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A choice experiment (CE) is a stated preference method to elicit the respondent's preference. The CE can predict consumer valuation for a hypothetical product's attributes. Many scholars have discussed the CE's design, analysis, reliability, and validity. Still, no scientific papers reviewed its application in agri-food studies in a broad spectrum, particularly in investigating food product categories and their attributes. Additionally, this review emphasises the technical aspects of CEs, such as the sample size, software, data analysis, and research implications. The result discovered that most CE studies are relevant to developed countries. Most reviewed studies observed wine and meat as objects in the CE studies, in the theme of health, food safety, origin, and sustainability. The future research trend was related to health benefits and natural ingredients. Thus, this review provides recommendations for future studies to explore consumer preference using CE in agri-food research.

We studied sessile oak (Quercus petraea) growing on six dry sites to understand adaptability responses to drought stress. Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) on a moderately dry site was tested in parallel. We analyzed accessions from mostly dry sites that were less sensitive to soil drought and found that the growth performance ranking was not the same before and after treatment. We used phenological plasticity approaches to study seed development and plant development before and after drought: the treatments included stem length, root length, and collar diameter, as well as dry above- and below-ground biomass performance. Additionally, after drought treatment, osmolytes and root surface were tested in Q. petraea. According to the analyses and results, the ranked sites did not maintain their ranking status, with Q. petraea exhibiting different rates of growth during each developmental stage from seed development until the end of the treatment of plant material. The smallest seeds came from the driest site, which may indicate more adaptability to drought stress. After drought treatment, large differences were found between the dry biomass performance, stem length, root length, and collar diameter of oaks grown on different sites. The osmolality of Q. petraea on most of the dry sites was higher under the reduced treatment than under the optimal treatment, but not significantly. After drought treatment, all accessions - and especially those from the driest site - showed large differences in growth performance between the treatments. The relationship between seed weight and seedling development before and after drought treatment differed according to the developmental stage.

Solanum commersonii shows tolerance to low temperatures, a key target trait for potato breeding. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CIPKs) play a significant role in plant defence response to several stresses, including cold. In this study, we observed the expression of ScCIPK1, ScCIPK3, ScCIPK23 and ScCIPK24 in S. commersonii exposed to 4 °C at multiple time intervals. Initial findings revealed that these genes were under-expressed after 10 and 30 minutes of cold stress, except ScCIPK3. Notably, after 24 hours, all genes displayed higher expression levels compared to the non-stressed controls. These findings highlight the role of ScCIPK3 in the early stages of cold response and indicate a coordinated regulatory mechanism across CIPKs that likely contributes to the cold stress tolerance observed in S. commersonii. In this work, we introduce a model to elucidate the signalling crosstalk under cold stress in S. commersonii, providing insights that could facilitate the development of cold-resistant potato cultivars.

The aim of our three consecutive years (2017-2019) field trial was to obtain information as to the effect of weather conditions of the actual year as well as to assess the impact of some technological parameters such as fertilisation, the choice on the hybrid type on the yield parameters, phytosanitary conditions and mycotoxin contamination of maize. According to our results, the climatic characteristics of the years, the examined hybrid characters (FAO 310 and 490) and the fact of N-fertilisation had significant effects on yield parameters and grain moisture content. The additional N-supply did not affect the development or severity of stem rot in any of the hybrid effects. In this respect, the year effect appeared to be the decisive factor since much higher stem rot values were recorded in the plots of the longer growing season hybrids. Among the mycotoxins examined, only zearalenone and fumonisin found in the harvest were significantly influenced by the effect of the year, the length of the growing season as well as nutrient replenishment. It can be stated that the applied technological parameters have a major effect on the expression of this toxin load in maize. Dry maize stocks that have lost their water in the vegetation are predisposing factors for toxin accumulation. N-content of soil and that of plants can play a different role in mycotoxin accumulation in maize plants.

