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Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) is a common stifle joint pathology among dogs, leading to osteoarthritis and painfulness. Non-surgical treatment options often represent the usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 14 days (NSAIDs), but autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) shows promising results in managing various orthopaedic conditions, decreasing inflammation, and improving the clinical outcome in dogs. This study aimed to determine the differences in MMP-3 serum levels and the clinical outcomes between differently treated cranial cruciate rupture cases. For this purpose, we used two different treatment methods for managing canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture (minimally invasive ACP injection or oral NSAIDs), and evaluated the clinical outcomes, indicating the quality of life, and the MMP-3 serum levels over a period of 28 days. The findings of this investigation indicate that ACP has better efficacy than two weeks of NSAIDs in inflammation reduction, clinical outcome improvement, and the allowance of a longer duration of activity after 28 days.

Understanding society's demand for forest ecosystem services (FES) is crucial for effective forest management and the development of supportive instruments, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES). This study surveyed visitors at 'Forestry Days 2024' in Slovakia through face-to-face questionnaires, capturing their views on FES and necessary management changes. Results show that regulating services and biodiversity are prioritised over cultural and provisioning FES. Respondents indicated a clear need for changes in forest management to reflect their FES preferences. Notably, perceptions of specific FES varied by gender, age, forestry background, and forest ownership but not by residence type. Public PES were considered the most acceptable policy for enhancing FES management, providing valuable insight for aligning public preferences with sustainable practices in Slovakia.

Oat (Avena sativa Linnaeus) has distinctive multifunctional characteristics and nutritional profile, as well as a large amount of oat-processing by-product comprises hulls, which contain lipids and other nutrients. In this study, the lipid content and fatty acid (FA) profiles of six naked oat varieties (Kamil, Marco Polo, Oliver, Patrik, Santini, and Saul), two hulled oat varieties (Atego and Korok), and their dehulled grains and hulls were analysed. The findings of the study demonstrated that the lipid content varied from 4.14 g·100 g^–1 dry matter (DM) (Santini) to 6.68 g·100 g^–1 DM (Kamil) in naked oats; 3.61 g·100 g^–1 DM in Atego and 3.47 g·100 g^–1 DM in Korok with hull; 0.70 g·100 g^–1 DM in Atego hull and 0.71 g·100 g^–1 DM in Korok hull. Dehulled oats had a higher lipid content than hulled oats. Linoleic and oleic acids were the predominant FAs in analysed samples. Oat hulls contained maximum amounts of saturated FAs (SFAs) (26% in Korok and 25.6% in Atego). Elimination of hulls raised the amount of linoleic acid and decreased the amount of oleic acid. Oat hull contained the least amount of linoleic acid and the highest amount of C20 : 0 (eicosanoic acid) and C22 : 0 (docosanoic acid). Oats are a significant source of lipids, predominantly comprising unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Moreover, oat hulls contribute to the lipid content although their FA composition, with higher palmitic acid and lower linoleic acid levels, differs from that of naked, hulled, and dehulled oats.

This review explores the diverse applications and health benefits of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) through biotechnological applications in the food industry. While all LAB are indispensable for the production of fermented foods thanks to their ability to produce lactic acid and bacteriocins that act as natural preservatives, specific strains of probiotic LAB offer targeted health benefits. In addition to general benefits of LAB, probiotic strains significantly enhance gut microbiota, enhance human immunity, and exhibit antimicrobial properties. This review also delves into the mechanisms of action of probiotic LAB, focusing on adhesion, colonisation, and antioxidant production, emphasising their potential to advance nutritional innovations. Beyond food production, the broader category of LAB has transformative potential in industrial applications, particularly in the sugar industry, where their metabolic activity can improve sucrose extraction processes, promote microbial management, and reduce unwanted by-products. By understanding these aspects, the review underscores the importance of probiotic LAB in promoting health, efficiency, and sustainability across sectors.

