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Honey is one of the oldest traditional medicines that has been highly reputed and widely used for the treatment of several human diseases for thousands of years. The purpose of this study was to: (i) evaluate and compare the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of Shawkiat and Rabiee honeys with those of Manuka honey against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; (ii) assess the anti-virulence potential of these honeys, by examining their impacts on the expression of five selected genes in E. coli and seven genes in S. aureus that have been previously shown to be involved in the microcolony, biofilm and virulence in the test organism. The antibacterial, antibiofilm and anti-virulence activities of these honeys against both bacteria were investigated by agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), growth curve, time-kill curve, microtiter plate and reverse transcription-quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The susceptibility tests showed promising antibacterial activities of Shawkiat and Rabiee honeys compared with Manuka honey against E. coli and S. aureus. The results showed that Manuka honey possessed the lowest MIC value against both bacteria with 20% (w/v) MIC and MBC of 25% (w/v). Slightly higher MIC values were shown by Shawkiat and Rabiee honeys against both bacteria with 25% (w/v) MIC and 50% (w/v) MBC values compared with Manuka honey. Growth curves demonstrated no growth of the two bacteria after treatment with MIC of all the tested honeys. Shawkiat and Rabiee honeys showed that both bacteria lost viability comparably with Manuka honey. The lowest concentration of Shawkiat and Rabiee honeys was able to inhibit and eradicate the biofilm of both bacteria compared with Manuka honey. The qPCR analysis showed that the expression of all the selected genes in both bacteria after treatment with all the tested honeys was downregulated and shared a similar overall pattern of gene expression, with a trend toward reduced expression of the virulence genes of interest. The results of this study indicate that Jordanian honeys possess antibacterial, antibiofilm and anti-virulence activities comparably with Manuka honey. This study revealed that Jordanian honey compared with Manuka honey inhibits E. coli and S. aureus planktonic cells and biofilm through the downregulation of genes required for growth, biofilm formation and motility.

The aim of the study was to verify whether differences in intramuscular fat quality, evaluation based on fatty acid profile and ratios, occur between cattle genotypes – the combined performance cattle breed Czech Fleckvieh and the beef breed Aberdeen Angus – under identical rearing conditions (same pasture location and nutritional management) with extensive grazing. The results of observation show the difference in the quality of intramuscular fat of bulls with combined performance and bulls with meat performance in extensive pastoral farming. Breed differences were reflected by a statistically significantly higher mean intramuscular fat (P ≤ 0.05) in the beef cattle breed (149 ± 60.1 g/kg dry matter) compared to the combined performance breed (120 ± 51.8 g/kg dry matter). A higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) value of 53.4 ± 22.2 g/kg dry matter was observed in the beef cattle breed compared to SFA 40.8 ± 18.9 g/kg dry matter (P ≤ 0.05) in the combined performance cattle breed; a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) value of 43.8 ± 26.3 g/kg dry matter compared to a MUFA value of 42.3 ± 20.8 g/kg dry matter (P > 0.05); and a higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) 0.76 ± 0.33 g/kg dry matter (P ≤ 0.05) compared to PUFA n-3 0.48 ± 0.21 g/kg dry matter in combined performance cattle breed. A higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-6 (PUFA n-6) 3.66 ± 1.39 g/kg dry matter was found in the combined performance cattle breed compared to the meat cattle breed with PUFA n-6 3.54 ± 0.96 g/kg dry matter (P > 0.05). A more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was observed in the Aberdeen Angus (P ≤ 0.05). The results suggest that the different genotypes of the bull breeds studied, reared on extensively used pasture, may influence the amount of intramuscular fat and its quality.

This study examined the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in the F₄ generation of sorghum to enhance grain productivity. The study was conducted at Citayam Research Station, Depok Indonesia (March–September 2023), and evaluated 102 progenies of the F₄ population from a Bioguma (a mutant line) × Gando Keta (a local variety) cross using an Augmented block design with four replications. The results of this experiment indicated that the F₄ generation outperformed the Gando Keta grain yield components, but remained inferior to Bioguma. The yield traits were influenced by the non-additive gene action, with genetic factors playing a significant role in grain weight variation. The top 20% of F₄ progenies exhibited improved yield characteristics, including thicker stems, larger panicles, and increased grain weight.

