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Haemotropic mycoplasmas can cause severe anaemia in pets and also have zoonotic potential. The determination of these microorganisms from clinical samples is of critical importance. In this study, the presence of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) in blood samples collected from 62 cats was investigated. Haemotropic mycoplasmas were identified by PCR amplifying the 16S rRNA gene, and sequence analysis was applied for confirmation and differentiation of the species. Six (9.67%) blood samples were positive for haemotropic mycoplasmas. CMhm and CMt were identified in five (8.06%) samples and one (1.61%) sample, respectively. Mhf was not detected in the samples. Additionally, a co-infection was not observed in any of the cats. It was found that the PCR positivity was not related to the sex or clinical status of the cats. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating haemotropic mycoplasmas in blood samples from cats in Siirt Province of Türkiye. It is suggested that the data obtained from this study will contribute to clinicians working on pet animal health in this province.

Carpomyia vesuviana Costa, a fruit fly species, is a major pest affecting the jujube (Ber). This monophagous insect pest causes significant economic losses in regions where the jujube is cultivated. Hence, the present study was conducted to provide a detailed morphometric and molecular analysis of C. vesuviana across various Indian regions, specifically Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Morphometric measurements were conducted for various developmental stages, from the egg to adult. The overall mean length and width of the egg were 0.61 mm and 0.18 mm, respectively, and the fully grown maggot measured 6.19 mm (length) and 1.91 mm (width). The length and width of the prepupa and pupa were 7.67 mm and 1.64 mm, and 4.00 mm and 1.72 mm, respectively. The overall mean length of the female whole body and wing expanse measured 4.74 mm and 3.92 mm, respectively. The overall mean male whole body length and wing expanse were 4.19 mm and 3.56 mm, respectively. The results of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the maggot's length at different stages, pupa length, and egg width were the main contributors to the variability, particularly in the samples from Rajasthan. Additionally, the adult female fly's morphometric traits, such as the wing and thorax measurements, showed regional variations, with the PCA highlighting Punjab's alignment with larger head and abdomen traits. The molecular analysis based on PCR and sequencing of the COXI–COXII region confirmed the species identity. The nucleotide sequence of C. vesuviana from Tamil Nadu and Punjab was deposited in GenBank as PQ198003.1 and PQ198005.1 which had nearly 99% genetic similarity with two sequences NC_071721.1 (Beijing, China) and MT121231.1 (Beijing, China) submitted in the NCBI database. A phylogenetic analysis further demonstrated that the Tamil Nadu and Punjab populations were closely related to an Iranian sample, while samples from other countries, such as the C. schineri.

The meat industry is actively trying to replace synthetic antioxidants with natural counterparts. Sea buckthorn is an excellent source of polyphenols and its high antioxidant properties. Various authors tested the antioxidation effect of sea buckthorn on lipids in meat products. The problem of sea buckthorn addition to food is its effect on sensory parameters. Our study incorporated sea buckthorn extract into pork sausage, stored for 21 days, and observed sensory properties and their changes. We mechanically measured the pH, colour, and textural properties of pork sausage samples with minimal variability observed. Also, sensory analysis by informed panellists was conducted on multiple storage days. Sensory evaluation revealed significant deterioration of sensory quality. Sea buckthorn remains an interesting option for the meat industry. However, further multidisciplinary research is still needed.

This study investigates the effect of varying concentrations of potato fibre (PF) (1, 2, and 3%) on wheat flour (WF) dough rheological properties and the resultant pan bread quality. Chemical analysis, physical characteristics (weight, loaf volume, and specific volume), and colour attributes were estimated to assess bread quality. The impact of PF on bread sensory evaluation was estimated. The addition of PF significantly affected the properties of the dough. Moreover, the data indicated a substantial increase in water absorption (P ≤ 0.05) from 57.2% for the control to 65.5, 73.3, and 77.6% with the addition of 1, 2, and 3% PF to WF, respectively. Protein, crude fibre, and ash levels significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) with higher PF ratios. Moisture and carbohydrate contents were markedly reduced (P ≤ 0.05). The specific volume considerably decreased from 3.15 cm³·g^–1 in the control to 2.9, 2.74, and 2.53 cm³·g^–1 with the addition of 1, 2, and 3% PF to WF, respectively. All replacement samples exhibited no significant alterations (P ≤ 0.05) in L* values and substantially (P ≤ 0.05) increased values of yellowness (b*) in all fortified samples relative to the control. Sensory assessments revealed that PF can be incorporated into WF at concentrations of 1% and 2% without compromising the overall acceptability of bread compared to the control.

