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Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is rich in ω-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and minerals, and has notable neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, and antihypertensive properties. This research evaluated the effect of fresh purslane (FP) on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of ice cream, including α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18 : 3; ω-3), mineral content, and antioxidant properties, along with sensory characteristics. FP was added at 0, 5, 10, and 15% (w/w) levels. The addition of FP significantly increased the iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), sodium (Na), oleic acid (OA), and ALA contents (P < 0.05). FP also increased the first dripping and complete melting times, while decreasing overrun and viscosity. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) remained unchanged (P > 0.05), but total phenolic content (TPC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity significantly increased (P < 0.01). Thirty-one volatile compounds were identified, with increases in octadecane, dodecane, and 2-hexenal concentrations due to FP addition. Although the addition of FP improved the ALA content and antioxidant properties, sensory results showed that FP over 5% (w/w) lowered taste and general acceptability scores. Thus, using 5% of FP in ice cream is optimal for enhancing nutritional properties.

The aim of this research was to quantify the bioactive compounds; antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive capability of different cahuiche (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.) extracts in vitro. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts were obtained from cahuiche berries (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.). Total phenols, flavonoids (quercetin and catechin), and anthocyanins contents were determined, and antioxidant activity was also determined using ABTS [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid] and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), antibacterial activity, and antihypertensive potential, using angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor activity (%) in vitro. Methanolic extract showed the highest total phenols (1187.88 ± 87.48 mg gallic acid equivalents), catechin (372.17 ± 35.23 mg catechin equivalents), anthocyanins (578.89 ± 38.5 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents), ABTS (98.26 ± 0.00%) and DPPH (44.06 ± 3.95%) antioxidant activity, and ACE inhibitor activity of 80.20 ± 2.46%. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115) with inhibitor zones of > 11 and 13 mm, respectively. Cahuiche berries are potentially an ideal food or functional ingredient due to their biological activities as natural antihypertensive and antibacterial agent, and high bioactive compound contents.

The teak bee-hole borer [Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865)] is considered one of the most serious pests of teak (Tectona grandis) in Thailand. The present study investigates climatic and topographic variables affecting the infestation of teak trees by X. ceramica in 10 plantations and predicts the risk of infestation by the species under current and future climatic conditions in Thailand. At each plantation, 48 plots evenly distributed among twelve teak stands were sampled. The infested teak trees in the plots were assessed, and the coordinates of the tree positions were recorded. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to assess the effects of environmental factors and predict the occurrence probability of the species using current and projected (2050) climate data based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios from multiple global climate models. According to our results, high accuracy values [AUC (area under the curve) = 0.852, TSS (true skill statistics) = 0.775] of the model prediction were obtained, and the infestation was found to be driven much more by climate than by topographic characteristics. Above all, X. ceramica was found to prefer moderate temperatures in a highly distinct seasonal climate. Additionally, relatively low amounts of premonsoon rainfall are also found to be favoured by the species. The predicted risk map revealed that the northern region is the core area of X. ceramica infestation in Thailand under current and future climatic conditions, but the severity of infestation is predicted to gradually decrease under the predicted future climatic conditions. Recommendations for management to minimise tree damage caused by X. ceramica are also presented in this study.

Legumes are promoted in agroecosystems for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N), thereby reducing or eliminating the need for N fertilisation while also contributing N-rich organic residues, which non-legume species can subsequently utilise. In phosphorus (P)-poor soils, certain legumes appear to access less available forms of P, converting them into organic P and facilitating its use by non-legume species. This study evaluated seven legume species/cultivars and one grass species (as a control) in a trial conducted in low-fertility soils under four different growing conditions (location × year). The objective was to investigate the role of legumes in P and other nutrient uptake and accumulation in plant tissues. Some lupins and broad beans accumulated up to 30 kg/ha of P in their biomass, even without accounting for P in the roots. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in plant tissues were also significantly higher in legumes than in grass. In addition to concentrating certain nutrients in their tissues, legumes produced substantially more biomass due to their access to atmospheric N, resulting in considerably higher nutrient accumulation. Ca and Mg in some legumes exceeded 100 and 40 kg/ha in aboveground biomass, respectively, whereas in grasses, they remained below 4 kg/ha. Thus, when legumes are cultivated as green manure, these nutrients are returned to the soil in organic form, which can subsequently become available to non-legume crops through the mineralisation process of the organic substrate. Therefore, cultivating legumes not only enhances N availability for other species but also improves the cycling of other essential nutrients.

Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta (MRD), where rice is the dominant crop, is increasingly impacted by salinity intrusion, highlighting the need for alternative cropping options. This study evaluated the growth and yield performance of quinoa, beetroot, and maize under three irrigation salinity levels (0, 2 and 4 g/L), with and without rice straw mulch (7 t/ha), in greenhouse conditions representative of the MRD dry season. Agronomic traits, physiological parameters, and changes in soil, including electrical conductivity (ECe), soluble sodium (Sol-Na⁺), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), were assessed. Results showed that quinoa demonstrated the greatest salinity tolerance, maintaining stable growth and yield under 4 g/L saline irrigation and soil ECe exceeding 15 dS/m. Beetroot’s yield was not significantly different under 2 g/L saline irrigation with straw mulching. Maize was highly sensitive to salinity and environmental stress, failing to complete its growth cycle under high heat and humidity, even in non-saline conditions. Across treatments, rice straw mulching significantly reduced soil ECe, Sol-Na⁺, and ESP, and improved crop performance under saline irrigation. Overall, quinoa and beetroot, especially when combined with mulching, offer promising alternatives for dry-season cropping in saline-prone areas of the MRD. In contrast, maize cultivation requires improved soil and environmental management under such conditions.

The aim of the paper is to examine the resilience of Czech agricultural enterprises through the perceptions of farm managers and to assess the areas where these businesses perceive themselves as resilient and where they feel vulnerable. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information (IAEI) in June 2022, involving 521 Czech agricultural managers. The study focuses on six key areas: climate change and its impacts, agricultural inputs, labour force, market outlets, land prices and availability, and changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Across all areas, managers reported that businesses were more frequently vulnerable than resilient, particularly in relation to agricultural inputs and climate change. The results also highlight differences in the perception of resilience across enterprises of varying sizes, with significant variation noted in how changes to the CAP were viewed. Contrary to the common belief that larger enterprises are more resilient, the survey found that Czech medium-sized and large enterprises (with 200 hectares or more of agricultural land) were more frequently perceived as vulnerable.

The plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Streptomyces sp. TOR3209 induces plant tolerance in a wide range of stress conditions. However, the protection of photosystem under cold stress has not been fully understood. Here we reported that the photochemistry activity of photosystem II (PSII) was increased in tomato plants receiving TOR3209 treatment, including the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), PSII operating efficiency (ΦPSII), PSII maximum efficiency (Fv’/Fm’), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Microscopic study revealed that the integrity of chloroplast structure was greatly improved by TOR3209, which was damaged at low temperature. Moreover, TOR3209 treatment resulted in good protection on leaf stomatal and guard cell size. In response to TOR3209 treatment, the intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) and stomatal limitation values (Ls) were decreased while the mesophyll conductance (g_m) and chloroplast CO₂ concentration (Cc) were increased. The carotenoid content in TOR3209-treated tomato was accumulated at a higher level, which was involved in photoprotection and biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), as well as the increased amounts of ABA in the leaves were subsequently verified in the plants treated with TOR3209. These results demonstrated that TOR3209 treatment comprehensively protected tomato photosynthesis at low temperatures.

Negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy cows during early lactation significantly contributes to metabolic and infectious diseases, traditionally diagnosed via costly and time-consuming serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) analysis. This study aimed to develop a practical and cost-effective diagnostic test for NEB based on milk components analysed routinely. Data from 692 Holstein cows (5–35 days in milk) located at five Czech dairy farms were analysed using multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results showed that 99 cows (14.3%) were classified as NEB+ (NEFA > 0.6 mmol/l). Cows in the NEB+ group exhibited a significantly higher milk fat content (P < 0.001) and milk fat-to-protein ratio (P < 0.001), and lower lactose concentrations (P < 0.001) compared to NEB− cows. Key indicators of lipomobilisation, such as C18:1, C18:0, and monounsaturated fatty acids (FA), were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in NEB+ cows, while saturated, short-chain, and medium-chain FA were lower (P < 0.001). The developed prediction models, incorporating milk fat and specific FA (e.g. C18:1, C18:0, C14:0), demonstrated high diagnostic efficacy. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.84 to 0.92 for individual farms and reached 0.83 for the combined dataset. Using the Index of Union method, optimal cut-off points yielded sensitivities between 0.72 and 0.86, and specificities between 0.72 and 0.85. For the overall model, both sensitivity and specificity were 0.76. In conclusion, the proposed diagnostic test, leveraging milk components, offers a reliable and practical tool for early NEB detection in dairy cows. This facilitates timely intervention, thereby mitigating adverse health and economic impacts. Further validation with larger and more diverse datasets is recommended.

Coinfection of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) causes major worldwide economic losses within the swine industry. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a single dose of a bivalent vaccine containing PCV2d and M. hyo antigen (Cirbloc^® M Hyo) under field conditions. Two studies were performed under the GCP (Good Clinical Practice) requirements on farrow-to-finish farms in Hungary and Cyprus. On both farms, the presence of both PCV2 and M. hyo infection was demonstrated. For both studies, safety parameters were observed and measured from inclusion at 21 (±3) days of age until 14 days after vaccination. Efficacy parameters were observed and measured from inclusion until slaughter. Administration of the vaccine was safe in both studies, as no general, immediate, or local reactions were observed. The efficacy of the vaccine was confirmed in both studies as the following parameters were significantly reduced in the vaccinated groups compared to the control groups: viraemia, faecal shedding, viral load in lungs and in all collected lymphoid tissues, M. hyo-specific lung lesions, and average daily body weight gain. These results collectively support the vaccine’s potential as an effective tool for disease control.

Optimising dairy cattle reproduction with assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination, requires standardised semen handling and analysis. This study evaluated the kinematic structure of the spermatozoan subpopulation in frozen-thawed Holstein and Jersey bull semen doses under different thawing protocols. We used frozen semen doses taken from four bulls of each breed. Nine semen doses were collected from each animal, for a total of 72 cryopreserved doses. Straw thawing was performed at three temperatures (35 °C, 37 °C, and 40 °C) and three times (30 s, 40 s, and 45 s). Sperm kinematic patterns were evaluated using a CASA-mot system (ISAS^®v1). Sperm kinematic variables for each breed, temperature, and thawing time identified four subpopulations. The analysis revealed an effect of breed and semen thawing protocols (P < 0.05) on sperm subpopulation distribution, sperm movement, and swimming patterns. Subpopulation analyses based on semen assessment are needed to further interpret the relevance and effect on fertility.

Studies on the sustainability assessment of supply chain performance in tropical fruit still have limitations, whereas similar studies are more widespread in the manufacturing sector. This study aims to assess the sustainability performance of the tropical fruit supply chain in Indonesia. Performance evaluations were conducted for three producer organisations of tropical fruit with members ranging from 70 to 200 people in Banyuwangi Regency, the largest production centre in Indonesia. This study proposes a new approach, the best-worst method (BWM), to prioritise supply chain performance criteria derived from the SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model based on assessments by experts managing producer organisations. In the SCOR model, environmental and social criteria are added, resulting in seven criteria for evaluating supply chain performance, which include reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, asset management, GreenSCOR, and social. Thus, the integration of BWM and SCOR can ensure higher consistency and reliability than traditional methods for assessing sustainable supply chain performance. The results revealed that reliability is the most important criterion for supply chain performance, which shows how important the maintenance of product quality is. In contrast, agility received the lowest score, indicating that there is a need to improve performance with respect to responding to high demand, managing safety stocks, and overtime in the shipping process. Moreover, this study gives a glimpse into the importance of evaluating sustainability performance for the tropical fruit sector, having perishable characteristics and great contributions to rural development. Hence, this study provides a solid practical guide for decision-makers in assessing the sustainable supply chain of tropical fruits in Indonesia.

