Search Results (1,359)

Early weaning of piglets elicits weaning stress, which in turn induces oxidative stress and consequently impairs growth and development. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW), characterized by selective antioxidant properties, mitigates oxidative stress damage and serves as an ideal intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HRW on weaned piglets, specifically investigating its impact on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, antioxidant function, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolites. The results demonstrate that HRW significantly increased the average daily feed intake and significantly reduced the diarrhea rate in weaned piglets. Analysis of serum oxidative stress indicators revealed that HRW significantly elevated the activities of total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase while significantly decreasing malondialdehyde concentration. Assessment of intestinal morphology showed that HRW significantly increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Microbial analysis indicated that HRW significantly increased the abundance of Prevotella in the colon. Furthermore, HRW increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia, in the jejunum and cecum, while concurrently reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria like Escherichia. Hepatic metabolite profiling revealed that HRW significantly altered the metabolite composition in the liver of weaned piglets. Differentially abundant metabolites were enriched in oxidative stress-related KEGG pathways, including ABC transporters; pyruvate metabolism; autophagy; FoxO signaling pathway; glutathione metabolism; ferroptosis; and AMPK signaling pathways. In conclusion, HRW alleviates diarrhea and promotes growth in weaned piglets by enhancing antioxidant capacity. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the application of HRW in swine production and serve as a reference for further exploration into the mechanisms underlying HRW’s effects on animal health and productivity. Full article

Soil salinization severely restricts crop growth and presents a major challenge to global agriculture. In this study, a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) was isolated and identified as Proteus sp. through 16S rDNA analysis and was subsequently named Proteus sp. JHY1. Under salt stress, exogenous dopamine (DA) significantly enhanced the production of indole-3-acetic acid and ammonia by strain JHY1. Pot experiments revealed that both DA and JHY1 treatments effectively alleviated the adverse effects of 225 mM NaCl on rice, promoting biomass, plant height, and root length. More importantly, the combined application of DA-JHY1 showed a significant synergistic effect in mitigating salt stress. The treatment increased the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, osmotic regulators (proline, soluble sugars, and protein), and reduced lipid peroxidation. The treatment also increased soil nutrients (ammoniacal nitrogen and available phosphorus), enhanced soil enzyme activities (sucrase and alkaline phosphatase), stabilized the ion balance (K⁺/Na⁺), and modulated the soil rhizosphere microbial community by increasing beneficial bacteria, such as Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. This study provides the first evidence that the synergistic effect of DA and PGPR contributes to enhanced salt tolerance in rice, offering a novel strategy for alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress on plant growth. Full article

Fritillaria unibracteata is a rare and endangered medicinal plant in the Liliaceae family, whose bulbs have been used in traditional Chinese traditional medicine for over 2000 years. The mevalonate (MVA) pathway is involved in the growth, development, response to environmental stress, and active ingredient production of plants; however, the functional characterization of MVA-pathway genes in the Liliaceae family remains poorly documented. In this study, an Acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase gene (FuAACT) was first cloned from F. unibracteata. It exhibited structural features of the thiolase family and showed the highest sequence identity with the Dioscorea cayenensis homolog. The K_m, V_max, and K_cat of the recombinant FuAACT were determined to be 3.035 ± 0.215 μM, 0.128 ± 0.0058 μmol/(min·mg), and 1.275 ± 0.0575 min⁻¹, respectively. The optimal catalytic conditions for FuAACT were ascertained to be 30 °C and pH 8.9. It was stable below 50 °C. His361 was confirmed to be a key amino acid residue to enzymatic catalysis by site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequent subcellular localization experiments demonstrated that FuAACT was localized in chloroplasts and cytoplasm. FuAACT-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed higher drought tolerance than wild-type plants. This phenotypic difference was corroborated by significant differences in seed germination rate, lateral root number, plant height, and leaf number (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the FuAACT transgenic plants resulted in the formation of a more developed fibrous root system. These results indicated that the FuAACT gene revealed substantial biological activity in vitro and in vivo, hopefully providing the basis for its further research and application in liliaceous ornamental and medicinal plants. Full article

