Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences

Most recent and emerging technologies for enhancing the nutritional characteristics of food, challenges and future directions: A Review

2025-02-03T15:01:57+00:00

The rapid advancement of emerging technologies is transforming the food industry, especially in enhancing the nutritional qualities of food. These innovations have significant potential for tackling global nutritional deficiencies and promoting public health. Key technologies include precision fermentation, which enables the production of high-quality proteins and micronutrients while minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, gene editing techniques such as CRISPR allow for the development of crops with improved nutrient profiles and enhanced resistance to pests and diseases. Furthermore, advancements in nanotechnology enhance the fortification of foods with essential vitamins and minerals, improving their bioavailability and stability. Personalized nutrition, driven by big data and artificial intelligence, customizes dietary recommendations based on individual genetic profiles, optimizing nutrient intake and health outcomes. This review article overviews these cutting-edge technologies and their applications in creating a more nutritious and sustainable food system.

In silico Analysis of Natural Iridoids as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis Inhibitors: Molecular Docking, MD Simulation, MMPBSA, and DFT Analyses

2025-02-03T15:01:55+00:00

Iridoids have demonstrated various activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, antiviral, hepatoprotective, antihyperglycemic, and antiparasitic effects. The brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri is responsible for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation. In this study, 52 iridoids were selected through an extensive literature survey, and 22 of these iridoids passed the drug-likeness filter. The selected iridoids were molecularly docked against the N. fowleri CYP51 receptor, using voriconazole as a standard for comparison. The docking score for voriconazole was -7.6 kcal/mol, while the scores for 10-isovaleroyl-dihydropenstemide and Patrinalloside A were -8.9 and -8.6 kcal/mol, respectively. According to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data, the interacting amino acid residues exhibited fluctuations within a specific range, with the Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) values stabilizing throughout the experiment. When interacting with the receptor linked to amoebic meningoencephalitis, 10-isovaleroyl-dihydropenstemide and Patrinalloside A showed free binding energies of -71.922 kJ/mol and -61.243 kJ/mol, respectively, based on Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MMPBSA) calculations. Furthermore, Fragment Molecular Orbital (FMO) and Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) analyses of 10-isovaleroyl-dihydropenstemide and Patrinalloside A revealed potential nucleophilic-electrophilic attack zones, indicating they are chemically reactive. The analysis of both compounds' ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) indicated non-toxic behaviour. These findings suggest that natural iridoids have significant potential in combating primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Phylogenetic and Morphological Study of Desmodesmus Strains from Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve

2025-02-03T15:01:41+00:00

This study focused on five microalgal strains resembling Desmodesmus isolated from the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of morphological and molecular methods for algal identification and to evaluate the genetic diversity of the relevant taxa. The five isolated and reference strains were cultured axenically in a BG-11 medium. Both microscopy (at magnifications of 40× and 100×) and molecular techniques (using ITS and 18S rRNA markers) were employed for analysis. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results indicated that five of the ten strains were consistently identified using both approaches. Molecular data prompted a taxonomic reassignment for the three remaining strains, while morphological traits were more decisive for two reference strains. Phylogenetic analyses revealed significant genetic diversity within Desmodesmus, highlighting the ecological adaptability of genetically distinct variants. This study emphasizes the reliability of molecular tools in algal taxonomy, particularly for differentiating between Desmodesmus and Scenedesmus-like taxa. It contributes to understanding microalgal genetic diversity in the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve and provides a foundation for future ecological and biotechnological applications.

