Search Results (378)

Silage maize (Zea mays L.) serves as a key source of high-quality roughage for ruminants, yet its production and the development of the silage maize industry in Xinjiang are severely constrained by saline–alkali stress. In this study, root growth phenotypes, root energy metabolism, cell membrane stability, osmotic regulatory substances, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism were examined to elucidate the mechanisms by which iron chlorin e6 (ICe6) enhances saline–alkali tolerance in maize roots. The results showed that saline–alkali stress significantly suppressed root growth in maize seedlings, leading to increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative conductivity. This suggests that membrane lipid peroxidation has intensified, resulting in increased cell membrane permeability. Meanwhile, ICe6 enhanced antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) activities, scavenged H₂O₂ accumulation, reduced MDA content, and stabilized cell membrane integrity, as indicated by reduced ion leakage. Moreover, ICe6 optimized root respiratory pathways, improved root vigor, and ATP synthesis to provide adequate energy for growth, while decreasing free proline accumulation to maintain cellular osmotic balance. These findings demonstrate that ICe6 mitigates saline–alkali stress in silage maize roots through coordinated regulation of energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and osmotic adjustment. Full article

Drought impairs osmotic adjustment and photosynthetic performance in legumes; however, the role of micronutrients in modulating these responses across genotypes remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of selenium on the osmolytes and photosynthetic efficiency in two vegetable-soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivars differing in drought responses: UVE14 (drought-tolerant) and UVE17 (drought-susceptible). Plants were grown under well-watered (100% soil water-holding capacity, WHC) and water-limited (30% soil WHC) conditions, with or without soil-applied selenium. Free amino acids, soluble sugars, chlorophyll pigments, vegetation indices, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were assessed at the flowering and pod-filling stages. Under drought conditions, selenium enhanced tolerance primarily by modulating free amino acid metabolism at flowering, increasing aspartate, asparagine, glutamine, and glutamate levels, alongside improvements in chlorophyll content, canopy greenness, and PSII photochemical efficiency. These responses indicate a coordinated adjustment between nitrogen metabolism and photosynthetic function. Both cultivars benefited from selenium application, although the responses were more pronounced in the susceptible cultivar (UVE17). Selenium-induced changes in soluble sugar content were greater under well-watered conditions in both cultivars. The limited accumulation of stress-associated osmolytes, such as proline, following selenium soil drench suggests reduced cellular disruption and mitigation of drought-induced stress. These findings highlight selenium as a context-dependent modulator of drought resilience and emphasize cultivar- and developmental stage-specific effects. Full article

Salinity stress severely inhibits crop growth and reduces yield. Exogenous selenium (Se) enhances plant abiotic stress tolerance, but how different selenium forms exert their impacts and pathways in mitigating salinity remains ambiguous. Under salt stress, this work compared two Se forms, selenate [Se(VI)] and selenite [Se(IV)], regarding their impacts on development, photosynthetic performance, antioxidative system, osmotic regulators, Se buildup, and stress-related gene expression in Nicotiana tabacum L. Both Se species significantly promoted tobacco growth. (1) Under 150 mmol/L NaCl stress, biomass, net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activities decreased significantly, while soluble sugar, free proline, Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺, H₂O₂, MDA contents and NtROS2a, NtLEA5 expression increased significantly. (2) Exogenous Se increased biomass, photosynthetic parameters; antioxidant enzyme activities and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12, NtROS2a expression; elevated Se deposition in roots and leaves; and reduced oxidative damage, ion imbalance and NtLEA5 expression in salt-stressed tobacco, suggesting that Se may improve salt tolerance by regulating these physiological processes and stress-related gene expression. (3) Compared with Se(IV), Se(VI) significantly increased root length, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, K⁺ content, SOD/CAT activities, leaf and root Se accumulation as well as and NtNAC2, NtCDPK12 expression, while Se(IV) resulted in higher root diameter, free proline content, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and NtROS2a expression. In conclusion, both sodium selenate and sodium selenite effectively enhanced tobacco salt tolerance. The salt stress alleviation effect of Se(VI) may be associated with upregulating NtNAC2 and NtCDPK12 to improve antioxidant capacity and photosynthesis, thereby potentially maintaining cell membrane integrity and ion balance, while Se(IV) may exert its effect through upregulating NtROS2a to promote root thickening, reactive oxygen species scavenging and osmotic adjustment. At the tested concentrations, selenate was more effective. Full article

