This study aimed to characterize the carcass traits, physicochemical and sensory properties of meat from three wild goose species ‒ Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), and Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) ‒ and compare them with two domestic breeds, White Kołuda® and Biłgorajska. Forty-five carcasses (nine males of each species/breed) were analysed. Breast and leg muscles were evaluated for proximate composition, pH, colour, water-holding capacity, heme pigments, lipid oxidation (TBARS), and texture, followed by a sensory assessment of cooked breast meat. Statistical comparisons focused on the effect of species (among wild geese) and goose type (wild vs domestic). Wild geese differed considerably in carcass traits, reflecting inherent interspecific morphometric variation. Among the wild species, Greylag Goose showed the highest body and empty body weights, and edible carcass component weights, while the Greater White-fronted Goose exhibited the lowest values. The White Kołuda® breed (WK), compared with wild geese, displayed the greatest total body weight and heaviest edible parts; however, the percentage of breast muscle was approximately twice as high in wild birds. Domestic goose meat ‒ particularly from WK ‒ contained more intramuscular fat and moisture but less protein, and had lower pH both before and after thawing. In contrast, Biłgorajska geese showed values closer to those of wild birds. Wild geese had darker meat with higher heme pigment content, lower expressible water in breast, and greater susceptibility to oxidation (higher TBARS). Domestic geese, especially Biłgorajska, showed higher shear force and energy in both raw and cooked breast. Sensory evaluation indicated that WK breast had a more intense meat aroma but was less juicy and tender; simultaneously wild geese displayed higher juiciness and tenderness but also a higher intensity of off-odours and off-flavors. Across all groups, overall acceptability exceeded 8 on a 10-point scale. These findings confirm substantial phenotypic and qualitative differences between wild and domestic geese, most likely associated with domestication, including reduced locomotor activity and selection for meat production.

Concentrations, spatio-temporal distributions, and risk assessments of trace elements in local dominant fish from the coastal areas of Zhejiang Province, China.

No simple links: Absence of correlation between condition factor and immune status under contrasting environmental conditions in three wild marine fish species.

Thelazia callipaeda in free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Romania.

This study investigated the use of indigenous fruits and wild vegetables for treating common tropical ailments in Ilaro, Nigeria, with a focus on supporting sustainable tourism. The research was conducted over 12 months (January–December 2023) using an ethnobotanical approach that included site observations and plant specimen collection. Out of 120 questionnaires distributed, 100 were completed and returned,providing valuable information on locally used medicinal plants. Each species was documented with its family, botanical and local names, plant parts used, preparation techniques, dosage, and treatment duration. Plant identification began with common namesand was later confirmed using standard references such as Trees of Nigeria. The results recorded 34 wild vegetable species from 15 families and 22 native fruit trees from 16 families used to treat illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, ulcers, infertility, and skin diseases. These natural plant resources strengthen biodiversity, support cultural heritage, and offer opportunities for sustainable tourism Medi

The present study deals with the traditional knowledge and conservation status of wild plant species in the tribal Orakzai district, an ecologically transitional zone between subtropical and temperate, which is still largely underexplored in quantitative and conservation ethnobotany. Semi-structured questionnaires and participatory observations were employed to interview local participants and plant specimens were collected in the study area. In total, 123 species belonging to 60 families and 112 genera were reported with multiple tribal applications. Trends in tribal practices and cultural outcomes of the reported taxa were assessed using quantitative indices including cultural importance index (CI), use diversity index (UDI), direct matrix ranking (DMR), informant consensus factor (ICF), and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC). Traditionally important medicinal plants, including Daphne papyracea, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Salix babylonica, Berberis lycium, Hedera helix, and Pyrola chlorantha were identified in the surveys. Herbaceous species are the most common. Leaves, twigs and rhizomes were the main parts of the plants. The vulnerability status was determined by using a cross-referencing protocol based on a combination of community perceptions, field observations, IUCN categories and Kew's predicted extinction risks. With this integrated protocol, 37% of species were classified as highly vulnerable, 19% as moderately threatened and 43% as least vulnerable. The study concludes that there is a dire need for plant conservation and preservation of tribal ecological knowledge.

