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Soft-Shell Prawns (Penaeus monodon) Can Be Identified Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Machine Learning – A Novel Approach to Ensure Consistency, Accuracy and Speed
No full textSoft-shell prawns (shrimps), which yield lower market value than their hard-shell counterparts, are currently identified through manual inspection—a subjective and inconsistent process. This study explores the use of shortwave infrared (SWIR; 950–2515 nm) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning as a real-time, non-destructive alternative for classifying prawn shell hardness. A total of 380 farmed prawns spanning four manually assessed hardness categories were scanned using a HSI camera. Two classification models—support vector machine (SVM) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)—were trained on 50% of the total samples (training data set) to associate spectral signatures with shell hardness classes and evaluated using the remaining 50% (independent test data set). PLS-DA marginally outperformed SVM in overall classification accuracy, achieving 92.1%, compared to SVM’s 90% on the independent test set. Although SVM showed better performance for intermediate hardness classes, its higher misclassification rate for the extreme classes (hard and soft) made it slightly less reliable for practical application. Reduced sensitivity in the intermediate classes across both models likely stems from limited sample size and subjectivity in the manual reference classifications. These results demonstrate the potential of HSI as a consistent and objective tool for prawn classification, offering significant advantages for automating shell hardness assessment and sorting. Implementing this technology could enhance processing efficiency and product quality within the prawn industry
Breeding mango for quality traits
No full textMango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most important fruit trees in tropical and subtropical regions. However, the international trade of mangoes is based mainly on a few cultivars that were mostly generated dozens of years ago. Only few research groups focus on mango breeding programs worldwide. Breeding combines the generation of new genetic combinations mainly through sexual reproduction and selection of individual plants with desirable traits. Most breeding programs focus on fruit quality, appearance and taste, on vegetative traits like tree vigor and architecture and on tolerance/resistance to diseases. Until recently, mango was an orphan crop with poor knowledge at the physiological, molecular and genetic levels. The lack of genetic and genomic resources for mango has limited the ability to integrate genetic approaches into mango breeding. The heritability of many of the important quality traits is still not known and still needs to be discovered. The recent development of molecular tools for mango, including transcriptomes, genome sequence drafts, and molecular variation, provides opportunities for enhancing mango breeding, enabling the integration of molecular genetics and genomic approaches into mango breeding. We discuss different aspects of mango breeding and the effects of developing tools for the improvement of mango breeding and selection
Rethinking mango production systems, towards intensive high-density orchards
No full textMango production systems and their management have remained relatively unchanged for decades, apart from incremental developments primarily associated with new genetic developments, nutritional practices and the mechanisation of pruning and harvesting. These advancements have not kept pace with the shifts in the agricultural farm business landscape of increasing competition, rising costs of essential inputs, including materials, labour, water, and land values. To ensure future sustainability and profitability, mango production systems must increase their productivity with reduced cost per unit output, be more resilient to climate variations, require less labour, be safer places to work, and be adaptable to emerging trends in technology, automation, and protected cropping. These changes will not all be possible within the confines of existing low-density orchard systems. It is imperative to reconsider and fundamentally transform mango production methods to guarantee future sustainability and profitability. In Australia, a team of researchers from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, universities, and the mango industry, have begun to redesign mango production systems, drawing inspiration from developments that transformed production in temperate tree fruits. This program, now in its tenth year, has focused on enhancing mango orchard productivity through orchard intensification, and comprises a diverse portfolio of allied projects that have achieved remarkable progress in tropical mango production. This report presents some of the key findings, major insights and, and new approaches emerging from our research. © 2025 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved
Plasmid copy number variation impacts pathogenicity and quantification of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens infecting mung bean
