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This contribution presents a calculation method of indicators in agricultural transport. The tractor Zetor Forterra 8641 with a silage trailer was used. Calculations were performed with various weights of transported material: 2.5, 3.6, 5.8, 7.4 and 9.0 tons. The model was created concerning significant parameters of the transport set, engine characteristics and route. It considered splitting of the route into elementary sections, in which important route parameters were regarded as constant. Indicators were defined in every section (fuel consumption, emissions, etc.) and overall values were calculated as a sum. The set with 7.4 t of load reached the lowest unit costs 20.62 CZK.tkm^-1, transport output 79.51 tkm.h^-1 and unit consumption 0.14 L.tkm^-1. The set with the maximum load 9.0 t reached output 86.05 tkm.h^-1 but unit costs were 20.68 CZK.tkm^-1. Using the maximum capacity was not the most effective option. When the weight of a load increased (from 2.5 to 9.0 t), driving time extended from 0.28 to 0.46 h and hourly transportation output increased from 38.60 to 86.05 tkm.h^-1, unit consumption decreased from 0.24 to 0.13 L.tkm^-1. Total emissions significantly increased, but unit emissions decreased in average two times for each pollutant.

Dynamic high pressure microfluidization (DHPM) is considered an emerging and promising technique for the continuous production of fluid foods. This study measured the effect of DHPM on yam juice. After DHPM processing, the content of total soluble solids (TSS), turbidity, flavonoid and non-enzymatic browning was significantly decreased, with the biggest drops being 35.5, 86.2, 20.7, and 66.7%, respectively. Moreover, the average particle size was decreased from 1 944 nm to 358 nm, which showed a strong positive correlation with turbidity. The reduction coefficients and electric conductivity of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum were increased significantly after DHPM processing. Combined with morphological analysis, DHPM processing had good bactericidal effects on E. coli and S. cerevisiae. These results provided reference values for the application of DHPM technology in the development of yam juice.

Occurrences of pea aphids and their natural enemies (syrphids, mummies caused by entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria sp. and by the parasitic wasp Aphidius ervi) were compared in monocultures and mixtures of field peas and spring cereals in three seasons (2008-2010). At the beginning of colonisation, the occurrence of aphids was not substantially influenced by intercropping with cereals. However, the numbers of pea aphids located on inflorescences started to decline earlier in mixtures compared with monoculture. More syrphids (eggs + larvae) were found in mixtures than in monoculture, and more syrphid eggs were found in young aphid colonies (10 to 20 individuals) in mixtures. Intercropping did not influence the occurrence of fungal mummies (Beauveria sp.), but mixtures tended to have more aphid colonies infested by A. ervi in 2008 and 2009.

Mastitis is a major health problem of the udder in dairy sheep breeds. For diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used. The presence of pathogens in the udder causes the increase of leukocytes and thus SCC in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogens in the milk of ewes and the possible relationship with SCC. The changes of leukocytes subpopulation in milk samples with high SCC were evaluated as well. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm with the Lacaune breed. This study was conducted on 45 ewes (98 milk samples) without signs of clinical mastitis. Based on somatic cell count, samples were divided to five SCC groups: SCC1 < 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 < 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 < 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 < 1 000 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); SCC5 ≥ 1 000 000 cells/ml (31 milk samples). No pathogens were observed in the majority of milk samples (60.20%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the most commonly isolated pathogens from the milk of ewes (86.11%). Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence from CNS (35.48%). In the SCC5 group, up to 79.31% of bacteriological samples were positive. The percentage of leukocytes significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the samples with higher SCC (≥ 200 × 10³ cells/ml) in comparison to the group SCC1. Also, the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was significantly higher with increasing SCC (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC < 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of erythromycin (Emy), a prokinetic drug active at the level of the abomasum, duodenum and proximal duodenum, in dairy cows undergoing a laparoscopic repositioning of left abomasal displacement (LAD). A total of 71 German Holstein cows were randomly assigned into three groups. Cows of the group Emy1 received erythromycin once preoperatively (10 mg/kg; intramuscularly). Animals of the group Emy3 were additionally treated twice after surgery at intervals of 24 h each (10 mg/kg; intramuscularly), while cows in the control group did not receive erythromycin. The milk yield of the patients was documented on Days 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 and the rumen contraction rate (RCR) was determined on Days 1 and 3. Additionally, the measurement of the concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in whole blood samples was performed on Days 0, 1 and 3. Significant differences between the study groups regarding the cure rates, milk yield (in relation to Day 0); BHB concentrations and RCR could not be determined on the observation dates. With respect to a prudent use of antibiotics in livestock, the application of erythromycin as a prokinetic drug cannot be recommended for the present in cows undergoing a laparoscopic correction of LAD.

