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Dietary antioxidant supplementation has become popular for managing male infertility because of its impact on the antioxidant capacity of semen. This study evaluates the effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on the seminal characteristics of Colombian Creole horses. Semen from six Colombian Creole stallions was collected using an artificial vagina. The stallions were randomly allocated to a control group (CG) or a supplementation group (SG) that received a multi-antioxidant supplement. A repeated measures design, with a wash out period of two weeks between treatments, was used. Sperm motility and kinematics were assessed using a computer-assisted semen analysis system, membrane integrity (MI) and the acrosomal integrity (AI) of sperm were assessed using fluorescent microscopy, abnormal morphology (AM) was analysed using supravital staining, and the functionality of the sperm membrane was assessed using the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. A fraction of each ejaculate sample was centrifuged to obtain seminal plasma (SP). The reactive oxygen species and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the SP were measured via spectrofluorimetry. Linear models were fitted, and comparison of means was performed using Tukey’s test. Dietary antioxidant supplementation increased sperm beat cross frequency. In addition, a higher AI was found for the SG. Supplementation also increased the TAC of the SP. Individual analysis revealed that dietary antioxidant supplementation increased the total and progressive motility of the semen of two horses in the SG; however, supplementation reduced these two parameters in two other individuals compared to the CG. It can be concluded that dietary antioxidant supplementation with a nutraceutical that provides vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and omega-3 for horses can increase sperm quality as well as the TAC of SP; however, this may be subject to the individual effect of each horse.

Pigeon paramyxovirus type-1 (PPMV-1) is the causative agent of pigeon Newcastle disease (ND), which has caused huge losses to the pigeon industry. In this study, a PPMV-1 strain, PPMV-1/QH-01/CH/23, was isolated from a sick racing pigeon in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China in 2023. The mean death time of chicken embryos and the intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) were 76.8 h and 1.25, indicating a mesogenic strain. Pigeon morbidity and mortality were 100% and 80%, respectively, and both were 80% in chickens; therefore, this isolate was velogenic for both pigeons and chickens. The fusion gene was amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis, and the results indicated that the isolated strain possessed a virulent fusion protein cleavage site motif, ¹¹²R-R-Q-K-R-F¹¹⁷, and belonged to genotype XX (former sub-genotype VIc) of class II; this was different from the predominant sub-genotype, VI.2.1.1.2.2, which is prevalent in pigeons. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a novel genotype XX isolate possessing high virulence for both chickens and pigeons in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China.

Farmers, often vulnerable within the agricultural supply chain, frequently encounter difficulties accessing and affording loans. This study introduces an innovative credit risk evaluation framework for farmers tailored to the agricultural supply chain. It includes three key aspects: farmers’ credit characteristics, the operational status of the agricultural supply chain, and overall credit conditions. Initially, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to assign weight coefficients to indicators. Then, the Elimination et Choix Traduisant la Réalité III (ELECTRE III) model was employed to determine farmers’ credit ratings. To demonstrate the impact of the agricultural supply chain on microfinance, the model’s effectiveness was then tested with 398 microfinance survey responses from Fuping County (World Dairy Goat Industry Development Demonstration Zone), Shaanxi Province, China, and its accuracy was further verified using BP neural network analysis. The results demonstrated the model’s proficiency in assessing farmers’ credit levels within the agricultural supply chain, which can aid in the resolution of various credit assessment and rating challenges. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights into the integration of multi-criteria decision-making and machine-learning methods.

