Environmental DNA metabarcoding offers a unique perspective on circum-Antarctic fish community dynamics.

One-class modeling for the authentication of a geographically certified Brazilian coffee based on atomic-molecular data fusion.

ABSTRACT Sunflower, an important oil-yielding crop of tremendous economic importance worldwide, is sensitive to salt stress like many other agriculturally important crops. Different varieties of sunflower exhibit notable variations in their sensitivity/tolerance to salt-stress. Sensing of salt stress in sunflower is evident as early as at the seedling stage. Oil bodies, the major storehouse of fatty acids, are encased in a phospholipid monolayer containing intrinsic and extrinsic proteins. Any changes expected in the fatty acid composition of oil bodies as a response to salt stress are first perceived through alterations in the expression of oil body membrane proteins (OBMPs). The present investigations provide an in-depth proteomic analysis of OBMPs in the seedling cotyledons of three sunflower varieties exhibiting variations in their salt sensitivity. The exhaustive data from the LC‒MS/MS analysis of OBMPs highlight the differences in the levels of expression of a number of intrinsic and transiently expressed protein constituents of oil body membranes. The present proteomic analysis, thus, provides an insight into proteins capable of sensing salt stress as an early signaling response in sunflower seedlings.

River regulations and ill-considered steps in fisheries and aquaculture management have led to substantial changes in the original Czech ichthyofauna. These changes are particularly noticeable in species that are not economically important such as crucian carp ( Carassius carassius ), sunbleak ( Leucaspius delineatus ), or weatherfish ( Misgurnus fossilis ). Compared to original fish species with economic importance, there is no organized support for the repatriation of these small fish species. Thus, the goal of this large-scale project is to secure the remaining populations of these species, with crucian carp serving as a flagship species. The citizen science approach was used to identify remaining populations of crucian carp and their populations were subjected to genetic testing. A collaboration between authors and Forests of the Czech Republic was set to secure 30 pool-like ponds spanning across Czech Republic covering each region, aiming to cover potential differences in genetic variability among remaining populations. This approach provides critical infrastructure without presence of invasive fish species, thus enabling native wetland fish repatriation and natural reproduction. These ponds will serve as centres for the reintroduction of these fish species regionally, thus minimizing risk of loosing important genetic diversity during repopulation measures for these invasive species. Our goal is to obtain a permanent source of genetically verified fish, and the surplus of their populations will be locally spread in cooperation with fishermen and citizen scientists within individual regions. This contribution demonstrates how citizens can be embedded in effective conservation of small fish species with no economic importance.

Cloudberry, Rubus chamaemorus L. (Rosaceae), is traditionally harvested as food in northern Scandinavia. It is rich in vitamins C, A and E, and antioxidants. This berry has gained much cultural, economic, nutritional, social and symbolic importance in Sweden during the past century. Cloudberries are an important part of culinary heritage. This qualitative diachronic study analyses historical data available in archives and published collections, fragmentary notes in literature and relevant modern data, using a historical ethnobiological approach. Cloudberry is the third most important wild berry species gathered for human consumption in Sweden. The berries were earlier preserved in wooden barrels during the long circumpolar winter; now they are usually frozen or made into jam and other processed products and sold throughout the country. Difficult access to growth areas, weather fluctuations, timing of harvest and lack of gatherers make harvesting challenging. Commercial harvesting has gone from being a sideline income source for the northern peasants to engaging imported seasonal workers mainly from Southeast Asia. This historical overview reveals that local berry picking is decreasing in recent decades. Fluctuations in local weather and lack of foragers influence the availability of cloudberry on the market. In 2025, there were neither enough workers nor berries, and the prices of cloudberry products have risen steeply. The cloudberry, which has enjoyed several decades of popularity both in haute cuisine and among ordinary consumers, will perhaps return to a local wild food gathered only for household needs.

