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A previously developed method of HPLC-DAD-Fl has been used for the determination of phytochemical profiles in different types of drinks: instant coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, and different types of tea (green, white, black, and red tea). Using data on the concentrations of 20 main phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, and alkaloids) it was possible to identify most of the sample types. Chlorogenic and caffeic acids, and caffeine are the main target compounds in instant coffee; in soft and energy drinks, only caffeine was found. Tea has a more complex phytochemical composition. Unfermented tea is mainly composed of flavan-3-ols and alkaloids, with a high caffeine concentration. Black tea is composed of alkaloids and low levels of flavan-3-ols, which are affected by oxidative reactions during the fermentation. Flavonols are present in lower concentrations in all kinds of teas. The identified phytochemical distribution patterns were used to correctly differentiate instant coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, unfermented tea and fermented tea (within fermented tea, black tea from red tea can also be differentiated).

The effect of different type of fish, marination methods, temperature, and cooking time as well as foil type on Al leaching into baked fish, was determinated. Two fish types, Al foils, and marinating ingredients were procured from a hypermarket. Fish was cooked in the baking tray of oven, using two foil types, at 150°C for 40 min and at 200°C for 20 min. Al content was determined. It was found that increase in acidity caused significant increase in Al leaching. When the relationship between temperature-time and Al leaching based on meat type was analysed, it was found that when the temperature was increased the extent of Al leaching was higher in salmon. Even in the highest estimated weekly exposure to Al (1.228 ± 0.1631 mg/kg per week), Al PTWI suggested by JECFA was not exceeded. Although using different Al foil did not leach significant amounts of Al into the fish and exposure values of Al did not exceed the PTWI, exposure of Al from fish samples may be dangerous to vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and people with kidney disease.

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi (FOP), the pea wilt pathogen, causes appreciable yield losses under favourable environmental conditions in Algeria. Studies on the pathogen variability and distribution of races are essential to identify effective sources of resistance to this disease. In this study, a survey was conducted during the period 2007-2011 in four different agro-climatic zones. Pathogenic variability in 52 isolates of FOP, collected from different pea-growing areas of western Algeria, were evaluated using 7 genotypes as differential hosts. Results indicated that the disease was prevalent in all fields prospected and isolates obtained were assigned to Races 1, 2, 5 or 6 by their pathogenicity. It was found out that Races 1 and 2 were more common in all areas with 61.5 and 19.2%, respectively. This study is the first report of pea Fusarium wilt races distribution in Algeria.

The characteristic features of traditional cottage sausage were analysed. In addition, the extent to which manufacturers create product diversity on the market was investigated, along with potential health risks of the product to consumers. The samples had high overall sensory scores. The average level of fat slightly exceeded 28%, cholesterol content was in the range of 435.4-1220.3 mg/kg and salt content was 1.53-2.77%. Some manufacturers do not cure their product, but about 20% of them apply nitrites above the level of 150 mg/kg. Due to their relatively high pH level (5.76-6.60) and water activity (0.95-0.98), Polish cottage sausage can be a medium which encourages the growth of microorganisms; however, pathogenic bacteria were not found. Histamine was detected in only 42% of the samples, at the low level of 2.6 to 34.2 mg/kg. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied and the dominant variables were specified for particular PCs.

Plant-based natural products represent an alternative to chemical compounds for the control of mites in veterinary medicine. Here, the essential oil of Elsholtzia densa (E. densa) Benth was extracted using hydrodistillation at a rate of 1.2%. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The GC-MS analysis indicated that the principal compounds in the volatile oil of the sample were 4-Pyridinol (28.16%) and thymol (26.58%). The acaricidal activity of E. densa oil against Sarcoptes scabiei (S. scabiei) was tested in vitro. Toxicity test data were analysed using a complementary log-log (CLL) model. The E. densa oil was prepared in five concentrations by dilution with liquid paraffin (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/ml) and exhibited strong toxicity against S. scabiei with LT₅₀ values of 16.637, 5.075, 2.884, 1.184 and 0.760 h, respectively. The LC₅₀ values were 7.678, 4.623, 2.543, 1.502, 1.298 and 0.981 mg/ml for S. scabiei at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h, respectively. Compared to the control, the essential oil showed significant effects against S. scabiei in vitro. At 16 mg/ml, E. densa oil was found to kill all mites within a 16-h period. The results indicate that E. densa oil possesses potential acaricidal activity in vitro and may be exploited as a novel drug for the effective control of S. scabiei.

