Japanese plum varieties demonstrate varying levels of resistance to black knot disease, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Apiosporina morbosa (Schwein van Arx.). The fungus produces unsightly black cankers, resulting in reduced tree vigor and dieback. In this study, we employed an untargeted LC–MS/MS metabolomics approach to analyze the metabolome profiles of stems from two resistant varieties (‘Underwood’ and ‘Redcoat’) and two susceptible varieties (‘Vampire’ and ‘Shiro’) at various stages of infection. A total of 468 compounds were identified, with notable differences in the quantities of catechin and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde between resistant and susceptible varieties. The highest levels of these compounds were detected in June, coinciding with the onset of visible disease symptoms. These observations were further validated with HPLC and in vitro antifungal assay, strengthening the association between these metabolites and black knot resistance. Catechin and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde are both recognized for their antimicrobial effects, suggesting that their increased accumulation may contribute to disease resistance by suppressing fungal infection. Overall, our findings indicate that these compounds play a pivotal role in black knot resistance in Japanese plums and present promising targets for improving disease resistance through selective breeding.

Homogenization of sour cherry fruit in aqueous or alcoholic medium resulted in spontaneous assembly of cell wall components such as pectin, oligosaccharides linked to proteins, polyphenols and malic acid into spherical nanoparticles. These were detergent resistant, uniform spherical structures ranging in size from 25 to 50 nm in solution and appear enlarged when dehydrated into a powder. A different type of nanostructure resembling fibers, similar to 5 nm in width, and several micrometers in length, was also isolated from ethanol-bleached cherry devoid of anthocyanins. The nanoparticles could be completely disrupted by treating them with polygalacturonase, indicating the presence of pectin among the constituent molecules. Also, treatment with cellulase and trypsin resulted in the removal of the outer fibrillar structures of the nanoparticles exposing an inner core. Both nanoparticles and nanofibers showed strong affinity to anti- arabinogalactan-protein complexes, and a far lower affinity to anti-extensin. The nanoparticles did not react with anti-homogalacturonan, while the nanofibers showed a very strong reaction. FT-IR spectra of the nanoparticles and the nanofibers showed absorption peaks characteristic to those of proteins and pectin. Both nanoparticles and nanofibers were internalized by cultured human cells efficiently. Treatment with nanofiber-paclitaxel adducts caused cytotoxicity in multidrug resistant colorectal cancer cells, suggesting that nanofibers may have applications in delivering bioactive molecules and materials with therapeutic potential into human cells.

Strawberries face marketing challenges due to their short post-harvest shelf-life, largely impacted by shrivelling, weight loss, fungal decay, and mechanical damage. Neem oil (NO) is known for its shelf-life extension benefits; however, encapsulation is needed to maintain its efficacy. This study aimed to stabilize and encapsulate NO in a polymeric and lipid material to preserve the quality of strawberries stored at 4 ± 1 °C, 80 ± 2% RH for seven days. After seven days, the nanoparticle-coated fruits showed a weight loss of around 5.9% with niosomes and 8.9% with starch nanoparticles, while the control had a significant 32.45% weight loss. Additionally, both nanoparticle coatings significantly (p < 0.05) preserved fruit colour compared to the untreated control. The findings suggest that nanoparticle coatings could serve as an active agent in preserving the quality of strawberries within the food supply chain. The study provides valuable insights into post-harvest management and fruit preservation, showcasing the effectiveness of these coatings as active packaging solutions.

Marketing of fresh ripened papaya is challenging due to its short shelf-life (2-3 days) resulting in high post-harvest losses (30%-50%), primarily caused by fungal diseases such as Anthracnose. Neem oil (NO) is well recognized for its ability to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce, but encapsulation is required to preserve its properties. This study aimed to stabilize and encapsulate NO in a polymeric material via a novel rapid spray nanoprecipitation technique to extend the shelf-life of papaya fruits under cold storage (4 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, 80% +/- 2% RH) and room temperature (22 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C, 45% +/- 5% RH). The shelf-life of papayas was extended by 10 days compared to the control when the nanoparticle coating was combined with cold storage showing no fungal growth. After 10 days of storage, weight loss in coated fruits was approximately similar to 6.22% at cold storage temperatures and 17.5% at room temperature, whereas, in the control group, the weight loss observed was 9.09% at cold storage temperature and 27.46% at room temperature. Additionally, the NO infused starch nanoparticle coating significantly (p < 0.05) maintained fruit firmness compared to untreated control samples. The NO inhibited fungal growth, while the starch polymer coating slowed ripening. Hence, the application of nanoparticle coating in this study can act as an active agent for prolonging the shelf-life of papayas within the food distribution chain.

