Prickly Ash Research Articles

Discrimination of Chinese prickly ash origin place using electronic nose system and feature extraction with support vector boosting machine

Discrimination of Chinese prickly ash origin place using electronic nose system and feature extraction with support vector boosting machine

Mala flavor preference increases risk of excessive gestational weight gain mediated by high-carbohydrate dietary patterns in Chongqing, China: an ambispective cohort study.

Taste preference drives food selection, acceptance, or rejection and influences nutritional status and body mass index. Nevertheless, there are few reports concerning pregnant women. Mala flavor, characterized by its "numbing" and "spicy" sensations, is a distinctive taste of Sichuan cuisine, created by the combination of Chinese prickly ash and chili peppers. We conducted a cohort study in Chongqing, China to analyze the impact of Mala flavor, on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). The study included 495 pregnant women aged 20-45 years, without chronic diseases, who conceived naturally and had single pregnancies from May 2021 to November 2022. Demographic information and pregnancy outcomes were collected during the second trimester and post-delivery, respectively. Food intake and taste preferences, including fatty, salty, and Mala flavors, were assessed during the third trimester. Latent Profile Analysis revealed three dietary patterns: "high-carbohydrate diet" (HCD), "low-carbohydrate diet" (LND), and "moderate nutrient diet" (MND). Multiple logistic regression indicated that pregnant women preferring Mala flavor were more likely to follow an HCD and had a higher risk of excessive GWG. Moreover, those adhering to an HCD were at an increased risk of excessive GWG. Mediation analysis showed that the preference for Mala flavor influenced excessive GWG through HCDs, with a significant indirect effect and an insignificant direct effect. Our study suggests that a preference for Mala flavor is positively associated with excessive GWG, mediated by HCD patterns. However, these findings should be approached with caution due to the exploratory nature of the study.

The Application of Industrial Engineering in the Chinese Prickly Ash Industry

The Application of Industrial Engineering in the Chinese Prickly Ash Industry

Spectroscopy Analysis of Prickly Ash Samples From Different Regions: A Food Fingerprint Study

Spectroscopy Analysis of Prickly Ash Samples From Different Regions: A Food Fingerprint Study

EVALUATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF ZANTHOXYLUM RHETSA (ROXB). DC. BARK.

The plant Zanthoxylum rhetsa (ROXB). DC. (Indian prickly ash) is commonly available in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka State, widely distributed in Western Ghats and subtropical areas, and is used in many traditional practices; it is known for its folklore use in the varicose vein, the condition of Varicose vein known as Siraja Granthi in Ayurveda. To explore the folklore utility of the plant Z. rhetsa therapeutically, the plant's bark is subjected to evaluate its Physicochemical, Phytochemical, and Antioxidant properties. These procedures are carried out using API guidelines (Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India). The drug was obtained from its natural habitat and authentified. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, and proteins. The DPPH Assay has shown dependent antioxidant activity.

Brassinolide Promotes the Growth of Zanthixylum schinifolium by Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency and Antioxidant Capacity

As a plant growth regulator, brassinolide (BL) is essential for enhancing plant growth and development. Studies on how BL affects the growth and development of prickly ash (Zanthixylum schinifolium) are scarce, nevertheless. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate how Z. schinifolium growth and development were affected by the application of BL (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mg/L). According to the results, the 0.4 mg/L BL treatment had improved the plant height and leaf length after 30 days of treatment, which was displayed in an increase of 8.75% and 20.48%, respectively, when compared to the control (distilled water). On day 30, Z. schinifolium’s basal diameter, leaf breadth, compound leaf length, and leaf weight all rose noticeably after treatment with 0.4 mg/L BL. Furthermore, the 0.4 mg/L BL treatment raised the levels of osmotic substances (proline, soluble sugar, and soluble protein) and photosynthesis parameters (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, PSII, Fv/Fm, NPQ, and qP) in Z. schinifolium compared to the control. It also decreased the levels of malonaldehyde, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, CAT, and APX), and increased the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants (ASA and GSH). Accordingly, these findings implied that BL might be crucial in fostering Z. schinifolium growth and development by boosting antioxidant capacity, decreasing malonaldehyde concentration, preserving water balance, and improving photosynthesis.

