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Legumes are promoted in agroecosystems for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N), thereby reducing or eliminating the need for N fertilisation while also contributing N-rich organic residues, which non-legume species can subsequently utilise. In phosphorus (P)-poor soils, certain legumes appear to access less available forms of P, converting them into organic P and facilitating its use by non-legume species. This study evaluated seven legume species/cultivars and one grass species (as a control) in a trial conducted in low-fertility soils under four different growing conditions (location × year). The objective was to investigate the role of legumes in P and other nutrient uptake and accumulation in plant tissues. Some lupins and broad beans accumulated up to 30 kg/ha of P in their biomass, even without accounting for P in the roots. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in plant tissues were also significantly higher in legumes than in grass. In addition to concentrating certain nutrients in their tissues, legumes produced substantially more biomass due to their access to atmospheric N, resulting in considerably higher nutrient accumulation. Ca and Mg in some legumes exceeded 100 and 40 kg/ha in aboveground biomass, respectively, whereas in grasses, they remained below 4 kg/ha. Thus, when legumes are cultivated as green manure, these nutrients are returned to the soil in organic form, which can subsequently become available to non-legume crops through the mineralisation process of the organic substrate. Therefore, cultivating legumes not only enhances N availability for other species but also improves the cycling of other essential nutrients.

Forest headwater streams serve as critical interfaces between terrestrial forests and downstream aquatic ecosystems, playing essential roles in the storage and movement of carbon (C) and nutrients. However, despite their importance, our understanding of the dynamics of plant litter calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) stocks within these streams remains limited. In this study, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant litter Ca and Mg concentrations and stocks in a subtropical forest headwater stream from March 2021 to February 2022. We found that: (1) the average concentrations of litter Ca and Mg were 9.9 and 0.7 mg/g, respectively, with mean stocks of 8 792.3 and 620.8 mg/m², respectively; (2) significant variations in litter Ca and Mg concentrations were observed among non-woody debris (13.1 and 0.9 mg/g), fine woody debris (9.0 and 0.5 mg/g), and coarse woody debris (6.1 and 0.4 mg/g), though plant litter type did not significantly affect the stocks of Ca and Mg; and (3) the stocks of Ca and Mg were positively correlated with factors such as rainfall amount, rainfall frequency, water temperature, flow velocity, water depth, electrical conductivity, and discharge, while negatively correlated with stream water alkalinity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings highlight the critical role of plant litter in headwater streams as a component of forest nutrient stocks and provide empirical support for incorporating headwater streams into the assessment of nutrient stocks and fluxes in forest ecosystems.

Global food security is increasingly threatened by the vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate variability, especially in sub-humid regions. Northeast China, a major maize-producing region, experiences low spring temperatures and erratic rainfall, which have prompted the widespread adoption of plastic-film mulching (PFM) combined with drip irrigation. However, systematic evaluations of how different PFM patterns affect crop productivity and resource use efficiency remain limited. This study systematically evaluated three PFM strategies – full ridge-furrow mulching (FM), ridge mulching (RM), and no mulching (NM) – in combination with 240 kg N/ha and a zero-nitrogen control under drip irrigation to determine their effects on maize (Zea mays L.) yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen utilisation. Field experiments over two consecutive growing seasons assessed crop growth, dry matter (DM) accumulation, nitrogen dynamics, grain yield, and related efficiency parameters. Both FM and RM significantly enhanced early maize growth. At the seedling stage, FM and RM increased plant height by 43.0% and 40.1%, and leaf area index (LAI) by 141.4% and 120.4% over NM, respectively. During the same stage, DM accumulation increased by 228.9% (FM) and 224.9% (RM). These improvements reflected favourable soil hydrothermal conditions under PFM. Before heading, PFM treatments increased pre-anthesis DM accumulation by up to 19.6%, and at maturity, FM and RM raised DM by 6.1% and 5.1% over NM. PFM significantly improved grain nitrogen accumulation, with FM and RM increasing it by 31.0% and 26.9% over NM, respectively, and nitrogen harvest index (NHI), with FM and RM increasing it by 6.8% and 6.1% over NM, indicating enhanced nutrient translocation to grain. PFM also improved grain yield, with FM and RM increasing it by 15.0% and 13.5%, WUE by 17.2% and 15.7%, and nitrogen partial productivity by 16.8% and 14.1%. No significant differences in yield or WUE were observed between FM and RM. Fertilisation consistently enhanced these benefits without changing the relative efficiency ranking of treatments. Notably, the advantages of mulching diminished after the heading stage as temperature and rainfall increased. PFM (both FM and RM) under drip irrigation improves maize yield, water use, and nitrogen efficiency in sub-humid regions. This integrated practice offers a scalable and sustainable strategy to increase maize productivity and resource efficiency, supporting food security in regions facing similar climatic challenges.

