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To elucidate the genetic factors contributing to melon resistance against Phelipanche aegyptiaca and comprehend the role of differentially resistant materials in responding to changes in P. aegyptiaca parasitisation, we investigated the P. aegyptiaca-resistant line K16 and the susceptible line K27. The parasitism rate of P. aegyptiaca was assessed at 25 days. Results revealed significant differences in parasitisation rates between K16 (15.35%) and K27 (34.2%). We compared inoculated K16 and K27 to their respective controls through transcriptome analysis and contrasted inoculated K16 with inoculated K27. Eight hundred eighteen genes exhibited differential expression across all comparisons. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in nitrate transport and assimilation, cellular components, extracellular regions, binding and enzyme activities. KEGG pathway enrichment underscored the importance of phytohormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism and nitrogen metabolism in the interaction between melon and P. aegyptiaca. Nine genes potentially associated with P. aegyptiaca resistance were identified, encoding cytochrome protein P450, peroxidases, β-glucosidase, acyltransferase family proteins, histidine phosphotransfer protein, and D-type cyclins. This study aims to provide insights into the mechanism of P. aegyptiaca parasitism on melons and offers implications for breeding resistant varieties

One major challenge in the continuous growth of the livestock industry is the increased emission of odorous gases, which is not just a nuisance but also a cause of serious health and environmental concerns. Several strategies which aim to: (i) reduce the formation of odorous gases; (ii) enhance dispersion of odour; (iii) capture odour and gases to prevent escape to the environment; and (iv) reduce odour and gaseous concentrations, are developed. These are achieved with the use or employment of one or more of: (i) diet manipulation techniques; (ii) additives and adsorbents; (iii) covers; (iv) shelterbelts or windbreaks; (v) ventilation systems; (vi) biofilters; and (vii) air scrubber. The advantages and limitations of each of these strategies are discussed in this review in order to guide the choice of which strategy to use in a specific livestock application. Moreover, this review also discusses potential researchable areas in the field of odour control in livestock facilities.

The study aimed at the isolation of microorganisms from aminopyralid (AP)-contaminated soil, evaluation of their ability to degrade AP, and examination of the effects of AP on microbial growth. Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida subhashii, and Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans were isolated and identified using enrichment. None of those strains were able to degrade 100 ppm AP within 2–3 weeks. In contrast, collection strains Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Spoppo’ and Bacillus velezensis FZB42 reduced AP concentration by 35.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Low sensitivity of growth to AP (400 ppm) on the malt-extract-agar medium was observed; inhibition values for C. herbarum and G. candidum were 52.4% and 22.8%, respectively, compared to 33.7% inhibition found with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’. Promotion of fungal growth was observed at low AP concentrations in the Czapek-Dox medium, the highest effect being in G. candidum. The growth promotion effect was confirmed with P. ostreatus ‘Spoppo’growing on wheat straw contaminated with Mustang Forte and Corello herbicides; total fruiting body mass yield increased 1.25- and 1.37-fold, respectively. The study offers insight into future strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic auxin herbicides.

Organic farming is a topic often discussed in the scientific community and public space. The current European policy strongly supports the enhancement of organic farming concerning the environment, sustainability, and social aspects. It is generally assumed that a lower intensity of production, yields, livestock utility, fertilisation, and total costs should be compensated by premium prices, subsidies, or higher economic performance. Research revealed that achieving premium prices for organic products on the market is not obvious for organic farmers as some organic commodities have been sold on the conventional market. Our study focused on the price difference reached by the sample of farms on the organic and conventional markets for two organic commodities (winter wheat and milk) and the farm's economic results. We combined and compared data from two unique databases on organic farming in the Czech Republic. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA and regression for analysis. We found the difference between evaluated market prices. Price variability is wide in both types of organic and conventional markets but the influence of the prices on farm performance was not significant.

The experiment was done on 180 (2 × 90) Cherry Valley ducks that were fattened until 42 days of age with parity of females and males in the group. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of substituting dehulled lupin seed meal, Zulika variety, for soybean meal and its impact on the fatty acid content of breast and thigh muscle fat. Feeding lupin diets resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in Cherry Valley ducks, as well as significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) in breast and thigh muscle fat. There was no effect of the tested diets on PUFA n-6 content in muscle fat. The results confirm that lupin meal in the diet enhances the dietary value of Cherry Valley duck muscle due to the higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, with respect to the use of duck meat for human consumption.