Deep placement of controlled-release urea is an effective fertiliser management strategy for improving the maize productivity, but it is not clear whether and how controlled-release urea depth affects the stem and root lodging of spring maize. Two consecutive years of field experiments were conducted to elucidate stem and root lodging properties and their relationship between grain yield and lodging behaviours under various controlled-release urea placement depths. Results depicted that compared to broadcast nitrogen treatment (D0), deep controlled-release urea significantly decreased the stem lodging rate by 34.7–80.4%, which contributed to improving the mechanical characteristics of the internode by optimising the internode diameter and dry matter in the third basal internode as well as higher lignin content. In addition, due to a greater and deeper root system (root dry weight, root surface area, root length and root width) as well as larger angle, diameter, and tension of aerial root that significantly decreased root lodging rate (37.0–88.4%). Furthermore, deep placement of controlled-release urea significantly increased the 100-grain weight, grain number and harvested index by constructing a deeper and larger root system, which significantly improved maize grain yield by 14.2–38.5%, and the nitrogen use efficiency increased by 4.8–10.7%. The highest grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and lowest lodging rate occurred in controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm. Hence, our study suggests that controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm were an efficient nitrogen fertiliser management strategy to improve crop productivity as well as lodging resistance in spring maize.

In the actual scenario of increasing demand of animal food and the need to develop sustainable production systems, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and quail (Coturnix japonica) represent animal species of undeniable potential, profoundly linked to human’s eating habits in several parts of the World, yet not fully exploited. Given the remarkable adaptability of quail and rabbit to different farming contexts, they can be successfully farmed both in specialised and technologically advanced production systems targeting market diversification, as well as in such areas of the World where malnutrition is a severe issue and technological limitations are present. Together with the above-mentioned socio-cultural aspects, rabbit and quail possess intrinsic traits that make them meat species of interest to improve the sustainability of the livestock sector, challenge of utmost importance for present and future development strategies. Furthermore, available nutritional data indicate that quail and rabbit provide food (meat) that has the potential to improve the nutritional adequacy of any diet. It also emerged that about 130 g of rabbit and quail meat are sufficient to meet the daily dietary recommendations for essential amino acids provided by the World Health Organization. Despite the dietary quality of the meat obtained from these two animal species, the present review also unveils that, while the factors affecting meat quality have been extensively studied, little focus has been devoted on those specifically affecting the protein content and quality, thus emphasising that this is a key aspect for future researches.

Salinomycin, belonging to ionophore antibiotics, has been used as a feed additive for poultry for its coccidiostatic effect. Poisoning by ionophore antibiotics has been reported in cattle and other sensitive animals due to the replacement of medicated feed and/or accidental overdoses. The aim of this paper is to report the toxicity of salinomycin for fallow deer and to describe the different levels of sensitivity of cervids to this substance. In the presented case study, a medicated feed containing ivermectin used for deworming red deer and fallow deer was accidentally contaminated with sodium salinomycinate in a concentration of 252.6 mg/kg. The contaminated feed was consumed by the animals over a period of four days. The mortality of fallow deer within 12 days was 58%. No mortality was recorded in the red deer. In the affected animals, clinical signs associated with acute and congestive heart failure were observed. The biochemical examination indicated prerenal azotaemia caused by circulatory insufficiency and ion imbalance. The histological examination revealed pronounced focal acute cardiomyopathy and massive subacute myopathy in the skeletal muscles.

The aim of this trial was to verify the influence of various autumn-applied nitrogen fertilisers on the growth, yield and quality of winter oilseed rape. In the three years, small-plot field trials were carried out at the Research Station Červený Újezd (50.0697044N, 14.1659086E). The hybrid cultivar DK Exstorm was chosen, with a sowing rate of 50 seeds/m2. Five fertilisation regimes were tested: (1) nitrogen-free control; (2) CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate); (3) ANU (ammonium nitrate urea); (4) U (urea), and (5) US (urea with N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) inhibitor). A uniform dose of 40 kg N/ha was applied at the end of October. Fertilisers U (leaf length, root collar diameter, leaf and root dry weight) and US (number of leaves and root length) had the best growth outcomes. The highest seed yields were obtained with US (5.83 t/ha) and ANU (5.82 t/ha) applications, which outperformed the unfertilised control by 0.65 and 0.64 t/ha, respectively. CAN fertiliser appears to be unsuitable for autumn fertilisation in terms of yield. There were no statistically significant differences in oil content (%) or thousand seed weight (g) between the treatments in any of the experimental years.

