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The last years have seen a momentous transformation in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The focus of interventions has shifted from production toward rural development but recognising the role of farmers. Although the attitudes of farmers to CAP have long been previously studied, little attention has been focused on the views of citizens. Using data from the ‘Special Eurobarometer 520: Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP’, we sought to provide a clearer understanding of citizens’ opinions about the future of agriculture and rural areas in the European Union. In particular, we assessed rural-urban differences and examined disparities across countries, paying attention to the importance of rural development in the planned expenditure under CAP 2023–2027. The results showed that the perceived importance is higher for respondents living in rural areas and that there are disparities across countries. From a policy perspective, targeted efforts should be made in each country to address the specific challenges each country faces.

The intensification of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (black-grass) is becoming a major problem due to its growing resistance to a broad spectrum of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the resistance level of a black-grass population to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron and to identify the underlying resistance mechanism. Dose-response studies revealed that the resistance population is 22 times less sensitive to iodosulfuron plus mesosulfuron than the susceptible population. The probable resistance mechanism identified was the target-site substitution of proline (Pro) by threonine (Thr) at the 197^th position of the ALS enzyme. Furthermore, whole plant response bioassay experiments demonstrated that this population is also resistant to pinoxaden, chlorotoluron, diflufenican plus pendimethalin plus chlorotoluron, fenoxaprop and flufenacet plus diflufenican. In summary, the current findings recommend using alternative herbicides in integrated weed management to interrupt the possible evolution of herbicide resistance in these species.

Wheat flour is one of the most important sources of nutrients, and it is widely consumed worldwide as a raw ingredient in bread and other pastries. High heavy metal concentrations in the consumed wheat products could induce higher health risks. This study evaluated the heavy metal concentrations in the most available foreign and domestic wheat flour in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Iraq. The wheat flour samples were collected from different locations, and the heavy metal concentration was measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean values in wheat flour samples were roughly within the permissible limit set by Iraqi standard (IQS), GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) (GCC – Gulf Cooperation Council), Codex, and FAO/WHO. Heavy metals were detected in the descending order copper (Cu) > lead (Pb) > arsenic (As) > chromium (Cr) > nickel (Ni) > cadmium (Cd) > cobalt (Co). The results showed that wheat flour samples from the Sulaimani markets were slightly contaminated with Ni, and one domestic wheat flour sample with Pb was probably linked to fertiliser and soil contamination. It is concluded that wheat flour could be a source of chronic exposure to toxic heavy metals such as nickel and lead, resulting in adverse health issues later. Consequently, regular monitoring of soil contamination, water quality, and use of recommended levels of fertilisers and pesticides in the agricultural areas of Sulaimani are recommended.

Results of a vast research activity carried out worldwide in the last decades have demonstrated that endophytic fungi hold a fundamental role in improving plant fitness based on their aptitudes as growth promoters and/or defensive mutualists. These properties may have applicative perspectives in crop production, particularly for tree species such as hazelnut (Corylus avellana), which is mostly cropped extensively in semi-natural contexts of highland regions throughout the temperate zones. The available data on the occurrence, ecological roles, and applications in biotechnology of endophytic fungi associated with hazelnuts are revised in this paper in view to provide a reference supporting future investigations and projects aimed at exploiting the potential of this component of the plant microbiome.

In this study, we addressed the reuse of two organic waste products as fertilisers. To this end, soil fertilised with the spent mushroom substrate (SMS) or with an anaerobic digestate (DIG) was subjected to an incubation assay, and the results were compared with those from soil treated with a mineral fertiliser (MIN) and an unfertilised soil (CO). The soil was sampled after fertilisation and after 90 days of aerobic incubation. Nitrogen (N) mineralisation (NH4+ and NO3–) and oxidable carbon (OC) were determined. The impact of the treatments on the soil was evaluated by measuring the enzymatic activity of arylsulfatase (ARYL), ß-galactosidase (GAL), and urease (URE). The highest OC content was observed in the SMS treatment. After 90 days of incubation, the SMS treatment showed a lower mineral N content than the CO treatment. This finding was associated with N immobilisation. However, mineral N significantly increased ARYL activity in the DIG and MIN treatments, and URE activity was always higher at both sampling times in the SMS treatment. Initially, GAL activity was notably high in the DIG treatment but decreased after incubation, reaching similar values to those registered in the CO treatment. Organic fertilisation treatments induced different effects on soil N mineralisation, showing changes in the activity of the enzymes analysed.

