CURRENT APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LC-MS Analysis and Intracellular and Extracellular Indole 3 Acetic Acid Production under Different Media by Endophytic Bacteria Associated with Humulus lupulus

Sohail Khan — 2026-02-05

Recently, there has been a worldwide call to explore nature-friendly metabolites, which could enhance plant growth and substitute for chemically synthesized products. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is one of the versatile metabolites that has a potential role for plant growth, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, IAA is commonly synthesized chemically; the majority of reagents used pose environmental pollution. In contrast, biosynthesis through controlled cultivation of endophytes from medicinal plants offers an environmentally sustainable approach. The current study investigates the endophytic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 isolated from the leaves of Humulus lupulus for IAA production. The identification and characterization of endophytic bacterium was carried out using biochemical and molecular methods. Furthermore, LC-MS analysis of the dried extract of Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 identified multiple bioactive compounds, including IAA, with potential therapeutic and agricultural applications. Additionally, the IAA quantification was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) across different media. UPLC analysis reveals that Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 produces IAA in Luria broth medium; the extracellular IAA concentration was determined to be 1.16 mg/mL, whereas the intracellular level reached 1.11 mg/mL. Similarly, culture in minimal medium with extracellular IAA produced at 0.11 mg/mL and intracellular IAA at 0.06 mg/mL. The current study paves the way for exploring the role of abiotic conditions for cost-effective IAA production.

Development of Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Starch Film Composites Using Cellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse and Titanium Dioxide for Active Food Packaging Applications

Peeraches Buathongvong — 2026-02-05

The development of an active food packaging film from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), starch, glycerol, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to enhance mechanical strength and moisture resistance, which was synthesized from sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was investigated. The MCC was chemically extracted from SCB via alkaline treatment, hydrogen peroxide oxidation, and acid hydrolysis, resulting in 92% cellulose purity, as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The biofilms were prepared using the solution casting method with 3 conditions: CMC/starch, CMC/starch/MCC, and CMC/starch/MCC/TiO₂. Incorporating MCC and TiO₂ significantly improved tensile strength (21.57 MPa to 42.79 MPa) and Young’s modulus (1258 MPa to 1568 MPa). These additions decreased water solubility from 22.1% to 0.7%. FT-IR analysis of the films showed enhanced CH bonding of CMC in high content without any reaction. Biodegradability tests showed complete degradation within 7 days. Shelf-life extension tests demonstrated that bananas wrapped with CMC/starch/MCC/TiO₂ film lasted up to 12 days, compared to 5-6 days for unwrapped samples, with the addition of TiO₂ effectively scavenging ethylene without compromising film integrity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of SCB-derived MCC for sustainable, high-performance food packaging.

Impact of Herbal Mixed Tisanes on Antioxidant Property and Sensory Emotion of Relaxation and Calmness

Preechaya Phrommin — 2026-01-30

Traditional tisanes have gained more interest as functional dietary sources of antioxidants and represent a class of bioactive compounds. This research aimed to develop mixed herbal tisanes with high antioxidant activity and impact on consumer acceptance and emotions (relaxation and calmness). The study explored the antioxidant properties of five herbal mixtures; lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), mimosa (Mimosa pudica Linn.), stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.) and rose (Rosa damascene). The analysis of raw materials found stevia exhibited the highest total phenolic content (768.92±30.19 µmol GE/100g) and highest nitric oxide scavenging (54.63±1.37%), followed by chamomile and mimosa. Sensory emotions, measured on a 5-point scale, indicated moderate to high levels of relaxation (3.94±0.69) and calmness (3.62±0.67). The mixture design employed varying proportions of three herbs: lavender (10-30%), mimosa (10-35%), and stevia (5-20%), with chamomile (30%) and rose (20%) as fixed components. Regression models demonstrated that various formulations of the herbs significantly affected consumer acceptance, calmness emotion and total flavonoid content (p<0.05). The optimized formulation of 23% lavender, 10% mimosa, and 17% stevia exhibited high consumer acceptance, emotions and antioxidant activities. The optimized herbal tea was analyzed for amino acid profile, and contained phenylalanine (86.13±0.08 µg/mL), tyrosine (7.67±0.04 µg/mL), serine (13.47±0.02 µg/mL), glutamic acid (8.36±0.21 µg/mL), all of which contributed to mood regulation and calmness. The phenolic compounds identified in tisanes were as follows; chlorogenic acid, catechin, ferulic acid, myricetin, and quercetin at 2967.66±46.19; 2089.45±0.68, 1025.35±1.87, 987.06±19.16, and 470.69±0.98 (µg/g), respectively, which may support relaxation and mental well-being. These findings highlight the promising role of herbal tisanes as a natural, functional beverage for oxidative stress reduction and emotional balance, with potential applications in the health and wellness industries.

