Search Results (1,499)

[Background] Cotton seed protein is an important seed quality trait with considerable utilization potential; however, the genetic mechanisms governing its developmental dynamics remain incompletely understood. [Methods] Field trials were conducted during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons. Using 11 upland cotton parental lines and 36 F₁ hybrid combinations obtained through Griffing-II double-cross hybridization, three planting configurations were evaluated (three-row (FR3), four-row (FR4), and six-row (FR6) film mulch configurations). Samples were harvested at eight developmental stages: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after anthesis. Cotton seed protein content was determined using the Kjeldahl method, and protein accumulation parameters were estimated using a logistic growth model. Unconditional and conditional genetic analyses were conducted using a developmental ADM model that incorporated genotype–environment interactions. [Results] Cotton seed protein accumulation exhibited an S-shaped trend: it first increased, entered a plateau phase, then declined slightly, and rose gradually in the later developmental stage. Genotype, year, planting configuration, and their interactions significantly affected protein content and growth parameters but did not alter the underlying developmental trajectory. Among the planting configurations, FR4 exhibited the highest protein accumulation rate and maximum protein accumulation, with the lowest trait variation, and showed the most favorable overall performance under the conditions tested. Genetic analyses indicated that the dominance–environment and maternal–environment interactions were the principal components of protein accumulation, whereas additive, dominance, and maternal main effects were significant only at specific developmental stages. In terms of the genetics of cotton seed protein, the predicted genetic effects across different environments and developmental stages indicated that P6 exhibited the highest stability of genetic effects, P7 and P9 showed moderate stability, whereas P3 had relatively low stability of genetic effects. [Conclusions] The developmental pattern of cotton seed protein accumulation was largely governed by genetic effects and remained relatively stable, whereas environmental conditions mainly modified the magnitude of accumulation. For breeding aimed at improving cotton seed protein, the genetic backgrounds of parental lines should be considered together with environmental effects on cotton seed protein accumulation. Full article

The level of salt tolerance of rice varies with the developmental stage. The information on the tolerance of rice at each stage is valuable for breeding and planning in cultural management to obtain the optimal growth and yield in salt-affected areas. The objectives of this study were to compare the salt tolerance and physiological- and yield-related responses at three growth stages of the salt-sensitive Thai jasmine rice, KDML105, with its genetically improved variety RD73 (a registered commercial variety) and TSKC1-144 (a breeding line), both containing Pokkali-derived salt-tolerant QTL. The young hydroponically grown seedlings of TSKC1-144 treated with 150 mM NaCl were highly tolerant, while KDML105 was highly sensitive and RD73 was moderately tolerant. At the vegetative stage, KDML105 exhibited more growth and leaf physiological damage, showing the highest percentage reductions in the net photosynthesis rate (Pn), leaf relative water content (RWC), and shoot and total plant dry weight, but the highest increase in leaf electrolyte leakage (EL) and the highest leaf Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. During the reproductive phase, salt stress did not significantly induce physiological damage to the flag leaves, except for Pn, which was significantly reduced, particularly for KDML105. Both RD73 and TSKC1-144 exhibited lower biomass reductions and higher yields and yield components than KDML105. Compared with TSKC1-144, RD73 produced a lower grain number panicle⁻¹, grain weight panicle⁻¹, and lower 100-grain weight but 34% more panicles; therefore, it yielded a higher grain weight plant⁻¹ (27.57 cf. 20.93 g). The most prominent trait that conferred a greater salt tolerance to RD73 and TSKC1-144 compared with KDML105 was the more efficient Na⁺ exclusion. Taking their tolerance at all growth stages into consideration, RD73 and TSKC1-144 are deemed suitable for growing under rain-fed conditions where the intensity of the soil salinity fluctuates throughout the growing season. Full article

