Whey protein isolate (WPI) glycation via Maillard reaction has gained increasing interest as the conjugation can significantly improve WPI characteristics such as heat, pH and ionic strength stability. In this study, a novel method was developed via wet heating combined with molecular crowding effect and water activity adjustment, to provide a potential approach to produce whey protein isolate-galactooligosaccharide (WPI-GOS) conjugates with high grafting degree (DG, 67.11%) and low browning at industrial scale. Effects of parameters including temperature, pH, heating time, protein and carbohydrate concentrations, and water activity were investigated to determine the optimal reaction conditions. The obtained WPI-GOS conjugates exhibited good stability at wide ranges of pH (2-7), temperature (up to 88 °C), and ionic strength (0-200 mM NaCl). It also showed excellent encapsulation efficiency (EE, 88.84%), loading capacity (LC, 25.38%), and in vitro protection effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This novel development opens up promising opportunities to produce other protein-carbohydrate conjugates via wet heating, and provides a new approach for industry to fabricate delivery systems for bioactive compounds.

First reported in the United States in 2007, downy mildew of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), caused by the oomycete pathogen Peronospora belbahrii, has become a major challenge in global basil production. Downy mildew-resistant cultivars have been commercially available since 2018. However, new pathogenic races that overcome host resistance were observed after each new cultivar introduction, suggesting rapid pathogen evolution under selective pressure. To track the race structure and to monitor the shift of pathogen populations, we established a differential panel of distinct basil cultivars that carry varying sources of genetic resistance. Testing against P. belbahrii strains obtained from geographically diverse multi-year collections from basil-producing locations in the US, Israel, and Italy, this differential panel revealed three distinct virulence profiles that distinguish race 0, race 1, and race 2. Race 0 isolates are avirulent on cultivars with resistance loci Pb1 and Pb2, while races 1 and 2 were defined by virulence in cultivars with loci Pb1 and Pb2, respectively. Compared to major gene resistance, evaluation of cultivars with quantitative disease resistance revealed more variation in susceptibility (or intermediate resistance), suggesting race-nonspecific resistance and highlighting the potential durability of utilizing diverse sources of resistance in future breeding approaches. With the dynamic nature of the pathogen and the continued efforts in adding disease resistant basil cultivars to meet the market demands, the denomination of P. belbahrii races is likely to expand, and this differential panel will continue to develop. Most importantly, this study lays the groundwork to further explore dynamics of race evolution and mechanisms of resistance breakdown, which will be essential for discovering new sources of resistance for controlling basil downy mildew.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most widely grown herb crops for fresh consumption, processing, and essential oil production. These markets are reliant upon high-quality, pathogen-free material, as disease renders fresh material unsellable and may alter taste and essential oil profiles for industrial producers. Meeting high-quality standards has become increasingly difficult with the introduction of basil downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii into the United States and globally. Basil downy mildew is a highly destructive foliar disease of basil resulting in chlorosis, large lesions, gray-black spores, and plant death. Fungicides have shown variable efficacy between field seasons, are expensive, and require diligent and repeated applications for complete control. Repeated applications of high-risk fungicides provide selective pressure for pathogen evolution, exemplified by the appearance of mefenoxam-resistant populations of P. belbahrii. Resistant sweet basil varieties, though initially successful, have begun to break down under rapid pathogen race differentiation. This adaptability makes understanding the population genetics of the pathogen critical. This study, utilizing simple sequence repeats, examined the genetic diversity of 92 P. belbahrii isolates collected during 2018 to 2024 from Israel, Italy, Hawaii, Florida, Kansas, and the U.S. Northeast. Genetic diversity statistics indicate a highly heterozygous, largely non-clonal population structure in both the United States and Israel. These two populations appear to be at least partially genetically distinct and indicate differentiation along geographic lines. Significant genetic differences were also detected between race 0 and race 1, though a distinct set of classifying markers was not found.

