Foliar Application of a Sargassum spp.-Based Biostimulant Improves Fruit Quality and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Melon

Foliar Application of Hempseed Press Cake-Derived Protein Hydrolysate Enhances Yield, Fruit Quality, and Antioxidant Properties of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) Grown Under Smart Greenhouse Conditions

Hempseed press cake-derived protein hydrolysate (HPH) is a promising plant biostimulant, but its effects on strawberry fruit production under smart greenhouse conditions remain unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar HPH application on growth, mineral accumulation, reproductive traits, yield, fruit quality, and antioxidant properties of strawberry cv. ‘Pharachatan 80’. Plants were grown in a smart greenhouse and treated with water (control), a commercial biostimulant, and HPH at 7.5 and 10.0% (w/v) (HPH7.5 and HPH10.0, respectively). Foliar application was initiated 25 days after transplanting and repeated weekly for five applications. HPH applications showed clear concentration-specific improvements in vegetative growth, mineral accumulation, reproductive performance, fruit yield, and antioxidant quality. As the most effective treatment for overall crop performance, HPH7.5 enhanced plant growth and mineral accumulation, particularly K and Mg. Consequently, it improved both yield components (fruit set, number, weight, size, and total yield) and fruit quality attributes, such as total soluble solids, total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and ABTS radical-scavenging activity. Conversely, HPH10.0 was more closely associated with N, P, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mn accumulation, as well as fruit firmness and total anthocyanin content, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Principal component analysis confirmed distinct response patterns between HPH concentrations. Thus, HPH7.5 serves as an effective foliar biostimulant to improve strawberry productivity and quality in smart greenhouses.

Evaluation of Plant Bio-Regulators and Antioxidants on Fruit Quality and Physiological Attributes of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of plant bio-regulators and antioxidants on fruit growth, quality, and physiological parameters of pomegranate. The experiment comprised different treatments including NAA, GA₃, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, and control. The results revealed that application of NAA at 30 ppm (T₂) significantly improved fruit physical characteristics, recording maximum fruit length (108.68 mm), fruit breadth (96.71 mm), fruit weight (352.99 g), and fruit volume (380.89 cc). In contrast, GA₃ at higher concentration (500 ppm) resulted in minimum fruit size and weight. Quality parameters were also positively influenced by NAA treatments, with the highest total soluble solids (14.92 ºB), total sugars (14.69%), and reducing sugars observed under T₂. Titratable acidity was lowest in NAA-treated fruits, indicating improved sweetness and better fruit quality. Among antioxidant treatments, ascorbic acid at 1200 ppm (T₈) significantly enhanced ascorbic acid content (15.12 mg/100 g), while salicylic acid (200 ppm) improved anthocyanin content (0.40 mg/100 g), contributing to better fruit coloration. Juice content was highest under GA₃ 500 ppm treatment. Physiological parameters showed that GA₃ treatments significantly enhanced photosynthetic rate (8.88 μmol CO₂/m²/s), transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content (3.08 mg/g), indicating improved plant metabolic activity. However, stomatal conductance was found to be non-significant among treatments. Overall, the study concluded that foliar application of NAA at 30 ppm is most effective for improving fruit size, yield, and quality of pomegranate, while GA₃ plays a significant role in enhancing physiological traits. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and salicylic acid improve biochemical attributes of fruits.

Ef fects of Foliar Application of Nano-Hydroxyapatite on Fruit Quality in Cucumis melo L.

With the growing global population, improving the ef ficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices through modern technologies, including nanotechnology, is essential. This study evaluated the ef fects of foliar nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp; Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) on yield, fruit quality, and mineral composition of melon (Cucumis melo L., var. Cruiser) under field conditions at Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Torreón, Coahuila, México. Treatments consisted of 0 (control), 2000, 4000, and 6000 mg L⁻¹ nHAp applied as foliar sprays. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with five beds (R1–R5), and 3–6 fruits per plot were subsampled for total soluble solids and firmness, with plot means used for analysis. Foliar nHAp significantly increased total soluble solids and firmness compared to the control, with the highest values at 4000 mg L⁻¹ (13.27 vs 8.80 °Brix; 2.55 vs 1.44 N). Yield was not af fected by treatments; however, mean fruit weight and fruit diameters dif fered among treatments. Mineral composition was analyzed on freeze-dried composite samples (dry-matter basis) from three blocks (R1, R3, and R5). Potassium content dif fered among treatments, whereas Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn remained unchanged. Overall, foliar nHAp improved sweetness and firmness without af fecting yield or most mineral components, with potassium showing a treatment response at 2000 mg L⁻¹.

