This study provides a combined profile of fungal isolates from fresh and dried chili peppers in markets in Guangzhou. Multilocus sequence analysis revealed a wide variety of species, seven of which were reported for the first time from chili pepper (F. annulatum, F. compactum, F. pernambucanum, F. ramsdenii, and F. tardichlamydosporum, P. citrinum and P. steckii). In this research work, quantitative determination using targeted LC-MS/MS of dried chili peppers showed a significantly higher frequency of contamination and higher toxin concentrations than fresh samples. The predominant mycotoxins in dried peppers were DON and FB1, which were present in all the samples at mean levels of 0.56 µg/g and 0.067 µg/g, respectively. AFB1 and OTA were present in all dried samples but were detected only occasionally in fresh peppers. ZEN and CIT were detected at lower concentrations, but more prevalent among dried products (63.6% and 81.8% of all samples, respectively). The aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) level of 180 µg/kg in dried chili samples was 36 times above the EU maximum limit (5 µg/kg), and the OTA level reached 54 µg/kg, exceeding the EU limit by a factor of 2.7 (20 µg/kg). Statistical analysis also showed that all six mycotoxins were statistically higher in dried pepper than in fresh pepper. In vitro evaluation demonstrated that certain Fusarium isolates synthesized FB1. At the same time, Penicillium species, including P. citrinum and P. steckii, consistently produced citrinin, confirming the strong influence of growth substrate on toxin biosynthesis. The frequent occurrence and elevated levels of regulated mycotoxins highlight significant public health concerns and underscore the need for improved postharvest handling and drying practices. These findings provide critical baseline data linking fungal diversity with toxin production dynamics, developing essential guidance for targeted mitigation strategies.
Capsicum annuum is a Solanaceae crop that is sensitive to cold, which affects its growth and development upon prolonged exposure and ultimately reduces yield. In response, a complex regulatory network of cold-responsive genes is activated. Earlier studies have shown that SnRKs play a positive role in enhancing cold tolerance in different crops, including peppers; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms and downstream targets have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, yeast hybrid screening using CaSnRK2.4 identified a potential interacting partner CaPDX1. The interaction between CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 was further confirmed through Y2H, luciferase complementation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Subcellular localization showed that CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 are localized in the nucleus as well as in the cell membrane. Silencing of CaPDX1 through VIGS showed increased susceptibility of peppers to cold stress, negatively influenced antioxidant enzymatic activities, and increased relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde levels. Conversely, transient overexpression of CaPDX1 in peppers enhanced cold tolerance by reducing the accumulation of REL and MDA. Ectopic expression of CaPDX1 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly improved its cold tolerance, accompanied by enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased chlorophyll content. In summary, these results indicate that CaPDX1 is a positive regulator of cold tolerance in pepper, and its mechanism of action involves interaction with CaSnRK2.4 and the regulation of physiological and molecular responses in pepper under cold stress.
Fruit morphology has a significant impact on the agronomic performance of chile peppers, influencing both yield potential and mechanical harvest efficiency. Through the integration of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with Tomato Analyzer, an image-based phenomics tool, we aim to identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with fruit architecture and morphology. A Capsicum association mapping panel (CAMP) consisting of 129 genotypes was evaluated under an augmented field design for the 2024 growing season. Best linear unbiased predictions (BLUPs) were reported for maximum fruit height (MAXH), maximum fruit width (MAXW), curved fruit height (CURH), width mid-height (WMH), height mid-width (HMW), area (ARA), perimeter (PER), ten pod weight (PODW), and yield (YLD). Medium to low narrow-sense heritability (h2), ranging between 0.18 and 0.33, was observed. A medium to high Pearson correlation (r=0.23-1.00) was observed for all traits except WHM. After filtration and imputation, 40,709 genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) SNP markers were used to perform multi-locus GWAS. A total of 169 SNP markers associated with seven basic fruit measurements across 12 chromosomes were identified. A SNP marker, SCM002812.1_10016804 on chromosome 1, identified across multiple GWAS models was found to be associated with the potential candidate gene, YABBY4, which can regulate fruit development. Other candidate genes identified included FRIGIDA-like protein 3, COBRA-like protein, and Auxin-responsive protein SAUR65 regulating fruit, flower, and shoot development. The findings of this study will be relevant for the development of molecular markers for marker-assisted selection, genomic selection for basic fruit morphology traits, and studying expression levels of genes regulating fruit development in chile peppers.
