Search Results (1,722)

The coastal restricted fishing area of Guangdong contains key spawning and nursery habitats with high biodiversity but growing ecological pressure, yet the influence of survey design and sampling frequency on biodiversity detection and abundance estimates remains unclear. We conducted four seasonal bottom-trawl surveys in 2023–2024 at 186 stations and compared fixed-site sampling (FS), simple random sampling (SRS), stratified random sampling by depth (StRS), and systematic sampling (SS). We recorded 563 species (446 fishes, 101 crustaceans, 16 cephalopods), observed seasonal shifts in dominant taxa, and found catch rates varied seasonally and spatially, peaking in summer. Species detection rose with station number and sampling frequency. For species richness, SS produced the highest detection and the lowest error and bias but showed volatility; StRS and SRS were more stable. For abundance, StRS had the lowest error, whereas SRS had the smallest absolute bias. Across all four seasons, 88 stations achieved an 80% richness detection rate; among reduced-frequency designs, autumn-only, spring–autumn, and autumn–spring–summer minimized errors. These results guide cost–precision trade-offs: SS (with random starts and interval rotation) for richness-oriented aims, and depth-based StRS for abundance, supporting optimized long-term monitoring and management in the northern South China Sea. Full article

The utilization of post-production and post-processing by-products aligns with current trends in sustainable fruit industry practices. Recovering valuable nutrients from such materials holds significant potential for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Among these, cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) seeds represent a promising source of functional ingredients, particularly due to their oil’s rich nutritional and phytochemical profile. The seeds, accounting for approximately 9–10% of the fruit mass, yield an oil characterized by high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids—mainly linoleic acid (≈67.5%) and oleic acid (≈20%)—alongside palmitic (≈5.8%) and stearic acids (≈2.1%). Linolenic acid content, however, shows notable variability (1.4–14.7%), influencing the oil’s omega-6/omega-3 ratio, which generally remains below 5:1. Cornelian cherry seed oil stands out among other stone fruit oils (e.g., rosehip, apricot, peach, cherry, plum) for its favorable fatty acid composition and absence of cyanogenic glycosides, making it safe for human consumption. Beyond its nutritional value, this oil exhibits biological activity and health-promoting potential, suggesting wide applicability in functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Despite progress in characterizing seed composition—including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and tannins—knowledge gaps persist regarding the transfer of these compounds into the oil, particularly under cold-pressing conditions. Future studies should focus on optimizing extraction processes, assessing thermal treatment effects, and clarifying the variability of linolenic acid. Such research will support the sustainable exploitation of cornelian cherry by-products and the industrial-scale development of this high-value oil. Full article

Accurate and nondestructive monitoring of tomato growth is essential for large-scale greenhouse production; however, it remains challenging for small-fruited cultivars such as cherry tomatoes. Traditional 2D image analysis often fails to capture precise morphological traits, limiting its usefulness in growth modeling and yield estimation. This study proposes an automated phenotyping framework that integrates deep learning-based instance segmentation with high-resolution 3D point cloud reconstruction and ellipsoid fitting to estimate fruit size and ripeness from daily video recordings. These techniques enable accurate camera pose estimation and dense geometric reconstruction (via SfM and MVS), while Nerfacto enhances surface continuity and photorealistic fidelity, resulting in highly precise and visually consistent 3D representations. The reconstructed models are followed by CIELAB color analysis and logistic curve fitting to characterize the growth dynamics. When applied to real greenhouse conditions, the method achieved an average size estimation error of 8.01% compared to manual caliper measurements. During summer, the maximum growth rate (g_max) of size and ripeness were 24.14%, and 95.24% higher than in winter, respectively. Seasonal analysis revealed that winter-grown tomatoes matured approximately 10 days later than summer-grown fruits, highlighting environmental influences on phenological development. By enabling precise, noninvasive tracking of size and ripeness progression, this approach is a novel tool for smart and sustainable agriculture. Full article

