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The use of in vitro (fish cell lines) is a cost-effective, very rapid, and informative tool for toxicological assessments. Using the neutral red (NR) assay, we compared the in vitro acute toxicity (20hEC50) of twenty-six chemical substances on a rainbow trout gonad cell line (RTG-2) with their in vivo acute toxicity to Barbados Millions Poecilia reticulata (48hLC50, OECD 203) and crustacean Daphnia magna (48hEC50, OECD 202). The 20hEC50 values obtained by the NR assay were higher in nearly all the cases when compared to the 48hLC50 in P. reticulata and the 48hEC50 in D. magna, indicating that the sensitivity of the RTG-2 cell line was lower compared to P. reticulata and D. magna. A high (r = 0.89) and significant (P < 0.001) correlation was recorded between the 20hEC50 values of the RTG-2 and the 48hEC50 values of D. magna. The correlation between the 20hEC50 values of the RTG-2 and the 48hLC50 values of P. reticulata was lower (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), but also significant. The authors recommend use of the NR assay on the RTG-2 cell lines as a screening protocol to evaluate the toxicity of xenobiotics in aquatic environments to narrow the spectrum of the concentrations for the fish toxicity test.

The series of phenolic acid (2-, 3-, 4-monohydroxy- and 2,4-, 2,5-dihydroxy) alkyl esters (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl) were prepared, and their antimicrobial activities were determined. The antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis was investigated and expressed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 1.2-20 mM. The inhibitory activity of higher esters of phenolic acids was found to be higher than that of methyl esters and acids. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tested compounds was compared with that of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its esters (parabens).

The effect of simultaneous intercropping of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with different legumes of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and purple clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) on selected production and qualitative parameters of wheat was evaluated in field trials conducted both in organic and conventional cropping systems, in comparison with pure sown wheat. Wheat intercropped with legumes achieved higher grain yield compared to pure sown wheat for an average of two years. However, in organic cultivation, the positive effect of intercropping on wheat yields was more pronounced. In addition, a strong influence of the year was noted. In 2021, in the organic cropping system, the most yielding intercropped wheat (especially with pea and bean) achieved 114-117% higher yields compared to pure sown wheat (in the previous year of 2020, it was usually only about 102-106%). In the conventional cropping system, the effect of intercropping on wheat yield was significantly weaker, and in 2021, wheat intercropped with legumes reached even lower yields than pure sown wheat in some cases. In terms of sowing methods (both in organic and conventional cropping systems), mixed sowing with individual legumes significantly exceeded the yields of wheat grown with legumes in separate, alternating rows. As regards quality parameters, wheat intercropped with legumes reached in comparison with pure sown wheat usually had higher crude protein content in wheat grain dry matter and higher values of Zeleny sedimentation.

In recent years, the cork oak forests that characterise the Mediterranean region have been exposed to various factors that result in their degradation. These cork oak trees, due to increasingly accentuated anthropogenic activity, undergo withering at different scales.The objective of the study is to assess the impact of various factors that degrade cork oak forests in the Mediterranean region located in northeastern Algeria, and this was achieved by prospecting 22 sampling locations. This allowed the creation of a database containing 745 trees that were observed and 27 measured variables. Different readings were then taken into consideration based on measurements and sometimes on ratings. The impact of several biotic and abiotic factors, which affect and damage the health of cork oak, was identified. These factors include in particular the infestations by xylomycetophagous insects such as Platypus cylindrus and Xyleborus sp., which can potentially infest the cork oak trees that we observed one year after bark harvesting. On the other hand, the stationary descriptors such as altitude, slope, exposure, etc., are important for the dendrometric and exploitation characteristics, but their unfavourable values do not necessarily lead to tree mortality; for example, medium to low slopes, associated with average altitudes of 600 m a.s.l., may ensure the healthiest trees like in our case study. Finally, we were able to find that certain decline factors may affect a particular category of trees, either because they are older, taller or have a large girth, or because they are subject to inadequate debarking.

