Identification of genomic regions affecting nitrogen excretion intensity in Brown Swiss dairy cows.

Dairy cows with a lower nitrogen excretion intensity (N) excrete less nitrogen, ammonia (NH) and nitrous oxide (NO), a highly potent greenhouse gas (GHG), per kg of milk produced and therefore represent a lower environmental impact while maintaining food security. To date, the genomics background of N is unknown. Here we performed a genetic association study, overlap analysis and functional enrichment analysis for N in 875 genotyped dairy cows with 2,147 lactations from 200 herds.

Pre-conception nutrition estimated from milk composition characterises the sex ratio of offspring in cattle.

In livestock breeding, offspring of a particular sex are often favoured. Various biological mechanisms influence the offspring sex ratio (OSR). It has been hypothesised that maternal body condition/nutritional status influence OSR.

Growth Performance, Carcass Quality, and Lipid Metabolism in Krškopolje Pigs and Modern Hybrid Pigs: Comparison of Genotypes and Evaluation of Dietary Protein Reduction.

This study compared the performance, meat quality and adipose tissue characteristics of Krškopolje pigs and modern hybrid pigs under identical rearing conditions, besides examining the effects of dietary protein reduction in both genotypes. A total of 29 pigs (14 Krškopolje and 15 hybrids) were assigned to litter into two dietary groups (high and low protein). The low-protein diet for hybrid pigs corresponded to the high-protein diet for Krškopolje pigs.

Dry-Cured Ham, '', from Heavy Pig Production-A Pilot Study Focusing on the Effect of Ham Weight and Salting.

A pilot study was conducted with the aim of adapting the processing of "", dry-cured ham, for thighs from heavy pigs. The focus was on the effect of ham weight and salting duration on the quality of dry-cured ham. From a pool of thighs harvested from heavy pigs, a total of 32 green hams were selected (from 16 carcasses) based on weight (two classes; L-lighter, H-heavier) and we used left and right ham for either the standard or a shortened salting phase.

Price volatility and GHG emissions analysis on smaller cattle herds typical for the pre-Alpine region, the example of Slovenia.

Agricultural input and output prices have become extremely volatile in recent years and the global meat industry faces sustainability challenges related to climate change, resource competition, environmental regulations, animal welfare concerns, consumer preferences and industry policies. Additionally, the economic situation of cattle fattening farms has been significantly impacted by two major shocks: the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of the war in Ukraine. This has led to a growing demand for microsimulation tools that can analyse how these conditions affect the operations of agricultural farms and address various technological challenges at both the farm and sector levels.

Postharvest CO2 treatment and cold storage for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) fruit infestation control.

The invasive pest, spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) or SWD), damages various soft-skinned fruits, severely impacting orchards and vineyards economically. Current sorting practices in commercial production may overlook early-stage SWD infestations, as visible signs take a few days to appear. Our study focused on managing SWD infesting fruits (blueberry, cherry, and raspberry) without visible signs using an artificial atmosphere with elevated CO2 and low temperature.

Improved Adhesion of Bacterial Cellulose on Plasma-Treated Cotton Fabric for Development of All-Cellulose Biocomposites.

Cellulose produced by bacteria (BC) is considered a promising material for the textile industry, but the fragile and sensitive nature of BC membranes limits their broad applicability. Production of all-cellulose biocomposites, in which the BC is cultivated in situ on a cotton fabric, could solve this problem, but here a new issue arises, namely poor adhesion. To overcome this challenge, cotton fabric was modified with low-pressure oxygen plasma in either afterglow, E-mode, or H-mode.

Composition and Quality of Honey Bee Feed: The Methodology and Monitoring of Candy Boards.

The nutritional status of a honey bee colony is recognized as a key factor in ensuring a healthy hive. A deficient flow of nectar and pollen in the honey bee colony immediately affects its development, making room for pathogen proliferation and, consequently, for a reduction in the activities and strength of the colony. It is, therefore, urgent for the beekeepers to use more food supplements and/or substitutes in apiary management, allowing them to address colony nutritional imbalances according to the beekeeper's desired results.

Effect of castration method on porcine skeletal muscle fiber traits and transcriptome profiles.

This study examined the effects of immunocastration and surgical castration on the histomorphometric and transcriptome traits of the porcine skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that the differences in duration of androgen deprivation resulting from different castration methods influence skeletal muscle biology in a muscle-specific manner. This was tested by analyzing samples of m.

Characterization of Genetic Variability of Common and Tartary Buckwheat Genotypes Using Microsatellite Markers.

Buckwheat is a highly nutritional pseudocereal with antioxidant potential. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variability of 21 varieties of common buckwheat ( Moench.) and 14 varieties of Tartary buckwheat ( Gaertn.