Dogs and cats are the most common companion animals in urban environments. Some dogs and cats live in stable home settings, receiving regular care. However, stray dogs and cats are exposed to chronic stress due to life on the streets or in shelters. Stress is correlated with oxidative stress. The dysregulation of redox balance can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which promote cellular and molecular damage. In this study, the blood samples were collected from 150 female animals (90 dogs and 60 cats) to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs and subjected to reverse transcription. The expression levels of SOD1 and CAT were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Compared with those in stray animals, the SOD1 expression levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the CAT expression levels were non-significantly lower in owned animals. These findings suggest that the expression of antioxidant defence genes varied between owned and stray animals. Thus, oxidative stress regulation is dependent on environmental conditions and lifestyle in companion species.

Congenital anomalies affecting the spinal column are frequently observed in certain dog breeds. One such condition occurs at the junction between the lower back and the sacrum, where vertebrae exhibit mixed structural characteristics. This retrospective study analysed imaging records of Rhodesian Ridgebacks collected over 28 years, selecting only those that met strict positioning standards for evaluation. A total of 2 012 cases were analysed using established classification methods, identifying three distinct structural variations: a typical junction, a bilaterally altered morphology, and an asymmetrical form affecting one side. The prevalence of these variations was 7.4%, with symmetrical alterations found in 5% of cases and asymmetrical alterations in 2.4%. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association between these anatomical variations and canine hip dysplasia (CHD) (P = 0.170 0). These findings support previous research indicating that there is no direct link between these structural variations and joint disorders in this breed. The study represents the most extensive investigation of its kind in this canine population, highlighting that such vertebral variations are frequently observed in routine radiographic screenings, but despite decades of research, consistent clinical correlations remain elusive – underscoring the need for further systematic investigation.

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.

A free electricity tandem-twin-hybrid-solar-biomass dryer comprised of two drying rooms and operated with solar and biomass energy combustion of 10 kg rubber wood per hour separately to dry Robusta coffee cherries with 3, 6, 9, and 12 cm bed thicknesses were studied with the drying completion time (tc), number of defects (ND), and colour parameters, i.e., lightness (L*), hue angle [H(^o)], and chroma (C), used as the performance indicators. The experimental results indicated that the drying room, bed thickness, and drying room-bed thickness interaction significantly affected the tc and ND and bed thickness only significantly affected C for both the solar energy drying and the biomass energy drying. The solar energy drying generated a drying air temperature of 44.6 ± 3.5 °C with a tc of 70.9–90.2 h for the front drying room and 40.1 ± 2.8 °C with a tc of 77.2–116.5 h for the rear drying room, whereas the biomass energy drying produced a drying air temperature of 57.2 ± 3.6 °C with a tc of 34.1–44.9 h for the front drying room and 45.6 ± 6.0 °C with a tc of 56.3–96.6 h for the rear drying room. Both drying processes produced coffee beans with the NDs less than 11 qualified for Grade 1 with similar colour characteristics.

