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Agricultural carbon emissions (ACE) is a critical contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, which have already become a common challenge for global carbon reduction. As a major agricultural producer and largest carbon emitter, China has made great efforts to reduce ACE. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2022, this study explores the heterogeneous impacts of formal environmental regulations (FER) and informal environmental regulations (IER) on ACE. The results reveal that both FER and IER have significant effect on reducing ACE, with FER showing a more pronounced effect. The mechanism analysis indicates that agricultural technological innovation and planting structure adjustment play important mediating roles in this impact mechanism. The effect of FER is more remarkable in major grain producing areas than in non-major grain producing areas, while the effect of IER is completely opposite. Compared with coastal regions, both FER and IER have significant inhibitory effect on ACE in inland regions. Additionally, the marketisation level may reinforce the inhibitory effect of both FER and IER on ACE. Based on the empirical results, this study suggests to strengthen the synergistic effect of FER and IER, promote agricultural technology innovation, and formulate targeted policies according to regional differences.

This study investigates the reciprocal relationship between non-farm employment and mechanisation adoption of smallholders in Vietnam using the longitudinal Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) 2008–2016 dataset. By employing the correlated random effects with the Mundlak approach to address the selection bias from the unobserved heterogeneity of panel data and the instrumental variables regressions to treat the endogeneity issue of non-farm participation and mechanisation adoption, the findings revealed that non-farm employment and mechanisation adoption have a positive interactive relationship. The mechanisation adoption in agricultural production could save farm labour and allow farmers to engage in non-farm activities. Conversely, non-farm earnings could relax financial constraints and provide opportunities for farmers to invest in mechanisation. The agricultural labour shifting to non-farm work was replaced by hiring machinery services rather than machinery investment when the service market was available and cost-effective. Our study implies practical policies and actionable plans to encourage nonfarm employment and facilitate agricultural mechanisation toward sustainable agriculture and inclusive development in rural communities.

Environmental conditions are known to influence the dairy cow health, with most research focusing on the detrimental effects of heat stress. However, the impact of non-summer weather patterns in temperate climates on udder health carry-over between lactations is not well understood. This pilot study evaluated the effect of various weather factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine) during 1-day to 90-day periods before dry-off on udder health in the first month post-calving (represented by somatic cell count, conductivity, lactose, and mastitis incidence) in 199 Holstein cows in Central Europe. The scope of the experiment was limited to one farm and one year of observations. Moreover, we also evaluated milk quality, milkability, and udder health parameters during the same periods before dry-off on udder health after calving. We aimed to identify viable indicators across available automatically collected data from weather stations and milking parlour analysers. We found that the long-term (30- to 90-day) exposure to colder temperatures, high humidity, and low sunshine duration before dry-off was significantly associated with worse udder health after calving. In contrast, short-term weather conditions (1- to 7-day) had no significant effect. Monitored milk quality and udder health parameters showed a significant relation to udder health after calving during the immediate periods before dry-off, while milkability parameters were insignificant. If lactose was decreased or protein content, conductivity, and somatic cell count were elevated during the 1- and 7-day period before dry-off, cows after calving showed worse udder health. These findings identify prolonged cold and damp conditions as a significant environmental risk factor for poor udder health in the subsequent lactation, expanding our understanding beyond the conventional focus on heat stress.

Developing and employing new, sustainable, and eco-friendly biostimulants that enhance plant growth and alleviate the harmful effects of environmental challenges is a major focus for many researchers. Salt stress is a critical constraint on plant growth and a limiting factor in crop productivity, particularly during the early developmental stages in the nurseries. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Java plum) is an important fruit tree and widely cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. This study was designed to develop Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa leaf extract (CLE) as a new sustainable and eco-friendly biostimulant capable of triggering the metabolic adaptation to salt stress in Java plum seedlings grown in nurseries. CLE successfully mitigated reductions in growth, biomass yield, and secondary metabolite production caused by salinity. Although salt stress depressed morphological characters and biomass yield, CLE foliar spray enhanced these parameters. Moreover, CLE enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant potential, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities, increased phenolic content, and reduced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, CLE application increased seedling biomass and stimulated antioxidant activity, osmoprotectant accumulation, and overall tolerance to salinity stress. These observations provide new insights into CLE’s potential as an eco-friendly biostimulant for enhancing salt tolerance in Java plum seedlings.

