Search Results (2,616)

Tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) is a key crop for Andean indigenous communities, offering proteins and fats. Both the pods and seeds of tarwi are consumed, either in their tender (immature) state or as dried, fully ripe seeds. Tarwi, like other Lupinus species, contains high alkaloid levels in its fruits and seeds that must be removed before consumption. This study evaluated the fat, protein, fibre, and alkaloid contents of four cultivars at five maturity stages ranging from 180 to 212 days after sowing. Samples of the pods and the seeds were analysed to determine their colour and protein, crude fibre, fat, and alkaloid contents. The results showed that while the protein concentration in the pods decreased as the fruits matured, the protein content in the seeds increased, reaching approximately 41%. Moreover, the pods exhibited a significant decrease in alcohol content, with the values dropping below 1% at the senescent (dry) stage for all the cultivars. In contrast, the alkaloid levels in the seeds remained stable from 196 days after sowing in the Guaranguito, Andean, and Ecuadorian cultivars, with concentrations around 4%. The present study showed that as the pods matured, their overall protein content decreased, while their seed protein content increased to around 41%. The alkaloid levels in the pods dropped below 1% in the dry stage, while the seed alkaloid levels remained stable at around 4% in the Guaranguito, Andean, and Ecuadorian cultivars after 196 days. However, in the Peruvian cultivar, the alkaloid content remained constant starting from 188 days after sowing, with concentrations just over 3%. This result suggests that as the pods mature, their alkaloid content decreases, while the alkaloid levels in the seeds stabilise from around 188 to 196 days after seeding. Consequently, the alkaloid contents found in the seeds likely originate from other aerial parts of the plant and are not significantly increased by the pods. Full article

The advancement of smart metering technology is progressing steadily and inevitably across various key economic sectors. The utilizatio.n of remote sensors in agriculture presents unique characteristics and specific challenges. In this study, an on-site experiment was carried out on a Slovakian production farm to analyze the transition from traditional measurement methods to smart meters, focusing on timing decisions related to soil preparation and sowing and their relation to scientifically justified dates. Consequently, a clear distinction was observed in terms of the timing decisions made regarding agricultural activities during traditional, combined, and scientifically based approaches in meteorological data readings. This study contrasts these three scenarios and deliberates on the factors that need to be carefully evaluated before incorporating remote sensors into agricultural processes. This study serves as a valuable resource for individuals involved in the adoption of smart metering practices in the Eastern European agricultural sector and promotes an improved understanding of the interactions within smart-sensing, scientific developments, and land management that contribute to the goal of land-system sustainability. Full article

(1) Reduced glutathione (GSH) is considered the first line of antioxidant defense. During oxidative stress, it is oxidized to glutathione disulphide (GSSG). (2) A simple and quick spectrophotometric method based on sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as a reductant to measure the total and reduced GSH in porcine saliva was analytically validated and evaluated in two situations in this species: (a) in a physiological situation, involving sows during the late lactation and post-weaning periods, and (b) in a situation of sepsis in pigs experimentally induced by LPS administration. (3) The results of the analytical validation showed that the assay was precise and accurate in the porcine saliva samples. Higher total GSH and GSSG and lower reduced GSH were observed in the saliva of sows during the post-weaning period, as well as in pigs with experimentally induced sepsis. (4) In conclusion, the validated assay showed adequate analytical results and could be used to evaluate the GSH system of porcine saliva, as demonstrated during the clinical performance. Full article

Addressing the imbalance of the livestock–forage–environment system on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), the extensive replacement of natural grasslands with artificial grasslands has been pursued to enhance forage yield and quality. Recognizing their pivotal role in soil ecology, soil nematodes serve as sensitive indicators of the soil ecosystem structure and function. In this context, we embarked on a field investigation aimed at discerning the impact of varying artificial grasslands on soil nematode communities and food webs, with the intent of identifying an optimal forage species through the lens of soil nematode dynamics in the temperate steppe of the QTP. Our findings indicate that artificial grasslands, on the whole, tend to augment the soil nematode diversity—as reflected in the increased Margalef richness—and modify the community structure. Notable enhancements were observed in the abundance of bacterivores and omnivores, the fungivore and omnivore biomass carbon, and the connectance within fungal and bacterial channels. Specific insights reveal that grasslands established with Elymus nutans and Elymus sinosubmuticus notably boost the Margalef richness, omnivore biomass carbon, and both functional and structural metabolic footprints, with E. sinosubmuticus grasslands uniquely elevating the fungal channel connectivity. Elymus sibiricus grasslands, in particular, were associated with increased fungivore biomass carbon and metabolic footprints, as well as increased connectance in fungal and omnivore–predator channels. In summation, E. sibiricus, E. nutans, and E. sinosubmuticus emerge as superior choices for artificial grassland cultivation on the QTP, as suggested by soil nematode indicators. The adoption of mixed-species sowing incorporating these three candidates potentially offers enhanced benefits to the soil food web, although this hypothesis warrants further investigation. Full article

