Pollen morphology, viability and in vitro germination are vital parameters for taxonomic classification, hybridization, artificial pollination and improving seed set in crop breeding. In the present study, we investigated the pollen morphological characteristics of four marigold genotypes using scanning electron microscopy, assessed pollen viability using Alexander’s stain and acetocarmine and evaluated in vitro germination under a light microscope using media supplemented with varying concentrations of sucrose and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Pollen grains were medium-sized (25–50 µm) and exhibited suboblate to oblate-spheroidal shapes, with a polar/equatorial ratio ranging from 0.84 to 0.88. All genotypes displayed tricolporate pollen grains with three colpi and endoaperture, and their aperture lengths were between 3.88 and 4.90 µm. Significant genotypic differences were observed in pollen viability, with the highest values recorded in IIHRMY 1-4 (96.66 ± 0.34%) using acetocarmine and in IIHRMY 2-1 (96.42 ± 0.51%) using Alexander’s stain. The optimal germination medium contained 15% sucrose and 15% PEG, with IIHRMY 1-4 exhibiting the highest pollen germination rate (54.09 ± 1.15%), followed by IIHRMY 2-1 (47.05 ± 1.27%). These findings offer valuable insights for marigold breeding programmes, particularly in selecting genotypes for efficient cross-pollination and hybrid development.

A Palaeolithic diet is an efficacious dietary approach for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. Causal mechanisms are body weight loss and glucometabolic effects from differences in included food groups, macronutrient composition, fibre content, and glycaemic load. The aim was to test the hypothesis that characteristic food group differences between a Palaeolithic and a diabetes diet would cause an effect on glycaemic control when weight was kept stable and diets were matched for macronutrient composition, fibre content and glycaemic load. Adult participants with type 2 diabetes and increased waist circumference were instructed to follow two diets, with or without the food groups cereal grain, dairy products, and legumes, during two periods of 4 weeks separated by a 6-week washout period in a random-order crossover design. The Palaeolithic diet included fruit, vegetables, tubers, fish, shellfish, lean meat, nuts, eggs and olive oil, and excluded cereal grains, dairy products and legumes. The diabetes diet included fruit, vegetables, fish, shellfish, lean meat, nuts, eggs, olive oil, and substantial amounts of whole grains, low-fat dairy products and legumes. Dietary energy content was adjusted throughout the study to maintain stable body weight. There were no differences between diets on HbA1c or fructosamine among the 14 participants. Body weight was kept stable, and the two diets were successfully matched for macronutrient composition and glycaemic load but not for fibre content. Characteristic food group differences and the accompanying differences in fibre content between a Palaeolithic and a diabetes diet do not cause an effect on glycaemic control.

Anaesthesia methods play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of the animal during experimental studies. This study investigates the impact of two anaesthesia methods, CO₂ and cold treatment, on an insect antennal response to synthetic alarm pheromone compounds. Adult worker hornets were anesthetised, and their antennae excised and tested using an electroantennography set-up with controlled stimulation of alarm pheromone components. Results showed that CO₂-anesthetised hornets exhibited robust antennal responses, while cold-anesthetised individuals displayed none. This result suggests that freezing may impair the functionality of olfactory receptors. In contrast, CO₂ anaesthesia preserves receptor integrity, offering reliable and interpretable results. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate anaesthesia techniques to avoid artefacts in insect sensory physiology research and underscores the ecological relevance of studying Vespa velutina nigrithorax alarm signalling.

The study of the ground surface temperature (GST) regimes from 2007 to 2021 at different stations on Livingston and Deception islands, South Shetland Islands, in the north-western sector of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), shows that soils undergo similar cooling in early winter before a shallow snow mantle covers the sites. All monitoring sites along the study period go through seasonal phases of cooling, attenuation, insulation, fusion and zero curtain during winter, although thermal equilibrium is only reached at some stations located at lower elevations on Livingston Island. GST evolution at these stations and the duration of snow periods show oscillations, with turning points in the years 2014 and 2015, when temperatures were at their minimum and snow durations were at their maximum, in agreement with the cooling period occurring in the north-western AP in the early twenty-first century. The thermal regime is mainly controlled by snow cover and its onset and offset dates based only on descriptive patterns, not on statistical testing, more than by altitudinal, topographical, geological or geomorphological factors.