Raw oats are frequently contaminated by fungi producing mycotoxins, and as such, they can pose a health risk to humans regularly consuming oat products. To reveal the effect of particular processing steps on contamination levels in final oat products, two series of samples obtained from an oat flake manufacturer were analysed. Among oat fractions treated, the most significant mycotoxin decrease was demonstrated in cleaning and dehulling steps, where the observed mycotoxin reduction was in the range of 13-75% for monitored mycotoxins, enniatin B, enniatin B1, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, beauvericin and tentoxin. The overall mycotoxin reduction found in final oat flakes was in the range of 65-100%. Furthermore, 20 commercially available oat flakes from the Czech market were analysed. We detected 16 mycotoxins, mainly trichothecenes and emerging enniatins with levels in the interval of 1-156 μg kg^-1. With regard to the current EU legislation, two analysed oat flake products exceeded the maximum limit for ochratoxin A.

Irrational use of chemical method for crop protection, presents increasingly serious risks for human health and the environment. Droplet size and meteorological parameters are key factors to both environmental contamination and pest control efficacy. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of the nozzle use parameters, the operating pressure and the wind speed on droplet foliage deposition (retention) and soil deposition (losses), when treating artichoke. Several combinations were tested in a wind tunnel and in the field, under Mediterranean microclimatic conditions, using a fluorescent dye as a substitute for pesticide. Multiple regression models were built from tunnel data to predict foliage deposition and soil deposits, with determination coefficients of 0.96. Thus, models are able to simulate pesticide deposition on artichoke leaves and soil deposition, depending on sprayer parameters and wind speed. Foliage deposition and soil deposits rates ranged from 30 to 52% and 26 to 57% respectively for anti-drift nozzle. For conventional nozzle, rates varied from 20 to 38% and 31 to 62%. To improve retention and reduce spray losses, it is recommended to choose a medium droplet size when using an anti-drift nozzle, in conjunction with medium nozzle size, medium pressure and reduced wind speed.

The goal of the study was to compare the dynamic changes in individual biometric indices of Scots pine in different natural zones of Ukraine, Polissya and Steppe. Scots pine stands were mainly concentrated in the Polissya zone, and their area was 3.6 times larger than that of forests in the Steppe zone, and the total wood stock by 4.6 times. The regression equations for biometric indices of artificial modal stands were developed. A comparison of the average height, diameter, and wood stock for pine stands of site index І^а, I, and II growing in Polissya and Steppe was made. It was found that the average differences in the average height (from 1.9 to 2.6 m) are observed at the age of 15-20 years. For the average diameter, the difference increases with age and the growth of the site index. The difference in the average stock is constantly increasing with age. At the age of 20 years this difference is 20-30 m³, and at the age of 120 years from 100 to 120 m³ depending on the site index. The developed growth models can be used in planning and prioritizing appropriate forestry activities for pine stands growing in specific regional conditions.