The present study retrospectively analyzed the infectious agents associated with 829 abortion outbreaks occurring from 2011 to 2021 in northern Italy. Foetuses were subjected to necropsies, and organ samples were analyzed by direct PCR to screen for six swine pathogens. In 42.0% of the examined outbreaks, at least one infectious agent was found. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) (24.9%) and porcine circovirus-2 (PCV2) (11.5%) were the most frequently detected among the known abortion-inducing pathogens. Chlamydia spp. (5.6%), porcine parvovirus (PPV) (4.0%), and Leptospira spp. (2.6%) were less common. Although its role in swine reproductive disorders is still unclear, PCV3 was detected in 19.6% of the cases. Coinfections were detected in 25.0% of positive outbreaks, and the most frequent coinfection was represented by PRRSV and PCV2 (32.2%), followed by PRRSV and PCV3 (23%). PCV2 prevalence showed a slight but consistent reduction during the study period, while PCV3 increased in frequency. Our data suggest an overall reduction in abortion outbreaks during the study period. PRRSV was confirmed as the main abortion agent detected in the examined area, while PCV2 prevalence showed a decline. Conversely, PCV3 detection has been increasing, supporting its potential role as an abortion agent. Our results highlight the importance of implementing a consistent and standardized sampling procedure, as well as a thorough diagnostic protocol, to reduce the incidence of inconclusive diagnoses. Full article

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency, clinical signs, management, and outcomes of snakebite patients admitted to the envenomation treatment center of the Institut de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée de Guinée (IRBAG). This was a retrospective review combining aggregated annual statistics (2011–2015) and routine data (from January to October 2021) from the IRBAG treatment center. There were 1345 (57.2%) snakebite victims out of a total of 2352 consultations at the center during the study period. Males (67.7%), persons aged ≥45 years (29%) and ≤14 years (27.7%), farmers/housewives (44.5%), workers (23.9%), and those residing in the Kindia Prefecture (53.5%) were the most commonly affected. The majority of victims (84.5%) were admitted three hours after snakebite, with bites mainly occurring in rural areas (86.5%) and during the rainy season (83.2%). Pain (100%), edema (76.8%), and bleeding (65.2%) were the most common clinical presentations. Almost all victims received antivenom serum (98%), antibiotics (87.7%), and analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs (88.4%). Six out of the one hundred and fifty-five patients died. Snakebites are a frequent public health problem in rural Guinea. The majority of victims seek medical attention too late. There is an urgent need to include snakebite in the country’s list of priority NTDs in order to promote access to antivenom serum. Full article

The exploitation of drought is a critical worldwide challenge that influences wheat growth and productivity. This study aimed to investigate a synergistic amendment strategy for drought using the single and combined application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) (Trichoderma harzianum) and biogenic silica nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs) from rice husk ash (RHA) on Saudi Arabia’s Spring wheat Summit cultivar (Triticum aestivum L.) for 102 DAS (days after sowing). The significant improvement was due to the application of 600 ppm SiO₂NPs and T. harzianum + 600 ppm SiO₂NPs, which enhanced the physiological properties of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, total pigments, osmolytes, and antioxidant contents of drought-stressed wheat plants as adaptive strategies. The results suggest that the expression of the studied genes (TaP5CS1, TaZFP34, TaWRKY1, TaMPK3, TaLEA, and the wheat housekeeping gene TaActin) in wheat remarkably enhanced wheat tolerance to drought stress. We discovered that the genes and metabolites involved significantly contributed to defense responses, making them potential targets for assessing drought tolerance levels. The drought tolerance indices of wheat were revealed by the mean productivity (MP), stress sensitivity index (SSI), yield stability index (YSI), and stress tolerance index (STI). We employed four databases, such as BAR, InterPro, phytozome, and the KEGG pathway, to predict and decipher the putative domains in prior gene sequencing. As a result, we discovered that these genes may be involved in a range of important biological functions in specific tissues at different developmental stages, including response to drought stress, proline accumulation, plant growth and development, and defense response. In conclusion, the sole and/or dual T. harzianum application to the wheat cultivar improved drought tolerance strength. These findings could be insightful data for wheat production in Saudi Arabia under various water regimes. Full article

