Water Content Research Articles

Simulation of Soil Water Transport and Utilization in an Apple–Soybean Alley Cropping System Under Different Irrigation Methods Based on HYDRUS-2D

: This study employed the HYDRUS-2D model to simulate soil water movement and water productivity (WP) in an apple–soybean alley cropping system in the Loess Plateau region, Shanxi Province, China, under four irrigation methods: mulched drip irrigation, subsurface drip irrigation, bubbler irrigation, and rainwater-harvesting ditch irrigation, with varying water management treatments. Field experiments provided 2022 data for model calibration and 2023 data for validation using soil water content (SWC) measurements, achieving R2 = 0.80–0.87 and RMSE = 0.011–0.017 cm3·cm⁻3, confirming robust simulation accuracy. The simulation results indicated that different irrigation methods had a significant impact on the soil water distribution. Mulched drip irrigation enhanced the water content in the surface layer (0–20 cm), while subsurface drip irrigation increased the moisture in the middle soil layer (20–40 cm). Bubbler irrigation was most effective in replenishing both the surface (0–20 cm) and middle (20–40 cm) layers. Rainwater-harvesting ditch irrigation significantly improved the soil water content in both the surface (0–20 cm) and middle (20–40 cm) layers, with minimal changes observed in the deep layer (40–120 cm). Furthermore, soil water variations were significantly influenced by the water uptake of tree roots. In 2022, soil moisture initially increased with distance, then decreased, and subsequently increased again, while in 2023, it increased initially and then stabilized. When the irrigation amount was limited to 75% of the field capacity in the 0–60 cm soil layer, water productivity (WP) reached its optimum, with values of 4.79 kg/m3 (2022) and 5.56 kg/m3 (2023). Based on the simulation results, it is recommended that young apple trees be irrigated using subsurface drip irrigation with a soil layer depth of 30 cm, while soybeans should be irrigated with mulched drip irrigation. Both crops should be irrigated at the podding and filling stages of soybeans, and the irrigation amount should be limited to 75% of the field water capacity in the 0–60 cm soil layer. This study was designed to aid orchard growers in precision irrigation and water optimization.

Study on Road Performance Parameters and Field Test of Solidified Waste Soil

In the construction of subgrade filling, a lot of high quality fillers is needed to control the settlement under traffic loading. However, under the theme of environmental protection, the filling materials are becoming harder to obtain. At the same time, there will be a lot of waste soil in the river construction, waste soil treatment is also a big problem. Based on this, this paper uses the waste soil solidification treatment as the subgrade filler to solve the above problems. In order to verify the feasibility of solidified soil as subgrade filler, indoor compaction test with different solidified soil filling curing time, multiple groups of curing agent ratio, CBR strength test of solidified soil with different filling curing time and resilience modulus test were carried out. The field test of solidified soil subgrade filling and mixed soil and stone filling is also carried out. During the filling process, the settlement value and earth pressure value on both sides of the subgrade and the position of the center line of the subgrade are monitored. The results show that the optimum water content is 19% when the maximum compaction degree can be obtained after 7 days of curing. When the waste soil with 65% water content is added with 9% cement and 2% slag powder, the maximum CBR value is 36.4%, which is the best dosage of curing agent, and fully meets the strength requirements of the filling. In addition, the CBR value of solidified soil is significantly increased with the increase of the curing time. When the curing time of solidified soil is 7d under the best dosage, the design value of the resilience modulus of solidified soil is 56MPa, which fully meets the requirements of the resilience modulus of asphalt roadbed filler. Field test shows that solidified soil as subgrade filling has good feasibility, compared with mixed soil and stone filling subgrade, solidified soil filling subgrade shows better integrity and light quality, and has better filling effect.

Effects of fines content, molding water content, and density on behavior of compacted filtered iron ore tailings

Effects of fines content, molding water content, and density on behavior of compacted filtered iron ore tailings

Insight into Subgrade Long-Term Uplift Characteristic of Swelling Red-Bed Controlled by Temperature and Cyclic Load：From Laboratory Experiments