Nutrition is an important part of the critical care. The goals of this prospective clinical study were to create a scoring system for the assessment of patient nutritional status and to compare continuous and intermittent bolus feeding of enteral nutrition (EN). A total of 38 patients (21 dogs and 17 cats) were divided into Group C (continuous feeding; 23 patients) and Group I (intermittent feeding; 15 patients). The following variables were recorded for each patient in both groups: gastrointestinal (GI) complications, changes in body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), muscle condition score (MCS), veterinary nutritional status score (VetNSS), length of hospitalisation and outcome. The normality of the data was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and the t-test were used in statistical analyses. Significant changes were found in VetNSS and BW between the 1^st and 5^th day in Group C. The VetNSS seems to be useful for monitoring the nutritional status of hospitalised patients. Anorectic dogs and cats can be successfully supported with either continuous or intermittent feeding methods with a similar risk of GI complications and outcomes.

Biochar is a carbonaceous material derived from the pyrolysis of carbon-rich biomass that has attracted increasing research and attention because of its ability to enhance soil carbon storage, increase soil fertility, fix and transform pollutants in soil, and improve the soil environment. These enhancements directly or indirectly affect soil microorganisms’ metabolic activities and community structure. This paper reviews the effects of biochar on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, nutrients, contaminants, and related microbial activities. In addition, this work summarises the possible mechanisms involved in the interaction between biochar and microorganisms and the potential hazards associated with biochar use. Finally, this study aims to provide a theoretical basis for future related research.

The 16-year-old female leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was presented with distended coelom and cachexia. Examination of the faecal sample ruled out the presence of protozoan parasites. A radiographic examination confirmed the presence of radiopaque foreign material in the intestine. The conservative treatment with tramadol, butylscopolamine, famotidine, vitamin B complex, and supportive fluid therapy with Hartmann solution and Duphalyte, was performed for 14 days. Ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of a large mass adherent to the liver (with hypoechoic regions), a thin-walled cystic structure close to the liver, and coelomic effusion. Surgical exploration revealed a large mass on the right ovary. The unilateral (right) ovariectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the mass revealed dysgerminoma with an invasion of the ovarian bursa and blood vessels. Nine months after the surgery the patient was active and doing well. In reptiles, dysgerminoma is an uncommon type of neoplasia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of dysgerminoma tumour diagnosed intravitally and treated successfully in lizards.

Antibiotics used in animal feeds have recently been strictly regulated to avoid antibiotic resistance in humans. Thus, scientists are compelled to find new feed additives to replace antibiotics in feed. Apart from having a zero effect on human health, new alternatives may even be able to further improve production performance. Essential oils (EOs) and organic acids (OAs) stood out as powerful and useful replacements for both animal production and human population. These are added to chicken diets and drinking water to induce a favourable growth response. Hence, enhancing the nutrient digestibility, performance, and immunity of birds, OAs and EOs are used in livestock production mainly to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and simultaneously maintain the balance of intestinal bacteria. This improves the digestion of nutrients and mineral absorption which will eventually lead to better feed efficiency. The addition of OAs and EOs also causes the intestinal lining to thin, which further enhances nutrient absorption and utilization. Not only for poultry production, the effect of OAs and EOs can also improve poultry immunity and antioxidant capacity. However, the effects will vary depending on the type of OAs and EOs because their mode of action is dependent on their pKa value. In the present review, beneficial properties of OAs and EOs, as well as various dose combinations, to promote their optimal use in poultry nutrition and production will be examined. Their effects on supporting protein digestion, faster absorption of minerals, especially microminerals, stimulating growth performance, regulating antioxidant capacity, and improving immune response will be explored.

his study optimised the conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of defatted wheat germ protein (WGP) and evaluated its effect on the functional properties. Single-factor and orthogonal experiment designs were combined to optimise the UAE extraction condition. The extraction of WGP reached the highest level, at 88.66%, with a solid : liquid ratio of 1 : 25 g·mL^–1, pH value of 9.0, ultrasonic time of 10 min, and ultrasonic power at 400 W. Under these conditions, albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutenin accounted for 32.26, 28.52, 5.42, and 22.40% of total protein, respectively. In addition, this study compared the functional properties of WGP extracted by UAE with the results based on a commercially available soy protein (SP) isolate (SPI). The UAE of WGP had better oil absorption, foaming, and emulsifying properties. Therefore, UAE is a promising technique for food protein extraction because it can change the protein efficiencies and properties of the extract.