The haplotypes distribution, reproductive mode differentiation and related symbiotic bacteria analysis in Aphis gossypii from diverse hosts in Yangtze river basin in China

The cotton-melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) is a globally distributed species with highly differentiated populations and various life cycle types. Based on the haplotype classification of the A. gossypii, this study aimed to quantify the effects of latitude, host specialization on transformation of the sexual morph of the A. gossypii. Additionally, symbiotic bacteria potentially involved in the formation of sexual morph were investigated. The results showed that I):The most frequent haplotypes on the 29 host plants were Hap1 (60.42%), Hap17 (13.29%), and Hap4 (7.55%). Haplotypes in cotton fields of 10 geographic populations were predominantly Hap1 and Hap4. II):A. gossypii from the Northwestern inland, the Yellow River basin, and the Yangtze River basin cotton regions all were induced sexual morphs, except for Hap1 from low latitudes. There are also differences in the efficiency of sex aphid induction between haplotypes under the same region/latitude(Jiangsu Yangzhou), which can be corresponded to three life cycle types: holocyclic (Hap1 and Hap4), facultative (Hap17 and Hap1-1), and specialized parthenogenetic (Hap3 and Hap16) life cycle. Interestingly, sexual morphogenesis of A. gossypii with facultative life cycle are more susceptible influenced by the host. Subsequent field surveys in Yangzhou, Jiangsu have also confirmed that the haplotypes capable of sexual morphology transformation under natural rhythm variations are Hap1 and Hap4. It is worth mentioning that these sexual aphids are mainly distributed on some Malvaceae plants, Chinese prickly ash, and pomegranate. However, aphids with specialized parthenogenetic life cycle can complete their entire life history by overwintering on crops or weeds (such as capsella and veronica) in greenhouses or outdoors. III):The relative abundance of Arsenophonus, Pantoea and Enterobacter varied among haplotypes. In particular. the relative abundance of Arsenophonus was generally higher in holocyclic aphids than in anholocyclic aphids in the parthenogenetic morphology. Additionally, Arsenophonus higher in gynoparas and females than in males in the sexual morphology. It can be observed that the aforementioned symbiotic bacteria may play a role in the development of the specialized or reproductive mode of the A. gossypii. The present study contributes to our understanding of the ecological adaptations of the A. gossypii to different climatic conditions and host plants. Moreover, it will furnish a crucial foundation for unravelling the diversification of reproductive modes exhibited by A. gossypii.

Prickly Ash Seeds Improve the Ruminal Epithelial Development and Growth Performance of Hu Sheep by Modulating the Rumen Microbiota and Metabolome.

It is known that the addition of feed rich in bioactive components to animal diets will affect rumen fermentation parameters and flora structure. However, research on the regulatory effects of prickly ash seeds (PASs) during rumen development or on the rumen microbiome and its metabolites in sheep is limited. The current study was designed to explore the effects of PASs on sheep rumen development and growth performance using metagenomics and metabolomics. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups: 0% (basal diet, CK), 3% (CK with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, LPS), and 6% (CK with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, HPS) PASs. The lambs were slaughtered to evaluate production performance. Our results showed that dietary PAS addition improved the average daily gain and reduced the F/G ratio of the experimental animals. Additionally, the height and width of the rumen papilla in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the CK group. The fermentation parameters showed that the levels of acetate and butyrate were significantly higher in the LPS group than in the CK and HPS groups. The propionate levels in the HPS group were significantly higher than those in the CK and LPS groups. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PAS dietary supplementation improved the abundance of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales and reduced the abundance of Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Methanococcus. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolite levels, such as those of serotonin, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, were closely related to growth-related metabolic pathways. The correlations analyzed showed that papilla height and muscular thickness were positively and negatively correlated with serotonin and L-valine, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) was positively and negatively correlated with L-valine and several Prevotella, respectively. In addition, muscular thickness was positively correlated with Sodaliphilus pleomorphus, four Prevotella strains, Sarcina_sp_DSM_11001, and Methanobrevibacter_thaueri. Overall, PAS addition improved sheep growth performance by regulating beneficial microorganism and metabolite abundances, facilitating bacterial and viral invasion resistance.

Effects of Prickly Ash Seed Dietary Supplementation on Meat Quality, Antioxidative Capability, and Metabolite Characteristics of Hu Lambs.

