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We examined the antibacterial efficacy of streptomycin, hibiscus acid, and their combination against multidrug-resistant Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella Typhimurium in mice. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for streptomycin, hibiscus acid, and their combination against STEC and Salmonella. Fifteen sets of six mice in each set were utilised: six groups were orally exposed to 4 log₁₀ colony forming units (CFUs) of S. Typhimurium and another six to STEC, and three acted as the controls. Six hours post-inoculation, specific groups of mice received either oral solutions containing hibiscus acid at 5 and 7 mg/ml; streptomycin at 50 and 450 µg/ml; hibiscus acid/streptomycin (5 mg/ml hibiscus acid and 50 µg/ml streptomycin); or isotonic saline. The study determined the MIC and MBC of 7 mg/ml of hibiscus acid; 300 and 450 µg/ml of streptomycin; and two concentrations of hibiscus/streptomycin (3 mg/ml / 20 µg/ml and 5 mg/ml / 50 µg/ml). Interestingly, the mice that were infected and subsequently treated with hibiscus acid at 7 mg/ml alone or in conjunction with streptomycin did not have either STEC or Salmonella in their faecal samples, and none of the mice died. In contrast, the untreated mice and those exclusively treated with streptomycin had the pathogens present in their stool, leading to the mortality of all the subjects.

South African ‘Hass’ avocado fruit harvested early season are vulnerable to colour desynchronisation with softening during ripening, reducing their international and local market aesthetic value. So far, research has proven that ‘Hass’ avocado fruit exocarp colour desynchronization is an early season conundrum. However, there is insufficient literature on underlying factors causing exocarp colour desynchronisation. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the ripening temperature effect on early season ‘Hass’ avocado fruit exocarp colour development and pigments during ripening. Early season ‘Hass’ avocado fruit were stored at 5.5 °C for 28 days thereafter, ripened at 16, 21 and 25 °C and evaluated for firmness, visual and objective colour (L*, C* and h°), total chlorophyll and anthocyanin content. The results showed that the visual colour of fruit ripened at 25 °C was significantly higher compared to 21 and 16 °C after 2 and 4 ripening days. This study found that ripening temperature had no significant influence on chlorophyll degradation. However, fruit ripened at 25 °C accumulated significantly higher exocarp anthocyanin concentration compared to lower ripening temperatures. In conclusion, ripening early season ‘Hass’ avocado fruit at 25 °C resulted in improved exocarp colour development and anthocyanin accumulation.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae are causative agents of the porcine respiratory disease complex. However, information on the prevalence of these pathogens in wild boars is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in wild boars in Serbia. In this study 253 serum samples from wild boars were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia using the ELISA assay. The overall seroprevalence rates of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were 4.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Antibodies to both pathogens were detected in 20 sera samples (7.9%). The prevalence of wild boars that were seropositive for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae differed with age and ranged from 10.7% to 33.3%, and for Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, it ranged from 51.8% to 83.3%. Wild boars are hard to control and are considered a high-risk infection source for outdoor and backyard pigs and eventually for commercial indoor farms as well. Thus, the result of this first serosurvey in Serbia should raise awareness of the importance of wild boars as potential reservoirs of bacterial pathogens such as Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Our data revealed the circulation of both pathogens in wild boars in Serbia, drawing attention to the potential health risk they present for domestic swine health.

A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effect of Serendipita indica on the salt response of Lolium multiflorum Lam. Although the salinity decreased the root colonisation of S. indica by 28.34%, successful colonisation of S. indica increased the seed germination rate, fresh weight, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content by 28.09, 59.01, 38.78 and 28.80%, respectively, compared with uncolonised seedlings. Under salinity, leaf malondialdehyde content, leaf relative electrical conductivity, as well as Na+ content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in leaves and roots of S. indica-colonised seedlings were decreased by 33.99, 33.31, 63.40% and 47.42, 85.66 and 55.88%, respectively, compared with uncolonised seedlings. Meanwhile, compared with uncolonised seedlings under salinity, the contents of proline in leaves, N, P and K⁺ in leaves and roots of the S. indica-colonised seedlings were increased by 47.47, 45.69 and 30.05%, and 41.77, 19.51, 19.18 and 155.00%, respectively. These results indicate that S. indica colonisation confers salt tolerance in L. multiflorum seedlings by enhancing osmotic adjustment via actively accumulating proline and K⁺, increasing the uptake of nutrients such as N and P, and improving Na⁺/K⁺ homoeostasis. The study would provide a new idea for the combined application of salt-tolerant plants and symbiotic microorganisms in the ecological restoration of saline-alkali lands.

