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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.

Transgenic organisms modified with ancestral genes for nitrogen metabolism are rare. Previously, it was reported that genetically modified Nicotiana tabacum with the ARO4 gene of aromatic amino acid synthesis from the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii increases its growth during moderate salt stress. In this investigation, it was explored if the changes in the expression of the gene DhARO4 in Nicotiana tabacum, during saline irrigation, are related to the chlorophyll content and the total reactive oxygen species production. Seedlings of transgenic and wild type Nicotiana tabacum germinated in standard conditions were divided into two irrigation groups, with 100 mM of NaCl and with tap water; and, after 50 days, in the non-senescent adult leaves of the plants, the total chlorophyll a and b and the total chlorophyll content were determined by spectrophotometry and the reactive oxygen species production (•OH, ¹O₂, H₂O₂) was quantified by a 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay. The expression of the DhARO4 gene was verified with a salt shock of 100 mM of NaCl for 24 hours in the transgenic and wild type plants in the tap water irrigation group. The DhARO4 gene transcript increased (P < 0.05) in the transgenic plant; meanwhile, the average concentration of chlorophyll a increased (P < 0.05), and the average production of reactive oxygen species decreased (P < 0.05).

The paper explores the influence of global pandemic uncertainty (GPU) on food prices (FP) by using the mixed-frequency vector autoregression (MF-VAR) model. Empirical findings indicate that the influence of GPU on FP varies across different scenarios, exhibiting either positive, negative, or insignificant effects. A positive influence implies that GPU fuels panic-buying and stockpiling behaviours, thereby boosting food demand. Concurrently, disruptions in agricultural production and food export restrictions tighten the market supply, potentially pushing FP upwards. Conversely, a negative effect suggests that the global economic downturn and food safety anxieties stemming from pandemic-related uncertainty may dampen food demand, causing FP to decline. In some instances, FP remains unaffected mainly by GPU due to the competing pressures from adverse climate change risks on the food market. Notably, FP's predictive error variance decomposition underscores that the net impact of GPU on FP is stimulatory. This overall effect aligns with the inter-temporal capital asset pricing model (ICAPM), which posits a positive influence of GPU on FP. The findings recommend that consumers and investors diversify their food sources, while policymakers should bolster food supply chain resilience, promote sustainable agriculture, establish emergency reserves and coordinate aid.

Since its introduction in 2019, African swine fever (ASF) has spread to all regions of the Philippines, affecting 73 out of its 82 provinces. To assess the environmental DNA (eDNA) contamination patterns of the ASF virus (ASFV) in swine transport vehicles and evaluate its measures of association, a total of 450 environmental swabs from 30 transportation vehicles were tested using qPCR. Five out of 30 vehicles (16.67%) tested positive in at least one of the following areas: cargo area or sidecar walls (6.67%), cargo area or sidecar floors (6.67%), hauling personnel’s hands (6.67%), steering wheel or handlebars (3.33%), gear shift levers (3.33%), floor mats or footpegs (3.33%), dashboards (3.33%), door handles or sidecar gate bolts (3.33%), tyres/wheels (3.33%), fenders (3.33%), and hauling personnel’s footwear (3.33%). All investigated risk factors were analysed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratio and were found to be insignificant, including the frequency of swine transportation per week, frequency of cleaning per week, cleaning materials used, disinfection practices, the number of pigs transported, and whether hauliers owned pigs (p > 0.05). This study illuminates the environmental contamination patterns of ASFV in swine transport vehicles, underscoring the need for targeted biosecurity protocols in areas with a high risk of contamination, particularly the cabin areas. More effective vehicle disinfection systems that will not damage equipment or pose health risks to hauliers are recommended to reduce the risk of ASF disease transmission between countries and geographic regions.

