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Abstract Purpose Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) significantly contributes to cancer-related mortality worldwide. The heterogeneity of the tumor immune microenvironment in LUAD results in varied prognoses and responses to immunotherapy among patients. Consequently, a clinical stratification algorithm is necessary and inevitable to effectively differentiate molecular features and tumor microenvironments, facilitating personalized treatment approaches. Methods We constructed a comprehensive single-cell transcriptional atlas using single-cell RNA sequencing data to reveal the cellular diversity of malignant epithelial cells of LUAD and identified a novel signature through a computational framework coupled with 10 machine learning algorithms. Our study further investigates the immunological characteristics and therapeutic responses associated with this prognostic signature and validates the predictive efficacy of the model across multiple independent cohorts. Results We developed a six-gene prognostic model (MYO1E, FEN1, NMI, ZNF506, ALDOA, and MLLT6) using the TCGA-LUAD dataset, categorizing patients into high- and low-risk groups. This model demonstrates robust performance in predicting survival across various LUAD cohorts. We observed distinct molecular patterns and biological processes in different risk groups. Additionally, analysis of two immunotherapy cohorts (N = 317) showed that patients with a high-risk signature responded more favorably to immunotherapy compared to those in the low-risk group. Experimental validation further confirmed that MYO1E enhances the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells. Conclusion We have identified malignant cell-associated ligand–receptor subtypes in LUAD cells and developed a robust prognostic signature by thoroughly analyzing genomic, transcriptomic, and immunologic data. This study presents a novel method to assess the prognosis of patients with LUAD and provides insights into developing more effective immunotherapies.

Abstract Purpose Recent studies have increasingly linked Ephrin receptor B2 (EPHB2) to cancer progression. However, comprehensive investigations into the immunological roles and prognostic significance of EPHB2 across various cancers remain lacking. Methods We employed various databases and bioinformatics tools to investigate the impact of EPHB2 on prognosis, immune infiltration, genome instability, and response to immunotherapy. Validation of the correlation between EPHB2 expression and M2 macrophages included analyses using bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets, spatial transcriptomics, and multi-fluorescence staining. Moreover, we performed cMap web tool to screen for EPHB2-targeted compounds and assessed their potential through molecular docking and dynamics simulations. Additionally, in vitro validation using lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell lines was conducted to confirm the bioinformatics predictions about EPHB2. Results EPHB2 dysregulation was observed across multiple cancer types, where it demonstrated significant diagnostic and prognostic value. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicated that EPHB2 is involved in enhancing cellular proliferation, invasiveness of cancer cells, and modulation of the anti-cancer immune response. Furthermore, it is emerged as a pan-cancer marker for M2 macrophage infiltration, supported by integrated analyses of transcriptomics and multiple fluorescence staining. In LUAD cells, knockdown of EPHB2 expression led to a decrease in both cell proliferation and migratory activity. Conclusion EPHB2 expression may serve as a pivotal indicator of M2 macrophage infiltration, offering vital insights into tumor dynamics and progression across various cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma, highlighting its significant prognostic and therapeutic potential for further exploration.

Abstract Traditional catalytic techniques often encounter obstacles in the search for sustainable solutions for converting CO2 into value-added products because of their high energy consumption and expensive catalysts. Here, we introduce a contact-electro-catalysis approach for CO2 reduction reaction, achieving a CO Faradaic efficiency of 96.24%. The contact-electro-catalysis is driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator consisting of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride loaded with single Cu atoms-anchored polymeric carbon nitride (Cu-PCN) catalysts and quaternized cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Mechanistic investigation reveals that the single Cu atoms on Cu-PCN can effectively enrich electrons during contact electrification, facilitating electron transfer upon their contact with CO2 adsorbed on quaternized CNF. Furthermore, the strong adsorption of CO2 on quaternized CNF allows efficient CO2 capture at low concentrations, thus enabling the CO2 reduction reaction in the ambient air. Compared to the state-of-the-art air-based CO2 reduction technologies, contact-electro-catalysis achieves a superior CO yield of 33 μmol g−1 h−1. This technique provides a solution for reducing airborne CO2 emissions while advancing chemical sustainability strategy.

High-performance alloy thin films and large-sized thin film wafers for infrared applications are the focus of international researchers. In this study, doped Ge1−xSnx and Ge1−yBiy semiconductor alloy films were grown on a 5-in. silicon (Si) wafer using high-quality Ge films as buffer layers. An efficient technique is presented to reduce the dark current density of near-infrared photoelectric devices. By using boron for p-type doping in Ge1−xSnx films and bismuth (Bi) for n-type doping in Ge1−yBiy films, an all-thin film planar nano-p-i-n optoelectronic device with the structure n-Ge1−yBiy/i-GeSn/p-Ge1−xSnx/Ge buffer/Si substrate has been successfully fabricated. The photoelectric performance of the device was tested, and it was found that the insertion of p-Ge1−xSnx/Ge films reduced the dark current density by 1–2 orders of magnitude. The maximum photoresponsivity reached up to 0.8 A/W, and the infrared photocurrent density ranged from 904 to 935 μA/cm2 under a +1 V bias voltage. Furthermore, the device is capable of modulating a terahertz wave using a voltage signal with a modulation bandwidth of 1.2 THz and a modulation depth of ∼83%, while the modulation rate is 0.5 MHz. This not only provides a clear demonstration of how doped alloy films and the development of nano-p-i-n heterojunctions will improve photoelectric devices’ performance in the near-infrared and terahertz bands, but it also raises the possibility of optoelectronic interconnection applications being achieved through a single device.

Blue light is an important light wavelength in regulating plant flowering. In a controlled environment (CE) plant production systems, blue light can be manipulated easily and even precisely through electric lighting, especially with the advancement of light-emitted diode (LED) technologies. However, the results of previous studies in the literature about blue-light-mediated flowering are inconsistent, which would limit its practical application in CE plant production while implying that an in-depth study of the relevant physiological mechanism is necessary in the future. This review consolidates and analyzes the diverse findings from previous studies on blue light-mediated plant flowering in varying high-value crops from ornamental plants to fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops. By synthesizing the contrasting results, we proposed the possible explanations and even the underlying mechanisms related to blue light intensity and exposure duration, its co-action with other light wavelengths, background environment conditions, and the involved photoreceptors. We have also identified the knowledge gaps based on these studies and outlined future directions for research and potential application in this promising field. This review provides valuable insights into the important and diverse role of blue light in plant flowering and offers a foundation for further investigations to optimize plant flowering through lighting technologies.