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) is an obligate blood-feeding insect that spreads easily through human activity. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) oil has emerged as a promising natural repellent for bed bugs, but previous studies have been limited to laboratory conditions. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a catnip-based formulation (20% catnip CCC oil: 10% catnip oil cultivar CR9, 5% carvacrol, 5% citronellol) applied to fabric against bed bugs using simulated field tests, a human finger stimulus test, and field trials. N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) was included as a benchmark in the simulated field test. In these tests, both 20% catnip CCC oil and 20% DEET achieved >94% repellency within 24 h, with comparable performance after 2-3 d of aging. After 5 d, 20% catnip CCC oil showed significantly reduced repellency compared to DEET. In the human finger stimulus test, 20% catnip CCC oil remained effective for up to 6 d, whereas in infested apartments, significant repellency lasted only one day. These findings suggest that 20% catnip CCC oil applied to fabric can provide short-term protection against bed bug introductions under natural conditions. Future work should explore optimized barrier dimensions and slow-release formulations to extend efficacy.

green amaranth is a crop of global importance due to its cultural impact, climate resilience, and nutrient-density but remains underutilized as a leafy green in the United States. Its flavor and nutritional traits are comparable to spinach, but its resilience to heat and drought stress makes it a unique leafy green that will not bolt in summer months and adaptable for long-day, hot-weather conditions. Although market demand exists within Afro-Caribbean, Latin, and Asian consumers, supply and seed quality are lacking. This study serves as a foundational US variety trial of amaranth as a leafy green comparing field and nutritional performance of commercially available amaranth lines to collected global germplasm. Results identified selected lines that are candidates for leafy green crop introduction, based on their compact structure and high leaf yield, informal community-member selections, and overall nutritional profiles. From this study, we identified high overall diversity along agronomic and nutrition traits and an overall deficit in plant quality among American commercial lines.

Amaranth is one of the oldest cultivated plants used for food grains, leafy vegetables, ornamentals, and potential forages in many parts of the world. A total of 112 accessions/cultivars collected from different origins and species were characterized and measured using qualitative and quantitative morphological-agronomic characters to investigate genetic variation between accessions. Morphological characters such as cotyledon, seedling, leaf, inflorescence, stem, petiole, and seed characters were evaluated according to International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) criteria. Six quantitative characters (plant height, leaf width, leaf length, petiole length, number of nodes, and stem diameter) were added to define the accessions’ agronomic potential. Highly significant variation was observed between Amaranthus species in seed and leaf morphology, suggesting an important divide between grain and leafy green species. These trends held up in quantitative traits such as plant height and internode length, suggesting a strong historical geographic separation based on cultural uses of the plant. The UPOV evaluation system allows for a rigorous selection criterium to incorporate into a breeding program after the initial collection of a large pool of germplasm.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has been marketed and used for a variety of health-promoting applications. Kratom contains an expansive bioactive alkaloid profile with mitragynine (MTG) as the most abundant. Individual responses to kratom have been reported, but the role of obesity as a factor influencing the effects of kratom has not been studied. First, we used a standardized kratom extract (KE) to determine the cardiopulmonary differences with KE (290, 500 mg/kg) and matched MTG (18 mg/kg) in high-fat diet (HFD; 45% Fat) induced obese male C57Bl/6J mice. As measured by whole-body plethysmography, acute oral dosing revealed an approximate 15% reduction in the respiratory rate with all doses of KE and MTG. Unlike a well-known respiratory depressant, alprazolam, KE and MTG did not reduce minute ventilation (MvB; ml/min). As measured by volume-pressure recordings, KE 500 mg/kg produced an approximate 12% reduction in heart rate in normal weight mice. Second, we determined whether daily oral dosing KE (50, 150 mg/kg) prevented HFD-induced weight gain. Daily 150 mg/kg resulted in an increase in body weight gain (∼1 g) in the last week after 21 days of dosing. After 4 days following kratom cessation, there was reduced distance traveled in the KE 150 mg/kg compared with the KE 50 mg/kg group in an elevated plus maze test. These findings demonstrate a dose-dependent-increase in weight gain with KE, suggesting further investigation is needed to delineate kratom alkaloid effects on metabolism and body weight control.