Many studies have demonstrated that brassinolide improves the drought tolerance of plants. This study aims to test whether the drought tolerance of chrysanthemums can be improved by brassinolide and to clarify the underlying physiological mechanism. An own-root chrysanthemum and a corresponding grafted-root line (Artemisia annua rootstock) were treated with brassinolide under three water levels in a randomised complete block design with five replications. The results showed that brassinolide increased the relative water content, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, Rubisco, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and monodehydroascorbate reductase activities, ascorbate/dehydroascorbate, glutathione/oxidised glutathione and dry mass, and reduced the H2O2 content in the own-root and grafted-root chrysanthemums, especially under drought stresses. The magnitude of the changes to the parameters was greater in the own-root line than in the corresponding grafted-root line under brassinolide treatment. The above parameters showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the brassinolide chrysanthemums and the corresponding non-brassinolide chrysanthemums under drought stresses. This might be the physiological mechanism of improved drought tolerance by brassinolide in chrysanthemums.

This study examined the bidirectional impact of Chinese agricultural subsidy policies on agricultural efficiency and farmers’ income. It employed panel data from 2004 to 2020 across 31 Chinese provinces, and the three-stage least squares method was used for simultaneous estimation. Different regions and farmer types were analysed separately. The findings revealed a significant bidirectional impact of the agricultural subsidy policy on agricultural efficiency and farmers’ income, signifying a strong positive feedback loop. Varied types and levels of subsidy policies differently impacted regions and farmer categories, showcasing diverse outcomes and adaptive responses to subsidy policies. The ratio of total subsidy to GDP (SUBGDP) positively impacted production efficiency and per capita disposable income. This result suggests that the subsidy policy helped enhance agricultural production efficiency and increased farmers’ income levels. Conversely, the ratio of various subsidies to the total subsidy manifested different directions and degrees of impact on production efficiency and per capita disposable income, suggesting areas where the subsidy policy framework can be optimised. In addition to presenting a theoretical discussion on agricultural subsidy policies, this study provides theoretical insights and policy recommendations for the formulation and implementation of an optimal agricultural subsidy policy.

Clarifying the effects of meteorological factors on the growth and development of fresh maize after delayed sowing is important for selecting appropriate sowing dates and improving yield. Six sowing dates (B1 (March 10); B2 (March 20); B3 (March 30); B4 (April 9); B5 (April 19), and B6 (April 29)) and three fresh maize cultivars (A1 (Wan Nuo 2000); A2 (Nongke Nuo 336), and A3 (Caitian Nuo 6)) were chosen for experiments conducted between 2021 and 2022 in Guiyang, Qingzhen City, China. The results showed that the whole growth period and sowing-silking period were significantly reduced with delayed sowing, while the grain-filling period was relatively stable. Delayed sowing was beneficial in increasing the number of endosperm cells and the weight of the hundred kernels. The graining filling rate and the activities of four key starch synthesis enzymes (sucrose synthase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch branching enzyme, and starch debranching enzyme) were significantly influenced by light, temperature, and precipitation, and they mainly affected the hundred kernel weight. The yield tended to increase with delayed sowing, and the correlation analysis between precipitation and yield at different sowing periods showed a significant effect of precipitation on yield. Delaying the sowing to mid-early April was more favourable for grain filling, enhanced key enzyme activity, and increased the kernel weight and yield. These results highlight the importance of choosing excellent cultivars and matching them with the most suitable sowing date to fully exploit climatic resources and achieve high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation of fresh maize.