Importin α (IMPα) proteins are key mediators of nucleocytoplasmic transport and play crucial roles in plant development and stress adaptation. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of the IMPα gene family in Glycine max, followed by gene structure and conserved motif analyses, chromosomal distribution and duplication inference, synteny and selection (Ka/Ks) analyses, and expression profiling across tissues and stress conditions using public RNA-seq datasets and expression browsers. The GmIMPα genes exhibited diverse gene structures and conserved motifs, suggesting functional diversification within the family. Segmental duplication was identified as the main contributor to family expansion, and most duplicated gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Promoter analysis revealed numerous stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements, implying complex transcriptional regulation. Expression profiling demonstrated that GmIMPα5 and GmIMPα7 were strongly induced under drought, heat, and salt stresses, indicating potential roles in abiotic stress tolerance. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive framework for the evolution and functional divergence of the GmIMPα family in soybean and offer candidates for improving stress resilience. Full article

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is a key biological mechanism influencing surgical recovery, contributing to impaired healing, infectious complications, cardiovascular events, and mortality. This umbrella review aimed to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses exclusively focused on the relationship between validated oxidative stress biomarkers and postoperative outcomes. Narrative and non-systematic reviews were excluded. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted on 15 March 2024 and updated on 12 December 2024 to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses including adult surgical patients, validated oxidative stress biomarkers, and clinical outcomes. Methodological quality was evaluated with AMSTAR 2 and ROBIS. The SANRA checklist was used only to verify that narrative or bibliometric reviews did not meet the inclusion criteria. These non-systematic reviews were excluded from the synthesis and cited solely as contextual references. Findings: From 527 records, ten systematic reviews of moderate to high methodological quality were included, encompassing approximately 230 primary studies. The most frequently reported biomarkers were total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Lower TAC, GSH, and SOD levels were consistently associated with poor recovery and multiorgan dysfunction, whereas elevated MDA and 8-OHdG levels correlated with infectious complications, delayed healing, cardiovascular events, persistent pain, and mortality. Antioxidant-based interventions such as vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine, and propofol showed heterogeneous but promising effects, particularly in high-risk surgical populations. The main limitations were the heterogeneity of biomarkers, variability in perioperative protocols, and partial overlap of primary evidence across reviews. Interpretation: The findings were organized into three main clinical domains: (1) infectious complications and impaired healing; (2) cardiovascular and systemic complications; and (3) predictive and prognostic value of OS biomarkers for perioperative risk assessment. This thematic synthesis integrates evidence across different surgical specialties, highlighting consistent mechanistic patterns and key research gaps to inform future investigations and clinical decision-making. Full article

Bougainvillea spp. is a well-known ornamental plant that is widely applied in urban landscaping construction. The colorful bracts of Bougainvillea in full bloom become important for urban landscape during special festivals. Although flowering regulation measures of Bougainvillea attracted much attention, the underlying mechanism of flower bud differentiation and development remains poorly understood. Here, we induced flowering of Bougainvillea glabra ‘Sao Paulo’ under 6-BA treatment and conducted RNA sequencing data analysis to characterize the molecular regulatory mechanism of flower development in response to 6-BA. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a series of genes and transcription factors of cytokinin metabolism, flowering and floral development regulation, and photoperiod regulation were upregulated by the 6-BA treatment, including COL, AP2, FT, SOC1, LFY, SPL4, SPL9, and SPL13. Moreover, the expression of these important genes exhibited relatively high levels of thorns compared to apical buds, suggesting that flower bud differentiation probably starts with the thorns in Bougainvillea. This study confirms that 6-BA treatment at certain concentrations can promote flowering of Bougainvillea and provides insight into the regulatory mechanism of the growth regulator acting on early flowering of Bougainvillea. Full article