Nepeta cataria (catnip; Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb naturalized in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant and is valued for attracting pollinators, repelling certain insect pests, and its attractiveness to cats (Gomes et al., 2020). During the fall of 2019 and 2020, powdery mildew was observed on multiple catnip cultivars at the Rutgers University Snyder Research Farm, Pittstown, NJ. The disease was again observed from January 2025 onward on greenhouse-grown catnip at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Symptoms consisted of white powdery colonies on adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces and petioles that coalesced into large patches. Severely infected leaves became chlorotic, necrotic, papery, and prematurely defoliated. Disease incidence was 100% on catnip plants with an average disease severity of 60% leaf area affected. Morphological characteristics of isolate CR-1 isolated from catnip 'CS75', were consistent with Golovinomyces spp. (Braun and Cook, 2012). Hyphae were hyaline, 5–8 μm wide, with slightly nipple-shaped appressoria. Conidiophores measured 55–145 × 10–14 μm. Foot cells measured 50–100 μm and were mostly curved at the base. Conidia (n = 30) were catenescent, ellipsoid to doliiform, produced in chains of 3–5, and measured 25.2–40.0 × 15.6–26.2 μm. Fibrosin bodies and chasmothecia were not observed. To confirm identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large ribosomal subunit (28S) rDNA regions were amplified using JumpStart Taq Ready Mix (Millipore Sigma) with primers ITS5/P3 and LSU1/LSU2 (Bradshaw and Tobin, 2020). ITS amplicons were purified (Monarch DNA Gel Extraction Kit, New England Biolabs), re-amplified with PM5G/PM6G (Scholler et al., 2016), and sequenced. Sequences were deposited in GenBank under the accessions PZ595194 (ITS) and PZ595195 (28S). Blast searches showed 99-100% identity with Golovinomyces spp. (GenBank: ITS: AB769437.1; GenBank:28S: LC076831.1). Concatenated ITS and 28S sequences were aligned with members of the Golovinomyces biocellatus complex (Scholler et al., 2016; Takamatsu et al., 2013). Maximum-likelihood analysis in MEGA12 (Kumar et al., 2024) placed isolate CR-1 within the Golovinomyces monardae clade with 95% bootstrap support. A voucher specimen was deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD (accession no. BPI 937340). To fulfill Koch's postulates, infected catnip 'CS75' leaves were pressed onto healthy 'CS75' leaves. Ten plants were inoculated, and ten non-inoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained in an indoor grow room at 23°C, 50% relative humidity, and a 14-h photoperiod. Powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants within 6–8 days, whereas control plants remained symptomless. The reisolated powdery mildew was sequence and morphologically identical to the original isolate. The pathogenicity assay was repeated twice with similar results. G. monardae has previously been reported on mountain mint and spearmint (Lamiaceae) in the United States (Klingeman et al., 2018; Rajmohan et al., 2019). Catnip may serve as an inoculum reservoir for economically important mint crops, making accurate species identification important for disease management. To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. monardae causing powdery mildew on catnip in the United States.

Tart cherry (TC; Prunus cerasus) has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials due to its rich bioactive components like anthocyanins, polyphenols, vitamins, beta-carotene, ellagic acid, and chlorogenic acid. Oxidative damage and inflammation are underlying reasons to chronic disease pathogenesis. Oxidative stress usually caused by the imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants. Additionally, a chronic inflammatory state is typically modulated by oxidative stress. Inflammation plays a critical role in chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, insulin resistance, arthritis and cancer. Numerous studies indicate that there is a strong relationship between TC and the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative damage by regulating different epigenetic and metabolic pathways. In this review, the recent developments of TC components and their metabolites on inflammatory and oxidative damages will be discussed, and the challenges and limitations to better support future research, including clinical trials to confirm these findings. Graphical Abstract:

