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Equine obesity currently represents a significant welfare concern, with its development influenced by seasonal changes in the nutritional value of pasture, which substantially affect the animals’ energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of pasture nutritional composition, assess the balance between energy requirements and actual intake of horses during the grazing season, and determine the impact of these factors on body weight and body condition. Pasture was analysed across three seasonal periods: T1 (May), T2 (July), and T3 (September). The highest concentration of digestible energy in pasture was recorded in T1 (10.81 MJ/kg DM), while the lowest was observed in T2 (9.67 MJ/kg DM). In T1, digestible energy intake (DE_i; 98.02 MJ/day) was markedly higher than the energy requirement (61.94 MJ/day), resulting in a positive energy balance (36.08 MJ/day). This surplus was accompanied by a significant increase in body weight from 444.6 kg to 534.7 kg (P = 0.006 1) and an increase in body condition score (BCS) from 5.1 to 6.7 (P = 0.000 1). In the subsequent periods (T2 and T3), when the energy balance was close to equilibrium (–0.02 and 0.14 MJ/day), no further significant changes were observed in body weight (534.7 vs 535.0 kg; P > 0.05) or BCS (6.7 vs 6.6; P > 0.05). Changes in BCS showed a strong positive relationship with the difference between DE intake and requirement (r = 0.696 1; P = 0.000 7). The results confirm that seasonal energy surplus, particularly at the beginning of the grazing season, represents a significant risk factor for body fat accumulation in adult horses maintained on ad libitum pasture.

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) on seed germination and seedling growth physiology of sweet melon under NaCl stress. Under salt stress, low concentrations of 0.25–0.5 mmol/L SA treatment can effectively alleviate plant salt damage and promote the germination rate of sweet melon seeds. Simultaneously, high concentrations of SA had a significant inhibitory effect on the root length, root fresh weight, and root : shoot ratio of sweet melon, but using medium concentrations (1.0 mmol/L) of SA can increase the root length and root : shoot ratio of seedlings. In addition, low concentration SA treatment can reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of plants and increase the activity of peroxidase (POD). High concentrations will reduce POD activity and increase MDA content. Adding exogenous salicylic acid at different concentrations without NaCl stress can, to some extent, inhibit seedling growth, reduce plant root length, root fresh weight and other growth indicators, but can reduce MDA content, increase POD activity, and enhance plant defence ability against the outside world. Under NaCl stress, treatment with 0.25 mmol/L SA can reduce MDA content, increase POD activity, enhance plant salt resistance, and improve seed germination rate. Treatment with 1.0 mmol/L SA promoted seedling root elongation and increased root : shoot ratio. In the absence of NaCl stress, treated plants with different concentrations of SA can inhibit seedling growth to some extent.

Desert grasslands are critical carbon sinks in arid regions, where herbaceous species selection plays a vital role in ecosystem restoration. While plant life cycle (annual vs. perennial) is known to affect soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, its influence on SOC molecular composition remains poorly understood. This study examined the accumulation and environmental drivers of plant- and microbial-derived carbon biomarkers (lignin phenols and amino sugars) across the 0–40 cm soil profile under four desert herbaceous species: perennial Karelinia caspica (Pall.) Less. and Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin., annual Chenopodium glaucum L. and Salsola lanata (Pall.) Botsch. Plant-derived C contributed more to SOC (9–15%) than microbial-derived C (3–8%), with contributions differing significantly between plant life cycles. These differences were shaped primarily by edaphic factors: plant-derived C accumulation was mainly regulated by pH, whereas microbial-derived C was affected by labile organic carbon (LOC), elemental stoichiometry (C/N, C/P), electrical conductivity, and pH. Our results indicate that herbaceous species influence SOC sequestration through divergent plant and microbial pathways. Perennial species, especially K. caspica and G. inflata, enhance SOC storage more effectively and should be prioritised in desert grassland restoration.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of drinking water temperature on growth performance and gastrointestinal microbiota in growing calves. Forty-five weaned male calves were randomly divided into three treatment groups (n = 15 per group). The groups were provided with drinking water at different temperatures: 5–10 °C (FC), 20–25 °C (FM), or 35–40 °C (FW). The experiment lasted for 30 days, during which all calves were housed in individual hutches. Body weight and jugular blood samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30; body measurements were taken on days 0 and 30. On day 30, rumen fluid and faecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3–V4 regions. Calves in the FW group showed significantly higher water intake and diarrhoea frequency, along with significantly lower average daily gain (ADG), compared to the other groups. During the first 15 days, the ADG for the FM and FW groups was significantly lower than that of the FC group. Additionally, the FM and FW group maintained higher faecal scores throughout the experimental period. Rumen microbial analysis revealed a higher abundance of the potentially pathogenic genus Pseudoscardovia in the FW group compared to the FC group. In a cold winter environment, providing drinking water at 35–40 °C reduced growth performance, elevated faecal scores, and increased the abundance of harmful microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of growing calves.

