Sugarcane disease recognition through visible and near-infrared spectroscopy using deep learning assisted continuous wavelet transform-based spectrogram.

Utilizing visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometrics methods has been widespread for identifying plant diseases. However, a key obstacle involves the extraction of relevant spectral characteristics. This study aimed to enhance sugarcane disease recognition by combining convolutional neural network (CNN) with continuous wavelet transform (CWT) spectrograms for spectral features extraction within the Vis-NIR spectra (380-1400 nm) to improve the accuracy of sugarcane diseases recognition. Using 130 sugarcane leaf samples, the obtained one-dimensional CWT coefficients from Vis-NIR spectra were transformed into two-dimensional spectrograms. Employing CNN, spectrogram features were extracted and incorporated into decision tree, K-nearest neighbour, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and random forest (RF) calibration models. The RF model, integrating spectrogram-derived features, demonstrated the best performance with an average precision of 0.9111, sensitivity of 0.9733, specificity of 0.9791, and accuracy of 0.9487. This study may offer a non-destructive, rapid, and accurate means to detect sugarcane diseases, enabling farmers to receive timely and actionable insights on the crops' health, thus minimizing crop loss and optimizing yields.

Sequencing vs. amplification for the estimation of allele dosages in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.).

Premise: Detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a cost-effective way is fundamental in any plant breeding pipeline. Here, we compare three genotyping techniques for their ability to reproduce the allele dosage of SNPs of interest in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Methods: To identify a reproducible technique to estimate allele dosage for the validation of SNP markers, the correlation between Flex-Seq, kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP), and genotyping-by-sequencing and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (GBS+RADseq) was determined for a set of 76 SNPs. To find alternative methodologies for allele dosage estimation, the KASP and Flex-Seq techniques were compared for the same set of SNPs. For the three techniques, a population of 53 genotypes from the diverse sugarcane panel of the Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar (Cenicaña), Colombia, was selected. Results: The average Pearson correlation coefficients between GBS+RADseq and Flex-Seq, GBS+RADseq and KASP, and Flex-Seq and KASP were 0.62 ± 0.27, 0.38 ± 0.27, and 0.38 ± 0.30, respectively. Discussion: Flex-Seq reproduced the allele dosages determined using GBS+RADseq with good levels of precision because of its depth of sequencing and ability to target specific positions in the genome. Additionally, Flex-Seq outperformed KASP by allowing the conversion of a higher number of SNPs and a more accurate estimation of the allele dosage. Flex-Seq has therefore become the genotyping methodology of choice for marker validation at Cenicaña.

Premisa: Detectar polimorfismos de un único nucleótido (SNP) de forma costo­efectiva es fundamental en cualquier programa de mejoramiento genético. En este artículo nosotros comparamos tres técnicas de genotipado para medir su habilidad en reproducir las dosis alélicas de SNPs de interés en caña de azúcar (Saccharum spp.). Métodos: Para identificar una técnica reproducible para la estimación de dosis alélicas durante los pasos de validación de marcadores, la correlación entre Flex­Seq, kompetitive allele­specific PCR (KASP), y genotyping­by­sequencing and restriction site­associated DNA sequencing (GBS+RADseq) fue determinada para un set de 76 SNPs. Para identificar metodologías alternativas en la estimación de las dosis alélicas, las tecnologías KASP y Flex­Seq fueron comparadas para el mismo grupo de SNPs. Para las tres técnicas, una población de 53 genotipos fue seleccionados de la población diversa de caña de azúcar del Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar (Cenicaña), Colombia. Resultados: El promedio del coeficiente de correlación de Pearson entre GBS+RADseq y Flex­Seq, GBS+RADseq y KASP, y Flex­Seq y KASP fue de 0.62 ± 0.27, 0.38 ± 0.27, y 0.38 ± 0.30, respectivamente. Discusión: Flex­Seq reprodujo las dosis alélicas determinadas usando GBS+RADseq con buenos niveles de precisión debido a su profundidad de secuenciación y habilidad de secuenciar posiciones especificas en el genoma. Adicionalmente, Flex­Seq superó a KASP al permitir la conversión de un número mayor de SNPs y al estimar las dosis alélicas de forma más precisa. Flex­Seq por tanto se convierte en la metodología de genotipado de elección para la validación de marcadores en Cenicaña.

