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Barley is one of the world’s most important crops. Barley is used for both food and feed and is important for the production of malt. Malt quality is a complex function of barley genetics, environmental conditions during barley growth, and the technological aspects of the malting process. Due to the high heritability of more than half of the malting parameters, barley can be bred for malting quality. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is a good way to speed up the breeding process. In this study, nine molecular markers were used to screen 115 barley varieties and breeding lines over a four-year period. The results were compared with malting quality parameters. Multicomponent correlation analysis showed a good correlation (R = 0.63; P ≤ 0.01) between marker screening results and malting quality parameters. In 93 genotypes (80.9%), agreement was found between molecular marker prediction and malting quality determination. Differences between molecular marker screening and malt quality parameters and possible improvements are discussed. The use of molecular markers in MAS is highly appreciated by barley breeders.

Salmonellosis is a major foodborne disease transmitted from contaminated poultry products worldwide. Although a wide variety of chemical agents are used in the prevention of foodborne Salmonella spp. infections, consumers prefer natural additives, that do not harm human health and do not impair the characteristics of food. Curcumin is a yellow-coloured, hydrophobic polyphenol obtained from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa L. plant known as turmeric. The purpose of this study was to evaluate curcumin’s antibacterial activity against S. Typhimurium in chicken meat and in vitro. In the first step, chicken samples were experimentally contaminated with S. Typhimurium at a level of 2.8 × 10^–7 CFU/ml. Then, they were kept in a 1, 2, and 3% curcumin solution for 15 minutes. At the end of the treatment, chicken samples were stored at +4 °C. The number of S. Typhimurium in chicken samples was determined according to EN ISO 6579-1. In the result of the study, the number of S. Typhimurium decreased by 2.37, 2.71, and 2.84 log levels at the end of the 6^th day as a result of the 1, 2 and 3% curcumin treatment, respectively. The MIC value of curcumin was determined to be 362 µg/ml for S. Typhimurium.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a superior-quality perennial legume forage crop cultivated in China. However, fertiliser applications and the environmental factors affecting alfalfa yield and quality have not been well documented. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis using a dataset from 105 studies published between 2003 and 2023 to explore the effects of fertiliser application and environmental factors on the yield and quality of alfalfa. The results showed that compared to the non-fertiliser control levels, fertiliser application increased alfalfa yield by 24.61% and improved the quality of alfalfa by increasing crude protein by 11.63% and decreasing acid detergent fibre by 7.69% and neutral detergent fibre by 6.76%. Alfalfa yield and the crude protein effect size increased with increasing altitude but decreased with increasing latitude based on fertiliser application. The acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre effect size were positively correlated with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. In conclusion, applying fertiliser is a productive approach to enhance the yield and grade of alfalfa, but environmental factors have an effect. This study provides comprehensive information on fertiliser applications and environmental factors that affect alfalfa yield and quality. These results provide insight into further improving alfalfa yield and quality and contribute to the development of alfalfa.

This study aimed to determine the effect of carob molasses pulp flour (CMP) at 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% on the chemical composition and properties of eggless semolina pasta in terms of colour, nutritional value, cooking quality, and sensory properties. As presumed, carbohydrate and energy values of CMP-added pasta (carbohydrates 73.31–77.40%) were lower than the control (82.17%), whereas dietary fibre values were up to 4 times higher (8.18–12.60% vs. 3.71%). There was not a significant difference in the amount of fat (0.48–0.70%), optimum cooking time (6.56–7.06 min), or cooking loss (10.43–12.57%) of CMP-added pasta compared to the non-enriched counterpart (P > 0.05). All formulations were sufficient in terms of sensory properties; colour shift occurred in the direction from standard yellow to the dark brown area. The results showed that even the maximal tested dosage of the CMP equal to 10.0% could produce pasta with satisfying overall quality.