Irrigation with treated wastewater is essential for increasing crop production in arid and semi arid regions. Field experiments were conducted on rainfed clayey soil to investigate the impact of water quality, cultivation, and different cropping systems on cumulative infiltration (F_(t)), field saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC_fs), penetration resistance (PR), and water stable aggregates (WSA). Treatments were: (1) barley fields tilled for the past 20 years (C_B-T), (2) olive tree fields tilled for the past 20 years (C_O-T), (3) non-cultivated field for 20 years, tilled for the last 2 years (NC-T_2yr), and (4) non-cultivated non-tilled field (NC-NT) for the past 20 years (control). Results indicated that F_(t), HC_fs, PR, and WSA in NC-NT were significantly higher than in all other treatments. Compared to fresh water (FW), treated wastewater (TWW) significantly reduced F_(t) and HC_fs in all treatments. This study showed that irrigation with TWW and protection of soil from any physical manipulation improved soil hydraulic and physical properties to acceptable levels. Therefore, application of such practices could be recommended in arid clayey soils.

Phytopathology deals with a branch of biology encompassing pathogens that infect plants. Pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, and phytoplasmas are notorious and hard to control; preventive measures are important for managing disease as early as possible. Age-old management practices are time-consuming and labour-intensive processes. In the past, nucleic acid-based methods, such as hybridization, amplification, and sequencing, have been used extensively for the preliminary identification of plant pathogens. Recently, PCR-based methods have been widely used for the detection of plant pathogens. However, PCR methods are time-bound and require high-quality DNA extraction because of inhibitors' effects on PCR sensitivity. Several isothermal detection techniques are commonly used for the onsite detection of plant pathogens. Among them, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a paradigm diagnostic tool for early plant pathogen detection. Hence, in this review, we discuss the rapid, reliable, sensitive method of the LAMP assay and the limit of detection (LOD) in different sectors of plant pathology. We also address the advantages and disadvantages of different LAMP approaches and future prospects.

The rapid growth of the food industry necessitates rigorous quality control, particularly in egg production. This study explores advanced methodologies for egg quality assessment by integrating the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and k-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) with machine vision techniques. While traditional destructive methods like measuring the Haugh unit (HU) offer direct insights, but render eggs unusable, non-destructive techniques, such as imaging and spectroscopy, allow continuous quality monitoring. Over a 20-day period, egg samples were evaluated using a digital camera to capture key parameters like the albumen and yolk heights. The study’s image processing involved noise reduction, feature extraction, and calibration. The PCA captured 90.18% of the data variability, while LDA achieved 100% classification accuracy, and KNN demonstrated 80% accuracy. These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining machine vision with statistical methods to enhance the egg grading accuracy, contributing to consumer safety and industry standards.

Soil salinisation is a major constraint on food security and agricultural development, and remains a critical concern in the agricultural sector. In this study, we examined the effects of three straw return methods – straw mulching, straw burial, and a combination of straw mulching and burial – along with inorganic amendments (CaSiO₃ and MgSO₄) on maize growth, soil organic matter, bulk density, salinity, and the contents of individual salt base ions. A 120-day planting experiment was conducted using soil columns and included maize cultivation under irrigation and drenching conditions. The combined treatments (straw return with Ca-Mg application) were more effective in reducing salinity and improving soil properties than straw return alone. Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^–, and HCO₃ contents, as well as soil bulk density, decreased by 45.99–48.43, 28.07–28.36, 20.91–24.17, 18.93–21.03, and 7.64–8.40%, respectively. Regarding crop growth promotion, compared with the single treatment, the combined application of straw return with Ca-Mg (PI, SPI) resulted in a 6.46–8.30% increase in superoxide dismutase activity, an 8.66–10.83% reduction in malondialdehyde content, a 12.71–22.70% increase in total root length, a 13.41–24.14% increase in root surface area, and a 12.46–19.02% increase in root volume. Taken together, integrating straw return with a calcium-magnesium mixture represents a promising strategy for improving the quality of coastal saline soils.

In recent years, grafting has emerged as an efficient and alternative tool to the relatively slow conventional breeding methods, aiming to increase tolerance to abiotic stresses and soil pathogens while improving yield and quality attributes in fruit vegetables. In the present investigation, six inter-specific cucurbitaceous rootstocks, viz. sponge gourd (SG), ridge gourd (RG), ash gourd (AG), bottle gourd (BG), and Summerfit (SF), an inter-specific hybrid of snap melon × acidulus melon, were evaluated for cucumber (C) cv. ‘Kashi Nutan’. Experimental findings revealed that cucumber grafted onto inter-specific SF exhibited a 14.63%, 57.5%, and 20.05% increase in vine length, number of branches, and dry matter production, respectively, compared to the self-rooted control. Photosynthetic parameters such as photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PS II) (Fv/Fm) were also higher in cucumber leaves grafted onto the SF rootstock. Compared to self-rooted plants, cucumber grafted onto SF recorded 72.3% more fruits, a 36.9% increase in fruit weight, and an 80.9% higher fruit yield. The SF rootstock also showed a 44.54% increase in total root length (TRL), a 77.11% increase in root volume, and a 27.25% increase in average root diameter over self-rooted cucumber.

