Foodborne pathogens represent one of the most dangerous threats to public health along the food chain all over the world. Over time, many methods were studied for pathogen inhibition in food, such as the development of novel packaging materials with enhanced properties for microorganisms’ growth inhibition  and the use of emerging technologies, like ultrasound, radio frequency or microwave. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current trends in the food industry for pathogenic microorganisms’ inhibition and food preservation in two directions, namely technology used for food processing and novel packaging materials development. Five technologies were discussed in this study, namely high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP), High-Pressure Processing (HPP), microwaves, radio frequency (RF) heating and ultrasound. These technologies proved to be efficient in the reduction of pathogenic microbial loads in different food products. Further, a series of studies were performed, related to novel packaging material development, by using a series of antimicrobial agents such as natural extracts, bacteriocins or antimicrobial nanoparticles. These materials proved to be efficient in the inhibition of a wide range of microorganisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7 and O121, Listeria monocytogenes, Cyclospora and Vibrio parahaemolyticus  aHVACP technology has been used for product surface decontamination of various microorganisms in packed products , presentHigh-Pressure Processing (HPP) represents a method for food processing in which food products are subjected to high pressure (100–1000 MPa) . It is aLatilactobacillus sakei inactivation in a meat emulsion model, by varying pressure (400–600 MPa) and time of exposure (180–480 s). The results of the study showed a reduction in L. sakei from 0.99 to 4.12 UFC/g function in the applied conditions. When higher pressure treatments were applied, the treatment was more effective. Similarly, tilapia fillets were treated at 100, 200, 300 or 400 MPa by Seumitsu and Cristianini (2019) [E. coli 0157:H7, vacuum packed and treated by HPP, were investigated by Sun et al., (2017) [E. coli. Furthermore, a treatment of 600 MPa for 10 min resulted in 6.13 log CFU/g microbial reduction.Ferreira et al., (2023)  investigi (2019)  in order, (2017) . It resuL. innocua higher than 6 log was determined when using HPP treatments at 300 MPa for 2 min and 400 MPa for 1 and 3 min. Furthermore, the natural microbiota of the tested juices remained under 2 log CFU/mL for a period of 28 days of storage.Pokhrel et al., (2022)  investigE. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes in form of multiple strain mixtures, and a 593 MPa HPP treatment was applied for 3 min at 4 °C. Further, the obtained samples were stored at refrigeration temperatures for 54 and 75 days. The results showed that at the end of storage period, samples treated with HPP presented less than 1 or no CFU/mL compared to control samples for which 3 log/mL were determined for the pathogenic mixture used. During the storage period of 120 days, microbial counts were of about 2 log CFU/mL for uninoculated samples with no detection of any microorganisms for HPP-treated samples.Coconut water was subjected to HPP treatment by Raghubeer et al., (2020)  in orderE. coli O157:H7, S. enterica and L. monocytogenes in acid and acidified juices and beverages. A 550 MPa treatment for 1 min resulted in more than 5 log reduction for all tested microorganisms.In their study, Usaga et al., (2021)  investigWoldemariam et al., (2022)  performeBecause HPP affects various factors, including cell membrane permeability, alterations in cell morphology, changes in biochemical reactions, and interference with genetic mechanisms within microorganisms, microbial cell death occurs due to the simultaneous effects that impact either less critical components or critical parameters .This method significantly affects the texture of food by modifying structural components like proteins and influencing enzyme activity . The majMicrowave processing is a novel technology that combines thermal and non-thermal effects  and has Clostridium sporogenes were treated using a microwave processing system at different radiation times  and different holding times  by Guo et al., (2020) [C. sporogenes compared to their corresponding water bath processes.Salmon fillets inoculated with , (2020) . The resE. coli O157:H7 (CECT 4972) and L. monocytogenes (CECT 4032), previously inoculated in apple juice using microwave processing  in comparison with conventional isothermal treatment . The results showed the possibility of reaching 5 log reduction for both treatments, with the microwave treatment being more efficient than predicted, suggesting an enhanced inactivation of this process. Also in juices, Mendes-Oliveira et al., (2020) [E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium by microwave processing at 80–90 °C . Therefore, different power levels  were used to treat inoculated juices for 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 20 s and 25 s. The results of the study showed that inactivation levels increased with an increasing treatment power, temperature and time, achieving a reduction of up to 7 log. Furthermore, Ergün et al., (2021) [Zygosaccharomyces rouxii in apricots and figs using pasteurization by microwave processing. The results showed a 5 log reduction of Z. rouxii in both tested fruits.Siguemoto et al., (2018)  research, (2020)  aimed to, (2021)  aimed top < 0.05) after microwave treatment compared to conventional conduction heating. Microwave heating can impact the nutritional quality of food by influencing the interactions of starch, fat and protein under these conditions. Specifically, microwave treatment of free fatty acids in food can lead to an increase in their content and alter their composition. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) proportions decrease, while saturated fatty acid (SFA) and trans fatty acid (TFA) proportions increase. Furthermore, microwave treatment can bring about changes in the structure of proteins, affecting various properties such as hydrophobicity, digestibility, emulsification, foaming, gel resistance, oxidation and allergenicity. It can also impact the Maillard process between proteins and decreasing sugars. Additionally, microwave treatment can enhance the antioxidant ability of proteins by promoting protein hydrolysis, resulting in the production of more active peptides and an improvement in the metal chelating ability of proteins [The advantages of MWs include simple operation, reduced invasiveness, deep penetration depth, local controllability, and a wide heating area , shortenproteins .Radio frequency (RF) heating uses electromagnetic energy ,59 at frThe mechanism of microbial inactivation using RF has been primarily attributed to heat. However, a nonthermal effect was introduced in 2008, suggesting that exposure to RF radiation can lead to changes in the structure of the bacterial membrane. This can result in injury and the subsequent leakage of intracellular components, including ATP, nucleic acids, and proteins. Such leakage disrupts the energy system and enzymatic activity, ultimately leading to cell death .E. coli  producing Shiga toxin and non-pathogenic E. coli by RF heating in non-intact beef steaks. The steaks were inoculated, individually vacuum packed and treated with RF (27.12 MHz) in order to obtain rare (60 °C) and medium-rare (65 °C) steaks. Following the treatment, a reduction in microbial load was observed, namely 0.99 log CFU/g for E. coli O157:H7, 3.08 log CFU/g for E. coli O26:H11, 2.85 log CFU/g for E. coli O111 and 5.0 log CFU/g for the non-pathogenic strain in the case of a treatment temperature of 60 °C, while for treatment at 65 °C, a 5 log CFU/g reduction was achieved for all strains. Further, the authors took into consideration a middle temperature of 63 °C, excluding the non-pathogenic strain based on its demonstrated sensibility. The applied treatment resulted in a 5 log CFU/g reduction for E. coli O111 and E. coli O157:H7, but not for E. coli O26:H11. The authors concluded that RF treatment at 65 °C represents an efficient way to reduce the microbial load of the tested E. coli strains.Rincon and Singh (2016)  aimed toCronobacter sakazakii in powdered formula milk for infants. The study showed that the microbial load was reduced when the temperature was increased from 55 to 70 °C with a value of aw of the sample of 0.2–0.4. However, a combination of RF and hot air pasteurization was more efficient in C. sakazakii inactivation.Zhang et al., (2020)  investigS. typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were subjected to RF heating for 0 to 75 s. Pathogen reduction was observed to be higher in rice with a milling degree of 0 and 2%, compared to a milling degree of 8 and 10% using the same treatment condition. Also, differences in heating rates showed significant differences in microorganism inactivation [Bacillus cereus in buckwheat kernels at 105 °C for 30 min, as demonstrated by Xu et al., (2023) [Rice samples with different milling degrees inoculated with tivation . RF trea, (2023) .Salmonella and natural microflora in sesame and flax seed. Oregano oil and cinnamon oil were both applied as treatment for 7 days on the studied oils and proved to be highly efficient in the inactivation of Salmonella, with better results obtained for cinnamon oil. A combination of RF heating (at 80 °C and 85 °C) and cinnamon oil at 0.83 µL/mL for 3 days let to a reduction of more than 5 log CFU/g on both inoculated seeds. However, the reduction in total bacterial counts was only of 0.96 log CFU (sesame seeds) and 1.42 (flax seeds), while for yeast and mold, a reduction of 1.05 and 1.56 log CFU/g was registered.Xu et al., (2022)  investigS. enterica and Enterococcus faecium in black peppercorn. An efficient RF treatment was proved by a heating time of 2.5 min with a 5.31 log CFU for Salmonella and 5.26 log CFU/g reduction for E. faecium in the entire sample contained by the tray. RF treatment was similarly applied for inactivation of S. typhimurium in red pepper powders by Hu et al., (2018) [w (0.57–0.71), the heating rate increased, but decreased when aw value reached 0.71, achieving a 2–3 log reduction depending on the values of aw (the best reduction results being registered for the samples with 0.71 aw). Therefore, an RF treatment at 70 °C  could reach a more than 5 log reduction of S. typhimurium in red pepper powders with an aw value of 0.71. By taking into account the aw values, Jiao et al., (2019) [B. cereus spores. As obtained by Hu et al., (2018) [w (from 0.56 to 0.74), but decreased when the sample reached a value of 0.70 for aw. The results of the study showed an optimum inactivation effect of RF of approximate 4 log reduction when the sample having aw of 0.70 was heated at 90 °C (in 110 s) with a holding time of 12 min. In another study, black pepper kernels were inoculated with E. coli O157: H7 and S. typhimurium and treated by RF by Tong et al., (2022) [E. coli O157: H7 (at 90 °C heating temperature for 7 min) and S. typhimurium (at 100 °C heating temperature for 8 min), proving the efficacy of studied strains’ reduction of RF treatment.Wei