Determining gallic acid in honey can provide information for assessing the nutritional value and tracing the source of honey. However, the complex matrix of honey and the low content of gallic acid may hamper the detection. Therefore, it is important to select an appropriate sample preparation method. This work established an air-assisted dispersive micro-solid phase extraction combined with a high-performance liquid chromatography method to determine gallic acid in honey. Zinc/nickel/aluminium layered double hydroxides were selected as the adsorbent to extract gallic acids in diluted honey samples. Under air-assisted extraction, the adsorbents adsorbed gallic acid in honey via anion exchange. Subsequently, the isolated adsorbents were dissolved in a 1% phosphoric acid solution. A high-performance liquid chromatography-UV-Vis detector was used for gallic acid detection. Under the optimised conditions, gallic acid showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.005–10.0 mg·L^–1 with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.999. The detection limit and quantification limit were 13.5 and 45 ng·g^–1, respectively. The recoveries were 89.8–93.4%, with the intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations in the range of 0.71–1.17% and 0.76–1.27%, respectively. The method possesses the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, economy and environmental friendliness and is suitable for detecting gallic acid in honey.

This study is focused on the comparison of production efficiency (growth, survival, and development) and economic evaluation of large-scale larvae culture in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) using Artemia (Group A) compared to using rotifers and the subsequent combination of rotifers and Artemia (Group R) as a first exogenous feed following weaning and intensive culture of juveniles. Both experimental groups were stocked with the same initial density (100 pcs per litre) of larvae at 4 days post hatching (DPH). Each group was cultured in triplicate until 65 DPH. Assessed parameters included FBW (final body weight), FTL (final total length), SGR (specific growth rate), SR (survival rate), CR (cannibalism rate), SBI (swim bladder inflation rate), and TDR (total deformity rate). Production costs were confronted with total number of all produced and high-quality juveniles to determine the cost per one juvenile. Juveniles in Group A displayed more rapid growth (significantly higher FBW, FTL and SGR). On the other hand, parameters concerning quality of the fish (SBI, SR, Share of high quality juveniles and TDR) were significantly higher in Group R. Statistical difference in CR also benefits Group R. Production of bigger share of high-quality juveniles in Group R decreased overall production cost per one high-quality juvenile by 59.7%, from 0.72 EUR in Group A to 0.29 EUR in Group R. Use of established feeding protocols confirmed significant production and economic improvements in pikeperch larvae culture and production of high-quality juveniles. Even though the price of rotifer cultivation significantly exceeded the price of Artemia purchase and cultivation, the production cost of high-quality pikeperch juveniles significantly decreased.

Among the many biotic factors with adverse effects on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), diseases caused by fungi, viruses and nematodes are notable. Since the genome of S. lycopersicum became available, efforts have continued to identify the genes and proteins associated with the plant defence activity. One such gene family belongs to TIR-NBS-LRR (TNL), a subfamily of larger NBS-LRR genes. In total, 27 full-length TNLs were identified via genome wide analysis. Four pairs of segmental duplication events were observed involving different pairs of chromosomes, except the pairing of Solyc02g082050-Solyc02g032650, which were both present on chromosome 2. More than twenty nine percent (29.63%) of the genes were localised on chromosome 1 alone. Hormone-mediated biotic stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements were detected for methyl-jasmonate, salicylic acid (TCA motif) and ethylene (ERE motif). Differential gene expression was observed for many genes under different plant tissues and biotic stresses. The upregulation of many genes including SlBS4 was observed against Alternaria solani attacks in the disease tolerant varieties. Altogether, the results suggested that TNLs play a significant role in plant defence under biotic stress.

Verticillium dahliae is a broad host-range pathogen that causes vascular wilt in plants. The Verticillium wilt disease severity assay on plants caused by V. dahliae mainly includes two methods, one is a plant disease grade classification based on disease severity statistics [namely the disease index (DI)], and the other is the V. dahliae biomass quantification in plants (namely the fungal biomass). In this study, the relationships of pathogenicity with the DI, pathogenicity with the biomass, and the correlation analysis of the DI and relative fungal biomass were analysed. The results showed that pathogenicity assessment of V. dahliae strains using the DI method was able to give an intuitive reflection of the pathogenic ability for defoliating and non-defoliating strains; moreover, the method of quantitative PCR for fungal biomass also had high repeatability and stability. As a whole, the correlation coefficient between the DI and fungal biomass values of 28 strains was 0.728, indicating that the two data sets were highly correlated; however, the correlation coefficients of the defoliating strains and non-defoliating strains were only 0.5384 and 0.4547, respectively. In conclusion, the correlation coefficient between the DI and the fungal biomass presented high consistency, which could provide some meaningful exploration for the more accurate pathogenicity identification of V. dahliae.