The unsustainable conversion of forest areas into agricultural land poses a serious danger to the soil eminence of Arunachal Pradesh’s environmentally delicate hilly topography. Understanding the impacts of this land-use change is crucial for preventing further degradation. This study aimed to develop soil quality indices (SQIs) for different land use types: natural forest (NF), current jhum cultivation (JC), fallow jhum land (FJC), and pineapple cultivation (PA). Samples of soil were taken at a depth of 0 to 15 cm and examined for 22 potential soil quality indicators, with 19 showing significant (P < 0.05) influence from land use, constituting the total dataset (TDS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed on TDS to identify the minimum data set (MDS), comprising dehydrogenase activity, diethylenetriaminpentahacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable iron, and bulk density, contributing 73%, 19%, and 8% to the overall SQI, respectively. Subsequently, different SQIs were estimated using linear/nonlinear and additive/weighted scoring functions. The results revealed substantial alterations in SQIs among the land use types, through NF exhibiting the highest soil quality. Notably, the nonlinear SQIs exhibited greater sensitivity to land use conversion compared to their linear counterparts, indicating their potential as a more robust tool for assessing soil quality changes. This study concludes that the transformation of land use in the hilly regions of subtropics of Arunachal Pradesh has led to the deterioration of soil quality. The proposed indexing framework, leveraging the sensitivity and clarity of nonlinear SQIs, can effectively evaluate and compare soil quality across different land use scenarios, thereby informing sustainable land management strategies.

This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of stem rust tolerance in commercial wheat varieties from Kazakhstan and Russia, including spring and winter varieties. Field trials were conducted to compare yield and agronomic traits between stem rust-inoculated and fungicide-treated plots, providing a practical framework for assessing tolerance. Key indicators such as disease severity, area under the disease progress curve, thousand kernel weight, and the stress tolerance index were evaluated to gauge variety resilience under stress. Significant variations in tolerance were observed, with varieties such as 'Pamyat' 47', 'Nadezhda', 'Lyubava 5', 'Tselinnaya 3s', 'Severyanka', 'Egemen-20', 'Zhemchuzhina Povolzh'ya', 'Dimash', 'Serke' and 'Korona' maintaining yield potential despite high disease pressure. Correlations revealed that traits such as flag leaf area, vegetative period, and plant height were associated with greater tolerance, highlighting their potential in breeding. With the expected increase in stem rust outbreaks due to climate change and the evolving virulence of stem rust pathogens, these findings emphasise the need for breeding programs incorporating resistance and tolerance, offering a sustainable alternative to fungicide use. This study provides critical insights for breeders and plant pathologists seeking to enhance wheat resilience in regions prone to rust epidemics.

This experimental study evaluated the therapeutic potential of a liquorice-derived hydroalcoholic extract in managing experimentally induced peritonitis in New Zealand rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): one control group, one negative control group (infected but untreated), three treatment groups that received the liquorice-derived extract at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, and one positive control group treated with enrofloxacin. The confirmation of peritoneal infection relied on histopathological and radiographic tests. The effect of the liquorice extract on the peritoneal infection was evaluated using biochemical, haematological, and ultrasound analyses across the groups. The ultrasound examination, along with the haematological and biochemical evaluation on the 20^th day after induction, showed significant differences between the groups. The results demonstrated that higher doses of 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg were more effective than the lower dose of 0.5 g/kg. The haematological and biochemical analyses revealed significant differences in several variables (including WBC, neutrophils, fibrinogen, and liver enzymes) between the treated and control groups, with the most pronounced improvements observed in the group receiving 2 g/kg of liquorice extract, suggesting a dose-dependent therapeutic effect. The administration of a hydroalcoholic extract of liquorice at different doses, along with the standard treatment with enrofloxacin, affected various haematological and biochemical variables in the context of peritoneal infection management. In conclusion, the effectiveness of the liquorice-derived extract is dose-dependent and could be used as an effective therapeutic agent in peritoneal infections in New Zealand rabbits. These findings showed that the liquorice-derived extract effectively improves the local inflammatory and structural changes associated with peritoneal infection without adversely affecting systemic biochemical homeostasis.

