Introduction: Soybean is one of the world’s major agricultural commodities and a cornerstone of the Brazilian economy. However, lepidopteran pests such as Helicoverpa armigera and Anticarsia gemmatalis can cause yield losses exceeding 30% and billion-dollar economic damage per growing season. In this context, the prospection of plant-derived insecticidal molecules combined with in silico approaches emerges as a promising and sustainable strategy. Methodology: Compounds from the heptane extract of Pyrostegia venusta flowers were previously identified, and their chemical structures were retrieved from public databases and optimized for computational analyses. Cytotoxicity was predicted in human cell lines (HEK-293, HEK-293T, HaCaT, and HUVEC) using quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Ecotoxicological assessment included predictions of bioconcentration factor (BCF) and aquatic toxicity toward Daphnia magna. Mechanisms of action were investigated through molecular docking against acetylcholinesterase (1QON), thioredoxin from A. gemmatalis (5DBQ), and farnesol dehydrogenase from H. armigera (7W61), using SwissDock and CB-Dock2 platforms. Commercial insecticides (flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole) were used as reference compounds. Results: The natural compounds exhibited predicted cytotoxicity values ranging from pIC₅₀ 2.82 to 5.25 and bioconcentration factors between 0.35 and 1.25 Log₁₀(BCF). Predicted toxicity toward D. magna ranged from 2.42 to 4.13 LC₅₀ −Log₁₀(mol/L), lower than those of the synthetic controls. Docking analyses revealed stable interactions with ΔG values between −5.52 and −6.47 kcal/mol, highlighting allyl acetate and 2,2-dimethylpentanal. Conclusion: In silico analyses indicate that compounds from the heptane extract of Pyrostegia venusta exhibit relevant molecular affinity toward entomological targets and a favorable preliminary safety profile, supporting their potential as insecticidal candidates and warranting further in vitro experimental validation.

As climate change intensifies, agriculture must meet the growing global food demand while reducing its ecological footprint. The negative impacts of conventional pesticides and fertilizers highlight the need for innovative, eco-friendly approaches to protect plant health. Sustainable disease management strategies are crucial for environmentally responsible crop production. Among emerging technologies, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is gaining attention for its strong oxidizing properties, which make it an effective sanitizer and disinfectant. HOCl is unstable and rapidly degrades into H⁺ and OCl⁻ in aqueous solution without releasing toxic by-products, expanding its use in food safety, medical applications, and agricultural sterilization. Produced through electrochemical activation of water and NaCl, HOCl can be generated directly in situ. This study evaluated the effect of HOCl-treated water to improve plant health in two crops: Olea europaea and Solanum lycopersicum. Concerning olive, open-filed experiments were conducted to assess its efficacy against Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, the causal agent of olive knot disease. Treatments reduced the pathogen epiphytic population, although the effects decreased over time, suggesting the need for repeated treatments, especially during pruning and post-harvest. On tomato, field trials were performed to assess the HOCl effects on plant growth, development and defenses. Preliminary results showed that high concentrations of HOCl inhibited tomato growth, while diluted solutions had no significant effects. Moreover, the relative expression of defense-related genes showed the alteration of defense signaling pathways, such as those involving CHS and PR1. These findings suggest that HOCl, when properly managed, may represent a promising tool for sustainable crop protection.