Gardening and food self-provisioning motivations are changing with the country’s economic development. While food security is often the main driver for self-provisioning in low-income countries, more diverse motivations exist in high-income countries. This study investigates the motivations for self-provisioning in the Czech Republic and the role of the family composition on the rate of self-provisioning to explore its social benefits. A two-step analysis was employed using data collected from 1 214 respondents. First, an exploratory descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to gain insights into the motivation of different households participating in self-provisioning. Second, binary probit models were used to investigate the characteristics influencing the main motives for self-provisioning. The results of the models revealed that the educational level, income per capita, family structure and area of residence influence the motives for self-provisioning.

The aim of this study was to monitor the occurrence of abnormal eggs in five initial laying lines of the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) between 2017 and 2021. The incidence of abnormal eggs, cracks, shell-less eggs, and double-yolk eggs were examined as part of the monitoring. Also assessed was the laying intensity, which ranged from 83.7% for the Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR) B line to 96.8% for the Rhode Island Red (RIR) A line. A statistically significant relationship between the line and control year was discovered for all varieties of abnormal eggs. The highest occurrence of cracks was in the RIR B line (2.2%). The BPR A line of hens had the highest concentration of shell-less eggs (1.7%), while the RIR A line, which also had the highest laying intensity (96.8%), had the highest frequency of double-yolk eggs (1.5%). A positive trend between the intensity and the occurrence of abnormal eggs was also confirmed. The BPR B (3.4%) and BPR C (3.0%) lines, which belonged to the lines with the lowest laying intensity, had the lowest percentage of abnormal eggs. For the BPR C line, cracks (1.2%), shell-less eggs (0.9%), and double-yolk eggs (0.9%) had the lowest occurrence rates. The correlation between laying intensity and double-yolk eggs reached 0.67, and a significant positive relationship was seen. On the other hand, no association was found between the laying intensity and the prevalence of cracked or shell-less eggs. There was also a strong correlation between abnormal eggs and double-yolk eggs (0.80) and between abnormal eggs and cracks (0.73). The correlation between the total occurrence of abnormal eggs and the intensity of laying reaches a mean value of 0.41. An increase in the intensity of laying from 80% to almost 100% leads to an increase in the occurrence of abnormal eggs from 2.6% to 6.3%.

This research scrutinised the opportunity of upcycling waste from the food industry by extracting dietary fibre from purple aubergine. One of the challenges addressed was enzymatic browning, which negatively influenced the quality of the fibre extracted from fresh aubergine. Various pre-treatment procedures were assessed, including using citric acid, sulphite immersion, peeling and thermal processing, to determine their effects on extraction yield, colour, and the functionality of the resultant dietary fibre. Findings indicated that a pre-treatment method involving aubergine peeling, sulphite solution immersion, and subsequent steaming before extraction produced optimal results, enhancing both whiteness index and water-holding capacity. Experiments were conducted with traditional enzymes supplemented with cellulase, xylanase, and lipase for enzymatic extraction. The addition of lipase notably elevated the extraction yield and water-holding capacity, albeit with an undesired darkening effect on the dietary fibre. In contrast, the application of xylanase emerged as the most effective treatment, delivering the highest overall quality for the derived dietary fibre.

Jejunal haemorrhage syndrome (JHS) is a sporadic and fatal enterotoxaemic disease in dairy cows associated with acute development and poor prognosis despite treatment. A 5-year-old Holstein cow with no reported pregnancy, three calving numbers, and 303 days in milk presented with hypothermia, discomfort, and inappetence. Anaemia, dehydration, faeces with blood clots, and absence of rumen and bowel movements were observed. We identified the presence of neutrophilia, hyperglycaemia, hypoproteinaemia, azotaemia, hyperlactatemia, hypocalcaemia, hypermagnesemia, hypokalaemia, and hypochloraemia through blood analyses. Necropsy and histopathologic examination revealed a dilated bluish-purple jejunum, blood clots within the jejunum, neutrophil infiltration into the submucosa of the jejunum, and vascular necrosis. Retrospective examination revealed extraordinary patterns of rumination time, activity, rumen mobility, and rumen temperature using biosensors and decreased milk yield. The abnormalities in the affected cow were detected before recognition by farm workers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to examine data from biosensors in a cow with JHS. Our findings suggest that using biometric data may help understand the development of JHS.

