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Increased levels of the non-essential hazardous metalloid arsenic (As) in rice grains pose a threat to human health and the sustainability of the rice industry. In several counties, the average As contamination in polished rice has been detected to range from 0.002 to 0.39 mg/kg, which is above the safe limit of 1 mg/kg as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Beyond this limit, the digestive tract, circulatory system, skin, liver, kidney, nervous system and heart can be affected. Humans can develop cancer from consuming or inhaling As. In addition, long-term exposure to drinking water contaminated with arsenic has also been linked to a dose-response relationship with an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Rice has been shown to be an indirect source of arsenic accumulation in human bodies. Under flooded paddy soil, trivalent arsenate (AsIII) occupies 87–94% of the total As, while under non-flooded soil, pentavalent arsenate (AsV) predominates (73–96% of the total As). This review aims to provide a thorough and interdisciplinary understanding of the behaviour of As in the paddy soil and transportation to rice grain and further investigate efficient ways to limit arsenic contamination. Supplementation of soil with specific mineral nutrients such as iron (Fe), sulphur (S) and silicon (Si) can significantly decrease the arsenic accumulation in rice grain by minimising its uptake and translocation. The hydrogen bonding potentials of uronic acids, proteins and amino sugars on the extracellular surface of soil microorganisms facilitate the detoxification of arsenic species. Further, rice is absorbed less when exposed to aerobic water management practices than anaerobic ones since it reduces the build-up of As in rice, and the solution is immobilised as in the soil.

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

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

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

Pomelo peels, often overlooked in food processing, generate significant byproducts, especially in minimal processing setups. Rich in bioactive compounds, particularly in the green peel or flavedo, these peels offer versatile applications. This study focuses on two main aspects. Firstly, the characterisation of the Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. pomelo flavedo extract was carried out, with its phenolic composition and activities such as antioxidant, and antifungal properties assessed. Secondly, the impact of applying a pectin film enriched with this extract on pomelo storage at 8 °C was evaluated. The extract has a diverse phenolic composition, including catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, quercitrin, quercetin, apigenin, and gallic acid, with gallic acid being the most concentrated at 54 mg·g^–1. While the extract showed free radical-scavenging activity, it was less effective than vitamin C; the extract also demonstrated antifungal effects on 7 mold and 1 yeast strains. The extract-infused pectin coating significantly reduced colour changes, respiration intensity, and weight loss in Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. pomelo. Additionally, it preserved ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity content. Sensory evaluations favoured pomelo preserved with the supplemented coating over both pre-preserved and untreated samples.

The high plasticity, or the ability to differentiate into various cell types, and capacity to become both gametes of early-stage germ cells (eGCs) allows them to be used for the long-term storage and recovery of genetic information. In this study, species-specific protocols (isolation period, enzymatic separation solution, incubation period, appropriate cryoprotectant, and cryopreservation protocol) were established for the isolation and long-term preservation of Black Sea trout eGCs. In addition, the difference between the application of cryopreservation to the whole gonad tissue and to the enzymatically separated cells has been shown in terms of viability and the number of cells obtained. According to the cell count made from the histological sections of the testicular tissue throughout the year, the period with the highest concentration of eGCs in the tissue is between May and June. To identify the optimal enzymatic dissociation solution, we subjected testicular tissues to digestion using various combinations of trypsin (T) and collagenase (C) (0.3–0.5% T and 0.1–0.3% C). Our findings revealed that the 0.3% C provided the highest yield of viable cells (90.9%). We cryopreserved the enzymatically dissociated cells (EDCs) using six different cryoprotectants (Dimethyl sulfoxide, Glycerol, and CryoSOfree™, in both L-15 and phosphate-buffered saline – PBS mediums). Additionally, whole tissue exclusively with CryoSOfree™. After storing the samples at –152 °C for two years, the group of EDCs cryopreserved in L15+Glycerol exhibited the highest viability at 93.3%. Meanwhile, the whole tissue group yielded the greatest number of cells per ml after thawing, with a count of 33 210 000 cells. When considering both the viability (91.11%) and the number of cells obtained (33 210 000 cells/ml), the whole tissue cryopreservation group outperformed all the other methods.