The depletion of organic carbon in the topsoil and the reduction of the humic horizon leads to a decrease in soil productivity. This study focussed on evaluating the influence of water erosion on the quantity and quality of organic carbon (OC) in the topsoil. The determination of the differences in the OC with dependence on the soil thickness and the role of the soil texture in a depletion of OC in the humic horizon and its labile fractions were studied in four arable land localities (Haplic Chernozem, HC; Eutric Regosol, ER). The following carbon parameters were included: total organic carbon (TOC), labile carbon oxidisable by KMnO₄ (C_L), cold and hot water-extractable organic carbons (CWEOCs) and (HWEOCs), respectively. The higher the soil thickness was, the higher the OC contents were at a depth of up to 0.1 m (TOC; r =0.387, P < 0.01; C_L; r = 0.266, P < 0.01), which indicates a more pronounced organic and mineral material washing off. This process was more pronounced on the texturally finer HC than the coarser ER soil. In the case of water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), the vertical movement was dominant, while in the case of C_L, the horizontal one was dominant. In the case of erosion, the spatial variability of the OC is not only the result of the erosion-accumulation activities, but also from the proportion of the OC forms. The erosion significantly interferes in the stabilisation mechanisms of organic substances, and even also influences one of the strongest factors – the soil texture.

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) accelerated floret opening in rice, crucial for addressing inconsistent floret opening in hybrid seed production of indica × japonica hybrids. However, indica and japonica rice exhibited notable differences in their sensitivity to MeJA’s impact on floret opening, with indica responding faster. To clarify the molecular basis of MeJA-induced floret opening sensitivity differences between indica and japonica rice, after 1 h of MeJA spraying, transcriptomes and endogenous floret opening regulators were compared between indica and japonica rice, with histology differences observed. The results showed that MeJA quickly activated plant hormones in indica and japonica rice, but JAZ genes in JA signalling pathway upregulation were greater in indica rice. Alpha-linolenic acid, starch and sucrose metabolism pathways responded faster in indica rice. MeJA boosted endogenous JA synthesis more in indica rice, which had 5–6 middle-layer cells, more than japonica’s 3–4 layers, resulting in thicker glumes. The metabolic pathways regulating floret opening, including plant hormone signal transduction, alpha-linolenic acid and starch and sucrose metabolism, along with endogenous JA and soluble sugars, could respond to exogenous MeJA. However, the more intense and rapid responses of these regulatory pathways and endogenous substances to MeJA in indica, resulted in the difference in sensitivity to MeJA between indica and japonica rice.

In China’s agricultural catastrophe insurance market, issues of non-equilibrium are prominent. To understand the causes of non-equilibrium in agricultural catastrophe insurance and to develop prevention strategies, this study employs an Evolutionary Game Model, incorporating disaster and insurance data for three types of cereal crops in Henan Province to analyse the Evolutionarily Stable Strategies in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market. The research also considers government policies and disaster reinsurance as implicit participants in the model. The findings reveal significant differences in the impact of non-equilibrium in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market and the choice of game strategies, dependent on the scale of farm operations, the type of crops cultivated, and regional variations. Significantly, decision-making evolutionary paths vary between small and medium-scale farmers, with rice growers emphasising income insurance more. In regions prone to frequent catastrophes, the insurance rates for agricultural catastrophe insurance exhibit greater flexibility. By scientifically delineating agricultural catastrophe risk zones, appropriately expanding the scale of cultivation, reducing insurance rates, and adjusting agricultural catastrophe insurance products, a balanced development in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market can be promoted.

Seaweed has an important role in the mitigation of enteric methane (CH₄) production by ruminant animals. The utilisation and its effectiveness in enteric CH₄ reduction require a preservation process. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different drying processes on the effectiveness of seaweed Gracilaria spp. in reducing CH₄ production assessed through an in vitro method. Three drying techniques, sun-drying, oven-drying, and freeze-drying, were applied to produce a dried product of Glacilaria spp. Rice straw basal diets combined with concentrate at the 70 : 30% were used to test the inclusion of 4% of three differently dried products of Gracilaria spp. compared to the basal diet without seaweed (control group). Measurements were conducted on in vitro total and CH₄ gas production, nutrient degradability, ammonia (NH₃) and VFA concentration, and microbial population. Results showed that the three dried products of Gracilaria spp. significantly reduced in vitro CH₄ production compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). All drying techniques gave a similar effect on in vitro CH₄ reduction, but they did not affect dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) and significantly reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group, with oven-dried treatments having the lowest NDF degradability among the treatments. It is concluded that the three different drying techniques had similar effects on enteric CH₄ reduction.