Hainan Province, a major tropical fruit and vegetable production region in China, faces potential threats to food safety and the ecological environment due to pesticide residue issues. However, the current monitoring system has notable limitations. Many unconventional pesticides (pesticides not included in Hainan's routine pesticide residue monitoring program) are not systematically monitored, and residue limit standards for these substances are lacking, resulting in regulatory blind spots. In this study, the QuEChERS sample preparation method combined with GC-MS/MS was applied to systematically screen and evaluate 117 unconventional pesticides in 216 fruit and vegetable samples collected from the eastern, central, and western regions of Hainan. Results showed that target pesticides were detected in 23 samples (10.6% of the total sample size), with 18 of these samples (78.3% of the contaminated samples) containing pesticides not covered by the national pesticide residue limits. Peppers and Chinese cabbage exhibited the highest detection rates (39.4% and 21.2%, respectively). A total of 11 pesticide types were identified (9.40% of the screened types), with tetramethrin showing the highest detection frequency (39.1% of the contaminated samples) and isoprocarb exhibiting the highest concentration (1.775 mg/kg in celery). Furthermore, a correlation model was developed, indicating that geographical and climatic factors (32.6%), crop characteristics (28.3%), and pesticide properties (25.1%) are the main factors influencing pesticide residue levels. This study fills a critical data gap in unconventional pesticide residue monitoring in tropical agriculture of Hainan, providing a solid scientific basis for improving the regulatory system, updating residue limit standards, and ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural products.
Capsaicin is a natural bioactive compound found in chili peppers, with promising potential in various pharmacological applications, including analgesic, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. Its clinical use, however, remains limited due to poor bioavailability, low aqueous solubility, and limited stability. To address these challenges, loading capsaicin in a small liposome bilayer has been proposed to enhance its transport across biological membranes. In this work, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the behavior of capsaicin in lipid bilayers. Two lipid types, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), are used to investigate the effects of unsaturation in the lipid tails. Simulations were conducted under two initial conditions: (1) capsaicin molecules placed in the aqueous phase to study permeation behavior and (2) capsaicin preinserted into the bilayer to assess its equilibrium positioning and to study its behavior in the membrane environment. Our results show that capsaicin tends to aggregate in water with only small aggregates capable of passive permeation into the membrane. The POPC bilayer exhibits a greater capsaicin uptake than the DPPC bilayer, which is attributed to its larger area per lipid. Mass-density profiles indicate the preferred localization of capsaicin within the bilayers, which is consistent with the minimum free energy observed in the potential of mean force (PMF) profiles for translocated molecules into the bilayer. Notably, capsaicin does not significantly change the bilayer thickness and area per lipid when the bilayer is in the liquid phase. It decreases the lipid area per lipid, while maintaining a stable area per capsaicin. The estimated area per capsaicin molecule within the bilayer is 0.415 ± 0.010 nm2. Interestingly, when the bilayer was in the gel phase, the ordered lipid was disrupted by the capsaicin. These findings provide valuable insights into the membrane interactions of capsaicin and support the rational design of liposomal delivery systems to enhance its pharmaceutical potential.
