The genus Chaenomeles belongs to the Rosaceae family (Pomoideae subfamily). The plant has been used for ages to treat cardiovascular conditions, rheumatism, gout, and anaemia. In conditions of considerable increase of the negative impact of the environment on fruit production in fruit species, the inclusion of new material with increased adaptability to environmental factors in the selection process is a significant biological resource for successful priority management in modern selection programs. The adaptability assessment of 10 Chaenomeles genotypes in the conditions of the Central Balkan Mountain by different methods and parameters shows on the one hand that a clear favorite among them could not be determined, and on the other hand the different quantitative traits received different adaptability assessments. It was found that the genotype factor had the strongest impact on the phenotypic manifestation of the key quantitative traits. The environment as a factor is of secondary significance. The most adaptable to environmental conditions with high total adaptability for diameter and fruit height were G3 (7.91, 10.28) and G11 (6.56 and 11.22), whereas G2 (35.30, 42.75, 5.85, 1.64) and G3 (46.30, 53.92, 13.23, 3.96) were for shrub height, shrub diameter, fruit weight/shrub and fruit yield. According to the last two traits, G2 and G3 were also characterized by high values of genetic flexibility. Determination of homeostasis and stress resistance in terms of fruit weight/shrub and fruit yield gave high assessments to specimens, such as G1', G2', G5' and G6'. They are distinguished by high selective value as follows: G2 (156.81, 208.44, 7.02) and G 3 (133.29, 197.19, 4.49) in height and diameter of the shrub and fruit weight/shrub, G2 (33.77) and G6' (24.30) in fruit diameter, G6' (32.95) and G1' (32.37) in fruit height, G6' (8.42) in fruit yield. The fruit yield values and the parameters, such as general adaptability and selective value, determine genotypes G6', G3 and G2 as suitable for growing in the conditions of the Central Balkan Mountain, as well as for their use as initial parental forms in selection programs.
This study investigated the main and interactive effects of breed, diet, and sex on carcass characteristics of two Nigerian indigenous goat breeds; West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto under controlled feeding conditions. Thirty-six weaner goats (3-4 months old; n = 18 per breed; balanced for sex) were assigned to a 2×3×2 factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design. Experimental diets comprised 100% Digitaria smutsii, 50% Digitaria smutsii +50% groundnut haulms, and 50% Digitaria smutsii + 50% cowpea husk. Carcasses evaluated include fasted live weight, bled weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage, primal cuts, and visceral organ weights. The data were analyzed using Statistix Analytical Software version 8.1. Significant means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. Results showed that breed significantly influenced fasted live weight, forelimb weight, neck weight, feet weight, and kidney weight (P<0.05), with Red Sokoto goats exhibiting higher values than West African Dwarf goats. Diet had limited influence on carcass traits, with a significant effect observed only on empty stomach weight. Sex significantly affected fasted live weight, bled weight, head weight, and full stomach weight, with females showing higher values compared to males. Significant interaction effects were observed for selected carcass parameters, particularly in breed × diet and breed × sex combinations. The findings demonstrate that breed plays a dominant role in determining carcass yield among Nigerian indigenous goats, while dietary supplementation and sex contribute to variations in specific carcass components. The Red Sokoto breed is recommended for improved carcass yield under similar management conditions.
This study evaluated the effects of late blight, early blight, and powdery scab on potato physiology, quality, yield, and integrated disease management effectiveness. Under control conditions, LA was highest in Colomba (91.8 cm2) and lowest in Captiva (79.5 cm2). Among disease-infected variants, Captiva showed the greatest reduction in LA (late blight - 29.2 cm2), whereas Colomba maintained the highest LA (powdery scab - 44.3 cm2). RWC during the mass flowering phase ranged from 93.7% (Amiri-600) to 96.4% (Colomba) under control conditions. Under disease conditions, RWC was highest in Sevinj (76.8%) and lowest in Captiva (49.1%). Sevinj also recorded the highest dry biomass under control conditions at both the budding (69.3 g) and mass flowering (94.1 g) stages. The integrated control scheme applied to Colomba was effective, reducing late blight incidence to 9.6% (87.4% biological efficiency), early blight to 6.5% (87.7%), and powdery scab to 0% (100%). Productivity reached 36.1 t/ha, with profitability of 411.5%. Under the standard treatment, disease incidence was higher and productivity reached 25.4 t/ha. Under control conditions, moisture content varied from 72.2% to 79.9%, while starch content ranged from 10.8% to 16.4% and protein content from 1.3% to 1.6%. Colomba recorded the highest yield under control conditions (836.7 g/bush), and maintained the highest yield under disease conditions (720.0-796.7 g/bush). Differences in yield among varieties and treatments were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Games-Howell post hoc test in IBM SPSS Statistics.
The main cause of premature death in people with epilepsy (pwE) is sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), that could be misconcepted as sudden cardiac death (SCD). Several factors contribute to an increased likelihood of SUDEP, with the most significant risks associated with the seizure type, epilepsy severity, cumulative number of seizures, gender, associated symptoms, and therapy. The direct role of genetic risk factors for SUDEP is linked to the mechanisms of death, such as cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory dysfunction, and autonomic dysregulation. The highest genetic risk is associated with pathogenic variants in genes linked to arrhythmias, such as long QT and Brugada syndrome, as well as epilepsy, like Dravet syndrome. Some variants identified by employing arrhythmogenic and epilepsy gene panels, although predicted to be deleterious or absent in the general population, did not meet the criteria for the pathogenicity and were therefore classified as VUS. Additionally, some identified variants were classified as benign or likely benign. However, SUDEP risk could also result from a polygenic effect. Considering that SUDEP is the most frequent cause of premature death in pwE, genetic testing should become an essential part of epilepsy care, particularly for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy or unexplained cardiac symptoms.
Two years experiment was conducted to study the effect of drought stress on gas exchange parameters of bread wheat genotypes. Gas exchange parameters measured by using Li-6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System. The rate of photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci), and transpiration rate (Tr) were studied in penultimate and flag leaves from booting to grains milky ripe stage of bread wheat genotypes. Gas exchange parameters in penultimate leaf are maintained high during the booting and heading stages, while gas exchange parameters in flag leaf are high during the heading and anthesis stages. If compare the share of flag leaf and penultimate leaf in photosynthesis, it is about 62% and 38% at heading and anthesis stages, respectively. The share of flag leaf in photosynthesis increases under drought stress conditions. An average reduction of Pn, gs and Tr in penultimate and flag leaves due to water stress were 28% and 19.5%, 31% and 20%, 22% and 14% in 2021-2022, 37% and 32%, 49% and 33%, 38% and 20% in 2022-2023 growing seasons, respectively. Mesophyll conductance (gm) decreases, water use efficiency (WUE) first increases and then decreases under drought stress conditions. Correlations between Pn and gm is stronger (r=0.991** and r=0.982**) than correlations between Pn and gs (r=0.604** and r=0.464**), indicating predominance role of mesophyll conductance in regulating photosynthesis rate.
