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Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major staple crop with growing importance in arid regions, including Oman, where identifying genotypes with stable agronomic performance and desirable processing properties is important for strengthening local food systems. Four bread wheat genotypes (SQU-4, SQU-32, SQU-39, and SQU-45) were evaluated across two agro-ecologically distinct arid locations, Muscat (MCT) and Jimah, to assess genotype performance under naturally varying environmental conditions. Significant genotype × environment (G×E) interactions were observed for key agronomic and quality traits, indicating strong environmental modulation of genotype expression. SQU-39 (MCT) showed the highest grain yield and harvest index, while SQU-32 (Jimah) produced the most productive tillers. SQU-4 showed consistently lower yield potential across sites. Variation in 1000-grain weight and grain number per spike further reflected environmental influence. Physicochemical and functional analyses revealed notable functional differentiation among genotypes. SQU-39 (Jimah) exhibited the highest water absorption (85.6
The Timor green pigeon Treron psittaceus, endemic to Timor, Rote, and adjacent satellite islands (eastern Indonesia and Timor-Leste), is declining because of severe hunting pressure and forest conversion. During 2002-2025, we conducted > 1,400 field days of surveys throughout the species' range. Prior to 2000, most records were from Indonesian West Timor. Since 2000, most records (93%) and nearly all individuals (98%) have been observed in Timor-Leste, primarily within Lautem District. The scarcity of recent records throughout much of the species' range, including Camplong (last record 1991), Bipolo forest (last record 1999), elsewhere in West Timor (last record 2005) and Rote (four records of 1-2 birds during 2004-2013), suggests that only a small, declining population persists. The population in Indonesia is possibly nearly extinct (and probably functionally so), and that in Timor-Leste is predicted to be lower than current estimates suggest. We conservatively estimate the global population to be 100-500 individuals distributed across eight sites, and consider it plausible that the population size lies towards the lower end of this estimate. A population of > 50 birds is likely restricted to a single site, Nino Konis Santana National Park, underscoring the species' precarious status. We advocate for a reassessment as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Effective action plans are required in both Indonesia and Timor-Leste. In Lautem, community-based conservation efforts will be crucial to reduce hunting pressure. Further surveys should focus on Mount Timau (West Timor), and Lautem, Manatuto and Manufahi Districts (Timor-Leste).
Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a One Health problem driven by the intricate interactions across human, animal, and environmental interfaces that enable microbial exchange and movement of mobile genetic elements encoding resistance and virulence. This study investigated the genomic epidemiology of ESBL and non-ESBL Escherichia coli across One Health interfaces in Oman. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study analyzed 295 non-duplicate Escherichia coli isolates derived from 104 clinical, 173 animal [diseased (123) and healthy (50)], 14 sewage and four water sources. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed phenotypically, and a representative subset of 50 ESBL and non-ESBL Escherichia coli from the three interfaces underwent whole genome sequencing to determine MLST, phylogroups, resistance genes, virulence determinants and plasmid replicons. Results: ESBL prevalence was highest in human isolates (73%), followed by sewage (28.6%) and animals (16.3% diseased; 8% healthy). blaCTX-M-15 predominated in humans, whereas blaCTX-M-55 dominated in animals and sewage, suggesting ecological partitioning with partial overlap. Quinolone resistance was lowest in the animal interface. Sewage isolates harbored the most complex resistome, including rmtB and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes. MLST analysis revealed high diversity in human isolates, including globally recognized ExPEC lineages (ST10, ST38, ST73, ST127, ST131), while ST224 dominated in animals with evidence of possible spillover to humans. ST167 was confined to sewage, consistent with environmental maintenance of high-risk clones. Phylogroup structuring showed predominance of A, B2 and D among human isolates and A, B1, and E among animal and sewage isolates. Virulence profiling demonstrated broader virulome diversity in humans, but shared core determinants (fimH, sitA, traT) across all domains. IncFIB(AP001918) was the dominant plasmid replicon, particularly among ESBL isolates, underscoring its role in horizontal gene dissemination. Alarmingly, mutation in pmrB (V161G) was identified in a healthy animal isolate, pointing to a need for greater colistin restriction in animal husbandry. Conclusions: This study highlights plasmid-mediated resistance and shared virulence determinants linking reservoirs; although AMR profile was quite distinct across the three interfaces, human isolates demonstrated greater resistance than animal isolates, suggesting healthcare-driven AMR in Oman. Continued integrated genomic surveillance is essential to monitor gene flow and inform coordinated antimicrobial stewardship strategies.
Dairy farming is important for food and nutrition security and livelihood protection in most tropical countries. However, productivity of dairy cows is affected by many factors and is usually low on smallholder farms in tropical environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calf sex, cattle breed and parity on milk yield and lactation length and to determine the relationship between early lactation milk yield and total lactation milk yield of a small-scale dairy herd at the Centeno Livestock Station (CLS), Trinidad and Tobago. Productivity data for the period 2014 to 2019 were retrieved from the record system at CLS. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS (version 27) with calf sex, breed, parity and breed × parity interaction as fixed effects. The relationship between early lactation milk yield and total milk yield was established by regression analysis. Calf sex, breed and the interaction of breed × parity did not affect milk yield and the length of lactation (p > 0.05). However, early lactation milk yield of cows in fourth to sixth parities (849 ± 66 kg) and those in more than sixth parity (1005 ± 116 kg) were not significantly different, but both groups produced higher milk yield in early lactation compared to cows in the first to third parity group (673 ± 41 kg). Similarly, daily milk yield (5.6 ± 0.33 kg) was lowest in cows in the first to third parities. Early lactation milk yield accounted for 73
Abstract The cultivation of low-yielding cassava cultivars continues to limit production potential. This study evaluated eight cassava cultivars - one landrace and seven improved - under rainfed and irrigated conditions in eastern and central Jamaica to identify superior performers based on sprouting, root components, bulk yield, and starch content. Trials were established at Plantain Garden River (PGR) and Spring Plain; however, the latter failed twice due to excessive rainfall causing waterlogging and subsequent drought, so analyses were conducted only at PGR. Sprouting varied significantly among cultivars but not between water treatments. Under irrigation, sprouting exceeded 50% by 15 days after planting (DAP) for most cultivars, whereas under rainfed conditions only the two top performers achieved this level. Maximum sprouting occurred at 20 DAP (irrigated) and 27 DAP (rainfed). Root traits including root length, diameter, number, and fresh mass differed significantly among cultivars, while starch and dry matter contents were similar. Bra 383 produced the highest yield under irrigation (50.3 t ha -1 ) with a starch yield of 8.75 t ha -1 . Under rainfed conditions, CM 849, Bra 383, and CM 2766-5 recorded the highest yields of 39.8, 31.8, and 31.5 t ha -1 , and starch yields of 6.10, 6.93, and 7.05 t ha -1 , respectively. These cultivars demonstrate strong yield potential for Jamaican agro ecologies.
