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The genus Solanum comprises numerous wild and cultivated species that are important for potato breeding. This pilot-scale study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity in 44 accessions from Solanum sect. Petota, comprising wild species, Andean landraces, and modern cultivars, obtained from the Potato Research Institute Havlíčkův Brod, Ltd. and the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Nuclear microsatellite markers (SSR, 29 loci) were applied via five multiplex PCR reactions and analysed using capillary electrophoresis. Binary data matrices were analysed using DARwin software to generate dendrograms reflecting allelic polymorphism. The SSR panel effectively differentiated cultivated accessions from wild types, consistent with the current taxonomy of the genus Solanum, with particularly clear clustering of Andean landraces and modern varieties. However, resolution among wild accessions was limited, likely due to their high genetic complexity and interspecific overlap. These results support the suitability of the SSR panel for analysing diversity in cultivated potatoes. while also highlighting the challenges in resolving wild Solanum taxa. This study contributes to germplasm characterisation and provides a molecular basis for future breeding programmes.

Alpine meadows, one of the most widespread and important vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, are facing severe degradation. This study examines how degradation affects soil medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, along with their relationships with plant traits and soil properties. Results indicate that alpine meadow degradation significantly reduces vegetation coverage, height, biomass, soil water content (SWC), and the levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), while increasing soil bulk density (BD), pH, and potassium (K) content. Soil Ca, Zn, and Mo decrease with degradation, whereas Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Co increase, with Ca, Fe, and Mn showing the strongest changes. Correlation and redundancy analyses indicate that aboveground biomass, SWC, SOC, N, and P positively correlate with Ca, Mo, and Zn, while pH, BD, and K associate with Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, and Cu. Therefore, alpine meadow degradation significantly influences the distribution of certain soil physicochemical properties and medium and trace elements in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Meanwhile, these medium and trace elements are also affected by specific soil physicochemical properties. Future grassland restoration should consider not only macronutrients and basic soil properties but also key elements like Ca, Fe, and Mn. This study provides foundational data for the ecological restoration of degraded alpine meadows.

Drought is a major abiotic stressor that limits crop growth and is often associated with oxidative stress. We evaluated whether foliar silicon (Si) application affects primary root anatomy, plant height, and phenolic metabolism in three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cultivars (La Harpe, Panda, and Smuga) exposed to water deficit. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in four treatments: control; drought; control + Si, and drought + Si. Qualitative anatomical assessment revealed that Si promoted more advanced development of the primary root central cylinder, most notably in La Harpe under drought conditions, where a continuous ring of secondary xylem and a well-developed pith were observed. Drought significantly reduced plant height in all cultivars; Si partially alleviated this reduction in La Harpe and Panda, but not in Smuga. Drought generally increased total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic acid content (PAC) in both leaves and roots, and Si further enhanced these responses, with the highest values under drought + Si. Overall, the results indicate cultivar-dependent effectiveness of foliar silicon (Si) and suggest that Si contributes to coordinated structural and biochemical adjustments under water deficit conditions. To assess the transferability of these responses, further verification across a broader range of genotypes and under different intensities and durations of drought is warranted.

Hemp is becoming increasingly popular, and many new varieties are coming onto the market to meet the requirements of different industries. In this study, the seed and stem yield, seed nutritional properties and the biochemical characteristics of the inflorescences of seven European varieties (Fedora 17, Futura 75, KC Dóra, Monoica, Santhica 27, Tiborszallasi, USO 31) were investigated in a 3-year field trial. Futura 75 and Tiborszallasi stand out as varieties with the highest potential in the conditions of the experiment (humid continental climate with oceanic influences, heavy soil). Futura 75 achieved the highest seed yield (505 kg/ha dry matter), stem yield (8 036 kg/ha fresh matter), protein yield (140 kg/ha) and oil yield (181 kg/ha). There were no differences in protein content (average 21.0%) among varieties. The total unsaturated fatty acid content was as high as 87.6% at Tiborszallasi. The best ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids was 3 : 1 in Tiborszallasi, which had also the highest oil content (30.2%), the highest total phenolic content (2.8 mg caffeic acid (CA)/g) and the best antioxidant potential (6.69 EC50 DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) mg/L). Most varieties had higher cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol contents in the inflorescence at seed maturity (from 0.22 to 3.3 for cannabidiol (CBD) and from 0.00 to 0.32 for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) compared to full flowering (from 0.17 to 4.33 for CBD and from 0.00 to 0.52 for THC, on average 2.64% for CBD and 0.19% for THC), presenting an opportunity for dual-purpose use.