Abstract Subgrade long-term uplift of high-speed railway threatens operational safety, which is usually caused by rock swelling in red-bed rock regions. In this study, we present results on red-bed mudstone and siltstone to trace the properties of rock swelling under different heat treatment temperatures and to evaluate the swelling of siltstone after cyclic load simulating train operation. The results show that drying temperature before the swelling experiment affects the initial water content and microfractures of rock samples. Initial water content affects their swelling properties, and the swelling rate is positively correlated with the heat treatment temperature (mudstone, R2 = 0.49; siltstone, R2 = 0.73). In addition, cyclic load alters the microstructure of the rocks, increasing to further release of swelling. Compared to the normal load, the shape of the particles on the failure surface is closer to ellipsoids under cyclic loading. Swelling rates were positively related to critical stress ratios (CSRs) (R2 > 0.89) and negatively related to circumferential pressure (R2 > 0.54); no significant correlation with loading frequency was observed. Based on the above experimental results, the mechanism for the subgrade uplift of the Neijiangbei station is discussed. This study provides not only an experimental basis for the swelling mechanism of red-bed rocks but also insight for the mechanism of subgrade uplift at the red-bed rock regions.

Feasibility Experiment and Simulation on Controlling the “Pot Cover Effect” of Subgrade in Seasonally Frozen Regions by Capillary Barrier Layer

ABSTRACTThe pot cover effect can increase the moisture content in shallow soil, which reduces subgrade strength and may lead to engineering issues, such as pavement cracks and deformation. Therefore, studying the prevention measures for the subgrade pot cover effect is essential. This paper proposes preventive measures, inspired by capillary barrier layers used in landfills, that involve installing such layers to mitigate the subgrade pot cover effect. First, a self‐designed test device was used to compare the hydrothermal changes in conventional fill subgrade and subgrade with gravel and sand capillary barrier layer in a seasonal frozen soil environment. Second, a water–vapor–heat coupling model was developed to simulate the quantitative changes in water migration induced by the capillary barrier layer during the experiment. Finally, the long‐term effect of using a capillary barrier layer to mitigate the pot cover effect on a loess subgrade in northwest China was simulated. The results show that at a depth of 2.5 cm, the liquid water content without a capillary barrier increases with the number of freeze–thaw cycles, reaching a maximum increase of 5.9%. In contrast, the maximum increase in liquid water content at the same depth in the soil layer with a capillary barrier is only 0.9%; the water vapor flux of the subgrade with a capillary barrier layer is 1/10 of that of the subgrade without a capillary barrier layer. The proposed capillary barrier layer method offers theoretical insights for mitigating the pot cover effect and guiding future subgrade designs.

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation Study on the Variation of Temperature and Pressure in the Container During the Dry Storage Process of Radioactive Metal Oxides

Radioactive metal oxides are highly radioactive, hygroscopic spent fuel reprocessing products generally stored in container-sealed dry storage. During the storage process of metal oxides, a large amount of heat is generated due to radioactive decay, and helium is produced by α-decay, which leads to an increase in the temperature and pressure of the storage container. In order to ensure the safety of the radioactive metal oxides in the long-term storage process, computational fluid dynamics simulations are used to investigate the effects of storage conditions on the temperature and pressure of the container. Based on a large amount of simulated temperature data under different storage conditions, a power function is used to construct a mathematical model of ventilation speed, ventilation temperature, stack density, loading volume, heating power, water content, and cumulative helium mass versus metal oxide temperature to obtain a safe, reliable, and economical storage method. The results show that reducing the loading volume and increasing the density of metal oxides, increasing the ventilation speed, and lowering the ventilation temperature are beneficial to the heat transfer and cooling in the dry storage process; increasing the density of metal oxides and lowering the water content of metal oxides and increasing the ventilation temperature and speed are beneficial to avoid the high pressure inside the container. Based on the optimized storage conditions, the temperature peak in the storage process occurs near 25 years, and its temperature reaches 527.6 K. The mathematical model of storage temperature constructed in this study has high computational accuracy, and the maximum relative error of storage temperature is less than 1.80%.

Enhancing vegetation cover growth through water spreading bunds and dry afforestation in arid rangelands: Integrating remote sensing indicators with field insights.

Enhancing vegetation cover growth through water spreading bunds and dry afforestation in arid rangelands: Integrating remote sensing indicators with field insights.