Plant architecture is a key agronomic trait of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which is closely associated with yield, stress resistance, and suitability for mechanical harvesting. However, research on the genetics and gene mining of peanut plant architecture remains relatively limited, thereby hindering the genetic improvement of peanut plant architecture. Most cultivated peanut varieties exhibit an erect or semi-prostrate growth habit, whereas wild peanut species predominantly display a trailing growth habit. In the present study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, designated as the TI population was developed by crossing the female parent Tifrunner with the male parent IpaDur, a synthetic amphidiploid derived from cross of Arachis ipaënsis × Arachis duranensis. Traits related to plant architecture, including lateral branch angle (LBA), lateral branch length (LBL), main stem height (MSH), main stem thickness (MST), lateral branch thickness (LBT), internode length (IL), number of branches (NBS), and biomass (BIO), were evaluated across three environments. Based on a high-density genetic linkage map, 20 QTLs associated with these traits were identified, which explained 6.04%-18.68% of the phenotypic variance (PVE). A locus controlling LBA, LBL, and MST was mapped to an overlapping interval (122.57-137.18Mb) on chromosome 14. Phenotypic effect analysis revealed that this wild species-derived segment is crucial for controlling the typical morphogenesis of wild-type peanut species. In addition, we identified a set of genotypes derived from cultivated-wild hybrid population, which exhibited the convergence of one or more favorable agronomical traits. Using a cultivar-wild hybrid population, 20 QTLs for plant architecture were identified in peanut. A wild-derived genomic segment was found to control typical wild-type morphogenesis. Novel germplasm pyramiding multiple agronomic favorable traits were selected. This study provides key theoretical insights and valuable resources for utilizing wild species in peanut improvement.

This article details the identification and biological characterization of three Salmonella isolates recovered from wild gadwalls (Anas strepera) in the Lake Balkhash basin (Jambyl region). The research is necessitated by the prevalence of Salmonellosis of Waterfowl (SW) in agricultural settings and the relative lack of surveillance data regarding infection dynamics in wild populations. SW remains a critical factor in poultry mortality, particularly affecting young birds between 5 and 45 days of age, while inducing chronic shedding in adults. Within the "One Health" framework—integrating animal, human, and environmental health—the interspecies transmission of pathogens is a significant biological challenge. Factors such as the lack of migratory monitoring, the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, and environmental contamination of water bodies exacerbate the epizootic situation. The objective of this study was to diagnose the infection in wild avian species, isolate the pathogen, and determine its antibiotic susceptibility profile. The experimental framework employed bacteriological, serological, and biochemical analysis methods. Out of 30 wild duck specimens examined, three individuals tested positive for the SW pathogen. These findings highlight the role of wild waterfowl as reservoirs for Salmonella, posing a potential risk of foodborne toxicoinfections in humans. The study emphasizes the necessity for integrated monitoring systems to mitigate the spread of infection between wild and domestic ecosystems.

Fowl cholera is a severe infectious disease of domestic and wild avian species caused by Pasteurella multocida. In this study, we report the genome sequence of the fowl cholera vaccine strain, BLRI-LRI-FC-vac. The assembled genome was approximately 2,330,753 bp, with 70× sequencing coverage and a genomic G + C content of 40.4%.

Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (P. tenuifolia) is one of the source plants of the traditional Chinese medicine 'Yuanzhi' and is widely used in clinical practice. As a meso-xerophytic medicinal plant with strong environmental adaptability, it is listed as a nationally protected wild medicinal species in China. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its drought tolerance remain unclear. Therefore, a genome-wide identification of the ERF subfamily inP. tenuifoliawas conducted to provide candidate genes for drought adaptation research and functional validation. Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) play important roles in plant responses to drought stress. In this study, 78 PtERF genes were systematically identified for the first time in P. tenuifolia. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five subgroups (B1-B5), with members within the same subgroup exhibiting similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Collinearity analysis revealed that segmental duplication was the primary driving forceunderlying PtERF family evolution. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that PtERF promoter regions were enriched with drought-responsive cis-elements, including abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-responsive elements. Transcriptome analysis combined with RT-qPCR verification identified five core drought-responsive genes, among which PtERF33 expression exhibited the highest level of upregulation. Further investigation showed that PtERF33 produced two alternatively spliced transcripts: the full-length PtERF33.1 transcript and the intron-retained PtERF33.2 transcript. These two transcripts exhibited opposite expression patterns under drought stress, suggesting that they may regulate drought responses through functional antagonism. These findings provide a systematic basis for identifying drought-resistant ERF genes in P. tenuifolia and establish a foundation for clarifying the role of alternative splicing in drought adaptation in this species.

