Fulltext search in archive

By choosing appropriate candidate reference genes (CRGs) and standardizing qPCR data, more accurate experimental data can be obtained. Herein, the expression stability of alpha-tubulin1 (TUA1), beta-tubulin (TUB), beta-tubulin 1 (TUB1), beta-tubulin 5 (TUB5), actin 1 (ACT1), actin 97 (ACT97), molecular chaperone dnaj (DNAJ), adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APT), and histone H4 (HIS4) genes from Paulownia fortunei (Seem.) Hemsl. under different experimental conditions (different tissues, drought, salinity, Cd, and Cr treatments) was assessed with four statistical tools: RefFinder, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and geNorm. Notably, TUA1 and TUB5 were identified as CRGs for different tissues, ACT97 and TUB1 for drought treatment, ACT97 and APT for salinity treatment, TUB1 and ACT97 for Cd treatment, and DNAJ, TUB1 and TUB5 for Cr treatment. Furthermore, the results of “total” group, V₄/V₅ > 0.15 and V₅/V₆ < 0.15 revealed that the CRGs or gene combinations, which could meet all the test conditions, were not easy to identify. To further verify the reliability of CRGs, the expression levels of paulownia fortunei cellulose synthase A catalytic subunit2 (PfCesA2) and paulownia fortunei glutathione reductase (GR) genes were analysed. The expression patterns were different when the unstable CRGs were used for normalization compared to when the stable CRGs and combination were used for normalization. This study will lay a foundation for study on the expression levels of key genes from P. fortunei seedlings.

Plantain is the most important crop for the Peruvian Amazonian population, developed in recent alluvial soils rich in nutrients, but fragile and susceptible to degradation. Therefore, the impact of permanent cultivation was evaluated, through modelling, on indicators of recent alluvial soil quality and production in plantations of Musa paradisiaca L. var. Harton, in the Aguaytia River valley, Peru. The treatments were areas with permanent plantain plantations of 2 (T0), 15 (T1), 4 (T2), and 5 (T3) years of management, evaluating soil physicochemical indicators and plantain production indicators. The results show significant differences for all yield and soil indicators evaluated, except for bulk density (Bd), clay fraction, soil organic matter (OM) and N. The modelling determined a significant positive impact on Bd and a significant negative impact on pH, P, pseudostem diameter and height, commercial fingers and bunch weight. In conclusion, the modelling shows trends of quality and yield reduction in 15 years of permanent management of plantain Var. Harton, and compromises the sustainability of the agroecosystem in the medium term.

Bisphenols (BP) are pollutants that are globally and widely distributed and adversely affect the health of humans. However, knowledge of their presence in animals, especially farm animals such as pigs, remains limited. In this study, the incidence of bisphenol A (BPA) and its five analogues – bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol Z (BPZ) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) – was monitored in lactating sows on an actual pig farm. The urine samples of 27 sows were collected twice on the 3^rd day after parturition, and stored at –20 °C until analysis using MDGC/MS. None of the lactating sows produced bisphenol-free urine. In contrast, the urine of all sows contained at least two bisphenols (eight females), most often five (10 females) or all six bisphenols (five females). The average concentrations of bisphenols in urine were in the order of BPB > BPA and BPS > BPZ > BPAF > BPF. The most frequently detected bisphenol was BPB (96.0% of samples) followed by BPA (89.0%), BPAF (78.0%), BPS (63.0%), BPF (52.0%) and BPZ (37.0%). Additionally, the proportion of BPB in the total bisphenol concentration in urine samples was the highest (28.74 to 93.85%) while that of BPF was the lowest (2.33 to 16.70%). Estimated daily intakes of bisphenols as well as hazard quotients were much lower than risk thresholds established for the human population, indicating safe doses for the health status of lactating sows. However, these findings are limited as the mechanism of BPA analogue’ activity is still unclear, and the long-term effects of small doses of bisphenols and the potential harmful impact of BP mixtures are unknown. Knowledge of the occurrence of bisphenols in pig farming may contribute to the elimination of BPA and its analogues from this sector, which is crucial for the safety of animal products as well as the welfare of pigs.