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a severe worldwide wheat foliar disease and has become common in Tunisia. Two hundred wheat field surveys were conducted in northern Tunisia during the 2017–2019 seasons to determine disease intensity and the correlation of the tan spot with agricultural practices and environmental factors. The disease infested 67% of the visited regions. The highest prevalence (87.5%), incidence (> 30%), and severity (> 10%) were observed in sub-humid regions, contrary to the middle semi-arid regions. Logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation of incidence and severity with various factors as independent variables. In a multiple variable model, the bioclimatic stages, variety, previous crop, humidity, and rainfall were significantly associated with tan spot incidence and severity. High incidence and severity were significantly correlated to the sub-humid regions, varieties Maâli, Razzak, Karim, and Carioca, rainfall, high level of humidity, and monoculture. The correlation between the tan spot and several environmental factors must be considered to ensure successful and sustainable disease management strategies.

The purpose of the present study was to develop edible composite films based on sodium alginate and pectin with incorporated Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot and Thymus serpyllum L. extracts. The influence of the extracts on the physicochemical, optical, mechanical, and antioxidant properties of the films was investigated. The addition of the extracts changed the colour parameters and significantly increased the barrier properties to UV and visible light. This effect is more pronounced in the film with chokeberry extract and is due to the anthocyanins contained in it (75.43 μg cyd eq·g^–1, cyd eq – cyanidin equivalents). The antioxidant activity of films with incorporated extracts was 4-fold (thyme) to 7-fold (chokeberry) higher than the control alginate/pectin film. A significant improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the films with extracts was found. The values for tensile strength were 9.41 MPa (chokeberry) and 9.54 MPa (thyme), while for the film without extract – 4.63 MPa. The resulting films could find potential application as active packaging with antioxidant properties, which could increase the quality and extend the shelf life of the foods packaged in them.

Crop residue management and water saving are the two major issues for the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design to study the combined effect of three rice residues (residue incorporation (RI), residue standing (RS) and residue removal (RR) and two wheat residue incorporation (WI) and residue removal (WR) management in main plots and two irrigation regimes, i.e., flood (F) and surface drip (SD) in subplots on the growth and water productivity of direct seeded rice (DSR). During both years, RI-WI resulted in significantly higher plant height (PH), leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter accumulation (DMA) than in other residue management treatments. Drip irrigation significantly increased PH, LAI, DMA grain yield, straw, and biological yield, along with a 9.6% irrigation water savings over flood irrigation. During both years, grain yield, straw and biological yield of DSR were significantly higher in RI-WI than in RR-WR and RR-WI. RI-WI had significantly greater apparent water productivity (AWP) and actual water productivity (RWP) of DSR. Drip irrigation had significantly higher AWP and RWP during both years than flood irrigation except RWP during 2017. Transpiration efficiency (TE) in rice residue incorporation was significantly higher than in rice residue standing and removal. During both years, the TE of drip irrigation was also significantly higher than flood irrigation. So, incorporating rice and wheat residues along with drip irrigation improves crop growth and water productivity.

The purpose of this research is  to design a rounding cylinder tube on a coffee roaster using an electric heating element that will be used to roast coffee. The roasting process also uses an electric motor to rotate the cylindrical drum so that the stirring process becomes even. The research was conducted using engineering methods including identification of problems, roasting machine design formulation, prototyping, functional testing, and performance testing. The data analysed are roasting capacity, roasting temperature and the need for electrical energy used. The results showed that the roasting capacity was 2.3 kg·h^–1. The serving of coffee for dark roast maturity levels can be ended when the temperature has reached a temperature of 201 °C. The need for electrical energy in the heater for roasting arabica coffee beans with a maturity level of  a dark roast for 1 hour 54 minutes obtained an average value of 3.4 kWh, with the need for electrical energy for roasting arabica coffee beans which is 1.35 kWh.

