Annals of Applied Biology最新文献

Control of non-persistently-aphid transmitted plant viruses is based on preventive measures such as physical or photoselective barriers or reflective mulches as well as host plant resistance. However, these methods are not always durable and effective and are difficult to implement in the field because transmission occurs in a matter of seconds when aphids land and immediately probe on a plant. Currently, there are no available strategies to disrupt the transmission process of non-persistently-transmitted viruses based on virus–vector molecular interactions. In this work, we engineered a potyvirus-derived virus-like nanoparticle (VLP) to interfere in the transmission of the potyviruses turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) by their aphid vectors. Using the engineered construct, we found that there was also interference with the transmission of the cucumovirus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). This nanoparticle was a fusion of a modified version of the TuMV helper component protease (HC-Pro) and the capsid protein (CP). This construct was delivered to aphids through transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, followed by aphid acquisition. Retention of the engineered construct within the aphid stylet cuticle before virus acquisition reduced cucumovirus and potyvirus transmission rates by 38%–56%, respectively. This novel biotechnological approach targets the interference of non-persistent, aphid-mediated virus transmission. The genetic construct is adaptable for stable integration into transgenic plants or for direct spraying onto plants using appropriate surfactants or wetting agents, and therefore represents an effective strategy for the control of vector-borne viruses.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) exhibits a mixed mating system, in which both self- and cross-pollination can occur. In tropical environments, the contribution of pollinators may enhance fertilization efficiency and increase crop yield. This study aimed to evaluate the role of pollinators in sesame production and its degree of pollinator dependence. Two experiments were carried out in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil. In the first, open-pollinated plants were compared with pollinator-excluded plants (cages) to assess grain yield, yield components and seed quality. In the second, pollination requirements were investigated using five treatments: open pollination, pollinator exclusion (paper bags), wind-mediated pollination (cages), geitonogamous pollination and hand cross-pollination. Open-pollinated plants produced a greater number of fruits and seeds per fruit, resulting in greater grain yield. In contrast, seed mass, number of branches and physiological seed quality were not affected by pollination treatments. Seedling dry biomass was greater in the presence of pollinators. Overall, grain yield was 28.6% greater under open pollination, corresponding to a pollinator dependence of 22%. Controlled pollination treatments showed that self-pollination provides reproductive assurance under pollinator limitation, whereas insect pollination enhances reproductive performance. Sesame exhibited a mixed mating system, with self-pollination and insect-mediated pollination acting complementarily. This balance helps ensure stable production, while pollinators play an important role in maximizing yield under tropical agricultural conditions.

Oat β-glucan provides health-benefitting properties, with the ratio of subunit trimers to tetramers the main identified molecular difference between this and other grain-derived β-glucans. This ratio change causes alterations in the viscosity and gelling potential of the β-glucan, which in turn affects cholesterol uptake and conversion. This study compares both the physical variables (grain dry weight, width, length) and the ratio and total yield of trimer and tetramer units in developing winter oat (Mascani) grain over two harvest years. Results found the grain weights and widths correlated through the development stages, with length increasing earlier in the development, matching developmental studies in wheat grains. Within the total β-glucan fraction, the yield followed the trend for grain weight, with the β-glucan ratio between the composite subunits highly conserved from the beginning of grain formation. β-Glucan yields were shown not to differ between grains taken from locations across the whorls of the panicle or between the grain types (primary or secondary) within the spikelets, showing composition consistency despite developmental differences. To widen the significance of this work, the yields and ratios of β-glucan trimer and tetramer were also assessed in 46 different mature oat grain varieties (excluding Mascani). These were found to have a reduced trimer:tetramer ratio correlation (R² = 0.84; in Mascani-only studies R² = 0.99–1), showing limited diversity between accessions. All spring oat varieties had a lower trimer:tetramer ratio than seen in the Mascani grain initial studies, a positive breeding attribute. A further correlation was seen between trimer:tetramer ratios, grain size and nitrogen, with lower β-glucan ratios associated with larger grains and lower nitrogen content. Collectively, findings from this study identify useful trait variation for future breeding programme selection considering enhanced health benefits.

