BackgroundTomato yield is significantly reduced by root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.), particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study evaluated 20 bacterial isolates (B1-B20), belonging to the genera Bacillus, Lysobacter, Paenibacillus, and Streptomyces, from Sekem farms in Egypt for their potential to biocontrol RKN and stimulate plant growth in tomato 'Moneymaker.' The bacteria were compared to well-known microbial biocontrol agents (MBA), including Rhizobium etli G12 (B21), Pseudomonas trivialis 3Re2-7 (B22), Sporosarcina psychrophile Sd4-11 (B23), and B. subtilis Sb1-20 (B24), and a negative control, Escherichia coli JM109 (B25). The study involved seed-coated and -uncoated plants with bacterial isolates, planted in plastic pots, and inoculated with 1500 M. incognita J2 individuals per pot. Plants were grown in a saran-house during the 2022 and 2023 fall seasons, and their RKN-satisfying response (number of galls: NG and egg masses: NEM), vegetative growth, and metabolic activity were assessed 45 days after inoculation.ResultsIn seasons of 2022 and 2023, seed coating with bacterial isolates achieved a significant improvement in plant growth (coefficient of variation: CV ranging 26.8-120.2% in 2022 and 10.9-48.8% in 2023) and a reduction in RKN-satisfying response (CV for NG: 57.6 and 53.8%, respectively; and for NEM: 56.5 and 65.3%, respectively). Compared to uncoated-seed plants, the bacterial seed coating reduced NG by 0.66-74.09% in 2022 and 14.61-66.29% in 2023. Similarly, NEM decreased by 0.63-70.61% in 2022 and 41.91-77.46% in 2023. The coated-seed plants by Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii (B5), Streptomyces subrutilus Wb2n-11 (B12), Streptomyces scabiei (B19), and Bacillus mojavensis (B20), along with the well-known MBAs B22 and B23, showed increased photosynthetic pigments, fresh weight of roots and shoots, stem size, and number of leaves. This growth has also led to higher dry weights in roots and shoots, and an increase in the root content of carbohydrates and proteins. Seed coating induced systemic RKN resistance by increasing polyphenols in the root. In contrast, uncoated-seed plants showed reduced foliar photosynthesis pigment and metabolic activity due to high RKN damage. Principal component analysis revealed significant correlations among the evaluated traits. Hierarchical clustering categorized bacteria isolates into five clusters based on their impact on estimated plant traits.ConclusionB5, B12, B19, B20, B22, and B23 demonstrated superior performance in both controlling RKN and stimulating vegetative growth in tomato 'Moneymaker' plants as known MBAs.

Olive oil (OO) has longstanding significance in human history, particularly in the Mediterranean region, where it has been a cornerstone of diet, economy, and culture. This history adds to modern evidence-based knowledge. Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD), rich in plant-based foods and OO, has been extensively associated with improved cardiometabolic and cognitive health. Recent interest has emerged in understanding how intermittent fasting protocols may enhance these effects. Still, the quality of OO does not only lie in the extraction process; it is also dependent on the tree variety, the soil, and the agricultural practices, ending with the way in which the finished product is stored and consumed. Objectives: This review explores the synergistic potential between OO consumption and intermittent fasting, focusing on their combined impact on metabolic health, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways. Methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple databases to identify studies addressing the health effects of OO, fasting, and the MD. Both human and relevant preclinical studies were considered, with emphasis on those evaluating inflammatory markers, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and neuroprotective mechanisms. Results: Evidence suggests that the bioactive compounds in EVOO may potentiate the benefits of fasting by enhancing antioxidant capacity, reducing postprandial inflammation, and modulating gene expression related to cellular metabolism. Combined, these factors may support improved insulin sensitivity, reduced oxidative damage, and delayed onset of age-related diseases. Conclusions: Understanding the integrative role of OO and fasting within the MD framework could offer valuable insights for nutritional strategies aimed at preventing metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegeneration. These findings also support the need for future clinical trials exploring the timing, dosage, and dietary context in which these interventions are most effective.

Plant polyphenols represent valuable additives for food packaging; however, their poor hydrophilicity necessitates complex pre-treatments. In this study, we propose a simple and eco-friendly strategy for the direct incorporation of hydrophobic polyphenols into packaging films. Using carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized carrageenan as substrates, we successfully introduced hydrophobic polyphenols into multifunctional hydrogel films through borate ester bonds. The mechanical strength of these films was further enhanced by schiff base bonds. The prepared hydrogel films exhibited antibacterial rates exceeding 98 % against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and demonstrated excellent antioxidant and UV shielding properties. As the oxidation degree of carrageenan increased, the water vapor permeability rate of the hydrogel films decreased from 1.34 x 10-1 0 g & sdot;m-1 & sdot;s-1 & sdot;Pa-1 to 3.13 x 10-1 1 g & sdot;m-1 & sdot;s-1 & sdot;Pa-1 , while the oxygen permeability rate decreased from 40.61 meq/kg to 20.04 meq/kg. This design effectively mitigates the deterioration of fruits and vegetables caused by dehydration and oxidation. Furthermore, the hydrogel films containing carrageenan with a medium oxidation degree exhibited superior mechanical properties, with tensile strength increasing by 4.8-fold and the ability to bear a load of 200 g. The banana preservation experiments demonstrated that hydrogel films can effectively delay the deterioration of bananas. Notably, the film exhibited excellent biodegradability, degrading by 90 % in soil within 60 days, underscoring its significant potential for developing functional and environmentally friendly food packaging systems.