Modulating the physical crosslink architecture of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels without altering total polymer concentration or introducing exogenous components remains a central challenge in biomaterial design. Here, we present a source blending strategy in which porcine skin gelatin (PG) and salmon skin gelatin (SG), two gelatins with markedly different proline and hydroxyproline contents, are combined at seven compositional ratios (PG weight fractions 0–1.0) and subsequently functionalized to GelMA under standardized conditions (8% v/v methacrylic anhydride, 60 °C, 3 h). Near-complete degrees of substitution (95–98%) were achieved across all formulations, as confirmed by both TNBS and ¹H-NMR analyses. In the parent gelatin mixtures, increasing PG fraction progressively increased viscosity, elastic modulus (G′), gelation temperature (Tgel), and compression modulus at 4 °C, with DSC revealing independent SG (0–15 °C) and PG (20–40 °C) endothermic transitions that suggest partial hindrance of PG triple-helix formation by high SG fractions. These composition-dependent trends were preserved after functionalization to GelMA, albeit with attenuated physical crosslinking due to steric impairment by the methacrylate groups. Photocrosslinked GelMA hydrogels fabricated after pre-incubation at 4 °C exhibited systematically higher compression moduli and lower swelling degrees with increasing PG content, demonstrating that the PG/SG ratio provides an effective means for independently tuning hydrogel mechanics and mesh architecture. In vitro release assays using Rhodamine 6G further demonstrated that pre-incubation at 4 °C prior to photocrosslinking effectively modulates transport kinetics in SG-PG GelMA hydrogels. This strategy delayed characteristic release times and constrained Weibull shape parameters to the anomalous-transport regime (0.75 < β < 1), where diffusion is governed by network chain relaxation. This effect was most pronounced in the 0.4SG:0.6PG formulation, where lower SG content permitted unhindered triple-helix formation, as corroborated by DSC and compression studies. Ultimately, adjusting the pre-incubation temperature and gelatin source combination provides a straightforward, processing-additive-free strategy to achieve programmable release profiles via controlled matrix tortuosity. Full article

