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In this study, the effect of water temperature, predator's sex, prey density, and the presence of conspecifics on prey consumption of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) was experimentally tested. In Experiment 1, predators of both sexes [males: total length (TL) = 473 ± 22 mm and body weight (BW) = 1 070 ± 100 g and females: TL = 464 ± 12 mm and BW = 1 060 ± 100 g] were kept in separate tanks and exposed to different densities of prey (Pseudorasbora parva; 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 prey fishes per tank) under fixed water temperatures of 4.5 °C, 8.5 °C, and 12.5 °C. After 63 days of this experiment, it was found that pikeperch predation was significantly affected by increasing water temperature. The effect of prey density was significant at all tested temperatures. Pikeperch females tended to have the higher prey consumption than males, although that trend was statistically insignificant. Results suggest that increased feeding demands at temperatures above 4.5 °C can lead to predator starvation in conditions of low prey availability. Due to the higher prey consumption, pikeperch females could be more vulnerable to low prey availability during their culture. In Experiment 2, pikeperch were kept at different densities of 1, 2, 4, and 8 individuals per tank supplied with a prey rate of 50 individuals per predator, ensuring ad libitum feeding rate. The average daily prey consumption was significantly higher in the tanks with multiple predators, accounting for 17.6 ± 3.57 prey fishes/day compared to 11.6 ± 2.33 prey fishes/day in the tank with a single predator. These results indicate that pikeperch predation activity and prey consumption can be significantly affected by the water temperature, prey availability, and the presence of conspecifics. The findings contribute to understanding the predatory function, natural feeding request of pikeperch and its potential importance for broodstock culture and broodstock final maturation for a successful spawning season. Also, this information can be used for better management of pikeperch pond aquaculture or bio-melioration process in open water bodies and ecosystems.

The basic chemical composition of the meat of fifteen freshwater and saltwater fish species was studied. Fourier transform-near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy was applied for determination of the content of fat, protein and dry matter in the fish meat samples. The fish species analysed differed significantly in dry matter, fat, and protein content (P < 0.05). The highest fat percentage was determined in the samples of Cyprinus carpio (17.14 ± 0.53%) and the lowest value was found in the samples of Lophius piscatorius (0.06 ± 0.003%). Thunnus albacares samples had the highest content of proteins (24.26 ± 1.89%), whereas the lowest protein content was observed in Oreochromis niloticus (14.73 ± 0.87%). The results of the measured dry matter varied from the highest content in C. carpio samples (35.73 ± 0.47%) to the lowest content of L. piscatorius samples (15.64 ± 0.43%). Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three major groups, which differentiate the analysed samples based on their protein, lipid and dry matter content. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) confirmed the use of three variables (protein, fat, dry matter) measured by FT-NIR to separate the observed fish species.

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.

With the passing of Professor MVDr. Karel Hruška, CSc., on March 24, 2022, the Czech veterinary community has lost an outstanding figure in basic and applied veterinary research. His remarkable legacy also includes bringing the discipline into the computer era as well as enduring contributions as an educator and editor.

The ability to adapt, survive, and compete with weeds of transgenic plants is the necessary evaluation content to release transgenic lines in target regions. We compared weediness and agronomic traits of transgenic maize lines G1F-8 and G1F-19 carrying the mcry1F gene with their near-isogenic maize inbred line Zheng 58 in the wasteland and cultivated field under natural conditions for two consecutive years. The results showed that there was no significant difference identified in the species, quantity, and relative coverage ratio (RCR) of weeds between fields with G1F-8, G1F-19, and Zheng 58, regardless of the sowing pattern in the wasteland. Compared with the vigour of weeds, none of G1F-8, G1F-19, and Zheng 58 showed survival advantages, and all showed weak growth potential with no final grain yield. Meanwhile, no volunteer seedlings were found upon investigation in the following year. The simulated seed overwintering experiment in the wasteland further showed that the three kinds of maize could not germinate in the second year. In cultivated land, G1F-8 and G1F-19 had the same growth stages, plant height, and RCR as Zheng 58 throughout two years. In conclusion, the transgenic lines G1F-8 and G1F-19 exhibited no adaptability risk in Gongzhuling, Jilin, China.

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).