In China, the processing of prickly ash (PA) produces a large number of by-products, including prickly ash seeds (PASs), which are rich in bioactive components such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and which may have an important influence on meat quality and muscle metabolites. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of dietary PAS supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant activity, and metabolite characteristics of lambs. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs (25.66 ± 3.03 kg body weight) were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups. In the three dietary treatments, 0% (basal diet, CON), 3% (CON with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, and LPS), and 6% (CON with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, and HPS) PASs were used. Results indicated significant improvements in the HPS group, including reduced cooking loss and increased fat content. The L* and b* 45 min values were significantly lower in the PAS groups than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary PAS supplementation increased in MUFA, PUFA, n-3 PUFA, PUFA/MUFA ratio, NEAA, and FFA compared to the CON group. Furthermore, PAS supplementation significantly improved serum and muscle antioxidant capacity. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolites, such as tryptophan, leucine, citric acid, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, inosine, and α-ketoglutaric acid, were primarily enriched in the biosynthesis of cofactors and nucleotide and purine metabolism pathways. Notably, supplementation with 6% of PASs exhibited the most prominent effect on lamb meat quality in this study. Therefore, the application of PASs as a feed component in lamb production can not only improve meat quality and muscle antioxidant capacity but also save feed costs.

Relationship of CO2 adsorption performance and physicochemical property of biochar prepared by different types of biomass waste

Relationship of CO2 adsorption performance and physicochemical property of biochar prepared by different types of biomass waste

First Report of Curvularia trifolii Causing Leaf Spot on Zanthoxylum bungeanum in China.

Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.), which is a Rutaceae plant as shrubs or small trees and indigenous to China, is widely grown in this country for its flavor, as well as its high economic and ecological value. So far, in China, the cultivated area and yield of Chinese prickly ash rank first in the world. In June 2023, a leaf spot disease with approximately 30% incidence was observed on Z. bungeanum in Zhenfeng County (25°44'21.38″ N, 105°56'47.15″ E, 1,083 m), Guizhou Province, China. Foliar symptoms appeared as irregularly shaped lesions, yellowish-brown with dark brown margins surrounded by yellow halos, which enlarged, resulting in the lesions dropping from the leaves and leaving holes. To isolate and identify the pathogen, symptomatic leaves were taken and cut into 5 mm × 5 mm pieces, surface sterilized with 2% NaClO for 3 min, 75% ethanol for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterile water, and incubated on PDA at 28°C. Ten isolates with identical morphology were obtained. After one week of incubation at 28℃, the colonies on PDA were brown, reverse dark brown, fluffy, reaching 7.0-7.5 cm in diameter. Conidia were straight or slightly curved, narrowly ellipsoidal or fusiform, 1-3 but mostly 3 septate, light or dark brown, with the middle cells usually darker than the terminal cells, smooth, 20.5-31.0 × 9.0-19.0 μm (x̄ = 26.0 × 14.0 μm, n = 30). The morphological features matched the description of Curvularia trifolii (Kauffman) Boedijn (Ellis 1971; Falloon 1976). Additionally, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) genes were amplified by PCR with primers ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), LROR/LR5 (Vilgalys & Hester 1990) and GPD1/GPD2 (Berbee et al. 1999), and the ITS, LSU and gapdh sequences of the isolate GUCC 23-321 (PP837870, PP837881, PP855474) were deposited in GenBank. The BLAST showed 98.5% (ITS, HG779023, 598/709 bp), 99.87% (LSU, HG779077, 779/858 bp), and 97.79% (gapdh, HG779124, 543/498 bp) identities with C. trifolii (CBS 173.55). Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree of ML analysis based on the combined sequence data of ITS, LSU and gapdh revealed that GUCC 23-321 clustered with C. trifolii. Both morphology and phylogenetic analyses supported the identification of GUCC 23-321 as C. trifolii. Pathogenicity tests were carried out twice according to Koch's postulates. Five healthy 2-year-old Chinese prickly ash plants were sprayed with a conidial suspension (1 × 106 conidia/mL) of the isolate GUCC 23-321, while the controls (five other plants) were sprayed with sterile water. All plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 28°C, 80% relative humidity. After 8 days, the inoculated plants developed leaf spots similar to those showed in the field, but control plants were asymptomatic. Re-isolation of pathogenic fungi from the leaf lesions of the inoculated plants and according to molecular analysis and morphology, the fungi were identified as C. trifolii, fulfilling Koch's postulates. C. trifolii is a common fungal phytopathogen that has been reported to infect a variety of plants and cause leaf spot disease, such as Trifolium alexandrinum (Khadka 2016) and Nicotiana tabacum (Chen et al. 2017). This is the first worldwide report of C. trifolii causing Z. bungeanum leaf spot. The report will be beneficial for accurately diagnosing this disease, and proposing specific control measures.