This paper investigates the effect of pre-COVID credit constraints and the moderating role of government support on agribusiness resilience following the outbreak of COVID-19. Using a dataset covering 42 countries, we provide empirical evidence on how firm characteristics and credit constraints affect agribusinesses’ likelihood of survival and performance during the pandemic. On the enterprise level, size, foreign ownership and gender of the manager are found to display a statistically significant relationship with closure and sales performance. The findings reveal that pre-existing credit constraints tended to magnify the negative impacts of the pandemic. Specifically, agribusinesses with better access to finance were less likely to experience a decline in sales and exit from the market and, hence, were in a better position to withstand pandemic-induced shock. The results further highlighted the positive role of government support on agribusiness resilience, whereas obtaining government aid was found to have no significant effect on moderating the link between financial conditions and resilience. Finally, the results showed that financially constrained agribusinesses are more likely to suffer from liquidity/cash flow problems and experience overdue financial obligations during the pandemic. In coping with their liquidity shortfalls, these agribusinesses were less likely to access formal credit and more likely to delay payments to suppliers/workers.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is one of the most important cereals in the world; is an important source of bioactive compounds. The germination is a very useful tool to improve the nutraceutical value of cereals, associated with the reduction of chronic-degenerative diseases; the extrusion has a positive effect on microbiological stability and sensory properties. The response of the combined germination-extrusion processes applied under optimised conditions, on proximal composition, in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant activity (AoxA), hypoglycemic potential and microbiological quality of sorghum grains were studied. Sorghum was processed by germination (37 °C for 69 h) and extrusion [137 °C for 134 rpm (revolutions per minute)]. The germination increased protein content (+21%), insoluble dietary fibre (+50%), IVPD (+10%), TPC (+26%), AoxA (+97%). The extrusion increased soluble dietary fibre (+100%) and IVPD (+13%). The combined germination-extrusion processing reduced the content of total coliforms, total mesophilic aerobics and molds below the maximum limits established by the Mexican Official Standards NOM-147-SSA1-1994. Regarding hypoglycemic potential, germinated sorghum and germinated-extruded sorghum presented the best half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value. The combination of germination-extrusion processes is an effective strategy to increase bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes.

The aim of the study was to prepare and test the effect of diets with 50% and 100% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled seeds of white lupin (Lupinus albus) variety Zulika. Two hundred and forty ROSS 308 broiler chickens were divided into control group (C) and two experimental groups E₅₀ (50% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled white lupin meal) and E₁₀₀ (100% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled white lupin meal). The production parameters and the amino acid spectrum of breast and thigh muscles were evaluated up to 34 days of age. Final live weight of broiler chickens was not significantly affected by the substitution of soybean meal in starter, grower and finisher diets (C 2.3 ± 0.3 kg, E₅₀ 2.4 ± 0.3 kg, E₁₀₀ 2.4 ± 0.3 kg). Lupine meal-based diets positively influenced chicken health, which was reflected in a lower mortality rate in the experimental groups (E₅₀ 5.0 %, E₁₀₀ 2.5 %) compared to the control group (C 7.5 %). Differences in feed conversion were minimal (C 1.47 kg/kg, E₅₀ 1.48 kg/kg, E₁₀₀ 1.45 kg/kg). When evaluating the total amino acid content in the breast and thigh muscle of broiler chickens of the experimental groups (E₅₀, E₁₀₀), it can be noted that compared to the C group, the total contents of both essential and non-essential amino acids were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in the dry matter of thigh muscle.

The commodity rice in Indonesia and the administration of rice fields are given particular focus by the government. Spraying activities are known to increase the risk of exposure to chemicals for farmers, resulting in a loss of working days for 3–7 days. It is necessary to carry out ergonomic interventions for spraying activities to make the activity safer for farmers. This research aims to identify the ergonomics and safety problems of spraying activities in rice field farming, to analyse and develop intervention parameters to solve issues in spraying activities, and to generate innovative design concepts to overcome spraying problems. Prospective users assign importance weights to the twelve functional requirements. The light sprayer has the highest weight, meaning users need a lightweight sprayer. The relationship between the customer and the functional requirements can be strong, moderate, weak, and zero (no ties). This relationship determines the technical importance of the rating. From the assessment of the relationship between the customer and the functional requirements, it can be seen which technical specifications should be prioritised for developing the product. An automated system is the technical specification that should be prioritised because it has the most significant weight on meeting the consumer needs.