Coastal wetlands play a vital role in the migration and transformation of heavy metal pollutants in watersheds. There were 30 surface sediment samples that were analysed to investigate the distribution and ecological risks of heavy metals in the coastal wetlands around the Bohai Sea. Our results showed that the average concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd in these wetlands were 17.92 ± 5.81, 50.29 ± 20.50, 31.53 ± 9.71, 25.37 ± 4.29, 80.13 ± 15.11, and 0.92 ± 0.54 mg/kg, respectively. Relative to other wetlands, Pb (25.43 ± 2.68 mg/kg) and Cd (1.67 ± 0.06 mg/kg) contents were higher in the Liaohe Delta wetland (LHDW). Cu (28.44 ± 3.71 mg/kg), Cr (83.11 ± 5.80 mg/kg), and Ni (45.91 ± 3.02 mg/kg) contents were higher in the Yellow River Delta wetland (YRDW). The Zn (120.86 ± 7.41 mg/kg) content was higher in the Qilihai wetland. Heavy metal concentrations in coastal wetland sediments are shown to be positively correlated with organic matter content. Our results showed that the concentration of heavy metals decreases with increasing sediment particle size. In this study, Cd showed the highest pollution index and, therefore, more attention should be paid to the potential ecological risks of Cd in coastal wetlands around the Bohai Sea, especially in the LHDW and YRDW.

In Saudi Arabia, tree mortality has abnormally increased over the past ten years, exceeding regulatory standards without clear interpretation. The present study aimed to investigate three attacked tree populations in different biogeographic regions of Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, climatic data from the last thirty years, forest densities, soil cover, pest search, and insect damage to trees have been reported. The results of this study show a distinct climate change manifested by an increase of 2 °C in temperature accompanied by a decrease in precipitation and the extension of drought periods during the last 30 years. Analysis of satellite images and the computation by quadrat methods revealed a decline in forest density and soil tree cover caused by dieback associated with an increase in the rate of tree pest attacks. Furthermore, tree investigations show attacks of the xylophagous beetles Steraspis speciosa and Paropta paradoxus on Acacia population in the north and centre of the country. In addition, many strains of termites are attacking the Dobera glabra population in the south of the Kingdom. This study shows that tree dieback, as a response to long periods of drought, when associated with pest attacks, provokes a dramatic decline in forest tree heritage. Climate change is the principal precursor to forest decline and pest invasion in Saudi Arabia.

The paper deals with a new method of innovative assessment of the supported effects and ecosystem services of forests using the actual amount of their increased costs. Among the most important research findings and significance of the new method is that it contributes to the body of knowledge on valuation and payment for ecosystem services. The focus of the research task is to help address the current difficult economic situation of forest owners resulting from the impacts of climate change. The study aims to determine what work quantifies the amount of compensation for the provision of supported ecosystem services that is sufficient for owners by using hypothesis testing. The evaluation of the supported effects was carried out in a case study in the area of the Chrudim-Podhůra Recreational Forests in the Czech Republic. The results of the evaluation were quantified in two experimental spreadsheets of the results, a comparative analysis of the evaluation results was performed, and hypothesis testing was conducted. The innovative methodological approach to the assessment of supported effects can be easily modified and used to assess the actual amount of increased costs of other ecosystem services of the forest.

