Accurately obtaining the crop quantity and density is not only crucial for the demand-based input of water and fertilizer in the field but also vital for ensuring the yield and quality of crops. Aerial photography by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can quickly acquire the distribution image information of crops over a large area. However, the accurate recognition of a single type of dense targets is a huge challenge for most recognition algorithms. Taking banana seedlings as an example in this study, we captured the images of banana plantations by UAVs from high altitudes to explore an efficient recognition method for dense targets. We proposed a strategy of "cut-recognition-stitch" and constructed a counting method based on the improved Faster R-CNN algorithm. First, the images containing highly dense targets were cropped into a large number of image tiles according to different sizes (simulating different flight altitudes), and the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) algorithm was adopted to improve the image quality. A banana seedling dataset containing 36 000 image tiles was constructed. Then, the Faster R-CNN network with optimized parameters was used to train the banana seedling recognition model. Finally, the recognition results were reversely stitched together, and a boundary deduplication algorithm was designed to correct the final counting results to reduce the repeated recognition caused by image cropping. The results show that the recognition accuracy of the Faster R-CNN with optimized parameters for banana image datasets of different sizes can reach up to 0.99 at most. The deduplication algorithm can reduce the average counting error for the original aerial images from 1.60% to 0.60%, and the average counting accuracy of banana seedlings reaches 99.4%. The proposed method effectively addresses the challenge of recognizing dense small objects in high-resolution aerial images, providing an efficient and reliable technical solution for intelligent crop density monitoring in precision agriculture.
Musa/growth & development* ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development* ; Algorithms ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Unmanned Aerial Devices ; Seedlings/growth & development* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Photography ; Agriculture/methods*

The Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) is an ancillary transcription initiation complex which is highly conserved. The ADA1 (alteration/deficiency in activation 1, also called histone H2A functional interactor 1, HFI1) is a subunit in the core module of the SAGA protein complex. ADA1 plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as stress resistance. In this paper, we performed genome-wide identification of banana ADA1 gene family members based on banana genomic data, and analyzed the basic physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships, selection pressure, promoter cis-acting elements, and its expression profiles under biotic and abiotic stresses. The results showed that there were 10, 6, and 7 family members in Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana and Musa itinerans. The members were all unstable and hydrophilic proteins, and only contained the conservative SAGA-Tad1 domain. Both MaADA1 and MbADA1 have interactive relationship with Sgf11 (SAGA-associated factor 11) of core module in SAGA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that banana ADA1 gene family members could be divided into 3 classes. The evolution of ADA1 gene family members was mostly influenced by purifying selection. There were large differences among the gene structure of banana ADA1 gene family members. ADA1 gene family members contained plenty of hormonal elements. MaADA1-1 may play a prominent role in the resistance of banana to cold stress, while MaADA1 may respond to the Panama disease of banana. In conclusion, this study suggested ADA1 gene family members are highly conserved in banana, and may respond to biotic and abiotic stress.
Musa/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Fungal Proteins ; Cell Nucleus ; Histones ; Stress, Physiological/genetics*

The banana Fusarium wilt (BFW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race4 (FocTR4) is difficult to control worldwide, which causes a huge economic losse to banana industry. The purpose of this study was to screen Trichoderma strains with antagonistic activity against FocTR4, to isolate and purify the active compound from the fermentation broth, so as to provide important biocontrol strains and active compound resources. In this work, Trichoderma strains were isolated and screened from the rhizosphere soil of crops, and the strains capable of efficiently inhibiting FocTR4 were screened by plate confrontation, and further confirmed by testing inhibition for the conidial germination and mycelial growth of FocTR4. The phylogenetic tree clarified the taxonomic status of the biocontrol strains. Moreover, the active components in the fermentation broth of the strains were separated and purified by column chromatography, the structure of the most active component was analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), the BFW control effect was tested by pot experiments. We obtained a strain JSHA-CD-1003 with antagonistic activity against FocTR4, and the inhibition rate from plate confrontation was 60.6%. The fermentation broth of JSHA-CD-1003 completely inhibited the germination of FocTR4 conidia within 24 hours. The inhibition rate of FocTR4 hyphae growth was 52.6% within 7 d. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the ITS and tef1-α gene tandem sequences, and JSHA-CD-1003 was identified as Trichoderma brevicompactum. Purification and NMR identification showed that the single active compound was trichodermin, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 25 μg/mL. Pot experiments showed that the fermentation broth of strain JSHA-CD-1003 was effective against BFW. The control rate of leaf yellowing was 47.4%, and the rate of bulb browning was 52.0%. Therefore, JSHA-CD-1003 effectively inhibited FocTR4 conidial germination and mycelium growth through producing trichodermin, and showed biocontrol effect on banana wilt caused by FocTR4, thus is a potential biocontrol strain.
Fusarium ; Musa ; Phylogeny ; Trichodermin ; Hypocreales

