Background Drought and salinity are major abiotic constraints in strawberry production, adversely affecting plant growth, photosynthesis, and cellular stability. Melatonin has emerged as a promising biostimulant due to its role in regulating stress responses and antioxidant defense mechanisms in plants. Objective This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of foliar melatonin application in mitigating the effects of individual and combined drought and salinity stress in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. ‘Albion’). Method The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Strawberry plants were exposed to salinity stress (35 mM NaCl), drought stress (40% reduced irrigation), or their combination. Melatonin was applied foliarly at 50 µM under stress conditions. Growth parameters, chlorophyll content, membrane permeability, oxidative stress indicators, proline content, and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated. Results Under drought stress, melatonin-treated plants exhibited significant improvements in leaf number (5.7%), fresh weight (4.2%), and chlorophyll content (11.2% SPAD increase) compared to untreated plants. Melatonin significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation by 24.4% under drought (9.31 vs. 12.31 nmol g − 1 FW) and by 18.6% under salinity stress (8.49 vs. 10.43 nmol g − 1 FW). Furthermore, melatonin enhanced antioxidant defense, with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities increasing by 28.1% and 12.7%, respectively, under drought stress compared to non-melatonin drought-stressed plants. In contrast, under combined drought and salinity stress, melatonin showed limited effectiveness; although it supported survival, the plants displayed reduced growth performance and a significant increase in membrane permeability (reaching 21.13%), suggesting a physiological threshold under multifaceted stress. Conclusions Foliar melatonin application effectively improves strawberry tolerance to individual drought or salinity stress by enhancing growth performance and antioxidant capacity, whereas its protective effect is markedly reduced under combined stress conditions. These findings suggest that while melatonin is a sustainable strategy for single-stress mitigation, its efficacy is constrained under the synergistic pressure of the abiotic stress matrix.

The soilless culture technique, widely used for vegetables and ornamentals, has also proven advantageous for grapevine cultivation under protected conditions. This study investigated the effects of foliar applications of different organic compounds diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), amino acids, humic acid, and fulvic acid on yield, fruit quality, and plant nutrition in soilless table grape production under greenhouse conditions in Çukurova, a warm Mediterranean region in 2021 and 2022 years. Four-year-old cv. Black Magic ( Vitis vinifera L . ) grapevines were grown under plastic cover in a pumice:cocopeat (1:1, v/v) substrate and irrigated with modified Hoagland nutrient solution. Organic substances were applied foliar at a concentration of 0.2% at three phenological stages (pre-flowering, fruit set, and veraison). The application concentration and phenological timing were chosen to coincide with critical stages of grapevine development and to maximize foliar uptake efficiency without inducing phytotoxicity. Control vines were sprayed with water only. Humic acid application increased yield by approximately 10–18% compared to the control in two growing seasons and also improved cluster weight, length, and size. Based on mean values, humic acid application increased berry weight by approximately 3–7% compared to the control across the two growing seasons. Significant treatment effects on must quality were observed mainly in the first growing season, in which amino acid and humic acid applications improved total soluble solids and maturity index compared to the control. Humic and fulvic acids enhanced leaf macro and micro nutrient concentrations by 15–35%, several nutrients into sufficient range during veraison. Humic acid and EDTA increased stomatal length by up to 45% and reduced stomatal density by approximately 15% compared to the control. Humic acid increased ascorbic acid content by approximately 150–170% and enhanced DPPH antioxidant activity by up to 8%. Fulvic acid increased total phenolic content by approximately 10–20% compared to the control.