This study develops and validates a multilayer diffusion model of wheat grain hydration that incorporates layer-dependent diffusion coefficients for bran, endosperm, and germ. The moisture transport is formulated using Fick’s law with two interface formulations: (i) classical continuity of the concentration and flux and (ii) an interlayer resistance formulation that permits concentration discontinuities. Diffusion coefficients and geometric parameters were determined experimentally; A 3D grain model (structured-light scanning, COMSOL Multiphysics) informed the computational domain. Numerical solutions combined eigenfunction expansions with finite-difference discretisation near the interfaces. Across eight winter wheat varieties, the diffusion coefficients spanned 11.6 – 20.5 × 10–12m2·s–1 (mean 16.27 ± 3.08 × 10–12m2·s–1 ). Relative to the continuity model, the resistance model reduced the early-stage endosperm over-prediction by ~ 0.6–1.0 % (absolute) and lowered the whole-grain RMSE by ~ 20–30% over 0–240 min. These results support the role of thin moisture-retaining films as active barriers and yield smooth, real-time-ready outputs suitable for the automated control of pre-milling hydration; the framework is extensible to full 3D transient simulations.

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Acanthus ilicifolius are key mangrove species, but their populations have declined recently due to human activities. To promote their restoration, this study optimised seed germination and seedling cultivation using the plant factory method. The parameters, such as illumination, salinity, temperature and nutrient conditions, were examined. Our results showed that suitable illumination, salinity and temperature promoted seed germination of both species. Nutrient addition promoted the germination of B. gymnorrhiza but had little effect on A. ilicifolius. Both species of seedlings grew best in short illumination duration and moderate illumination intensity. Although both species can tolerate high salinity, low salinity (0–10‰ for B. gymnorrhiza and 0–5‰ for A. ilicifolius) promoted seedlings’ growth. High temperature (28–32°C) accelerated the growth of both species of seedlings. Nutrient addition enhanced the growth of both species’ seedlings, especially the addition of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ and trace elements strongly promoted the growth of B. gymnorrhiza seedlings. We obtained optimal conditions for seed germination and seedling growth of both species in the plant factory, demonstrating that environmental control significantly enhanced their germination and growth rates. Our findings provide valuable insights into the efficiency of mangrove restoration and the sustainable development of mangrove ecosystems.

Ichthyophthiriosis, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, is a major threat in salmonid aquaculture. This study evaluated the efficacy of orally administered standard doxycycline and controlled-release doxycycline formulations in experimentally infected brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Fish received medicated feed for 10 days starting seven days post-infection. Controlled-release doxycycline achieved the highest survival rate (84.2%), followed by standard doxycycline (73.7%), while no control fish survived after day 25 post-infection. Both drug formulations eliminated trophonts from the skin and gills by 20 days post-treatment. Despite a 2.5-fold lower dietary dose, the controlled-release doxycycline achieved a tissue concentration equivalent to ~32% of that of standard doxycycline, with similar retention rates. Levels of doxycycline residues in water declined over time for both groups, indicating limited environmental release. These results demonstrate the effective mitigation of ichthyophthiriosis with orally administered doxycycline and the enhancement of antiparasitic efficacy and reduction of drug load in tissues and the environment via controlled-release technology, supporting its potential as a sustainable medicated feed strategy in salmonid aquaculture.