In-field carbon dioxide removal via weathering of crushed basalt applied to acidic tropical agricultural soil.

Enhanced weathering (EW) of silicate rocks such as basalt provides a potential carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology for combatting climate change. Modelling and mesocosm studies suggest significant CDR via EW but there are few field studies. This study aimed to directly measure in-field CDR via EW of basalt applied to sugarcane on acidic (pH 5.8, 0-0.25 m) Ultisol in tropical northeastern Australia, where weathering potential is high. Coarsely crushed basalt produced as a byproduct of gravel manufacture (<5 mm) was applied annually from 2018 to 2022 at 0 or 50 t ha-1 a-1, incorporated into the soil in 2018 but not in subsequent years. Measurements in 2022 show increased soil pH and extractable Mg and Si at 0-0.25 m depth, indicating significant weathering of the basalt, but showed no increase in crop yield. Soil inorganic carbon content and bicarbonate (HCO3-) flux to deep drainage (1.25 m depth) were measured to quantify CDR in the 2022-2023 wet season (i.e. one year). Soil inorganic carbon was below detection limits. Mean HCO3- flux was 3.15 kmol ha-1 a-1 (±0.40) in the basalt-treated plots and 2.56 kmol ha-1 a-1 (±0.18) in the untreated plots but the difference (0.59 kmol ha-1 a-1 or 0.026 t CO2 ha-1 a-1) was not significant (p = 0.082). Most weathering of the basalt was attributed to acids stronger than carbonic acid. These were, in decreasing order of contribution, surface-bound protons (inherent soil acidity), nitric acid (from nitrification), organic acids, and acids associated with cation uptake by plants. These results indicate in-field CDR via EW of basalt is low where soil and regolith pH is well below the pKa1 of 6.4 for H2CO3. However, increased soil pH, and the consumption of strong acids by weathering will eventually lead to reduced CO2 emission from soil or evasion from rivers, with continued basalt addition.

First report of basal stem rot on sugarcane (var. Badila) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in China.

Badila (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the important chewing cane in south China. During the year 2019-2020, as much as 60.2%-87.5% of sugarcane plants stem showed red rot developments were observed in the fields of Yongning District, Nanning city, Guangxi province. Symptomatic plants showed red rot at basal stem nodes and sheath, when the disease serious, the epidermis and aerial roots decomposed and exfoliated, then formed sclerotiums, the upper stem also occurred the symptom. Infected plant tissues were dissected into small pieces with 0.1 × 0.1cm in size and surface sterilized in 0.1% HCl2 for 2 min, followed by 75% ethanol for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. Then the tissues were placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and incubated at 25 °C for 3 days. Numerous white globoid sclerotia were formed on PDA after 5 days of growth. The sclerotia (2 to 3 mm in diameter) were white at first and then gradually turned dark brown. Aerial mycelia usually formed many narrow hyphal strands 4 to 9 µm wide. Five uniform isolates were obtained from diseased sugarcane plants. Pathogenicity of representative strain W1 was confirmed by inoculating 120-day-old Badila plants grown in field. Five plants were inoculated with colonized agar discs (6mm in diameter) by applying toothpick tips to the lower part of the stem. Five non-inoculated plants served as control. The inoculated and non-inoculated plants were sprayed sterile water then incubated with plastic film for maintained high moisture. All the plants were placed inside of a growth chamber at 26 ± 2°C with a 14-h photoperiod and 80% relative humidity. All inoculated plants showed red rot at stem and sheath after 2 weeks, whereas the control plants were symptomless. By the third week, mycelium and sclerotia developed on the crown on the inoculated plants. The fungus was re-isolated from the artificially inoculated plants. To confirm the species-level identification, partial of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitocondrial small subunit (SSU), and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) regions of representative strain W1 were amplified and sequenced using the primers pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), ITS-Fu-F /ITS-Fu-R and SRLSU1//SRLSU2 (Kumar et al., 2016), respectively. The resulting ITS, SSU and LSU sequences were deposited in GenBank (GenBank accession no. MW620994, MW617878, and MW617872) and shared 99.42%, 100% and 100% sequence identity with Athelia rolfsii isolate (JN017199, OM319631, and MT225781). Phylogenetic analysis conducted with neighbor-joining (NJ) method using MEGA6.0 revealed that the isolate share a common clade with reference sequence of A. rolfsii in GenBank Data Library. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, the fungus was identified as A. rolfsii (anamorph: Sclerotium rolfsii) (Paul et al. 2017; Paparu et al. 2020). Although S. rolfsii has been reported causing sugarcane sett rot in Australia (Bhuiyan et al., 2019) and seedlings of sugarcane in Indian (Gopi et al., 2023), as we know, this is the first report of sugarcane basal stem rot disease caused by this fungus in China. This study will be helpful for the prevention and control sugarcane basal stem rot in the future.