Prediction models for standardized ileal amino acid digestibilities (SIAADs) of sorghums in yellow-feathered chickens have not been previously reported. This study characterized the chemical composition of 10 sorghum samples from different sources, assessed their SIAADs in medium-growing yellow-feathered chickens, and subsequently developed and validated prediction models based on chemical composition and amino acid profiles. A total of 276 Tianluma roosters (60 d of age) were randomly assigned by body weight (average 1.32 kg per bird) to 11 dietary treatments, including a nitrogen-free diet (NFD) group and 10 sorghum-based diet groups. Each treatment included 6 replicate cages, with 4 birds per replicate cage for the sorghum-based diet groups and 6 birds per replicate cage for the NFD. Birds were fed the experimental diets from d 63 to 67, after which ileal digesta were collected to determine SIAADs of 10 sorghum samples. Data from 9 sorghum samples were used to establish prediction equations using stepwise regression, while the remaining sample was used for model validation. Sorghum source significantly influenced (p ≤ 0.002) the SIAADs of most amino acids. Arginine (Arg) exhibited the highest standardized ileal digestibility (SID) (68.2%), whereas tyrosine (Tyr) showed the lowest value (49.0%). Eighteen preliminary prediction models were developed for the SIDs of valine (Val, R² = 0.981, p = 0.001), methionine (Met, R² = 0.978, p < 0.001), isoleucine (Ile, R² = 0.983, p < 0.001), leucine (Leu, R² = 0.981, p < 0.001), threonine (Thr, R² = 0.748, p = 0.016), phenylalanine (Phe, R² = 0.981, p < 0.001), lysine (Lys, R² = 0.988, p < 0.001), histidine (His, R² = 0.988, p = 0.004), Arg (R² = 0.986, p < 0.001), tryptophan (Trp, R² = 0.934, p < 0.001), aspartic acid (Asp, R² = 0.986, p < 0.001), serine (Ser, R² = 0.980, p < 0.001), glutamic acid (Glu, R² = 0.988, p < 0.001), glycine (Gly, R² = 0.898, p = 0.007), alanine (Ala, R² = 0.983, p < 0.001), cysteine (Cys, R² = 0.968, p = 0.003), Tyr (R² = 0.898, p = 0.001), and proline (Pro, R² = 0.944, p = 0.002). The models for the SIDs of Lys, His, and Glu exhibited the highest coefficients of determination (R² = 0.988, p ≤ 0.004), whereas the model for the Thr SID exhibited the lowest fit (R² = 0.748, p = 0.016). Except for Leu and Tyr, the predicted values of the remaining amino acids were generally consistent with the determined values in the validation sample. These preliminary models provide a basis for estimating amino acid digestibilities in sorghums for medium-growing yellow-feathered chickens. Full article

The genus Ilex L., the sole member of the family Aquifoliaceae, is valued for its high ornamental value. However, low winter temperatures restrict the distribution of its evergreen species in colder regions. In this study, detached leaves of seven evergreen Ilex cultivars were subjected to acute low-temperature stress, and key physiological parameters (cell membrane permeability, osmoregulatory substances, and chloroplast pigments) were measured. The results showed that under low-temperature stress, relative electrical conductivity (REC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with decreasing temperature, while soluble protein (SP), soluble sugar, and free proline (Pro) contents first increased and then decreased. A positive association was observed between REC and MDA, as well as between REC and SP, while REC showed a negative association with Pro. Furthermore, random forest analysis indicated that MDA, proline, and chlorophyll a together accounted for 72.6% of the variance in REC. These findings demonstrate the physiological responses of detached leaves of evergreen Ilex species to acute low-temperature stress and offer an initial assessment of their cold tolerance. Full article

This study integrated echocardiography with widely targeted metabolomics to decipher how plasma metabolic dynamics couple with cardiac geometry in Yili horses during incremental treadmill exercise. Nine speed-type horses underwent a graded exercise test (6% incline; 0 to 9 m/s). Jugular venous blood samples collected at rest (0 m/s) and at 3, 5, 7, and 9 m/s were profiled by LC-MS, and Pearson correlation analysis was applied to relate differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) to twenty echocardiographic structural indices. A core set of 314 shared DEMs (124 upregulated, 190 downregulated) was identified across all exercise comparisons, spanning amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acyls. These metabolites were mapped to ABC transporter, thermogenesis, aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and one-carbon folate metabolism pathways. At rest (0 m/s), right ventricular end-diastolic dimension correlated positively with arginyl-isoleucine (p < 0.001), whereas left ventricular free wall thickness (diastolic and systolic) correlated positively with undecanedioic acid (p < 0.001) and proline-hydroxyproline (p < 0.01). At peak exercise (9 m/s), left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index correlated positively with succinic acid (p < 0.05) and methylmalonic acid (p < 0.05), while left ventricular minor axis correlated with carnitine C14:2 and carnitine C12:1 (p < 0.05). Left ventricular end-systolic dimension and left atrial end-diastolic dimension correlated negatively with cysteine-glutathione disulfide and N2-(1-carboxyethyl)-L-arginine, respectively. These findings illuminate a robust metabolic–cardiac structure axis: amino acid metabolites support collagen matrix turnover and redox homeostasis, organic acids sustain mitochondrial energy flux and antioxidant defense, and fatty acyls fuel continuous contractile activity via enhanced fatty acid oxidation. This metabolome-informed framework furnishes a mechanistic basis for precision training and performance phenotyping in equine athletes. Full article