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

This review uses a case study based on an executed afforestation project to comprehensively describe the administrative procedure regarding afforestation of agricultural land in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. We consider the official proceedings for obtaining a permit to land-use change (i.e. changing the nature of land use and the mode of land use in the real estate cadastre) as a very complex and protracted procedure, which can substantially reduce the motivation of people to establish new forests. Therefore, we propose a simplification of the administration process of land-use change. The main idea is to make the procedure as simple as possible in those areas where afforestation is desirable, especially from the environmental point of view. It assumes the possibility of quick, precise and, if possible, automatic distinction whether the afforestation is suitable or not. The situation in the Czech Republic is compared with the surrounding Central-European countries: Poland and Slovakia. In these countries, the official procedure connected with afforestation seems to be rather less complicated.

Using probiotics represents a potential solution to post-weaning diarrheal diseases in piglets on commercial farms. The gastrointestinal tract of wild boars serves as a promising reservoir of novel lactic acid bacteria with suitable probiotic characteristics. In this study, we isolated eight bacterial strains from the intestinal content of wild boars identified as representatives of the species Bifidobacterium apri, Lactobacillus amylovorus, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius. These isolates underwent in vitro analysis and characterisation to assess their biological safety and probiotic properties. Analysis of their full genome sequences revealed the absence of horizontally transferrable genes for antibiotic resistance. However, seven out of eight isolates harboured genes encoding various types of bacteriocins in their genomes, and bacteriocin production was further confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. Most of the tested strains demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of selected pathogenic bacteria, produce exopolysaccharides, and stimulate the expression of interleukin-10 in porcine macrophages. These characteristics deem the isolates characterised in this study as potential candidates for use as probiotics for piglets during the post-weaning period.

The present study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and antioxidant responses of common carp after exposure to the antiepileptic and analgesic drug gabapentin at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/l for 4 weeks. The exposure to the highest two concentrations resulted in significant changes in plasma indices such as glucose (only group 100 μg/l), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase, creatine kinase (CK), amylase as well as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Similar trends were found in both groups exposed to the environmentally relevant concentrations (i.e., 0.1 and 1 μg/l). In addition, a significant increase in the ferric-reducing power of the plasma was noted in all treated groups. Numerous changes in antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, as well as lipid peroxidation, were observed especially in the caudal kidney in the group exposed to 100 μg/l. Significant findings were also confirmed in the group exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration (1 μg/l), with a decrease in superoxide dismutase in the gill and an increased lipoperoxidation in the caudal kidney. Our research shows that subchronic exposure to gabapentin may pose a significant risk to non-target aquatic organisms, such as disruption of metabolic pathways or induction of oxidative stress, even at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Sorbus domestica L. is a deciduous shrub-like tree in the Rosaceae family that reaches different heights (3–25 m). The service tree commonly grows in the Marmara region, Central and Western Black Sea regions, and Central Anatolia in Türkiye. The fruit of the service tree called Sorbus domestica, has an essential place in regards to human health in terms of its antioxidant values. The aroma components and phenolic compounds it contains display a variety of physiological traits. This study was carried out to determine the changes in the pomological characteristics and volatile compounds of Sorbus domestica L. fruits in the Tokat region at harvest and the consuming maturities in 2019 and 2020. The aroma extraction from the Sorbus fruits identified esters, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, terpenes, and other volatile aroma compounds. As a result of the study, differences in aldehydes, esters, and terpene compounds were notable within the scope of the volatile aroma compounds. According to the obtained information, our results identified total aldehydes of 70.64%, esters of 7.49%, and terpenes of 21.35% in Sorbus domestica during the harvest maturity. When Sorbus fruits were left at room temperature until consuming for consumption was reached, the volatile compound rates varied which were 60.59% for the aldehydes, 22.49% for the esters, and 13.20% for the terpenes.