Glutamate receptor-like (GLR) is an important class of Ca²⁺ channel proteins, playing important roles in plant growth and development as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this paper, we performed genome-wide identification of banana GLR gene family based on banana genomic data. Moreover, we analyzed the basic physicochemical properties, gene structure, conserved motifs, promoter cis-acting elements, evolutionary relationships, and used real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to verify the expression patterns of some GLR family members under low temperature of 4 ℃ and different hormone treatments. The results showed that there were 19 MaGLR family members in Musa acuminata, 16 MbGLR family members in Musa balbisiana and 14 MiGLR family members in Musa itinerans. Most of the members were stable proteins and had signal peptides, all of them had 3-6 transmembrane structures. Prediction of subcellular localization indicated that all of them were localized on the plasma membrane and irregularly distributed on the chromosome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that banana GLRs could be divided into 3 subclades. The results of promoter cis-acting elements and transcription factor binding site prediction showed that there were multiple hormone- and stress-related response elements and 18 TFBS in banana GLR. RT-qPCR analysis showed that MaGLR1.1 and MaGLR3.5 responded positively to low temperature stress and were significantly expressed in abscisic acid/methyl jasmonate treatments. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that GLR, a highly conserved family of ion channels, may play an important role in the growth and development process and stress resistance of banana.
Musa/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Abscisic Acid/metabolism* ; Temperature ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Hormones/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Profiling

Aims: The microbial pigment can be the best promising alternative to replace synthetic colorant. However, due to the high cost of synthetic medium for microbial pigment production, there is a need to develop a new low-cost medium of bacterial pigment production. This study aims to investigate the potential of banana and papaya peels as alternative lowcost substrates for a carotenoid-producing bacterium, B12 strain (bacteria strain isolated from Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis). Methodology and results: B12 strain identified as an aerobic bacterium with non-motile, diplobacilli shaped and Grampositive bacteria. The fermentation was optimized with different parameters included the effect of temperature, time, concentrations, pHs, carbon and nitrogen sources to find the optimum relative pigment concentration produced by B12. The results showed that the B12 strain produced the highest relative pigment concentration measured at 450 nm when the strain was cultivated at 37 °C and pH 7 in the culture medium incorporated with the combination of dried papaya peels and banana peels (100% v/v with ratio 1:1) at 72 h of incubation. Lactose, peptone and yeast were observed as the best carbon and nitrogen sources to increase the pigment concentration of B12 strain. Stability of the pigment was studied at different physiochemical stress, and it showed the pigment obtained from dried papaya and banana substrates can tolerate and stable under stress condition. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This can be concluded that the combination of dried papaya and banana peels worked well as substrate and can be utilized as a fermentation medium to replace the synthetic medium which is more expensive and uneconomical for industry application. Besides, it also helps in managing waste and solving the pollution problem due to the increasing of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; Holothuria ; Carica ; Musa

In order to improve the salt tolerance of banana NHX genes, we cloned a MaNHX5 gene from Musa acuminata L. AAA group and predicted the key salt-tolerant amino acid sites and mutant protein structure changes of MaNHX5 by using bioinformatics tools. The 276-position serine (S) of MaNHX5 protein was successfully mutated to aspartic acid (D) by site-directed mutagenesis, and the AXT3 salt-sensitive mutant yeast was used for a functional complementation test. The results showed that after the mutated MaNHX5 gene was transferred to AXT3 salt-sensitive mutant yeast, the salt tolerance of the mutant yeast was significantly improved under 200 mmol/L NaCl treatment. It is hypothesized that Ser276 of MaNHX5 protein plays an important role in the transport of Na⁺ across the tonoplast.
Amino Acids/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Musa/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Recently, the prevalence of food allergies during childhood is increasing, with fruits being common allergens. However, data on allergens that cause fruit and vegetable allergies and pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) in childhood are relatively few. This study aimed to examine the allergens in fruit and vegetable allergies in pediatric patients and to determine the association between fruit and vegetable allergies and PFAS.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the current status of fruit and vegetable allergies in Japanese children.METHODS: This was a multicenter case series observational study. The participants included children aged <15 years who developed allergic symptoms after eating fruits and vegetables and subsequently received treatment in the Pediatric Department of 6 hospitals in the Osaka Prefecture in Japan during the study period from August 2016 to July 2017. Participants' information was obtained using a questionnaire, and data were obtained by performing several types of allergy tests using blood samples.RESULTS: A total of 97 children (median age, 9 years; 56 males) were included in the study. Apple was the most common allergen, followed by peach, kiwi, cantaloupe, and watermelon. A total of 74 participants (76%) exhibited allergic symptoms due to PFAS; moreover, pathogenesis-related protein-10 (PR-10) was the most common allergen superfamily. On the contrary, in the group where neither PR-10 nor profilin was sensitized, kiwi and banana were the most common allergens, and the age of onset was lower than that in the PFAS group. Specific antibody titer was significantly associated with Birch for Bet v1 and latex for Bet v2 (r = 0.99 and r = 0.89).CONCLUSION: When we examine patients with fruit and vegetable allergies, we should first consider PFAS even in childhood specifically for children greater than 4 years old.
Age of Onset ; Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Child ; Citrullus ; Clinical Study ; Cucumis melo ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Japan ; Latex ; Musa ; Observational Study ; Prevalence ; Profilins ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Banana fruit has been recognized as an important food allergen source. Nowadays banana hypersensitivity had been reported more frequently with various presentations from oral allergy syndrome to anaphylaxis.OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the pattern of banana hypersensitivity and the sensitivity of diagnostic test.METHODS: Six patients who experienced banana hypersensitivity were recruited from adult allergy clinic, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University between 2015–2018. Demographic data, pattern of banana allergy consisted of the onset of reaction, symptoms, severity, cross-reactivity to kiwi, avocado, latex including type and amount of banana were collected. Skin test, serum specific IgE to banana and open-label food challenge test had been applied.RESULTS: All patients experienced multiple episodes of banana anaphylaxis. Regarding the diagnostic investigation, prick-to-prick skin test had higher sensitivity (sensitivity, 100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 54.07%–100%) than the commercial banana extract (sensitivity, 83.33%; 95% CI, 35.88%–99.58%) and serum specific IgE to banana (sensitivity, 50%; 95% CI, 11.81%–88.19%). The discordance between skin prick test using commercial banana extract and skin test was reported. The cross-reactivity between the species of banana, kiwi, the avocado was documented in all patients. Latex skin prick test and application test were applied with negative results. From the oral food challenge test, a case of banana anaphylaxis patient can tolerate heated banana.CONCLUSION: The various phenotypes of banana hypersensitivity were identified. The prick-to-prick test showed the highest sensitivity for diagnosis of banana allergy. However, component resolved diagnostics might be needed for conclusive diagnosis.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Latex ; Musa ; Persea ; Phenotype ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Thailand