Population genomics using short-read resequencing captures single-nucleotide polymorphisms and small insertions and deletions but struggles with structural variants, leading to a loss of heritability in genome-wide association studies. In recent years, long-read sequencing has improved pangenome construction for diverse eukaryotic species, including humans, crops, and other organisms of ecological and economic importance, addressing this issue to some extent. Sufficient-coverage high-fidelity data for population genomics is often prohibitively expensive, limiting its use in large-scale populations and broader eukaryotic species and creating an urgent need for robust low-coverage assemblies. However, current assemblers underperform in such conditions. To address this, HiFiCCL is proposed, the first assembly framework specifically designed for low-coverage high-fidelity reads, using a reference-guided, chromosome-by-chromosome assembly approach. This study demonstrates that HiFiCCL improves low-coverage assembly performance of existing assemblers and outperforms the state-of-the-art assemblers on human and plant datasets. Tested on 45 human datasets (∼5× coverage), HiFiCCL combined with hifiasm reduces the length of misassembled contigs relative to hifiasm by an average of 21.19% and up to 38.58%. These improved assemblies excel in detecting large germline structural variants, minimize inter-chromosome mis-scaffolding, and improve the detection of specific germline and tumor somatic structural variants based on the pangenome graph.

This study aims to explore teachers’ perceptions and experiences in implementing economics learning for students with Special Needs (ABK) at the Insan Madani Special Needs School (SLB) in Metro City. This study used a qualitative approach with a phenomenological type. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation of teachers who teach economics and life skills. The results of the study indicate that teachers have a positive perception of the importance of economics learning in fostering the independence of students with special needs. Economics material is considered a practical provision for practicing life skills, such as recognizing money, conducting simple transactions, and saving. Teachers apply contextual and practical learning strategies by utilizing concrete media and simple technology. Despite facing obstacles such as limited facilities, differences in student abilities, and a lack of specific curriculum guidelines, teachers continue to innovate through collaboration with parents and colleagues. Overall, economics learning at the SLB plays an important role in shaping the independence, creativity, and readiness of students with special needs to participate in social and economic life.

Biotechnological tools have emerged as key alternatives for the protection, improvement, and sustainable use of forest species. This paper analyzes the main biotechnological strategies applied to the European chestnut, a species of significant ecological, economic, and cultural importance in many temperate regions. However, in recent decades, it has been seriously threatened by various factors, including devastating diseases such as chestnut blight and ink disease, as well as the impacts of climate change. First, classical and assisted breeding techniques are discussed, including controlled hybridization and the use of molecular markers to accelerate the selection of genotypes of interest. In the field of molecular biotechnology, studies related to the identification of key genes, the development of genetic markers (e.g., SSRs and SNPs), and the omics characterization of chestnut are reviewed. The use of micropropagation techniques for the clonal multiplication of elite individuals is also included. Furthermore, advances in genetic modifications are explored, highlighting the introduction of resistance genes through transgenic and cisgenic approaches, as well as emerging technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9. In the future, the integration of classical breeding with advanced genomics will enable the precise selection and accelerated development of European chestnut varieties, combining traditional trait improvement with genomic tools such as marker-assisted selection, genomic prediction, and gene editing to enhance disease resistance and climate resilience.

The economic importance of pollinators is widely recognized, with bees playing a key role in crop pollination. However, agricultural intensification has reduced natural habitats, negatively affecting pollinator populations. Understanding local bee communities is essential, particularly in crops near natural areas. Colored pan traps (blue, yellow, and white) are a common method for sampling bees, but few studies have evaluated how different trap colors attract different bee taxa. Moreover, most studies have not directly related these spectral properties to differences in bee captures. We assessed the influence of pan trap color on bee sampling in organic tomato crops in Ibirité, Brazil, adjacent to a Natural State Park. Pan traps of three colors were randomly distributed and checked every 24h from June to August. Trapped bees were identified, and the spectral reflectance of each trap color and tomato flowers was measured using a spectrophotometer. The hexagon model for trichromatic vision was used to estimate how bees perceive these colors. We sampled 185 bees from 30 species and 20 genera. Bee abundance and richness varied significantly among trap colors. Species richness was highest in yellow traps, while abundance was greatest in blue traps. White traps captured two exclusive species not found in other colors. Halictinae bees were predominantly attracted to yellow traps, whereas Apinae bees preferred blue and yellow traps. Our findings indicate that trap color significantly affects bee sampling efficiency, and using a combination of three colors increases species richness and abundance, enhancing the effectiveness of bee monitoring.