Crop wild relatives are used to improve cultivated plants and precise tracking of genetic introgression requires high-quality genome assemblies. Here we present de novo genome assemblies of two wild tomato species - the broadly stress-resistant Solanum pennellii (LA0716) and the salt-resistant Solanum cheesmaniae (LA1039). The improved S. pennellii genome adds 146 Mbp to the twelve chromosomes compared with the original reference. The alignment of the new assemblies with multiple gold-standard assemblies identified shared and species-specific structural variants. Analysis of repeat content demonstrates independent explosions of Tekay retrotransposons in S. pennellii and S. peruvianum. Genome sequencing of 709 recombinant plants derived from male and female backcrosses of three different hybrids reveals higher crossover rate in female meiosis. Conserved female-enhanced recombination regions were discovered and coldspots were attributed to megabase-scale inversions and insertion-deletion polymorphisms. Our S. pennellii and S. cheesmaniae genome assemblies reveal how repeat content diverged in nature and during breeding, and uncovers how both reproductive gender and structural variants dictate recombination landscapes in tomato hybrids.

Avian paramyxovirus 4 (APMV4) is detected sporadically in wild birds and poultry, globally. While predominantly detected in waterfowl, the natural reservoir and ecology of APMV4 remains unclear. Herein we report historical and contemporary detections of APMV4 in Australia, and through sequencing demonstrate the likely long-term presence in a diversity of Australian wild bird species. This is evidenced by contemporary Australian genome sequences being more similar to historical Australian genomes rather than contemporary Asian genomes and that these genomes form a single lineage. This suggests that APMV4 has been circulating on the continent for decades. While APMV4 has demonstrable, albeit sporadic, impact on poultry globally, there has never been a report of this virus causing disease in poultry in Australia, suggesting it likely continues to pose a low risk for the poultry industry. As wild birds serve as natural reservoirs for numerous viruses of potential concern to poultry, dedicated surveillance is critical for revealing the risk profile of wild bird viruses, such as APMV4, to poultry.

This study investigates the phytochemical profile and mechanistic bioactivity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaves harvested from wild Algerian species. The research integrates quantitative HPLC profiling with in vitro and in silico assays to elucidate the molecular basis of its biological potential, specifically targeting the transpeptidase domain of Penicillin-Binding Protein 3. Two extracts (pure ethanol and 50:50 hydroethanol) were evaluated for their total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents, along with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Key bioactive compounds identified through HPLC were subjected to Molecular Docking, Density Functional Theory, and 100 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to assess their interactions with Penicillin-Binding Protein 3, as the primary target for molecular dynamics, while FtsZ and DNA Gyrase B were evaluated to assess multi-targeting potential. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited a higher yield (10.9%) compared to the ethanolic extract (3.7%), as well as superior levels of total phenolics (207.07 ± 0.94 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (4.19 ± 0.21 mg CE/g DW), and tannins (191.76 ± 1.55 mg CE/g DW). While the ethanolic extract showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 of 0.147 mg/mL), the hydroethanolic extract displayed greater antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus (14.37 mm inhibition zone). HPLC analysis identified catechin (72.35 µg/g DW) and myricetin (6.34 µg/g DW) as the predominant compounds. In silico analysis revealed that while myricetin exhibited the highest initial binding affinity (− 8.1 kcal/mol) and the highest chemical reactivity, kaempferol demonstrated superior structural stability and compactness during the 100 ns MD simulations. The 7ONN-Kaempferol complex maintained high stability with a low root-mean-square deviation (RMSD, ~ 1.5–2.0 Å) and minimal residue fluctuations (RMSF < 0.8 Å). These findings provide a computational basis for the mechanistic link between specific flavonoid aglycones and the simultaneous disruption of bacterial cell wall synthesis, bacterial division, and DNA replication. This study highlights the potential of sea buckthorn leaves as a sustainable source of natural bioactive compounds with promising therapeutic applications.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-57022-2.

