Reorienting research investments toward under ‐researched crops for sustainable food systems
AbstractThe dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under-researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. T...
Source: Food and Energy Security - March 20, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Sussy Munialo,
Kadambot H. M. Siddique,
Nigel P. Barker,
Cecilia Moraa Onyango,
Jacqueline Naalamle Amissah,
Lydia Nanjala Wamalwa,
Qinisani Qwabe,
Andrew J. Dougill,
Lindiwe Majele Sibanda Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research
Fabrication of multifunctional ethyl cellulose/gelatin-based composite nanofilm for the pork preservation and freshness monitoring
In this study, an active and intelligent nanofilm for monitoring and maintaining the freshness of pork was developed using ethyl cellulose/gelatin matrix through electrospinning, with the addition of natural purple sweet potato anthocyanin. The nanofilm exhibited discernible color variations in response to pH changes, and it demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards volatile ammonia compared with casting film. Notably, the experimental findings regarding the wettability and pH response performance indicated that the water contact angle between 70° and 85° was more favorable for the smart response of pH sensitivity. Furth...
Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules - March 13, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jia-Hui Wu Jia-Hui Liao Teng-Gen Hu Min-Hua Zong Peng Wen Hong Wu Source Type: research
Fabrication of multifunctional ethyl cellulose/gelatin-based composite nanofilm for the pork preservation and freshness monitoring
In this study, an active and intelligent nanofilm for monitoring and maintaining the freshness of pork was developed using ethyl cellulose/gelatin matrix through electrospinning, with the addition of natural purple sweet potato anthocyanin. The nanofilm exhibited discernible color variations in response to pH changes, and it demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards volatile ammonia compared with casting film. Notably, the experimental findings regarding the wettability and pH response performance indicated that the water contact angle between 70° and 85° was more favorable for the smart response of pH sensitivity. Furth...
Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules - March 13, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jia-Hui Wu Jia-Hui Liao Teng-Gen Hu Min-Hua Zong Peng Wen Hong Wu Source Type: research
Distinct tomato yellow leaf curl Chuxiong virus isolated from whiteflies and plants in China and its symptom determinant and suppressor of post-transcriptional gene silencing
Virology. 2024 Mar 5;594:110040. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110040. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTA begomovirus isolated from whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and tomato, sweet potato in China was found to be representative of a distinct begomovirus species, for which the name tomato yellow leaf curl Chuxiong virus (TYLCCxV) is proposed. The results of genomic identification and sequence comparison showed that TYLCCxV shares the highest complete nucleotide sequence identity (88.3%) with croton yellow vein mosaic virus (CroYVMV), and may have originated from the recombination between synedrella leaf curl virus (SyLCV) and squash ...
Source: Virology - March 12, 2024 Category: Virology Authors: Yan Xie Xianan Liu Chaohu Luo Qianqian Hu Xuan Che Liling Zhao Min Zhao Liqi Wu Ming Ding Source Type: research
Active cellulose acetate/purple sweet potato anthocyanins@cyclodextrin metal-organic framework/eugenol colorimetric film for pork preservation
Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Feb 28:130523. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130523. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAs a natural pH-sensing colorant, purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPAs) have demonstrated great potential in colorimetric film for freshness monitoring. However, the photothermal instability of PSPAs is still a challengeable issue. Herein, γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) loaded with PSPAs (PSPAs@CD-MOF, i.e., PM) and eugenol (EUG) were incorporated in cellulose acetate (CA) matrix for developing a smart active colorimetric film of CA/PM/EUG, where PM and EUG were hydrogen-bonded with CA. Attention...
Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules - March 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Huaiting Pang Yimin Wu Qianlan Tao Yewen Xiao Wei Ji Linlin Li Hualin Wang Source Type: research
Impact of biochar and organic fertilizers on sweet potato yield, quality, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, sugars, and phenols contents
. (Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research)
Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research - February 23, 2024 Category: Environmental Health Authors: George F. AntoniousDivision of Environmental Studies, School of Agriculture, Community, Environment, and the Sciences, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA Source Type: research
Effects of microwave radiation on the physicochemical properties, structure, and digestibility of the synthesis of different crystal forms of malic acid starch ester
Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Feb 15:130236. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130236. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe effects of microwave combined with L-malic acid treatment on the degree of substitution (DS), structure, physicochemical properties, and digestibility of sweet potato starch (A-type), potato starch (B-type), and pea starch (C-type) were evaluated. The order of DS obtained was: DSM-POS > DSM-SPS > DSM-PES. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed that the obtained modified starch produced a new absorption band at 1735 cm-1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polarized light microscopy indic...
Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules - February 17, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Wei Wang Aijun Hu Shiwei Liu Jie He Jie Zheng Source Type: research
Genes, Vol. 15, Pages 237: Genome-Wide Analysis of the Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain (LBD) Gene Family in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)
In this study, we identified a total of 53 IbLBD genes in sweet potato. Genetic structure showed that most of the IbLBD genes contained only two exons. Following the phylogenetic investigation, the IbLBD gene family was separated into Class I (45 members) and Class II (8) members. Both classes of proteins contained relatively conservative Motif1 and Motif2 domains. The chromosomal locations, gene duplications, promoters, PPI network, and GO annotation of the sweet potato LBD genes were also investigated. Furthermore, gene expression profiling and real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of 12 IbLBD ge...