Strip tillage is a very popular form of conservation tillage that is used in places with a higher risk of soil erosion. It is commonly accepted that strip tillage reduces the effects of water erosion; however, the exact way this effect is produced is very hard to quantify. This study focuses on the way strip tillage influences soil moisture and the way it changes with different intensities of rainfall, in comparison with conventional tillage. This study was conducted near Petrovice, Středočeský kraj, Czechia, over the course of four years (2021–2024). The conditions of all four test sites were comparable, both in terms of slope and soil type present. The soil moisture of strip tillage in a depth of 15 cm was changing differently in comparison with conventional tillage. During lower intensity rainfall events, the soil moisture of the strip tilled plot changed significantly less in comparison with conventional tillage. On the contrary, when more intense precipitation occurred, the soil moisture in the strip-tilled plot responded with significantly higher changes in comparison with conventional tillage. Soil drying after precipitation was also studied, with the speed of drying of strip tillage being higher than that of conventional tillage. These findings help better understand the changes strip tillage introduces into the soil and to the crops it is used with.

Pulmonary fibrosis is not only a consequence of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, but is increasingly recognised by both human and veterinary healthcare providers. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive condition that leads to a decline in respiratory function and even death. In this work, we compared MSC-derived exosomes with conventional anti-inflammatory drug treatments. Exosomes from stimulated MSCs displayed higher miRNA concentrations (in particular, miRNA-30b was significantly increased). A set of rats with induced lung fibrosis were divided into four groups: NC (control – no treatment), A2 (exosome infusion), A3 (exosome infusion combined with ultrasound stimulation), and F1 (tamoxifen/metformin drug treatment). The rats’ lungs were subjected to histological analysis; the fibrosis scores for groups F1 and A3 were very similar and decreased significantly compared with group NC. Ultrasound-facilitated diffusion of exosomes from the capillaries into the lung tissue could represent an innovative therapeutic approach for slowing fibrosis and prolonging the active life of the organism.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread and economically important coniferous species in the Northern Hemisphere. However, its regeneration success has recently been increasingly affected by global climate change (GCC), particularly through increasing mortality. This research aimed to evaluate the early establishment success of 30 400 bare-root and containerised Scots pine seedlings and saplings of different height classes, planted at various times on acidic and gleyed sites (479–610 m a.s.l.) across four locations in the Czech Republic. On acidic sites, seedlings exhibited 16% higher height growth and 11% lower mortality compared to gleyed sites. Containerised planting stock achieved significantly (P < 0.05) greater height growth (by 83%) and lower mortality (by 36%) than bare-root stock. For containerised material, spring plantings showed superior growth and vitality compared to autumn plantings. Planting stock height class had a stronger influence on height growth than on mortality. Based on the results, planting containerised saplings of 26–35 cm or 36–50 cm height in April is recommended for optimal establishment success of Scots pine under GCC.

Panax japonicus (T. Nees) C.A. Mey is a rare plant that is used in Chinese herbal medicine. Two-year-old Panax japonicus seedlings were grown in open-top chambers under ambient CO₂ (aCO₂), moderately (e1CO₂: 550 ± 15 μmol/mol) or substantially (e2CO₂: 750 ± 15 μmol/mol) elevated CO₂ to study their effects on plant growth and nitrogen (N) content. After 27 days, the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of e2CO₂-treated seedlings was significantly higher (20.09%) than that of seedlings grown under aCO₂. However, by day 51, the Pn of e1CO₂- and e2CO₂-treated seedlings was 12.87% higher and 9.57% lower, respectively, than that of seedlings grown under aCO₂. On day 27, chlorophyll a + b content, Rubisco activity, soluble protein and starch content of e1CO₂- and e2CO₂-treated seedlings showed no significant change and significant increase compared to aCO₂-treated. By contrast, at 51 days, chlorophyll a content, Rubisco activity, starch and N content of P. japonicus was significantly increased by moderately eCO₂ condition but was significantly decreased by substantially eCO₂ condition. The results suggest that exposure to moderately eCO₂ was beneficial for P. japonicus growth, whereas under substantially eCO₂, growth were promoted in short-term but inhibited in long-term. Owing to the temporal effect of eCO₂ on P. japonicus growth, there was no significant correlation between N content and P_n of P. japonicus under eCO₂.

