Search Results (5,653)

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major cash and food crop in China and is critical to national food security. Straw returning improves soil physical properties by reducing bulk density and increasing porosity, while phosphate fertilization enhances soil P availability; their combined application can improve soil fertility and structure, creating favorable conditions for high yield. To evaluate this, we conducted a three-year field experiment (2023–2025) in the Tumochuan Plain irrigation area (Midwestern Inner Mongolia, China) with maize cultivar ‘Xianyu 335’. A control treatment (CK) without straw management and without phosphate fertilization was included for comparison. We examined the effects of two straw management practices (straw incorporation with deep tillage, SF; and surface straw mulching under no tillage, FG) and four phosphate fertilization rates (0, 80, 100, and 120 kg P₂O₅/ha) on photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence, dry matter accumulation, and yield. S and P main effects were significant for all measured traits, including Fo; however, the S × P interaction was not significant for Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm, Ci, and yield. Compared with CK, all straw management treatments improved photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence traits, increased dry matter accumulation, and enhanced grain yield. Straw incorporation with deep tillage consistently outperformed surface straw mulching under no tillage, and increasing phosphate fertilization rates enhanced the positive effects. Among the tested treatments and under the partial-budget assumptions, SFP120 (120 kg P₂O₅/ha) gave the highest yield (14,781.53 kg/ha), while SFP100 (100 kg P₂O₅/ha) had the numerically highest net profit (17,743.33 yuan/ha, ≈2546.17 USD/ha), 21.19 yuan/ha (≈3.04 USD/ha) above SFP120 (17,722.14 yuan/ha, ≈2543.15 USD/ha). Full article

Lambskin quality is an economically important trait in Hu sheep (Ovis aries), with wool-pattern characteristics contributing substantially to commercial value. However, the genetic basis of lambskin variation remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four candidate genes involved in hair follicle development, FGF7, FGFR2, SMAD5, and SOSTDC1, in 384 Hu sheep using Sequenom MassARRAY^® technology. Allele and genotype frequencies, heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were assessed, followed by association analyses with categorical and quantitative lambskin traits. A total of 18 polymorphic SNPs were successfully genotyped. Three FGF7 SNPs showed significant associations with lambskin traits, with all corresponding significant allelic associations remaining significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. For Oar_v4.0:Chr7:57803771:C>T, the C-allele frequency increased from 0.30 in straight-wool individuals to 0.53 in fully wavy-wool individuals, and the C allele was associated with higher odds of the fully wavy phenotype (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.56–4.68). This locus was also significantly associated with pattern area and lambskin grade, whereas Oar_v4.0:Chr7:57740946:G>A and Oar_v4.0:Chr7:57741376:T>G were associated with pattern area and pattern width. SMAD5 variants showed nominal associations with some traits but did not remain significant after FDR correction, whereas FGFR2 showed no significant associations and SOSTDC1 showed a nominal genotype association with lambskin grade. Protein–protein interaction analysis further placed FGF7 within a network involving signaling proteins related to epithelial proliferation and hair follicle development. Collectively, these findings identify the FGF7 region, particularly Oar_v4.0:Chr7:57803771:C>T, as the strongest candidate signal associated with lambskin variation in Hu sheep. Full article

Circadian rhythms are essential for physiological regulation and environmental adaptation of animals. Light, as a primary exogenous synchronizing signal, significantly influences the maintenance and remodeling of the circadian system. In vertebrates, circadian rhythms depend on the synergistic action of central and peripheral clocks; however, systematic studies on the molecular responses to light across different tissues in amphibians are still lacking. In this study, 64 juvenile Chinese giant salamanders (Andrias davidianus) were randomly assigned to four groups: a control group (approximately 12L:12D, 5–12 lx, C), a continuous intermediate-light group (24L:0D, 80 ± 5 lx, I), a continuous high-light group (24L:0D, 220 ± 10 lx, H), and a continuous dark group (0L:24D, 0 lx, B). The experiment spanned 13 days. We first identified candidate Clock and Opn5 homologues from transcriptome-derived sequences using homology searches, phylogenetic analysis and conserved-domain analysis. We then used RT-qPCR to measure expression changes across sampling days of Clock, Bmal1, Per2, Cry1 and Opn5 in the brain, eye and skin. The results indicated that under control and continuous intermediate-light conditions, the expression changes in core clock genes in brain and eye tissues were generally consistent, while the skin exhibited a relatively independent response pattern. Under continuous high-light conditions, the brain and eye exhibited distinct temporal expression patterns, whereas constant darkness was associated with a later-stage transcriptional response in the skin. In summary, prolonged exposure to bright light and continuous darkness were associated with distinct tissue-specific and time-dependent transcriptional responses of Opn5 and core clock genes in the brain, eye, and skin of juvenile Chinese giant salamanders. This study provides foundational data on the molecular responses of the clock genes and non-visual opsin in amphibians to abnormal lighting conditions. Full article