Stone fruits, also known as drupes, include apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, and nectarines that have high global demand due to their nutritional benefits and palatable characteristics. Being soft fruits, they are susceptible to various postharvest issues, reducing their shelf life, with postharvest loss reaching 15%-50%. Among various postharvest management techniques, edible coating is emerging as a popular method due to its positive effects on the quality, physiochemical, phytochemical, and organoleptic characteristics of these fruits. By creating a modified atmosphere, edible coatings can effectively reduce weight loss to less than 10%, meeting the international standard for marketing stone fruits. They also help delay firmness loss, as observed in peaches, where coated samples retained a firmness of 5.6 N compared to 1.8 N in control. Furthermore, edible coating can extend shelf life beyond 7 days at ambient temperature and up to 35 days in cold storage, as reported in literature. These coatings create a semipermeable barrier to gaseous exchange and moisture, helping preserve aroma compounds and delay ripening and respiration rates. Thus, this comprehensive review investigates the importance of edible coating in enhancing the quality attributes and the shelf life of stone fruits. This article also evaluates most current research done on edible coating applications in stone fruits and provides details on ideal coating conditions and requirements for these fruits. The study also discusses current developments in the application of bioactive compounds and nanotechnological techniques to enhance the functional properties and performance of edible coatings. Nevertheless, because this technology is still in its infancy, commercial technological adoption necessitates both widespread consumer acceptance and economic viability.

Black knot (BK) disease, caused by Apiosporina morbosa (Schwein.) v. Arx, significantly afflicts Japanese plums (Prunus salicina L.), resulting in substantial economic losses due to its destructive invasion of branches and trunks. Phenotyping for disease severity is critical to understanding resistance and susceptibility across diverse genotypes. In this study, 200 Japanese plum trees from a mixed lineage breeding program were phenotyped for BK severity using a rating scale from 0 to 5. Trees were rated by two independent raters and repeated on a second day, in early spring 2023, before leaf emergence, for peak visibility. The rating system was designed to capture varying levels of infection, with 0 representing no symptoms and 5 indicating severe infection with major effects to the tree’s overall health. Compared to data from 2015 and 2018, there was a noticeable increase in the number of heavily diseased trees relative to symptom-free trees. In 2023, the proportion of completely resistant trees remained the same as in 2018, suggesting true resistance. Median scores were calculated from four independent ratings per tree, comprised of two individuals on two different days, minimizing individual biases. Additionally, inter-rater reliability was assessed using the weighted Kappa statistic, which yielded a value of 0.903, indicating strong agreement between raters. This phenotypic assessment provides a robust dataset for correlation with genetic markers and supports further breeding efforts aimed at developing BK-resistant cultivars.

This study was conducted for the comparative analysis of antioxidant activity and untargeted metabolomics of dark- and light-colored sour cherry cultivars grown in Canada. Based on our previous study, we selected four cultivars—‘Heimann R’, ‘Gorsemska’, V70142, and ‘Montmorency’—to determine the untargeted metabolites and their role in antioxidant activities. A total of 473 metabolites were identified from four sour cherry genotypes using UPLC–ToF–MS. Untargeted metabolomics revealed the dominant chemical groups present in sour cherries. PCA showed that the diversity in sour cherry metabolites was due to the genotype differences indicating iditol, malic acid, chlorobenzene, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and pyroglutamic acid as the predominant contributors. The variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1.0) in partial least-squares–discriminant analysis described 20 biomarker metabolites representing the cherry metabolome profiles. A heatmap of Pearson’s correlation analysis between the 20 biomarker metabolites and antioxidant activities identified seven antioxidant determinants that displayed the highest correlations with different types of antioxidant activities. TPC and TAC were evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The total antioxidant activity was performed using three different assays (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH). This study of correlating metabolomics and antioxidant activities elucidated that the higher nutritional value and biological functions of sour cherry genotypes can be useful for the development of nutraceutical and functional foods.