The circular economy (CE) has proven to be an effective solution for sustainable development in the last two decades, especially in the context of multiple crises. As a long-term strategy, business managers are seeking a sustainable business model that harmoniously and efficiently integrates prosperity, social security, and resource conservation. This research highlights the essential role of components such as green logistics (GL) and green human capital (GHC) in sustainable production (SP), which is necessary for the successful implementation of CE. The study, based on data collected from 117 companies in the Romanian food industry, uses partial structural equation modelling to explore the causal relationships between these variables. The results show that both green logistics and green human capital are important factors for circular economy, and sustainable production significantly mediates the relationships between green human capital, and circular economy, but not significantly for green logistics. Thus, it is concluded that sustainable production has a determining positive effect on circular economy. Although the research is limited by the geographical and sectoral context, it contributes theoretically and practically by analysing the relationships between these concepts and the relevant managerial implications.

The present study was to determine the genotypic and environmental variability and stability in seed yield, oil content, oil yield, oleic and linoleic acid of 10 safflower lines derived from a cross of Dinçer 5-18-1 × Montola 2000 together with six cultivars under six environments at five locations. The effects of genotypes, environments and genotype × environment interactions were highly significant (P < 0.01) for seed yield and oil content. Averaged across all environments, the seed yield was lowest in the cultivar Olas (2 352 kg/ha), and highest in the line Bay-Er 5 (2 869 kg/ha). According to mean (x_i) and regression coefficient (b_i) values, the Bay-Er 16 was better adapted to unfavourable environmental conditions, whereas the Bay-Er 1, Bay-Er 5 and Bay-Er 14 were better adapted to favourable environmental conditions. The highest oil content across environments, over 35%, was recorded in the line Bay-Er 15 and the cultivars Olas and Linas. The best adaptability to the environments was observed in the cultivar Olas. The oleic acid content of genotypes increased and the linoleic acid contents decreased from the north to the south latitudes. The oil content of genotypes grown in Southeastern Anatolia was higher than in the other regions. Within the regions, seed yield and oil content was higher after autumn sowing than after spring sowing.

Soil is an irreplaceable natural resource, with irreplaceable ecosystem functions. One of the greatest risks of soil degradation in the Czech Republic is accelerated erosion, which causes numerous damages to soil properties with negative impacts on the environment. The climate development in recent decades and its forecasts may further intensify these processes. This article deals with the analysis of the impacts of changes in selected climatic factors on the development of erosion processes, which in the conditions of the Czech Republic are influenced mainly by the development of precipitation in the growing season and the development of the values of erosion potential of water released by snowmelt in the winter (non-growing) period. The analysis was carried out on a total area of 459.5 km², in different morphological and climatic conditions. The impact of climate change was assessed using historical and updated values of rain erosivity and snow erosion potential factors. The results show an increase in the risk of erosive loss in the growing season for all the analysed areas, while the values of erosive loss in the non-growing period differ from each other depending on the climatic and morphological conditions of the areas under study.

The sorption isotherm (SI) of dried tomatoes was studied at three different temperatures, 15, 25, and 35 °C, using a static gravimetric method. The modified forms of the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (mGAB), Halsey (mHAL), Henderson (mHEN), and Oswin (mOSW) models that incorporate the temperature term in their equation were selected and used to describe the experimental data of dried tomatoes. The mGAB model best described the SI of dried tomato samples at individual temperatures, having the highest coefficient of determination (R²) and the lowest sum of squares of errors (SSE), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the corrected Akaike information criterion values (AIC_c). However, based on the statistical indices, three other tested models outperformed the mGAB model in describing the multi-temperature estimation to differentiate the temperature effect. The mOSW and mHAL models were superior in this case.