For sustainable breeding in potato, a better understanding of genetic diversity within germplasm banks for sustainable breeding is needed. This study comprehensively characterised the molecular and phenotypic traits of 62 potato accessions, including advanced clones and indigenous potato varieties from Advanced Chemical Industries Limited (ACI Ltd.), Bangladesh, and 8 varieties from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). By using 9 SSR markers and 13 morphological traits, including both quantitative and qualitative traits, we observed correlation coefficients ranging from –0.3 to 0.7 for 8 quantitative traits, and Pearson's chi-square (χ² value) ranging from 24.3 to 135.4 for 5 qualitative characteristics. Molecular analyses identified 46 unique alleles, with 93.5% polymorphism. The markers STM0031 and STM1016 had the highest PIC value of 0.9. Genetic parameters for SSR markers included effective number of alleles per locus (Ne) = 5.6, unbiased expected heterozygosity (uh) = 0.8, diversity (h) = 0.8 and Shannon’s information index (I) = 1.8. Jaccard’s similarity coefficients ranged from 0.2 to 0.8, representing significant diversity. Cluster analysis, using unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA), grouped the accessions into five clusters based on SSR profiles. An association was foud between the marker STM0031 and two traits: the number of tubers per hill and the content of reducing sugars in the tubers. This study provides information on genetic diversity and marker efficacy. It will guide future breeding programmes towards the development of high-yielding and industrially valuable potato varieties.

During the survey of open tomato fields in Vojvodina (Serbia), characteristic anthracnose disease symptoms, including black, circular, sunken, and watery lesions, were observed in about 20% of fruits in September 2018. Subsequent pathogen isolations formed white aerial mycelia and numerous spherical, black conidiomata on the Potato Dextrose Agar. Ten representative isolates produced hyaline, smooth-walled, cylindrical, and aseptate conidia. The presence of initially brownish necrotic lesions on the tomato, which later expanded into large rotted areas, ultimately leading to complete fruit rot, confirmed the pathogenicity of the tested isolates. Molecular identification was performed using Bayesian analysis of concatenated ITS, TUB2, CHS-1, and ACT loci. Based on the combination of the morphological and molecular features, the fungus Colletotrichum nigrum was identified as the causal pathogen. As this is the first report on this fungal pathogen on tomatoes in Serbia, it highlights the importance of early and accurate detection for effective disease prevention, thus reducing crop damage and market losses.

We investigated the influence of poly-glutamic acid (PGA) on ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) metabolism in leaves of wheat seedlings under cadmium (Cd) stress. The results showed that Cd stress enhanced ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase activities, and increased AsA and GSH contents. Whereas Cd reduced AsA/dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and GSH/oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratios and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage (EL). Meanwhile, Cd stress improved Cd accumulation and nonphotochemical quenching (q_N) and decreased soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), photochemical quenching (q_P), quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), wheat height and dry biomass. Compared to Cd alone, PGA plus Cd stress reinforced AsA and GSH metabolism via the above enzymes and increased AsA and GSH contents and their redox status. PGA plus Cd stress also decreased MDA content and EL. Besides, PGA plus Cd stress decreased Cd accumulation and increased SPAD value, P_n, q_N, F_v/F_m, q_P, ΦPSII, wheat height and dry biomass. Moreover, PGA alone showed positive effects on the indicators mentioned above. Our results clearly indicated that PGA enhanced wheat Cd tolerance by preventing Cd uptake and enhancing AsA and GSH metabolism. Therefore, PGA can be applied to enhance wheat Cd tolerance in production.