A model predicting the level of resistance of basil to downy mildew was developed. The model integrates plant age, genetic background, sporulation, disease intensity, pathogen races, and environmental data at an early stage of disease. These results can be used to select and develop new basil cultivars and accelerate the time needed in breeding for basil downy mildew resistance. Basil downy mildew (BDM) caused by the oomycete Peronospora belbahrii emerged as a global threat, rapidly becoming the most devastating disease of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and other Ocimum spp. worldwide. Despite advancements in understanding its biology and epidemiology, and the availability of approved fungicides and management strategies, BDM remains economically destructive and an ongoing risk to basil production worldwide. Recently, the development and introduction of resistant cultivars have emerged as crucial tools in BDM management and the emergence of new BDM races creates new challenges to controlling this disease. The present study aimed to provide growers and breeders with insights into the survival capabilities of resistant basil cultivars under varying genetic backgrounds, pathogen races, growth stages, and various environmental conditions. Through a series of lab and field experiments, we evaluated the response of multiple resistant sources and their lineages to various isolates of P. belbahrii across different locations, using multiple indices to assess their resistance. Entries carrying the R genes Pb1/Pb2 exhibited complete resistance across all races, growth stages, and environmental conditions. Those harboring the R-gene Pb2 showed similar resistance levels, with minor variability due to growth stage. Responses of Pb1 plants varied with pathogen race, displaying full resistance to race 0 at all growth stages but displaying susceptibility to race 1. Plant cultivars possessing MRI resistance genes and their recombinant inbred lines (RIL’s) exhibited variable responses to pathogen attacks, ranging from high tolerance to complete susceptibility. Some MRI RIL’s showed high resistance similar to Pb2 entries. Pb0 cultivars and 'Eleonora' (unknown background) were susceptible to all races and growth stages in all experiments. Comprehensive analysis across all genetic backgrounds revealed a significant correlation (R = 0.73) between disease intensity (D.I) at the seedling stage under controlled conditions and D.I in adult plants under field conditions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) across six experiments indicated that the primary components influencing disease outcomes were the accession, race, and growth stage, explaining 65

Sensory and phytochemical analyses were conducted on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) to investigate the impact of volatile and phenolic compounds on aroma, taste, and flavor by mouth. A trained panel evaluated seven accessions, including 'Aroma 2', 'Nufar', 'CB19', and four breeding lines developed by Rutgers for downy mildew resistance (DMR). The basils selected for this study displayed unique sensory profiles that were chemically characterized with 21 volatile and 15 phenolic compounds using GC/MS and LC/MS, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed a two-factor model. Factor 1 described cinnamon, floral, ginger, lemon, and musty aromas, clustering with eucalyptol and many minor aromatic compounds. 'Rutgers Thunderstruck-DMR' closely aligned with these attributes. Factor 2 described an axis with clove aroma/flavor and bitter taste on one end and anise and sweet aroma/taste on the opposite end. Anise aroma/flavor was closely associated with methyl chavicol and sweet aroma/flavor. Eugenol and several phenolic acids clustered near bitter taste. However, not all phenolic acids contributed to bitterness or astringency, suggesting diverse roles in sensory perception. 'Aroma 2', 'Rutgers Passion DMR', and 'Rutgers Obsession DMR' were aligned with the clove/spicy/bitter pole of Factor 2, whereas 'CB19' was oppositely aligned with the anise/sweet pole. 'Nufar' and 'Rutgers Devotion DMR' occupied the center of the plot and were characterized as moderate in their sensory/phytochemical profiles. In conclusion, this study reveals that new varieties can be distinguished by their sensory/phytochemical profiles and compared to commercial cultivars. Further, the inclusion of phenolic compounds led to more precise sensory/phytochemical descriptions of these varieties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research provides valuable insights into the aroma, flavor, and underlying phytochemistry of fresh basil, which can help improve its taste and quality for culinary use. Sensory scientists and breeders can use the tools presented in this study as a means of selecting basil varieties to identify 'off types' and enhance aroma and flavor profiles.

This study investigated the combined effect of two plasma treatments during hydroponic growing of sweet basil plants. Air-based cold plasma was applied to basil seeds using a Plasmajet. Also, plasma-activated water (PAW) was produced by using a submerged gliding arc plasmatron system followed by mixing the PAW with a nutrient solution (NS) to make plasma-activated NS (PANS). Basil plants from untreated and plasma-treated seeds were grown hydroponically using NS and PANS in a greenhouse in an ebb-and-flow system. Basil plants were harvested after 21 days and analyzed for their dry tissue mass, growth parameters (plant height, number of branches and nodes, root length, and leaf index), quality (color, texture), and microbiology (total plate count). The combination of plasma treatment of seeds followed by growing the plants using PANS (treated group) resulted in higher plant height, longer root length, greater number of branches, bigger leaves, and higher zinc content in leaves in comparison to plants grown from untreated seeds and with NS (control group). Plasma treatment did not significantly affect moisture content, number of nodes, dry weight, wet weight, greenness, texture, aroma content, and sensory attributes of basil leaves. However, sensory results showed increased basil flavor, aroma, and bitterness in the tomato basil salad made with PANS-treated basil, compared to tomato basil salad made with NS-treated basil. This work revealed that the plasma treatment of the basil seeds combined with PANS could be effective to enhance the growth of sweet basil plants and increase the aroma and flavor of this culinary herb.