In general, it can be stated that the economics of non-dairy sheep breeding in the Czech Republic experienced a worsening trend in recent years. One of the ways to improve this situation is to use some of these breeds also for milk production. One of the possible breeds usable for milk production, especially for the good milk production of mothers, is the Clun Forest (CF). The aim of our experiment was to evaluate the daily milk yield (DMY) and the contents of fat (F), total protein (TP) and lactose (L), pH, titratable acidity (TA), concentration of urea (CU) and somatic cell count (SCC) in CF ewes during lactation. In our experiment, the following means of individual traits for the whole lactation were found: DMY: 579 g, contents of F, TP and L: 6.73%, 5.82% and 4.98%, pH: 6.55, TA: 8.74 °SH, CU: 36.08 mg/100 ml and log SCC: 4.71. The stage of lactation had a significant (P < 0.01) effect on DMY, contents of F and TP and pH and TA. The results of our experiment show that CF ewes had lower DMY than dairy breeds (DB). However, the majority of the milk quality traits was comparable to DB. Moreover, the high fat and protein contents and the values of most other milk quality traits are good prerequisites for high cheese yield and optimal final quality of other sheep’s milk products. The results of our experiment suggest that CF ewes could be used for milk production while the milk production of CF ewes should ensure an improvement in the economics and competitiveness of smaller farms in particular.

The influence of toxic elements, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in the root zone of As-hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica 'Albo-lineata' and non-As-hyperaccumulator P. straminea, on the enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase, dissolved organic carbon (C) in soil, toxic element accumulation in fern roots, and root biomass were evaluated in a pot experiment. Ferns were cultivated in soils from the locality of Suchdol (control) and Litavka (high contamination) for six months. For all toxic elements, an increasing trend in their contents in the roots was observed with soil contamination for both ferns. Differences between ferns were observed in As and Zn accumulation. Pteris cretica had a significantly higher As accumulation than P. straminea. Zinc accumulation in the roots showed an opposite trend. A significant difference between ferns was confirmed in the dissolved organic C content. Our results showed a significantly higher content of dissolved organic C in the P. straminea root zone than in P. cretica. The significant effect of toxic elements in the soil on β-glucosidase activity was observed. Toxic elements inhibited β-glucosidase activity in the root zone of P. cretica, and an increase in P. straminea was determined in the Litavka soil. The results suggest a higher sensitivity of P. straminea to toxic element contamination in soil, leading to increased β-glucosidase activity and increased dissolved organic C content.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the intranasal and parenteral administration of azaperone in order to achieve pig sedation. A total of 32 weaned piglets divided into 4 groups (8 piglets in each group) were used. Group A was injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with azaperone (Stresnil®, 40 mg/ml inj.; Elanco Animal Health) at a dose of 2 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). Group B received a dose of 2 mg/kg b.w. of azaperone intranasally. Group C was given azaperone intranasally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given 1 ml of saline intranasally and served as the control group. The response to the defined stimulus (a blunt blow of a metal rod into a metal edge of a pen), the degree of salivation, movement level, body temperature and serum azaperone concentration were included in the trial. We found that in order to induce an adequate level of sedation comparable to the standard method of application, i.e., 2 mg/kg b.w. i.m., the intranasal administration of azaperone at a dose of 4 mg/kg body weight is required.

Preferential water flow in soil significantly affects runoff, water infiltration, storage, groundwater environment, and soil stability. Plant roots positively affect preferential flow development. This study explored the relationship between the root system of Paulownia fortunei (Seem.) Hemsl. and preferential flow using dyeing tracer test and image analysis techniques. A typical red soil hilly region on the outskirts of Guilin City (Guangxi, China) was selected as the study area. A Bright Blue solution was used to visualize the pathways followed by the infiltrated water in simulated rainfall experiments, and Image Analyzer of Plants was used to analyze the root length, surface area, and volume. The results revealed significant differences in the root surface area density of coarse roots (RSAD-CR) and length index of preferential flow (LI) among soil profiles at various distances from the tree trunk. The root volume density of coarse (RVD-CR) and total roots (RVD-TR), the root length density of coarse roots (RLD-CR), and RSAD-CR were significantly correlated with the characteristics of dyeing morphology. Conversely, the root length density and root surface area density of fine (RLD-FR and RSAD-FR, respectively) and total roots (RLD-TR and RSAD-TR, respectively), and the root volume density of fine roots (RVD-FR) were not significantly correlated with the characteristic parameters of dyeing morphology. The root systems of P. fortunei were critical for enhancing soil water infiltration and developing preferential flow in red soil hilly regions. Coarse roots had a greater impact on the development of preferential flow than fine roots, and root volume had a greater influence on preferential flow development than root length and root surface area. This study contributes to a better understanding of the hydrological cycle at the plant-soil interface in red soil hilly regions.