Nowadays, the interest in research to determine the healthy compounds in fig fruits has increased, as many of them have been found to be beneficial to human health. This study aimed to determine the sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and volatile compounds in the fruits of 19 fig (Ficus carica L.) genotypes sampled from the Kahramanmaras province in Türkiye in 2018 and 2019. In the fruit of the fig genotypes, the total phenolic content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the total antioxidant capacity was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazil) method, the sugars, organic acids and volatile aroma compounds were determined chromatographically (HPLC/RID detector), (HPLC/UV detector) and headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (HS-GC/MS), respectively. The results showed that most of the biochemical contents and antioxidant capacities of the genotypes significantly differed from each other (P < 0.05). The total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of the fruits ranged from 50.29 to 580.59 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g fresh weight base (and 15.98 to 36.77% DPPH, respectively. Regarding the sugar content of the fig genotypes, the main sugar is fructose ranging from 3.35 to 7.37 g per 100 g. The highest fructose content of 7.37 g per 100 g was found in the genotype KMF12. A total of 58 volatile compounds were detected in the fruits of the 19 fig genotypes, including 18 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 6 esters, 2 terpenes, 17 alcohols, 1 acid and 11 other compounds. According to the obtained results, aldehydes, esters and ketones were found to be the major volatile compounds in the fig fruits. The genotypes with the highest values of the phytochemical and antioxidant properties among the genotypes were selected as candidates as a source of variation for breeders who want to develop new commercial varieties beneficial to human health.

Frankincense trees (Boswellia spp.) worldwide are affected by a number of threats, including global warming and changing land management practices. On the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen), which harbours eleven endemic Boswellia species, grazing is generally assumed to be one of the main threats preventing natural regeneration. To test the impact of overgrazing on natural regeneration, we established an in situ experiment on four different Boswellia taxa in different areas of Socotra Island. Mortality and the height increment of seedlings were measured for a period of two/three years in five plots excluded from grazing (fenced) and in five paired control (unfenced) plots. Each plot was 50 m × 50 m in size and contained several adult trees as a source of viable seeds. Our results show that seedling mortality was significantly higher, and seedling height increment generally (4 out of 5 sites) lower in open compared to fenced plots. In the fenced plots, the number of seedlings for all species reached up to 772, with 560 surviving seedlings. In comparison, the control plots reached up to 296 seedlings, with 176 seedlings surviving after 2–3 years. The results of our experimental study indicate that grazing directly threatens the natural regeneration of the endemic Boswellia on Socotra Island. However, seedling mortality remained relatively high inside the exclosures as well, which indicates that even without the pressure of livestock grazing, other impacts remain a challenge for the future conservation of the archipelago's unique frankincense trees.

The susceptibility of 14 pear cultivars to the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, the causal agent of bacterial blast, was evaluated using three different methods of in vivo inoculation detached shoots inoculation in a growth chamber, and terminal shoot and blossom inoculation of potted trees in a net house in the period 2020–2022. The 20-week assessment of infection symptoms in the net house showed different dynamics of disease development depending on the inoculation method, the weather during the growing season and the susceptibility of the pear cultivars. Most of the cultivars were during the study low susceptible to pathogen and were classified in blossom, terminal as well as detached shoot susceptibility class 2. The European cultivar Kiefer was the least susceptible (susceptibility class 1) to blossom infection, the Asian cultivars Chojuro and Ya Li to terminal shoot infection, and Ya Li to detached shoot infection. The European cultivar William’s was the most susceptible to all types of infection, being classified in class 3, moderately susceptible cultivars to infection of terminal shoots, and class 4, highly susceptible cultivars to infection of blossoms and detached shoots. The assessment of susceptibility of pear cultivars to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in the net house approximated conditions as close as possible to the condition in orchards and should thus be consistent in plantings with similar environmental and weather conditions.

The unique structural and biological diversity found in plants renders them a distinctive and sustainable source for discovering new antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic compounds. In the present study, antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of essential oils of citrus varieties of Northeast India were studied against selected foodborne pathogens using both in vitro and in silico approaches. These essential oils showed significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against foodborne pathogens. i.e. Bacillus cereus MTCC430 and Yersinia enterocolitica MTCC859. It was observed that the treatment with essential oil disturbed the membrane integrity of the pathogens, thereby causing the release of nucleic acids. This study also postulated that active compounds of the essential oils interact with different target proteins of the pathogens and provide an explanation for the mechanisms of antimicrobial and antibiofilm action of the essential oils of citrus varieties against foodborne pathogens.

Increasing the proportion of broadleaved trees in stands during regeneration raises questions about how these trees will be reflected in the economics of forest owners and whether these owners can influence certain economic aspects during stand management. In this respect, the paper focuses mainly on the revenue side of forestry and, crucially, analyses the selling prices of assortments of tree species groups as offered in public tenders of state forests under the outsourcing business model. The price level of spruce is used as a benchmark for comparisons in the analyses. It is clear that the cultivation of species-diverse forests entails an increase in the representation of a higher number of tree species and, presumably, increased stand stability. However, a concomitant consequence may be an increase in costs and a reduction in returns for forest owners. Here, the revenue from timber sales can be improved by appropriate adjustment of the species composition through educational interventions. All this is in the context of the economic viability of forestry, as declared in a number of strategic and forest policy documents, which essentially depends on the timber production function of forestry and the subsequent processing of timber.