A three-year field experiment was carried out to investigate the methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and calculate the global warming potential (GWP) according to all energy input in response to the nitrogen (N) rate in the typical rice-wheat rotation system in Jiangsu, China. Four N treatments, including R220W180 (local practice), R220W140 (cutting 10% total N in wheat season), R180W180 (cutting 10% total N in rice season) and R180W140 (cutting 20% total N in rice and wheat seasons separately), were designed in the study. Results showed that annual CH₄ emission was decreased by 25.7% in response to cutting 20% N, which was ascribed to the 24.6% reduction of CH₄ emission in rice season (P < 0.05) compared to local practice. The mitigation of N₂O emissions in R220W140 and R180R180 treatments contributed to the 8.5% and 15.7% decrease in annual N₂O emission, which was the 23.5% decrease in cutting 20% N treatment compared to local practice, respectively. Specifically, under the same amount of N rate condition (10% N cutting), the transfer N from rice season (R220W140) to wheat season (R180W180) led to the 8.5% increase in N₂O emission (P < 0.05). In the end, the cutting of 20% N decreased GWP and yield-scale GWP by 19% and 17%, which mainly originated from CH₄ and N₂O emissions. However, cutting N did not significantly decrease grain yield (P > 0.05). These results suggested that the 180 kg N/ha for rice and 140 kg N/ha for wheat in one rotation season were the beneficial N rate to achieve the co-benefit of yield and GWP in the typical rice-wheat rotation system in Jiangsu, China.

Grasslands are the predominant land use type in China, which is currently encountering significant desertification issues. Consequently, restoring grassland vegetation has important implications for terrestrial carbon (C) levels and, consequently, the global C balance. This study focused on Salix cupularis, the primary plant used for desert control on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We analysed the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil up to the depth of 60 cm after Salix cupularis growth for 0–24 years, examining soil total organic carbon (TOC) and its labile fractions. Following restoration, there was a gradual increase in TOC and its labile fractions, with the most significant changes observed in the rhizosphere soil at a depth of 0–20 cm. After 24 years of restoration, the TOC content in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil had increased by 141.74% and 39.44%, respectively. Labile organic C in the rhizosphere soil increased more rapidly and pronouncedly compared with the TOC. Specifically, dissolved organic C and easily oxidised organic C in the rhizosphere soil saw substantial increases of 211.03% and 217.65%, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with the 4 years of restoration, soil C pool management index of the 8–24 years soils increased, ranging from 15.70% to 132.21%. Therefore, long-term vegetation restoration on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can significantly enhance TOC and its labile fractions, as well as improve soil C sink capacity and quality.

The widespread application of Internet technology in rural development has significantly facilitated the modernisation of agriculture and profoundly and positively impacts sustainable rural development. This study empirically investigates the effect of Internet access on farmers‘ participation in farmer professional cooperatives based on a sample of 3 349 participants from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), using both probit regression and instrumental variable probit (Ivprobit) regression models. The results indicate that, firstly, Internet access significantly enhances farmers‘ participation in farmer professional cooperatives. Secondly, Internet access influences farmers' decisions to join professional cooperatives differently, with older farmers, those with less education, and non-cadre individuals being more significantly affected in their willingness to participate. The findings deepen the understanding of the relationship between digital technology and organisational participation in rural development and provide empirical evidence for formulating more targeted rural development policies.