This study explored whether and how prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) regulated wheat tolerance to drought stress (DS). Findings displayed that DS had significant influence on antioxidant metabolism, water balance and the photosynthesis. DS significantly improved the activity level of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances soluble protein (SP), soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), compared with control. Whereas DS significantly reduced transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (g_s) and relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), plant height and biomass. Compared to DS, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly promoted the antioxidant metabolism by improving the activity level of SOD, CAT, POD and APX and increasing AsA and GSH contents, which in turn reduced MDA content and EL. In addition, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly maintained water balance by promoting the accumulation of osmolytes SP, SS and Pro, which in turn increased RWC, T_r and g_s. Pro-Ca plus DS also significantly promoted photosynthesis by increasing the contents of the above photosynthetic pigments, P_n and F_v/F_m, thereby promoting plant growth. These findings indicated that Pro-Ca was a potential agent to improve wheat tolerance under water deficit.

Despite accumulating evidence for the adverse effects of magnesium (Mg) deficiency or excess on grain crops, how Mg imbalance affects plant growth and potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) nutrition in vegetable crops is still unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the response of plant growth, nutrient uptake and Mg-K-Ca interactions in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to various levels of Mg supply. The growth parameters and nutrient contents of hydroponic plants were measured under the Mg levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol/L Mg²⁺ from seedling to fruit ripening stage. Results showed that both Mg deficiency (0 mmol/L Mg²⁺) and excess (3.0 mmol/L Mg²⁺) negatively affected shoot and root growth, leading to a noticeable decrease in total plant biomass across different stages (41.2–52.8% and 17.7–38.3%, respectively). Mg imbalance additionally altered leaf morphology and disrupted chloroplast structure. As a consequence of increased Mg levels, the Mg contents in various plant organs increased, whereas the Ca contents decreased substantially. The trend of K contents under different Mg levels was dependent on the plant growth stage. Although Mg levels did not prominently affect plant K contents during the early growth stage, they were significantly negatively correlated in the leaves and positively correlated in the fruit during the late growth stage. When translocated from roots to aboveground organs, Mg and Ca were mainly distributed in the leaves, with K preferentially distributed in the fruit. The findings of this study underscore that the symptoms of Mg imbalance generally develop from middle leaves in vegetable crops, exemplified by tomato, which is different from the pattern in common grain crops. Vegetable production necessitates nutrient supply for the middle and upper parts of Mg-deficient plants, and attention should be paid to the nutritional imbalance of Ca and K in plants under excessive Mg supply.

One of the main causes of having low crop efficiency in Peru is the poor management of water resources; which is why the main objective of this article is to estimate the amount of irrigation water required in quinoa crops through a comparison between the machine learning and AquaCrop models. For the development of this study, meteorological data from the province of Jauja and descriptive data of quinoa crops were processed and a simulation period was established from June to December 2020. From the simulation carried out, it was determined that the best model to predict the required irrigation water is the Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) model in which it was observed that the mean and standard deviation of the AdaBoost models (mean = 19.681 and SD = 4.665) behave similarly to AquaCrop (mean = 19.838 and SD = 5.04). In addition, the result of ANOVA was that the AdaBoost model has the best P-value indicator with a value of 0.962 and a smaller margin of error in relation to the mean absolute error (MAE) indicator with a value of 0.629. Likewise, it was identified that, for the simulation period of 190 days, 472.35 mm of water was required to carry out the irrigation process in red quinoa crops.