Ladakh holds the distinction of being the leading apricot producer in India, producing approximately 15,789 tonnes of fresh apricots annually and are known for their distinct qualities like the white seed stone phenotype and high TSS (Total Soluble Solids) content. The apricot fruit holds significant commercial value in Ladakh, as it serves as a means for locals to augment their income through selling. However, the presence of infestations and fruit rot poses a significant obstacle to their endeavours. Despite their economic importance, very little is known about apricot infestation in this region and there have been no reported instances of tephritid fruit fly presence in Ladakh. The study was carried out during 2020 and 2021, at ten distinct locations in the Kargil and Leh districts of the Union Territory Ladakh. In this study Bactrocera dorsalis (oriental fruit fly) and Bactrocera zonata (peach fruit fly) were recorded for the first time infesting some commercially important indigenous apricot species in this cold-arid ecosystem by fruit sampling directly from the trees and also freshly fallen fruits. During 2020 total percentage incidence in six apricot varieties with B. dorsalis and B. zonata together were lowest in Charrap 11.66 ± 2.73 to highest in Demoma 20.83 ± 3.0 and percentage infestation ranging from 3.04 ± 0.90 flies/kg in Charrap to 9.13 ± 1.20 flies/kg in Toqpopa. In the year 2021 total percentage incidence ranged from 15.83 ± 2.38 in Raktsey Karpo to 21.66 ± 4.01 in Toqpopa and percentage infestation ranging from 3.66 ± 0.90 flies/kg in Charrap to 11.04 ± 1.53 flies/kg in Toqpopa. Understanding the presence and potential impact of tephritid fruit flies in Ladakh is crucial for agricultural practices and crop protection strategies in the region. This knowledge will aid in designing effective management strategies to safeguard the fruit crops and serves as a foundation for further investigations into the behaviour, and impact of tephritid fruit flies in Ladakh.

Background: Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino is an important medicinal plant within the Cucurbitaceae family. Despite its economic and pharmacological importance, genomic resources for this species remain limited. Methods: We sequenced and assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of G. pentaphyllum. Comparative analyses were conducted to investigate the genomic structure, gene content, RNA editing events, and intracellular gene transfer (IGT) from chloroplasts. Additionally, phylogenomic relationships, synteny, and the selective pressure on mitochondrial genes were evaluated against related species within Cucurbitaceae. Results: The ~324 kb mitogenome has a multipartite architecture of six circular-mapping molecules. It encodes the typical complement of mitochondrial protein-coding genes, tRNAs, and rRNAs found in angiosperms. Extensive C-to-U RNA editing, including events that generate functional start and stop codons, points to substantial post-transcriptional regulation. We also detected multiple chloroplast-derived fragments, including several intact genes, indicating active intracellular gene transfer. Phylogenomic analyses of conserved mitochondrial genes place G. pentaphyllum firmly within Cucurbitaceae, clustering it with Thladiantha cordifolia and Momordica charantia, whereas synteny comparisons reveal pronounced structural rearrangements with respect to these close relatives. While most genes evolve under strong purifying selection, rps1, sdh3, and sdh4 show signatures of accelerated evolution; furthermore, haplotype networks based on conserved loci further corroborate the close affinity with T. cordifolia. Conclusions: This study provides the first high-resolution mitogenome resource for G. pentaphyllum and candidate mitochondrial markers for species authentication, evolutionary studies, and breeding in Gynostemma and related cucurbits.