The aim of this research was to quantify the bioactive compounds; antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive capability of different cahuiche (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.) extracts in vitro. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts were obtained from cahuiche berries (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.). Total phenols, flavonoids (quercetin and catechin), and anthocyanins contents were determined, and antioxidant activity was also determined using ABTS [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid] and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), antibacterial activity, and antihypertensive potential, using angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor activity (%) in vitro. Methanolic extract showed the highest total phenols (1187.88 ± 87.48 mg gallic acid equivalents), catechin (372.17 ± 35.23 mg catechin equivalents), anthocyanins (578.89 ± 38.5 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents), ABTS (98.26 ± 0.00%) and DPPH (44.06 ± 3.95%) antioxidant activity, and ACE inhibitor activity of 80.20 ± 2.46%. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115) with inhibitor zones of > 11 and 13 mm, respectively. Cahuiche berries are potentially an ideal food or functional ingredient due to their biological activities as natural antihypertensive and antibacterial agent, and high bioactive compound contents.

Since its introduction in 2019, African swine fever (ASF) has spread to all regions of the Philippines, affecting 73 out of its 82 provinces. To assess the environmental DNA (eDNA) contamination patterns of the ASF virus (ASFV) in swine transport vehicles and evaluate its measures of association, a total of 450 environmental swabs from 30 transportation vehicles were tested using qPCR. Five out of 30 vehicles (16.67%) tested positive in at least one of the following areas: cargo area or sidecar walls (6.67%), cargo area or sidecar floors (6.67%), hauling personnel’s hands (6.67%), steering wheel or handlebars (3.33%), gear shift levers (3.33%), floor mats or footpegs (3.33%), dashboards (3.33%), door handles or sidecar gate bolts (3.33%), tyres/wheels (3.33%), fenders (3.33%), and hauling personnel’s footwear (3.33%). All investigated risk factors were analysed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratio and were found to be insignificant, including the frequency of swine transportation per week, frequency of cleaning per week, cleaning materials used, disinfection practices, the number of pigs transported, and whether hauliers owned pigs (p > 0.05). This study illuminates the environmental contamination patterns of ASFV in swine transport vehicles, underscoring the need for targeted biosecurity protocols in areas with a high risk of contamination, particularly the cabin areas. More effective vehicle disinfection systems that will not damage equipment or pose health risks to hauliers are recommended to reduce the risk of ASF disease transmission between countries and geographic regions.

Suaeda schimperi, a halophyte native to the Red Sea’s hyper-arid salt marshes, thrives in its extreme conditions (high salinity, minimal rainfall, and elevated temperatures). However, its adaptive tolerance mechanisms to these harsh conditions remain unclear. Herein, we investigated its growth responses and physiological mechanisms after short (5 days after treatment; DAT) and long-term (15 DAT) exposure to 0, 100, 200, and 400 mmol NaCl. Moderate salinity (200 mmol NaCl) enhanced growth, inducing 103.2% (5 DAT) and 40% (15 DAT) higher leaf biomass and 43.33% and 59.6% higher root biomass, respectively, compared to non-saline conditions. Deviation from moderate salinity reduced growth and disrupted ion balance, lowering K⁺, raising Na⁺, and increasing the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, particularly under high salinity. The moderate salinity-enhanced growth was associated with increased chlorophyll, glycine betaine, glutathione, betacyanin, and betaxanthin, as well as higher antioxidant enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate, and peroxidase) at 5 DAT. At 15 DAT, sugar accumulation and unsaturated fatty acids increased, while malondialdehyde and saturated fatty acids decreased. These findings reveal multiple adaptive strategies that support S. schimperi’s physiological stability under extreme environments and highlight its significance in ecological restoration and breeding salt-tolerant crops under escalating soil salinisation and climate change.

The species diversity of the unique flora in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains is currently threatened due to the absence of traditional grazing, which was historically used as a management practice. This study evaluates changes in floristic composition in areas near the Švýcárna and Ovčárna lodges, where cattle and sheep grazing was reintroduced in 2012 and 2014, respectively, after long-term abandonment. The floristic composition was assessed using permanent plots and analysed statistically. In total, 84 plant species were recorded in the Švýcárna experimental area over 12 years. All experimental plots throughout the study observed an increase in species richness. In the Ovčárna area, a similar trend was detected, particularly in grazed grasslands dominated by Avenella flexuosa, Festuca supina, and Ligusticum mutellina. The reintroduction of grazing in these areas serves not only as a symbolic return to traditional land use but primarily as an effective management tool to suppress ecological succession and maintain or enhance plant species diversity in biologically valuable habitats.