The Hunshandake Sandy Land is one of the largest sandy areas in China and the closest source of sand dust to the Beijing and Tianjing areas. Sand fixation by vegetation is considered the most efficient strategy for sand control and sustainable development, so clarifying the vegetation coverage and plant adaptation characteristics in the Hunshandake Sandy Land is helpful in guiding restoration and improving local sustainability. Here, we investigated the vegetation growth on the mobile sand dunes in the Hunshandake Sandy Land and specified the photosynthesis and stomatal characteristics of the pioneer plants for sand fixation. The vegetation survey showed that the windward slopes of the mobile sand dunes had far lower plant coverage (6.3%) and plant biodiversity (two species m⁻²) than the leeward ones (41.0% and eight species m⁻², respectively). Elymus sibiricus L. and Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq. were the only two sand-fixing pioneer plants that grew on both the windward and leeward slopes of the mobile sand dunes and had higher plant heights, greater abundance, and more biomass than other plants. Physiological measurements revealed that Elymus sibiricus L. and Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq. also had higher photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, and water use efficiency. In addition, the stomata density (151–197 number mm⁻²), length (18–29 μm), and area index (13–19%) of these two pioneer species were smaller than those of the common grassland species in Inner Mongolia, suggesting that they were better adapted to the dry habitat of the mobile sand dunes. These findings not only help in understanding the adaptive strategies of pioneer plants on mobile sand dunes, but also provide practical guidance for sand dune restoration and the sustainable development of local areas. Pioneer sand-fixing plant species that are well adapted to sand dunes can be used for sowing or aerial seeding in sand fixation during ecosystem restoration. Full article

The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) eradication program in Hungary, implemented between 2014 and 2022, utilized complete herd replacement and the introduction of high-performance breeds to enhance production efficiency and environmental sustainability in the swine sector. As a result, the sow population was reduced by 26.2% while maintaining nearly the same number of slaughter pigs. This led to significant reductions in ammonia emissions (−145,857 kg), slurry production (−153,879 m³), nitrogen emissions (−1,409,951 kg), and overall greenhouse gas emissions (91,768,362 kg CO₂eq). Additionally, the feed and water consumption were substantially decreased by 53,237,805 kg and 292,978,094 L, respectively, further lowering the sector’s environmental footprint. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of customized eradication strategies and advanced breeding practices in reducing the environmental impact of animal husbandry. These findings underscore the necessity for ongoing collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable livestock production methods. The Hungarian experience provides valuable insights into how targeted interventions can simultaneously improve production outcomes and reduce the environmental burden in the swine industry. Full article

Melon damping off, which has a negative impact on melon quality and yield, can be safely and effectively managed with Trichoderma. Melon cultivar ‘Longtian No. 1’ was evaluated at both the adult and seedling stages in a pot experiment. The Rs and PD liquids were utilized as CK1 and CK2, respectively. Trichoderma viride Tv286 treatments T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were used based on Rs at concentrations of 10⁴, 10⁵, 10⁶, and 10⁷ CFU·g⁻¹, respectively. The impact of several treatments on the antioxidant system and seedling quality of melon were assessed at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. We examined the effects of several treatments on melon quality, yield attributes, and physiological and biochemical markers during the adult stage at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. The effects of several treatments on melon damping off were also studied. Applying T. viride Tv286 at different rates effectively increased the activities of enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the leaves of melon seedlings, significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and improved the root–shoot ratio and seedling strength index. In terms of its influence on promoting the effect of antioxidant system indicators, T3B performed well. Melon seedlings treated with T3B showed higher CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in their leaves 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (189.74, 169.61, 175.36, 224.20, and 477.39%, respectively). The strong seedling index and root–shoot ratio showed improvements of 130.43 and 79.71%, respectively, and the MDA content dropped by 35.66% at 35 days after sowing compared to CK1. Varying the rates at which T. viride Tv286 was applied increased the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen, proline (Pro), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents in mature melon leaves, increasing melon quality and yield. T3B is the most effective marketing campaign. Compared to CK1, mature T3B leaves had higher NR activity, nitrate nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and Pro content 30 days after melon pollination (100.40, 135.17, 68.59, 93.65, 158.13, and 238.67%, respectively). The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and yield of melon fruit increased by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, 70.79, and 61.45%, respectively, at 30 days after melon pollination compared to CK1. Optimal management of melon damping off can be accomplished with the application of T. viride Tv286 at different concentrations, with T3B exhibiting the best effect. The control effects reached 90.48 and 72.99% at the seedling and adult stages, respectively. Overall, T. viride Tv286 improved seedling quality, damping off control efficacy, melon yield and quality, and the antioxidant system during the seedling stage and enhanced physiological and biochemical characteristics during the adult stage. This study indicates the potential of T. viride Tv286 conidia as a biological control agent because it can prevent plant disease, increase yield, and improve quality. Full article