The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is the second most planted tree species worldwide, and the most common in Hungary. Phenotypic traits, particularly flowering patterns, are well-established indicators of the species' response to climate change. This study examined four forest subcompartments across three Hungarian regions: Northern-Central, Eastern and Southern-Central. The aim was to identify climatic factors correlating with the onset and duration of the flowering period. Additionally, the relationships between these factors and nectar weight and sugar concentration were defined. Results indicate a strong negative correlation between precipitation levels and flowering time: lower accumulated and average precipitation during the spring months of the preceding year was associated with a delayed flowering period in the following year (r = –0.922, r = –0.918, P = 0.05). However, when examining the 14-day period (r = 0.829) before blooming or examining from 1 January (r = 0.929, r = 0.890), the results indicate that other environmental factors may play a more dominant role. Furthermore, the number of chill and heat days was found to affect the starting date (R² = 0.819, R² = 0.765).

We studied the role of the Arabidopsis At2g21490 (DH2) histidine-rich dehydrin gene in plant responses to copper and zinc stress. Transgenic plants overexpressing the DH2 gene were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Progeny from both transgenic and non-transgenic (control) plants were cultivated hydroponically and subjected to short-term stress (100 µM CuCl2 or 200 µM ZnCl2 for 24 h) before analysis. The differences observed between transgenic and non-transgenic plants in the expression of phytochelatin synthase (NtPCS) and certain metal transporters (NtMTP1A, NtMTP1B, NtHMA_A, and NtHMA_B) suggest that the DH2 gene plays a role in immobilising excess copper, primarily in the roots, thereby mitigating its harmful effects on the aerial parts of the plant. The overexpression of the DH2 gene influenced the levels of both enzymatic (NtAPX, NtSOD, NtCAT) and nonenzymatic antioxidants, particularly by increasing polyphenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid by at least 12-fold and rutin by at least 3-fold. The contribution of the DH2 gene to zinc stress tolerance appears to be less significant.

Dioscorea species possess valuable properties that make them suitable for use in food production. This study characterised doughs made with flours from two species of Dioscorea by evaluating their nutritional, rheological and textural properties for use in baking. Dioscorea composita flour had a higher crude fibre content (1.5% ± 0.11), while Dioscorea bulbifera flour exhibited higher antioxidant content [930.5 mg GAE · (100 g)^–1 dry matter] and better protein digestibility (89.06% ± 0.7%). Wheat flour was substituted with Dioscorea flour (0–30%) to make composite doughs. Doughs containing D. composita exhibited superior biaxial extensibility (41.22 ± 11.9 mm at 20% substitution), compared to the control (21.4 ± 2.7 mm), indicating their potential for use in bread production. Meanwhile, doughs containing 20% or more D. bulbifera flour were more suitable for products such as biscuits or pitta bread. However, all composite doughs were harder to handle, likely due to gluten dilution and component interactions, regardless of the Dioscorea species used. Therefore, the Dioscorea species used in this study could be considered promising candidates for inclusion in suitable bakery products.

