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Response of Maize Varieties (Zea mays L.) to the Application of Classic and Stabilized Nitrogen Fertilizers—Nitrogen as a Predictor of Generative Yield
The study presents the results of a 3-year field trial aimed at assessing the yield and efficiency indicators of nitrogen application in the cultivation of three maize cultivars differing in agronomic and genetic profile. The advantages of the UltraGrain stabilo formulation (NBPT and NPPT) over ammonium nitrate and urea are apparent if a maize cultivar capable of efficient nutrient uptake in the pre-flowering period and effective utilization during the grain filling stage is selected. Therefore, the rational fertilization of maize with urea-based nitrogen fertilizer with a urease inhibitor requires the simultaneous selection of cultivars that are physiologically profiled for efficient nitrogen utilization from this form of fertilizer (“stay-green” cultivar). The interaction of a selective cultivar with a high genetically targeted potential for nitrogen uptake from soil, combined with a targeted selection of nitrogen fertilizer, is important not only in terms of production, but also environmental and economic purposes.
Exploring Beneficial Properties of Haskap Berry Leaf Compounds for Gut Health Enhancement
This study investigates the potential of formulated systems utilising haskap berry leaf extracts and dextran as carriers, to modulate both antioxidant and enzymatic inhibitory activities and their impact on the growth of specific bacterial strains. The analysis of antioxidant capacity, assessed through ABTS, CUPRAC, DPPH, and FRAP assays, revealed varying but consistently high levels across extracts, with Extract 3 (loganic acid: 2.974 mg/g, chlorogenic acid: 1.125 mg/g, caffeic acid: 0.083 mg/g, rutin: 1.137 mg/g, and quercetin: 1.501 mg/g) exhibiting the highest values (ABTS: 0.2447 mg/mL, CUPRAC: 0.3121 mg/mL, DPPH: 0.21001 mg/mL, and FRAP: 0.3411 mg/mL). Subsequent enzymatic inhibition assays demonstrated a notable inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase (1.4915 mg/mL, expressed as acarbose equivalent), hyaluronidase (0.2982 mg/mL, expressed as quercetin equivalent), and lipase (5.8715 µg/mL, expressed as orlistat equivalent). Further system development involved integration with dextran, showcasing their preserved bioactive compound content and emphasising their stability and potential bioactivity. Evaluation of the dextran systems’ impact on bacterial growth revealed a significant proliferation of beneficial strains, particularly the Bifidobacterium and lactobacilli genus (Bifidobacterium longum: 9.54 × 107 to 1.57 × 1010 CFU/mL and Ligilactobacillus salivarius: 1.36 × 109 to 1.62 × 1010 CFU/mL), suggesting their potential to modulate gut microbiota. These findings offer a foundation for exploring the therapeutic applications of haskap berry-based dextran systems in managing conditions like diabetes, emphasising the interconnected roles of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and dextran formulations in promoting overall metabolic health.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of NBPT and NPPT Application as a Urease Carrier in Fertilization of Maize (Zea mays L.) for Ensiling
The study presents the results of a 3-year field trial aimed at assessing the yield and quality of raw material for ensiling in the cultivation of three maize varieties differing in their agronomic and genetic profile, conditioned by the selection of nitrogen fertilizer. Maize cultivar ES Metronom showed a significant advantage over other cultivars when fertilized with UltraGrain stabile, or alternatively Super N-46. The application of nitrogen-stabilized fertilizers or urea + N-Lock significantly increased the yield of maize green fodder for ensiling. The “stay-green” maize cultivars were characterized by a higher content of non-structural carbohydrates, including starch and water-soluble sugars, and a lower content of structural carbohydrates, compared to the conventional cultivar, which increased their suitability for ensiling. The negative effect of maize fertilization with ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate + N-Lock on the chemical composition of green fodder was demonstrated by a reduced starch content and increased structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and NDF. In turn, the positive effect of maize fertilization with urea and urea + N-Lock on the chemical composition of maize fodder was shown by increased starch content and reduced structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and its NDF and ADF fractions. The analysis of the number and weight of leaves may indicate a highly effective utilization of nitrogen (“stay-green” maize hybrids), leading to the faster formation of leaves with a larger assimilation surface, which is the basis for the efficient absorption of solar radiation. The results obtained clearly show that only the correct choice of maize variety for silage cultivation, combined with nitrogen fertilizer guaranteeing access to N during the growing season, can guarantee a high yield for ensiling.