Mastitis, mainly caused by contagious bacteria, is an important disease in dairy goat production, especially subclinical mastitis. The aim of the research was to study the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and presence of mastitis pathogens in goat milk during the period 2022–2024. A total of 987 udder-half milk samples were obtained from 5 goat farms in Slovakia. The presence of pathogens was determined by bacterial cultivation and grown colonies were identified by MALDI-TOF MS at the species level. Fossomatic 7 was used to determine SCC. To evaluate the frequency distribution of the samples, the following groups of SCC were considered: SCC1 < 500 × 10³ cells/ml, SCC2 ≥ 500 < 1 000 × 10³ cells/ml, SCC3 ≥ 1 000 < 2 000 × 10³ cells/ml, SCC4 ≥ 2 000 × 10³ cells/ml. The individual milk sample were 42.2% in SCC1, 17.0% in SCC2, 16.7% and 24.0% in SCC3 and SCC4, respectively. Of the total number of samples, 23.0% were bacteriologically positive. The most frequently identified pathogens were Staphylococcus spp., especially non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM). Among the NASM, Staphylococcus epidermidis (40.3%), Staphylococcus caprae (27.5%) and Staphylococcus simulans (10.4%) were the most prevalent species. Only 2 samples were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. A higher occurrence of pathogens was identified in SCC ≥ 1 000 × 10³ cells/ml (SCC3 and SCC4) compared to SCC < 1 000 × 10³ cells/ml (SCC1 and SCC2). However, approximately 34.8% of uninfected half udders with no bacteriological findings had SCC ≥ 1 000 × 10³ cells/ml. In conclusion, NASM were the most common bacterial causative agents of subclinical mastitis in goats and it is not easy to set a specific SCC for subclinical mastitis diagnosis as it is in dairy cows.

Although the effects of fertiliser addition and liming on semi-natural grassland productivity and biomass quality are well documented, less is known about how fertilisers change plant functional groups and mean ecological values. We researched the effects of liming (no lime and lime with 1 t/ha) and mineral fertilisers (control – no fertilisers, PK-P60K60, N20PK-N20P60K60, N80PK-N80P60K60, and N140PK-N140P60K60) for nine years on the Danthonia alpina Vest. grassland community. Based on Brown-Blanquet cover abundance, we calculated Shannon-Wiener evenness and abundance of plant functional groups (based on height, canopy structure, storage organs presence and flowering duration). We also researched Landolt’s ecological indicator values for nutrients, moisture, reaction, light, and temperature. Results revealed that fertilisers stimulated tall species with longer flowering duration. Shannon-Wiener evenness in control was 0.45, and N20PK increased to 0.71 but significantly decreased in treatment N140PK (0.25). Mean Landolt ecological value for nutrients and moisture increased while temperature dropped. The coverage of legumes and Landolt indicator value for nutrients increased because of the lime application, while the lime had no effect on Shannon-Wiener evenness and abundance of functional groups. Greater Shannon-Wiener evenness in treatments of PK and N20PK is a prerequisite for resistance to the effects of extreme climate events.

Sunflower serves as a valuable rotational crop, suitable for snack processing or sunflower seed oil extraction, proving to be a lucrative cash crop. To address sunflower yield uncertainties, this study employs meta-analysis to examine the impact of fertilisation. Utilising 41 studies and 392 pairs of observations based on four criteria, we found an overall 27% increase in sunflower yield with fertiliser application. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) individually applied raised yield by 23.37, 20.92, and 11.63%, respectively. Combined fertilisers (NP, NK, NP, and NPK) enhanced yield by 29.69, 28.40, 17.35, and 41.91%, respectively. Sunflower type minimally affects yield, while planting density significantly influences it. Combining local soil conditions and environmental factors with appropriate planting densities ensures maximum sunflower yield, fostering economic benefits for farmers. This study holds constructive implications for sunflower cultivation in China, contributing to increased yield.