This study aims to characterise the physicochemical properties and stability of confectionery glazes made from various tropical fruit seed powders during storage. Physicochemical properties were evaluated at regular intervals throughout frozen storage to monitor quality changes. The mango seed glaze is slightly acidic, and significantly darker, with tones of green and blue. The glaze has a total soluble solid content of 73.37 °Brix, a moisture content of 19%, hardness of 46.69 g, and sagging capacity of 18.33 mm, which ensures both structural integrity and sensory appeal. Its highest viscosity among formulations suggested possible thickening and improved stability. Over 28 days, significant changes occur, with the pH stabilising to a near-neutral 6.8. The hue changes over time, migrating towards reddish tone as indicated by increasing positive a* values, while maintaining a consistent preference for blue-toned hues with continuously negative b* values. Moisture levels remained stable at 18.71% during storage, with minimal total soluble solid content changes, indicating sustained quality. The findings suggest that mango seed glazing is a viable option for quality preservation during storage. This study provides essential empirical insights into the potential changes in the quality characteristics of various fruit seed glazes when subjected to freezing.

Erratum in: Soil & Water Res., 20: 69. Doi: 10.17221/2/2025-SWR

Soil organic matter and pores distribution within aggregates were studied using X-ray computed tomography (XCT; Nikon XT H 225ST and GE Phoenix L240) and advanced 2D/3D measurements by the digital Keyence VHX-6000 microscope (Japan). A new methodological approach with computed tomography involvement for studying the spatial arrangement of pores, porosity, and soil morphology is presented. Changes in studied parameters are documented along the transect of intensively used Haplic Chernozem. Soil disturbance due to erosion and colluvial soil profile formation is reported. Moreover, soil organic matter quality and aggregate stability were evaluated. Obtained results showed statistically significant differences between the control and eroded sites and between eroded and accumulated sites. The correlation coefficients were the highest for soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic substances C_HS (r = 0.805) and C_HS and C_HA/C_FA (r = 0.764). The highest porosity, aggregates stability and coefficients stability were confirmed on the eroded site. The computed tomography measurements also document the high disturbance of Haplic Chernozem on the control site and the newly formed profile of Colluvisol. Despite excellent complementary technique further research is necessary to improve micro-XCT resolution and capacity for the soil micromorphological study.

Pod dehiscence or pod shattering from mature soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most outstanding disadvantages in domesticated cultivars. Pod shattering in relation to 16 quantitative traits and 3 qualitative traits among 140 cultivars of vegetable soybeans, grain soybeans and small-grain soybeans was evaluated over two years. We found the pod shattering percentage is positively correlated with the number of productive branches, pod width, pod length, pod area, 100-seed weight, 1-seeded-pod percentage, 2-seeded-pod percentage and seed protein content, but negatively correlated with the plant height, pod height at the bottom, number of nodes on the main stem, 3-seeded-pod percentage, 4-seeded-pod percentage and seed oil content. The pod shattering percentage in vegetable soybeans is remarkably high, reaching up to 93%, 7.8 times higher than that of grain soybeans. A schematic model of the characteristics for shatter-susceptible and shatter-resistant soybean cultivars is proposed. The pod shattering in vegetable soybeans is related to the “umbrella-shaped” architecture and pod size. It is suggested to select lines with more 2-seeded and 3-seeded pods for vegetable soybeans, but a higher seed oil content and greater node number on the main stem for grain soybeans and small-grain soybeans, to avoid pod shattering in future breeding programmes.

Mango (Mangifera indica) is extremely perishable with a short shelf life that limits its marketability. Chitosan may extend mango storage by preventing moisture loss and gaseous exchange while preserving the nutritional quality. Therefore, the current study was designed to assess the effect of chitosan on the shelf life and quality of fresh-cut mangoes. Manually cubed mango was dipped into 0 (control), 10, 15, 20, 30, and 50 ppm chitosan solution in airtight jar and stored at ambient (25–28 °C) and refrigeration (4 °C) condition. Changes in various microbial, physical, and chemical characteristics were documented to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in prolonging and sustaining the freshness and quality of mango. Treated mangoes significantly retarded growth of total mold and bacterial counts compared to the control sample in both storage conditions and found it lower under refrigeration. Likewise, chitosan also preserved various fruit quality attributes to a significant extent by retaining vitamin C, fat, titratable acidity, soluble sugar, and protein. However, the refrigerator stored mangoes have better ability to retard moisture loss and drop in sensory quality. Among the other solutions, 10 ppm chitosan solution exhibited better performance in reducing perishability of mango while maintaining prolonged shelf life and quality attributes. Overall, the findings revealed that chitosan solution at low temperature effectively preserves mango quality during storage and offers promising approach for the successful commercialisation of chitosan as a natural preserver for mango sellers and consumers to prolong shelf life.