Enzymes benefit digestion and absorption of the ingredients and their addition to an animal-origin meal (AOM) can improve its nutritional quality. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of protease on nutrient digestibility, amino acids, and metabolism of AOM energy for broilers. Four hundred and eighty broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design (4 × 2 factorial scheme), eight treatments, six replicates containing 10 birds/replicate. Treatments consisted of poultry viscera meal, swine viscera meal (SVM), bovine meat and bone meal, and basal diet; with and without protease addition. Two tests were performed. In the first test, the total excreta collection method was used with birds at 13 to 20 days of age and 25% of the reference feed was replaced by AOM. In the second test, a protein-free diet was administered to birds at 21 to 24 days of age and AOM replaced 25% of the starch. The inclusion of protease increased the apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance of SVM by 15.99% and the apparent metabolizable crude energy by 5.7%, and it also raised the coefficient of true ileal digestibility of the amino acids in the AOMs by 5.67% on average. The inclusion of protease improved the apparent metabolizable crude energy of AOMs, apparent metabolizable dry matter of bovine meat and bone meal, coefficient of true ileal digestibility of essential amino acids, and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance of SVM. Dietary supplementation of protease may be a potential strategy to improve the digestibility of amino acids for broilers, a possibility of using animal-origin meals as a protein source of diets.

The paper analyses the relationships between the profitability of viticulture on the one hand and the sugar content and grapes yield in viticulture in the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2014 on the other hand. The paper aims to find out which of these has had a greater impact on the viticulture profitability in the Czech Republic over the last twenty years. One of the frequently debated questions is whether a higher yield of grapes may also bring a high or moderately above average sugar content, and also whether the production for sale is profitable. The answer can be achieved either via the micro-appraisal (repeatable and many times conducted experiments) or via the macro-appraisal - collecting average data for the appraised region. For this paper, the macro-appraisal was chosen, i.e. the statistical survey for the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2014. The period of 20 years comes from an annual examination conducted by the Association of Winemakers of the Czech Republic on the grapes yields in their members. In the Czech Republic, the price in the grapes market is set depending on the variety of vine and sugar content. It follows from the 20-year statistics of the Association of Winemakers CR, that the profitability of grapes production for sale is not achieved by the sugar content but by the per hectare yield. The yield per hectare should vary between 5.5 and 7 t/ha (tonne per hectare) at the average sugar content of 18.5 to 21 ^oNM (between 11.0 and 12.5% volume of the potential alcohol). The grapes yield of more than 6 t/ha does not increase the profitability because the price offered by the purchasing companies decreases.

During the last few years, non-bread cereals, as a rich source of bioactive components, play an increasingly important role in the production of new healthier food. A large number of diet-related diseases in society requires developing and regular consumption of high-quality food. In this study, triticale flour was supplemented with residual oat flour (ROF), which is a by-product in the production of oat fibre concentrate, to obtain triticale-oat bread with improved chemical composition and quality. The flours obtained from 3 winter triticale cultivars were enriched with 10%, 15%, and 20% of ROF. An increasing level of ROF resulted in higher protein and lipids content and a two-fold increase in β-glucan content (from 0.3% for control breads to 0.6% for 20% ROF) what improved the quality of dietary fibre in breads (DF). The bread parameters, especially bread volume (BV), the shape of loaves, crust colour and crumb texture, decreased with the addition of ROF. The triticale-oat breads with the best quality were obtained from 10% addition of ROF. Results confirmed the possibility of utilisation triticale and ROF for the production of bread with a unique chemical composition constituting a simultaneously rich source of DF.

A one-month-old, Piedmontese female calf was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, for repair of a large ventral hernia. A large ventral hernia, approximately 20 cm long and 15 cm large was noticed extending from 3 cm caudal to the umbilicus down to the pubis. At ultrasonography the hernia content was represented by small intestine and omentum and no adhesions to the hernial sac could be detected. The hernial sac was composed by skin only. Because of the large dimensions of the defect and the economic value of the animal, surgical correction was recommended to the owner. A prosthetic implant with a polypropylene mesh was elected due to the dimension of the abdominal defect. The implant was placed intra-abdominally with the interposition of the omentum between the mesh and the underlying viscera. Two and six months after surgery follow-ups were performed and a positive outcome was confirmed. This is the first report of ventral hernia repair in large animals that combines the use of a tension-free polypropylene mesh with the interposition of the omentum between the viscera and the mesh. This procedure is safe, cost-effective and not associated with major complications.