Soybean is the main oilseed crop cultivated worldwide and is important for human and animal nutrition. The duration of flowering, the reproductive period, and maturity is determined by genetic factors and influenced by environmental conditions, including temperature, photoperiod, precipitation, soil type, and crop management, which affect yield and regional adaptation. However, important gaps remain in understanding how soybean lines from different relative maturity groups respond to these conditions, particularly regarding the effects of temperature and precipitation on phenological development across growing seasons. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the behavior of soybean populations and the environmental effect on the phenological cycle of the crop. Two populations were developed from biparental crosses with contrasting RMG values among the parental cultivars. The E2 population, comprising 150 lines, originated from the cross BMX Potência RR (RMG 6.7) × BMX Energia RR (RMG 5.3), whereas the E3 population, comprising 80 lines, originated from BRS 245 RR (RMG 7.3) × BRS 278 RR (RMG 9.4). The populations were evaluated over four growing seasons using an augmented block design, and the traits were analyzed using mixed models with environmental covariates. REML/BLUP methodology was used to estimate genetic parameters and predict genotypic values, enabling the selection of dual-purpose lines combining earliness and high yield. Higher temperatures and lower precipitation were associated with shorter phenological periods, whereas higher precipitation and lower temperatures were associated with longer periods. Population E2 showed more consistent associations with temperature and precipitation, whereas Population E3 showed weaker or nonsignificant associations for some traits, particularly NDM. These population-specific responses may be relevant for the selection of soybean lines in breeding programs. Full article

Translocations of endangered species are a common method of conserving wildlife; however, the release of dietary specialists pose unique challenges for conservationists. In preparation for future releases of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens styani), a bamboo specialist, a proof-of concept test was performed using the ‘Human-Assisted Soft Release’ (HASR) method previously used with giant pandas. Two red pandas (one male, one female) were trained using positive reinforcement to recall to a researcher and voluntary placement of GPS collars as well as physical examinations. Afterwards, to simulate a translocation, the individuals were ‘mock-released’ into a large public access red panda enclosure. Following the ‘mock-release’, the pandas were monitored for four weeks via GPS collars mounted with accelerometers as well as the HASR method. The protocol proved operationally successful: across eight scheduled sessions, both individuals met all four predefined criteria in every session attended (8/8 and 7/7, the latter shortened by injury), permitting recall, collar changes, body examinations and weighing inside a public enclosure without anesthesia or physical restraint, and allowing an injury to be detected from collar data and treated the following morning. Alongside this operational record, activity and space use were monitored descriptively. The odds of being active in the first week rose to 1.9 and 1.6 times each individual’s own pre-release baseline (+13.7 and +8.3 percentage points; p < 0.001) before returning to baseline across the month, and the two individuals differed in the reshaping of their daily rhythm and in their use of space. With the limitation of two individuals and an overlap with the breeding season, the behavioral observations reported here are descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than hypothesis-confirming and require replication. The operational findings nonetheless demonstrate that the HASR method is technically feasible with red pandas and provides a basis for the pre-release preparation of this endangered species. Full article

Soil salinization affects more than 954 Mha of arable land globally, with approximately 10–20 Mha abandoned annually. Conventional engineering and chemical remediation suffer from high water demand, salt re-accumulation, and secondary pollution risks. While this review draws primarily on the extensive body of research from China—where saline–alkali land covers approximately 99.13 Mha—it also incorporates key international case studies for comparative analysis. The review synthesizes biological and physical technologies for saline–alkali land reclamation, identifies critical challenges, and proposes an integrated remediation framework. A systematic search of Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI databases (2000–2026) yielded 2847 records, of which 41 studies formed the systematic evidence base for the five technology clusters and 41 were retained as background references following the PRISMA framework. Because the search included the Chinese CNKI database and China contains one of the world’s largest saline–alkali land areas, particular emphasis is placed on Chinese case studies, complemented by representative international examples. Data were extracted on technology type, salt removal efficiency, crop yield, and application stage, and synthesized through quantitative cross-technology comparison. Five dominant technical clusters were summarized: (i) gene-based breeding (CRISPR/Cas, MAS) achieving 20–28% yield gains on sodic soils; (ii) halophyte phytoremediation removing 83–91% of soil salts over three growing seasons; (iii) microbial inoculants improving crop salt tolerance by 15–35% under controlled experimental conditions; (iv) agronomic rotations and straw amendment reducing topsoil salinity by 30–50%; and (v) solar-driven interfacial evaporation achieving 91.4% salt removal in a single proof-of-concept field trial at a material cost of approximately USD 0.004 per straw unit. Integrated bio-physical deployment, however, remains at the experimental scale. Combining rapid physical desalination with long-term biological remediation represents a promising research direction that requires systematic field validation before practical deployment. Key knowledge gaps include the long-term edaphic consequences of solar desalination, field-scale reliability of microbial consortia, and absence of regionally validated integrated protocols. We propose a structured roadmap with explicit timelines and policy recommendations to accelerate translation from research to practice. Full article