Soil macroarthropods, as a component of the soil community, directly feel the impact of land use changes. Not only the density but understanding the soil macroarthropods distribution pattern will help in providing an insight into the quality of soil health. The sampling process was carried out using the pitfall trap methods on the forest, logged forest areas, mixed gardens, and monoculture gardens in the tropical rainforest of Bukit Pinang-Pinang Padang, Indonesia. The results showed that the forest as a natural habitat supported the density of soil macroarthropods among other land use types. The density in the forest, logged forest area, mixed garden, and monoculture garden sequentially is about 20.29, 13.18, 15.2 and 12.21 indv/m2. The presence frequency high value of soil macroarthropods was found in the forest, and for some soil macroarthropods, such as Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Araneits, the importance value increases when their habitat is disturbed. The fertile soil in intensive monoculture gardens does not support the individuals’ total number, types, and density of soil macroarthropods. On the other side, the dominant soil macroarthropods prefer disturbed soil conditions and will decrease their presence frequency if chemical compounds are introduced into the soil. Land use change in the Bukit Pinang-Pinang tropical rainforest area causes changes in the distribution pattern of soil macroarthropods. The changing tendency of distribution patterns in fragmented habitats is due to nutrient availability, limited resources and land treatment. Habitat fragmentation affects not only the abundance and density of individuals and types of soil macroarthropods but also the distribution pattern, which not only threatens their existence and the environment but also has the potential to regenerate.

Seasonal heat stress and metabolic disorders during mid-lactation are the main factors limiting production in Holstein cows, and several proteins and molecules involved in metabolic pathways are altered in response to stress. We investigated the effects of heat stress on the milk yield, milk composition, serum oxidative status, and metabolites in Holstein cows during mid-lactation to identify biomarkers associated with heat stress in serum and milk. Holstein cows with similar body condition scores (3.0 ± 0.25), parity (2.5 ± 0.5), and lactation days (115 ± 5 days) were selected in August (heat stress, HS, n = 20) 2017 and March 2018 (non-heat stress, NHS, n = 20). Milk yield was recorded daily and serum was collected on days 1, 31, and 61. Serum and milk metabolites were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on day 1. The results showed a significantly lower average daily milk yield in the HS group than in the NHS group (P < 0.05). The milk compositions of fat (%), lactoprotein, lactose yield, and milk solid-not-fat in the HS group were significantly lower than in the NHS group on days 1, 31, and 61 (P < 0.05). The levels of  malondialdehyde were higher, whereas those of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were lower in the serum of the HS group (P < 0.05) than that of the NHS group. The serum concentrations of d-glucose, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, and d-lactose were significantly higher in  the NHS group than in the HS group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of lactic acid and milk urea nitrogen in the NHS group were lower than those in the HS group (P < 0.05). The present data suggest that metabolic biomarkers are closely associated with heat stress in the serum and milk, which provides a basis for evaluating indicators of heat stress occurrence in mid-lactation cows.

The purpose of the present study was to develop edible composite films based on sodium alginate and pectin with incorporated Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot and Thymus serpyllum L. extracts. The influence of the extracts on the physicochemical, optical, mechanical, and antioxidant properties of the films was investigated. The addition of the extracts changed the colour parameters and significantly increased the barrier properties to UV and visible light. This effect is more pronounced in the film with chokeberry extract and is due to the anthocyanins contained in it (75.43 μg cyd eq·g^–1, cyd eq – cyanidin equivalents). The antioxidant activity of films with incorporated extracts was 4-fold (thyme) to 7-fold (chokeberry) higher than the control alginate/pectin film. A significant improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the films with extracts was found. The values for tensile strength were 9.41 MPa (chokeberry) and 9.54 MPa (thyme), while for the film without extract – 4.63 MPa. The resulting films could find potential application as active packaging with antioxidant properties, which could increase the quality and extend the shelf life of the foods packaged in them.

Reports have shown that meat production operations today contribute to the climate crisis, facilitating the occurrence of infectious diseases, and contributing to environmental pollution. Consequently, the public demands alternatives to traditional meat, such as in vitro manufactured meat. Several authors have suggested that improvements should be made in the manufacturing of cell-cultured meat to make a more sustainable and scalable process. They recently proposed using microalgae as a sustainable system to produce important nutrients such as oxygen from cellular waste molecules of animal cultures such as ammonia and carbon dioxide. In this review, we discuss recent advances of different microalgae applications in the production of lab-grown meat, with special emphasis on their use as a replacement for fetal bovine serum (FBS) or culture media, as well as its applicability as a source of cell oxygenation and waste upcycling to extend the life of animal cell cultures. Also, we discuss the implementation and limitations of these algae systems in large-scale in vitro meat manufacturing.

