Carlos David Carretillo Moctezuma, Abraham Francisco Aponte Herrera, José Terrones Salgado
et al.
Calcium (Ca) is essential for tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) fruit quality and for preventing physiological disorders such as blossom-end rot. However, high total soil Ca does not necessarily translate into plant-available Ca due to factors such as soil pH and limited mobility. This study evaluated soil Ca availability and the effect of a chicken manure-based soil amendment on the growth and yield of four tomato genotypes (Pony Express F1, Palomo F1, Toro F1, and Perseo F1) grown on a loam–clay–sand soil containing 4886 ppm Ca. In the first cycle, conducted in a shade house, two Ca application levels (0% and 25% of the crop’s requirement) were tested. The 0% treatment outperformed the 25% treatment regarding yield-related traits, indicating that native soil Ca met crop demand; application of 25% Ca reduced total fruit weight and fruit number by 19.7% and 5.9%, respectively, while the 0% treatment produced 40.8% more first-quality fruits. Perseo F1 (Perseo) produced the highest yield of first-quality fruits (20.61 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), exceeding Pony Express F1 (Pony express), Palomo F1 (Palomo), and Toro F1 (Toro) by 10.8%, 6.6%, and 51.4%, respectively. In a second cycle under open-field conditions, incorporation of the chicken manure amendment significantly enhanced growth and yield: treated plants reached a 0.85 m height 58 days after transplanting, and overall yield increased to 70.08 t ha<sup>−1</sup> compared with 50.30 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in the control (21.9% increase). These results indicate that, while native soil Ca can satisfy crop requirements under the studied conditions, soil amendment under field conditions substantially improves plant performance and commercial yield potential.
Miguel Brilhante, Iain Darbyshire, Maria Cristina Duarte
et al.
ABSTRACT Despite the extensive diversity of African flora, significant gaps remain in taxonomic research and biodiversity conservation, including under‐sampling in highly diverse regions, a shortage of taxonomic expertise, limited financial resources and delays in species descriptions. Type specimens act as effective proxies for tracking the discovery and description of species, providing a historical baseline for assessing taxonomic effort and our understanding of biodiversity. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of Fabaceae species collected in Mozambique, one of the most diverse and ecologically important plant families in the region. It offers new insights into the taxonomic, spatial and temporal patterns shaping current botanical knowledge through an analysis of Fabaceae type specimens collected in Mozambique. We identified 273 type specimens, including 126 recognised taxa, with a notable proportion of endemism (44 strict‐endemic and 18 near‐endemic taxa) and a predominance of woody growth forms. Nearly 40% of these taxa lack IUCN conservation assessments, highlighting significant information gaps. The findings reveal that collection activity peaked during colonial botanical initiatives, driven by a small group of prolific collectors and influenced by spatial biases towards southern and central provinces. Using generalised linear modelling, we demonstrate that collection locations were significantly affected by elevation, slope, land cover and proximity to roads and harbours, reflecting the interaction between biogeographic patterns and accessibility. By identifying these historical and geographic biases, our study deepens understanding of Mozambique's botanical heritage and provides a crucial baseline for future floristic and conservation efforts in underexplored regions. Furthermore, this research underscores the vital role of herbarium type specimens as scientific resources supporting taxonomic research and conservation planning, emphasising the importance of preserving and digitising these collections to enhance their accessibility and utility.
Agriculture is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. It is one of the economic sectors that impacts both directly and indirectly towards climate change which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. There has been a continuous trend of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions reduction technologies, but any step taken in this direction must not negatively affect farm productivity and economics. For the agriculture sector to achieve reduced GHG emission, climate-smart activities and improved food security will be needed for this sector to become a climate-smart landscape. Climate-smart technologies are effective at targeting inputs to the fields, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This article explores the key sources of carbon emissions within the agriculture sector and reviews efficient ways to GHG emission via Smart Farming technology. Based on the public archive GHG datasets, we have found that livestock farming is the largest GHG emission sector among other agricultural sectors and responsible for 70% of the total emission. Besides, we also show that Queensland is the largest agricultural GHG contributor compared to other states and territories. The article also captures any possible sources within smart farming that may contribute to carbon emissions and suggest ways to reduce GHG emissions. Besides, an Australian-based best management practice approach is discussed to review the emissions reduction strategy based on climate-specific technology to help the farmers and other stakeholders take environmentally-friendly agricultural decisions.