Ensuring plant health through environmentally sustainable and innovative approaches has become a critical objective for contemporary agriculture. The intensification of abiotic constraints, with soil salinity emerging as one of the most severe, increasingly compromises agricultural productivity amid the reduction of cultivable land and ongoing population expansion. In this study, chestnut-derived wood vinegar and an extract obtained from chestnut woodchips were evaluated to investigate their effects on plant growth, physiology, and defense responses, with a special focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying their bioactivity as plant defense inducers. A multidisciplinary approach was applied through field experiments conducted during the summer season on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), used as a model species, and on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), an agronomically relevant crop. Plants were grown under both standard and saline conditions to assess the efficacy of the treatments under abiotic stress.Physiological analyses, including biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance, revealed responses that were often dose dependent in both species. Furthermore, gene expression analyses of selected defense-related markers demonstrated that both treatments induced significant modulation of key hormonal and defense-signaling pathways. In particular, the activation of pathogenesis-related proteins suggested that these products elicit defense responses resembling those triggered by pathogen attack.Overall, the results indicate that chestnut-derived wood vinegar and woodchip extract can effectively enhance plant defense mechanisms while influencing physiological performance under normal and saline conditions, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly tools for sustainable crop management.

Natural biostimulants represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals for improving plant growth and resilience, particularly in soilless cultivation systems. This study evaluated the effects of three plant-derived biostimulants—wood vinegar (WV), willow extract, and eucalyptus extract—applied at different concentrations in a hydroponic floating system for the cultivation of Lactuca sativa var. Canasta and Ocimum basilicum var. Italiano, under both optimal nutrient supply (100%) and nutrient-stress (20%) conditions.

Preliminary applications at a 1:600 dilution induced marked phytotoxic effects in both species, resulting in significant reductions in shoot and root biomass. Consequently, subsequent experiments focused on WV, the only commercial product among those tested, applied at higher dilutions (1:1,000, 1:2,000, and 1:3,000). Plant responses were strongly dose- and species-dependent. In lettuce, the 1:2,000 and 1:3,000 WV dilutions significantly enhanced leaf and root fresh and dry biomass under nutrient-stress conditions compared with the 20% control, alongside improved photosynthetic performance, as evidenced by increased PSII efficiency and higher chlorophyll a and b contents determined spectrophotometrically.

Basil exhibited an even more pronounced response, showing significant increases in shoot and root biomass, plant height, internode number, and photosynthetic efficiency, particularly at the 1:2,000 dilution under both optimal and stress conditions. Molecular analyses revealed that WV modulated the expression of genes associated with growth and stress responses. Increased expression of TIR1 in both leaves and roots suggests enhanced auxin signaling, while upregulation of CHS and PR5 in roots indicates activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism and defense-related pathways, especially under nutrient stress.

Overall, these findings demonstrate that appropriately diluted wood vinegar can function as an effective biostimulant in hydroponic systems by enhancing plant growth and modulating physiological and defense mechanisms. However, its efficacy is highly species- and dose-dependent, emphasizing the need for crop-specific application strategies.

The green leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a major pest in Portuguese vineyards, causing significant damage by feeding on vine foliage and reducing plant vigor and productivity. Chemical insecticides often cause resistance and environmental issues by reducing the functional biodiversity, contaminating soil and water resources, and associated risks to human health, highlighting the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as a promising sustainable alternative for pest management. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro pathogenic potential of four EPF strains, Metarhizium robertsii (M1, M2) and Beauveria bassiana (B1, B2), previously isolated from Douro vineyards, against the green leafhopper. The grapevine leaves were placed on 0.9% agar in petri plates and sprayed with EPF conidial suspensions at concentrations of 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, and 1×10⁸ conidia/mL, with a control group without EPF. Green leafhoppers (nymphs and adults) were subsequently exposed to the treated leaves and incubated at 25 °C. The results showed that all isolates and conidial concentrations demonstrated high virulence, causing significantly higher mortality in a shorter time, compared to the untreated control. These findings indicate that, although the tested EPF isolates are pathogenic, further research is needed to optimize field application strategies to improve environmental persistence, determine the optimal timing of treatments, and integrate them effectively into vineyard pest management programs.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the project “ECOSPHEREWINES - Improving ecosystem services and green infrastructure in wine-growing areas of high ecological value” funded by INTERREG – SUDOE. We also acknowledge Duorum Vinhos S.A. and ADVID collaborators for their valuable support and collaboration during the field trials. This work was also supported by National Funds by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the projects UIDB/04033/2025: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) and LA/P/0126/2020 (Inov4Agro).SB acknowledges INTERREG – SUDOE for her fellowship grant (BI/UTAD/8/2025).