The grain filling and physiological traits of different phosphorus-tolerant rice cultivars and phosphorus fertiliser rates have not been fully studied. A pot-growth experiment with cv. Lianjing 7 (weak phosphorus tolerance) and cv. Yongyou 2640 (strong phosphorus tolerance) was conducted using four phosphorus rates, namely, 0 (P0), 0.44 (P1), 0.88 (P2), and 1.32 g/pot (P3). Results indicated that grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in leaves, and adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and sucrose synthase (SuSase) activity in grains increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus fertiliser rate, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves decreased first and then increased. The above indexes of cv. Lianjing 7 and cv. Yongyou 2640 were optimal at P2 and P1 treatments, respectively. The grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, SPAD value, AGPase content, SuSase content in grains, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves of cv. Yongyou 2640 were higher, whereas the MDA content was lower than those of cv. Lianjing 7. Correlation analysis showed that AGPase and SuSase activity in superior and inferior grains, photosynthetic rate, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves were significant or highly significantly positively correlated with grain-filling rate and rice yield. Therefore, the adoption of appropriate phosphorus fertiliser rates can increase the activity of enzymes related to starch synthesis in different phosphorus-tolerant rice, enhance antioxidant systems in leaves at the filling stage, reduce leaf MDA content, and delay leaf senescence. These effects are beneficial to grain filling and increase grain yield.

Tomato is a major global crop, extensively cultivated in China. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to high-temperature stress remain poorly understood. This study investigates these mechanisms by examining a heat-resistant tomato variety, Hm 2-2 (R), and a heat-sensitive variety, BY 1-2 (S), under high temperature (40 °C). Total RNA was extracted from samples taken at 0 and 24 h post-treatment, followed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened based on the criteria of |log₂ fold change| ≥ 2 and false discovery rate ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology (GO) function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway enrichment analysis were performed to explore the biological significance of these DEGs. The results revealed 6 038 upregulated and 2 866 downregulated DEGs in the R-0 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. R-24 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group and 5 297 upregulated and 3 920 downregulated DEGs in the S-0 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. S-24 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group, respectively. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the majority of DEGs were associated with biological processes, followed by cellular components and molecular functions. KEGG pathway analysis identified 130, 131, 89, and 115 regulatory (or altered) pathways in the R-0 vs. R-24, S-0 vs. S-24, S-0 vs. R-0, and S-24 vs. R-24 group comparisons, respectively. Notably, pathways related to protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched, suggesting their critical roles in the tomato’s response to heat stress. Moreover, 156 transcription factors (TFs) implicated in heat stress response were identified, spanning various TF families such as MYB, AP2-EREBP, b-ZIP, bHLH, NAC, and WRKY. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 14 randomly selected DEGs validated the RNA-seq results confirming the reliability of the data. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of tomato’s responses to high-temperature stress, laying a crucial foundation for future research in this area.

The teak bee-hole borer [Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865)] is considered one of the most serious pests of teak (Tectona grandis) in Thailand. The present study investigates climatic and topographic variables affecting the infestation of teak trees by X. ceramica in 10 plantations and predicts the risk of infestation by the species under current and future climatic conditions in Thailand. At each plantation, 48 plots evenly distributed among twelve teak stands were sampled. The infested teak trees in the plots were assessed, and the coordinates of the tree positions were recorded. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to assess the effects of environmental factors and predict the occurrence probability of the species using current and projected (2050) climate data based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios from multiple global climate models. According to our results, high accuracy values [AUC (area under the curve) = 0.852, TSS (true skill statistics) = 0.775] of the model prediction were obtained, and the infestation was found to be driven much more by climate than by topographic characteristics. Above all, X. ceramica was found to prefer moderate temperatures in a highly distinct seasonal climate. Additionally, relatively low amounts of premonsoon rainfall are also found to be favoured by the species. The predicted risk map revealed that the northern region is the core area of X. ceramica infestation in Thailand under current and future climatic conditions, but the severity of infestation is predicted to gradually decrease under the predicted future climatic conditions. Recommendations for management to minimise tree damage caused by X. ceramica are also presented in this study.