Strip tillage is a very popular form of conservation tillage that is used in places with a higher risk of soil erosion. It is commonly accepted that strip tillage reduces the effects of water erosion; however, the exact way this effect is produced is very hard to quantify. This study focuses on the way strip tillage influences soil moisture and the way it changes with different intensities of rainfall, in comparison with conventional tillage. This study was conducted near Petrovice, Středočeský kraj, Czechia, over the course of four years (2021–2024). The conditions of all four test sites were comparable, both in terms of slope and soil type present. The soil moisture of strip tillage in a depth of 15 cm was changing differently in comparison with conventional tillage. During lower intensity rainfall events, the soil moisture of the strip tilled plot changed significantly less in comparison with conventional tillage. On the contrary, when more intense precipitation occurred, the soil moisture in the strip-tilled plot responded with significantly higher changes in comparison with conventional tillage. Soil drying after precipitation was also studied, with the speed of drying of strip tillage being higher than that of conventional tillage. These findings help better understand the changes strip tillage introduces into the soil and to the crops it is used with.

Farmland transfer is a practical need for China to achieve agricultural mechanisation and modernisation, and also an important way for farmers to optimise their family resource allocation. The existing studies ignore the impact of farmland transfer on the environment, especially carbon emissions. The practical significance of this paper lies in exploring the likely mechanisms driving the effect of the farmland transfer on agricultural carbon emissions from a microeconomic perspective using data from rural households, based on the heterogeneity of land management scale. Results show: (i) Land transfer impacts carbon emissions differently. Land transfer of small-scale farmers increases carbon emissions, while large-scale farmers reduce them. The threshold value of land management scale is 1 ha. (ii) The impact mechanisms are water-saving technology adoption and input of fertilizers and pesticides. Small-scale farmers increase fertiliser and pesticide input after land transfer, increasing carbon emissions. Large-scale farmers mostly reduce irrigation electricity consumption, as well as fertilizer and pesticide input, thus reducing agricultural carbon emissions. In conclusion, it is recommended to guide farmers to expand farmland transfer scale through subsidy policies; guide small-scale farmers' green agricultural production behaviours; and increase the adoption rate of water-saving technologies.

This study has evaluated the genetic characteristics and wheat processing-related properties of four Korean wheat landraces (KWLs). The KWLs were found to possess the vernalization alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1 and the photoperiod alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b, and Ppd-D1a. The Korean cultivated variety Keumgang also shared these alleles with the exception of vrn-D1. With regard to grain hardness, KWL 2 was shown to possess Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1b like Keumgang, while other KWLs were classified as carrying Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a. All KWLs were found to be non-waxy, carrying the alleles Wx-A1a, Wx-B1a, and Wx-D1a. With regard to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes, all four KWLs carried low-activity alleles, in contrast to the Keumgang sample. The assessment of physicochemical properties revealed that KWL 1, 3, and 4 had a higher amylose content but a lower protein content than KWL 2 and Keumgang. In tests of solvent retention capacity KWL 1 and KWL 2 exhibited the lowest and highest values, respectively, for all four solvents used in the tests. With regard to the dough properties, the results of Mixolab analysis indicated a faster starch gelatinisation in KWL1, while in KWL 2 a high water absorption and the longest dough development and stability times were found. KWL 3 and 4 exhibited similar dough behaviours. Principal component analysis of the four KWL lines revealed distinct clustering based on their physicochemical and dough-related traits.

This study investigates the impact of supplementing extruded flaxseed to the diet of yearling bulls during the indoor fattening on beef carcass quality, meat composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty male crossbred calves (Holstein × Simmental) were divided into two groups: control group and flaxseed-supplemented group, each with 10 calves. The control group received a conventional diet, while the flaxseed group was fed the same diet enriched with 5% extruded flaxseed on a dry-matter basis. The study revealed no significant differences in growth performance, carcass weight, or yield between the two groups. However, the flaxseed-supplemented group exhibited a higher intramuscular fat content, which was likely due to the increased energy intake from the flaxseed lipid content. Additionally, flaxseed supplementation improved the fatty acid profile of beef by increasing the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and reducing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) percentage and the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Despite these improvements, the study did not reveal any significant increase in the proportion of n-3 fatty acids in the meat. These findings suggest that while flaxseed supplementation enhances the nutritional profile of beef, further research is needed to optimise the balance of energy intake to maximise the increase in n-3 fatty acids.