The aim of this study was to analyse the conformation traits and body dimensions of Haflinger mares registered in the Czech Republic studbook. The study focused on the effects of age at studbook entry, year of birth, proportion of Arabian genes, and country of origin on various parameters. Data were collected from 825 mares, including scores obtained during the studbook entry evaluation and body measurements such as withers height measured with a stick (WHS), withers height measured with a tape (WHT), chest girth (CG), and cannon bone circumference (CBC). Based on these data, the bone index (BI) and body massiveness index (MI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post-hoc testing method. The results showed that the age at studbook entry significantly affected conformation scores, chest girth, cannon bone circumference, and both indices (MI, BI). Mares aged 3–4 years had significantly higher conformation scores compared to mares aged 5–6 years (P = 0.001) and mares aged 7 years and older (P = 0.000). Mares aged 5–6 years and those aged 7 years and older showed higher CG values (P = 0.002, P = 0.000) and CBC values (P = 0.010, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the year of birth had a highly significant impact on all variables studied. The withers height of mares born between 2011 and 2020 was, on average, 3.49 cm higher (144.84 cm) than that of mares born between 1987 and 2000 (141.35 cm) (P < 0.000). Regarding CG, a statistically significant increase was observed in mares born in 1987–2000 and 2001–2010, with chest girth increasing from 180.45 cm to 183.76 cm (P = 0.016). However, a subsequent decrease to 179.91 cm was noted in mares born between 2011 and 2020 (P = 0.002). The influence of the proportion of Arabian genes was significant for WHS, where mares with a higher proportion of Arabian genes (>1.56%) showed lower WHS (141.74 cm) compared to mares with a lower proportion (143.86 cm) or no Arabian genes (143.01 cm). While ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect of Arabian genes on CBC, Scheffe’s post-hoc test did not confirm this finding. No statistically significant differences were observed in other body dimensions based on the proportion of Arabian genes. The influence of the country of origin was statistically significant for all variables except WHS and WHT. Regarding the conformation scores, mares from the Czech Republic scored lower (6.98) than Austrian mares (7.22, P = 0.000). Additionally, CG was significantly lower in Austrian mares (178.58 cm) compared to Czech mares (182.54 cm, P = 0.000). Austrian mares also had significantly lower MI (P = 0.000) and BI (P = 0.040), with Austrian indices at 124.71/13.31 and Czech indices at 127.77/13.41. Based on this empirical evaluation of the current and original population of Haflingers in the Czech Republic, the connections and influence of individual factors during breeding are revealed. The results of our analysis have built an objective scientific basis and they allow the breeding organisation to determine the further breeding process.

Ascochyta blight, caused by a complex of pathogenic fungi including Didymella pinodes, Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma pinodella, is a major disease of field pea (Pisum sativum), causing severe losses through lesions on leaves, stems, and pods. Mutation breeding using gamma irradiation is a non-GMO strategy to induce genetic variation and accelerate the development of improved genotypes. In this study, the M₂ generation of the forage pea cultivar Dodoni (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense), derived from M₀ seeds irradiated with 100 Gy, was evaluated for tolerance to D. pinodes (CBS 251.47) using a detached-leaf assay under controlled greenhouse conditions. Disease progression was quantified via image-based analysis on the 3^rd and 5^th days post-infection, calculating diseased area and disease severity index. Extensive phenotypic evaluation was also conducted on 16 families in the greenhouse and 100 families under field conditions, using an augmented incomplete block design. Screening revealed several M₂ families with significantly improved tolerance compared to non-irradiated controls. Among these, some individuals combined enhanced resistance with improved yield-related traits, such as higher pod number and biomass, while others exhibited reduced agronomic performance. These findings highlight the phenotypic diversity induced by gamma irradiation and demonstrate the potential to generate dual-purpose pea genotypes with both disease resistance and enhanced productivity, providing valuable material for future breeding of resilient cultivars.

Seedling quality is an important input affecting the outplanted seedling performance. Morphological attributes and association with symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi belong to influential traits determining seedling quality. In this study, the effect of pre-sowing applied commercial additives Ectovit (containing hydrogel and ECM fungi), Mycorrhizaroots (ECM fungi and nutrients) and Vetozen (natural mineral fertilizer) on the growth and ectomycorrhiza formation of Norway spruce seedlings grown in nutrient-poor pure peat in an open nursery site was assessed. Two-year-old bareroot seedlings were transplanted into containers. No significant growth differences were detected between treatments for 1 + 0 seedlings but the values of growth parameters (root collar diameter; stem height; shoot, root and total dry weight) of Ectovit-inoculated seedlings were significantly higher than those in the other treatments including the control after the second (2 + 0 seedlings) and the third growing season (2 + 1). Root-to-shoot dry weight ratio and number of root tips were distinctly higher after the third year compared to the previous two years but they were not significantly different between treatments. Mycorrhizaroots and Vetozen did not have any significant effect on seedling development. Although the occurrence of treatment-specific ECM morphotype was detected in Ectovit-inoculated seedlings, the high total ECM colonization of roots in all treatments including the control indicated a crucial impact of naturally occurring fungi on ectomycorrhiza formation.