No full textIn bacteria, plasmids can confer the ability to cause disease. Although they can potentially vary in copy number, little has been reported on the dynamics of plasmids in plant pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenicity of the bacterium Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff), which causes foliar disease on leguminous crops, including mung bean (Vigna radiata), has previously been linked to a plasmid. This study explored the variation in plasmid copy number among a genetically diverse collection of 25 Cff isolates using purposely designed quantitative PCR assays for chromosomal and plasmid DNA targets. Pathogenicity and virulence of six Cff isolates, including one plasmid-free isolate, were assessed on the susceptible mung bean cultivar Opal-AU using visual symptoms, trifoliate dry weights and Cff DNA quantities following stem inoculation. Plasmid copy numbers varied significantly (p <0.001) among plasmid-carrying isolates, ranging from 1.37 to 2.74. For subsequent quantification in planta, the single-copy chromosomal PCR target gene, gyrase b, was selected. Mung beans inoculated with plasmid-carrying isolates exhibited significant variation in visual symptoms (p <0.001), while trifoliate dry weights and Cff DNA quantities did not significantly differ. The treatment using a plasmid-free isolate was not significantly different from the negative control for each of the disease traits. Knowledge of plasmid dynamics in Cff populations lays a foundation for improved understanding of the inheritance and impact of plasmid-related traits. The quantification assays will be useful for monitoring Cff populations and the demonstrated variation in pathogenicity and virulence can assist efforts to breed host plant germplasm with reduced susceptibility to Cff.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest
Tracking individual Bactrocera tryoni: Wind effects and natural movement
No full textDetermining the movement characteristics under real-world conditions of insect pests, such as tephritid fruit flies, is critical to increase the effectiveness of detection, response, and control strategies. In this study, we conducted two experiments using harmonic radar to track wild-caught male Queensland fruit flies (Qflies), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a major horticultural pest in Australia. In Experiment 1, we continuously tracked individual Qflies, which were prodded to induce movement in a high-density papaya (Carica papaya, L., Caricaceae) field. We conducted Experiment 2 in a field with lower papaya density and tracked flies were allowed to move without disturbance. This latter natural movement experiment showed that Qflies move at a rate of (mean ± SE) 19 ± 3 m h−1. In both experiments, overall and between-tree flight directions were found to be correlated with wind direction, whereas within-tree movement directions were not. Further, the effect of wind direction on fly trajectories varied by step distance but not strongly with wind speed, whereas step-distance distributions were consistent with Lévy walks (i.e., short random steps with occasional larger steps). Qfly movements were well fitted by two-state hidden Markov models, further supporting the observation that Qflies move differently within (short steps with random direction) and between (longer more directional steps) trees. Data on flight directionality, step distances, and movement speed determined in this study provide parameters that may help enhance current surveillance, control, and eradication methods, such as optimizing trap placements and pesticide applications, determining release sites for parasitoids, and setting quarantine boundaries after incursions
Queen garnet plum juice supplementation does not provide additional cognitive benefits over a group-based memory program in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized clinical trial
No full textResearch suggests a role for inflammation and oxidative stress in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its progression. Evidence suggests anthocyanin-rich foods may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress and improve cognition but benefits in MCI are unclear. Therefore, it was hypothesized that daily consumption of anthocyanin-rich Queen Garnet Plum (QGP) juice would improve cognition, mood and blood pressure in people with MCI. Participants diagnosed with MCI (N = 42) participated in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants were administered either QGP juice or apricot juice (comparator) daily for 8-weeks and participated in a 6-week group-based memory program. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of cognitive tests, including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Complex Figure Test (CFT), Royal Prince Alfred-Prospective Memory Test (RPA-ProMem), and Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory self-report (CAPM-self). Mood and blood pressure were also measured pre- and post-intervention. There was a significant effect of TIME for total RAVLT (P = .028, η2 = .12), CFT-recall (P = .036, η2 = .11), RPA-ProMem (P < .001, η2 = .28), and CAPM-self (P = .007, η2 = .22) scores. There was a non-significant trend towards an interaction for CFT-recall (p = .063, η2 = .09), where Bonferroni adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that the QGP group, but not comparators, had significantly improved CFT-recall scores (QGP: +13.93%, P = .007; comparators: +0.84%, P = .855). Overall, QGP consumption during a group-based memory rehabilitation program did not result in additional cognitive benefits in older adults with MCI. This trial was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12618001184268