Evaluation of Landscape Soil Quality in Different Types of Pisha Sandstone Areas on Loess Plateau

Severe soil erosion and land productivity degradation caused by inadequate vegetation cover pose significant challenges to regional ecological protection and sustainable development. To assess changes and variations in soil quality, three sample areas with different distinct texture characteristics were selected from the Pisha sandstone region located northeastern of the Loess Plateau. The total data set (TDS) was determined through sampling experiments, and the minimum data set (MDS) was established using principal component analysis. A Random Forest (RF) machine learning model was applied to predict soil quality distribution. The prediction indices were derived from soil analysis dimensions, mean weight diameter measured via wet sieving, and soil enrichment ratio obtained from slope erosion experiments conducted at the corresponding sampling points. During the RF modeling process, 80% of the total soil quality index (SQI), calculated using TDS and MDS evaluation methods, was allocated for model training. The results indicated that pH, ammonia nitrogen, bulk density, silt content, clay content, soil water content, hygroscopic water content, total phosphorus, soluble calcium, and actinomycetes were identified as the optimal predictors for SQI. Furthermore, the RF model demonstrated superior performance in predicting the regional distribution of SQI, with evaluation metrics including (R2 = 0.76–0.78, RMSE = 0.03–0.06, MAE = 0.04–0.09). This study confirms the reliability of RF in simulating SQI within the study area and highlights that, in regions undergoing extensive vegetation restoration and with limited sampling conditions, experimental measurements of soil particles and sediment parameters provide an effective approach for evaluating SQI.

Satellite-based evidence of recent decline in global forest recovery rate from tree mortality events.

Climate-driven forest mortality events have been extensively observed in recent decades, prompting the question of how quickly these affected forests can recover their functionality following such events. Here we assessed forest recovery in vegetation greenness (normalized difference vegetation index) and canopy water content (normalized difference infrared index) for 1,699 well-documented forest mortality events across 1,600 sites worldwide. By analysing 158,427 Landsat surface reflectance images sampled from these sites, we provided a global assessment on the time required for impacted forests to return to their pre-mortality state (recovery time). Our findings reveal a consistent decline in global forest recovery rate over the past decades indicated by both greenness and canopy water content. This decline is particularly noticeable since the 1990s. Further analysis on underlying mechanisms suggests that this reduction in global forest recovery rates is primarily associated with rising temperatures and increased water scarcity, while the escalation in the severity of forest mortality contributes only partially to this reduction. Moreover, our global-scale analysis reveals that the recovery of forest canopy water content lags significantly behind that of vegetation greenness, implying that vegetation indices based solely on greenness can overestimate post-mortality recovery rates globally. Our findings underscore the increasing vulnerability of forest ecosystems to future warming and water insufficiency, accentuating the need to prioritize forest conservation and restoration as an integral component of efforts to mitigate climate change impacts.

Field Calibration of a Time-Domain Reflectometry Sensor for Water Content Measurement in Soils with Low Content of Coarse Fragments

Comparison of soil water sensors for irrigation scheduling requires an accurate reference measurement. An Acclima TDR-310H soil water content sensor was calibrated and validated for sand, loamy sand, clay loam, sandy clay loam, and sandy loam soils. In 2021, sensor readings and soil samples were collected in the same sensor volume at depths of 15 and 46 cm at three irrigated field sites with five stations each. Gravimetric water content, bulk density, and volumetric water content (θv) were determined in the lab. The root mean square error was 0.032 cm3 cm−3, which was within acceptable limits. The sensor underestimated θv with a mean bias error of −0.025 cm3 cm−3. The linear field calibration equation was θv-Sample = 0.9498 θv-TDR + 0.0357 with R2 = 0.8984. t-tests showed that the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.82 < slope < 1.08 and 0.0072 < intercept < 0.0642. Since the field calibration result was different from the factory calibration (intercept CI not straddling 0), use of the field calibration is recommended. A validation dataset collected in 2023 confirmed the calibration equation. The calibrated sensor can be used to evaluate other θv sensors for irrigation scheduling in the soil types in this study.

Investigation of light transmittance and reflectance in the multi-particle sea-fog system

Studying the transmittance and reflectance of the sea-fog system is of great significance for ocean remote sensing and the accurate detection of targets in sea-fog. To this end, this paper develops a multiple-particle radiative transfer model that can simulate a more realistic ocean environment. We added dynamic wind speed and droplet liquid water contents as influencing factors, simulated the transmittance and reflectance of four sea areas in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and compared them with windless and static wind speed sea areas. The experimental results show that under windless conditions, the transmittance and reflectance of the ocean-sea fog system in the short-wave infrared range are affected by both wavelength and two particle volume fractions, with higher transmittance for systems in the 1-1.8 μm range and lower transmittance for systems in the 2.4-3 μm band. Meanwhile, with lower transmittance and higher reflectance at higher average wind speeds over the sea. In addition, the transmittance and reflectance of the system decrease as the water contents of the droplet liquid increase, but both are less affected by the water contents in the 1-1.2 μm and 2.4-3 μm bands. The thickness of the fog layer is also an important factor in the transmittance and reflectance of the system. It is worth noting that under the influence of various factors, the transmittance of the system in the 1-1.8 μm band is always high. The results provide a scientific basis and suggestions for the development of light sources more suitable for ocean-sea fog environments and for improving the accuracy of marine target detection.