This research investigates the high prevalence of morphological defects in the sperm of a particular rabbit breed, namely the Zemplin rabbit (ZR). We tried to uncover the possible causes and consequences of the observed abnormalities. Ejaculate samples from ten adult males were divided into two qualitative groups according to the motility parameters revealed by CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis). Group A contained samples with total motility (TM) above 50% and progressive motility (PM) above 30%. Group B contained samples with TM and PM below these values. Viability (SYBR-14/DRAQ5^TM and SYTOX^TM Green/DRAQ5^TM staining) and apoptosis (YO-PRO ^TM-1/DRAQ5 ^TM stainig) analyses through flow cytometry served as an additional insight into the characteristics of the qualitative groups. In both cases, we noted significant differences (P < 0.05) between groups which corresponded to motility values. Both groups showed an increased incidence of abnormal spermatozoa, and we did not observe any significant differences between them. Simultaneously, we assessed the practical implications of these sperm defects on artificial insemination (AI), and also, we did not notice any significant differences in these parameters. The use of transmission electron microscopy enhanced our understanding of the morphological defects at the ultrastructural level. In summary, the study provides an understanding of the qualitative differences in rabbit semen, highlighting variations in quality parameters. While these differences exist, they may not necessarily translate into significant variations in AI outcomes. Our study shows higher values of cytoplasmic droplets in ZR semen, but it also shows that these conditions do not necessarily mean a fundamental obstacle to fertility in the case of AI.

In 2024, the journal Plant Protection Science (PPS) completes 60 years of publication (1965–2024). Its roots extend back to the year 1921. In recent years, PPS has developed into an international scientific journal focused on all aspects of plant protection science, published exclusively in English, and with an international editorial board. The publisher is the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), celebrating its 100th anniversary (1924–2024). PPS is one of eleven agricultural journals published by CAAS. On its 50th anniversary, PPS published a detailed overview of its history and development. This latest critical review summarises developments during the last ten years; however, in special cases, also with a longer-term perspective. During the last decade, PPS has made impressive progress and is now among the world's key scientific journals. Recently, the journal has been added to the indexing and abstracts of many international databases, e.g. BIOSIS Previews, SCOPUS and Web of Science. In 2014, PPS had an impact factor of 0.597, but during the last few years, PPS's IF has ranged between 1.3 and 1.4 (for 2023, IF = 1.7), with the possibility of further increase. Each year, PPS is published quarterly, with a total of around 40 papers (original papers, reviews, short communications, biographical notices, and book reviews). Per year, about 70–80% of papers by authors/co-authors from abroad are published (Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Oceania). In the final part of this presentation, we describe some recent achievements and discuss key topics related to PPS's future development.

The land in the South Tasikmalaya Regency is dominated by dry land with a steep and hilly land contour. In addition, the area has a shallow soil solum, so it has a high potential for erosion and landslides. Therefore, it is necessary to innovate an integrated cultivation system that is economically feasible, but still maintains environmental sustainability. In this research, the aim is to formulate a model for the development of integrated plantation polyculture farming (IPPF) for the welfare of farmers. The method in this study uses a mixed method design. The location of the research carried out is in the Tasikmalaya Regency. The data used are the results of interviews and questionnaires to 250 IPPF farmers. The data used were obtained by multistage cluster random sampling. The sustainable IPPF development model was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). This analysis is used to determine the various potential capital factors for agricultural development on the sustainable development of the IPPF and farmers’ welfare. The results of the study show that the potential development capital [natural resources (SDA) capital, economic capital, socio-cultural capital, physical capital, and multifunctional IPPF], jointly or partially affect the IPPF sustainability. Human resource capital has no effect on the sustainable IPPF development, while the sustainable IPPF development affects the farmers’ welfare levels, and the potential agricultural development capital and its multifunctionality affect the sustainable IPPF development and farmers’ welfare. The IPPF development model that improves the welfare of farmers is carried out through the development of specific local superior commodities, increasing the added value and cooperation, developing access to credit, regenerating farmers, sustainable assistance and infrastructure improvements. The results of this study are expected to be a reference for the government in improving IPPF sustainability to achieve the welfare of its farmers. Apart from that, the model that has been developed can make a contribution to science in the form of a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the sustainability of IPPF.

The issue of productivity and performance in agriculture is significant because it affects a country’s competitiveness, sustainability, and self-sufficiency in agricultural production and is reflected in European policy. This study aims to determine which country had the most efficient large farms compared to other V4 countries and whether efficiency in each country translates into the performance of large farms. The data were obtained from the EU FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) database from 2005 to 2019. These data were then evaluated using the statistical methods DEA: CCR-O (Data Envelopment Analysis: constant returns to scale), DEA: BCC-O (Data Envelopment Analysis: variable returns to scale), and Pearson correlation coefficient. Regarding international comparisons in achieving efficiency as measured by DEA, Hungary is the best performer among the countries compared, followed by Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia. The correlation between efficiency and performance measured by Farm Net Value Added was demonstrated only for Hungary. The international comparison provided information about which country had the most efficient large farms, what the ranking of countries was in terms of efficiency, and for which countries efficiency had / did not have a potential impact on performance. At the same time, the relationships regarding the efficiency and performance of farms with an economic size above EUR 500 000 of standard output were clarified.