Little is known regarding the genes, compounds and physiological alternations that take place upon infection of black knot disease. This research aimed to unravel the genetic mechanism responsible for the resistance of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina L.) trees against black knot (Apiosporina morbosa Schwein.) using a Genome-Wide Association Study. Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) was combined with a phenotyping system to analyze 200 genotypes of mixed origin. Population stratification identified four subpopulations, and the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU) algorithm was used for this analysis. Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with black knot disease resistance were discovered across five chromosomes. Linkage disequilibrium analysis identified 55 genes near these SNPs, with eight genes related to plant defense, immunity, and biotic stress response. One SNP mutation was found in the 5 ' untranslated region of a gene regulating the first enzyme in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The results provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms behind BLACK KNOT disease resistance in Japanese plum and identifies potential markers for use in molecular breeding.

The global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, necessitating a 50% increase in food production. Additionally, damage of crops by pests and diseases leads to 10–20% decrease in the world food supply, casting doubt on efforts to achieve food security. Furthermore, vegetables and fruits, due to their pleasant taste, flavour, and healthful properties, are indispensable elements of our diet. However, during the food distribution process, from pre-harvest practices to transportation and storage after harvesting, vegetables and fruits are susceptible to microbial deterioration and diseases. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the scientific advances made in the application of nanoparticles for disease suppression in vegetables and fruits. Publications between 2000 and 2021 were considered for this study from Scopus databases. The publications were sorted based on keywords, titles, and abstracts. The field of study, types of documents, country of origin, and the number of publications were used to identify the current research trend. From the analysis, it was observed that nanomaterials had been extensively studied for drug delivery and food safety; however, their application in disease suppression in fruits and vegetables has been limited. Hence, it was concluded that this knowledge gap should be further explored.

A total of 473 metabolites were identified from 4 sour cherry genotypes using UPLC-TOF-MS. Untargeted metabolomics revealed the dominant chemical groups present in sour cherries. PCA showed that the diversity in sour-cherry metabolites was due to the genotype differences indicating iditol, malic acid, chlorobenzene, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and pyroglutamic acid as the predominant contributors. The variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1.0) in partial least-squares–discriminant analysis described 20 biomarker metabolites, representing the cherry metabolome profiles. A heatmap of Pearson’s correlation analysis between the 20 biomarker metabolites and antioxidant activities identified seven antioxidant determinants that displayed the highest correlations with different types of antioxidant activities. This study of correlating metabolomics and antioxidant activities elucidated that the higher nutritional value and biological functions of select sour cherry genotypes can be useful for the development of nutraceutical and functional foods.

Fruits and vegetables are an integral part of our diet attributed to their appealing taste, flavor, and health-promoting characteristics. However, due to their high-water activity, they are susceptible to microbial spoilage and diseases at any step in the food supply chain, from pre-harvest treatment to post-harvest storage and transportation. As a result, food researchers and engineers are developing innovative technologies that can be used to reduce the loss of fruits and vegetables on-farm and during postharvest processing. The purpose of this study was to gather and discuss the scientific data on the disease-suppressive activity of nanoparticles against plant pathogens. The progress and limitations of innovative approaches for improving nanoparticles' efficiency and dependability have been studied to develop effective substitutes for synthetic chemical fungicides and pesticides, in managing disease in fruits and vegetables. The findings of this study strongly suggests that nanotechnology has the required ability for disease suppression in fruits and vegetables. Applications of specific nanoparticles under specified conditions can enhance nutrition delivery to plants, provide better antibacterial and disease suppression activity. Nanoparticles can also lessen the quantity of agrichemicals/metals released into the environment as compared to standard formulations, which is one of the most impressive advances.