The forest certification is a voluntary programme to ensure that the timber harvested from forests is processed in a sustainable manner by following specific standards. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) was introduced in 1999 using the bottom-up approach, and it gives flexibility for a country to set up their own PEFC standard based on current practices in sustainable forest management (SFM), regulation, and governance. This practice has led to the development of various PEFC standards for each country; thus, the impact of PEFC certification differs from country to country. In accordance with that, this study aimed to evaluate the PEFC standard application in developed and developing countries, namely in Sweden and Malaysia. The study also analysed the impact of forest certification on governance and economic aspects within Asia Pacific and Europe. The outcome of this study indicates that the PEFC standards developed by these countries showed similarities; for example, both countries are focusing on social and environmental requirements. Meanwhile, the differences were shown in the criteria, terms used, and the focus area. The impact analysis exhibited that countries are facing similar issues, especially market access and premium prices. This study revealed that each country develops different standards based on current practices, forest diversification, and regulations.

Nanotechnology plays a vital role in enhancing plant tolerance to salt stress; however, comparative studies on zinc oxide bulk particles (ZnO bulk) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in this context remain unexplored. Since zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient involved in enzyme activation, photosynthesis, and antioxidant responses, it is important to understand how ZnO bulk and ZnO NPs influence chickpea growth under salt stress. This study investigated the morphological and physiological responses of chickpea seedlings treated with ZnO bulk (50 mg/L) and ZnO NPs (50 mg/L) under varying salt concentrations (20, 40, 80, and 120 mmol/L). Salt stress significantly inhibited chickpea growth, reducing the relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, total chlorophyll content, and potassium (K) and zinc ion levels while increasing sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline content. However, the application of ZnO bulk and ZnO NPs improved these parameters, mitigating the negative effects of salt stress. Furthermore, exogenous ZnO bulk and ZnO NPs to salt-stressed (20, 40, 80, and 120 mmol/L) chickpea resulted in decreased malondialdehyde content by 30, 32, 47, 34%, and 58, 31, 48, 47%, proline content by 4, 6, 1.6, 4% and 22, 21, 22, 28%, respectively, in comparison to the control. Notably, ZnO bulk and ZnO NPs enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. These findings suggest that foliar application of ZnO bulk and ZnO NPs helps alleviate salt stress in chickpeas, promoting better growth and physiological performance under saline conditions.

In Saudi Arabia, root-knot nematodes (RKNs) were found to cause considerable damage to eggplant. These parasites cause significant death of seedlings during nursery production, with infected plants showing the symptoms of chlorosis and wilting, along with the characteristic root galls. Therefore, this work was carried out to find a resistant cultivar of eggplant against RKNs in Saudi Arabia by screening 11 locally available cultivars for two successive seasons. Following Koch's postulates for pathogenicity, RKNs were isolated from infected eggplant, and females were identified morphologically by perineal patterns as Meloidogyne javanica, which was distinguished by clear lateral fields on both sides. Identification was confirmed using two species-specific primers (SCAR), Fjav/Rjav and MjF/MjR, and visualized amplified fragments appeared at 670 bp and 517 bp, respectively. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to screen the cultivars, using five replicates for each cultivar and nematode inoculum (1 000 second-stage juveniles). In response to M. javanica, gall index (GI), egg mass index (EMI), and reproduction factors (RF) were calculated, and all the eggplant cultivars were categorized according to their resistance levels based on RF. Among the 11 eggplant cultivars, four were found resistant to M. javanica including Black Beauty (C5, Bursa Tohum), Melanzana Violetta Difirenze (C6, Zorzi), Melanzana Violetta Lung 2 (C7, Zorzi), and Long Purple (C9, Bursa Tohum) and Violetta Lung 3 (C8, Taj Agri) was found highly resistant. Moreover, two cultivars were found moderately resistant, two susceptible, and two susceptible to M. javanica infection. Therefore, this study provided valuable information to eggplant growers about the resistant cultivars in Saudi Arabia. However, the molecular mechanisms of this resistance need to be evaluated to find novel candidate genes for breeding and CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing programs.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), a globally significant oilseed crop, faces substantial yield losses due to drought stress, a major environmental constraint. In this study, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) to increase drought tolerance in four sunflower genotypes (resistant Irtysh, RAR 56 and sensitive Zarya, RAR 133) showing different stress responses were investigated. Conducted in a controlled hydroponic system, the experiment applied 100 µM NO under 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought, assessing growth, physiological, and biochemical parameters. PEG alone reduced shoot and root growth, relative water content (RWC), and ion levels (K, Ca, Mg, Na), while increasing oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), H₂O₂, •OH) and electrolyte leakage, particularly in sensitive genotypes. NO application, both alone and with PEG, significantly mitigated these effects, enhancing root fresh weight, RWC, and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR)), while reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Resistant genotypes (Irtysh, RAR 56) exhibited superior stress amelioration. These findings highlight NO’s role as a signalling molecule in augmenting drought resilience through genotype-specific mechanisms. The differential responses among genotypes suggest opportunities for identifying genetic markers associated with NO-mediated drought tolerance, which could guide marker-assisted breeding programs. Additionally, integrating these insights with genomic editing techniques may accelerate the development of drought-resistant sunflower cultivars tailored for water-scarce regions. Future research should optimise NO delivery methods and evaluate field-scale efficacy to advance sustainable sunflower production in water-limited environments.