In most developing countries, the agricultural industry has the potential to alleviate poverty at a faster rate compared to other sectors. As such, many governments have initiated policies and programme to improve agricultural performance. However, some of these projects have not achieved success because the local agricultural markets are often controlled by a small group of stakeholders who tend to hide information in the market despite having huge market power. This paper aimed to determine the issues and impacts of the lack of market information in developing countries and to provide strategies for solving such problems. Results show that the presence of an oligopsonic market system, current information and communication technology (ICTs), the lack of market infrastructure and gender limitations are the main issues related to a lack of information. In turn, lack of information leads to an inefficient agricultural market, causes negative impacts on market participants, and ultimately leads to harmful socio-economic effects. Thus, to solve these problems, it is necessary to improve capacity building, increase access to ICTs and improve market infrastructure.

We studied sessile oak (Quercus petraea) growing on six dry sites to understand adaptability responses to drought stress. Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) on a moderately dry site was tested in parallel. We analyzed accessions from mostly dry sites that were less sensitive to soil drought and found that the growth performance ranking was not the same before and after treatment. We used phenological plasticity approaches to study seed development and plant development before and after drought: the treatments included stem length, root length, and collar diameter, as well as dry above- and below-ground biomass performance. Additionally, after drought treatment, osmolytes and root surface were tested in Q. petraea. According to the analyses and results, the ranked sites did not maintain their ranking status, with Q. petraea exhibiting different rates of growth during each developmental stage from seed development until the end of the treatment of plant material. The smallest seeds came from the driest site, which may indicate more adaptability to drought stress. After drought treatment, large differences were found between the dry biomass performance, stem length, root length, and collar diameter of oaks grown on different sites. The osmolality of Q. petraea on most of the dry sites was higher under the reduced treatment than under the optimal treatment, but not significantly. After drought treatment, all accessions - and especially those from the driest site - showed large differences in growth performance between the treatments. The relationship between seed weight and seedling development before and after drought treatment differed according to the developmental stage.

The in vitro compatibility of the entomopathogenic fungus, Cladosporium cladosporioides BOU1, with the crude extract of three plants viz. Calotropis gigantea, Vitex negundo and Carissa macrocarpa at a concentration of 1% and 2% was investigated. The compatibility of the fungal isolate with the plant extracts was calculated using the biological index formula from the germination percentage, radial growth and spore production of BOU1. The compatibility of the plant extracts with the fungal isolate was also assessed based on the protease and lipase activities of the treated fungus. Both concentrations of plant extracts did not significantly inhibit the germination percentage, radial growth and spore production of BOU1 in a dose-depended manner. The average mean values of the biological index for the three plant extracts with two concentrations were more than 98%. The analyses of the data with the compatibility index formula suggest that irrespective of concentration, all three plant extracts were compatible with BOU1. When the plant extracts were added to the fungal isolate, the protease and lipase activities of the fungal isolate were not significantly inhibited compared to the untreated control. The reduction in all the variables of fungal growth and the enzymatic activity was less than 10% and 20%, respectively. From these findings, we can conclude that the fungal biocontrol agent C. cladosporioides BOU1 is compatible with the investigated plant extracts in terms of the fungal growth and enzymatic activities.

In this study, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, an iron (Fe)-reducing bacterium, was inoculated to a red soil, which was then incubated. Soil samples were taken regularly to analyse the variation of iron oxides and phosphorus (P) fractions. The results showed that the MR-1 inoculation increased the content of the free iron oxides, but decreased the activity of the iron oxides in the soil, and had no significant influence on the amorphous iron oxides. The MR-1 inoculation increased the resin-P and residual-P, decreased the NaHCO₃-extracted inorganic P (NaHCO₃-P_i) and NaOH-extracted inorganic P (NaOH-P_i), but did not significantly influence the diluted HCl-extracted inorganic P (D.HCl-P_i) and concentrated HCl-extracted inorganic P (C.HCl-P_i). The presence of MR-1 influenced the correlation between the free iron oxides and NaOH-P_i. In the CK where deactivated MR-1 was applied, there was a significant positive correlation between the free iron oxides and the NaOH-P_i; in the treatment with the live MR-1 inoculation, there was no correlation between them. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the free iron oxides and the C.HCl-P_i, and there was a significant negative correlation between the NaHCO₃-P_i, resin-P, and residual-P. Therefore, the MR-1 inoculation improved the P availability by decreasing the activity of the iron oxides and consequently improved the P use efficiency in the red soil.