The present study aims to investigate the interaction between the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug meloxicam and sex hormones in seasonal polyoestrous male and female Saanen goats. It was hypothesised that sex hormones, both steroidal and peptide hormones, may influence the serum concentration of the lipophilic drug meloxicam. In the study, the relationship between plasma meloxicam concentration (μg/ml) and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), testosterone, oestradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) was evaluated. For this purpose, six male and six female Saanen goats aged one year were intravenously administered a 0.5 mg/kg dose of meloxicam, and blood samples were collected at different time points (0, 5, 30 min, and 2, 8, 24, 48 h) to obtain plasma and serum. The hormone levels were determined by ELISA, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and drug concentrations were measured by HPLC-UV. While the study found no direct correlation between the meloxicam levels and the sex hormones, significant sex-related differences in the hormone levels underscore the importance of considering sex-related physiological differences in veterinary pharmacology. These results will establish a scientific basis for future research on species- and sex-specific dosage adjustments.

 Allergic asthma is a widespread disease with elevated eosinophil levels. Although corticosteroids are widely prescribed for allergic asthma, numerous patients experience limited sensitivity and side effects. Loranthus tanakae Franch. & Sav., a traditional herbal plant, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in pulmonary inflammation caused by Asian sand dust and cigarette smoke condensate. To assess the protective effects of L. tanakae, we examined the influence of an L. tanakae ethanol extract (LTE) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. Mice received intraperitoneal sensitisation with OVA, and challenged using OVA inhalation. LTE was consecutively orally gavaged for 6 days. Following sacrifice, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue was analysed. The LTE treatment considerably reduced inflammatory cell counts, proinflammatory cytokine levels in the BALF, and immunoglobulin E, compared with the OVA group, along with a reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness. The LTE also improved airway inflammation and suppressed mucus hypersecretion in the lung tissues. Additionally, the expression of MMP-9 and activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 were notably diminished in the LTE groups. This study revealed reduced airway inflammation in OVA-induced asthma via suppressing the MMP-9 and mitogen-activated protein kinase-associated factors. Consequently, our findings demonstrated that LTE is suggested as a potential remedy for allergic asthma.

This study investigates whether participation in agricultural global value chains (GVCs) leads to slower growth in manufacturing for the period of 1995–2022 in 44 countries. Our baseline estimations indicate that forward GVC integration in agriculture, crop cultivation and animal production supports manufacturing growth. We further explore whether the income level of countries influences the impact of agricultural GVCs on manufacturing growth. Forward participation in agriculture, crop cultivation, and animal production in developing countries increases growth. However, in developed countries, deeper forward integration in animal production and backward integration in crop cultivation have a substantial negative impact on manufacturing growth. Furthermore, we test if resource reliance in manufacturing matters. Our findings reveal that forward participation in agriculture, crop cultivation, and animal production stimulates growth in resource-based manufacturing. For non-resource-based manufacturing, higher integration into backward participation in animal production drives growth. Overall, our results indicate that exporting agricultural intermediaries might not necessarily be a resource curse, instead, they can serve as a catalyst for industrialisation in developing countries.