Gelatin-based gel polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity for temperature adaptive flexible zinc-air batteries.

Gelatin-based gel polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity for temperature adaptive flexible zinc-air batteries.

Assessment of Biochemical and Physiological Traits of Native Spine Gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) Genotypes from the North-Eastern Region of India

Spine gourd, a minor cucurbit, is valued for its abundant nutritional content and medicinal properties and the Northeast region of India, being a biodiversity hotspot, hosts a wide variety of genotypes. An experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2023 to evaluate biochemical and physiological characteristics of eighteen native spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) genotypes, collected from various agro-climatic zones of Assam and other Northeastern states of India. The study also included a check variety Indira Kankoda-1, from IGKV, Raipur. Various biochemical and physiological traits observed under the present investigation includes total chlorophyll, relative leaf water, ascorbic acid, crude fibre, moisture, total protein, total ash and total carbohydrate content, along with elemental profiling such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. The result obtained were analysed using one way ANOVA (p=0.05) which revealed that significant variation was found among the traits across the native genotypes. Among them, the genotype SG1 exhibited best performance, followed by SG4 and SG11, while SG17 and SG14 showed lowest in terms of biochemical and physiological traits. Principal component was analysed for traits under study which revealed that first six principal components (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, PC5 and PC6), having eigen values above one, accounted for 86.40% of the total variations with the proportionate contribution values of 34.86, 16.52, 11.00, 8.97, 7.87 and 7.19%, respectively. The study concludes that genotypes SG1, SG4, and SG11 outperformed the check variety in key traits and hold promise for future crop improvement such as breeding programs under tropical monsoon climatic conditions.

Seed biometry according to the canafístula maturation stage

Canafistula is a species of great ecological relevance and economic potential. To promote its propagation, it is essential to understand the factors that affect seed quality, especially biometrics and the maturation stage. Given the importance of maturation and biometrics in the quality of canafistula seeds, this study aimed to evaluate the variation in biometric attributes throughout the maturation stages and to determine the ideal stage for seed harvest. The seeds were collected from the crowns of 10 trees according to the maturation stage (green seed, green-to-brown transition, light brown and dark brown), and the following parameters were evaluated: longitudinal length, width, thickness, dry mass and water content of the seeds. seeds. The maturation process significantly affects the biometric and physiological characteristics of canafístula seeds. Seeds in the early stages of maturation (green) had larger dimensions due to their high moisture content, whereas seeds in more advanced stages (dark brown) had greater accumulation of dry mass, indicating physiological maturity.

Evaluation of genotoxicity and physicochemical variations of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms exposed to paper-mill-contaminated wastewater.

The pulp and paper industry is a major global concern, as it consumes vast amounts of water during various stages of paper production and may discharge toxic effluents into the environment. This study aimed to determine the impact of pulp and paper mill effluents on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-a free-floating, invasive hydrophyte famous for its phytoremediation potential and grows extensively in wastewater-by assessing its morphological, physicochemical, and genomic deterioration. Wastewater analysis showed higher values of electrical conductivity (EC) (1.8 ± 0.69 S m-1), turbidity (332.9 ± 45.18 NTU), salinity (0.85 ± 0.39 ppt), and total dissolved solids (TDS) (1.14 ± 0.39 g L-1) as compared to the control sample. Morphological characters such as root length (7.19 ± 1.19 cm), leaves per plant (6.60 ± 1.53), and leaf area (627.75 ± 28.03 mm2) were reduced as compared to the control sample. Biochemical parameters like relative water content (RWC) (50%), total chlorophyll content (TCH) (0.41 mg g-1), and pH (6.12) were reduced and increased the ascorbic acid content (AA) (26.08 mg g-1) compared to control. The modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method was used to extract genomic DNA, and DNA damage was detected by comet assay. Genomic analysis revealed that wastewater caused significant DNA damage, as evidenced by increased comet tail intensity. The highest breaking frequency was observed in tail percentage DNA and tail moment, reaching 48.2% and 17.35 µm, respectively. These results indicate that pulp and paper mill effluents impact the morphological traits and biochemical processes of E. crassipes and cause genotoxicity, highlighting the urgent need to develop effective wastewater remediation strategies.