Global warming has altered regional temperatures and precipitation, potentially leading to deviations from planned biofuel production and emission-reduction targets. This study revisits the market equilibrium of agricultural and biofuel production under climate risk, using updated IPCC projections. It employs a two-stage stochastic programming model to examine the overall effect of climate change on Taiwan's biofuel production. The results indicate that biofuel production depends on the level of climate impact and emission prices. In addition, total input use is generally between 2.79 and 4.72 million tonnes. The higher the gasoline price, the sooner the producer will exhaust its production capacity. While Taiwan could sustain biofuel production when gasoline and emission prices are high, a substantial land-use change would occur. Approximately 74 500–81 900 hectares of idle land will return to production. However, the increase in cropland supply may not lead to biofuel expansion, as it has a limited ability to offset emissions.

Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest deforestation rates, increasing the demand for high-quality forest seedlings of valuable species such as Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl., which face germination limitations due to seed dormancy and low viability. Ionising radiation has emerged as an alternative pregermination treatment capable of inducing adaptive responses in plants through hormesis. This study evaluated the effects of different doses of gamma radiation (⁶⁰Co) and high-energy X-rays (linear accelerator, 6 MeV) on the germination, growth, and quality of P. pseudostrobus seedlings. A total of 1 440 seeds were irradiated per radiation source with 12 doses (0–25 Gy) and sown under nursery conditions in a completely randomised design. Germination parameters, morphological traits, photosynthetic pigment content, and quality indices were analysed. With both radiation sources, low doses (0.5–1.5 Gy) significantly enhanced germination, chlorophyll content, and seedling height and diameter, while doses above 15 Gy inhibited these responses. The LD₅₀ (median lethal dose) was estimated at 20 Gy for gamma rays and 12 Gy for X-rays, whereas GR₅₀ (median growth reduction dose) exceeded 45 Gy in both treatments. These findings demonstrate that low radiation doses elicit a beneficial hormetic effect in P. pseudostrobus, representing a viable biotechnological approach to improve seedling production and ecological reforestation efficiency.

Curcuma longa L., known as turmeric, is a plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is generally spread in Asian countries. It is used in many sectors, especially spices. It has been predicted that increasing climatic changes will affect the agricultural crop pattern. To provide an alternative crop for countries with sub-tropical climates, such as Turkey, the yield and quality values of turmeric grown under the greenhouse and shade net conditions were determined in the present study. Moreover, morphological traits such as plant height, tillering number, and leaf area were determined. The highest fresh yield (1 333.67 g/plant) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, the highest antioxidant value (3.01 IC50 mg/mg 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) was obtained under shade net conditions, while the highest total phenolic content (6.88 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) was obtained under greenhouse conditions. Curcumin reached the highest level (1.79%) in greenhouse conditions. While the essential oil ratio varied between 5.22 and 7.32%, ar-turmerone, α-turmerone, and β-turmerone were determined as the main components in the essential oil. According to the results, turmeric can be grown in greenhouse conditions in subtropical regions.