The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metals concentrations in soil, inflorescences of Brassica napus and rapeseed honey sampled from some regions of north-eastern Bulgaria. Thirteen locations were selected for experimental studies. The soils, plants and honeys samples were taken from conventional beekeeping areas away from major industrial pollutants. The median amounts of elements in the soil samples (mg/kg DW) are 1.1246 for Fe(s), 0.7048 for Al(s), 0.5636 for Pb(s), 0.1658 for Cu(s) and 0.0148 for Zn(s). The median amounts of heavy metals measured in the inflorescences of Brassica napus (mg/ kg DW) are 5.5430 for Fe(p), 2.9095 for Zn(p), 1.3225 for Pb(p), 0.2593 for Cu(p) and 0.2105 for Al(p). The median heavy metals concentrations in  tested honey (mg/kg DW) are 1.0026 for Fe(h), 0.1849 for Al(h), 0.1832 for Pb(h), 0.1250 for Zn(h), 0.0702 for. Cu(h). The relationship between the heavy metal in soil, plants and honey was investigated using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Significant differences in the concentrations of Fe(s), Al(s) and Pb(s) in soils, Fe(p) and Zn(p) in the plant samples, Fe(h) in honey samples from the different locations were found. The heavy metal content tested in honey did not pose a risk to human health.

Phosphate fertilisers rank among limited conventional production aids, requiring eco-unfriendly mining methods. On the other hand, wheat is an indispensable agricultural commodity essential in the food industry. For this reason, it is appropriate to monitor the potential bivariate relationship between these commodities and to follow their future development closely. The article aims to identify a correlation (Kendall’s tau) and causal (Granger causality test) between the price of Moroccan phosphate and wheat, applying vector autoregression (VAR). The results show a medium-to-strong correlation between phosphate and wheat, while causal analysis suggests a reciprocal relationship. The final prediction indicates the price stability of Moroccan phosphate and a fall in wheat prices, showing steady trends of the Moroccan phosphate and wheat market affected by the alarming situation in Ukraine. The article’s drawbacks are a narrow market specialisation, which ignores other agricultural commodities. Our findings contribute to national officeholders and professional public, private and non-profit agrarian organisations. Investors may benefit from exploring turbulent exogenous variables like a critical geopolitical deadlock in Ukraine. The main contribution highlights the fact that the conventional fertiliser and wheat market situation appears to be stable and free from elements of uncertainty.

This study was conducted to determine the individual types of crystallisation structures of cervical mucus (arborisation phenomenon) in sheep and changes in the types of these structures during oestrus. A total of 80 ewes aged between two and eight years were included in the study. Oestrus synchronisation was performed using intravaginal sponges, and samples of cervical mucus were collected 55–57 h after the removal of intravaginal sponges and subsequently evaluated. The crystallisation structures of the cervical mucus of sheep exhibit the same sequence during oestrus as in cattle. The most frequently occurring types of crystallisation in the observed sheep included twig-shaped (33.33%), twig-shaped-clubmosses (24.00%) and clubmosses (14.67%). The least common type was fern frond crystallisation (1.33%). A statistically significant difference was found between the representation of individual types of crystallisation (P < 0.01). As with cattle, it is possible to use the evaluation of the crystallisation of cervical mucus to determine the optimum time for insemination, especially in groups of animals with previous synchronisation/induction of oestrus. Establishing the correct time for insemination or natural mating with a ram makes it possible to optimise breeding management and improve pregnancy rates, which are crucial in breeding these seasonally polyoestrous animals. Based on the results, it can be stated that insemination should take place 57+ h after the removal of intravaginal sponges and the application of hormonal treatments for oestrus induction and synchronisation (equine chorionic gonadotropin).