Complete genome sequences of two Pantoea stewartii strains ATCC 8199 from maize and PSCN1 from sugarcane.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogen of Pantoea stewartii (Ps) is the causal agent of bacterial disease in corn and various graminaceous plants. Ps has two subspecies, Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartia (Pss) and Pantoea stewartii subsp. indologenes (Psi). This study presents two complete genomes of Ps strains including ATCC 8199 isolated from maize and PSCN1 causing bacterial wilt in sugarcane. The two bacterial genomes information will be helpful for taxonomy analysis in this genus Pantoea at whole-genome levels and accurately discriminated the two subspecies of Pss and Psi. DATA DESCRIPTION: The reference strain ATCC 8199 isolated from maize was purchased from Beijing Biobw Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China) and the strain of PSCN1 was isolated from sugarcane cultivar YZ08-1095 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province of China. Two complete genomes were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq (second-generation) and Oxford Nanopore (third-generation) platforms. The genome of the strain ATCC 8199 comprised of 4.78 Mb with an average GC content of 54.03%, along with five plasmids, encoding a total of 4,846 gene with an average gene length of 827 bp. The genome of PSCN1 comprised of 5.03 Mb with an average GC content of 53.78%, along with two plasmids, encoding a total of 4,725 gene with an average gene length of 913 bp. The bacterial pan-genome analysis highlighted the strain ATCC 8199 was clustered into a subgroup with a Pss strain CCUG 26,359 from USA, while the strain PSCN1 was clustered into another subgroup with a Ps strain NRRLB-133 from USA. These findings will serve as a useful resource for further analyses of the evolution of Ps strains and corresponding disease epidemiology worldwide.

Influence of stem and leaf phenotypes, physiological responses and cellular ultrastructure on defoliated sugarcane cultivars.

Defoliation is a primary agronomic traits, its variation depends on different plant species or cultivars. The present article assess the leaf morphological responses, oxidative metabolites and enzymatic activities at sheath base of sugarcane cultivars during defoliation stage of plant leaves. The mature leaf sheath of GT47 strongly wrapped to the stem, and no stem was exposed. The upper and lower edges of the immature fusing abscission zone were parallel, and slightly lower browning area (+ 3 to + 7 leaf position). The ROC22 cultivar was monitored highest leaf sheath-based cellulose and lignin content, followed by GT60 and GT47. Peroxidase activity was higher in leaf sheath base edge (ROC22) as compare to other cultivars. The malondialdehyde content was found highest in GT60, followed by ROC22, and GT47. The exo-ß-1,4-glucanase/ cellobiohydrolase activity was found highest in the margin of GT47 than lateral and medial axis of ROC22 and GT60. The axis activity increased exponentially, and ROC22 gradually decreased from the periphery of the mid-axis and lower than GT47 and GT60 in the lateral and mid-axis of leaf. In conclusion, the mature leaves are easy to defoliate mainly loose leaf sheaths, large leaf sheath inclination angles, more deformation during the growth period of the abscission zone, early with large cracks, and slow browning process. Leaf sheaths with high fibre and lignin content showed significant hardness and thickness. The sugarcane cultivars showed positive correlation between peroxidase and malondialdehyde content with the browning process at the base of mature leaf sheaths.