Increased levels of the non-essential hazardous metalloid arsenic (As) in rice grains pose a threat to human health and the sustainability of the rice industry. In several counties, the average As contamination in polished rice has been detected to range from 0.002 to 0.39 mg/kg, which is above the safe limit of 1 mg/kg as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Beyond this limit, the digestive tract, circulatory system, skin, liver, kidney, nervous system and heart can be affected. Humans can develop cancer from consuming or inhaling As. In addition, long-term exposure to drinking water contaminated with arsenic has also been linked to a dose-response relationship with an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Rice has been shown to be an indirect source of arsenic accumulation in human bodies. Under flooded paddy soil, trivalent arsenate (AsIII) occupies 87–94% of the total As, while under non-flooded soil, pentavalent arsenate (AsV) predominates (73–96% of the total As). This review aims to provide a thorough and interdisciplinary understanding of the behaviour of As in the paddy soil and transportation to rice grain and further investigate efficient ways to limit arsenic contamination. Supplementation of soil with specific mineral nutrients such as iron (Fe), sulphur (S) and silicon (Si) can significantly decrease the arsenic accumulation in rice grain by minimising its uptake and translocation. The hydrogen bonding potentials of uronic acids, proteins and amino sugars on the extracellular surface of soil microorganisms facilitate the detoxification of arsenic species. Further, rice is absorbed less when exposed to aerobic water management practices than anaerobic ones since it reduces the build-up of As in rice, and the solution is immobilised as in the soil.

Copper contamination stemming from copper-based pesticides poses a grave concern in vineyards and orchards, causing toxicity to soil organisms. Here, we present a comprehensive review of global data encompassing copper levels in these soils, coupled with variables such as the age of agricultural establishments, climate, soil organic matter content, soil pH, and farming practices (organic vs. conventional). The results suggest that there are three pivotal determinants driving copper content in vineyard and orchard soils: climate, the age of agricultural establishments, and soil organic matter content. It was impossible to estimate soil pH’s effect on soil copper content because of its dependence on precipitation. Copper content in vineyard and orchard soils worldwide follows a direct correlation with precipitation while inversely correlating with aridity (i.e. potential evapotranspiration divided by precipitation). Furthermore, a clear linkage emerges between farm age and increased copper content in soils globally. Intriguingly, the increased soil organic matter content has shown inverse impacts on soil copper levels. These effects of soil properties on soil copper contents were discussed in terms of copper losses from soil via surface runoff. However, no discernible disparities in soil copper content between organic and conventional farming systems were found. This worldwide survey not only underscores the established influence of climate on European vineyards but also sheds novel light on the historical legacy of copper contamination in these landscapes.

This study aimed to obtain buckwheat bread by adding whole buckwheat to the white bread formulation in groat and flour form. The addition was made in different proportions (0, 10, 20, and 30%) according to the principle of substitution. Buckwheat addition, as groat, increased the bread's hardness to a great extent. Moisture analysis results indicated that the buckwheat additive can increase the water-holding capacity and may extend the shelf life, especially in flour form. The samples' antioxidant activities and phenolic content significantly increased when the addition was made as flour. All buckwheat-added samples had lower volume values than control samples. Buckwheat addition caused an increase in volatile components such as phenylethanol and benzylalcohol. As a result of sensory analysis, using buckwheat as flour and groat positively affected breadmaking. Considering the samples' nutritional and sensory properties, the combination in which 20% buckwheat flour is added to the white bread formulation is the most appropriate use.