Cucumber anthracnose is a destructive fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare. Common control strategies include chemical fungicides. However, this can lead to the development of pathogenic resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to identify natural compounds or microorganisms to develop new chemicals and the biological control of fungal pathogens. Isolate GT2, a bacterial isolate from soil samples collected in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, significantly inhibited in vitro mycelial growth and conidial germination of C. orbiculare, indicating a fungicidal effect against this pathogen. Furthermore, anthracnose lesion formation was significantly suppressed without phytotoxicity when cucumber leaves were pretreated with a cell culture suspension of the isolate GT2 before inoculation with C. orbiculare. Bioautography of the culture filtrate (CF) of the isolate GT2 using thin-layer chromatography showed that the compound inhibiting C. orbiculare growth had an Rf value of 0.38. The effective compound in GT2-CF was ethyl acetate insoluble and heat-stable at 121 °C and has a molecular weight larger than 1 000 Da. In conclusion, Paenibacillus polymyxa GT2 demonstrated the potential for developing a new fungicide and biological agent against anthracnose disease caused by C. orbiculare.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus zeae LB2 on the gut microbiota in piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Thirty-two healthy 7-day-old piglets were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control group (basal diet), LB2 group (supplemented with 1 × 10⁸ CFU/pig/day L. zeae LB2), ETEC group (infected with 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/pig/day ETEC) and ETEC+LB2 group (LB2 supplementation + ETEC infection). Intestinal contents were collected for DNA extraction and Illumina sequencing. Significant result was observed for alpha diversity in the four intestinal sections, and both ETEC infection and LB2 supplementation showed a higher Chao1 alpha diversity. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the healthy piglets, while Proteobacteria were dominant in the ETEC-infected piglets. At the genus level, ETEC infection decreased the abundance of Prevotella, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Flavobacterium, and Sutterella and increased the abundance of Actinobacillus. The LB2 supplementation reduced the abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Actinobacillus, Porphyromonas, and Alloprevotella, and increased the abundance of Prevotella and Lactobacillus. Both ETEC infection and LB2 supplementation affected several functional pathways associated with cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, diseases, metabolism, and organismal systems. In summary, ETEC infection induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in piglets, while L. zeae supplementation could positively regulate the gut microbiome during ETEC infection. Therefore, L. zeae LB2 may be an ideal probiotic for the prevention or treatment of ETEC infection.

Forests play a significant role for maintaining the biodiversity. In order to manage sustainable forests, tree species history, distribution, and their future prospects are vital. Using standardized quantitative approaches, the age, radial growth, and size class distribution of Abies pindrow (Himalayan fir) were determined from three different altitudinal sites (i.e. high, middle, and lower). The results indicate that Himalayan fir growing in the high-altitude site (Ayubia, 2 917 m a.s.l.) of moist temperate forests of the Himalayan mountains showed lower radial growth (0.13 cm) than in the middle (Bara Gali, 2 617 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.13 cm) and lower (Kuldana, 2 455 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.22 cm) altitude sites. Correlation analysis demonstrated that age showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) with diameter at breast height. The tree-ring width chronology (totally 80 core samples) of Himalayan fir was developed from moist temperate forests of Himalayan mountains of Pakistan. At Ayubia site it possesses a long time-span (1703-2020 C.E.), followed by Bara Gali (1862-2020 C.E.) and Kuldana (1864-2020 C.E.). Further, the tree-ring width (TRW) chronology of Ayubia showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with May and June temperature, and a significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) with June and October precipitation, indicating that summer temperatures are the key factor for the radial growth of Himalayan fir. For the Kuldana site, the response of TRW chronology to temperature and precipitation was the same, however, it was significant only for June temperature at Bara Gali. The size class distribution of the high-altitude region (Ayubia) showed a higher number of individuals than the lower altitude region, indicating the lowest disturbance conditions. The absence of individuals in the early size classes and the gap in middle and mature size classes indicate a lower regeneration potential and anthropogenic impact. The pointer year analysis indicated that the Bara Gali forest is more sensitive to abnormal climate events than the other sites. Based on the present study, we suggest that proper attention and conservation strategy should be provided to Himalayan fir growing in the moist temperate forests of Pakistan.