Current dietary patterns in developed countries, characterised by high intakes of processed and animal-source foods, are linked to increased obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, as well as environmental burdens. This paper investigates determinants of red meat, white meat, and fish consumption across five European countries, using representative survey data from over 10 000 individuals. Our findings reveal that men consume more red meat and fish than women, though, when adjusted for body weight, women consume significantly more white meat and fish. While vegetarians are mostly people younger than 35 years, meat eaters in the same age category tend to eat more red meat than older people. Cross-country differences highlight the need for localised policy approaches. Individual values also shape dietary choices. Security-oriented people prefer red meat, while altruistic individuals consume less of it. Biospheric values, while strongly associated with being vegetarian, show no significant association with meat or fish intake. To reduce red meat consumption, policies should highlight health benefits of eating less meat, with messages tailored to specific demographic groups. Additionally, enhancing meat alternatives' affordability, taste, and appearance is essential for promoting dietary shifts.

Oligopeptides constitute an important yet understudied component of soil’s dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) pool, representing a primary breakdown product of proteins. However, the mechanisms of oligopeptide uptake and utilisation by crop roots remain poorly understood in a plant nutrition context. We investigated the rate and spatial uptake pattern of ¹⁴C-labelled alanine and di- to pentapeptides of alanine in wheat and rice under sterile hydroponic conditions. Both species demonstrated the capacity to absorb N through amino acids and oligopeptides, with rice roots showing higher peptide uptake than wheat. Specifically, alanine absorption exceeded peptide uptake by 3–7-fold in rice and 6–9-fold in wheat. Using phosphor imaging, we demonstrated that alanine and oligopeptide uptake occurred throughout the root system, with the highest accumulation in the root tip and root hair regions. Further, spatial analysis revealed that peptide absorption rates in rice were 2–5 times higher in the 0–1 cm root section and 1.5–4 times higher in the 1–2 cm section compared to corresponding wheat root segments. We conclude that plants can directly take up amino acids and oligopeptides to acquire exogenous N, with marked differences occurring among species in both uptake efficiency and spatial uptake patterns.

The study aimed to optimise foam-mat drying parameters for producing purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) powder. Egg albumin (EA) (5–15%), xanthan gum (XG) (0.1–0.5%), and drying temperature (50–70 °C) were used as independent variables for optimisation via Response Surface Methodology with a Box-Behnken design. The response variables (drying rate and anthocyanin content) were assessed by 18 treatments, which included 6 central points. The analysis of variance showed a high coefficient of determination (> 88%) between predicted and experimental values across all models. Optimal foam-mat drying conditions were 11.02% EA, 0.34% XG, and 65.1 °C to achieve the highest drying rate (2.49 g water.g dry matter^–1.min^–1) and anthocyanin content (1.01 mg.g^–1). After 3.5 h of drying at 65.1 °C, the foam-mat dried PFSP showed a low moisture content (4.35%) and water activity (0.29). Its water solubility index, water absorption index, rehydration ratio, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity were determined to be 56.49%, 3.55%, 3.82, 3.66 ± 0.06 mg GAE.g^–1, and 58.49 ± 0.88%, respectively. Under these conditions, the powder maintained its natural beautiful and characteristic purple colour. The microstructure of the foam-mat dried PFSP powder (via SEM images) was also observed.

This review evaluates the role of food waste reuse in sustainable food production, its associated health benefits, and technological advances in bioactive ingredient extraction. The research demonstrates that recycling bioactive food ingredients not only reduces food waste but also increases nutritional value, supports sustainability goals, and creates economic opportunities in the food industry. The process has been shown to enable the development of functional food ingredients, nutraceuticals (health-promoting food supplements), and biodegradable packaging solutions. The integration of biotechnological applications, microbial fermentation, and innovative processing methods has the potential to utilise food waste in the production of value-added products such as functional foods, biomaterials, and biofuels. The development of renewable technologies further enhances this potential. Overcoming safety risks, optimising extraction processes, and implementing global policies supporting food waste recycling are key to making sustainable solutions more effective and widespread. As new approaches emerge in research, the reuse of food waste and, therefore, achieving the zero waste goal will be facilitated by reducing the need for raw materials and increasing the added value in the food industry.