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Musa sapientum L. (MS) bark juice in diabetic gastroparesis and its effect on pharmacokinetic of metformin (MET).

METHODSDiabetes was induced in rats by administering alloxan (120 mg/kg) saline solution and maintained for 8 week. All the 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n =6 in each group): normal control, diabetic control and MS bark juice. Assessment of diabetes was done by glucose oxidase-peroxidase method on the 3rd day of alloxan administration. The effects of MS bark juice (100 mL/kg) on gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, contractility of fundus and pylorus as well as gastric acid secretion in chronic diabetic rats were observed after 8 weeks of alloxan administration. The effect of MS bark juice on the pharmacokinetic of orally administered single dose of MET (350 mg/kg) was evaluated on the 57th day of protocol. Any drugs that may reduce the blood glucose level or influence the fibrinolytic system were not used in this study.

RESULTSThe MS bark juice significantly reduced the blood glucose level in the diabetic rats (P<0.01). There was significant decrease in the pylorus motility and increase in the gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, contractility of fundus, gastric acid secretion in the MS bark juice treated group (P<0.01). There was significant decrease in the time at which drug at a maximum concentration, half life of drug and increase in the maximum concentration of drug in the plasma of MET in MS bark juice treated group as compared to diabetic control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMS bark juice effectively manages diabetic gastroparesis and thereby improves the bioavailabilty of MET when administered with MS bark juice.

Alloxan ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Gastroparesis ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Metformin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Musa ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study investigated anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, food and nutrient intakes, and changes in body mass index (BMI) of Korean middle age men (40~49 yrs). Data on BMI, anthropometric (height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure), and biochemical (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, hemoglobin, GOT, GPT) characteristics, food and nutrients intakes, nutrient density, and index of nutrient quality were obtained from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2001, 2005, 2011). Subjects were divided into three groups by year. Weight, BMI, and hemoglobin increased significantly by year. All anthropometric factors except height showed a positive relation with BMI by year. Consumption of barley, chinese noodle, confections, soybean milk, egg, ice cream, pizza, fried foods, banana, coffee, and raw rice wine increased significantly by year. Intake ratios of nutrients except water and fiber were over 100% of KDRI generally. INQ according to intakes of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin per 1,000 kcal increased significantly by year. Distribution of BMI status of subjects showed a significant difference by exercise. The findings of the present study show that BMI of subjects increased by year, and intakes of all nutrients except calcium and riboflavin showed aspects of overnutrition by year. Intakes of fruits decreased while intakes of raw rice wine and coffee increased by year. Therefore, practical and systematic nutrition programs are required to maintain optimum BMI and appropriate intakes of nutrients to maintain a desirable lifestyle and improve dietary life.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index* ; Calcium ; Candy ; Cholesterol ; Coffee ; Eating ; Fruit ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Ice Cream ; Iron ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Male* ; Middle Aged ; Milk ; Musa ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Overnutrition ; Ovum ; Phosphorus ; Riboflavin ; Soybeans ; Thiamine ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin A ; Waist Circumference ; Water ; Wine