The capacity for flexibility, personal development, and intrinsic motivation is a crucial aspect needed by employees in the process of transforming agricultural organisations. This paper aims to determine the typically oriented groups of employees in terms of their motivation and verify whether the identified groups are invariant even under changing conditions over time. The data from 2019–2023 (from 374 respondents employed in agricultural enterprises in south-central Slovakia) were evaluated using descriptive and inferential (K-means cluster) statistics. According to preferences and constancy of attitudes, three clusters of employees called ‘Materialists’, ‘Team progressives’, and ‘Preferences settled’ were determined. The clusters were also solved in terms of stability over time. Despite the differences in the preferences of these clusters, relational factors indeed played one of the most critical roles, even in the case of materialistically oriented employees. The practical result of the research is the possibility of designing a differentiated motivation program specifically targeted to individual groups of employees with similar motivational preferences based on a competent statistical analysis of motivation. The results are used by agricultural businesses to design motivation programs for similarly motivationally oriented employees sophisticatedly.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) is an important introduced tree species in Hungary, particularly in the Nyírség region. This study investigates its diameter growth (DBH) in six forest subcompartments, with stand ages ranging from 20 to 71 years. 5- and 25-year diameter increments were calculated. The distribution of diameter and diameter increment values was also determined. The results show significant growth across all sites. For example, quadratic mean diameter (QMD) increased from 16.4 cm to 30.4 cm over 25 years in the forest subcompartment Encsencs 12A, and from 20.3 cm to 38.4 cm in Ófehértó 2A. Five-year DBH increments ranged from 1.8 cm (± 0.8) in older stands to 4.2 cm (± 0.5) in younger or middle-aged stands. The findings confirm Q. rubra's capacity for steady diameter growth in northeastern Hungary and contribute valuable growth data for future yield modelling and forest management strategies.

This study aimed to assess the toxicity of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel in the early life stages of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The toxicity was evaluated based on mortality, early ontogeny development, growth, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. Praziquantel at all tested concentrations (1, 2, 4 and 6 mg/l) showed no significant adverse effects on the hatching of grass carp. Concentrations of 2, 4 and 6 mg/l praziquantel caused significantly (P < 0.01) higher mortality and slower growth compared with controls. Praziquantel at concentrations (4 and 6 mg/l) showed a significant (P < 0.01) delay of early ontogeny of grass carp. Concentration of 2 mg/l praziquantel caused significantly (P < 0.01) higher GST activity than controls. Among the groups, no histological changes were detected in tissues. For the early life of grass carp, praziquantel is safe at concentrations ≤1 mg/l.

The jandaíra bee (Melipona subnitida) is a species native to northeastern Brazil that produces geopropolis, a mixture of clay and propolis, used in folk medicine. Geopropolis has traditionally been used in folk medicine because of its potential therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects. Recent studies have highlighted the rich composition of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, contributing to their pharmacological potential. Despite these findings, the gastroprotective properties of geopropolis and the underlying mechanisms remain underexplored and warrant further investigation. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effects of a hydroethanolic extract of geopropolis (HEG) produced by M. subnitida in Wistar rats, focusing on its antioxidant activity and the role of its bioactive compounds in preventing gastric mucosal damage. The gastroprotective potential was evaluated in Wistar rats pre-treated with HEG (250, 500, and 1 000 mg/kg, orally) for seven days and subjected to acute gastric lesions with ethanol (0.2 ml/animal, orally). One group of rats that received only distilled water served as the negative control, whereas the other group that received only ethanol served as the positive control. The stomachs were evaluated to determine the following parameters: evidence of macroscopic and histological changes, volume of mucus-containing mucin, stomach pH, and index of ulcerative lesions. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests were performed, followed by the Tukey test, with values considered significant at P < 0.05. HEG reduced the severity of the ulcerative lesions at all doses tested. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the pH values of gastric secretions, mucus volume, and mucin content in the stomachs of animals pretreated with HEG compared to the negative control group. These results indicate that HEG has gastroprotective activity, which may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds and its high antioxidant activity.