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

The aim of this study is to define data sources and propose methods for effective and secure data management in an agricultural enterprise in the context of using data for decision support. Current developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have contributed towards the increase in the amount of generated data in various fields. The main data sources for agricultural enterprises are the farm itself, suppliers, government, market, and research. The use of smart solutions, artificial intelligence, and other innovative practices in agriculture is discussed at many conferences, in various journals, strategies and project plans. Data is the essential raw material for all these solutions. Large amounts of data cannot be analysed efficiently with spreadsheet programs. Currently, there are trends in the use of data, for example, in business intelligence (decision-making systems), e.g. tools using online transaction processing (OLAP) or process automation or the possibility of e.g. tracing the origin of food. The availability and possibility of creating large data sets bring many challenges related to managing that data. To effectively manage farm data, it is essential to have a well-developed data management plan (DMP) used to formalise the processes related to handling. A DMP mainly addresses archiving, backup, licensing and other important aspects of data management. The challenges and developments in farm data management include incorporating artificial intelligence into data analysis and security. Food is classified as an "Entity of Critical Importance" in the NIS2 EU Directive, which also deals with cybersecurity issues.

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.

Dragon trees, arborescent members of the genus Dracaena (Asparagaceae), provide a wide range of ecosystem services and have been ethnobotanically important plants since ancient times. Currently, their relictual distribution is fragmented, populations are isolated and often under threat. We provide a brief overview of scientific studies and the state of knowledge on dragon trees published since 2020, when the last review was published. More than 120 papers dealing with dragon trees have appeared, indicating a significant interest in their research, cultural uses and conservation. The most intensively investigated species are Dracaena cochinchinensis, D. cinnabari, D. draco and D. cambodiana. Almost half of the papers deal with the chemical composition of resin and its bioactivity, in addition to studies on ecology, conservation and genetics. Only a few studies are devoted to taxonomy and ethnobotany.

The availability of a broad variety of cultivars in many ornamental species has increased recently, in particular for attractive annuals, which are valued commercially for their use as cut flowers, potted plants, loose flowers, and in landscape gardening. The breeding of ornamental plants in the current scenario is a challenging endeavour with constantly evolving new obstacles. Modern genomic technologies provide prospects for improved precision breeding and selection for characteristics that are more difficult to determine. Traditionally, ornamental breeding has been focused on increasing resistance to biotic or abiotic stress, novelty, yield, and quality. However, accomplishing these objectives necessitates tedious cross-breeding, and exact breeding methods have been noticed to be not applied constantly. Though the purposes of ornamental crop breeding may vary, the process generally does not differ from the breeding of other crops. Furthermore, vegetatively propagated ornamentals constitute most of the crops. The expanding interest in ornamental crops that are produced by modern crop breeding methods such as genome editing, chromosome manipulation, molecular marker-assisted breeding, mutation breeding, and exploiting somaclonal variations, particularly in relation to altering desirable plant features and producing new ornamental traits of the crops which is the main objective of crop improvement practices. Hence, it has become obligatory to evaluate the current state of any technology created following an in-depth study carried out by several research organisations.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mesobiliverdin IXα-enriched microalgae (MBV-SP) on growth, diarrhoea prevalence, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced enteritis in weaned piglets. Seventy-two 28-day-old piglets were randomly divided into four groups: control (NC), LPS, tylosin, and MBV-SP, with saline/LPS (100 µg/kg) administered intraperitoneally on day 14. Results showed reduced mortality and diarrhoea rates in the tylosin + LPS and MBV-SP + LPS groups compared to the LPS group. Histological analysis revealed improved villus morphology and decreased crypt depth in the MBV-SP group. Catalase activity was notably higher in the MBV-SP group. Both tylosin and MBV-SP supplementation reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, with MBV-SP exhibiting a more pronounced effect. In conclusion, MBV-SP mitigated diarrhoea, improved antioxidant capacity, and modulated inflammatory cytokines in weaned piglets with LPS-induced enteritis, highlighting its potential as a dietary supplement for the gut health in piglets.

