Indoor farming has emerged as a pivotal innovation in modern agriculture, addressing critical challenges such as limited arable land, water scarcity, and environmental unpredictability. As the global demand for food continues to rise, the need for innovative solutions that maximize efficiency and sustainability has become increasingly urgent. This study explored the integration of smart technologies and real-time data analytics to optimize resource utilization, enhance crop yields, and reduce environmental impacts in controlled farming environments. By leveraging the Azure IoT Hub and advanced sensor networks, the research demonstrates a scalable system for monitoring critical environmental parameters, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, and nutrient levels.

The acquired data were processed through cloud-driven analytics platforms, enabling precise decision-making, predictive modeling, and real-time control of farming conditions that can help predict sensitive data. These capabilities not only ensure optimal crop growth but also significantly reduce resource wastage, such as water and energy, which are critical concerns in agriculture. A case study focusing on precision plant production highlighted how real-time feedback and automated control systems enhance the crop management efficiency. By extending traditional logistic growth models into a multi-dimensional approach, the study provides novel insights into crop growth dynamics under varying environmental conditions.

The results indicate substantial improvements in resource efficiency, plant health, and yield predictability, demonstrating the transformative potential of integrating IoT and data-driven strategies into indoor farming. This work contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture by offering a replicable and adaptable framework for integrating smart technologies into horticultural practices. Furthermore, the study highlights future opportunities, such as incorporating advanced machine learning models for further optimization, as well as exploring the use of renewable energy sources to enhance sustainability and scalability. By bridging the gap between technology and agriculture, this research aims to inspire innovations that address the pressing global need for resilient and sustainable food systems.

Pachyrhizus erosus (jicama) is a tuberous root cultivated around the world and commonly used as food. Different authors report on their nutraceutical properties, such as the hypoglycemic effect of jicama aqueous extract, which helps in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and enhances the growth of Lactobacillus L. plantarum due to the presence of prebiotics. The aforementioned functional properties have been related to their saccharides, mainly fibers and oligosaccharides. The aim of this work was to follow the changes in starch, pectin, inulin and other simple saccharides in jicama roots during their growth that were damaged by Phyllophaga spp. Regarding the content of reducing sugars, it was observed that during the first two jicama collections (100 and 140 days), these increased (11.12%-18.63% control jicama and 11.98%-28.66% stress jicama), with a significant difference between the development periods (p>0.05) and stress. Regarding the percentage of total sugars, the presence of beetles did not affect the synthesis of the component, observing the minimum values at 100 days of development (11.67%). In the determination of starch, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed between control jicama and with biotic stress at 100 days, but were at 140 days, while by development time the sample that presented the highest content was jicama, at 180 days. An effect of sample growth development was also observed. Regarding specific components, damaged jicama show smaller starch yield values (50%) than clean samples, while in most other cases, the biocomponents increased their concentration, most of them at 140 days of development, with sucrose being the most noticeable component (250 mg/g-350 mg/g). According to the chromatograms for inulin, nystose, kestose, sucrose, glucose, and fructose were found. In the case of pectin, the following compounds were found: galacturonic acid, glucose, xylose, and arabinose. Some other components only appear in damaged jicama (inulin). This behavior must be triggered by the presence of the parasite promoting different metabolic pathways. More studies are needed in this area.