In-vitro antibacterial activity, Molecular docking, and MD Simulation Analysis of Phytoconstituents of Nasturtium officinale

2025-02-03T15:01:52+00:00

Medicinal plants play a significant role in various traditional medicine systems worldwide. Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton, commonly known as ‘Halim,’ is a herbaceous perennial often used for its multiple health benefits. It serves as a depurative, diuretic, expectorant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and odontalgic agent and is utilized in the management of various ailments and disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of different solvent extracts of N. officinale against Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial activity was assessed through an in vitro assay using the disk diffusion method. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in comparison with standard reference compounds. Among the extracts tested, the chloroform extract of N. officinale (NOCE) exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect, demonstrating significant antibacterial activity. The high efficacy of the NOCE suggests that it may contain active phytoconstituents capable of targeting bacterial strains. Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that the phytoconstituents isorhamnetin, luteolin, and quercetin exhibited strong interactions with bacterial DNA gyrase. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of the best-docked compound, isorhamnetin, against bacterial DNA gyrase indicated that all parameters were within acceptable limits, and the compound effectively interacted with the receptor. These findings confirm that N. officinale possesses potential antibacterial activity, which may be attributed to the presence of isorhamnetin.

Gene action of yield and its contributing traits in wide-compatible elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) restorer lines

2025-02-03T15:01:50+00:00

Profiling the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, such as yield and its contributing factors, is essential for successful breeding programs. Understanding the genetic components of variation is key to maximizing genetic gains with precision in crop improvement. This study evaluated the genetics of yield and its related traits through generation mean analysis in six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, B1, and B2) of crosses involving elite restorer lines. Results from the scaling tests indicated that epistatic interactions were present for all traits examined, except for effective tillers per plant in crosses I (CR 22-153-1 x Lemont) and II (CR 22-153-1 x CR 22-1-5-1). The six-parameter analysis showed a combination of additive, dominance, and epistatic gene effects, although their contributions varied. In both crosses, the additive or fixable variance was consistently lower than the non-additive variance for most yield-related traits. Among the genetic effects, the dominance effect (h) and the dominance × dominance effect were significantly higher for most traits in both crosses. However, the values of these effects often exhibited opposite signs for different traits, underscoring the importance of duplicate epistasis in the inheritance and expression of these traits. The predominance of dominance, interaction effects, and duplicate epistasis across all studied traits and crosses limits the potential for early generation selection. Nevertheless, bi-parental matings between superior segregants may help disrupt undesirable linkages and produce favorable segregants with an accumulation of positive alleles for trait development.

Soil erosion assessment in the Ranganadi watershed of Lakhimpur district, Assam, using GIS techniques and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model

2025-02-03T15:01:48+00:00

The loss of soil due to erosion is one of the most critical land degradation issues globally, representing a vital asset for both the economy and the environment. To effectively manage and regulate such a global issue, it is imperative to estimate the loss. With technological advancements, methodologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are crucial in addressing these difficulties. The primary objective of this study was to employ the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model inside a GIS framework to quantify soil loss in the Ranganadi river basin of Assam, providing a more rapid and accurate estimate. Three distinct physiographic units, i.e., Piedmont Plain, Alluvial Plain, and Flood Plain, were delineated. Collected 60 GPS-based soil samples from distinct physiographic units were collected and analyzed for different soil physico-chemical properties, in addition to taking into account a variety of criteria, such as rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), topography factor (LS), cover and management factor (C), and conservation practices factor (P), the RUSLE approach is based on the evaluation of soil loss per unit area. Five basic RUSLE factors, viz., R factor, K factor, LS factor, C factor, and P factor, were used to determine soil erosion. Further, erosion ratio, dispersion ratio, and erosion index are the basic examples of erodibility indicators that were taken into consideration while used to evaluating the erodibility of the soil. The anticipated soil erosion in the above-said area varied from minimal to severe, with values between 0.01 and 27.38 t ha^-1 yr^-1. Among the physiographic units, alluvial plain soils had the greatest mean soil erosion value of 8.52 t ha^-1 yr^-1, whereas floodplain landscapes indicated the lowest average value of 3.39 t ha^-1 yr^-1. The dispersion ratio varied between 0.08 and 0.33, with soils exhibiting a dispersion ratio exceeding 0.15, signifying their vulnerability to erosion. The erosion ratio varied between 0.04 and 0.61, whereas the erosion index fluctuated from 0.06 to 0.84. As a result, this model is particularly useful in anticipating soil loss in an area, allowing community members, legislatures, and other linked agencies to plan ahead of time for future efforts to mitigate the degradation.