The southern conifer Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl. is a large and long-lived species endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. It is threatened due to past logging activities, pathogen attack and potentially climate change, with increasing severity and frequency of drought and heatwaves across its distribution. Like many large tree species, little is known about the carbon dynamics of this ecologically and culturally significant species. We explored seasonal variations in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and growth in trees ranging from 20 to 175 cm diameter at breast height (DBH). NSCs were seasonally stable with no measurable pattern across seasons. However, we found growth rates standardised to basal area and sapwood area (growth efficiency) declined with tree age and stem NSC concentrations (including total NSCs, sugars and starch) all increased as trees aged. Total NSC concentrations were 0.3%–0.6% dry mass for small trees and 0.8%–1.8% dry mass for larger trees, with strong relationships between DBH and total NSC, sugar and starch in stems but not roots. Cumulative growth efficiency across the two-year study period declined as tree size increased. Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between growth efficiency across the two-year study period and NSC concentrations of stems. This relationship was driven by differences in carbon dynamics in trees of different sizes, with trees progressing to a more conservative carbon strategy as they aged. Simultaneously declining growth efficiency and increasing NSC concentrations as trees age could be evidence for active NSC accumulation to buffer against carbon starvation in larger trees. Our study provides new insights into changing carbon dynamics as trees age and may be evidence for active carbon accumulation in older trees. This may provide the key for understanding the role of carbon processes in tree longevity. Full article

The premature senescence of red raspberry leaves severely affects plant growth. In this study, the double-season red raspberry cultivar ‘Polka’ was used, with N₁₅₀ (0.10 g N·kg⁻¹) selected as the treatment group (T150) and N₀ (0 g N·kg⁻¹) set as the control (CK). This study systematically investigated the mechanism of premature senescence in red raspberry leaves under different nitrogen application levels by measuring physiological parameters and conducting a combined multi-omics analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics. Results showed that T150 plants had 8.34 cm greater height and 1.45 cm greater ground diameter than CK. The chlorophyll, carotenoid, soluble protein, and sugar contents in all leaf parts of T150 were significantly higher than those in CK, whereas soluble starch contents were lower. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide anion (O₂⁻) generation rate in the lower leaves of T150 were significantly lower than those in CK. Superoxide sismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities in the middle and lower functional leaves of T150 were higher than in CK, while catalase (CAT) activity was lower. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4350 significantly differentially expressed genes, including 2062 upregulated and 2288 downregulated genes. Metabolomic analysis identified 135 differential metabolites, out of which 60 were upregulated and 75 were downregulated. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis showed enrichment in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (ko00940) and flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941) pathways, with the former acting as an upstream pathway of the latter. A premature senescence pathway was established, and two key metabolites were identified: chlorogenic acid content decreased, and naringenin chalcone content increased in early senescent leaves, suggesting their pivotal roles in the early senescence of red raspberry leaves. Modulating chlorogenic acid and naringenin chalcone levels could delay premature senescence. Optimizing fertilization strategies may thus reduce senescence risk and enhance the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the red raspberry industry. Full article

Maize–soybean intercropping is widely practised to improve land use efficiency, but shading from maize often limits soybean growth and productivity. Melatonin, a plant signaling molecule with antioxidant and growth-regulating properties, has shown potential in mitigating various abiotic stresses, including low light. This study investigated the efficacy of applying foliar melatonin (MT) to enhance shade tolerance and yield performance of soybean under intercropping. Four melatonin concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 150 µM) were applied to soybean grown under mono- and intercropping systems. The results showed that intercropping significantly reduced growth, photosynthetic activity, and yield-related traits. However, the MT application, particularly at 100 µM (MT₁₀₀), effectively mitigated these declines. MT₁₀₀ improved plant height (by up to 32%), leaf area (8%), internode length (up to 41%), grain yield (32%), and biomass dry matter (30%) compared to untreated intercropped plants. It also enhanced SPAD chlorophyll values, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as Photosystem II efficiency (ɸPSII), maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qp), electron transport rate (ETR), Rubisco activity, and soluble protein content. These findings suggest that foliar application of melatonin, especially at 100 µM, can improve shade resilience in soybean by enhancing physiological and biochemical performance, offering a practical strategy for optimizing productivity in intercropping systems. Full article