Wild edible plants (WEPs) play a crucial role in sustaining local food systems, cultural heritage, and livelihoods in northeastern Thailand. This study documents the diversity, cultural significance, medicinal use, and economic value of WEPs among the Tai Yoy community in Akat Amnuai District, Sakon Nakhon Province. Field surveys, interviews, and market observations recorded 78 species belonging to 42 families, with 52 species represent new records for the province. Fruits and leaves were the most commonly used parts, while multifunctional species such as Curcuma angustifolia Roxb., Phyllanthus androgynus (L.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr., and Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz were highly valued for both dietary and medicinal purposes. Quantitative analyses, including the Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI), fidelity level (FL), and Jaccard’s similarity index (JI), revealed strong cultural consensus on key species and regional patterns shaped by ecological and sociocultural factors. Market surveys identified 25 species contributing to household income, highlighting the economic importance of WEPs and the potential risks of overharvesting. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management, including cultivation of high-demand species, to reduce pressure on wild populations while supporting food security and traditional knowledge. These findings provide a comprehensive baseline for future ethnobotanical research, conservation planning, and the sustainable use of WEPs in northeastern Thailand.

Context Rutilus kutum stocks in the Caspian Sea have experienced long-term declines owing to intensified fishing and environmental stressors. Despite its ecological and economic importance, no integrative assessment of population dynamics has been conducted over an extended period. Aims To evaluate the status and productivity of R. kutum stocks over three decades, by using biological indicators and environmental drivers, and to inform adaptive fisheries management strategies. Methods Biological data were analysed to estimate growth parameters, mortality rates and exploitation levels. Novel application of generalised additive models was applied to assess recruitment relationships with seawater temperature, sea level, marine heatwaves and hatchery releases. Key results Exploitation rates frequently exceeded 0.5, indicating unsustainable fishing pressure. The length at 50% capture declined below the maturity threshold, increasing juvenile vulnerability. By 2021, abundance had dropped to less than one-third of 2006 levels. Generalised additive models explained 72.8% of recruitment variation, showing strong non-linear associations with environmental variables and hatchery output. Stock condition was rated ‘good’ in only 1 year. Conclusions Climate variability significantly affects stock productivity, and overfishing continues to undermine population resilience. Implications These findings support the need for ecosystem-based, adaptive management approaches that integrate environmental variability and regulate exploitation to conserve R. kutum stocks.

The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin with high environmental and economic importance where, inevitably, natural and anthropic disasters will take place. Therefore it is relevant to assess and regionalize its main biological, environmental and socioeconomic characteristics, for both management and theoretical purposes. In order to characterize the variation of this system, we divided the Gulf of Mexico’s exclusive economic zone of Mexico into 2682, 256.2 km 2 hexagonal cells grouped within four zones: oceanic, coastal, insular, and inland. In each cell, we assessed 32 biological, ecosystem, and socioeconomic variables. We made a principal component analysis (PCA) for each zone using the standardized variables to detect cell clusters. We found heterogeneity wtihin the four zones, each having significantly different regions. The coastal zone was the most complex because its regions combine environmental and socioeconomic attributes. Using network analysis with PCA results we identified groups of synergistic and antagonistic variables in each zone. In general, we observed that the synergistic variables are proportionally more connected than the antagonistic ones. However, in the oceanic zone, the connectivity of the antagonistic variables was slightly higher than in the other three zones. This study offers a new integrative view of a complex region with high biological and socioeconomic relevance in a global context. These findings can be useful both for applied and academic aims. The link between PCA and network analysis offers a novel approach for identifying the relative importance of regions and finding not obvious connections between variables. This approach can be used in any socioecological system, whether marine or terrestrial, large or small.