Skin cancer represents a major public health concern due to high global incidence and mortality rates. Oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet radiation plays a central role in skin carcinogenesis. Natural compounds with chemopreventive properties, such as those derived from Vaccinium meridionale Swartz, have attracted attention for their antioxidant potential. Consequently, this study evaluated the protective effect of V. meridionale against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-induced skin damage in HaCaT keratinocytes. To this end, cells were treated with a water–ethanol extract (0.25–10.0 mg/mL) for 24 h, followed by hydrogen peroxide exposure. Assays assessing cell viability, ROS levels, DNA damage, and cell cycle progression were performed. Additionally, in silico analyses examined interactions between phenolic compounds and proteins involved in oxidative stress regulation, including antioxidant and pro-oxidant targets. Results showed that the extract reduced both ROS accumulation and DNA damage and that cyanidin-3-glucoside may inhibit the pro-oxidant enzyme nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2). These findings demonstrate the antioxidant and genoprotective activity of V. meridionale , supporting its potential role in skin cancer prevention.

Background Leaf removal and modern grape harvesting are the main practices generating significant wastes of vine leaves. This grape-processing by-product remains largely underutilized, yet its valorization could promote more sustainable agriculture while yielding high-value compounds. Objective Herein, different varieties of grape leaves from Slovenian and Tunisian vineyards were thoroughly characterized by a systematic analytical methodology involving multiple techniques and aiming to unveil their nutritional benefits. Methods The mineral composition was analyzed by XRD and ICP-OES. The total phenolic content was quantified spectrophotometrically, while the phenolic profile was determined by HPLC-MS-ESI-Q-TOF. The glutathione reductase was evidenced by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Results Higher potassium content was found in the Slovenian varieties, while calcium, magnesium and iron were present in higher quantities in the Tunisian ones. In terms of phenolic content, the values of TPC of the methanolic extracts of grape leaves evidenced an effective phenolic character, with the highest value for the Pinot gris extract (15.32 mg GAE/g dry leaves). Consequently, this extract was subjected to HPLC-MS-ESI-Q-TOF analysis, observing nineteen phenolic compounds. The most abundant compounds were quercetin glucuronide (∼50% of relative contribution) and caftaric acid. Lastly, the enzymatic antioxidant glutathione reductase was detected in all the analyzed grape leaves varieties, with specific activity ranging from 0.15 to 0.50 µmol NADPH min −1 mg −1 protein. Conclusion The different analyses have highlighted the potent and diversified nutritional aspects of the selected grape leaves especially the Slovene Pinot gris variety. Grapevine leaves are likely to offer an even wider range of uses as supplements in food and medicines.

Background Chinese dwarf cherry ( Cerasus humilis ) pomace is rich in proanthocyanidins, which exhibit antidiabetic activity. Objective This study investigates the protective effect of proanthocyanidins extracted from C. humilis pomace by regulating hepatic glucose-lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods The antidiabetic activities of Cerasus humilis pomace proanthocyanidins (CPPs) were evaluated through fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and biochemical analysis, including AST, ALT, C-peptide, and hepatic glycogen in mouse serum, TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels in the liver, as well as MDA and SOD levels. Thereafter, transcriptomic analysis, coupled with western blot and RT-qPCR, was employed to validate the molecular mechanism by which CPPs improved T2DM pathology in mice. Results CPPs significantly attenuated body weight gain, hyperglycemia, hepatic lipid accumulation, and liver injury in T2DM mice. Transcriptomics implicated the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 and AMPK/ACC signaling pathways in mediating CPPs’ anti-diabetic effects. Subsequently, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and RT-qPCR analyses confirmed that CPPs regulate these pathways and demonstrated significant suppression of key gluconeogenic enzymes, PEPCK and G6Pase. Conclusion CPPs can effectively ameliorate T2DM by suppressing hepatic glucolipid metabolism abnormalities, primarily through regulation of the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 and AMPK/ACC signaling pathways.

Raspberry is highly valued by consumers owing to its palatability and medicinal applications. However, from June to August 2023, a severe outbreak of raspberry stem blight (RSB) in Harbin, China, significantly impacted raspberry yield and quality. In this study, the causal agent of RSB was identified as Epicoccum nigrum . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. nigrum causing RSB in China. Pathogenicity assays revealed moderate virulence of the isolated strains. Additionally, E. nigrum was found to infect elderberry, chicken twig, honey suckle, mountain thorn, yellow thorn rose, rose, maack spindle-tree, and mountain celery, but not hawthorn. The E. nigrum isolate exhibited high sensitivity to prochloraz (EC 50 ≤ 0.50 μg·ml −1 ), with 81.1% efficacy observed at 0.00045 g·ml −1 . These findings suggest that integrated strategies, such as crop rotation between host and non-host plants combined with the application of chemical fungicides, could effectively control RSB. This study provides a critical foundation for the prevention and management of RSB in China.