This review evaluates the role of food waste reuse in sustainable food production, its associated health benefits, and technological advances in bioactive ingredient extraction. The research demonstrates that recycling bioactive food ingredients not only reduces food waste but also increases nutritional value, supports sustainability goals, and creates economic opportunities in the food industry. The process has been shown to enable the development of functional food ingredients, nutraceuticals (health-promoting food supplements), and biodegradable packaging solutions. The integration of biotechnological applications, microbial fermentation, and innovative processing methods has the potential to utilise food waste in the production of value-added products such as functional foods, biomaterials, and biofuels. The development of renewable technologies further enhances this potential. Overcoming safety risks, optimising extraction processes, and implementing global policies supporting food waste recycling are key to making sustainable solutions more effective and widespread. As new approaches emerge in research, the reuse of food waste and, therefore, achieving the zero waste goal will be facilitated by reducing the need for raw materials and increasing the added value in the food industry.

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.

This study investigated how remote sensing techniques can pinpoint pollution in surface water areas. Researchers focused on the municipalities of Boumerdes, Corso, and Tidjalabine in Algeria’s Boumerdes province. The team used geographic information systems (GIS) to analyse pollution levels and their spatial distribution. Specifically, they employed the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify areas teeming with biodiversity and healthy vegetation. Furthermore, the compactness index provided insights into the overall evolution of the drainage network. This data proved invaluable in identifying areas likely impacted by pollution. Our study is part of a scientific approach to detecting, monitoring, and intervening in water pollution. The core objective was to develop an alternate approach to protecting productive farmland and populated areas by mitigating pollution in these susceptible zones. The NDVI and compactness index, along with their associated database, hold significant promise for environmental preservation efforts. This spatial procedure effectively maps the spatial temporal distribution of pollutants, providing targeted management strategies. The method’s user-friendly nature makes it easily applicable in other African countries.

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.

Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2–5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2–10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C : N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2–5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index.

This study evaluated the quality changes of fresh-cut potatoes during storage by treating with different concentrations of tea polyphenol (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g·L^–1). During the storage, the ∆E value (colour change of fresh-cut potatoes), browning degree, chewiness, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity gradually increased. But the hardness and elasticity first increased and then decreased. Compared with the control, the tea polyphenol treatment could effectively inhibit the increase of ∆E value, browning degree, chewiness, MDA content, PPO and POD activity of potato slices, and delay the decrease of slice hardness, elasticity and brittleness in the later storage period. Among them, 0.25 g·L^–1 tea polyphenol has the best effect. It can maintain the colour of fresh-cut potatoes, inhibit the increase of PPO and POD active enzyme activities, reduce the production of browning substances, and improve the storage quality of fresh-cut potatoes.

Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET_o) is a vital hydrological component influenced by various climate variables that impact the water and energy balances. It plays a crucial role in determining crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling. Despite the availability of numerous approaches for estimation, accurate and reliable ET_o estimation is essential for effective irrigation water management. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the most suitable machine learning model for assessing ET_o using observed daily values of limited input parameters in tropical savannah climate regions. Three machine learning models – a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, an artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector regression (SVM) – were developed with four different input combinations, and their performances were compared with those of locally calibrated empirical equations. The models were evaluated using statistical indicators such as the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R²), and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). The results showed that the LSTM model, using the combination of temperature and wind speed, provided more reliable predictions with R² values greater than 0.75 and RMSEs less than 0.63 mm·day^–1 across all the considered weather stations. This study concludes that, especially under limited data conditions, the developed deep learning model improves the ET_o estimation more accurately than empirical models for tropical climatic regions.

A 6-year-old female neutered Turkish Angora cat was referred due to tachypnoea. The patient was diagnosed with cardiomegaly at a local hospital during a health screening two years ago. Tachypnoea occurred one year ago. On physical examination, the patient presented with a respiratory rate of 72 breaths per minute and a systolic blood pressure of 70 mmHg. Thoracic radiographs revealed severe cardiomegaly, left atrium (LA) enlargement, right atrium (RA) enlargement, right ventricular enlargement, and dilation of pulmonary arteries and veins. An alveolar pattern was identified in the right and left cranial lung lobes. Echocardiography revealed a membrane that divided the LA into two chambers, a defect in the lower atrial septum, and elongation of anterior or posterior tricuspid valves (TV). However, septal TV was not observed. During systole, blood flow from LA to RA was confirmed through a defect in the atrial septum. During diastole, blood flow from LA to left ventricular was confirmed. These findings suggest cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) with partial atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). This report describes echocardiographic diagnosis of CTS with partial AVSD in a cat.