One-year-old 'Florida Prince' cultivar peach trees grafted on a 'Nemaguard' rootstock were planted in the early spring of 2018 at the Centre of Agricultural Research and Experiments, Minia University, located in southwest Egypt. The trees were planted 5 × 5 m in a randomised complete block design with four replicates, with ten trees in each replicate. In the late spring, two different pruning systems were applied; traditional open centre (OC) and de-branched top trees (DBT). The OC trees were headed at 80 cm above the ground. DBT is a modification of the OC, but no heading was undertaken and the new shoot growth arising from the 20 cm at the top of the plant were removed. Before the winter pruning took place, measurements were taken on the upper two opposite branches. The average length and diameter values of the upper two opposite branches at the top of the trees trained to the OC were higher than those trained with the DBT. In contrast, the distance between the upper two branches (25 cm) at the top of the DBT trees was significantly higher. Likewise, the values of the crotch angles (48°) and the number of branches (81 of 100 branches) that showed desired crotch angles (more than 40°) were remarkably higher in the trees trained with the DBT. After the winter pruning took place, the DBT trees were higher than the OC trees. Additionally, the trees trained with the DBT had low pruning costs and took less time. Moreover, the pruning wood weight of the DBT trees was about half of the pruning wood weight of the OC trees. In conclusion, the DBT training system showed the desired impact on the crotch angles and the tested pruning characteristics.

Drought stress is a significant abiotic stressor that has a negative impact on crop production and global food security systems. Drought stress was applied to eggplant seedlings with various field capacities (FC), 80% FC as control, 50% FC, 35% FC, and 20% FC. AgNPs were synthesised from green chemical methods, whereas different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 µmol) were applied exogenously on drought-stressed eggplants. Drought stress decreased the growth parameters (plant height, fresh mass, dry mass, leaf area), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids), and protein content while increased the proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and activity of the antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). AgNPs restricted proline accumulation and reduced H₂O_2, MDA content by upregulating the antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the current study's findings indicated that AgNPs are an effective eco-friendly and low-cost application for plant growth under drought stress, with the potential to mitigate the impact of drought on plants.

This paper considers the developments whose application is promising for the fishing industry under the production of dried snack products. Fish chips are non-traditional dried products. The goal of this research was to study the functional and technological properties of minced systems consisting of fish and seafood. Minced systems were pre-treated with special food additives to improve their rheological properties and organoleptic indicators. The objects of research were stuffed meat products which included 65% to 75% of pollock, 15% of Pacific herring, and 10% to 20% of seafood. A study of technochemical indicators showed that minced systems were high-protein. They contained 30.0-34.8% of protein, 2.2-3.7% of lipids, and 0.8-2.5% of carbohydrates. Minced systems made of hydrobionts are characterised by the high water-holding capacity of 74.52-90.3%, which indicates good lyophilic properties of raw materials. When studying the rheological parameters of minced systems from hydrobionts, it was found that the maximum shift tension was 6.0-8.1 kPa. The stickiness index was 2 400-3 200 Pa, the dynamic viscosity was within the range of 650-850 Pa s (pascal seconds). The effective viscosity index for fish mince with good mouldability is 600-900 Pa s. The organoleptic evaluation showed that minced systems from hydrobionts pre-treated with food additives had high sensory characteristics.