Diversity analysis of panicle traits in Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources and their influence on its systematic classification

This study aimed to reveal the diversity and variation in panicle traits of the Chinese prickly ash and clarify their influence on the its systematic classification to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the efficient utilization of Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources and breeding. Sixteen panicle traits were identified from 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources from 2021 to 2022. The diversity of these panicle traits and their role in the plant’s systematic classification were studied using variance, correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses. Cluster analysis showed that the 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources could be divided into two groups with Euclidean distances of 25. Further analysis showed that yield traits such as panicle length, panicle width, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle were significantly positively correlated with grain chlorophyll content, while grain anthocyanin content was negatively correlated with both panicle (panicle length, panicle width, panicle length to width ratio, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle) and grain characteristics (single grain weight, thousand-grain weight, grain length, grain width and fruit shape index). In conclusion, Chinese prickly ash germplasms have diverse panicle traits. Z. armatum has dark green grains, long and wide panicles, a long conical shape, many primary branches, high grain weight, and high grain number per panicle. In contrast, Z. bungeanum has bright red seeds, a panicle width larger than its length, short and conical panicles, a small number of primary branches, and low grain weight per panicle and number of grains per panicle. Overall, Z. armatum had a significant yield advantage over Z. bungeanum.

Visual Analyses of Hot Spots and Frontiers in Zanthoxylum planispinum Research Based on CiteSpace

Zanthoxylum planispinum is a type of plant with homologous properties in medicine and food, making it well-loved in China. To explore the development of the Z. planispinum field over the past 20 years, its research hotspots and frontier trends were analyzed. This study conducted database-based visualization analyses and knowledge graph analyses using CiteSpace software with data concerning Z. planispinum published in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science databases between 2003 and 2023. Over the last 20 years, the number of Chinese and English publications on Z. planispinum has shown increasing trends. The foci of this research were mainly germplasm resources, cultivation management, seed oil extraction technology, flavonoid extraction technology, and correlation analyses of antioxidant activities. The main research frontiers included the unified standard naming and adaptation mechanisms of Z. germplasm resources, orientation cultivation, functional component extraction, processing technology research and development, and industrial chain construction. The results provide a scientific reference for the high-quality development of the prickly ash industry.

Genome-wide analysis of AP2/ERF transcription factors that regulate fruit development of Chinese prickly ash

BackgroundAP2/ERF is a large family of plant transcription factor proteins that play essential roles in signal transduction, plant growth and development, and responses to various stresses. The AP2/ERF family has been identified and verified by functional analysis in various plants, but so far there has been no comprehensive study of these factors in Chinese prickly ash. Phylogenetic, motif, and functional analyses combined with transcriptome analysis of Chinese prickly ash fruits at different developmental stages (30, 60, and 90 days after anthesis) were conducted in this study.ResultsThe analysis identified 146 ZbAP2/ERF genes that could be classified into 15 subgroups. The motif analysis revealed the presence of different motifs or elements in each group that may explain the functional differences between the groups. ZbERF13.2, ZbRAP2-12, and ZbERF2.1 showed high levels of expression in the early stages of fruit development. ZbRAP2-4, and ZbERF3.1 were significantly expressed at the fruit coloring stage (R2 and G2). ZbERF16 were significantly expressed at fruit ripening and expression level increased as the fruit continued to develop. Relative gene expression levels of 6 representative ZbAP2/ERFs assessed by RT-qPCR agreed with transcriptome analysis results.ConclusionsThese genes identified by screening can be used as candidate genes that affect fruit development. The results of the analysis can help guide future genetic improvement of Chinese prickly ash and enrich our understanding of AP2/ERF transcription factors and their regulatory functions in plants.