Condensed quinazoline derivatives exhibit a wide range of biological activities. One of the most promising methods for synthesizing condensed quinazoline derivatives is electrophilic intramolecular cyclization, which is widely employed in the preparation of azines and their fused analogues. A special place among quinazolines is occupied by their alkenyl and alkynyl derivatives, which represent bicentered nucleophilic systems, making them convenient model substrates for studying electrophilic intramolecular heterocyclization reactions. In the present study, a series of condensed chalcogen-functionalized thiazoloquinazolines was synthesized, and their growth-regulating activity toward soybean seeds Glycine max (L.) Merrill at the early stages of organogenesis was investigated. Analysis of the experimental data revealed that treatment of soybean seeds with 0.001–0.1% solutions of the chalcogen-containing thiazolo[3,2-a]quinazolines resulted in higher values of growth parameters—such as seedling mass and length—compared to the control (distilled water). Specifically, seedling mass increased by 14–18%, while seedling length increased by 3–19%. An increase in the concentration of the quinazolines to 0.1% led to a pronounced inhibition of growth and organism development. Further investigation of thiazoloquinazolines and their structurally related analogues as growth-regulating agents may contribute to improving the yield and quality of economically significant crops, as well as provide insights into the biochemical processes occurring in plants upon treatment with these compounds.

The Punjab province of Pakistan, constituting the nation's principal agricultural production region and contributing substantially to national cereal yields, has experienced pronounced agricultural intensification throughout recent decades, precipitating considerable environmental ramifications including progressive soil degradation, catastrophic groundwater table decline, salinization of cultivable lands, and diminishment of ecological integrity. Paddy and wheat cultivation, fundamental to Pakistan's food sovereignty and rural livelihoods, have necessitated escalating resource extraction patterns—particularly irrigation water from the Indus Basin—with demonstrable consequences for landscape-scale ecological health and long-term agro-environmental sustainability trajectories. Remote sensing technologies provide non-invasive, synoptic methodologies for monitoring ecological health indicators across extensive spatial domains and prolonged temporal intervals, yet comprehensive synthesis of Pakistan's spatiotemporal ecological dynamics over multi-decadal periods remains inadequately consolidated within the peer-reviewed scientific literature. This review examines available evidence regarding the spatiotemporal evolution of ecological health parameters across Pakistan's Punjab province from 2001 through 2023, synthesizing remote sensing investigations addressing vegetation productivity indices, soil moisture availability, land cover transformations, aquifer depletion trends, and water resource dynamics in relation to intensive paddy and cereal agriculture. The scientific literature demonstrates consistent degradation of landscape-scale vegetation productivity across substantial portions of Punjab, with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) trajectories revealing progressive decline in greenness coinciding with sustained agricultural intensification and climate variability impacts. Concurrent remote sensing assessments document alarming reductions in groundwater table elevations, with multiple lines of evidence from satellite gravimetry and ground-based hydrological monitoring revealing sustained downward trajectories across both canal-command areas and groundwater-dependent cultivation zones dependent upon the Indus irrigation system. Satellite-based evaluations of soil quality indicators, notwithstanding methodological variability across studies, collectively suggest deterioration of critical soil parameters including organic matter content, structural stability, and increasing salinity concentrations across intensively cropped regions. The scientific literature, however, exhibits substantial methodological heterogeneity regarding remote sensing approaches, temporal resolution specifications, spatial coverage extent, and analytical methodologies employed, thereby complicating the formulation of spatially and temporally consistent ecological trend assessments. Relatively few investigations have integrated multiple remote sensing data modalities within coherent analytical frameworks, constraining comprehensive understanding of interconnected ecological transformations spanning soil, water resources, and vegetation systems. The temporal dynamics of ecological health parameters remain incompletely characterized, with insufficient investigation of critical ecological thresholds potentially indicative of irreversible degradation trajectories. This review synthesizes spatiotemporal remote sensing evidence documenting ecological health trajectories across Pakistan's Punjab paddy and cereal production landscapes, critically appraises methodological approaches and inherent limitations, identifies persistent knowledge deficiencies concerning ecological resilience mechanisms and transition point identification, and discusses implications for transition pathways toward genuinely sustainable agricultural intensification. Enhanced understanding of ecological dynamics through integrated remote sensing methodologies could substantiate evidence-based policy development supporting Pakistan's agricultural productivity objectives whilst simultaneously ensuring preservation of regional ecological integrity, safeguarding aquifer sustainability, and supporting long-term food security across vulnerable agroecosystems