"Efficient novel fungal-enriched biochar formulation for hexavalent chromium bioremediation".

Chromium (Cr), a key element in industrial processes such as leather tanning, poses severe environmental hazards, particularly its hexavalent form, Cr(VI), which is highly toxic and prevalent in tannery effluents/sludge. The persistence and toxicity of Cr(VI) necessitate the development of effective remediation strategies to mitigate its environmental impact. This study investigated the potential of Trichoderma yunnanense (NBRICRF_97) and its combination with 0.5% sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBC) for the reduction of Cr(VI). The results demonstrated that T. yunnanense alone achieved a 91.04% reduction of 50 mg L-1 Cr(VI) within 72 h. Combined with 0.5% SBC, the reduction efficiency increased to 99.65% within 48 h. However, the efficiency decreased at higher concentrations (200 mg L-1). The combination also improved fungal growth and increased extracellular ChrR enzyme activity (13.07 U mg-1 protein compared to the control). Total glutathione activity was boosted by 161.07% at 100 mg L-1 Cr(VI). Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and proline mitigated oxidative stress and FTIR analysis revealed changes in fungal cell wall functional groups (-OH and -NH) upon Cr(VI) exposure. SEM-EDX confirmed chromium deposition on fungal surfaces. These results underscore the Cr(VI) detoxification capabilities of T. yunnanense and the synergistic benefits of SBC, suggesting a promising bioremediation strategy for Cr(VI)-contaminated environments. The integration of T. yunnanense with SBC offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach for the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated sites, with potential for implementation in large-scale environmental cleanup efforts.

Green synthesis of graphene oxide and magnetite nanoparticles and their arsenic removal efficiency from arsenic contaminated soil.

Graphene-based nanomaterials have been proved to be robust sorbents for efficient removal of environmental contaminants including arsenic (As). Biobased graphene oxide (bGO-P) derived from sugarcane bagasse via pyrolysis, GO-C via chemical exfoliation, and magnetite nanoparticles (FeNPs) via green approach using Azadirachta indica leaf extract were synthesized and characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-vis.), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mean particle size and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Compared to cellulose and hemicellulose, the lignin fraction was less in the precursor material. The GOC, bGO-P and FeNPs displayed maximum absorption at 230, 236, and 374 nm, respectively. FTIR spectrum showed different functional groups (C-OH, C-O-C, COOH and O-H) modifying the surfaces of synthesized materials. Graphene based nanomaterials showed clustered dense flakes of GO-C and thin transparent flakes of bGO-P. Elemental composition by EDX analysis of GO-C (71.26% C and 27.36% O), bGO-P (74.54% C and 24.61% O) and FeNPs (55.61% Fe, 4.1% C and 35.72% O) confirmed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and iron in synthesized nanomaterials. Sorption study was conducted with soil amended with different doses of synthesized nanomaterials (10, 50 and 250 mg) and exposed to 100, 300 and 500 ppm of As. Arsenic concentrations were estimated by colorimetry and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). GO-C, bGO-P, and FeNPs showed substantial As removal efficiency i.e., 81 to 99.3%, 65 to 98.8% and 73.1-89.9%, respectively. Green synthesis of bGO-P and magnetite nanoparticles removed substantial amounts of As compared to GO-C and can be effectively deployed for As removal or immobilization. Higher and medium sorbent doses (250 and 50 mg) exhibited greater As removal and data was best fitted for Freundlich isotherm evidencing favorable sorption. Nevertheless, at low sorbent doses, data was best fitted for both models. Newly synthesized nanomaterials emerged as promising materials for As removal strategy for soil nano-remediation and can be effectively deployed in As contaminated soils.

Intelligent modelling of sugarcane juice quality characteristics based on microfluidization processing conditions.