The forest dynamics of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), Czech Republic, reveal a historical decline of natural mixed forests, especially those dominated by the Hercynian mixture and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), due to the expansion of metallurgy and glassmaking in the 15^th century. This led to large-scale reforestation with Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], resulting in single-layered monocultures. Although these monocultures provided valuable timber, they proved highly susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stressors. Throughout the 20^th century, the stability of these forests further deteriorated due to air pollution (notably SO₂ emissions), the unsuitable selection of substitute species, and the proliferation of pathogens. The cumulative impact of these disturbances caused soil acidification, degradation, and weed encroachment, severely limiting the regenerative capacity of forest ecosystems in this region. This article presents model examples of species composition shifts, spatial structure changes, and evolving management practices in the Ore Mountains. It discusses strategies for establishing diverse and resilient stands that align with long-term forest planning goals. These approaches aim to maintain both productive and ecological functions of forests under changing environmental conditions while minimising restoration costs. Importantly, forest management and conversion strategies must also account for economic optimisation, ensuring that ecological goals are met in a financially viable manner. The strategies and case studies presented here offer promising, albeit preliminary, directions for future forest management. Their broader application will require further refinement and long-term experimental validation to ensure sustainability in both ecological and economic terms.

The experiment was done on 180 (2 × 90) Cherry Valley ducks that were fattened until 42 days of age with parity of females and males in the group. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of substituting dehulled lupin seed meal, Zulika variety, for soybean meal and its impact on the fatty acid content of breast and thigh muscle fat. Feeding lupin diets resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in Cherry Valley ducks, as well as significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) in breast and thigh muscle fat. There was no effect of the tested diets on PUFA n-6 content in muscle fat. The results confirm that lupin meal in the diet enhances the dietary value of Cherry Valley duck muscle due to the higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, with respect to the use of duck meat for human consumption.

Current dietary patterns in developed countries, characterised by high intakes of processed and animal-source foods, are linked to increased obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, as well as environmental burdens. This paper investigates determinants of red meat, white meat, and fish consumption across five European countries, using representative survey data from over 10 000 individuals. Our findings reveal that men consume more red meat and fish than women, though, when adjusted for body weight, women consume significantly more white meat and fish. While vegetarians are mostly people younger than 35 years, meat eaters in the same age category tend to eat more red meat than older people. Cross-country differences highlight the need for localised policy approaches. Individual values also shape dietary choices. Security-oriented people prefer red meat, while altruistic individuals consume less of it. Biospheric values, while strongly associated with being vegetarian, show no significant association with meat or fish intake. To reduce red meat consumption, policies should highlight health benefits of eating less meat, with messages tailored to specific demographic groups. Additionally, enhancing meat alternatives' affordability, taste, and appearance is essential for promoting dietary shifts.

The substantial increase in grain production stimulated by traditional agricultural direct subsidies has been accompanied by a concomitant decrease in ecological quality, precipitated by excessive application of chemical fertilisers, which has generated countervailing effects that fundamentally undermine the positive effect of subsidy policies on agricultural output. Consequently, the mitigation of agricultural pollution and the elevation of ecological quality have emerged as pivotal directions for the reform of agricultural subsidies. Using both time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) models and spatial DID models in this study, we examined the effect of agricultural 'three subsidies' reform on agricultural fertiliser nonpoint source pollution (AFNSP), drawing on China's province-sector panel data from 2008 to 2022. The empirical evidence yields several salient findings. First, the three subsidies reform can significantly reduce AFNSP and improve ecological quality. Second, the large-scale operation of agricultural households and the enhancement of agricultural production efficiency serve as effective pathways for the three subsidies reform to reduce AFNSP. Third, the implementation of the three subsidies reform engenders significant spatial spillover effects, which play a crucial role in reducing overall regional AFNSP. Fourth, the efficacy of the three subsidies reform exhibits heterogeneity across diverse agroecological contexts and farming cultures. Last, the reform has resulted in notable improvements in agricultural ecological quality, thereby reinforcing food security capabilities. These findings not only offer valuable reference for refining agricultural subsidy reform but also contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework that simultaneously safeguards agroecological security and food security.