Characterizing population structure and admixture events between ancestral groups plays a key role in understanding the evolutionary history of species and crops. Most tools for inferring admixture have been developed for diploids and are not suitable for polyploids, in particular those with high and mixed ploidy such as Saccharum. Here we present AdmixPoly, an R-package designed to infer admixture in polyploid species both at the genome-wide scale and locally along chromosomes. We compare AdmixPoly with state-of-the-art methods using simulations, demonstrating its precision and computational efficiency. Notably, local admixture inference in complex scenarios, such as high ploidy levels, large numbers of ancestral groups and alleles per marker is enabled through efficient approximations of emission and transition probabilities within a hidden Markov model framework. We apply this approach to characterize the contributions of wild Saccharum species to the complex polyploid genome of modern sugarcane cultivars. A panel of wild and cultivated Saccharum accessions is genotyped for 80K genomic regions, each revealing approximately 50 read-scale haplotypes. The results reveal that most of the approximately 12 copies of each basic chromosome in modern cultivars are derived from the domesticated species Saccharum officinarum, with one to four copies typically contributed by distinct subgroups of the wild species Saccharum spontaneum. In addition, contributions from an unknown wild Saccharum group originating from the Pacific were identified in most cultivars. The conserved pattern of these introgressions suggests that they can be traced back to the early stages of sugarcane breeding approximately a century ago.

Polyploidization disrupts drought priming in the desert wild potato species Solanum kurtzianum.

Salmonella spp. is one of the main causes of food-borne zoonotic infections in the European Union with Enteritidis being the most reported serovar. Salmonella is commonly associated with domestic animals, although it has also been associated with wildlife. The domestic goat (Capra hircus) appears to have a relatively low susceptibility to this pathogen. Salmonella has been described in game meat of different wild ruminant species; however, limited information is available regarding the susceptibility of wild goats, which may represent a source of human infection.In this study, we describe the epidemiological, molecular, microbiological and pathology findings of an unusual outbreak of clinical salmonellosis in captive Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica) in Spain. The outbreak, plausibly caused by S. Enteritidis (9,12:g, m:-), was characterized by abortions, neonatal mortality and sporadic cases of septicaemic salmonellosis in adult wild goats. Most isolates showed the same Minimum Inhibitory Concentration profiles using the Thermo Scientific™ Sensititre™ EU Surveillance Salmonella/E. coli EUVSEC3 AST panel. Seven isolates were sequenced and classified as ST11 showing the same set of 140 virulence genes. The genomes differed by 0-1 SNP (NC_011294.1:g.2862805G > A).Due to the unusual circumstances of the outbreak, the origin of the outbreak was also investigated through non-invasive sampling for nucleic acid detection using sponges pre-hydrated with an isotonic surfactant liquid and for bacteriology. Salmonella was exclusively detected from wild-goat enclosures, allowing to presumably rule out other potential animal-sources of infection, including peridomestic/wild animals such as pigeons, rats, rabbits and partridges present and analysed in the farm surroundings, although another untested animal source could still be involved.The unusual presentation of this Salmonella outbreak could be explained by the convergence of epidemiological and ecological factors (infection origin linked to peridomestic animals or humans, management conditions which may favour pathogen emergence, potentially increased susceptibility of wild ruminants to infection or other factors which may be involved). The non-invasive sampling approach facilitated Salmonella surveillance in this underexplored wildlife host.