Nanotechnology has helped for decades to transform the agricultural system to make it more effective and to ensure the worlds food supply is sustainable and secure. However, potential toxicological affects, interactions with the biotic or abiotic environment, high cost, unknown life cycles of nanomaterials, and their possible increased bioaccumulation effects are some of the barriers which needs to be addressed. This study evaluates development and potential agricultural application of niosomes nanoparticles loaded with Azadirachta indica seed oil. Niosomes are organic nanomaterials composed of non-ionic surfactants, which are inexpensive, have good encapsulation efficiency, more stability, relatively nontoxic, and biodegradable. Azadirachta indica seed oil loaded niosomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method utilizing different molar ratios of surfactant (Tween 80) and stabilizer (Soy lecithin). The characteristics of niosomes were determined by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Optical Microscope, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Further, the prepared niosomes were statistically optimized using the Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized condition displayed optimum particle size (<100 nm) and acceptable percentage entrapment efficiencies (> 80%). Anti-microbial efficacy of loaded niosomes were evaluated against plant pathogens Xanthomonas and Pantoea. The prepared niosomes displayed considerable antimicrobial properties and can be potentially used in agriculture for the targeted delivery of natural pesticides (Azadirachta indica seed oil) to combat agricultural diseases.

Starch is one of the natural encapsulant materials widely used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Starch with high amylose content (above 40 %, w/w) is prone to form single helices V-type allomorph with a hydrophilic outer surface and a hydrophobic inner cavity making them suitable for encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds such as essential oils, fatty acids, and vitamins. Pea starch obtained from pea protein processing industries have a high amylose content (40 %, w/w) rendering them unsuitable for direct food applications as ingredients. Therefore, in this study, an in-house spraying procedure was used to synthesize nanoparticles using pea starch, to encapsulate neem oil, a natural antimicrobial compound obtained from neem plant (Azadirachta indica) seed. The synthesis of the oil-encapsulated starch nanoparticles (OESNP) was optimized using a Box-Behnken experimental design to study the influence of the processing parameters such as the initial starch concentration, homogenization speed, duration of homogenization, sample injection rate, and quantity of antisolvent (ethanol). The optimized sample showed an 80-90 % encapsulation efficiency and particle size of <500 nm. The spherical OESNPs also demonstrated sustained release of the oil compared to free oil when dispersed in water. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the coexistence of C-type and V-type polymorphs in the loaded and unloaded nanoparticles. It is concluded that the synthesized OESNPs with controlled release hold the potential to utilize industrial pea starch waste for the delivery of natural pesticides in agriculture.

Black knot (BK) is a deadly disease of European (Prunus domestica) and Japanese (Prunus salicina) plums caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Apiosporina morbosa. Generally, phytopathogens hamper the balance of primary defense phytohormones, such as salicylic acid (SA)–jasmonic acid (JA) balance, for disease progression. Thus, we quantified the important phytohormone titers in tissues of susceptible and resistant genotypes belonging to European and Japanese plums at five different time points. Our previous results suggested that auxin-cytokinins interplay driven by A. morbosa appeared to be vital in disease progression by hampering the plant defense system. Here, we further show that such hampering of disease progression is likely mediated by perturbance in SA, JA, and, to some extent, gibberellic acid. The results further indicate that SA and JA in plant defense are not always necessarily antagonistic as most of the studies suggest but can be different, especially in woody perennials. Together, our results suggest that the changes in phytohormone levels, especially in terms of SA and JA content due to BK infection and progression in plums, could be used as phytohormonal markers in the identification of BK-resistant cultivars.

Black Knot (BK) is a deadly disease of European (Prunus domestics) and Japanese (Prunus salicina) plums caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Apiosporina morbosa. After infection, the appearance of warty black knots indicates a phytohormonal imbalance in infected tissues. Based on this hypothesis, we quantified phytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid, tryptophan, indoleamines (N-acetylserotonin, serotonin, and melatonin), and cytokinins (zeatin, 6-benzyladenine, and 2-isopentenyladenine) in temporally collected tissues of susceptible and resistant genotypes belonging to European and Japanese plums during of BK progression. The results suggested auxin-cytokinins interplay driven by A. morbosa appears to be vital in disease progression by hampering the plant defense system. Taken together, our results indicate the possibility of using the phytohormone profile as a biomarker for BK resistance in plums.