Agrisilvicultural systems integrating woody perennials with annual crops have garnered considerable attention within sustainable agriculture discourse, offering potential synergies between productivity enhancement and environmental stewardship. Moringa oleifera, a multipurpose tree species native to the Indian subcontinent, possesses nutritional and phytochemical attributes alongside demonstrated capacity to ameliorate edaphic conditions through nitrogen fixation and organic matter accumulation. The interaction between M. oleifera-based agroforestry frameworks and exogenous fertilizer regimes in influencing vegetable crop performance and soil chemical properties remains inadequately characterized within the scientific literature. This review synthesizes available evidence regarding the effects of Moringa intercropping systems on vegetable productivity, examining mechanisms through which tree-crop interactions modify nutrient availability, microclimatic conditions, and soil biological activity. Literature indicates that M. oleifera integration typically reduces direct solar radiation incident upon intercrops, with variable consequences for different vegetable species depending upon light saturation requirements and phenological stage. The nitrogen-fixing capacity of Moringa, mediated through nodule-associated Rhizobium populations, contributes to elevated soil nitrogen concentrations in proximal rhizospheres, potentially reducing dependency upon synthetic nitrogen inputs for associated vegetables. Concurrent research demonstrates that litter fall from Moringa canopies enriches soil organic matter, facilitating improvements in soil structure, water retention, and microbial community composition. However, phenolic and saponin compounds present within Moringa leaf material may exert allelopathic effects on intercroped vegetables, the magnitude of which varies according to litter decomposition kinetics and prevailing soil moisture regimes. The efficacy of combined Moringa integration and supplementary fertilizer application in sustaining vegetable yields while maintaining or restoring soil fertility has received limited systematic investigation across diverse agroecological contexts. Existing studies exhibit considerable methodological heterogeneity regarding experimental design, cultivar selection, and edaphic baseline conditions, complicating comparative analysis and generalization of findings. The literature suggests that fertilizer recommendation protocols for M. oleifera-vegetable systems cannot be extrapolated directly from monoculture frameworks, yet standardized approaches for determining optimal nutrient inputs remain underdeveloped. This review appraises the current evidence base concerning productivity outcomes and soil fertility trajectories in Moringa agrisilvicultural systems, identifies critical knowledge deficiencies regarding mechanistic understanding of tree-crop-soil interactions, and discusses methodological standardization requirements. Enhanced understanding of these complex interactions could inform evidence-based management practices suited to smallholder farming contexts, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where resource constraints necessitate integrated approaches maximizing ecosystem services alongside crop production objectives.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale R.) represents a commercially important rhizomatous crop adapted to tropical and subtropical shade environments, exhibiting marked physiological flexibility in response to varying photoperiodic conditions. Despite its agronomic significance and widespread cultivation, the underlying biochemical mechanisms governing light duration tolerance in this species remain poorly understood within the scientific literature. The present review summary examines the pivotal roles of peroxidase (POD) activity and proline accumulation as potential physiological indicators of photoadaptive stress tolerance mechanisms in Z. officinale, synthesizing available evidence from disparate studies to construct a coherent mechanistic framework. Peroxidase, a principal enzymatic component of the plant antioxidant defense system, functions centrally in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species generated during photosynthetic stress, particularly under prolonged or attenuated light regimes. Existing investigations demonstrate that POD activity increases substantially in ginger tissues exposed to extended photoperiods, reflecting adaptive upregulation of oxidative stress management capacity. Proline, an amino acid and compatible solute accumulates preferentially under light-limiting conditions, serving dual functions as both a cellular protectant against osmotic perturbation and a signaling molecule within stress response pathways. The empirical record indicates coordinated elevation of both POD activity and proline content under suboptimal light duration scenarios, suggesting these parameters function inter-relatedly rather than as independent stress indicators. Comparative investigations across ginger germplasm reveal considerable variation in the magnitude of biochemical responses, attributable to underlying genetic differences and phenotypic adaptation capacity. The literature further suggests that cultivars demonstrating robust POD activity and elevated proline biosynthesis capacity generally sustain superior growth performance under shade-cultivation practices common in agroforestry systems. However, substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding the precise genetic regulation of these biochemical responses and their molecular coordination under variable light conditions. Few studies have systematically evaluated the predictive utility of these biomarkers for rapid phenotyping and cultivar selection purposes. This study critically evidence base, identifies methodological inconsistencies across published investigations, discusses the physiological significance of these markers in light tolerance mechanisms, and proposes future research directions. Enhanced understanding of POD-proline interactions could facilitate development of screening protocols for identifying light-tolerant ginger accessions, thereby supporting improved cultivation strategies suited to diverse agroecological environments and diverse lighting regimes encountered in intercropping production systems.