In the present study, 20 sycamore maples (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) were evaluated on eight plots (160 trees) affected by sooty bark disease (SBD), caused by Cryptostroma corticale (Ellis & Everh.) P.H. Greg. & S. Waller in Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Mortality and presence of common pest taxa were assessed for each tree. Data were statistically evaluated using frequency and principal component analyses. The presence of C. corticale and Prosthecium pyriforme Jaklitsch & Voglmayr were positively related, with a significantly higher occurrence on dead trees. Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fr. and Aceria macrorhyncha Nalepa were also positively related. However, the presence of Drepanosiphum platanoidis Schrank was not clearly related to the other evaluated taxa. Furthermore, C corticale was not present on Norway maple trees (Acer platanoides L.) growing on the plots. The results suggest that (i) the mortality of the sycamore was caused by C. corticale, while P. pyriforme was only an accompanying weak pathogen; (ii) R. acerinum, A. macrorhyncha, and D. platanoidis did not cause the mortality of the sycamore and their presence was not related to C. corticale infection; and (iii) planting more resistant maple species on sites susceptible to attack by SBD, particularly when stressed by drought, is recommended.

Food insecurity which has been a global threat, forces researchers to develop crops with increased productivity even under varying climatic conditions. Rice, being a significant staple and strategic crop, helps ensure economic stability, food, and nutritional security globally. It meets 20% of the calorie requirement of people residing all over the world. Lately, rice cultivation and research have been facing hitherto unprecedented difficulties in the context of climate-induced water scarcity and dwindling resources of manpower, arable land, etc. In this regard, direct seeded rice (DSR) as a resource conservation technique is gaining popularity as a potential alternative to conventional transplanting with reduced input requirement, reduced methane and CO₂ emission, increased adaptability to climate change, and increased economic returns. The weed menace in DSR prevents it from reaching its fruitful attainment to a significant level. DSR highly depends on herbicide for weed control as manual weeding and other cultural practices are labour intensive which again meets a setback of crop injury (non-selective herbicide) and resistant weeds (selective herbicides). Herbicide-tolerant (HT) rice could be an effective and long-term solution for weed management in DSR. Three HT rice systems, viz., imidazolinones, glyphosate, and glufosinate, have already been developed in this context. This review gives an insight into the need for HT rice in DSR, its production system, limitations, and stewardship guidelines for proper weed management in rice.

Bactrocera cucurbitae, commonly known as the melon fruit fly, stands as a formidable threat to global agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of cucurbitaceous crops. The adaptability, high reproductive capacity, and broad host range of B. cucurbitae make it a persistent challenge for growers worldwide. Conventional control methods, often reliant on chemical pesticides, pose environmental and ecological concerns, necessitating the exploration of alternative strategies for sustainable pest management. Invasive plants often exert deleterious effects on ecosystems, and the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, is no exception. To explore the efficacy of R. communis, a methanol extract was tested to find the toxicity effect against B. cucurbitae. In this study, different bioactive compounds were isolated from R. communis. The crude extract of R. communis was subjected to fractionating using different organic solvents in an increasing order of polarity, where the fraction indicating maximum activity was then taken for the isolation of the bioactive compounds using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of R. communis extracts at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2% methanol were used. Pure methanol was used as the control. The experimental conditions were maintained at 28 + 20 ºC and 65 + 5% relative humidity. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomised design having five replications. A probit analysis was used to find the LC50 and LC90. The results showed that, as the concentration of the plant extracts increases, the mortalities of B. cucurbitae also increased. After a 72 h exposure period, the crude extracts exhibited the lowest LC50 at 0.30% and LC90 at 0.60%. This study investigates the potential of methanolic extracts derived from various parts of R. communis to serve as a biopesticide against B. cucurbitae which can be easily available, economically feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly.

The forest dynamics of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), Czech Republic, reveal a historical decline of natural mixed forests, especially those dominated by the Hercynian mixture and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), due to the expansion of metallurgy and glassmaking in the 15^th century. This led to large-scale reforestation with Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], resulting in single-layered monocultures. Although these monocultures provided valuable timber, they proved highly susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stressors. Throughout the 20^th century, the stability of these forests further deteriorated due to air pollution (notably SO₂ emissions), the unsuitable selection of substitute species, and the proliferation of pathogens. The cumulative impact of these disturbances caused soil acidification, degradation, and weed encroachment, severely limiting the regenerative capacity of forest ecosystems in this region. This article presents model examples of species composition shifts, spatial structure changes, and evolving management practices in the Ore Mountains. It discusses strategies for establishing diverse and resilient stands that align with long-term forest planning goals. These approaches aim to maintain both productive and ecological functions of forests under changing environmental conditions while minimising restoration costs. Importantly, forest management and conversion strategies must also account for economic optimisation, ensuring that ecological goals are met in a financially viable manner. The strategies and case studies presented here offer promising, albeit preliminary, directions for future forest management. Their broader application will require further refinement and long-term experimental validation to ensure sustainability in both ecological and economic terms.