The present study was carried out to enlist herbicidal and antimicrobial compounds in the methanolic stem extract of Carthamus oxycantha, a problematic weed of Asteraceae. Methanolic stem extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis that revealed the presence of 150 constituents in the extract. The most abundant compound was Niacin (45.375%) followed by D-ribofuranose, 5-deoxy-5-(methylsulfinyl)-1,2,3-tris-O-(trimethylsilyl)- (14.528%); 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (4.951%); γ-tocopherol (4.638%); hexacosane (4.148%); 3-phenyllactic acid, 2TMS derivative  (2.675%); 13-retinoic acid, (Z)-, TMS derivative (2.461%); 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-ethyl-3-imidazoline-1-oxyl (2.276%); octadecanoic acid (1.851%); 2-deoxy-1,3,4,5-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl); pentitol (1.757%); 3,5,5-trimethyl-4-(3-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)butyl)cyclohex-2-enone (1.505%); methyl 9.cis.,11.trans.t,13.trans.-octadecatrienoate (1.136%); and benzoic acid, 3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-, trimethylsilyl ester (1.044%). Peak areas for the rest of the compounds were below 1%. Among the identified compounds, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (3), hexacosane (5), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (28), tetradecanoic acid, methyl ester (29), hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (30), γ-sitosterol (33), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)- (48), dodecanoic acid (68) and eicosane (128) are known to possess antimicrobial activities. Compound 28 is also known for its herbicidal activity as a binary mixture with xanthoxyline. This study concludes that the stem extract of C. oxycantha primarily comprises antifungal and antibacterial compounds.

Lead (Pb) is a harmful heavy metal that threatens ecosystems and plant growth. Silicon (Si) plays a crucial role in plant responses to heavy metal stress. In this study, the effects of Si on Pb2+ content and transport, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms in Salix viminalis L. under Pb stress were analysed, aiming to elucidate the detoxification mechanism of Si in S. viminalis under such conditions. Results showed that Si reduced Pb²⁺ in aboveground parts and increased it in roots, lowering its movement to leaves and stems. Analysis of the subcellular distribution of Pb²⁺ revealed that Si application promoted the transfer of Pb²⁺ to vacuole-dominated soluble components (F4) and cell wall components (F1), which increased the binding capacity of the cell wall and the vacuolar storage compartmentalisation for Pb²⁺. Changes in the chemical forms of Pb²⁺ indicated that Si significantly decreased the proportion of more mobile, ethanol-extractable Pb²⁺ (FE) and deionised water-extractable Pb²⁺ (FW) while increasing the proportion of less mobile Pb²⁺ forms, such as NaCl-extractable (FNaCl), HCl-extractable (FHCl), and acetic acid-extractable (FHAc) Pb²⁺, thereby reducing its mobility. This study provides empirical support for the application of Si in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Organic farming is a topic often discussed in the scientific community and public space. The current European policy strongly supports the enhancement of organic farming concerning the environment, sustainability, and social aspects. It is generally assumed that a lower intensity of production, yields, livestock utility, fertilisation, and total costs should be compensated by premium prices, subsidies, or higher economic performance. Research revealed that achieving premium prices for organic products on the market is not obvious for organic farmers as some organic commodities have been sold on the conventional market. Our study focused on the price difference reached by the sample of farms on the organic and conventional markets for two organic commodities (winter wheat and milk) and the farm's economic results. We combined and compared data from two unique databases on organic farming in the Czech Republic. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA and regression for analysis. We found the difference between evaluated market prices. Price variability is wide in both types of organic and conventional markets but the influence of the prices on farm performance was not significant.