The present study aimed to use a non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in off-season cucumber-producing greenhouses in different farm level management systems in Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by 83 cucumber producers through face-to-face interviews. The results showed that the energy use rate was 75.1%, 82.6%, and 86.2% in small (0.5–0.9 ha), medium (0.9–2 ha), and large farms (≥ 2 ha), respectively. In all the farm levels, the greatest energy use shares belonged to electricity, chemical fertilisers, and human labour, respectively. The results of the DEA revealed that the technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies of the large farms were 87.3%, 92.8%, and 97.1%, respectively, which were higher compared to other farm level management systems. The ratio of energy savings was estimated at 5.62% and 2.97% for small and large farms, respectively. The results also showed that electricity, chemical fertilisers, and diesel fuel were the most responsible for the GHG emissions. By optimising the energy use, pollution per one/ha one of off-season cucumbers can be mitigated by 1 614.5 and 1 315.0 kg of CO2/ha in small and large greenhouses; indicating more attention is required in managing the energy inputs in small-sized agro-ecosystems, especially for electricity.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different live weights at slaughter (LWS) of Zwartbles lambs on their daily gain (DG), carcass traits (CT) and chemical and physical characteristics of the quadriceps femoris muscle (QFM). A total of four weight groups of lambs were evaluated: group A, LWS = up to 35 kg; group B, LWS from 35.1 to 40 kg; group C, LWS from 40.1 to 45 kg and group D, LWS from 45.1 to 50 kg. The LWS had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on DG and most CTs, when average DG and most weights of individual CTs increased with increasing LWS. The evaluation of the influence of LWS on the chemical and physical characteristics of QFM primarily shows that this factor had a significant (P < 0.05) effect only on the content of intramuscular fat (IMF) and redness index (RI), when in both cases the values of these traits increased (IMF: from 0.57 to 1.21%; RI: from 8.53 to 9.76) with increasing LWS. In conclusion, it can be stated that most of the monitored traits in all weight groups of Zwartbles lambs were comparable with their levels in specialized meat breeds of sheep.

With a long tradition of brewing history, Chinese strong-flavour Baijiu (SFB) developed prosperously in the southwest, especially in Luzhou, and has existed for more than 300 years building craftwork and brewing techniques. As a product of the distillation of fermented grains, its production involves many microbial communities. During this time, microbial communities within production have burgeoned and evolved throughout the development history, enhancing unique texture and flavour. Meanwhile, environmental factors are critical constituents in the production, which provide the optimal conditions for processing procedures and various microorganisms, including externally controlled macro-environment and micro-environment of fermentation. By studying the correlation with environmental factors from macro and micro perspectives, we illustrated the bond with environmental symbiotic and holistic patterns of the intrinsic microbial community and fermentation characteristics. This review is essential to study and control the whole ecological conditions of the Baijiu fermentation process, aiming to gain insight into the dynamics of the microorganisms and ensure a traditional fermentation environment for quality control.

The ecological significance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Europe, especially in areas devastated by bark beetles, has led to its consideration as a substitute for Norway spruce. This pioneering species boasts sun and drought tolerance, fast growth, and wood industry value. To gauge its potential, we examined two ecotypes across two test sites over two years, focusing on height and growth increment. Through statistical analysis employing R software and linear mixed models, we assessed heritability, genotype by environment interaction, and spatial correlations. Both ecotypes exhibited significant differences in height and increment, varying by year and site. Heritability was higher in the second year, with increment showing greater stability. Genetic correlations between sites were evident, suggesting stable increment ranking across locations. These findings underscore the role of ecotypic variation in Scots pine growth, advocating for its consideration in reforestation. Acknowledging such dynamics is vital for effective forest management and reforestation in Central Europe, promoting sustainability and informed decision-making. Further research will enhance this understanding of preserving and enhancing the region's tree populations.

Wheat flour is one of the most important sources of nutrients, and it is widely consumed worldwide as a raw ingredient in bread and other pastries. High heavy metal concentrations in the consumed wheat products could induce higher health risks. This study evaluated the heavy metal concentrations in the most available foreign and domestic wheat flour in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Iraq. The wheat flour samples were collected from different locations, and the heavy metal concentration was measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean values in wheat flour samples were roughly within the permissible limit set by Iraqi standard (IQS), GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) (GCC – Gulf Cooperation Council), Codex, and FAO/WHO. Heavy metals were detected in the descending order copper (Cu) > lead (Pb) > arsenic (As) > chromium (Cr) > nickel (Ni) > cadmium (Cd) > cobalt (Co). The results showed that wheat flour samples from the Sulaimani markets were slightly contaminated with Ni, and one domestic wheat flour sample with Pb was probably linked to fertiliser and soil contamination. It is concluded that wheat flour could be a source of chronic exposure to toxic heavy metals such as nickel and lead, resulting in adverse health issues later. Consequently, regular monitoring of soil contamination, water quality, and use of recommended levels of fertilisers and pesticides in the agricultural areas of Sulaimani are recommended.