In view of the increasing negative impacts of climate change, international cereal trade has become a growing concern. This study examines the impact of climate change on cereal exports. The analysis consists of two stages. In the first stage, we investigate convergence in cereal exports across countries and identify potential clusters of similar export behaviour. To this end, club convergence analysis was conducted using export data from 95 countries for the period 2000–2022. The results reveal that countries are grouped into seven distinct clubs, indicating shared convergence paths. In the second stage, the impact of climate change on the formation of these clubs is analysed using the ordered logit model. This model assesses how climatic factors influence a country's likelihood of belonging to a particular convergence club. The findings show that precipitation and carbon emissions significantly increase the likelihood of being in the top two clubs with high cereal trade. This suggests that climate change is a critical dynamic in shaping convergence clubs.

Water reservoirs (WR), as a key source of drinking water in Slovakia, face increasing challenges due to environmental pressures, economic aspects and technological limitations related to water collection and treatment. The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the economic external factors of seven major Slovak drinking water reservoirs (Málinec, Truček, Nová Bystrica, Hriňová, Klenovec, Starina, and Bukovec). The results of the study evaluated the following economic factors: (i) drinking water supply, (ii) drinking water demand, and (iii) average annual costs for drinking water treatment and purification. The last-mentioned was studied in more detail to investigate how the catchment's forest cover affects annual water treatment costs. The analysis of economic factors showed that smaller reservoirs with a lower technical base, such as Hriňová and Turček, are more sensitive to seasonal and ecological fluctuations, leading to greater cost variability and more negative management effects. In contrast, large reservoirs such as Starina and Nová Bystrica exhibit greater stability and resilience to these impacts, and economic factors positively influence water resources management. The study also demonstrates that the catchment's forest cover and reservoir volume significantly contribute to lower drinking water treatment costs in Slovakia. These findings highlight the economic relevance of forested catchments for drinking water supply and underline the importance of integrating forest management considerations into water resource management.

This study examines methods for detecting illegal manipulation of raw cow’s milk aimed at artificially reducing the somatic cell count (SCC) through centrifugation. This practice, motivated by economic gain, compromises the authenticity of the raw material and masks the true health status of the mammary gland. An experimental analysis of 68 samples demonstrated that centrifugation reduces somatic cell count by an average of 45.9 ± 11.6%. The MALDI-TOF MS method was used to identify changes in the peptide profile in the 500–4 000 Da range. Although no unique peaks specific to adulterated samples were detected, Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between the intensity of specific peptides and SCC values. The strongest positive correlation was identified for peaks in the m/z 2 922 Da region (r = 0.69). Other relevant markers include fragments with m/z 1 768 Da (r = 0.51) and 901 Da (r = 0.49). The results confirm that monitoring quantitative changes in the intensity of specific peptides using mass spectrometry is a promising tool for identifying changes in the milk peptidome associated with variations in SCC, including those induced by technological manipulation.

There is significant interest in the propagation of bananas due to their substantial global economic importance, which is why this study aimed to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation through somatic embryogenesis (SE) of the ‘Manzano’ and ‘Pelipita’ cultivars. Immature male flower bud explants were used for embryogenic callus induction. The ‘Manzano’ cultivar showed a higher percentage of embryogenic callus induction than ‘Pelipita’. Stereomicroscopic observations revealed that the embryogenic callus was asynchronous, as various stages of somatic embryos were noted. White translucent pro-embryogenic callus was efficiently utilized to establish embryogenic cell suspension. The development of different stages in the regeneration process of embryogenic cell suspension was also recorded. Embryos in the late coleoptilar stage, characterized by an opaque white morphology, were selected and transferred to an appropriate medium to evaluate the germination percentage. We found that the germination rate was highly efficient for both cultivars, exceeding 90% when using these embryos in the selected stage. Additionally, we observed that embryos that were 90 days old showed a 10–12% increase in germination compared to those that were 60 days old, confirming the importance of embryo maturation duration and the selection of embryogenic aggregates through the sieving of suspended cells to optimize regeneration efficiency.