The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the net energy requirements for the maintenance of gestating sows based on indirect calorimetry, and (2) to explore the feasibility of predicting the net energy requirements for the maintenance of gestating sows based on daily heart rate monitoring. In Exp. 1, six Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred reproductive sows with an initial body weight of 229.5 ± 14.9 kg at d 56 of gestation were randomly assigned to six diverse energy feeding levels using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The experimental diet was formulated using corn, soybean meal, and wheat bran as major ingredients, and the six feeding levels were set as 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 times metabolizable energy for maintenance (100 kcal ME/kg BW^0.75·d⁻¹), respectively. The animal trial lasted for six periods with 9 days per period, encompassing 5 days of adaptation, 3 days of calorimetry in fed state, and 1 day of calorimetry in fasting state. In Exp. 2, six Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred pregnant sows with an initial body weight of 232.5 ± 12.5 kg at d 64 were fed a corn–soybean meal diet. All sows were tested in a respiratory calorimetry chamber for a 4 day calorimetry test. The heat production of the gestation sows was measured every 5 min using indirect calorimetry, and the heart rate of the gestating sows was recorded every minute using a belt-shape monitor. The results showed that the net energy requirements for the maintenance of gestating sows significant increased as the gestational stage progressed (p < 0.05), and a linear regression model revealed the average net energy requirement for the maintenance of gestating sows was 410 kJ/BW^0.75 d⁻¹ during late gestation (days 70–110). Moreover, the average heart rate of the gestating sows was 84 bpm, and the mathematical model developed to predict the net energy requirements for the maintenance of gestating sows was NEm(kcal/h)=19901+exp⁡[136−HR(bpm)43]. In conclusion, the average net energy requirement for the maintenance of sows during late gestation was 410 kJ/BW^0.75 d⁻¹, and the utilization of the heart rate monitoring method was found to provide a relevant, accurate prediction for the net energy requirements of sows. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection causes severe diarrhea and high mortality in neonatal piglets. Pseudorabies causes acute and often fatal infections in young piglets, respiratory disorders in growing pigs, and reproductive failure in sows. In late 2011, pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants occurred in Bartha-K61-vaccine-immunized swine herds, resulting in economic losses to the global pig industry. Therefore, it is essential to develop a safe and effective vaccine against both PEDV and PRV infections. In this study, we constructed a recombinant virus rPRV-PEDV S1 expressing the major neutralizing epitope region (COE, SS2, and SS6) of the PEDV S1 protein by homologous recombination technology and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and then evaluated its biological characteristics in vitro and immunogenicity in pigs. The recombinant virus rPRV-PEDV S1 had similar growth kinetics in vitro to the parental rPRV NY-gE⁻/gI⁻/TK⁻ strain, and was proven genetically stable in swine testicle (ST) cells and safe for piglets. PEDV S1-specific antibodies were detected in piglets immunized with rPRV-PEDV S1 on the 7th day post-immunization (dpi), and the antibody level increased rapidly at 14–21 dpi. Moreover, the immunized piglets receiving the recombinant virus exhibited alleviated clinical signs and reduced viral load compared to the unvaccinated group following a virulent PEDV HN2021 strain challenge. Also, piglets immunized with rPRV-PEDV S1 developed a PRV-specific humoral immune response and elicited complete protection against a lethal PRV NY challenge. These data indicate that the recombinant rPRV-PEDV S1 is a promising vaccine candidate strain for the prevention and control of PEDV and PRV infections. Full article