In recent years, the concept of digitalization has gained increasing attention in the field of agriculture. The adoption of digital technologies such as sensors, drones, and precision farming tools has the potential to revolutionize how agricultural production is carried out, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. This study examines the current state of digitisation and the use of digital tools in agriculture among Hungarian farmers. The uptake of digitalisation has been slow, and more comprehensive policies and strategies are needed to improve progress. The study shows that while there are positive developments, such as the increasing use of precision technologies, there is still a lack of digital infrastructure and skills, as well as limited access to finance and information. The study concludes by making recommendations for policy makers, stakeholders and farmers to enhance the digitalisation of agriculture in Hungary.

Summer maize cultivars are differently sensitive to soil moisture. To better understand the differences in water productivity of summer maize cultivars with different water sensitivity, a field experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2022. Three different water-sensitive summer maize cultivars were selected, including TY808 (high water-sensitive cultivar), DH605 (medium water-sensitive cultivar), and ZD958 (low water-sensitive cultivar). Soil water content (SWC), soil water storage (SWS), water consumption, water use efficiency, and grain yield were determined. The results showed that under rainfed conditions, the SWC of the medium water-sensitive cultivar DH605 in the deep soil layer was 2.1–18.2% lower than TY808 and ZD958, respectively, and the differences were significant in the 12th leaf stage (V12) and vegetative tassel stage (VT). The SWS of the high-water-sensitive cultivar TY808 was 0.7% to 6.4% higher than the other two water-sensitive cultivars from 2020 to 2022. The changes in SWS are related to the spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation. The water consumption of DH605 was higher than TY808 and ZD958 by 5.3% and 7.09% in 2020 and 2.9% and 2.8% in 2021; in 2022, DH605 is 2% higher than ZD958 and 2.8% lower than TY808, respectively. The yield of DH605 was 4.3–10.78% higher than the other two cultivars in the three-year experiment. Additionally, the 1 000-kernel weight of DH605 was the highest in TY808 and ZD958. DH605 has the highest water use efficiency, which was increased by 4.8–14.6% compared to TY808 and ZD958. Through path analysis, we found that the direct path coefficient of SWS in the VT stage on yield reached 0.999, indicating that soil moisture in the VT stage has the greatest impact on yield, followed by the blister stage (R2). In conclusion, our results suggest that the water consumption of summer maize during the VT stage is the highest, and the soil moisture condition in VT significantly affects the grain yield of summer. Planting DH605 in the North China Plain would harvest the maximum grain yield and water productivity.

Salmonellosis is a major foodborne disease transmitted from contaminated poultry products worldwide. Although a wide variety of chemical agents are used in the prevention of foodborne Salmonella spp. infections, consumers prefer natural additives, that do not harm human health and do not impair the characteristics of food. Curcumin is a yellow-coloured, hydrophobic polyphenol obtained from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa L. plant known as turmeric. The purpose of this study was to evaluate curcumin’s antibacterial activity against S. Typhimurium in chicken meat and in vitro. In the first step, chicken samples were experimentally contaminated with S. Typhimurium at a level of 2.8 × 10^–7 CFU/ml. Then, they were kept in a 1, 2, and 3% curcumin solution for 15 minutes. At the end of the treatment, chicken samples were stored at +4 °C. The number of S. Typhimurium in chicken samples was determined according to EN ISO 6579-1. In the result of the study, the number of S. Typhimurium decreased by 2.37, 2.71, and 2.84 log levels at the end of the 6^th day as a result of the 1, 2 and 3% curcumin treatment, respectively. The MIC value of curcumin was determined to be 362 µg/ml for S. Typhimurium.