Intercropping the halophyte Tetragonia decumbens Mill. with salt-sensitive Spinacia oleracea L. mitigated salinity stress by enhancing the physiological, biochemical, and nutritional quality of the salt-sensitive species under saline cultivation

Increasing soil salinity is already having a significant effect on production losses of commercial vegetables around the globe. Thus, the implementation of innovative techniques is crucial to cultivate these vegetables amidst these unfavourable conditions. Halophytes are potential plants for resilient agricultural systems, such as intercropping with glycophytes, to enhance their productivity in saline soils. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the intercropping potential of the halophyte Tetragonia decumbens in alleviating the damaging effects of salinity stress on spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Spinach seedlings were grown alone and in consociation with the halophyte under various salt stresses (50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl). Results showed that increasing salinity reduced crop growth, relative water content, chlorophyll, and nutritional quality of spinach in monocultured system. Similarly, high salinity treatment induced severe oxidative stress depicted by high amounts of superoxide, malondialdehyde and the upregulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenols, and flavonoids. Interestingly, intercropped spinach irrigated with 50 and 100 mM revealed a substantial enhancement in crop performance, reduction in oxidative stress and had improved nutritional quality depicted by high amounts of minerals, proximate constituents, and vitamins. These results support the introduction of T. decumbens in vegetable farming systems and highlights its positive impact on improving the overall crop performance of salt sensitive vegetables under saline condition.

Skin Protection Effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri HN910 Lysate and the Role of Alanine.

Skin aging is influenced by structural alterations, oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiome changes, and a comprehensive approach to addressing these factors may be effective for mitigating skin aging. This study evaluates the multifaceted anti-aging effects of heat-killed (HK-HN910) and lysed (LS-HN910) forms of Lactobacillus paragasseri HN910. Protective effects on cell viability, cell permeability, nitric oxide (NO) production, and skin anti-aging gene expression for both HK-HN910 and LS-HN910 were observed. Both forms significantly enhanced tight junction (TJ) protein zonula occludens- 1 (ZO- 1) and antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) gene expression, while significantly downregulating that of senescence-associated secretory phenotype pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)- 1α, IL- 1β, IL- 6, IL- 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). LS-HN910 showed significantly greater upregulation of ZO- 1 and GPx and greater downregulation of IL- 1β and TNFα expression compared to HK-HN910. Cell wall component D-alanine (D-Ala) was released in higher amounts in LS-HN910 than in HK-HN910 and demonstrated anti-aging effects. D-Ala upregulated gene expression of skin barrier ZO- 1, claudin- 1 (Cla- 1), occludin (OCC), filaggrin (FLG), and sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 2 (SMPD2) and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and GPx, while downregulating IL- 1α, IL- 1β, IL- 6, IL- 8, and TNFα. LS-HN910 treatment clinically revealed improvements in anti-aging parameters, including transepidermal water loss, skin water contents, sebum levels, dermal density, eye wrinkle index, skin pH, brightness, and microbiota composition, with a significant increase in Rhodococcus abundance. These findings indicate that LS-HN910, containing released D-Ala, is a promising cosmeceutical for preventing skin aging by enhancing the skin barrier, promoting oxidative defense, modulating inflammatory responses, and influencing skin microbiota.

Seed priming with salicylic acid enhances salt stress tolerance by boosting antioxidant defense in Phaseolus vulgaris genotypes