Source: Genes - February 13, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Lei Shi Xiongjian Lin Binquan Tang Rong Zhao Yichi Wang Yingyi Lin Liangliang Wu Chao Zheng Hongbo Zhu Tags: Article Source Type: research
Effects of pesticide treatment against nematode disease on soil bacterial community structure and sweet potato yield and quality
In this study, Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities treated with different pesticides. At the same time, high performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the pesticide residues in soil and sweet potato, and the impact on sweet potato yield was investigated. Kruskal –Wallis test was used to analyze the four α-diversity indexes of soil under different pesticide treatments, and the differences were not significant (p > 0.05), indicating that there was no significant difference in the diversity and abundance of bac...
Source: Food and Energy Security - February 8, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Kai Luo,
Jie Zhu,
Boyu Xia,
Jie Zhang,
Xiulin Su,
Haixia Wen,
Yuqi Li Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
IbNIEL-mediated degradation of IbNAC087 regulates jasmonic acid-dependent salt and drought tolerance in sweet potato
In this study, a NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor, IbNAC087, was identified, which is commonly upregulated in salt- and drought-tolerant germplasms. Overexpression of IbNAC087 increased salt and drought tolerance by increasing jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation and activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, whereas silencing this gene resulted in opposite phenotypes. JA-rich IbNAC087-OE (overexpression) plants exhibited more stomatal closure than wild-type (WT) and IbNAC087-Ri plants under NaCl, polyethylene glycol, and methyl jasmonate treatments. IbNAC087 functions as a nuclear transcriptional act...
Source: Journal of Integrative Plant Biology - January 31, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Xu Li Zhen Wang Sifan Sun Zhuoru Dai Jun Zhang Wenbin Wang Kui Peng Wenhao Geng Shuanghong Xia Qingchang Liu Hong Zhai Shaopei Gao Ning Zhao Feng Tian Huan Zhang Shaozhen He Source Type: research
Molecules, Vol. 29, Pages 606: Exploration of Raw Pigmented-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes Volatile Organic Compounds and the Precursors
In this study, the volatile organic compounds of five pigmented-fleshed sweet potato cultivars were determined, the characteristic aroma compounds were screened, and a correlation analysis was carried out with the aroma precursors. In total, 66 volatile organic compounds were identified. Terpenoids and aldehydes were the main volatile compounds, accounting for 59% and 17%, respectively. Fifteen compounds, including seven aldehydes, six terpenes, one furan, and phenol, were identified as key aromatic compounds for sweet potato using relative odor activity values (ROAVs) and contributed to flower, sweet, and fat flavors. The...
Source: Molecules - January 26, 2024 Category: Chemistry Authors: Yanqiang Yao Rong Zhang Ruixue Jia Zhufang Yao Yake Qiao Zhangying Wang Tags: Article Source Type: research
Genome-wide identification and expression analyses of CYP450 genes in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) play a crucial role in various biochemical reactions involved in the synthesis of antioxidants, pigments, structural polymers, and defense-related compounds in plants. ... (Source: BMC Genomics)
Source: BMC Genomics - January 13, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Xiongjian Lin, Binquan Tang, Zhenqin Li, Lei Shi and Hongbo Zhu Tags: Research Source Type: research
Laser mapping reveals oldest Amazonian cities, built 2500 years ago
Archaeologists once believed the ancient Amazon rainforest was an inhospitable place, sparsely populated by bands of hunter-gatherers. But the remains of enormous
earthworks
, pyramids, and roads from Bolivia to Brazil discovered over the past 2 decades have proved conclusively that the Amazon was home to large, complex societies long before European colonizers arrived. Now, there’s evidence that another human society—the oldest yet—left its mark on the region: A dense network of interconnected cities, now hidden beneath the forest in Ecuador’s Upano Valley, has been revealed by the laser mapping technolo...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - January 11, 2024 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Anthocyanin Extracted from Purple Sweet Potato Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice by Suppressing Pyroptosis and Altering Intestinal Flora Structure
Journal of Medicinal Food, Ahead of Print. (Source: Journal of Medicinal Food)
Source: Journal of Medicinal Food - January 5, 2024 Category: Nutrition Authors: Jing Chen Fei Jiang Nana Xu Guokai Dong Jiebang Jiang Meng Wang Cong Li Rongpeng Li Source Type: research
Cancers, Vol. 16, Pages 99: Antitumoral Agent-Induced Constipation: A Systematic Review
Conclusions: The prevalence of constipation in patients undergoing antitumoral treatment is very diverse. Studies specifically designed to report the prevalence of antineoplastic treatment-induced constipation are needed. The importance of enteric neuronal integrity in gastrointestinal function was described. Thus, neuroprotection could be an area of research for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal disorders. (Source: Cancers)
Source: Cancers - December 24, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Agn ès Calsina-Berna Jes ús González-Barboteo Silvia Llorens-Torrom é Joaquim Juli à-Torras Tags: Systematic Review Source Type: research