Castanea sativa is a type of cultivated chestnut tree found in the Czech Republic, growing in both lowland and midland regions. These trees are usually planted individually or in pairs, with over half of the plantings located in urban areas. One-fifth of chestnut trees thrive in parks, while chestnut orchards or forest stands make up only one-tenth of the areas where chestnut trees are located. In the Czech Republic, approximately 30 ha are covered by chestnut trees. Regeneration of chestnut trees occurs in only 6% of the localities due to regular lawn mowing. However, 40% of the surveyed forests showed signs of regeneration, demonstrating the species' ability to regenerate under Central European climate conditions.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is grown in tropical and temperate regions and an economically important crop. Characterization studies of watermelon may provide valuable information for breeding and research programs. The objectives of this study were to determined of morphological, phytochemical, genetic diversity and population structure among the watermelons. Morphological and phytochemical variations including sugar contents were determined in 96 watermelon genotypes grown in the field. The average number of fruits per plant was determined as 2.52 ± 0.06, and the average yield was determined as 6.2 ± 0.11 kg/m2. The mean total sugar was determined as 6.27 ± 0.12 %, and the lowest value was measured in genotype 234 (1.1%); the highest value was measured in genotype number 184 (8.66%). A total of 62 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) primers were used in the molecular characterization study. The similarity coefficients among the 96 genotypes varied between 0.23 and 0.99. This study indicates that there is a wide morphological and sugar parameters variation among watermelon genotypes but narrow molecular genetic diversity. It also provides useful information for watermelon breeding studies.

The Alentejano pig (Sus ibericus) is an autochthonous breed of swine from Portugal phylogenetically close to the Iberian breed that is known to develop melanocytic lesions. In this study, 34 melanocytic skin lesions were identified and collected from Alentejano pigs slaughtered for human consumption for further routine histologic assessment. The samples were classified into 4 age ranges: 1 (1 to 6 months), 2 (7 to 12 months) 3 (13 to 24 months), and 4 (more than 25 months). All the lesions were considered benign after the histopathological assessment, of which 52.9% and 47.1%, were classified as melanosis and melanocytomas, respectively. Regarding the age ranges, a statistical difference between the groups was observed, indicating that the probability of melanosis presentation was higher at the age range 4 and for melanocytomas at the age range 3. While no malignant lesions were observed in this study, it was concluded that benign melanocytic lesions are commonly found in Alentejano pig carcasses. Further research is necessary to accurately distinguish between malignant and benign lesions, which is crucial for official veterinarians to make decisions regarding meat approval or condemnation.

Sheep milk production is a complex process that is influenced by various factors. This study aims to investigate how the litter size (single vs. twins), birth type (male vs. female), age of the ewes and body weight affect the milk composition and fatty acid profile of milk fat. Milk samples were collected from 119 Najdi ewes that were the subject of this study. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MASS) was used to quantify the fatty acids (FAs). The results showed that the twins birth type (female/female) has a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the concentration of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), behenic acid (C22:0) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). On the other hand, saturated fatty acids (SFA), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:4; DHA), and odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA), such as C15:0-antiso and C19:1-cis 10, increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing age and body weight of the ewes, while the ALA and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a positive association between the age and the OCFA, ALA and small-chain fatty acids (C6:0 and C8:0). In addition, the type of birth showed a positive association with the fat, lactose and palmitoleic acid C16:1 cis9. Conversely, there is a negative association between the UFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and PUFA. In addition, the body weight (BW) and litter size were negatively associated with the protein, SFA and medium-chain fatty acids (C10:0, C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0). The physiological factors generally suggested that the milk quality and essential FA, such as ALA, were influenced by the type of the lamb’s birth and the age of the ewes.

At the soil level, earthworms are key indicators of water-related processes which help soils to accept, retain, release and transmit water by influencing the soil structure through their burrowing, casts, and drilosphere. The water repellency is an indicator of soil structure stability both for the natural soil and for the earthworm casts (bioturbated soil). The water repellency of earthworm casts is a complex property that should be approached both at ecological and functional level in earthworm categorization because this cast property influences the transport and flow processes in soil, such as those of water, nutrients, pollutants, and gas diffusion. The earthworms have been described as bioremediators of soil water repellency. Casts of the earthworm species Lumbricus terrestris collected from an urban green space have been analysed for particle size composition (texture), organic carbon (OC) content and CaCO₃ content in relation to their water repellency (the hydrophobicity). The findings of this study showed that the main drivers determining the water repellency of the casts of L. terrestris, as indicator of their structural stability, are chemical (the contents of OC and respectively CaCO₃) and physical (contents of clay, silt and fine sand). The water repellency (hydrophobicity) of the casts decreased with their content of clay and silt and increased with their content of organic matter and CaCO₃. The hydrophobicity of earthworm casts is in direct positive relation with their previous water accumulation, i.e. the current penetration time of water increases or decreases if the previous penetration time of the water increased or decreased, respectively. The water drop penetration times indicated that the analysed earthworm casts were slightly water-repellent. A small to medium degree of water repellency has been mostly reported as appropriate for the aggregate stability of the soil.