Long-term fertilisation must sustain crop yield and rhizosphere microbial functions in wheat–soybean rotations, but interannual responses remain unclear. We examined 12 treatments in a long-term field experiment established in 1979 and continuing through 2025 in Heilongjiang, China; three within-plot soil composites per treatment represented the 2025 microbiome snapshot. Long-term wheat and soybean grain and straw yield, rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere metagenomes, bacterial diversity, functional gene profiles, taxonomic composition, yield–microbe correlations, and structural equation modelling were assessed. The displayed wheat grain yields differed among treatments, with the median approaching 2500 kg ha⁻¹ under manure plus medium-rate mineral fertiliser. Soybean grain yield exceeded 2000 kg ha⁻¹ under manure plus low- or medium-rate mineral fertiliser and was higher than under high-rate mineral fertiliser alone. Separate exploratory treatment-only PERMANOVAs returned R² values of 0.7578 and 0.8227 for rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere functional profiles, respectively; the profiles were within-plot subsamples. Mesorhizobium, Lysobacter, Gemmatirosa, and Pseudolabrys were positively correlated with crop yield. Structural equation modelling linked available phosphorus to wheat yield and rhizosphere diversity and linked available potassium to soybean yield. These descriptive findings suggest crop-specific fertilisation patterns and possible associations of yield with soil nutrients and rhizosphere microbiota, indicating that productivity and microbial responses should inform long-term nutrient management. Full article

The revalorization of agro-industrial by-products represents an important strategy for the development of sustainable functional foods. This study investigated the effect of spent Rosa damascena Mill. petal extract on the fatty acid, amino acid, lactose and organic acid composition of white brined cheese during the ripening and storage periods. The extract contained carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids and characteristic volatile compounds, demonstrating that valuable bioactive constituents remained after rose oil production. White brined cheese was traditionally produced and stored in brine containing two concentrations of spent rose petal extract (33 mg/kg and 66 mg/kg), while cheese without extract served as the control. The effect of spent rose petal extract on cheese nutritional composition was evaluated after ripening (30 days) and after 1, 3 and 6 months of storage. Supplementation with spent rose petal extract selectively altered the cheese’s nutritional composition. Our results have shown significant differences in the content of several fatty acids, particularly capric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidonic, behenic and vaccenic acids, whereas the major unsaturated fatty acids remained stable. Significant changes were also detected for lactic, oxalic, acetic and formic acids, while amino acid composition and lactose content were not significantly influenced by extract supplementation. Overall, these findings suggest that the incorporation of spent rose petal extracts may influence the nutritional characteristics of cheese fat and support the potential development of value-added dairy products. From a food-process perspective, these findings support the use of spent rose petals as a sustainable raw material for the development of value-added dairy products and further emphasize the potential of agricultural by-products within modern circular food systems. Full article

Intensive snake husbandry requires evidence-based approaches to environmental management and animal welfare. This study characterized substrate use in six juvenile South American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) by comparing a familiar substrate (corrugated cardboard) with four novel substrates (Sand, Gravel, Dry leaves, and Sphagnum) during diurnal and nocturnal periods. Behaviour was continuously recorded over 288 h, and the proportion of time spent in five body-contact categories, ranging from 100% to 0% contact with the novel substrate, was analyzed using Beta Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs). The familiar cardboard area (category E; 0% contact with the novel substrate) accounted for the largest proportion of total observation time. However, a complementary analysis comparing No contact (category E) with Any contact (categories A–D combined) revealed no significant overall difference between contact categories. Instead, a significant Contact × Substrate interaction indicated substrate-specific patterns of contact, with Any contact accounting for a greater proportion of time on Sand and Sphagnum, whereas No contact was more prevalent on Gravel and Dry leaves. No significant effect of experimental period was detected. These findings indicate that juvenile rattlesnakes displayed different patterns of contact with novel substrates while continuing to use the familiar area within the enclosure, suggesting that substrate characteristics and familiarity may both contribute to patterns of substrate use. From a husbandry perspective, these results highlight the value of considering familiarity alongside the physical properties of substrates when designing environmental complexity for captive rattlesnakes. Behavioural assessment of substrate contact may therefore provide a useful approach for characterizing how juvenile snakes interact with different environmental substrates and informing husbandry practices. Full article

The Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) is a key native pollinator in Asia, contributing substantially to both natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, climate change and human activities increasingly threaten its pollination services and long-term survival. Understanding patterns of genetic differentiation and local adaptation is therefore essential for protecting native populations. Sichuan Province in China, with its complex mountains, deep valleys, and pronounced climatic heterogeneity, offers an excellent natural laboratory for studying these processes in A. cerana. We collected 139 worker bees from 22 locations across Sichuan and generated whole-genome resequencing data. By integrating these data with genomes from eight well-established subspecies, we show that bees from Xinlong, Jiuzhaigou, and Kangding form three genetically differentiated populations that are distinct from all known subspecies. These populations display moderate to high genetic differentiation and unique demographic histories relative to previously described subspecies. Selective-sweep analyses further identified 200–300 candidate genes under positive selection in each population. These genes are enriched in functions related to chemical sensing, flight musculature, cell-cycle regulation, osmotic balance, and stress response, consistent with adaptation to patchy nectar resources, a short spring reproductive window, and large diurnal temperature swings. Our findings uncover three previously unrecognized genetic resources of A. cerana and provide genomic insights into their local adaptation, offering a valuable foundation for conservation and breeding programs. Full article

Axenic and gnotobiotic aquatic animals provide direct experimental access to the causal roles of microorganisms in host physiology, nutrition, immunity and disease. Fish are particularly suitable vertebrate models because fertilization and embryogenesis commonly occur externally, allowing embryos to be disinfected before hatching and maintained under microbiologically controlled conditions. Current approaches combine embryo or egg surface disinfection, sterile water and culture systems, sterilized formulated feeds or axenic live feeds, as well as controlled colonization with defined microorganisms. These systems enable direct testing of microbial effects on immunity, metabolism, pathogen resistance, and nutritional responses. However, their interpretation is constrained by contamination risk, species- and developmental-specific husbandry requirements, changes in feed and water chemistry caused by sterilization, low-biomass limitations in sterility testing, and potential confounding effects of prolonged microbial absence. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is currently the most studied and well-established axenic or gnotobiotic fish model, but methods have also been established for medaka (Oryzias latipes) and aquaculture species such as Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). This narrative review evaluates the practical and conceptual basis of axenic aquatic animal research, with emphasis on fish production, rearing and handling. It compares representative derivation procedures, sterile culture formats, feeding strategies, water-quality constraints and sterility assays, and it examines how these methodological choices affect biological interpretation. A central conclusion is that “axenic” is an operational microbiological state rather than an absolute biological property, as confidence intervals depend on sampling design and orthogonal detection. The review therefore proposes minimum reporting and quality-control practices, including vessel-level replication, longitudinal sterility testing, feed validation, contamination rules and appropriate recolonization controls. These standards are essential if axenic or gnotobiotic aquatic models are to produce reproducible mechanistic results. Future progress will depend on standardized validation and reporting criteria, improved sterile nutrition, water management and longer-term husbandry systems. Full article

The innate immune system plays a significant role in inhibiting viral infection and proliferation. To explore the signaling pathway of the innate immune response induced by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in BHK-21 cells, the mRNA expression levels of pattern recognition receptors such as TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and NOD2, as well as those of cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-17, TRIF, TRAF3, and NF-κB were determined by transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR, and ELISA. All these results indicated that the NDV LaSota strain primarily induces the TLR3-TRIF-NF-κB signaling pathway in BHK-21 cells. Subsequently, an NF-κB inhibitor, a TLR3 inhibitor, and a TRAF3 inhibitor were separately used, and the viral titer was measured during the NDV LaSota strain infection of BHK-21 cells. The results displayed that the inhibition of TLR3 or NF-κB effectively increased the viral titer of NDV. Hence, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to create a BHK-TLR3^—cell clone in which TLR3 was knocked out, and the cells were assessed for morphology, cell density, cell viability, and genetic stability. Finally, the cells were infected with the NDV LaSota strain. The results showed that the BHK-TLR3^—cell line is a stable cell line with markedly enhanced NDV LaSota strain production. Furthermore, the knockout of the TLR3 gene significantly inhibited the expression of IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-1β, and TNF-α, especially that of IL-1β and TNF-α. In summary, the present research revealed the main signaling pathway of the innate immune response induced by the NDV LaSota strain and provides a promising basis for NDV production. Full article