This study evaluated a novel slow-release copper fertiliser (soileos Cu) as a sustainable alternative to conventional copper sources for improving wheat yield and nutrient use efficiency. Traditional Cu fertilisers are often limited by rapid leaching and low efficiency, especially on sandy soils with low organic matter, contributing to environmental pollution. They also exhibit low plant-use efficiency due to strong adsorption and immobilisation in soils rich in organic matter and clay minerals, thereby reducing copper availability in the soil solution and contributing to environmental pollution. A multi-scale approach was employed, including laboratory incubation, greenhouse experiments, and multi-site field trials. Copper release was quantified in water over 30 days. Greenhouse experiments compared soileos Cu with copper sulfate (CuSO₄) across multiple application rates, assessing grain yield, biomass, spike count, chlorophyll index (SPAD), and tissue and grain nutrient concentrations. Field trials were conducted at four sites in Canada and the United States with contrasting soil Cu availability. Soileos Cu exhibited controlled, non-linear Cu release with substantially reduced leaching compared to CuSO₄. In greenhouse conditions, soileos Cu achieved maximum grain yield, biomass, and spike number at 25–26% lower Cu application rates than CuSO₄, indicating higher nutrient use efficiency. Field trials confirmed that yield responses were strongly dependent on baseline soil Cu levels, with the greatest yield increase (up to 13.3%) observed at a Cu-deficient site. Overall, soileos Cu provides an effective and environmentally responsible strategy for improving Cu nutrition and wheat productivity, particularly under Cu-limiting conditions.

This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of Spanish primary producers on waste management practices and different regulatory and administrative proposals. In addition, it identifies the socioeconomic and technical factors influencing these perceptions and highlights the types of agricultural residues that present the greatest management challenges for primary producers. To achieve these objectives, a survey was conducted among 396 primary producers throughout Spain. Results revealed two distinct groups of producers: younger, more educated individuals who showed higher awareness of waste management and older, less educated producers who perceived waste management as less critical. The study also analysed the magnitude of the relationships between these influencing factors and waste management perceptions. Agricultural plastics, biomass, and used oil emerged as the most problematic waste types. The findings suggest the need for a national strategy to improve agricultural waste management in Spain, including awareness campaigns, financial incentives, and stricter regulations to ensure sustainable practices.

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.

The avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a high value fruit crop in Indonesia. This exotic commodity is affected by dieback disease, an unrecorded disease in the country that threatens the production. The objectives of the present study were to characterise the pathogen and culturable non-pathogenic fungi associated with the dieback disease of avocado plants. Fungal isolates were collected from branches of avocados showing dieback symptom in the Standard and Instrument Tropical Fruit Applied Institute (SITFAI) experimental orchards during 2022–2023. A total of 17 fungal isolates selected from 73 fungal isolates isolated from three location were characterised morphologically, molecularly, phylogenetically, and by pathogenicity tests. The fungal isolates were tested for their pathogenicity to the local variety of avocado with two stages and three replications. The identification of the fungal species was conducted on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis obtained from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S region of the ribosomal DNA, and translation elongation factor 1 (TEF1). The results revealed that the artificial inoculation of Avo7 and Avo3.2 isolates, identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, caused necrosis and wilt symptoms on the avocado seedlings. Several fungal species from the Botryosphaeriaceae, Eurotiomycetes, and Sordariomycetes groups were found alongside the pathogen responsible for causing the dieback symptoms in the avocados. The most frequently isolated genera were fast growing, Botryosphaeriaceae (58.9%), followed by Penicillium spp. (20.5%), Pestalotiopsis spp. (15.1%) and Colletotrichum spp. (5.4%). The information in this article should be used as new insights about the incidence of dieback disease caused by L. theobromae and proper management strategies against dieback disease on avocado need to be developed.