Catch crops are intermediate crops sown between two main crop cycles. Their adoption into the cropping system has increased considerably in the last years due to its numerous benefits, in particular its potential in carbon fixation and preventing nitrogen leaching during winter. The growth period of catch crops in Germany is often marked by dense cloud cover, which limits land surface monitoring through optical remote sensing. In such conditions, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) emerges as a viable option. Despite the known advantages of SAR, the understanding of temporal behavior of radar parameters in relation to catch crops remains largely unexplored. Hence, in this study, we exploited the dense time series of Sentinel-1 data within the Copernicus Space Component to study the temporal characteristics of catch crops over a test site in the center of Germany. Radar parameters such as VV, VH, VH/VV backscatter, dpRVI (dual-pol Radar Vegetation Index) and VV coherence were extracted, and temporal profiles were interpreted for catch crops and preceding main crops along with in situ, temperature, and precipitation data. Additionally, we examined the temporal profiles of winter main crops (winter oilseed rape and winter cereals), that are grown parallel to the catch crop growing cycle. Based on the analyzed temporal patterns, we defined 22 descriptive features from VV, VH, VH/VV and dpRVI, which are specific to catch crop identification. Then, we conducted a Kruskal–Wallis test on the extracted parameters, both crop-wise and group-wise, to assess the significance of statistical differences among different catch crop groups. Our results reveal that there exists a unique temporal pattern for catch crops compared to main crops, and each of these extracted parameters possess a different sensitivity to catch crops. Parameters VV and VH are sensitive to phenological stages and crop structure. On the other hand, VH/VV and dpRVI were found to be highly sensitive to crop biomass. Coherence can be used to detect the sowing and harvest events. The preceding main crop analysis reveals that winter wheat and winter barley are the two dominant main crops grown before catch crops. Moreover, winter main crops (winter oilseed rape, winter cereals) cultivated during the catch crop cycle can be distinguished by exploiting the observed sowing window differences. The extracted descriptive features provide information about sowing, harvest, vigor, biomass, and early/late die-off nature specific to catch crop types. In the Kruskal–Wallis test, the observed high H-statistic and low p-value in several predictors indicates significant variability at 0.001 level. Furthermore, Dunn’s post hoc test among catch crop group pairs highlights the substantial differences between cold-sensitive and legume groups (p < 0.001). Full article

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) is an inhibitory receptor and the interaction between fibrinogen-like protein 1 and LAG3 can inhibit the anti-tumor effect of T cells both in vivo and in vitro, which was regarded as a new immune evasion mechanism. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), caused by PRRSV, is an infectious disease characterized by reproductive disorders in pregnant sows and gilts and respiratory problems in pigs of all ages, seriously impacting the pig industry worldwide. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against porcine LAG3 (pLAG3) were developed, and one mAb (1C2) showed good reactivity with pLAG3 on PHA-activated porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes. Epitope mapping showed the epitope recognized by mAb 1C2 was located at amino acid residues 214–435 of pLAG3. LAG3 expression in the tissues of PRRSV-infected pigs was detected, using mAb 1C2 as the primary antibody, and the results revealed that PRRSV infection caused a marked increase in LAG3 expression compared to the control group. Interference of LAG3 expression on PHA-activated lymphocytes promoted PRRSV replication in the co-culture system of monocyte-derived dendritic cells and lymphocytes, whereas overexpression of LAG3 or blocking of the LAG3 signal with mAb 1C2 inhibited PRRSV replication, indicating that PRRSV infection activates the LAG3-signaling pathway, suggesting that this pathway plays an important role in PRRSV pathogenesis. The results obtained lay the foundation for subsequent research on the role of LAG3 in PRRS and other diseases with persistent infection characteristics. Full article

(1) Background: Reproductive performance is crucial for the pork industry’s success. The Large White pig is central to this, yet the genetic factors influencing its reproductive traits are not well understood, highlighting the need for further research. (2) Methods: This study utilized Genome-Wide Association Studies to explore the genetic basis of reproductive traits in the Large White pig. We collected data from 2237 Large White sows across four breeding herds in southern China, focusing on eight reproductive traits. Statistical analyses included principal component analysis, linkage disequilibrium analysis, and univariate linear mixed models to identify significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms and candidate genes. (3) Results: Forty-five significantly related SNPs and 17 potential candidate genes associated with litter traits were identified. Individuals with the TT genotype at SNP rs341909772 showed an increase of 1.24 in the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and 1.25 in the number of healthy births (NHBs) compared with those with the CC genotype. (4) Conclusions: The SNPs and genes identified in this study offer insights into the genetics of reproductive traits in the Large White pig, potentially guiding the development of breeding strategies to improve litter size. Full article