This review recapitulates the history, important milestones, the current status, and the perspectives of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) transformation as a tool for pea crop breeding. It summarises the developments of the pea transformation from the first methodological experiments to achieving the complete transformation and regeneration of genetically modified (GM) plants, transformation with the first genes of interest (GOI), to recent techniques of targeted genome editing. We show how recent biotechnological methods and genetic engineering may contribute to pea breeding in order to speed up the breeding process and for the creation of new pea cultivars. The focus is laid on genetic engineering which represents an excellent technology to enhance the pea gene pool with genes of interest which are not naturally present in the pea genome. Different methods of pea transformation are mentioned, as well as various GOI that have been used for pea transformation to date, all aimed at improving transgenic pea traits. Tolerance to herbicides or resistance to viruses, fungal pathogens, and insect pests belong, among others, to the pea traits that have already been modulated by methods of genetic engineering. The production of phytopharmaceuticals is also an important chapter in the use of genetically modified peas. We compare different methods of introducing transgenes to peas and also the usage of different selective and reporter genes. The transformation of other major legumes (soybeans, beans) is marginally mentioned. The effect of genetically modified (GM) peas on animal health (feeding tests, allergenicity) is summarised, the potential risks and benefits of pea modification are evaluated and also the prime expectations of GM peas and the real current state of this technology are compared. Unfortunately, this technology or, more precisely, the products created by this technology are under strict (albeit not scientifically-based) legislative control in the European Union.

Soil degradation caused by water erosion in sloping hop gardens is definitely a serious issue because the space in inter-rows is without plant residues for most of the year in traditional cultivation. Cover crops in inter-rows of hop gardens and their efficiency in soil conservation are assessed in this article. There is only little research available in this area, and our data bring unique information on water erosion in hop gardens. Technologies with different types of cover crops were always compared with the conventional cultivation. The research was conducted within the years 2016-2020. A field rainfall simulator was used to determine the soil conservation effectiveness of selected technologies. The simulated rainfall was performed in two stages of cover crops growth with the main aim to measure the overall soil loss. The outcomes from the measurements confirmed that cover crops in inter-rows of hop gardens protect the soil surface from falling raindrops and significantly (P-value < 0.05) reduce soil loss. It can be concluded that this technology had a soil conservation effect already one month after sowing, and it is a basis for sustainable agricultural management on sloping hop gardens.

Soil water content is critical in plants’ morphological and physiological processes; therefore, water must always be available in appropriate quantities to meet plant growth needs. Soil moisture can be easily detected using sensors, which offer a practical solution for monitoring water content in the soil. However, using sensors for a long time, especially on agricultural land, will reduce sensor accuracy. This research aims to investigate the accuracy of soil moisture sensors during their use for cultivating crops. Using sensors in sandy clay soil can detect soil moisture levels with an accuracy of 93.80% and a precision of 90.81%. A reading deviation (error) of up to 49.74% with a precision level of 75.69% occurred when the sensor had been used for 40 days. Regular cleaning and calibration of the sensor are necessary to obtain accurate soil moisture readings. A copper-based sensor module kit can be used to detect soil moisture with reasonable accuracy during plant growth with a 5–6 weeks harvest time.

The investigation was aimed to evaluate the physical (total solids, melting rate, viscosity, and overrun) and sensory properties of vanilla gelato (VG) made by substituting soya curd (SC) for milk. Samples were VG without SC (F₀) and with SC, i.e. 25% (F₁), 50% (F₂), and 75% (F₃). Each sample criterion consisted of 5 repetitions (n = 20). Results showed that F₃ possessed the lowest total solids, viscosity, and overrun while its melting rate was the highest among other SC substitution levels (P < 0.05). The sensory test delineated that F₃ had a less soft texture, although its aroma and flavour were not different from others (P < 0.05). Thus, the greater portion of SC substitution for milk in the VGmaking process would substantially affect the physical properties of its final product in which the total solids, viscosity, and overrun were lower while the melting rate was higher. Substituting SC for milk in VG did not affect the sensory properties, except the texture. The higher SC amount used for milk substitution would result in VG with a less soft texture. SC at a certain level of substitution was potentially expected as an innovation of the phyto-gelato product, namely soy gelato.