Disturbing the remaining forest ecosystem in the Cibodas Botanical Garden (CBG) has affected the dynamics of the soil macroarthropod communities. This study was conducted in three remaining forest locations in the CBG with different levels of disturbance. Soil macroarthropod samples were collected using the pitfall trap method with 30 traps and analysed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Pielou's evenness, Simpson's dominance, and Margalef's species richness to assess the dynamics of the soil macroarthropod community. This study analysed how these communities respond to different levels of disturbance in the garden, namely Jalan Akar (JA; low), Wornojiwo (WJ; moderate), and Ciismun (CI; high), which were influenced by tourism activities and local environmental conditions. The results showed that individuals from the Hymenoptera group accounted for 60.05% of the total number of soil macroarthropods found. Site WJ, which experienced moderate disturbance, had the highest number of individuals and species richness of soil macroarthropods. In contrast, site CI, which experienced high levels of disturbance, had a lower number of individuals and lower species richness, diversity and evenness indices. Site JA, which experienced low levels of disturbance, exhibited higher diversity and evenness indices. These results demonstrate that disturbance affects the presence of soil macroarthropods at their respective levels of disturbance. However, analysing the spatial distribution of soil macroarthropods in each studied taxon using the Morisita index revealed that they were dominantly clustered and exhibited varied distribution patterns. The study concludes that maintaining minimal disturbance is essential to preserve soil biodiversity and ecological balance in managed forest ecosystems such as the Cibodas Botanical Garden.

Thawed meat is usually of lower quality and less expensive than chilled meat, which some dishonest people may exploit by fraudulently marketing it as chilled. This study focused on methods for detecting and distinguishing frozen meat from chilled meat. The activity of the enzyme aconitase in the eluate was determined, and the mineral cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺) as well as the concentrations of organic acids (acetic, citric, and lactic) were analysed in chilled and thawed meat stored for 7, 14, and 150 days at −18 °C. After 150 days of storage, aconitase activity increased from 47.2 ± 7.2 U·L^–1 to 395.3 ± 59.2 U·L^–1 in pork, from 45.8 ± 11.5 U·L^–1 to 133.3 ± 31.8 U·L^–1 in beef, and from 17.2 ± 8.6 U·L^–1 to 143.6 ± 41.5 U·L^–1 in chicken. The mineral content decreased during storage in meat samples, especially Na⁺ and K⁺ cations (P < 0.05). The results for organic acids were less conclusive. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data confirmed a clear separation between chilled and thawed meat for all species, with a high variability of nearly 72%.

Diarrhoea in newborn piglets represents a significant challenge to pig production. Controlled oral exposure, also known as “feedback”, whereby sows are exposed at least two weeks before farrowing to pathogens that cause health problems in piglets, is a traditional method of diarrhoea prevention. One type of feedback involves fermenting cow’s milk with faeces from piglets suffering from diarrhoea and administering it to sows before farrowing. The bacterial composition of the faecal inoculum and fermented milk was compared in this study, and the safety of administering the fermented milk to pregnant sows was evaluated. Using microbiota characterisation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the genera Acetobacter, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus formed the core microbiota of the fermented milk. However, Clostridium perfringens accounted for up to 33% of the total microbiota in some fermented milk samples. Interestingly, the drop in pH during the later stages of fermentation inactivated C. perfringens and the samples were thus enriched for inactivated C. perfringens antigen. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the mode of action of fermented milk when used as a form of feedback.

Dioscorea species possess valuable properties that make them suitable for use in food production. This study characterised doughs made with flours from two species of Dioscorea by evaluating their nutritional, rheological and textural properties for use in baking. Dioscorea composita flour had a higher crude fibre content (1.5% ± 0.11), while Dioscorea bulbifera flour exhibited higher antioxidant content [930.5 mg GAE · (100 g)^–1 dry matter] and better protein digestibility (89.06% ± 0.7%). Wheat flour was substituted with Dioscorea flour (0–30%) to make composite doughs. Doughs containing D. composita exhibited superior biaxial extensibility (41.22 ± 11.9 mm at 20% substitution), compared to the control (21.4 ± 2.7 mm), indicating their potential for use in bread production. Meanwhile, doughs containing 20% or more D. bulbifera flour were more suitable for products such as biscuits or pitta bread. However, all composite doughs were harder to handle, likely due to gluten dilution and component interactions, regardless of the Dioscorea species used. Therefore, the Dioscorea species used in this study could be considered promising candidates for inclusion in suitable bakery products.