Basil (Ocimum spp.) is among the most economically important culinary herbs grown worldwide. Ocimum basilicum includes both the European style sweet basil and the distinct Thai basil. Field, greenhouse, and indoor production practices involve growing dense compact stands that facilitate ideal conditions for the development of significant foliar diseases. One such disease, which has increased in prevalence and severity over the past decade throughout basil production regions in the United States and Europe, is bacterial leaf spot (BLS) caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas cichorii, a common bacterial pathogen with a broad host range including both wild plant species and commercial crops. Under favorable conditions, BLS is capable of causing significant losses before harvest, with growers currently having few economically viable chemical controls available for the disease. At present, no known resistance to BLS exists in commercially available cultivars. This study establishes a rapid pathogenicity screening assay for identification of potential BLS resistant germplasm within the O. basilicum and broader Ocimum genus for use in breeding genetically resistant lines. Three basil accessions, ‘Lettuce Leaf’ (O. basilicum), ‘Mrs. Burns’ Lemon’ (O. africanum), and the coded Rutgers’ ‘RUGBX 88’ (Ocimum spp.), were inoculated with P. cichorii at 108 CFUs and screened for disease severity at the cotyledon, first true leaf, second true leaf, and mature growth stage (four to five nodes). Disease severity scores (0 to 5) were assessed daily from 3 to 6 days post-inoculation (DPI) to determine the best growth stage for rapid screening purposes. Disease severity scores at the cotyledon and first true leaf stage displayed significant variation from mature plants while there were no significant differences (Dunn’s test, α = 0.05) in ratings between the second true leaf stage and maturity for all three accessions; the second true leaf growth stage was then selected to screen a collection of commercial basil cultivars for BLS resistance. Pathogenicity assays at the second true leaf stage revealed substantial variation in disease severity scores with the lowest being 2.28 (‘Queen of Sheba’) and the highest being 4.65 (‘Siam Queen’) across all lines tested. This methodology demonstrates the screening of basils at the second true leaf growth stage can readily be applied to Ocimum spp. Germplasm collections for the identification of potential BLS-resistant lines for incorporation into breeding programs.

Summary Sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.) production is threatened by the oomycete pathogen Peronospora belbahrii causing basil downy mildew (BDM); BDM resistant cultivar ‘Mrihani’ (MRI) was identified in a germplasm screen, and fertile progeny were produced through a breeding program with BDM-susceptible ‘Newton’ (SB22), but the molecular mechanisms conferring resistance in MRI and progeny remained unknown Comparative transcriptomics was performed to identify candidate resistance genes and potential mechanisms for BDM resistance; RNA samples from BDM-infected MRI and SB22 plants were harvested at 4 time points during the first 3 days of infection to differentiate interactions in resistant and susceptible plants. Three categories of genes uniquely induced in resistant MRI upon pathogen challenge were identified: nucleotide-binding leucine rich repeat proteins (NLRs), multi-functional receptor-like kinases (RLKs), and secondary metabolic enzymes; validation of the top resistance candidate NLR gene confirmed its unique presence in MRI as well as in two of four resistant MRIxSB22 F 2 progeny. In MRI, pathogen challenge also upregulated transcripts in the salicylic acid synthesis pathway, suggesting its role in BDM resistance, and demonstrating the application of using comparative transcriptomics to identify resistance genes and mechanisms in non-model crops for marker-assisted breeding approaches.