Background: Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is a severe phloem-limited grapevine virus, meaning it is restricted to sugar-transporting vascular tissue, which helps explain its strong effects on leaf physiology and carbon transport. However, its impact on leaf oxidative status, phenolic composition, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remains insufficiently characterized. Methods: Virus-free and GLRaV-3-infected grapevine leaves were analyzed for photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress markers, phenolic compounds, and VOCs using spectrophotometric assays, HPLC-DAD/FLD, and SPME-Arrow-GC/MS. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA, multiple testing correction, principal component analysis (PCA), and exploratory partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Results: GLRaV-3-infected leaves showed lower chlorophyll a (576.75 vs. 657.85 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW), chlorophyll b (282.96 vs. 314.05 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW), and total carotenoids (125.89 vs. 154.65 mg 100 g⁻¹ DW), but higher malondialdehyde (11.91 vs. 8.73 nmol g⁻¹ DW), H₂O₂ (0.36 vs. 0.25 μmol g⁻¹ DW), and proline (8.83 vs. 7.98 μmol g⁻¹ DW). Phenolic profiling showed increased levels of several flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids, including kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide (2.81-fold), myricetin-3-O-glucoside (1.75-fold), quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (1.48-fold), and caffeic acid (1.30-fold). VOC profiling revealed higher relative abundances of several green leaf volatile-related compounds and methyl salicylate, including 1-methoxy-2-propanol (1.85-fold), 1-penten-3-ol (1.58-fold), hexanal (1.42-fold), and methyl salicylate (1.37-fold). PCA summarized treatment-related differences, with the first two components explaining 63.73% of phenolic and 74.09% of VOC variability, while exploratory PLS-DA/VIP analysis further supported the identification of treatment-associated discriminant metabolic features. Conclusions: GLRaV-3 infection is associated with reduced pigment content, increased oxidative stress markers, and coordinated changes in phenolic and VOC profiles. These metabolite changes provide insight into grapevine responses to viral infection and highlight GLRaV-3-associated metabolic features for future targeted studies of grapevine leafroll disease. Full article

A comparative chemical analysis was conducted between P. aibuhitensis of orange and green body colors, evaluating their proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile, astaxanthin content, lipidomic profile, and other biochemical parameters. Samples were categorized by body color into two groups, each with ten biological replicates. The samples were collected from the same local polychaete farm. The results revealed that the green phenotype had significantly higher moisture content but lower crude protein, crude lipid, and ash content compared to the orange phenotype. The orange polychaete was characterized by significantly higher concentrations of 16:0 and saturated fatty acids (SFAs), whereas the green one exhibited higher contents of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs) and a higher PUFA/SFA ratio. Regarding free amino acids, the orange polychaete had significantly higher threonine content, while the green ones had significantly higher levels of valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamate, alanine, histidine and proline. Additionally, the astaxanthin content was significantly higher in the orange phenotype. The bile acid level was significantly higher in the green phenotype compared to the orange one, but no significant differences were observed in other biochemical parameters such as total protein, total cholesterol, and triglyceride content. The lipidomic analysis revealed that glycerophospholipids were the most abundant lipid class in both phenotypes, followed by glycerolipids and sphingolipids. A total of 65 differentially abundant lipid molecules were identified between the two groups. Compared to the orange polychaete, the green one had higher levels of 59 lipids (predominantly ceramides) and lower levels of six lipids, including three triglycerides, one monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and two phosphatidylserines. In general, the orange P. aibuhitensis showed a favorable nutritional profile for aquafeed and human nutrition, whereas the green ones had potential for targeted health applications owing to its specific lipid composition. However, direct validating experiments are required. Full article

Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth (Fabaceae) is a food legume of considerable nutritional and functional significance. This study examined the comparative effects of salt stress on seed germination, hydroponic growth, and phytochemical accumulation across two developmental stages: 10-day-old germinated seeds and 45-day-old hydroponically grown plants, using NaCl solutions at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mM. Both germination rate and growth were greatest at 0–25 mM NaCl, with performance declining at higher concentrations. LC–MS/MS analysis of free amino acids in 10-day-germinated seeds revealed a salt-induced metabolic shift. Proline, leucine, and phenylalanine were the dominant free amino acids and increased progressively with rising NaCl concentrations. Phytochemical profiling by HPLC identified gallic acid, catechin, and genistin as the major compounds, with increased levels under salinity stress. Germinated seeds at 150 mM NaCl, germinated seeds exhibited the highest phytochemical accumulation, with total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH activity reaching 18.192 ± 0.020 mg GAE/g extract, 8.519 ± 0.026 mg QE/g extract, and 11.623 ± 0.284 mg AAE/g extract, respectively. Phytochemical responses in 45-day hydroponic plants varied by tissue type. Leaves exhibited declining TPC and TFC with increasing NaCl (from 29 to 16 mg GAE/g and 41 mg QE/g extract), while stems showed the opposite trend, reaching 18 mg GAE/g and 21 mg QE/g extract at 50 mM. Root tissues maintained comparatively low phytochemical levels throughout. Notably, DPPH scavenging capacity increased across all tissues under salt stress, with peak values of 12–13 µg AAE/g extract recorded at 50 mM NaCl. These results indicate that salt stress exerts stage- and organ-dependent effects on phytochemical accumulation in C. cajan. High salinity during germination stimulates bioactive compound production, whereas moderate salinity appears to be the threshold at which antioxidant capacity is maximized in hydroponic systems. These observations point to the practical utility of controlled salt elicitation as a strategy for enriching pigeon pea with health-promoting phytochemicals, reinforcing its potential as a functional food crop. Full article

Glutinous rice huangjiu, a non-distilled wine variety unique to China, is rich in nutrients. However, systematic research on the differences in its non-volatile functional components remains scarce, despite these variations being key factors influencing its antioxidant effects. This study employed non-targeted metabolomics to systematically analyze the non-volatile metabolite profiles of 16 glutinous rice huangjiu brands, identifying 1450 metabolites. An alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury model was established, combining cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level assays to screen for samples (G10 and G11) exhibiting significant efficacy across varying alcohol concentrations. Differential metabolite analysis further identified key bioactive compounds including L-proline, dihydroferulic acid, chalcones, and multiple phenolic derivatives. Using molecular docking technology, we preliminarily revealed that these components may exert antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects either by directly scavenging free radicals or indirectly through mechanisms such as participating in glutathione metabolism and regulating the KEAP1-Nrf2 signaling pathway. This study elucidates the differences among glutinous rice huangjiu at the metabolomic and cellular model levels, providing a scientific basis for evaluating the health benefits and developing new products of huangjiu. Full article

Salinity and drought are major constraints to wheat productivity, affecting growth, photosynthesis, and cellular homeostasis. While many studies have examined responses to these stresses individually, comparative evaluation of genotypes under both stresses using an integrated physiological, biochemical, and multivariate framework remains limited. Here, six wheat genotypes were evaluated at the seedling stage under controlled salinity and drought treatments to identify key morphological and physio-biochemical markers associated with stress resilience. Both stresses reduced shoot and root growth, biomass, gas exchange, and photosynthetic pigments, with drought causing stronger inhibition. Among genotypes, Akbar-2019 exhibited the greatest tolerance, maintaining higher growth, pigment stability, photosynthetic performance, and membrane integrity, whereas Subhani-2021 was the most sensitive. Stress-induced osmotic adjustment was evident from increased proline, soluble sugars, and free amino acids, particularly in Akbar-2019. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) were elevated under both stresses; Akbar-2019 combined stronger antioxidant activity with lower malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, indicating effective mitigation of oxidative damage. Multivariate analyses (PCA, heatmap clustering, and MGIDI) consistently ranked Akbar-2019 as the most resilient genotype. These findings provide a novel, integrative framework for screening wheat under multiple abiotic stresses, identify promising genotypes for breeding and cultivation in stress-prone environments, and highlight combined morpho-physiological stability, osmolyte accumulation, and antioxidant capacity as informative markers for stress tolerance. Full article