Salinity stress poses an increasing threat to global rice production, particularly under climate change. Enhancing salinity tolerance is crucial to sustain rice production and food security. This study aimed to assess genetic variation among rice parental genotypes and their derived crosses under salinity stress by evaluating physiological, biochemical, agronomic, and yield-related traits. Seven diverse rice genotypes were used to develop 21 crosses using a half-diallel mating design in the summer of 2023. The parental genotypes and their derived crosses were evaluated in the summer of 2024 under controlled greenhouse lysimeter conditions. Salinity stress was induced by irrigation with water containing 10.60 dS/m, and soil salinity was maintained at 9.60 dS/m through controlled irrigation and drainage. Twenty key traits were studied, including phenological and agronomic attributes, yield traits, and physiological and biochemical markers such as relative water content, leaf CO₂ assimilation, proline accumulation, malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant enzyme activities, to assess salinity tolerance in rice genotypes. The results demonstrated highly significant variation among the evaluated parental genotypes and their derived crosses across physiological, biochemical, agronomic, and yield-related traits, indicating considerable genetic variability in the studied plant materials. The genotypes C9, R8, and R6 were identified as superior combiners contributing favourable alleles for salinity tolerance. Eleven promising F1 crosses exhibited enhanced growth, improved antioxidant enzyme activities, osmotic adjustment, reduced oxidative damage, and higher grain yield under salinity stress. Exploiting these plant materials can improve the development of novel rice genotypes tolerant of salt-affected environments, addressing the current challenges posed by climate change. Strong associations were observed among physiological, biochemical, agronomic, and yield-related traits, indicating an integrated network of responses that collectively contribute to enhanced salinity tolerance in rice.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7 inoculant (3.8 × 10⁸ CFU) and 1.5 ml of saline, respectively. Performance data showed that, throughout the study, unchallenged birds had better weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than challenged birds. On day 35, broilers given OTC and all MO levels showed improved WG (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.003). Interactions between challenge and additives were observed on day 10 for FCR (P = 0.031); on days 24 and 35 for WG (P < 0.001); and on days 24 and 35 for FCR (P < 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). On day 24, challenged birds fed all MO levels exhibited higher WG and better FCR than challenged controls, while on day 35, both challenged and unchallenged MO-fed birds showed improved WG and FCR compared to control groups. E. coli significantly increased crypt depth (CD), jejunum muscle thickness, and caecal E. coli colonies. MO significantly enhanced villus height (VH), the VH : CD ratio, villous tip width, and surface area, while decreasing CD, muscle thickness, and E. coli colonies. Challenged birds had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres, while serum alanine aminotransferase ALT activity was higher than in non-challenged birds. Overall, Moringa at 0.4% showed comparable or better results than OTC in preventing E. coli-induced declines in broiler performance and gut health.

This study examined the effects of chitosan films enriched with various essential oils on the quality characteristics of rainbow trout burgers stored at (4 ± 1 °C) for 21 days. Five groups were prepared: a control group (C), a chitosan film group (CF), and groups of chitosan films enriched with 1% oregano essential oil (OEO), citrus essential oil (CEO), and rosemary essential oil (REO). Microbiological counts and physicochemical factors were assessed. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in physicochemical properties were observed among the treatments, with OEO showing the lowest pH (6.67), the lowest peroxide value (PV; 12 meq O₂·kg^–1), and the lowest thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level [1.159 malondialdehyde (MDA)·kg^–1]. Microbial results indicated that the shelf life of the treated groups was extended by up to 9 days compared to the control. The lowest counts of Enterobacteriaceae, yeast and mould, and lactic acid bacteria in OEO were 5.17, 4.87, and 5.10 log CFU·g^–1, respectively, while the lowest counts of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria were observed in the REO group, at 6.34 and 6.29 log CFU·g^–1, respectively. In conclusion, combining essential oils, particularly oregano and rosemary, with chitosan effectively enhances seafood freshness and extends its shelf life.

Protective cultures are selected microorganisms that inhibit undesirable microbiota through metabolic activity, thereby improving the safety and shelf life of dairy products. This study evaluated the effect of protective cultures on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of fresh cheese during 21 days of storage at 6–8 °C. Three variants were prepared: a control with the starter culture CHN-19 and two experimental samples containing FreshQ^® Cheese 3 and FreshQ^® 9 (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus). The application of protective cultures resulted in a slightly faster acidification but did not significantly affect dry matter or fat content. Microbiological analysis revealed higher counts of lactic acid bacteria and generally lower counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms in samples containing protective cultures on several storage days, while Escherichia coli and moulds were not detected. Sensory evaluation indicated that cheeses with protective cultures, particularly FreshQ^® 9, maintained a pleasant flavour and appearance even after 21 days of storage, whereas the control sample became sensorially unacceptable after approximately two weeks. The application of protective cultures therefore enhances the sensory stability and microbial safety of fresh cheeses without adversely affecting their technological characteristics.

Bees were exposed for 10 days to a sucrose solution containing acetamiprid at concentrations of 48, 4.8, and 0.48 mg a.i./kg of solution, corresponding to the maximum recommended field application rate and its 1/10 and 1/100 dilutions. An increase in mortality was observed at the highest tested concentration, with a cumulative mortality of 30.4% by day 10, whereas lower concentrations showed effects comparable to the control. In addition, the expression of selected genes related to detoxification (glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin reductase), oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase 1, superoxide dismutase 2), immunity (abaecin, hymenoptaecin, apidaecin), and neural regulation (acetylcholinesterase 1) was analysed. No significant changes were detected in most genes, except for sod2, which showed increased expression at the lowest concentration. Overall, the results suggest that acetamiprid exhibits relatively low chronic toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations but may induce significant effects at higher or continuous exposure levels. These findings highlight the importance of considering both lethal and sublethal endpoints, including molecular responses, in assessing pesticide risks to honeybees.