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial element for plant growth and development. In this study, three-year-old potted ‘Qingcui’ plums were treated with Na2SeO4 (Se6+) or selenomethionine (SeMet Se2-) to explore the effect of Se on the plant growth, fruit quality, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) metabolism. Flower and fruit numbers, fruit quality and yield, Se content, and 5-HTP metabolites and enzymes were detected. The results showed that the flower and fruit numbers, and yield were significantly increased by the Se application. There were no significant differences in the fruit diameters, fruit mass, edible part ratio, titratable acids, water content, and solid acid ratio among the treatments. The total soluble solids, soluble protein, and malondialdehyde contents under the Se6+ treatment showed no significant difference compared to the Se2- treatment, but they were significantly higher than these under control by 16.71%, 39.13%, and 36.27%, respectively. The Se application markedly increased plant the Se content, and Se contents in the roots and leaves, or the fruits were significantly larger by the Se6+ treatments than the Se2- treatment. The leaves’ pigment contents under the Se2- treatments were significantly larger than those under the control or Se6+ treatment. Tryptophan was not significantly influenced, the 5-HTP and 5-methoxytryptophan contents were reduced in the roots, and increased in the leaves, and the serotonin content was only significantly increased in the roots by the Se treatments. The tryptophan hydroxylase and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase levels were slightly influenced, and the tryptophan decarboxylase level in the roots or fruits was significantly increased by the Se treatments. The Se application had beneficial effects on the plant growth, fruit quality, and Se content, especially in the Se6+ treatment, and influenced the 5-HTP metabolism.

Weed control and replenishing soil moisture and fertility are important areas in fruit production. The number of studies focused to determine whether living mulches in tree rows can fulfil these tasks increases recently. In the paper the results of an 11-year experiment on the effect of two such mulches (Trifolium repens L. and Agrostis capillaris L.) on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of three pear cultivars (‘Alfa’, ‘Dolores’, ‘Amfora’) in relation to herbicide fallow are presented. In the experiment, a single sowing of covering plants without additional treatments was used. A statistically significant reduction in yield (20–22%) was found for both mulches used, which was related to weakening the vegetative growth of trees. The average fruit mass did not change significantly, but the percent share of large fruits increased significantly (about 17%) in the A. capillaris mulch. Fruits from trees growing in T. repens contained significantly more soluble solids and Ca. However, that mulch became heavily infested with weeds after a few years. The obtained results allow us to recommend the use of the living mulch A. capillaris in the tree rows of a commercial pear orchard. The ‘Dolores’ and ‘Amfora’ cvs are particularly recommended.

Policy constraints and market incentives have made it an important foundation for developing countries such as China to develop agricultural green transition policies. This study employed the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2003 to 2022 and the three-dimensional framework of ‘institutions, technology, and marketisation’ to probe whether environmental regulation constraints or expected economic revenue incentives play a critical role in China’s current agriculture development. Whether the green transition of agriculture depends on environmental regulatory policy constraints and expected economic revenue incentives is related to the level of agricultural technology development and market development. Technology and market play a positive role in the agricultural green transition by enabling the realisation of agricultural green production and the realisation of the agricultural green market.

Many methods are used in a laboratory for packing sieved soil. Determination of soil properties is expected to vary with the applied packing method. The objective of this investigation was to test the impact of initial soil sieving duration and scraping of exposed soil surfaces on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) of an initially air-dry loam soil determined by the simplified falling-head technique. Two sieving durations (5 and 30 min) were considered. A brush was used to scrape exposed surfaces for half of the tested soil columns. A long sieving yielded finer soil than a short sieving and 9–22% smaller values of K_s. Scraping the exposed soil surfaces yielded 4–17% smaller K_s values than those obtained on the not scraped columns. None of the observed differences was statistically significant. Therefore, sieving duration and treatment of the exposed soil surfaces were minor factors influencing the determination of K_s. Reaching general conclusions about sieving duration and scraping effects requires testing these factors with other soils, initial soil water conditions and K_s measurement techniques.