The study aimed at the isolation of microorganisms from aminopyralid (AP)-contaminated soil, evaluation of their ability to degrade AP, and examination of the effects of AP on microbial growth. Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida subhashii, and Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans were isolated and identified using enrichment. None of those strains were able to degrade 100 ppm AP within 2–3 weeks. In contrast, collection strains Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Spoppo’ and Bacillus velezensis FZB42 reduced AP concentration by 35.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Low sensitivity of growth to AP (400 ppm) on the malt-extract-agar medium was observed; inhibition values for C. herbarum and G. candidum were 52.4% and 22.8%, respectively, compared to 33.7% inhibition found with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’. Promotion of fungal growth was observed at low AP concentrations in the Czapek-Dox medium, the highest effect being in G. candidum. The growth promotion effect was confirmed with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’growing on wheat straw contaminated with Mustang Forte and Corello herbicides; total fruiting body mass yield increased 1.25- and 1.37-fold, respectively. The study offers insight into future strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic auxin herbicides.

This study investigated the genetic basis of days to heading (DTH) in tropical japonica rice using F₂ populations derived from late-maturing Rojolele and early-maturing Rojolele Srinuk varieties. Phenotypic analysis of DTH showed continuous distribution and positive skewness. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) derived single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from early and late-heading bulks were used to identify three candidate regions with strong association to DTH: qDTH3.1 and qDTH3.2 on chromosome 3, and qDTH7.1 on chromosome 7, with the latter linked to the Oryza sativa Pseudo-Response Regulator 37 (OsPRR37) gene. InDel markers validated qDTH7.1’s significant linkage to DTH, particularly marker ID14, which is effective for marker-assisted selection of early DTH in Rojolele background.

Wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) leads to losses of grain yield and quality. Ingestion of diseased grain is detrimental to human health due to the mycotoxins present in the grain. Developing resistant cultivars for environments where FHB is prevalent is therefore an important breeding objective. One of the most effective wheat genes conferring type II resistance to FHB is Fhb1, originally discovered in the Chinese cultivar (cv) Sumai 3. Another excellent FHB resistance gene is Fhb7 located on the long arm of Lophopyrum elongatum chromosome 7E. Several alleles of Fhb7 have been identified. Allele Fhb7^The2 was found in disomic substitution lines 7E(7A), 7E(7B) and 7E(7D) derived from amphiploid AgCS. The amphiploid was produced from a hybrid Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring × L. elongatum. To find if combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 confers higher resistance in wheat than single genes, an introgression line derived from AgCS and possessing Fhb7^The2 was recurrently backcrossed to bread wheat cv Rollag and MN-Washburn possessing Fhb1. Experimental lines possessing both Fhb7^The2 and Fhb1 were developed and validated cytogenetically and with the L. elongatum genome-wide Sequenom SNP MassARRAY. Spikes of these lines, parental cv Rollag and MN-Washburn, and those of disomic addition line 7E possessing Fhb7^The2 plus controls were inoculated with Fusarium in a twice-replicated trial in controlled greenhouse environmental conditions. FHB infection rates were significantly lower in lines combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 than in materials with Fhb7^The2 or Fhb1 alone.

Effective weed management relies on frequent field monitoring, which is difficult to perform in vast areas. Integrating red-green-blue, thermal, hyperspectral, and multispectral sensors with unmanned aircraft systems and artificial intelligence ensures better results in managing the weed menace. Since India depends largely on agriculture, it is still a long way from implementing more advanced weed management methods. Mapping and surveillance of weeds in croplands by employing remote sensing will lead to varied herbicide application rates, thus reducing its overuse. This study reviews the practical application of remote sensing methods and unmanned aircraft systems in weed mapping

The potential use of volatile compounds released from milled seeds of mustard (Brassica juncea cv. Malopolska) obtained from three different companies was tested in in vitro and in vivo experiments for their inhibitory effect on Botrytis cinerea growth on agar media and its infection on vegetable leaves of cucumber, bean and spinach. In the experiments with spinach, the effect of volatiles from mustards on the storage and sensory quality of fumigated leaves was evaluated. The antifungal effect of the volatiles depended on the source and dosage of mustard seeds and biofumigation time. The most efficient inhibition of B. cinerea mycelium growth on agar media and vegetable leaves was mustard S from SHR company. The development of grey mould on spinach leaves was inhibited in the treatment with 4 h biofumigation with the volatiles from mustard S seeds in experiments conducted at 10 °C and also at 18 °C. In the sensory and storage quality analysis, the spinach leaves treated with volatiles from mustard seeds showed acceptable parameters that predisposed the product to consumption. The results show that it is possible to reduce the incidence of vegetable grey mould with the treatment of milled mustard seeds, opening a potential application of biofumigation in the control of B. cinerea in vegetables.