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) promotes growth performance and intestinal development in yellow-feathered broilers, but whether the virome and metabolites contribute to its growth-promoting effect remains unclear. This study removed the microbiota from FMT filtrate using a 0.45 μm filter membrane, retaining the virome and metabolites to perform fecal virome transplantation (FVT), aiming to investigate its regulatory role in broiler growth. Healthy yellow-feathered broilers with high body weights (top 10% of the population) were used as FVT donors. Ninety-six 8-day-old healthy male yellow-feathered broilers (95.67 ± 3.31 g) served as FVT recipients. Recipient chickens were randomly assigned to a control group and an FVT group. The control group was gavaged with 0.5 mL of normal saline daily, while the FVT group was gavaged with 0.5 mL of FVT solution daily. Growth performance, immune and antioxidant capacity, intestinal development and related gene expression, and microbial diversity were measured. The results showed that FVT improved the feed utilization rate of broilers (the feed conversion ratio decreased by 3%; p < 0.05), significantly increased jejunal length (21%), villus height (69%), and crypt depth (84%) (p < 0.05), and regulated the jejunal barrier: insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (2.5 times) and Mucin 2 (MUC2) (63 times) were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). FVT increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillales. However, negative effects were also observed: Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in broilers were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), indicating immune system overactivation. Duodenal barrier-related genes Mucin 2 (MUC2), Occludin (OCLN), Claudin (CLDN1), and metabolism-related genes solute carrier family 5 member 1 (SLC5A1) and solute carrier family 7 member 9 (SLC7A9) were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). The results of this trial demonstrate that, besides the microbiota, the gut virome and metabolites are also functional components contributing to the growth-promoting effect of FMT. The differential responses in the duodenum and jejunum reveal spatial heterogeneity and dual effects of FVT on the intestine. The negative effects limit the application of FMT/FVT. Identifying the primary functional components of FMT/FVT to develop safe and targeted microbial preparations is one potential solution. Full article

The high pH and heavy metal leaching of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag limit its application in agriculture. Slag carbonation can aid in decreasing slag alkalinity and inhibit heavy metal release; the environmental safety of utilizing carbonated AOD slag (CAS) as a fertilizer remains a topic of significant debate, however. In this work, pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) was planted in CAS-fertilized soil to investigate the accumulation and migration behavior of heavy metals in the soil–plant system and perform an associated risk assessment. Our results demonstrated that CAS addition increases Ca, Si, and Cr concentrations but decreases Mg and Fe concentrations in soil leachates. Low rates (0.25–1%) of CAS fertilization facilitate the growth of pakchoi, resulting in the absence of soil contamination and posing no threat to human health. At the optimal slag addition rate of 0.25%, the pakchoi leaf biomass, stem biomass, leaf area, and seedling height increased by 34.2%, 17.2%, 26.3%, and 8.7%, respectively. The accumulation of heavy metals results in diverging characteristics in pakchoi. Cr primarily accumulates in the roots; in comparison, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Hg preferentially accumulate in the leaves. The migration rate of the investigated heavy metals from the soil to pakchoi follows the order of Cr > Cd > Hg > Ni > Pb; in comparison, that from the roots to the leaves follows the order Cd > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb. Appropriate utilization of CAS as a mineral fertilizer can aid in improving pakchoi yield, achieving sustainable economic benefits, and preventing environmental pollution. Full article

In the irrigation districts of Northern China, the flood resources utilization for deep storage irrigation, which is essentially characterized by active excessive irrigation, aims to have the potential to mitigate freshwater shortages, and long-term groundwater overexploitation. It is crucial to detect the effects of irrigation amounts on agricultural yield and the mechanisms under deep storage irrigation. A three-year field experiment (2020–2023) was conducted in the Guanzhong Plain, according to five soil wetting layer depths (RF: 0 cm; W1: control, 120 cm; W2: 140 cm; W3: 160 cm; W4: 180 cm) with soil saturation water content as the irrigation upper limit. Results exhibited that, compared to W1, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments led to the increased plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation. Meanwhile, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments improved kernel weight increment achieving maximum grain-filling rate (W_max), maximum grain-filling rate (G_max), and average grain-filling rate (G_ave), thereby enhancing the effective spikes (ES) and grain number per spike (GS), and thus increased wheat grain yield (GY). In relative to W1, the W2, W3, and W4 treatments increased the ES, GS, and GY by 11.89–19.81%, 8.61–14.36%, and 8.17–13.62% across the three years. Notably, no significant difference was observed in GS and GY between W3 and W4 treatments, but W4 treatment displayed significant decreases in ES by 3.04%, 3.06%, and 2.98% in the respective years. The application of a structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that deep storage irrigation improved ES and GS by positively regulating W_max, G_max, and G_ave, thus significantly increasing GY. Overall, this study identified the optimal threshold (W3 treatment) to maximize wheat yields by optimizing both the vegetative growth and grain-filling dynamics. This study provides essential support for the feasibility assessment of deep storage irrigation before flood seasons, which is vital for the balance and coordination of food security and water security. Full article