Bio-fertilisation has gained popularity due to its sustainability in agricultural practice. One of the cyanobacterial-based bio-fertilisers is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis), which contains phycocyanin, a blue protein pigment that is abundant in Spirulina sp., that boosts the growth yield and bioactive content of plants. The aim of the current study is to determine the alteration in antioxidant and phenolic content in red cabbage microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) by treating different organs of the plant with phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The phycocyanin application did not significantly affect the phenolic content of the cotyledon leaves. However, soaking with phycocyanin solution significantly affected the phenolic content of seeds. Regarding the antioxidant capacity of the microgreens, no significant effect was detected on the antioxidant activity of the seeds among the phycocyanin concentrations. The phycocyanin application significantly increased antioxidant activity compared to control soaked in deionised water. The results clearly demonstrate that phycocyanin application to seed and cotyledon leaves affected the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of the microgreens. Although there are several studies about the effects of phycocyanin on growth parameters, this study has different perspectives in terms of the method of phycocyanin application and evaluation of the bioactive compounds in microgreens.

This study aims to evaluate the response of primary cells to buparlisib, a PI3K inhibitor, at varying concentrations and exposure durations across different histological and molecular subtypes of CMGTs, and to assess PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activity by measuring Akt and mTOR expression. Three carcinomas (C), three sarcomas (S), and two carcinosarcomas (CS) tumours were collected from the dogs. The primary cells were produced from tissues and treated with buparlisib at different doses. Subsequently, the WST-1 assay, Annexin V, and AO/PI staining were performed sequentially to evaluate the effects of buparlisib. PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway inhibition was revealed at the gene level in C, S, and CS cells following 5 µM buparlisib treatment by RT-PCR analysis. Our results demonstrated that C1 and C2 (basal-like) cells were more sensitive than C3, CS1, and CS2 cells (luminal A) upon buparlisib treatment. Liposarcoma S2 cells responded more to buparlisib than undifferentiated S cells (S1 and S3). Buparlisib also induced apoptosis and inhibited Akt and mTOR mRNA levels in C2, C3, S2 and S3 cells (P < 0.05). A higher rate of apoptotic cell death was observed in the C histological subtype and basal-like cells, with 62.9 ± 0.8% apoptosis in C1 and 79.1 ± 0.3% in C2. The efficacy of buparlisib was more pronounced in C2 basal-like CMGT cells and liposarcoma S2 cells with the downregulation of Akt and mTOR mRNA levels (P < 0.001). Therefore, PI3K inhibitors could be used to treat CMGT, particularly the basal-like molecular subtype.

Drought is a significant factor limiting the growth and early establishment of caraway (Carum carvi L.), a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-induced osmotic stress assays were combined with statistical and machine learning (ML) approaches to assess early drought responses in five caraway cultivars and breeding materials. Seeds were subjected to four PEG concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15 %), and key germination and seedling traits, including germination percentage (GP), root length (RL), root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), shoot height (SH), shoot fresh weight (SFW), and shoot dry weight (SDW), were measured. Higher PEG levels caused a sharp, accession-dependent decline in all traits, with germination dropping by 68 % at a 15 % PEG. Cultivars Aprim and H1b2/12 consistently showed better germination, shoot height, and biomass retention across stress levels, while Aklei exhibited lower germination but relatively stronger root growth, suggesting a differential adaptive response under osmotic stress. A linear model (LM) incorporating PEG concentration, accession, and their interaction served as the primary interpretable framework, explaining a large proportion of trait variation (R² = 0.81–0.94). Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses further revealed coordinated responses among biomass-related traits and differentiation in early-stage stress responses among accessions. Traditional ML models (MLP and SVR) were compared with quantum-inspired architectures (QiMLP and QiSVR); the quantum-inspired models showed comparable predictive performance in this dataset for certain traits, with QiMLP achieving the highest overall accuracy (R² = 0.88–0.94). This study presents an integrated phenotyping framework combining controlled stress assays with interpretable statistical modelling to evaluate early growth responses to PEG-induced drought stress in caraway. Overall, the results highlight accession-specific differences in early drought response and provide a useful basis for phenotyping and early-stage screening in caraway breeding.