Ex situ breeding has been identified as a key action for conserving the Endangered Owston’s civet (Chrotogale owstoni). Historically, however, the species has had poor reproductive rates under managed care. In males, it is necessary to understand testicular function to identify factors that affect reproductive success. Here, we conducted long-term faecal testosterone (Tt) monitoring, ultrasonography of the reproductive tract, and sperm assessments in five Owston’s civets held in zoos in the United Kingdom to gain insight into male fertility. Male Tt metabolite concentrations were higher in the winter and spring months, with significant cyclical increases in Tt from December to January, corresponding to the start of the in situ breeding season. No significant reproductive pathologies were identified among males, with the exception of mild irregular margins and hyperechoic foci in the prostate of one male. Semen was collected through urethral catheterization and electroejaculation from three out of four males, with repeat samples collected from one male. Urethral catheterization yielded small but highly concentrated samples, and is a simple, cost-effective, and field-friendly method of sperm collection in the species. We highlight the utility of reproductive monitoring to gain insight into male fertility. Full article

Spotted seals (Phoca largha) exhibit an unusual ecological feature within the population of Peter the Great Bay (PGB). Following the breeding and molting seasons, one group performs long-distance foraging migrations, whereas another group remains in the bay year-round. To examine how space use differs between these two groups, nine satellite tags were deployed on juvenile spotted seals within PGB between 2017 and 2022: four seals were tagged at the rookery located on the Rimsky-Korsakov Archipelago (RKA), whereas the remaining five were tagged at the haul-out on the Verkhovskogo Islands (VI). Spotted seals tagged at RKA undertook long summer migrations toward the northeast of the East Sea/Sea of Japan and subsequently to the south of the Okhotsk Sea. Four spotted seals tagged at VI remained in PGB throughout the warm season. Seals were allocated to two clusters based on median speed during transit travel. The slower-moving group consisted of three spotted seals that remained in PGB; these seals also made fewer transit passages and used smaller areas of water. Full article

Context: Forage bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is widely used in warm-season livestock production systems because of its high productivity and adaptability. However, systematic evaluation of forage-type germplasm remains limited, restricting the identification of superior breeding materials. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate phenotypic variation, identify key yield-related traits, and identify high-performing forage bermudagrass germplasm with contrasting interannual phenotypic responses derived from a ‘Wrangler’ × ‘CD-21’ hybrid population. Methods: Two evaluation populations were established. A single-genotype population of 621 individuals was used to assess plant and canopy height variation, whereas 16 representative entries were evaluated for biomass yield and major agronomic traits during 2024–2025. Frequency distribution, principal component, correlation, and path analyses were conducted. Key results: Stem height and canopy height showed unimodal, approximately normal distributions, indicating continuous phenotypic variation and supporting their characterization as quantitative traits. Biomass yield was positively associated with stem height (r = 0.79), canopy height (r = 0.82), and internode length (r = 0.63). Path analysis indicated that stem height had the largest estimated direct effect (β = 0.45) on biomass yield within the proposed path model. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct phenotypic differences among entries and years, allowing classification into high-performing, environmentally responsive, and leaf-structure efficient groups. Conclusions: Stem height, canopy height, and internode length were identified as key traits associated with forage biomass production. Integrating multivariate and path analyses effectively differentiated forage bermudagrass germplasm based on yield performance and agronomic traits. Implications: The identified germplasm and trait relationships provide useful information for further breeding evaluation and selection decisions and support the development of improved forage bermudagrass cultivars. Full article

Background/Objectives: Goat milk is an important source of bioactive lipids, but information on the fatty acid (FA) profiles of indigenous Greek goat breeds under semi-extensive management remains limited. This study aimed to compare the milk FA composition and lipid health indices of Capra prisca, Skopelos, and crossbred goats in Thessaly, Greece, and to evaluate the effect of organic versus conventional semi-extensive production systems. Methods: Thirty bulk-tank milk samples were collected during spring 2025 from eight herds, comprising Capra prisca (n = 10), Skopelos (n = 10), and crossbred goats (n = 10), with 15 samples from each production system. Physicochemical characteristics were determined using an ultrasonic milk analyzer, while FA composition was analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID). Lipid quality indices, including the Atherogenicity Index (AI) and Thrombogenicity Index (TI), were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA with Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment. Results: Breed significantly affected several individual FAs but not total SFA, MUFA, or UFA concentrations. Capra prisca milk contained higher levels of C4:0, C18:0, and C18:3n6 (p_BH ≤ 0.015), whereas Skopelos milk showed higher C16:0 and lower C18:2n6 isomers (p_BH ≤ 0.046). Total PUFA and ω-6 concentrations were higher in Capra prisca and crossbred milk than in Skopelos milk (p_BH ≤ 0.004). In contrast, total ω-3 concentrations and AI, TI, H/H and HPI did not differ significantly among breeds. The PUFA/SFA ratio differed significantly among breeds (0.06–0.07; p_BH = 0.032). No lipid health indices differed significantly between production systems (p_BH ≥ 0.192). Conclusions: Under semi-extensive management, breed was associated primarily with differences in individual FAs and total ω-6 PUFA concentrations, whereas overall lipid health indices were relatively stable. No significant differences were observed between organic and conventional production systems. These findings provide baseline information on the milk lipid composition of indigenous Greek goat breeds and support further investigation using larger, multi-season datasets. Full article