An attempt was made to ascertain the environmental effects of animal wastes pollution on agricultural soil and water quality at the oldest teaching and research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses of water (shallow well) and soil samples were carried out to determine the present quality status. Fifteen soil samples collected at the centre of the animal wastes dump and at a distance of 5 and 10 m, and three different samplings done on the water source were analyzed. The parameters determined using APHA standard procedures included: turbidity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, sulphide, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, total iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, and heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Most of the parameters indicated pollution including heavy metals presence with the exception of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Cr that were not detected in water samples. Concentrations of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and Cl^- were 0.20, 3.20, 10.50, 3.5, and 20.4 mg/l respectively, while those of detected heavy metals such as Mg and Ni were 1.98 and 10.03 mg/l, respectively. Soil water holding capacity, porosity, pH, organic matter, organic carbon, and organic nitrogen ranged from 33.34 ± 3.73 to 59.06 ± 5.69, 34.6 ± 3.28 to 52.43 ± 5.5, 6.56 ± 0.03 to 7.54 ± 0.03, 2.32 ± 0.03 to 5.35 ± 0.03, 1.33 ± 0.01 to 3.11 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.07 to 1.13 ± 0.03%, respectively. The results showed that the well is strongly polluted with bacteria and pathogens and requires considerable treatment before use while the soil is suitable for crop production.

In this study, two experiments were performed with the aim to optimize intensive aquaculture of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In the first 140-day experiment the effect of the initial fish density was assessed at three levels: low density (LD) 23 kg/m³, medium density (MD) 35 kg/m³ and high density (HD) 46 kg/m³. All three densities provided the same final Fulton's condition coefficient (FC = 1.24-1.28), specific growth rate (SGR = 0.22-0.24%/day) and survival rate (97-100%). No cannibalism was observed at all tested densities. Feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.39 ± 0.21 g/g) was the lowest for LD and the highest (1.61 ± 0.08 g/g) for MD. The highest fish biomass (25.7 ± 2.7 kg/m³) was obtained at HD and this density was considered as the most effective density of all tested ones during the intensive culture of largemouth bass. The second 60-day experiment tested the effect of largemouth bass and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) monoculture and biculture of both species on production efficiency. Higher size heterogeneity was obtained in both (mono- and bicultural) groups of pikeperch (308.91-314.56‰/day) compared to the groups of largemouth bass (279.26-284.05 ‰/day). The higher FC (1.09) was found in both types of culture in largemouth bass compared to both methods of culture in pikeperch (0.74-0.78). The lowest SGR was evident in both types of largemouth bass cultures (1.20-1.28%/day). In contrast, the highest SGR was achieved in the bicultural pikeperch (1.88%/day). Similar results like for SGR were also assessed for FCR, where the highest value of FCR was in both cultures of largemouth bass (1.44-1.48 g/g) compared to the lowest FCR in the bicultural of pikeperch (0.73 g/g). Largemouth bass in both tested types of culture had higher survival rates (99.95-99.99%) compared to pikeperch (98.61-98.63%).

Durum semolina was replaced with 10, 15, and 20% of chestnut flour. Pasta was produced on a single screw extruder with the temperature profile of 80/90/90°C and on a laboratory minipress. Pasta samples were dried at room temperature and physical and sensory properties were determined. Generally, the chestnut flour addition to durum wheat pasta decreased optimum cooking time, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness, but increased cooking losses and pasta adhesiveness. Samples made on an extruder showed shorter optimum cooking times in relation to samples made on a minipress. Absorbed water was decreased with chestnut flour addition. Pasta made on an extruder showed a higher sensory score in comparison with pasta made on a minipress. The addition of chestnut flour influenced the colour of the samples. Samples made on an extruder showed darker colour in dried and cooked pasta samples in relation to minipress samples. In dried pasta samples, the extruder gave yellower samples in relation to the minipress, while in cooked pasta samples it was reversed. Overall, the extruder gave higher-quality pasta compared to the minipress.