Pod dehiscence, also known as pod shattering, is the process by which mature pods open and release their seeds at physiological maturity. In vegetable soybean (Glycine max L.), premature seed release from mature pods is a major cause of yield loss during seed production. As pod dehiscence occurs within the dehiscence zone, understanding the physiological mechanisms governing its formation and degradation is essential. To investigate these mechanisms, we compared the activities of pectinase, polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin (GA), abscisic acid (ABA) and zeatin (ZA) in the pod ventral sutures of dehiscent vegetable soybean and indehiscent grain soybeans. The ventral sutures of dehiscent vegetable soybean exhibited significantly higher activities of pectinase, polygalacturonase, and cellulase, but lower concentrations of IAA and GA than those of indehiscent grain soybean. Reduced levels of IAA and GA in the dehiscence zone were associated with increased activities of cellulase, pectinase, and polygalacturonase activities, which may accelerate cell wall degradation and promote lignification, thereby promoting pod dehiscence.

The study assessed the mechanical and colorimetric properties of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) pods at various maturity stages to improve the mechanised pod-opening efficiency. Thirty pods, each replicated three times, underwent compressive loading and colour analysis using the CIE Lab* colour space to correlate the colour attributes with mechanical resistance. The pod maturity significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the opening force and compressive strength: unripe pods required the highest mean force (1 222 N) and strength (0.316 N.mm^–2), while aged pods needed only 346 N and 0.094 N.mm^–2. The longitudinal orientation yielded higher and more consistent force  response than the transverse orientation, with the ANOVA confirming significant differences (P < 0.05). The colour parameters, especially yellowness (b*) and hue angle (H°), were strongly and negatively correlated with the mechanical properties (r ≥ –0.99, P ≤ 0.05), making them reliable non-destructive indicators of maturity. The Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models validated the predictive power of the combined colour and mechanical data, with the longitudinal orientation producing the highest model accuracy across all the maturity levels. Combining the colour-based maturity assessment with mechanical testing provides a robust framework for designing automated, maturity-sensitive cocoa pod-opening systems that optimise the efficiency and reduce bean damage during post-harvest handling. The research approach provided an outstanding quantitative assessment.

Fresh-cut lotus root is susceptible to quality problems after cutting and processing. This paper investigated the effect of 0.8% glacial acetic acid compounded with 0.5% ascorbic acid solution on fresh-cut lotus root quality and physicochemical properties. It significantly inhibited the decrease of the L* value and the increase of a* value, b* value, and ΔE value, and delayed the colour change of fresh-cut lotus root. Meanwhile, the increase in weight loss rate and browning degree was postponed, and the decrease of soluble solids and hardness was inhibited. Moreover, the compound preservative treatment inhibited the activities of browning-related enzymes peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) during storage, consequently curbing the accumulation of total phenolic content. Compared to the control group, the treatment significantly affected the increase in total colony count and altered the structure of the microbial community. In this paper, microbial sequencing results showed that the treatment significantly inhibited the growth of Duganella and Janthinobacterium. Finally, the results showed that the compound preservative delayed the quality change of fresh-cut lotus root and prolonged its shelf life by up to 10 days. This study provides a theoretical basis for further application in post-harvest fruit and vegetable preservation and processing.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of Taraxacum mongolicum polysaccharides (TMPs) on the pasting, rheological, gel properties, and structural properties of corn starch (CS) by using different methods. The results show that TMPs could markedly enhance the peak, breakdown, and setback viscosities. TMPs-CS gels showed shear-thinning behaviour, and TMPs could effectively improve the viscoelasticity of TMPs-CS gels, and TMPs could enhance the gel strength and hardness of TMPs-CS gels. Moreover, TMPs could enlarge the size and increase water holding capacity of TMPs-CS gels, whereas TMPs could decrease the relative crystallinity of TMPs-CS gels. Furthermore, TMPs could be bound to CS through non covalent interactions by infrared spectroscopy analysis, and TMPs could increase the thermal stability, reduce ΔH values of TMPs-CS gels, and reduce its thermal decomposition temperature. The microstructure of TMPs-CS gels exhibited the honeycomb-like porous structure, and TMPs could enhance the pore size and accelerate the destruction of TMPs-CS gels particles. The findings contribute to expanding the application of polysaccharides in starch-based foods