Techniques of drip irrigation are broadly applied for the reclamation of saline-alkali lands, during which effective management of water use to accelerate salt leaching is essential for crop production. In 2017, a field experiment with five treatments of soil matric potential (SMP) levels of -5, -10, -15, -20, and -25 kPa was conducted in heavy saline silty soil land in Bohai Bay, China to study the effects of drip irrigation on salt leaching. The results showed that salt leaching was enhanced with increasing SMP, particularly under an SMP of -5 kPa within a 30 cm soil profile depth and 15 cm distance from the dripper, and the average electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (ECe) decreased from 13.8 to 1.52 dS/m. Water consumption increased with increasing SMP, but the yield of oil sunflower did not differ significantly between SMPs of -5 and -10 kPa. These findings indicated that a relatively high crop yield of oil sunflower and effective salt leaching can be achieved if the SMP can be controlled at -10 kPa in heavy saline silty soil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a year of cultivation and three agronomic measures (pre-crop, soil tillage, application of fungicides) on the yield of winter wheat grown in the crop rotation without the livestock production. The results from the years 2011-2017, except for the year 2012, from the Žabčice Field Experimental Station (49°01'20''N, 16°37'55''E) were evaluated. The soil texture is clay loam soil and the soil type is fluvisol. In the field trial, winter wheat was grown after two pre-crops (winter wheat, pea). Two soil tillage technologies, namely the conventional tillage - CT (ploughing - at a depth of 24 cm) and the minimum tillage - MT (shallow loosening - at a depth of 15 cm) were used. Two fungicide treatments against leaf and spikelet diseases were used, and they were compared to the non-treated variants. The obtained results showed that the grain yield of winter wheat was statistically influenced not only by a year of cultivation, but also by the pre-crop, the application of fungicides, and mostly by the interaction of these factors with the soil tillage. The importance of pea as a suitable pre-crop for winter wheat was confirmed as the grain yield was higher compared to winter wheat as a pre-crop by an average of 0.49 t/ha. It was also found that the MT is a more appropriate technology than the CT, on average by 0.12 t/ha over the six years. The importance of fungicide treatment was also confirmed, where the grain yield of winter wheat was higher by 0.26 t/ha compared to the non-treated variant. The presented results brought a new knowledge for winter wheat management practice in dry conditions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occupational radiation exposure levels of veterinary staff during fluoroscopic examination using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). A prospective study was conducted to measure radiation doses in three positioned persons (two restrainers and one observer) using TLDs. The TLDs were placed on the inside and outside of the lead-equivalent protective devices of the panorama mask, thyroid shield, apron and arm shield. The TLDs were placed at five anatomic sites (eye, thyroid, breast, gonad and hand). Radiation exposure was measured in 65 fluoroscopic examinations at 80 kVp and 100 mAs. The doses (mSv) (outside/inside the shield) measured in restrainers A and B and observer C were 3.09/0.59, 3.80/0.65 and 0.63/0.44 in the eye; 2.20/0.73, 1.88/1.10 and 0.79/0.45 in the thyroid; 3.42/0.44, 3.94/2.35 and 0.61/0.34 in the breast; 1.84/0.45, 1.69/0.23 and 0.46/0.36 in the gonad; and 5.56/3.16, 8.29/2.99 and 0.79/0.34 in the hand, respectively. Out of all the lead protection devices, the radiation dose of the hand was the highest in all three participants, with the thyroid radiation dose value being the same as the hand in the observer C. Radiation doses received by the eyes of all three participants were also not negligible. Veterinary workers exposed to radiation through not only radiography but also fluoroscopy should wear protective gear, especially for the eyes.