A set of 710 accessions of global durum wheat panel was obtained from the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dryland Areas (ICARDA) and evaluated for variability in 32 agro-morphological traits at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, India, during 2021–22 and 2022–23. The accessions were grouped based on the type of breeding material and geographical origin, and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) was calculated for each trait as well as each group. The H′ values ranged from 0.02 (grain crease) to 1.27 (wax of ear) with an overall mean of 0.63, when considering the entire set as a single group. Landraces exhibited higher variability (H′ = 0.64) as compared to released cultivars and evolutionary pre-breeding population lines (H′ = 0.55). Furthermore, accessions originating from West Asia exhibited the highest variability (H′ = 0.63). Traits such as coleoptile colour, plant growth habit, auricle colour and pubescence, flag leaf attitude, ear shape, presence or absence of awns, awns colour and attitude, glumes shape and pubescence, beak length, peduncle attitude, grain phenol colour, grain germ width and brush hair length were found suitable for distinguishing the present durum accessions due to their higher frequency distribution and Shannon–Wiener diversity index values. A core set of 13 accessions was developed using the programme Power Core. These accessions represent the overall variability of the entire set and can therefore serve as a potential source of new genes/alleles for the genetic enhancement of durum wheat. This durum panel may also serve as a valuable reference collection for global researchers in the characterization of durum wheat accessions.

Genebanks worldwide play a crucial role in the long-term conservation and accessibility of wide diversity of plant genetic resources (PGR). These resources are essential for addressing current and future challenges related to climate change and biodiversity loss, thereby contributing to agricultural production and sustainability. Enhancing the efficiency of genebanks requires implementing a quality management system that ensures data transparency, as well as the documentation and standardization of processes. This study proposes a set of 10 mandatory and 38 optional genebank metrics specifically designed for collections of orthodox seeds. These metrics define a set of basic parameters that are easy to calculate and collectively serve as a valuable tool for improving genebank management, enhancing performance, fostering transparency and promoting collaborations among institutions. Fourteen institutions engaged in the long-term conservation of PGR were consulted in the development of the proposed metrics. This work lays the foundation for the establishment of a widely accepted set of genebank metrics within the global genebank community. Further research and iterative development are necessary to formulate comprehensive metrics applicable to other ex situ conservation methods (such as cryopreservation, in vitro and field conservation) as well as in situ conservation strategies (including genetic reserves and on-farm conservation).

Catches of yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in traps baited with proteinaceous baits or a heptyl butyrate–based synthetic chemical lure in British Columbia, Canada, and Rio Negro, Argentina, differed among species. In British Columbia, western yellowjackets, Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), responded preferentially to traps baited with rotisserie chicken (Galliformes: Phasianidae) over canned chicken or canned sardines (Clupeiformes, Clupeoidei), but the synthetic chemical lure was more attractive than rotisserie chicken. Counterintuitively, when rotisserie chicken and the synthetic chemical lure were combined, catches were reduced. In British Columbia, more German yellowjackets, V. germanica Fabricius, were caught in traps baited with rotisserie chicken than with canned chicken, and in Argentina, both German and common, V. vulgaris Linnaeus, yellowjackets preferred sardine-flavoured cat (Carnivora: Felidae) food over the synthetic chemical lure. In British Columbia, northern yellowjackets, V. alascensis (Packard), showed no preference among three types of chicken or between rotisserie chicken and canned sardines. When rotisserie chicken and the synthetic chemical lure were combined, catches of both northern and German yellowjackets were no higher than when traps were baited with rotisserie chicken alone. Resolution of the differential roles of red meat-, poultry-, and fish-based baits, as well as improvement of synthetic chemical lures, would be facilitated by identification of bioactive semiochemicals.