This review examines bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in broiler chickens, with a unique focus on effects observed in studies without experimental bacterial challenges. Driven by global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concerns and sustainable poultry production demands, phage supplementation, a targeted strategy, potentially improves growth performance and gut health by preserving beneficial microbiota. This literature analysis assesses phage efficacy in healthy broilers under non-challenge conditions, evaluating key variables such as phage concentration, delivery, and targets, as well as outcomes such as feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gut health markers. Crucially, this review extends beyond efficacy to explore phage immunomodulatory capabilities, outlines optimisation strategies, and addresses risks and mitigation. Key findings show mixed efficacy of phages in non-challenged broilers: significant improvements in FCR and gut health were generally observed with high phage concentrations (e.g., ≥10⁸ PFU/g) and continuous delivery protocols, whereas lower doses yielded inconsistent or minimal benefits. Furthermore, choosing which bacteria phages target – for example, aiming at pathogens like Salmonella or managing common gut bacteria such as E. coli – greatly impacts outcomes. While phages show considerable potential as AGP alternatives, the review highlights that further research is vital to resolve inconsistencies, standardise protocols, and understand host genetic and environmental influences to optimise their commercial application.

In the context of the modern EU bioeconomy, the use of industrial crops, particularly castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), is relevant for the production of industrial and energy products without competing with food crops. Castor oil is used for the production of biodiesel, lubricants, paints and coatings, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. In Ukraine, castor beans can be cultivated on low-yield soils, with seed yields ranging from 1.5 t/ha to 2.1 t/ha depending on the variety. However, the morphological features of the fruits and uneven ripening complicate the mechanisation of harvesting and seed cleaning processes. Existing equipment designed for other crops cannot be applied due to the risk of damaging the castor seeds. A design of a castor seed cleaning machine has been proposed, combining mechanical fruit shelling with the aerodynamic separation of the mixture. The machine is equipped with an eccentric crushing cone, rubber linings, a pneumatic separation channel, a cyclone, and an automated control unit. As a result of numerical modelling and experimental studies of the process of separating and cleaning castor seeds, dependencies were obtained for the productivity of the developed machine Q, power consumption P, specific energy consumption E, fraction of unshelled fruits (segments) ξ_f, content of the clean seed in the seed collector ψ_s-s depending on the distance between the reverse and crushing cones δ, rotation frequency of the crushing cone n, diameter of the feed opening D_in, inclination angle of the crushing cone axis γ, and airflow velocity V. A multi-criteria optimisation method was applied to find the optimal operating modes: δ = 10.8 mm; n = 282 rpm; V = 3.6 m/s; D_in = 98 mm; γ = 3.6°; β = 20.3°. The following results were achieved: E = 0.0394 MJ/kg; Q = 163.4 kg/h; P = 1 861 W; ξ_f = 0.099; ψ_s-s = 0.958. The obtained results confirm the efficiency of the proposed design for industrial implementation.

Natural plants are abundant in their native habitats and are traditionally used to treat a variety of health conditions. The Rosa genus stands out as an important species rich in bioactive compounds. This study, conducted in Türkiye, aimed to analyse the antioxidant and phenolic profiles of methanolic extracts obtained from different parts of Rosa canina (R.c.) and Rosa pimpinelifolia (R.p.) collected in 2021 and 2022. The antioxidant activity values of R.c. collected in 2021 and 2022 were found to be between 5 102.31–46 396.36 mmol Fe(II)/100 g in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 141.92–377.54 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AA)/kg in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 2.18–24.68 µg/g in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH (EC₅₀)] and 34.31–75.77 % in DPPH (% inhibition). Antioxidant activity of R.p. collected in 2021 and 2022 ranged from 17 258.44–71 903.20 mmol Fe(II)/100 g, 271.69–479.19 mg AA/kg, 1.02–8.32 µg/g and 50.98–85.57% for FRAP, TAC, DPPH (EC₅₀) and DPPH (% inhibition), respectively. The R.p. extracts generally exhibited higher antioxidant activity than those of R.c. Considering the total identified phenolic compounds achieved from different plant parts of rosehip for both years, the highest values of total phenolic compounds were determined in R.c. leaves (222.08 mg/100 g) in 2021, and R.p. leaves (5 465.95 mg/100 g) in 2021.