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) is a rustic growing plant, of which the only edible part is its tuberous root. It is native to Mexico and Central America, with a national production of 187,916.54 tons in 2023. Currently, the plant has been affected by the attack of pests such as Phyllophaga spp. (white grub), causing economic losses for agriculturalists and an increase in agro-industrial residues which have not been given any use. In addition, there are no studies that evaluate the presence of secondary metabolites when jicama is under biotic stress (damage by pests) that could generate toxic compounds such as cyanogenic glycosides, or even some with functional properties such as flavonoid glycosides and hydroxycoumarins, which develop during the process of plant direct defense , especially against the attack of insects. For the above, the present work aims to carry out a comparative study of secondary metabolites, as well as compounds of industrial interest present in healthy and plague-damaged jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus). To this end, the following are proposed to determine the presence of secondary metabolites in healthy (CJ) and damaged jicama damaged by Phyllophaga spp. (SJ), and will qualitatively be established; finally, the cyanogenic glycosides, hydroxycoumarins, and flavonoid glycosides will be characterized by HPLC. According to the results, the extracts that presented the highest content of saponins were those of jicama at 100 and 140 days of maturity in jicama with stress, decreasing in control jicama. In tannins, no significant differences were observed between the samples at 100 and 180 days, while at 140, the stressed jicama had the highest tannin content; in the case of flavonoids and phenols, the same behavior was observed at 100 and 140 days. The following were found in phenolic compounds: ascorbic, caffeic, rutin, pelargonidin, and ferulic acid. Finally, these results provide a broad understanding of jicama by providing information about morphometric, nutritional, and secondary metabolite changes during the tuberization process.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the most important tropical fruits cultivated in tropical climate countries, and its production is often threatened by abiotic and biotic stressors, which significantly affect the yield and quality of papaya. In recent years, papaya genomics resources have become available, which has promoted papaya research and breeding. However, no dedicated digital platform for papaya genomics resources has been developed for the research and breeding communities. Potential users such as papaya geneticists, breeders, and pathologists require genomics resources and easy-to-handle tools to support their decision-making in selecting suitable genes and molecular markers. To address this issue, we developed a papaya knowledge-based digital platform, PapayaNetBase. PapayaNetBase comprises three papaya genome data sets (Eksotika, Sekaki, and Sunset varieties), genomic variation, transcriptomes, and metabolites. PapayaNetBase web interface was developed using WordPress, while MySQL was used as a database management system (DBMS). The database functionalities include search query and filter functions that can be performed based on the SNP identifier (ID), gene ID, pathway, and variety name. The search results are displayed in table format. The output of the search results can be downloaded in text, comma-separated value (CSV), or Excel formats. Data in FASTA format (i.e., scaffold, transcript and protein sequences) can be retrieved via the ‘Downloads’ menu. We also developed a knowledge graph dashboard for papaya traits utilising the Neo4j platform (http://bit.ly/papayanetbaseV1) to facilitate the easy dissemination of these genomics resources. Using the PapayaNetBase knowledge graph, users can visualise papaya traits with integrated genomics information, such as gene description, a protein–protein interaction network, gene ontology, and pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated platform on papaya genomics that offers resources in a knowledge graph. PapayaNetBase aims to accelerate functional genomics and molecular marker analyses by enabling geneticists and breeders to explore and utilise the molecular information on papaya for application in papaya research and breeding programmes.

Postharvest browning is a major factor contributing to quality loss and reduced shelf life in apple (Malus domestica) fruits, leading to diminished consumer appeal and marketability. The enzymatic browning process, primarily driven by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity, significantly affects the texture, color, and overall quality of apples during storage. The present study investigates the potential of tragacanth gum, a natural polysaccharide, as an edible coating to mitigate postharvest browning and preserve the sensory attributes of apples during refrigerated storage. Apples were treated with a 1% (w/v) tragacanth gum solution and stored at 0°C under controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions with 90–95% relative humidity for 20 days. The effects of the coating on browning were evaluated through visual inspection, color measurements (L*, a*, and b* values), and enzymatic activity assays for PPO and POD, which are key enzymes responsible for oxidative browning. In addition, sensory attributes such as firmness, texture, aroma, flavor, and overall acceptability were assessed by a trained panel. The results demonstrated that tragacanth gum coatings effectively reduced the rate of browning in the apples, as evidenced by improved color retention and a significant reduction in PPO and POD activity compared to the untreated control. The treated apples maintained a more vibrant appearance, with less discoloration and a longer-lasting fresh look. Furthermore, the tragacanth gum-coated apples exhibited enhanced firmness and texture with no significant loss of aroma and flavor, resulting in improved overall sensory quality. The overall acceptability scores of the treated apples were higher than those of untreated controls, indicating that the coating preserved the sensory appeal of the fruit. These findings suggest that tragacanth gum acts as a natural and effective postharvest treatment to delay browning, maintain texture, and enhance flavor, thereby improving the marketability and shelf life of apples. This study highlights the potential of tragacanth gum as an eco-friendly, non-toxic alternative to synthetic coatings, offering a promising strategy for postharvest management and quality preservation in apples under refrigerated and controlled-atmosphere storage conditions.

