Cristina Cruz
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View article: Forage Quality Improves but Ecosystem Multifunctionality Declines Under Drought and Frequent Cutting in Dry Grassland Mesocosms
Forage Quality Improves but Ecosystem Multifunctionality Declines Under Drought and Frequent Cutting in Dry Grassland Mesocosms Open
Dry grasslands are vast, socioeconomically and ecologically important environments, which are increasingly threatened by multiple stressors. We tested whether plant cover composition could mitigate ecosystem services loss under multiple st…
View article: Biostimulants: more than a product, a change towards more sustainable food production systems
Biostimulants: more than a product, a change towards more sustainable food production systems Open
Biostimulants represent more than an agricultural product; they constitute a paradigm shift towards more sustainable food production systems. This editorial examines how biostimulants promote a transition from conventional agriculture, dep…
View article: Diazotrophic plant growth promoting bacteria can scavenge atmospheric ammonia instead of fixing N₂
Diazotrophic plant growth promoting bacteria can scavenge atmospheric ammonia instead of fixing N₂ Open
When aiming to increase plants' nitrogen (N) budget, special attention is given to the microbial inoculum's capacity to perform biological N₂ fixation. However, we consider that other approaches can be explored. Here, we report initial res…
View article: Utilization of Malatarlak Grass (Themeda Arundinacea) as a Potential Material in Yarn Making
Utilization of Malatarlak Grass (Themeda Arundinacea) as a Potential Material in Yarn Making Open
Themeda Arundinacea, also known as Malatarlak Grass, has qualities that can be used to make yarn. Due to the mass growth of malatarlak grass, researchers are exploring new materials, and this study investigates the potential of Malatarlak …
View article: Increased survival of <i>Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius</i>, a thermophilic soil bacterium, in a rhizosphere milieu
Increased survival of <i>Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius</i>, a thermophilic soil bacterium, in a rhizosphere milieu Open
Previous studies have highlighted the widespread presence of thermophilic bacterial genera in upper soil layers, their role in biogeochemical cycles, and their potential application in soil fertilization. However, the mechanisms by which t…
View article: Phytochemical Characterization and Antifungal Potential of Opuntia ficus-indica Cladode Extracts Against Tomato Pathogens
Phytochemical Characterization and Antifungal Potential of Opuntia ficus-indica Cladode Extracts Against Tomato Pathogens Open
In the realm of sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture, current scientific research emphasizes the development of plant-based bioproducts to mitigate the agricultural footprint resulting from excessive fertilizer and pesticide use. This …
View article: Potential Natural Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Carthamus caeruleus L. Root Aqueous Extract: An In Vitro Evaluation
Potential Natural Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Carthamus caeruleus L. Root Aqueous Extract: An In Vitro Evaluation Open
Carthamus caeruleus L. is traditionally used in Algerian medicine, particularly for burn treatment, but its therapeutic potential remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties…
View article: Contentment to Commitment: Analyzing the Mediating Role of Financial Well-Being in Ginhawa and Young Adult’s Desire to Have Children
Contentment to Commitment: Analyzing the Mediating Role of Financial Well-Being in Ginhawa and Young Adult’s Desire to Have Children Open
Financial status, well-being, and efforts are the pillars considered when building a family of their own. Understanding how these aspects are essential in building a family in the future can be beneficial in the growth of one’s life stabil…
View article: In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Ziziphus lotus Leaves and Five Associated Endophytic Fungi
In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Ziziphus lotus Leaves and Five Associated Endophytic Fungi Open
The exploration of new pharmacological compounds from endophytic fungi offers infinite possibilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of extracts from the leaves of Ziziphus lotus and five…
View article: Towards Transitioning Internationalization of Teacher Education into the Post-Pandemic Era
Towards Transitioning Internationalization of Teacher Education into the Post-Pandemic Era Open
The study assessed the internationalization of teacher education institutions (TEIs) from eight Asian countries, focusing on their strategies and post-pandemic directions. Using a case study design, 14 international relations officers and …
View article: Evaluating Seawater and Wood Distillate for Sustainable Hydroponic Cultivation: Implications for Crop Growth and Nutritional Quality
Evaluating Seawater and Wood Distillate for Sustainable Hydroponic Cultivation: Implications for Crop Growth and Nutritional Quality Open
The adoption of innovative cultivation methods, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, is gaining attention due to the unprecedented demand for food that an increasing population is posing on agricultural systems, exacerbating the pressure on…
View article: Halophilic Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as Producers of Antifungal Metabolites under Salt Stress
Halophilic Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as Producers of Antifungal Metabolites under Salt Stress Open
Salinity is one of the main factors causing soil deterioration, making it unsuitable for agriculture. It is well documented that the application of halotolerant and halophilic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR: plant growth-promoting r…
View article: Plant ammonium sensitivity is associated with external pH adaptation, repertoire of nitrogen transporters, and nitrogen requirement
Plant ammonium sensitivity is associated with external pH adaptation, repertoire of nitrogen transporters, and nitrogen requirement Open