Preliminary Studies on the Effect of Soil Conditioner (AMP) Application on the Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Soil under Winter Oilseed Rape Cultivation
This study analyzed the effect of the application of a soil conditioner under the trade name of the Agro Mineral Product (AMP) in the winter rapeseed cultivation on the bacterial and fungal abundance, ion concentrations, and electrolytic conductivity of the soil solution. It was demonstrated that the AMP influenced changes in the total abundance of the culturable fractions of the soil bacteria and fungi at each of the tested time points. A stimulatory effect of the preparation on the growth of the soil bacteria and an inhibitory effect on the development of the fungi was observed, particularly at doses of 4 and 8 t·ha−1. A dose of 12 t·ha−1 proved to be the least effective in relation to the development of the soil microbiome. Increasing the AMP fertilization dose above 4 t·ha−1 caused changes in the chemistry of the soil solution (pH, EC, HCO3−, K+, and PO4-P). It is worth noting that this primarily resulted in decreases in the amounts of mobile forms of potassium (from 40.4 mg·dm−3 in the control to 26.7 mg·dm−3 at the 8 t·ha−1 dose) and orthophosphate as phosphorus (from −6.00 mg·dm−3 in the control to 3.75 mg·dm−3 at the 8 t·ha−1 dose) in the soil solution, which resulted in a reduction in the yield of the winter rapeseed (from 4.76 t·ha−1 in the control to 4.61 t·ha−1 at the 8 t·ha−1 and 4.43 t·ha−1 at the 12 t·ha−1 AMP dose).
Sodium Azide as a Chemical Mutagen in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Patterns of the Genetic and Epigenetic Effects with iPBS and CRED-iPBS Techniques
Wheat, which is scientifically known as Triticum aestivum L., is a very nutritious grain that serves as a key component of the human diet. The use of mutation breeding as a tool for crop improvement is a reasonably rapid procedure, and it generates a variety that may be used in selective breeding programs as well as functional gene investigations. The present experiment was used to evaluate the potential application of a conventional chemical mutagenesis technique via sodium azide (NaN3) for the germination and seedling growth stage in wheat. Experiments with NaN3 mutagenesis were conducted using four different treatment periods (0, 1, 2, and 3 h) and five different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mM). The genomic instability and cytosine methylation of wheat using its seeds were investigated after they were treated. In order to evaluate the genomic instability and cytosine methylation in wheat that had been treated, interprimer binding site (iPBS) markers were used. The mutagenic effects of NaN3 treatments had considerable polymorphism on a variety of impacts on the cytosine methylation and genomic instability of wheat plants. The results of the experiment showed considerable changes in the iPBS profiles produced by the administration of the same treatments at different dosages and at different times. Coupled restriction enzyme digestion interprimer binding site (CRED-iPBS) assays identified changes in gDNA cytosine methylation. The highest polymorphism value was obtained during 1 h + 2 mM NaN3, while the lowest (20.7%) was obtained during 1 h + 1.5 mM NaN3. Results showed that treatments with NaN3 had an effect on the level of cytosine methylation and the stability of the genomic template in wheat plants in the germination stage. Additionally, an integrated method can be used to for mutation-assisted breeding using a molecular marker system in wheat followed by the selection of desired mutants.
Preliminary Research on the Efficacy of Selected Herbicides Approved for Use in Sustainable Agriculture Using Spring Cereals as an Example
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected herbicides permitted for use in sustainable agriculture, specifically targeting spring rye and spring barley in a no-till farming system. The application of chemical herbicide protection in the cultivation of spring rye and barley significantly increased the yield and improved the quality parameters of the harvested grain, with the most pronounced effect observed in spring barley. The effectiveness of the herbicide treatment in reducing the number of weeds was 99.4% for spring rye and 82.39% for spring barley. The study demonstrated that the application of chemical herbicide protection had a positive impact on the quality parameters of spring barley grain. Both the thousand-grain weight and protein content were significantly higher in the grain collected from protected plots compared to the control plots. By utilizing herbicides permitted for use in integrated production (IP) in a sustainable manner, we protect the environment while minimizing the impact on crop yields and maintaining the quality of the harvested produce.
Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) Mutagen Toxicity-Induced DNA Damage, Cytosine Methylation Alteration, and iPBS-Retrotransposon Polymorphisms in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
The use of mutagens in plant breeding is used to create new germplasm, increase agricultural yield, quality, and resistance to diseases and pests. Mutagens are physical or chemical factors that can alter the DNA or RNA structure of an organism, causing mutations above the expected level. One of the most common and potent chemical mutagens is EMS (ethyl-methane sulfonate), which produces point mutations in plants, but to a lesser degree can also cause the loss or deletion of a chromosomal region. This study used inter-primer binding site (iPBS) and coupled restriction enzyme digestion inter-primer binding site (CRED-iPBS) technique analysis to determine the effect of EMS mutagens on methylation rates in wheat genotypes at seedling growth stage. Treatments with five different EMS concentrations (0%; control, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) at four different times (0; control, 3, 6, and 9 h) were used. Inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers were employed to assess genomic instability and cytosine methylation in treated wheat. In seeds treated with EMS at different concentrations and times, the disappearance of regular bands and the formation of new bands due to the effects of the EMS mutagen revealed that genetic diversity exists. The CRED-iPBS analysis revealed that the 3 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the highest MspI polymorphism value (19.60%), while the 9 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the lowest value (10.90%). The mutagenic effects of EMS treatments had considerable polymorphism on a variety of impacts on the cytosine methylation and genomic instability of wheat. According to the current research, EMS mutagenesis may be a practical method for accelerating breeding programs to produce enough genetic diversity in wheat populations. Mutation-assisted breeding and the subsequent selection of desirable mutants using genetic markers may also be carried out in wheat utilizing an integrated strategy.