The near-expired food (NEF) is a significant opportunity to reduce food waste, while consumers often associate NEF with safety issues, which results in a large amount of safe and healthy food being wasted globally. This research focuses on food date labelling (FDL) and explores how consumers' label cognition impacts their willingness to purchase NEF. Using a random sampling method online, we obtain 2 113 valid samples from China and conduct an information intervention 'quasi-natural experiment' to obtain participants' FDL cognition and willingness to purchase the near-expired milk (NEM) before and after the intervention and evaluate the impact of the intervention through the differences-in-differences model. The results show that consumers' initial purchase willingness for NEM is low, and their FDL cognition has a positive effect, especially in Eastern China and higher education consumers. Information intervention increases consumers' willingness to purchase NEM by changing their label cognition, and the intervention has a more pronounced impact among older, male, and higher education consumers. Considering the pressure on resources and the environment caused by food waste has become an impediment to sustainable development, the findings expand the application of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (K-A-P) theory in the NEF field and clearly reveal the important role of eliminating consumer prejudice of FDL in reducing food waste to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 'Halve food waste.'

Developing natural herbicides offers a potential solution to mitigate the drawbacks associated with synthetic pesticides used in an excessive quantity to safeguard agricultural crops. In this study, essential oils extracted via hydrodistillation from Pinus ponderosa needles were investigated for their chemical composition and phytotoxic activity. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC/MS) identified twenty-three constituents, constituting 93.87% of the total oil. The predominant components were oxygenated monoterpenes (64.66%), with α-pinene (37.78%), β-pinene (24.32%), and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons, particularly germacrene-D (7.26%). The phytotoxic effects of P. ponderosa essential oil were tested on Phalaris canariensis L., Trifolium campestre Schreb., and Sinapis arvensis L. The essential oil exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling growth in a dose-dependent manner. A low concentration of essential oil reduced the germination and seedling growth of all tested weeds. Additionally, the essential oil treatment impacted malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage in the seedlings. These preliminary findings suggest that essential oils from forest trees, particularly Pinus ponderosa, could serve as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides. This approach may contribute to addressing the challenges associated with synthetic pesticides while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

The mechanical scarification of acorns, although requiring a significant investment of resources, is a process commonly used in container nurseries for seed preparation. Its aim is to increase the number of germinating seeds and to shorten and equalise the length of their germination period. Research results indicate that scarification also affects the production of seedlings with improved biometric parameters. However, there is limited information available on improving the structure of the root system, primarily due to the limited availability of image analysis systems for these plant parts. This study employed modern measurement methods using WinRhizo and WinFolia software (Regent Instruments Inc.; Version Pro, 2022) to comparatively analyse root system parameters, focusing mainly on their structure. The parameters of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings grown in polystyrene containers were compared with and without mechanical scarification, achieved by manually cutting off part of the acorn. After the end of the growing season, the parameters of all analysed seedlings (200 pieces) were determined, and a detailed analysis of the root system was performed on selected average individuals (64 pieces). Scarification resulted in an increase in the number of germinated seeds and grown seedlings, as well as an increase in the height and diameter of the root collar and a reduction in the variation of the obtained seedlings' parameters. Seedlings grown from scarified seeds were also characterised by a greater number of leaves with larger unit mass, which had smaller dimensions. The root system of seedlings grown from scarified seeds exhibited a higher average diameter and total volume of roots, as well as greater total length, surface area, and volume of fine roots, i.e. in the diameter range: 0.5 < D ≤ 2.0 mm. The obtained results confirmed the positive effect of seed scarification on germination and emergence efficiency, as well as on biometric features and the quality of the grown seedlings.