Snails, which are high in protein, have the potential to be developed as a flavour enhancer through the hydrolysis process. However, consumer acceptance of the flavour enhancer needs to be fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the consumer acceptance of a snail protein hydrolysate from different snail species (golden apple, apple, and freshwater) and at different hydrolysis durations (3, 6, and 9 h), and to identify the drivers of liking of snail protein hydrolysates through descriptive profiling using Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA) method and consumer testing using Hedonic test. The RATA intensity data were subjected to analysis using analysis of variance, followed by a Tukey's post hoc test (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the sensory profile data were analysed using principal component analysis and preference mapping. Snail species and hydrolysis time influenced the sensory profile of snail protein hydrolysate, with the longer hydrolysis time being the most liked. The most liked flavour enhancer derived from golden apple snail with 9 h hydrolysis time had a strong savoury aroma, salty taste, umami taste, lingering mouthfeel, and yellow colour. Additionally, it exhibited a moderate intensity of seafood aroma, a garlic taste, an umami aftertaste, a liquid mouthfeel, and a salty aftertaste. However, it had a low intensity of bitter aftertaste and burnt taste, and a very low intensity of sweet aroma, sweet taste, bitter taste, and bland taste. Thus, these findings highlight the importance of evaluating the efficacy of flavour enhancers and facilitate the identification of the optimal snail species and hydrolysis time according to consumer preference.

Probiotics, widely recognised for their benefits in gut health, have gained increasing attention for their comprehensive role in skin health maintenance and improvement. This review explores the multifaceted impact of food-derived probiotics on various aspects of skin health, including anti-aging, inflammation regulation, barrier function enhancement, and hydration. Probiotics exert protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammatory responses through modulation of the gut-skin axis, enhancement of the skin microbiome balance, and immunomodulatory properties. Additionally, functional foods enriched with probiotics have demonstrated efficacy in promoting skin hydration, elasticity, collagen production, and overall resilience. By synthesising recent research findings, this review highlights the potential of probiotic-enriched foods as a natural approach to supporting comprehensive skin health and addressing age-related skin changes. The implications for functional food development and dietary interventions are also discussed, providing insights into future research directions in probiotic-based holistic skin care strategies.

The aim of the paper is to examine the resilience of Czech agricultural enterprises through the perceptions of farm managers and to assess the areas where these businesses perceive themselves as resilient and where they feel vulnerable. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information (IAEI) in June 2022, involving 521 Czech agricultural managers. The study focuses on six key areas: climate change and its impacts, agricultural inputs, labour force, market outlets, land prices and availability, and changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Across all areas, managers reported that businesses were more frequently vulnerable than resilient, particularly in relation to agricultural inputs and climate change. The results also highlight differences in the perception of resilience across enterprises of varying sizes, with significant variation noted in how changes to the CAP were viewed. Contrary to the common belief that larger enterprises are more resilient, the survey found that Czech medium-sized and large enterprises (with 200 hectares or more of agricultural land) were more frequently perceived as vulnerable.

Digitisation enables the integration of science, technology and finance, and this trend toward integration can in turn enhance the innovation efficiency of listed agricultural enterprises. By leveraging the quasi-natural experiment of China's 2011 pilot program for technology finance – also known as science, technology, and finance, this paper uses the difference-in-differences (DID) model to demonstrate that the science and technology finance policy positively impacts the innovation levels of agriculture-related listed enterprises. That said, the policy's effect varies across different regions and enterprise sizes. Furthermore, moderating-effect analysis reveals that the digitalisation level of agriculture-related listed enterprises is a critical factor, while the evolutionary game model elucidates this factor's underlying mechanism. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed to further develop science and technology finance platforms for agricultural-related listed enterprises.