In Saudi Arabia, root-knot nematodes (RKNs) were found to cause considerable damage to eggplant. These parasites cause significant death of seedlings during nursery production, with infected plants showing the symptoms of chlorosis and wilting, along with the characteristic root galls. Therefore, this work was carried out to find a resistant cultivar of eggplant against RKNs in Saudi Arabia by screening 11 locally available cultivars for two successive seasons. Following Koch's postulates for pathogenicity, RKNs were isolated from infected eggplant, and females were identified morphologically by perineal patterns as Meloidogyne javanica, which was distinguished by clear lateral fields on both sides. Identification was confirmed using two species-specific primers (SCAR), Fjav/Rjav and MjF/MjR, and visualized amplified fragments appeared at 670 bp and 517 bp, respectively. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to screen the cultivars, using five replicates for each cultivar and nematode inoculum (1 000 second-stage juveniles). In response to M. javanica, gall index (GI), egg mass index (EMI), and reproduction factors (RF) were calculated, and all the eggplant cultivars were categorized according to their resistance levels based on RF. Among the 11 eggplant cultivars, four were found resistant to M. javanica including Black Beauty (C5, Bursa Tohum), Melanzana Violetta Difirenze (C6, Zorzi), Melanzana Violetta Lung 2 (C7, Zorzi), and Long Purple (C9, Bursa Tohum) and Violetta Lung 3 (C8, Taj Agri) was found highly resistant. Moreover, two cultivars were found moderately resistant, two susceptible, and two susceptible to M. javanica infection. Therefore, this study provided valuable information to eggplant growers about the resistant cultivars in Saudi Arabia. However, the molecular mechanisms of this resistance need to be evaluated to find novel candidate genes for breeding and CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing programs.

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.

Congenital anomalies affecting the spinal column are frequently observed in certain dog breeds. One such condition occurs at the junction between the lower back and the sacrum, where vertebrae exhibit mixed structural characteristics. This retrospective study analysed imaging records of Rhodesian Ridgebacks collected over 28 years, selecting only those that met strict positioning standards for evaluation. A total of 2 012 cases were analysed using established classification methods, identifying three distinct structural variations: a typical junction, a bilaterally altered morphology, and an asymmetrical form affecting one side. The prevalence of these variations was 7.4%, with symmetrical alterations found in 5% of cases and asymmetrical alterations in 2.4%. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association between these anatomical variations and canine hip dysplasia (CHD) (P = 0.170 0). These findings support previous research indicating that there is no direct link between these structural variations and joint disorders in this breed. The study represents the most extensive investigation of its kind in this canine population, highlighting that such vertebral variations are frequently observed in routine radiographic screenings, but despite decades of research, consistent clinical correlations remain elusive – underscoring the need for further systematic investigation.

Emergence predictive models can facilitate weed management, but estimating cardinal temperatures for germination of target species is necessary. Germination tests at a range of alternating temperatures from 12.5/2.5 °C to 35/25 °C were conducted to estimate cardinal temperatures of Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Delarbre, Polygonum aviculare L. and Solanum nigrum L. Two statistical methodologies were tested: the Thermal time-to-event model (TTEM) and the Threshold limit model (TL). Germination of P. aviculare was maximum at low-mid temperatures, where its optimal range probably lies, and decreased at high temperatures. No differences were observed between the base (T_b) values estimated for this species with the two models (TTEM 3.5 °C, TL 4.1 °C), while a significantly higher ceiling (T_c) value was determined with TTEM (TTEM 41.5 °C, TL 33.6 °C). The Germination of P. lapathifolia and S. nigrum increased monotonically with the rise in temperature, indicating that their optimal temperature lies above the highest tested temperature. TTEM could not be applied to these species since it requires data from the supra-optimal thermal range. TL models could instead estimate T_b values (9.4 °C and 15.4 °C for P. lapathifolia and S. nigrum), while the lack of data in the supra-optimal thermal range impeded the estimation of T_c. actual and predicted PFAs affecting concurrently all species were caused by the thermal conditions of the year.

The sustainable management of European forest ecosystems necessitates innovative mechanisation solutions to address operational challenges in hilly, mountainous, and ecologically sensitive terrains. Hybrid-drive unmanned vehicles (HDUVs) present a transformative potential by integrating fuel-electric powertrains with autonomous navigation systems, enabling energy-efficient operations with minimal environmental impact. This review synthesises and critically analyses advancements in three critical domains: (i) dynamic modelling and chassis design for enhanced terrain adaptability, (ii) hybrid powertrain optimisation for reduced emissions and extended operational range, and (iii) the integration of unmanned systems for precision forestry tasks. By examining multi-body dynamics, power management strategies, and AI-driven navigation algorithms, we elucidate the role of HDUVs in improving operational efficiency while mitigating soil disturbance and carbon footprint. The review identifies prevailing research gaps and suggests that future work should prioritise the development of standardised testing protocols and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to align HDUV development with EU biodiversity and climate objectives.