This article focuses on the occurrence of powdery mildews in the Lamiaceae family in the Czech Republic. A comprehensive analysis of morphological characteristics supported by molecular analysis of partial ITS sequences and analysis of host species gained important insights regarding the occurrence and diversity of powdery mildews. Thirty-four plant samples of the Lamiaceae family infected by powdery mildew collected in the Czech Republic between 2015–2022 were analysed. In these samples, the occurrence of all newly described species within the former Golovinomyces biocellatus complex was confirmed (G. biocellatus, G. salviae, G. neosalviae and G. monardae), and Neoërysiphe galeopsidis was also verified. Moreover, our study expands the already reported host species list of G. biocellatus complex within the Lamiaceae family.

Drought is one of the environmental stresses that threaten food availability. It results in decreased crop yields and developments and diminishes overall plant health. Chemical solutions for alleviating drought stress may be harmful to the environment. Using an alternative, microorganisms help counter the effects of drought stress. Endophytes have a mutualistic relationship with the host as they provide protection and get nutrients. Fungal endophytes assist plants in countering the damaging results of drought stress by producing phytohormones and growth-promoting compounds that promote root and shoot growth and enhance crop productivity. Inoculating maize plants with endophytic fungi like Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium sp. have a higher chance of surviving drought stress. These organisms can increase root length, allowing moisture to reach deeper into the soil. This review explores endophytic fungi's roles in alleviating drought stress’s consequences on plants. More investigations should be carried out on the favourable effects of fungal endophytes in the mitigation of drought stress through pot and field inoculation.

Because grape pomace powder (GPP) contains abundant phenolic chemicals and fibres, GPPs can serve as a filler in developing novel food products. This study examined how the GPP amounts affected a composite flour's physicochemical properties and bakery snacks' chemical, technical, and sensory properties. The experimental procedure involved replacing wheat flour (WF) with GPP at 5–20% while maintaining 100% WF as the control. The addition of GPP resulted in a significant decrease in the oil absorption capacity (P ≤ 0.05), while the rehydration index and water absorption capacity increased (P ≤ 0.05). The peak length (5.44–5.90 min), pasting temperature (70.20–80.92 °C), peak viscosity (124.72–172.80 RVU; RVU – relative value unit), trough viscosity (60.76–82.04 RVU), breakdown viscosity (69.56–93.74 RVU), final viscosity (162.70–222.30 RVU), and setback viscosity were measured. The addition of GPP to the composite flour and snacks decreased the lightness (L*) and increased the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*). The items' higher dietary fibre (DF) allowed them to claim 'high fibre content' when the maximum GPP was added. The GPP also increased the snacks' total solids, protein, ash, fibre, total phenolics content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity. The sensory acceptability of the snacks made with 5–10% GPP instead of WF was higher.

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

The aim of this study was to determine the reference values of cartilage damage biomarkers in the blood and urine in 76 clinically healthy German Shepherd dogs. We grouped the dogs into 4 groups by age. All the groups were consistently made up of 19 dogs. The mean age and average body weight were established for all the dog groups. The blood was collected from the vena cephalica antebrachii or the vena saphena medialis and the urine sample was taken by us-guided cystocenthesis. The biomarkers were determined using quantitative sandwich ELISA kits. The mean values of the biomarkers ± SD were, for the urine biomarkers, CTX-I 3.29 ± 1.16 ng/ml, CTX-II 1 993.95 ± 777.04 ng/ml, and TIMP-I 392.80 ± 160.56 ng/ml, and for the blood biomarkers, MMP-9 89.85 ± 50.21 ng/ml and PIICP 19.19 ± 7.33 ng/ml. Based on the obtained values of the mean 95%, we expect a standard for CTX-I 5.05 ng/ml, CTX-II 3 204.26 ng/ml, TIMP-I 606.64 ng/ml, MMP-9 187.93 ng/ml, and PIICP 31.71 ng/ml.

