Rice production in the floodplain ecosystems of Bangladesh is increasingly constrained by water scarcity and declining soil fertility, necessitating sustainable and efficient management practices. This study evaluated the effects of seed priming and organic amendments on the growth, yield, water use efficiency, and soil health of dry direct-seeded winter rice (BRRI dhan88). A two-year field experiment (2023 to 2024) was conducted using 3 priming techniques: hydro-priming, halo-priming (CaCl₂), and osmo-priming (PEG 6000 w/v) in combination with organic amendments, particularly vermicompost, alongside recommended fertilizer doses. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The total number of plots was 48. Growth traits, yield components, irrigation use, and post-harvest soil properties were measured, and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess relationships among traits. Seed priming significantly improved plant growth and yield compared to unprimed seeds. Hydro-priming produced the highest grain yield (5.73 tons ha-1), exceeding the control (4.08 tons ha-1). Organic amendments, especially vermicompost, further enhanced performance, with recommended fertilizer doses (RDF)+vermicompost yielding 5.60 tons ha-1. Their combined application improved grain yield, reaching up to 6.67 tons ha-1. Organic amendments also reduced irrigation water use by up to 27%, indicating improved water use efficiency. Soil properties improved, with higher organic matter, nutrient content, and balanced pH. Overall, integrating seed priming with organic amendments, particularly vermicompost, offers a practical and sustainable approach to enhance rice productivity, conserve water, and improve soil fertility under water-limited conditions.
Sustainable potato production requires eco-compatible biological inputs capable of improving soil fertility, crop productivity, and tuber nutritional quality while reducing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals. This study evaluated Azolla pinnata extract as a natural biostimulant for potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Spunta) under field conditions. Dried A. pinnata biomass was first characterized for its biochemical composition, and aqueous extracts were applied at 25, 50, 75, and 100% and compared with the untreated control and a commercial seaweed-based biostimulant. Soil physicochemical properties, potato growth and yield traits, and tuber chemical composition were assessed after cultivation. A. pinnata biomass showed a protein-rich and phytochemically active profile, containing 28.36±2.44% protein, 6.23±0.60 mg g-1 DM chlorophyll, 2.80±0.55 mg g-1 DM carotenoids, 4.00±0.81 mg GAE g-1 DM total polyphenols, 3.20±0.73 mg QE g-1 DM flavonoids, and 1.20±0.18 mg CE g-1 DM tannins. Field application improved soil chemical indicators, particularly pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and organic matter. The strongest agronomic response was obtained with the 100% extract, which increased tuber weight to 974.0±10.82 g plant-1 and estimated yield to 46.36±3.55 tons ha-1, compared with 615.0±29.34 g plant-1 and 32.60±1.20 tons ha-1 in the untreated control. Tuber composition was also enhanced at 100%, with higher total carbohydrates, protein, starch, total sugars, ash, and dietary fiber. These findings indicate that A. pinnata extract can enhance soil fertility, potato productivity, and tuber compositional quality, supporting its use as a sustainable input for quality-oriented potato production.
The development of instant porridge based on locally available raw materials is important for promoting food diversification and enhancing the utilization of sustainable agricultural resources. However, comprehensive information on the physicochemical, functional, and sensory characteristics of instant porridge formulated from modified cassava flour (MOCAF), red bean flour, and pumpkin flour in different proportions remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of different proportions of MOCAF, red bean flour, and pumpkin flour on the physicochemical, functional, and sensory characteristics of instant porridge. Five formulations (70:20:10, 65:20:15, 60:20:20, 55:20:25, and 50:20:30, MOCAF:red bean flour:pumpkin flour, w/w) were prepared and evaluated for their physical properties, chemical composition, functional properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory characteristics. Increasing the proportion of pumpkin flour from 10 to 30% while reducing MOCAF from 70 to 50% significantly decreased yield, lightness, water solubility index, water absorption index, swelling power, and carbohydrate content, whereas protein content, water activity, and bulk density increased significantly. Carbohydrate content decreased from 75.20 to 73.15%, while protein content increased from 11.81 to 13.72%. Among the formulations evaluated, the 55:20:25 formulation achieved the highest overall sensory preference score. These findings demonstrate that optimizing the proportions of MOCAF, red bean flour, and pumpkin flour enhances the nutritional quality and consumer acceptability of instant porridge, highlighting its potential as a locally sourced product to support sustainable food diversification.
Monitoring essential and toxic elements in milk and dairy products is important for protecting consumer health. Regular monitoring of these elements helps ensure the quality, safety, and nutritional value of dairy products. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of 8 elements (Ca, Mg, K, Zn, Se, Ni, Sr, and As) in sheep milk, sheep cheese, and traditional Slovak sheep products, including žinčica and bryndza. A total of 48 samples were collected from an ecologically managed sheep farm located in an undisturbed area of Slovakia. The highest concentrations were recorded for essential elements, particularly in solid sheep milk products such as sheep cheese and bryndza. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in element concentrations were observed among the analyzed products. Dietary intake assessment was based on 2023 Slovak dairy consumption data and on recommended consumption levels for selected dairy products. Risk assessment of toxic element intake revealed elevated exposure levels in relation to toxicological limits. Ni intake reached 50.77% of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) in bryndza and 40.00% in fresh sheep cheese. For As, the preliminary tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) reached 48.00% for žinčica and 30.60% for bryndza. These findings suggest that long-term excessive consumption of certain sheep products may negatively affect human health. Although sheep milk products are consumed less frequently than cow milk products, their high nutritional value and the detected levels of toxic elements highlight the need for continuous monitoring of element transfer into the food chain and its potential effects on human health.
Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV), a bipartite begomovirus transmitted by Bemisia tabaci, is a major viral pathogen affecting chili pepper production in Indonesia. Although complete genome sequences are available for several pepper yellow leaf curl viruses, comparative evolutionary analyses across all recognized species remain limited. This study generated complete genome sequences for 3 PepYLCIV isolates using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and analyzed them together with publicly available genomes representing 4 recognized pepper yellow leaf curl virus species. The 3 isolates displayed the typical bipartite genome organization of PepYLCIV. Comparative genome analyses detected 14 recombination events in DNA-A and 9 in DNA-B, indicating that recombination has contributed substantially to genome diversification. Phylogenetic reconstruction and pairwise nucleotide identity analyses consistently placed the newly sequenced isolates within the PepYLCIV clade and resolved the 4 virus species as distinct evolutionary groups. Among the species examined, PepYLCIV showed the highest level of nucleotide diversity. Selection analyses indicated stronger purifying selection acting on DNA-A (ω = 0.049–0.111) than on DNA-B (ω = 0.768–0.839), consistent with the greater sequence variability of DNA-B. Population genetic analyses also revealed marked genetic differentiation among species (βFST = 0.765–0.991 for DNA-A and 0.751 for DNA-B). These findings expand the genomic resources available for PepYLCIV, provide new insights into the evolution of pepper yellow leaf curl viruses, and support future epidemiological surveillance, molecular detection, and resistance breeding in chili pepper.