In this study, we examine the effect of Agricultural Socialisation Services (ASS) on green grain production efficiency in Jiangsu Province, China, by using data from the China Land Economy Survey. We used the generalised random forests model in this research to address potential issues of farming household self-selection into ASS and unobserved heterogeneity in treatment effects. The results show that participation in ASS significantly improves green production efficiency, particularly for small-scale farmers. Efficiency gains are most pronounced in critical agronomic operations such as pest control, seeding and planting, whereas smaller efficiency effects are observed in plowing, harvesting and straw treatment. The findings suggest that targeted expansion of ASS could substantially enhance sustainable farming practices, especially for resource-constrained farms. This study provides important policy insights for promoting agricultural sustainability through improved access to and delivery of agricultural services, contributing to more efficient and ecofriendly grain production.

Dragon trees, arborescent members of the genus Dracaena (Asparagaceae), provide a wide range of ecosystem services and have been ethnobotanically important plants since ancient times. Currently, their relictual distribution is fragmented, populations are isolated and often under threat. We provide a brief overview of scientific studies and the state of knowledge on dragon trees published since 2020, when the last review was published. More than 120 papers dealing with dragon trees have appeared, indicating a significant interest in their research, cultural uses and conservation. The most intensively investigated species are Dracaena cochinchinensis, D. cinnabari, D. draco and D. cambodiana. Almost half of the papers deal with the chemical composition of resin and its bioactivity, in addition to studies on ecology, conservation and genetics. Only a few studies are devoted to taxonomy and ethnobotany.

Results obtained from the research study focused on the functional parameters of five saw chains tested on a test bench equipped with an electrically driven chain saw brought a number of findings. One of the most important of them is the significant difference between the cutting rates of round and square chains. The cutting rate of square chains R = 27.9 cm²·s^–1 is about 12% higher than the cutting rate of round chains. The influence of the chain construction on the chain cutting rate was conclusively demonstrated – the cutting rate of chains with a square profile is higher than the cutting rate of round-profile chains. It was further found out that although the specific energy E_m = 77.8 Ws·cm^–2 is by ca. 7% lower in the square chain than in the round chain, Student's t-test did not reveal any statistically significant difference in the data on the specific energy consumption of round and square chains, i.e. the influence of the chain design on the specific energy consumption of the chain at cutting was not clearly demonstrated. Other findings, for example, showed that working with a loose saw chain on the guide bar impairs parameters of the chain operation or that energy demands of cutting with the saw chain are directly proportional to wood density (hardness) and increase with the decreasing wood moisture. Yet another finding was learning the energy flow structure, which indicated that 46% of total power input is consumed by the electric motor alone for its operation while only about 7% goes for driving the chain movement along the bar (without cutting) and power input required for cutting is approximately 46%.

In this study, we assessed the salt tolerance of 38 wheat cultivars from primary wheat cultivation regions in China using a membership function value (MFV) during the germination and seedling emergence stages. Based on salt tolerance assessment, three contrasting groups were classified, with 10 tolerant, 23 moderately tolerant and 5 sensitive cultivars under low salt stress, and 4 tolerant, 25 moderately tolerant and 9 sensitive cultivars under high salt stress and in addition to Na⁺ and K⁺ homeostasis regulation, nitrogen efficient transfer from seed to plant tissues denoted the significant positive correlation with salt tolerance, confirming the importance of nutrient spectra organisation. Salt-tolerant and moderately tolerant cultivars had lower trait network modularity than salt-sensitive cultivars, demonstrating that wheat with different salt tolerance uses alternative strategies to cope with salt stress. These results were important for germplasm evaluation and variety breeding of salt tolerance in wheat.