The post-harvest process at the storage stage is one of the most critical processes for maintaining soybean seed quality. The type of packaging and the type of material stored will affect its shelf life. One type of packaging has specific properties that are different from other types of packaging. Therefore, this study used several types of packaging materials and soybean varieties to determine changes in its quality during storage. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 4 × 7 factorial experiment in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, consisting of totally 140 treatment combinations involving five different types of packaging materials. Water content, the weight of 100 grains, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity (EC), and germination percentage were assessed monthly. The factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare water content, the weight of 100 grains, EC, germination, and seedling dry weight. A qualitative descriptive analysis method was employed for the temperature and relative humidity of the storage room. The results showed that Grobogan had the lowest germination percentage of 84.85% compared to the other varieties (86.97-90.82%). Plastic sack resulted in the most inferior seed quality (82.00% for plastic sack vs. 88.23-90.17% for the other containers). A more extended storage period of soybean seeds caused a decrease in soybean quality for all varieties and packaging materials. Up to 6 months of storage at room temperature, the quality of soybean seeds remained high, with the lowest germination of 80%.

Due to the length of egg-laying period (> 80 days), two applications of insecticides against cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus Marsh.) are currently needed. However, resistance of pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus F.) to pyrethroids complicates the choice of suitable insecticide for the second application. The active ingredients cypermethrin, etofenprox, pymetrozine, indoxacarb and chlorpyrifos-ethyl applied as second spring applications to winter oilseed rape crops were assessed under field conditions from 2016 to 2018 to ascertain how they could reinforce the effects of the first spring application (beta-cyfluthrin) on cabbage stem weevil. Chlorpyrifos-ethyl and etofenprox strengthened the effects of the first spring spray on cabbage stem weevil markedly more than cypermethrin. Pymetrozine and indoxacarb, effective on resistant populations of pollen beetles, showed the lowest contribution to increase the effects. Indoxacarb showed a low effect on C. pallidactylus in laboratory tests too. The impacts of the bans on active ingredients chlorpyrifos-ethyl and pymetrozine are discussed.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an infectious pathogenic bacteria infecting many different species of animals. Currently, it lacks a commercial vaccine. In this study, three monovalent DNA vaccines (poprL, poprF, and pflgE), three bivalent combination DNA vaccines (poprL+poprF, poprL+pflgE, poprF+pflgE), and a trivalent DNA vaccine (poprL+poprF+pflgE) were constructed. Consequently, we immunised chickens with these DNA vaccines and used inactivated vaccines as the positive controls. Then, the immune efficacy was evaluated through serum antibody detection, a lymphocyte proliferation assay, and cytokine concentration determination. Lastly, we assessed the protection rate through a challenge experiment. Following vaccination, the serum antibody levels induced using these DNA vaccines were different due to the different coating antigens. In the trivalent combination DNA vaccine group, we established that the lymphocyte proliferation (SI values), IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 levels were significantly higher than those of the other six DNA vaccine groups and the inactivated vaccine group. However, the protection provided was slightly lower than that of the inactivated vaccine and higher than those of other DNA vaccines. The protection rate of poprL, poprF, pflgE, poprL+poprF, poprL+pflgE, poprF+pflgE, poprL+poprF+pflgE, and the inactivated vaccine were 50, 45, 60, 75, 80, 80, 90, and 95%, respectively. The results of this study indicated the trivalent DNA vaccine based on oprL, oprF and flgE genes represents a promising approach for the prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

The current study presents the first documented interaction between the date palm scale insect (Parlatoria blanchardi) and the black rats (Rattus rattus). For a year, this study investigated whether R. rattus could serve as a means of phoresy for the survival of P. blanchardi and the potential risks associated with its spread to date palm stands. Our research revealed a prevalence rate of P. blanchardi on R. rattus of 5.79% during the year, while a higher rate of 9.33% was observed during a specific five-month period. The mean infestation intensity was 3.39 parasites/rat during these five months. Statistical data revealed a highly significant difference in the distribution of the three age classes of P. blanchardi among the age categories of R. rattus (χ² = 62.067, df = 24, P = 3.244e–05). Furthermore, rat age classes differed significantly in their P. blanchardi infestation levels (χ² = 18.246, df = 3, P = < 0.001). The Negative Binomial Mixed Model showed a significant positive effect of temperature [(generalised linear mixed-effects models (GLMM): z (estimate/standard error) = 3.13, P < 0.01)] and sex (male) (GLMM: z = 2.22, P < 0.001) on insect abundance. These findings suggest that black rats may represent a previously unknown form of phoresy for the survival of the date palm scale insect, emphasising the need for further research to investigate this novel ecological interaction and its potential implications for pest management.