Modern crops exhibit diverse sensitivities to ammonium as the primary nitrogen source, influenced by environmental factors such as external pH and nutrient availability. Despite its significance, there is currently no systematic classifica…
View article: Microbial Interactions as a Sustainable Tool for Enhancing PGPR Antagonism against Phytopathogenic Fungi
Microbial Interactions as a Sustainable Tool for Enhancing PGPR Antagonism against Phytopathogenic Fungi Open
Microbial interactions, which regulate the dynamics of eco- and agrosystems, can be harnessed to enhance antagonism against phytopathogenic fungi in agriculture. This study tests the hypothesis that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PG…
View article: Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Biological Activities of <em>Opuntia ficus indica</em> L
Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Biological Activities of <em>Opuntia ficus indica</em> L Open
In the context of sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture, current scientific researches are focusing on plant-based bioproducts to remedy the toxicity caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This study was conducted on cladodes of…
View article: Halophilic Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria as Producers of Antifungal Metabolites under Salt Stress
Halophilic Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria as Producers of Antifungal Metabolites under Salt Stress Open
Salinity is one of the major factors responsible for the deterioration of soils, making them unsuitable for agriculture. The application of halotolerant and halophilic plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR: Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobact…
View article: Hormetic Effect of Wood Distillate on Hydroponically Grown Lettuce
Hormetic Effect of Wood Distillate on Hydroponically Grown Lettuce Open
The addition of biostimulants to nutrient solutions of hydroponically grown crops to speed up plant growth and improve plant yield and quality has been attracting more and more attention. This study investigated the effects of wood distill…
View article: Biostimulants towards sustainable food production
Biostimulants towards sustainable food production Open
Biostimulants towards sustainable food production Cristina Cruz and Teresa Dias from Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, focus on biostimulants, which are more than a product, but a significant change towards sustainable food …
View article: Wood Distillate Enhances Seed Germination of Chickpea, Lettuce, and Basil
Wood Distillate Enhances Seed Germination of Chickpea, Lettuce, and Basil Open
Seed priming with synthetic chemicals may be harmful to the environment and human health. Their replacement with bio-based compounds may overcome these concerns. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of wood distillate (WD) in enhan…
View article: Bacterial Inoculation and Extracts of Opuntia Rackets or Marine Algae Trigger Distinct Proline Balances in Tomato Salt Stress Alleviation
Bacterial Inoculation and Extracts of Opuntia Rackets or Marine Algae Trigger Distinct Proline Balances in Tomato Salt Stress Alleviation Open
High salt levels in soil can severely limit plant development and diminish the positive effect of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). However, extracts of organisms adapted to high salinity, such as Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) and …
View article: Integrating biofertilizers and precision agriculture
Integrating biofertilizers and precision agriculture Open
Integrating biofertilizers and precision agriculture This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the integration of biofertilisers and precision agriculture, with the aim of creating a virtuous circle of agricultural growth and susta…
View article: Synergistic Interaction of Rhizobium tropici, Rhizophagus irregularis and Serendipita indica in Promoting Snap Bean Growth
Synergistic Interaction of Rhizobium tropici, Rhizophagus irregularis and Serendipita indica in Promoting Snap Bean Growth Open
The overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in crop farming has led to a decrease in crop quality and negative impacts on soil and the environment. It is crucial to adopt alternative strategies to maintain soil and environmental qua…
View article: Using Science and Technology to Unveil The Hidden Delicacy Terfezia arenaria, a Desert Truffle
Using Science and Technology to Unveil The Hidden Delicacy Terfezia arenaria, a Desert Truffle Open
Terfezia arenaria is a desert truffle native to the Mediterranean Basin region, highly appreciated for its nutritional and aromatic properties. Despite the increasing interest in this desert truffle, T. arenaria is not listed as an edible …
View article: Activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in enriched cultures exposed to 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole dihydrogen phosphate nitrification inhibitor
Activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in enriched cultures exposed to 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole dihydrogen phosphate nitrification inhibitor Open
The use of nitrification inhibitors is an interesting tool to achieve a higher N efficiency in plants while decreasing the environmental impact of N fertilization. However, an integrated evaluation of the efficiency of nitrification inhibi…
View article: Root inoculation with Herbaspirillum seropedicae RAM10 reveals structural and functional shifts in the wheat seed-borne microbiota associated with improved plant phenotype
Root inoculation with Herbaspirillum seropedicae RAM10 reveals structural and functional shifts in the wheat seed-borne microbiota associated with improved plant phenotype Open
Exploiting the beneficial features of the plant microbiota is a promising approach to improve cereal growth and health in a more sustainable manner. Seed-borne endophytic microbiota can intimately colonize the plant’s endosphere and influe…