https://phys.org/biology-news/agriculture en-us Agriculture, livestock, farming and food processing news Chickpeas, lentils, beans and peas are a fast-growing food market, with new uses going well beyond bean salads and hummus—think brownies, vegan meats, and salad dressing. Researchers like Chitra Sivakumar are working to drive dining innovation by studying the tiniest details of flours made from these pulses. Sivakumar has three publications in the journal Advanced Powder Technology. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-pulse-flours-consumer-synchrotron-optimal.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Fri, 08 Nov 2024 04:16:16 EST news650261772 Plastic debris can break down into smaller particles due to different environmental factors, and become micro-nanoplastics (MNPs). Foliar accumulation of MNPs in leafy crops could negatively affect plant productivity and nutritional value and therefore poses a direct threat to plants. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-accumulation-polystyrene-nanoplastics-poses-threats.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:20:10 EST news650215201 Raspberry production faces many challenges, including pests. To reduce the use of chemical pesticides, it is essential to find environmentally friendly control methods. Now, researchers at NIBIO are studying how sprinkling with water can reduce the pressure from spider mites. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-sprinkling-effective-spider-mites-raspberry.html Ecology Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:39:04 EST news650212742 The ability to genetically engineer plants is largely thanks to a microscopic helper: a bacterium called Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Agrobacterium in the wild causes damaging tumors in flowering plants, including some economically important crops, but its ability to insert its own DNA into host plants is what makes it both a pest to farmers and a powerful tool for biotechnology. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-method-biofuel-bioproduct.html Biotechnology Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:08:05 EST news650203682 The cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove have been placed under quarantine on Wednesday in light of an uninvited and unwelcome visitor: the oriental fruit fly, an invasive pest that attacks over 230 crops including fruits, nuts and vegetables. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-invasive-fruit-fly-species-southern.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:30:01 EST news650200922 "How is plant growth controlled?" and "What is the basis of variation in stress tolerance in plants?" were among the 125 most challenging scientific questions, according to the journal Science in 2016. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-scientists-reveal-strigolactone-perception-mechanism.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:30:38 EST news650194234 Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered the origin of a curious duplication that gives plants multiple ways to override instructions that are coded into their DNA. This research could help scientists exploit a plant's existing systems to favor traits that make it more resilient to environmental changes, like heat or drought stress. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-biologists-evolved-multiple-ways-override.html Evolution Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:00:01 EST news650107578 In a study of salmon samples from Seattle, Washington, grocery stores and sushi restaurants, DNA analysis revealed that 18% were mislabeled. Tracie Delgado and colleagues at Seattle Pacific University, WA, U.S., present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on November 6, 2024. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-grocery-reliable-sushi-restaurants-salmon.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:00:01 EST news650105034 Heat, dry spells and flooding—the whole of nature is under stress, and potatoes are no exception. As a food staple, there is particular interest in getting potatoes fit for the new climate reality. As part of the EU's four-year ADAPT project, an international team led by the University of Vienna and involving the University of Bonn has now investigated how this might be done. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-stressed-potatoes-climate-resilient.html Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:13:04 EST news650121182 Where once there were vast areas of forest and other natural habitats, farmland now covers much of Earth—including 70% of the UK. This transition has helped feed a growing number of people. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-farming-bees-crops-nectar-pollen.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:47:06 EST news650119623 Sub-Saharan Africa's population is growing at 2.7% per year and is expected to reach two billion by the year 2050. The region's urban population is growing even faster: it was at 533 million in 2023, a 3.85% increase from 2022. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-food-africa-vital-rapidly-region.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:01:39 EST news650113293 Food engineers have harnessed the power of lupins (legumes) to create a yogurt that rivals dairy in taste and texture while delivering more nutrition than typical plant-based yogurts. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-lab-cultured-yogurt-rivals-dairy.html Biotechnology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 10:09:55 EST news650110189 Because nitrogen fertilizers contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are looking for ways to modify agricultural plants so that they rely on less nitrogen. In research published in New Phytologist, investigators have found that blocking a particular protein may achieve this goal in potatoes. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-potatoes-reliant-nitrogen-fertilizers.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:51:02 EST news650105461 A small team of horticulturists in China and the U.S. has found that spraying rice plants with a zinc oxide nanoparticle solution helps them better handle the stress of a heat wave. In their study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group conducted experiments involving spraying rice plants in a heated greenhouse. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-spraying-rice-zinc-oxide-nanoparticles.html Biotechnology Agriculture Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:00:02 EST news650019223 Yordanos Anju is a dedicated farmer from the Bilate Zuria district in the Northern Sidama region. For generations, his family has relied on farming and livestock production. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-ethiopian-farmers-soil-forage-mixtures.html Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:32:05 EST news649960321 Rubber planting brings huge economic benefits, but large-scale rubber plantations have a great impact on the ecological environment, especially in terms of the soil's physical and chemical properties. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-rubber-plantations-leaching-dissolved-carbon.html Ecology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:26:02 EST news649959961 A research team has successfully sequenced and assembled the genomes of all four Macadamia species, marking a significant advance in crop improvement efforts for this commercially valuable nut. The findings reveal key genetic traits that could enhance disease resistance, climate adaptability, and crop yield, addressing the challenges of genetic diversity in macadamia breeding. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-genome-sequencing-macadamia-species-potential.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:51:59 EST news649957912 If left unchecked, insect pests can devastate crops. To minimize damage and reduce the need for insecticide sprays, crops have been genetically engineered to produce bacterial proteins that kill key pests but are not harmful to people or wildlife. However, widespread planting of such transgenic crops has led to rapid adaptation by some pests. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-usual-reveals-genetic-basis-pest.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:51:31 EST news649957885 A series of research papers and a free online data dashboard seek to boost the use of biofortification—an affordable, sustainable and climate-smart way to address global malnutrition by increasing the concentrations of essential nutrients in staple crops. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-highlights-biofortification-role-tackling-malnutrition.html Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:50:31 EST news649957823 Two-thirds of the world's food comes today from just nine plants: sugar cane, maize (corn), rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil-palm fruit, sugar beet and cassava. In the past, farmers grew tens of thousands of crop varieties around the world. This biodiversity protected agriculture from crop losses caused by plant diseases and climate change. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-svalbard-global-seed-vault-evokes.html Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:40:01 EST news649949958 Vibrational spectroscopy has long been valued in the pharmaceutical and forensic sectors, and its application is expanding into agriculture, particularly for quality and origin verification of biological materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-vibrational-spectroscopy-optimized-accurate-coffee.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:00:11 EST news649951201 Researchers have made significant progress in the field of artificial intelligence by applying deep learning techniques to automate the detection and classification of crop leaf diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-advanced-ai-techniques-crop-leaf.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 13:59:03 EST news649951141 Microalgae are gaining recognition as sustainable, nutrient-rich sources of bioactive compounds, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, which are essential for various food and health-related applications. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-highlights-microalgae-sustainable-ingredients-food.html Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 13:28:27 EST news649949300 New research reveals that sodium nitroprusside (SNP) treatment significantly reduces decay and maintains the appearance of walnuts, enhancing both disease resistance and overall quality. This breakthrough offered a practical solution for extending the shelf life of fresh walnuts. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-nitric-oxide-treatment-fresh-walnuts.html Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 13:19:03 EST news649948741 How we use land and feed a growing global population, and the burden we place on natural habitats in pursuit of nutrition, will again take center stage at the annual global climate change conference, COP29, in November. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-cop29-ai-climate-resistant-crops.html Biotechnology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:50:01 EST news649944576 There is fresh momentum in our protein supply—and it's moving along on six legs. Insects are a source of protein with a smaller resource footprint than conventional alternatives in every possible way. To ensure the safety of insect farms and their products, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a system that reliably detects pathogens right away, at low cost and with the possibility of automation. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-pathogen-safety-health-insect-farms.html Biotechnology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:58:13 EST news649936688 A research team investigated whole chloroplast genomes and nuclear gene sequences from 14 species, uncovering new insights into the genetic diversity and hybrid origins of mango species. They used the evolutionary relationships within the Mangifera genus, revealing extensive cross-hybridization among species and offering implications for breeding and conservation efforts. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-insights-mango-evolution-reveals-extensive.html Evolution Agriculture Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:07:03 EDT news649681621 A research team has established a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system in taro, enabling researchers to rapidly verify gene functions in this underutilized crop. Utilizing a tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based vector, the study paves the way for significant advancements in taro breeding and germplasm resource utilization, addressing the growing demand for improved crop varieties in both food and industrial applications. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-advances-taro-gene-silencing-enables.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:06:03 EDT news649681561 When Robert Mbendera started out as a small-scale dairy farmer in rural Malawi 20 years ago, milking the one cow he owned was an arduous, time-consuming process. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-solar-tech-boosts-dairy-farms.html Agriculture Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:50:01 EDT news649680248 Texas A&M AgriLife researchers uncovered a promising target for controlling gene expression and other cellular processes, which could lead to advancements in crop resilience and our understanding of certain human diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-discovery-protein-key-role-rna.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:12:54 EDT news649671169