The potential of Leersia hexandra grass in phytoremediation and natural attenuation of three groups of bacteria in soil contaminated with crude oil was evaluated for 180 days. The quantities of new shoots, root and aerial biomass were evaluated; changes in antioxidant concentrations in leaf and root caused by abiotic stress; population densities of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Pseudomonas; and microbial respiration. The experimental data showed oil-induced increases of 315% and 196% in new shoots and root phytomass, respectively, and a 44% decrease in leaf + stem phytomass. The enzymatic defence in the grass leaf was manifested by higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, phenylalanine ammonium lyase and total flavonoids; the increases fluctuated from 35% to 52%. The response in the root was positive in catalase (16%), and in ammonium phenylalanine lyase, it increased 275% due to the effect of crude oil. The group of indigenous Azotobacter bacteria were tolerant to crude oil exposure, both in the phytoremediation process and in natural attenuation; the population densities varied from 212 to 438 × 10³ colony-forming units (CFUs); they are greater than 49% to 106% compared to densities in control soil. Azospirillum spp. and Pseudomonas spp. recorded population abiotic stress. The grass activates enzymatic and plant defence, complementing microbial respiration in response to adaptation to crude oil.

In Thailand, vibration problems often occur with rice combine harvester automatic header height adjusting systems. This study aimed to identify parameters for reducing the vibration and managing response time for harvesting speed configuration. An experimental combine harvester header model was designed to automatically adjust three parameters: total movement time, time ratio, and final phase distance within vertical movement ranges of 200, 250, or 300 mm. These parameters were controlled using a proportional flow control valve and a professional learning community (PLC) control unit. The results showed that increased time ratio, final phase distance, and total movement time significantly reduced average vibration amplitude. Higher time ratios corresponded to lower vibration amplitude during changing stages but higher amplitude during stopping stages. Vibration amplitudes during starting, changing, and stopping stages ranged from 0.622 to 1.373 mm, 0.042 to 1.097 mm, and 0.132 to 0.902 mm, respectively, for 200, 250, and 300 mm vertical movement distances. To reduce vibration in the first and second wave phases, precise control of start and final speeds through time ratio and total movement time was necessary. Minimizing the time ratio and final phase distance effectively reduced vibration amplitude in the third wave phase.

Here, we report a rare case of concurrent primary splenic lymphoma and mammary gland tumour (MGT) with polycystic ovaries in a 10-year-old, intact female Jindo dog. The dog was presented with multiple masses in the fourth left mammary gland, the largest of which measured 6 cm in diameter, along with enlargement of the left inguinal lymph node on physical examination. Ultrasonography, radiography, and computed tomography scans revealed polycystic ovaries and a mass in the tail of the spleen, after total splenectomy and mastectomy with ovariohysterectomy, histopathological examination identified splenic diffuse large B cell lymphoma and malignant myoepithelioma of the mammary gland was found. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the concurrent occurrence of splenic lymphoma, MGT, and polycystic ovaries in a dog.

The impact of rhizosphere aeration on the composition of xylem sap in cucumber grown in soil was studied to determine its effects on (i) water and nutrient uptake, (ii) xylem transport, and (iii) amino acid synthesis in the roots. Plants grown under three different aeration conditions were subjected to progressive gas stress throughout the whole growth period. The shoot and root growth, xylem nitrate (NO₃^–) concentration, potassium (K⁺) concentration, xylem sap flow rate, and amino acid concentrations were higher in the Z1 treatment plants than in the control (CK) plants, and the former also showed a lower CO₂ (0.25–0.84%) and a higher O₂ (18.22–20.02%). However, the Z3 treatment plants exhibited decreased xylem loading of amino acids, NO₃^– concentrations, and K+ concentrations and a lower flow rate of xylem sap, which restricted shoot and root growth due to poor aeration caused by a higher CO₂ (0.75–3.68%) and a lower O₂ (11.51–18.6%). Furthermore, the xylem pH in these plants was lower by approximately 0.17 units, and the conductivity was decreased by approximately 0.31 mS/cm. Based on the observed results, the CO₂ and O₂ in the soil can potentially regulate root and shoot growth and the xylem sap composition in cucumber. Therefore, rhizosphere aeration is important for the vigorous growth of plants.