The antimicrobial susceptibility of 20 Lb. bulgaricus isolates from traditional fermented milk-originated was assessed and then determined the ability to transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration of each strain was determined using a standardized dilution method. All the tested strains were found to be susceptible to gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, neomycin, tetracycline, linezolid, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin, while their susceptibilities to kanamycin, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, trimethoprim, ampicillin, and vancomycin varied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to check whether specific antibiotic resistance genes were present in these Lb. bulgaricus. We detected the rpoB, erm(B), aadA, bla, cat and vanX. Finally, a filter mating assay was applied to investigate the transferability of these resistance markers; and we observe no antibiotic resistance transfer between bacteria. This work demonstrates a low risk of lateral transfer of the antibiotic resistance gene of Lb. bulgaricus.

Donkey milk is a very promising matrix for the isolation of new potential starter cultures with probiotic properties. We isolated, identified, and compared the technological properties of the donkey milk isolate D23 with those of goat milk isolates G15 and G17 and bovine milk isolates C3 and C9. All isolates were identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays (determination of species-specific DNA fragments). Like the bovine and goat isolates, the donkey milk isolate D23 was able to grow in De Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) broth at various temperatures (10, 25, 30, 37, and 45 °C) and at different NaCl concentrations (0–6.5% w/v). Additionally, D23 showed notable proteolytic and autolytic activity, could grow in and acidifying ultra high temperature (UHT) bovine milk but exhibited very weak diacetyl production. None of the isolates displayed hemolytic activity, nor produced histamine, fenylethylamine and cadaverine. Finally, isolate D23 demonstrated interesting antibacterial and antifungal properties compared to the goat and bovine isolates, especially against staphylococcus aureus CCM 3953.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of milking fraction and mammary gland health status on the electrical conductivity (EC) of milk from Manchega ewes, considering also the lactation number. To this end, we also studied the relationship of EC with milk macrocomposition, and the relation existing between EC and somatic cell count (SCC). Finally, the use of EC thresholds as a mastitis detection method (sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV)) was assessed in each of the three fractions: first streams (F1), machine milk (F2) and stripping milk (F3). Milking fraction, mammary gland health status and lactation number had a significant effect on EC and SCC. In the case of EC, the milking fraction caused a more pronounced effect than health status of the glands or number of lactation (F = 19.95, 15.88 and 6.55, respectively; P < 0.5). In SCC, the gland health status caused the most pronounced effect followed by milking fraction and lactation number (F = 112.02, 6.89, and 5.28, respectively; P < 0.05). Changes in the milk composition, especially fat and lactose contents, explained the EC variation to a great extent. For the same EC threshold, specificity and sensitivity varied slightly depending on the milking fraction. NPV above 80% was obtained in the three milking fractions and at all EC thresholds tested, but PPV was only higher than 20% as of the threshold of 4.5, 4.4, and 4.2 mS/cm in F1, F2 and F3, respectively. From the results obtained, we concluded that the algorithm design for mastitis detection in sheep should include those factors affecting the composition and which therefore cause variations in EC, such as milking fraction, individual differences, lactation stage or lactation number.

Eight commonly used candidate reference genes, 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) (18S), 28S rRNA (28S), actin (ACT), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α), ribosomal protein L7 (RPL7), Alpha-tubulin (α-TUB), and TATA box binding protein-associated factor (TBP), were evaluated under various experimental conditions to assess their suitability in different developmental stages, tissues and herbicide treatments in Avena fatua. The results indicated the most suitable reference genes for the different experimental conditions. For developmental stages, 28S and EF1α were the optimal reference genes, both EF1α and 28S were suitable for experiments of different tissues, whereas for herbicide treatments, GAPDH and ACT were suitable for normalizations of expression data. In addition, GAPDH and EF1α were the suitable reference genes.