This investigation employed different ANN infrastructures for predicting the quality of sugarcane juice under varying microfluidization pressures (50-200 MPa) and cycles (1-7) which was previously unexplored. Two hidden layer (HL) activation functions (tansigmoid, logsigmoid) and learning algorithms (LM, GDX) with varying hidden layer neurons (HLNs) were tested to predict the color, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, chlorophyll content, total and reducing sugars, polyphenol oxidase activity, peroxidase activity, sucrose neutral invertase activity, aerobic plate count, yeast and mold count, particle size, sensory score and sedimentation rate of sugarcane juice under different microfluidization processing conditions. Results showed that the combination of LM + logsigmoid, GDX + logsigmoid and GDX + tansigmoid produced > 90% prediction accuracy. Among these models, GDX + tansigmoid exhibited 91.7% accuracy on training, and 96% accuracy on testing using relatively lower number of neurons (10 HLNs), and was therefore selected to predict the quality characteristics of sugarcane juice. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05994-2.

Textural enhancement and glycemic potency reduction of sugarcane fiber-incorporated white bread with ascorbic acid and xanthan gum.

In this study, ascorbic acid (0.02 % w/w), xanthan (0.75 % or 1.5 % w/w), and their combination have been added into sugarcane fiber (SCF) incorporated (5 % or 10 % w/w) wheat flour-based white breads. The effects of different additives on the physical characteristics, and the in-vitro and in-vivo glycemic potency of breads were evaluated. Addition of xanthan alone and the combination of additives reduced hardness and increased specific volume. SEM images showed that xanthan caused larger, more uneven holes in breadcrumbs due to xanthan's high elasticity and viscosity. FTIR spectrum indicated that the combination of SCF, xanthan, and ascorbic acid resulted in higher ß-turn, lower α-helix protein structures, and lower ratios of α-helix/ß-sheet, indicating a more flexible gluten structure formed. In-vitro digestibility results suggested that all SCF-incorporated breads had a lower glycemic index (GI) value than reference. Samples with 0.02 % (w/w) ascorbic acid and 1.5 % (w/w) xanthan reported the lowest in-vitro and in-vivo GI values.

Dual-electrode signal amplification self-powered biosensing platform based on nanozyme boosting target-induced DNA nanospace array for ultrasensitive detection of sugarcane Pokkah Boeng disease pathogenic bacteria.

Sugarcane is a crop with significant economic importance worldwide. However, pokkah boeng disease poses a serious threat to its production and the sustainable development. There is a pressing necessity for precise and portable detection methods. We develop a dual-electrode signal amplification biosensing platform, for highly sensitive detection of sugarcane pokkah boeng disease pathogenic bacteria. This innovative platform integrates highly catalytic AuNPs/Mn3O4 nanozymes with N-GDY, along with a target-induced development of DNA nanostructure arrays. AuNPs/N-GDY serves as dual electrode substrates, and AuNPs/Mn3O4 nanozymes are surface-loaded as the bioanode. The biocathode is constructed by introducing DNA nanospace arrays onto the electrode through target-induced methods. [Ru(NH3)6]3+ is embedded into the nucleic acid double-helix scaffold via electrostatic adsorption, generating an EOCV signal that is strongly correlated with the target concentration. To further enhance sensitivity, the detection platform is combined with a capacitor to amplify the detection signal, utilizing its high power density, which results in a 22.5-fold increase in sensitivity. The method offers a linear detection range of 0.0001 to 10,000 pM and an detection limit of 32.5 aM (S/N = 3). This method supplies a novel approach for real-time monitoring and competent oversight of pokkah boeng disease pathogenic bacteria.

Functional Characterization of the Gibberellin (GA) Receptor ScGID1 in Sugarcane.

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum represents the most destructive disease in the sugarcane industry, causing host hormone disruption and producing a black whip-like sorus in the apex of the stalk. In this study, the gibberellin metabolic pathway was found to respond to S. scitamineum infection, and the contents of bioactive gibberellins were significantly reduced in the leaves of diseased plants. The gibberellin receptor gene ScGID1 was identified and significantly downregulated. ScGID1 localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and had the highest expression level in the leaves. Eight proteins that interact with ScGID1 were screened out using a yeast two-hybrid assay. Novel DELLA proteins named ScGAI1a and ScGA20ox2, key enzymes in GA biosynthesis, were both found to interact with ScGID1 in a gibberellin-independent manner. Transcription factor trapping with a yeast one-hybrid system identified 50 proteins that interacted with the promoter of ScGID1, among which ScS1FA and ScPLATZ inhibited ScGID1 transcription, while ScGDSL promoted transcription. Overexpression of ScGID1 in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants could increase plant height and promote flowering. These results not only contribute to improving our understanding of the metabolic regulatory network of sugarcane gibberellin but also expand our knowledge of the interaction between sugarcane and pathogens.

Sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar modified by alkali for enriching surface functional groups to effectively treat ammonium-contaminated water.

In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SB), which was preliminarily treated with H3PO4, was utilized to produce biochar (SB-BC). The SB-BC was subsequently modified with KOH to enrich oxygen-containing functional groups (OCFGs) for the enhanced adsorption of NH4+ from wastewater. Batch tests revealed that KOH-modified SB-BC (SB-MBC) increased the maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of NH4+ by approximately twofold, from 27.1 mg/g for SB-BC to 53.1 mg/g for SB-MBC. The optimal operational conditions for NH4+ adsorption onto SB-MBC were pH of 7.0 and a biochar dose of 3.0 g/L for the removal of 50 mg/L NH4+ at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C) over 180 min of contact. The enhanced adsorption capacity of NH4+ onto SB-MBC was due to the important contribution of the OCFGs enriched on the surface of biochar, which was increased by about fourfold, after being modified by KOH. The NH4+ adsorption dynamics were better fitted by the Elovich and the NH4+ adsorption isotherms were better described by Langmuir and Sips models, showing that the adsorption process was dominated by monolayer chemisorption. The properties of the adsorption materials before and after adsorption of NH4+ confirmed that cation exchange, electrostatic attraction and surface complexation were the main mechanisms controlling the adsorption process. The desorption and reusability tests of NH4+-saturated SB-MBC revealed that NH4+ adsorption slightly decreased after three successive sorption‒desorption cycles. The findings suggested that SB-MBC is a promising and feasible adsorbent for the effective treatment of NH4+-contaminated water sources. Future work should conduct tests for treatment of NH4+-rich real wastewater and utilize NH4+-saturated SB-MBC as slow releasing fertilizer for plants growth.

Optimizing Sugarcane Clonal Propagation In Vitro by Using Calcium Ammonium Nitrate and Ammonium Sulfate.

To replace explosive nitrate-based chemicals in MS medium, this study developed a new, safer, and more cost-effective method using fertilizer-grade calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. This approach replaces ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate, ensuring both safety and cost efficiency for sugarcane propagation. Six local sugarcane varieties-Zhongtang1 (ZT1), Zhongtang3 (ZT3), Zhongtang6 (ZT6), Guitang42 (GT42), Guitang44 (GT44), and Guiliu 07150 (GT07150)-were used. In the control group (Ck), nitrate ions (NO3-) were 39.28 mM, and ammonium ions (NH4+) were 20.49 mM, with a 2:1 ratio. In the treatment groups, the concentrations of nitrate ions (NO3-) and ammonium ions (NH4+) included treatment 1 (19.69 mM NO3- and 10.3 mM NH4+), treatment 2 (29.54 mM and 15.44 mM), treatment 3 (39.38 mM and 20.59 mM), treatment 4 (49.225 mM and 25.74 mM), treatment 5 (59.07 mM and 30.89 mM), and treatment 6 (68.915 mM and 36.03 mM), respectively, all with the same 2:1 ratio. Fifty bottles per treatment, with three replicates, were used for each sugarcane plantlets treatment. After five subcultures, the optimal ratio was determined by assessing morphological and physiological parameters, nitrogen levels, and SOD enzyme activity. The results indicated that treatment 3 (39.38 mM and 20.59 mM) and treatment 4 (49.225 mM and 25.74 mM) had the best morphological and physiological indicators. The optimal doses of calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate were found in treatments 3 and 4, as well as in the control, with no significant difference among them. However, treatment 3, due to its lower dose, was more cost effective. To improve cost efficiency in practical production, it is recommended to use the lower concentration ratio of treatment 3 for plant tissue culture plantlets.

Boron Removal in Aqueous Solutions Using Adsorption with Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar and Ammonia Nanobubbles.