Phytoplasma-like symptoms of leaf yellowing and calyx malformation were observed in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), upward leaves and fruit malformation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and aerial tuber formation in potato (S. tuberosum L.) during the survey performed in the late season (August to September) of 2015 and 2016 in Van province (Turkey). A total of 100 samples were tested by nested-PCR using universal primer pairs to assess the sanitary status of the solanaceous crops and to characterise the phytoplasma isolates. Among them, seven samples resulted in a 1.25 kb DNA fragment, and five (two eggplants, two peppers, and one potato) were molecularly characterised (Accession No.: KY579357, KT595210, MF564267, MF564266, and MH683601). BLAST and the virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed the presence of two distinct phytoplasma infections in solanaceous crops: 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' a member of the clover proliferation group (16SrVI) and subgroup A and 'Candidatus P. solani' a member of the stolbur group (16SrXII) and subgroup A. The virtual RFLP analysis and calculated coefficients of RFLP pattern similarities further revealed a remarkable genetic diversity among the 'Candidatus P. solani' isolates infecting pepper (similarity coefficient of 0.90) and eggplant (similarity coefficients of 0.98 and 1.00) at the same geographical area. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of 'Candidadtus P. trifolii' in potato from the Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey.

Feed efficiency (FE) is one of the most essential traits in dairy cattle, primarily due to the high cost of feed, which constitutes a significant portion of dairy herd expenses. Unfortunately, assessing FE in individual cows requires precise measurement of feed consumption, a labour-intensive and expensive process that is impractical for group-fed cows on production farms. Efforts have been made to predict FE or, more precisely, dry matter intake (DMI), using predictors such as a body weight (BW), milk yield (MY), and milk composition. Recently, Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy has been proposed as a tool to enhance the accuracy of DMI prediction. This paper reviews the application of FT-MIR milk spectroscopy for deriving FE phenotype in dairy cattle. FT-MIR is a reliable and widely used method for routine analysis of milk components. In FE phenotyping, predictive equations often incorporate FT-MIR alongside other traits such as BW, MY, milk composition, herd, breed, days in milk, and pregnancy. The most commonly used mathematical approaches are partial least squares (PLS) regression and artificial neural networks (ANN). Prediction accuracy varies across studies, depending on the mathematical method and model employed. Predictions based solely on FT-MIR data have demonstrated moderate accuracy (coefficient of determination), ranging from 0.19 to 0.40. However, integrating all data sources including MY, milk composition, FT-MIR, and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) is crucial and results in higher accuracy, with reported values ranging from 0.03 to 0.81.

The aim of the present study was to compare carcass characteristics and meat quality of fast- (Ross 308), medium- (Hubbard JA757) and slow-growing (ISA Dual) chickens (n = 1 980). When the chickens reached an average live weight of 2 kg, 40 birds (males to females, 1 : 1) of each genotype were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass analysis. Pectoralis major (PM) muscle samples were taken to determine the physical and chemical parameters of the meat quality. The fast- and medium-growing genotypes had higher (+3.24% and +3.84%, respectively) dressing out percentages than the slow-growing chickens. As expected, the breast percentage significantly decreased in the order of fast growth > medium growth > slow growth. The abdominal fat percentage was the lowest in Ross 308 chickens, but the abdominal fat percentage in JA757 and ISA Dual chickens did not differ. For edible organs, fast- and medium-growing chickens had heavier hearts and livers than slow-growing chickens. In contrast, ISA Dual chickens showed heavier gizzards. Genotype dramatically affected the chemical composition of PM muscle. The ISA Dual chickens exhibited a significantly higher proportion of dry matter and protein and lower ether extract and cholesterol content than Ross 308 chickens, with intermediate values for JA757 chickens. The ISA Dual group had a lower ash content than Ross 308 and JA757 groups. In terms of physical parameters, the ISA Dual chickens had higher lightness and yellowness and lower redness, pH 24, and cooking loss than those of the other genotypes. Concerning all genotypes, the shear force values increased from fast- to slow-growing chickens. In conclusion, this study found a difference between the genotypes. Although the slow-growing chickens showed the lowest dressing out and breast percentages compared with the other genotypes, the breast meat of the slow-growing chickens had more favourable nutritional properties.