This review explores the diverse applications and health benefits of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) through biotechnological applications in the food industry. While all LAB are indispensable for the production of fermented foods thanks to their ability to produce lactic acid and bacteriocins that act as natural preservatives, specific strains of probiotic LAB offer targeted health benefits. In addition to general benefits of LAB, probiotic strains significantly enhance gut microbiota, enhance human immunity, and exhibit antimicrobial properties. This review also delves into the mechanisms of action of probiotic LAB, focusing on adhesion, colonisation, and antioxidant production, emphasising their potential to advance nutritional innovations. Beyond food production, the broader category of LAB has transformative potential in industrial applications, particularly in the sugar industry, where their metabolic activity can improve sucrose extraction processes, promote microbial management, and reduce unwanted by-products. By understanding these aspects, the review underscores the importance of probiotic LAB in promoting health, efficiency, and sustainability across sectors.

This study evaluates the efficiency of various facial recognition camera systems used to control access in agri-food production environments, focusing on their ability to identify individuals based on biometric facial traits. It is also important to prevent the movement of unwanted persons into the production premises in the agri-food complex. The main goal was to assess how these factors influence the recognition performance and to determine the most reliable system for preventing unauthorised entry. The results show notable performance disparities between the devices tested. It can be concluded in this research that there are statistically significant differences between the maternal, professional and semi-professional systems. The device that is most suited is the HIKVISION iDS-2CD8426G0/F-I, achieving the best average performance score. This is based on usual recognition times. These tests indicate that the HIKVISION DS-2DE7232IW-AE(S5), which obtained an average rating of 2.216789, is the second-best acceptable device. With a score of 2.842113, HIKVISION DS-2CD2H45FWD-IZS (2.8–12 mm) (B) received, without a doubt, the lowest ranking. Given the outcomes, systems with superior recognition capabilities like the iDS-2CD8426G0/F-I are best to use for critical access control applications and to also minimise the use of facial coverings in sensitive areas to ensure reliable identification and higher levels of security of agri-food complexes.

Efforts are being made to replace the fat in meat products such as sausages with vegetable compounds to generate healthier foods. In this work, the effects of including flour, starch, and proteins isolated from pea seeds as partial fat substitutes in pork sausages was evaluated by studying the proximate composition, energy content, total cholesterol, lipid oxidation, and physicochemical, textural, and structural properties during refrigerated storage. The results showed significant differences in the composition of the sausages. Low-fat flour (LFF), starch (LFS), and pea protein (LFP) sausages had approximately 18% lower energy content than high-fat (HF) sausages. Cholesterol content was not significantly different in the treatments. Cooking yield, pH, and water activity were not affected by the inclusion of the replacements. LFF sausages had the highest purge losses and LFP sausages the lowest. The addition of pea starch improved the luminosity of the sausages, but the addition of pea protein resulted in darker sausages. After 12 days of storage, no differences were found between the hardness of LFP and HF sausages. The replacements did not affect lipid oxidation. The results suggest that replacing fat with pea seed components may be an alternative to producing low-fat sausages with health benefits.

Bark beetle Pityokteines spinidens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is widespread across Europe. We identified this species as a pest of Tsuga canadensis in western Bohemia's Americká zahrada National Nature Monument Arboretum. This discovery suggests that P. spinidens could infest any conifer within the Abietoideae subfamily. Given its status as a known pest of various Abies species, its potential impact on related conifers warrants further attention.

Drought stress severely impairs seed germination and early seedling establishment, and disrupts the uptake and distribution of essential mineral nutrients in plants. This study investigated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought and Na2SeO3 application on the accumulation and redistribution of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in wheat roots and shoots. Under PEG-simulated drought, increasing PEG concentrations resulted in a progressive decline in nutrient concentrations in both roots and shoots, with significant reductions in K, Ca, S, Zn, and Mn in roots, and K, Ca, Mg, and Mn in shoots. However, Na₂SeO₃ application mitigated these adverse effects by enhancing nutrient redistribution during early seedling growth. Specifically, under 15% PEG-simulated drought stress, Na₂SeO₃ treatments significantly increased shoot K, Mg, Fe, and Cu concentrations, highlighting selenium’s role in facilitating the translocation of these key elements. These results demonstrate that Na₂SeO₃ effectively mitigates drought-related nutrient imbalances and promotes ion remobilisation from germinating seeds to developing roots and shoots under water-deficient conditions.

