritage.

Chieng Hac in northern Vietnam is expanding maize cultivation, intensifying water competition and soil erosion. This study mapped regional water balance and erosion using remote sensing and GISs by coupling the Thornthwaite–Mather (TM) water balance model with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) at 12.5 m resolution. Land cover was classified into maize, tree crops, paddy, forest, and other types using Random Forest. The TM model used 2021 precipitation and temperature measurements to estimate evapotranspiration, surplus, and deficit, while the RUSLE quantified soil loss. Two scenarios were evaluated: a baseline reflecting existing land use and an adjusted case applying strip cropping on 10–20° maize slopes and converting maize to tree crops on slopes > 20°. Tree crop conversion increased evapotranspiration and prolonged seasonal deficits relative to maize, increasing water deficit from 1013.6 to 1022.2 mm/year. In contrast, the interventions reduced mean soil loss from 15.52 to 11.51 t/ha/year, with the largest decline in the 5–25 t/ha/year class. Residual hotspots persisted on steep slopes and near drainage lines. The integrated framework highlights trade-offs between erosion control and seasonal water availability, supporting slope-based land-use planning in upland agricultural systems. These findings offer guidance for slope-based land-use planning by indicating that intervention priorities should vary depending on slope conditions and local water availability.