Nitrogen fertiliser is a key determinant of rice yield and grain quality; however, the synergistic mechanisms through which nitrogen regulates root anatomical structure, physiological traits, and cooking quality in rice varieties with different eating properties remain unclear. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted using two moderate-eating-quality cultivars (Xudao 3 and Huageng 9) and two superior-eating-quality cultivars (Zhengdao C42 and Nangeng 9308) under four nitrogen levels (0, 0.59, 1.18, and 1.76 g/pot, designated as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively). Cooking quality was assessed by amylose content, gel consistency, and alkali spreading value. The results demonstrated that, with increasing nitrogen application, amylose content, alkali spreading value, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, root aerenchyma area, and aerenchyma proportion decreased initially, then increased, reaching their lowest values at the N2 level. In contrast, gel consistency, root antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), photosynthetic rate and cortical living cell proportion increased first and then decreased, peaking at N2 treatment. Compared with moderate-eating-quality varieties, superior-eating-quality varieties exhibited significantly lower amylose content, alkali spreading value, MDA content, and aerenchyma proportion, but higher gel consistency, living cell proportion, stele-to-root diameter ratio, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic rate. Correlation analysis revealed that root antioxidant enzyme activities, stele diameter and living cell proportion were negatively correlated with amylose content, but positively correlated with gel consistency. Conversely, MDA content, aerenchyma area and aerenchyma proportion showed opposite correlation patterns. These findings indicate that an appropriate nitrogen application rate (1.18 g/pot) enhances root physiological activity, optimises root anatomical structure, and ensures sufficient source supply to the grain sink, thereby synergistically improving cooking quality – an effect particularly pronounced in high-eating-quality rice varieties.

The study aimed to optimise foam-mat drying parameters for producing purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) powder. Egg albumin (EA) (5–15%), xanthan gum (XG) (0.1–0.5%), and drying temperature (50–70 °C) were used as independent variables for optimisation via Response Surface Methodology with a Box-Behnken design. The response variables (drying rate and anthocyanin content) were assessed by 18 treatments, which included 6 central points. The analysis of variance showed a high coefficient of determination (> 88%) between predicted and experimental values across all models. Optimal foam-mat drying conditions were 11.02% EA, 0.34% XG, and 65.1 °C to achieve the highest drying rate (2.49 g water.g dry matter^–1.min^–1) and anthocyanin content (1.01 mg.g^–1). After 3.5 h of drying at 65.1 °C, the foam-mat dried PFSP showed a low moisture content (4.35%) and water activity (0.29). Its water solubility index, water absorption index, rehydration ratio, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity were determined to be 56.49%, 3.55%, 3.82, 3.66 ± 0.06 mg GAE.g^–1, and 58.49 ± 0.88%, respectively. Under these conditions, the powder maintained its natural beautiful and characteristic purple colour. The microstructure of the foam-mat dried PFSP powder (via SEM images) was also observed.

At present, the low post-thaw quality of poultry semen presents a challenge to develop new strategies for its cryopreservation. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of kaempferol (KAE) on post-thaw turkey sperm characteristics (motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function), oxidative and microbial profile. Turkey semen (n = 40) was diluted and cryopreserved in modified Beltsville extender with 5, 10, and 25 µM of KAE or without it (cryopreserved control – Ctrl_C), while fresh semen served as negative control (Ctrl_N). Following thawing, parameters were evaluated including sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial functionality, DNA fragmentation index, apoptosis status, global reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein oxidation. Bacterial identification was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity continuously increased correspondingly to KAE concentration versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05) while cell apoptosis, ROS generation, LPO and protein oxidation were significantly decreased in KAE treated groups versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05). Bacterial growth was suppressed in all KAE-treated groups, which acted synergistically with penicillin to eradicate most bacterial strains from cryopreserved samples versus Ctrl_N. Finally, our results suggest that KAE possesses strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may be used to improve commercially available extenders for more effective preservation of turkey spermatozoa.

