Article
Plant Sciences
Meric Simsek, Ozge Sufer
Summary: The study examined the optimization of walnut shell tea infusion conditions using response surface methodology, leading to significantly improved color values, total phenolic content, and total tannin content. The antioxidant activities of the WST were found to be high, primarily attributed to phenolic acids and vanillic acid. Detected mineral amounts in WST showed a specific order, with potassium, magnesium, and sodium being the highest detected minerals.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Piotr Kaminski, Katarzyna Tyskiewicz, Zygmunt Fekner, Marcin Gruba, Zbigniew Kobus
Summary: This study investigated the impact of subcritical water extraction parameters on the content of polyphenols and flavonoids in walnut bark extracts, as well as their antioxidant activity. The study optimized the extraction conditions using response surface methodology and found that the highest content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were achieved at a temperature of 131.6 degrees C, a raw material fraction size of 0.9 mm, and a process time of 10 min. The results also indicated that temperature had the greatest impact on the extraction yield, while the raw material fraction size and process time had a secondary impact.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Filipa S. Grilo, Selina C. Wang
Summary: Kernel oxidation susceptibility and pellicle darkening are significant concerns for walnut quality. Monitoring oxidation parameters and volatiles in kernels can help evaluate potential oxidation markers. Different storage conditions can impact the oxidative stability, phenols, tocopherols, and fatty acid profiles of walnuts, making kernel volatiles a useful measure for walnut oxidation during storage.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jiale Cao, Xiaopeng Bai, Daochun Xu, Wenbin Li, Chongchong Chen
Summary: In this study, the kinetic models of stalk-branch and stalk-fruit were analyzed under different vibration modes by establishing a local vibration model. Static separation force tests were conducted to analyze the inertial force and separation force of the vibration response, and the separation ratios were derived under different vibration parameters. The results can guide the development and adjustment of vibration parameters for harvesting and further study the effect of excitation mode on fruit shedding.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ricardo Alfredo del Barrio, Gustavo Adolfo Orioli, Andrea Soledad Brendel, Lilia Ivone Lindstroem, Cecilia Noemi Pellegrini, Jose Antonio Campoy
Summary: This study presents a multidisciplinary analysis of dormancy progression in walnut trees in northern Patagonia, linking forcing/field phenology, bud anatomical development, and soluble sugar dynamics. The results suggest that heat requirement is the main driver in phenology dynamics, and the decrease in sucrose may serve as a reliable biological marker for endodormancy release in walnut trees.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiangzhen Kong, Zilin Huang, Caimeng Zhang, Yufei Hua, Yeming Chen, Xingfei Li
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between walnut protein and phenolic extracts of walnut pellicle (PEWP) under alkaline conditions, leading to increased protein solubility under neutral conditions. The results showed that most ellagitannins in PEWP could be retained under alkaline conditions. The interaction between PEWP and walnut protein resulted in a significant increase in protein solubility, and this improvement was attributed to the formation of covalent bonds between walnut protein and polyphenols.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hongcheng Fang, Xia Liu, Yuhui Dong, Shan Feng, Rui Zhou, Changxi Wang, Xinmei Ma, Jianning Liu, Ke Qiang Yang
Summary: The study used RNA sequencing and label-free quantitation technologies to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs) in walnut fruit bracts at various stages of C. gloeosporioides infection. The results showed that genes and proteins related to immune response, plant hormone signal transduction, and secondary metabolites play important roles in walnut defense against the pathogen. Moreover, the consistency of mRNA and protein expression was higher in the early infection stage. These findings provide insights into the molecular response of walnut fruit to C. gloeosporioides and offer a basis for genetic improvement of walnut disease resistance.
Review
Horticulture
Carlos H. Crisosto, Irwin R. Donis-Gonzalez, Selina C. Wang, Bruce D. Lampinen
Summary: Due to the increasing demand for convenient, healthy, and nutritious snack food, ready-to-use shelled walnuts are becoming popular worldwide. However, these shelled nuts are more susceptible to pellicle darkening and rancidity than in-shell equivalents, posing quality challenges. Proper postharvest technologies, such as maintaining low oxygen levels, can help protect against quality loss. Establishing a quality control system to rank lots based on potential visual and sensory quality is important for selecting suitable batches for market destinations.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Karolina Pycia, Agata Maria Pawlowska, Joanna Kaszuba, Natalia Zurek
Summary: This study assessed the effect of adding dried and ground walnut male flowers to wheat flour on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of wheat bread. The results showed that the addition of walnut male flowers affected the volume and color of the bread, as well as the texture, antioxidant potential, and total polyphenol content.