This study investigates peer effects and agglomeration impacts on the cost efficiency of South Korean rice farms using a five-year panel dataset of production costs. We employed a time-varying stochastic frontier cost function approach to estimate cost efficiency and a linear-in-means model to quantify peer influences. The findings underscore peer effects as central to understanding and enhancing farm productivity, particularly in rice farming regions. Both specialisation and diversity of agglomeration positively influenced efficiency, with specialisation having a larger impact. Peer effects were stronger in highly rice-specialised areas. These findings indicate the necessity of incorporating peer influences and regional specialisation in agricultural policymaking for productivity enhancement. A nuanced, evidence-based approach leveraging peer dynamics and agglomeration economies is advocated to boost the efficiency of farming practices.

Amylases are one of the biotechnologically important enzymes that have multiple applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile, detergent, paper and pulp, bioremediation and nano-biotechnology industries. Amylases can be isolated from animals, plants and microbial regions, but nowadays enzymes from prokaryotic species have gained more importance. Among the microbes, amylases from Bacillus cereus have gained considerable demand in various industrial sectors. Growing industrial demand for enzymes compels the availability of enzymes in large quantities that can only be achieved by employing efficient fermentation techniques. Therefore, the current study is aimed at the statistical optimisation of the production conditions for extracellular amylase production from Bacillus strain AS2. In a recent study, the optimum amylase producing AS2 strain was identified on a molecular level, and it was found that it has close relation with the already reported strains of Bacillus cereus. The further enzyme production was optimised by using a statistical optimisation tool. A full-factorial central composite design (CCD) consisting of 53 experiments was designed using six significant variables (incubation period, pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen source and metal ion). The analysis revealed that the optimal media concentrations were 54.34 g·L^–1 starch, 0.63 g·L^–1 CaCl₂, 1 g·L^–1 glycine, pH 7.0, 76 h, and 40 °C, respectively. A 1.23-fold increase in the enzyme yield (1 050 IU·mL^–1·min^–1) was noticed as compared to the original production level. The statistical optimisation approach gives the exact variables that influence the enzyme production and, hence, offers the best way to optimise the bioprocess. The optimised enzyme can be used in industries for various purposes such as de-sizing, de-inking, hydrolysing starch residues, etc.

This study aims to characterise the physicochemical properties and stability of confectionery glazes made from various tropical fruit seed powders during storage. Physicochemical properties were evaluated at regular intervals throughout frozen storage to monitor quality changes. The mango seed glaze is slightly acidic, and significantly darker, with tones of green and blue. The glaze has a total soluble solid content of 73.37 °Brix, a moisture content of 19%, hardness of 46.69 g, and sagging capacity of 18.33 mm, which ensures both structural integrity and sensory appeal. Its highest viscosity among formulations suggested possible thickening and improved stability. Over 28 days, significant changes occur, with the pH stabilising to a near-neutral 6.8. The hue changes over time, migrating towards reddish tone as indicated by increasing positive a* values, while maintaining a consistent preference for blue-toned hues with continuously negative b* values. Moisture levels remained stable at 18.71% during storage, with minimal total soluble solid content changes, indicating sustained quality. The findings suggest that mango seed glazing is a viable option for quality preservation during storage. This study provides essential empirical insights into the potential changes in the quality characteristics of various fruit seed glazes when subjected to freezing.

