Journal of Applied Plant Biology

Carbon nanostructure: Innovations and challenges in improving nutrient delivery to plants

2025-08-30T07:07:47+00:00

The imperative to enhance nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and mitigate the severe environmental impact of conventional fertilization is driving innovation in sustainable agriculture. This review comprehensively examines the burgeoning field of carbon-based nanocarriers-including graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and carbon dots as advanced delivery platforms for macro and micronutrients. We delve into the unique physicochemical properties of these materials, such as their high specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and exceptional loading capacity, which underpin their function as smart, stimuli-responsive systems. The mechanisms facilitating nutrient delivery, such as pH-dependent release, enzyme-triggered hydrolysis, and enhanced cellular uptake, are analyzed in detail, with documented evidence showing increases in nutrient uptake efficiency by up to 50% and concurrent reductions in leaching losses by up to 70%. Furthermore, we explore cutting-edge innovations, including the integration of nanocarriers with biopolymers like chitosan to reduce cytotoxicity and the application of molecular dynamics simulations for rational nanocarrier design. Despite their transformative potential, significant challenges impede commercialization, namely concerns regarding long-term toxicity, the high cost of synthesis, and the absence of a robust regulatory framework. This analysis concludes that carbon nanostructures represent a paradigm shift in agrochemistry, yet their successful translation from laboratory research to field application necessitates a multidisciplinary approach focused on safety, scalability, and sustainable design.

Applications of Blockchain Technology in Plant Sciences: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

2025-12-07T20:05:52+00:00

Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative digital infrastructure capable of addressing critical challenges in plant sciences, including data integrity, traceability of high-value crops, secure germplasm authentication, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The increasing use of genomics, phenotyping, and IoT-enabled monitoring in plant research has generated massive datasets, revealing the limitations of conventional centralized databases, such as vulnerability to tampering, restricted transparency, and single points of failure. Blockchain’s core attributes—immutability, decentralization, and cryptographic verification—offer robust solutions for maintaining trusted records across research institutions, breeding programs, supply chains, and regulatory agencies. Recent studies demonstrate that blockchain can enhance end-to-end traceability in agri-food systems, reduce fraud in high-value plant products, and improve reproducibility in plant research by time-stamping experimental data. Smart contracts allow automated enforcement of rules, such as certification of crop quality, verification of seed origin, and controlled access to research datasets. Despite these advantages, significant challenges remain, including scalability limitations, interoperability with legacy systems, energy consumption in certain consensus mechanisms, and digital literacy requirements for farmers. Comparative analyses show that blockchain’s suitability varies depending on the context, and in some cases, alternative distributed or centralized systems may offer more efficient solutions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of blockchain applications in plant sciences, integrating technical considerations, real-world case studies, ethical and regulatory aspects, and future research directions. By synthesizing current evidence, identifying research gaps, and proposing forward-looking insights, this review clarifies blockchain’s realistic potential and guides its responsible implementation in plant science research and industry.

Biology and Biotechnology of Duckweeds: Emerging Champions of Sustainable Bioproduction

2025-11-29T13:58:17+00:00

Background Duckweeds (Lemnaceae family), the smallest and fastest-growing flowering plants, are gaining prominence as sustainable bioproduction platforms. Their rapid growth, aquatic habit, and high protein content make them uniquely suited for applications in molecular pharming, phytoremediation, bioenergy, and nutrition.

Results Advances in genomics, such as the sequencing of the Spirodela polyrhiza genome, have provided critical insights into their streamlined architecture and physiological adaptations. Efficient Agrobacterium mediated transformation protocols established for genera including Lemna, Spirodela, and Wolffia, enabling high-yield production of recombinant proteins like vaccines and antibodies. Concurrently, duckweeds demonstrate remarkable efficacy in phytoremediation, efficiently removing nutrients, heavy metals, and organic micropollutants from wastewater.

Conclusion The integration of duckweed biology with modern biotechnological tools positions these plants as powerful, scalable, and sustainable solutions to global challenges in health, environment, and food security. Future research focused on precision breeding and integrated biorefinery models will further unlock their potential.

