Antibiotics pollution in cropland and crops: A comprehensive review
December 2025
Production of synthetic antibiotics has rapidly expanded to meet the increasing demands in human healthcare, animal husbandry, and agriculture. Meanwhile, however, substantial quantities of untreated...
Developing RNAi pesticides in the post genomic era: A review
December 2025
RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising platform for next-generation pesticides, offering high target specificity and environmental safety. In the post-genomic era, rapid advances in insect...
In-silico analysis of the mechanism of action of Nerium oleander bioactive compounds against Helicoverpa armigera
December 2025
Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide, noted for its wide host range, high fecundity, and rapid development of resistance to synthetic insecticides. To address...
Targeted stabilization of MYC2 protein: AI-driven resistance design conquers citrus Huanglongbing
December 2025
This Highlight discusses the landmark study by Zhao et al. (Science, 2025) that presents a transformative strategy against citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). The work identifies the E3 ubiquitin ligase PUB21...
Nature biotechnology: Scalable production of secondary metabolites from Streptomyces via a novel regulatory system
December 2025
In the world of microorganisms, the genud Streptomyces is renowned as a “natural pharmacy”. This genus of bacteria is the primary source of clinical antibiotics, with approximately two-thirds of antibiotics...
Dual-strategy approach for fungicide discovery: Machine learning-based activity prediction and fragment co-occurrence network construction
December 2025
The development of fungicides is time-consuming and costly. Introducing a fungicide-likeness assessment strategy at the early screening stage can help reduce development risks and improve the success...
Sensing the dry: Redox-regulated auxin repression shapes root plasticity
December 2025
Root architecture is crucial for plant survival under drought, yet how water stress signals shape root development has remained unclear. Recently, Roy et al. (Science) revealed that drought-induced...
Aflatoxin B1 contamination level detection in almond kernels through short wave infrared hyperspectral image analysis
December 2025
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic fungal metabolite that contaminates almonds from cultivation to harvesting. It leads to chronic health problems and significant economic loss to the producers. Therefore,...
Discovery of diphenyl ethers as novel inhibitors of insect trehalase via virtual screening and biological assays
December 2025
Trehalase hydrolyzes trehalose to glucose to provide energy for insects or building blocks for chitin synthesis. Because trehalase is critical to insects but not to humans, it has long been considered...
Heuristic ab initio elucidation of low-level impurity structures in clothianidin material
December 2025
Clothianidin (CLO) is an insecticide with a high prevalence in environment and food samples. The identification of structural impurities is of great importance for the development of certified reference...
Design and synthesis of triazole sulfonamide inhibitors of bc1 complex
December 2025
Currently, triazole sulfonamide fungicide could be used to effectively control cucumber downy mildew (CDM), caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. In this study, a series of triazole sulfonamide derivatives...
Construction of star polycation-enabled delivery system for pymetrozine nanometerization: Enhanced aphid control and excellent ecological safety
Available online 12 December 2025
The long-term irrational use of conventional chemical pesticides places considerable pressure on agroecosystems. As an emerging tool, nanotechnology shows great promise for enhancing pesticide activity...
Discovery of 4,5,6-trichloropyridazinone derivatives as potential PSII D1–inhibiting herbicides
Available online 9 December 2025
The application of herbicides remains one of the most efficient and economical strategies for controlling weed populations. In our previous study, 4,5,6-trichloropyridazinone D was firstly found with...
Peroxisome-mitochondria contact-mediated ROS transfer: A key line of defence under plant stress
Available online 5 December 2025
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as early messengers in plants exposed to drought, salinity, heat and other environmental challenges. Their timely removal is crucial. Unchecked ROS injure membranes,...
Roburic acid represents a novel non-aromatic scaffold for multitarget insect chitinase inhibitor
Available online 2 December 2025
Natural products capable of simultaneously inhibiting multiple insect chitinases represent promising candidates for the developing environmentally benign insecticides. Currently, the vast majority of...
Systematic evaluation of PLGA as a pesticide carrier: Impact on cucumber seedling growth and metabolic pathways
Available online 27 November 2025
Poly (lactic acid-glycolic acid) copolymer (PLGA) is recognized for its excellent mechanical properties and low toxicity, leading to its widespread use in the medical industry. Additionally, it shows...
Nature: Decoding 4-vinylanisole biosynthesis and pivotal enzymes in locusts
Available online 11 November 2025
Locust plagues result in significant agricultural and ecological damage, and the current dependence on broad-spectrum chemical pesticides raises serious concerns regarding environmental sustainability...
Nanosensors convert H2O2 to machine-learnable thermal signatures in plants
Available online 22 October 2025
Abiotic stresses including drought and salt can severely inhibit plant growth and represent major threats to agricultural productivity. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) serves as a key signaling mediator in...
PBAT/PPCP biodegradable mulching films with enhanced weatherability and water barrier properties for increased cotton yields
Available online 21 October 2025
Agricultural "white pollution" drives demand for fully biodegradable mulching films, among which poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films are especially attractive due to their excellent...
Biosynthesis and antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Nigrospora oryzae
Available online 13 October 2025
Fungal diseases substantially constrain potato production by impairing fundamental physiological processes. In greenhouse-grown seedlings, Nigrospora oryzae (N. oryzae) was identified as the etiological...
Insight into the enantioselective of chiral penthiopyrad for serum albumin: Spectroscopic and computational approaches
September 2025
Chiral pesticides, such as penthiopyrad, consist of enantiomers with differing biological activities and toxicological profiles, potentially leading to environmental risks. This study investigates the...
Fabrication of a nano-herbicide QNC@BA-COF with high control efficiency and reduced side effects
September 2025
The low efficiency of herbicide formulations poses environmental risks during spraying. Nano-based encapsulation technology can enhance utilization efficiency for sustainable agriculture. Covalent organic...
Genetically encoded biosensors for spatiotemporal monitoring of plant proteins in growth and stress responses
September 2025
Genetically encoded biosensors are powerful tools for monitoring plant proteins, which could offer high spatial and temporal resolution and help reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth...
Adaptation of lentils to high-temperature stress at phytopathogenic infection and application of molybdenum nanoparticles
September 2025
The study of the impact of high-temperature stress on the plant-phytopathogen system, including using nanoparticles, is relevant in connection with climate changes. Therefore, our work was aimed at...
Sustainable extraction of personalized plant nano-stimulants from conspecific donor plants to induce mirror biostimulant activity in identical host plants
September 2025
Conventional agrochemical plant biostimulants have been used to increase crop yield and stress resistance, and this strategy continues to be integral to today's farming. While effective, the large-scale...