Listeria monocytogenes is capable of forming biofilms on the food contact surfaces, increasing the risk of food contamination by this pathogen. The disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BC) is commonly used to control L. monocytogenes in the food industry. This study aimed to investigate effects of BC on L. monocytogenes biofilms. Biofilm biomass was measured by the microplate method with crystal violet staining. Results from the broth microdilution method showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BC against L. monocytogenes 10403S was 8 μg·mL^–1. Sub-MICs of BC inhibited the biofilm formation and lethal concentrations of BC removed mature biofilms of L. monocytogenes 10403S. The presence of BC reduced extracellular proteins and exopolysaccharides in biofilms. Additionally, upregulation of quorum sensing gene luxS and agrBDCA and downregulation of flagellum motility genes flaA, motA, and motB were observed in the presence of BC. The BC disinfectant has an excellent anti-biofilm activity against L. monocytogenes.

In this paper, I elucidated the influence of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on wheat cadmium (Cd) tolerance. Research results manifested that Cd stress increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents. However, Cd stress decreased AsA/ dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and GSH/oxidised glutathione (GSSG) ratios, and inhibited photosynthetic performance and plant growth. Compared to Cd alone, GABA plus Cd improved wheat Cd tolerance by increasing the activities of above antioxidant enzymes, AsA and GSH contents, and AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios. Meanwhile, compared with Cd alone, GABA plus Cd also enhanced the photosynthetic performance by improving chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) contents and Car/Chl ratio, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, and Chl fluorescence parameters maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching, nonphotochemical quenching and quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry, which further promoted plant height and biomass. Compared to control, GABA alone also improved above indicators. Current results suggested that GABA can be applied as an anti-cadmium agent in wheat production practice.

This study comprehensively examines multifaceted risk factors influencing wheat production among Turkish farmers, aiming to deepen understanding of how these factors shape farmers’ perceptions and decision-making processes. Utilising Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we analysed the interplay of climate-related issues (F1), market dynamics (F2), and external events (F3), like COVID-19 and wars, alongside socio-demographic factors such as education, income, and land ownership. Findings revealed that higher education and increased agricultural income reduced price-related risks while expanding wheat cultivation areas heightened risk perceptions. Farmers in irrigated regions prioritised cyclical risks, whereas those in dry areas perceived climatic risks as more severe. Capital-intensive practices and storage facilities mitigate climate change and market variability risks, with committed wheat producers showing lower climate change risk perceptions. External factors like the Russian-Ukrainian war and the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impact irrigated area farmers. This study contributes to the existing literature by using empirical evidence from Turkish wheat farming to explore diverse risk perceptions, employing SEM to unravel complex risk factors and decision-making processes, thereby offering new insights for future agricultural risk management research.

The main research objective of this study is to present the dynamics of land productivity changes in EU agriculture in the years 2012–2020 and evaluate the influence of direct subsidies received by farmers on land productivity. The source data for 2012–2020 are secondary and come from Eurostat. The research results were prepared for the entire European Union (EU-28), and divided into ‘old’ countries (EU-15) and ‘new’ countries (EU-13). The results were developed using the method of assessing convergence (in terms of differences in land productivity in individual countries) using the coefficient of variation and the relative index of changes in individual Member States in relation to the EU average over the period under study. Results showed that between 2012 and 2020, average land productivity in the EU increased by 7%. At the same time, differences in land productivity between EU countries decreased. The correlation analysis confirmed a statistically significant relationship between land productivity and the amount of direct payments per ha of agricultural land. Additionally, results of the correlation between productivity per 1 ha and the total area of agricultural land in EU countries confirmed the law of decreasing marginal productivity of land.