The Remote Sensing Assessment of Vegetation Dynamics Using Sentinel-2 Indices in the Geo-Ecological Landscape of Gonabad

2025-11-17T14:59:02+00:00

Background: Monitoring vegetation and soil conditions in arid regions is essential for understanding ecological stability and guiding sustainable land management. This study evaluates the spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation vigor, soil salinity, and mineral composition in the Gonabad region of northeastern Iran.

Method & Material: We employed Sentinel-2 Level-2A imagery to analyze eight spectral indices during summer 2025: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI), Clay Minerals Ratio (CMR), Ferrous Minerals Ratio (FMR), Chlorophyll Index Green (CIgreen), Chlorophyll Index Red-Edge (CIrededge), and Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI). These indices captured vegetation performance, hydrological stress, and surface mineral variability.

Result: Results indicated persistently low NDVI (0.08–0.10) and negative NDWI (−0.19 to −0.21) values, consistent with severe aridity. A gradual NDSI increase reflected progressive soil salinization. Chlorophyll-sensitive indices, (CIgreen, CIrededge) peaked in late August, suggesting short-term vegetation recovery. Spatially, polygons G1 and G7 exhibited higher vegetation vigor, indicating micro-environmental resilience.

Conclusion: The integrated assessment highlights the interplay between water scarcity, salinity, and vegetation stress. We recommend a hybrid management strategy combining traditional qanat irrigation with modern systems, cultivation of drought-tolerant species, and establishing green belts. Supported by continuous monitoring, these measures can strengthen ecological resilience in Gonabad.

Foeniculum vulgare in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Health from Herbal Traditions to Advances in Molecular Medicine

2025-12-05T20:38:22+00:00

Background: Herbal medicine plays an essential role in global healthcare, especially for pediatric populations where conventional pharmacological treatments may carry safety concerns. Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), a staple in traditional Persian and Greco-Arabic medicine, is increasingly recognized for its therapeutic role in managing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in children.

Objective: This review synthesizes traditional uses with contemporary molecular evidence to explore fennel’s potential in pediatric GI care.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis of F. vulgare's phytochemical profile and molecular mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, antioxidant, and microbiota-modulating actions, is presented, alongside its formulation strategies and clinical relevance.

Results: Anethole, fenchone, limonene, and flavonoids underpin fennel’s multi-target effects by modulating inflammatory pathways (e.g., NF-κB, pSTAT1), strengthening intestinal barrier proteins (e.g., claudin-1, occludin), regulating gut motility, and promoting beneficial microbiota (e.g., Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium). These actions align with the pathophysiology of pediatric disorders such as colic, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Conclusion: F. vulgare offers a well-tolerated, mechanistically diverse phytotherapeutic option for pediatric GI disorders. Future standardization, safety evaluations, and clinical studies are warranted to enable its evidence-based integration into pediatric healthcare.

Phytotoxic Effects of Xanthotoxin on Germination and Seedling Growth of Trifolium and Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)

2025-11-18T05:32:54+00:00

Allelopathy, the chemical interaction between plants that influences the growth and development of neighboring species, has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainable weed management. Xanthotoxin (8‑methoxypsoralen), a furanocoumarin belonging to the phenylpropanoid group, is naturally present in Rutaceae and Apiaceae plants such as bergamot and wild carrot. While traditionally applied in medicine, its allelopathic potential as a bioherbicide remains underexplored. This study investigated the phytotoxic effects of xanthotoxin on two agriculturally important fodder plants, Trifolium (clover) and Medicago sativa (alfalfa). Seeds were sterilized and exposed to xanthotoxin solutions at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/ml, with distilled water plus Tween 20 serving as the control. Germination rates were recorded daily for six days, and seedling growth was assessed by measuring root and shoot lengths. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v21 and Zanken’s test. Results revealed a clear dose-dependent inhibition of germination and seedling development. Even at the lowest concentration, xanthotoxin reduced germination compared to the control, while complete suppression of both root and shoot growth occurred at 1 mg/ml. These findings confirm the strong phytotoxicity of xanthotoxin and highlight its potential as a natural herbicide. Compared to synthetic herbicides, allelochemicals such as xanthotoxin offer advantages including biodegradability, reduced environmental toxicity, and alignment with sustainable agricultural practices. Further research is needed to evaluate its selectivity, ecological safety, and field-level applicability, but this study provides foundational evidence supporting xanthotoxin’s role in environmentally friendly weed management.