Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Imrich Szabó Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Rastislav Sabo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Martin Staroň Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC), Department of Animal Production, Division of Beekeeping, Liptovský Hrádok, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Štefan Tutka Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC), Department of Animal Production, Division of Beekeeping, Liptovský Hrádok, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Marek Ratvaj Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Lucia Sabová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Monika Sučik Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Title: Chronic laboratory exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Mospilan 20 SP (acetamiprid): effects and molecular responses in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) Abstract: Bees were exposed for 10 days to a sucrose solution containing acetamiprid at concentrations of 48, 4.8, and 0.48 mg a.i./kg of solution, corresponding to the maximum recommended field application rate and its 1/10 and 1/100 dilutions. An increase in mortality was observed at the highest tested concentration, with a cumulative mortality of 30.4% by day 10, whereas lower concentrations showed effects comparable to the control. In addition, the expression of selected genes related to detoxification (glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin reductase), oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase 1, superoxide dismutase 2), immunity (abaecin, hymenoptaecin, apidaecin), and neural regulation (acetylcholinesterase 1) was analysed. No significant changes were detected in most genes, except for sod2, which showed increased expression at the lowest concentration. Overall, the results suggest that acetamiprid exhibits relatively low chronic toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations but may induce significant effects at higher or continuous exposure levels. These findings highlight the importance of considering both lethal and sublethal endpoints, including molecular responses, in assessing pesticide risks to honeybees. Keywords: agrochemical, bee colony, pollinator, plant protection, neonicotinoid Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 403-412 Volume: 72 Issue: 7 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/228/2026-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/228/2026-PSE.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/228/2026-PSE.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202607-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:7:id:228-2026-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jing Li Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Tingting Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Ruilian Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Yang Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Abdul Rehman Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaomin Shang Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Suhui Yan Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenyang Li Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, P.R. China Title: The effects of post-anthesis shading on starch granule size distribution and viscosity parameters in waxy and non-waxy soft wheat Abstract: To clarify the effects of post-anthesis low light on grain yield and starch quality of waxy and non-waxy soft wheat, a field experiment was conducted from 2023 to 2025. Two wheat cultivars, Jinuo 2 (waxy soft wheat) and Quanmai 725 (non-waxy soft wheat), were employed as test materials, and four shading treatments (no shading, 10% shading, 20% shading, and 30% shading) were applied after anthesis. The regulatory effects of different shading intensities on wheat yield, grain quality, starch granule size distribution and starch viscosity properties were systematically analysed. The results showed that post-anthesis low light stress significantly reduced the grain number per spike, 1 000-grain weight and grain yield, while increasing the protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value of wheat grains. Under low light stress, the volume and surface area proportions of A-type starch granules increased, while those of B-type starch granules decreased. Under the same shading condition, Jinuo 2 exhibited a higher proportion of B-type starch granules and a lower proportion of A-type starch granules than Quanmai 725. With increasing shading intensity, the peak, trough and final viscosities, as well as the breakdown and setback values, of grain starch decreased continuously, and all viscosity parameters of Quanmai 725 were significantly higher than those of Jinuo 2. Furthermore, post-anthesis low light reduced the onset, peak and conclusion gelatinisation temperatures and increased gelatinisation enthalpy. Quanmai 725 had higher gelatinisation temperatures, whereas Jinuo 2 possessed higher gelatinisation enthalpy. Correlation analysis indicated that the volume distribution of B-type starch granules (≤ 10 μm) was significantly positively correlated with starch viscosity parameters, while A-type starch granules (> 10 μm) showed a significant negative correlation. In conclusion, post-anthesis low light reduces the yield and the proportion of B-type starch granules, increases the proportion of A-type starch granules, decreases starch pasting viscosity and elevates gelatinisation enthalpy in both soft wheat cultivars. Compared with Quanmai 725, Jinuo 2 is more sensitive to post-anthesis low light stress in terms of starch granule distribution characteristics. Keywords: brewing wheat, photosynthesis, sunshine, climate change, stress-resistant cultivation, thermal properties Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 413-426 Volume: 72 Issue: 7 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/219/2026-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/219/2026-PSE.