Agriculture is one of the largest sectors that contribute to the economic growth of countries, including Malaysia. However, plant diseases affect the quality of the harvest and impede farmers’ maximum yield output. Therefore, early detection of diseases in plants is vital to curb infection, reduce food waste, and reduce their carbon footprint. However, many detection methods are complex, require high computational power and time to perform the required analysis and focus only on a particular species or strain of the disease. These requirements would likely deter most users in remote areas or poorer economic states. This paper proposes a convolutional neural network to determine multi-class plant diseases that is memory efficient, has a small trainable parameter number, and is compact enough to work even on mobile devices. The plant images were pre-processed to ensure that they were validated accurately and to minimise overfitting. Then, the proposed convolutional neural network was trained using a publicly available dataset consisting of 54306 images, followed by validation and testing. Finally, the completed model is saved, and the data obtained is transferred to a cloud network using wireless sensor networks. The proposed method obtained 96.87% accuracy with 100 epoch training iterations, rivalling famous architectures such as VGG16 and MobileNetV2. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the method for disease detection in multi-crop plants.
Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics, Technology
Konstantinos Bertsouklis, Eireni Dima, Konstantina-Stamatina Arfani
et al.
Employing rare or threatened species in ornamental horticulture offers a dual benefit by promoting climate adaptation and enhancing species conservation. <i>Kosteletzkya pentacarpos</i>, an endangered halophytic species, holds potential for introduction into the nursery industry, but efficient propagation methods are lacking. The present study investigated the in vitro propagation of the species using nodal explants excised from aseptic seedlings. A two-stage in vitro culture system was tested with thidiazuron (TDZ) promoting shoot initiation at low concentrations, while higher levels induced callus formation. Transferring micro-shoots to hormone free-, Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) promoted the highest shoot multiplication and elongation. The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on in vitro culture was also assessed, with MS media containing up to 5.0 g L<sup>−1</sup> NaCl supporting successful culture establishment. Spontaneous rooting was observed during various stages of the culture process. Micro-shoots were rooted at 100.0% on half strength MS medium with or without indole-3-butyric acid, and all plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a peat–perlite substrate (1/1, <i>v</i>/<i>v</i>). Thus, the present protocol provides an efficient system for the large-scale propagation of <i>K. pentacarpos</i> serving as a valuable tool for its conservation and the potential use in the nursery industry.
Atiqur Rahman, Md. Hasan Sofiur Rahman, Md. Shakil Uddin
et al.
The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development. DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression, and the enzyme involved, DNA methyltransferase, executes the methylation process within the plant genome. By regulating crucial biological pathways, epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype. Therefore, epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing, which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function. These drawbacks include gene knockout, which can have such off-target effects. This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation, as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants. We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.
Khawla Alharbi, Andi Asnayanti, Anh Dang Trieu Do
et al.
Our prior research demonstrated a 20% to 25% reduction in bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness in broilers with organic Zn, Mn, and Cu (Availa<sup>®</sup> ZMC) supplementation. Expanding on this, we investigated the optimal timing for Availa<sup>®</sup> ZMC feeding to mitigate BCO lameness and reduce feed additive costs in the poultry industry. In this study, we compared the application of 0.15% Availa<sup>®</sup> ZMC for 56 days, the first 28 days, and the last 28 days. The experimental design was a randomized block design involving 1560 one-day-old chicks distributed across two wire-floor pens as BCO source infection and four treatment groups with six replicates. The source of BCO infection exhibited a cumulative lameness incidence of 83%, whereas the negative control group showed a 77% cumulative incidence of lameness (<i>p</i> = 0.125). Administering 0.15% of Availa<sup>®</sup> ZMC during the initial 28 d resulted in a 41.3% reduction in BCO incidence, significantly different from the supplementation during the last 28 d (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, this reduction did not differ substantially (<i>p</i> > 0.05) from the 56d application period. Hence, administering 0.15% Availa<sup>®</sup> ZMC during the first four weeks emerges as the optimal timing protocol, providing a defense against lameness comparable to the continuous supplementation throughout the complete production duration. Implementing this feeding approach reduces the cost of feed additive, promotes the health of skeletal bones, and effectively protects against BCO lameness in broilers, offering a valuable consideration for producers seeking optimal outcomes in the poultry industry.