Effects of Four Amendments on Cadmium Bioavailability and Enzyme Activity in Purple Soil

In this study, the effects of four types of amendments on effective Cd and Cd content in different parts of prickly ash soil and soil enzyme activity were studied, which provided scientific basis for acidification improvement of purple soil and heavy metal pollution control. A field experiment was conducted. Six treatments were set up:no fertilizer (CK), only chemical fertilizer (F), lime + chemical fertilizer (SF), organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer (OM), biochar + chemical fertilizer (BF), and vinasse biomass ash + chemical fertilizer (JZ). Soil pH; available Cd (DTPA-Cd); Cd content in branches, leaves, shells, and seeds of Zanthoxylum; as well as the activities of catalase (S-CAT), acid phosphatase (S-ACP), and urease (S-UE) in different treatments were studied, and their relationships were clarified. The results showed following:① The two treatments of vinasse biomass ash + chemical fertilizer and lime + chemical fertilizer significantly increased soil pH (P &lt; 0.05) to 3.39 and 2.25 units higher than that in the control, respectively. Compared with that in the control treatment, the content of available Cd in soil under vinasse biomass ash + chemical fertilizer and lime + chemical fertilizer treatment decreased by 28.91 % and 20.90 %, respectively. ② The contents of Cd in leaves, shells, and seeds of Zanthoxylum were decreased by 31.33 %, 30.24 %, and 34.01 %, respectively. The Cd enrichment ability of different parts of Zanthoxylum was different, with the specific performances being leaves &gt; branches &gt; seeds &gt; shells. Compared with that of the control, the enrichment coefficient of each part of Zanthoxylum treated with vinasse biomass ash + chemical fertilizer decreased significantly(P &lt; 0.05)by 27.54 %-40.0 %. ③ The changes in catalase and urease activities in soil treated with amendments were similar. Compared with those in the control group, the above two enzyme activities were significantly increased by 191.26 % and 199.50 %, respectively, whereas the acid phosphatase activities were decreased by 16.45 %. Correlation analysis showed that soil available Cd content was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH value(P &lt; 0.01), S-CAT and S-UE enzyme activities were significantly positively correlated with soil pH(P &lt; 0.01), and the soil available Cd content was significantly negatively correlated (P &lt; 0.01); the S-ACP enzyme showed the complete opposite trends. The application of lime and vinasse biomass ash to acidic purple soil had the most significant effect on neutralizing soil acidity. It was an effective measure to improve acidic purple soil and prevent heavy metal pollution by reducing the effective Cd content in soil and improving the soil environment while inhibiting the absorption and transfer of Cd in various parts of Zanthoxylum.

Preparation and Characterization of Prickly Ash Peel Oleoresin Microcapsules and Flavor Retention Analysis.

Prickly ash peel oleoresin (PPO) is a highly concentrated oil of Prickly ash essential oil and has a stronger aroma. However, its low water solubility, high volatility, difficulty in transport and storage, and decomposition by light, heat, and oxygen limit its wider application. To solve this problem, this study used freeze-drying or spray-drying, with soybean protein isolate (SPI) or gum Arabic (GA), combined with aqueous maltodextrin (MD) as the encapsulating agents to prepare four types of PPO microcapsules (POMs). Spray-dried microcapsules with GA as the encapsulating agent achieved a high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 92.31 ± 0.31%, improved the thermal stability of the PPO, and had spherical morphology. (Headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) HS-SPME/GC-MS detected 41 volatile compounds in PPO; of these, linalool, β-myrcene, sabinene, and D-limonene were identified as key flavor components. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished the significant differences in flavor between PPO, spray-dried SPI/MD microcapsules (SS), and spray-dried GA/MD microcapsules (SG). During 15 days of air-exposure, the loss of flavor from SG (54.62 ± 0.54%) was significantly lower than PPO (79.45 ± 1.45%) and SS (57.55 ± 0.36%). During the air-exposure period, SG consistently had the highest antioxidant capacity, making it desirable for PPO packaging, and expanding its potential applications within the food industry.

