Vegetables News and Research

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Understanding How Diet may Influence the Gut Microbiota Structure

We know that eating a healthy diet affects body weight, cholesterol levels, and heart health. A new study from the University of Illinois focuses on another component: the role of diet in supporting a healthy gastrointestinal microbiota.

5 May 2023

Promoting Gut Health in Mice with Broccoli Consumption

It is well known that broccoli is good for human health. For instance, studies have indicated that increasing the intake of cruciferous vegetables lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer.

7 Apr 2023

Study Paves the Way to Targeted Treatments for Stargardt Disease

A recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry revealed the key to a protein that commonly causes blindness.

5 Apr 2023

Using better probiotics to maintain a healthy gut microbiome

Bacteria have thousands of genes and functions that we, the human host, do not have. For instance, bacteria can help us digest fiber, provide support to our immune systems, and absorb important nutrients. But reaping the benefits of "good bacteria" is easier said than done.

29 Mar 2023

Novel method quantifies the total polysulfide content in fresh vegetables

Sulfur-rich foods, like onions and garlic, have long been recognized to have health-promoting properties. It has been difficult to investigate how food containing sulfur compounds enhances health because the levels—and types—of reactive polysulfides found in various vegetables have not been adequately assessed.

14 Mar 2023

SMART researchers develop the world's first microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants

Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, and their collaborators from Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have developed the first-ever microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants.

14 Mar 2023

Study shows how pesticides render certain strawberries bland

Have you ever bitten into a plump, red strawberry, only to find it bland and watery? Certain pesticides might be responsible. A team reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that two common strawberry fungicides can impact cellular mechanisms, creating berries with subdued flavor and sweetness, as well as a lower nutritional value.

28 Feb 2023

Betalain-tomatoes confer anti-inflammatory effects against macrophages and murine colitis

Metabolic engineering is a field of plant biotechnology that seeks to genetically modify plant metabolic pathways to generate plant varieties with improved health benefits.

17 Feb 2023

Broccoli heads can resemble cauliflower when grown in higher temperatures

As seasoned gardeners know, broccoli heads don't develop properly and can resemble cauliflower when grown in higher temperatures.

10 Jan 2023

Soil viruses contribute auxiliary functions to their hosts

There are billions of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, in a handful of soil, all working to support the cycle of life. Comprehending the interaction of these microbes with one another aids researchers evaluate soil carbon and nutrient cycling, soil health, and also the means through which dead insects decompose.

21 Sep 2022

Leaf tissue nutrient tests can help farmers decide how to best care for plants

The leaf on a plant might not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking to examine nutrients.

9 Sep 2022

Home gardens can play a key role in conserving diversity of fruit and nut trees

Apple, apricot, walnut, pear and plum – some of the most widely consumed temperate fruit and nuts globally – find their origins in the forests of Central Asia.

23 Aug 2022

Higher protein intake during weight loss efforts enhances diet quality

A study of over 200 adults found that diet quality improved when they ate more protein. Experts recommend eating protein when on a weight loss diet in order to preserve muscle.

6 Jul 2022

Expert shares tips to help your vegetable garden thrive during hot summer months

Drought and heat are inevitable challenges in the vegetable garden. In the Southeastern United States, rainfall can seem like it's feast or famine -; there's either too much or not enough.

4 Jul 2022

Leaf mold compost improved soil properties that influence the health and productivity of tomato plants

Many urban gardeners know that adding ingredients like compost and mulch to their soil has great benefits.

23 Jun 2022

Cost of groceries rose in tandem with COVID-19 cases, global study finds

By now, most Americans have felt the effects of global crises on their grocery bills. Recent research published in the journal Nature Food has found this to be a worldwide phenomenon.

14 Jun 2022

New bio-mimicking enzyme shows promise in degrading lignin

A new artificial enzyme has shown it can chew through lignin, the tough polymer that helps woody plants hold their shape. Lignin also stores tremendous potential for renewable energy and materials.

31 May 2022

Rootstocks aid in breeding new tomato varieties that can endure heat and drought

Today's current varieties of tomatoes – ones grown in gardens and available in produce sections and farmers' markets – are a bit spoiled.

24 May 2022

Measuring agrobiodiversity in farms, markets, and on plates

What foods comes to your mind when you think about "The Mediterranean Diet"? For most people, the term evokes strong associations with fresh, minimally-processed ingredients – olive oil, fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, followed by fish and animal products – together making up a form of local food production and consumption that holds societal, economic, and cultural benefits.

19 May 2022