Due to a scarcity of freshwater resources, agriculture is dependent on the use of poor quality water for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions. Hence, the effective use of poor quality water requires pioneering water management and nitrogen fertilizer practices for increasing yield and resource efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of saline water levels, nitrogen fertilizer, and irrigation methods on eggplant yield, water productivity, NPK uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency. The experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 under drip (IM1) and surface flood irrigation (IM2). The treatments included three saline water levels i.e. canal water (SW1), ECiw=2.5 dS/m (SW2), and ECiw=5.0 dS/m (SW3) along with the three nitrogen levels of 75% (N1), 100% (N2), and 125% (N3) of the recommended dose of nitrogen. Application of saline water using IM1 reduced the ECe by 41.8% (SW2) and 34% (SW3) over IM2. The fruit yield, water productivity (WP), NPK uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was increased by 22%, 127.6%, 39.8%, 16.6%, 11.8%, and 23.8% under IM1 over IM2, respectively. A high saline water level under IM2 can cause more reduction in fruit yield, NPK uptake, and water use. Applying saline water through IM1 improves fruit yield, WP, and NUE by 13-32.8%, 104.1-147.3%, and 10.5-35.2% as compared to IM2. We found that saline water and N applied by drip improved eggplant yield, water productivity, and NPK uptake. It is concluded that irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer consumption are optimized when saline water is applied through drip irrigation.

Organic fertilisers are among the important factors increasing soil fertility. Their use belongs to sustainable technologies. As part of the field experiment, the effect of high doses of organic fertilisers on the parameters of the cultivated crop was monitored. The experiment was established using manure, compost and digestate. Monitored dosages were 40 and 200 t·ha^–1. The field trial was based on a light cambisoil. The cultivated crop was maize. A blade cultivator was used in all cases to incorporate fertilisers. The qualitative parameters of the fertilisers were evaluated, as well as the maize yield and the quality of the resulting crop. The results indicate the beneficial effect of fertilisation on plant yield, quality parameters and other factors. Even in variants with high doses of fertilisers, no significant damage to the stand was recorded.

Mulberry is gaining attention for its potential health benefits. However, post-harvest deterioration of quality necessitates drying to prolong storage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of natural drying (ND), hot air drying (HAD), and vacuum freeze drying (VFD) on bioactive compounds and volatile organic compounds of fresh mulberries. The results showed that VFD had the highest retention of total phenols (5 553.87 ± 744.97 µg GAE·g^–1), total flavonoids (3 575.51 ± 465.98 µg rutin·g^–1), and total anthocyanins (64.98 ± 13.15 µg C3C·g^–1) after prolonged drying. Additionally, flavour was identified as the most important indicator influencing consumer preference for dried mulberries, and VFD was found to be effective in retaining the natural flavours of mulberries. Although thermal treatment leads to a significant loss of organic compounds, HAD showed good retention of active substances and lower energy consumption in a shorter processing time.

This study aimed to isolate and characterise a fungal pathogen associated with stem canker on dragon fruit and to evaluate the efficacy of sodium salt as an alternative control against it. The fungal pathogen was isolated and identified by morphological and cultural methods. SMNND11 and ARPN11 isolates, which are morphologically alike Neoscytalidium sp., were selected for the present study. The colony’s mycelial mass was greyish-white and turned to dark greenish-grey. The shape of the arthroconidia was ellipsoid to ovoid and hyaline to dark brown with septate arthrospores. The hyphae were brown in colour, septate, branched and constricted into spore chains before disarticulation. Based on the blast analysis using the aligned sequences of the internal transcribed spacer, the SMNND11 isolate was highly genetically identical (100%) to Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, the ARPN10 isolate was 98.6% identical to Neoscytalidium sp. and the neighbour-joining analysis revealed that both isolates were grouped into the same genus, Neoscytalidium sp. The in vitro study revealed that sodium salt at a concentration of > 3% showed high potential in suppressing the mycelial growth of the SMNND11 isolates. In a field trial, a sodium salt solution at 30 g/L applied twice a week, along with rotating chemical fungicides applied once a week, were able to reduce the disease severity of the stem canker disease on the dragon fruit. This study revealed that Neoscytalidium sp., as well as N. dimidiatum, is the positive pathogen that infects dragon fruit plants in IP2TP Sumani and Aripan West Sumatra. Thus, the culture and field studies support the potential control technique to alternating chemical fungicide on dragon fruit.

