Solanum muricatum Aiton, commonly known as “pepino dulce” or “sweet cucumber”, is a native Andean fruit with growing agronomic and nutraceutical importance. Understanding its genetic diversity and structure is essential for conservation and crop improvement strategies. In this study, we employed genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to evaluate the population structure of 96 accessions of S. muricatum collected from seven Peruvian departments: Ayacucho, Cusco, Apurímac, Ica, Lima, Lambayeque, and Cajamarca. GBS generated over 500 million raw reads, from which 9.5 million tag sequences were identified. After stringent filtering, 767,166 tags were retained, and 269 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequency > 0.01 were used for downstream analysis. Phylogenetic inference based on a neighbor-joining tree grouped the accessions into several clusters, with some degree of geographic association, though admixture among populations was evident. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) corroborated this pattern, showing a central core of genetic similarity with a few outliers, particularly from Ayacucho. The genetic data revealed substantial diversity within and between populations, suggesting the existence of both shared ancestry and local adaptation. Despite the low number of SNPs retained after filtering, clustering patterns were consistent with field-collected agro-morphological data, indicating that even a reduced SNP dataset can be informative for population differentiation in S. muricatum. These findings highlight the underexploited genetic diversity of Peruvian “pepino dulce” germplasm and reinforce the relevance of ongoing ex situ conservation and pre-breeding efforts undertaken by national universities in Peru. Our results lay a foundation for more detailed studies involving higher-resolution genomics, association mapping, and the development of molecular markers for agronomic traits in this underutilized crop.

Food consumption in the last 10-15 years has undergone significant changes, a notable trend in developed countries. The orientation towards different food categories is supported by solid landmarks with strong influence, such as food quality, orientation towards organic products, product diversity, price, promotions, impact on health, etc. Establishing some objectives dedicated to social and economic progress is a real measure of sustainable development, but not a guarantee of sustainability. The development of society, the acceleration of economic growth, and the ever-increasing food consumption constitute an obvious trend. Consequently, the quantity of food waste is also increasing, making it difficult to manage. Although efforts to stimulate the consumption of organic products have been supported, the expected level of success has not been achieved.

This paper addresses the connection between three major issues that influence each other: organic production requirements, food hyper-consumption, and food waste management. All of these involve approaches to quality, which seems to be affected when the objectives of the three directions are opposed. The quantitative increase in food consumption generates commercial benefits, but determines major food waste management problems, and organic production remains limited. So, a complex dashboard is built and analyzed with the three components, with the appreciation of quality as a common denominator . The goal is to identify the causes that generate disruptions between the three components and to propose solutions that can regulate the imbalances highlighted. The analysis is conducted on the North-East Development Region of Romania, with reference data for the last 5 years. The results show that the consumption of organic food is limited, food hyper-consumption is increasingly widespread, being a false sign of well-being, while food waste management is becoming increasingly difficult due to the amount of waste and a socio-economic climate that affects the understanding level of the population regarding the quantity–quality ratio in food consumption.

Elicitation is one of the effective strategies in plant tissue culture, which stimulates the production of secondary metabolites in plants using specific compounds. This technique can enhance the synthesis of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes, by stimulating the plant's defense systems. Yeast extract is recognized as a biotic elicitor, rich in vitamins, amino acids, and growth factors. This extract can directly influence the growth and metabolism of the plant, thereby stimulating the plant's defense mechanisms, which in turn increases the production of secondary metabolites. Calendula officinalis, commonly known as marigold, is well-known for its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. This plant contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and terpenes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of yeast extract on callus growth, secondary metabolite production, and antioxidant activity in Calendula officinalis calli. In this study, Calendula officinalis seeds were disinfected and transferred to MS medium. After 20 days, the leaves were transferred to a medium containing 2 mg/L NAA and 1.5 mg/L BAP to induce callus formation. The calli were then cultured in media containing different concentrations of yeast extract (0, 1000, 1200, and 1400 µM). After 4 weeks, various callus characteristics, including fresh and dry weights and callus volume, were measured. Additionally, the phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity of the calli were measured by extraction and chemical analysis. The results of this study showed that yeast extract significantly increased the production of secondary metabolites in Calendula officinalis calli, and notably enhanced both the antioxidant activity and the growth of the callus. These findings could serve as a foundation for the development of novel methods for the production of pharmaceutical compounds from medicinal plants and the improvement of industrial processes for secondary metabolite production in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Introduction

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a widely used spice and is one of the world's oldest and most consumed bulbs. Garlic has been found to contain a multitude of phytochemical compounds, which have been identified as the causative agents for its unique properties.