Innovation is the driver of sustainable business development and is essential to promote high quality econo-mic development in the country. Are more bank loans better for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) innovation? Therefore, based on mixed cross-sectional data of county sweet potato processing enterprises, this study applied the econometric model to explore the impact of bank loans on county agrifood SMEs innovation. We find that there is an 'inverted U-shaped' relationship between bank loans and county agrifood SMEs innovation. The analysis of the mechanism shows that bank loans can not only alleviate the problem of innovation financing constraints for agrifood SMEs, but also provide financial support for the innovation activities of agrifood SMEs as a result of trade openness. This study has important practical implications for promoting county agrifood SMEs innovation in China and promoting high-quality county economic development.

Amorphophallus spp. is an important group of crop and medicinal plants, but it is susceptible to infection by soft rot disease during both field growth and storage stages. This results in huge economic and yield losses, which must be properly addressed. Combined applications of Biological Control Agents (BCAs) and compatible chemicals have been recently considered as a more effective and reliable method to control bacterial soft rot. In the present study, we investigated the control effects against soft rot pathogenic bacteria Pectobacterium aroidearum MY11, using a BCA strain (i.e. Bacillus velezensis BCP6) and screening for three different bactericides, i.e. Jinggangmycin (JGM), Thiodiazole copper and Qingkulike. After exploring a joint application of BCP6 with chemicals, we found that JGM was the most effective and compatible bactericide to be compounded with BCP6. First, in the in vitro experiment, the mixture of JGM (34 mg/L) and suspension of BCP6 (1.0 × 108 cfu/mL) at 4:6 volume ratio performed with the strongest inhibitory effect on P. aroidearum MY11 (53.40%) and synergistic effect (1.78); this combination also significantly increased the biofilm production by BCP6, and constrained the swimming motility of P. aroidearum MY11 in agar plates and inhibited activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes. Second, the combined application of JGM and BPC6 reached up to 95.81% of control efficacy against P. aroidearum MY11 in a greenhouse experiment, and compared to JGM or BCP6 alone, combined application effectively increased konjac plant resistance to soft rot in the field, showing a synergistic action. Collectively, these results provided an alternative method for the management of soft rot disease in konjac planting.

The depletion of organic carbon in the topsoil and the reduction of the humic horizon leads to a decrease in soil productivity. This study focussed on evaluating the influence of water erosion on the quantity and quality of organic carbon (OC) in the topsoil. The determination of the differences in the OC with dependence on the soil thickness and the role of the soil texture in a depletion of OC in the humic horizon and its labile fractions were studied in four arable land localities (Haplic Chernozem, HC; Eutric Regosol, ER). The following carbon parameters were included: total organic carbon (TOC), labile carbon oxidisable by KMnO₄ (C_L), cold and hot water-extractable organic carbons (CWEOCs) and (HWEOCs), respectively. The higher the soil thickness was, the higher the OC contents were at a depth of up to 0.1 m (TOC; r =0.387, P < 0.01; C_L; r = 0.266, P < 0.01), which indicates a more pronounced organic and mineral material washing off. This process was more pronounced on the texturally finer HC than the coarser ER soil. In the case of water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), the vertical movement was dominant, while in the case of C_L, the horizontal one was dominant. In the case of erosion, the spatial variability of the OC is not only the result of the erosion-accumulation activities, but also from the proportion of the OC forms. The erosion significantly interferes in the stabilisation mechanisms of organic substances, and even also influences one of the strongest factors – the soil texture.

In 2024, the journal Plant Protection Science (PPS) completes 60 years of publication (1965–2024). Its roots extend back to the year 1921. In recent years, PPS has developed into an international scientific journal focused on all aspects of plant protection science, published exclusively in English, and with an international editorial board. The publisher is the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), celebrating its 100th anniversary (1924–2024). PPS is one of eleven agricultural journals published by CAAS. On its 50th anniversary, PPS published a detailed overview of its history and development. This latest critical review summarises developments during the last ten years; however, in special cases, also with a longer-term perspective. During the last decade, PPS has made impressive progress and is now among the world's key scientific journals. Recently, the journal has been added to the indexing and abstracts of many international databases, e.g. BIOSIS Previews, SCOPUS and Web of Science. In 2014, PPS had an impact factor of 0.597, but during the last few years, PPS's IF has ranged between 1.3 and 1.4 (for 2023, IF = 1.7), with the possibility of further increase. Each year, PPS is published quarterly, with a total of around 40 papers (original papers, reviews, short communications, biographical notices, and book reviews). Per year, about 70–80% of papers by authors/co-authors from abroad are published (Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Oceania). In the final part of this presentation, we describe some recent achievements and discuss key topics related to PPS's future development.