The efficiency of poultry production plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and maintaining human health sustainability. Although extensive research has been done on the largest poultry-producing countries, the European Union’s contribution has not been thoroughly investigated, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. This study aims to fill this gap by analysing the technical efficiency of poultry farms in Hungary and Poland. We use the stochastic metafrontier approach to Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data from 2010 to 2015. The results suggest that both countries have technical inefficiencies. The meta technical efficiency (MTE) was higher in Poland than in Hungary, driven by both a higher technology gap ratio (TGR) and higher (country-specific) technical efficiency (TE) in Poland. In both countries, returns to scale were increasing, which suggests that policies that increase scale of operation could increase efficiency. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of technological gaps for several farms both in Poland and Hungary; therefore, policies should also focus on supporting investments in technology adoption and innovation. This could involve providing subsidies or grants for the adoption of advanced farming technologies, such as automated feeding systems or data analytics for optimizing production processes.

Fruits and vegetables form the basis of a nutritional diet for the population. In addition to the basic determinants, such as market prices and consumer income, other factors influence consumer demand.  This paper aims to investigate how the age and gender of consumers influence the demand for fruit and vegetables in different European countries. In this paper, the demand for fruit and vegetables is understood through the population’s preferences for fruit and vegetable consumption, i.e., the proportion of the population that prefers to consume fruit and vegetables five or more times a day. The paper uses data from Eurostat. Factor, cluster and correlation analyses were performed using the SPSS software. The results of the analyses showed that the gender significantly determines the demand for fruit and vegetables in favour of women. Regarding the effect of age, this determinant was positively correlated with the preference for 5FV consumption in most countries. Potential interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption should mainly target men aged 15–19 and 75+ in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden, men aged 35–44 and 75+ in Croatia, Italy, Poland and Romania and women aged 15–19 and 55+ in Bulgaria and Romania, where their preference for 5FV was the lowest.

Compared to solely mineral fertiliser application, organic fertiliser substitution has been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing nitrogen cycling in cropland, but the relevant research based on grassland is still insufficient. A field experiment was carried out in the grasslands of northern China to examine the impact of mineral/organic fertilisation on soil organic nitrogen fractions, activities of soil N-hydrolysing enzymes and their interrelationships. The results showed that the active soil organic nitrogen pool (hydrolysable NH₄⁺-N + amino sugar-N + amino acid N) increased significantly after fertilisation, and organic fertiliser combined with mineral fertiliser addition showed the best promotion effect. N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, protease and urease activities are also significantly affected by fertilisation. The findings of our study indicate that the combination of mineral fertiliser and organic fertiliser shows a higher potential in improving the active soil organic nitrogen supply. This approach seems to be a viable agronomic strategy for augmenting soil nitrogen supply and ensuring the stability of the soil nitrogen pool in the semi-arid steppe region of northern China.

Yellow rust (YR), caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst), is a global threat to wheat production. In this study the response of 46 wheat and triticale cultivars to Pst at the adult plant stage (APS) was evaluated during two successive growing seasons at Sulaimania, Iraq. Also, we used a molecular analysis to find the yellow rust resistance (Yr) genes present in the individual cultivars. The results revealed large differences in the response to Pst between the cultivars. Most of the cultivars were susceptible to YR; the mean coefficients of infection (CI) varied from 0.23 in cv. Sarah to 83.33 in Hsad. High resistance levels were found in Al-Wand, Kalar 1, Rezan, and Sarahat APS, while Al-Rashid, Charmo, Faris 1, Maaroof, Rabiea, and Iratom displayed moderate resistance. The level of Yellow rust infection was higher in 2023 than in 2022 in most tested cultivars. Molecular analysis revealed the highest number of Yr genes (Yr2, Yr5, Yr7, Yr9, Yrvav, Yr15, Yr24, Yr26, and Yr32) in the cv. Al-Wand, followed by Sulaimani 2 with eight Yr genes (Yr2, Yr5, Yr7, Yr9, Yr15, Yr24, Yr26, and Yr32). Only one Yr gene was found in Iratom and Tamuz 3. Yr2 was the most frequently identified gene, present in the majority of tested cultivars (87%), followed by Yr7 (76%) and Yr9 (74%), respectively.