Boron is a naturally occurring trace chemical element. High concentrations of boron in nature can adversely affect biological systems and cause severe pollution to the ecological environment. We examined a method to effectively remove boron ions from water systems using sugarcane bagasse biochar from agricultural waste with NH3 nanobubbles (10% NH3 and 90% N2). We studied the effects of the boron solution concentration, pH, and adsorption time on the adsorption of boron by the modified biochar. At the same time, the possibility of using magnesium chloride and NH3 nanobubbles to enhance the adsorption capacity of the biochar was explored. The carbonization temperature of sugarcane bagasse was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. It was characterized using XRD, SEM, and BET analysis. The boron adsorption results showed that, under alkaline conditions above pH 9, the adsorption capacity of the positively charged modified biochar was improved under the double-layer effect of magnesium ions and NH3 nanobubbles, because the boron existed in the form of negatively charged borate B(OH)4- anion groups. Moreover, cations on the NH3 nanobubble could adsorb the boron. When the NH3 nanobubbles with boron and the modified biochar with boron could coagulate each other, the boron was removed to a significant extent. Extended DLVO theory was adopted to model the interaction between the NH3 nanobubble and modified biochar. The boron adsorption capacity was 36 mg/g at room temperature according to a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorbed boron was investigated using FT-IR and XPS analysis. The ammonia could be removed using zeolite molecular sieves and heating. Boron in an aqueous solution can be removed via adsorption with modified biochar with NH3 nanobubbles and MgCl2 addition.

Mitochondrial Genome Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analysis of Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Sugarcane thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a common foliar pest that infests sugarcane and is found throughout tropical and subtropical countries. In this study, we obtained and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of F. serrata for the first time and explored the phylogenetic relationships of the higher-order elements of Thysanoptera members at the mitochondrial level. The complete mitochondrial genome of F. serrata is 16,596 bp in length and includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 1 noncoding control region. A+T accounted for 75% of the total bases in the mitochondrial genome of F. serrata, revealing an obvious AT bias. Among the 13 PCGs, except for nad5, which had a start codon of TTG, the remaining genes had ATNs typical of insects (ATA, ATT, ATC, and ATG); nad1, nad2, nad3, and atp8 had incomplete termination codons of TA or T. The remaining nine PCGs were complete with the termination codon TAA. Of the 22 tRNA secondary structures, all were typical cloverleaf secondary structures except for trnS1, which was missing the DHU arm. Compared with the hypothetical ancestral gene arrangement of arthropods, F. serrata presented extensive gene rearrangement, with 23 translocated genes, 8 inverted genes, and 5 shuffled genes. Both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic trees resulted in similar topologies: ((Thripidae + (Stenurothripidae + Aeolothripidae)) + Phlaeothripidae), with Thripidae, Aeolothripidae and Phlaeothripidae being monophyletic groups, whereas F. serrata is closely related to Thrips palmi, and the two are sister groups.

Improving Sphenophorus levis Adult Mortality Through Solid Insecticide Applications and Increased Insecticide Dose.

The sugarcane weevil (Sphenophorus levis Vaurie, 1978) is currently considered the most important sugarcane pest in Brazil, causing significant yield losses. Application methods of insecticides for S. levis control have not been effective, mostly due to the insect's cryptic behavior below the soil surface which suppresses the correct placement of insecticide active ingredients on target. Two experiments were conducted using an innovative bioassay methodology that simulates sugarcane field conditions to effectively evaluate S. levis adult mortality and insecticide residues in the soil under different treatments. The first experiment aimed to assess the efficacy of two liquid- and solid-applied insecticides, while the second aimed to examine the effect of increasing the dose of lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam on S. levis adult control. The novel bioassays simulated liquid and solid insecticide applications on sugarcane by exposing S. levis adults to chemical residuals on rhizomes and in soil after insecticide application. In the first experiment, low S. levis adult control was detected (< 53% mortality) across all treatments, where both solid and liquid applications of lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam provided greater efficacy levels than imidacloprid and control treatments, respectively. Solid applications maintained higher insecticide concentrations in the soil for longer periods than liquid insecticide applications, providing maximum insect control levels 7 days after application. The second experiment revealed that solid applications at higher insecticide doses significantly improved control of S. levis adult (76.7% mortality) and resulted in greater insecticide concentrations in the soil compared to the recommended label rate (58.8% mortality).