Hibiscus sabdariffa has gained increasing attention from consumers as a natural, healthy food ingredient, leading to a myriad of available products, yet there is a lack of understanding of the quality and chemical diversity among commercially available hibiscus products. Here, we conducted a survey on the chemistry of 29 hibiscus products (calyces, beverages, and extracts). UHPLC-DAD and UHPLC-QQQ/MS methods with high sensitivity and selectivity were developed to evaluate the chemical profiles pertaining to the sensory attributes (color and taste). Two major anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-sambubioside and cyanindin-3-sambubioside), eight organic acids, and 23 phenolic acids were identified and quantified in hibiscus market products. The results showed that hibiscus samples contained < 0.001-2.372% of total anthocyanins, 0.073-78.002% of total organic acids, and 0.001-1.041% of total phenolic acids, and demonstrated significant variations in market products. This is the first time that an in-depth organic acid profiling was conducted on hibiscus products using UHPLC-QQQ/MS. This method can also be extended to chemical profiling, sensory analysis, quality control, authentication, and standardization of other natural products.

Grape and grape derived products contain many bioactive phenolics which have a variety of impacts on health. Following oral ingestion, the phenolic compounds and their metabolites may be detectable in human urine. However, developing a reliable method for the analysis of phenolic compounds in urine is challenging. In this work, we developed and validated a new high-throughput, sensitive and reproducible analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of 31 grape phenolic compounds and metabolites using Oasis PRiME HLB cleanup for sample preparation combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). Using this new method, the accuracy achieved was 69.3 % ∼ 134.9 % (except for six compounds), and the recovery achieved was 52.4 % ∼ 134.7 % (except for two very polar compounds). For each of the 31 target analytes, the value of intra-day precision was less than 14.3 %. The value of inter-day precision was slightly higher than intra-day precision, with a range of 0.7 % ∼ 19.1 %. We report for the first time on the effect of gender and BMI on the accuracy and recovery of human urine samples, and results from analysis of variance (ANOVA), and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated there was no difference in the value of accuracy and recovery between different gender or BMI (>30) using our purposed cleanup and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method. Overall, this newly developed method could serve as a powerful tool for analyzing grape phenolic compounds and metabolites in human urine samples.

Plants are sources of natural products that reflect the ecological interactions that shaped their secondary metabolism. Among those, phytochemicals with insect repellent activity have shown potential to be part of integrated pest management programs. In this study, we performed an initial screening of the repellent activities of five commercially available essential oils, as well as the essential oil of lemon catnip (Nepeta cataria var. citriodora Dumoulin ex Lej.) and related natural products against the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.). Additionally, we studied the effects of two different growing locations (Upper Deerfield and Pittstown, state of New Jersey, United States) on the chemical composition of three lemon catnip lines (commercial lemon catnips Richters and Jelitto, and lemon-scented catnip line CN5). The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the repellent activity was assessed by the petri dish method. Cinnamon bark, clove buds, citronella and geranium essential oils were as effective as DEET, the gold standard of insect repellents, against bed bugs after one hour of exposure in vitro. The essential oil of lemon catnip and its major compounds citronellol and geraniol were also as repellent as DEET using the same test. Citral shows promising short-term repellency but is inferior to geraniol and citronellol for extended duration of repellency. As for the chemical variability of lemon catnip lines in different growing locations, CN5 line was not significantly affected by the different locations, while both commercial lines Richters and Jelitto had significantly higher proportions of geraniol when grown in Upper Deerfield. Richters lemon catnip produced more nepetalactone in its essential oil when cultivated in Pittstown. This study is the first report of the activity of lemon catnip essential oil as an insect repellent and emphasized the importance of ecological conditions for the production of natural products for pest control applications.