This study examined the impact of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth and physiological traits of Salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings. Application of SeMet significantly improved the photosynthetic performance by reducing stomatal limitation value (Ls) and increasing soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (g_s) and water use efficiency (WUE), compared to the control. Furthermore, SeMet also improved the photosynthetic performance by reducing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and increasing the actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Y(II)), photochemical quenching (qP), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m) and apparent electron transport rate (ETR). Meanwhile, the findings indicated that SeMet was able to enhance the antioxidant capacity of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), thereby reducing the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Besides, SeMet notably impacted plant growth by promoting plant height, basal diameter and biomass. Among different concentrations, 60 mg/L exhibited the most favourable impact on photosynthetic performance, antioxidant capacity and the growth of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings. In summary, the appropriate dosage of SeMet can stimulate the growth of S. miltiorrhiza by enhancing photosynthetic and antioxidant capacities. These findings can serve as a solid theoretical foundation for the application of SeMet in the cultivation and production of S. miltiorrhiza.

Sulphur (S) plays an important role in agriculture, being the fourth major contributor to improved quality of crops and increased yields. The applied methods for the estimation of different forms of S in soil aimed at assessing the sulphur availability to plants in various conditions. Nowadays, the wider spreading of regions with sulphur deficiency imposes optimisation of the soil testing procedures in order to increase their availability for laboratories. This study contributes to improving the analytical performance of the turbidimetric method in determining water-soluble sulphate in soil after leaching with the CaCl₂ reagent. The modified testing protocol showed: method limit of quantification of 5.0 mg/kg; precision as relative standard deviation less than 3%; recovery of fortified soil samples 103 ± 18%. The expanded uncertainty was 2.3 mg/kg SO₄^2–-S (K = 2, norm.). The proposed testing protocol was inexpensive, fast, used simple equipment and procedures, easily adoptable in regular laboratories, and showed characteristics suitable for the estimation of water-soluble sulfate in arable soils. A set of 546 soil samples was tested, and 74% were found to be sulphur deficient with SO₄^2–-S < 10 mg/kg and sulfur availability index < 6.0. Thus, the availability of laboratory analysis to a broader group of farmers could contribute to effective fertilisation programs, as the newly proposed fertiliser blending technologies are based on adequate estimation of sulfur availability in arable soils.

This study investigates the effects of salt stress and gamma irradiation on growth, biochemical, and physiological responses in three sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars. Control plants were irrigated with fresh water (EC = 1.1 dS/m), whereas salt stress was imposed with an irrigation of 9 dS/m. Seeds were irradiated with gamma rays (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 Gy) before sowing. Exposure to salt stress reduced root yield (RY), sugar yield (SY), chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)). In contrast, oxidative damage increased, as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Interestingly, salt stress enhanced sugar content, with the Eudoro cultivar showing the greatest resilience, maintaining higher RY and SY and lower MDA compared to the other cultivars. Gamma irradiation at moderate doses (50–200 Gy) alleviated the effects of salt stress, with the strongest improvements in SY observed at 100 and 200 Gy. These treatments enhanced RY, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activities, while also improving photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and cellular integrity. Higher doses (> 200 Gy) reduced sugar content, indicating dose-specific effects. Eudoro exhibited superior salt tolerance, maintaining higher root and sugar yields (RY, SY) and reduced oxidative damage (lower MDA) under salt stress. These findings demonstrate that gamma irradiation at optimal doses enhances salt tolerance in sugar beet, offering cultivar-specific benefits for breeding programmes in saline environments.

Apart from the roots, the bulb is the most important organ for plant development of the lily plant. In this experiment, the effects of mycorrhizal, vermicompost and promalin applications on the root architecture of Lilium oriental hybrid ‘Adelante’, a bulbous plant, were to be investigated. It was found that the effect of the treatments on root length (128.6 cm), root surface area (8 cm³), number of tips (111.5), number of forks (354.4) and number of crossings (86.2) was lower than that of the control. In terms of root volume, the applications of vermicompost (3 cm²) and promalin (3 cm³) were the most effective. The most effective application on root diameter (3.5 mm) was promalin. In conclusion, the effect on mycorrhizal root development was lower than the control but higher than other applications. In addition, machine learning (ML) algorithms, including linear regression (LR), sequential minimal optimisation for regression (SMOreg), Gaussian process (GP) and artificial neural network-based multilayer perceptron (ANN-based MLP), were used in the study. The input variables were evaluated for modelling and predicting root traits. The performance values of the ML algorithms were noted in the following order: LR > SMOreg > GP > MLP. These results have important implications for the prediction of root growth in lily crops.