The objective of the study was to determine effects of ribavirin on development and health status of in vitro grown strawberry cultivars 'Honeoye' and 'Elkat' infected with viruses Strawberry mild yellow-edge virus (SMYEV), Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV) and Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV). Antiviral compound ribavirin was added in concentrations 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/l to the same MS medium as for multiplication. Growth reduction was noted on medium with 160 mg/l ribavirin and to a lesser degree in the 40 and 80 mg/l treatments. At the end of chemotherapy, in vitro clones free of viruses detected previously in the initial plants were obtained for both selected cultivars across all ribavirin concentrations. The highest number of plants (94) with negative results of ELISA testing was noted on medium with the highest ribavirin concentration 160 mg/l and the lowest (73) on medium with the lowest concentration 20 mg/l of ribavirin. The treated plants look symptomless and appear morphologically equal to the untreated control plants. Results indicate that ribavirin treatment of in vitro plants is a suitable method for eliminating SMYEV, ToRSV and ArMV from strawberry.

The contemporary regional economics sees clusters as geographically close groups of companies and other connecting organizations that work together while they also mutually compete. Despite the fact that the naturally born clusters exist for centuries and their formation is driven primarily by market factors, there has been prevailing in the recent decades a positive view of the controlled and driven development of clusters in developed countries. Organized clusters are being called the cluster initiative. In recent years, there was a relatively rapid development of cluster initiatives also in the territory of the Visegrad countries due to the national programs and subsidies from the EU structural funds. This paper reacts to the situation. The aim of the paper is to identify clusters currently existing in the tourism, agriculture and food sector in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and to analyze their regional dispersion, structure and activities.

Onion skin is a waste produced in thousands of tons annually in the European Union. It is a rich natural source of flavonoids and its water extracts (as an environmentally friendly solvent) could be used as an antioxidant material for meat products. Therefore, antioxidant properties of onion skin water extracts (OSWEs) were tested on cooked pork patties. Pork patties were divided into five treatments: control (no antioxidant), 10 and 20% (w/w) of yellow OSWE, and 10 and 20% (w/w) of red OSWE. Antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and sensory analysis were assessed. Patties with added antioxidants showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content. Samples with OSWEs, after 5-day storage (5°C), had significantly (P < 0.05) lower TBARS values compared to control. Two main phenolic compounds were identified in OSWEs by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry using electrospray ionisation in negative mode: quercetin (m/z 301) and quercetin monoglucoside (m/z 463). OSWEs demonstrated the potential to be used as a source of natural antioxidants with strong antioxidant activity in meat products.

The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y1 strain was evaluated for its effects on soil properties, pepper seedling growth, rhizosphere bacterial flora and soil enzyme activities. Y1 solubilised insoluble phosphate, produced chitinase, and released siderophores in plate detection assay. In order to evaluate the plant growth promotion potential in vivo, strain Y1 was grown in media containing chitin powder and complex fertiliser. The pot experiment was conducted by treating pepper seedlings with C1/1 (Y1 culture, 50 ml), C2/3 (Y1 culture, 33 ml), C1/2 (Y1 culture, 25 ml), F1/1 (complex fertiliser, 50 ml), F1/2 (complex fertiliser, 25 ml), and W (water) at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after transplantation (DAT). Plants receiving Y1 had 52% (C1/2) and 68% (C1/1) more root and shoot biomass than W, and 14% (C1/1) and 18% (C2/3) more compared to F1/1 at 80 DAT. Total numbers of flowers per plant at 80 DAT were found significantly higher with the application of Y1 having 34 (C1/1), 35 (C2/3), and 22 (C1/2) compared to 4 (W), 12 (F1/1) and 10 (F1/2). In addition, chlorophyll content in pepper leaves was found to improve with the application of Y1. Furthermore, Y1 has significantly improved nutritional assimilation of total NPK, population of total culturable bacteria and chitinase producing bacteria and activities of chitinase and dehydrogenase in soil. At 60 and 80 DAT, the number of B. amyloliquefaciens at C1/1, C2/3, and C1/2 ranged from 2.3 × 10⁴ to 4.6 × 10⁴ CFU/g of soil. Our results concluded that B. amyloliquefaciens Y1 has positive effects on soil properties and can be suggested as a bio-fertiliser to minimise fertiliser application in modern agriculture.