Summary: Creating highly stretchable and robust electrodes while retaining conductivity and stability is challenging. Furthermore, combining these elastic parts with rigid ones brings its own problems due to the discrepancy in firmness between the flexible patches and rigid constructions. Here, we present a protocol to create a stable, conductive, and flexible microneedle sensor patch. We describe steps for using polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene with silver nanowires, besides fabricating rigid microneedles and combining them together using a thickness-gradient strategy.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zheng et al. (2022).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Until recently, most clonal cannabis (Cannabis sativa) has been propagated using fluorescent lights. Transitioning to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be a viable alternative to fluorescent lighting, enabling cultivators to provide specific spectrum treatments to enhance rooting while also saving energy. Vegetative stem cuttings of ‘Gelato-27’, ‘Grace’, and ‘Meridian’ were rooted for 15 days under various combinations of blue (B), red (R), ultraviolet-A (UVA) LEDs, phosphor-converted white (W) LEDs, and a fluorescent (F) control treatment, each with a canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 200 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 16-hour photoperiod. The photon flux ratios of blue (B; 400–500 nm) and red (R; 600–700 nm) narrowband LED treatment combinations were (1) BR, fixed spectrum of B15:R85; (2) B, B75:R25 on day 0–2 followed by B15:R85 on day 2–14; (3) B+UVA, B75:R25 on day 0–2 followed by B15:R85 on day 2–14 plus 15 µmol·m−2·s−1 of UVA on day 7–14; (4) B50, B15:R85 on day 0–7 followed by B50:R50 on day 7–14. The W and F treatments both had static spectra. After the propagation period (i.e., plug stage), a portion of the cuttings under each treatment × cultivar combination were destructively harvested and the remainder were transplanted and grown vegetatively for an additional 21 days (i.e., transplant stage) under a PPFD of ≈275 µmol·m−2·s−1 from ceramic metal halide fixtures and then destructively harvested. Although there were no spectrum treatment effects on the percentage of cuttings that rooted, root index values were higher in cuttings grown under B+UVA vs. F. Further, relative root dry weights of plugs from the B, B+UVA, B50, and F treatments were higher than the W treatment. At the end of the plug stage, there were no spectrum treatment effects on the chlorophyll content index, cuttings grown under the B treatment had thicker stems compared with BR and W treatments, and cuttings grown under the F treatment exhibited the lowest percentage of new aboveground growth. None of the aforementioned spectrum treatment effects from the propagation stage persisted post-transplant. The use of LEDs is a promising, energy-efficient alternative to fluorescent lighting for cannabis propagation and B-enhanced spectrum treatments appear to enhance the rooting performance of clonal cannabis cuttings.

Indoor-grown Cannabis sativa is commonly transitioned to a 12 h daily photoperiod to promote flowering. However, our previous research has shown that some indoor-grown cannabis cultivars can initiate strong flowering responses under daily photoperiods longer than 12 h. Since longer photoperiods inherently provide higher daily light integrals (DLIs), they may also increase growth and yield. To test this hypothesis, two THC-dominant cannabis cultivars, ‘Incredible Milk’ (IM) and ‘Gorilla Glue’ (GG), were grown to commercial maturity at a canopy level PPFD of 540 µmol·m−2·s−1 from white LEDS under 12 h or 13 h daily photoperiods, resulting in DLIs of 23.8 and 25.7 mol·m−2·d−1, respectively. Both treatments were harvested when the plants in the 12 h treatment reached maturity according to established commercial protocols. There was no delay in flowering initiation time in GG, but flowering initiation in IM was delayed by about 1.5 d under 13 h. Stigma browning and trichome ambering also occurred earlier and progressed faster in the 12 h treatment in both cultivars. The vegetative growth of IM plants in the 13 h treatment was greater and more robust. The inflorescence yields were strikingly higher in the 13 h vs. 12 h treatment, i.e., 1.35 times and 1.50 times higher in IM and GG, respectively, which is 4 to 6 times higher than the relative increase in DLIs. The inflorescence concentrations of major cannabinoids in the 13 h treatment were either higher or not different from the 12 h treatment in both cultivars. These results suggest that there may be substantial commercial benefits for using photoperiods longer than 12 h for increasing inflorescence yields without decreasing cannabinoid concentrations in some cannabis cultivars grown in indoor environments.

BackgroundSolute carrier family 35 member A2 (SLC35A2), which belongs to the SLC35 solute carrier family of human nucleoside sugar transporters, has shown regulatory roles in various tumors and neoplasms. However, the function of SLC35A2 across human cancers remains to be systematically assessed. Insights into the prediction ability of SLC35A2 in clinical practice and immunotherapy response remains limited.Materials and methodsWe obtained the gene expression and protein levels of SLC35A2 in a variety of tumors from Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, and Human Protein Atlas databases. The SLC35A2 level was validated by immunohistochemistry. The predictive value for prognosis was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. Correlations between SLC35A2 expression and DNA methylation, genetic alterations, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor microenvironment were performed using Spearman’s correlation analysis. The possible downstream pathways of SLC35A2 in different human cancers were explored using gene set variation analysis. The potential role of SLC35A2 in the tumor immune microenvironment was evaluated via EPIC, CIBERSORT, MCP-counter, CIBERSORT-ABS, quanTIseq, TIMER, and xCell algorithms. The difference in the immunotherapeutic response of SLC35A2 under different expression conditions was evaluated by the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score as well as four independent immunotherapy cohorts, which includes patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA, N = 299), non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, N = 72 and N = 36) and skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM, N = 25). Potential drugs were identified using the CellMiner database and molecular docking.ResultsSLC35A2 exhibited abnormally high or low expression in 23 cancers and was significantly associated with the prognosis. In various cancers, SLC35A2 expression and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling were positively correlated. Multiple algorithmic immune infiltration analyses suggested an inverse relation between SLC35A2 expression and infiltrating immune cells, which includes CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells (NK) in various tumors. Furthermore, SLC35A2 expression was significantly correlated with pan-cancer immune checkpoints, TMB, MSI, and TIDE genes. SLC35A2 showed significant predictive value for the immunotherapy response of patients with diverse cancers. Two drugs, vismodegib and abiraterone, were identified, and the free binding energy of cytochrome P17 with abiraterone was higher than that of SLC35A2 with abiraterone.ConclusionOur study revealed that SLC35A2 is upregulated in 20 types of cancer, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The upregulated SLC35A2 in five cancer types indicates a poor prognosis. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the overexpression of SLC35A2 and reduced lymphocyte infiltration in 13 cancer types, including BRCA and COAD. Based on data from several clinical trials, patients with LUAD, LUSC, SKCM, and BLCA who exhibited high SLC35A2 expression may experience improved immunotherapy response. Therefore, SLC35A2 could be considered a potential predictive biomarker for the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of various tumors. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further investigating its prognostic and therapeutic potentials.

Blue light plays an important role in regulating plant elongation. However, due to the limitations of older lighting technologies, the responses of plants to pure blue light have not been fully studied, and some of our understandings of the functions of blue light in the literature need to be revisited. This review consolidates and analyzes the diverse findings from previous studies on blue-light-mediated plant elongation. By synthesizing the contrasting results, we uncover the underlying mechanisms and explanations proposed in recent research. Moreover, we delve into the exploration of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a tool for manipulating plant elongation in controlled-environment plant production, highlighting the latest advancements in this area. Finally, we acknowledge the challenges faced and outline future directions for research in this promising field. This review provides valuable insights into the pivotal role of blue light in plant growth and offers a foundation for further investigations to optimize plant elongation using blue light technology.