Evaluation of Biosaka Spray for Enhancing Physiological Traits and Improving Fruit Quality in Inodorus Melon

Muhammad Huda — 2026-01-30

Melon is an economically important horticultural crop, yet its productivity and fruit quality are often constrained by suboptimal cultivation practices. Biosaka, a biostimulant containing natural elicitors, has the potential to enhance physiological performance and fruit traits, but its effective concentration remains unclear. This study evaluated the optimal concentration of biosaka spray for improving physiological traits and fruit quality of Inodorus melon. A non-factorial completely randomized design was applied with six concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mL L^-1), each with four plants and replications, totaling 96 experimental units. Biosaka application did not have significant effect on chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, stomatal density, biomass, net assimilation rate, or harvest index. In contrast, it significantly increased leaf area index (LAI) and fruit quality attributes. Polynomial regression predicted an optimal concentration of 26.5 mL L^-1 for LAI (0.845). Concentrations between 31.0 and 50.7 mL L^-1 produced optimal fruit traits, including fruit weight, diameter, total soluble solids, and edible portion. Correlation analysis indicated weak relationships between LAI and physiological parameters, while strong positive associations were found between biomass and NAR, and negative associations between HI and biomass. Overall, biosaka at 26.5 - 50.7 mL L^-1 is optimal for enhancing melon fruit quality, though further studies are required to characterize its elicitor compounds.

Development of a Hybrid Model for Rainfall Forecasting in Northeastern Thailand: Integration of Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average, Support Vector Regression, and Variational Mode Decomposition

Thanakon Sutthison — 2026-02-05

This study presents a hybrid model integrating Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), Ensemble Variational Mode Decomposition (EVMD), and Support Vector Regression (SVR) to improve monthly rainfall forecasting in Northeastern Thailand. The approach addresses the challenges posed by the non-stationary and nonlinear nature of rainfall data. SARIMA is first applied to extract linear components, while EVMD is used to decompose residuals into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs). Each IMF and the remaining residuals are forecasted using SVR. A dataset comprising 496 months of rainfall records (January 1983 to April 2024) from 12 meteorological stations under the Thai Meteorological Department was used. Model performance was evaluated using five statistical metrics: RMSE, PRMSE, RPD, MAE, and R². The hybrid SARIMA-EVMD-SVR model consistently outperformed SARIMA and SVR standalone models, achieving R² values above 0.84 and RPD values greater than 2.5 in most stations. The hybrid model improved forecasting accuracy by up to 39.26% over SVR and 36.11% over SARIMA. The results highlight the model’s ability to effectively capture complex rainfall dynamics. Its adaptability offers potential for application in other time series forecasting tasks, contributing to enhanced decision-making in water resource planning and climate-related policy development.