Genome sequencing and comparative genomics reveal insights into pathogenicity and evolution of Fusarium zanthoxyli, the causal agent of stem canker in prickly ash

BackgroundFusarium zanthoxyli is a destructive pathogen causing stem canker in prickly ash, an ecologically and economically important forest tree. However, the genome lack of F. zanthoxyli has hindered research on its interaction with prickly ash and the development of precise control strategies for stem canker.ResultsIn this study, we sequenced and annotated a relatively high-quality genome of F. zanthoxyli with a size of 43.39 Mb, encoding 11,316 putative genes. Pathogenicity-related factors are predicted, comprising 495 CAZymes, 217 effectors, 156 CYP450s, and 202 enzymes associated with secondary metabolism. Besides, a comparative genomics analysis revealed Fusarium and Colletotrichum diverged from a shared ancestor approximately 141.1 ~ 88.4 million years ago (MYA). Additionally, a phylogenomic investigation of 12 different phytopathogens within Fusarium indicated that F. zanthoxyli originated approximately 34.6 ~ 26.9 MYA, and events of gene expansion and contraction within them were also unveiled. Finally, utilizing conserved domain prediction, the results revealed that among the 59 unique genes, the most enriched domains were PnbA and ULP1. Among the 783 expanded genes, the most enriched domains were PKc_like kinases and those belonging to the APH_ChoK_Like family.ConclusionThis study sheds light on the genetic basis of F. zanthoxyli’s pathogenicity and evolution which provides valuable information for future research on its molecular interactions with prickly ash and the development of effective strategies to combat stem canker.

Prickly ash seeds can promote healthy production of sheep by regulating the rumen microbial community.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of prickly ash seeds (PAS) on the microbial community found in rumen microbes of Hu sheep by adding different percentages of prickly ash seeds and to carry out research on the relation between rumen flora and production performance. Twenty-seven male lambs of Hu sheep were classified into three groups based on the content of prickly ash seeds (PAS) fed for 90 days, i.e., 0%, 3%, and 6%. At the end of the feeding trial, rumen fluid samples were collected from six sheep in each group for 16S amplicon sequencing. The results showed that the addition of prickly ash seeds significantly increased both Chao1 and ACE indices (P < 0.05), and the differences between groups were greater than those within groups. The relative content of Bacteriodota decreased, and the relative content of Fusobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Euryarchaeota increased. The relative content of Papillibacter and Saccharofermentans was increased at the genus level, and the relative content of Bacteroides and Ruminococcus was decreased. The test group given 3% of prickly ash seeds was superior to the test group given 6% of prickly ash seeds. In addition, the addition of 3% of prickly ash seeds improved the metabolism or immunity of sheep. Fusobacteriota and Acidobacteriota were positively correlated with total weight, dressing percentage, and average daily gain (ADG) and negatively correlated with average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed-to-gain ratio (F/G), and lightness (L*). Methanobrevibacter and Saccharofermentans were positively correlated with ADG and negatively correlated with ADFI and L*. In conclusion, under the present experimental conditions, the addition of prickly ash seeds increased the abundance and diversity of rumen microorganisms in Hu sheep and changed the relative abundance of some genera. However, the addition of 6% prickly ash seeds may negatively affect the digestive and immune functions in sheep rumen.

Assessment of Microbial Activity, Shelf Life, and Sensory Characteristics of Buttermilk Enhanced with Indian Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) Extract

The present investigation was carried out at the Dairy Science Laboratory of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Dr. BSKKV., Dapoli (M.S.) to Assessment of Microbial Activity, Shelf Life, and Sensory Characteristics of Buttermilk enhanced with Indian Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) extract. This study aimed to evaluate the microbial activity, shelf life, and sensory attributes of Indian Prickly Ash extract fortified buttermilk during storage under refrigerated conditions. Microbial analysis was conducted on fresh and stored samples over 15 days, focusing on standard plate count, coliform count, yeast, and mold count. Results indicated that the initial standard plate count of fresh buttermilk increased marginally during storage. Shelf-life assessment revealed that the buttermilk remained suitable for consumption for up to 15 days under refrigerated conditions. Sensory evaluation was performed concurrently with microbial analysis. Overall acceptability scores were highest for buttermilk fortified with 6% Indian Prickly Ash extract, followed by treatments with lower extract concentrations. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among treatments, with 6% extract incorporation yielding the most favorable sensory outcomes. In conclusion, Indian Prickly Ash extract fortified buttermilk, particularly at 6% concentration, exhibited enhanced microbial stability and sensory appeal, suggesting its potential as a functional food product. Keywords: Milk, Buttermilk, Indian Prickly Ash.

First report of leaf spot caused by Pseudopithomyces chartarum on Chinese prickly ash in China

First report of leaf spot caused by Pseudopithomyces chartarum on Chinese prickly ash in China