Transport exposes poultry to multiple stressors. The declining number of slaughterhouses in the European Union can increase transport distances to slaughter facilities. Transport-related stress responses are documented in chickens and ducks but remain poorly characterized in geese. This exploratory descriptive field study characterized serum corticosterone (CORT) concentrations and the granulocyte-to-lymphocyte (G/L) ratio in pooled blood samples representing 292 slaughter geese from six flocks: one non-transported flock slaughtered on a farm and five commercial flocks transported 1–100, 101–200, 201–300, 301–400, or >400 km. Exploratory pool-level comparisons indicated overall differences in G/L ratios among the five evaluable flocks (p = 0.035), but no pairwise difference remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment. Corticosterone was lower in pooled serum samples from the non-transported flock than in those from the 1–100, 201–300, and >400 km flocks (p < 0.001). However, one flock and one journey per distance category prevented separation of distance effects from flock-, farm-, age- or journey-specific influences. These observations provide important descriptive field data but do not permit conclusions about an independent effect of transport distance. Studies with multiple independent flocks and journeys per distance category are required. Full article

Aerobic composting is widely used to stabilize livestock and poultry manure and recover organic nutrients, but its performance and end-product safety depend on nitrogen conservation, gas emissions, aeration, contaminant fate, and compost maturity. This critical review synthesizes evidence from a structured search of the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed, complemented by citation tracking. Of the 204 records identified, 58 publications were retained for the review. Among these, 45 empirical studies met the eligibility criteria and constituted the formal narrative synthesis, whereas 13 review articles or meta-analyses were used only for background information and backward citation tracking. The 45 empirical studies were classified according to their relevance to livestock-manure composting and the directness of the supporting evidence. The review evaluates relationships among biochar feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, particle size, surface properties, and amendment rate, with emphasis on physicochemical regulation, microbial responses, contaminant fate, and post-application agronomic implications. Across the selected studies, biochar was frequently associated with improved porosity and moisture regulation, lower nitrogen losses and gaseous emissions, increased humification, and reduced operationally defined labile fractions of Cu and Zn. However, these responses were highly context-dependent and were not consistently observed across manure types, biochar materials, particle sizes, amendment rates, or composting systems. Biochar may also increase pH or electrical conductivity, inhibit germination when soluble salts or water-extractable organic compounds are present, redistribute rather than permanently immobilize contaminants, and produce null or contrasting responses for antibiotic resistance genes. Evidence for heavy-metal passivation was generally stronger than evidence for suppression of horizontal gene transfer or long-term ARG attenuation. The frequently investigated amendment range of approximately 10–15% (w/w) should therefore be regarded only as a provisional, feedstock-specific starting range rather than a universally applicable recommendation. Similarly, the apparent advantages of moderate pyrolysis temperatures represent trends observed in selected studies, not quantitative optima. The review also highlights the need for process-scale validation, direct measurements of microbial activity and contaminant speciation, evaluation of biochar-derived organic contaminants, and long-term soil–plant experiments. The simple study-quality appraisal further indicates that the available evidence should be interpreted cautiously because reporting and methodological quality varied among studies. Function-oriented selection criteria should be developed to match biochar properties with manure characteristics, composting conditions, and intended agronomic use. Full article

Sea buckthorn juice (SBJ) is nutritionally valuable, but its high malic acid content contributes to excessive sourness that limits consumer acceptance. In this study, the deacidification phenotypes of two lactic acid bacterial isolates, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S4 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei YJ2, were compared using fermentation phenotyping, sensory evaluation, enzyme assays, untargeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and molecular docking. After 96 h of fermentation, S4 degraded 91.98% of malic acid, compared with 69.50% for YJ2, and exhibited higher viable-cell counts and overall sensory acceptability under the tested conditions. S4 also showed higher crude-extract malate-conversion activity under MLE-favoring conditions. Molecular docking predicted more favorable interactions of malate with S4-derived MleP and MleS than with the corresponding YJ2 proteins; however, these analyses did not directly measure MleP-mediated transport or MleS-specific catalytic flux. Metabolomic profiling showed lower abundance of malic acid and several other organic acids in S4-fermented SBJ, together with increased abundance of succinic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, phenyllactic acid-related metabolites, D-octopine, and N-lactoyl-phenylalanine. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differences between S4 and YJ2 in carbohydrate metabolism, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, energy generation, and late-stage cellular maintenance. Integration of these datasets supports a working model in which malate-associated conversion, central-carbon redistribution, organic-acid remodeling, and acid-stress adaptation may contribute to the greater malate-removal phenotype of S4. Because only one isolate of each species was examined, the observed differences should be interpreted as differences between S4 and YJ2 rather than as species-level effects. Full article