Fire blight, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora, represents a devastating pathogen affecting pome fruit production globally, with limited efficacy of conventional control strategies and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains necessitating alternative management approaches. Recent investigations into plant-derived antimicrobial factors have revealed the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) within reproductive tissue exudates, opening novel avenues for understanding pathogen-host interactions and developing bio-inspired antimicrobial agents. The stigmatic exudates of pear (Pyrus spp.), the primary infection site for E. amylovora, constitute a biochemically complex milieu enriched in miRNAs with potential bacteriostatic or bactericidal properties. This review summary synthesizes emerging evidence regarding the identity, abundance, and functional characterization of stigma-derived miRNAs and their hypothetical mechanisms of action against fire blight pathogenesis. MicroRNAs recovered from pear stigmatic secretions exhibit sequence homology with endogenous plant regulatory molecules implicated in defense and stress response pathways, suggesting conserved antimicrobial functions. In vitro bioassays indicate that certain miRNA species directly suppress virulence gene expression in E. amylovora or compromise bacterial membrane integrity through cross-kingdom regulatory mechanisms. The temporal dynamics of miRNA accumulation in stigmatic exudates coincide with periods of heightened pathogenic susceptibility, proposing a natural correlation between reproductive phenology and chemical defense architecture. Extraction and stabilization protocols for stigma-derived miRNAs present considerable technical challenges, encompassing RNA degradation kinetics and maintenance of biological activity under variable environmental conditions. Comparative analysis of miRNA profiles across pear cultivars with differential fire blight susceptibility may elucidate genotype-specific exudate chemistry and inform breeding strategies. Current limitations impede the transition from fundamental characterization to practical biocontrol formulation, including incomplete understanding of miRNA bioavailability, persistence in phyllosphere environments, and potential phytotoxic effects on non-target organisms. Regulatory frameworks governing biological agents derived from plant exudates remain underdeveloped within most jurisdictions. This abstract examines the molecular mechanisms underlying potential antimicrobial efficacy, synthesizes methodological advances in miRNA isolation and characterization, and identifies critical knowledge gaps. Integration of stigma-derived miRNAs into integrated pest management systems could provide sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides whilst leveraging innate plant defense chemistry, contingent upon rigorous field-level validation and standardized production methodologies