The influence of spermidine (Spd) on wheat ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, copper (Cu) accumulation and photosynthetic performance under Cu stress was studied. The findings displayed that Cu stress boosted reduced ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents by improving ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS) activities. Nevertheless, Cu stress promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and electrolyte leakage (EL) level, and lowered AsA/dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and GSH/oxidised glutathione (GSSG). Meanwhile, Cu stress promoted Cu accumulation in plant tissues. It declined net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll fluorescence parameter maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) contents, and wheat height and biomass. In this way, Cu stresses limited wheat growth. Compared with Cu stress, Spd plus Cu stress enhanced APX, GR, DHAR, MDHAR, GalLDH and γ-ECS activities to 4.75, 5.14, 3.77, 2.96, 3.24 and 2.83 U/g FW (fresh weight), respectively. This way, Spd further increased AsA and GSH contents to 4.62 and 0.78 µmol/g FW under Cu stress. Meanwhile, Spd increased AsA/DHA to 14.60 and GSH/GSSG to 15.97 and declined MDA content to 11.68 nmol/g FW and EL to 17.00% under Cu stress. Besides, Spd declined Cu content in leaves to 68.8 µg/g DW and roots to 152.9 µg/g DW and respectively increased Pn, Fv/Fm and Chl and Car contents to 15.22 µmol/m2/s, 0.74, 1.55 mg/g FW and 0.38 mg/g FW. In this way, Spd promoted wheat growth under Cu stress. Meanwhile, we found that Spd alone also improved the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, photosynthetic performance, and wheat growth compared to the control. These results illustrated that Spd mitigated wheat Cu toxicity by reducing Cu accumulation and improving ascorbate and glutathione metabolism and photosynthetic performance. Hence, using Spd will be a good strategy to improve the Cu tolerance of wheat crops in the future.

Crop residue management is a major concern in agricultural ecosystems. These residues can be recycled into biochar and compost to efficiently promote soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in farmlands. However, the influences of straw and its derived materials on SOC (especially on humus fractions) in soil aggregates of varying sizes are largely unknown. To understand these effects, a nine-year field experiment was conducted on calcareous black soil, including five treatments: CK – no fertiliser; NPK – mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertiliser; NPKS – NPK + straw; NPKC – NPK + compost, and NPKB – NPK + biochar. Compared to CK and NPK, the NPKS and NPKC treatments resulted in a noticeable rise (P < 0.05) in the proportion of aggregates with > 0.25 mm size (R0.25), as well as in the mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter at 0–20 cm depth. The NPKS, NPKC, and NPKB treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the contents of large macroaggregates (> 2 mm), small macroaggregates (2~0.25 mm), microaggregates (0.25~0.053 mm), and non-aggregates in the 0–20 cm soil layer, as well as the levels of SOC, humic acid carbon (HAC) and humin carbon (HUC). These treatments also significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced organic carbon storage in the topsoil (0~20 cm). The effects were more pronounced after NPKB treatment relative to NPKS. Compared to CK, the application of mineral fertilisers alone and combined with organic materials significantly (P < 0.05) improved crop yields. The study’s results indicate that the application of organic materials from corn significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced both soil quality and corn yield, with straw-derived biochar showing better effects on soil carbon sequestration.

Trehalose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose that can be found in various plant and animal species. Mammals are not able to synthesize trehalose but it is usually easily enzymatically broken down into 2 molecules of glucose. As a structural additive, trehalose can be used in food mainly for stabilizing proteins. Low trehalase activity (primary trehalase deficiency) leading to intolerance is rare but may appear manifest as a complication of enteropathy from other causes (celiac disease, Crohn's disease, etc.). We present the case of a young 27-year-old male with repeated tenesmus followed by enterorrhagia, weight loss, and elevated markers of inflammation caused by combined lactase and trehalase deficiency. Unique exome sequencing analysis of gene TREH was performed to distinguish between primary and secondary trehalase deficiency.

Forest logging activities negatively affect various soil properties. In this study, we focus on the logging effects on soil water retention and associated pore size distribution. We measured the soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) on 21 undisturbed samples from three research plots: a reference area, a clear-cut area and a forest track. A total of 12 SWCC points between saturation and wilting point were determined for each sample with a sand box and pressure plate apparatus. The trimodal behaviour is highlighted by the dependence between soil moisture and suction. Therefore, we proposed a revised model by combining two exponential expressions with the van Genuchten model. The exponential terms describe the influence of macro-and-structural porosities, and the latter is used to calculate textural porosity. This new model with eight independent parameters was suitable to fit trimodal SWCCs in all samples. Results revealed that logging had the most destructive effect on large pores, and the soil on the forest track was the most affected. Both soil-air and available water capacity were reduced and the permanent wilting point increased as a result of damage to the soil structure and pore system. Observed increased organic carbon content in compacted soils can be attributed to slowed decomposition due to reduced air capacity and increased waterlogging susceptibility of damaged soils.