The consumption of local wine at tourist destinations plays a fundamental role in creating authentic experiences. However, there is very little research that has looked in depth into the factors that influence tourists' consumption of this product, especially in relation to epistemic benefits and responsible tourist behaviour. This study proposes a theoretical model based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). We conducted a survey involving 619 travellers who regularly consume wine when visiting Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). The results show that epistemic benefit and responsible tourist behaviour have a positive relationship with attitudes toward local wine consumption, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Furthermore, the relationships proposed by the TPB are confirmed, except for the relationship between subjective norms and behavioural intention. These findings provide new knowledge on local wine consumption by tourists which will help to develop strategies to encourage its consumption in tourist destinations.

At present, the low post-thaw quality of poultry semen presents a challenge to develop new strategies for its cryopreservation. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of kaempferol (KAE) on post-thaw turkey sperm characteristics (motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function), oxidative and microbial profile. Turkey semen (n = 40) was diluted and cryopreserved in modified Beltsville extender with 5, 10, and 25 µM of KAE or without it (cryopreserved control – Ctrl_C), while fresh semen served as negative control (Ctrl_N). Following thawing, parameters were evaluated including sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial functionality, DNA fragmentation index, apoptosis status, global reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein oxidation. Bacterial identification was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity continuously increased correspondingly to KAE concentration versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05) while cell apoptosis, ROS generation, LPO and protein oxidation were significantly decreased in KAE treated groups versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05). Bacterial growth was suppressed in all KAE-treated groups, which acted synergistically with penicillin to eradicate most bacterial strains from cryopreserved samples versus Ctrl_N. Finally, our results suggest that KAE possesses strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may be used to improve commercially available extenders for more effective preservation of turkey spermatozoa.

Global climate change (GCC) and increasing drought frequency pose a threat to the stability of European forests, particularly those of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] plantations. We investigated how different pre-commercial thinning (PCT) intensities affect leaf area index (LAI) and its relationship to soil water content (SWC) in young spruce stands in northeastern Czechia. Three permanent research plots in a 13-year-old monoculture were subjected to mild PCT, heavy PCT, or left as an unthinned control in winter 2019/2020. Thinning caused an immediate decrease in LAI, with averages of 8.3 ± 1.1 m²·m^–2 (mild), 3.8 ± 0.5 m²·m^–2 (heavy) and 11.1 ±1.1 m²·m^–2 (control) in 2020. By 2023, LAI in the mildly thinned stand had largely converged with the control, whereas the heavily thinned stand maintained significantly lower LAI. The strongest relationship between LAI and SWC occurred in the heavily thinned plot (R² = 0.715 in 2021), while correlations were weak or transient in the mildly thinned and control plots. These results indicate that PCT intensity influences both the magnitude and duration of LAI reduction and is associated with differences in stand water dynamics. Appropriately adjusted thinning may therefore modestly affect water availability and could contribute to adaptive management of spruce forests under GCC.

This paper investigates the effect of pre-COVID credit constraints and the moderating role of government support on agribusiness resilience following the outbreak of COVID-19. Using a dataset covering 42 countries, we provide empirical evidence on how firm characteristics and credit constraints affect agribusinesses’ likelihood of survival and performance during the pandemic. On the enterprise level, size, foreign ownership and gender of the manager are found to display a statistically significant relationship with closure and sales performance. The findings reveal that pre-existing credit constraints tended to magnify the negative impacts of the pandemic. Specifically, agribusinesses with better access to finance were less likely to experience a decline in sales and exit from the market and, hence, were in a better position to withstand pandemic-induced shock. The results further highlighted the positive role of government support on agribusiness resilience, whereas obtaining government aid was found to have no significant effect on moderating the link between financial conditions and resilience. Finally, the results showed that financially constrained agribusinesses are more likely to suffer from liquidity/cash flow problems and experience overdue financial obligations during the pandemic. In coping with their liquidity shortfalls, these agribusinesses were less likely to access formal credit and more likely to delay payments to suppliers/workers.