This study aimed to isolate and characterise the pathogen associated with Alternaria leaf spot on broccoli and to evaluate the inhibitory effects of fungicides against it. We isolated and identified the fungal pathogen as Alternaria sp. using morphological and cultural methods. Based on the aligned sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and molecular phylogenetic analysis by the neighbour-joining method, the isolates (Ab1 and Ab2) were confirmed as Alternaria alternata. The conidia of the isolates were dark brown, cylindrical, obclavate to muriform. The conidiophores were olivaceous brown, septate, and branched. The conidial morphology of the isolates ranged from 52.4-92.4 × 10-20 μm with 2-6 transverse and 0-3 longitudinal septa. Both isolates yielded positive results in the pathogenicity test on broccoli leaves by developing brown and circular spots with concentric rings on the leaves surrounded by yellow halos. The culture studies revealed that the maximum growth of the pathogen was obtained at 30 °C and pH 6.0. Tilt 250 WC showed the highest potential in suppressing the mycelial growth of the A. alternata in vitro at a concentration as low as 50 µg/mL. The results from this study contributed to the positive identification of the pathogen and characterised A. alternata as a destructive pathogen of broccoli which may be successfully controlled by the fungicide Tilt.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus zeae LB2 on the gut microbiota in piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Thirty-two healthy 7-day-old piglets were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control group (basal diet), LB2 group (supplemented with 1 × 10⁸ CFU/pig/day L. zeae LB2), ETEC group (infected with 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/pig/day ETEC) and ETEC+LB2 group (LB2 supplementation + ETEC infection). Intestinal contents were collected for DNA extraction and Illumina sequencing. Significant result was observed for alpha diversity in the four intestinal sections, and both ETEC infection and LB2 supplementation showed a higher Chao1 alpha diversity. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the healthy piglets, while Proteobacteria were dominant in the ETEC-infected piglets. At the genus level, ETEC infection decreased the abundance of Prevotella, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Flavobacterium, and Sutterella and increased the abundance of Actinobacillus. The LB2 supplementation reduced the abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Actinobacillus, Porphyromonas, and Alloprevotella, and increased the abundance of Prevotella and Lactobacillus. Both ETEC infection and LB2 supplementation affected several functional pathways associated with cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, diseases, metabolism, and organismal systems. In summary, ETEC infection induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in piglets, while L. zeae supplementation could positively regulate the gut microbiome during ETEC infection. Therefore, L. zeae LB2 may be an ideal probiotic for the prevention or treatment of ETEC infection.

Aeroponics would appear to have a number of potential attributes to make potato production more efficient. In a 3-year experiment, from 2019 to 2021, potatoes were grown in aeroponic units using two nutrient solutions as well as in a conventional polycarbonate greenhouse in a substrate. Potato cultivars Adéla, Zuza and Ornella were used in all experiment years. No statistically significant effect of nutrient solution or potato cultivar on the number and weight of tubers was found in the trial. However, the advantages of aeroponics over conventional technology were statistically proven. The number of tubers per plant in aeroponic units ranged from 2.4 (2019, cv. Adéla) to 41.0 (2021, cv. Zuza), while in the greenhouse, they ranged from 3.9 (2019, cv. Adéla) up to 12.6 (2021, cv. Adéla). The average weight of tubers in aeroponic units ranged between 2.0 g and 9.9 g per plant (2 to 10 successive harvests), and in the greenhouse, 22.7 g to 41.9 g per plant (single harvest). The influence of cultivar on the average weight of tubers within individual cultivation technology variants was statistically proven only for polycarbonate greenhouse: only one harvest after the end vegetation.

The mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a common tropical and subtropical fruit and the second main fruit crop in Egypt. In this work, start codon targeted (SCoT) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to study the genetic relationship among twenty-three mango genotypes grown under the El-Giza district conditions. These genotypes consist of four newly introduced cultivars, six new progenies and thirteen closely related mango cultivars which were included as cultivar references for the best definition. Based on the overall SCoT and ISSR data, a total of 52 bands were generated (18 for SCoT and 34 for ISSR) with a total polymorphic percentage equal to 53.84% (44.44% for SCoT and 58.82% for ISSR). Based on the whole set of SCoT and ISSR marker data, the genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 80 to 97% with a mean equal to 88.5% and the first two principal axes explained about 31% of the total genetic variation among the mango accessions. The SCoT and ISSR data revealed that the four newly introduced mango genotypes, namely 'Aya', 'Kasturi', 'Maya' and 'Omer', are novel genetic resources based on their genetic profiles, which can be used for future breeding programmes in Egypt.

Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. is a species endemic to Mexico and is widely used in reforestation programmes, as it is highly adapted to poor, shallow, limestone soils and has high commercial importance. However, it is necessary to preserve this genetic material since it is in trouble due to high rates of deforestation, land use change, and forest fires, so it is necessary to have effective strategies to obtain good quality seedlings. Due to the properties of LED (light emitting diode) lamps used for illumination in the production of in vitro plants, the effects of two different lighting systems (LED and fluorescent) on an in vitro culture were analysed for the morphological characteristics of the growth and photosynthetic pigment content in P. pseudostrobus seedlings. The length and root size of the seedlings were affected by the type of illumination, where a red LED light was the most effective at 30 days of evaluation. However, a blue LED light was equally effective as a red LED light at 60 days of seedling development. On the other hand, the fluorescent light was better in terms of the number of needles in the first stage, but we found the blue LED light to be better in the second stage. For the photosynthetic pigment content, the highest values were found with the blue LED light. The results showed that the LED lighting system favours the growth, development, and photosynthetic pigment content of the species under study.

The cypress jewel beetle Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva is a wood-boring pest posing a major threat to the phytosanitary conditions of several coniferous trees. Its unprecedented European expansion has triggered serious plant protection concerns in several new habitats. Parts of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana injured by L. festiva were collected and analysed by computed tomography in order to study the dimensions of the cavities caused by L. festiva larvae as well as the larval positions. It is concluded that computer tomography representing a non-invasive approach is a promising tool for the visual depiction of the position and the physical parameters of the cavities formed. According to our experimental data, the penetration into the cypress caused by larvae and, inherently, its depth depends on the diameter of the branch. Additionally, the developing larvae appeared to keep distance from each other, which also depended on the diameter of the attacked branch. Our approach provides new data to the biological traits of the species. The main benefit that our imaging method furnishes is the exact, stress-free measurement method of the hidden developing stages. Its additional advantage is the indirect pest identification, which is based on the predetermined pest-specific damage characters.

This study aimed to develop a bamboo culm flour (BCF) to be used in the formulation of cookies, replacing 15% and 30% of wheat flour (WF). The parameters analysed for bamboo flour and cookies were moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates. For the flour, the water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) were also determined. BCF is a good source of protein, with a low lipid content and high fibre content, presenting the potential to be used in several food products. For the cookies produced, hardness, sensory analysis and purchase intent were analysed. In the sensory analysis of acceptability, the samples that showed better acceptance were the control formulation and the 15% BCF cookie; in the same sample, crude fibre increased from 5.92 g (100 g)^-1 to 11.64 g (100 g)^-1 compared to the control, and the intention to purchase the 15% sample was worse than for the control but still good: the majority of tasters said they certainly or maybe would buy. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the use of BCF is considered an excellent option to enrich cookies while keeping them acceptable nutritionally.

Soils that contain rock fragments (particles > 2 mm in diameter) are distributed all over the world. The presence of these small rock fragments can have a great impact on soil water retention properties, as well as on the soil-water infiltration and vegetation restoration in semi-arid regions. To quantitatively describe the transport of water in stony soils, repacked soil cores were used to determine the infiltration rates for different rock fragment contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and rock fragment sizes (2-5, 5-8, 8-11, and 2-11 mm). The results showed that both the content and size of the rock fragments and their interaction significantly affected the infiltration process. The infiltration rates over time and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) decreased with an increasing rock fragment content to an observed minimum value for a 40% rock fragment content. The soil-water infiltration processes were accurately described by the Kostiakov model. The measured and calculated K_s values decreased with an increasing rock fragment content, which was in accordance with the published data and in accordance with the K_s obtained by five empirical methods. The variations in the measured K_s were likely due to the variations in the soil properties caused by the soil sample repacking. The results of this study may improve the understanding of the effects of the rock fragment content and size on the infiltration processes in arid and semi-arid desert steppes.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat globally. FHB causes an extensive reduction in yield and reduces the grain quality through its contamination with Fusarium toxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), T2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, nivalenol, and zearalenone. This review provides an overview of updated progress of genetic studies on the resistance to FHB, with an emphasis on the sources of resistance to FHB, resistance gene/quantitative trait loci (QTL) mining, resistance gene cloning, major FHB resistance genes/QTL identification by molecular markers, and resistance mechanisms. The achievements of resistance breeding based on phenotype selection and molecular markers was also summarised. Based on the systematic analysis of breeding limitations and utilisation of FHB resistant materials, the authors put forward three suggestions: First, to toughen the resistance identification of wheat, testing traits such as Fusarium damaged kernel and DON need special attention as visual symptoms are less reliable, resistant varieties should be popularised, and the screening the resistant genes should be strengthened; The second is to use the additive effect of quantitative resistance genes accumulated from existing varieties to reduce the cost of resistance in order to create high yielding resistant varieties. Thirdly, to enhance research and utilization of new genes.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ozonation on the water quality, and growth, blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity and survival of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) reared in a recirculation aquaculture system for 30 weeks. A group without ozone treatment was used as a control. The ozone application led to a significant reduction of the water chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand and unsuspended solids concentration. The results revealed that an ozone treatment as a water treatment method has a positive influence on the intensive culture of pikeperch ensuring a higher survival rate (77%) compared to the non-treated control group (67.2%). Moreover, the ozonation prevented fin damage to a large extent and reduced the prevalence of an Ichthyophthirius multifiliis infection. Furthermore, the ozone application led to a reduction in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level and enhanced the superoxide dismutase activity in the fish gills. However, the effect of ozonation was null on the plasma biochemical parameters. Overall, these findings suggest that an ozone treatment, using adequate technological equipment to destroy the residual ozone, improves the water quality and protects pikeperch against any possible infection and fin damage in a recirculation aquaculture system.

The production of summer maize is greatly affected by nitrogen (N) sources through regulating root growth and distribution. Four N treatments in the field experiment were designed as UAN (urea ammonium nitrate solution was applied under traditional side-dressing method), urea (urea was applied under traditional side-dressing method), UWFI (UAN was applied underwater and fertiliser integration technology) and CK (no N applied). The results showed that the root length density, surface area density and volume of DH605 (mid-late hybrid) and DH518 (mid-early hybrid) under UWFI were higher than other treatments, especially in shallow layers. The root absorption area of each soil layer under N application treatments varied with the growth stage. The grain yield and the accumulations of N, P and K in the shoots showed the trend of UWFI > UAN > urea > CK. Compared with UAN and urea, the nitrogen agronomic efficiency of UWFI treatment increased by 40.5~78.6%, and the nitrogen partial factor productivity increased by 4.75~7.61%. Consequently, rational application of UAN would improve root traits, nutrient uptake and utilisation, and yield of summer maize.

Corneal ulcers are one of the most common ocular disorders in veterinary ophthalmology and several factors can negatively influence the efficacy of the currently available therapeutic options, leading to a loss of corneal transparency and, thus, vision. Twenty-five dogs with clinical signs of corneal ulcers were randomised to receive either corneal phototherapy (16 dogs; study group) or topical standard medical therapy (9 dogs; control group). The riboflavin/UV-A corneal phototherapy (PACK-CXL) consisted in the application of a riboflavin ophthalmic solution (Visioflavin^®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy) onto the cornea for 20 min followed by 30 mW/cm² UV-A irradiance for 3 min using a point-of-care UV-A device (Vetuvir^®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy). The complete healing of the ulcerative lesion was defined as the complete restoration of the corneal epithelial integrity with negative fluorescein staining. The corneal phototherapy achieved complete corneal healing in all the dogs by 20.5 ± 7.8 days. In the control group, only two dogs achieved complete healing by 21.5 ± 15.6 days. This intervention may represent a valid option to hasten corneal wound healing and a clinical resolution of ulcerative keratitis in dogs.

Defatted wheat germ was used to substitute wheat flour by 5-15% to produce cookies enriched with protein, fat, sugar and minerals. The effects of different level of substitution of wheat flour by defatted wheat germ and dough moisture content (20-24%) on hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) formation in cookies were investigated. Colour parameters (L*, a*, and b*) were also measured, total colour difference (ΔE) and browning index (BI) were calculated and their correlations with HMF content were studied. The substitution of wheat flour by defatted wheat germ led to a higher HMF content compared to control cookies (P < 0.05). However, its formation was more strongly influenced by the dough moisture content than by the level of substitution. HMF content is positively correlated to the a* (r = 0.890; P < 0.01), b* (r = 0.605; P < 0.01) and BI (r = 0.710; P < 0.01) values, and negatively correlated to the L* (r = -0.624; P < 0.01). Results of the HMF formation and the correlation between HMF content and colour parameters were confirmed by the PCA analysis.

The possibility of reduce the length of poppy plants and their risk of lodging by applying selected plant growth regulators and effects on the plant and yield were studied in field experiments during 2010-2012. Statistically significant reduction was achieved only with ethephon (576 g a.i./ha) in all experimental years. In 2010 reduction for metconazole (60 g a.i./ha) was recorded. In 2012, ethephon at rates of 576 and 288 g a.i./ha prevented significantly poppy lodging. The 576 g a.i./ha rate was phytotoxic and decreased yield. The commonly used 576 g a.i./ha rate diminished heights by 16-20 cm in all experimental years and significantly reduced lodging in 2012, but decreased yields in two of the 3 years.

Balance of potassium (K) was observed in long-term stationary field experiments (21 years) at two sites with different soil and climatic conditions (Luvisol, Cambisol). The following crops were rotated within the trial: potatoes- winter wheat-spring barley. All three crops were grown each year. The trial comprised 6 treatments: (1) no fertilization; (2) farmyard manure; (3) half dose of farmyard manure + nitrogen (N) in mineral nitrogen fertilizers; (4) mineral nitrogen fertilizers; (5) NPK in mineral fertilizers; (6) straw of spring barley + N in mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The recovery rate of potassium from farmyard manure by crops was 24-26%, from mineral fertilizers it was 27-52%. Different fertilization intensities were manifested by significant differences in the content of exchangeable K in soil. Changes in non-exchangeable K (K_ne) were recorded only at the Luvisol site (850 mg K_ne/kg), but not at the Cambisol site (3000 mg K_ne/kg). The maximum negative balance (-2376 kg K/ha/21 years) was recorded at the mineral nitrogen fertilization treatment.