A new food and feed self-sufficiency model for the Czech Republic (RESTEP) was applied for the evaluation of possible adverse climate impacts uniformly reducing crop production by 5, 10, 20, and 30%. The situation was simulated for the whole country and four different agriculturally important regions. Biomass production modeling confirmed that for the whole country, the food self-sufficiency is secured up to 20% of yield decline for most crops, but even 5% yield decline of silage maize would lead to its shortage in animal feeding. On the other hand, regional results vary significantly. Regions Jižní Morava and Střední Čechy shown oversupply of feedstuff allowing them to cover the demands of cattle and pigs up to 20% or 30% decline of yield, respectively. The opposite model represents the Vysočina (VY) region which is not able to cover the demands from own sources even at the baseline scenario. The acreage extension of maize is not possible due to erosion risk restrictions at 25% of arable land at VY. The possible solution consists of extension acreage of alfalfa and clover or finding other plants sufficient for feeding as well for biogas facilities in regions rich in biomass energy consumers.

Sweet cherries are self-incompatible, which is determined by a gametophytic self-incompatibility system (GSI). The self-incompatibility is controlled by a multi-allelic S-locus. Knowledge about the S-allele constitution of the cultivars is essential for fruit growers and breeders. Recently, molecular PCR-based methods have been developed to distinguish all S-alleles in sweet cherries. In our work, we analysed S-locus genotypes by 13 universal and allele-specific PCR primer combinations within 117 registered, old and local sweet cherry cultivars from the Czech genetic resources of the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology in Holovousy, the Czech Republic. We confirmed the previous S-genotyping for 66 accessions except for Drogans Gelbe, Hedelfinger, Erika, Meckenheimer Frühe, Badeborner, Bing, Alfa, Gamma, Huldra, Rivan, Valerij Tschkalov, Viola and Winkler's Frühe. It could be due to either mislabelling or mistakes in the previous analyses. Newly, S-genotyping was determined for 51 accessions in which we found 4 new S-loci combinations. We detected the S-locus combinations in 19 incompatibility groups. The most frequent incompatibility groups were III (S₃S₄), II (S₁S₃), IV (S₂S₃), and VI (S₃S₆) with 22, 20, 12 and 12 genotypes, respectively.

Forests occupy one third of the world's land area and govern carbon (C) transfers and influence nitrogen (N) content in the biosphere. Afforestation leads to soil changes of specific dynamics, often accompanied by acidification. Especially at higher altitudes this effect is accelerated and increased with the stand age since forestation. The change in soil C and N content following afforestation is controlled by a number of factors, including: previous land use (grasslands, cropland, etc.), tree species, soil cultivation method, soil properties (clay content, pH), stand age, site management, topography, and climate. In the Czech Republic, large area changes in land use took place in the last centuries - forests covering roughly 20% in the 18^th century currently occupy almost 34%, with still increasing tendencies. This paper compares basic soil properties (soil reaction, total soil organic carbon as well as total nitrogen contents) of the agricultural land and land afforested 40-60 years ago. The results confirmed the key role of afforestation in the change of soil organic matter dynamics after establishing new forests on the former agricultural lands in the uppermost mineral soil part of the Orlické hory Mts. region in the Czech Republic. During that time, comparatively substantial changes in soil organic matter and nitrogen were registered. Afforestation considerably increased organic matter content in the studied A-horizons of different land use types. Soil development resulted in a high production of C and N pools under the forest stands, contrary to agricultural land. In general, afforestation caused significant soil acidification. The common tendency of higher acidity of forest soils compared to agricultural ones was documented in the studied case as well. The general tendencies of soil reaction and soil organic matter dynamics at the studied sites are comparable to those in other regions of the Czech Republic.

Monensin has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity in feedlot cattle by reducing the incidence of acute and subacute rumen acidosis (SARA). Lately, the technique of real-time observance of reticuloruminal temperature and pH, which involves placement of indwelling pH probes in the reticulum or in the rumen has gained in popularity. In this study, we aimed to determine, using real-time monitoring in fresh dairy cows, how monensin controlled release capsules affect the reticulorumen temperature and pH. We used a slow-release rumen preparation, which emitted daily monensin doses of 335 mg. Following the manufacturer's instructions, the preparation was administered through an oral balling gun. The following points indicate the method for determining the two experimental groups: (1) monensin-supplemented test group (TG) (a 32.4 g monensin controlled release capsule, MCRC, n = 20) and (2) a control group (CG) (capsule containing no monensin, n = 20). Both began a day after calving, and one month after calving the experiment was finished. A set of smaXtec boluses fabricated for animal care was used to measure the temperature and pH of the reticulorumen. After the first day of the study, a statistically significant difference between reticulorumen temperature in CG (38.67 ± 0.10 °C) and TG (39.08 ± 0.09 °C; P < 0.01) was found. The use of the monensin controlled release capsule, which emitted daily monensin doses of 335 mg, in the first 30 days after calving increased the reticulorumen pH by 1.89% (P < 0.001), and the temperature of the reticulorumen by 0.82 % (P < 0.001). We conclude that using monensin in the form of monensin controlled release capsules reduces the risk of SARA. Real time observation of temperature and pH levels in the reticulorumen in fresh dairy cows allows for evaluation of the risk of SARA and provides the opportunity to determine the prophylactic effect of those capsules.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted significant interest in veterinary medicine due to their unique properties, including enhanced stability, greater antimicrobial efficacy, and reduced toxicity compared to traditional silver salts. Their applications span various areas of veterinary practice, such as dermatology, wound management, infection prevention, drug delivery, and disinfection. This review explores their use in pigs, highlighting their role as feed additives to prevent diarrhoea, as antibacterial agents in semen extenders, and veterinary dermatology. AgNPs possess broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, positioning them as a promising alternative to antibiotics in addressing antibiotic resistance. Additionally, AgNPs have shown antiviral potential, though the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. The review examines the antibacterial and antiviral properties of AgNPs, their utility in facility sanitation, and their potential toxicity to pigs. While AgNPs offer significant benefits in veterinary applications, concerns about their toxicity persist. Efforts to reduce this toxicity, such as surface modifications or combining AgNPs with other substances, are under investigation. Further research is essential to fully understand the potential applications and safety of AgNPs in pig medicine.

High soil salinity causes a negative impact on plant growth and lowers crop yields. Thus, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) and proline (Pro), separately and combined, on enhancing salinity tolerance in broad beans. Salinity stress (4.69 ds/m and 6.25 ds/m) significantly reduced plant growth (plant height, leaf area, number of leaf/plant, plant dry weight), chlorophyll pigment content (chlorophyll a, b or total), relative water content, K/Na ratio, seed yield per plant, and N, P, K, and crude protein content in broad bean seeds. Foliar application of Pro and SA, either individually or in combination, enhanced plant growth parameters, chlorophyll pigment content, endogenous proline levels, phenol content, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes [antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)]. Additionally, these treatments enhanced plant seed yield, N, P, K, and crude protein levels in the seeds. The combined foliar application of Pro and SA was more effective in mitigating salinity stress’s harmful effects than using either substance alone. These findings indicate that foliar application of SA and Pro, either individually or in combination, alleviated the adverse effects of salinity on broad beans, with the combined application proving to be the most effective.