Alpine meadows, one of the most widespread and important vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, are facing severe degradation. This study examines how degradation affects soil medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, along with their relationships with plant traits and soil properties. Results indicate that alpine meadow degradation significantly reduces vegetation coverage, height, biomass, soil water content (SWC), and the levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), while increasing soil bulk density (BD), pH, and potassium (K) content. Soil Ca, Zn, and Mo decrease with degradation, whereas Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Co increase, with Ca, Fe, and Mn showing the strongest changes. Correlation and redundancy analyses indicate that aboveground biomass, SWC, SOC, N, and P positively correlate with Ca, Mo, and Zn, while pH, BD, and K associate with Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, and Cu. Therefore, alpine meadow degradation significantly influences the distribution of certain soil physicochemical properties and medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Meanwhile, these medium and trace elements are also affected by specific soil physicochemical properties. Future grassland restoration should consider not only macronutrients and basic soil properties but also key elements like Ca, Fe, and Mn. This study provides foundational data for the ecological restoration of degraded alpine meadows.

Drought is a major abiotic stressor that limits crop growth and is often associated with oxidative stress. We evaluated whether foliar silicon (Si) application affects primary root anatomy, plant height, and phenolic metabolism in three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cultivars (La Harpe, Panda, and Smuga) exposed to water deficit. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in four treatments: control; drought; control + Si, and drought + Si. Qualitative anatomical assessment revealed that Si promoted more advanced development of the primary root central cylinder, most notably in La Harpe under drought conditions, where a continuous ring of secondary xylem and a well-developed pith were observed. Drought significantly reduced plant height in all cultivars; Si partially alleviated this reduction in La Harpe and Panda, but not in Smuga. Drought generally increased total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic acid content (PAC) in both leaves and roots, and Si further enhanced these responses, with the highest values under drought + Si. Overall, the results indicate cultivar-dependent effectiveness of foliar silicon (Si) and suggest that Si contributes to coordinated structural and biochemical adjustments under water deficit conditions. To assess the transferability of these responses, further verification across a broader range of genotypes and under different intensities and durations of drought is warranted.

Identification of the species for dendrochronological studies is of great relevance to understand various aspects of climate change. However, in the northwestern Himalayan region, dendroclimatological investigations are confined to conifer species, with broadleaved species being disregarded. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the growth response of seven multipurpose tree species (MPTs), namely Bauhinia variegata, Celtis australis, Grewia optiva, Paulownia fortunei, Toona ciliata, Ulmus villosa and Melia composita to local climate variables, viz. temperature as well as rainfall (seasonal, monthly, average) and CO2 level by evaluating the climatic signal in tree ring chronologies at Solan district, India (altitude 1 250 m) in the mid-hills of the northwestern Himalayas. The results indicated that only the maximum, rainy season temperature and CO2 level varied significantly (P < 0.05) between 1991 and 2017. Only G. optiva exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) tendency toward increased growth. C. australis has a remarkable negative correlation with temperature variables, viz. average, maximum, spring season, March temperature, whereas T. ciliata exhibits a positive correlation with temperature variables, such as rainy season, average and April temperature. Similarly, winter, total and December rainfall have a profound effect on P. fortunei, while March rainfall adversely affected the growth of B. variegata. On the other hand, G. optiva demonstrated sensitivity to both temperature (February and May) and rainfall variables (winter, February and May). U. villosa recorded a positive correlation with rainfall (autumn and October rainfall) but a negative correlation with temperature variables (maximum and April temperature). Elevated CO2 levels affected only two species (G. optiva, M. composita) out of the seven selected species. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of the climate growth relationships of investigated tree species, as a result, to more accurate projections of the effects of climate change on these MPTs and directing future studies.

Protecting sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] seeds from rodents is crucial to ensure successful germination and emergence in activities such as artificial regeneration, afforestation, and seedling production. This study examined the effects of 12 natural or nature-identical substances, believed to have repellent properties, on the germination, emergence, and survival of sessile oak acorns under both laboratory and field conditions. Acorns were coated using a diatomaceous clay-based pellet system, and a Y-maze experiment was conducted to evaluate rodent behaviour. As a result of the research, among the tested substances, Ferulago confusa and Foeniculum vulgare were recommended as rodent repellents due to their success in laboratory and field trials. Diesel fuel + hair, a conventional repellent, showed poor performance and is not recommended. This study underscores the potential efficacy of natural or nature-identical coatings for protecting seeds from pests in forestry applications.