A high damage rate of chili peppers and poor removal of bottom fruits are common problems for current mechanical harvesters. To address these limitations, we designed a self-propelled telescopic elastic-tooth pepper harvester that employs horizontally extending telescopic teeth to reduce the picking angle between the harvesting unit and the ground, thereby improving the net harvesting rate of peppers. The structure and contact mode of the teeth were analyzed, and the feasible range of spindle speed and the key factors affecting picking quality were preliminarily determined through kinematic and contact mechanics analysis. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken response surface experiment was conducted using forward speed, spindle speed and telescopic elastic-tooth angle as factors, and picking rate and damage rate as evaluation indices. A quadratic regression model was established and used to optimize the operating parameters with Design-Expert. The optimal combination was a forward speed of 58 m·min⁻1, spindle speed of 201 r·min⁻1 and telescopic elastic-tooth angle of 4°, under which the model predicted a picking rate of 94.0% and a damage rate of 4.5%. A field verification test at 60 m·min⁻1 forward speed, 200 r·min⁻1 spindle speed and 4° telescopic elastic-tooth angle yielded a picking rate of 90.2% and a damage rate of 6.6%, with relative errors below 5%. These results demonstrate that the proposed telescopic elastic-tooth picking unit can effectively improve pepper harvesting performance while maintaining a low fruit damage rate.
Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are an important dietary source of antioxidants. Optimizing fruit antioxidant quality under reduced inputs is essential to valorize sustainable pepper production. Here, we evaluated seven Spanish genotypes (traditional/local, derived experimental hybrids and commercial hybrids) across six treatments combining two fertilization (100% and 50%) and irrigation (100% and 75%) regimes, with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) applied under reduced fertilization treatments. Vitamin C and flavonoids were quantified by HPLC at the green-ripe and fully ripe stages, and carotenoids were determined spectrophotometrically at the fully ripe stage. Several genotypes largely maintained antioxidant content under stress treatments, whereas specific genotype × ripening stage combinations showed maximum increases in vitamin C (+102%), flavonoids (+86% for kaempferol) and carotenoids (+67% for yellow-orange carotenoids) under certain low-input treatments compared to the control. The PGPR effects on vitamin C and carotenoids were generally small, with occasional reductions. However, the PGPR increased total and some individual flavonoids by up to 96% (luteolin) in green-ripe Piquillo and 128% (quercetin) in fully ripe Isabel F1 fruits compared to the corresponding non-inoculated treatments. This multi-genotype, two ripening-stage evaluation identifies Spanish traditional germplasm and derived hybrids with stable or improved antioxidant profiles under low-input conditions and provides insight into PGPR effects. These results support the use of traditional genotypes in breeding for sustainable production.
Capsaicin and nonivamide are vanillylamide alkaloids isolated from chili peppers. Capsaicin- and nonivamide-type compounds exhibit a variety of medical and agrochemical properties such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-Alzheimer's disease, insecticidal, and antibacterial activities. In this review, the extraction, purification, and total synthesis methods employed for capsaicin and nonivamide in recent years are summarized. Simultaneously, the advances on structural modifications, biological activities, delivery systems, and structure-activity relationships of capsaicin, nonivamide, and their derivatives/analogues from 2018 to 2025 are also presented. We hope to provide crucial information for the prospective design and application of capsaicin- and nonivamide-type compounds as potent drugs and pesticides.
A portable spectrometric apparatus using a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) scheme, comprising visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers, was assembled to investigate the biosubjects. In this work, we measured the direct visible DRS of the various products including kiwi, banana, lemon, apple, avocado, and peppers of different colors; as a result, each biological item exhibited a distinctive DRS curve characteristic of the specific product. However, inspecting the time-dependent variations of the visible DRS for the apple slice exposed to air is difficult. Instead, the oxidation process of the sliced apple could be monitored with near-infrared absorption with DRS, which successfully characterized the dehydration stages of the fruit. Considering that hydration and dehydration pathways for bio-objects involve the same water molecule, we further proofed that the NIR absorption with DRS skill could effectively monitor the hydration levels of human skin following the application of a moisturizing mask. Our results confirm that DRS is a promising tool for applications in biochemistry, medical diagnosis, and healthcare.