A study was carried out to identify the nematodicidal bacteria in ruminant dung and assess their efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants. A total of 10 bacteria were isolated from ruminant dung and their nematodicidal activity was determined. Evaluation of nematodicidal efficacy of all the isolates through larval feeding assay revealed 0.00 ± 0.00 to 100.00 ± 0.00% efficacy with varying time. However, of the 10 bacterial isolates from the dung, three bacterial isolates showed 100.00 ± 0.00% nematodicidal activity in 4 h of incubation. The bacterial isolates were preliminarily classified based on cultural and Gram-staining characteristics and were subsequently identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Molecular analysis confirmed that the three isolates exhibiting the highest nematodicidal activity in the larval feeding assay were Citrobacter amalonaticus, Shigella flexneri, and Klebsiella aerogenes. The isolate Citrobacter amalonaticus (5.5 × 10⁸ CFU per mL) caused 100% larval mortality at 10 and 7.5% culture broth concentrations in 4 and 6 h of incubation, respectively in a dose-dependent larval assay. In the simulation pasture model study, compared to the control tray, the pasture tray treated with the bacterium Citrobacter amalonaticus (5.6 × 10⁸ CFU per mL) showed a reduction in larval recovery of 87.50%. The present work using bacteria isolated from animal origin against nematodes affecting small ruminants is the first of its kind in India. The results of this seminal work will go a long way in developing an alternative strategy for chemical control of the worm problem in animals. Full article

Prebiotics are widely used to modulate gut microbial communities, but their effects on the honey bee gut microbiota remain poorly understood. Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are recognized as potential prebiotic substrates in humans and livestock, whereas their effects in honey bees have rarely been investigated in vivo. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dietary XOS supplementation on the gut microbiota of Apis mellifera. Total bacterial load and the absolute and relative abundances of five core bacterial groups (Lactobacillus Firm-5, Bombilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Gilliamella, and Snodgrassella alvi) were quantified using spike-in-based absolute 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial diversity and community structure were further assessed using alpha-diversity indices and beta-diversity analyses. XOS supplementation did not significantly affect total bacterial abundance or the abundance of the five core bacterial groups (p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected in alpha diversity (p > 0.05), and the control and XOS groups exhibited largely overlapping community structures based on unweighted and weighted UniFrac analyses. However, PICRUSt2 analysis identified differences in several predicted microbial functional pathways between the two groups (p < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary XOS supplementation had limited detectable effects on the abundance, diversity, and structure of the established honey bee gut microbiota under the tested conditions, although changes in its predicted functional potential were observed. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of prebiotics in honey bees may depend on host-specific microbial ecology, and that prebiotic responses observed in mammalian systems may not be directly applicable to honey bees. These results highlight the importance of validating commercial prebiotic products using bee-specific in vivo evidence before their widespread application. Full article

Nitrogen deposition has emerged as a significant threat to alpine forest ecosystems on the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. However, the specific responses of subalpine fir soil to increasing nitrogen input remain relatively unknown. To investigate the effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition on the soil ecosystem of Abies georgei var. smithii forests in the Sejila Mountains of southeastern Xizang, China, this study established four treatments: control (CK), low nitrogen (LN, 10 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), medium nitrogen (MN, 15 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and high nitrogen (HN, 20 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). A two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the responses of soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities to nitrogen addition. The results showed that nitrogen addition significantly decreased soil pH, with reductions of 6.1%, 9.4%, and 9.8% under LN, MN, and HN treatments, respectively, compared with CK. Under MN treatment, soil organic carbon (SOC) and readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC) increased by 14.7% and 89.3%, respectively, compared with CK. Available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) reached their highest concentrations under the MN treatment. Total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) contents increased significantly, whereas exchangeable calcium (EX-Ca) and magnesium (EX-Mg) contents decreased significantly under N addition treatments. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased by 58.7% under LN treatment, whereas microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) decreased significantly under all nitrogen addition treatments. Soil enzyme activities showed divergent responses to nitrogen addition: cellulase activity increased most strongly under HN treatment; amylase and urease activities were significantly enhanced under LN and MN treatments; and β-glucosidase and polyphenol oxidase activities increased significantly under all nitrogen addition treatments. These results indicate that nitrogen addition induces differentiated responses in alpine forest soils. MN input may temporarily enhance soil nutrient availability, but it is accompanied by potential risks of soil acidification and microbial inhibition, whereas high nitrogen input may intensify base cation loss and disturb soil ecological functions. These findings provide a scientific basis for the conservation of alpine forest ecosystems and the management of nitrogen deposition on the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. Full article