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multisymptom disorder that affects approximately 25–32% of Gulf War veterans, and the combination of permethrin exposure with stress may have collectively and synergistically contributed to its development. However, the exact underlying pathogenic mechanisms within the brain that links permethrin and stress to the development of GWI remains unclear. In the current study, we investigate the effects and the associated molecular mechanisms within the microglia-neuron interplay in a mouse model of GWI, focusing on how exposure to permethrin may act as a priming agent when followed by stress. Subjecting mice to 14 days of chronic permethrin exposure followed by 7 days of stress resulted in the development of depression-like behavior. This behavioral change coincided with distinct alterations in the microglia phenotype, indicating microglial activation in the hippocampa. We revealed that blocking microglial activation through Gi inhibitory DREADD receptors in microglia effectively prevented the behavioral change associated with permethrin and stress exposure. To elucidate the transcriptional networks impacted within distinct microglia populations linked to depression-like behavior in mice exposed to both permethrin and stress, we conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis using 21,566 single nuclei collected from the hippocampus of mice. For bioinformatics, UniCell Deconvolve was a pre-trained, interpretable, deep learning model used to deconvolve cell type fractions and predict cell identity across spatial datasets. Our bioinformatics analysis identified significant alterations in permethrin exposure followed by stress-associated microglia population, notably pathways related to neuronal development, neuronal communication, and neuronal morphogenesis, all of which are associated with neural synaptic plasticity. Additionally, we observed permethrin exposure followed by stress-mediated changes in signal transduction, including modulation of chemical synaptic transmission, regulation of neurotransmitter receptors, and regulation of postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor activity, a known contributor to the pathophysiology of depression in a subset of the hippocampal pyramidal neurons in the CA3 subregions. These studies tentatively suggest that permethrin may prime toward a depression-like behavior that can be triggered by psychological stress in mice through microglial activation, resulting in alterations of neural plasticity. This new evidence underscores the significance of the synergistic role of multi-causal factors associated with GWI.

INTRODUCTION:Catnip (Nepeta cataria, L.) has well-documented applications in arthropod repellency because of its bioactive iridoids. Long-term stability of nepetalactones and other iridoids in N. cataria are needed to develop as effective pest repellents. OBJECTIVES:The present work intends to measure iridoid concentration over time in biomass, plant extracts, and extract solution while identifying degradative byproducts under different storage conditions. METHODOLOGY:Samples of desiccated biomass, ethanol extract, and extract in ethanol solution were stored in ambient light or darkness. Through UHPLC-QTOF/MS or UHPLC-QQQ/MS, the concentration of Z,E-nepetalactone, E,Z-nepetalactone, nepetalic acid, and dihydronepetalactone were examined over 2 years and statistically analyzed for determination of best storage practices. Degradation kinetics were applied to each analyte using graphical estimation. With targeted formula searching, degradative byproducts were identified and quantified. RESULTS:Light exposure caused significant decreases in E,Z-nepetalactone concentration in all sample types, while having no effect on Z,E-nepetalactone as it decayed more rapidly. Extract samples lost nepetalactone content faster than biomass or extract solution. Dihydronepetalactone levels were low, but never declined over 2 years. Nepetalic acid increased over some periods, depending on sample type, indicating a relationship between the acid and nepetalactone. Four degradative byproducts-nepetonic acid, dehydronepetalactone, an anhydride, and an ethanolic ester-were identified, with variable responses to light exposure. CONCLUSIONS:Protecting catnip products from light is necessary to preserve nepetalactones, and a discernable difference in nepetalactone isomer stability was discovered. Identifying Nepeta chemotypes rich in dihydronepetalactone may provide more resilient botanicals as starting materials for processing.

Growing African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) is an innovative way to address poverty and malnutrition problems in Zambia. Farmers' bargaining power plays an important role in increasing AIV production and farmers' income. Based on 300 responses from Zambian AIV farmers, we defined AIV farmers' bargaining power and analyzed its benefits to farmers and the AIV industry. We used the ordered logistic regression model (OLRM) to analyze the influence of several factors that contribute to farmers' bargaining power, and then used the interpretative structural modeling (ISM) to analyze the relationship and hierarchical structure between the effects. Four key results and innovations arose from the analysis of the data. First, we defined farmers' bargaining power through their self -reported bargaining power. Second, we found that the respondents' bargaining power was significantly influenced by seven variables: age, gender, education, main trading partners, awareness of AIV prices, and distance to the market from the farm. Third, the main trading partners and awareness of AIV prices are surface direct factors, gender, education and distance to the market from the farm are middle indirect relationships, and age, belong to any community are deep root factors. Last, farmers' bargaining power can be improved through education, especially women's education level, strengthening farmers' organization construction, altering some of the farmers' trading methods, and developing infrastructure. Overall, we found that bargaining power has played an important role in obtaining higher prices, getting faster payment, getting more income from AIV sales, and expanding AIV planting areas for farmers.