Rice paddy fields serve as an important source of stable food supply and a notable contributor to atmospheric methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Rice cultivar selection acts as a pivotal factor in regulating greenhouse gas (GHGs) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions from rice paddy fields. However, little is known about how different types of rice cultivars affect CH₄ and N₂O emissions. In the study, three types of rice cultivars, including Japonica-type Indica-Japonica hybrid rice (JHR: ZJY1578 and JHY5), Indica-type hybrid rice (IHR: ZZY8 and JFY2), and inbred rice (IR: J67 and XS121), were selected to evaluate differences in mitigating GHGs. Results showed that the total CH₄ and N₂O emissions of two Japonica-type Indica-Japonica hybrid rice cultivars were 49.81–60.01 kg/ha and 0.67–0.83 g/ha, respectively, which were lower than those of the other two rice cultivar types. The total equivalent of carbon dioxide emissions of CH₄ and N₂O (TCO₂-eq) of two Japonica hybrid rice significantly reduced by 16.7–46.9%, compared with the other two types of rice cultivars (IHR and IR). CH₄ contributed 85.5–89.9% to the GWP, while 65.6–80.4% in the field of planting inbred rice. The reduction in GHGs emissions is mainly attributed to yield, available carbon and nitrogen contents, root morphological characteristics, and functional genes. Consequently, GHGs emissions in paddy fields could be mitigated by selecting or breeding cultivars with high yield, lower root exudates, and greater root porosity.

The review synthesises current knowledge on the hydrological and hydrochemical risks associated with large-scale clear-cutting following unprecedented bark beetle outbreaks in Central Europe. By analysing 107 sources published primarily between 2000 and 2026, we evaluate the divergent impacts of natural forest dieback versus intensive salvage logging. The rapid loss of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] canopy has fundamentally altered the microclimate, shifting the energy balance from latent to sensible heat flux, which results in ground temperature increases of up to 5.2 °C. Hydrological consequences include a 16–48% reduction in interception and a cessation of transpiration, leading to an increase in annual water yield by 6–21% and potentially accelerated peak discharges, particularly in headwater catchments where maximum flows can increase by over 50%. The synthesis highlights a critical 'nitrate pulse' exceeding 50 mg·L^–1 in managed areas, contrasting with higher hydrochemical resilience in unmanaged stands. We emphasise that forest management must ensure sufficient soil protection during the logging and wood transportation, which can reduce hydraulic conductivity by over 40%. The role of logging residues is important because they cover and protect the soil environment. The study concludes that utilising pioneer species and spontaneous succession in combination with timely artificial reforestation represents a superior strategy for stabilising the microclimate and restoring hydrological functions.

Bactrocera cucurbitae, commonly known as the melon fruit fly, stands as a formidable threat to global agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of cucurbitaceous crops. The adaptability, high reproductive capacity, and broad host range of B. cucurbitae make it a persistent challenge for growers worldwide. Conventional control methods, often reliant on chemical pesticides, pose environmental and ecological concerns, necessitating the exploration of alternative strategies for sustainable pest management. Invasive plants often exert deleterious effects on ecosystems, and the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, is no exception. To explore the efficacy of R. communis, a methanol extract was tested to find the toxicity effect against B. cucurbitae. In this study, different bioactive compounds were isolated from R. communis. The crude extract of R. communis was subjected to fractionating using different organic solvents in an increasing order of polarity, where the fraction indicating maximum activity was then taken for the isolation of the bioactive compounds using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of R. communis extracts at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2% methanol were used. Pure methanol was used as the control. The experimental conditions were maintained at 28 + 20 ºC and 65 + 5% relative humidity. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomised design having five replications. A probit analysis was used to find the LC50 and LC90. The results showed that, as the concentration of the plant extracts increases, the mortalities of B. cucurbitae also increased. After a 72 h exposure period, the crude extracts exhibited the lowest LC50 at 0.30% and LC90 at 0.60%. This study investigates the potential of methanolic extracts derived from various parts of R. communis to serve as a biopesticide against B. cucurbitae which can be easily available, economically feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly.