This review aims to enrich our understanding of Chiari-like malformation (CLM) by combining human and veterinary insights, and providing a detailed cross-species overview. CLM is a developmental abnormality characterised by caudal displacement of the hindbrain into the foramen magnum due to an entire brain parenchymal shift caused by insufficient skull volume. This malformation leads to a progressive obstruction at the craniocervical junction, which disrupts the normal cerebrospinal fluid flow, leading to secondary syringomyelia. The clinical signs of CLM and syringomyelia include phantom scratching, head tilt, head tremor, ataxia, tetraparesis, pain, muscle atrophy, and scoliosis or torticollis. Magnetic resonance imaging remains the gold standard for diagnosing CLM, since it allows the visualisation of abnormal findings such as the caudal cerebellar herniation, caudal cerebellar compression from occipital dysplasia, and attenuated cerebrospinal fluid cisternae. Although various medical and surgical interventions, including foramen magnum decompression, can provide temporary symptomatic/clinical sign relief, current literature shows a lack of sustained long-term efficacy. Therefore, additional research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of existing treatment strategies and to compare different techniques utilised in conjunction with foramen magnum decompression.

Missouri Ozark woodlands are a unique, but imperilled ecosystem type due to fragmentation, lack of proper management and a changing climate. The management, restoration, and conservation of Ozark woodlands is a conservation priority. The Ozark woodlands contribute to the sequestration of carbon and nutrients through their robust productivity, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the biomass and soil while cycling essential nutrients to support the ecosystem's health and vitality. We have assessed the over- and mid-storey leaf production, collecting leaves in baskets every autumn in a 1 200-ha conservation area in southwest Missouri since 2000. The leaf production data from 2000 to 2021 were compared among sites; control (not burnt for over 80 years), burnt (fire resumed in March of 1999 and repeated in 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2021) and reference (fire resumed in 1980 and repeated every 2 years). The average oak leaf production was statistically higher in the burnt site than the reference site, but only marginally higher than the control site. The leaf production varies statistically between the years. We applied a regression analysis among the productivity, temperature, and precipitation to associate the temporal variability in the weather with the productivity. The reference woodland showed statistical significance with the precipitation, but not with the temperature, while the other sites did not show any statistical significance with the precipitation. No statistically significance difference was observed between the productivity and temperature across any of the woodland burn histories. The March–June, March–May, and June–August precipitation statistically predicted the productivity. The results indicate that long-term burning is predictably associated with woodland leaf production and precipitation, but the precipitation is uncoupled with the productivity in woodlands that were more recently burnt or where burning has been suppressed. Sassafras saplings of approximately 1 m in height have emerged as the dominant species in the understorey of burnt woodlands while being completely absent from the control and reference woodlands. However, the productivity is the highest in the woodlands where burning has been suppressed and 20 years of prescribed fire does not significantly reduce the productivity. Oak regeneration over 20 years of burning is being suppressed by competition with sassafras, which may result in a significant shift in the ecosystem variables.

This study explored whether and how prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) regulated wheat tolerance to drought stress (DS). Findings displayed that DS had significant influence on antioxidant metabolism, water balance and the photosynthesis. DS significantly improved the activity level of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances soluble protein (SP), soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), compared with control. Whereas DS significantly reduced transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (g_s) and relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), plant height and biomass. Compared to DS, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly promoted the antioxidant metabolism by improving the activity level of SOD, CAT, POD and APX and increasing AsA and GSH contents, which in turn reduced MDA content and EL. In addition, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly maintained water balance by promoting the accumulation of osmolytes SP, SS and Pro, which in turn increased RWC, T_r and g_s. Pro-Ca plus DS also significantly promoted photosynthesis by increasing the contents of the above photosynthetic pigments, P_n and F_v/F_m, thereby promoting plant growth. These findings indicated that Pro-Ca was a potential agent to improve wheat tolerance under water deficit.