Summary of taxonomy changes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses from the Plant Viruses Subcommittee, 2025
No full textIn March 2025, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote, newly proposed taxa were added to those under the mandate of the Plant Viruses Subcommittee. In brief, 1 new order, 3 new families, 6 new genera, 2 new subgenera and 206 new species were created. Some taxa were reorganized. Genus Cytorhabdovirus in the family Rhabdoviridae was abolished and its taxa were redistributed into three new genera Alphacytorhabdovirus , Betacytorhabdovirus and Gammacytorhabdovirus . Genus Waikavirus in the family Secoviridae was reorganized into two subgenera ( Actinidivirus and Ritunrivirus ). One family and four previously unaffiliated genera were moved to the newly established order Tombendovirales . Twelve species not assigned to a genus were abolished. To comply with the ICTV mandate of a binomial format for virus species, eight species were renamed. Demarcation criteria in the absence of biological information were defined in the genus Ilarvirus (family Bromoviridae ). This article presents the updated taxonomy put forth by the Plant Viruses Subcommittee and ratified by the ICTV
Identifying key environmental drivers of chickpea yield and water-use efficiency: a statistical modelling approach
No full textChickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume crop with significant global importance, yet its productivity is highly sensitive to environmental variability. This study employed advanced statistical modelling to identify key environmental drivers of chickpea yield and water-use efficiency (WUE). Field trial data from 29 experiments across 10 Australian locations were analysed, focusing on 19 climatic variables across four growth stages: sowing to flowering, flowering to podding, podding to maturity, and the critical period around flowering. Using correlation analysis and Exclusive LASSO regression, the study quantified relationships between environmental factors, growth stages, and chickpea performance metrics. Key findings identified soil evaporation and soil moisture supply-demand ratio during the sowing-to-flowering stage, along with frost during the critical period, as significant determinants of yield. Frost negatively impacted WUE across multiple growth stages, while mean photothermal quotient during early growth positively influenced transpiration-based WUE. Predictive models developed using daily climate data demonstrated strong performance (R 2 > 0.68–0.72) for yield and WUE predictions. The study provides actionable insights for optimizing chickpea production under varying environmental conditions, offering practical tools for farmers and agronomists to enhance crop management strategies, supporting sustainable and profitable chickpea farming in Australia and beyond
Review of land management targets : Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan : summary report
No full textThe 2017–22 Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) set a broad target for agricultural land management in Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments: 90% of land in priority areas should adopt best management practices (BMPs) for water quality. However, this target was deemed unrealistic and too vague to guide investment effectively. An independent review in 2022 highlighted key issues, including the need for locally tailored targets, clearer adoption benchmarks, and better understanding of adoption drivers and barriers.
To address these concerns, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), with Farmacist and Meaningful Social Research, led a project involving 61 workshops and 15 regional technical working groups. Using the ADOPT model, they assessed 86 farm practices for their potential to improve water quality. The study found that current adoption levels are modest, with only a 4% increase predicted under business-as-usual. Best-case scenarios suggest a 24% adoption peak, but achieving this requires significant investment.
Importantly, landholders are more motivated by practices offering clear production or economic benefits than by water quality outcomes alone. The report provides detailed adoption insights and recommends using ADOPT in future program design. It also outlines five draft recommendations to guide targeted investment and accelerate BMP adoption in priority catchments
Correction: Growing Degree Day Targets for Fruit Development of Australian Mango Cultivars
No full textThere was an error in the original publication, in which a character was mistyped in Equation (2).
A correction has been made to Section 1, Subsection 1.4, Paragraph