Crop residue management is a major concern in agricultural ecosystems. These residues can be recycled into biochar and compost to efficiently promote soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in farmlands. However, the influences of straw and its derived materials on SOC (especially on humus fractions) in soil aggregates of varying sizes are largely unknown. To understand these effects, a nine-year field experiment was conducted on calcareous black soil, including five treatments: CK – no fertiliser; NPK – mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertiliser; NPKS – NPK + straw; NPKC – NPK + compost, and NPKB – NPK + biochar. Compared to CK and NPK, the NPKS and NPKC treatments resulted in a noticeable rise (P < 0.05) in the proportion of aggregates with > 0.25 mm size (R0.25), as well as in the mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter at 0–20 cm depth. The NPKS, NPKC, and NPKB treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the contents of large macroaggregates (> 2 mm), small macroaggregates (2~0.25 mm), microaggregates (0.25~0.053 mm), and non-aggregates in the 0–20 cm soil layer, as well as the levels of SOC, humic acid carbon (HAC) and humin carbon (HUC). These treatments also significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced organic carbon storage in the topsoil (0~20 cm). The effects were more pronounced after NPKB treatment relative to NPKS. Compared to CK, the application of mineral fertilisers alone and combined with organic materials significantly (P < 0.05) improved crop yields. The study’s results indicate that the application of organic materials from corn significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced both soil quality and corn yield, with straw-derived biochar showing better effects on soil carbon sequestration.

With the increasing productivity in agriculture, it has become extremely essential to look for an advanced technique that will help to minimise losses. Recently, deep learning has outperformed the task of recognition and classification of fruits and vegetables automatically from images, finding applicability in this study. This work, thus, attempts to develop an automatic spoilage detection CNN model for tomatoes. In this work, a deep learning-based CNN model is trained and validated on a self-prepared dataset for classifying tomatoes as edible and spoilt is proposed. The dataset consisted of 810 images, out of which 572 images were considered for training and 238 images for validation. The model is also trained iteratively with varying epoch and batch sizes to evaluate the model in giving the highest classification accuracy. The highest accuracy of 99.70% was achieved at epoch 20 and batch size 32. Further evaluating the performance of the developed model using a confusion matrix, a precision, recall and accuracy of 100%, 87% and 95%, respectively, was obtained for the spoilage detection of tomatoes. Also, on establishing Pearson’s correlation between the predictive model and the sensory evaluation results, a Pearson correlation of 0.895 was obtained, showing that there is strong linear correlation between them.

This study evaluated the potential of spent coffee grounds extract (CGE) as an antioxidant supplement in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four experimental diets with varying CGE levels were formulated: 0% (CGE0, control), 2% (CGE2), 4% (CGE4), and 6% (CGE6). Nile tilapia (initial mean body weight = 38.65 ± 0.85 g) were cultured in fiberglass tanks at a stocking density of 20 fish/m² under continuous aeration. The fish were fed three times daily at 5% of their total body weight. After an 8-week experimental period, the fish fed CGE-supplemented diets exhibited significantly higher growth rate compared to the control group, with CGE4 showing the most pronounced improvement in final body weight (P = 0.027) and weight gain (P = 0.050). However, no significant differences were observed in average daily growth (P = 0.054), specific growth rate (P = 0.256), survival rate (P = 0.487), and feed conversion ratio (P = 0.105) between the dietary treatments. Fish on the CGE6 diet exhibited the highest total plasma protein (P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin levels (P = 0.000). Moreover, CGE supplementation enhanced superoxide dismutase (P = 0.000) and glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.016) activities relative to the control group. The histopathological analysis showed significantly longer intestinal villi in fish fed CGE-supplemented diets, with the longest villi observed in the CGE6 group (P = 0.000). Fish fillets from the CGE6 group exhibited the highest springiness, while hardness was comparable between CGE6 and CGE4 but significantly higher than in CGE2 and CGE0. Additionally, CGE supplementation significantly influenced the colour expression, increasing lightness (L*) while decreasing redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values. These findings indicate that 4% CGE supplementation is the most effective concentration, as it significantly promotes growth as evidenced by the highest weight gain, while also enhancing blood biochemical parameters, flesh quality, and antioxidative responses in Nile tilapia.