Enhancing Water-Deficient Potato Plant Identification: Assessing Realistic Performance of Attention-Based Deep Neural Networks and Hyperspectral Imaging for Agricultural Applications.

Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a pivotal technology in agricultural research, offering a powerful means to non-invasively monitor stress factors, such as drought, in crops like potato plants. In this context, the integration of attention-based deep learning models presents a promising avenue for enhancing the efficiency of stress detection, by enabling the identification of meaningful spectral channels. This study assesses the performance of deep learning models on two potato plant cultivars exposed to water-deficient conditions.

Varietal Susceptibility of Olive to pv. and the Antibacterial Potential of Plant-Based Agents.

Olive knot disease, caused by the bacterium pv. , causes great damage in olive orchards. While control measures of pv.

Dissecting the Genetic Architecture of Morphological Traits in Sunflower ( L.).

The sunflower ( L.) is one of the most essential oil crops in the world. Several component traits, including flowering time, plant height, stem diameter, seed weight, and kernel weight, determine sunflower seed and oil yield.

Revising and allied genera in .

(, ) species are common soil-borne fungi, endophytes, epiphytes, and saprotrophs. Sexual morphs of spp were placed in the genus , which was further segregated into the six subgenera , , , , , and . However, with the end of dual nomenclature, became the single depository for sexual and asexual morph-typified species.

AmiCa: Atlas of miRNA-gene correlations in cancer.

The increasing availability of RNA sequencing data has opened up numerous opportunities to analyze various RNA interactions, including microRNA-target interactions (MTIs). In response to the necessity for a specialized tool to study MTIs in cancer and normal tissues, we developed AmiCa (https://amica.omics.

Changes in the Aroma Profile and Phenolic Compound Contents of Different Strawberry Cultivars during Ripening.

Secondary metabolites, namely, phenolic and volatile organic compounds, contribute to the nutritional and organoleptic quality of the strawberry fruit. This study focuses on the changes in the content of phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds during the ripening, from green to overripe fruit, of five strawberry cultivars ('Asia', 'CIVN 766', 'Aprica', 'Clery', and 'Malwina'). Additionally, these changes are compared with the colour of the fruit and peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity.

Preservation of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Levels in across Genomic DNA and Cell-Free DNA in Glioma Patients.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has recently emerged as a promising minimally invasive diagnostic biomarker for various cancers. In this study, our aim was to identify cfDNA biomarkers by investigating genes that displayed significant differences between glioma patients and their corresponding controls. To accomplish this, we utilized publicly available data from the Gene Expression Omnibus, focusing on 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) profiles in both cfDNA and genomic DNA (gDNA) from glioma patients and healthy individuals.

Protein complexes from edible mushrooms as a sustainable potato protection against coleopteran pests.

Protein complexes from edible oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.) composed of pleurotolysin A2 (PlyA2) and pleurotolysin B (PlyB) exert toxicity in feeding tests against Colorado potato beetle (CPB) larvae, acting through the interaction with insect-specific membrane sphingolipid. Here we present a new strategy for crop protection, based on in planta production of PlyA2/PlyB protein complexes, and we exemplify this strategy in construction of transgenic potato plants of cv Désirée.

First report of causing leaf spots on common bean in Europe (Slovenia).

A L. leaf showing necrotic spots was collected in an experimental bean field in central Slovenia in August 2021. The field contained diverse common bean lines sourced from genebank collections, with each line represented by 10 plants.

Factors Influencing the Emergence of Heterogeneous Populations of Common Bean ( L.) and Their Potential for Intercropping.

The common bean is an important legume valued for its protein-rich seeds and its ability to fix nitrogen, making it a key element of crop rotation. In conventional agriculture, the emphasis is on uniformity and genetic purity to optimize crop performance and maximize yields. This is due to both the legal obligations to register varieties and the challenges of implementing breeding programs to create genetically diverse varieties.

Quantifying Abdominal Coloration of Worker Honey Bees.

The main drawback in using coloration to identify honey bee subspecies is the lack of knowledge regarding genetic background, subjectivity of coloration grading, and the effect of the environment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of environmental temperature on the abdominal coloration of honey bee workers and to develop a tool for quantifying abdominal coloration. We obtained four frames of honey bee brood from two colonies and incubated them at two different temperatures (30 and 34 °C).

First Report of causing Damping-off / Root Rot on Parsley in Slovenia.

Pythium-like species cause damping-off symptoms of various hosts, including umbelliferous crops. In April 2023, parsley plantlets (), showing stunted growth, yellowing, decayed roots and damping-off, were obtained from a nursery in central Slovenia, where parsley was grown in polystyrene trays in a greenhouse. Nearly 30% of plants were symptomatic.

Correction: Haegeman et al. Looking beyond Virus Detection in RNA Sequencing Data: Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Effort to Detect Cellular Plant Pathogens and Pests. 2023, , 2139.

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