The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is the second most planted tree species worldwide, and the most common in Hungary. Phenotypic traits, particularly flowering patterns, are well-established indicators of the species' response to climate change. This study examined four forest subcompartments across three Hungarian regions: Northern-Central, Eastern and Southern-Central. The aim was to identify climatic factors correlating with the onset and duration of the flowering period. Additionally, the relationships between these factors and nectar weight and sugar concentration were defined. Results indicate a strong negative correlation between precipitation levels and flowering time: lower accumulated and average precipitation during the spring months of the preceding year was associated with a delayed flowering period in the following year (r = –0.922, r = –0.918, P = 0.05). However, when examining the 14-day period (r = 0.829) before blooming or examining from 1 January (r = 0.929, r = 0.890), the results indicate that other environmental factors may play a more dominant role. Furthermore, the number of chill and heat days was found to affect the starting date (R² = 0.819, R² = 0.765).

Order-based agriculture aligns with the fundamental requirements for the high-quality development of modern agriculture in the new era. This study investigates how social capital influences the participation of family farms in order-based agriculture across the mountainous regions of southwestern China. Drawing on survey data from 557 farms and employing logit and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediation effect models, the research reveals that social capital significantly promotes participation. Specifically, stronger social networks, heightened trust, and established norms are associated with increased engagement. While access to information mediates this relationship, the direct effect of social capital remains predominant. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing both social capital and information accessibility to encourage greater involvement among family farms. Furthermore, targeting younger and middle-aged farmers engaged in single-product production is crucial for promoting sustainable development.

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine, which can be produced naturally in mammals and is also found in trace amounts in citrus fruits and fish. Studies have shown that HMB plays an important role in maintaining human health by improving muscle health and inhibiting muscle catabolism. This review summarises the synthesis and metabolism of HMB and discusses its potential use as a nutrient, highlighting and analysing the importance of HMB supplementation for athletes' physical recovery and the treatment of muscular dystrophy-related diseases between 2019 and 2025. This study will help us to deepen our understanding of the application of HMB as a dietary supplement for the treatment of different diseases, providing the latest insights into its sustainability.

This study investigates the reciprocal relationship between non-farm employment and mechanisation adoption of smallholders in Vietnam using the longitudinal Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) 2008–2016 dataset. By employing the correlated random effects with the Mundlak approach to address the selection bias from the unobserved heterogeneity of panel data and the instrumental variables regressions to treat the endogeneity issue of non-farm participation and mechanisation adoption, the findings revealed that non-farm employment and mechanisation adoption have a positive interactive relationship. The mechanisation adoption in agricultural production could save farm labour and allow farmers to engage in non-farm activities. Conversely, non-farm earnings could relax financial constraints and provide opportunities for farmers to invest in mechanisation. The agricultural labour shifting to non-farm work was replaced by hiring machinery services rather than machinery investment when the service market was available and cost-effective. Our study implies practical policies and actionable plans to encourage nonfarm employment and facilitate agricultural mechanisation toward sustainable agriculture and inclusive development in rural communities.

