Eco-Genomic Alchemy: The Crucial Intersections of Brachypodium, Agriculture, and Climate Dynamics

Brachypodium species, particularly B. distachyon, B. hybridum, and B. stacei, have rapidly become valuable models in plant research, providing important insights into the genetics, physiology, and ecology of grasses. This review examines the multifaceted importance of these species, highlighting their central role in understanding cereal crop relatives and delving into their adaptability to a range of abiotic stresses, particularly in the context of climate change mitigation. Given the increasing threat of unpredictable weather patterns and global food security, the genetic reservoir and adaptability of Brachypodium species offer promising opportunities for sustainable agricultural innovation. Moreover, it is emphasized that maintaining their genetic diversity is critical, not only for continuity of research, but also for the potential ecological and economic benefits they offer. As we move through the complexities of the Anthropocene, Brachypodium is a testament to the complex interplay of genetics, environment, and human endeavor, and calls for a collaborative approach to harness its full potential for future agricultural resilience and sustainability

Balancing Fields: A Comprehensive Examination of Organic and Conventional Agriculture in the Modern Era

With the world needing to feed an estimated 10 billion people by 2050, the paradigms of organic and conventional agriculture play a critical role in meeting these needs and ensuring environmental protection. This review critically examines these two agricultural paradigms by tracing their historical roots and exploring their techniques, impacts, economic considerations, and contributions to global food security. We highlight the environmental footprints with particular attention to soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity. In addition, the health impacts of food produced in both systems and their societal implications will be discussed, with a closer look at aspects of consumer safety, community dynamics, and global market trends. By highlighting the strengths and challenges of both farming systems, this review argues for an integrative approach to agriculture that leverages best practices from both worlds. Such harmonization aims to create a sustainable future for agriculture that not only feeds humanity but also preserves the ecological balance on our planet

Embedded Simple Excited Automotive Alternator Modeling using Magnetic Equivalent Circuits

This paper presents the modeling by Magnetic Equivalent Circuit model (MEC) of a Simple Excited Automotive Alternator (SE2A) where DC-excitation winding is transferred from rotor side to statorone rather than in conventional automotive claw pole alternators, to overcome the disadvantages of the ring-brush system. Following the resolution of the MEC using Newthon-Raphson numerical method, the alternator performances at both no-load and under resistive load regimes is achieved considering the saturation effect. It has been found that alternator’s performances carried out using the proposed MEC are with closed proximity to experimental records on a built prototype of the considered alternator

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Plant Adaptation to Arid Ecosystem of Bou-Hedma National Park in Tunisia

Plants interact with beneficial microbes living in their rhizosphere, promoting their growth and development. In arid ecosystems, specific plant-associated microbes grant plants access to nutrients that would otherwise be inaccessible. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are probably one of the better known belowground functional networks with plants. AMF plays a crucial role in plant performance and consequently in ecosystem functioning. AMF activities also determine the bio-availability of nutrients and therefore soil fertility. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the plant-AMF interactions on soil functions under arid ecosystem in Tunisia. AMF colonization was evaluated by visual observation of AMF in fine roots of Astragalus corrugatus and Lotus creticus on Bou-Hedma National Park in Tunisia. Mycorrhizal colonization varied between plants, and the spore number was significantly different across rhizosphere soils. Statistical analysis showed a clearly positive correlation between the number of spores and plant-mycorrhizal intensity. For microbiological proprieties, our results showed that mycorrhizal plants improved significantly the different microbiological parameters. The results of the present study specified the association plant-AMF and highlight AMF importance as a tailored mechanism of plant adaptation to arid ecosystems

Does Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Determine Soil Microbial Functionality in Nutrient-Limited Mediterranean Arid Ecosystems?

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are determinant for the performance of plant communities and for the functionality of terrestrial ecosystems. In natural ecosystems, grazing can have a major impact on mycorrhizal fungi and consequently on plant growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the statements referred above in Mediterranean arid areas in Tunisia. Root samples and rhizosphere soils of five dominant herbaceous plants were studied at six distinct arid sites differing on soil proprieties and grazing intensity. At each site, chemical and dynamic properties of the soil were characterized as well as the AMF colonization intensity and the soil functionality. Results showed that the mycorrhizal frequency and intensity and spore density, varied between plants in the same site and, for each plant, between sites and evidenced a positive effect of mycorrhized plants on soil microbial activity. Grazing and soil properties strongly affected AMF composition and the soil microbial and biochemical dynamics, which presented the lowest values at the sites with the highest grazing intensities. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that AMF improve soil biological properties, supporting the hypothesis that mycorrhiza and grazing compete for plant photosynthates, and highlight the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis towards soil functionality under arid conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Seedborne Fungi in Squash (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata).

Squash is one of the most important crops of tropical and temperate regions, and it can be affected by several fungal pathogens. Most of these pathogens infect the seeds, which become an efficient vehicle to disperse seedborne pathogens over long distances, with consequent severe crop losses. The main objective of this study was the identification of the principal seedborne fungi in seeds extracted from 66 samples of asymptomatic and symptomatic squash fruit (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata) collected in two countries, Tunisia and Italy. The symptoms of fruit decay were identified and classified according to lesion size. Following the blotter test, 14 fungal species were detected from the seeds. Seedborne fungi were identified in all fruit samples tested, including asymptomatic fruit. The most frequent fungi from Tunisian seeds were Alternaria alternata (25.1%), followed by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (24.6%), Fusarium solani (16.6%), Rhizopus stolonifer (13.3%), F. fujikuroi (7.8%), Albifimbria verrucaria (3.3%), and Stemphylium vesicarium (2.3%). For the fruits from Italy, the most frequently identified fungal species in seed samples were Alternaria alternata (40.0%), followed by F. fujikuroi (20.8%), Stemphylium vesicarium (3.0%), and Curvularia spicifera (2.1%). Morphological identification was confirmed by molecular diagnosis using the available species-specific primers. Furthermore, specific primers were designed to identify Albifimbria verrucaria, Paramyrothecium roridum, and Stemphylium vesicarium. Application of seed-health testing methods, including such conventional and molecular diagnostic tools, will help to improve seed quality and crop yields

Identification and characterization of actinomycetes for biological control of bacterial wilt of Ralstonia solanacearum isolated from tomato

Five actinomycetes which showed antimicrobial activity towards Ralstonia solanacearum were identified using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 16S rDNA gene. Strain C1 and Strain G10 were identified as Streptomyces aureofaciens and S. roseoflavus respectively. All actinomycetes were then characterized using antimicrobial and extracellular enzyme activity, metabolic and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles. Strain A3 showed positive reaction to three bacteria namely Xanthomonas campestris, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Strain C1 and Strain I15 showed positive reaction towards S. aureus and X. campestris respectively. Strains A3, C1 and I15 were able to metabolize xylan and cellulose, while Strain G10 and Strain L8 were able to use all substrates (xylan, mannan and cellulose) as carbon sources. All the Streptomyces strains were positive towards more than 25 carbon sources and can be differentiated into five distinct strains. These results were consistent and confirmed with DNA analysis of RFLP profiles. The specific amplification of 16S rDNA PCR restriction profiles for the strains using three restriction endonucleases, resulted two restriction profiles produced from the digested 16S rDNA product using HaeIII (H1–H2) and HinfI (Hf1–Hf2), while PstI produced three restriction profiles (P1–P3). No profiles were produced from restriction endonuclases of XbaI, SpeI and BamHI