Seed germination and early survival are important phenotypes for plant breeding and agricultural management, yet they are still commonly assessed through labor-intensive manual stand counting. We present the Maize Seedling Detection Dataset (MSDD), a curated high-resolution red–green–blue (RGB) dataset derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery collected over the 2019–2022 growing seasons. MSDD contains 3152 images and 163,921 annotated objects across three classes—single (92.47%), double (6.07%), and triple (1.45%) clusters of seedlings—and captures substantial variability in growth stage (V2–V12), illumination, soil appearance, wind, and camera viewpoint. Unlike many existing datasets, MSDD explicitly annotates clustered seedlings as double and triple classes, which are important for stand evaluation. We benchmarked YOLOv9, YOLO11, YOLOv12, and Faster-RCNN on MSDD to evaluate detection accuracy, class-specific performance, inference efficiency, and generalization across field conditions. Single-seedling detection was reliable across models, with the best mean average precision at 0.5 IoU (mAP@0.5) reaching 0.916, whereas double- and triple-seedling detection remained challenging because of class imbalance, occlusion, and annotation ambiguity. Detection was most reliable in high-contrast scenes and declined under wind, strong shadows, and bright soil backgrounds. YOLO11 provided the fastest evaluation throughput among the tested models (≈27 frames per second (fps)), while YOLOv9 achieved the strongest single-seedling detection performance. Synthetic augmentation improved class balance but did not improve generalization to naturally occurring clustered seedlings. Frames, labels, and trained models are available at Google Drive and Hugging Face. MSDD provides a public benchmark for maize seedling detection and for evaluating stand counting models under realistic field conditions. Full article

Spring conditions may influence reproduction in the Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus, but their effects are difficult to separate from prey variation. We compared 66 nesting territories in 2024 and 69 in 2025 across natural tree nests, artificial nests mounted in trees, rock nests, and raven-built bridge nests on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia. Occupancy did not differ between years (35/66 vs. 40/69; Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.606). The proportion of occupied territories with a confirmed nesting attempt was higher in 2025 but not statistically significant (18/35 vs. 30/40; p = 0.053). Hatching success was higher in 2025 (7/15 vs. 26/29; p = 0.003), as was apparent nesting success among attempts with known outcomes (3/11 vs. 19/24; p = 0.007). Exact paired comparisons of permanent quadrats detected no interannual difference in ptarmigan pellet occurrence. The reproductive contrast coincided with earlier warming and snowmelt in 2025. Direct observations of eggs laid in snow or ice accumulated within raven-built bridge nests illustrated a nest-scale pathway to early failure. Although this two-year comparison documents an association between spring conditions and breeding performance rather than demonstrating causality, the results show why spring conditions, prey, and functional nest-site availability should be evaluated together in Gyrfalcon monitoring and conservation. Full article

Clonal selection is essential for adapting wine production to specific terroirs. To characterize clonal variation in berry quality, five ‘Merlot’ clones (M343, VCR1, VCR3, VCR13, and VCR101) grown in the Hexi Corridor region of Gansu Province, China, were evaluated during the 2024 growing season. An integrated analysis of morphological, physicochemical, phenolic, metabolomic, and volatile traits was conducted to provide a multidimensional assessment of clone-specific berry quality under the arid conditions of this region. VCR1 exhibited the highest total soluble solids and anthocyanin contents, alongside the largest number of annotated metabolites. VCR101 had the highest titratable acidity and the most diverse flavonoid profile, whereas VCR13 showed the highest total soluble sugar content. VCR3 had the highest tannin and total phenolic contents and also exhibited the greatest number and total semi-quantitative relative abundance of volatile compounds. These findings demonstrate that, under arid conditions, the clones differ in their accumulation patterns of sugars, organic acids, phenolics, and aroma-related metabolites. Exploratory principal component analysis identified VCR3 and VCR1 as promising candidates for production objectives emphasizing different quality attributes. These findings provide practical information for clonal selection, germplasm evaluation, wine grape breeding, and region-specific cultivation under arid environmental conditions. Full article