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is considered a versatile farm species whose main by-products are meat and oil. At present, there is lack of information on the value of the meat of laying females at the end of their reproductive cycle which hampers the development of a specific market. To fill this gap, the present research aimed at studying the mineral composition, fatty acid profile, cholesterol level, selected physicochemical parameters and sensory quality of the meat of laying females at the end of their reproductive life cycles was carried out. The study should extend the knowledge on the application of this type of meat in food products as well as the available nutritional information on the muscles of female emus slaughtered at the end of their reproductive lives. The research material consisted of eight females slaughtered at the age of 15 years, at the end of their reproductive period. Following exsanguination, plucking and evisceration, the carcasses were cooled at 4°C for 24 h. After this time, five muscles were separated from both halfs of the carcases. The results showed that meat from 15-year-old females is of satisfactory nutritional quality. The rich mineral composition, high protein content, and low intramuscular fat and cholesterol contents deserve special emphasis. For this reason, the meat can be recommended for formulating healthy diets for humans. Its trading development is therefore expectable.

The influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) on freeze-drying of apple tissue was investigated. The freeze-drying was performed with different parameters of PEF treatment, and PEF treatment on the drying characters, microstructure, rehydration ratio, effective diffusion coefficient and hardness of apple tissue were discussed separately. The results indicated that PEF utilization as a pretreatment of apples enhances the drying process. The drying time was shortened by 17.73% at most, specific energy consumption decreased by 24.74% at most, and the rehydration ratio was improved by 65.22% at most for PEF treatment samples respectively, compared with the untreated samples. The effective diffusion coefficients varied from 2.60 × 10-8 m2/s to 4.20 × 10-8 m2/s for PEF pretreated samples, and was 2.40 × 10-8 m2/s for untreated samples drying at 75°C, the hardness of the untreated apple tissue was about 144.4 N which was decreased to 39.5-115.0 N after PEF treatment.

The aims of this study are the quantitative characterisation of the coat colour in the black variety of the Old Kladruber Horse breed, the estimation of the coat colour genetic parameters, and the determination of the factors that influence coat colour intensity. A total of 252 horses aged 1-24 years were included in the study. The colour parameters were taken using a Konica Minolta spectrophotometer CM-2500d at four different body parts during the summer and winter seasons, resulting in 1748 phenotypic records. The possible effects of sex, season, housing system, age and body part on the spectrophotometric parameters were analysed. The results confirmed that the intensity of the black coat colour can be influenced by a number of factors (sex, season, housing system, and age). The mares showed more red and yellow colour compared to the stallions. In the winter season, the horses had a lighter colour with a lower proportion of reddish-brown hairs. Horses kept outdoors, especially in the summer months, had a lighter colour with a higher proportion of red and yellow. Although the age was statistically significant, no specific trend was observed. The differences in colour found between body parts (neck, shoulder, belly, and croup) are in line with current knowledge - reddish fading in the blacks primarily occurs in the belly region. The estimated heritability values suggest possible multifactorial inheritance, especially with regards to the reddish tinge in hairs (h² = 0.20 to 0.29 according to body part).

Plant-based natural products represent an alternative to chemical compounds for the control of mites in veterinary medicine. Here, the essential oil of Elsholtzia densa (E. densa) Benth was extracted using hydrodistillation at a rate of 1.2%. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The GC-MS analysis indicated that the principal compounds in the volatile oil of the sample were 4-Pyridinol (28.16%) and thymol (26.58%). The acaricidal activity of E. densa oil against Sarcoptes scabiei (S. scabiei) was tested in vitro. Toxicity test data were analysed using a complementary log-log (CLL) model. The E. densa oil was prepared in five concentrations by dilution with liquid paraffin (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/ml) and exhibited strong toxicity against S. scabiei with LT₅₀ values of 16.637, 5.075, 2.884, 1.184 and 0.760 h, respectively. The LC₅₀ values were 7.678, 4.623, 2.543, 1.502, 1.298 and 0.981 mg/ml for S. scabiei at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h, respectively. Compared to the control, the essential oil showed significant effects against S. scabiei in vitro. At 16 mg/ml, E. densa oil was found to kill all mites within a 16-h period. The results indicate that E. densa oil possesses potential acaricidal activity in vitro and may be exploited as a novel drug for the effective control of S. scabiei.