For more than 10 million years, large, herd forming ruminants have thrived as parts of sustainable grazing ecosystems. Conversely, since their domestication 8,000–11,000 years ago, cattle, sheep, and goats have often exhibited dysfunctional relationships with the ecosystems they inhabit. A considerable literature, developed over decades, documents the negative impacts of animal agriculture and associated activities (e.g., feed production) on grassland ecosystems. Coincident with the accumulating data documenting the impacts of “conventional” animal agriculture, has been a growing interest in restoring functionality to agricultural grazing ecosystems. These “regenerative” protocols often seek to mimic the structure and functions of wild grazing ecosystems. The objectives of this paper were two-fold: First to review the literature describing the structure and some key functional attributes of wild and agricultural grazing ecosystems; and second, to examine these attributes in conventionally and regeneratively managed grazing ecosystems and, assuming the wild condition to be the standard for sustainable grazer-environment relationships, to ascertain whether similar relationships exist in conventionally or regeneratively managed agricultural grazing ecosystems. Not unexpectedly our review revealed the complexity of both wild and agricultural grazing ecosystems and the interconnectedness of biological, chemical, and physical factors and processes within these systems. Grazers may increase or decrease system functionality, depending upon environmental conditions (e.g., moisture levels). Our review revealed that biodiversity, nitrogen cycling, and carbon storage in regenerative grazing systems more closely resemble wild grazing ecosystems than do conventional grazing systems. We also found multiple points of disagreement in the literature, particularly with respect to aboveground primary production (ANPP). Finally, we acknowledge that, while much has been accomplished in understanding grazing ecosystems, much remains to be done. In particular, some of the variability in the results of studies, especially of meta-analyses, might be reduced if datasets included greater detail on grazing protocols, and a common definition of the term, “grazing intensity.”
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Food processing and manufacture
This research was aimed to determine the effect of different stocking density and different litter materials on the production performance of native chicken. Material of yhis study was 324-day old chick (DOC) native chickens, reared for 12 weeks. The DOC were randomly devided into 9 treatment groups include a combination of 3 stocking density (8, 12 and 16 bird/m2) and 3 litter materials (rice hulls, wood shavings and corncobs) in 3 replication. A completely randomized factorial design was an applied in the study then followed by Duncan's multiple range tests. The parameters observed were feed consumption (g/bird/12 weeks), body weight gain (g/bird), feed conversion ratio, and mortality (%). The results showed that feed consumption had affected by stocking density (p<0.05), but it had not affected by litter materials type. Feed consumption at densities of 8, 12 and 16 bird/m2 was 3890; 4020 and 4061 g/bird respectively. The highest feed consumption was obtained at a density of 16 bird/m2. Weight gain, feed conversion and mortality had not affected by stocking density and litter material. It can concluded that the body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality is same for stocking density 8,12 and 16 bird/m2 an d same for litter type of rice hulls, wood shaving and corncob.
On 5 November 2020, a confirmed outbreak due to an H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) occurred at an egg-hen farm in Kagawa prefecture (western Japan). This virus, A/chicken/Kagawa/11C/2020 (Kagawa11C2020), was the first HPAI poultry isolate in Japan in 2020 and had multiple basic amino acids—a motif conferring high pathogenicity to chickens—at the hemagglutinin cleavage site. Mortality of chickens was 100% through intravenous inoculation tests performed according to World Organization for Animal Health criteria. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the hemagglutinin of Kagawa11C2020 belongs to clade 2.3.4.4B of the H5 Goose/Guangdong lineage and clusters with H5N8 HPAIVs isolated from wild bird feces collected in Hokkaido (Japan) and Korea in October 2020. These H5N8 HPAIVs are closely related to H5N8 HPAIVs isolated in European countries during the winter of 2019–2020. Intranasal inoculation of chickens with 10<sup>6</sup> fifty-percent egg infectious doses of Kagawa11C2020 revealed that the 50% chicken lethal dose was 10<sup>4.63</sup> and the mean time to death was 134.4 h. All infected chickens demonstrated viral shedding beginning on 2 dpi—before clinical signs were observed. These results suggest that affected chickens could transmit Kagawa11C2020 to surrounding chickens in the absence of clinical signs for several days before they died.
Wipapan Adulcharoen, Kallaya Suntornvongsakul, Yang-Soo Lee
Understanding the function of the ecological restoration of mangrove forests leads to appropriate sustainable utilization (SU) of ecosystem services (ES) during development stages of mangrove ecosystem for sustaining the local livelihood and maintaining the mangrove ecological production. The study aims to identify the SU which was changed relying a development of ES at Klong Khone (KK) Sub-district, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. The SU was collected by in-depth interview with 20 key respondents, questionnaires survey with 140 fishermen and statistical scientific data on developed mangrove forest areas. Descriptive statistics and event analysis were employed to analyze the data. The study found that bottom-up management tools based on a local people’s participation were applied to determine a way of harvest of ES. An application of these local tools including a common property right, land use zoning, application of local knowledge, human resources, and financial and technological transfer resulted in different utilizing activities of ES during the development of mangrove forest restoration stages. The results showed that the ES produced during mangrove stand initiation stage were mainly harvested for food (90%) and during the young forest regrowth stage (87%) (N = 140). They were also widely used for operating aquaculture during mangrove stand initiation stage (39%), but they were harvested with more concerns about environmental impacts during the young forest regrowth stage (47%) (N = 140). The cultural services during young forest regrowth stage were increasingly utilized for diversified incomes from ecotourism (46%) and education learning program (50%) (N = 140). The ES from developed mangrove forest were harvested effectively based on an application of SU tools which were locally developed by local people’s participation. The SU tools can be proposed and applied in other communities where have similar ecological, social and cultural conditions as KK sub-district to support the SU of ES.