Abstract Microneedles (MNs) are versatile tiny devices that have attracted interest in various fields including medicine, environment, food and agriculture due to their unique properties, such as low‐cost, simplicity, pain‐free application and minimally invasive penetration, therapeutic efficacy, biosensing ability, and biocompatibility. These properties along with the MNs distinctive geometry including dimension control, material type and fabrication techniques have enabled the optimization of MNs based on each desired application. This review summarizes the latest advances in MN‐based sensors in a variety of fields and provides a bird's eye view over the wide range of applications, starting from material and fabrication techniques to advanced sensor types in the biomedical and environmental fields for both sensing and treatment, and showing the profound advantages of this emerging tool in clinical and sustainable fields.

Abstract The design and characterization of spatiotemporal nano‐/micro‐structural arrangement that enable real‐time and wide‐spectrum molecular analysis is reported and demonestrated in new horizons of biomedical applications, such as wearable‐spectrometry, ultra‐fast and onsite biopsy‐decision‐making for intraoperative surgical oncology, chiral‐drug identification, etc. The spatiotemporal sesning arrangement is achieved by scalable, binder‐free, functionalized hybrid spin‐sensitive (

Many specialty crop growers are transitioning high-value crops from in-ground production to soilless culture due to the diminishing availability of fumigants, increasing pest pressure, extreme weather, and the need for flexible production practices. The objective of this study was to determine the research and educational needs of specialty crop growers who are transitioning to soilless substrates. North American growers were surveyed using an online instrument that incorporated Likert-type statement matrices, open-ended questions, and demographic questions. Additionally, two virtually led focus groups were conducted to further expand upon the quantitative findings with descriptive data. Respondents indicated the most important factors in considering whether to adopt soilless substrates were improving, managing, and reducing overall plant quality, disease management, and crop loss, respectively. The most important research needs were understanding the effects of substrates on crop quality and uniformity, fertilizer management, and economic costs and benefits/return on investment. In both the grower survey and focus groups, crop quality and uniformity were among the highest-scored responses. Food safety, disease and pest management, consumer perception, substrate disposal-related issues, transportation, and return-on-investment were also identified as important factors when considering soilless substrates.

Short campanula (Campanula portenschlagiana ‘PGM Get MEE’®) stock plants present a difficulty in machine-harvesting of cuttings. Light adjustment may be an effective approach to mediate plant elongation. Two experiments were performed to 1) investigate whether short-term (five weeks) daily 24-h dynamic lighting (DL) with red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can promote elongation without inducing flowering, and 2) explore whether DL can be used to modify stock plant morphology to improve the cutting quality and rooting success in a controlled environment. Two lighting treatments were used: concurrent lighting (CL) with red (85%) and blue (15%) LEDs (RB) at 100 µmol·m−2·s−1 and DL with red (170 µmol·m−2·s−1), blue (30 µmol·m−2·s−1), and RB (100 µmol·m−2·s−1) LEDs sequentially at three different lighting stages, respectively, in both experiments. In Expt. 1, at final harvest of stock plants, the side branches were longer under DL compared with CL, but the five (= 2 + 2 + 1) weeks of 24-h daily lighting resulted in visible flower buds under both treatments. Based on the results of Expt. 1, a second experiment (Expt. 2) was conducted with the same cultivar and experimental conditions, but with a shorter photoperiod (10 h·d−1) for 11 (= 8 + 2 + 1) weeks. In Expt. 2, at final harvest, DL compared with CL caused more upright side branches, and reduced the dry biomass of side branches with one branching order and leaf chlorophyll content. However, the harvested cutting quality and rooting success were similar between both treatments. In both experiments, side branch number under DL was greater compared with CL at the end of the first lighting stage. Stock plants under DL were taller from the second lighting stage on to final harvest compared with CL, and the final heights of stock plants under DL met the target for machine-harvest in both experiments. Therefore, if the lighting strategy is further optimized, DL can potentially benefit controlled-environment production of campanula cuttings.

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) flourishes under high light intensities (LI); making it an expensive commodity to grow in controlled environments, despite its high market value. It is commonly believed that cannabis secondary metabolite levels may be enhanced both by increasing LI and exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV). However, the sparse scientific evidence is insufficient to guide cultivators for optimizing their lighting protocols. We explored the effects of LI and UV exposure on yield and secondary metabolite composition of a high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis cultivar ‘Meridian’. Plants were grown under short day conditions for 45 days under average canopy photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD, 400–700 nm) of 600, 800, and 1,000 μmol m–2 s–1, provided by light emitting diodes (LEDs). Plants exposed to UV had PPFD of 600 μmol m–2 s–1 plus either (1) UVA; 50 μmol m–2 s–1 of UVA (315–400 nm) from 385 nm peak LEDs from 06:30 to 18:30 HR for 45 days or (2) UVA + UVB; a photon flux ratio of ≈1:1 of UVA and UVB (280–315 nm) from a fluorescent source at a photon flux density of 3.0 μmol m–2 s–1, provided daily from 13:30 to 18:30 HR during the last 20 days of the trial. All aboveground biomass metrics were 1.3–1.5 times higher in the highest vs. lowest PPFD treatments, except inflorescence dry weight – the most economically relevant parameter – which was 1.6 times higher. Plants in the highest vs. lowest PPFD treatment also allocated relatively more biomass to inflorescence tissues with a 7% higher harvest index. There were no UV treatment effects on aboveground biomass metrics. There were also no intensity or UV treatment effects on inflorescence cannabinoid concentrations. Sugar leaves (i.e., small leaves associated with inflorescences) of plants in the UVA + UVB treatment had ≈30% higher THC concentrations; however, UV did not have any effect on the total THC in thesefoliar tissues. Overall, high PPFD levels can substantially increase cannabis yield, but we found no commercially relevant benefits of adding UV to indoor cannabis production.

Abstract Wetting is often perceived as an intrinsic surface property of materials, but determining its evolution is complicated by its complex dependence on roughness across the scales. The Wenzel (W) state, where liquids have intimate contact with the rough surfaces, and the Cassie–Baxter (CB) state, where liquids sit onto air pockets formed between asperities, are only two states among the plethora of wetting behaviors. Furthermore, transitions from the CB to the Wenzel state dictate completely different surface performance, such as anti‐contamination, anti‐icing, drag reduction etc.; however, little is known about how transition occurs during time between the several wetting modes. In this paper, wetting dynamics can be accurately quantified and tracked using solid–liquid triboelectrification. Theoretical underpinning reveals how surface micro‐/nano‐geometries regulate stability/infiltration, also demonstrating the generality of the authors’ theoretical approach in understanding wetting transitions. It can clarify the functioning behavior of materials in real environment.