The contribution of camels and their products (meat and offal) as potential reservoirs of foodborne pathogens is far from elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of camels as potential sources of different foodborne agents and to determine their antibiotic resistance profile. For this reason, one hundred apparently healthy camels admitted to the Zagazig abattoir (Sharkia province, Egypt) for slaughtering were studied. Three different specimens were collected from each camel including fresh faeces, raw meat and liver which were processed to determine the presence of different foodborne pathogens using standard bacteriological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was also performed using the disc diffusion method. The occurrence of Campylobacter in the faeces, raw meat and liver were 20%, 33% and 15%, respectively, with the most prevalent C. coli (21%) followed by C. jejuni (0.7%) and C. lari (0.7%). Enterococcus spp. was isolated at 50%, 40%, and 43% from the examined faeces, meat and liver, respectively, with E. faecalis (24%) as the most widely identified bacterial spp. The respective specimens showed typical colonies of S. aureus with 15%, 45% and 25%, respectively, with an overall prevalence 28.3%. S. aureus was found to colonise workers hands (40%; 10/25), followed by E. faecalis (20%) while Campylobacter spp. was not detected in any of the tested workers' hands. All recovered foodborne agents were found to be susceptible to enrofloxacin and resistant to rifampicin. The high loads of the pathogenic, as well as indicator bacteria in the raw camel meat, could indicate unhygienic conditions at the abattoir.

Soil erosion is recognized as one of the major environmental problems in the hilly red soil region of Jiangxi province, southern China. An eight-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of grass cover in the sloping citrus land on water and sediment runoff. Soil moisture regimes were also analysed based on the in-situ soil moisture measurement. Four treatments were carried out in the runoff plot experiment: (1) no vegetation, bare land (BL); (2) conventional treatment, citrus without grass cover (CK); (3) citrus with strip planting of Bermuda grass (SP); (4) citrus with full cover of Bermuda grass (FC). Results showed that the annual runoff volumes were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced using SP (27.2 mm) and FC (33.0 mm) compared with CK (311.4 mm) and BL (456.7 mm) treatments. The SP and FC treatments significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the annual average sediment yield by as much as 99.38% to 99.67%, compared with CK treatment. Soil moisture variations at the four depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm) were consistent with the seasonal precipitation patterns. Within the soil profile, soil moisture content increased with depth. In 3 of the 4 depths, the soil moisture contents of SP (21.20-27.84 m³/m³, mean value) were the highest. Soil moisture contents of FC (14.92-26.30 m³/m³, mean value) were lower than in SP because of the water consumption by plant transpiration, but were still higher than those of CK (16.03-25.00 m³/m³, mean value). Based on Richards' equation numerical model, optimization tool and observed soil moisture data, actual evapotranspiration was calculated, and water balance analysis was carried out during drought and rain periods. The results indicated that planting grass in sloping citrus land can effectively reduce surface water runoff and soil erosion and increase water infiltration, but the risk of drought, resulting from planting grass, should be noticed. Compared with FC, the drought risk of SP was much lower during the drought period, and SP contributed to storage of more water in the root zone during the rain period. In conclusion, SP was a recommendable treatment.

The aim was to characterize the expression patterns of several genes in the gastrointestinal tracts of Tibetan pigs (TP) and Yorkshire pigs (YP) and to explore their correlation with digestion and growth difference of the two breeds. The body weights and growth of YP and TP were studied at 6, 12 and 24 weeks of age, and their plasma levels of ghrelin (GHRL), leptin (LEP), somatostatin (SST) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood and gastrointestinal sections (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon) were collected and assayed for mRNA expression of the six genes (GHRL, ghrelin receptor (GHSR), LEP, leptin receptor (LEPR), SST and CCK) by reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR). TP generally had higher mRNA expressions of GHSR, LEP, LEPR, SST and CCK genes compared to YP, and expressed lower levels of the GHRL gene in most tissues of the digestive tract. In both breeds, plasma levels of the expressed proteins were more closely correlated with the feed intake and growth than with mRNA levels of the target genes. Our data indicate that TP possess special gene expression patterns in the gastrointestinal tract compared to YP, which is consistent with its unique feed intake and adaptation to harsh environment.