To elucidate the mechanism underlying the enhancement of salinity tolerance by tea polyphenols (TPs), we employed seedlings of the wheat cultivar Longchun 30 to explore the individual and combined effects of 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and 25 mg L-1 (25) or 100 mg L-1 (100) TPs on growth parameters, element absorption and transport, as well as polyphenols including anthocyanin metabolism. Compared to the control, treatment with NaCl significantly reduced plant biomass, relative growth rate (by 62%), leaf area (by 61%), AS(K)(+), Na+ levels (by 38%), and AS(Ca2)(+), Na+ levels (by 54%) in wheat seedlings. Conversely, it led to an increase in TSK+, Na+ (by 88%) and TSCa2+, Na+ levels (by 257%). Moreover, the NaCl treatment diminished the antioxidant activity in the in vitro leaf extract, resulting in enhanced reactive oxygen species levels and oxidative damage in wheat leaves. Furthermore, the levels of total polyphenols (by 27%), flavonoids (by 31%), and anthocyanins (by 27%) in wheat leaves were markedly reduced under salt stress. This was accompanied by the down-regulation of the activities of 4-coumaroyl: CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-dioxygenase (F3H), dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase, along with the down-regulation of their gene expression. In contrast, individual TPs exposure resulted in weak, ineffective, or even opposite effects on most of these parameters. More importantly, the addition of TPs partly counteracted salinity-induced changes in these parameters, particularly by increasing total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins levels, upregulating the activities of the aforementioned six enzymes, and enhancing the expression of Ta4CL, TaCHI, TaF3H, and TaDFR in wheat leaves under salinity stress. Additionally, the growth-promoting effect of 100 mg L-1 TPs on salinity-stressed seedlings was stronger than that of 25 mg L-1 TPs. Overall, TPs application significantly enhanced the growth of salinity-stressed wheat seedlings by improving K+ and Ca2+ absorption and elevating polyphenols, including flavonoids and anthocyanins levels. Moreover, the accumulation of anthocyanins in salinity-stressed wheat leaves induced by TPs was attributed to the up-regulation of the activities and gene expression of synthesis-related enzymes.

Phthalates are the emerging environmental toxicants derived from phthalic acid and its constituents, which are moderately present in plastics and many personal care products. Phthalate exposure occurs through various environmental factors, including air, water, and soil, with absorption facilitated via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Upon exposure, phthalates become bioavailable within the biological systems and undergo biotransformation and detoxification processes in the liver. The physicochemical properties of phthalates indicate their lipophilicity, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation potential, influencing their absorption, distribution, and hepatic biotransformation. The prolonged exposure to phthalates adversely influences the biological redox system by altering the levels of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, molecular signaling pathways, and causing hepatic pathogenesis. The strategies to combat phthalate-induced toxicity include avoiding exposure to these compounds and using plant-based bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, which possess therapeutic potential as antioxidants, suppress inflammatory cascades, prevent oxidative damage, and stabilize cellular integrity. This review presents a comprehensive and updated account of the chemical, biochemical, immunological, and toxicological properties of phthalates, along with novel plant-based therapeutic strategies to mitigate the phthalate-induced adverse effects on living systems.

Broad infestations of invasive, non-native vegetation have transformed wetlands around the world. Ludwigia hexapetala is a widespread, amphibious invasive plant with a creeping growth habit in open water and an erect growth habit in terrestrial habitats. In the upper San Francisco Estuary of California, L. hexapetala is increasingly terrestrializing into marshes and this expansion may be facilitated by allelopathy. We conducted the first field-based study on L. hexapetala allelopathy to determine whether (1) three allelochemicals known to be exuded by L. hexapetala are expressed in situ, (2) the allelochemicals are detectable in leaves, soil, and water, and (3) allelopathic expression varies by season, salinity, and growth habit (open water patch vs. terrestrial marsh interface locations). Water, soil, and L. hexapetala leaves were collected in two freshwater sites and two oligohaline sites in the upper San Francisco Estuary in summer 2021, fall 2021, and spring 2022. Myricitrin and quercitrin, known allelochemicals, and salipurposid, a newly identified polyphenol, were detected in water, soil, and leaves. There were significant differences in allelochemical concentrations under fresh versus oligohaline conditions in water and soil, but not leaves. All three allelochemicals generally had higher concentrations in patch versus interface locations, suggesting that L. hexapetala allelopathy plays a greater competitive role in open water than terrestrial habitats. Leaf concentrations of each allelochemical varied seasonally; however, both myricitrin and salipurposid had heightened concentrations in spring. These results suggest that herbicide application in early spring may be most effective in controlling L. hexapetala terrestrialization from open water to marshes.