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are threatened by emergent fungal pathogen Diplodia corticola, which causes significant economic and ecological losses. This study evaluates the efficacy of synthetic and natural fungicides, as well as Bacillus antagonistic agents, against this phytopathogen in vitro and in vivo. Eighteen fungicidal agents were tested across three concentrations, whereas the bacterial antagonistic agents Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and a mixture of B. amyloliquefaciens + Bacillus mojavensis were tested at a fixed concentration. The assayed chemicals, including penconazole, clove oil, vanillin, and belthanol, showed 100 ± 0.0% radial growth inhibition (n = 24) and conidiation (n = 24), highlighting their potential as alternatives to benomyl and methyl thiophanate (Restricted in the European Union). In vivo assays further validated the efficacy of these agents in reducing symptom incidence and seedling mortality in cork oak seedlings. Similarly, the Bacillus-based treatments showed 47.6 ± 0.9% (n = 35) in vitro antagonistic effects and in vivo application on seedlings (n = 470) significantly reduced disease symptoms and supported physiological stability (GLMs with Tukey HSD post hoc). The study aimed to evaluate chemical, natural and biological control agents against this pathogen to identify effective management alternatives for forest nurseries and cork oak. Full article

Moss in container seedling nurseries competes with seedlings for water and nutrients while blocking light, thereby inhibiting growth. This study aimed to address this issue by evaluating the moss control efficacy of 11 chemical compounds, including terpinyl acetate (TA), limonene, and Hinoki essential oil (HEO). The plate experiment results led to the selection of 6 substances (TA, limonene, HEO, pine leaf extract, baking soda, pelargonic acid) that stably controlled both Polytrichum commune Hedw. and Marchantia. Polymorpha L. When TA, limonene, and HEO were combined with surfactants, moss control rates increased and showed stable performance. In the container seedling experiment, TA, limonene, and HEO demonstrated high moss control effects while exhibiting low growth inhibition. When these three substances were combined with surfactants, the electrolyte leakage index (ELI) decreased, indicating minimal cell membrane damage. Additionally, TA treatment maintained stable soil physicochemical properties with no significant changes in pH or nutrient levels. Microscopic analysis of moss cells showed cell wall deformation and expansion of intercellular spaces in the three substance treatment groups. Future verification of long-term effectiveness, expansion of application targets, and assessment of economic feasibility could lead to the development of eco-friendly moss removal agents for improving container seedling quality. Full article