Sorghum is an important cereal crop. The maintenance of leaf color significantly influences sorghum growth and development. Although the mechanisms of leaf color mutation have been well studied in many plants, those in sorghum remain largely unclear. Here, we identified a sorghum gradient-pale-green leaf mutant (sbgpgl1) from the ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis mutant library. Phenotypic, photosynthesis-related parameter, ion content, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses were performed on wild-type BTx623 and the sbgpgl1 mutant at the heading stage, revealing changes in several agronomic traits and physiological indicators. Compared with BTx623, sbgpgl1 showed less height, with a smaller length and width of leaf and panicle. The overall Chl a and Chl b contents in sbgpgl1 were lower than those in BTx623. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were significantly reduced in sbgpgl1 compared to BTx623. The content of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) was considerably lower in sbgpgl1 leaves than in BTx623. A total of 4469 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 775 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified by RNA-seq and UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that sbgpgl1 primarily influenced sorghum metabolism by regulating metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, resulting in the gradient-pale-green leaf phenotype. These findings reveal key genes and metabolites involved on a molecular basis in physiological variations of the sorghum leaf color mutant. Full article

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (WA, USA) presented a unique opportunity to observe primary succession in a post-eruption landscape previously dominated by conifer forests. The eruption scoured soil and biological communities adjacent to the mountain, and species of conifers have generally been slow to colonize the nutrient-poor substrate surrounding the volcano. Further, different species of conifer establish and grow at different rates. The recent advancement of conifers in the post-eruption landscape has highlighted a research gap related to conifer growth patterns. We measured the height, age, and incremental growth of 472 trees representing three common conifers, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies procera, and Pinus contorta, on debris avalanche (80 sites) and pyroclastic flow (82 sites) disturbance zones of the 1980 eruption. We paired annual incremental growth with recent climate data. We found that height, age, and growth rates differ among species and sites. All species had higher growth rates on the debris avalanche deposit compared to the pyroclastic flow due to either climate or substrate. Climate influences were mixed, where one species increased growth with temperature, another declined, and another was unrelated. Nevertheless, more than 40 years after the eruption, we find rapid height growth in species with implications for future forests. Full article

Vicia unijuga, an important forage legume on China’s Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, exhibited dark-brown sunken lesions on their stems at the Qingyang Experimental Station of Lanzhou University. The fungus isolated from the diseased tissues was identified as Colletotrichum tofieldiae via a multi-locus phylogeny (ITS-ACT-Tub2-CHS-1-GADPH-HIS3). The pathogenicity was confirmed by Koch’s postulates. The inoculated plants showed significantly reduced (p < 0.05) growth parameters (height, root length, and biomass), photosynthetic indices (net rate, transpiration, and stomatal conductance), and nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, and crude fiber) compared to the controls. C. tofieldiae additionally infected six legume species (V. sativa, Medicago sativa, Onobrychis viciifolia, Astragalus adsurgens, Trifolium pratense, and T. repens). Optimal in vitro growth occurred on oatmeal agar (mycelium) and cornmeal agar (spores), with D-sucrose and D-peptone as the best carbon and nitrogen sources. This first report of C. tofieldiae causing V. unijuga anthracnose advances the understanding of legume anthracnose pathogens. Full article