In the experiments, two compounds were used: hydrogen peroxide with silver (H2O2-Ag+) and captan, pyraclostrobin + boscalid and methyl thiophanate + tetraconazole to soak narcissus bulbs before planting for the period of 20 minutes. The bulbs were planted in such a way that 2/3 of the bulb was above the surface of the substrate. All the pots with bulbs were subsequently placed in plastic boxes and transferred to a cooling chamber adjusted precisely for 9 °C and 94–99% air humidity. During the rooting of the bulbs in the cold room after 4, 8, 12 and 15 weeks, and then in the greenhouse after cutting the above-ground parts, the observations of the bulbs and percentage substrate coverage by the fungi most frequently isolated in the previous observations. The research showed that H2O2-Ag+ and fungicides used for soaking significantly limited the fungal development on bulbs and also on the substrate during the rooting period in the cold store and after they were placed in the greenhouse until the flowering.

Pink oyster mushrooms are rich in protein, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, making them a great addition to any diet. However, pink oyster mushrooms have the ability to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals, some of which, such as cadmium, can cause adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of pink oyster mushrooms to absorb Cd from substrates contaminated with Cd and to assess the human health risks associated with the consumption of these mushrooms. An experiment was carried out in a completely randomised design and included four treatments (four Cd contamination levels i.e. 0, 20, 50 and 100 mg·kg^–1) with three replications. Cd accumulation in mushrooms increased with increasing Cd content in substrates and ranged from 1.8 mg·kg^–1 (non-contaminated substrate) to 23.8 mg·kg^–1 of dry mass (substrate contaminated with 100 mg·kg^–1 of Cd). On the other hand, total mushroom yield showed a decreasing trend with increasing Cd levels in substrates. The results of the present study suggest that pink oyster mushrooms possess the capability to absorb Cd from the substrate in which they grow. The obtained results for target hazard quotient (THQ) of Cd point to the conclusion that the consumption of mushrooms cultivated on the Cd-contaminated substrates could produce negative health effects.

This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from –0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01–0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00–2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18–0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20–4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.

The labile fractions of organic carbon (OC), which are a reflection of the properties of soil and its use, appear to be suitable parameters for their use as indicators. The aim of this study was to determine the reliable and relatively simple indicators for detecting the chemical and physical stabilizations of OC, which would respond sensitively to land use. The study includes forest ecosystem (FE) and agroecosystem (AE) with different tillage intensities (reduced tillage, RT and conventional tillage, CT) on real farms. Parameters of the labile C and N were tested. For a depth of < 0.1 m in the FE, the hot water extractable organic carbon (HWEOC) for chemical stabilization and labile nitrogen (N_L) for physical stabilization appear as the most suitable indicators. Higher values of HWEOC indicate the OC stabilization by decreasing decomposition, pH or by increasing carbonates, recalcitrant fractions, and higher values of N_L by OC incorporation into the silt fraction and larger macro-aggregates. In the AE with RT, these are the HWEOC for chemical stabilization and carbon pool index (CPI) or index of carbon lability (LI_C) for physical stabilization. Higher values of CPI and LI_C indicate the stabilization by the formation of size-optimal dry-sieved (DSA; 1–3 mm) and wet-sieved (WSA; 1–2 mm) soil aggregates. In the AE with CT, it was the N_L. Its higher values point to the stabilization through the carbonates, alkaline cations, size-fraction of > 0.01 mm and the formation of DSA (1–3 mm). For a depth of < 0.3 m in the AE, these are the C_L (for RT), higher value of which points to the stabilization by clay and alkaline cations, and HWEOC (for CT), higher value of which indicates the stabilization in the conditions of the soil acidification.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein linked to udder health in dairy cows. This study aimed to develop a calibration model for LF quantification using mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR-FT), with ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as the reference method. Two sets of individual milk samples (A: n = 120; B: n = 91) were collected from five dairy farms in the Czech Republic. Set A included a higher proportion of samples with somatic cell count (SCC) above 300 000 cells/ml to ensure broad LF variability. After merging both sets and removing six outliers, a final calibration set C (n = 205) was created. The developed model achieved a cross-validated coefficient of determination of 0.588 7 and a standard error of cross-validation of 67.33 mg/l. Correlation analysis showed that several milk parameters correlated with LF determined by MIR-FT in patterns typical of mastitis (SCC: r = 0.450; lactose: r = –0.364; free fatty acids: r = 0.621; electrical conductivity: r = 0.442), indicating potential for MIR-FT in evaluating mammary gland health. The feasibility of using LF as an indicator of milk adulteration by artificial SCC reduction through centrifugation was also assessed. Two sample sets (n = 20 and n = 68) were analysed, each containing normal bulk tank milk and bulk tank milk supplemented with abnormal milk. Centrifugation caused minimal changes in LF determined by both HPLC and MIR-FT (maximum 3.27%) while SCC decreased by nearly 50%, suggesting that LF may serve as a marker for detecting artificial SCC reduction. However, practical application of MIR-FT for accurate LF determination is limited by the achieved validation parameters and the high expanded uncertainty (114.7 mg/l). The method is therefore more suitable for monitoring relative LF changes in milk than for determining exact LF content.