Brazil stands out as a global leader in rice production, with an annual output exceeding 11 million tons, ranking third among the grains cultivated in the country. Tocantins is the third-largest Brazilian rice producer, with cultivation concentrated primarily in the tropical floodplain region, particularly in the municipality of Lagoa da Confusão. Given the economic importance of rice farming for this region, understanding the interannual dynamics of rice production is crucial. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the interannual dynamics of rice production in Lagoa da Confusão, Tocantins, between 2000 and 2023. Data from the IBGE Municipal Agricultural Survey (2000-2023) were used to analyze six variables related to rice production in the municipality. Principal component analysis (PCA) was also used to understand the interrelationships between the variables over time. The results showed that the area planted with rice in Lagoa da Confusão increased significantly, with production ranging from 53,820 tons in 2006 to 366,846 tons in 2017. Maximum productivity reached 7,323 kg/ha in 2017. The value of production increased from R$ 10.9 million in 2000 to R$ 729.1 million in 2023. The PCA revealed that production is strongly associated with the expansion of the cultivated area, while productivity had less influence on the volume produced.

The increasing demand for lithium and the limited availability of high-grade resources have accelerated interest in lithium-bearing clays as a promising alternative, despite their relatively lower lithium content. Lithium extraction from such clay minerals typically requires thermal treatment or acid leaching to disrupt the clay crystal lattice and enhance lithium solubility. The enrichment tailings from the Kırka Boron Processing Plant in Türkiye consist predominantly of dolomite-rich clay minerals and contain approximately 900–1200 ppm Li. Considering the substantial quantities of these tailings currently stored on-site, recovering lithium and converting these materials into a valuable resource would be of significant economic importance. However, due to their mineralogical composition, conventional acid leaching of these tailings demands relatively high sulfuric acid consumption (1.5–2.0 M H2SO4). This leads to excessively low solution pH and the generation of highly acidic waste streams, while also promoting the co-dissolution of iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) ions at pH levels below 2, which negatively affects lithium recovery and downstream processing. In this study, mechanical activation was applied to the tailings prior to acid leaching. As a result, the acid requirement to achieve lithium extraction efficiencies of 90% and above was successfully reduced from 1.5 M to 1.0 M H2SO4. Moreover, solution pH was maintained near neutral (~7), and the undesirable dissolution of Fe and Al ions was effectively suppressed and kept under control.

The European Union classifies germanium as a Critical Raw Material (CRM), which has limited supply and high economic importance. Given the availability of promising deposits and man-made sources of germanium, Ukraine has every chance to strengthen its role in global supply chain of this raw material. However, this requires verification of reserves and resources that meet international standards. Given that the main suppliers of germanium are concentrated in China, the EU is actively seeking to diversify its sources, particularly through projects in Canada, Africa and partner countries such as Ukraine.In today’s global competition for critical mineral resources, germanium (Ge) plays a strategic role in developing of semiconductor, defense, and energy technologies.For Ukraine, which has proven resources of germanium, the main challenge is not only the presence of this element in the subsoil, but also the verification of reserves in accordance with international standards. This verification is key element in the formation of an effective national policy of critical raw materials.The Plan for Ukraine was presented in March 2024. It outlines a medium-term vision for socioeconomic growth and tools for restoring, reconstructing, and modernizing the state. The plan accelerates Ukraine’s path to EU membership.Chapter 13 of this plan outlines the development plan (including reform directions) for the critical materials management sector. It envisages the reform of the national policy and regulatory framework in the field of critical materials and raw materials, in particular the development and adoption of a National Geological Strategy.In addition, it is planned to conduct a verification and reassessment of critical raw material reserves using international classification systems, in particular the UNFC, which, among other things, led to the implementation of research work on the topic: “Verification of critical/strategic mineral reserves in Ukraine”.Ukraine has quite large total resources of germanium in the form of an associated component in the coal of the Donbas and Lviv-Volyn basins, as well as in Precambrian iron ores and ores of polymetallic and gold-polymetallic deposits.The State Balance of Mineral Resources of Ukraine records 208 (69 under development) objects with germanium reserves in hard coal of the Donetsk and Lviv-Volyn basins. The list includes operating mines and mines under construction, and reserve areas for the construction and reconstruction of mines. It also includes areas with promising prospects for exploration, vacant areas near operating mines and closed mines. In deposits where state expertise was conducted, germanium was classified as an associated useful component of uncertain industrial significance (class code 332).The world uses the CRIRSCO international standards for compatible schemes (JORC, PERC, CIM, SAMREC). These standards work in harmony with the UN system – UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources), which is implemented in many countries, including Ukraine.In the EU, the USA, and China, verification of stocks of related elements is the basis of critical materials strategies.Ukraine has a significant, but not yet fully verified, potential for germanium, an element that meets the status of a critical raw material for the EU.Verification of stocks, in accordance with international standards and the terms of the Ukraine Facility Plan, is a key mechanism for: attracting investment; developing local processing and industrial production; integrating Ukraine into European critical materials chains; economic sustainability, technological modernization, and geopolitical influence.This is not only a geological task, but also a strategic vector of the country’s economic development during the post-war period and within the framework of European integration processes.