Background/Objectives: Undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections are critical public health problems in low-income countries, with adverse effects on child growth and increasing anaemia. Madagascar, with a high prevalence of these factors, lacks comprehensive studies analysing their interaction. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status, the prevalence of anaemia, and the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections among children and adolescents in three southern regions of Madagascar. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study of 289 children and adolescents (10–18 years) from three schools located in Antsoamadiro, Fianarantsoa, and Toliara was conducted. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and haemoglobin concentration data, as well as faecal samples, were collected. Nutritional status was assessed by Nutrimetry, combining Height-for-Age and BMI-for-Age indicators. Stool samples were analysed by optical microscopy and molecular methods. Results: Nutricode 1 (short stature/stunting + thinness/wasting) was significantly more frequent in Toliara. Nutricode 1 was also significantly more prevalent in males than females. Anaemia affected 57.8% of participants and was significantly associated with Nutricode 1. The overall parasitism rate was also associated with Nutricode 1. Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides significantly increased the risk of stunting, wasting, and Nutricode 1. Co-infection with Trichuris trichiura + Giardia duodenalis was significantly associated with wasting and Nutricode 1. This co-infection was also related to the presence of anaemia, as was moderate-intensity infection with T. trichiura. Conclusions: There is a high co-burden of undernutrition, anaemia, and parasitic infections in southern Madagascar. These findings highlight the urgency of implementing comprehensive health programmes combining parasite control, nutritional support, and iron supplementation adapted to regional realities. Full article

Burkholderia gladioli is a multifaceted bacterium with both pathogenic and beneficial strains, and nonpathogenic Burkholderia species have shown potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and biocontrol agents. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their beneficial functions remain poorly characterized. This study systematically investigated the antimicrobial mechanisms and plant growth-promoting properties of B. gladioli strain ZBSF BH07, isolated from the grape rhizosphere, by combining genomic and functional analyses, including whole-genome sequencing, gene annotation, phylogenetic and comparative genomics, in vitro antifungal assays, and plant growth promotion evaluations. The results showed that ZBSF BH07 exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity, inhibiting 14 grape pathogens with an average inhibition rate of 56.58% and showing dual preventive/curative effects against grape white rot, while also significantly promoting grape seedling growth with increases of 54.9% in plant height, 172.9% in root fresh weight, and 231.34% in root dry weight. Genomic analysis revealed an 8.56-Mb genome (two chromosomes and one plasmid) encoding 7431 genes and 26 secondary metabolite biosynthesis clusters (predominantly nonribosomal peptide synthetases), supporting its capacity for antifungal metabolite secretion, and functional analysis confirmed genes for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. These results demonstrate that ZBSF BH07 suppresses pathogens via antifungal metabolites and enhances grape growth through phytohormone regulation and nutrient acquisition, providing novel insights into the dual mechanisms of B. gladioli as a biocontrol and growth-promoting agent and laying a scientific foundation for developing sustainable grapevine disease management strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Surgical treatment is generally recommended for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) when the Cobb angle exceeds 50 degrees even after skeletal maturity or 40 degrees with remaining growth potential. However, limited evidence exists regarding the natural history of curves between 40 and 50 degrees during the late stage of skeletal growth. This study aimed to evaluate the curve progression in AIS patients with a curve between 40 and 50 degrees at Risser stage IV or V. Methods: The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) AIS patients at the late stage of skeletal growth (Risser IV or V) and a (2) curve between 40 and 50 degrees, with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Sex, age, the magnitude of the curve, the location of the apex, Risser stage, height, and weight were measured at the baseline and the final follow-up. Curve progression was defined as an increase in the Cobb angle of ≥5 degrees. Patients were also categorized based on whether their final Cobb angle was <50 or ≥50 degrees to evaluate additional risk factors. Results: A total of 97 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 97 months. Their mean age was 14.6 years at the baseline and 22.6 years at the final follow-up. The mean Cobb angle increased from 42.6 to 45.1 degrees, with a mean change of 2.7 degrees and an annual progression rate of 0.35 degrees. Curve progression was observed in 38 patients (39.2%), and 24 patients (24.7%) reached a final Cobb angle ≥ 50 degrees. Younger age (p = 0.004) and Risser stage IV (p = 0.014) were significantly associated with curve progression. In patients with a final Cobb angle ≥ 50 degrees, Risser stage IV (p = 0.050) and a larger baseline curve magnitude (p = 0.045) were also significant risk factors. Conclusions: In AIS patients at the late stage of skeletal growth, 39.2% experienced significant curve progression. A younger age and Risser stage IV were identified as risk factors for curve progression. A larger baseline curve magnitude and Risser stage IV were also associated with a final Cobb angle ≥ 50 degrees. Full article