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/219/2026-PSE.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202607-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:7:id:219-2026-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Junlong Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Name: Li Cao Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Kunming Geological Exploration Institute of China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Name: Jinhuan Yi Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Name: Kai Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Name: Guilian Shan Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Author-Name: Na Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P.R. China Title: The effects of cadmium on the AsA-GSH cycle and antioxidant compounds in different cultivars of perennial ryegrass Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal contaminant in agricultural soils; its high bioaccumulation potential and toxicity mean it enters the human body via the food chain, posing a health risk. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is renowned for its high tolerance to heavy metal toxicity and is frequently used in phytoremediation. This study examined growth morphology, activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant contents in two perennial ryegrass cultivars: WNS (Venus, low Cd accumulation) and YY (Excellent, high Cd accumulation), under Cd treatments of 0, 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg Cd2+. Under Cd stress, WNS exhibited significantly higher plant height, leaf length, tiller number, GPX activity, and glutathione (GSH) content compared with YY. At 12 mg/kg Cd, GR activity in WNS was also significantly higher than in YY (P < 0.05). In contrast, at each Cd level, YY showed significantly higher leaf Cd accumulation, APX and DHAR activities, and ascorbic acid (AsA) content than WNS (P < 0.05), accompanied by elevated oxidised glutathione (GSSG) content. The comprehensive response index of YY under 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg Cd was 2.77, 2.91, and 2.94 times that of WNS, respectively. These findings suggest that WNS mitigates Cd toxicity and sustains growth homeostasis by maintaining higher GPX and GR activities and higher GSH content within the GSH-GSSG cycle. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the differential Cd tolerance mechanisms among ryegrass cultivars with contrasting Cd accumulation capacities and offers insights to refine phytoremediation strategies in Cd-contaminated soils. Keywords: heavy metal, cultivars comparison, accumulation capacity, soil pollution, antioxidant system Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 427-437 Volume: 72 Issue: 7 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/121/2026-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/121/2026-PSE.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/121/2026-PSE.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202607-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:7:id:121-2026-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abeer H. Elhakem Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia Author-Name: Amira Hassan Author-Workplace-Name: Materials Engineering, German University in Cairo, New Cairo, Egypt Title: Foliar proline alleviates drought stress in peppermint via consistent growth and essential oil benefits, with stress-dependent regulation of ion balance and abscisic acid Abstract: This study examined whether exogenous proline (Pro, 10 mmol/L, foliar) uniformly alleviates drought stress in peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) or whether its benefit intensifies with increasing stress severity. Plants were grown under four water field capacity (WFC) levels (95, 75, 50, 25%), with or without Pro, in a 4 × 2 factorial randomised design. Two-way ANOVA (Levene's test confirmed homogeneous variance) partitioned each variable into WFC and Pro main effects and their interaction, followed by Tukey's HSD (P < 0.05). Water deficit reduced growth and relative water content, increased osmolytes, disrupted ionic homeostasis (higher Na+ and Na+/K+; lower K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), activated antioxidant defences, and altered hormone levels (higher abscisic acid (ABA); lower indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3)). Pro significantly improved growth, water status, most osmolytes, antioxidants, IAA, GA3, and essential oil (EO) yield, with no significant WFC × Pro interaction detected for these variables, providing no statistically detectable evidence that the magnitude of the effect differed among WFC levels. Pro's effect on Na+, the Na+/K+ ratio, and ABA instead showed a significant WFC × Pro interaction (P = 0.040, 0.046, 0.001), intensifying under severe deficit. EO yield showed a biphasic response, rising at 75% and 50% WFC and falling at 25%, with Pro further increasing yield and menthol content. Pro thus acts mainly as a consistent protectant with no detected WFC × Pro interaction, alongside a distinct, stress-dependent role in ion and ABA regulation under severe drought. Keywords: compatible solutes, phytochemical modulation, monoterpene profile, irrigation regime, metabolic reprogramming, nutrient partitioning Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 438-454 Volume: 72 Issue: 7 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/248/2026-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/248/2026-PSE.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/248/2026-PSE.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202607-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:7:id:248-2026-PSE