Effect of pre-harvest calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment on fruit quality attributes of three apple cultivars (‘Golden Delicious Reinders®’, ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Red Chief’) at harvest and after two and four months of cold storage during two consecutive years was studied. Trees were sprayed four times starting from the beginning of June at 20-day intervals. After harvest, fruits were stored in a regular atmosphere (RA) for further analysis. Measurements included fruit weight, weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), total sugars (TS), TS/TA, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA). CaCl2 had a positive impact on fruit firmness of all cultivars in both years. Higher values of TSS and TS of ‘Golden Delicious Reinders®’ were determined in CaCl2 treatment in both years. TSS, TS and TS/TA were increased by prolonging storage in ‘Red Chief’ in CaCl2 treatment and control, in both years. TSS and TS proved similarly stable in ‘Granny Smith’ during storage in CaCl2 treatment and control in the second year of examination, but a decrease of TA and TS/TA has been detected in both years of storage. The AA of cultivars ‘Golden Delicious Reinders®’ and ‘Red Chief’ was stronger affected by the storage compared to CaCl2 treatment. Through a comprehensive analysis of apple cultivars it can be concluded that pre-harvest application of CaCl2 in cultivars ‘Golden Delicious Reinders®’ and ‘Red Chief’ can be used to improve fruit quality during storage.

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.

Global climate change leads to frequent occurrence of low-temperature stress (LTS), which poses a serious threat to global food security. Here, environment-control phytotron experiments were conducted on cold-responsive cv. XM26 and cold-tolerant cv. YN19 during the anther differentiation period. Six LTS levels (4, 2, 0, −2, −4, −6 °C) and a control treatment (10 °C) were set to study the effects of different levels of LTS on wheat seed-setting characteristics and yield. LTS significantly decreased grain number per spike, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant (GYPP) of the two wheat cultivars. Each spike’s grain number and weight distribution showed a quadratic curve, and the near-medium dominance of grain development was not affected by temperature. The grain number percentage and grain weight of wheat at different grain positions were G2 (2^nd grain position) ≥ G1 (1^st grain position) > G3 (3^rd grain position) > G4 (4^th grain position), in which G3 and G4 grain positions were more sensitive to LTS. In summary, LTS during the anther differentiation in wheat mainly led to a decrease in GYPP by significantly reducing the number and weight of inferior grains. Improving wheat cultivation measures and promoting the development of inferior grains are significant ways to prevent disasters and increase wheat quality and productivity in the future.

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.

This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri L26 Biocenol^TM (L26) and its purified exopolysaccharide (EPS) with respect to antiviral innate immune response. In our experiment, we used porcine epithelial IPEC-J2 cells as a model of the intestinal barrier in a homologous infection by porcine Rotavirus A strain OSU6 (RVA). The production of selected molecules of non-specific humoral immunity was evaluated at the mRNA level. The EPS alone significantly increased the level of interferon λ3 (IFN-λ3) mRNA in the non-infected IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.001). We also tested whether the treatment of IPEC-J2 cells by L26 or EPS influences the replication of RVA by virus titration and real-time PCR. We found that a pre-treatment in combination with subsequent continuous stimulation has no influence on the RVA replication. However, both treatments significantly decreased the RVA-induced production of IFN-λ3 (P < 0.05) and the “SOS” cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6; P < 0.01), already at the transcription level. In addition, the EPS treatment resulted in significantly increased IL-10 mRNA in the RVA-infected cells. In summary, we assume an immunoregulatory potential of L. reuteri L26 Biocenol^TM and its EPS in the local intestinal antiviral immune response.

Due to increased climate change, crop productivity worldwide is in danger. Drought stress is considered one of the major environmental factors in relation to world food security. Previous studies showed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation alleviates drought stress in various plants. However, whether AMF inoculation efficiency is based on gas exchange or water status and whether the effects differ among plants and AMF species remain unclear. To evaluate the effect of AMF on drought stress alleviation, a meta-analysis was conducted based on random-effect models accounting for effect size variation. Results revealed that photosynthetic rate had the highest effect size among gas exchange traits compared to stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Our results also showed a significant positive impact on relative water content, water potential, and water use efficiency in AMF-inoculated plants compared to non-inoculated plants. Furthermore, among AMF species, Funneliformis mosseae, followed by Rhizophagus irrgularis, was an efficient AM fungi for drought stress alleviation. Therefore, this study suggests that a higher water use efficiency supports water transport to the leaf surface and keeps the stomatal opening, enhancing photosynthetic responses.