et al., (2018)  aimed to, (2018) . The autw 0.57–0., the hea, (2022)  in orderThe successful application of RF heating for food products relies on several factors, including dielectric properties, frequency, food properties and temperature, food composition, and density. These factors play a crucial role in the effectiveness and efficiency of RF heating in the food industry . RF techRF technology impacts the texture of food by modifying the network structure of proteins. Moreover, changes in texture can be attributed to alterations in the microstructure of tissue cells and changes in the chemical composition . Also, tUltrasound (US) technology is used either at 20–100 MHz (low frequency ultrasound) or above 100 MHz (high frequency ultrasound), and has been reported to be efficient in microbial inactivation ,76, and E. coli and L. monocytogenes in grass carp by applying a treatment of combined ultrasound and plasma functionalized buffer. The results of the study showed that the combined treatment presented reductions of 3.92 log CFU/g for E. coli and 3.70 log CFU/g for L. monocytogenes, which was higher than the treatments alone.Esua et al., (2022)  evaluateVibrio parahaemolyticus and microbial growth on raw oysters by using US treatment. A reduction of 3.13 log CFU/g was registered for V. parahaemolyticus after being treated for 12.5 min by 7.5 W/mL. Furthermore, total microbial growth was retarded following the applied treatment, prolonging the shelf life of the studies oysters.Ma et al., (2023)  studied E. coli K-12 and L. innocua ATCC 33090 in milk and orange juice. Therefore, 40 µg/g of thurincin H and a treatment of power ultrasound at a frequency of 20–25 MHz and a temperature of 30 ± 5 °C were applied on the studied products, and the results showed a higher efficiency against E. coli compared to L. innocua in milk, with more than 2.8 Log CFU/mL, while with regards to the orange juice, a reduction of 5.5 log CFU/mL was determined for L. innocua and 3.4 log CFU/mL for E. coli.A combination between bacteriocin thurincin H and power ultrasound was investigated by Anda et al., (2022)  for the E. coli K12 and L. innocua suspensions at 20 or 33 kHz, alone or in combination, by Inguglia et al., (2018) [E. coli K12 and 4 log for L. innocua, regardless of the presence of NaCl or KCl.High intensity US was applied in the presence of salt (NaCl) and salt replacers (KCl) for inactivation of , (2018) . A reducAspergillus niger and Clostridium butyricum spores by using a treatment of supercritical carbon dioxide intensified with high-power ultrasound was investigated by Gomez-Gomez et al., (2021) [A. niger than of C. butyricum. However, the application of high-power ultrasound combined with supercritical carbon dioxide intensified the inactivation of C. butyricum, reducing the total inactivation time to 3 min from 10 min.The inactivation kinetics of , (2021)  at diffeL. innocua and E. coli inactivation at 44, 500 and 1000 kHz. The results showed that when using US, L. Innocua resisted all applied treatments, while E. coli was inactivated when using 500 kHz. When nisin and US was applied, no effect on L. innocua was observed, while an enhancement of E. coli inactivation was observed, but only at 500 kHz as well.Costello et al., (2021)  combinedThe emerging technologies possess the capability to create food products with im-proved nutritional, sensory, and safety attributes compared to conventional thermal processes. Nevertheless, the implementation of these nonthermal technologies in the food industry is constrained by the substantial initial setup cost and the need to modernize existing processing lines .Novel and innovative food processing techniques aim to achieve key sustainability objectives by minimizing the environmental impact of food processing through waste reduction and the efficient use of natural resources such as energy and water. These techniques also strive to provide safe, nutritious, high-quality products for consumers. Achieving sustainability in food production systems demands a comprehensive approach that considers the entire supply chain, from production to the end product.Consumers may not readily recognize the technological, economic, social and environmental benefits, as well as perceived risks, associated with a new technology. While some consumers prioritize environmental sustainability when assessing new technologies and prefer processes with minimal or no technological interventions, others embrace innovation and believe that new technologies offer advantages and reduce risks .In terms of sustainability, cold plasma has the ability to operate at low temperatures, resulting in minimal energy consumption, reduced processing time and effective microbial reduction. This technique is also compatible with most food products and does not negatively impact the food matrix. Additionally, its eco-friendliness is evident, as it does not require the use of water or other solvents in the treatment process . While HAn antimicrobial packaging system can be achieved through the direct integration of antimicrobial agents into packaging films, applying coatings of these antimicrobial substances onto packaging films, or developing packaging materials using polymers. Typically, antimicrobial packaging systems are classified as either migrating or non-migrating, depending on the specific antimicrobial agent utilized and its interactions with both the packaging and food matrix. Antimicrobial films provide certain advantages over directly adding preservatives to food products. By applying preservative agents to the packaging material, only minimal amounts of preservatives come into contact with the food. This delivery mechanism ensures that the necessary amount of antimicrobials is used without directly incorporating it into the food product .Antimicrobial packaging offers an additional benefit by mitigating the potential loss of antimicrobial activity that may occur when antimicrobials are directly added to food products. This loss can be attributed to leaching into the food matrix and interactions with other components like lipids and proteins. In contrast, antimicrobial packaging allows for controlled migration of the antimicrobial compound into the food, ensuring not only initial inhibition of undesirable microorganisms, but also sustained activity during the transportation and storage of food throughout the distribution process .In order for a membrane to be classified as an edible film, it needs to meet the following criteria: (1) Sensory properties: the films should be transparent, not impart any distinct flavor or aroma to the food, and should go unnoticed during consumption; (2) barrier properties: they should possess suitable permeability to water vapor and solutes, while also exhibiting selective permeability to gases and volatiles; (3) mechanical properties: The films should be resistant to breakage and abrasion, enhancing the handling of food products. Additionally, they should be flexible enough to withstand deformations without fracturing; and (4) safety: edible films must be free from toxins and deemed safe for consumption. By reducing moisture and solute migration, respiration, gas exchange, and oxidative reactions, these films contribute to prolonging the shelf life of food products. Furthermore, they can potentially decrease or even prevent the occurrence of physiological disorders .Bio-based materials are eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials that effectively prevent spoilage and disease by creating barriers against microorganisms and insects. They primarily rely on bio-polymers, which are highly valued in industries for their attractive properties like biocompatibility, chemical stability, and biodegradability. Common types of bio-based antimicrobial materials used in food packaging include carbohydrate (polysaccharide)-based materials, protein-based materials and lipid-based materials .Polysaccharides like chitosan, starch, and cellulose are biodegradable and non-toxic materials. Some of them possess a semi-crystalline state and acid hydrolysis properties, making them promising sources for nanosized reinforcements due to their ability to release crystalline sections. Chitosan (CS), in particular, is extensively researched and utilized in food coating and packaging. It exhibits exceptional film-forming, antimicrobial and biodegradable properties. The antibacterial effectiveness of chitosan is influenced by factors such as pH value, molecular weight, and degree of deacetylation. Casted films made from chitosan demonstrate potent antibacterial activity, especially at lower pH levels, attributed to the protonated form of the amino group present in chitosan . The antProtein-based packaging materials, such as whey protein, soy protein, wheat gluten, zein, casein, collagen and gelatin, have undergone extensive research to explore their thermal, mechanical and barrier properties. These materials have been extensively studied due to their abundant resources, biodegradability, wide availability and their ability to control the release of additives and bioactive compounds, including antimicrobial agents, within the packaging system .Bio-nanocomposites represent a novel generation of eco-friendly and high-performance materials for nano food packaging, which offer excellent antimicrobial properties, thereby extending the shelf life of food products and preserving their quality. Bio-nanocomposites consist of bio-based polymeric matrices reinforced with nanofillers or nanoparticles, resulting in superior characteristics compared to traditional bio-based polymers. Various types of antimicrobial bio-nanocomposites used in food packaging can be categorized based on the filler material with antimicrobial properties, including metallic-based bio-nanocomposites, clay and silicate-based bio-nanocomposites, nano cellulose-based bio-nanocomposites, and layered double hydroxide-based bio-nanocomposites. These innovative materials exhibit antimicrobial activity and demonstrate stability under high temperatures and pressures .S. enteritidis, E. coli, B. cereus, and S. aureus. They attributed this lack of antimicrobial activity to two main factors. Firstly, the relatively low concentration of curcumin used (0.4 wt% based on gelatin) might have limited its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent. Secondly, interactions between curcumin and gelatin could have played a role in reducing its antimicrobial properties in the film.For this purpose, Musso et al., (2017)  found thE. coli (PSL52), Hafnia paralvei and S. typhimurium. Additionally, the film displayed noticeable inhibition against E. coli (ATCC 25922), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter guillouiae, Hafnia alvei, S. enteritidis, Enterobacter amnigenus and P. aeruginosa.Mauro et al., (2022)  obtainedw/v) citrus pectin, 0.2% (w/v) gellan gum, 0.5% (w/v) glycerol and 5 mM CaCl2, revealed inhibitory effects against L. monocytogenes, E. coli and S. aureus. The authors consider that the antimicrobial activity observed in the FC films can be attributed to the presence of gellan gum and pectin.The bioactive films obtained by Trejo-Gonzalez et al., (2018) , composeS. aureus) and Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria (B. subtilis), as