The inoculation of garlic with endemic microorganisms, such as Trichoderma, has been demonstrated to possess the capacity to facilitate the restructuring and stimulation of plant growth and secondary metabolite production. This process occurs in both optimal conditions and under diverse biotic and abiotic stressors. Nevertheless, further research is required to determine the impact of these microorganisms on garlic's antimicrobial compounds, with a particular focus on their activity against human pathogens.

The present study aims to investigate the impact of the application of endemic microorganisms on the antimicrobial property of garlic extracts against human pathogens. In addition, it aims to investigate the potential mechanism of action of bioactive compounds through molecular docking.

Methodes

The present study involved the cultivation of garlic in a greenhouse and inoculation with three Trichoderma strains, including T1:TMSKOLDZ20, T2:TMS11DZ15, and T3:TMS5DZ15. Following harvesting, the extracts at varying concentrations (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) were evaluated for their antimicrobial effect against human pathogens from each sample. The binding capabilities of garlic compounds were studied using in silico molecular docking to inhibit the outer membrane protein of Salmonella typhi.

Results

The T3 and T2 treatments have been shown to possess significantly superior antimicrobial activity in comparison to the other treatments under investigation. Furthermore, among the garlic phytochemicals examined, γ-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine demonstrated the strongest binding affinity against Salmonella typhi. This suggest that Trichoderma asperellum may have the capacity to increase the levels of γ-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine in garlic.

Conclusion

Strains T3 and T2 have the potential to serve as promising sources for the development of natural alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

A clear understanding of seed physical characteristics is fundamental in designing and operating agricultural equipment involved in sowing, harvesting, processing, packaging, and storage. This investigation explores how varying moisture content influences the physical attributes of linseed. Moisture levels in the seeds were adjusted between 4.5% and 20.5% (wet basis), and several parameters were examined. Results showed that seed length, width, and thickness increased from 4.67 mm to 4.96 mm, 2.27 mm to 2.44 mm, and 0.92 mm to 0.96 mm, respectively, with rising moisture content. In parallel, aspect ratio increased from 0.486 to 0.492, geometric diameter from 2.14 mm to 2.26 mm, and surface area from 12.55 mm² to 14.11 mm². A minor but consistent rise in sphericity was also noted. Meanwhile, bulk density decreased significantly from 768.4 kg/m³ to 588.5 kg/m³, whereas true density showed a modest increase from 1005.2 kg/m³ to 1024.4 kg/m³. Porosity expanded from 23.56% to 42.55%, and the angle of repose grew from 24.40° to 31.40°, suggesting a decline in flowability with increased seed moisture. Each parameter exhibited a linear trend with respect to moisture levels. Statistical analysis yielded high regression coefficients (R² > 0.95) and p-values under 0.05 for all traits, indicating a significant dependency on moisture content. Standard measurement techniques were employed to ensure consistency and accuracy in data collection. The insights gained from this study are essential for engineers and technologists involved in seed processing, as they underline the necessity of considering moisture content when designing storage facilities, handling systems, and machinery. Ultimately, the results emphasize that moisture variations have a marked effect on the physical behavior of linseed, making it a key variable in ensuring product quality and post-harvest efficiency.

Fungal rot poses a significant challenge to the post-harvest preservation of tomatoes, leading to substantial losses and reduced shelf life. This study aimed to determine the anti-rot effects of kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi) leaf and fruit extracts on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits in terms of the diameter of the fungal colony and percentage of mycelial growth inhibition. Kamias fruits and leaves were collected, cleaned, dried, and processed into extracts. Tomato fruits were individually dipped in their respective treatment solutions for 20 minutes. The treatments prepared were as follows: T0 - distilled water, T1 - commercial fungicide, T2 - 25% fruit extract concentration, T3 - 50% fruit extract concentration, T4 - 75% fruit extract concentration, T5 - pure fruit extract, T6 - 25% leaf extract concentration, T7 - 50% leaf extract concentration, T8 - 75% leaf extract concentration, and T9 - 100% pure leaf extract.

The researchers used mean and Analysis of Variance and Post Hoc Tukey's HSD to analyze the data. The results showed that kamias fruit and leaf extracts significantly inhibited fungal growth and effectively combated tomato rot. Increasing the concentration of the extracts led to smaller fungal colony diameters, indicating more potent antifungal activity. Interestingly, higher extract concentrations also promoted mycelial growth, suggesting potential protective effects on tomatoes against fungus.