The study is focused on the evaluation of selenium, nitrogen and sulphur effects on yield, macro- and micronutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) and quality (Se content, starch, fibre, ash and fat) in wheat grain. Small-plot field experiments (10 m² each plot) were established on loam to clay loam mollic soil with total Se content 0.21–0.22 mg/kg in Želiezovce on the land of the Central Control and Testing Institute in Agriculture of the Slovak Republic. The effect of growing season on two sources of selenium, in the form of sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃ · 5 H₂O) and sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄), was monitored during the growth phase BBCH 29 (the end of the tillering phase) in a two-year experiment. The experiment included six foliar treatments in four repetitions, which were differentiated as follows: T1 – 30 kg N/ha; T1 Se0₃^2– – 30 kg N/ha and 20 g Se/ha; T1 Se0₄^2– – 30 kg N/ha and 20 g Se/ha; T2 – 30 kg N/ha and 10 kg S/ha; T2 Se0₃^2– – 30 kg N/ha, 10 kg S/ha and 20 g Se/ha; T2 Se0₄^2– – 30 kg N/ha, 10 kg S/ha and 20 g Se/ha. A statistically significant difference in yield was found between the growing seasons. Statistically non-significant impact of treatments on achieved yields was found. The highest average Se content in grain, 0.90 ± 0.28 mg/kg, was achieved on treatment T2 Se0₄^2–. The application of sodium selenite appeared to be less effective than selenate form in the evaluation of average Se content in grain, where statistically significantly higher Se contents (T1 Se0₄^2– 0.78 ± 0.22 mg/kg; T2 Se0₄^2– 0.90 ± 0.28 mg/kg) were found after selenate application. The application of two types of fertilisers and two forms of selenium did not significantly increase the content of N, P, Mg, and S in grain. The Fe content in the grain was increased by treatment T2 Se0₃^2–. The application of sodium selenate compared to sodium selenite significantly increased the starch content (T1 Se0₄^2– 56.39 ± 4.44%; T2 Se0₄^2– 55.87 ± 4.05) in the grain of spring wheat.

The large number of charcoal kiln sites (CHKS) preserved as cultural heritage monuments demonstrates how extensive forest management for charcoal production has influenced the present forest dynamics and contributed to industrial expansion. Therefore, it is necessary not only to have a reliable methodology for detecting and documenting individual kiln sites for management and protection purposes but also to present the results in a meaningful way to the public. The aim is to optimise the data processing workflow from airborne laser scanning (ALS) point cloud to printable model (from LAS format to STL), determine the influence of vegetation cover at the time of data collection on the quality of the resulting model, verify the quality of printed models using photogrammetry, and finally, produce printed models of CHKS as cultural heritage objects in a form that can be effectively presented to the public. After comparison of different ground filtering methods, we conclude that the most accurate method for creating a precise ground representation for our area of interest was the Cloth Simulation Filtering (CSF) algorithm. From the filtered point cloud, a high-resolution raster surface was generated, which served as the basis for CHKS detection. Using our proposed methodology – combining the topographic position index (TPI) with a 0–5% slope threshold – we achieved a significant improvement in detection performance compared to using a zero-slope threshold alone, with the F1 score increasing from 0.667 to 1.000. Subsequently, the most representative kiln site was selected, which was then processed and optimised using various software tools, resulting in an exchangeable STL file suitable for dissemination and 3D printing. The accuracy of the printable model was then evaluated. We conclude that point cloud from the winter flight campaign achieved higher accuracy. The average height differences were similar; however, the spatial distribution varied between the two clouds. The model from the winter flight campaign had more evenly distributed deviations and overall was better for modelling the CHKS.