Diarrhoea in newborn piglets represents a significant challenge to pig production. Controlled oral exposure, also known as “feedback”, whereby sows are exposed at least two weeks before farrowing to pathogens that cause health problems in piglets, is a traditional method of diarrhoea prevention. One type of feedback involves fermenting cow’s milk with faeces from piglets suffering from diarrhoea and administering it to sows before farrowing. The bacterial composition of the faecal inoculum and fermented milk was compared in this study, and the safety of administering the fermented milk to pregnant sows was evaluated. Using microbiota characterisation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the genera Acetobacter, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus formed the core microbiota of the fermented milk. However, Clostridium perfringens accounted for up to 33% of the total microbiota in some fermented milk samples. Interestingly, the drop in pH during the later stages of fermentation inactivated C. perfringens and the samples were thus enriched for inactivated C. perfringens antigen. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the mode of action of fermented milk when used as a form of feedback.

Agriculture has lost its importance in many parts of the world, leaving peasants in a state of uncertainty regarding their social status and identity. This article uses both quantitative and qualitative data to present the changes experienced by Romanian peasants as a result of an entire series of processes which led to the loss of their place within society. Statistical data are used to illustrate the evolution of the most relevant agriculture-related indicators over the last three decades. Qualitative data are presented in order to explain how developments in agriculture were perceived by peasants. While the changes might be irreversible, the story of the 'old' class of peasants should constitute a starting point for redesigning national policies and avoiding the disintegration of an entire social class.

The city longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta) (CLB) (Coleoptera - Cerambycidae) is a polyphagous invasive pest of both healthy and suppressed broadleaved trees in central Asia. CLB causes a great degree of damage in the countries of its origin. To understand this pest in a better way, a detailed review study has been conducted to gather all the valuable information related to the CLB. This review study covers the main aspects of the CLB, its morphology, ecology, distribution, damage, and control measures. The life span of the CLB is two years. It is mainly distributed in the central Asian countries and preferably damages broadleaved tree species, especially Juglans regia, Populus alba, P. euphratica, Acer spp, Salix alba, S. babylonica, Malus pumila, M. sylvestris, Platanus orientalis and Ulmus spp. Effective control and management practices include cutting, removing + burning of infested trees, cultivating high resilient tree species, use of biocontrol agents (i.e. fungus), and use of aluminium phosphide as a pesticide to significantly help control the CLB population. A CLB invasion in a new favourable habitat could impose a serious threat to broadleaf forests and plantations. Therefore, the keen monitoring and surveying of woodland management techniques are recommended. The strict monitoring and inspection of traded wood material at airports and seaports are highly recommended. There is a need to conduct multiple research studies to profoundly understand the CLB phenology, ecology, transportation mode, and damage severity to bridge the gap.

Nutrition plays an important role in human life. So far, there have been discussions focusing on the nutritional value of individual foods, separate dishes, or daily meals. However, they have not taken into account the composition of the diet in the longer term. The aim of this work was to evaluate a full-day diet from a currently renowned company that is producing box diets on the Czech market against a full-day diet of twenty randomly selected students. The results showed that the box diet met the required amount of protein, fat, vitamin E, cholesterol, and also the optimal intake of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was only slightly increased. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content averaged 38 mg day^-1, which did not meet the current requirements. The students' full-day diet was variable, the individual differences were large. Protein intake could be assessed as sufficient in most cases. The total fat intake ranged from 21 g day^-1 to 126 g day^-1. Seven out of twenty samples would satisfy the recommendation for SFA. The content of the essential acids EPA and DHA was below the detection limit with the exception of one sample (containing herring fillets).

The leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) compose a large gene family in plant genomes and implement essential functions in diverse plant physiology progress, including defence against pathogens. However, a systematic analysis of LRR-RLKs has not been accomplished in the economically important cucumber. 189 LRR-RLK genes were identified in the cucumber genome and further divided into 22 subgroups based on the sequence similarities in this study. A total of 31 segmental duplication events and 15 tandem duplication events were present in the genome, indicating that the two duplications were the main driving forces for the expansion of the LRR-RLK family in the cucumber. The expression profile analysis revealed that most of the CsLRR-RLKs were upregulated during a downy mildew infection, and resistant cucumbers comprised more upregulated CsLRR-RLKs than the sensitive lines. Taken together, our results provided information on the LRR-RLK gene family in the cucumber and contributed valuable information for the further research of CsLRR-RLKs.