The study of the relationship between water availability, photosynthetic behavior, flavonoid accumulation, and antioxidant response offers new perspectives for enhancing nursery practices, resulting in more vigorous eucalyptus seedlings that are tolerant and have greater potential for field establishment. Under the hypothesis that different eucalyptus genetic materials show contrasting responses to water availability in the soil–plant–atmosphere system, this study aims to evaluate the physiological behavior of clones subjected to different irrigation intervals, with an emphasis on the role of flavonoids as antioxidants in mitigating the effects of water stress. The experimental design was structured in strips containing five eucalyptus clones and irrigation with different watering intervals: 1, 2, 4, and 8 days. Evaluations of net photosynthesis, transpiration, and instantaneous water use efficiency were performed. In addition to the physiological assessments, the flavonoids daidzein, genistein, and genistin were determined. Clones C1, C2, and C3 excelled in photosynthesis and transpiration at 2- and 4-day intervals, while C1 and C2 maintained superior performance even at an 8-day interval. WUE was highest in C5 and increased with water stress, showing a quadratic fit in all clones. Regarding flavonoid production, C1 and C3 showed greater daidzein accumulation, with a quadratic response to the withdrawal interval. Genistein showed a linear reduction only in C2, while genistein increased in C1, peaking around 11 days. Eucalyptus clones exhibit distinct physiological and biochemical responses to variations in irrigation intervals. More frequent irrigation favors photosynthetic activity and transpiration, particularly in clones C1, C2, and C3, whereas longer irrigation intervals reduce these processes but enhance water use efficiency, especially in C5. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bacterial blight (BB) represents one of the most devastating diseases threatening global rice production. Exploring and characterizing disease resistance (R) genes provides an effective strategy for controlling BB and enhancing rice resilience. Common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) serves as a valuable reservoir of genetic diversity and disease resistance resources. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a novel NLR gene, YPR1, from common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), which exhibited significant spatial, temporal, and tissue-specific expression patterns. Methods: Using a combination of conventional PCR, RT-PCR, bioinformatics, transgenic analysis, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing approaches, the full-length YPR1 sequence was successfully cloned. Results: The gene spans 4689 bp with a coding sequence (CDS) of 2979 bp, encoding a 992-amino acid protein. Protein domain prediction revealed that YPR1 is a typical CNL-type NLR protein, comprising RX-CC_like, NB-ARC, and LRR domains. The predicted molecular weight of the protein is 112.43 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point (pI) is 8.36. The absence of both signal peptide and transmembrane domains suggests that YPR1 functions intracellularly. Furthermore, the presence of multiple phosphorylation sites across diverse residues implies a potential role for post-translational regulation in its signal transduction function. Sequence alignment showed that YPR1 shared 94.02% similarity with Os09g34160 and up to 96.47% identity with its closest homolog in the NCBI database, confirming that YPR1 is a previously unreported gene. To verify its role in disease resistance, an overexpression vector (Ubi–YPR1) was constructed and introduced into the BB-susceptible rice cultivar JG30 via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. T₁ transgenic lines were subsequently inoculated with 15 highly virulent Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) strains. The transgenic plants exhibited strong resistance to eight strains (YM1, YM187, C1, C5, C6, T7147, PB, and HZhj19), demonstrating a broad-spectrum resistance pattern. Conversely, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of YPR1 in common wild rice resulted in increased susceptibility to most Xoo strains. Although the resistance of knockout lines to strains C7 and YM187 was comparable to that of the wild type (YP^WT), the majority of knockout plants exhibited more severe symptoms and significantly lower YPR1 expression levels compared with YP^WT. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that YPR1 plays a crucial role in bacterial blight resistance in common wild rice. As a novel CNL-type NLR gene conferring specific resistance to multiple Xoo strains, YPR1 provides a promising genetic resource for the molecular breeding of BB-resistant rice varieties. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern, and the use of antibiotics in livestock, including swine production, is a major contributor. Vaccines offer a promising alternative for controlling bacterial infections in pigs, but their widespread use is often hindered by biological, economic, and practical challenges. This study surveyed U.S. swine veterinarians to identify which bacterial diseases require better vaccines and to understand the barriers to their adoption. Nineteen veterinarians with an average of 24.7 years of experience were surveyed across 21 states. The results identified Streptococcus suis, Escherichia coli, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Glaesserella parasuis as the most critical pathogens needing improved vaccines. Veterinarians anticipated significant improvements in vaccine efficacy for S. suis and E. coli during the nursery stage and expressed a willingness to pay 1.8 and 1.9 times their current prices, respectively. While expectations for M. hyo vaccine improvements were not significant, veterinarians expressed the highest willingness to pay (4.2 times the current price), citing the potential for disease eradication. This research highlights that developing effective vaccines for S. suis and E. coli should be the most urgent priority due to their significant economic impact and rising AMR concerns. However, M. hyo vaccine development holds the most economic potential due to the possibility of eradication. Our research provides a roadmap for future efforts to combat AMR in the swine industry, emphasizing key economic, policy, and educational considerations for successful vaccine implementation. Full article

Systena frontalis (Fabricius) is a serious pest of panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Siebold) and various other ornamental plant species in container ornamental nurseries. Effective season-long management strategies are essential, particularly in nursery settings where drench applications of insecticides offer a potential method for targeting the larval stages. Several insecticides, such as isocycloseram, cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam, chlorantraniliprole, flupyradifurone, and tolfenpyrad are currently available or expected to become available for use. However, their efficacy, when applied as growing media drenches, has not been thoroughly evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of isocycloseram, cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam, flupyradifurone, and tolfenpyrad against S. frontalis larvae through drench applications to container media. Results from 2024 showed that high rates of isocycloseram significantly reduced larvae, while lower rates were less effective in the 2025 trial. Although the performance of cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam was mixed between 2024 and 2025, it effectively reduced larvae in both 2025 trials. Chlorantraniliprole formulation with high active ingredient dose reduced larvae relative to nontreated. In contrast, flupyradifurone and tolfenpyrad failed to reduce larvae following drench application. These findings suggest that drench application of high rates of isocycloseram and cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam will be a valuable addition to the pest management toolbox for controlling S. frontalis in ornamental container nurseries. Full article

Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; $M_{\mathrm{BH}}\approx {10}^{3–5} {\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$) play a critical role in understanding the formation of supermassive black holes in the early universe. In this study, we expand on Nguyen et al.’s simulated measurements of IMBH masses using stellar kinematics, which will be observed with the High Angular Resolution Monolithic Optical and Near-infrared Integral (HARMONI) field spectrograph on the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) up to a distance of 20 Mpc. Our sample focuses on both the Virgo Cluster in the northern sky and the Fornax Cluster in the southern sky. We begin by identifying dwarf galaxies hosting nuclear star clusters, which are thought to be nurseries for IMBHs in the local universe. As a case study, we conduct simulations for FCC 119, the second faintest dwarf galaxy in the Fornax Cluster at 20 Mpc, which is also fainter than most of the Virgo Cluster members. We use the galaxy’s surface brightness profile from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging, combined with an assumed synthetic spectrum, to create mock observations with the HSIM simulator and Jeans Anisotropic Models (JAMs). These mock HARMONI data cubes are analyzed as if they were real observations, employing JAMs within a Bayesian framework to infer IMBH masses and their associated uncertainties. We find that ELT/HARMONI can detect the stellar kinematic signature of an IMBH and accurately measure its mass for $M_{\mathrm{BH}}\gtrsim {10}^5{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$ out to distances of ∼20 Mpc. Full article

Rootstock mother fields supply the cuttings used in the grafted grapevine propagation process, and their productivity is essential for the nursery production. In southern Europe, mother fields are usually managed with a ground-level pruning system, which provides high yields but increases sanitary and management risks. Dense canopies favour humid microclimates and large pruning wounds increase the incidence of trunk diseases. Trellis systems have been proposed as alternatives to mitigate these risks, but their productive performance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vegetative growth of three vertical trellis systems: elevated crown, alternate crown, and vertical axis, in two rootstock mother fields, and to compare their cutting productivity with that of the traditional ground-level system once the trellis vines were fully established. The trial was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in a commercial rootstock mother field in Soria, Spain, using two Vitis berlandieri × V. rupestris hybrids (110 Richter and 140 Ruggeri). The experimental design consisted of three trellis systems arranged in four replicates of 12 vines each, following a randomised block design. Pruning weight increased significantly with vine age but was unaffected by trellis system. Cutting yield differed between rootstocks, with 140 Ruggeri producing about twice as many cuttings as 110 Richter. The comparison between trellis and ground-level systems showed that the former increased labour requirements and reduced cutting yields. Although trellis systems challenge their adoption for commercial rootstock propagation under the dry-summer conditions of this study, their potential to reduce fungal disease incidence and improve canopy management may offer advantages in a transition towards a more sustainable nursery process. Full article

To address the limitations of traditional wheat quality breeding, this study developed a Wheat Quality Molecular Marker Selection System (QMMS) by integrating key genetic loci controlling core quality traits: grain protein content (GPC), grain hardness (GH), and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS). The QMMS comprises three KASP markers (Kgpc-2B, Kgpc-2D, Kgpc-4A) and two duplex KASP (dKASP) markers (Pin-ab, Glu-AD), enabling cost-effective (≈5 CNY per sample) and high-throughput genotyping. Systematic validation was conducted using four panels of materials: representative varieties, breeding nursery materials, regional trial materials from the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, and advanced lines from four cooperative institutions. Results showed that (1) the QMMS accurately distinguished quality types of representative varieties: strong-gluten varieties carried five or more strong-gluten–favorable alleles, while weak-gluten varieties harbored five or more weak-gluten favorable alleles; (2) in breeding nursery materials, quality traits increased significantly with the number of aggregated strong-gluten favorable alleles, and 48.15% of strong-gluten candidates met strong- and medium-strong-gluten standards; (3) in regional trial materials, 15.25% (36/236) and 1.69% (4/236) of lines carried ≥5 strong-gluten and weak-gluten favorable alleles, with low utilization of Kgpc-2D and Pina/Pinb favorable alleles (<30%); and (4) the QMMS screened 273 strong-gluten and 27 weak-gluten candidates for cooperative institutions, matching their breeding focuses. In conclusion, the QMMS provides reliable technical support for precise and efficient wheat quality breeding. Full article