The decline in the bee colony strength due to high levels of Varroa destructor infestations necessitates the development of new control methods. This study evaluates the effectiveness of glycerin-oxalic acid strips and essential oils in managing Varroa destructor. The experiment was conducted in 2022 at the experimental apiary in Debelec, part of the Institute of Animal Husbandry in Kostinbrod. Six experimental groups, each treated with a different preparation, were compared to a control group of untreated colonies. Treatments included Beevital Hiveclean (20 ml per colony), Varro Red (2 ml per frame), ammonium nitrate strips (1.3 mm), glycerin-oxalic acid strips (1.3 mm), and glycerin-oxalic acid strips of paper-cellulose (2.3 mm) or cellulose-cotton (2.3 mm). The control group remained untreated. The glycerin-oxalic acid strips made of cellulose and cotton (2.3 mm) showed the highest efficacy, reducing the mite infestation by 17.79% compared to the control. The glycerin-oxalic acid strips of paper-cellulose (2.3 mm) were also effective, achieving a 17.05% reduction in mite levels. These results provide valuable insights for beekeepers seeking alternative and sustainable methods for controlling Varroa destructor infestations.

Optimum nutrition is essential for quality cut flower production and for improving soil health. The study aims to evaluate the interaction between bio-organic and inorganic nutrient sources in enhancing alstroemeria (Alstroemeria hybrida L.) cut flower production and soil health for sustainable cultivation practice. Randomised block methodology involving 20 treatment combinations of inorganic fertilisers (NPK) and biostimulants (Panchgavya and Jeevamrit) applied at varying concentrations. Significant outcomes emerged from the combined influence of inorganic and organic sources of nutrients. The application of the 100% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) with 75 mL of Panchgavya resulted in substantial improvements in alstroemeria growth parameters, including plant height (7.8%), early flowering (13.08%), flower diameter (20.03%) and the number of flowering stems (25.3%) over the control (100% RDF). Plant spread (24.1%) and number of florets/stem (26.6%) were improved with the application of 100% RDF with 50 mL of Panchgavya when compared with the control. Soil nutrient content, i.e. available nitrogen (11.5%), phosphorus (28.7%), potassium (13.8%) and microbial populations, i.e. fungal (35.4%) and bacterial (28.2%) colonies also exhibited noteworthy enhancements with the application of 100% RDF with 75 mL of Panchgavya over the control. The study concludes that the application of 100% RDF with 75 mL of Panchgavya increased quality cut flower production in alstroemeria.

The potential of lotus seed paste (LSP) as a fat substitute in pork patties was investigated. Pork patties were prepared by substituting varying levels of fat (0, 20, 40, and 60%) with LSP. LSP addition increased moisture while reducing fat content. Compared to control, LSP-added pork patties had significantly higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, L* values and microbial counts (P < 0.05), but lower thawing, centrifugal, and cooking losses, and diameter reduction. Furthermore, LSP incorporation enhanced hardness, springiness, chewiness and adhesiveness of the patties. Patties with 60% fat replacement by LSP had the highest b* value and cohesiveness, and the lowest a* value. Substituting 40% or more fat significantly improved the colour, taste, texture and overall acceptability of pork patties (P < 0.05).