Furthermore, significant differences were observed among the various treatments of kamias leaf and fruit extracts in terms of the tomato fruits' shelf-life duration. Therefore, this study reveals that applying kamias fruit and leaf extracts could serve as a natural and effective method to enhance post-harvest storage and reduce spoilage of tomato fruits.

In this work we studied in vitro the antifungal effect of essential oils obtained from the Greek flora aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family, Satureja horvatii ssp. macrophylla, Coridothymus capitatus, and Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum, on two phytopathogenic fungi, which cause black spot of tomato fruits (Alternaria sp.) and potato tuber dry rot (Fusarium sp.) during storage. According to the results of Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometry analysis, the essential oils of S. horvatii ssp. macrophylla, C. capitatus, and O. vulgare ssp. hirtum used in the experiments belong to the carvacrol chemotype. The antifungal effect of the essential oils on the phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated by fumigant assay. An essential oil-free treatment was used as a control. After 8 days of fungal growth on the Petri dish, the results showed that some of the essential oils completely inhibited the mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium sp. and A. alternata. This effect could be further evaluated in vivo for the fruits' post-harvest protection from phytopathogenic fungi during storage, aiming to improve agricultural products' quality.

Sesame seeds serve as a crucial source of sustenance, nutrition, and economic value in developing nations. Ensuring optimal storage conditions is vital for mitigating the risk of mycotoxin contamination. This study employed regression analysis on historical data to assess the impact of storage environmental conditions on fungal growth and mycotoxin generation in sesame, aiming to enhance the storage practices of smallholder farmers. This research utilized both linear and non-linear regression models to investigate how various environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, moisture content, and gas levels, influence the proliferation of fungi and the production of mycotoxins in sesame seeds during storage. The findings indicate that keeping seed moisture content under 6% and the temperature inside the storage below 20°C effectively reduces aflatoxin levels in hermetically sealed bags. Conversely, in traditional bags, aflatoxin levels tend to rise, primarily due to increased seed moisture. This study also discovered a significant correlation between the rise of Ochratoxin A levels and the presence of Penicillium and Aspergillus infections in sesame seeds. Notably, Ochratoxin A levels were below 6 ppb when there was a 50% combination of Penicillium and Aspergillus. This suggests that these fungi play a substantial role in generating Ochratoxin A in stored sesame. Effective management of mycotoxins in stored sesame can be achieved through careful control of abiotic factors, highlighting the crucial role of storage environment in preventing fungal contamination and mycotoxin production.

Introduction

Intensive agriculture has historically relied on chemical inputs to increase crop yields. However, continued use of such inputs has led to negative environmental impacts, including soil and water contamination, biodiversity loss, and a growing dependency on external resources with increasingly volatile costs. In this context, the European Union’s “Farm to Fork” Strategy promotes a reduction of at least 20% in chemical fertilizer use, encouraging the search for more sustainable alternatives [1]. One such alternative is Tenebrio molitor frass, a by-product derived from insect farming using plant-based residues. This material exhibits biofertilizer and biostimulant properties, making it a promising input for environmentally friendly agriculture [2, 3].

Methods

This study evaluated the use of T. molitor frass in a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic system for tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum). Three treatments were established: T100 (100% conventional chemical fertilization), T80 (20% reduction in chemical fertilization), and T80F (T80 supplemented with frass). The objective was to determine whether frass supplementation could compensate for reduced chemical input without compromising yield or quality. Physiological, morphological, productive, and organoleptic variables were monitored.

Results

T80F treatment resulted in a higher chlorophyll content, significant improvements in root development and primary fruit formation, and a total tomato yield comparable to that under T100. Additionally, T80F fruits had higher Brix degrees (sugar content) and received high scores in organoleptic evaluations.

Conclusions

These results support the use of frass as a functional amendment in hydroponic systems, contributing to the reduction of chemical inputs without sacrificing productivity or quality.

References

[1] European Commission. Farm to Fork Strategy; European Commission. (2019).
[2] Poveda, J. Insect frass in the development of sustainable agriculture. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 41, 5. (2021).
[3] Barragán-Fonseca, K.Y., Nurfikari, A., van de Zande, E.M., Wantulla, M., van Loon, J.J. A., de Boer, W., Dicke, M. Insect frass and exuviae to promote plant growth and health. Trends Plant Sci. 7, 646–654. (2022).