The Indo-Gangetic plains of India have been experiencing erratic weather and unpredictable rainfall patterns for the past 5 years, the average annual rainfall being 1200–1500 mm in the cropping season. Millets are generally grown in this region during the rainy season but environmental fluctuations result in heavy yield penalties in proso millet. Proso millet is one of the preferred crops of this region; however, it is very prone to yield loss due to flooding. Stability studies were conducted to investigate growing proso millet as a catch crop during summer (February–May) as it is a short-duration crop and can fit well in the existing cropping system. This study aims to determine the effect of genotype, environment and their interaction on grain yield and to identify more stable proso millet genotypes suitable for cultivation in the summer season. In total, 63 genotypes were evaluated for various agro-morphological traits for two summer and one kharif seasons. Stability analysis using a GGE biplot revealed that the proso millet performed better in the summer season than in the kharif season. This study has identified summer season as the most ideal environment for multilocation testing of wining genotypes RAU PM- 17, RAU PM-22, RAU PM-35, RAU PM-54, BR-7, TNAU-202 and TNAU-164 which has high stability for the summer season and can be used in breeding programmes as donor parents for traits like grain yield, 1000 grain weight, panicle length and number of productive tillers.

This Research Communication describes a pilot study to validate a rumination sensor for pre-weaned dairy calves. There is increasing interest in precision livestock farming (PLF) tools to capture behaviours and health parameters in farm animals. However, much of the research has focused on devices suitable for adult animals, and few devices have been validated for young animals. The aim of our pilot study was to validate the rumination estimates from Nedap rumination sensors® (NRS) when worn by dairy calves less than 2 months of age. Eight Norwegian Red dairy calves were raised in a cow-directed cow-calf-contact system such that cows could visit their calves through a smartgate. At 21 days of age, an NRS was secured around the neck of each calf, to record the amount of time spent ruminating/24 h. Cameras were placed above the calf areas to record the calves for the entirety of the study. When the calves were 28 and 58 d old, four trained observers recorded rumination behaviour 24 h/d from the video recordings. The video data and the NRS data recorded over 24 h on the same days were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Spearman’s rank correlation and concordance correlation. NRS estimates were moderately correlated with calf rumination behaviour as measured from video observations but underestimated the duration of time spent ruminating by approximately 76%. Perhaps the calves’ rumination movements were too subtle for the NRS to detect, or the NRS needed a different placement on the calf’s small neck to record the behaviour accurately. Although automatic recordings from PLF tools may save observation time, our results indicate that the NRS may not yet accurately detect rumination behaviour in pre-weaned dairy calves.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between selected parameters of nutritional status and the occurrence of frailty syndrome in older adults by analysing clinical and socio-demographic factors. Methods: The study included 150 community-dwelling participants aged > 60 years who were qualified in the medical centre. The following research tools were used: activity of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, survey of health, aging, and retirement in Europe, geriatric depression scale, mini mental state examination (MMSE), anthropometric measurements, mini nutritional assessment (MNA), body composition measurements, and biochemical blood tests. Results: The study included 150 people over 60 years of age (mean age 76.2/SD 4.9), including 104 women and 46 men. Participants in the frail group were significantly older (KW-H: P < 0.001) and had a higher level of depression (P = 0.008), whereas on the MMSE scale, they achieved a lower result (P < 0.001) than those in the non-frail and pre-frail groups. People in the frail group had significantly lower levels of nutritional status (P < 0.001) according to the MNA scale, assessment of basic activities in everyday life (P = 0.005), complex activities of everyday life (P < 0.001), hand grip strength of the right hand (P = 0.038) and left hand (P = 0.028), and energy drop (P < 0.001). They were also characterised by difficulties walking (P < 0.001), less frequent physical activity (P < 0.001), loss of appetite (P < 0.001), and weight loss more often (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Advanced age, a greater number of diseases, worse functional and mental performance, and differences in nutritional status and body composition were observed in people with frailty syndrome.