In the present study, 20 sycamore maples (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) were evaluated on eight plots (160 trees) affected by sooty bark disease (SBD), caused by Cryptostroma corticale (Ellis & Everh.) P.H. Greg. & S. Waller in Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Mortality and presence of common pest taxa were assessed for each tree. Data were statistically evaluated using frequency and principal component analyses. The presence of C. corticale and Prosthecium pyriforme Jaklitsch & Voglmayr were positively related, with a significantly higher occurrence on dead trees. Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fr. and Aceria macrorhyncha Nalepa were also positively related. However, the presence of Drepanosiphum platanoidis Schrank was not clearly related to the other evaluated taxa. Furthermore, C corticale was not present on Norway maple trees (Acer platanoides L.) growing on the plots. The results suggest that (i) the mortality of the sycamore was caused by C. corticale, while P. pyriforme was only an accompanying weak pathogen; (ii) R. acerinum, A. macrorhyncha, and D. platanoidis did not cause the mortality of the sycamore and their presence was not related to C. corticale infection; and (iii) planting more resistant maple species on sites susceptible to attack by SBD, particularly when stressed by drought, is recommended.

Aronia melanocarpa is one of the many fruit types rich in polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, we used this fruit in our research as a possible natural antioxidant, which was added to pork sausages. Four groups were prepared: control group, a group with ascorbic acid, and groups with 3 and 5 mL·kg^–1 of chokeberry extract. During storage, we monitored changes in pH, colour, texture and oxidative stability of pork sausages and sensory evaluation. We did not observe any negative effects of the extract on the quality of pork sausages during storage. Regarding oxidative stability, the lowest increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in the group with 5 mL·kg^–1 of chokeberry extract, which was comparable to the group with ascorbic acid.

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

The issue of heavy metals (HMs) contamination poses a significant challenge in the environment, exerting a severe impact on the growth and productivity of crops. Cadmium (Cd) is specifically identified as the seventh heavy metal among the top 20 pollutants, primarily due to its elevated phytotoxicity and its solubility in water. In the current study, foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) (500 µmol) investigated the toxic effects of cadmium in maize plants subjected to two Cd concentrations (50 and 100 µmol) as CdCl2. The maize plants exposed to Cd stress exhibited a massive reduction in growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), carotenoids, and total pigments], gas exchange parameters [transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intracellular CO2 concentration (ci), and stomatal conductance (gs)], relative water content (RWC), and organic osmolytes content [total soluble protein (TSS), and total soluble sugar (TSS)]. These impacts were significant with the 100 µmol CdCl2 treatment. Moreover, Cd led to remarked increase in proline, nonenzymatic antioxidants levels [ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH)] as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). On the other hand, GB application efficiently relieved the Cd toxic impacts on maize and maintained higher growth criteria, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigments, RWC, and organic osmolytes. In addition, the exogenous application of GB added more enhancement to the antioxidative system (enzymatic and nonenzymatic). These results imply that GB could significantly preserve maize growth under Cd toxicity conditions by maintaining photosynthetic characteristics, water status, and antioxidant system. This suggests an enhancement in the plant’s resilience to stress induced by heavy metals.

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

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

The brown marmorated stink bug [Halyomorpha halys (Stål)] is an invasive pest species. This polyphagous insect, native to Eastern Asia, threatens various cultivated plant species. Control methods often rely on chemical insecticides, but the decreasing use of such agents has prompted a shift towards preventive measures. As a defence mechanism, natural compounds released by plants have gained attention for their potential deterrent or attractant properties. In this study, we evaluated the response of the brown marmorated stink bug to selected chemical substances, including citronellal, hexanal, nonanol, β-caryophyllene, linalool, ocimene, nerolidol, terpinolen, α-humulene, dimethyl sulfide, aggregation pheromone, and ethanol. The experiment was conducted using an olfactometer. Two experiments were performed, comparing the substances against dimethyl sulfoxide and then refining the selection based on initial results; in the first series, nerolidol, ocimene, and terpinolene exhibited promising results as complete deterrents. The second series confirmed nerolidol as the most effective deterrent among all tested substances. These findings contribute to developing preventive strategies for managing the brown marmorated stink bug and reducing reliance on chemical insecticides.