Gerbera flowers are the best-selling cut flowers worldwide owing to their attractive appearance. Nevertheless, one significant challenge for gerbera flowers is their relatively short vase life. Commercially, synthetic chemicals are used to prolong the vase life of flowers; however, they are not environmentally friendly, posing sustainability concerns. Therefore, we used different concentrations of the biocontrol spore suspension of Streptomyces exfoliatus FT05W and evaluated their effect on vase life, bacterial population, and different morphology and physiological indices of gerbera cut flowers, with the objective of determining the optimal concentration for maximum efficiency. The results revealed that all spore suspensions of S. exfoliatus FT05W (1 × 106 CFU mL) significantly extended vase life and were 4 days longer than the control. S. exfoliatus FT05W treatment also increased bottle life extension days, blossom diameter, and fresh weight, and maintained water balance. In addition, it decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and relative electrolyte leakage (REL), leading to decreased oxidative stress. S. exfoliatus FT05W significantly increased antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, soluble sugar (SS), and soluble protein (SP), compared to the control. Furthermore, it can effectively inhibit bacterial proliferation, resulting in a decline in colonies and a significant delay in the flower ageing process. The beneficial impacts of S. exfoliatus FT05W were most pronounced at a concentration of 1 × 106 CFU/mL. The findings of this research suggest that S. exfoliatus FT05W has great potential as a bio-fertiliser for cut flowers, as it is capable of addressing the challenges associated with flower cultivation.

Oligopeptides constitute an important yet understudied component of soil’s dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) pool, representing a primary breakdown product of proteins. However, the mechanisms of oligopeptide uptake and utilisation by crop roots remain poorly understood in a plant nutrition context. We investigated the rate and spatial uptake pattern of ¹⁴C-labelled alanine and di- to pentapeptides of alanine in wheat and rice under sterile hydroponic conditions. Both species demonstrated the capacity to absorb N through amino acids and oligopeptides, with rice roots showing higher peptide uptake than wheat. Specifically, alanine absorption exceeded peptide uptake by 3–7-fold in rice and 6–9-fold in wheat. Using phosphor imaging, we demonstrated that alanine and oligopeptide uptake occurred throughout the root system, with the highest accumulation in the root tip and root hair regions. Further, spatial analysis revealed that peptide absorption rates in rice were 2–5 times higher in the 0–1 cm root section and 1.5–4 times higher in the 1–2 cm section compared to corresponding wheat root segments. We conclude that plants can directly take up amino acids and oligopeptides to acquire exogenous N, with marked differences occurring among species in both uptake efficiency and spatial uptake patterns.

Several phosphorus (P) extraction tests are being used as soil P tests, but many studies have shown that the correlation of extractable P with plant yield and P uptake varies and sometimes is poor. Infinite sink extraction methods may be superior in estimating plant P availability. Soil P tests were evaluated for their power in determining plant-available P pools. Thirty arable soils covering different soil groups were tested for soil characteristics and extractable P pools. Rye was grown on these soils for six weeks and analysed for shoot yield and shoot P concentrations. Correlations between soil P concentrations, shoot yield and shoot P content were investigated. Extractable P pools mostly significantly correlated with soil pH, texture and amorphous iron oxide content. High and significant correlations were found among most of the extractable soil P pools, except for calcium acetate lactate (CAL)-extractable P. In contrast to previous studies, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-extractable P employed in our pot experiment did not perform better than other extraction methods in correlating with plant available P and uptake, likely because water availability was not a limiting factor of P diffusion. Plant-available P in the soils investigated in this study was controlled by P quantity (i.e. the amount of adsorbed P) and P intensity (i.e. the soil solution P). We conclude that the advantage of infinite sink extraction methods over equilibrium-based techniques becomes less apparent if P is not strongly intensity-controlled and water availability is not a limiting factor of P diffusion.

This study explores the construction of small reservoirs (SRs) as a strategic solution to address water scarcity in Kashkadarya Province, Uzbekistan, where agricultural productivity is heavily dependent on irrigation. By utilising geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies, optimal locations for reservoirs were identified, focusing on improving the water availability for irrigation during critical periods. The research highlights the socio-economic and environmental benefits of SRs, including enhanced agricultural yields, increased employment opportunities, and reduced reliance on energy-intensive pumping stations. The findings indicate that the construction of an 18 Mm³ reservoir in the Ayakchisoy River could supply water to 26.5 thousand hectares, thereby improving the region’s resilience to climate variability. This approach offers a sustainable framework for managing water resources in arid regions, contributing to food security and economic stability.