Cocoa production is highly variable and shows low yields globally, but the drivers of this variation are poorly understood. Climate has been proposed as one of the main drivers, but within-tree competition for resources and disease may also influence the number of cocoa pods produced. In addition, the relative importance of climate and within-tree competition for resources remains unknown. We evaluated the effects of climate, within-tree competition, and disease on cocoa pod dynamics in Ghana and assessed the relative importance of climate and within-tree competition. We monitored cocoa pod dynamics during three years for 1472 trees at 96 farms across Ghana. Counts of pods of different sizes were carried out every six weeks. Climate effects were evaluated based on monthly precipitation and temperature, including lag effects. Effects of within-tree resource competition on pod production were tested by assessing the effect of the number of larger-sized pods on a cocoa tree on the number of pods in smaller size classes using generalised linear mixed-effects models accounting for zero inflation. We consistently found that climate was a stronger driver of pod production than within-tree competition. Across size classes, the climatic conditions experienced at the time of fruit set had the strongest effect on the number of pods. For most pod size classes, both higher temperature and, unexpectedly, higher precipitation negatively influenced pod number. A larger number of large and mature pods negatively affected the number of cherelles (smallest pods), indicating within-tree competition among pods. This suggests that cocoa trees prioritise sustaining pods in larger sizes over producing new ones, for instance, through mechanisms like cherelle wilt. Our results suggest that higher precipitation increased the incidence of fungal diseases and indirectly reduced the number of pods produced. Thus, a combination of lagged climate effects and within-tree competition and disease drives the dynamics and development of pods on cocoa trees. Our results show that lagged climate effects should be considered for adaptation measures to climatic conditions (and climate change) and for determining the best timing for disease management interventions. These results help in understanding cocoa production dynamics and are important for yield and disease modelling.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, affecting 11·8 million people worldwide in 2021. Due to the globally expanding and ageing population, as well as growing industrialisation, this number is likely to increase. Given the absence of disease-modifying pharmacological therapies, this review aimed to examine the effect of dietary interventions on PD progression, motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, specifically those affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and severity. To do so, this review synthesised the current evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on dietary patterns, individual foods and beverages, and nutritional supplements including nutrients, bioactive compounds, and biotics.

Results from the included RCTs failed to demonstrate conclusive evidence for the use of a dietary intervention as a therapy for improving PD progression, symptoms and severity. However, this is likely a reflection of the current scarcity of RCTs in the literature, rather than an outright demonstration of the ineffectiveness of such dietary approaches. In contrast, several trials have demonstrated a beneficial effect of biotic supplementation in managing GI symptoms, particularly constipation syndrome, which may be a promising avenue for improving GI-related issues that affect up to 80 % of PD patients. In conclusion, further RCTs are required to decipher the role that diet may play in mitigating PD progression and severity and improving overall patient care by reducing both motor and non-motor symptoms.

Xandarellida is a clade of artiopodan euarthropods known exclusively from the early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) Chengjiang biota of South China, apart from the possible inclusion of Phytophilaspis Ivantsov, 1999 from the early Cambrian Sinsk Biota of Siberia. A rare euarthropod taxon represented by four specimens from the Emu Bay Shale (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, represents the first record of Xandarellida from East Gondwana. A new monotypic genus, Austroxandarella n. gen., is based on A. poikar n. sp., being most readily distinguished by its elongate pygidium. Close affinities to Xandarella Hou et al., 1991 are suggested by a thorax of 10 tergites, with progressive elongation of the posterior three tergites relative to the seven anterior tergites of subequal length—this elongation representing the dorsoventral decoupling of biramous appendage pairs and tergites shared by all xandarellids. Discovery of an Australian xandarellid adds more support for biogeographic affinities between East Gondwana and South China in the early Cambrian.

UUID: https://zoobank.org/8a0f56ec-6d12-49ee-8ffd-a8dca97df99f

To assess the association between dietary consumption patterns of antioxidant and pro-oxidant nutrients with prostate cancer (PC) and its histological differentiation, we analysed data from 394 histologically confirmed incident cases of PC and 793 age-matched population controls (±5 years), residents of Mexico City. Cases were classified by Gleason score into well-differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated categories. Dietary nutrient intake over the 3 years preceding diagnosis for cases and before the interview for controls was estimated using a semi-quantitative FFQ. Using energy-adjusted residuals and a k-means approach, we identified three consumption patterns: (1) pro-oxidant, (2) moderate antioxidants/low pro-oxidants and (3) high antioxidants and pro-oxidants. Associations were evaluated using independent unconditional logistic regression models; stratified models were analysed based on smoking status. Although proportions differed, the main food contributors to the moderate antioxidants/low pro-oxidants and high antioxidants and pro-oxidants patterns included green vegetables, maize tortillas, seeds and fruits. Compared with the pro-oxidant pattern, the moderate antioxidants/low pro-oxidants (OR: 0·71; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·97) and high antioxidants and pro-oxidants (OR: 0·70; 95 % CI 0·50, 0·99) patterns were associated with lower odds of having PC. These associations were mainly observed with well-differentiated PC and among ever-smokers. Diets with a higher antioxidant content were associated with a reduced likelihood of PC. Further validation of these findings through prospective studies is needed.