In this study, the isolation, biotyping and molecular characterisation of Brucella melitensis from cattle, sheep and goats in North Cyprus are reported on. A total of 319 raw milk samples obtained from seropositive dairy livestock (190 cattle, 74 sheep and 55 goats) and tissue samples including the liver, spleen and abomasal contents obtained from 32 aborted foetal samples (5 cattle, 18 sheep and 9 goats) were analysed for the presence and characterisation of the agent. B. melitensis was isolated and identified from 90 out of 319 (28.2%) milk and 19 out of 32 (59.4%) foetal samples by conventional bacteriological methods. Identification of all 109 isolates was confirmed by using real-time PCR with genus and species-specific primers. Following the preliminary identification, 27 selected isolates representing various counties and herds were further analysed by conventional methods. Twenty (74.1%) isolates were identified as B. melitensis biovar 1 and seven (25.9%) were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3. The Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR assay revealed that all the isolates were field strains. The results of the present study confirmed the presence of B. melitensis in livestock including the cattle population in North Cyprus. Even though the majority of the samples came from seropositive cattle, Brucella abortus was not isolated in the study. The results also revealed the potential public health risk of brucellosis in livestock emphasising the need of implementing strict control and eradication strategies against the disease in animal populations in order to protect human health.

This study investigated the effects of the dietary addition of wormwood (Artemisia montana Pampan) on growth performance, blood characteristics, carcass traits, and meat quality in growing-fattening pigs. One hundred eighty crossed pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), weighing approximately 70 kg, were divided into four groups of 15 head (eight barrows and seven gilts) per pen, and the experiment was replicated thrice. The basal diet (C) was supplemented with 0.5% (T1), 1.0% (T2), and 1.5% (T3) of dried powdered wormwood, and the pigs were fed an experimental diet for six weeks. The average daily weight gain and feed efficiency were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in treatments than in C. On the contrary, the total cholesterol concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in treatments than in C. Additionally, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and the carcass grade was better (P < 0.05) in the treatments than in C. The ether extract content of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was lower (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3 than that in C. In contrast, the unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) composition in LD muscle was higher (P < 0.05) in the treatments than in C. Additionally, the marbling and flavour of cooked meat were better (P < 0.05) in the treatments than in C. The dietary addition of wormwood increased (P < 0.05) lightness and yellowness of the surface meat colour and decreased (P < 0.05) juiciness of the LD sensory evaluation. Therefore, the dietary addition of wormwood improved growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass grade, USFA composition, and oxidation of protein and lipids in the LD muscle of growing-fattening pigs.

Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV) was detected in 116 samples out of 423 collected from strawberry plants grown in commercial and experimental plantations in seven provinces of Poland. The number of samples infected with strawberry mottle virus (SMoV) accounted for 84.6% of the 26 SMYEV-positive samples selected for sequence analysis. The nucleotide sequence similarity of the coat protein (CP) gene of 26 selected SMYEV isolates ranged from 84.8% to 100%, and 81.4–99.5% identity was found between these isolates and 48 SMYEV strains from different countries. The CP region's phylogenetic analysis showed that most isolates from Poland clustered within group I (type D74). In contrast, Talis and 3233CL isolates represented group III (type MY18), and the San isolate was clustered in group V (type ABY1-01). Recombination analysis of the CP gene sequences detected two possible recombination events. One was noticed in the Argentinian strain 53, which formed group III with isolates from Chile, and Polish isolates Talis and 3233CL. Another was identified in the Chinese strain sy02 sequence with evidence of the same recombination event in Canadian strains, and the Polish isolate San (V group). Leaf epinasty, mottling, and yellowing of the young leaves and dieback of the older leaves were observed on Fragaria vesca 'Alpine' and 'EMC' indicator plants grafted with leaves of strawberry plants co-infected with SMYEV and SMoV. A single infection with SMYEV induced milder symptoms based on these indicators. 

The susceptibility of G. pyloalis larvae to spinosad was studied using the leaf dip method. Treatment with doses of spinosad sublethal concentrations (LC₁₀, LC₂₀, LC₃₀, LC₄₀ of 0.026, 0.045, 0.065, 0.090 ppm, respectively) was applied. A significant difference in the effects was observed between the sublethal concentrations (LC₁₀, LC₂₀, LC₃₀, and LC₄₀) and the control in the content of carbohydrate and glycogen, and between the control vs. LC₃₀ and LC₄₀ in the content of protein. A significant decrease in glutathione S-transferase activity with the increase of spinosad concentration, no significant differences in the activities of α- and β-esterases, and a significant increase in the enzyme activity of phenoloxidase were observed. Effects of LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ spinosad concentrations on some biological parameters showed that percentage of larval pupation and female fecundity significantly decreased in the concentration of LC₃₀.