In Eastern Europe, near-natural forest patches are decreasing and are gradually replaced by non-native plantations. Tree plantations are commonly thought to be simple ecosystems with low conservation value, although this conclusion is mainly based on simple taxonomic diversity indices, which ignore functional and phylogenetic diversity. In this study, our objective was to compare species composition, diagnostic species, taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, as well as naturalness status between two near-natural forest types (Quercus-Tilia and Populus alba) and two common plantation types (non-native Pinus sylvestris and non-native Robinia pseudoacacia) in the Deliblato Sands, Serbia. Our results showed that the species composition significantly differed in the four habitats. Each habitat had some species that were significantly concentrated in them. Most of the diagnostic species in the Quercus-Tilia forests were forest specialist plant species, while those in Populus alba forests were species associated with warmer and drier habitats, whereas the plantations hosted diagnostic species with broader ecological tolerances. Native species richness, total species diversity, and functional and phylogenetic diversity were similar in the four studied habitats, which can be explained by the combined effects of light regime and naturalness. We assessed low naturalness (i.e. high degradation) in plantations, which can be expected to reduce diversity. However, higher light availability was probably able to compensate for this effect. Non-native plantations, especially Robinia pseudoacacia plantations, were the most degraded and hosted the highest non-native species richness, implying that they are ecologically undesirable. In light of our results, we suggest that near-natural forest stands should be protected and efforts to restore these forests should be given high priority. Furthermore, it is advisable to continue with a forestry strategy that involves replacing non-native plantations with native ones, such as Tilia tomentosa, in the Deliblato Sands.

The paper deals with the assessment of the influence of the length of cold stratification period on the germination parameters of seeds of wild service tree [Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz]. The germination tests (4 × 100 seeds) were conducted in two runs in 2020 and 2021; they were performed for three seed lots and three cold stratification periods (two, three and four months) before the testing of germination in each run. The values of germination energy and germination capacity were assessed, and the germination rate was computed. The results showed that the two-month cold stratification period has not been sufficient to overcome the dormancy of tested seeds. Regardless of the year in which the tests were conducted, seeds stratified for two months showed almost zero germination. For seeds treated with three- and four-month cold stratification, the germination percentage varied from ca. 5% to 32% and from ca. 13% to 46%, respectively. Our results basically correspond with findings reported in the reviewed literature. In 2020, the seeds subjected to four-month stratification performed significantly better than the seeds subjected to three-month stratification. However, in 2021, the seeds stratified for three months reached slightly better results. Four-month stratification also led to an increased percentage of prematurely germinated seeds during stratification. To conclude, the two-month period of cold stratification proved to be insufficient and at least three months of cold stratification are needed to obtain the adequate germination of seeds in subsequent laboratory tests.

Growth inhibition and time-kill properties of Hallabong, Redhyang, Cheonhyehyang, and orange peel essential oils against foodborne pathogens were evaluated. Hallabong, Redhyang, Cheonhyehyang, and orange peel essential oils prolonged the lag phase of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Shigella sonnei, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus for > 24 h and extended the lag phase by 4–24 h against other food poisoning bacteria. Citrus fruit peel essential oil and their constituents after 12 and 24 h of incubation showed almost complete growth inhibition against all foodborne pathogens, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hallabong, Redhyang, Cheonhyehyang, and orange peel essential oils exhibited > 40% killing activity against B. cereus, B. subtilis, and S. sonnei, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus after 12 and 24 h of incubation. Additionally, B. subtilis showed the highest microbial killing rate of over 16% per hour, followed by Vibrio sp. Hallabong, Redhyang, Cheonhyehyang, and orange peel essential oil are anticipated to replace chemical preservatives against foodborne pathogens.