Many methods are used in a laboratory for packing sieved soil. Determination of soil properties is expected to vary with the applied packing method. The objective of this investigation was to test the impact of initial soil sieving duration and scraping of exposed soil surfaces on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) of an initially air-dry loam soil determined by the simplified falling-head technique. Two sieving durations (5 and 30 min) were considered. A brush was used to scrape exposed surfaces for half of the tested soil columns. A long sieving yielded finer soil than a short sieving and 9–22% smaller values of K_s. Scraping the exposed soil surfaces yielded 4–17% smaller K_s values than those obtained on the not scraped columns. None of the observed differences was statistically significant. Therefore, sieving duration and treatment of the exposed soil surfaces were minor factors influencing the determination of K_s. Reaching general conclusions about sieving duration and scraping effects requires testing these factors with other soils, initial soil water conditions and K_s measurement techniques.

Seaweed has an important role in the mitigation of enteric methane (CH₄) production by ruminant animals. The utilisation and its effectiveness in enteric CH₄ reduction require a preservation process. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different drying processes on the effectiveness of seaweed Gracilaria spp. in reducing CH₄ production assessed through an in vitro method. Three drying techniques, sun-drying, oven-drying, and freeze-drying, were applied to produce a dried product of Glacilaria spp. Rice straw basal diets combined with concentrate at the 70 : 30% were used to test the inclusion of 4% of three differently dried products of Gracilaria spp. compared to the basal diet without seaweed (control group). Measurements were conducted on in vitro total and CH₄ gas production, nutrient degradability, ammonia (NH₃) and VFA concentration, and microbial population. Results showed that the three dried products of Gracilaria spp. significantly reduced in vitro CH₄ production compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). All drying techniques gave a similar effect on in vitro CH₄ reduction, but they did not affect dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) and significantly reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group, with oven-dried treatments having the lowest NDF degradability among the treatments. It is concluded that the three different drying techniques had similar effects on enteric CH₄ reduction.

Dietary antioxidant supplementation has become popular for managing male infertility because of its impact on the antioxidant capacity of semen. This study evaluates the effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on the seminal characteristics of Colombian Creole horses. Semen from six Colombian Creole stallions was collected using an artificial vagina. The stallions were randomly allocated to a control group (CG) or a supplementation group (SG) that received a multi-antioxidant supplement. A repeated measures design, with a wash out period of two weeks between treatments, was used. Sperm motility and kinematics were assessed using a computer-assisted semen analysis system, membrane integrity (MI) and the acrosomal integrity (AI) of sperm were assessed using fluorescent microscopy, abnormal morphology (AM) was analysed using supravital staining, and the functionality of the sperm membrane was assessed using the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. A fraction of each ejaculate sample was centrifuged to obtain seminal plasma (SP). The reactive oxygen species and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the SP were measured via spectrofluorimetry. Linear models were fitted, and comparison of means was performed using Tukey’s test. Dietary antioxidant supplementation increased sperm beat cross frequency. In addition, a higher AI was found for the SG. Supplementation also increased the TAC of the SP. Individual analysis revealed that dietary antioxidant supplementation increased the total and progressive motility of the semen of two horses in the SG; however, supplementation reduced these two parameters in two other individuals compared to the CG. It can be concluded that dietary antioxidant supplementation with a nutraceutical that provides vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and omega-3 for horses can increase sperm quality as well as the TAC of SP; however, this may be subject to the individual effect of each horse.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is one of the most important cereals in the world; is an important source of bioactive compounds. The germination is a very useful tool to improve the nutraceutical value of cereals, associated with the reduction of chronic-degenerative diseases; the extrusion has a positive effect on microbiological stability and sensory properties. The response of the combined germination-extrusion processes applied under optimised conditions, on proximal composition, in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant activity (AoxA), hypoglycemic potential and microbiological quality of sorghum grains were studied. Sorghum was processed by germination (37 °C for 69 h) and extrusion [137 °C for 134 rpm (revolutions per minute)]. The germination increased protein content (+21%), insoluble dietary fibre (+50%), IVPD (+10%), TPC (+26%), AoxA (+97%). The extrusion increased soluble dietary fibre (+100%) and IVPD (+13%). The combined germination-extrusion processing reduced the content of total coliforms, total mesophilic aerobics and molds below the maximum limits established by the Mexican Official Standards NOM-147-SSA1-1994. Regarding hypoglycemic potential, germinated sorghum and germinated-extruded sorghum presented the best half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value. The combination of germination-extrusion processes is an effective strategy to increase bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes.