Ustilago esculenta is a dimorphic endophytic fungus that specifically infects Zizania latifolia, inducing stem swelling to form the economically important aquatic vegetable "Jiaobai". The pathogenicity of U. esculenta is closely associated with its dimorphic switch. This study systematically characterized the four G protein α subunit genes (Uegpa1-Uegpa4) in U. esculenta. Functional analysis revealed that Uegpa3 plays an indispensable role in pathogenicity by regulating dimorphic transition via the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. Deletion of Uegpa3 resulted in defective conjugation tube formation, impaired mating, and loss of infectivity, all of which were restored upon exogenous cAMP supplementation. In contrast, deletion of Uegpa2 or Uegpa4 resulted in no observable phenotypic alterations. This study provides the first systematic functional characterization of Gα subunits in U. esculenta, and specifically reveals the crucial role of Uegpa3 in regulating dimorphic transition and pathogenicity through the cAMP-PKA pathway. These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying the interaction between U. esculenta and its host Z. latifolia.

The effect of freeze-thaw pretreatment on the artificial humification of rice straw via hydrothermal carbonization was evaluated in this work. The physical-chemical characteristics of hydrochar were characterized using XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, and the liquid was analyzed by FT-ICR-MS. Results showed that one cycle of freeze-thaw at -20 °C for 24h increased total humic acid yield by 7.2 % compared to untreated straw, with a 6.8 % enhancement under KOH-assisted hydrothermal humification conditions (KOH-to-straw mass ratio of 1:5, 200 °C with reaction time of 2h). The pretreatment reduced crystallinity from 20.53 % to 12.85 %, exposing amorphous cellulose for preferential hydrolysis. FT-ICR-MS reveals that freeze-thaw more than doubles carbohydrate diversity in dissolved organic matter while increasing aliphatic species by 18 %. XPS confirms the emergence of carboxyl groups (4.65 % of surface carbon) and a 7.5 % increase in surface oxygen content. These cryogenic with modifications promoted oxidative condensation, yielding lower-molecular-weight humic substances with enhanced aromaticity.

Tetranychus urticae (Koch), the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), is a highly polyphagous agricultural pest, infesting more than 1,100 plant species. Chemical control of TSSM is limited by the rapid development of resistant mite populations. Previous studies have shown that exogenous application of phenylalanine to plants is efficiently absorbed and metabolized into phenylpropanoids, thereby enhancing plant resistance to fungal and insect pests. Here, we demonstrate that phenylalanine treatment also increases plant resistance to TSSM. In choice assays, mites preferentially colonized non-treated plants over treated plants. In no-choice experiments, phenylalanine-treated plants constituted a hostile environment for TSSM: mites attempted to leave treated leaflets, exhibited increased oviposition, and showed a reduced rate of development from nymphs to mature adults. Three mechanisms underlying phenylalanine-induced resistance have previously been identified, including the accumulation of metabolites toxic to pathogens, the induction of a priming effect that enables rapid and targeted activation of plant defense genes following infection, and enhanced immunity in neighboring untreated plants. Here we present an additional mechanism involving metabolomic induced resistance, in which phenylalanine treatment triggers an early and enhanced accumulation of phenylpropanoids associated with plant immunity. These metabolites accumulate gradually in non-treated plants following TSSM infestation, ultimately reaching levels comparable to those observed in phenylalanine-treated plants. These findings demonstrate that phenylalanine accelerates the deployment of defense-associated metabolites and enhances resistance to arthropod pests.

Rapid and accurate determination of ascorbic acid (AA) is important for evaluating the nutritional quality of fresh produce. In this study, biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized from pomelo peel in a green deep eutectic solvent, and Fe3+ was subsequently coordinated with the CDs to construct an off-on fluorescent probe based on Fe3+-induced quenching and AA-triggered fluorescence recovery. The probe was incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microneedle (MN) patch to enable localized sampling and in situ sensing in fruits and vegetables. Fluorescence images were acquired using a smartphone, and multidimensional RGB-derived features were analyzed using LightGBM for quantitative prediction. The platform exhibited a linear response to AA over 0-10 mM (R2 = 0.9979) with a limit of detection of 0.2 μM, while the direct sampling, fluorescence sensing, and smartphone readout could be completed within 10 min. In real produce samples, the microneedle measurements showed good agreement with the reference method, supporting the potential of this portable platform for on-site AA quantification.

Postharvest apricot fruits are highly susceptible to Alternaria alternata infection, which induces black spot disease and causes considerable economic losses. This study investigated the effect of ozone (O₃) on the resistance of 'Chuanzhihong' apricots to A. alternata using integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and whole-genome methylomic analyses. Fruits were inoculated with A. alternata, treated with 46 μL·L-1 O₃ for 10 min, and stored for 6 days. O₃ significantly inhibited disease progression, promoted the accumulation of 11 amino acids, elevated jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) contents, and activated relevant metabolic pathways. It regulated JA/SA biosynthesis genes (LOX2S, ACX, ACAA1) and the key signal transduction transcription factor MYC2. Dynamic CG/CHG/CHH hypermethylation and hypomethylation triggered by O₃ modulated the transcription of 29 pivotal defense-related genes. Collectively, O₃ enhances postharvest disease resistance in apricots by orchestrating DNA methylation, phytohormone crosstalk, and amino acid metabolic networks.

To fulfil rapid identification and quantification of various pesticide residues, we first synthesized a FeZnCu@CNP nanozyme with dual laccase- and peroxidase-like activities, enabling differential responses to eight pesticides (Gly, Car, Met, TBZ, CBZ, PCNB, ACE, and MCPA) via coordination and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The dual-channel nanozyme sensor array based on machine learning was developed, successfully discriminating these pesticides at 0.1-100 μg/mL for both qualitative and quantitative detection with an LOD of 0.013 μg/mL. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) confirmed effective differentiation of eight individual pesticides and their mixtures at varied concentrations and ratios. The concentration-independent discrimination model based on the K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm demonstrated outstanding accuracy in pesticide detection and differentiation. Importantly, this model demonstrated strong anti-interference and high feasibility for fruit/vegetable and blind sample identification. This sensor array enables concentration-independent qualitative identification and accurate quantitation of eight residues, offering a supplementary rapid-screening strategy for multi-pesticide detection.

To address threats of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) residues to food safety and environmental health, this study developed a core-shell-shell nanozyme (Co3O4@ZnO@Hemin) for sensitive OPs detection in multiple real samples. The nanozyme integrates nanocatalyst electronic effects with biomimetic hydrophobic microenvironment functionality, fabricated by pyrolyzing a ZIF-67@ZIF-8 metal-organic framework (MOF)-on-MOF precursor, followed by Hemin loading. Remarkably, this nanozyme exhibits specific peroxidase-like activity, attributed to the mesoporous Co3O4@ZnO structure that promotes electron transfer and provides bimetallic mixed-valence active sites. Meanwhile, Hemin incorporation further increases oxygen vacancies through electronic regulation and enhances hydrophobicity, synergistically boosting catalytic performance. Therefore, this nanozyme sensor platform achieved ultrasensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) detection with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.07 mU mL⁻¹ and quantitative trichlorfon detection (1-5 ng·mL-1, LOD 0.10 ng·mL-1), successfully applied to detect trichlorfon in lettuce, cucumber, bok choy, and lake water, with 90.21-105.91% recoveries and RSDs below 4.62%. This study provides a bioinspired nanozyme strategy for sensing.

In this study, a soy protein isolate-polysaccharide hydrogel was employed to simulate connective tissue, and the regulatory mechanism of transglutaminase (TG) addition on its crosslinking structure, micromorphology, and adhesion stability was systematically investigated. The crosslinking degree and fluorescence spectral results demonstrated that TG enhanced intermolecular interactions, including both protein-protein and protein-polysaccharide interactions. However, excessively high enzyme concentrations (SPI:TG ratios of 2:3 or lower) inhibited crosslinking, possibly due to steric hindrance. The crosslinking degree reached a maximum of 21.55% at 0.75% TG, while the mean particle size decreased to a minimum of 50.28 nm at an SPI:TG ratio of 1:1 (1.00% TG), where a compact gel network was formed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that hydrogen bonds and amide bonds synergistically stabilized the network structure, while scanning electron microscopy revealed a dense and uniform honeycomb-like porous morphology. The 1:1 group exhibited the highest apparent viscosity and the smallest difference in hardness between two compression cycles (2795.0 g-2469 g), demonstrating balanced toughness and adhesion stability. After assembly with textured protein, the 1% TG-crosslinked mimic maintained interfacial bonding after two freeze-thaw cycles and pan-frying, whereas the control without TG fractured at the interface. This study provides a theoretical basis for the construction of the plant-based connective tissue mimic with high stability.

Mechanical damage caused by vibration, impact, and compression during postharvest handling, transportation, and distribution is one of the main factors leading to losses and quality deterioration of fruits and vegetables. Cushioning packaging has therefore become an effective strategy for mitigating mechanical damage and maintaining produce quality. However, most conventional cushioning materials are petroleum-based plastics. With increasing environmental pollution and growing demands for sustainable development, the development of renewable and potentially lower-impact cushioning packaging materials has become an important research focus. This review provides an overview of recent advances in cushioning materials for fruit and vegetable transportation. The physiological and biochemical changes and associated quality deterioration of fruits and vegetables under mechanical stress are analyzed, including bruising, firmness loss, water loss, metabolic disturbance, changes in bioactive compounds, and decay development. The effectiveness of different cushioning systems in mitigating mechanical damage and maintaining postharvest quality is also discussed. The major raw materials used in cushioning packaging are classified according to their plant-based, animal-based, synthetic, and inorganic origins, and their functional properties and roles within material systems are summarized. In addition, the main fabrication methods are compared in terms of structure formation, mechanical performance, advantages, limitations, processing requirements, and industrial feasibility. Current challenges related to production cost, scalability, humidity sensitivity, food-contact safety, recyclability, regulatory requirements, and life cycle sustainability are further considered. This review provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for the future development and customized design of cushioning packaging materials with improved performance.

Cadmium (Cd) is a primary contaminant deteriorating agricultural soil quality in China. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable crop capable of accumulating high levels of Cd. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a biochar-based microbial agent (Burkholderia pyrrocinia P10) on pepper growth and development under Cd stress conditions. The results showed that P10 had strong Cd resistance-related and plant growth-promoting properties. Morever, it effectively colonized the porous biochar structure. Under Cd stress (10-70 mg kg⁻¹), the biochar-immoblized P10 (PC) treatment consistently enhanced pepper growth and Cd tolerance throughout the growth period, as reflected by increased plant biomass, decreased malondialdehyde content. PC also significantly increased the number of fruits per plant and improved fruit nutritional quality, while markedly reducing soil available Cd and the acuumulation of Cd plants and fruits. These beneficial effects were superior to those of bacterial inoculation or biochar application alone. According to root transcriptomic profiling at the full-fruiting stage, compared with the effects of 50 mg kg- 1 Cd2+ stress conditions, the PC treatment upregulated the expression of genes related to cell wall and cell membrane synthesis (e.g., CYP98A3, ALDH2C4, PER4, and FAD2); phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling (e.g., GH3.1, CisZOGT, amiE, GA3ox, KS, and KO); base excision repair, alleviation of spliceosome dysfunction, and protein homeostasis (e.g., NTH, AlkA, prp16, and Ubx); and glutathione and ascorbate metabolism (e.g., APX1, GME, and multiple GST genes). These findings elucidate the molecular basis of the superior efficacy of biochar-immobilized bacterial agent in enhancing Cd tolerance and reducing Cd accumulation in pepper.