The somatic cell count (SCC) in raw milk is an important indicator of health and hygienic quality. Artificial reduction of the SCC (ARSCC) in milk, for the apparent improvement of milk quality for commercial reasons, is an undesirable phenomenon and a violation of authenticity both in the factual sense and legislatively. Analytical methods need to be developed to identify ARSCC as well as to assess the effects that ARSCC may have on milk. The aim of the work was to quantify the effects of ARSCC on cow’s milk as a food raw material. The results presented are some of the first on the given problem. Raw bulk tank cow milk was sampled in two experiments, each time for the whole year (2021–2022 and 2023–2024, n = 66 and n = 53, respectively) from herds of Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein cows, 1 : 1. ARSCC in experiment 1 (n = 66) slightly reduced the fat content, in experiment 2 (n = 53) it did not, otherwise the milk indicators with the exception of SCC were almost (1) and completely (2) identical. All samples were negative for the presence of inhibitory substance residues. ARSCC under the specified technological conditions reduced SCC (1) from 772 ± 906 10³/ml to 376 ± 630 10³/ml, by –51.3% (P < 0.001) and (2) from 592 ± 798 10³/ml to 304 ± 468 10³/ml, by –48.5% (P < 0.001). Under these circumstances, the milk fermentation ability improved (1) from 28.52 ± 4.72 °SH to 31.0 ± 4.65 °SH, by 8.66% (P < 0.001) and (2) from 32.51 ± 2.61 °SH to 33.80 ± 2.88 °SH, by 3.97% (P < 0.001). Curd firmness was better for SCC ≤ 400 10³/ml compared to higher SCC by 5.26% (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, it is not possible, for hygienic and health reasons, to allow such milk for human consumption and it is necessary to find effective identification analytical methods for ARSCC.

Sheep production represents an important source of income for farmers in Türkiye; however, reproductive inefficiencies during the anoestrus period pose a major challenge to productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of injectable trace minerals (copper, selenium, manganese, and zinc) on the reproductive performance of Awassi ewes synchronised during the anoestrous period. A total of 200 clinically healthy ewes were randomly allocated to two groups: the trace mineral group (TRACE, n = 100), which received 2 ml of a trace mineral solution 14 days before oestrus synchronisation, and the control group (CON, n = 100), which received 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl. Oestrus was synchronised using intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 12 days, followed by administration of 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin at sponge removal. Ewes were hand-mated for five days following synchronisation. Variables assessed included serum trace mineral concentrations, response to synchronisation, and reproductive outcomes (oestrus rate, pregnancy rate, lambing rate, incidence of multiple births, and dystocia). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between groups in serum concentrations of copper, zinc, or manganese. Although the duration of oestrus was significantly longer in the TRACE group compared to control (29.66 ± 0.96 h vs 26.09 ± 0.89 h; P = 0.006), all other reproductive indicators were similar between groups. These findings suggest that a single pre-synchronisation injection of trace minerals does not significantly improve the reproductive performance or mineral status in anoestrous Awassi ewes. Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing and dosing strategies for supplementing trace minerals in sheep.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the difference in the production of ecosystem services depending on the management method using a selected sample of fishponds from the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic and subsequently monetarily to assess this difference. Using 16 fishponds over a 10-year period, the research evaluates key services such as biodiversity conservation, water purification, and fish production, employing the opportunity cost of foregone profits methodology. The results reveal that ecologically managed fishponds provide enhanced ecosystem services at a financial trade-off, with an average annual profit difference of EUR 142 per hectare compared to conventional management. This trade-off translates to a present value of EUR 1 288 per hectare over a decade, reflecting the additional societal value of ecosystem services from ecological management. The findings underscore the economic and ecological challenges faced by stakeholders, particularly fish farmers, in balancing conservation goals with economic viability.

This study investigates the impact of supplementing extruded flaxseed to the diet of yearling bulls during the indoor fattening on beef carcass quality, meat composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty male crossbred calves (Holstein × Simmental) were divided into two groups: control group and flaxseed-supplemented group, each with 10 calves. The control group received a conventional diet, while the flaxseed group was fed the same diet enriched with 5% extruded flaxseed on a dry-matter basis. The study revealed no significant differences in growth performance, carcass weight, or yield between the two groups. However, the flaxseed-supplemented group exhibited a higher intramuscular fat content, which was likely due to the increased energy intake from the flaxseed lipid content. Additionally, flaxseed supplementation improved the fatty acid profile of beef by increasing the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and reducing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) percentage and the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Despite these improvements, the study did not reveal any significant increase in the proportion of n-3 fatty acids in the meat. These findings suggest that while flaxseed supplementation enhances the nutritional profile of beef, further research is needed to optimise the balance of energy intake to maximise the increase in n-3 fatty acids.

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.