Potato cyst nematodes (PCNs), Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida, are globally recognized quarantine pests that can cause severe yield losses in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) if left uncontrolled. Deploying host resistance remains the most effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable strategy for PCN control. The US Potato Genebank (USPG) maintains a rich collection of wild potato species, providing a valuable resource for discovering novel resistance to PCN. In this study, we identified a Solanum brevicaule clone (PI 473011; designated Y1‐5) from the USPG that exhibits robust resistance to both PCN species. We sequenced the whole genome of Y1‐5 using PacBio high‐fidelity sequencing technology and generated a haplotype‐resolved assembly, with genome sizes of 763.49 and 764.93 Mb for haplotypes 1 and 2, respectively. Repeat elements accounted for approximately 65% of the genome, while gene prediction identified 80,021 protein‐coding genes. A comprehensive set of genes encoding nucleotide‐binding and leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) proteins—intracellular receptors that mediate disease resistance—was identified in the annotated genome. NLR genes were particularly enriched on chromosomes 4, 6, and 11. Importantly, Y1‐5 was found to encode more coiled‐coil‐type NLRs than several previously sequenced wild Solanum clones. These findings suggest that Y1‐5 may serve as a promising new source of resistance to potato diseases. Development of this genomic resource is valuable for understanding the mechanisms of PCN resistance and for supporting potato breeding efforts to develop varieties with durable nematode resistance.

Landscape complexity shapes insect spatiotemporal population dynamics and trophic interactions. In this context, understanding seasonal and environmental patterns of potential resident natural enemies of novel polyphagous herbivores, such as the globally invasive fruit fly pest Drosophila suzukii, is fundamental for developing effective landscape-scale pest management strategies. Here, we investigated for the first time in the Andean Patagonian region of Argentina the spatiotemporal dynamics and parasitism of three resident parasitoids-Leptopilina heterotoma, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae, and Spalangia endius-with the potential to attack D. suzukii across heterogeneous landscape including fruit crops and surrounding natural habitats. All three parasitoid species were recorded across all environments, although their seasonal dynamics differed. L. heterotoma peaked in spring, P. vindemiae in summer, while S. endius showed a non-significant tendency toward higher activity in autumn. We further provide the first field-based evidence in the region that S. endius successfully attacks and completes development in D. suzukii, and that D. suzukii exploits wild fruit species as alternative hosts. These findings highlight the need for further research on the pupal parasitoid S. endius to assess its potential as a suitable candidate for the development of biological control strategies.

Prevalence and host-migration patterns of Avian Haemosporidian Parasites in wild birds from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

Within the family Osphronemidae, mouth-brooding fighting fishes are small, air-breathing fish species that hold their eggs and offspring in their buccal cavities as a parental care behavior, usually found in running waters and distributed in the wild throughout Southeast Asia. This study aims to describe the morphological development and generate identification keys for the larval and juvenile stages of seven wild mouth-brooding fighting fish species found in Thailand, i.e., Bettaapollon, B.ferox, B.pallida, B.pi, B.prima, B.pugnax, and B.simplex from the wild. The broodstocks were collected from type localities or based on characteristics that most closely matched each species description, with healthy fishes selected and breeding continued for our size-series collection, including B.simplex, a previous study. The results showed that mouth-brooders released their offspring when developed to the post-flexion stage within 11–12 (mode = 11) days after fertilization (DAF), except B.pi, which took 18–20 DAF, and the post-flexion larva developed to the juvenile stage within 18–30 days after release. The main characteristics of the new-release post-flexion larva were an oblong and depressed body, a large head, an oval to rounded eye, and rays where the caudal fin began to develop, as well as having fully developed ventral fins with two or three dorsal, central, and ventral stripes and a caudal spot. Myomere numbers and fin rays differed among species across a range of 8–10 dorsal, 10–13 pectoral, 6 ventral, 24–31 anal, and 10–13 caudal fin rays. Diagnostic characters were selected to create a dichotomous identification key, with an illustration provided. In terms of taxonomy, the different larval stages also differed in pigmentation patterns among species, with pigmentation patterns on head (pre-orbital, sub-orbital, post-orbital, and sub-opercular bands) and longitudinal stripes on the side of the body able to be used to distinguish among different development stages as well as different species.