In this study, Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S and ITS2 rRNA genes were used to determine the dynamic changes in bacterial and fungal communities and soil properties and enzyme activities in rhizosphere soil of ginseng under forest after 5, 10 and 15 years of cultivation and different growth stages. Results showed that the changes were particularly prominent in 10-year-old ginseng under forest, and the trends of organic carbon, alkaline hydrolysed nitrogen, and available potassium were extremely similar in different duration of the crop, especially in the middle stage of rapid root growth, when soil nutrient consumption was severe, and soil enzyme activities of rhizosphere were significantly reduced. The observed changes in soil properties and enzyme activities caused by the cultivation duration of the crop and growth stage could be explained by the variations in the microbiome. The microbial composition of 10-year-old ginseng under forest has undergone significant changes, at the genus level, both Acinetobacter bacteria and Kazachstania fungi exhibited a higher abundance; the abundance of Bacillota (Firmicutes), and Candidatus udaeobacter with significantly lower abundance. This study initially revealed the changes in nutrient utilisation of ginseng under forest at different cultivation duration of the crop and different growth stages, as well as the regulatory role played by microbes in this process preliminarily. We consider 10 years to be a critical stage for the long-term cultivation of ginseng in the forest, during which it is more sensitive to environmental factors and may exhibit special dynamic changes affecting its growth and quality. This provides a reference for further precision planting and harvesting of ginseng under the forest.

In the study, the effects of 0, 100, 200 and 400 ppm spray applications of GA3 on root and above-ground parts of ‘Jan Reus’, ‘Bloody Mary’ and ‘Yokohama’ tulip cultivars were determined. According to the results, on the development of plant upper part properties, 200 ppm in ‘Jan Reus’ and ‘Yokohama’ and 100 ppm in ‘Bloody Mary’ were the most effective applications. Again, the least increases in upper part properties were obtained from the control plants in ‘Jan Reus’ and ‘Bloody Mary’, and from the 100 ppm application in ‘Yokohama’. While 100 ppm was the most effective application in ‘Jan Reus’ and ‘Yokohama’ in terms of root development, the effect of the applications in ‘Bloody Mary’ was lower than the control. The application that least increased root development was determined as 400 ppm in ‘Jan Reus’ and 200 ppm in ‘Bloody Mary’ and ‘Yokohama’. Root growth was found to be negatively related to GA3 content. High GA3 is thought to negatively affect overall root growth, possibly by suppressing the effect of auxin. It is assumed that GA3 produced by the plant itself may be sufficient for root development or may be effective at much lower dose applications. On the other hand, it has been determined that the effects of GA3 application vary depending on the variety. According to these results, it is recommended to apply it at a dose of 200 ppm to ensure flowering by providing cooling in tulip cultivars and cut flower cultivation. High doses of GA3 are not recommended for root development.

Farmers, often vulnerable within the agricultural supply chain, frequently encounter difficulties accessing and affording loans. This study introduces an innovative credit risk evaluation framework for farmers tailored to the agricultural supply chain. It includes three key aspects: farmers’ credit characteristics, the operational status of the agricultural supply chain, and overall credit conditions. Initially, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to assign weight coefficients to indicators. Then, the Elimination et Choix Traduisant la Réalité III (ELECTRE III) model was employed to determine farmers’ credit ratings. To demonstrate the impact of the agricultural supply chain on microfinance, the model’s effectiveness was then tested with 398 microfinance survey responses from Fuping County (World Dairy Goat Industry Development Demonstration Zone), Shaanxi Province, China, and its accuracy was further verified using BP neural network analysis. The results demonstrated the model’s proficiency in assessing farmers’ credit levels within the agricultural supply chain, which can aid in the resolution of various credit assessment and rating challenges. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights into the integration of multi-criteria decision-making and machine-learning methods.