This study has evaluated the genetic characteristics and wheat processing-related properties of four Korean wheat landraces (KWLs). The KWLs were found to possess the vernalization alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1 and the photoperiod alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b, and Ppd-D1a. The Korean cultivated variety Keumgang also shared these alleles with the exception of vrn-D1. With regard to grain hardness, KWL 2 was shown to possess Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1b like Keumgang, while other KWLs were classified as carrying Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a. All KWLs were found to be non-waxy, carrying the alleles Wx-A1a, Wx-B1a, and Wx-D1a. With regard to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes, all four KWLs carried low-activity alleles, in contrast to the Keumgang sample. The assessment of physicochemical properties revealed that KWL 1, 3, and 4 had a higher amylose content but a lower protein content than KWL 2 and Keumgang. In tests of solvent retention capacity KWL 1 and KWL 2 exhibited the lowest and highest values, respectively, for all four solvents used in the tests. With regard to the dough properties, the results of Mixolab analysis indicated a faster starch gelatinisation in KWL1, while in KWL 2 a high water absorption and the longest dough development and stability times were found. KWL 3 and 4 exhibited similar dough behaviours. Principal component analysis of the four KWL lines revealed distinct clustering based on their physicochemical and dough-related traits.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop productivity and food safety. This study examined the use of dolomite and calcite amendments in reducing Cd toxicity in pak choi grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Treatments included: control (CK), Calcite 1 (Cal1, 10 g/kg soil), Calcite 2 (Cal2, 20 g/kg soil), Dolomite 1 (Dol1, 10 g/kg soil), and Dolomite 2 (Dol2, 20 g/kg soil). Amendments significantly increased soil pH (P ≤ 0.05), with Cal2 (6.5) and Dol2 (6.2) achieving the highest values at harvest. Cd availability declined (P ≤ 0.05), with Dol2 being the most effective, reducing the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure-extractable Cd from 0.03 to 0.01 mg/kg, NH₄NO₃-extractable Cd from 0.05 to 0.02 mg/kg, and CaCl₂-extractable Cd from 0.40 to 0.01 mg/kg. Dol2 improved biomass and chlorophyll content, while reducing Cd accumulation in shoots by 73.3% and in roots by 70% relative to the control. Antioxidant enzymes were regulated, with decreased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase indicating reduced oxidative stress, while Dol2 maximised urease, catalase, invertase, phosphatase, and phenol oxidase activities. Dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon also increased, thereby enhancing microbial activity. Dolomite and calcite significantly reduced biological concentration factors, biological accumulation coefficients, and translocation factors, thereby restricting Cd uptake. Overall, dolomite, especially at higher levels, effectively mitigated Cd toxicity, improved plant resilience, and enhanced soil health in contaminated systems.

Raw cow’s milk is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in the food industry. Besides basic hygienic and nutritional parameters, the presence of inhibitory and contaminant substances plays a critical role in technological quality and safety. While the vast majority of inhibitory residues are represented by antibiotics originating from mastitis prevention and therapy, milk also contains a broad spectrum of naturally occurring native antimicrobial compounds. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, phosphatases, lipases, and proteases acting as integral elements of the innate immune system within the mammary gland. Although these substances are not legislatively regulated, they significantly influence milk processing, starter culture growth, cheese yield, and shelf-life of final dairy products. Their concentration is strongly associated with animal health status, especially mastitis, and may thus also serve as an indirect quality indicator. This review provides a comprehensive overview of native inhibitory compounds in bovine milk, their concentration ranges, biological significance, impact on dairy technology, and the analytical methods currently used for their detection.

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the application of organic selenium (Se) in the production and cultivation of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. We investigated the effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth and physiological characteristics of S. ningpoensis seedlings. The results showed that SeMet significantly improved the antioxidant capacity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the leaves of S. ningpoensis, which significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), as compared to the control. SeMet also significantly improved the water metabolism by increasing the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency (WUE), relative water content, and water saturation deficit of S. ningpoensis leaves. Moreover, SeMet significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance by decreasing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and increasing the soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate, PSII actual photochemical efficiency Y(II), photochemical quenching (qP), PSII photochemical effective quantum yield (F_v'/F_m') and apparent electron transport rate (ETR). Meanwhile, SeMet significantly improved the plant’s height, basal diameter, root/shoot ratio and dry weight of shoots and roots in S. ningpoensis. Various SeMet 30 and 60 mg/L SeMet concentrations demonstrated better effects on the growth and physiological characteristics of S. ningpoensis. The above results indicate that appropriate concentrations of SeMet can enhance the growth of S. ningpoensis and can be improved by increasing its antioxidant capacity, water metabolism, and photosynthetic performance. This provides a theoretical foundation for using organic selenium in growing and producing S. ningpoensis.