Salinity stress is a major environmental constraint limiting crop productivity worldwide. The application of beneficial microorganisms is an effective strategy to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. This study evaluated the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculation in enhancing physiological performance, oxidative stress tolerance, and yield of rice genotypes under saline-water irrigation. A lysimeter experiment was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Five rice genotypes were exposed to saline water (6 000 ppm) with and without inoculation. Gas exchange, water status, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and yield-related traits were assessed. The results showed that inoculation significantly enhanced CO2 assimilation (12.27%), stomatal conductance (15.71%), transpiration rate (8.78%), and relative water content (16.36%) across both seasons. Furthermore, inoculation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) by 19.75% and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by 23.72%. While superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) increased by 35.32% and catalase activity (CAT) by 20.63%. Grain yield per plant improved by 18.91% and biological yield by 12.84%, accompanied by a reduction in grain sterility (14.47%). The assessed genotypes exhibited significant variation across all parameters studied. IRRI-165 and Giza-179 exhibited superior performance and responsiveness. Giza-182 and Sakha-104 displayed intermediate levels, while Giza-177 was the most sensitive genotype. Multivariate analyses confirmed strong positive associations between inoculation and genotypic performance. Whereas genotypic performance was negatively associated with oxidative stress markers. These results suggest that S. cerevisiae inoculation improves rice performance under salinity stress. The enhancement may contribute to the integration of physiological and biochemical mechanisms. Therefore, combining microbial inoculation with tolerant genotypes provides a sustainable strategy to improve rice productivity in salt-affected environments.

The genomic structure of extant cattle populations can contribute to the reconstruction of the history of particular breeds or their subpopulations. Genome-wide population resequencing of extant populations of Czech Red Pied (CRP) cattle, its conserved nucleus herd, and Czech Red (CR) cattle detected a T106C polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA shared by the conserved CRP herd with a geographical belt of Anatolian, Illyrian and Eastern Alpine breeds. On the other hand, this SNP is practically absent in the historical cattle breeds associated with Northern Germany, including German Black Pied cattle, Holstein-Friesian and German Red Mountain cattle (GRM). Correspondingly, this indicator SNP was absent in CR cattle, which, like the GRM, belongs to the group of mountain red cattle breeds. It seems that the precursory cattle population in Central Europe was influenced by the germplasm from the Balkans-related group of breeds, thanks to the political and commercial influence of the Northern Italian, Austrian and Hungarian regions. In addition, the presence of this polymorphism in some European aurochs (Bos primigenius) bone remains suggests possible introgression from local aurochs populations. Alternatively, the T106C presence in yaks and in neighbouring cattle breeds in Northern India, China and Korea raises the possibility of origin of this polymorphism from yak populations. The spread of the T106C mutation in alpine regions is consistent with the known role of this mtDNA region in adaptation to the reduced oxygen pressure.

This study investigated the effects of temperature on the performance of anaerobic digesters for biogas production. Digesters were filled with a 1 : 1 ratio of substrate to water, containing 15 kg of cow dung and 3 kg of crop waste, and maintained at temperatures of 50 ± 2 °C and 30 ± 2 °C, corresponding to the thermophilic and mesophilic biodigesters, respectively. The experiments run for 75 days, and biogas production rate and purity were measured. The thermophilic digester produced 48.4% more biogas and had a slightly higher pH (7.65) than did the mesophilic digester (7.37) by the end of the observation period. However, gas chromatography revealed that the CH₄ and CO₂ contents did not significantly differ between the two treatments. The CH₄ concentration in the mesophilic environment was 42 ± 10%, whereas that in the thermophilic environment was 53.5 ± 10%. The CO₂ composition was 32.5 ± 1% and 35.5 ± 1% for the mesophilic and thermophilic setups, respectively. These were supported by the wavelength (460 nm to 620 nm) of the flame colour, indicating that the biogas from both setups is predominantly composed of methane. In conclusion, thermophilic anaerobic digesters may have a relatively high biogas production rate, but the biogas purity is not significantly different from that of mesophilic digesters.