This study investigated how remote sensing techniques can pinpoint pollution in surface water areas. Researchers focused on the municipalities of Boumerdes, Corso, and Tidjalabine in Algeria’s Boumerdes province. The team used geographic information systems (GIS) to analyse pollution levels and their spatial distribution. Specifically, they employed the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify areas teeming with biodiversity and healthy vegetation. Furthermore, the compactness index provided insights into the overall evolution of the drainage network. This data proved invaluable in identifying areas likely impacted by pollution. Our study is part of a scientific approach to detecting, monitoring, and intervening in water pollution. The core objective was to develop an alternate approach to protecting productive farmland and populated areas by mitigating pollution in these susceptible zones. The NDVI and compactness index, along with their associated database, hold significant promise for environmental preservation efforts. This spatial procedure effectively maps the spatial temporal distribution of pollutants, providing targeted management strategies. The method’s user-friendly nature makes it easily applicable in other African countries.

This study aimed to predict the germination of Penicillium roqueforti as one of the most important moulds in cake in certain environmental conditions that lead to cake spoilage. The germination rate of P. roqueforti was evaluated by culturing in the Yeast Extract Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar medium with different pH, water activity (a_w), and inoculum size at three levels of temperature (15, 25, 30 °C) during 60 days by the factorial experiment. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) proved that environmental conditions affect germination significantly (P < 0.05). Predictive modelling illustrated that the temperature did not affect germination significantly, while no germination was seen at a_w = 0.65. The minimum lag phase of germination was observed at a_w = 0.9, pH = 6.5, and inoculum size of 1 000 spores per mL. The logistic model was found to be more precise for fitting the data of P. roqueforti in cakes.

Trehalose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose that can be found in various plant and animal species. Mammals are not able to synthesize trehalose but it is usually easily enzymatically broken down into 2 molecules of glucose. As a structural additive, trehalose can be used in food mainly for stabilizing proteins. Low trehalase activity (primary trehalase deficiency) leading to intolerance is rare but may appear manifest as a complication of enteropathy from other causes (celiac disease, Crohn's disease, etc.). We present the case of a young 27-year-old male with repeated tenesmus followed by enterorrhagia, weight loss, and elevated markers of inflammation caused by combined lactase and trehalase deficiency. Unique exome sequencing analysis of gene TREH was performed to distinguish between primary and secondary trehalase deficiency.

Iris × germanica L. (bearded iris) is a popular ornamental plant with numerous commercially important cultivars; however, little is known about the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, as limited DNA markers have been explored. In this study, 34 722 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified from RNA sequencing data. The most abundant SSR motifs belonged to the tri-nucleotide type, of which the most common were AGG/CCT followed by AAG/CTT. Overall, 50 primer pairs derived from these EST-SSRs were randomly selected and synthesized, and 22 primer pairs with good polymorphism effects were used for the following experiment. Correlation analysis of nine floral traits showed that most floral traits had significant correlations with each other. Association analysis between SSR molecular markers and nine floral traits showed that 11 EST-SSR markers were associated with 3–6 floral traits. The cluster tree constructed by using the unweighted pair group method demonstrated that the cultivars that had the same parents or similar colour were clustered together. The genotypic relations of most cultivars were consistent with their pedigree-based relationships. The EST-SSR loci identified in this study will facilitate the exploitation of genetic resources and molecular breeding of I. × germanica.

The planting of branched nursery trees is an essential component of most high-density orchard planting systems to induce precocity. However, in apples, most cultivars do not produce the desired numbers of sylleptic shoots naturally due to the presence of apical dominance. Benzyladenine (BA) applications alter the apical dominance and consequently encourage sylleptic shoot formation in nursery trees. However, the response to an exogenous BA application can vary with the genotype. Currently, most nurseries produce branched apple nursery trees using the renewal leader method. However, apart from the renewal leader method, branched nursery trees can also be produced using the central leader method. A comparative study of these two methods had not been conducted previously, and this investigation aimed to determine the effects of both the central and renewal leader methods, as well as the genotype, on sylleptic branching in apple nursery trees in response to repeated BA sprays. The genotype showed significant variation in the sylleptic shoot numbers (5.25–9.41), their average length (26.86–33.34 cm), and crotch angle (48.95˚–54.27˚) in response to the BA application. Among the genotypes, ‘Shireen’ produced the highest number of sylleptic shoots, whereas the opposite results were obtained in ‘Top Red’. Furthermore, irrespective of the genotype, the central leader method was found to be more effective than the renewal leader for the development of high-quality branched nursery trees. The central leader method not only significantly increased the number of sylleptic shoots on the tree but also positively affected their length, final tree height, and diameter.

