Shahin Imran^1,2,#,*, Mousumi Jahan Sumi^3,#, Israt Jahan Harine⁴, Newton Chandra Paul¹, Md. Asif Mahamud⁵, Rakibul Hasan Md. Rabbi⁵, Marian Brestic⁶, Mohammad Saidur Rhaman^7,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1073-1109, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.064046 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Heavy metal (HM) accumulation in soil poses a major hazard to both ecological health and plant growth progressions. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) are examples of HMs that negatively impact the growth and development of plants, resulting in lower agricultural output and food safety concerns. Biochar (BC), a substance rich in carbon that is formed by pyrolyzing natural biomass, has demonstrated remarkable promise in reducing HM stress in polluted soils. Research has shown that BC effectively lowers plant uptake of metals, and enhances soil qualities,… More >

Arpita Rani Roy¹, Israt Jahan², Sharah Jabeen Mou², Md. Farhan Hasin³, Prodipto Bishnu Angon^1,*, Rebeka Sultana², Badhon Mazumder⁴, Md. Arif Sakil^5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1177-1210, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063675 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Global warming is making plants more susceptible to heat stress. Hence, adjustments to crop production systems are required for global food security. Heat stress (HS) poses a threat to the quality of ecosystems and global food security due to its adverse effects on plant development. The degree to which HS affects physiological disruptions, physical harm, and biochemical changes at various growth stages directly correlates with its effects on physiological functions, plant growth, and crop production. One promising approach is soil modification using biochar, which enhances soil health and promotes the development of microbial communities, ultimately… More >

Wafaa H. Alwan^1,*, Sabah M. Alturfi²

Computer Systems Science and Engineering, Vol.49, pp. 419-434, 2025, DOI:10.32604/csse.2025.064195 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Plant diseases pose a significant challenge to global agricultural productivity, necessitating efficient and precise diagnostic systems for early intervention and mitigation. In this study, we propose a novel hybrid framework that integrates EfficientNet-B8, Vision Transformer (ViT), and Knowledge Graph Fusion (KGF) to enhance plant disease classification across 38 distinct disease categories. The proposed framework leverages deep learning and semantic enrichment to improve classification accuracy and interpretability. EfficientNet-B8, a convolutional neural network (CNN) with optimized depth and width scaling, captures fine-grained spatial details in high-resolution plant images, aiding in the detection of subtle disease symptoms. In… More >

Maryam¹, Mohamed M. El-Mogy², Muhammad Faheem Jan³, Iram Naz¹, Ishtiaq Ahmad^4,*, Riaz Ahmad⁵, Muhammad Tanveer Altaf⁶

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 623-640, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063763 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Various environmental stressors, such as salinity, heat, drought, and metals, present significant obstacles to crop productivity. This study delves into the adverse effects of metals, specifically focusing on cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) on plants. It explores the sources of these metals, examining both natural occurrences and human-induced activities, and investigates the mechanisms through which plants absorb them. Metal pollution, in particular, negatively affects plant and microbiome well-being, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that harm essential macromolecules. Traditional stress-resistant plant varieties necessitate substantial development, leading… More >

Faten S. Alamri¹, Tariq Sadad^2,*, Ahmed S. Almasoud³, Raja Atif Aurangzeb⁴, Amjad Khan³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.83, No.1, pp. 1023-1039, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.061890 - 26 March 2025

Abstract Mango farming significantly contributes to the economy, particularly in developing countries. However, mango trees are susceptible to various diseases caused by fungi, viruses, and bacteria, and diagnosing these diseases at an early stage is crucial to prevent their spread, which can lead to substantial losses. The development of deep learning models for detecting crop diseases is an active area of research in smart agriculture. This study focuses on mango plant diseases and employs the ConvNeXt and Vision Transformer (ViT) architectures. Two datasets were used. The first, MangoLeafBD, contains data for mango leaf diseases such as… More >

Muhammad Nazim^1,2,*, Abdul Ghafoor^3,*, Abida Hussain⁴, Mehwish Tabassum⁵, Aamir Nawaz⁶, Muhammad Ahmad⁷, Murad Muhammad^1,2, Muqarrab Ali⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 65-99, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.058970 - 24 January 2025

Abstract In recent years, the world has faced rising global temperatures, accumulative pollution, and energy crises, stimulating scientists worldwide to strive for eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions. Biochar has materialized as a favorable tool for environmental remediation, indicating efficacy as an efficient sorbent substance for both inorganic and organic pollutants in environmental field. These unique properties exclude improved surface functionality, porous morphology, large specific surface area (SSA), cation exchange capacity (CEC), robust adsorption capabilities, environmental stability, and embedded micronutrients. Biochar exhibited potential characteristics for environmental oversight, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, and soil fertility improvement. This review… More >

Mohamed M. Kamara^1,*, Nora M. Al Aboud², Hameed Alsamadany³, Abeer M. Kutby⁴, Imen Ben Abdelmalek⁵, Diaa Abd El-Moneim⁶, Motrih Al-Mutiry⁷

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.1, pp. 101-122, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.058033 - 24 January 2025

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is a crucial nutrient vital for the growth and productivity of maize. However, excessive nitrogen application can result in numerous environmental and ecological problems, such as water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, breeding maize hybrids resilient to low nitrogen conditions is crucial for sustainable agriculture, especially under low nitrogen conditions. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the combining ability and heterosis of maize lines, recognize promising hybrids, and study gene action controlling key traits under low and recommended N stress conditions. The half-diallel mating design hybridized seven maize inbreds, resulting… More >

Xinyu Liu^#, Longfei Wang^#, Yuxin Ma, Peng Shao^*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.82, No.1, pp. 1349-1376, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2024.058294 - 03 January 2025

Abstract Stereoscopic agriculture, as an advanced method of agricultural production, poses new challenges for multi-task trajectory planning of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To address the need for UAVs to perform multi-task trajectory planning in stereoscopic agriculture, a multi-task trajectory planning model and algorithm (IEP-AO) that synthesizes flight safety and flight efficiency is proposed. Based on the requirements of stereoscopic agricultural geomorphological features and operational characteristics, the multi-task trajectory planning model is ensured by constructing targeted constraints at five aspects, including the path, slope, altitude, corner, energy and obstacle threat, to improve the effectiveness of the trajectory… More >

Xinyi Liu^1,4, Muhammed Nadeem¹, Yukui Rui^1,2,3,4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3197-3216, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.059281 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Compared with conventional fertilizers, nano fertilizer has many advantages such as controlled release, controlled or slow release of nutrients, high efficiency of nutrition use, cheap, and little polluting of the environment. The use of fertilizers with nanotechnology is a new field in agriculture, and it is a promising and cost-effective substitute for conventional fertilizers to improve the productivity of the world’s food supply. Photosynthesis is an essential biochemical reaction on Earth. Improving photosynthesis, the basic process for light’s transformation into chemical energy is one of the most important areas of research for improving agricultural output… More > Graphic Abstract

Pratyush Kumar Das¹, Satyabrata Nanda^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.12, pp. 3217-3235, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.057956 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Insect pests cause severe crop damage, resulting in substantial economic losses and threats to global food security. Conventional insecticides are low-cost chemical agents that kill the target insects and some non-specific beneficial organisms. Due to their toxic and non-biodegradable nature, these conventional insecticides persist in the environment, thus causing pollution and accumulating in the food chain. The development of novel insecticidal products based on double-stranded (dsRNA)-based RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a sustainable tool to effectively control insect pests. The dsRNA-based insecticides are known for their specificity, non-toxicity, and biodegradability. The current review introduces the… More >