Reproductive performance and follicular dynamics in captive female ball pythons (Python regius) were investigated to evaluate reproductive efficiency, assess the usefulness of ultrasonography, and examine the relationship between follicular size and ovulation timing. Reproductive parameters included follicular development, ovulation rate, ovulation-to-oviposition interval, egg quality, and hatching success. Monthly ultrasonographic examinations were performed from March to August using a 7.5 MHz linear probe, and the findings were compared with manual palpation. Overall, 58.3% of females ovulated and laid eggs. Ovulation occurred mainly between April and August, whereas egg laying took place from June to November. The median clutch size was six eggs, and incubation lasted approximately 58 days. Ultrasonography effectively monitored follicular development, showing progressive changes in echogenicity and significant increases in follicular diameter throughout the breeding season. A strong negative correlation was found between follicular size and days to ovulation (r = −0.88; p < 0.001). Follicles measuring ≥20 mm showed a median growth rate of 0.38 mm/day. Manual palpation showed lower diagnostic accuracy, with a 25% false-negative rate. This study provides baseline reproductive data that may improve captive breeding management, animal welfare, and future reproductive research, including the development of reproductive biotechnologies in this species. Full article

Heat stress represents one of the most economically and biologically consequential environmental challenges facing modern dairy production, with projected intensification under ongoing climate change. Intraruminal bolus sensors have emerged as a uniquely capable platform for heat stress surveillance in lactating dairy cows: once administered, they provide continuous, lifetime access to reticuloruminal temperature—a reliable indicator of core body thermal status—alongside behavioral parameters, in a configuration entirely shielded from external environmental interference. This review examines the scientific basis and practical capabilities of bolus-based heat stress monitoring and its potential to optimize dairy production systems. We describe the physiological rationale for reticuloruminal temperature as a heat stress indicator, the principal confounding factors including drinking-water effects and diurnal variation, and the evidence base for interpreting temperature signals in the context of breed, parity, milk yield, and the temperature–humidity index. We review controlled studies characterizing the determinants of reticuloruminal temperature across breeds and seasons, and a four-level machine-learning processing architecture for bolus data integration. Individual baseline calibration—rather than fixed population thresholds—is identified as a prerequisite for reliable detection, enabling targeted cooling interventions, improved reproductive management, and enhanced disease surveillance. We further review bolus developments extending sensing to heart-rate monitoring and low-power wide area network communication, and discuss machine-learning methodologies suited to bolus-derived time-series data. Methodological challenges—including drinking-water effects, sensor precision, communication reliability, and the absence of standardized crossbreed validation protocols—are critically appraised, and future research priorities are identified. Full article

Livestock production in Africa occurs across highly heterogeneous agroecological and management environments, ranging from extensive pastoral and mixed crop–livestock systems to intensive enterprises. These systems are characterized by seasonal and spatial variation in feed resources, reliance on locally available forage and agricultural by-products, climatic stress, endemic diseases, and the use of indigenous and locally adapted breeds. Such conditions create distinctive microbiome–host interactions that remain poorly represented in global livestock omics research. Although the gut microbiome is central to nutrient utilization, immune function, metabolic homeostasis, and resilience, the functional mechanisms linking microbial communities, diet, host physiology, and productivity in African livestock remain insufficiently characterized. African systems are particularly underrepresented in integrated microbiome–metabolomics datasets, longitudinal studies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive models, limiting the development of context-specific precision nutrition strategies. This review examines the integration of metabolomics and AI with microbiome and host data to advance precision livestock nutrition within an African and One Health context. It identifies both substantial constraints and strategic opportunities. Limited research infrastructure, high-quality regional datasets, computational capacity, and specialized expertise remain major barriers. Conversely, Africa’s diversity of livestock breeds, feed resources, agroecological conditions, and naturally occurring resilience phenotypes provides an important opportunity to identify microbiome–metabolite signatures associated with feed efficiency, disease resilience, climate adaptation, and product quality. Emerging metabolomics and computational capacity, particularly in South Africa, could support regional research networks and continental data infrastructures. Furthermore, the review proposes an Africa-specific approach that develops locally grounded, scalable, and resource-sensitive precision nutrition strategies, strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, animal health, food safety, climate resilience, sustainable livestock production, and broader One Health objectives. Full article