Cannabis sativa (“cannabis” hereafter) is a valuable recent addition to Canada’s economy with the legalization for recreational use in 2018. The vast majority of indoor cannabis cultivators use a 12-h light/12-h dark photoperiod to promote flowering. To test the hypothesis that robust flowering initiation responses can be promoted in indoor-grown cannabis cultivars under longer photoperiods, clones of ten drug-type cannabis cultivars were grown under six photoperiod treatments. All treatments were based on a standard 24-h day and included 12 h, 12.5 h, 13 h, 13.5 h, 14 h, and 15 h of light. The plants were grown in a growth chamber for 3 to 4 weeks, receiving an approximate light intensity of 360 µmol·m−2·s−1 from white LEDs. Flowering initiation, defined as the appearance of ≥3 pairs of stigmas at the apex of the primary shoot, occurred in all cultivars under all photoperiod treatments up to 14 h. Delays in flowering initiation time under 14 h vs. 12 h ranged from no delay to approximately 4 days, depending on the cultivar. Some cultivars also initiated flowering under 15 h, but floral tissues did not further develop beyond the initiation phase. Harvest metrics of some cultivars responded quadratically with increasing photoperiod, with ideal levels of key flowering parameters varying between 12 h and 13 h. These results suggest there is potential to increase yield in some indoor-grown cannabis cultivars by using longer than 12-h photoperiods during the flowering stage of production. This is attributed to the inherently higher daily light integrals. Indoor cannabis growers should investigate the photoperiod responses of their individual cultivars to determine the optimal photoperiod for producing floral biomass.

Current biological control strategies in cannabis (Cannabis sativa) cultivation have resulted in poor efficacy for managing certain insect pests. The cannabis industry has grown at a rapid pace, surpassing our ability to develop knowledge on the production systems for this crop. Currently, the research focus is on optimizing agronomic and environmental factors to maximize the yield and quality of cannabis. However, cannabis growers are increasingly challenged by severe insect pest pressure, with few effective options. Decades of research have optimized biological control strategies in other crops. The implementation of effective biological control strategies in cannabis is hindered by a variety of morphological, biochemical, and agronomic factors unique to this crop. Here, we review the rather limited literature relevant to insect pest management in indoor cannabis production. Further, we have identified three factors that we believe are primarily responsible for the ineffectiveness of biological control in cannabis: Plant morphology including trichome density and floral resources, effects of plant biochemistry on prey suitability, and finally the effects of supplemental lighting including photoperiod, intensity, and spectrum. We highlight the importance of prioritizing the evaluation of these factors to improve our understanding of the tritrophic interactions governing the success of biological control in cannabis cultivation. As intensive research efforts are underway to optimize agronomic practices for cannabis, it is also important to consider their relevance to biological control.

The majority of commercial Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis) cultivators use a 12.0-hour uninterrupted dark period to induce flowering; however, scientific information to prove this is the optimal dark period for all genotypes is lacking. Knowing genotype-specific photoperiods may help to promote growth by providing the optimal photoperiod for photosynthesis. To determine whether the floral initiation of cannabis explants respond to varied photoperiods in vitro, explants were grown under one of six photoperiod treatments: 12.0, 13.2, 13.8, 14.4, 15.0, and 16.0 hours per day for 4 weeks. The percentage of flowering explants was highest under 12.0- and 13.2-hour treatments. There were no treatment effects on the fresh weight, final height, and growth index. Based on the results, it is recommended that an uninterrupted dark period of at least 10.8 hours (i.e., 13.2-hour photoperiod) be used to induce flowering for the ‘802’ genotype. In vitro flowering could provide a unique and high-throughput approach to study floral/seed development and secondary metabolism in cannabis under highly controlled conditions. Further research should determine if this response is the same on the whole-plant level.

Microgreens are specialty vegetables that contain human health-promoting phytochemicals. Typically, microgreens are cultivated in controlled environments under red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the impact of varying the proportions of these light qualities on the composition of diverse phytochemicals in indoor-grown microgreens is unclear. To address this problem, the levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids, ascorbates, phenolics, anthocyanins, and nitrate were examined in arugula (Eruca sativa L.), ‘Red Russian’ kale [Brassica napus L. subsp. napus var. pabularia (DC.) Alef.], ‘Mizuna’ mustard (Brassica juncea L.), and red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra) microgreens following cultivation under LEDs supplying varying proportions of blue light (5% to 30%) and red light (70% to 95%). Varying the proportion of blue light did not affect the extractable levels of total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, or nitrate in all four microgreen species. Generally, the levels of reduced and total ascorbate were greatest in arugula, kale, and mustard microgreens at 20% blue light, and a minor decrease was apparent at 30% blue light. These metabolite profiles were not impacted by the blue light percentage in red cabbage. Kale and mustard accumulated more total phenolics at 30% blue light than all other blue light regimens; however, this phytochemical attribute was unaffected in arugula and red cabbage. The total anthocyanin concentration increased proportionally with the percentage of supplied blue light up to 30% in all microgreens, with the exception of mustard. Our research showed that 20% blue light supplied from LED arrays is ideal for achieving optimal levels of both reduced and total ascorbate in all microgreens except red cabbage, and that 30% blue light promotes the greatest accumulation of total anthocyanin in indoor-grown Brassicaceae microgreens, with the exception of mustard.

Intercropping can increase land use efficiency in high tunnel crop production, but it may also lead to decreases in yield and quality of main crops due to the potential competition for resources. This study evaluated the agronomic viability of intercropping snow pea (Pisum sativum L., ‘Ho Lan Dou’) with cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme ‘Sarina hybrid’) without additional inputs of water and fertilizers on peas in an organic high tunnel production system under Southern Ontario climate conditions in Guelph, Ontario, Canada (lat. 43.5 °N, long. 80.2 °W) during 2015 and 2016. In each 80-cm-wide bed, the tomato crops were planted alternately in double rows spaced 30 cm apart, with in-row spacing of 110 cm, which resulted in a planting density of ≈24,000 plants/ha. The snow pea seeds were sown between the tomato plants (i.e., within the same beds as tomatoes) in holes (two seeds per hole), with four rows in each bed and in-row holes spaced 10 cm and at least 25 cm away from the tomato plants, which resulted in a seeding rate of ≈650, 000 seeds/ha. The same amount of water or fertilizer was applied to the intercropping and nonintercropping plots based on the needs of the cherry tomato plants. Plant growth, fruit yield, and quality were compared between tomato plants with and without intercropping. Intercropping with snow peas did not affect total marketable fruit yield, unmarketable fruit percentage, fruit quality traits (e.g., individual fruit weight, soluble solids content, dry matter content, and postharvest water loss), or early-stage plant growth of the cherry tomato. Therefore, it is at least an agronomical possibility to intercrop snow peas with cherry tomatoes on the same beds without additional inputs of water and fertilizer on snow peas in an organic high tunnel system. The additional yield of pea shoots or pods in the intercropping treatment also increased economic gross returns in the high tunnels, although the economic net return might vary with the costs of seeds and labor involved in snow pea growing.

To investigate plant growth and quality responses to different light spectral combinations, cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra), kale (Brassica napus L. ‘Red Russian’), arugula (Eruca sativa L.), and mustard (Brassica juncea L. ‘Ruby steak’) microgreens were grown in a controlled environment using sole-source light with six different spectra: 1) FL: cool white fluorescent light; 2) BR: 15% blue and 85% red light-emitting diode (LED); 3) BRFRL: 15% blue, 85% red, and 15.5 µmol·m−2·s−1 far-red (FR) LED; 4) BRFRH: 15% blue, 85% red, and 155 µmol·m−2·s−1 FR LED; 5) BGLR: 9% blue, 6% green, and 85% red LED; and 6) BGHR: 5% blue, 10% green, and 85% red LED. For all the light treatments, the total photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was set at ≈330 µmol·m−2·s−1 under a 17-hour photoperiod, and the air temperature was ≈21 °C with 73% relative humidity (RH). At harvest, BR vs. FL increased plant height for all the tested species except arugula, and enlarged cotyledon area for kale and arugula. Adding high-intensity FR light to blue and red light (i.e., BRFRH) further increased plant height for all species, and cotyledon area for mustard, but it did not affect the fresh or dry biomass for any species. Also, BRFRH vs. BR increased cotyledon greenness for green-leafed species (i.e., arugula, cabbage, and kale), and reduced cotyledon redness for red-leafed mustard. However, BGLR, BGHR, and BRFRL, compared with BR, did not affect plant height, cotyledon area, or fresh or dry biomass. These results suggest that the combination of 15% blue and 85% red LED light can potentially replace FL as the sole light source for indoor production of the tested microgreen species. Combining high-intensity FR light, rather than low-level (≤10%) green light, with blue and red light could be taken into consideration for the optimization of LED light spectral quality in microgreen production under environmental conditions similar to this experiment.

To determine whether supplemental blue light (B) or far-red light (FR) overnight can promote microgreen elongation to facilitate machine harvesting and improve microgreen quality and yield, two common microgreen species, mustard (Brassica juncea) and arugula (Eruca sativa), were grown in a greenhouse in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, during January 2019. Low-intensity (14 μmol·m−2·s−1) B or FR was applied to microgreens overnight from 1730 hr to 0630 hr, and no supplemental lighting (D) was used as a control. After 2 weeks of light treatments, B compared to D promoted stem elongation by 16% and 10%, respectively, and increased crop yield by 32% and 29%, respectively, in mustard and arugula. B compared to D also increased the cotyledon area in mustard and leaf mass per area in arugula and enhanced cotyledon color in both species despite having no effects on total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and phenolic contents. However, FR did not increase stem length or fresh weight compared with D, reduced plant height compared with B in both species, and reduced the cotyledon area in arugula. FR, compared with D and B, reduced the stem diameter and phytochemical contents of both species. Therefore, low-intensity B can be applied overnight for winter greenhouse microgreen production because of its beneficial effects on appearance quality and crop yield without negatively affecting nutritional quality.

Nondestructive estimation of individual shoot fresh weight (FW) from its measurable morphological traits is useful for a wide variety of purposes in pea shoot production. To predict individual shoot FW, nine regression models in total were developed, including two power models using stem diameter (SMD) or stem length (SML) as a variable, and seven linear models using part or all the following variables: SMD, SML, leaflet length (LL), leaflet width (LW), stipule length (SEL), and stipule width (SEW). Among the nine models, the 6-variable linear equation had the highest coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.92, indicating it is most effective at explaining the variation in FW. The linear equations including only one variable, SMD or SML, were equally the least effective as nonlinear equations (i.e., power models). This finding suggests that there was a linear rather than nonlinear relationship between FW and the morphological variables. During stepwise regression, SEW and LW together were first removed from the 6-variable linear models without reducing the R2, and then SEL, SMD, SML were further removed one-by-one, which reduced the R2 from 0.92 to 0.90, 0.85, and 0.71, respectively. The result suggests that SMD, SML, SEL, and LL were the most important four predictor variables for multivariable linear regression models to estimate FW, an idea that was also supported by path analysis. For the four linear models with 1–4 predictor variables from stepwise regression, the prediction accuracy of FW was evaluated based on the agreement between the predicted and measured values using another independent dataset. The 4- and 3-variable linear models (i.e., FW = −1.437 + 0.276 SMD + 0.010 SML + 0.022 LL + 0.013 SEL and FW = −1.383 + 0.308 SMD + 0.011 SML + 0.030 LL, respectively) were selected for their more accurate prediction than 1- and 2-variable linear models and relatively simpler forms than a 6-variable linear model. Although the prediction accuracy can be potentially affected by air temperature, light conditions, and harvesting time, the multilinear regression model is an effective approach for estimating fresh weight of individual pea shoots using its measurable morphological traits.

To facilitate machine harvest for labor savings, the height of microgreens needs to reach ≈5 cm. Recent studies indicate that monochromatic blue light (B) can promote stem elongation similar to far-red light (FR). To examine whether nighttime B treatments can promote plant elongation without compromising yield and quality, mustard (Brassica juncea) and arugula (Eruca sativa) microgreens were grown under different light-emitting diode (LED) lighting regimes in a growth chamber. The 16-hour daytime lighting comprised 20% B and 80% red light (R), and had a total photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 300 µmol·m–2·s–1 at canopy level. During the 8-hour nighttime, the plants were exposed to the following treatments: 1) dark (D) as one control; 2) 4 hours of B at 40 µmol·m–2·s–1 followed by 4 hours of darkness (40B-D); 3) 4 hours of darkness followed by 4 hours of B at 40 µmol·m–2·s–1 (D-40B); 4) 8 hours of B at 20 µmol·m–2·s–1 (20B); 5) 8 hours of B + FR, and each of them at 20 µmol·m–2·s–1 (20B20FR); and 6) 8 hours of FR at 20 µmol·m–2·s–1 (20FR) as another control. The plants were harvested after 11 days of treatment. Nighttime B treatments (40B-D, D-40B, and 20B), compared with D, increased plant height by 34% and 18% for mustard and arugula, respectively, with no difference among the three B treatments. The combination of B and FR (20B20FR), compared with B alone, further increased plant height by 6% and 15% for mustard and arugula, respectively, and showed a similar promotion effect as 20FR. Plant height did not meet the machine harvest requirement for both species with the D treatment, but did so for mustard with the nighttime B treatments and for arugula with the 20B20FR treatment. There was no difference in biomass among all treatments except that 20B, compared with D, increased the fresh weight (FW) of arugula by 12%, showing a similar promotion effect as 20FR. Despite a greater promotion effect on elongation than B alone, 20FR reduced the leaf index compared with D. However, B alone or the 20B20FR treatment increased leaf thickness compared with D, and increased chlorophyll content index (CCI), leaf index, dry matter content, and leaf thickness to varying degree with species, compared with 20FR. Overall, nighttime B alone, or its combination with FR, promoted microgreen elongation without compromising yield and quality.

This study determined optimal fertilization for each of three production methods (i.e., two organic and one conventional) of potted Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Duke’ northern highbush blueberry plants. The three production methods were as follows: 1) organic granular [(OG) organic coir substrate fertilized with Bio-Fert General Purpose + bloodmeal applied at 4.4, 7.3, 10.2, 13.1, and 16.0 g/pot nitrogen (N)], 2) organic liquid [(OL) organic coir substrate fertilized with Bio-Fert General-Purpose Liquid + calcium oxide (CaO) applied at 12.2, 14.7, 18.6, 25.3, and 39.5 mmol·L–1 N), and 3) conventional (C; pine bark, coir, and peat substrate fertilized with Osmocote Plus 15N–3.9P–9.9K, 5- to 6-month-duration controlled-release fertilizer applied at 4.4, 7.3, 10.2, 13.1, and 16.0 g/pot N). Blueberry plants were grown in #5 black, squat nursery containers outdoors in the Niagara peninsula, ON, Canada for two (2015–16) growing seasons. Both of the organic and the conventional production systems produced healthy blueberry plants when fertilizer was applied appropriately. With fertilizer application at 4.4 and 7.3 g/pot N for C, 12.2 and 14.7 mmol·L–1 N for the OL, and 8.50 to 13.95 g/pot N for the OG treatments, healthy plant growth was observed in combination with low nutrient leaching. High fertilizer rates resulted in excessive root zone electrical conductivity (EC), poor plant growth, and interveinal chlorosis, which affected fruit production negatively. For C and OL treatments, fertilization at rates of 4.4, 7.3 and 10.2 g/pot N, and 12.2, 14.7, and 18.6 mmol·L–1 N, respectively, produced the greatest total fresh weight of fruit. For OG, a large total fruit fresh weight was produced by all plants with no difference among fertilizer rates. This study suggests optimal fertilizer rates from 4.4 to 7.3 g/pot N for C, 12.2 to 14.7 mmol·L–1 N for the OL treatment, and from 8.50 to 13.95 g/pot N for the OG treatment can be applied based on the methods described in this study during potted blueberry production in nurseries and home gardens.

Background: Aberrant glycosylation is significantly related to the occurrence, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of tumors. It is essential to identify glycosylation and related genes with prognostic value for breast cancer.Objective: We aimed to construct and validate a prognostic model based on glycosylation and related genes, and further investigate its prognosis values in validation set and external independent cohorts.Materials and Methods: The transcriptome and clinical data of breast cancer patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 1072), Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC, n = 1451), and GSE2741 (n = 120). Glycosylation-related genes were downloaded from the Genecards website. Differentially expressed glycosylation-related geneswere identified by comparing the tumor tissues with the adjacent tissues. The TCGA data were randomly divided into training set and validation set in a 1:1 ratio for further analysis. The glycosylation risk-scoring prognosis model was constructed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, followed by confirmation in TCGA validation, METABRIC, and GEO datasets. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and Gene ontology analysis for identifying the affected pathways in the high- and low-risk groups were performed.Results: We attained 1072 breast cancer samples from the TCGA database and 786 glycosylation genes from the Genecards website. A signature contains immunoglobulin, glycosylation and anti-viral related genes was constructed to separate BRCA patients into two risk groups. Low-risk patients had better overall survival than high-risk patients (p < 0.001). A nomogram was constructed with risk scores and clinical characteristics. The area under time-dependent ROC curve reached 0.764 at 1 year, 0.744 at 3 years, and 0.765 at 5 years in the training set. Subgroup analysis showed differences in OS between the high- and low-risk patients in different subgroups. Moreover, the risk score was confirmed as an independent prognostic indicator of BRCA patients and was potentially correlated with immunotherapy response and drug sensitivity.Conclusion: We identified a novel signature integrated of immunoglobulin (IGHA2), glycosylation-related (SLC35A2) and anti-viral gene (BST2) that was an independent prognostic indicator for BRCA patients. The risk-scoring model could be used for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy in BRCA, thus providing a powerful instrument for combating BRCA.

Abstract As people pay more and more attention to environmental protection, the selection of materials and preparation methods of triboelectric nanogenerators in the manufacturing process are particularly critical to whether triboelectric nanogenerator is environmentally friendly. However, the friction layers of traditional triboelectric nanogenerators are mostly polymers, which are not cost‐effective and biodegradable. Herein, an all green triboelectricity energy harvesting system is designed basing on live plants in nature to realize the collection of dissipative energy in the environment of wind energy, rain energy, and various mechanical movement energies. The stem and the soil are used to transfer electrons, which is very environment friendly and has never been reported in triboelectricity system before. The green plant‐based triboelectric generator can reach the maximum output performance of 4.6 μA and 35.3 V, respectively, when touched by hand with polytetrafluoroethylene glove. The green triboelectric system is also designed as a contact alert sensor for danger warning. Due to the huge number of plants in nature, the green leaf and plants based triboelectric generators shows great application prospects in all green energy harvesting and self‐powered warning sensor.

Following legalisation, cannabis has quickly become an important horticultural crop in Canada and increasingly so in other parts of the world. However, due to previous legal restrictions on cannabis research there are limited scientific data on the relationship between nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) supply (collectively: NPK) and the crop yield and quality. This study examined the response of a high delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabis sativa cultivar grown in deep-water culture with different nutrient solution treatments varying in their concentrations (mg L–1) of N (70, 120, 180, 250, 290), P (20, 40, 60, 80, 100), and K (60, 120, 200, 280, 340) according to a central composite design. Results demonstrated that inflorescence yield responded quadratically to N and P, with the optimal concentrations predicted to be 194 and 59 mg L–1, respectively. Inflorescence yield did not respond to K in the tested range. These results can provide guidance to cultivators when formulating nutrient solutions for soilless cannabis production and demonstrates the utility of surface response design for efficient multi-nutrient optimisation.

Before ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be used as a horticultural management tool in commercial Cannabis sativa (cannabis) production, the effects of UV on cannabis should be vetted scientifically. In this study we investigated the effects of UV exposure level on photosynthesis, growth, inflorescence yield, and secondary metabolite composition of two indoor-grown cannabis cultivars: ‘Low Tide’ (LT) and ‘Breaking Wave’ (BW). After growing vegetatively for 2 weeks under a canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of ≈225 μmol⋅m–2⋅s–1 in an 18-h light/6-h dark photoperiod, plants were grown for 9 weeks in a 12-h light/12-h dark “flowering” photoperiod under a canopy-level PPFD of ≈400 μmol⋅m–2⋅s–1. Supplemental UV radiation was provided daily for 3.5 h at UV photon flux densities ranging from 0.01 to 0.8 μmol⋅m–2⋅s–1 provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a peak wavelength of 287 nm (i.e., biologically-effective UV doses of 0.16 to 13 kJ⋅m–2⋅d–1). The severity of UV-induced morphology (e.g., whole-plant size and leaf size reductions, leaf malformations, and stigma browning) and physiology (e.g., reduced leaf photosynthetic rate and reduced Fv/Fm) symptoms intensified as UV exposure level increased. While the proportion of the total dry inflorescence yield that was derived from apical tissues decreased in both cultivars with increasing UV exposure level, total dry inflorescence yield only decreased in LT. The total equivalent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) concentrations also decreased in LT inflorescences with increasing UV exposure level. While the total terpene content in inflorescences decreased with increasing UV exposure level in both cultivars, the relative concentrations of individual terpenes varied by cultivar. The present study suggests that using UV radiation as a production tool did not lead to any commercially relevant benefits to cannabis yield or inflorescence secondary metabolite composition.

In controlled environment production systems, Cannabis sativa (hereafter cannabis) is a commodity with high nutrient demands due to prolific growth under optimized environmental conditions. Since nutrient deficiencies can reduce yield and quality, cultivators need tools to rapidly detect and evaluate deficiency symptoms so corrective actions can be taken quickly to minimize losses. We grew cannabis plants in solution culture with different individual nutrient elements withheld from the solutions to identify deficiency symptoms. Control plants received a complete nutrient recipe, whereas the following single elements were withheld from the respective nutrient deficiency treatments: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, and Mn. The nutrient treatments began when the photoperiod was switched to a 12/12 h (light/dark), and plants were grown to commercial maturity. Plants were monitored daily, and the development of visual deficiency symptoms were recorded. Photographs of each plant were taken weekly. Upon the onset of visual deficiency symptoms, both upper- and lower-canopy foliage were analyzed for nutrient element concentrations. At harvest, plants were evaluated for biomass partitioning, and the cannabinoid composition of inflorescence tissues. This manuscript describes the onset and progression of nutrient deficiency symptoms (with pictures), relates symptomology to foliar nutrient analyses, and contextualizes the relationships between nutrient deficiencies and cannabis growth, yield, and quality. Aboveground vegetative fresh weights were reduced by 73% in the -N treatment and 59% in the -P treatment, compared with the control. All deficiency treatments except for -Fe and -Mn had floral yields reduced by between 33% to 72%, compared with the control. Overall, deficiencies of individual nutrients can substantially reduce vegetative growth and inflorescence yield, although only minor effects were observed in secondary metabolite composition. The onset of individual deficiency symptoms did not always correspond with elemental analysis of foliar tissues. Cultivators should take an integrated approach in diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and take timely corrective actions to optimize productivity and minimize losses to yield and quality.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) stand out as an attractive form of technology for the efficient harvest of mechanical energy and the powering of wearable devices due to their light weight, simplicity, high power density, and efficient vibration energy scavenging capabilities. However, the requirement for micro/nanostructures and/or complex and expensive instruments hinders their cheap mass production, thus limiting their practical applications. By using a simple, cost-effective, fast spray-coating process, we develop high-performance UV-curable triboelectric coatings for large-scale energy harvesting. The effect of different formulations and coating compositions on the triboelectric output is investigated to design triboelectric coatings with high output performance. The TENG based on a hybrid coating exhibits high output performance of 54.5 μA current, 1228.9 V voltage, 163.6 nC transferred charge and 3.51 mW output power. Moreover, the hybrid coatings show good long-term output stability. All the results indicate that the designed triboelectric coatings show great potential for large-scale energy harvesting with the advantages of cost-effectiveness, fast fabrication, easy mass production and long-term stability.

One principle for reducing undesirable stem extension in greenhouse production is to counteract the decrease in red-to-far red ratio that occurs naturally during twilight periods. This study evaluated three lighting treatments on the morphology of easter lily (Lilium longiflorum): 1) a 1-hour end-of-day treatment providing 20 μmol·m−2·s−1 of monochromatic red light (EOD R), 2) blackout curtains closed 45 to 75 minutes before sunset and kept closed until 0 to 60 minutes after sunrise (BO), and 3) a control with natural twilight (CTRL). Plants under the BO treatment were 11% shorter than CTRL, while plants exposed to EOD R did not differ in height compared with BO or CTRL. There were no treatment effects on any other measured parameters, including aspects of flowering.

Abstract Low natural daily light integrals (DLIs) are a major limiting factor for greenhouse production during darker months (e.g., October to February in Canada). Supplemental lighting (SL) is commonly used to maintain crop productivity and quality during these periods, particularly when the supply chain demands consistent production levels year-round. What remains to be determined are the optimum SL light intensities (LIs) for winter production of a myriad of different commodities. The present study investigated the growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., ‘Black oil’), kale (Brassica napus L., ‘Red Russian’), arugula (Eruca sativa L.), and mustard (Brassica juncea L., ‘Ruby Streaks’), grown as microgreens, in a greenhouse under SL light-emitting diode (LED) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels ranging from 17.0 to 304 μmol·m−2·s−1 with a 16-hour photoperiod (i.e., supplemental DLIs from 1.0 to 17.5 mol·m−2·d−1). Crops were sown in a commercial greenhouse near Hamilton, ON, Canada (lat. 43°14′N, long. 80°07′W) on 1 Feb. 2018, and harvested after 8, 11, 12, and 12 days, resulting in average natural DLIs of 6.5, 5.9, 6.2, and 6.2 mol·m−2·d−1 for sunflower, kale, arugula, and mustard, respectively. Corresponding total light integrals (TLIs) ranged from 60 to 188 mol·m−2 for sunflower, 76 to 258 mol·m−2 for kale, 86 to 280 mol·m−2 for arugula, and 86 to 284 mol·m−2 for mustard. Fresh weight (i.e., marketable yield) increased asymptotically with increasing LI and leaf area increased linearly with increasing LI, in all genotypes. Hypocotyl length of mustard decreased and hypocotyl diameter of sunflower, arugula, and mustard increased with increasing LI. Dry weight, robust index, and relative chlorophyll content increased and specific leaf area decreased in kale, arugula, and mustard with increasing LI. Commercial microgreen greenhouse growers can use the light response models described herein to predict relevant production metrics according to the available (natural and supplemental) light levels to select the most appropriate SL LI to achieve the desired production goals as economically as possible.

Commercially available Canadian retail potting mixes were evaluated for physical and chemical properties, as well as for plant performance of petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Storm Pink’), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Better Bush’), and zonal geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum ‘Savannah Red’) plants grown outdoors at the Vineland Research and Innovation Center in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Chemical properties, but no physical properties, resulted in significant correlation with plant growth index, overall appearance, and yield (i.e., flower, fruit, or inflorescence number for petunia, tomato, and zonal geranium, respectively). The performance of all species was best when initial potting mix pH and electrical conductivity (EC) values were in the ranges of 5.20 to 6.17 and 2.76 to 4.33 mS·cm−1, respectively. The physical properties of the container capacity, total porosity, air space, and bulk density were acceptable for all plants in this study and ranged from 71% to 80%, 78% to 96%, 8% to 20%, and 0.08 to 0.22 g·cm−3, respectively. The minimum concentrations of the initial nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), phosphorus (P), and potassium that were acceptable were 104.4, 61.3, 47.9, and 150.5 ppm for petunia and 96.8, 61.3, 51.7, and 143.3 ppm for tomato, respectively. The minimum concentration of NO3− that was acceptable was 66.1 ppm for zonal geranium. Overall appearance at 4, 8, and 10 weeks after transplanting was correlated with initial potting mix EC, NO3−, and calcium for all species, with pH, NH4+, and P for petunia, with P for tomato at all time points, and with P for zonal geranium after 10 weeks. Although it is difficult to discern how each nutrient impacts plant performance, this study indicated that it is essential to have a balanced and adequate supply of nutrients in consumer potting mixes. The ability of a potting mix to maintain an appropriate pH for the duration of the growing season may prevent nutrient deficiency symptoms, especially for pH-sensitive species like petunia. This study is the first to provide a benchmark of currently available retail potting mixes for Canadian consumers.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent used to disinfect recirculated irrigation water during the production of organic crops under controlled environmental systems (e.g., greenhouses). To characterize the phytotoxic effects and define a concentration threshold for H2O2, three microgreen species [arugula (Brassica eruca ssp. sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus ‘Black Oil’)], and three lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivars, Othilie, Xandra, and Rouxai, were foliar sprayed once daily with water containing 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, or 200 mg·L−1 of H2O2 from seed to harvest under greenhouse conditions. Leaf damage was assessed at harvest using two distinct methods: 1) the percentage of damaged leaves per tray and 2) a damage index (DI). Applied H2O2 concentrations, starting from 25 mg·L−1, increased the percentage of damaged leaves in every species except ‘Black Oil’ sunflower, which remained unaffected by any applied concentration. Symptoms of leaf damage manifested in similar patterns on the surface of microgreen cotyledons and lettuce leaves, while mean DI values and extent of damage were unique to each crop. Fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area of all crops were not significantly affected by daily H2O2 spray. Identifying how foliar H2O2 damage manifests throughout the crop, as well at individual cotyledon or leaf surfaces, is necessary to establish an upper concentration threshold for H2O2 use. On the basis of the aforementioned metrics, maximum recommended concentrations were 150 mg·L−1 (radish), 100 mg·L−1 (arugula) for microgreens and 125 mg·L−1 (‘Othilie’), 75 mg·L−1 (‘Rouxai’), and 125 mg·L−1 (‘Xandra’) lettuce.

Since the recent legalization of medical and recreational use of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) in many regions worldwide, there has been high demand for research to improve yield and quality. With the paucity of scientific literature on the topic, this study investigated the relationships between light intensity (LI) and photosynthesis, inflorescence yield, and inflorescence quality of cannabis grown in an indoor environment. After growing vegetatively for 2 weeks under a canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of ≈425 μmol·m−2·s−1 and an 18-h light/6-h dark photoperiod, plants were grown for 12 weeks in a 12-h light/12-h dark “flowering” photoperiod under canopy-level PPFDs ranging from 120 to 1,800 μmol·m−2·s−1 provided by light emitting diodes. Leaf light response curves varied both with localized (i.e., leaf-level) PPFD and temporally, throughout the flowering cycle. Therefore, it was concluded that the leaf light response is not a reliable predictor of whole-plant responses to LI, particularly crop yield. This may be especially evident given that dry inflorescence yield increased linearly with increasing canopy-level PPFD up to 1,800 μmol·m−2·s−1, while leaf-level photosynthesis saturated well-below 1,800 μmol·m−2·s−1. The density of the apical inflorescence and harvest index also increased linearly with increasing LI, resulting in higher-quality marketable tissues and less superfluous tissue to dispose of. There were no LI treatment effects on cannabinoid potency, while there were minor LI treatment effects on terpene potency. Commercial cannabis growers can use these light response models to determine the optimum LI for their production environment to achieve the best economic return; balancing input costs with the commercial value of their cannabis products.

The effects of salt-induced stress in drug-type Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa), a crop with increasing global importance, are almost entirely unknown. In an indoor controlled factorial experiment involving a type-II chemovar (i.e., one which produces Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid ~THCA and cannabidiolic acid ~ CBDA), the effects of increasing NaCl concentrations (1–40 mM) was tested in hydroponic and aquaponic solutions during the flowering stage. Growth parameters (height, canopy volume), plant physiology (chlorophyll content, leaf-gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water use efficiency), and solution physicochemical properties (pH, EC, and nutrients) was measured throughout the experiment. Upon maturation of inflorescences, plants were harvested and yield (dry inflorescence biomass) and inflorescence potency (mass-based concentration of cannabinoids) was determined. It was found that cannabinoids decreased linearly with increasing NaCl concentration: -0.026 and -0.037% THCA·mM NaCl-1 for aquaponic and hydroponic solutions, respectively. The growth and physiological responses to NaCl in hydroponic—but not the aquaponic solution—became negatively affected at 40 mM. The mechanisms of aquaponic solution which allow this potential enhanced NaCl tolerance is worthy of future investigation. Commercial cultivation involving the use of hydroponic solution should carefully monitor NaCl concentrations, so that they do not exceed the phytotoxic concentration of 40 mM found here; and are aware that NaCl in excess of 5 mM may decrease yield and potency. Additional research investigating cultivar- and rootzone-specific responses to salt-induced stress is needed.

The performance of triboelectric nanogenerators is impacted by charge density, which can be restricted by air breakdown. Here the authors report a self-improving triboelectric nanogenerator that overcomes the limitation, achieving increased charge density, charge accumulation speed, and output current.

Soilless culture systems are currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in horticulture. The plant roots are confined into a specific rootzone and are exposed to environmental changes and cultivation factors. The recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of several environmental and cultivation factors on the morphology, architecture, and performance of the root system of plants grown in SCS are the objectives of this study. The effect of root restriction, nutrient solution, irrigation frequency, rootzone temperature, oxygenation, vapour pressure deficit, lighting, rootzone pH, root exudates, CO2, and beneficiary microorganisms on the functionality and performance of the root system are discussed. Overall, the main results of this review demonstrate that researchers have carried out great efforts in innovation to optimize SCS water and nutrients supply, proper temperature, and oxygen levels at the rootzone and effective plant–beneficiary microorganisms, while contributing to plant yields. Finally, this review analyses the new trends based on emerging technologies and various tools that might be exploited in a smart agriculture approach to improve root management in soilless cropping while procuring a deeper understanding of plant root–shoot communication.

Wound healing is a complex tissue regeneration process involving many changes in multiple physiological parameters. The pH and temperature of a wound site have long been recognized as important biomarkers for assessing wound healing status. For effective wound management, wound dressings integrated with wearable sensors and systems used for continuous monitoring of pH and temperature have received much attention in recent years. Herein, recent advances in the development of wearable pH and temperature sensors and systems based on different sensing mechanisms for wound status monitoring and treatment are comprehensively summarized. Challenges in the areas of sensing performance, infection identification threshold, large-area 3-dimensional detection, and long-term reliable monitoring in current wearable sensors/systems and emerging solutions are emphasized, providing critical insights into the development of wearable sensors and systems for wound healing monitoring and management.

To investigate the influence of supplemental lighting intensity on the production (i.e., rate of flower development, flower quality, and yield) of cut gerbera during Canada’s supplemental lighting season (November to March), trials were carried out at a research greenhouse. Five supplemental light emitting diode (LED) light intensity (LI) treatments provided canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) ranging from 41 to 180 µmol m−2 s−1. With a 12-h photoperiod, the treatments provided 1.76 to 7.72 mol m−2 d−1 of supplemental light. Two cultivars of cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus ex Hook.f) were used to evaluate vegetative growth and flower production. Plugs of ‘Ultima’ were assessed for vegetative growth and rate of flower development. There were minor LI treatment effects on number of leaves and chlorophyll content index and flowers from plants under the highest versus the lowest LI matured 10% faster. Reproductively mature ‘Panama’ plants were assessed for flower yield and quality. ‘Panama’ flowers from the highest LI treatment had shorter stems than the three lowest LI treatments, and flowers from the middle LI treatment had larger diameter than the other treatments. Flowers from the lowest LI treatment had lower fresh mass than the three highest LI treatments. There were linear relationships between LI and numbers of flowers harvested, with the highest LI treatment producing 10.3 and 7.0 more total and marketable flowers per plant than the lowest LI treatment. In general, increasing levels of supplemental light had only minor effects on vegetative growth (young plants) and size and quality of harvested flowers (mature plants), but flowers from plants grown under higher LIs were more numerous and matured faster.