Neurotrophic receptors are specialized proteins on the surface of neurons that regulate the growth, development, and survival of nerve cells, interacting with specific neurotrophic factors to support neuronal function and overall brain health. Key examples include the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) family and the p75 neurotrophin receptor. This review highlights the neuroprotective potential of berries such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries known for their rich content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. These phytochemicals possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may play a critical role in neuroprotection. Emerging evidence from clinical trials suggests that berry consumption can enhance cognitive function and provide protection against age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, the modulation of signaling pathways related to neurotransmission, cell survival, inflammation, and neuroplasticity underscores the significance of these fruits in neuroprotection. This review uniquely synthesizes recent findings on the specific neurotrophic factors influenced by berry-derived phytochemicals, providing insights into their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we explore the implications of these compounds in developing functional foods aimed at preventing neurodegeneration and promoting cognitive health, thereby contributing to the growing body of research on dietary interventions for brain health.

Background Corema album, a wild shrub endemic to the Atlantic coastal dunes of Iberian Peninsula, has important ecological and medicinal value. Corema album has been listed as an endangered plant due to threats associated with anthropogenic events. Conservation of the species is therefore critically important. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of four well-characterized populations to support pre-breeding programs aimed at enhancing species knowledge for a future berry crop culture, with the ultimate goal of protecting and conserving the threatened species C. album. Methods The set of 128 C. album accessions was genotyped using six EST-SSR primers and one genomic-SSR primer. Results A total of 65 alleles were obtained with a mean of 9.285 alleles per locus. The genetic diversity was found to be high, with mean values of observed heterozygosity ( Ho) and expected heterozygosity ( He) at 0.594 and 0.756, respectively. Moderate genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.095) was observed. STRUCTURE analysis and multivariate analyses roughly categorized the accessions into a complex mixed group. The STRUCTURE analysis revealed no correlation between genetic structure and geographical distribution; however, it facilitated the identification of pure accessions within each population. Conclusions The results aid in the understanding the population structure and genetic diversity and are crucial to optimize conservation strategies as well as the utilization of genetic resources of C. album for a deeper genetic study of the species.

BACKGROUND: Grapes, which have gained prominence in recent years due to their positive contributions to human health, are considered a functional food due to the oil content in their seeds. Although the oil content and fatty acid composition of commonly grown grape varieties have been the subject of many studies, these characteristics of local varieties haven’t been sufficiently examined. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the usability of grape varieties grown in Southeastern Anatolia (Turkey) in grape seed oil production and identify potential parent candidates that could be used in the breeding of grape varieties with high-quality seed oil. METHODS: The effects of genotypes, berry skin color, ripening time, and the climatic characteristics of the cultivation season on the oil content and fatty acid composition of seeds from 16 different grape ( Vitis vinifera L.) varieties were investigated. Grape seed oils were extracted by soxhlet device and major, minor, and essential fatty acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography. RESULTS: According to the findings, the oil content of the grape seeds varied only depending on the genotype and ranged from 9.78% to 18.50% w/w. Moreover, 13–15 fatty acids were detected in the grape seed oils, with linoleic acid (56.13% –69.36%) and oleic acid (15.99% –30.97%) being the most common in all varieties. Only palmitic acid and stearic acid showed variation depending on the skin color; the other fatty acids weren’t affected. Cultivation season didn’t affect the fatty acid composition, but the major and minor fatty acid composition varied depending on ripening time. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where it isn’t possible to separate the seeds of grape varieties on a variety basis, classifying them according to the ripening time of the berries may be helpful in predicting the amounts of major, minor fatty acids and partially essential fatty acids in the seeds.