In this study, 30 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from 20 different fermented meat products obtained from the Afyonkarahisar province (Turkey). Molecular identification of these isolates was performed by amplification of the 16S rDNA gene using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. LAB isolated from 'sucuk' (spicy and fermented sausage) samples were identified as Enterococcus faecalis (2 isolates), Enterococcus durans (1 isolate), Lactobacillus sakei (3 isolates), Lactobacillus curvatus (2 isolates), Weissella viridescens (3 isolates), Weissella cibaria (2 isolates) and Weissella hellenica (1 isolate). LAB, isolated from salami samples, were identified as W. viridescens (1 isolate), E. durans (3 isolates), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (4 isolates), Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (1 isolate), Macrococcus caseolyticus (1 isolate). Also, LAB, isolated from sausages samples, were identified as E. faecalis (1 isolate), E. durans (4 isolates), Lactobacillus plantarum (1 isolate). Both agar spot and agar well diffusion assay methods were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the LAB isolates. Isolates of LAB showed higher antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Klebsiella pneumoniae NRRL B 4420, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 11778, Streptococcus faecalis NRRL B 14617 than against Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Bacillus subtilis NRS 744. Results showed that the LAB isolates produced antimicrobial substances that have a potential for different industrial and biotechnological uses.

The results are presented of the estimation of sensory quality (shape, odour, colour, taste, consistency, crust, crumb etc.), mould and yeast counts, aw value, and pH in 8 bakery croissant-type products with nougat cream filling during storage under laboratory conditions (20 ± 2°C) for the periods of up to 90 days (0; 30; 45; 60; 75 and 90 days). The products differed in the type of dough (brioche, croissant), the aw value of the cream, and in the presence or absence of sorbic acid in the spirit spray applied onto the surface of the products under investigation. The above-indicated parameters were examined also in the nougat cream samples on day 0 and 90 of the storage. The selected quality parameters permitted to estimate the shelf life of the products in the dependence on various technological conditions (sorbic acid, recipe, aw value).

National parks (NP) are the last refugia of forests dominated by the Nothofagus species in Chile. However, frequent, careless human-caused fires are destroying these forests even within the national parks. After large-scale fires, N. pumilio stands are unable to recover naturally neither in generative nor in vegetative ways and artificial regeneration must be resorted to in order to maintain their extent. However, even artificial regeneration is not successful without protection against browsing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to experimentally test a range of repellents and other methods of mechanical protection of seedlings against browsing. Five replicates of plots were placed in Torres del Paine NP, in different habitat conditions and with different methods of protection against browsing (11 repellents, wire mesh, plastic tube and control). In each plot, 12 seedlings were treated with each type of protection. In our experiment, only 8% of the seedlings were damaged by browsing, while the mortality rate was 38%. The results indicate a more significant effect of abiotic factors (mainly frost, drought or wind) on seedling mortality than browsing. In parallel, however, it is clear that, compared with the control, six of the eleven repellents used in the experiment showed a significantly positive effect. We suggest the use of plastic tubes as the best option to protect seedlings, which, in addition to providing 100% protection against browsing, are likely to provide more favourable microclimatic conditions for seedlings, similar to leaving the burned snags.

Abstract: Management of inbreeding is one of the crucial parts of breeding programs in livestock populations. Traditionally, the inbreeding coefficient is calculated using pedigree data; however, it can also be estimated from genomic data. Nowadays, various approaches to estimating genomic-based inbreeding coefficients are increasingly integrated into research and breeding practices. These genomic estimators can supplement or replace pedigree-based coefficients. Each genomic-based inbreeding coefficient has its own properties and different ranges of values, and some of them need specific settings for calculation. Moreover, depending on the methodological approach, genomic estimators are sensitive to the population structure, genotyping technology applied, and the quality control of obtained genomic data. It is important to consider all these factors when calculating and especially when interpreting the final genomic inbreeding values. For these reasons, using genomic-based inbreeding coefficients can be more challenging than using pedigree-based ones. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate the most commonly used genomic estimators of individual inbreeding in livestock, providing an in-depth analysis of their advantages and limitations while offering insights into the methodological considerations and best practices for their accurate calculation and interpretation.