Article
Horticulture
Hadis Goodarzi, Darab Hassani, Leila Pourhosseini, Siamak Kalantari, Amir Lashgari
Summary: The world's walnut production has experienced rapid growth from less than one million tons to more than three million tons from 1990 to 2020. This study compared the contents of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates in different walnut cultivars and genotypes. The results showed significant variability in fatty acid contents among the walnut cultivars, with some being rich in linoleic and linolenic acids and others being rich in oleic acid.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Xiaoting Wu, Zechao Zhang, Mintao Sun, Xiuhong An, Yingbin Qi, Shugang Zhao, Zhihua Zhang, Hongxia Wang
Summary: This study selected two walnut genotypes with different endocarp thickness to investigate the transcriptional responses and pathways related to lignin formation, revealing candidate genes and pathways for exploring the metabolic processes involved in walnut lignin. The research identified key genes and pathways during lignin deposition in walnut endocarp, providing valuable insights for further studies on walnut lignin metabolism.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Review
Horticulture
Laurine Kithi, Eva Lengyel-Konya, Maria Berki, Geza Bujdoso
Summary: Green husks are the discarded outer layer of walnut fruits, but research shows that they contain a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals. These include 83 phenolic compounds, such as naphthoquinones, flavonols, and hydroxycinnamic acids, which have strong antioxidant properties and play a role in the plant's defense mechanisms.
Article
Horticulture
Andrea Zabiak, Csilla Kovacs, Ferenc Takacs, Karoly Pal, Ferenc Peles, Erzsebet Fekete, Levente Karaffa, Kata Mihaly, Michel Flipphi, Erzsebet Sandor
Summary: Walnut production in Hungary faces economic losses due to preharvest fruit rot, caused by fungi from the Diaporthaceae and Botryosphaeriaceae families. This study identified and tested the pathogenicity of Diaporthe eres Nitschke and Diplodia seriata De Notaris on immature nuts. These pathogens on buds and overwintering woody parts may infect the seasonal nuts through wound infection.
Article
Horticulture
Hui-jun Liu, Jia-qi Zhang, Heng-kang Hu, You-jun Huang, Chuan-mei Xv, Yuan-yuan Hu, Jian-qin Huang, Charles A. Leslie, He-qiang Lou, Qi-xiang Zhang
Summary: Nitrogen is crucial for plant growth and productivity, with ammonium being the preferred nitrogen source for walnut trees. The study isolated an ammonium transporter gene, JrAMT2, from walnut, which when overexpressed in walnut shoots resulted in darker green foliage and higher nitrogen concentration. Furthermore, graft experiments showed that overexpressing JrAMT2 in rootstock significantly increased nitrogen levels in the scion, suggesting a potential strategy for developing rootstocks with improved nitrogen utilization in walnut and other tree crops.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Murat Guney, Salih Kafkas, Hakan Keles, Mozhgan Zarifikhosroshahi, Muhammet Ali Gundesli, Sezai Ercisli, Tomas Necas, Geza Bujdoso
Summary: SSR analysis revealed that Yozgat province in Turkey has a significant genetic diversity pool and a rich genetic variance of walnuts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Olusanya Abiodun Olatunji, Kaiwen Pan, Akash Tariq, Gideon Olarewaju Okunlola, Dong Wang, Idris Olawale Raimi, Lin Zhang
Summary: The effects of different planting systems on soil microbial properties under drought conditions were investigated. Drought increased nitrate nitrogen, urease activity, and microbial biomass carbon in monocultures, but decreased them in mixed cultures. Addition of phosphorus in P. zhennan monoculture increased enzyme activities, dissolved organic nitrogen and carbon, and the abundance of total bacteria, G(+) bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mixing effects on total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), bacterial PLFA, and fungi PLFA were synergistic in all treatments except drought with P addition.