The parasitic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum causes cryptosporidiosis in young calves, leading to diarrhoea and financial losses in the farming industry. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of C. parvum in preweaning calves suffering from diarrhoea in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Faecal samples were obtained from 80 young calves categorised into various groups according to age, breed, sex, and geographic origin. Notably, a greater occurrence of C. parvum infection was observed in female calves, those in the 5–30 days age group, and those of the Friesian breed. Furthermore, the highest infection rate was reported in the Zarayan region. A strong correlation was observed between the ELISA and PCR findings. The molecular analysis detected both C. parvum and C. ryanae, with C. ryanae documented for the first time in Iraq. C. parvum infection considerably affects physiological indicators, particularly in younger calves, including body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. PCR positivity in our study was substantially correlated with dehydration. Overall, this study highlights the need for prompt identification and intervention for the management of C. parvum infections in young calves.

Cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are zoonotic protozoan diseases with significant public health and economic concerns. In Algeria, epidemiological data on these parasites in livestock are limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia in dairy calves and broiler chickens and to identify the associated risk factors. A microscopic analysis of 200 faecal samples revealed a Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence of 56% in calves and 60% in broiler chickens, while the Giardia prevalence was 8% in calves and absent in chickens. In cattle, the data showed that age constituted a potential risk factor for both parasites (P < 0.000 1 for Cryptosporidium; P < 0.000 5 for Giardia). Interestingly, the risk of a Cryptosporidium infection decreased with age, while the Giardia infestation risk increased. The sex was not a significant factor for Cryptosporidium (P = 0.115 0), but was impactful for Giardia (P < 0.000 1), with males at higher risk. These results highlighted the distinct epidemiological characteristics of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infestations in Algerian livestock. The contrasting age-related risks and sex-specific susceptibility to Giardia underline the need for targeted, age and sex prevention strategies. This study provides valuable data to inform public health policies and to improve livestock management practices in Algeria, contributing to the wider understanding of these zoonotic parasites in North African agricultural farming.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of laying hybrid lines of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus f. domestica) and their age on ejaculate parameters in roosters. Parameters assessed included ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), percentage of normal spermatozoa, and sperm motility. Additionally, morphological defects were observed: defects of the acrosome, head, neck, tail, and immature spermatozoa. The study included 120 roosters of the Barred Plymouth Rock, Sussex Light, Rhode Island Red, and Rhode Island White laying lines. Ejaculate was repeatedly evaluated at the ages of 34, 43, and 52 weeks. The average ejaculate volume was 0.52 ml, sperm concentration 2.53 × 10⁹ cm^–3, motility 81.1%, and defect occurrence rates were as follows: acrosome defects 0.7%, head defects 3.0%, neck defects 2.4%, and tail defects 2.9%. A statistically significant effect (P < 0.01) of the line was observed for all parameters except tail defects. Statistically significant differences between age categories were confirmed for volume, sperm concentration, TSC, immature spermatozoa, and normal spermatozoa (P < 0.01), as well as for ejaculate volume, neck, and tail defects (P < 0.05). The volume, concentration and TSC reached significantly higher values at 43 weeks of age. The incidence of normal spermatozoa and immature spermatozoa was significantly lower at 34 weeks of age. The interaction of age and line was significant (P < 0.01) for sperm concentration, TSC, motility, head, tail, and normal spermatozoa. The highest values of volume, concentration, and TSC were observed in the BPR line, which also exhibited the lowest occurrence of head defects and immature spermatozoa. The RIR line showed a higher occurrence of sperm defects. Younger roosters (34 and 43 weeks of age) had higher ejaculate parameter values and a higher occurrence of sperm defects compared to the older ones.