Stem canker of Rosa pendulina, collected in south-eastern Switzerland (canton of Graubünden) in August 2022, was studied in details. The causal agent of the disease was first identified as Valseutypella tristicha (Valsaceae, Diaporthales, Ascomycota) based on microscopic characteristics. The subsequent molecular analysis classified it into the genus Cytospora and indicated that it is identical with C. rosicola, described from China in 2020 based on the molecular data, however, V. tristicha is an older name than C. rosicola, so this has priority. Thus, a new combination of the name is proposed for this fungus.

Soil phosphorus plays an important role in the soil ecological environment and sustainable development of the fruit industry in the soil hilly region of southern China, but the impact of different mulching measures on soil available phosphorus and phosphorus fractions in orchards remains unclear. In this study, soil basic physicochemical properties, available phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus fractions and their interrelationships under natural grass cover (NG), film mulch (FM) and clean tillage (CK) in orchards were explored. Compared to CK treatment, both FM and NG treatments have been shown to increase the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and available nitrogen (AN). Additionally, compared with the FM treatment, the NG treatment increased total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), and soil acid phosphatase (S-ACP), resulting in greater improvements in soil fertility. The NG treatment increased the contents of aluminium-bound phosphate (Al-P) and iron-bound phosphate (Fe-P) in the 0–40 cm soil layer, whereas the FM treatment decreased the contents of Fe-P and Al-P and increased the content of occluded phosphate (O-P). Compared with the CK treatment, the NG treatment significantly increased the available phosphorus in the 0–40 cm soil layer, whereas the FM treatment significantly decreased it. Redundancy analysis revealed that pH and S-ACP were the main factors affecting soil phosphorus components. Al-P, Fe-P, and S-ACP were the three factors with the highest correlations with available phosphorus. However, according to multiple stepwise analyses, only Al-P was directly related to available phosphorus. Overall, in the southeast hilly orchards, the NG treatment improved soil nutrient and enzyme activity and is considered an effective strategy to increase the biological effectiveness of phosphorus while reducing leaching losses.

Moisture content regulation of root crops is crucial in post-harvest processing operations, not only in the price stipulation but also to avoid aflatoxin contamination. To prolong their storage life, they are processed into dried chips to extend their usability in feed formulations and starches. In this study, we use the capacitance-based method to evaluate the performance of an analogue-based electronic meter for the cassava, sweet potato, and taro chips. The meter was calibrated against the oven-drying method, yielding high R² values of the different root crops. The established calibration models were validated and revealed high R² values with 0.9580 for the cassava, 0.9958 for the sweet potato, and 0.9798 for the taro. The trendline equations are y = 59.44x^0.56, y = 54.38x^0.47, and y = 52.94x^0.62, respectively. The results revealed that the moisture meter is capable of reading the moisture content on a weight basis (% MC_wb) with accuracy and reliability at specified limits of 8% < x < 69% for the cassava, 15% < x < 59% for the sweet potato, and 9% < x < 57% for the taro. This study presents the performance of a portable analogue-based moisture meter as a reliable and accessible solution to small-scale operations, especially for farmers, offering an on-site rapid moisture content measurement in root crop processing.

This paper analyses the accounting and tax treatment of forests as biological assets in the Czech Republic under Act No. 563/1991 Coll., on Accounting, and its implementing regulations. It compares national approaches with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), focusing on the International Accounting Standard IAS 41 – Agriculture. A comparative-analytical method was used to identify key differences in classification, valuation, and reporting practices. Czech legislation values forests at historical cost and classifies them as non-depreciable land, whereas IFRS requires fair value measurement, capturing biological transformation and the economic potential of forest ecosystems. The findings show that while the Czech framework ensures legal clarity and tax alignment, it lacks integration with environmental accounting frameworks such as the United Nations System of Integrated Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) and does not reflect ecosystem services or ESG (environmental, social, governance) reporting needs. In contrast, IFRS provides a dynamic representation of forest assets, supporting transparency and comparability in international contexts. The study contributes to the ongoing harmonisation debate by offering recommendations to improve the alignment of Czech accounting with international standards, thus supporting sustainable forest management and enhancing investment credibility. Its originality lies in combining legislative analysis with international practice review, highlighting the gap between ecological value and financial reporting in forestry.