Article
Plant Sciences
Akash Tariq, Corina Graciano, Kaiwen Pan, Olusanya Abiodun Olatunji, Zilong Li, Sehrish Sadia, Zhihao Zhang, Khasan Ismoilov, Zeeshan Ahmed, Abd Ullah, Fanjiang Zeng
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of phosphorus nutrition on the growth and metabolism of drought-stressed Phoebe zhennan seedlings. The results showed that high phosphorus treatment improved the growth of seedlings under drought stress, while moderate phosphorus treatment only improved root biomass and leaf area, and low phosphorus treatment had no significant effect. High phosphorus fertilization had positive effects on leaf relative water contents and improved photosynthetic traits. Additionally, high phosphorus treatment reduced the concentrations of NO3- and NH4+ in seedlings.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Hongyang Zhou, Kaiwen Pan, Xiaoming Sun, Belayneh Azene, Piotr Gruba, Xiaogang Wu, Lin Zhang, Meng Zhang, Tianwen Tang, Renhuan Zhu
Summary: This study investigated the nematode community in natural and planted forests in western Sichuan, China, and found that plantations increased the carbon budget of herbivorous nematodes in the soil layer, but decreased their production and carbon budget in the moss layer compared to natural forests. The daily carbon budget and production of nematodes had a negative correlation with genus richness. Water content and total carbon were identified as the most important environmental factors affecting nematode carbon budget and production.
Article
Cell Biology
Akash Tariq, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas, Zhihao Zhang, Corina Graciano, Fanjiang Zeng, Olusanya Abiodun Olatunji, Abd Ullah, Kaiwen Pan
Summary: Efficient use of soil resources, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can enhance plant resistance and resilience against drought in arid and semi-arid lands. Intercropping legume and non-legumes can improve phosphorus mineralization uptake and plant nutrient status. However, it is still unclear how intercropping systems using desert plant species impact soil-plant phosphorus fractions and their effects on nitrogen and water uptake capacity. This study investigated the impact of intercropping Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspia on soil-plant phosphorus fractions and soil-plant nutrients. The results suggested that intercropping improved microbe nitrogen-use efficiency, but had limited effects on phosphorus-use efficiency.
Article
Plant Sciences
Javaria Noor, Abd Ullah, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Akash Tariq, Sami Ullah, Abdul Waheed, Mohammad K. Okla, Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi, Yinglong Chen, Zeeshan Ahmed, Izhar Ahmad
Summary: Exogenous jasmonates (JAs) treatment alters the growth and metabolism of soybeans under salt stress. The application of exogenous JA increases the photosynthetic pigments and levels of certain metabolites in soybeans under low salt concentrations, while decreasing carbohydrate levels. Additionally, exogenous JA treatment alleviates the negative impact of salt stress on the soybeans.
Article
Agronomy
Gideon Olarewaju Okunlola, Olusanya Abiodun Olatunji, Ewa Niewiadomska, Mahboob Adekilekun Jimoh, Abdulfatai Babatunde Rufai, Clement Oluseye Ogunkunle
Summary: This study investigated the effect of foliar application of melatonin on the growth, pigment accumulation, and ion content of Capsicum under drought conditions. The results showed that drought had negative effects on the growth and development of Capsicum, while melatonin application had positive effects by increasing osmolyte accumulation, pigment concentrations, and total concentration of inorganic ions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fozia Fozia, Nisar Ahmad, Zohra Aftab Buoharee, Ijaz Ahmad, Madeeha Aslam, Abdul Wahab, Riaz Ullah, Shakeel Ahmad, Amal Alotaibi, Akash Tariq
Summary: The goal of this research was to explore a new green method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of Trigonella incise. The results showed that 85% yield of nanoparticles could be obtained by using a specific ratio of plant extract and AgNO3 solution. Various techniques were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles, and they exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains. The findings suggest that the green synthesized silver nanoparticles have satisfactory antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sikandar Ali, Yaning Chen, Muhammad Azmat, Patient Mindje Kayumba, Zeeshan Ahmed, Richard Mind'je, Abdul Ghaffar, Jinxiu Qin, Akash Tariq
Summary: The lack of in-situ records presents a challenge in cryosphere ecology and environmental studies, particularly in glaciated mountainous regions. Gridded precipitation products (GPPs) are crucial for studying these complex terrains, but they have biases and uncertainties. This research aims to evaluate the performance of the newly launched MSWEP compared to other GPPs in the Indo-Pak transboundary region. The findings suggest that MSWEP performs well at both spatial and temporal scales, especially during the winter season.