The aim of this study was to compare the role of protein quantity and aggregate stretching degree in predicting dough stability and extensibility using the regression analysis, and to explore a more effective way of conducting the prediction. Flours from 28 milling streams of the wheat cultivar Shiluan 02-1 were collected as experimental material. Using the value of (ash content/L*) (L* – lightness), we sorted the milling streams flour from the inner layer to the outer layer of wheat kernel, which was divided into early reduction, later reduction, and break flours. Three regression models, quantity-based, stretching-degree-based and (quantity × stretching-degree)-based model for predicting dough stability and extensibility were evaluated in each category of milling streams through their coefficient of determination (R²). Certain patterns were observed in physicochemical properties of flour from different categories of milling streams. Despite those considerable changes, the quantity-based model broadly produced greater R² values than the stretching-degree-based model, and the (quantity × stretching-degree)-based model could in general provide higher R² values than the other two models on predicting dough stability and extensibility. The results suggest that measuring the protein quantity and aggregate stretching degree at the same time is of practical improvement in dough rheology evaluation, compared to focusing on either factor alone.

Lactic acid has gained considerable attention globally due to its multi-purpose application. Commercial lactic acid production uses the fungal species Rhizopus oryzae, which produces other organic acids. A crucial point of effective fungal organic acid production is matching the fungal strains’ requirements, where the carbon source plays a major role. The highest production rate is achieved when glucose is used as a carbon source. Alternatively, we can apply carbon-rich agricultural residues as carbon sources. Using agricultural waste for lactic acid production provides a sustainable and cost-effective feedstock but also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from landfills and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Moreover, polylactic acid (PLA) produced from lactic acid monomers can occur in numerous agricultural applications. We should delve deeper into sustainable methods of using carbon residues to recycle waste, foster the circular economy, and advance sustainable agriculture. Therefore, there is a need for further research on the commercial use of agricultural and food industry wastes for lactic acid production.

To date, ‘Japansche Citroen’ (JC) has only been used commercially as a rootstock in Indonesia; however, the use of suitable rootstock remains challenging because of water limits in different places. The morphological, physiological, and gene expression changes of one-and-a-half-year-old mandarin cv. ‘Keprok Batu 55’  (KB) and sweet orange cv. ‘Manis Pacitan’  (MP) budded onto ‘Japansche citroen’ (JC), ‘Rough Lemon’ (RL), ‘Salam’ (S), ‘Volkameriana’ (V), and ‘Cleopatra Mandarin’ (C) rootstocks, subjected to six-week drought-stress conditions, were examined under a shade house. The experiment was conducted in Junrejo Subdistrict ( ± 990 m a.s.l.), Batu City, East Java Province, Indonesia, from January 2022 to May 2023. The experimental design was a factorial randomized block design with two factors: rootstocks as factor I and two citrus species as factor II, with three replications. A low shoot/root (S/R) ratio indicates much more root development than shoots observed in KB/C (0.89) and MP/RL (0.87) plants under drought conditions; the MP/RL plant had the greatest stomatal density (16.0/0.015 mm2) and percentage of stomatal closure (58.8%). In this condition, it had lower leaf relative water content (RWC) than the control, with comparatively high RWC ranging from 45–55% in KB/JC, KB/S, MP/C, and MP/RL. The drought did not affect cell membrane damage, although this did slightly increase the quantity of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids (P < 0.05). Aside from that, leaf proline and total soluble sugar levels were higher in the dryness than in the control, with the combination of KB/C (331.6 μ mol proline/g fresh weight), MP/JC, and MP/RL plants having the highest (347.9 and 337.1 μmol proline/g fresh weight). Meanwhile, the plants with the greatest quantities of soluble sugar were KB/C (35.9 mg/g dry weight) and MP/V (75.3 mg/g dry weight). Regardless of scion-rootstock interaction, KB enhanced the relative quantity of several genes such as 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase, Chlase, ethylene receptors (ETR1), osmotin, plasma membrane instrinsic proteins (PIP1), and PIP2 allowing it to respond more effectively to drought stress conditions. In contrast, MP only increased Chlase and ETR1 ones. Under drought conditions, the KB/C and MP/RL combinations are assumed to be more adaptable than others.