Salinity stress significantly threatens seed germination, plant growth, and agricultural productivity, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study evaluates the potential of salicylic acid (SA) pretreatment to alleviate the detrimental effects of salinity on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes. SA, a phenolic plant hormone, is crucial for regulating growth, stress responses, and essential physiological processes, including seed germination and ion transport. Previous research has established the general benefits of SA in enhancing stress tolerance, but the specific mechanisms and effects on common bean genotypes remain underexplored. This research focuses on the impact of salinity on the germination and seedling growth of various common bean genotypes, the efficacy of SA pretreatment in enhancing these genotypes' tolerance to salinity stress, and the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms, particularly involving the antioxidant defense system. The research was conducted in two phases: germination and seedling growth. Ten genotypes and two commercial varieties were exposed to varying salinity levels alongside SA concentrations to assess germination performance. Subsequently, six genotypes and one variety were evaluated for seedling growth under controlled and salt stress conditions (100 mM and 200 mM NaCl), with SA treatments at 0, 0.5, and 1 mM. Results revealed that salinity severely impaired germination traits, which were significantly enhanced by SA pretreatment. During the seedling growth phase, salinity stress resulted in reduced protein, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content, decreased potassium (K⁺) levels, and diminished water content, while increasing electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, sodium (Na⁺) concentrations, enzyme activities, and proline levels. Importantly, SA pretreatment elevated chlorophyll and protein concentrations, improved water retention, and moderated K⁺ and Na⁺ levels, including their ratios under stress conditions. SA pretreatment also significantly enhanced the antioxidant defense system, reducing oxidative damage induced by salinity stress. Principal component analysis (PCA) successfully categorized the genotypes into semi-tolerant, tolerant, semi-sensitive, and sensitive classes based on their stress responses. Notably, the Jules variety exhibited exceptional resilience during both germination and seedling growth stages, indicating its potential as a superior candidate for cultivation in salt-affected regions. This study highlights SA pretreatment as an effective strategy to enhance salinity stress resilience in common bean genotypes. The novelty of this work lies in the detailed elucidation of SA's role in modulating antioxidant defenses and ion homeostasis in different genotypes, providing new insights into breeding programs and agricultural practices aimed at improving crop resilience and productivity in increasingly saline environments.

Enhancing Drought Tolerance in Salicornia ramosissima Through Biofertilization with Marine Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB)

The duration, frequency, and intensity of drought events in the Mediterranean region pose increasing threats to conventional crop production. Consequently, eco-friendly and sustainable development approaches should aim to address future food production goals. Halophytes, such as Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods, represent promising cash crops for cultivation in conjunction with novel biofertilization strategies involving plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). In the present study, the physiological fitness of S. ramosissima under various drought conditions, with and without marine PGPB inoculation, was evaluated to enhance the resilience of this cash crop halophyte under water-limited conditions. Our results indicate that PGPB inoculation significantly decreased water loss under extreme drought, with non-inoculated plants showing a water content (WC) of 59%, while in inoculated plants, the decrease in WC was lower at 77%. Furthermore, PGPB inoculation significantly enhanced the photochemistry of the plant, which maintained higher active oxygen-evolving complexes and a greater ability for complete closure of reaction centers under severe and extreme drought, thus demonstrating an improved capacity for light energy utilization in photosynthesis even under water-limited conditions. Furthermore, bioaugmented plants generally exhibited improved osmoregulation through increased yet appropriate accumulation of proline, a major osmolyte, and higher relative water content in the stem compared to the corresponding non-inoculated plants. Drought stress similarly modified the fatty acid profile in both plant groups, resulting in increased membrane stability due to reduced fluidity. However, PGPB-inoculated plants demonstrated a higher capacity for mitigation of oxidative stress, primarily through enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase, which is crucial for the scavenging of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). This, along with improvements in energy use and dissipation, as evidenced by photochemistry, reveals a multi-dimensional mechanism for drought tolerance in bioaugmented plants. Metabolic changes, particularly in PGPB-inoculated plants, clearly demonstrate the potential of these bacteria to be utilized in the enhancement of drought tolerance in S. ramosissima. Moreover, these data elucidate the complex metabolic aspects regarding photochemistry, osmoregulation, and oxidative stress that should be considered when phenotyping plants for drought tolerance, given the increasing water scarcity worldwide scenario.

Effect of Boiling Time on the Color, Water, Protein Secondary Structure, and Volatile Compounds of Beef

The influence of boiling time on the persistent changes in the surface color, water content and distribution, protein secondary structure, and the concentration of volatile compounds in beef were studied, in order to obtain quality short-term boiled beef slices. The results show that the water content of beef samples significantly decreased and migration occurred between the high-freedom water and the low-freedom water. On average, boiling for 1 min was a key point in the changes of color parameters (L*, a*, b*, w, ΔE, and BI) and partial protein secondary structure because of the change in the ambient temperature around beef. In six samples, 29 volatile compounds were confirmed by GC–MS, and 13 compounds were regarded as the potential key volatile compounds, including 1-heptanol, 1-octen-3-ol, octanal, hexanal, decanal, heptanal, nonanal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal, (E, E)-2,4-nonadienal, dodecanal, (E)-2-undecenal, 2,3-octanedione, and 2-pentylfuran. The color, water, and protein secondary structure were closely correlated with some potential key volatile compounds. The results could be used to guide the consumers to better grasp the quality of hot-pot meat during gatherings and have a comfortable consumer experience.