The efficient monitoring of crop water requirements is fundamental to ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and optimizing irrigation strategies to conserve increasingly scarce water resources. This study focuses on the integration of radar and multispectral remote sensing technologies to provide a precise, scalable, and continuous solution for assessing the water needs of orange trees, a key component of citrus cultivation. Radar images, with their unparalleled ability to penetrate cloud cover and operate independently of light conditions, enable uninterrupted temporal monitoring. By calculating radar indices such as VH-VV, these images contribute to accurate assessments of crop coefficients. Meanwhile, multispectral images, rich in detailed vegetation indices like NDVI, offer critical insights into the water status and overall vegetative health of plants, further enhancing monitoring precision. Data were acquired from Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite missions over a comprehensive five-year period (2019–2023). This extensive dataset allowed for robust temporal and spatial analyses, capturing the dynamic water needs of orange trees across various growth stages and environmental conditions. Vegetation and radar indices were computed and integrated into advanced water requirement models, validated meticulously against reference field measurements. Results showed that multispectral-derived crop coefficients achieved a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.1938 during periods of high water demand, underscoring the reliability of the approach. Radar-derived crop coefficients exhibited an even lower RMSE of 0.050, reflecting the superior accuracy of radar data in modeling water requirements. These findings highlight the transformative potential of combining radar and multispectral indices for irrigation monitoring. This integrated approach delivers unprecedented precision in both temporal and spatial scales, significantly reducing reliance on labor-intensive and time-consuming field measurements. The proposed methodology not only enables efficient water resource allocation but also supports informed decision-making in agricultural management, paving the way for enhanced crop productivity and resilience to climatic variability. Furthermore, this research provides a significant contribution to the global agenda for sustainable water management, addressing challenges in agricultural systems increasingly affected by water scarcity and environmental stresses. By advancing the application of remote sensing technologies, this study sets a benchmark for precision agriculture and offers a scalable framework adaptable to other crops and agro-ecosystems.

Table grape cultivation has substantial economic benefits. Temperature stress often occurs during the fruit-ripening period, causing premature aging of the vine, abnormal softening of fruit, loss of commercial potential, and reduced yield. Temperature stress, therefore, limits the sustainable and stable production of fresh, high-quality grapes. A key way to avoid this temperature stress is to promote early maturation. Studying methods to shorten the fruit growth period and to develop early-maturing grape cultivars provides an important way to optimize the grape-cultivar market structure. In this study, we utilized the grape cultivar Summer Black, known for its extremely short growth period, along with its bud-mutation cultivar Early Summer Seedless, to analyze early-stage fruit development. The cultivar ESS exhibited a significantly greater color change in the peel than SB at 35-42 DAA, indicating that the veraison period is directly associated with a shortened grape growth period. We therefore conducted transcriptomic analysis of berries harvested during this period, identifying 35 key genes that shorten the berry development period. The AGL gene family participates in plant growth and development. Therefore, we examined the roles of the VvAGL members in fruit growth and development. Screening the 94 common DEGs and 34 VvAGL family members identified VvAGL15 (Vitvi13g01861_t001) as a key gene. VvAGL15 is localized to the nucleus in grapes. The relative expression of VvAGL15 was upregulated in the peel and pulp of ESS relative to that of SB. Fluorescence-based qRT-PCR revealed that VvAGL15 was highly expressed in both the peel and pulp of ESS grapes. Pulp VvAGL15 expression was high at 27 to 42 DAA in both cultivars, indicating that VvAGL15 is important during early berry development, especially during the veraison period. Our heterologous expression analysis using tomato plants revealed that VvAGL15 can accelerate tomato fruit development, leading to faster growth, earlier flowering, earlier acid reduction before color transition, and earlier ripening. These findings provide a theoretical basis for promoting the early ripening of grapes and other crops by enhancing VvAGL15 expression.

Oranges, lemons, and mandarins are among the most popular fruits consumed worldwide; they are valued for their flavor, color, and texture. Numerous intricate genetic, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms affect the quality of citrus fruits, especially during ripening. Enhancing the quality, shelf life, and marketability of fruit requires an understanding of the genetic foundations underpinning important ripening characteristics such as texture, flavor, and color. The purpose of this research was to identify and describe the genes that control citrus ripening, with an emphasis on the genetic regulation of the fruit's texture, flavoring, and color development. We examined the gene expression profiles at different phases of fruit ripening in a variety of citrus cultivars, such as sweet oranges and mandarins, using a mix of transcriptomic and genomics techniques. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that are involved in fruit development were identified using RNA sequencing, and these genes were linked to important phenotypic features using genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The fruit texture was discovered to be significantly influenced by genes that encode enzymes that are involved in the manufacture and degradation of cell wall components, such as pectin methylesterases and polygalacturonases. Genes that produce flavor and fragrance molecules, such as terpene synthases, and enzymes that are involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway were also investigated. Another important area of study is the control of fruit's color, which is mostly caused by carotenoid production. An in-depth analysis was carried out on genes such as phytoene synthase (PSY) and lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB), which control the build-up of carotenoids and, consequently, the orange hue of mature citrus fruit. We also examined how ethylene, a hormone that is important for fruit ripening, interacts with these genes and how it regulates their expression. Our goal was to achieve a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms influencing citrus ripening features by describing these genes. Ultimately, breeding programs can use the identification of genetic markers that are linked to desired fruit attributes such as texture, flavor, and color to create new citrus varieties that are more palatable to consumers, have longer shelf lives, and are more resilient to environmental stressors. This study contributes to the future of sustainable agriculture in the citrus sector by opening the door for the use of molecular breeding techniques in citrus development.