Development and Nutritional Characterization of a Plant-based Ketogenic Soup Enriched with Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum L.)

The primary objective of the present study was to formulate and test a plant-based ketogenic soup using sunflower and sesame seeds as the primary fat sources. Five formulations were created with varying ratios of these seeds, and a standard cream of vegetable soup was used as a control. Sensory evaluation (9-point hedonic scale) revealed that colour, flavour, taste, consistency, and overall acceptability were highest for KS A. The proximate analysis of the ketogenic soups showed higher protein content (8.96-10.46%), fat content (51.02-54.42%), fibre content (2.63-3.45%), and energy content (542.18-569.50 kcal) than the control, whereas carbohydrate content was significantly lower (10.24-11.41%). Colour measurements indicated good visual quality, with moderate differences from the control sample. The optimised formulation, KS A, was selected based on sensory, colour, and nutritional evaluations. The optimised formulation had a fat-to-carbohydrate and protein ratio of ~2.73:1, which falls within the range recommended for a ketogenic diet. The use of sunflower and sesame seeds as alternatives to traditional animal-derived ketogenic ingredients enabled the formulation to be suitable for plant-based diets. KS A was analysed for minerals, and essential minerals were identified, enhancing its nutritional profile. The microbiological evaluation showed low total plate counts and yeast and mould counts, while coliforms and Escherichia coli were absent, indicating satisfactory microbiological quality and hygienic processing conditions. The results indicate that the developed ketogenic soup has good sensory characteristics, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate nutritional composition, and acceptable safety features. Thus, KS A shows potential as a functional plant-based ketogenic food. Shelf-life and storage stability studies are recommended to support commercial development.

Effect of Biostimulants on Growth, Yield and Quality of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Aims: This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of applied biostimulants on the growth, yield, quality, and economic performance of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Pusa Desi. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (Rajasthan), during 2025-26. Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with two factors: commercial biostimulants (control, humic acid @ 3%, fulvic acid @ 3%, and salicylic acid @ 50 mg/L) and traditional biostimulants (control, moringa leaf extract @ 3%, vermiwash @ 3%, and cow urine [1:10]). The 16 treatment combinations were replicated three times, and the observed data were analysed using OPSTAT. Results: Significant differences were observed among the treatments. Among the treatment combinations, humic acid @ 3% and moringa leaf extract @ 3% (T1×M1) recorded the maximum plant height (35.5 cm at 45 DAS and 51.6 cm at harvest), root-shoot ratio (1.15 cm at 45 DAS and 1.20 cm at harvest), average leaf area (218.48 cm2 at 45 DAS), leaf area index (3.36 at 45 DAS), number of leaves per plant (8.4 at 30 DAS and 12.61 at 45 DAS), chlorophyll a content (2 mg/g at 30 DAS and 2.2 mg/g at 45 DAS), chlorophyll b content (1.17 mg/g at 30 DAS and 1.33 mg/g at 45 DAS), total chlorophyll content (3.23 mg/g at 30 DAS and 3.24 mg/g at 45 DAS), maximum root diameter (5 cm at 45 DAS and 5.7 cm at harvest), average root weight (123 g at 45 DAS and 130 g at harvest), yield per plot (5.2 kg), yield per hectare (433 q/ha), TSS content in roots (4.24 ºBrix at 45 DAS and 4.4 ºBrix at harvest), vitamin C (27.9 mg/day at 45 DAS and 31.6 mg/day at harvest), total phenolic content (2.16 mg GAE/g at 45 DAS and 2.51 mg GAE/g at harvest), beta-carotene (4.12 mg at 45 DAS and 4.16 mg at harvest), and the highest B:C ratio of 3.16. Conclusion: The results of our research indicated that the application of humic acid @ 3% and moringa leaf extract @ 3% (T1×M1) increased the growth, yield, and quality of radish. However, these findings are indicative and require further experimentation across seasons and locations before broader recommendations can be made.

Efficacy of Polyphenol-Enriched Carissa carandas L. Extract-Fortified Chitosan Coatings: Mitigating Enzymatic Degradation and Improving Postharvest Quality of Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) cv. ‘Umran’ Under Storage