Studies on the sustainability assessment of supply chain performance in tropical fruit still have limitations, whereas similar studies are more widespread in the manufacturing sector. This study aims to assess the sustainability performance of the tropical fruit supply chain in Indonesia. Performance evaluations were conducted for three producer organisations of tropical fruit with members ranging from 70 to 200 people in Banyuwangi Regency, the largest production centre in Indonesia. This study proposes a new approach, the best-worst method (BWM), to prioritise supply chain performance criteria derived from the SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model based on assessments by experts managing producer organisations. In the SCOR model, environmental and social criteria are added, resulting in seven criteria for evaluating supply chain performance, which include reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, asset management, GreenSCOR, and social. Thus, the integration of BWM and SCOR can ensure higher consistency and reliability than traditional methods for assessing sustainable supply chain performance. The results revealed that reliability is the most important criterion for supply chain performance, which shows how important the maintenance of product quality is. In contrast, agility received the lowest score, indicating that there is a need to improve performance with respect to responding to high demand, managing safety stocks, and overtime in the shipping process. Moreover, this study gives a glimpse into the importance of evaluating sustainability performance for the tropical fruit sector, having perishable characteristics and great contributions to rural development. Hence, this study provides a solid practical guide for decision-makers in assessing the sustainable supply chain of tropical fruits in Indonesia.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary administration of peppermint (Mentha piperita) alone and in combination with southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) on performance, body and carcass composition, physicochemical characteristics, and amino acid composition of breast meat in broilers under Eimeria challenge. A total of 160 14-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: the control (C) group was fed a basal diet; the CC group received a grower diet containing the coccidiostat robenidine; the M group was fed the diets with the addition of 20 g peppermint/kg of diet; the MS group was fed the diets with the addition of 10 g peppermint + 10 g of southernwood/kg of diet. The addition of peppermint to the diet increased final live weight compared to the CC group (P < 0.05). The highest value of dressing percentage was found in the M group as compared to the CC group (P < 0.01) and C group (P < 0.05). Compared with the C group, a higher intramuscular fat content was found in the breast meat of broilers in both the M and MS groups (P < 0.01; P < 0.05, resp.). Concerning the colour of meat, lower values for yellowness b* and chroma C* characteristics were observed in the C group compared to the MS group (P < 0.05) and mainly to the M group (P < 0.01). In spite of the lower crude protein content (P < 0.05) in the meat of the MS group, the highest content of all essential amino acids (P < 0.05) as well as the total content of all assessed amino acids (P < 0.01) were found in the meat of the MS group, resulting in a considerable increase in the nutritional value of the breast meat proteins of these broilers.

This study examines height growth and its driving factors in stools and standard trees, the two key structural components of coppice-with-standards stands. We focused on sessile oak [Quercus petraea agg. (Matt.) Liebl.] stands over 90 years old at two contrasting sites near Brno (South Moravian Region, Czech Republic): one actively managed and one left unmanaged for more than 40 years as a strict nature reserve. Tree heights were analysed using two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests and multinomial logistic regression. A total of 1 239 trees were measured (584 stools and 655 standards). Standard trees were the tallest on average (21.8 m), significantly exceeding all the stool categories, whereas managed triple-stem stools were the shortest (15.97 m). Across all categories, unmanaged stands generally reached greater heights than managed stands did, except for standard trees. The forest type, exposure and slope had significant effects on height class probabilities, whereas elevation was important only for smaller trees. Overall, the results demonstrate that both the tree type and site conditions strongly influence height growth in Q. petraea coppice-with-standards stands, with management history leaving a clear biological legacy in the present-day stand structure.

Extensive research studies worldwide have discussed and analysed the effect of processing conditions on the nutritional aspects of Western types of bread; however, the literature on Arabic bread processing is very limited. This study aims to determine the effect of baking temperature and time on the retention of B vitamins in a pocket-forming Arabic flatbread model system. High-crumb flat Arabic bread (Thick Kmaj) was prepared by the straight dough method from three types of flour (patent, straight grade, and whole wheat) fortified with B vitamins. Doughs were fermented and proofed for 0, 30, 60, and 90 min and baked at five temperatures (250, 300, 350, 400, and 450 °C) for three different baking times (1, 2, and 3 min). Baking at lower temperatures (i.e. < 300 °C) resulted in higher B-complex vitamin retention values (more than 90%). Vitamin B6 showed exceptional retention values (about 100%), though these decreased by increasing the baking temperature. Vitamin retention levels in the produced Arabic bread samples are similar to those found in pan and other high-crumb bread types when baked at lower temperatures. Results are expected to positively impact the output and economics of the flour fortification process, as it can be helpful material for upcoming micronutrient survey studies to assess fortification process outcomes.