Capsaicin, a natural alkaloid in chili peppers, regulates glycemic levels; however, its mechanisms and therapeutic potential remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in mediating capsaicin's glycemic regulatory effects. We conducted experiments in specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germ-free (GF) mice, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor ablation studies, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to demonstrate the involvement of gut microbiota in capsaicin-mediated glycemic control. Metagenomics and metabolomics analyses were employed to identify key microbial strains and metabolic pathways. Keystone strains and metabolites were supplemented in GF mice without capsaicin intervention to validate their effects on glycemic regulation. In vitro co-culture experiments were performed to investigate the mutualistic relationships among keystone strains under capsaicin treatment. Gut microbiota constitute an important component of capsaicin-mediated glycemic regulation, acting in concert with but not solely dependent on TRPV1 signaling. Gut microbiota altered by capsaicin promote the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which contributes to heme synthesis and enhances glycemic control. Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila, Ligilactobacillus murinus, or 5-ALA in GF mice recapitulates the glycemic benefits of capsaicin. Furthermore, capsaicin enriches Akkermansia muciniphila, which in turn supports the growth of Ligilactobacillus murinus. Capsaicin-induced changes in the gut microbiota promote 5-ALA synthesis, leading to improved glycemic control. These findings suggest that dietary or probiotic interventions targeting gut microbiota, particularly Akkermansia muciniphila and 5-ALA, may offer promising strategies for managing glycemic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Video Abstract.
Long-term excessive application of chemical fertilizers (CF) has led to a decline in soil fertility and the deterioration of soil health. Consequently, developing eco-friendly microbial fertilizers as alternatives to chemical inputs has become a global consensus for promoting sustainable agriculture. To explore the underexplored potential and soil-modulating mechanisms of microalgae-based fertilizers, this study investigates their feasibility of microalgae-based fertilizers as CF substitutes for enhancing the yield and quality of peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). We compared the application effects of three types of microalgae-based fertilizers, namely total microalgal biomass (TMB), microalgal extracts (ME), and microalgae-bacteria consortia (MBC, supplemented with Bacillus spp.) under different fertilization regimes (sole- and co-application with reduced compound fertilizer) on plant traits and soil microbial communities. The results indicated that all three microalgal fertilizers significantly promoted seed germination, plant growth, and fruit yield. Notably, sole application of TMB exhibited the most prominent growth-promoting effects with an increase of 13%-37% compared to the CF treatment. The T2 treatment (substituting 40% of CF) achieved the highest pepper yield, representing a 72% increase over the CF control. Regarding soil properties, microalgal fertilizers effectively adjusted soil pH, lowered electrical conductivity and exhibited desirable slow-release fertilizer characteristics. In particular, TMB significantly increased soil organic matter content and maintained a stable supply of available phosphorus during the fruit-harvesting stage. Analysis of microbial community structure and function revealed that the application of microalgal fertilizers enriched various plant growth-promoting microbes, such as Bacillus, Neurospora and Trichoderma, which possess functions in nutrient mineralization or biocontrol. Concurrently, these treatments significantly enhanced the activities of soil enzymes (urease, phosphatase, and sucrase) and functional pathways related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Our findings highlight that the microalgal fertilizers represent an optimal strategy for achieving chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement while improving soil bio-fertility.
Ghanaian chili pepper exports are subject to stringent regulations on pesticide residues in significant foreign markets. Therefore, safer pest management options are needed to supplement current non-chemical control techniques, especially for controlling Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (False codling moth, FCM), an important phytosanitary pest. A national survey was initiated in 2023 to identify native entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) from Ghanaian farms. Seven Metarhizium isolates were recovered from soils and induced substantial mortalities of soil-residing final-instar stages of FCM in vitro. To advance the development of a mycoinsecticide targeting FCM and other key insect pests of chili pepper, the present study evaluated the in vitro temperature tolerance of the seven isolates and persistence of two (UGSUHC1 and UGJKCS9) under field conditions. Temperature tolerance assays based on in vitro radial growth (at 6-40 °C) indicated that all isolates could grow between 15 and 35 °C, with optimum development occurring between 25 and 27 °C. No growth occurred at 6, 8, 38, and 40 °C. Two-month semi-field persistence trials using sterile soil inoculated with each respective isolate and buried in chili pepper farms at Adidome, Peki, and the University of Ghana, demonstrated that both isolates remained viable in the soil throughout the trial period and retained their infectivity against FCM. These results highlight the potential of these Ghanaian isolates against subterranean life stages of FCM. The need for further evaluations, particularly field trials, is therefore imperative for the development of an effective and sustainable control option for FCM in chili peppers in Ghana.