This study investigates the impact of various molecular weights (MWs) of fulvic acid (FA) on maize growth, grain yield, and nutrient uptake under different nitrogen levels (NLs). A 2 × 3 balanced design was employed, with high (0.2 g N/kg) and low (0.05 g N/kg) NLs, and three FA MW ranges (W1 ≤ 3 000 D, 3 000 < W2 ≤ 10 000 D, W3 > 10 000 D) were applied at 25 mg/kg in soil. Significant interactions between NLs and FA MWs were observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio, nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, nitrogen content, and nitrogen uptake efficiency. Overall, under different NLs, FA application reduced chlorophyll a/b ratio, increased nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities, promoted maize growth, and thereby improved grain yield and nitrogen fertiliser uptake efficiency. Additionally, the promotion effect of low MW FA on these indicators outweighed that of high MW FA, yet the latter exhibited a more pronounced effect on increasing grain nitrogen concentration. Structural equation model analysis revealed direct effects of chlorophyll content, nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen uptake efficiency, NLs and FA MWs on maize grain yield, with FA MWs negatively impacting yield.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) represent the future of pest control, as they have the capacity to induce serious infections in insects, trigger epizootics, and effectively manage insect populations. The study aimed to identify and test indigenous EPF isolates against Tribolium confusum using soil samples from Northwestern and central Saudi Arabia. Galleria mellonella larvae were used as insect bait to collect EPF from soil samples from date palm groves, fruit groves, and maise fields. Only 27.3% of soil samples tested positive for palm grove-originating EPFs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified the cultured fungi as Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. Tribolium confusum pathogenicity was assessed using nine local fungal isolates. Different fungus isolates were tested for their pathogenicity on larval and adult T. confusum. The results showed that M. anisopliae MaSA-2, MaSA-3, and MaSA-4 had infection rates of 85%, 85%, and 75%, respectively, in last-instar T. confusum larvae and 5%, 10%, and 20% in adults within seven days. On the other hand, B. bassiana BbSA-4 showed a 100% infection rate in T. confusum larvae, while BbSA-5, BbSA-6, BbSA-7, BbSA-8, and BbSA-9 had infection rates of 70%, 80%, 80%, 75%, and 95%, respectively. In terms of adult mortality rates, B. bassiana BbSA-4, BbSA-5, BbSA-6, BbSA-7, BbSA-8, and BbSA-9 had rates of 25%, 35%, 35%, 20%, 20%, and 40%, respectively. The research findings show that indigenous B. bassiana and M. anisopliae fungus isolates successfully eliminated T. confusum larvae, although their effectiveness against adults was limited.

This study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of seed treatments and different sugar beet varieties in controlling flea beetles (Chaetocnema tibialis) and sugar beet weevils (Asproparthenis punctiventris) in Croatia. The field trials were conducted in Vukovar-Sirmia County and targeted the developmental stages of sugar beet from BBCH 12 to BBCH 31. Although the sowing was done within the optimal period, no clear pattern between germination of the seeds and susceptibility was identified as the results showed different responses at different development stages and among the three variants. The experimental design comprised no insecticide, thiamethoxam + tefluthrin, cyantraniliprole, flupyradifurone and Beauveria bassiana + Metarhizium anisopliae. The results show that the treatments with thiamethoxam + tefluthrin effectively reduced pest damage only at the critical stages of development. The current findings suggest that While some of these alternative methods offer good control, they may prove insufficient when applied individually. Hence, integrating them into a comprehensive pest management approach could be necessary for effectively safeguarding sugar beet yields. Further studies should explore potential additive or synergistic benefits to enhance these strategies.

When 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (nitrapyrin) is applied alone, it typically does not significantly increase crop yield. Therefore, we combined gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with nitrapyrin to address the limitations of nitrapyrin in enhancing yield. We conducted indoor incubation experiments and pot experiments in Chernozem and Calcic Kastanozem, respectively. The results demonstrated that GABA exerted an influence on the effectiveness of nitrapyrin by altering its degradation rate. In Chernozem, GABA accelerated nitrapyrin degradation, whereas, in Calcic Kastanozem, the results were the opposite. The pot experiment results showed that the combination of nitrapyrin and GABA increased rice total biomass by 5%, grain yield by 18 ± 2%, and plant nitrogen (N) uptake by 9 ± 1% compared to nitrapyrin applied alone. The increase in yield was attributed to the combined effect of nitrapyrin and GABA, which elevated root biomass and leaf area. In contrast, the effect of GABA on yield through altering the degradation rate of nitrapyrin was weaker. Therefore, the combination of nitrapyrin and GABA combined with urea increases rice yields in Chernozem and Calcic Kastanozem. The aim of this endeavour was to foster the development of a novel fertiliser product that offers both favourable agronomic outcomes and environmental benefits.