Understanding society's demand for forest ecosystem services (FES) is crucial for effective forest management and the development of supportive instruments, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES). This study surveyed visitors at 'Forestry Days 2024' in Slovakia through face-to-face questionnaires, capturing their views on FES and necessary management changes. Results show that regulating services and biodiversity are prioritised over cultural and provisioning FES. Respondents indicated a clear need for changes in forest management to reflect their FES preferences. Notably, perceptions of specific FES varied by gender, age, forestry background, and forest ownership but not by residence type. Public PES were considered the most acceptable policy for enhancing FES management, providing valuable insight for aligning public preferences with sustainable practices in Slovakia.

At present, genetic selection programs produce chicken genotypes with different growth intensities, which might have variable requirements for dietary protein. The objective of this study was to compare the response of three different genotypes to two levels of crude protein in feed mixtures. Cockerels of fast-growing Ross 308, medium-growing Hubbard JA 757 and slow-growing ISA Dual chickens were used in the study. Each genotype was fed diets that differed in protein level: the control group (C) received commercial feed, and the experimental group was fed a diet with a 6% lower protein content (LP). The daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly affected by the interaction of genotype and feed protein level. A greater percentage of DWG depression was observed in fast-growing cockerels than in medium-growing cockerels (10% and 6%, respectively), whereas the percentage of slow-growing cockerels negligibly increased (2%). A low-protein diet impaired the FCR only in fast-growing birds (–5%), whereas in the medium- (–2%) and slow-growing groups (+2%), the differences were not significant. Carcass composition significantly influenced only genotype and thigh meat pH. In terms of meat colour, significant interactions revealed that in fast-growing Ross 308 chickens, redness and yellowness did not differ according to diet group; however, in both genotypes with slower growth, significantly greater redness and yellowness were detected in the low-protein diet group than in the control group. The results indicate that genotypes with slower growth have lower protein requirements for growth performance, but lower diet protein has an effect on physical meat quality parameters in these genotypes.

The forest certification is a voluntary programme to ensure that the timber harvested from forests is processed in a sustainable manner by following specific standards. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) was introduced in 1999 using the bottom-up approach, and it gives flexibility for a country to set up their own PEFC standard based on current practices in sustainable forest management (SFM), regulation, and governance. This practice has led to the development of various PEFC standards for each country; thus, the impact of PEFC certification differs from country to country. In accordance with that, this study aimed to evaluate the PEFC standard application in developed and developing countries, namely in Sweden and Malaysia. The study also analysed the impact of forest certification on governance and economic aspects within Asia Pacific and Europe. The outcome of this study indicates that the PEFC standards developed by these countries showed similarities; for example, both countries are focusing on social and environmental requirements. Meanwhile, the differences were shown in the criteria, terms used, and the focus area. The impact analysis exhibited that countries are facing similar issues, especially market access and premium prices. This study revealed that each country develops different standards based on current practices, forest diversification, and regulations.

Two-year experiments were conducted on two different soil types during 2021/22 and 2022/23 to study the impact of microbiological preparations, Mycor-FAZOS and Vitality-FAZOS, on the yield and quality elements of winter wheat cultivar Maja (Agrigenetics). The experiment was set up in a split-block design with four repetitions across two soil types, with 12 different variants on each soil type. The base plot area was 40 m2, and the effective plot area was 27 m2. The research factors included: A (soil type): A1 – gley soil; A2 – eutric cambisol; B (disease control): B1 – control; B2 – chemical pesticides; B3 – biopreparates (seed treatment + foliar treatment) and C (nitrogen fertilisation): C1 – based on soil analysis; C2 – 70% of recommended application. Variables included grain yield (t/ha), grain protein content (%), hectoliter weight (kg), and plant height (cm). The highest average grain yield was achieved with variant B3C2, with a 12.50% increase compared to variant B2C1. Differences between these variants included 6.0% for protein content, 5.97% for hectoliter weight, and 7.93% for plant height. It was observed that Mycor-FAZOS seed treatment promoted root development, resulting in healthier, taller, more robust plants with a more uniform growth and darker colour than untreated seed variants (indicating increased photosynthesis index). The protection achieved with Vitality-FAZOS biopreparations (fungicidal microorganisms synthesising growth hormones) ensured healthier wheat plants, leading to higher seed yield and better quality parameters.