Enhancing sustainability in agriculture requires innovative practices that boost crop productivity while conserving natural resources. This two-season field study (2023–2025) in sandy soils of El Sadat City, Egypt, evaluated the combined effects of nano-fertilisers and seed priming on the growth and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Five fertilisation regimes, ranging from 100% conventional to 100% nano-formulations, were tested under both primed and unprimed seed treatments. The results demonstrated that the integration of nano-fertilisers with seed priming significantly improved sugar yield (up to 36.1 t/ha), sucrose content (20.35%), and nitrogen use efficiency (55.1 kg sugar/kg N). Post-harvest soil analysis showed improved nutrient retention, indicating enhanced environmental performance. This approach supports climate-smart agriculture by optimising nutrient input, reducing losses, and improving soil sustainability. Our findings highlight the potential of nano-agronomic inputs to contribute to global food security under conditions of climate change.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of phytase supplementation in phosphorus (P)-reduced diet on the productive performance, egg quality, calcium (Ca) utilisation, and blood profile of Japanese quails. Phytase breaks down phytic acid; thereby, increasing the availability of its bound nutrients, enabling poultry to hydrolyse and utilise these nutrients effectively. A total of 480 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica; 28-day-old and average body weight = 94.3 ± 5.7 g) were assigned to four dietary regimens, each consisting of six replicates of 20 birds. The control diet (T0) contained 0.5% nonphytate P. The other experimental diets included: T1 = comprising 0.4% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.1% phytase equivalent to 500 Phytase Unit (FTU)/kg; T2 = comprising 0.3% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.15% phytase equivalent to 750 FTU/kg; and T3 = comprising 0.2% nonphytate P supplemented with 0.2% phytase equivalent to 1 000 FTU/kg. The addition of phytase to P-reduced diets did not affect the overall productive performance in quails. Moreover, yolk weight increased by 3.04% to 10.5% (P = 0.01) and the haugh unit increased by 0.56% to 1.11% (P = 0.04) compared to the control, whereas other quality traits, such as albumen weight, albumen and yolk indices, and eggshell weight, thickness, and breaking strength, remained unaffected following the supplementation of phytase in the P-reduced diet. Additionally, an increase in Ca output in eggshells (5.26% to 15.79%; P = 0.14) and the ratio of Ca in eggshells to Ca intake (5.59% to 16.47%; P = 0.49) correlated with the increase in blood Ca levels in the quails on the P-reduced diet (P = 0.16). In conclusion, the addition of phytase to P-reduced diets has proven effective in maintaining the laying performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical profiles of Japanese quails.

This study investigated the potential risks of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in buffaloes grazing on forages that were cultivated in soils irrigated by various sources of wastewater. The absorption of trace metals (TM) by plants and their subsequent entry into the food chain pose a significant danger to grazing animals through the accumulation of contaminated fodder. The mean concentration of Cd in the water ranged from 0.18–1.78 mg/L, in the soil 0.63 to 1.87 mg/kg, in the forage 0.20 to 1.32 mg/kg, and in the blood 0.26 to 1.98 mg/L. Among all three sites, canal water (CW Site I), groundwater (GW Site II), and sewage water (SW Site III), the concentration factor (CF) values were below the threshold of 1 (CF < 1), indicating the nominal environmental concern regarding Cd contents in the soil-plant interface. In addition, a prominent variation was noticed in the transfer factor (TF) of Cd across different sites, with the highest TF observed in Avena sativa L. at SW Site III (0.8) and the lowest in Pennisetum glaucum L. at CW Site I (0.27). Furthermore, the hazard quotient (HQ) exhibited a substantial fluctuation, ranging from 0.39 to 2.6, reflecting varying levels of potential health risks associated with Cd exposure. The outcomes of the current investigation suggested that the prominent increase in Cd levels was recorded at sampling site SW Site III due to continuous wastewater irrigation. Prolonged exposure and increased Cd absorption in buffaloes grazing at these sites could have harmful long-term effects on their health. The correlation analysis between Cd concentrations in water, soil, forage, and blood showed a positive but non-significant relationship for water-soil, soil-forage, and forage-blood interactions. This highlights the need for further research to assess the long-term implications of wastewater irrigation on heavy metal accumulation in livestock.

The common 1% oil cleanup criterion was tested for pasture production according to oil type and concentration, in soil types frequently contaminated in southeastern Mexico. Reductions in aerial biomass of Brachiaria humidicola were measured over six months in soils contaminated with crude oils of varying grades (light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy). Dose-response curves for heavy crude-contaminated soils showed acceptable criteria (90% pasture) of 0.71, 0.56, 1.23, ~0.20 and < 0.10% oil for an Arenosol, Vertisol, Gleysol, Fluvisol and an Acrisol, respectively. Generally, for all crude oils, the 1% level resulted in pasture reductions of ~20–70, ~25–60, ~50–65, and ~35–65% in the Arenosol, Vertisol, Fluvisol, and Acrisol, respectively. Still, in the Gleysol it was variable (reduction of ~10% to an increase of ~15%). Thus, the 1% oil cleanup criterion may be suitable for some soils with large amounts of smectite clays and organic matter (such as Gleysols). Still, for most soils, it may not be strict enough to prevent soil fertility deterioration, and soils with large amounts of non-smectite fines may be particularly impacted. Therefore, lower cleanup levels need to be considered, as well as low-cost regenerative agricultural practices to recover soil fertility in contaminated soils, when these cleanup levels are not achievable.