Browning of apple juice is a major quality defect that occurs during storage, yet the molecular basis of the browning process remains unclear. This study utilised an untargeted metabolomics approach to investigate the untargeted metabolomic differences in Xinjiang Aksu sugarheart apple juice before and after 100 days of storage. Employing high-resolution liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS), we identified 6 264 metabolites, with 1 588 significantly upregulated and 1 158 downregulated. Multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), revealed that storage time was the primary factor affecting metabolic differences (PCA1 : 55.54%; OPLS-DA Q²Y = 0.971). Key findings suggest that browning is triggered by enzyme activation through tyrosine metabolism activation (substrate supply) and dopaquinone accumulation. Changes in transmembrane transport by ABC transporters also contribute to this process. Non-enzymatic browning is exacerbated by Maillard intermediate products and lipid peroxidation products. Simultaneously, disrupted glutathione metabolism and antioxidant system failure lead to redox imbalance. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated coordinated changes in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (secondary metabolic polymerisation), alkaloid metabolism, and the pentose phosphate pathways. These results suggest that oxidative stress, cell membrane damage, and polyphenol metabolism disturbances are key drivers of apple juice browning, offering a molecular foundation for quality control in apple juice production.

Spain is one of the few EU countries that adopted genetically modified maize as a crop (1998) and has continued to harvest it ever since. This article aims to contribute to the history of the adoption of transgenic maize in the EU, where the Mediterranean (Sesamia nonagrioides) and European (Ostrinia nubilalis) corn borers are two of the most destructive pests. Our aim is to identify Spanish farmers' motivations and opinions on adopting this technology. Our model is a binary logistic regression that estimates the probability of adopting Bt maize. Our results reveal that the odds of adopting Bt are at least 44.0 times greater if the farm is in an area with corn borer infestation episodes than if it is not.  The odds of adopting Bt are at least 4.9 times greater if farmers place a high importance on economic outcomes than if they do not. More adopters than non-adopters believe that Bt corn causes less damage to the environment than sulphates against the borer. No other opinion variable was clearly significant. We conclude that the most important reasons for Bt adoption were exposure to corn borer and concerns about the economic losses the borer could cause to the crop.

Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal contaminant in agricultural soils; its high bioaccumulation potential and toxicity mean it enters the human body via the food chain, posing a health risk. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is renowned for its high tolerance to heavy metal toxicity and is frequently used in phytoremediation. This study examined growth morphology, activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant contents in two perennial ryegrass cultivars: WNS (Venus, low Cd accumulation) and YY (Excellent, high Cd accumulation), under Cd treatments of 0, 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg Cd²⁺. Under Cd stress, WNS exhibited significantly higher plant height, leaf length, tiller number, GPX activity, and glutathione (GSH) content compared with YY. At 12 mg/kg Cd, GR activity in WNS was also significantly higher than in YY (P < 0.05). In contrast, at each Cd level, YY showed significantly higher leaf Cd accumulation, APX and DHAR activities, and ascorbic acid (AsA) content than WNS (P < 0.05), accompanied by elevated oxidised glutathione (GSSG) content. The comprehensive response index of YY under 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg Cd was 2.77, 2.91, and 2.94 times that of WNS, respectively. These findings suggest that WNS mitigates Cd toxicity and sustains growth homeostasis by maintaining higher GPX and GR activities and higher GSH content within the GSH-GSSG cycle. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the differential Cd tolerance mechanisms among ryegrass cultivars with contrasting Cd accumulation capacities and offers insights to refine phytoremediation strategies in Cd-contaminated soils.