Water deficit severely constrains sugar beet productivity by impairing photosynthetic capacity. However, the underlying structure-function mechanisms conferring photosynthetic resilience remain poorly characterised. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of photosynthetic limitations and structural adaptations in sugar beet during water deficit and subsequent rehydration. We found that water deficit significantly reduced the maximum net CO₂ assimilation rate (A_Nmax) and the Rubisco carboxylation rate (V_cmax) by impairing CO₂ diffusion and biochemical processes. The reduction in photosynthetic capacity is primarily and stably attributed to mesophyll limitation, while contributions from stomatal and biochemical limitations flexibly change with deficit degree and rehydration. Severe water deficit caused irreversible structural damage that hinders recovery even after rehydration, while moderate water deficit allows partial restoration of leaf and chloroplast function. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) demonstrated that CO₂ diffusion was governed by the volume fraction of intercellular air space (f_ias, β = 0.28) and surface areas of the chloroplasts exposed to leaf intercellular air spaces (S_c/S, β = 0.35), with S_c/S indirectly influencing mesophyll conductance (g_m) through fias mediation (β = 0.53). Severe water deficit caused irreversible fias reduction and chloroplast interface damage (59% cell volume loss). These findings establish that resilience to water deficit in sugar beet depends on mesophyll structural integrity, with f_ias and S_c/S as key modulators of gm recovery. The study advances understanding of stress recovery mechanisms in sugar beet and provides a framework for multiscale crop improvement in the context of climate change.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7 inoculant (3.8 × 10⁸ CFU) and 1.5 ml of saline, respectively. Performance data showed that, throughout the study, unchallenged birds had better weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than challenged birds. On day 35, broilers given OTC and all MO levels showed improved WG (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.003). Interactions between challenge and additives were observed on day 10 for FCR (P = 0.031); on days 24 and 35 for WG (P < 0.001); and on days 24 and 35 for FCR (P < 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). On day 24, challenged birds fed all MO levels exhibited higher WG and better FCR than challenged controls, while on day 35, both challenged and unchallenged MO-fed birds showed improved WG and FCR compared to control groups. E. coli significantly increased crypt depth (CD), jejunum muscle thickness, and caecal E. coli colonies. MO significantly enhanced villus height (VH), the VH : CD ratio, villous tip width, and surface area, while decreasing CD, muscle thickness, and E. coli colonies. Challenged birds had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres, while serum alanine aminotransferase ALT activity was higher than in non-challenged birds. Overall, Moringa at 0.4% showed comparable or better results than OTC in preventing E. coli-induced declines in broiler performance and gut health.

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

Leaching is one of the most practical methods for improvement of saline soils and both the quality and the quantity of leaching water play an important role in desalinization of these soils. To determine the effects of different qualities and quantities of leaching water on salinity of drainage water during the growing season of wheat, pot experiments were conducted with a silty clay loam soil, a typical salt-affected soil in an arid region of central part of Iran. The experiment comprised the treatments of three irrigation water salinities (4, 9 and 12 dS/m) and four leaching levels (3, 20, 29 and 37%), using a factorial design with seven replications for each treatment. The results showed that at the beginning of the growing season the drainage water salinity was highest for all treatments. Then it started to decrease and depending on the quality and quantity of leaching water it became nearly constant or continued to decrease until the end of the growing season. The leaching of salts from the soil profile was more efficient during the first few irrigations and thereafter became less efficient. The increase of leaching level had a significant effect on the decrease of drainage water salinity. The comparison with steady-state mass balance of soil salt, sodium and chloride showed that the simple ratio of chloride in irrigation water to chloride in drainage water can be used to estimate the leaching fraction of saline soils with high accuracy.