Camelina sativa is a self-pollinating and facultative outcrossing oilseed crop. Genetic engineering has been used to improve camelina yield potential for altered fatty acid composition, modified protein profiles, improved seed and oil yield, and enhanced drought resistance. The deployment of transgenic camelina in the field posits high risks related to the introgression of transgenes into non-transgenic camelina and wild relatives. Thus, effective bioconfinement strategies need to be developed to prevent pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF) from transgenic camelina. In the present study, we overexpressed the cleistogamy (i.e. floral petal non-openness)-inducing PpJAZ1 gene from peach in transgenic camelina. Transgenic camelina overexpressing PpJAZ1 showed three levels of cleistogamy, affected pollen germination rates after anthesis but not during anthesis, and caused a minor silicle abortion only on the main branches. We also conducted field trials to examine the effects of the overexpressed PpJAZ1 on PMGF in the field, and found that the overexpressed PpJAZ1 dramatically inhibited PMGF from transgenic camelina to non-transgenic camelina under the field conditions. Thus, the engineered cleistogamy using the overexpressed PpJAZ1 is a highly effective bioconfinement strategy to limit PMGF from transgenic camelina, and could be used for bioconfinement in other dicot species.

This study provides a detailed report on the physicochemical, bioactive components, and volatile profiles of diverse sour cherry ( Prunus cerasus) cultivars to identify the cultivar(s) containing high health-promoting components. Physiological characteristics (fruit weight, size dimensions, moisture, color attributes, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, maturity index, nutritional bioactive components (total phenolic, total anthocyanin content, and total flavonoids), antioxidant activity, and volatile profile of 10 sour-cherry cultivars, consisting of dark red Morello type and clear fruit flesh Amarelle type, were studied. The total phenolic content was in the range of 123.24–289.91 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g FW (fresh weight), total flavonoids (1340.23–2831.91 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g FW), and total anthocyanins (225.43–485.66 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent (CGE)/100 g FW) in different sour-cherry cultivars, showing significant diversity in such health-promoting compounds. In vitro antioxidant activity assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant potential was observed in the range of 658.18–1483.37 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/100 g FW and by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) at 384.36 and 931.85 mg TE/100 g FW. A total of 10 phenolic components, including five hydroxycinnamic acids, three flavonoids (flavanols), and one anthocyanin, have been identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Hydroxycinnamic acids represented 40%–60% of total phenolic components, while flavonoids and anthocyanins amounted to 20% each in total phenolic composition. The volatile profile of sour-cherry cultivars revealed that aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, esters, monoterpenes, acids, sugars, and hydrocarbons were the predominant volatiles present in sour cherry.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer with limited chemotherapy options and negative patient outcomes. Investigations with bioactive compounds from dietary sources against cancer have increased in the recent years, which highlight the need for novel therapeutic approaches and new anti-leukemic agents possessing higher efficacy and selectivity for AML cells and fewer negative side effects. Bioactive compounds demonstrated the ability to induce cell cycle blockage and apoptosis or autophagy in cancer cells, as well as inhibition of proliferation/migration and tumor progression, etc. Bioactive compounds isolated from dietary sources such as mango ginger show promise for AML treatment. Curcuma amada roots have been used in traditional medicine and showed antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Bioactive molecules isolated from C. amada showed effects on the mitochondrial metabolism and reduced the viability of multiple leukemic cell lines.

Anthocyanins, a major class of flavonoids, are important pigments of grape berries. Despite the recent discovery of the genetic cause underlying the loss of color, the metabolomic and molecular responses are unknown. Anthocyanin quantification among diverse berry color muscadines suggests that all genotypes could produce adequate anthocyanin quantities, irrespective of berry color. Transcriptome profiling of contrasting color muscadine genotypes proposes a potential deficiency that occurs within the anthocyanin transport and/or degradation mechanisms and might cause unpigmented berries. Genome-wide association studies highlighted a region on chromosome-4, comprising several genes encoding glutathione S-transferases involved in anthocyanin transport. Sequence comparison among genotypes reveals the presence of two GST4b alleles that differ by substituting the conserved amino acid residue Pro 171 -to-Leu. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that GST4b2–Leu 171 encodes an inactive protein due to modifications within the H-binding site. Population genotyping suggests the recessive inheritance of the unpigmented trait with a GST4b2/2 homozygous. A model defining colorless muscadines’ response to the mutation stimulus, avoiding the impact of trapped anthocyanins within the cytoplasm is established.