Lotus seeds represent a high-value agricultural commodity, widely utilised in the food and pharmaceutical industries for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, post-harvest processing, specifically the removal of shells, often relies on manual labour or rudimentary equipment that results in low productivity. This study proposes a computer vision system based on the YOLOv8 deep learning framework to automate and enhance the efficiency of post-decortication sorting. The model is designed to detect and classify three distinct components: unshelled seeds, kernels, and shell fragments. Based on these predictions, the system controls pneumatic actuators to perform precise, real-time separation. Trained on a dataset of more than 30 000 images, the model achieved a mean average precision (mAP@0.5) of 92.6%. These results validate the model’s capability to accurately identify lotus seed components under high-speed processing conditions. Consequently, this research presents a feasible technological solution to mitigate the labour dependence and optimise the shell residue removal stage in industrial lotus seed processing.

Bananas, as climacteric fruits, are highly prone to rapid deterioration caused by fungal pathogens, resulting in considerable post-harvest losses. These pathogens typically infect the fruit during field growth, resulting in latent infections that develop into disease after harvest. Generally, several rounds of fungicides such as Carbendazim, Mancozeb + Carbendazim, Trifloxystrobin + Tebuconazole, and Propiconazole are applied to manage fungal diseases like Fusarium wilt and leaf spot in the field. This study assessed the effectiveness of these chemicals on post-harvest diseases, fruit quality and residual toxicity. All four fungicides recorded 80–100% control against major pathogens responsible for anthracnose (Colletotrichum musae) and crown rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae and C. musae), at concentrations of 0.05–0.2%. Field application of the chemicals completely controlled anthracnose and significantly reduced crown rot severity. The treatments also improved fruit size (32.10–35.62 mm), yield (18.83–20.06 kg/plant), firmness (13.66–15.67 N), and shelf life (up to 8.25 days at room temperature and 21–23 days at 13.5 ± 0.2 °C) than 28.24 mm,13.5 kg/plant, 11.37 N and (4.5 days and 14 days) in control, respectively. No pesticide residues were detected in the fruit or core stem, ensuring consumer safety.

In this study, the most effective deep eutectic solvent (DES) for extracting antioxidants from purple onion peel was identified using total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values obtained by the CUPRAC assay. The DES systems used in this study consisted of choline chloride (ChCl) combined with ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DiEG), triethylene glycol (TriEG), tetraethylene glycol (TetEG), 1,4-butanediol (1,4-but), and 1,2-propanediol (1,2-pro) at a molar ratio of 1 : 2 with 30% water content. All DESs were characterised in terms of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, viscosity, density, and pH. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was optimised using response surface methodology, resulting in a maximum TAC of 582.96 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)·g^–1 dry sample (DS) for ChCl : 1,4-but : H₂O, which was almost twice the amount achieved with 70% ethanol. Antioxidant parameters, including TAC, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)], were evaluated for purple, red, brown, and white onion peels. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the broth microdilution method. HPLC analysis was employed to quantify phenolic and flavonoid compounds, revealing significant compositional differences among the onion peels. Overall, the results demonstrate that purple and red onion peels exhibit superior antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, supporting their potential as sustainable sources of natural antioxidants.

This study was conducted to evaluate the sufficiency of food safety practices in a catering company. The presence of some pathogenic and indicator bacteria was monitored in the samples collected from raw materials, food, food contact surfaces and workers' hands and various steps of the tas kebab (a Turkish meat stew) and salad processing lines. Bacillus cereus was found in ready-to-eat (RTE) tas kebab and RTE salad, while Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from RTE salad. Furthermore, it was observed that RTE salad contained coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus without staphylococcal enterotoxin production. The swab samples obtained from cutting board surfaces, knives and workers' hands contained high counts of total aerobic bacteria and some samples were contaminated with coliforms and coagulase-positive/negative staphylococci. The presence of B. cereus and L. monocytogenes in RTE foods is a serious threat to public health, especially in the catering business. Preventing the presence of toxin-producing bacteria in RTE food is a fundamental action. Also, the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in RTE salad and B. cereus in RTE tas kebab/salad samples showed insufficient cleaning/disinfection practices. As a result, hygiene practices and regular monitoring in the catering business are necessary for food safety.