Boric acid (BA) is commercially acceptable and economically feasible material to enhance the shelf life of pears, oranges and other horticultural plants. Here, we investigated the effect of BA on the shelf life and post-harvest quality of table grapes (cv. ‘Kyoho’). The grapes were immersed in a BA solution with different concentrations [0 (as the control), 10, 30, 50 mM] for 10 min and stored at 25 ± 1 °C for 10 days. Compared to the control, the BA treatments maintained higher berry firmness by inhibiting the activity of polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase. In addition, the BA-treated grapes maintained higher antioxidant enzyme activities, such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lower metabolic toxic products, like the superoxide anion (O2-) production rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content than the control. The experimental results showed that the post-harvest application of BA effectively delays the senescence of grapes compared with the control, and the 10 mM BA treatment had the most obvious effect.

Lipid-rich bovine serum albumin (LR-BSA) has been reported to increase the survival rate of blastocysts after freezing and thawing. However studies on the early development of in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos are still insufficient in cattle. This study investigated the blastocyst productivity of in vitro culture (IVC) medium (synthetic oviductal fluid medium with amino acids, mSOFaa) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Control) or LR-BSA (1, 2.5, 5 mg/ml dosages, respectively) and the qualitative characteristics of produced blastocysts. Cleavage rates on day 2 were similar between all groups. Significant differences were obtained in the blastocyst rate in the 2.5LR-BSA group compared with the control (23.5% vs 35.7%, P < 0.05). Hatching rates were significantly higher in all treatment groups than in control (P < 0.05). The cell number in blastocysts did not differ among groups, but the apoptotic index in the 5.0LR-BSA group was higher than the control (P < 0.05). The expression of embryo quality-related markers was affected. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), placenta associated 8 (Plac8), and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) genes expression in the 2.5LR-BSA group were significantly up-regulated compared to the control (P < 0.05). Cytoplasmic lipid contents and the lipid droplet formation-related gene, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebf1), were significantly increased in the 5.0LR-BSA group (P < 0.05). Therefore, the LR-BSA supplementation (2.5 mg/ml) to mSOFaa medium could contribute to the early development of bovine IVF embryos and the qualitative improvement of the resulting blastocysts.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, agricultural commodities had significant price increases, which inevitably implies high risk. In this article, we try to mitigate the extreme risk of corn and soybeans by constructing multivariate portfolios with developed and emerging European stock indices. We measured extreme risk via conditional value at risk. To address different goals that investors might prefer, we produced portfolios with the lowest risk and highest return-to-risk ratio. According to the results, corn and soybeans had relatively high portfolio shares. However, they are the riskiest assets because they have a very low pairwise correlation with the stock indices. Portfolios with emerging European indices had better risk-reducing results, considering both agricultural commodities because these indices are less risky than developed indices. In particular, the risk reductions of corn were 38% and 50% in the portfolios with developed and emerging stock indices, respectively, whereas, for soybeans, the results were 28% and 41%, respectively. In optimal portfolios, emerging European stock indices had the upper hand in most cases.

SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK2) is a critical positive regulatory factor in the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling pathway. However, the roles of the HbSnRK2 gene family members in the rubber tree, especially in response to stress, have not been thoroughly characterised. Here, we cloned six HbSnRK2 genes from the rubber tree. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the HbSnRK2 family genes were divided into three groups. The motifs and intron numbers of HbSnRK2 were conserved. Analysis of cis-regulatory element sequences of all HbSnRK2 genes identified ABRE and TC-rich elements in the prompter of all the HbSnRK2 genes, illustrating that HbSnRK2 could be adjusted by the ABA and stress responsiveness. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression patterns of the six HbSnRK2 genes differed in different tissues. The expression of these genes also differed under treatment with the plant hormone ABA, the HbSnRK2.2 gene was especially significantly expressed under the ABA treatment. Moreover, the HbSnRK2.2 gene responded to glyphosate, powdery mildew, heat stress and cold stress processes, which indicates that the HbSnRK2.2 gene plays an important role in phytohormone signalling and stress response in rubber trees. Taken together, the study provides valuable information to further define the role of the HbSnRK2 gene in rubber trees.