The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is a major agricultural pest with documented resistance to multiple insecticide classes. RNA interference (RNAi) offers a sustainable alternative, but inefficient double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake limits field application. This study evaluated carbon dots (CDs) and chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (ChNPs) as delivery vehicles for multi-target dsRNA against five essential aphid genes: acetylcholinesterase-like (AChE), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), carboxylesterase (CarE), cytochrome P450 (CYP6CY3), and Ya1 lncRNA. Nanoparticle complexation enhanced dsRNA delivery onto pepper leaves 3.7-14.0-fold compared to naked dsRNA (P < 0.001). Coated dsRNAs reduced target transcript levels by 82-99%, achieving 93.5% aphid mortality (CD:dsRNA) within 6 days, comparable to spirotetramat (91.0%). In greenhouse trials, ChNP:dsRNA-treated plants exhibited 38% greater aerial biomass than untreated controls (P < 0.001). High-throughput sequencing revealed efficient dsRNA processing in pepper and siRNA profiles in feeding aphids consistent with cross-kingdom transfer, with 24-nt siRNAs characteristic of plant DCL3 processing detected in aphids. Differential expression analysis identified significantly altered aphid miRNAs enriched for cell adhesion, transcriptional regulation, and G protein-coupled receptor signaling. Nanocarrier-mediated multi-target RNAi achieved aphid mortality comparable to a commercial insecticide while maintaining superior plant health. The detection of plant-characteristic siRNAs in feeding aphids suggests cross-kingdom sRNA transfer that may enhance RNAi efficacy. These findings support nanoparticle-dsRNA formulations as effective components of integrated pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
A novel ocellatin-P1 isoform was isolated and purified from the skin secretion of the pepper frog Leptodactylus labyrinthicus. The crude skin secretion was fractionated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using a C8 column and the peptide was subsequently purified on a reversed-phase C18 column. Ocellatin-LB3 (as this isoform was named) was chemically sequenced by Edman degradation. This peptide is a linear C-terminally amidated molecule composed of 25 amino acid residues: 1GLLDTLKGAAKNVVGGLASKVMEKL25-NH2. Synthetic ocellatin-LB3 was active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and inactive against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. In addition, the peptide reduced the Trypanosoma cruzi infection in L6 cells. At 64 µM it did not reduce erythrocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but did reduce mononuclear leukocyte counts, as detected by flow cytometry. No hemolytic activity was observed in red blood cells even at 128 µM. The peptide exhibited limited antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 and HeLa tumor cells at 128 µM. Pre-incubation with the peptide appeared to enhance N-formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced migration, indicating a potential additive or synergistic effect on human neutrophils. The three-dimensional structure of ocellatin-LB3 was investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the peptide adopts an α-helical structure spanning residues Leu3-Lys24, which remains largely preserved even at 95 °C. NMR Hydrogen/Deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments suggest that ocellatin-LB3 adopts a preferential orientation when interacting with SDS micelles. Based on the similarity among ocellatins, and on the physicochemical and structural properties of this peptide, a possible membrane-mediated mode of action is proposed, although this remains to be experimentally validated.
Negative attitudes among nursing staff are linked to adverse events in hospitalized people with dementia, but no qualitative synthesis has thoroughly explored this issue. To synthesize existing qualitative evidence regarding the attitudes of nursing staff towards the prevention of adverse events (AE) among hospitalized people with dementia. Literature searches were conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, BVS, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. All primary qualitative or mixed-methods studies with a qualitative component published in peer-reviewed journals in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were eligible. The search covered all records from each database's start date to July 21. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI tool. A meta-aggregative approach extracted and synthesized evidence with JBI's SUMARI. Confidence was graded using ConQual. Eight high-income country studies yielded 122 findings in 18 categories, resulting in four synthesized findings: (1) Perceptions related to the organizational barriers to the provision of safe nursing care for people with dementia; (2) Misconceptions, negative emotions, and perception of lack of preparedness among nursing staff relate to negative attitudes towards prevention AE; (3) Perception of supportive organizational strategies fosters positive attitudes towards prevention AE; (4) Personal and emotional attributes were linked with a positive predisposition towards taking responsibility for safety practices in this context. The confidence in the findings was low. These attitudes reflect organizational conditions and personal beliefs, emotions, and experiences, which influence care practices. Although more studies are needed, hospitals might benefit from fostering empathetic and proactive attitudes among staff to prevent adverse events.
The JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins are master repressors of jasmonate (JA) signaling and central hubs for phytohormone crosstalk. While JAZ family evolution has been studied in model plants, their pan-genome dynamics and transcriptional specialization in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a globally important Solanaceous crop, remain unexplored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive pan-genome analysis of the JAZ family across 20 diverse pepper accessions. We identified 12 CaJAZ members exhibiting a dichotomous evolutionary pattern: core genes (CaJAZ2/3/4/5/7) under strong purifying selection versus dispensable genes (CaJAZ6/9) showing lineage-specific structural variations. Notably, CaJAZ9 underwent extensive tandem duplication (up to 5 copies in specific landraces), while CaJAZ6 exhibited adaptive loss in cultivated varieties, suggesting diversifying selection. Promoter analysis revealed prevalent light-responsive elements (Box 4/G-box) and hormone-specific motifs (ABRE, CGTCA). Crucially, structural parsing of the Jas motif unmasked a highly stratified receptor-interacting matrix. We discovered that the structural truncation of the universally conserved Pro-Tyr (P-Y) anchor in CaJAZ6 perfectly uncouples it from MeJA-induced degradation, rendering it "transcriptionally deaf" and acting as a recalcitrant molecular brake. Transcriptionally, the family displayed distinct temporal modules: rapid transient activation by MeJA (peak at 1 h), sustained biphasic responses to ABA (secondary peak at 12 h), and delayed induction by SA (12-24 h). A functional "division of labor" was observed, with CaJAZ3/4/9 acting as JA-specific sentinels and CaJAZ1/2/5 serving as multi-hormone integrators. This study provides the first pan-genome atlas of the pepper JAZ family, revealing that structural variation (PAV/CNV/motif anomalies) and promoter architecture underlie adaptive diversification. The identification of core versus variable haplotypes offers precise genetic targets for breeding climate-resilient pepper varieties with optimized growth-defense trade-offs.
In recent years, agricultural practices have shifted toward sustainability, aiming to reduce the use of agrochemicals and rely more on bio-based solutions. However, the effectiveness of these latter suffers from inconsistency. Understanding how different crops respond to biostimulants, instead of referring to a specific trial or crop, is a challenge in this field. This study attempts to identify common metabolite signatures associated with different commercial biostimulants across three crops, moving from trial-specific to more generalized effects in horticultural crops. To this aim, advanced metabolomics data integration and supervised statistical methods have been used. Advanced multivariate analyses included analysis of variance (ANOVA)-multiblock orthogonal partial least squares (AMOPLS), and Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker discovery using Latent variable approaches for Omics studies (DIABLO). HCA and AMOPLS revealed differences in metabolic profiles among the biostimulant treatments, while confirming crop-specific responses. Data integration indicated that three metabolites, betaine, N-caffeoylputrescine, and 2-amino-4-hydroxypyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid, were consistently modulated across all three crops treated by the multi-component biostimulant containing osmolytes and zeatin. Notably, these metabolites are known to be involved in plant growth and adaptation to different abiotic stresses. Overall, the applied analytical approach enabled the identification of putative markers within complex metabolic datasets that included different crop species. The use of independent validation methods increases confidence in these markers and supports the integration of complementary datasets in biostimulant studies.