Ethiopia’s diverse agroecological zones support a wide range of wild edible plants (WEPs) that grow naturally without cultivation. As part of the Eastern Afromontane and Horn of Africa biodiversity hotspots, the country hosts rich plant diversity with significant nutritional and ecological value. These important resources are poorly documented, and limited efforts exist to domesticate them or raise awareness about their mineral composition and edible plant parts among local communities. This review synthesises findings from ethnobotanical studies to examine WEP diversity, commonly consumed plant parts and their mineral composition, based on extensive literature from journal articles, manuals and reports. A total of 179 WEP species belonging to 49 families were identified. Moraceae was the most abundant family (16 species), followed by Fabaceae and Asteraceae (10 species each). Solanaceae, Rhamnaceae and Amaranthaceae contributed eight species each, while Anacardiaceae and Tiliaceae had seven species. These plants are consumed in multiple forms, including raw ripe fruits (48.6%), medicinal preparations (26.3%), fodder (17.3%), cooked leaves (3.4%), dried fruits, chewing gums, raw leaves and nectar. Growth habit analysis showed that trees accounted for the highest proportion (40.8%), followed by shrubs (27.4%) and herbs (23.5%). Mineral analysis of ten species revealed notable nutrient levels: Ziziphus spina-christi contained the highest calcium (1304.6 mg/kg), Cordia monoica had the highest phosphorus (76,461.7 mg/kg), and Urtica simensis had the highest iron (316 mg/g). Macronutrient assessments of five species showed that Dioscorea praehensilis had the highest carbohydrate content (83.8%), whereas Talinum madagascariense had the highest energy value. Solanum nigrum and Cleome gynandra exhibited superior protein and fibre levels. Despite their nutritional and economic importance, WEPs face increasing threats from agricultural expansion, deforestation, overgrazing, charcoal production and recurrent drought. Enhancing conservation efforts, raising community awareness and promoting sustainable use and domestication of priority species are crucial for improving food security, nutrition and biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia.

Precision nano-fertilization as a strategy to enhance growth and sweetener accumulation in stevia under arid sandy soil conditions

Fenugreek is an important seed spice crop widely grown all over the world. It is one of the most important spice crops in Ethiopia. The country has suitable environmental conditions for fenugreek production and the crop has extraordinary economic importance in the country. Despite its suitable agro-ecology for the production of fenugreek in Ethiopia, its production and productivity is low compared to its potential. This is due to lack of improved optional varieties and production packages. Pre-extension demonstration and evaluation of improved fenugreek technologies was conducted at Goro district of Bale zone. The district was selected purposively based the potential of the crop. Two kebeles were selected from the district based on the potential of the crop and accessibility. Improved fenugreek variety Arganne was demonstrated and compared against the standard check Burka. Accordingly, an improved variety Arganne have relatively higher yield (19.17 qt/ha) than the standard check (17.42 qt/ha. Moreover, Arganne variety was selected by farmers due to its Arganne variety was selected by participant farmers due to its high yield, bigger seed size, higher number of seed/pod, early maturing, better tolerant to disease, better tolerant to insects and good plant height. Thus, Arganne variety was recommended for pre-scaling up.