Graphene-based materials (GBMs) have become potential soil pollutants due to their wide applications in agricultural environments. Although physiological mechanisms of plant responses to GBMs have been previously explored, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this paper, we analysed the physiological and transcriptomic changes of buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) roots exposed to 100 mg/L graphene oxide (GO) with different diameter. GO negatively affected root growth and higher diameters of GO caused more adverse effects on the root. In total 3 724 GO-responsive genes were identified in root by transcriptome analysis. 70 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in ROS detoxification, and 37 transporter-encoding genes were found to be involved in GO response. These transporters may regulate the uptake and transport of GO in buckwheat. The gene expression of 84 transcription factors (TFs) showed a response to GO stress in the root, which may regulate the transporters and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification-related genes. Finally, the difference in the transcriptomic response of the root to the three GO materials with different diameters was investigated. 49 GO-responsive genes may be involved in the difference in the toxicity of GO with different diameters. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant roots to GBMs.

Soil water energy determines soil water balance, plant water uptake, and soil thermal properties, but the effects of cover crops (CCs) on in situ measured soil water energy and temperature are not well understood. This study investigated how CCs affect in situ measured soil water potential (SWP), temperature, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_fs) during 2 years, with the hypothesis that CC-induced water transpiration can lower SWP. The CCs used included crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestavum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), oats (Avena sativa), triticale (Titicale haxaploide Lart.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), and winter peas (Lathyrus hirsutus L.). Soil water potential and temperature sensors were installed at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths. Additionally, K_fs was measured in situ using a Guelph permeameter. Results showed that actively growing CCs can lower SWP, leading to increased water transpiration from the field compared with no cover crop (NC) management. Also, by lowering soil temperature, CCs can increase evapotranspirational efficiency compared to NC management. Further, by increasing evapotranspirational efficiency, CC, management resulted in increased subsurface water infiltration and storage as shown by higher K_fs values compared to NC management. In general, CCs have the potential to reduce SWP and temperature during their growth stages and this can be beneficial to seed germination and microbial activities.

This article aims to highlight the importance of climate and environmental challenges for agricultural economics and policy. Empirical research based on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method determined the average technical efficiency and scale efficiency of farms in the European Union in total and in economic size classes in the period 2004–2020. The results indicate that agriculture is generally characterised by high technical efficiency and scale efficiency. Analysis by economic size classes of farms, defined by the standard sum of their agricultural output, shows that the relationship between the scale of production and technical efficiency of farms is U-shaped. The highest technical efficiency and scale efficiency are characterised by small, large and very large farms economic classes. Economies of scale shift the burden of food production to large farms, which provide food security and are technically efficient but excessively burdensome for the climate and the environment. Small farms produce environmentally friendly food but on a small scale. Therefore, increasing the technical efficiency of medium-sized farms can contribute to more sustainable food production that meets both food security and climate and environmental objectives. The Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027 provides greater access to financial support for moderate-scale farms and farms undertaking ecosystem restoration activities. This may affect the strength and direction of the relationship between farm scale and productivity, including technical efficiency.

Choerospondias axillaries (CA) is an important fast-growing afforestation tree species in southern China, and its fruit has medicinal and edible value. High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the composition and content of sugar and acid in CA fruits from different provenances, and cluster analysis was conducted on different provenances. The results showed that the total sugar content of CA fruit ranged from 49.31 to 139.41 mg/g, with sucrose accounting for the highest proportion of total sugar, followed by glucose, and fructose was the lowest. The total acid content of CA fruit ranged from 47.97 to 82.81 mg/g, with citric acid accounting for 67.09% of the total acid, followed by ascorbic acid, quinic acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid. Cluster analysis was conducted on 20 CA fruits, which were divided into 4 categories. It was recommended to develop N19 fruit had the highest content of sucrose and glucose, and the highest sweetness value, sugar-acid ratio and sweet-acid ratio. It can be suggested to be developed as a high-sugar fresh food source. N02 fruit with high sugar and high acid content can be used as a raw material for fruit cake processing. This result provides an important reference for the quality evaluation and rational development and utilization of CA.