Drawing upon data on co-signed patents in China's agricultural sector between 2015 and 2022, this paper explores the structural characteristics and determinants of the patent collaboration network in agricultural technology involving universities (U), enterprises (E) and research institutes (R). The results of social network analysis (SNA) revealed that the patent collaboration network is expanding in scale, but innovators are sparsely connected to others. Although the subnetwork linked by enterprises is the largest, universities and research institutes are more likely to play roles as hubs and bridges in the network. Furthermore, quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) regression revealed that prior collaboration experience and geographical proximity are key factors that promote co-patenting in the agricultural sector. Compared with U–U partnerships, E–E and E–R partnerships are associated with decreased patent collaboration. In the agriculture and forestry industries, the U–U and U–R partnerships are most likely involved in co-patenting, followed by the R–R and U–E partnerships. In the animal husbandry and fishery industries, no significant difference was found between the partnerships of U–U, R–R, U–E and U–R in their collaborative propensity.

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.

Tomato is a major global crop, extensively cultivated in China. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to high-temperature stress remain poorly understood. This study investigates these mechanisms by examining a heat-resistant tomato variety, Hm 2-2 (R), and a heat-sensitive variety, BY 1-2 (S), under high temperature (40 °C). Total RNA was extracted from samples taken at 0 and 24 h post-treatment, followed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened based on the criteria of |log₂ fold change| ≥ 2 and false discovery rate ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology (GO) function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway enrichment analysis were performed to explore the biological significance of these DEGs. The results revealed 6 038 upregulated and 2 866 downregulated DEGs in the R-0 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. R-24 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group and 5 297 upregulated and 3 920 downregulated DEGs in the S-0 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. S-24 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group, respectively. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the majority of DEGs were associated with biological processes, followed by cellular components and molecular functions. KEGG pathway analysis identified 130, 131, 89, and 115 regulatory (or altered) pathways in the R-0 vs. R-24, S-0 vs. S-24, S-0 vs. R-0, and S-24 vs. R-24 group comparisons, respectively. Notably, pathways related to protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched, suggesting their critical roles in the tomato’s response to heat stress. Moreover, 156 transcription factors (TFs) implicated in heat stress response were identified, spanning various TF families such as MYB, AP2-EREBP, b-ZIP, bHLH, NAC, and WRKY. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 14 randomly selected DEGs validated the RNA-seq results confirming the reliability of the data. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of tomato’s responses to high-temperature stress, laying a crucial foundation for future research in this area.

This study investigated, for the first time, the efficacy of citric acid (CA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as electrolytes in electrokinetic remediation (EKR) for removing lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from three distinct soils (Anthrosols soil, AT; Acrisols soil, AC; and Chernozems soil, CH). Under a voltage gradient of 2 V/cm and a remediation duration of 4 days, EDTA proved most effective for Anthrosols, achieving removal rates of 17.8% for Cd and 12.8% for Pb-lower than those observed for Acrisols and Chernozems, likely due to AT’s high pH background. These results suggest that combining EKR with other remediation techniques could enhance efficiency for such soils. For Acrisols soil, extending the remediation time to 10 days significantly improved metal removal: Cd removal reached 91.1% with CA, while Pb removal attained 62.7% with EDTA. Chernozems soil exhibited higher sensitivity to EKR, with pronounced focusing phenomena. In CH1, Cd removal in anode-proximal (S1) zone reached 99%, but accumulation in the cathode-adjacent (S4 and S5) reduced the average removal rate to 22%, indicating the potential for improvement through cathodic control. Similarly, in CH2, Pb removal in S5 achieved 84.8%, while focusing in S1 suggested the need for anodic optimisation. These findings highlight the influence of soil properties and operational parameters on EKR efficiency, providing insights for tailored remediation strategies.