Risen temperatures result in a notable decline in pepper yield, predominantly due to their direct impact on fruit set. The female gametophyte has been less studied than male reproductive organs but proven to be heat-sensitive. Phytohormones regulate responses to adverse environmental conditions and developmental processes as fruit set, but there is lack of research on pepper reproductive organs. Grafting has emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate the consequences of heat stress, as reported by our previous work. The objectives were to examine the effect of heat stress on the hormonal balance of the pepper ovary (IAA, ACC, ABA, GAs, CKs, SA and JA) during early fruit set (prior to four days post-anthesis) and to evaluate the influence of pepper rootstock genotypes to enhance fruit set and reduce the impact of heat stress. The hormonal quantification across flower stages highlights the complexity of the mechanisms by which hormones influence fruit development. Heat stress decreased IAA, ZR, GA1, ABA, JA and SA content in the pepper ovary and increased tZ, iP and ACC levels. Rootstocks modulated ACC, iP, ABA, JA, GA1 and GA4 content in the variety under heat stress. Variety grafted onto A57 (VA/A57) reduced fruit set and seed number losses under heat stress compared with VA/A55, VA/VA and VA, associated with a better ability to cope with heat stress in the grafted variety.
This study investigated microbial transmission dynamics and community structures across processing stages of two salted seafood products: salted pollock roe and salted squid. Samples of raw materials, environmental samples, and final products were collected from two processing plants (n = 87), and both culture-based analyses and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed. SourceTracker was used to track potential sources contributing to the final products. Microbial dynamics exhibited contrasting patterns between the two products due to differences in salting intensity and processing methods. In salted pollock roe, microbial counts decreased under high-salinity conditions, and the final microbial community was predominantly shaped by late-stage food-contact surfaces, particularly measuring containers. Conversely, salted squid exhibited increased microbial loads following the addition of seasoning ingredients (e.g., garlic and red pepper powder), which were identified as the primary contributors to the final microbial community. Despite these divergent transmission routes, marine-associated genera (Psychrobacter and Photobacterium) were commonly detected in both products. Taxonomically, salted pollock roe was enriched in environmental- and processing-associated bacteria, whereas salted squid was strongly enriched in lactic acid bacteria. Overall, these findings highlight stage-specific contributors to contamination and transmission patterns relevant to hygiene management. By integrating microbial loads with community-level source contributions, this study provides a basis for improving the quality and safety of salted seafood products.
Plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (p-Tau217) has emerged as a highly sensitive and specific blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, its regional brain correlates with multimodal neuroimaging, beyond tau-PET, remain underexplored, particularly in early disease phases where limbic involvement may predominate. This study aimed to map the associations of plasma p-Tau217 with amyloid-PET burden, FDG-PET metabolism, and structural brain morphometry in a well-characterized cohort spanning cognitively unimpaired (CU) and cognitively impaired (CI) individuals across AD dementia stages, hypothesizing increased AD neuroimaging biomarkers in individuals with elevated p-Tau217. We analyzed data from 259 participants from the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) Clinical Cohort. Imaging outcomes included amyloid-PET, FDG-PET, gray matter volumetric regions of interest as well as whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and surface-based morphometry (SBM) for cortical thickness (CT), sulcal depth (SD), gyrification index (GI), fractal dimension (FD). Analyses were stratified by diagnostic and pTau-217 positivity (CU pTau + , CU pTau -, CI pTau + and CI pTau-). Spearman's correlations and voxel/surface-wise regressions evaluated p-Tau217 associations with imaging metrics, accounting for age and sex. Plasma p-Tau217 was elevated in CI versus CU. Individuals with elevated plasma p-Tau217 had increased amyloid-PET deposition across the cortex, as well as significantly higher centiloids, both in CU and CI individuals. In CI individuals, elevated p-Tau217 was associated with reduced voxel-wise gray matter volume and cortical thickness in limbic, temporal, parietal, and frontal regions, plus increased cingulate FD. In both CU and CI pTau + individuals, p-Tau217 correlated with AD Signature gray matter decreases. These findings show that CU and CI individuals with elevated plasma p-Tau217 have both increased amyloid-PET burden but also temporolimbic gray matter atrophy and hypometabolism. This supports p-Tau217 as a minimally invasive, scalable biomarker for early AD detection, risk stratification, and prognostic monitoring in preclinical stages, potentially guiding trial enrichment and personalized interventions.