Monofloral honeys are widely recognized for their distinct chemical characteristics which are largely influenced by botanical origin. This study aimed to compare the physicochemical and functional properties of monofloral honeys produced in South Korea. Five monofloral honey types, Castanea crenata, Robinia pseudoacacia, Toxicodendron spp., Hovenia dulcis, and Styrax japonicus, were analyzed, and their floral origins were confirmed through melissopalynological analysis. Physicochemical parameters (moisture content, total soluble solids, hydroxymethylfurfural content, stable carbon isotope ratio, free acidity, pH, color, and sugar composition), along with amino acid profiles, predicted glycemic index (GI), and antioxidant activity, were determined. Most physicochemical parameters showed statistically significant differences among honey types. Amino acid composition differed markedly among honey types, with Castanea honey exhibiting higher levels of proline, phenylalanine, and leucine compared to Robinia and Styrax honeys. Predicted GI values were predominantly within the low-GI range, with no statistically significant differences observed among floral origins. Antioxidant activity showed a similar trend to amino acid content, with Castanea honey displaying the highest antioxidant values. These findings demonstrate that botanical origin is a key determinant of the physicochemical and in vitro functional attributes of honey, including antioxidant activity and predicted GI, and provide a scientific basis for the characterization of South Korean monofloral honeys. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with corn peptide (CP) in juvenile tiger puffer in indoor tanks. Four diets were formulated for a 53-day feeding trial: a control group (CP0), and diets with 5% (CP5), 10% (CP10), and 15% (CP15) CP replacing FM. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks. No significant difference in weight gain was observed between CP5 and control (p > 0.05). However, when the CP inclusion level exceeded 10%, growth performance began to decline, with the CP15 group being significantly lower than the control. The feed intake was linearly increased by CP. The proximate body composition revealed no significant difference among treatments. The CP10 group showed significantly higher serum malondialdehyde content than the control. Significantly lower muscle fiber density was observed in CP10 and CP15 compared to the control. The taurine content was significantly reduced in CP10, while no significant differences were found for other amino acids. Compared with the control group, the CP5 group showed significantly elevated levels of free proline and glutamic acid. The intestinal expression of the peptide transporter gene pept1 was significantly up-regulated by CP. In conclusion, the appropriate inclusion level of corn peptide was 5% for juvenile tiger puffer. Full article

Dietary lipid sources critically influence growth, health, and muscle quality in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), yet how high oleic acid diet (HOA) regulates intramuscular nutrient deposition remains unclear. Here, a 10-week feeding trial compared isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets, in which soybean oil was replaced with high-oleic peanut oil. HOA significantly improved weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio, without affecting survival, hepatosomatic index (HSI), or gonadosomatic index (GSI). HOA enhanced antioxidant capacity by increasing catalase activity and reducing malondialdehyde, while key non-specific immune enzymes were unchanged. In muscle, HOA did not increase intramuscular oleic acid (OA) content but reduced linoleic acid and upregulated genes involved in fatty acid transport and β-oxidation. HOA also shifted free amino acids (higher glutamate and lysine; lower proline) without significant transcriptional upregulation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway or changing total protein. Multi-omics analyses indicated altered nucleotide/purine pathways and pronounced glycerophospholipid remodeling, identifying discriminatory lipid species. Overall, oleic-acid-rich lipids promote growth and antioxidant defense while reprogramming muscle lipid metabolism, supporting their targeted use to optimize crab muscle quality. Full article