With climate change, plants face numerous stresses, notably drought for rice cultivation. Improving rice drought tolerance is vital for sustainable production in water-scarce regions. Identification of drought tolerant genotypes at the seedling stage of the crop contributes to build a climate resilient genotype during the period of water scarcity and under challenging environmental conditions. Hence, polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) induced drought conditions could be used for testing the drought tolerance in rice at an earlier stage of the crop. Optimization of PEG-6000 concentration for screening index at -6 bar was done using three drought-tolerant and two drought-susceptible check varieties based on probit analysis. Subsequently, 100 rice landraces underwent PEG-6000 induced drought screening at –6 bar and a total of 32 genotypes were selected as tolerant. After 14 days of treatment, the nine observations viz. germination %, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), number of secondary roots, fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), shoot/root ratio, root/shoot ratio and vigour index were recorded. Variance analysis, revealing significant genetic variation among genotypes for all studied traits, indicating genetic variability. Post hoc analysis confirmed notable variation among treatments. Principal component analysis revealed three components, with the first three accounting for 88.89% of total variability. With respect to the biplot, the ten genotypes viz., IRGC109, IRGC403, IRGC448, IRGC461, IRGC466, IRGC486, IRGC508, IRGC518, IRGC527 and IRGC535 are the seedling stage drought tolerant genotypes based on shoot length, number of secondary roots and vigour index. Population structure classified the accessions into two subpopulations, reflecting diversity. The allele frequency divergence is 0.095 which is a measure of fixation index revealing that the moderate divergence is not extremely pronounced. Genetic diversity, assessed through 26 SSR markers selected from drought tolerant QTLs and markers related to vigour index, exhibited 100% polymorphism with 115 alleles and an average PIC value of 0.61 per primer. Shannon index varied between 0.34 (RM212) and 1.96 (RM252), averaging 1.18. Six SSR markers viz., RM246, RM302, RM252, RM219, RM251, and RM486 were associated with the six key traits viz., shoot length, root length, number of secondary roots, dry weight, shoot/root ratio, and root/shoot ratio respectively offering valuable resources for selecting drought-tolerant accessions as it provides the first step in the selection of genotypes based on the key traits.

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 paper deals with the verification of models for the calculation of the contact area with the soil using data measured during the testing of a tractor-and-trailer unit. The main emphasis was put on the method of calculating the contact area by means of a super ellipse. The comparison included calculation models with the input parameters of contact length and contact width of the tyre. These parameters were compared with values measured in the field where the main variables were tyre dimensions, inflation pressure and load. Results of comparisons show that the method of calculating the contact area using a super ellipse exhibited the best match with the measured values of all compared calculation models (81% in super ellipse with measured half-axes and 75% in super ellipse with calculated half-axes). As to trailer tyres, the match of measured values and those calculated using a super ellipse was even 95%. In the second step, also some empirical models for calculating the contact area were compared with the measured data, not entered by contact length and contact width as variables. Some of these models show a very good match with the measured data, which can be compared, or it is even higher than the calculation by means of a super ellipse. With the specified tyre deformation, however, we consider the model of calculation using a super ellipse as more appropriate for determining the size of contact area as it focuses on the geometry of tyre contact with the ground.

Despite the recognised benefits of climate smart agriculture (CSA) in enhancing farmers' adaptive capacity to climate risks, adoption rates remain low in Sub-Saharan Africa. This disparity can be attributed, in part, to the significant challenges smallholder farmers face in accessing credit from the formal financial sector. In response, Rural Saving and Credit Cooperatives (RUSACCOs) have emerged as crucial sources of funding for both household expenses and agricultural activities. However, despite their increasing importance in improving financial inclusion, little is known about whether participation in RUSACCOs can help alleviate existing credit constraints and promote the adoption of CSA among smallholder farmers. To address this knowledge gap, we employ a recursive bivariate probit (RBP) and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis using data from 400 randomly selected smallholder farmers in Zambia. The analysis controls for three main sources of endogeneity: program placement, endogenous covariates, and self-selection. Our findings indicate that participation in RUSACCOs has the potential to mitigate farmers' credit constraints by 42% and facilitate CSA adoption by 25%. Notably, the alleviation of existing credit constraints is associated with a 14% increase in CSA adoption. These results underscore the previously overlooked role of RUSACCOs in promoting agricultural sustainability. By effectively addressing financial inclusion barriers and providing access to practical agricultural knowledge, RUSACCOs can contribute to reducing the vulnerability of agriculture while fostering sustainable production. Our study suggests that repurposing RUSACCOs to emphasise financial inclusion and promote access to agricultural learning platforms can yield triple benefits: agricultural, environmental, and livelihood sustainability.

Raw cow’s milk is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in the food industry. Besides basic hygienic and nutritional parameters, the presence of inhibitory and contaminant substances plays a critical role in technological quality and safety. While the vast majority of inhibitory residues are represented by antibiotics originating from mastitis prevention and therapy, milk also contains a broad spectrum of naturally occurring native antimicrobial compounds. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, phosphatases, lipases, and proteases acting as integral elements of the innate immune system within the mammary gland. Although these substances are not legislatively regulated, they significantly influence milk processing, starter culture growth, cheese yield, and shelf-life of final dairy products. Their concentration is strongly associated with animal health status, especially mastitis, and may thus also serve as an indirect quality indicator. This review provides a comprehensive overview of native inhibitory compounds in bovine milk, their concentration ranges, biological significance, impact on dairy technology, and the analytical methods currently used for their detection.

