Antifungal Effects and Potential Mechanism of Essential Oils on Collelotrichum gloeosporioides In Vitro and In Vivo.

The development of natural essential oil as an alternative to synthetic chemicals in the control of postharvest decay is currently in the spotlight. In the present study, the efficacy of seven essential oils in suppressing Collelotrichum gloeosporioides identified from sweet cherry was evaluated in vitro and clove oil was proved to be the most promising inhibitor. Thus, the antifungal properties and potential mechanisms of clove oil in vitro and in vivo by fumigation and contact treatments were intensively investigated. For C. gloeosporioides, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of clove oil in air and contact phase were 80 and 300 µL/L in vitro testing, respectively. Based on the radial growth of C. gloeosporioides mycelium in medium, the fumgitoxic ability of essential oil was observed in a dose-dependent manner, which was not as dramatic as that under in vivo conditions. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of C. gloeosporioides exposed to clove oil exhibited obviously deleterious morphological and ultrastructural alterations confirming the disruption of fungal cell wall and endomembrane system, which resulted in increasing in permeability and causing the loss of intracellular constituents. In future, essential oils, combined with nano-emulsification approaches, could be good candidates as safe and effective antifungal agents for fungal spoilage of fresh commodities.

Does green finance promote agricultural green total factor productivity? Considering green credit, green investment, green securities, and carbon finance in China.

The Chinese government has proposed a "double carbon" target as a response to climate change and has been incorporated in the vision 2035. Agriculture's green development is intrinsically related to financial support, but conventional financial mechanisms fall short in their efforts to foster economic growth and curb environmental degradation. The current research examines the theoretical effects of green finance on agricultural green total factor productivity in the context of "double carbon." The mediating effect and moderating effect models are used to empirically examine this mechanism based on the panel data (2015-2019) of 30 provinces in China. The estimated results suggest that green finance development can significantly increase agricultural green total factor productivity, with an inverted U effect and an apparent regional heterogeneity. The eastern region has a stronger promotional effect than the central and western regions. The advanced industrial structure plays a mediating effect on the impact of green finance on agricultural green total factor productivity. Rural human capital can effectively mediate the mediating effect of advanced industrial structure on the impact of green finance on agricultural green total factor productivity. The aforementioned results offer fresh perspectives and empirical evidence for China's green finance policy improvement, harmonizing regional green finance development, promotion of industrial structure improvement, and rural human capital optimization.

Role of agricultural credit guarantee policies in encouraging green agricultural development: farmers' perspectives and responses, and the regulatory function of household capital.

Green agriculture is anticipated to be the leading trend for achieving sustainable and high-quality development in the agricultural sector in the future. The success of credit guarantee policies in promoting green agricultural development is closely linked to the level of participation and response from farmers in securing agricultural credit guarantee loans. We examined how farmers in Xiji, Ningxia, perceive agricultural credit guarantee policies and their involvement in such loans by analyzing 706 survey responses. Our analysis utilized a combination of statistical techniques, including principal component analysis, Heckman's two-stage model, and moderating effect model. The results indicate that out of the 706 surveyed farmers, 29.32% of households (207 households) had knowledge of the agricultural credit guarantee policy. While 66.86% of households (472 households) expressed interest in participating in agricultural credit guarantee loans, only 23.65% of households actually took part or participated multiple times. The overall awareness of the agricultural credit guarantee policy among farmers and their participation rate are both low. An increase in farmers' awareness of the agricultural credit guarantee policy can have a significant impact on their willingness and frequency of participation. The farmer's understanding of the agricultural credit guarantee policy has a significant impact on their decision to participate in credit guarantee loans. However, this effect can vary based on the farmer's income level, household capital, and factors such as social security, personal characteristics, location, and type of household business. To improve the support provided to farmers, it is advised to increase their awareness and understanding of agricultural credit guarantee policies. Furthermore, loan products and services should be personalized according to the capital available to each farmer's household, and the agricultural credit guarantee system and process should be enhanced to provide better assistance.

Associations of Protein Molecular Structures with Their Nutrient Supply and Biodegradation Characteristics in Different Byproducts of Seed-Used Pumpkin.

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the relationship of protein functional groups (including amide I, amide II, α-helix, and ß-sheet) in byproducts of seed-used pumpkin (pumpkin seed cake, pumpkin seed coat, and seed-used pumpkin flesh) with their nutrient profiles and biodegradation characteristics. The experiment was designed to use conventional chemical analysis, combining the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) and nylon bag technology to assess the nutritional value and biodegradation characteristics of seed-used pumpkin byproducts. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the protein molecular structure properties of byproducts of seed-used pumpkin. In this study, we also applied correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin had different in situ biodegradation, nutrient supplies, and spectral structures in the protein region. Among the byproducts of seed-used pumpkin, acid detergent-insoluble crude protein (ADICP) and neutral detergent-insoluble crude protein (NDICP) contents of the pumpkin seed coat were the highest, resulting in the lowest effective degradabilities (EDs) of dry matter and crude protein. The crude protein (CP) ED values were ranked as follows: pumpkin seed cake > seed-used pumpkin flesh > pumpkin seed coat. Significant differences were observed in the peak areas of amide I and amide II and the corresponding peak heights in the two peak areas in the molecular structure of the protein. The peak areas of amide I and amide II and the corresponding peak heights were at the highest levels for pumpkin seed cake, whereas there was no significant difference between the pumpkin seed coat and seed-used pumpkin flesh. Similarly, the peak heights of α-helices and ß-sheets were highest for pumpkin seed cake. Correlation and regression results indicated that amide I and amide II area and height, α-helix and ß-sheet heights, and area ratios of amide I: amide II, as well as the height ratios of amide I: amide II, and α-helices: ß-sheets effectively estimated nutrient supply and that the height ratio of α-helices: ß-sheets was mostly sensitive to biodegradation characteristics in different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin. There were significant differences in CP chemical composition and digestibility of different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin that were strongly related to the changes in protein molecular structures.

Alterations in splenic function and gene expression in mice with depressive-like behavior induced by exposure to corticosterone.

Depressed patients present with increased cortisol levels and attenuated immune responses. However, little is known about the association between depression and the spleen, as this is the largest peripheral immune organ. In this study, we examined alterations in splenic function and gene expression in mice with depressive-like behavior, well as the expression of certain proteins in related pathways. A mouse model of depression was established with the use of corticosterone. Splenic function and histopathology were assessed using Wright and H&E staining. The Agilent Whole Mouse Genome Oligo Microarray containing >41,174 transcript probes was used to measure the levels of gene-expression in the spleens from control and model mice, and the levels of certain proteins associated with depression were measured by western blot analysis in the brain and spleen separately. We found that splenic function and immunity in the mice with depressive-like behavior were markedly impaired. A total of 53 genes exhibited a differential response in the mice with depressive-like behavior, 11 of which were more notable, including collagen, type VI, α5 (Col6a5), immunoglobulin superfamily, member 11 (Igsf11), D site albumin promoter binding protein (Dbp), tachykinin 2 (Tac2) and γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor 2 (Gabbr2). Pathway analysis revealed that the amino acid biosynthesis and the clock gene pathways were more meaningful among these genes. The levels of GABBR2, DBP and substance P (SP; encoded by the Tac2 gene) related proteins in the brain were markedly downregulated, and similar results were observed in the spleen. The anti-depressant, fluoxetine, reversed the changes in the levels of these proteins. The findings of our study regarding changes occurring in the spleen during depression may indirectly elucidate and shed light into the pathogenesis of depression and depressive-like behavior.