Drought-tolerant rootstocks with better performance regarding water deficit is important for sustaining orchard productivity, especially in regions where water availability is unpredictable. By selecting appropriate rootstocks, fruit growers can mitigate the adverse effects of insufficient water on yields. However, the response of specific rootstocks to drought remains unknown. Our study examined the drought tolerance of five plum rootstocks (Wavit, Torinell, Adesoto, Penta, and St. Julien) focusing on their physiological and biochemical responses. To assess their tolerance under drought conditions, we evaluated leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll fluorescence, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline, and phenolic content. The results showed that Torinel exhibited the highest performance index (PIABS), maximum PSII photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), RWC, lowest lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ during the drought-stress condition. Based on our results, we identified Torinel as a rootstock with a great ability to withstand drought, suggesting that it could be applied in the breeding program to increase plum resistance to drought. The study provides insights into the drought tolerance of different plum rootstocks, identifying which ones are better suited for cultivation in water-limited environments.

Dental health has historically received little attention in veterinary medicine, but is becoming more common. This study aimed to report the prevalence of dental extractions in dogs in Seoul, Republic of Korea, describe the current status of dental health and determine any preventive methods. In total, 166 dogs participated in the study, presented to the veterinary hospital with an oral disorder or for a routine check-up were included in the study. Teeth were extracted from 130 dogs (78.32%). A single tooth was extracted from 18 dogs (13.85%), whereas multiple teeth (2–29 teeth) were extracted from 112 dogs (86.15%). Ten teeth were extracted in 31 dogs (27.67%). In descending order, the most extracted teeth were PM2, PM3, PM4, and PM1. The age at the first dental check-up, the average interval between dental check-ups, and the average interval between the previous two dental check-ups in the extraction group were significantly greater than those in the non-extraction group. In contrast, the number of dental check-ups was significantly lower. In conclusion, this study suggests regular dental check-ups to prevent dental extractions. The data provide useful information for veterinary dental health management and the prevention of tooth extractions.

Sorghum as a C₄ crop has been shown to be both drought tolerant and photosynthetically productive. In this study, we demonstrated that sorghum SbSnRK1βγ2 (SbSNF4-2), the γ subunit of the sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1)/SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) heterotrimeric complex, increased the plant height and biomass in Setaria viridis, a C4 relative of sorghum, but not in rice, a C3 relative, when overexpressed driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter. However, the overexpression did not increase the tiller number in S. viridis, although it caused modest increases in the tiller number in both sorghum and rice. In addition, SbSnRK1βγ2 did not affect the panicle weight in sorghum, but its overexpression doubled the panicle weight in S. viridis in all four evaluated transgenic lines. Overall, the overexpression of SbSnRK1βγ2 tripled the biomass production in S. viridis, indicating SbSnRK1βγ2’s potential in any future cellulosic biofuel production and S. viridis’ utility as an alternative genetic vehicle to functionally characterise sorghum genes.

Addressing social sustainability, gender dynamics, strengthening educational diversity and ensuring inclusive partnership structures are all key components of promoting inclusion, not only in the agricultural sector. Diversity management is a human resource trend based on respect for inclusive culture, gender and ethnic diversity, multifaceted equality or the use of virtual teams under the right working conditions, but when not applied correctly it may produce undesired effects in agribusinesses as well as in other economics sectors. This paper aims to identify effective approaches to setting working conditions used by organisations to promote inclusion, management diversity and the development of social sustainability. The data were obtained through quantitative research using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing method (n = 202) and processed using the chi-square test at a 0.05 significance level as well as through qualitative research involving focus groups (n = 10). The study results have demonstrated that investment in diversity education remains crucial. Not only agricultural but also other businesses have begun to use metrics to monitor their diversity and inclusion progress. Organisations are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to remove prejudices in recruitment, identify inequalities in remuneration and ensure inclusion in online communication.

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.

Management of chronic non-healing wounds in cats requires a comprehensive approach. This report describes the treatment of a severe open skin wound on the skull using a combined approach involving allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP). A 12-year-old neutered male mixed-breed domestic cat presented with a non-healing chronic wound on the skull. The wound extended from the orbital to the occipital area and from the left to the right temporal region. Laboratory test results were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus and impaired kidney function. Sensitivity tests revealed resistance to several antibiotics. Due to limited skin reconstruction options, MSCs were administered subcutaneously at the wound edge once a month for three months. PRP was collected one month after the initial MSC administration and injected at the wound edge monthly between MSC treatments. The wound diameter was measured daily during saline cleaning. The cat received protein-supplemented food daily. Wound healing was observed two weeks after the MSC administration, gradually decreasing in size and closing completely within 5 months. This case demonstrates the successful application of MSCs and PRP for treating chronic wounds in cats.