This study aimed to compare patterns in the genetic structure of 27 mature stands and the natural regeneration of A. alba in the Eastern and Western Carpathians within the introgression zone of two refugial lineages from the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. The distribution of the genetic diversity of fir stands was analysed using paternally inherited chloroplast DNA and five nuclear dominant inter simple sequence repeat markers (ISSRs). The study showed that the Balkan haplotype prevailed in both parental and progeny populations, and this haplotype was found in many mature Eastern Carpathian stands. Relatively high levels of genetic diversity were found in the mature stands (effective number of alleles Ne = 1.517, Shannon index I = 0.436, expected heterozygosity He = 0.295) and progeny (Ne = 1.515, I = 0.436 and He = 0.294) of silver fir. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed slight differences among the mature fir stands from the Western and Eastern Carpathians, with a value of 1.1%. According to principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE analyses, the populations, including stands of mature and progeny trees, were genetically separated into two groups. Slight genetic differences between the mature and progeny populations in the Polish Carpathians indicate sound gene pool transmission, which is essential for creating new selection and breeding programmes.

This study aimed to estimate heritabilities of piglet birth-weight traits and to investigate the relationships between piglet birth-weight and litter-size traits using field data from Czech Large White and Landrace sows. Data including 86 241 piglets from 5 536 litters were analysed using repeatability, genetic, and genomic models. The investigated piglet-weight traits included arithmetic mean birth weight (MBW), within-litter standard deviation (SDBW), coefficient of variation in birth weight (CVBW), and the proportion of small piglets in the litter (SMALL). Heritability rates of piglet-weight traits were low, with the highest estimates for MBW (0.06–0.10) and SMALL (0.08–0.17), depending on the model used, while the other within-litter variability traits showed heritability rates from 0.03 to 0.05. The heritability rates of litter-size traits, including the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and the number of piglets weaned (NW), were low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.07. The realised accuracies of prediction were moderate to high, ranging from 0.50 to 0.72 for piglet-weight traits and from 0.54 to 0.77 for litter-size traits, with ssGBLUP improving realised accuracy by 4–15% in comparison to BLUP. Genetic correlations estimated using BLUP and ssGBLUP indicated that litter size at birth (NBA) tended to be negatively associated with MBW and positively or weakly associated with piglet-weight variability traits (SDBW, CVBW, and SMALL), whereas NW tended to show positive correlations with MBW and negative correlations with variability traits. However, none of the correlations were statistically significant.

Iris × germanica L. (bearded iris) is a popular ornamental plant with numerous commercially important cultivars; however, little is known about the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, as limited DNA markers have been explored. In this study, 34 722 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified from RNA sequencing data. The most abundant SSR motifs belonged to the tri-nucleotide type, of which the most common were AGG/CCT followed by AAG/CTT. Overall, 50 primer pairs derived from these EST-SSRs were randomly selected and synthesized, and 22 primer pairs with good polymorphism effects were used for the following experiment. Correlation analysis of nine floral traits showed that most floral traits had significant correlations with each other. Association analysis between SSR molecular markers and nine floral traits showed that 11 EST-SSR markers were associated with 3–6 floral traits. The cluster tree constructed by using the unweighted pair group method demonstrated that the cultivars that had the same parents or similar colour were clustered together. The genotypic relations of most cultivars were consistent with their pedigree-based relationships. The EST-SSR loci identified in this study will facilitate the exploitation of genetic resources and molecular breeding of I. × germanica.

The contact, residual, and ingestion efficacy of two conventional insecticides was compared with that of another five environmentally friendly agrochemicals in a laboratory for the control of the European snout beetle. Very good efficacy was observed for the conventional product Reldan 22^® after all types of exposures. The conventional Mospilan^® 20 SP showed good efficacy after ingestion. SpinTor^® was very effective 72 h after ingestion and contact, and Siltac^® EC showed comparable efficacy with conventional insecticides 72 h after ingestion and residual contact. SpinTor^® and Siltac^® conform to the principles of organic farming and integrated pest management (IPM) and are able to replace both the tested conventional products in young fruit plantations and nurseries. Pyrethrum PNC - 17, FerrumOil, and Boundary SW did not sufficiently control the beetle.