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relationships between the nutrient content and the DM (dry matter) content of various maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) in the dynamics of vegetative maturity and various soil-climatic growing conditions. Over the course of 7 growing seasons (years), a set of 1 972 samples of whole silage maize plants consisting of 206 different hybrids grown in two contrasting regions (lowland and foothill areas) was analysed. The focus was on DM content and the content of key energy nutrients (WSC – water soluble carbohydrates, starch, NDF – neutral detergent fibre) and their interactions. Results show that the transformation of WSC into starch has four key points: (i) it begins at a DM content of 150 g/kg; (ii) it peaks at a DM content of approximately 235 g/kg; (iii) it begins to decrease significantly from a DM content of 300 g/kg; and (iv) it practically stops rapidly after exceeding a DM content of 350 g/kg. In the dynamics of vegetative development of maize plants, the DM content is very closely related to the WSC content (R² = 0.728) and the starch content (R² = 0.873). With the gradual increase in vegetative maturity and DM content in maize plants, the transformation of WSC into starch dynamically increases. These characteristics, with small deviations, were also confirmed at different levels of evaluation (all analyses, regions, seasons and individual hybrids). These results show that a DM content of 300 g/kg to 350 g/kg can be considered the optimal harvesting window for maize ensiling and the optimal phase of silage maturity for whole maize plants, because once the DM content exceeds 350 g/kg; the transformation of WSC into starch stops and the drying phase of plants begins.

Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometry has emerged as a promising tool for the non-destructive and rapid analysis of temperate fruit quality, maturity, and other parameters. The technique provides a wealth of information, including details of chemical composition, without damaging the fruit, making it a highly viable alternative to traditional methods. This paper reviews the recent research and applications of NIR spectrometry for fruit evaluation, highlighting its strengths and potential limitations. The analysis shows a significant potential for NIR spectrometry, especially when combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence to handle complex data and improve predictive models. The development of portable NIR spectrometers allows for in-situ quality assessment, expanding its applicability to various fields including on-site quality control. Despite the benefits, this review identifies key challenges including spectral complexity, fruit variability, and the influence of the external environment. Recommendations for future research include focusing on improving calibration and validation of models, increasing predictive accuracy, and developing user-friendly instruments. In addition, standardization of measurement procedures and analytical methods is needed to ensure comparability and reproducibility of results. Further research is needed to fully realize the full potential of NIR spectrometry in fruit quality control.

The impact of exogenously applied glycine betaine (GB; 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mmol) was evaluated in preventing Vigna radiata from the adverse effects of salt (100 mmol NaCl) stress. Salinity reduced growth parameters, such as plant height and fresh and dry weight of plants, while GB application significantly alleviated the decline. Salinity stress led to a decline in total chlorophylls and carotenoids, as well as a reduction in the net photosynthetic rate and gas exchange attributes, including stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂. However, GB supplementation significantly alleviated this decline. Salinity stress increased the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and methylglyoxal, while as applied GB reduced their accumulation, causing a significant decline in the lipid peroxidation. Application of GB, at all concentrations, increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes under normal and salinity stress treatments with 10 and 20 mmol concentrations, imparting the highest increase. Increase in the radical scavenging activity due to GB application was also supported by increased total antioxidant activity assays measured as percent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging. In addition, GB-supplemented plants exhibited an apparent increase in the activities of glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II enzymes. Accumulation of osmotic compounds like proline, sugars and GB increased significantly due to GB application and showed a further increase in salt-stressed plants. More importantly, the GB-treated plants exhibited a considerable decline in sodium accumulation, causing a decline Na/K in them. Glycine betaine was effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of salinity.