Dehydrogenase: A key soil health indicator for Thar Desert, India

2025-02-03T15:01:46+00:00

A field study was conducted to identify a potential fertility indicator for the soils of the Thar Desert. The study area included eight districts, covering a total of 156,580 km². This region experiences a wide range of climatic conditions, with annual rainfall varying from 177 mm to 409 mm and temperatures fluctuating between 8°C and 46°C. Surface soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were collected from agricultural fields across the region, representing various soil properties and cropping patterns. The soil texture varied from sandy loam to loamy sand, and the wet colour ranged from dark reddish-brown to dark yellowish-brown. The physicochemical and biological properties of the soil samples from different areas of the Thar Desert were as follows: moisture content ranged from 2.19% to 8.73%, bulk density from 1.18 to 1.33 Mg/m³, particle density from 1.82 to 4.11 Mg/m³, pore space percentage from 26.74% to 68.53%, solid space percentage from 31.47% to 73.26%, pH values from 7.69 to 8.43, and electrical conductivity from 0.12 to 0.17 dS/m. Furthermore, the soil organic carbon content ranged from 0.82% to 1.21%, while organic matter content varied between 1.41% and 2.09%. The available nitrogen was found to be between 285.69 and 365.87 kg/ha, phosphorus ranged from 19.84 to 24.77 kg/ha, potassium levels ranged from 214.29 to 314.72 kg/ha, and sulfur levels varied between 16.08 and 23.62 ppm. Additionally, nitrogenase retention time was recorded at 1.391 to 1.547 minutes, phosphatase activity ranged from 269.44 to 343.15 µg p-nitrophenol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and dehydrogenase enzyme activity ranged from 250.33 to 309.34 µg TPF/g/24 h. The results demonstrated that soil properties varied across the Thar Desert. This study provided valuable insights into the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the soil in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. Notably, a significant positive correlation (r² value of 0.95) was found between dehydrogenase enzyme activity and various soil fertility parameters, suggesting that dehydrogenase could serve as a potential biological indicator of soil fertility.

Influence of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Productivity, Mineral Element Accumulation, and Fruit Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

2025-02-03T15:01:43+00:00

Foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is a promising strategy in modern agriculture. This method has shown significant potential in enhancing tomato yields, improving fruit quality, and increasing nutrient uptake. An experiment was conducted in cocopeat media under glasshouse conditions at Ladang 15, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of various doses of ZnO-NPs on plant growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and fruit quality in terms of profitability. A total of ten treatments were evaluated, consisting of five levels of ZnO-NPs (0 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75 ppm, and 100 ppm) and two tomato varieties (MARDI Tomato 1 and MARDI Tomato 3). The experiment utilized a split-plot design with four replications. The results indicated that the application of 100 ppm ZnO-NPs produced the maximum measures of plant growth and fruit quality, including the highest number of primary branches per plant (27.75), leaf area (27.80 cm²), photosynthetic rate (33.05 µmol/m²/s), stomatal conductance (1.01 mol/m²/s), fruit length (4.55 cm), fruit diameter (4.33 cm), number of fruits per plant (52.75), fruit yield (53.85 t/ha), ascorbic acid content (26.13 mg/100 g), zinc content in fruits (52.25 mg/kg), total zinc uptake (102.34 mg/plant), and a benefit-cost ratio of 3.39. Moreover, among the tested varieties, MT3 outperformed MT1. Therefore, a foliar application of 100 ppm ZnO-NPs is recommended as the optimal dose for tomato cultivation. This approach promotes healthier plants and superior fruit quality and supports more sustainable and productive agricultural practices while minimizing environmental harm. Additionally, further research is necessary to explore higher dosages of ZnO-NPs in tomato production to establish the best dose for optimizing output.