Development of a Biofertilizer from Indigenous PGPR and Leonardite Residues for Sustainable Lettuce Cultivation and Soil Restoration

Rasapirose Somwatcharajit — 2026-01-30

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial microbes that can enhance crop yield and soil fertility. In this study, we developed a biofertilizer using an indigenous PGPR strain, Microbacterium maritypicum R4-3, isolated from leonardite-associated rhizosphere at the Mae Moh lignite mine in Thailand. The strain showed strong phosphate solubilization (index = 3.81), siderophore production (1.43), and IAA synthesis (3.76 µg/mL). Its identity was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, placing it with M. maritypicum type strains. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) was used as a test crop. In laboratory experiments using Leonard’s jar systems, R4-3 significantly increased plant biomass, yielding 18.58 g fresh weight (FW) and 1.97 g dry weight (DW) per plant, compared to 12.62 g FW and 1.36 g DW in uninoculated controls. In pot trials with amended soils, the highest yield was obtained from 25% leonardite plus R4-3, reaching 48.68 g FW and 2.92 g DW, outperforming both controls (1.94 g FW, 0.18 g DW) and two commercial biofertilizers. Soil analysis revealed improvements in total nitrogen (0.41%), exchangeable potassium (448 ppm), and organic matter (7.89%) under R4-3 treatment. These findings highlight the potential of native PGPR combined with leonardite to enhance plant growth and restore soil fertility in degraded soils. Therefore, this study offers a sustainable and low-cost strategy for converting mining waste into effective biofertilizer inputs for organic farming and land rehabilitation.

Bacterial Endophytes: A Versatile Factory for Producing Indole-3-acetic Acid, Recent Advances and Development

Sohail Khan — 2026-01-30

The growing scientific interest and exploration of endophytes from plants have shown vital plant health promotion, and are attracting scientific interest. The endophytes, including bacteria, significantly strengthen the host plants' growth and resilience, fortifying the plants’ ability to combat pathogens and adapt to environmental stresses. Previous studies have investigated the pivotal role of endophytic bacteria in modulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties and diverse biological effects. Endophytic bacteria are well-known sources of metabolites with notable medicinal potential and ability to boost plant growth, fortifying invulnerability to abiotic stress and biotic stress on plants. The catalog of primary and secondary metabolites that are produced by different endophytes indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is an eminent constituent of the auxin in the indole derivatives family. IAA governs nearly every facet of botanical growth and progression, making it among the most significant phytohormones for plants. Notably, the endophyte bacteria deliver IAA which holds significance in growth and progression interactions with plants. Delving into the mechanisms underlying the biological synthesis and functions of IAA in endophytic bacteria can boost the production and application of IAA in agriculture and allied sectors. This review unifies recent research advancements in the production of IAA from bacterial endophytes and explains the pathway analysis for the biological synthesis of IAA.

Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils: A Systematic Review of Applied Technologies in the Philippines

Cyril John Nagal — 2026-01-30

Heavy metal contamination in soils poses a severe environmental and agricultural challenge, jeopardizing ecosystem health, food safety, and public health on a global scale. In the Philippines, where industrial and mining activities intensify these risks, sustainable remediation strategies are urgently needed. Contaminants such as copper, nickel, and lead are by-products of mining and industrial activities, posing risks to public health and agriculture. This study aims to systematically review bioremediation technologies applied to these contaminants, examining their effectiveness and limitations in the Philippine context. A systematic review methodology was employed, drawing data from relevant studies screened for relevance, quality, and applicability to the country’s environmental conditions, and focusing on quantitative results in contaminated soil areas, especially those impacted by mining. Key findings indicate that phytoremediation is the most commonly applied technique, with significant use of hyperaccumulator plants for copper and arsenic. Mycoremediation and microbial methods also show potential, although their effectiveness varies based on biological, environmental, and soil characteristics. Limitations such as limited bioavailability of metals and high variability in plant uptake capacity were noted, emphasizing the need for integrated, site-specific approaches. Hence, while bioremediation shows promise as a sustainable, cost-effective solution for heavy metal contamination, further research into plant-microbe combinations and natural chelants is essential for optimizing remediation in diverse soil and environmental contexts in the Philippines.