Soybeans are essential for global agriculture as a major source of protein and oil, supporting food security, livestock feed, and renewable energy industries worldwide. Manipulating the light spectrum using LEDs presents a unique opportunity to optimize soybean growth in a controlled environment. In this study, we aimed to grow compact soybeans, accelerate flowering, increase seed production, and evaluate physiological variables. Two soybean varieties (CZ 75 70LL and S16-14801C) were cultivated from seeds in controlled conditions (27°C/26°C, day/night; 68% relative humidity; 590 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂) in 11 L plastic pots containing peat-moss substrate. A week after germination, the plants were exposed to one of four light-spectrum treatments at a photon flux density of 700 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. These treatments had different percent photon flux ratios of blue (B: 400–500 nm), green (G: 500–600 nm), red (R: 600–700 nm), and far-red (FR: 700–750 nm) wavelengths: (1) 22B:50G:26R:2FR (White; control), (2) 20B:80R, (3) 50B:50R, and (4) 40B:40R:20FR. Both varieties across all treatments reached the harvest stage at 121 ± 4 days, with all flowers being open and producing light-yellow pollen. Higher levels of blue light in 50B:50R increased leaf transpiration, thereby reducing water-use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency. Seed yield assessments indicated that the 40B:40R:20FR treatment increased seed production, rising to 34% in seed number and 37% in seed weight, compared with the white control treatment. Morphological evaluations indicated that plants under 50B:50R and 40B:40R:20FR were 1.7–2.4 and 1.3–1.5-fold shorter than plants grown under the white treatment. These findings confirm that the light spectrum can be tuned to reach specific objectives and optimize soybean growth and development in controlled environments.

Intensive European cropping systems face increasing environmental pressures, yet agronomic and environmental performance of different cropping systems is often evaluated separately, limiting the understanding of the true feasibility of ecologically intensive systems. To bridge this gap, we develop a framework that integrates agronomic and environmental data, using data from field experiments to demonstrate its application using French cereal–legume trials to assess the environmentally adjusted gross margins and the implications for farmer decision-making. This proof-of-concept showed the sole cropping system remained more economically viable than the intercropped system even when accounting for externalities. However, the analysis also demonstrated that data limitations, methodological assumptions, and uncertainties in environmental valuation constrain the interpretability of results, underscoring the need for more comprehensive and coordinated experimental designs in future applications of the environmentally adjusted gross margin framework.

Edible films and coatings were developed using chitosan (Ch), oregano essential oil (EO), and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) to preserve the quality attributes of blueberries. The CNFs were used as stabilisers to prepare a Pickering emulsion-based coating in one of the treatments (Ch-EO-CNF). Microstructural analysis revealed that CNFs remarkably improved the uniformity of the EO droplet dispersion by narrowing the particle size distribution from 1–16 μm in Ch-EO to 1–5 μm in Ch-EO-CNF. The addition of oregano EO imparted a considerable antibacterial effect in the films, with inhibition zones of 95.3 ± 5.1 mm² (Ch-EO) and 144.7 ± 7.5 mm² (Ch-EO-CNF), compared with no inhibition in pure chitosan films. The EO-loaded coatings were more effective than chitosan alone in maintaining blueberry pH, suggesting reduced spoilage. Moreover, the Ch-EO-CNF coating significantly reduced weight loss compared with the control and better preserved soluble solids (p < .05, LSD), highlighting the benefits of the Pickering emulsion. The Ch-EO and Ch-EO-CNF coatings reduced mould counts to 2.63 ± 0.12 and 2.19 ± 0.14 log CFU/g on day 15, respectively, compared with the control, which increased to 5.12 ± 0.22 log CFU/g. The examination of both coated and uncoated blueberries over 15 days revealed that EO-loaded coatings enhanced visual appeal by reducing wrinkles. Overall, introducing oregano EO and CNFs enhanced the preservation capabilities of chitosan coatings, especially the Pickering emulsion-based coating, which better maintained the nutritional and physiological properties of blueberries.

Despite recognised agronomic, environmental, and nutritional benefits, English pulse production and consumption remain limited, constrained by locked-in cereal rotations, limited farmer know-how and processing infrastructure, and weak consumer demand. This Policy Forum paper aims to support ongoing discussion of the role public policy could play in enabling the expansion of domestically grown food pulses in England, examining the current policy, research and market landscape, systemic opportunities, food-system trade-offs, and potential ways forward. Matrix analysis was employed to facilitate structured comparison and synthesis of academic literature, policy documents, and semi-structured expert interviews (n = 13). Analysis identifies no direct policy support for food pulse production in England and a fragmented, under-resourced research landscape. International examples highlight different, albeit context-specific, public policy drivers including production incentives, support for translational research, value-chain coordination and demand measures. Potential public policy interventions identified for England range from subsidies and R&D investment to infrastructure support and knowledge exchange, market coordination, and greater policy coherence. Food pulse production in England remains marginal because it requires a coupled production–consumption transition. Progress is further complicated by disagreements over priorities, desired outcomes, and the level of state support and market intervention necessary. The paper identifies routes beyond this impasse, including sequencing feed and food markets to support infrastructure and demand formation and enabling parallel agroecological and commodity-scale pathways. It also highlights the need for greater coordination of policy, research and innovation, involving stakeholders across government, the value chain and wider society.