Pesticide residues and heavy metals were analysed in both fresh tender coconut water (FTCW) (n = 161) and packaged tender coconut water (PTCW) (n = 126) samples collected from three southern states of India [Andhra Pradesh (AP), Kerala (KL), and Tamil Nadu (TN)]. A method validated in the laboratory using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for pesticide residues, while heavy metals were analysed using a validated method of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Significant differences in heavy metal concentrations were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc test (between different varieties collected 'within' and 'among' states). FTCW samples [n = 9 (6%)] collected from TN showed Monocrotophos and Malathion residues in the range of 1.0 µg L^-1 to 51.6 µg L^-1 and 0.5 µg L^-1 to 0.6 µg L^-1, respectively, while they were detected in n = 5 (4%) of the PTCW samples at a range of 0.90 µg L^-1 and 0.82 µg L^-1 to 1.56 µg L^-1. Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and stannum (Sn) were detected in different varieties collected from all three states. Some of the PTCW samples also contained traces of Cd, Cr, cobalt (Co), and Pb. Arsenic (As) was found in one sample from KL, while none of the samples was contaminated with mercury (Hg). The present study accentuates the need for fixing standards for the pesticide residues in coconut water.

The post-harvest process at the storage stage is one of the most critical processes for maintaining soybean seed quality. The type of packaging and the type of material stored will affect its shelf life. One type of packaging has specific properties that are different from other types of packaging. Therefore, this study used several types of packaging materials and soybean varieties to determine changes in its quality during storage. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 4 × 7 factorial experiment in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, consisting of totally 140 treatment combinations involving five different types of packaging materials. Water content, the weight of 100 grains, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity (EC), and germination percentage were assessed monthly. The factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare water content, the weight of 100 grains, EC, germination, and seedling dry weight. A qualitative descriptive analysis method was employed for the temperature and relative humidity of the storage room. The results showed that Grobogan had the lowest germination percentage of 84.85% compared to the other varieties (86.97-90.82%). Plastic sack resulted in the most inferior seed quality (82.00% for plastic sack vs. 88.23-90.17% for the other containers). A more extended storage period of soybean seeds caused a decrease in soybean quality for all varieties and packaging materials. Up to 6 months of storage at room temperature, the quality of soybean seeds remained high, with the lowest germination of 80%.

Red kidney bean protein isolate was prepared and incorporated into wheat flour at levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% to prepare protein-enriched cookies which were then evaluated for various quality attributes. Nutritional evaluation of cookies showed that the supplementation of bean protein isolate increased the protein content of the cookies from 7.87% in T₁ (control or wheat flour cookies) to 16.92% in T₆ (cookies supplemented with 20% bean protein isolate), which indicated a 115% increase in protein content. The physical characteristics of cookies such as width, thickness and spread factors differed significantly. Sensory attributes of all the supplemented cookies were within the acceptable range but cookies supplemented with 20% level of protein isolate were less preferred due to slightly darker colour and harder texture. Conclusively, the red kidney bean protein isolate can be successfully utilised for the production of high-protein cookies. Such high-protein products can be advantageously utilised to cope with the problem of protein-energy malnutrition. Moreover, such nutritious products can also be used as emergency foods during natural disasters as well as during war times.

Blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of rice in Malaysia. Utilisation of resistant varieties is the most efficient management approach towards reducing yield losses. The line IRTP21683 with the Pi9 gene has shown strong resistance against the isolate MPO988.3 of pathotype P_0.0, the most prevalent P. oryzae pathotype in Malaysia. Crossing of IRTP21683 was undertaken with the recurrent parent MR220, a susceptible elite Malaysian rice variety, using a marker assisted backcrossing technique with two simple sequence repeat markers, RM19776 and RM7311, as the tag for the Pi9 gene. Twenty BC₃F₄ lines with the Pi9 gene were resistant when challenged with MPO 988.3. The cluster analysis based on seven agronomic parameters showed that the resistant BC₃F₄ lines could be divided into four groups, of which the members in group 1 and 2 have shown comparable or better performance than MR220. Five lines in group 1, B220PI9-3-48, B220PI9-3-76, B220PI9-3-77, B220PI9-3-79 and B220PI9-3-82 showed outstanding yield performance with early maturation.