Fungal diseases continue to devastate global fruit and vegetable production, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable disease management approaches such as microbial biocontrol. In this study, a locally isolated bacterial strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis BJ1 based on phylogenomic analysis, and its biocontrol potential was evaluated using in vitro, in vivo, and in planta assays combined with in silico analysis. In vitro dual culture assay demonstrated broad-spectrum antagonistic activity of the BJ1 strain against 59 isolates of common fungal phytopathogens affecting fruit trees and vegetables, with inhibition rates ranging from 53.76% to 98.45%. The strongest suppression was observed against Diaporthe sojae OSS① (98.45%), followed by D. sojae B2 JZB320190 (89.15%), Cladosporium cladosporioides TZZG-11-A-S1 (85.37%), C. cladosporioides TZZG-6-A-S1 (85.22%), D. sojae JZB320189 (80.62%), and D. eres TZZG36-S1 (80.62%). Detached tomato leaf assays against the gray mold pathogen Botrytis cinerea demonstrated that BJ1 achieved high control efficiencies of 87.87% and 68.95% for therapeutic and preventive treatments, respectively, at a concentration of 1 × 10⁷ CFU/mL. Furthermore, a BJ1-based water-dispersible granule formulation applied at 2 × 108 CFU/mL achieved an 80.48% disease inhibition rate under greenhouse conditions. Genome mining identified 13 biosynthetic gene clusters encoding antimicrobial compounds, suggesting a genetic basis for BJ1's biocontrol activity. Overall, B. velezensis BJ1 demonstrates strong potential for development as an effective biocontrol product, offering both genomic insights and practical application in sustainable disease management.

Nonuniformity is the most critical yet unresolved bottleneck limiting the industrial adoption of multi-physical field drying (microwave, radio frequency, infrared, and ultrasound) for fruits and vegetables. While individual physical field technologies and AI applications have been reviewed separately, a conceptual framework that explains how nonuniformity originates, amplifies, and can be intelligently controlled is currently lacking. This review provides a problem-driven analysis of nonuniformity in physical field drying, proposing a three-stage cascade framework (Initiation → Amplification → Termination) to elucidate the multi-scale coupling between microscopic energy defects and macroscopic quality failure. We further critically evaluate the transition from black-box artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to advanced closed-loop intelligent control strategies involving physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and digital twins, structured along a perception-prediction-control paradigm. The cascade framework reveals that initial minor heterogeneities are self-reinforced through positive feedback loops, necessitating early-warning prediction. AI-driven adaptive control, coupled with synergistic cross-field designs, may provide opportunities to interrupt this amplification process at early stages. We provide a strategic roadmap emphasizing multimodal sensing and physics-based hybrid modeling to achieve precision, uniformity, and sustainability in next-generation industrial drying systems. This review offers a distinctive problem‑oriented perspective that complements prior technology‑centric surveys by placing nonuniformity as the central narrative and offering a conceptual framework for its prediction and control.

Fruit and vegetable self-efficacy may influence adolescent dietary behavior, yet culturally adapted measures for Malaysian adolescents remain limited. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the 17-item Fruit Self-Efficacy (FSE) and Vegetable Self-Efficacy (VSE) scales into Malay and obtain initial evidence on their measurement properties. The study comprised two sequential phases. Phase 1 involved forward and backward translation, cognitive debriefing with five adolescents, linguistic equivalence assessment by six experts, content validity assessment by nine experts, qualitative and quantitative face validity assessment involving 15 unique adolescents, and pretesting with 37 adolescents. Phase 2 comprised an initial psychometric evaluation among 128 adolescents from four classes in one purposively selected public secondary school in Selangor. The adaptation process included age-appropriate refinements to the linguistic and contextual aspects of fruit and vegetable preparation, snacks, social occasions, serving terminology, and meal contexts. In particular, "pieces of fruit" was adapted to "servings of fruit" and supported by a pictorial serving guide, while "hot meal" was contextualized as "main meal." All source items met the prespecified content-validity criteria. Scale-level content-validity indices were 0.99 for FSE and 0.95 for VSE, while scale-level face-validity indices ranged from 0.95 to 0.97. One FSE item with an initial clarity index below the criterion was revised using concrete preparation examples and reassessed. In the separate psychometric sample, the prespecified one-factor FSE model showed acceptable fit (CFI = 0.974, TLI = 0.970, RMSEA = 0.069, SRMR = 0.061), although pronounced item-level ceiling effects were observed. The prespecified VSE model showed substantial misfit (RMSEA = 0.136, SRMR = 0.099), and its structural validity was not established. A same-sample post hoc specification with six correlated residuals remained hypothesis-generating because its RMSEA was 0.094. The multistage process produced linguistically and culturally adapted FSE and VSE scales that met the prespecified content and face-validity criteria among the expert and adolescent samples assessed. However, evidence supporting the one-factor structure was stronger for FSE than VSE. Further cognitive investigation and adequately powered, independent multisite evaluation across diverse ethnic and age groups are required before broader use.