The rhizosphere plays an important role in both farmland and urban areas, affecting water quantity and quality during surface water infiltration by increasing the heterogeneity of the aeration zone. The extensive application of antibiotics, their recalcitrance to degradation, and the resultant accumulation of antibiotics in soil-microbe-plant systems represent significant threats to the rhizosphere system, thereby threatening ecological stability and environmental and human health. This review synthesises recent findings on the migration and transformation of typical and common antibiotics within the rhizosphere. The main findings include that the absorption of antibiotics by plants is influenced by their molecular weight (MW) and octanol-water partition coefficient (log K_ow), allowing antibiotics to be divided into three classes: (1) antibiotics with high lipophilicity (log K_ow > 2) are mostly adsorbed by root lipids and rarely participate in the soil-plant transport process; (2) antibiotics with log K_ow < 2 and high MWs (MW > 700) are blocked outside the plant roots; and (3) antibiotics with log K_ow < 2 and low MWs (MW < 700) can enter plants through the roots and are transported via transpiration flow in plants. Antibiotics with log K_ow < 1 are more easily transported into plant tissues, including leaves. The rhizospheric microorganisms capable of participating in antibiotic migration and transformation are concentrated in Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The inhibitory effect of antibiotics on dehydrogenase, sucrase, urease, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase activities surpasses their promoting effect, reducing these enzyme activities by 6–35% on average. However, the promoting effect of antibiotics on peroxidase, acidic phosphatase, and manganese peroxidase outweighs the inhibitory effect, increasing enzyme activity by 2–23%. Furthermore, it is essential to consider the effects of plant age and root characteristics on antibiotic migration and transformation. The results of this review contribute to a better understanding of the migration and transformation of antibiotics within the rhizosphere.

The aim of the study was to find out whether and how the forest soil compaction resulting from the traffic of forest logging machines results in the increased soil air concentration of CO₂, occurring over a longer period of time and in different seasons of the year. Changes in the soil air CO₂ concentrations were monitored in two periods: in winter (cold period) and in summer (warm period). CO₂ concentrations were measured in compacted and non-compacted soil using a certified measurement. In addition to the soil concentration of CO₂, air temperature, soil temperature and soil moisture content were measured. The research was conducted in the Czech Republic. The obtained data was subjected to statistical analyses (Student's t-test; correlation analysis). The results of the study confirm the long-term influence of soil compaction by the traffic of forest machinery on the CO₂ concentration in soil in both seasons (cold and warm). The concentration of CO₂ in the air of compacted soil was always significantly higher in both periods than the CO₂ concentration in the air of non-compacted soil (control). Thus, the negative influence of soil compaction was clearly demonstrated as a result of a single pass of forestry machines over the soil surface.

The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence rate of European rose chafer (Cetonia aurata) on American highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). The observation was made from the beginning of flowering to the end of harvest of the blueberry cultivars ‘Duke’, ‘Legacy’, and ‘Huron’. The incidence occurs during the first harvest of the ‘Duke’ cultivar. Three rows per cultivar, with 90 plants per row, were monitored during the research. Insects were collected on 15 infested plants per row, randomly selected, and counted. This procedure was repeated every second day, 3 times a day: in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. The highest presence of the insect was recorded at the full ripening phase of the ‘Duke’ cultivar, with 25.5% of bushes being infested and an average of 12.7 beetles per bush counted. The damage percentage varied over the harvesting periods: 29% of the fruits were damaged in the first harvest, 13% in the second harvest, and 8% during the third harvest. While ‘Legacy’ and ‘Huron’ stood out with 5.55% and 3.33% of infected bushes, respectively, and minor fruit damage. This research proves that the European rose chafer in the area of the experiment is a harmful pest of early cultivated blueberry cultivars.