Climate change is speeding up the melting and retreat of glaciers, which is a big threat to water security in dry and semi-dry areas like Uzbekistan. To understand how glaciers affect regional hydrological systems and to come up with adaptive water management strategies, it is important to keep an eye on how they change over time. This study examines the temporal changes of the Khisar Glacier in the Surkhandarya Basin by combining remote sensing data from different times with a GIS-based spatial analysis. We looked at Landsat images from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2024 to see how the size of the glaciers has changed and how that relates to weather and water variables. The results show that the glacier area has shrunk significantly, from 8.6 km² in 1990 to 5.1 km² in 2024, a 40.7% decrease over the past three decades. The mean annual temperature in the basin rose by about 1.9 °C during the same time, and the Surkhandarya River's average summer discharge fell by about 22%. These results show how closely rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and lower river flow are linked. They also show how vulnerable glacier-fed water systems are to climate change. Combining satellite observations with climate and hydrology data is a good way to keep an eye on glaciers and assess water resources over time. The GIS-based monitoring framework created in this study provides useful tools for planning how to adapt to climate change and manage water resources in a way that is good for the environment in the Surkhandarya region and other glacier-dependent basins in Central Asia.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a major global threat to both human and animal health. Within the One Health framework, farm and wild animals serve as critical reservoirs of resistant bacteria and resistance genes, which can disseminate through food, water, and the environment. The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine exerts selection pressure that fosters the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Current mitigation strategies aim to reduce antibiotic consumption and promote prudent use through hygiene measures, vaccination, individualised therapy, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) dosing optimisation, and comprehensive AMR monitoring. European legislation (EU Regulations 2019/4 and 2019/6) provides stringent guidelines on antibiotic prescription, usage, and residue limits. In this context, antibiotic combination therapy represents a promising approach to enhance antimicrobial efficacy, broaden the antibacterial spectrum, and suppress the emergence of resistance by targeting multiple bacterial pathways simultaneously. In addition to developing new drugs, renewed focus on reviving older antimicrobial molecules – supported by updated PK/PD data and optimised dosing – could provide an effective alternative in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Curcuma longa L., known as turmeric, is a plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is generally spread in Asian countries. It is used in many sectors, especially spices. It has been predicted that increasing climatic changes will affect the agricultural crop pattern. To provide an alternative crop for countries with sub-tropical climates, such as Turkey, the yield and quality values of turmeric grown under the greenhouse and shade net conditions were determined in the present study. Moreover, morphological traits such as plant height, tillering number, and leaf area were determined. The highest fresh yield (1 333.67 g/plant) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, the highest antioxidant value (3.01 IC50 mg/mg 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) was obtained under shade net conditions, while the highest total phenolic content (6.88 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Curcumin reached the highest level (1.79%) in greenhouse conditions. While the essential oil ratio varied between 5.22 and 7.32%, ar-turmerone, α-turmerone, and β-turmerone were determined as the main components in the essential oil. According to the results, turmeric can be grown in greenhouse conditions in subtropical regions.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of papaya peel addition on the quality and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage. Fresh napier grass was mixed with papaya peel at 0% (control), 15%, 30%, and 45% of fresh weight and ensiled under anaerobic conditions. After fermentation, silages were analysed for pH, organic acids, ammonia-N, and nutrient composition. In vitro ruminal fermentation was conducted using the rumen fluid collected from buffaloes to assess gas production, volatile fatty acid profiles, and hydrogen release. The results showed that papaya peel addition significantly affected silage fermentation and nutrient composition. The inclusion at 15% lowered pH and increased lactic acid concentration compared with the control (P < 0.05). Higher inclusion levels (30% and 45%) reduced neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content, increased total digestible nutrients and relative feed value (P < 0.05). In vitro ruminal fermentation showed that, compared with the control, hydrogen production was significantly reduced in the 15% treatment, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio was highest in the 45% treatment as a result of decreased propionate acid concentration (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that co-ensiling napier grass with papaya peel improved fermentation quality and feed value, with 15% addition yielding the most desirable balance of fermentation characteristics and ruminal fermentation outcomes. This approach provides a practical strategy for enhancing the forage preservation and utilising fruit-processing by-products in tropical livestock systems.