Tekst predstavlja originalnu recenziju knjige “STANJE ŠUMA I ŠUMSKIH ZEMLJIŠTA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI, prema drugoj inventuri šuma na velikim površinama (2006 – 2009)”, koju je uradila grupa naučnih radnika Šumarskog fakulteta u Sarajevu: Lojo A., Balić B., Musić J., Višnjić Ć., Vojniković S., Treštić T., Čabaravdić A., Gurda S., Delić S., Imbrahimspahić A., u saradnji sa konsultantom Svjetske banke Hočevar M. Recenziju je uradio Miloš Koprivica 17.06.2015. na osnovu Odluke broj 01/6- 1008/15 koju je donijelo Naučno-nastavno vijeće Šumarskog fakulteta u Sarajevu dana 06. 05. 2015. godine, čime je isti imenovan za recenzenta.
The decisive morphological character of Calamaria linnaei from the Ijen plateau was analyzed in an attempt to evaluate these snakes independently achieved as different populations or whether more likely only cryptic species affected by natural conditions. The evidence was concluded that a cryptic species is very interesting to be regarded as something entirely different. In general, however, the population appears to have more closely related to other congeners populations of the same species. It is suggested that at least temporarily, the C. linnaei population of the Ijen plateau be specifically considered to include in species with high individual variations based on limited geographic boundaries until molecular analysis proves it.
Color in fish is mostly genetically determined, but they are unable to produce red, orange, yellow, green, and some blue colors themselves. They get these colors from their food. Fish raised in aquariums or recirculating water systems without pigment supplementation in their diet will fade and lose their vibrant hues. Even in ponds, dietary pigment supplementation can make fishes brighter and more variably colored, just like their wild counterparts. This 6-page fact sheet written by F. A. Chapman and R. D. Miles and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, addresses how ornamental fish get their colors and provides a list of ingredient sources for diets that can be used to enhance and intensify fish colors.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa192
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BACKGROUND: Avian Colibacillosis can lead to important economic losses in the poultry industry. Escherichia coli the causative agent of this disease has acquired resistance to different antibiotics, including tetracycline. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to detect the distribution of tetracycline Group І efflux genes genes among E.coli isolates from from avian colibacillosis in Iran by PCR assay .METHODS: A total of 50 E. coli isolates from chicken colibacillosis were characterized by cultural, biochemical and PCR methods. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to define the resistance of isolates to tetracycline, then the Frequencies of tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetG, tetH, tetZ and tetE) were also determined using PCR method. RESULTS: According to biochemical and molecular experiments, 50 isolates from 237 chicken samples were recognized as E. coli. Seventy six(76%) of the isolates, however, were resistant to tetracycline. The distribution of tetracycline-resistance genes among E. coli isolates included tetB(34%) , tetA(26%), tetE(16%), tetC(15%), tetH(12%), tetG(12%) and tetZ(6%). CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the prevalence of tetracycline resistant E. coli among chickens which is due to extensive
The effects of daily dietary Bacillus subtilis (Bs), and adding L-tryptophan, fructan, or casein to fecal fermentation broths were investigated as means to reduce the production of noxious gas during manure fermentation caused by ammonia, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and 3-methylindole (skatole). Eighty swine (50.0±0.5 kg) were equally apportioned to an experimental group given Bs in daily feed, or a control group without Bs. After 6 weeks, fresh manure was collected from both groups for fermentation studies using a 3×3 orthogonal array, in which tryptophan, casein, and fructan were added at various concentrations. After fermentation, the ammonia, H2S, L-tryptophan, skatole, and microflora were measured. In both groups, L-tryptophan was the principle additive increasing skatole production, with significant correlation (r = 0.9992). L-tryptophan had no effect on the production of ammonia, H2S, or skatole in animals fed Bs. In both groups, fructan was the principle additive that reduced H2S production (r = 0.9981). Fructan and Bs significantly interacted in H2S production (p = 0.014). Casein was the principle additive affecting the concentration of ammonia, only in the control group. Casein and Bs significantly interacted in ammonia production (p = 0.039). The predominant bacteria were Bacillus spp. CWBI B1434 (26%) in the control group, and Streptococcus alactolyticus AF201899 (36%) in the experimental group. In summary, daily dietary Bs reduced ammonia production during fecal fermentation. Lessening L-tryptophan and increasing fructan in the fermentation broth reduced skatole and H2S.