well as exhibiting effectiveness against more resilient Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) [Chitosan/gelatine emulsions and dispersions demonstrated superior antimicrobial efficacy compared to pectin/gelatine emulsions against Gram-positive bacteria (E. coli) .B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhimurium, compared to starch-based films [Starch-based nanocomposite films prepared by synthesizing chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) through ionic gelation, demonstrated superior antimicrobial efficacy against ed films .In recent times, there has been a growing consumer preference for natural products as opposed to synthetic ones. As a result, naturally derived antimicrobial agents have gained significant importance in antimicrobial packaging. This is primarily due to the perceived lower risk associated with these agents, making them more favorable to consumers. These natural compounds are considered safer and help address safety concerns. The antimicrobial agents used in natural packaging can be classified into biologically derived components, including plant extracts, essential oils, bacteriocins, enzymes and many others .Natural extracts have become increasingly valuable in active packaging solutions, as they enable the safe and high-quality delivery of food products. These extracts are now widely used in packaging for both fresh and processed produce. Natural antimicrobial compounds are derived from various sources, including animal tissues such as enzymes, plants like cinnamon, oregano, rosemary, basil and clove for essential oils (EOs), microorganisms including natamycin, nisin and other bacteriocins, as well as organic acids like citric, propionic and sorbic acid. Additionally, organic polymers, fungi and algae are also utilized to extract bioactive compounds from vegetables and fruits, which contribute to the pool of natural bioactive ingredients .Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of natural plants extractsPlant extracts offer compelling prospects as ingredients for biodegradable food packaging due to their natural origin and phytochemical properties. These extracts can be utilized to create active materials that enhance shelf life and add value to products. Complex systems derived from plant extracts are frequently employed as active ingredients in food packaging applications. The resulting film, obtained from these natural extracts, is assessed for its contribution to the bioactive and functional characteristics using a dual approach: (1) incorporation of major bioactive compounds at different concentrations, and (2) inclusion of plant extract concentrations equivalent to the concentration of the available bioactive compounds .E. coli K12 and L. innocua in tryptic soy broth, reducing them to undetectable levels. Furthermore, in a study by Dordevic et al., (2021) [E. coli CCM 3954. However, the antimicrobial activity of blueberry extracts was not confirmed by the findings. The authors speculate that this might be attributed to the lower concentration of active compounds present in the samples containing by-product extracts compared to those containing extracts from whole fruits/vegetables. Also, the inclusion of turmeric-ethanol extract in chitosan film resulted in an enhanced antimicrobial effect, leading to significant reductions (p < 0.05) in the counts of S. aureus and Salmonella compared to the pure chitosan film. This improvement in antimicrobial activity was observed during a 3 h exposure period [Amankwaah et al., (2022)  demonstr, (2021) , which se period .S. aureus and E. coli. Furthermore, increasing the percentage of extract resulted in an expansion of the inhibition zone diameter. Specifically, for E. coli, the diameter increased from 6.1 ± 0.6 mm to 9.4 ± 0.7 mm, while for S. aureus, it increased from 8.3 ± 0.4 mm to 13.6 ± 0.5 mm.Ekramian et al., (2020)  highlighPiper beetle L. leaf (PB) extract demonstrated notable superiority in their effectiveness against S. aureus, B. cereus, P. aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae compared to the control film. The results indicated that the antimicrobial activity of the P/CH/PB films increased proportionally with the concentration of the PB leaf extract. The authors considered that this enhancement in activity can be attributed to the presence of various phytochemicals in the PB leaf extract, such as carbohydrates, tri-terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, eugenol, phytol, amino acids, and tannins, all of which act as effective antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the control film made from gelatine, as well as films obtained from chitosan or a blend of chitosan–gelatine, exhibited no effectiveness against any of the Gram-negative strains (E. coli and Shigella sonnei) and the Gram-positive strains (B. subtilis and L. monocytogenes). However, the films containing hope extract displayed significant antibacterial activity against the tested strains. Notably, they demonstrated greater effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria [In a study conducted by Nguyen et al., (2022) , the invbacteria .S. aureus and E. coli. But the presence of pectin in the film led to a decrease in the area of the inhibition zone, primarily due to the nutrient-rich environment provided by pectin, which promotes bacterial growth, resulting in a similar area of inhibition zone compared to the film without pectin, indicating a possible interaction between pectin and TEO. Overall, the composite film demonstrated better inhibition against S. aureus compared to E. coli [In the absence of thyme essential oil (TEO), the composite membrane made from soluble dietary fiber/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose did not exhibit any antibacterial activity. However, when TEO was incorporated into the film, the composite membrane displayed antibacterial properties against  E. coli .S. maltophilia, A. guillouiae and P. aeruginosa and no antimicrobial activity against E. coli (PSL52), E. coli (ATCC 25922), H. alvei, H. paralvei, S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis and En. amnigenus. On the other hand, the addition of grape seed oil at a higher concentration (1 mL) did not enhance the activity against E. coli (PSL52), S. maltophilia and H. alvei, resulting in a decrease in the inhibition of E. coli (ATCC 25922), H. paralvei, S. typhimurium and S. enteriditis, and an increase in the inhibition of En. amnigenus. In terms of spoilage bacteria, none of the films exhibited activity against Pseudomonas poae and Pseudomonas endophytica. Notably, there was evident inhibition against Pseudomonas lactis bacteria in the chitosan film and the film with the addition of 0.5 mL grape seed oil, while no inhibition was observed with the film combined with 1 mL grape seed oil.Mauro et al., (2022)  demonstrE. coli, B. subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans, and S. aureus. Among these, S. aureus exhibited the highest sensitivity to the antimicrobial properties of thymol.The antimicrobial effectiveness of collagen/thymol films obtained by Michalska-Sionkowska et al., (2017)  was demoAntimicrobial and antifungal activity of essential oilsPolysaccharides and proteins are commonly employed as encapsulation materials for essential oils (EOs) due to their favorable retention and release characteristics. Additionally, these biopolymers are readily accessible at a comparatively affordable cost . The priE. coli and S. aureus, as indicated by larger zones observed around the discs. Lemon oil, although not as potent against S. aureus, inhibited the growth of E. coli. In the experiments involving A. niger, lemon oil did not display significant inhibition. However, it can be inferred that bergamot oil possesses antimicrobial effects on A. niger. The essential oils interact with the lipid components of the cell membranes, altering their permeability and leading to the leakage of microbial cells.Cakmak et al., (2020)  demonstrE. coli TISTR 512, S. typhimurium TISTR 1470, S. aureus TISTR 746, B. cereus TISTR 035, C. albicans TISTR 5554 and A. niger TISTR 3130, with values of 1.56 ± 0.00, 0.65 ± 0.23, 0.39 ± 0.00, 0.39 ± 0.00, 0.52 ± 0.18 and 0.78 ± 0.00 μL mL−1, respectively. Lemongrass EO also exhibited the most effective minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) compared to the other tested EOs. The MIC of LEO against E. coli TISTR 512 showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the other EOs. Among the EOs, M. ruber TISTR 3006 was found to be the most resistant strain. Guava EO demonstrated the least effectiveness against all tested microorganisms, followed by plai EO. Interestingly, guava EO inhibited B. cereus TISTR 035 at a similar level (p > 0.05) to lemongrass, kaffir lime and fingerroot, but not plai EO. The authors considered that the two main compounds, α-citral  and β-citral , exhibited antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, while the third component, myrcene, did not display antibacterial activity on its own but showed activity when combined with either of the other two main components.In their study, Perdana et al., (2021)  investigB. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhimurium. Notably, black pepper essential oil exhibited a greater inhibition zone compared to ginger essential oil. The BPEO-PVA/GA/CS composite film displayed the most significant inhibition zones  for B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhimurium, respectively, among the composite films. Similarly, the GEO-PVA/GA/CS composite film also exhibited substantial inhibition zones  for B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhimurium, respectively [The incorporation of black pepper essential oil (BPEO) and ginger essential oil (GEO) into polyvinyl alcohol/gum arabic/chitosan (PVA/GA/CS) films demonstrated significant growth inhibition against ectively .S. aureus and S. typhimurium, while L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not inhibited. On the other hand, the incorporation of 2% rosemary essential oil in the pullulan film showed activity against S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium, compared to the film containing 1% rosemary essential oil. The antimicrobial effect of the essential oils can be attributed to specific compounds such as carvacrol in oregano essential oil and cineole in rosemary essential oil, able to disrupt the bacterial cell membrane. Carvacrol, being hydrophobic, specifically targets the bacterial membrane, depletes the intracellular ATP pool, alters the membrane potential and increases the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane to potassium ions and proteins.Morsy et al., (2014)  demonstrListeria bacteria. Bacteriocins, which are peptidic antimicrobial compounds synthesized by various bacteria, have shown bactericidal activity against closely related species. Lactic acid-producing bacteria are known to be the primary producers of bacteriocins, making them highly attractive for controlling specific bacterial growth in food. Incorporating bacteriocins into antimicrobial films can enhance the quality, safety and shelf life of food products. Notably, bacteriocins offer advantages such as thermal stability, hypoallergenic properties and easy degradation by proteolytic enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract [In recent times, there has been a growing interest in biologically derived antimicrobials, particularly due to their effectiveness against al tract .The utilization of nisin in antimicrobial packaging has gained significant attention in recent times. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of nisin into antimicrobial films and packages can effectively regulate bacterial growth, thereby preserving food quality, ensuring safety and prolonging the shelf life of food products .L. monocytogenes, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Micrococcus flavus, Micrococcus luteus, Lactobacillus spp., L. innocua, S. aureus and S. typhimurium. Moreover, the use of nisin-activated antimicrobial packaging materials has proven successful in extending the shelf life of food products. This has been demonstrated through the application of model food systems such as meat and meat products, milk, cream milk, cheese and orange juice [The antimicrobial activity of nisin has been observed in various packaging films, including those made of plastic, paperboard and edible materials. It has shown effectiveness against several pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms such as ge juice .L. innocua C6, highlighting their potential as an alternative packaging technology for enhancing food safety. Also, the results indicated that WP films containing the L. curvatus 54M16 strain showed promising antimicrobial properties, further supporting their potential application in food packaging.La Storia et al., (2020)  investig2, EDTA and concentrated supernatant (AMC) from Streptococcus infantarius fermentations containing bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances, demonstrated notable inhibitory effects against E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, per Cao et al., (2019) [The films obtained by Jimenez-Villeda et al., (2019)  from gel, (2019) , the addMost of the studies have shown that nanoparticles exhibit greater efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive bacteria. This difference in effectiveness can be attributed to the distinct cell wall compositions of these two types of bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria possess an outer layer of peptidoglycan that is thicker and acts as a protective barrier against inhibitory substances. In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer in their cell walls , which lThe incorporation of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) into polymers offers a means to extend the shelf life of food products by slowing down enzymatic processes and inhibiting the development of various physiological diseases. The primary focus of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) is to enhance the functionality of packaging materials, particularly biodegradable films. MNPs such as silver, copper oxide and zinc oxide have been found to significantly improve the performance of biodegradable films due to their large surface area and antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms including fungi, bacteria and molds .The antimicrobial effects of nanoparticles depend on their surface properties, charge, structure, surface-to-volume ratio, nanoscale size and potential synergistic interactions among the nanoparticles. These factors interact with the structural characteristics of bacteria, including their surface charge, to contribute to the overall antimicrobial impact. Metallic nanoparticles can exhibit antimicrobial effects through a three-step process: (1) the release of ions from the nanoparticles; (2) the attachment and penetration of the nanoparticles into the target; and (3) catalysis of active oxygen species and free radical formation .NPs attach to the microbial cell wall and can easily penetrate it, potentially causing damage and leading to the leakage of cytoplasmic content. Moreover, NPs can interact with other cellular structures and biomolecules, including DNA, affecting ATP synthesis and inducing cell apoptosis through DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, NPs can interact with biomolecules such as amino and carboxyl groups in the cell wall’s peptidoglycan, generating oxidative stress that disrupts DNA replication and ultimately disrupts the proton motive force across the cell membrane .2O3 nanoparticles exhibiting the least bactericidal activity. The order of antibacterial efficacy was observed as follows: ZnO > MgO > CuO > Fe2O3 [Extensive studies have verified the remarkable bactericidal properties of ZnO and MgO nanoparticles, with Fe > Fe2O3 .ZnO nanoparticlesZinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) possess antimicrobial properties, making them highly valuable for various applications. Studies have shown that within the acidic lysosomal environment, ZnO NPs undergo degradation, leading to the conversion of core metals into ions and the release of toxic substances. This process hampers cell reproduction by interfering with essential cellular functions. Additionally, ZnO NPs exhibit antimicrobial activity through other mechanisms, such as localized microenvironmental changes near the microbes and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, these nanoparticles can enhance the solubility of certain substances, which can disrupt enzymes containing -SH groups within the microbial cells. Consequently, this disruption can cause organelle malfunction, protein denaturation, and DNA damage, ultimately affecting DNA replication in microorganisms .E. coli and S. aureus revealed that the composite chitosan films exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy. Specifically, the film incorporating 0.3% of 50 nm zinc oxide particles demonstrated the highest inhibition rate, indicating that smaller-sized nano-ZnO particles possess stronger bacteriostatic activity [The antimicrobial evaluation conducted on chitosan films and chitosan/nano-ZnO composite films against activity .E. coli and S. aureus. Notably, E. coli exhibited higher susceptibility to this particular agent, with a significant 3.14 log reduction observed when the PLA coating layer contained 0.5 wt% of the antimicrobial agent.Zhang et al., (2017)  demonstrB. subtilis, resulting in an inhibition zone of 10 mm. However, the growth of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans was not hindered by the composite film. On the other hand, the composite film displayed antifungal activity against A. niger, with the maximum inhibition zone of 18 mm. On the contrary, the presence of 0.25% ZnO NPs in the composite film did not exhibit antifungal activity, which means that the antifungal activity decreased as the nano ZnO concentration increased to 1%. One possible explanation for this observation could be the formation of nanoclusters of a larger size within the polymer matrix. It has been suggested that ZnO-NPs may impact fungal cell functions by increasing the nucleic acid content, which could be a result of the stress induced by the presence of nanoparticles within the fungal cells [The pullulan/collagen/0.5% ZnO NPs composite film demonstrated inhibitory effects against al cells .S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium, in comparison to ZnO nanoparticles with sizes of 100 nm or 130 nm. On the other hand, Ag NPs with a size of 100 nm demonstrated higher activity against S. aureus than L. monocytogenes [Zinc oxide nanoparticles with a size of 110 nm exhibited higher activity against ytogenes .A. niger, with a maximum zone of inhibition measuring 18 mm. These films also exhibited inhibitory effects on the Gram-positive bacterium B. subtilis, showing a zone of inhibition of 10 mm. On the contrary, the growth of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans was not inhibited by the obtained films.The pullulan/collagen/ZnO-NPs (0.5%) composite films obtained by Bailore et al., (2020)  demonstrAll these findings highlight the potential of ZnO nanoparticles as an effective antibacterial additive ingredient in biopolymer films and composites for food pathogen inhibition.Fe nanoparticles3O4 (magnetite) and γ-Fe2O3 (maghemite) are magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) that are widely used due to their favorable properties. However, these MNPs differ in terms of their iron oxidation states and structures, which in turn affect their overall physicochemical characteristics. Additionally, there are other types of magnetic nanoparticles with similar promising properties, such as titanomagnetite and cobalt- or nickel-based magnetic materials. Iron magnetic nanoparticles possess a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, which gives them unique qualities compared to bulk materials, including a lower melting point, lower sintering temperature and distinctive magnetic properties [Feoperties .3O4 magnetic nanoparticles into chitosan–pectin films resulted in improved antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. epidermidis bacteria. This suggests that chitosan–pectin films with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles hold great potential for applications in active and intelligent food packaging [The incorporation of Feackaging .E. coli and S. aureus. However, after incorporating magnetic iron oxide (MIO) NPs into gelatin, inhibition zones were observed against tested strains. The gelatin nanocomposite films with 20% MIO NPs demonstrated significantly greater inhibition against S. aureus (8.22 ± 1.04 mm) and E. coli (7.10 ± 0.08 mm) [The pure gelatin films did not exhibit any inhibition against 0.08 mm) .3O4 NPs, both in their bare form and coated with chitosan, was evaluated against five organisms: E. coli, B. subtilis, C. albicans, A. niger and Fusarium solani, by Nehra et al., (2017) [F. solani/A. niger < C. albicans < E. coli/B. subtilis (p < 0.001).The antibacterial and antifungal activity of Fe, (2017) . The res2 nanoparticlesTiO2) has emerged as a commonly used three-dimensional (3D) nanoparticle for enhancing packaging materials. TiO2 is a cost-effective and non-toxic nanoreinforcement that exhibits effective bactericidal activity against various foodborne microorganisms and allergens. One notable feature that sets TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) apart from other metal oxide NPs is their remarkable photocatalytic activity [Over the past decade, titanium dioxide (TiOactivity .2 NPs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can disrupt the integrity of the bacterial outer membrane and compromise its overall functionality. The direct interaction between TiO2 NPs and bacterial cells results in the impairment of the cell wall or membrane, leading to the release of intracellular components. Moreover, the chitosan-TiO2 composite coatings directly target intracellular substances, triggering the production of oxygen free radicals (OH and O2−) that attack the outer membrane. This oxidative assault causes DNA damage, disruption of ribosome function, interference with electron transport processes, and oxidation or degradation of bacteria, ultimately resulting in bacterial death [TiOal death .2 composite films exhibit enhanced antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus compared to the chitosan coating used as the control film, which displayed some antibacterial activity against E. coli (9.86 ± 0.90 mm) and S. aureus (12.13 ± 0.48 mm). The antimicrobial activity observed in the pure chitosan coating films may be attributed to amino protonation and subsequent cationic production, facilitated by the ultra-long molecular chain of chitosan, which enables effective binding to E. coli and S. aureus. As the concentration of TiO2 NPs was increased, the size of the inhibition zone exhibited by the composite coating against E. coli and S. aureus increased in comparison to the control group. At a concentration of 0.05% and 0.09% of TiO2 NPs, the maximum inhibition zones observed for E. coli and B. cereus were 11.37 ± 0.76 mm and 0.55 ± 0.35 mm, respectively, which were significantly different from those of the control group (p < 0.05). These values indicate a pronounced bacteriostatic effect on the tested strains at these concentrations [2 NPs films exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and C. lipolytica. The authors attributed the antimicrobial efficacy to the interaction between the NH3+ groups of chitosan and the negatively charged cell membrane, resulting in the leakage of cytoplasmic contents into the extracellular matrix.The chitosan–TiOtrations . Also, Utrations  reportedAg nanoparticles+). Nevertheless, concerns have arisen regarding their cytotoxicity. The exact mechanisms of toxicity, long-term accumulation effects, and the dose–response relationship of Ag NPs remain significantly unclear [Inorganic nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), are widely utilized as antimicrobial agents. Ag NPs have exhibited potent antimicrobial activity surpassing that of silver ions . In case of fungi, Ag NPs have the capability to create transmembrane pores in the fungal cell membrane, resulting in cell damage by obstructing nutrient intake. Additionally, they can bind to DNA molecules and induce chromosomal aberrations. These chromosomal aberrations have the direct effect of disrupting fungal cell division and triggering fungal cell apoptosis .P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis and S. aureus were particularly susceptible, exhibiting significant growth inhibition as determined by the disc diffusion method [The incorporation of Ag NPs into Furcellaran films resulted in antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria and fungi, of which n method .Bacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. showed inhibition zones of 15 mm and 13 mm, while Pseudomonas sp. exhibited a larger inhibition zone of 24 mm, followed by E. coli with an inhibition zone of 18 mm. Proteus sp., Serratia sp. and Klebsiella sp. displayed inhibition zones of 12 mm, 14 mm and 15 mm, respectively. Regarding fungal pathogens, A. niger showed the largest inhibition zone with a diameter of 15 mm, followed by A. fumigatus and A. flavus with inhibition zones of 13 mm each, and C. albicans with an inhibition zone of 11 mm.In a study conducted by Kalaivani et al., (2018) , it was E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, compared to uncoated paper and starch- and chitosan-coated papers. The chitosan/starch/Ag NP-coated papers exhibited various inhibition zones, such as, E. coli  and S. aureus , depending on the bacteria and composition of starch. Also, Anvar et al., (2021) [E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Similarly, alginate/Ag NP nanocomposite films demonstrated the inhibitory effect of silver nanoparticles against S. aureus and E. coli [The results obtained by Jung et al., (2018)  demonstr, (2021)  revealed E. coli . OverallAu nanoparticlesGold nanoparticles (Au NPs) hold great promise in the development of antibacterial agents owing to their favorable characteristics, including low toxicity, high potential for functionalization, versatile effects, convenient detection, and photothermal activity . The antC. albicans, A. terreus, A. niger and A. fumigatus was assessed by Hashem et al., (2022) [C. albicans, A. terreus, A. niger and A. fumigatus, respectively. In contrast, Au+ demonstrated weak antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. terreus.The antifungal activity of chitosan–gold nanoparticles (Chi/Au NPs) against pathogenic against , (2022) . The resE. coli, compared to the inhibition zone of 10 mm revealed by PVA–GA–graphene oxide (GO) composite film. The antimicrobial activity of the films was attributed to both graphene oxide and Au NPs, with Au NPs exhibiting higher antimicrobial capability compared to GO [The addition of Au NPs to PVA–glyoxal and PVA–glutaraldehyde (GA) films enhanced their antimicrobial activity, resulting in a 13 mm inhibition zone against ed to GO .S. aureus and E. coli. The results demonstrated that the addition of Au NPs resulted in a substantial enhancement of the zone of inhibition of tested strains. Moreover, the composite materials exhibited a higher inhibition rate against E. coli compared to S. aureus [The antibacterial characteristics of the chitosan/Au NPs were assessed against . aureus .MgO nanoparticles2, resulting in pH alteration and causing extensive bacterial death [Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are highly valued in various industries due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, making them environmentally friendly, economically viable, and industrially significant. These properties include remarkable refractive index, excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, low electrical conductivity, physical strength, stability, flame resistance, dielectric resistance, mechanical strength, and exceptional optical transparency . Due to al death .E. coli bacterial culture after a 12 h treatment, in contrast to control PLA film [The PLA/MgO film revealed superior antibacterial efficacy, because the addition of 2 wt% MgO NPs led to progressive damage and death of approximately 46% of the PLA film .L. monocytogenes and S. baltic, with inhibition ratios of 80% and 39.2%, respectively. However, the incorporation of MgO nanoparticles significantly enhanced the antibacterial efficacy of the CMCS film. At a 1% MgO content in the composite film, the inhibition rate further increased, surpassing 99.99% for both L. monocytogenes and S. baltic. These results highlight the improved antibacterial performance of the CMCS composite film, indicating its potential for broader applications in the field of food packaging [The carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) control film without MgO NPs displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against ackaging .Cu nanoparticlesL. monocytogenes and E. coli, two common foodborne pathogens [Fusarium sp., Phoma destructiva, Curvularia lunata, Alternaria alternate, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium digitatum and Rhizoctonia solani [Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) have attracted significant attention due to their mechanical, electrical, magnetic and thermal properties. They have found applications in various fields such as water treatment, heat transfer systems and antimicrobial coatings and films . Studiesathogens . It has a solani .E. coli compared to L. monocytogenes. It was evident that the antibacterial activity increased with higher concentrations of CuS NPs against both types of bacteria. In the case of E. coli, the composite film exhibited a bactericidal effect at a low CuS NP concentration (0.5 wt%), while at a higher concentration (1.5 wt%), it demonstrated a strong bactericidal effect leading to complete eradication of the bacteria after 12 h of incubation. Conversely, the alginate/CuS NP composite film only exhibited a growth-delaying effect on Gram-positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes). In case of fungal activity, CuS NPs and CuA NPs tested against C. albicans (ATCC 10231) and C. krusei (KUEN 1001) showed inhibitory activity after 16 h and the inhibitory activity was increased with the increase in the concentration of Cu NPs [E. coli compared to L. monocytogenes. The antimicrobial efficiency was higher than that obtained for neat alginate film. The antibacterial activity was directly proportional with CuS NP concentration against both types of bacteria. For E. coli, the composite film exhibited bactericidal effects at a lower CuS NP concentration (0.5 wt%), while at a higher concentration (1.5 wt%), it displayed a strong bactericidal effect that completely eradicated the bacteria after 12 h of incubation. Conversely, the alginate/CuS NP composite film only exhibited a growth-delaying effect on the Gram-positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes).After silver, copper is one of the most frequently utilized nanomaterials because of its low cost and widespread availability. However, its synthesis poses challenges due to copper’s high susceptibility to oxidation. Copper readily reacts with air, leading to the formation of thermodynamically stable oxidized forms . Akturk f Cu NPs . Also, Rf Cu NPs  demonstrE. coli, while it did not have a significant impact on the growth of L. monocytogenes. At a low concentration (0.5 wt%), CuS NPs did not exhibit sufficient inhibitory activity against microbial growth. However, at a high concentration (2.0 wt%), they demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, effectively suppressing the growth of E. coli completely within 9 h of contact [E. coli and S. aureus, compared to agar/CuS NP composite film which had more pronounced antibacterial activity against E. coli than L. monocytogenes [The same authors revealed that gelatine film incorporating copper sulfide NPs (CuS NPs) showed a significant reduction in cell viability for  contact . In caseytogenes .In case of chitosan films, the study conducted by Shankar et al., (2018)  showcaseThe agar/CuS NP film obtained by Levard et al., (2013)  exhibiteCombining two or more substances in synergistic approaches can yield superior efficacy compared to individual substances alone. One promising approach is the conjugation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with other antimicrobial compounds, which has the potential to enhance their effectiveness , or comb2-ZnO-MgO mixed oxide nanomaterials (MON) exhibited enhanced antibacterial properties against E. coli, S. paratyphi, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes compared to undoped TiO2 NPs. The antibacterial activity of the mixed oxide nanomaterials followed this order: E. coli > S. paratyphi > S. aureus > L. monocytogenes. While the exact mechanism of action of MON against bacteria is not fully understood, the authors consider that oxidative stress induced by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to lipid peroxidation of the cell wall, affecting membrane fluidity, disrupting cell integrity, promoting the release of intracellular contents and, ultimately, causing bacterial cell death.For this purpose, Anaya-Esparza et al., (2019)  demonstrE. coli and S. aureus. The growth of E. coli was more effectively inhibited compared to S. aureus, resulting in diameters ranging from 14.9 to 17.1 mm, depending on the loading amount of aminoclay. Notably, the diameter significantly increased as the aminoclay (AC) content increased from 5 to 8 wt%. However, a further increase in the AC content from 8 to 14 wt% did not significantly affect the diameter. The increased antibacterial activity of the soy protein isolate/Ag NPs/platelike aminoclay composite film can be attributed to the electrostatic force generated by the protonated groups (R-NH2) present on the aminoclay lamella, driving the antimicrobial effect.Bui et al., (2018) , tested Micrococcus luteus, B. cereus, S. aureus and E. coli, was enhanced when Au NPs were combined with bacteriocin.Thirumurugan et al., (2013) , demonstL. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium. The nanocomposites demonstrated strong inhibitory effects against both organisms. The antimicrobial action of Ag-Cu nanoparticles against these bacteria could be attributed to the release of silver and copper ions. These ions may penetrate the gaps and pits in the bacterial membrane, interact with sulfhydryl or disulfide groups of enzymes, or attach to the negatively charged bacterial cell wall. These interactions can disrupt metabolic processes and lead to the rupture of the bacterial cell wall, ultimately causing cell death.In their study, Artfat et al., (2017)  investigB. subtilis and L. monocytogenes, compared to the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli.The findings of Akhter et al., (2019)  indicate2 NPs film, the antimicrobial activity of sodium alginate/Au-TiO2 nanocomposites film exhibited a significant improvement, showing a 60% increase against S. aureus and a 50% increase against E. coli [In comparison to sodium alginate/TiO E. coli .S. aureus and E. coli was enhanced in whey protein isolate films incorporated with 0.8% coconut essential oil and 0.06% paprika extract and CuO nanoparticles, compared to whey protein isolate films containing only 0.8% coconut essential oil or 0.06% paprika extract in combination with CuO nanoparticles.Asdagh et al., (2021)  demonstr2 NPs into sago starch films on the growth of S. typhimurium, E. coli and S. aureus. The results revealed that the controlled sago starch films without TiO2 NPs or CEO did not exhibit any inhibition zones, indicating no antimicrobial activity. However, the inclusion of both TiO2 NPs and CEO significantly increased the size of the inhibition zone, which suggest that sago starch/CEO/TiO2 NPs possess antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. Cinnamaldehyde, which is the main active component of CEO, is known for its natural antimicrobial properties. The hydrophobic nature of CEO contributes to its ability to destabilize and disrupt bacterial membranes, and when combined with TiO2, it results in cytoplasmic leakage and eventual destruction of bacterial cells.Arezoo et al., (2020)  investig2 exhibited a significant inhibition zone for both bacteria, S. aureus and E. coli, indicating their effective antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the incorporation of anthocyanins into the films resulted in an increase in the diameter of the inhibition zone, suggesting that they also possessed antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial mechanisms of TiO2 and anthocyanins may involve increasing cell membrane permeability and interacting with crucial cellular components such as phospholipids, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Anthocyanins are known to contain phenolic compounds that exhibit notable antimicrobial activity. The bacteriostatic properties of the films were more pronounced against S. aureus compared to E. coli (p < 0.05), which could be attributed to differences in the cell wall structures of these two bacteria [The gelatin/κ-carrageenan films demonstrated no bacteriostatic properties, but the films containing TiObacteria .E. coli, which can be classified as moderate antibacterial activity. The bacterial cytotoxicity of the PVA–GA–GO film can be attributed to the insertion of GO nanosheets into the cell membrane.In the study by Chowdhurry et al., (2020) , it was S. aureus and E. coli bacteria [The inclusion of ZnO nanoparticles resulted in a notable enhancement of the antimicrobial activity in the chitosan film compared to the control film. However, when the antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) was incorporated, the antimicrobial property of the CS/ZnO film continued to increase, suggesting that AOB exhibited a synergistic effect with ZnO nanoparticles in improving the antimicrobial activity of the chitosan film against bacteria .P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. However, the incorporation of curcumin into SSPS/TiO2 films effectively inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria. Notably, the greatest inhibitory effect was observed on S. aureus, with an inhibition zone area of 391.2 mm2, followed by P. aeruginosa with an area of 290.3 mm2. The inhibition zones for pure SSPS, SSPS/TiO2, SSPS/TiO2-0.2% curcumin, and SSPS/TiO2-0.6% curcumin composites against S. aureus were measured 0, 25.3, 110.1, and 290 mm2, respectively. These results indicate a synergistic effect between curcumin and TiO2 nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of curcumin is attributed to its interaction with membrane proteins of bacterial cells, leading to the inhibition of bacterial growth [The pure soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) films displayed no antimicrobial activity against l growth .Foodborne pathogens that cause illnesses represent a current cause for concern worldwide, both from human health and economic loss points of view. These problems could be solved by various applications in the food industry related to preservation methods able to control these pathogens. This study describes various emerging technologies with applications in the food industry for solid, liquid and even packed food product preservation.The emerging technologies discussed in this study proved to be efficient in the total inactivation or reduction in microbial load in products from different categories . However, some limitations may occur related to the preservation of the product’s quality, limitations that can be passed through more research of these technologies and application on a wider variety of food products. Food packaging materials research has seen a great increase in the last few years, the producers being preoccupied with obtaining packaging materials with antimicrobial properties, while using biobased materials and ingredients for the developed materials to be environmentally friendly. As discussed here, the potential of reduction in microbial pathogens from different food products by using antimicrobial packaging is promising, the only limitations of these materials being related to fulfilling the characteristics  reached by conventional materials. The different antimicrobial agents incorporated in packaging materials showed potential in inhibiting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as different fungi and yeasts.The results presented in this revision show the potential of different emerging technologies and packaging materials to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, which could be responsible for foodborne outbreaks if the food becomes contaminated along the food supply chain. Further research could refer to ingredients used in food production to inhibit the growth and development of microorganisms, as well as a study regarding different methods for surface decontamination in food industry, which could be useful to prevent food contamination. Another line of focus for future research could be a study on the physical-mechanical characteristics of novel packaging materials in comparison with the conventional ones, in terms of resistance, compatibility, migration properties, etc.


Capsicum annuum L.) to determine their probable molecular function. ZHD genes with various physicochemical characteristics were discovered on twelve chromosomes in chilli. We separated ZHD proteins into two major groups using sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. These groups differ in gene structure, motif distribution, and a conserved ZHD and micro-zinc finger ZF domain. The majority of the CaZHDs genes are preserved, early duplication occurred recently, and significant pure selection took place throughout evolution, according to evolutionary study. According to expression profiling, the genes were found to be equally expressed in tissues above the ground, contribute to plant growth and development and provide tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. This in silico analysis, taken as a whole, hypothesized that these genes perform distinct roles in molecular and phytohormone signaling processes, which may serve as a foundation for subsequent research into the roles of these genes in other crops.Zinc finger-homeodomain (ZHD) proteins are mostly expressed in plants and are involved in proper growth and development and minimizing biotic and abiotic stress. A recent study identified and characterized the ZHD gene family in chilli (The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-023-09682-x. Capsicum annuum L., commonly known as chilli pepper, is a highly diverse species cultivated and traded globally for centuries. In our recent genome-wide analysis, we performed an in silico characterization of the Zinc Finger-HD (ZF-HD) transcription factor gene family in Capsicum annuum L [Capsicum annuum L. includes multiple members with varying degrees of conservation across different cultivars [annuum L . Chili pannuum L . Our anaultivars . These fultivars . Plant'sultivars , which cultivars . The DNAultivars . It has ultivars –6. ZHD pultivars . Differeultivars .Flaveria [Arabidopsis to observe its function, where it was found that ZF-HD1 binds with the EARLY RESPONSE TO DEHYDRATION STRESS 1 (ERD1) promoter due to induction of salt, increasing transpiration rate as well as abscisic acid [Furthermore, a single protein can carry one or more zinc finger motifs, mainly contributing to DNA-binding protein–protein interaction . The zinFlaveria . Previousic acid . Moreovesic acid . In certsic acid . After csic acid .Capsicum annuum L.), contributing to our understanding of their function in plant growth, development, and stress response. Therefore, this in silico paper described the evolutionary trend, protein–protein interaction, and expression pattern of ZHD TFs in chilli under optimal and adverse conditions and explained the possible mechanisms of ZHD transcription factors in chilli plants.ZHD-regulated transcription factors have been identified and studied in hot pepper (http://pfam.xfam.org/). The conserved domain HMM profile was used for BLASTP search against Sol Genomic (https://solgenomics.net/organism/Capsicum_annuum/genome) and China National Gene Bank (https://db.cngb.org/) databases for the release 2.0 cv. Zunla-1 genome with an expected cut-off value of 0.01 [http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/) and NCBI CDD (Conserved Domain Database) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/cdd/wrpsb.cgi) were used to analyze the simple molecular architecture of the retrieved predicted amino acid sequences to find out either the sequences possessed the PF domain or not. Those which did not contain the required conserved domain were excluded [Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based conserved domain of ZHD gene family (PF) firstly downloaded from the Pfam database . All those predicted Chilli’s ZHD family genes were renamed following their chromosomal locations.ProtParam tool was used to retrieve some physiochemical properties like protein length (amino acid residues), molecular weight, isoelectric point , and GRVhttps://meme-suite.org/meme/) [The CaZHD gene family proteins’ motifs analysis was done with the help of MEME suite (g/meme/)  with theg/meme/) . The geng/meme/) .Capsicum annuum) 11 and Arabidopsis (15) amino acid sequences of ZHD family were aligned with the help of ClustalX v2.1 multiple sequence alignment tool [https://www.nrbcs.org/gfx/genedoc/ebinet.htm) [https://itol.embl.de/) [Crops like Chilli  . ZHD pronet.htm)  and reprmbl.de/) .http://bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/plantcare/html/) web tool retrieves 5 to 20 bp putative cis-elements for the promotor region [The 1500 upstream promotor regions were extracted from NCBI (Link) for cis-regulatory elements extraction as they bind to the transcription factors and regulate target gene functions . The Plar region . The mear region .Arabidopsis, chilli-tomato, and chilli-maize were analyzed using the Multiple Collinearity Scan toolkit (MCScanX) [A NCBI BLASTP search was done among the ZHD gene protein sequences of the chilli using 80% sequence identity for determining gene duplication . The synMCScanX) . To exhiMCScanX) .http://bioinformatics.sdstate.edu/go/) was used to obtain gene ontology (GO) annotation against Capsicum annuum where potential chilli candidate proteins and/or genes IDs were subjected. The p-value cut-off (FDR) at 0.01 is set to calculate GO enrichment.The ShinyGO v0.75: Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis + more (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) [The expression profile of Zulna-1 for different parts such as fruit, flower, leaf, meristem, root and stem were extracted from the NCBI GEO database to analyze the organ-specific expression profile of CaZHD gene family (ov/geo/) . For expov/geo/) .260/OD280 ratios ranging from 1.90 to 2.10 were considered suitable for further experiments. For the analysis of CaZHD genes, the RNA samples were reverse-transcribed into cDNA using Hifair™ II 1st Strand cDNA Synthesis SuperMix for qPCR. The subsequent qRT-PCR analyses were carried out on a Light Cycler 480 instrument with a 20-μL reaction mixture  [With a high confidence score of 0.7, Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis was performed using STRING v11.0 (db.org/) . The inthttps://www.pmiren.com/) was used to determine the target site of chilli's 11 CaZHD gene family. The CDS of the 11 genes was then compared to the mature miRNA using the PsRNA online server tool (https://www.zhaolab.org/psRNATarget/) using the default setting [https://www.omicshare.com/tools/), a connection between the predicted miRNA was created [The first mature miRNA from the PmiREM server . The result showed that these 69 ZHD genes could be divided into two groups (Group I-II), where Group I was divided into two subgroups (Ia and Ib) and Group II was divided into three subgroups  , Arabidopsis (15), Maize 21), and Ic) Fig. . This cl1, and IcCaZHDs was identified in the chromosomes, but only CaMIF was located in the scaffold region of the chilli genome region . Our aim was to understand how these genes respond to stress conditions, specifically a high sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration of 3000 ppm from 6 weeks after transplanting .Using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique, we analyzed the expression patterns of 11 CaZHD genes family in the chili roots Fig. b. Our fiCaZHD gene family, the transcripts of 11 CaZHDs were annotated and categorized with gene ontology (GO). Only two of the 11 transcripts were annotated and categorized into all three primary categories, Biological Process (BP), Molecular Function (MF), and Cellular Component (CC)  Fig. . These tCC) Fig. .Fig. 8FoCaZHDs , a subclass of non-coding short RNAs with an average length of 21 nucleotides (nt), are essential for many biological processes in plants, including development, signal transduction, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress . The chihttps://string-db.org/). Only 5 proteins among 11 CaZHD were correlated to each at the highest level (0.900) of confidence  [CaZHD genes have persevered as most of the genes have no introns, and the most recent duplication occurred around 42 MYA  transcription factors are only found in plants and play vital roles in plant growth and development and protect against biotic and abiotic stress . This genuum L.) , 9, 50. d motifs .CaZHDs genes has also been revealed at the gene expression level in different plant tissues, across developmental stages, and cultivars. For instance, almost no expression of 11 CaZHDs gene transcripts was found in all plant roots  consists of 11 genes. Before the Monocots and Dicots division and following the separation between Angiosperm and Gymnosperm, the CaZHD gene family most likely developed. The family was divided into two subfamilies, and these subfamilies differed substantially in terms of chromosomal position, nucleotide sequence, and GO annotation and categorization. Even while the expression of the genes in the family varied significantly in four-year-old plant tissues, four-year-old plant roots, and four-year-old plant roots from various cultivars, the functional relationships between the genes in the family persisted. Two CaZHDs were crucial in the chilli plant's biotic stress, and two were confirmed to control the plant's response to abiotic stress.It has been determined that the CaZHD gene family in hot pepper (Additional file 1.Additional file 2.Additional file 3: Supplementary Table 1. Information regarding Motifs.Additional file 4: Supplementary Table 2. Chili’s ZHD gene family distribution among groups based on phylogenetic analysis.


Helicoverpa zea is a polyphagous pest of multiple cultivated and non-cultivated plants throughout the Americas. Overall, in North America, H. zea overwinters in southern states and recolonizes areas in northern states, which have lethal winter temperatures for this species. Studies of H. zea ecology in southern states, such as Florida, which are a source of migrants, can provide region-specific information with potential continental-wide implications. Here we determined the occurrence of H. zea in commercial fields of Bt cotton and peanut in two regions of the Florida Panhandle, investigated the effect of weather on the moth’s occurrence, and determined hosts used by H. zea across seasons from 2017 to 2019. The results indicate a year-round flight of H. zea and no difference on catches among traps set on Bt cotton versus peanut fields. The highest and lowest H. zea moth catches were from July to September and November to March, respectively. Higher H. zea catches were observed in warm and humid conditions. Based on carbon isotopic analysis, we detected larval feeding predominantly on C3 host plants throughout the year, which includes Bt cotton, with additional larvae feeding during the summer on C4 hosts, which includes Bt corn. These results suggest that overwintering and resident populations of H. zea in the Florida Panhandle may have increased exposure to Bt crops, increasing the risk for the evolution of resistance.Helicoverpa zea. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate monthly abundance of H. zea moths in Bt cotton and peanut fields, (ii) document the effects of weather on H. zea trap catches, and (iii) determine larval hosts supporting H. zea populations from 2017 to 2019. Year-round trapping of H. zea moths was conducted in 16 commercial fields in two regions of the Florida Panhandle using delta traps. H. zea moth catches were associated with temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity. Larval hosts were determined by isotopic carbon analysis. Our results showed year-round H. zea flights in both regions across two years, with the highest and lowest moth catches occurring from July to September and November to March, respectively. There was no difference in catches between traps set on Bt cotton and peanut. In the Santa Rosa/Escambia counties, weather explained 59% of the variance in H. zea catches, with significant effects of temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. In Jackson County, weather explained 38% of H. zea catches, with significant effects of temperature and relative humidity. Carbon isotopic data showed that feeding on C3 plants, including Bt cotton, occurred over most of the year, although feeding on C4 hosts, including Bt corn, occurred during the summer months. Hence overwintering and resident populations of H. zea in the Florida Panhandle may be continually exposed to Bt crops, increasing the risk for the evolution of resistance.In North America, weather and host-plant abundance drive the population dynamics of the migratory pest  Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest of more than 100 hosts across 21 families of plants, including multiple cultivated crops and wild hosts [H. zea population densities and distributions [H. zea is multivoltine [H. zea in the landscape among plants that produce three- (C3) or four- (C4) carbon compounds during the first step of the carbon fixation cycle in the photosynthetic pathway [H. zea mainly uses C3 wild host plants such as crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) [Lepidium sp.) [Nuttallanthus texanus) [Zea mays L.), a C4 plant, and subsequent generations switch to late-season C3 crops such as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) [ld hosts ,4,5. Thiibutions ,7,8,9. Iivoltine ,12. Stab pathway ,14,15. G three- C or four-Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins have been commercialized in the United States for more than 20 years to manage pest insects, including H. zea [H. zea feeding following the availability and attractiveness of these crops, potentially selecting genes that confer resistance to Bt toxins [H. zea [H. zea resident populations [H. zea can overwinter in southern states and migrates to northern states during the early spring and summer months [H. zea populations that migrate to northern regions.Genetically engineered corn and cotton traits expressing g H. zea ,17. The g H. zea . In subsg H. zea ,19,20. Ct toxins ,14,16. D [H. zea ,22,23,24ulations . In the H. zea. The Florida Panhandle agricultural landscape consists of multiple field crops and vegetables that are hosts for H. zea, including cotton, peanut, corn, sweet corn, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and soybean [H. zea populations, potentially leading to decreased susceptibility to Bt toxins over time [The Florida Panhandle, located around latitude 30th N parallel, is a potential overwintering site for  soybean . Due to  soybean ,14, stru soybean , and 100ver time .H. zea populations from Florida using the Cry1A.105 toxin detected lethal concentrations to kill 50 percent (LC50) of exposed larvae below 0.2 μg/cm3 in 2017 [3 in 2019 [H. zea migrants, ecological studies of the H. zea population in this region can provide region-specific information for H. zea management with potential continental-wide implications. To better predict H. zea population dynamics and succession of host usage in the region, the objectives of this study were to (i) document H. zea monthly abundance in Bt cotton and peanut fields, (ii) estimate the effects of weather on H. zea trap catches, and (iii) determine larval hosts supporting H. zea populations across multiple seasons from 2017 to 2019.During the period of the present study, concentration-response bioassays with  in 2017 , 0.27 in in 2017 , and abo in 2019 . BecauseHelicoverpa zea flight was monitored by trapping in two regions of the Florida Panhandle from June 2017 to June 2019. The first region was represented by eight commercial fields within Jackson County, and the second region by eight fields within Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. Santa Rosa and Escambia were considered one region for this study due to their proximity. These counties were selected due to their high acreage of cultivated Bt cotton and peanut [® VI Traps  were mounted on the edges of each field on aluminum poles, approximately one meter above the ground to collect H. zea moths  were replaced every four weeks. After replacement, the collected sticky liners were placed inside 32 × 23 cm resealable plastic bags  and brought back to the laboratory to be stored in a −20 °C chest freezer at the West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC). Trapped in color .H. zea moths collected in both traps was determined for each field on each sampled date. During sticky liner replacement, information on the region, date, crop, and irrigation system  was also recorded. In 2018, three fields in Santa Rosa/Escambia counties and one field in Jackson County had corn cultivated during the spring before peanut and Bt cotton were planted. Preliminary analysis revealed no difference in H. zea monthly abundance with or without data of H. zea moths trapped in corn fields. Due to the limited number of observations collected from corn fields in the agroecosystems under study, the corn-trapped moths’ data were removed from the dataset in further analysis for consistency.Pheromone trapping was conducted year-round, and the total number of H. zea moths was selected and submitted to carbon isotopic analysis to identify larval feeding on C3 or C4 host plants. A total of 95 H. zea moths  were selected from Jackson, and 105  were selected from Santa Rosa/Escambia counties. For consistency of data analysis and body symmetry variability [A sample of trapped iability , only thAverage daily measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, and accumulated rainfall were obtained for each region from a Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) station near the trapping sites. For traps set in Jackson County, weather data were collected from the FAWN station located in Marianna . For traps set at Santa Rosa/Escambia, weather variables were collected from the FAWN station located in Jay .All analyses were performed in R (version 4.2.0) and R studio (version 2022.02.3) . In the H. zea abundance differed by month in each region using a GLMM. Month was set as the fixed effect, and crops, irrigation system, and farm were set as random effects. Using a third model, we tested the effect of crop (peanut or Bt cotton) and irrigation system (irrigated or rainfed) in H. zea moth trap catches for each region using a GLMM. Crop and irrigation systems were set as fixed effects and farm and month were set as random effects. For the second and the third models, type III Wald Chi-Square tests were used to check the significance of fixed effects on H. zea moth catches, and means were compared by multiple pairwise comparisons using least-square means at α = 0.05 (package emmeans) and the Sidak correction was used to control family wise error rate [In the second model, we tested whether ror rate .To test if the larval feeding category  proportions were different in each region we calculated the proportion (0 to 1) for each feeding category per season (n = 4) and performed a Kruskal–Wallis test, and compared means using the Wilcox test with Bonferroni correction.H. zea moths caught was analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM), setting average daily temperature, relative humidity, and accumulated rainfall as predictors and the number of captured moths as the response for each location. The correlation among variables was tested before analysis using the corrplot package. As all correlation values were below 0.70 (r ≤ |0.70|), all variables were used in the model [The association between weather variables and the abundance of he model .In all models, negative binomial and Poisson error distributions were tested, but the negative binomial distribution (link = log) fit the data better. Model suitability  was checked using the packages DHARMa and performance , and modH. zea moths were caught year-round in both regions  in the Florida Panhandle. Santa Rosa/Escambia had a higher (2317 moths) total H. zea catch than in Jackson (1619 moths) . In both regions, the highest H. zea abundance was in late summer, from July to September, and the lowest abundance period was late fall and overwinter, from November to March  in Santa Rosa/Escambia . Sixty-two percent of the H. zea moths analyzed came from larvae fed on C3 host plants . On average 60% of the evaluated moths developed on C3 hosts  in Jackson was higher  than in Santa Rosa/Escambia  [H. zea populations from Florida Panhandle [H. zea feeding on dual gene Bt cotton. In addition, transgenic cotton expressing Vip3Aa caused 100% H. zea larval mortality [H. zea management [H. zea populations in this landscape [H. zea populations after the use of Bt transgenic crops [H. zea population densities [In this study we detected a significant difference in ,678 ha) . A previanhandle  detectedortality , reinfornagement  and the andscape ,39. Areaandscape ,41,42,43ic crops . Thus, lensities ,45.H. zea larval densities have been detected in rainfed soybeans fields [H. zea pupal mortality in cotton fields [H. zea could explain the effect of irrigation on Santa Rosa/Escambia trap catches. However, this study focused on determining the monthly abundance of H. zea moths, which limits us in drawing further conclusions about factors regulating H. zea immature survival in rainfed, and irrigated fields.A significant effect was observed for the irrigation system in Santa Rosa/Escambia, with higher catches in rainfed fields. Accordingly, higher s fields , and irrn fields . The impH. zea populations in two different test sites within the Florida Panhandle, separated by approximately 200 km. Bt cotton and peanut are the main C3 crops cultivated in Florida Panhandle [H. zea moth catches were detected between traps set on Bt cotton versus peanut crops. Considering the cultivation of Bt cotton in the region and the efficacy of this technology on suppressing H. zea populations [H. zea larvae, playing a role as a source of moths with C3 larval hosts in the Florida Panhandle. Due to H. zea flight capacity [H. zea abundance detected here corresponds to when cotton is in its reproductive stage, a highly attractive phenological stage for H. zea. Thus, cotton fields in Florida Panhandle should be monitored as a proactive approach to detect early escapes of this Bt technology and to determine the role of cotton as a source of C3 feed moths.Carbon stable isotope analysis indicated that C3 plants are the primary host supporting anhandle . No diffulations  peanut icapacity ,24, mothH. zea is a polyphagous pest, larval movement between C3 and C4 crops and weeds could explain the occurrence of adults with mixed feeding [H. zea during the crop season has been documented in a landscape with corn and Bt cotton [H. zea, which later feeds on late-season Bt cotton fields. Bt corn and Bt cotton expressing similar toxins exert continuous selection pressure for Bt resistance on multiple generations of H. zea [H. zea [A mixed feeding on both C3 and C4 plants was observed in all seasons. As  feeding ,49. Besi feeding . Althougt cotton . Thus, cf H. zea . This co [H. zea .H. zea hypothesized C4 larval feeding when corn was not present in the landscape as an indication of the influx of migrant moths [H. zea migratory populations might be arriving in the region under study during the fallow season. Florida is one of the largest producers of sweet corn in the U.S. ($137 million in 2020) [H. zea [H. zea migratory populations into the Florida Panhandle. Although we expect C4 migrants to originate from field and sweet corn from South Florida, more studies are needed to determine the contribution of crop hosts and wind patterns on H. zea migratory paths in North America.An increase in C4 larval feeding in Jackson County was detected during the winter. Previous studies with the carbon isotopic signature of nt moths ,14. Simiin 2020) , and thiin 2020) ,54,55. B [H. zea ,56,57. J [H. zea ,58 couldH. zea population dynamics at regional and continental scales [H. zea moth catch in the Jackson and Escambia/Santa Rosa counties, respectively. In Jackson County, temperature and relative humidity influenced H. zea catch, while temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall influenced catch in Santa Rosa/Escambia counties. As poikilothermic organisms, faster development, higher population densities, and higher flight activities could explain higher moth capture under higher temperatures [H. zea moth catch and precipitation has been hypothesized to be an indirect effect of rainfall on host abundance and suitability [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), sex pheromone perception [Climate plays a role in l scales ,24. In teratures . A strontability ,61. Likerception .H. zea moth abundance occurred from November to March. The low and sporadic numbers of H. zea caught during the winter corroborate previous studies in Mississippi [H. zea moths were caught in low numbers throughout the winter in both regions of study, the year-round presence of H. zea moths in the landscape is a strong indication that the Florida Panhandle may be an H. zea overwintering site. This result is relevant to H. zea IRM programs. Multiple H. zea generations in this region [H. zea populations could undergo multiple episodes of selection for resistance alleles that could later be spread northward on the American continent. Hence, we expected that adults collected from November through March are probably (i) moths coming from larvae or pupae that had an extended developmental time, or (ii) migratory moths from southern Florida and possibly the Caribbean.The lowest sissippi . Althougs region  could reH. zea moths occur all year round in the landscape of the Florida Panhandle and the peak of flight occurs from July to September. Pheromone traps catch increases in higher temperature and humidity. Additionally, there is a predominance of H. zea moths derived from C3 hosts. During the summer, a substantial number of H. zea moths derive from C4 hosts, possibly due to the cultivation of corn, a preferred host of H. zea. Population dynamics, regional host occurrence (both wild and cultivated), weather, and H. zea migration dynamics within Florida may result in differential selection pressure for Bt and insecticide resistance.We conclude that