Plums are one of the most important and most overlooked fruits. Their nutritional value, composition, antioxidant potential, and vitamin content place them at the forefront of the food industry. Their potential is so great that plums are one of the fruits being considered for space travel. Prunes are not just a hot topic for astronauts. The possibility of growing plums in a cultivation box at reduced or zero gravity has also been studied. The sharka virus (Plum pox virus) is responsible for the major economic losses worldwide. Efforts are being made to develop the most effective way to control the spread of the virus between trees, as there is still no reliable treatment against this disease. The main vectors of transmission in the orchards are aphids and grafting of infected material. Consistent control and testing of the health of propagating material can reduce the percentage of infection by plant material. Therefore, major efforts have been made to develop effective aphid control strategies to in both conventional and organic production systems. Hand in hand with the development of chemical treatments goes the breeding of new plum varieties that combine natural resistance or tolerance to sharka and the required high value of the fruit for the consumer. The trees themselves have not been able to develop a natural immunity to the disease, but a variety with the sharka coat protein encoded has been developed through genetic modification. This variety has shown a high level of resistance. At present, the use, development, and cultivation of GMO plants is under very strict control, and large-scale production is not possible, but in the future, these mutants are likely to be very interesting breeding material.

Combining phosphorus management with phosphorus-efficient cultivars is an effective strategy for improving rice quality. To investigate their effects on root characteristics and photosynthetic traits, a pot experiment was conducted with two rice cultivars differing in phosphorus efficient: Liangeng 7 (weakly efficient) and Yongyou 2640 (highly efficient). Four phosphorus rates (0, 0.44, 0.88, and 1.32 g/pot, designated as P0, P1, P2, and P3, respectively) were applied. A significant cultivar-phosphorus interaction was observed. Most root traits (the length, dry weight, volume, total absorption area, active absorption area, oxidation activity, and acid phosphatase activity) and photosynthetic traits (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance) initially increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus rates, while the leaf intercellular CO₂ concentration showed the opposite trend. Liangeng 7 performed optimally under P2, whereas Yongyou 2640 reached its peak under P1. Compared with Liangeng 7, Yongyou 2640 exhibited better appearance quality, root traits, and photosynthetic parameters. Correlation analysis showed that root length, root physiological activity and leaf photosynthetic parameters (except intercellular CO₂ concentration) were significantly negatively correlated with chalkiness degree. These findings demonstrate that matching phosphorus supply to cultivar‑specific efficiency optimises root‑photosynthesis synergy, leading to superior grain appearance quality with less phosphorus input.

Methods used to control insect pests have been mainly chemical. Given the irritations associated with the use of pesticides, a search for alternatives is required, particularly through the use of plant extracts. The present study focused on comparing the insecticidal power of the aqueous extracts of the whole plant Dittrichia viscosa (commonly known as false yellowhead), the aqueous extract ratio of D. viscosa, and the bio-adjuvant Silene fuscata (1 : 1), as well as the synthetic pesticides Thiamethoxam/Lambda-cyhalothrin. Abundance, fecundity, demographic parameters, and biochemical parameters (lipid-glucidic biomarkers) of the winter phenotype of the black poplar leaf aphid Chaitophorus leucomelas were considered variables to assess the effectiveness of different approaches. The results show a strong effect of the aqueous extracts of D. viscosa (A.E. Plant) on abundance, with pronounced insecticidal activity from the aqueous extract ratio (A.E. Ratio) (P < 0.05). The lipid and carbohydrate energy of sexuparae undergo significant changes depending on the products used, with a disturbing effect of the synthetic product compared to aqueous extracts (P < 0.05). Fecundity shows a remarkable disturbance under the action of the active ingredient compared to the extracts. The results confirm that the products applied cause a disturbance in the growth rate (r_m) and net reproductive rate (R₀) of sexuparae, with the chemical treatment having the strongest effect (P < 0.05). The full dose of the active ingredient causes remarkable disturbances in the multiplication rate (λ) and the mean generation time (T) of the sexuparae compared to the other applied molecules. Some stability is reported for the doubling time (DT) of treated females compared to the control ones.