Article
Plant Sciences
Abd Ullah, Akash Tariq, Fanjiang Zeng, Jordi Sardans, Corina Graciano, Sami Ullah, Xutian Chai, Zhihao Zhang, Maierdang Keyimu, Muhammad Ahsan Asghar, Hafiz Hassan Javed, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Calligonum mongolicum plays an important role in sand dune fixation, but little is known about its responses to drought and P fertilization. This study found that C. mongolicum exhibited effective drought tolerance strategies and P fertilization increased the productivity of drought-stressed seedlings. Findings suggest that P can be utilized as a fertilizer to enhance the growth and productivity of C. mongolicum and reduce the fragility of the hyper-arid desert.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Ghulam Murtaza, Zeeshan Ahmed, Sayed M. Eldin, Iftikhar Ali, Muhammad Usman, Rashid Iqbal, Muhammad Rizwan, Usama K. Abdel-Hameed, Asif Ali Haider, Akash Tariq
Summary: Soil contamination with organic contaminants and heavy metals is a global environmental concern. Biochar application can provide a novel solution for soil remediation, but its effectiveness is influenced by various factors. This review discusses the utilization of biochar in immobilizing and eliminating pollutants from contaminated soils, as well as the risks associated with its application in unpolluted soils.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Akash Tariq, Ihteram Ullah, Jordi Sardans, Corina Graciano, Sakina Mussarat, Abd Ullah, Fanjiang Zeng, Weiqi Wang, Dhafer A. Al-Bakre, Zeeshan Ahmed, Sikandar Ali, Zhihao Zhang, Aftab Yaseen, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Strigolactones (SLs) have the potential to enhance plant tolerance to environmental stresses, particularly in arid lands that are more vulnerable to climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gulfan Ullah, Muhammad Ibrahim, Ghazala Nawaz, Amana Khatoon, Muhammad Jamil, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Essam A. Ali, Akash Tariq
Summary: This study investigated and compared the effects of plant-derived smoke (PDS) and auxin (IAA and IBA) on maize growth under the application of 2,3,5-triiodo benzoic acid (TIBA). The results showed that PDS improved germination percentage and seedling growth, while IAA and IBA combined with TIBA resulted in reduced germination. Additionally, PDS increased chlorophyll content and antioxidative enzymatic activity.
Article
Polymer Science
Sana Saeed, Kashif Barkat, Muhammad Umer Ashraf, Maryam Shabbir, Irfan Anjum, Syed Faisal Badshah, Muhammad Aamir, Nadia Shamshad Malik, Akash Tariq, Riaz Ullah
Summary: A hydrogel topical patch of neomycin was developed using sodium alginate (SA) and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) as polymers, with free radical polymerization. The pH-sensitive and sol-gel properties of the hydrogels were characterized, and the swelling behavior was evaluated. The hydrogel-based polymeric matrix showed a rough structure that enhanced fluid uptake, and the reaction resulted in a new polymeric network. The hydrogel patches exhibited thermodynamic stability and pH-dependent swelling behavior, with zero-order drug release kinetics. The patches effectively healed wounds on rabbit skin without causing irritation. Neomycin hydrogel patches have potential for controlled delivery in wound healing.
Article
Forestry
Ziyan Liao, Youhua Chen, Kaiwen Pan, Mohammed A. Dakhil, Kexin Lin, Xianglin Tian, Fengying Zhang, Xiaogang Wu, Bikram Pandey, Bin Wang, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Lin Zhang, Michael P. Nobis
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the geographical distribution of Sorensen-based multi-site dissimilarity (beta(sor)) and its underlying true turnover (beta(sim)) and nestedness (beta(sne)) components for Chinese Lauraceae and analyze their relationships to current climate and past climate change. The results showed that current low temperatures and high climatic heterogeneity are the main factors explaining the high multi-site beta-diversity of Lauraceae. Additionally, latitude and topography also impact the distribution patterns of Lauraceae.
Article
Forestry
Chinwe J. Ugwuzor, Olusanya Abiodun Olatunji, Chukwuebuka J. Nwobi, Samuel Kevin Udofia
Summary: This study examined the changes in species composition and structure in the urban forest of Akoka, Nigeria between 1962 and 2014. The findings revealed variations in species composition, richness, and diversity among different vegetation types and over time, with an overall decrease in vegetation cover.
TREES FORESTS AND PEOPLE
(2022)