A comparative evaluation of the composition and antioxidant activity of free and bound polyphenols in sugarcane tips.

The sugarcane tip is abundant in phenolic compounds. Previous studies have concentrated on the effects of free polyphenols, while bound polyphenols were overlooked. In this study, the content of bound polyphenols (SPB) (31.9 ± 0.9 mg GAE/g DW) was significantly higher than free polyphenols (SPF) (3.4 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g DW). A total of 44 free and 31 bound phenolics were identified by the UPLC-EIS-QTOF-MS/MS. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of SPB was more pronounced, as evidenced by its higher ABTS+ and DPPH scavenging rates than SPF, which was attributed to the higher tannin content. Furthermore, at all tested concentrations (100 and 200 µg/mL), SPB significantly enhanced the survival and antioxidant enzyme activity of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), while concurrently reducing ROS levels. High concentrations of SPB even exhibited antioxidant activity comparable to Vitamin C (Vc). The collective findings strongly indicate that SPB holds great potential as an effective antioxidant.

Metarhizium caribense sp. nov., a Novel Species of Entomopathogenic Metarhizium Fungi Associated with Weevils Impairing Coffee, Sugar Cane and Sweet Potato Cultivation.

(1) Background: Insect pathogenic fungi of the genus Metarhizium are under study and in application as highly solicited, more eco-system friendly substitutes for chemical insecticides in many countries and in different agricultural contexts. In Cuba and Florida, Metarhizium strains have previously been isolated from economically important coffee and sugar cane pests. (2) Methods: Unambiguous species delineation within the Metarhizium anisopliae species complex is methodologically challenging. Recently, a species-discriminating PCR approach has been developed based on ribosomal intergenic spacer (rIGS) sequences that covered the prominent four "PARB" species within the complex. This approach is combined here with further genetic markers and is extended to a further species. (3) Results: Metarhizium isolates from Cuba, found to be more naturally associated with the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, were morphologically, microscopically and molecular taxonomically characterized. Multilocus sequence analysis based on 5TEF, MzIGS3 and rIGS markers delineated these weevil-associated strains from all previously established Metarhizium species. (4) Conclusions: The isolates under study represent a new fungal taxon proposed to be designated Metarhizium caribense. The rIGS-based species-discriminating diagnostic PCR is a suitable tool for the identification of new Metarhizium species and can be productively combined to approaches using further genetic markers.

Two Sugarcane Expansin Protein-Coding Genes Contribute to Stomatal Aperture Associated with Structural Resistance to Sugarcane Smut.

Sporisorium scitamineum is a biotrophic fungus responsible for inducing sugarcane smut disease that results in significant reductions in sugarcane yield. Resistance mechanisms against sugarcane smut can be categorized into structural, biochemical, and physiological resistance. However, structural resistance has been relatively understudied. This study found that sugarcane variety ZZ9 displayed structural resistance compared to variety GT42 when subjected to different inoculation methods for assessing resistance to smut disease. Furthermore, the stomatal aperture and density of smut-susceptible varieties (ROC22 and GT42) were significantly higher than those of smut-resistant varieties (ZZ1, ZZ6, and ZZ9). Notably, S. scitamineum was found to be capable of entering sugarcane through the stomata on buds. According to the RNA sequencing of the buds of GT42 and ZZ9, seven Expansin protein-encoding genes were identified, of which six were significantly upregulated in GT42. The two genes c111037.graph_c0 and c113583.graph_c0, belonging to the α-Expansin and ß-Expansin families, respectively, were functionally characterized, revealing their role in increasing the stomatal aperture. Therefore, these two sugarcane Expansin protein-coding genes contribute to the stomatal aperture, implying their potential roles in structural resistance to sugarcane smut. Our findings deepen the understanding of the role of the stomata in structural resistance to sugarcane smut and highlight their potential in sugarcane breeding for disease resistance.