This study investigates the extent to which international agricultural price shocks are transmitted to domestic agricultural markets in both developed and developing economies. Using panel data from 13 major agricultural trading countries from 1990 to 2022, we applied cross-sectional dependence tests, fixed-effects panel regressions, and panel Granger causality analyses to examine the degree of interdependence and directionality in price movements. Our results reveal significant cross-sectional dependence, suggesting that global price shocks reverberate across the national markets. The panel regression estimates indicate a statistically significant and positive effect of international prices on domestic prices, with a stronger transmission observed in developed economies. Panel Granger causality tests confirm that global price indices significantly predict domestic price changes in most countries, although reverse causality is limited to large exporters, such as the United States, China, and Brazil. Robustness checks across sub-periods (1990–2005 vs. 2006–2022) and country groupings validate the stability and heterogeneity of the price transmission mechanisms. These findings underscore the increasingly integrated nature of food markets and the evolving dynamics of price volatility. The policy implications highlight the importance of multilateral coordination in food trade, differentiated policy tools tailored to country development levels, and the need for strategic buffering mechanisms to manage the growing global volatility in agricultural prices.

Chinese Baijiu distillers' spent grains (DSGs), a major byproduct of liquor production containing valuable polyphenols, face disposal challenges because of their high moisture content and rapid spoilage. In this study, an optimised cellulase-assisted extraction process was developed for DSG polyphenols (DGPs), and their stability and antioxidant capacity were comprehensively characterised. The extraction yield of DGP was determined as the primary response variable to evaluate the effectiveness of the process. A central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimise key operational parameters: enzyme concentration, enzyme temperature and liquid–solid ratio. Results demonstrated that the optimal process conditions were a cellulase dosage of 4.0%, an enzyme temperature of 50 ^ºC and a liquid–solid ratio of 40 mL·g⁻¹, obtaining a polyphenol yield of 4.20 ± 0.10 mg·g⁻¹. Stability assessment indicated that DGP retained 68.9 ± 1.8% of the phenolic content after 7 days of frozen storage at −18 ^ºC, exhibiting better preservation than storage under refrigeration (47.9 ± 2.1%) and room temperature (45.5 ± 3.2%) conditions. Antioxidant assays showed concentration-dependent (0.50–8.0 µg·mL⁻¹) scavenging capacities for ABTS (IC₅₀ = 6.0 µg·mL⁻¹) and DPPH (IC₅₀ = 2.8 µg·mL⁻¹). These findings offer valuable insights for the transformation of distillery byproducts into functional food ingredients while simultaneously addressing the challenges of solid waste management in alcoholic beverage production.

A significant challenge for the sustainable dairy sector is incorporating by-products generated during other food production and agricultural processes, such as fruit, vegetable, legume, oilseed, and grain production, into dairy products. In previous decades, by-products from these sectors were mainly used as feed for dairy cows and other animals. Currently, there is a trend to use these materials also in dairy production, for fortifying and developing novel dairy products. Additionally, their incorporation into dairy products offers the modification and enhancement of the technofunctional properties. This review summarises contemporary approaches and the current state of sustainable production in the dairy sector, with an emphasis on techno-functionality.

This study investigated the effectiveness of ohmic heating (OH) for the inactivation of pectin methylesterase (PME) in passion fruit juice. PME is a heat-resistant enzyme responsible for juice cloud loss and quality deterioration during storage and is therefore commonly used as an indicator of pasteurisation efficiency. Juice samples were initially heated from 20 to 70 °C and subsequently held at 70 °C for 10 s while being subjected to different electric field strengths (20–40 V·cm^–1) and frequencies ranging from 50 to 10 000 Hz. The highest PME inactivation was observed at 60 Hz, and increasing electric field strength further enhanced the inactivation effect. Based on these results, a frequency of 60 Hz and an electric field strength of 30 V·cm^–1 were selected for subsequent experiments. The effects of temperature (60–90 °C) and holding time (0–90 s) on PME inactivation during OH treatment were then evaluated and compared with conventional heating (CH). OH treatment at 90 °C for 70 s resulted in approximately 90% PME inactivation, which was 10.2% higher than that achieved by CH. In addition, OH treatment caused no significant additional degradation of ascorbic acid, total polyphenols, or antioxidant activity, indicating that the applied electric field did not adversely affect these bioactive compounds. These findings demonstrate that ohmic heating is a promising and mild pasteurisation technology for fruit juice processing.