The research was conducted in 2014–2017 in a multi-cultivar apple orchard in the Experimental Orchard of the National Institute of Horticultural Research (IO-PIB) in Dąbrowice near Skierniewice. To determine the actual Venturia inaequalis ascospores release dates, the Burkard spore trap installed in a plot of the McIntosh cv. that was not protected against apple scab was used. Monitoring of ascospore releases was carried out annually, starting from the appearance of numerous colouring (maturing) ascospores in the pseudothecia (usually in the second decade of March) and ending at the second half of June, usually about two weeks after the last release of these spores. The sums of ascospores detected on a given day and their proportion in all ascospores recorded during primary infections were calculated. The obtained results formed the basis for the analysis of forecast indications of the A-scab, Metos (Metos® Pessl Instruments), and RIMpro-Venturia models in connection with meteorological data from the Metos weather station installed in this orchard and to compare them with the actual release dates recorded by the Burkard spore trap. Depending on the year, significant differences were found in the number and intensity of V. inaequalis ascospore releases and in their beginning and end dates.

Retinal degeneration (RD) is often associated with deficiencies or the inaccurate production of photoreceptor-specific proteins, which are encoded by various genes and characterised by the apoptotic and ongoing death of photoreceptor cells. This study involved administering a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 50 mg/kg of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) to rats to induce RD. Some of these rats also received intraperitoneal minocycline at varying doses to prevent RD. Euthanasia was conducted at five intervals: at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, and on the 7^th day; and eye samples were taken. These samples were analysed using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Significant RD was observed in the MNU-treated groups, with photoreceptor cell apoptosis demonstrated by the TUNEL method. Compared with those in the control group, there was a progressive thinning of the photoreceptor layer and outer nuclear layer, along with increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and reduced levels of rhodopsin and red/green opsin starting from the 12^th hour in the experimental groups. Electron microscopy revealed that amacrine and bipolar cells, in addition to photoreceptors, were also affected. The minocycline treatment did not show significant differences in retinal layer thickness or the staining levels of PCNA, GFAP, and opsins in the MNU-induced RD model.

Crop production faces increased climate change and land degradation stresses, compromising global food security with the growing population. Maize (Zea mays L.) is a versatile crop used for food, feed, and raw materials, contributing significantly to global food systems. Abiotic stresses like drought and soil fertility limit its production. Fertilisation is an amelioration technique that optimises maize growth and yield by maintaining optimum nutrition and leveraging nutrient deficiency conditions. Precision agricultural tools like chlorophyll meters are essential for non-destructive chlorophyll assessment and nitrogen status. An experiment conducted at the University of Debrecen evaluated the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilisation (0, 90, and 150 kg/ha) and three maize cultivars (P9610-FAO 340, DKC4590-FAO360, and GKT376-FAO360) on physiological parameters, namely: relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), normalised differences vegetation index (NDVI) and grain quality. Results showed that SPAD and NDVI positively correlated (P < 0.05) with grain quality and yield. Nitrogen application significantly influenced SPAD. Maize cultivars and N rates with higher chlorophyll content had maximum yield. Cultivar responses to nitrogen rates significantly (P < 0.05) varied by crop year. Higher SPAD and NDVI values were associated with higher protein content. Therefore, SPAD and NDVI values could be used to analyse the nutrient requirements of maize under field conditions to estimate grain yield.

Chickpeas and oats are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and flavonoids. Extrusion technology enhances food digestibility, nutrition, and shelf life, thus meeting consumer demands. Instant food products are experiencing market growth due to advancements in processing technologies that cater to healthier ingredients. This study aims to evaluate pre-gelatinised flours produced through extrusion using different proportions of chickpeas and oats (100 : 0, 90 : 10, and 80 : 20) and compare them with their respective raw versions. The physicochemical properties, technological characteristics [Rapid Viscosity Analysis (RVA) and Water Absorption Index (WAI)], applications within the instant food industry, and their potential for acceptance were evaluated. The extruded flours showed lower moisture content and water activity – finally, their application in instant soups, mainly at 10%, increased consumer acceptance. Incorporating oats in the flours resulted in higher water activity, WAI, final viscosity, peak viscosity and pasting temperature. Our results demonstrate that flours with suitable physicochemical and technological properties could be obtained using chickpeas, oats, and extrusion. Its incorporation into instant soups resulted in products with suitable acceptance by consumers.