Growers of fruits and vegetables have a reducing toolbox of synthetic pesticide options available to them, driven directly by pesticide resistance issues and indirectly by environmental and health concerns which prompt the withdrawal of pesticide authorisation approvals. Integrated pest management (IPM) is promoted as a means to reduce use of, and reliance on, synthetic pesticides. This article explores the barriers to IPM uptake in the UK fresh produce industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 key stakeholders including producers, crop protection product manufacturers/ associations, retailers, policy makers, researchers and NGOs. Opportunities to address these barriers are explored subsequently in the discussion. Key barriers identified reveal that the great diversity of crops and cropping systems means that the definition, practical application and adoption of IPM are highly variable and therefore difficult to legislate. Politically, uptake of IPM has been undermined by a lack of top-down strategy, which has resulted in uncertainties surrounding future pesticide targets, future trade deals, insufficient subsidies and no system to effectively measure and monitor any changes in uptake. The strict quality requirements for fresh produce foster a uniquely high perception of risk amongst growers and agronomists in implementing IPM practices. Added to this, there are large gaps in knowledge about IPM across the range of crops, as well as an insufficiently funded research base to address them. The industry's capacity for knowledge exchange is inadequate as crop protection becomes more complex, compounded by the dissolution of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Horticulture (a levy board funded by farmers and growers), an insufficient supply of advisors and courses, and weak product stewardship for biological alternatives. Opportunities to address these barriers are discussed such as the creation of an expert steering group to help guide IPM strategy and policy, focusing on industry and crop specific targets, policies, and implementation of a measuring and monitoring system for IPM uptake. Independent events, online platforms and stronger researcher–agronomist ties are needed in place of AHDB Horticulture, as well as an expansion of training and new entrants. Biopesticide regulatory reform, a research gap analysis and a review of the future funding landscape are necessary steps for increasing the availability of IPM tools for growers.

Progressive withdrawal of synthetic chemical insecticides and evidence of resistance in important pest species have led to increased interest in biological control within food manufacturing environments. However, the acceptability of these approaches to industry remains largely unknown. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews with 17 food manufacturing professionals associated with 15 focal facility contexts in northwest England and north Wales (UK). Sentiment analysis was used descriptively to characterise attitudinal valence, while reflexive thematic analysis examined conditional acceptability, perceived barriers and potential routes to implementation. Sentiment analysis classified 40.7% of participant utterances as positive, 40.3% as neutral and 19.0% as negative. Participant accounts showed that willingness to consider any of the approaches was usually conditional on locations, controls or approvals. Five principal barriers were identified: (1) food safety and quality concerns, (2) retailer requirements, (3) health and safety considerations, (4) resistance to novel approaches and (5) negative connotations associated with biological terminology. Participants identified controlled trials, formal risk assessment, stakeholder education and evidence of efficacy and cost-effectiveness as potential facilitators. These findings do not estimate the prevalence of these views across the wider food manufacturing sector. Rather, they provide exploratory evidence that some experienced UK professionals would consider biological control when supported by appropriate authorisation, operational evidence, contamination controls and engagement with retailers and relevant assurance stakeholders.

Parthenocarpy, the ability to set fruit without pollination and fertilisation, is an important crop trait that helps stabilise yield in Cucurbits under unfavourable environmental or indoor farming conditions. While cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is widely recognised as the primary model for parthenocarpy research in Cucurbitaceae owing to its abundant natural varieties, emerging studies are now deciphering the molecular pathways underlying this trait in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). Conversely, other cucurbit species continue to suffer from substantial research gaps. Primarily, the review provides a systematic summary of the parthenocarpy basis and discovered parthenocarpic varieties in Cucurbits. Subsequently, by delving into the genetic and molecular mechanisms, this review highlights the central roles of auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin in activating parthenocarpy, whereas ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) function as negative regulators of this trait. Conventional genetic, next-generation gene mapping and sequencing studies have identified numerous important quantitative trait loci and candidate genes, most of which are involved in auxin biosynthesis, signalling transduction, and polar transport. In addition, the synergistic interactions between auxin and gibberellins, cytokinins, and the inhibition of ABA/ethylene were thoroughly analysed to clarify this complex regulatory network. In addition to discussing the latest advances in the genetic and molecular biology mechanisms of parthenocarpy, this review also aims to highlight the potential of gene editing technology and molecular markers in shortening parthenogenetic breeding processes. This is a key direction for developing next-generation cucurbit varieties that meet the needs of indoor cultivation and adapt to global climate change.