This study assessed the effect of a 24-hour bath with praziquantel (2 and 4 mg/l) on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by monitoring the haematological parameters, plasma biochemical profile, and oxidative stress indices. Fish were sampled at 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-hours post-exposure (hpe). The haematological analysis revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the white blood cell count immediately after treatment at both concentrations, with no subsequent changes. Within the plasma biochemical profile, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed only in chloride (24 hpe at 2 mg/l; 72 hpe at both concentrations) and in magnesium (48 hpe at 2 mg/l). The oxidative stress responses indicated that the gill was the most responsive tissue. In the gill, the catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 48 hpe at 4 mg/l. Lipid peroxidation in the gill decreased at 48 hpe but increased at 72 hpe following exposure to 4 mg/l. In the hepatopancreas, the glutathione peroxidase activity significantly decreased at 48 hpe at 2 mg/l. In the plasma, significant changes (P < 0.05) were detected only in the ceruloplasmin activity, which decreased at 72 hpe in the 2 mg/l group. These findings provide essential baseline data supporting the potential future application of praziquantel in aquaculture.

In order to remove soil tetracycline residue and identify the effect of tetracycline on soil nematode community, agricultural waste returning was applied in a maize monocropping field, northeast China. The results showed that plant parasites were the dominant genera in high concentration of soil tetracycline; however, bacterivores were the dominant genera in all organic matter amendments. Maturity index, structure index and enrichment index showed the highest values in biochar and compost mixed amendments and these treatments had the highest tetracycline removal rate and the highest concentration of macro-aggregates, total organic C and available N, followed by biochar seperate amendments. Overall, biochar and compost mixed amendments efficiently reduced the risk of soil tetracycline pollution below the threshold, with the characteristics of cheap, improving soil fertility and above all, environmentally friendly.

Machine learning makes geochemical mapping highly adaptable, as its data-driven nature allows predictions to evolve with new information. In this study, topsoil nickel (Ni) data were compiled from various sources, each with different sampling times and analytical methods. To effectively use such imbalanced data into spatial modelling, it was necessary to test how the data uncertainty propagated through the final maps. A comprehensive benchmark of the quantile random forest algorithm was conducted to identify conditions under which the model performs optimally. Predictive maps of topsoil Ni at a 20-metre resolution were subsequently generated and compared using a multi-faceted evaluation strategy. This approach assessed how model adjustments – particularly those addressing the uncertainty introduced by the regression-based conversion of legacy measurements – affected the performance. Extensive benchmarking revealed that while out-of-sample validation showed only modest improvements (e.g., root mean square error (RMSE) reduced from 12.6 to 11.2 mg/kg) when modifying training data, covariates, or algorithm parameters, the resulting prediction grids differed substantially. The analysis also demonstrated that output variability across model scenarios occurred at different spatial scales: weighting approaches had localised effects, whereas high variability in the input data propagated more broadly across the region.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on lamb growth performance and meat quality. After 14 days of acclimation, 20 three-month-old lambs (30.46 ± 1.77 kg) were randomly assigned to the control (CON, basal diet) or YC-supplemented group (0.625 g/kg DM) for 50 days. While YC induced no significant improvements in growth parameters (average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed to gain ratio; P > 0.05), it enhanced the longissimus thoracis (LT) meat quality by elevating the L* (lightness) and a* (redness) values (P < 0.05), reducing shear force (P < 0.05), increasing intramuscular fat (EE, P < 0.05), and decreasing crude protein (P < 0.05). YC modified fatty acid profiles by reducing atherogenic saturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) and elevating C16:1 (P < 0.05). Transcriptional analysis revealed the depot-specific regulation: YC suppressed subcutaneous adipogenesis via downregulation of PPARγ/SREBP-1/HSL and upregulation of LPL and promoted intramuscular fat deposition in LT through the coordinated activation of PPARγ/SREBP-1/FAS/ACC and inhibition of LPL (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the capacity of YC to optimise meat sensory attributes and lipid healthfulness through tissue-specific metabolic modulation, supporting its application as a functional feed additive in precision lamb production.