This study investigates the characteristics associated with the adoption of smart farming technologies in Turkish agriculture. By surveying 325 farmers across six regions in Türkiye, the research identifies key attributes influencing adoption patterns. Four distinct profiles emerge: technology users, non-users, young educated female farmers, and traditionalists. Exploratory findings from Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) indicate that attributes such as agricultural insurance, credit utilisation, knowledge of smart farming systems, and tractor ownership are commonly observed among technology users. Ordinal logistic regression further quantifies these associations, highlighting the significant role of financial accessibility and knowledge dissemination in shaping adoption likelihoods. Non-users, on the other hand, are characterised by smaller landholdings, lack of credit use, limited awareness, and absence of tractor ownership, reflecting structural barriers to adoption. Tailored financial solutions and shared machinery parks could help address these challenges. Empowering young, educated women farmers, identified as a key demographic for innovation, offers an opportunity to catalyse broader technology adoption. By addressing knowledge gaps and fostering inclusive policies, this study provides actionable insights to accelerate the technological transformation and sustainability of Türkiye's agricultural sector.

With the need to obtain new methods to protect seed material from Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) nematodes, a study was conducted to evaluate the nematicidal effects of several plants' essential oils on the mortality of D. dipsaci. Tests were performed under in vitro conditions; a concentration of 2 000 ppm was tested, nematodes were added into diluted oils, and numbers of living/dead nematodes were scored after 4 and 24 h. The results show a significant effect of several plant essential oils on D. dipsaci mortality, with the highest efficacy found for oil from Cinnamomum cassia ((L.) J. Presl), with 100% mortality observed even after 4 h.

A field experiment was undertaken in a vineyard in southern Romania to evaluate the insect species abundance in this temperate climate area, over a period of 24 consecutive weeks, starting from April 2^nd to September 27^th, 2019. A total number of 19 303 insects were collected. After their morphological analysis, 89 species of insects were identified (nine orders and 28 families), of which 52 came from beneficial fauna (six orders and 14 families, 1 316 individuals) and 37 came from pest fauna (six orders and 26 families, 17 987 individuals). The beneficial species richness of the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera orders were the best represented. The pest insects of the Coleoptera and Hemiptera orders registered a high number of families, while the Thripidae family had the highest number of individuals. The highest diversity of insect species was found in the middle of April, and the lowest was found in the middle of August. The Bray-Curtis analysis revealed the stability of the insect community in the studied grapevine growing area. Grouping insects based on their similarities revealed the highest similarity (91.05-97%) in the warmest periods (June-August) and the lowest similarity (33%) in the spring (April).

The study aimed to assess the effects of a therapeutic bath of five different antiparasitic drugs, in different baths and durations: fenbendazole (25 mg l^-1, 12 h and 2 × 12 h), formaldehyde (0.17 ml l^-1, 15 min), ivermectin (0.031 mg l^-1, 1 h), mebendazole (1 mg l^-1, 12 h) and levamisole (50 mg l^-1, 2 h and 3 × 1 h) on the reduction on the intensity and prevalence of a monogenean infection (Dactylogyrus anchoratus) in juvenile carp. The best effect on reducing the parasite number was achieved with the bath in formaldehyde (0.17 ml l^-1, 15 min) and fenbendazole (25 mg l^-1, 2 × 12 h with 24 h break), where the infection was reduced by more than 90%. Registered veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) with the active substance of fenbendazole can successfully replace the use of unregistered formaldehyde in the treatment of monogenean infections.