Insects like housefly (Musca domestica L.) are future feed resources for economic animals because insects can improve growth performance by promoting the immune function and gut microbial balance. However, little is known about research reports on housefly larvae extracts containing an antibacterial peptide. This study investigated the effect of feeding diets supplemented with housefly larvae extract (HLE) containing antibacterial peptides on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Nine hundred broilers (Ross 308) were fed diets containing HLE for 35 days. Treatment groups consisted of CON (control without HLE), PC (positive control, 8 ppm of avilamycin), HLE50 (diet containing 50 ppm of HLE), HLE100 (diet containing 100 ppm of HLE), HLE150 (diet containing 150 ppm of HLE), and HLE200 (diet containing 200 ppm of HLE). Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in HLE150 and HLE200 groups compared to those in the CON group. Spleen weights were higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups than in the CON group. Caecal bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus counts were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups whereas E. coli and coliform bacteria counts were higher in the CON group. Caecal acetic acid, propionic acid, and total short-chain fatty acid levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HLE150 and HLE200 groups than in the CON group. These results show that feeding diets containing 150 ppm of HLE containing antimicrobial peptides could replace antibiotics to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens.

The degree of the phenotypic similarity and differences between 61 seedless vine varieties was studied by grouping them according to economically important phenological, agrobiological and technological indicators. A multidimensional statistical approach is applied – a cluster analysis, which provides possibilities of establishing relatively homogeneous groups (clusters), based on a set of certain indicators. As the cluster analysis does not perform any tests for the statistical significance of the results, it is combined with a factor analysis, which provides information on the reasons leading to the distribution of the individual varieties in different clusters and the merging of others into one cluster. The applied factor analysis transformed all the studied indicators into seven main components, explaining 76% of the total variance. The transformation of these traits to the corresponding number of factors and the indicators in them, which explain that the varieties belong to the separate clusters, was established. The limits of the phenotypic similarity and differences between the studied seedless vine varieties and the conditional parameters of the polymorphism with their economically significant ampelographic characteristics were determined. The presented grouping can be used for taxonomic purposes, as well as in the selection to create new seedless vine varieties. By applying targeted agro-technical measures, the desired change in the indicators of the first and second factors in the individual groups of traits can be actively influenced.

Fourteen fungicides and three marine-derived fungi were tested for their activities in the promotion of rice seedling development and their efficacy in controlling rice sheath blight disease in two rice varieties, RD43 and KMDL105, under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the rice seeds treated with carbendazim 50%SC and azoxystrobin 25%SC displayed the best promotion of rice growth in root length and shoot height at seven and 14 days in rice var. RD43. Rice seeds from var. KMDL105 treated with thiophanate-methyl 70%WP exhibited significant stimulation of rice seedling growth resulting in the greatest increase in root length and shoot height at seven and 14 days. In pot experiments with rice var. RD43, spraying with triforine 19%EC, propiconazole 25%EC, trifloxystrobin 50%WG, and validamycin 3%SL showed a high level of fungicidal activity in controlling sheath blight disease, with this evidenced by significant suppression of the disease severity by 71–75% and 61–73% at seven and 14 days after inoculation, respectively. The treatment of rice var. KMDL105 with validamycin 3%SL exhibited the best activity in controlling sheath blight disease by reducing disease severity by up to 62% and 64% at seven and 14 days, respectively. The antagonistic marine fungi tested in this study displayed low activity against sheath blight disease and low effects on rice seedling promotion compared to fungicides. Specifically, Trichoderma harzianum KUFA 0689 and T. asperellum KUFA 0677 reduced sheath blight disease severity by 42–46% and 27–37% at seven and 14 days, respectively.