Rural Development Administration

Valeriana fauriei and V. dageletiana are traditional medicinal plants known for their calming effects and use in alleviating insomnia. However, genomic information for these species is limited. This study aimed to sequence and characterize the complete chloroplast genomes of V. fauriei and V. dageletiana, and to compare them with those of closely related Valeriana species to investigate structural variation, molecular evolution, and divergence history. The chloroplast genomes of V. fauriei, V. dageletiana, and V. jatamansi were highly conserved in overall structure. Minor differences were observed in tandem repeat regions and sequence divergence hotspots, particularly within accD, rps18, and the trnN–trnL intergenic region. Analysis of 57 protein-coding genes from four species revealed that most genes are under strong purifying selection. However, elevated dN/dS ratios in psbI, rps7, and rpl23 suggest potential lineage-specific divergence. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that V. fauriei and V. dageletiana form a clade with V. officinalis, whereas V. jatamansi is an earlier diverging lineage. Divergence time estimation indicated that V. officinalis split from this clade 0.4255 to 1,0839 million years ago, and that V. fauriei and V. dageletiana diverged approximately 0.0205 million years ago. These results provide insights into the evolution of Valeriana chloroplast genomes, highlighting both structural conservation and species-specific variation. The findings contribute to a better understanding of recent speciation events and molecular evolution in this genus, supporting future phylogenomic and taxonomic studies of Valeriana species.

This study evaluated the nutritional adequacy of commercial dog and cat foods in South Korea by comparing analytically determined nutrient contents with recommended nutrient levels of the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). A total of 96 pet food products for puppies (n = 50), adult dogs (n = 18), kittens (n = 17), and adult cats (n = 11) were collected. Nutrients, including crude protein, crude fat, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, major minerals, and selected trace nutrients, were analyzed using accredited methods stipulated by the Korean Feed Control Act and compared with NIAS and AAFCO recommendations. Most adult dog and cat diets met recommended nutrient levels; however, deficiencies were identified in diets intended for growth. Puppy foods showed inadequate levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA + DHA, 72%), calcium (22%), and phosphorus (42%), as well as imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratios (12%). In kitten diets, insufficient EPA + DHA (41.2%) and taurine (11.8%) were observed. In contrast, 82.3% of products met label-declared guaranteed analysis values for seven mandatory nutrients. These results provide baseline information on the nutritional adequacy and labeling compliance of pet foods across different life stages.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone that orchestrates adaptive responses in plants exposed to abiotic stress. The ABA signaling cascade is triggered by ABA-mediated binding of PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1-LIKE (PYL) receptors to clade A Type 2 C protein phosphatases (PP2CAs). In Arabidopsis thaliana, several constitutively active variants of ABA receptors have been described, offering valuable tools for improving plant tolerance to environmental stresses. To identify amino acid residues in the rice ABA receptor OsPYL5 that are involved in ABA-independent interactions, we implemented a random mutagenesis strategy followed by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening. We identified residues L-93 and N-102 as key residues that influence the ABA independent interaction of OsPYL5 with OsPP2CA51. Substituting these residues with T or Y significantly enhanced the activity of an ABA-responsive reporter in rice protoplasts, even in the absence of ABA treatment. We therefore engineered a double-point mutant, OsPYL5L93W N102Y, which demonstrated a strong ABA-independent interaction with OsPP2CA51 in Y2H assays, elevated activation of ABA-responsive reporter in rice protoplasts, and suppression of PP2CA phosphatase activity in vitro in the absence of ABA. Transgenic rice lines overexpressing OsPYL5L93W N102Y showed delayed germination and growth retardation in the absence of ABA treatment. They also exhibited increased sensitivity to ABA during germination and in early seedling growth assays compared to an OsPYL5-overexpressing transgenic rice line (OsPYL5-OX). Moreover, compared to OsPYL5-OX, they showed dramatic upregulation of ABA-responsive genes both without ABA and with low concentrations of ABA. These transgenic lines also showed enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress compared to both the control cultivar and OsPYL5-OX. Taken together, our findings not only identify key residues of OsPYL5 that enable ABA-independent receptor function, but also highlight the feasibility of engineering ABA receptors to improve abiotic stress tolerance.

Dairy cows commonly experience negative energy balance during the periparturient period, predisposing them to metabolic disorders such as ketosis (KET), hypophosphatemia (HP), hypocalcemia (HC), and hypomagnesemia (HM). However, comparative data on breed- and parity-related differences remain limited. Therefore, these differences were evaluated in this study during the postpartal transition period. A total of 174 cows (149 Holstein, 25 Jersey) were monitored, and blood samples were collected from calving to 21 days postpartum at 3-day intervals to measure β-hydroxybutyrate, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium concentrations. Metabolic disorders were defined using established thresholds. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and generalized estimating equations. HP was the most prevalent disorder in both breeds. Jerseys had 2.83 times higher odds of KET, whereas Holsteins had 4.98 times higher odds and an earlier onset of HM. Multiparous Holsteins showed higher incidences of HP, HC, and HM compared to primiparous ones, while parity effects were minimal in Jerseys. Breed and parity significantly influenced both the incidence and onset timing of postpartal metabolic disorders. These findings highlight the importance of breed- and parity-specific health management strategies in dairy cattle farms.

Agriculture is rapidly becoming a data-driven field where automation relies on transforming 2D images into accurate 3D models. However, selecting the most effective method remains challenging due to the unconstrained nature of the environment. This review assesses the effectiveness of geometry-based, sensor-based, and learning-based reconstruction methodologies in agricultural settings. We analyze photogrammetric pipelines, active sensing, and neural rendering methods based on their geometric accuracy, data processing speed, and field performance against wind or occlusion. Our analysis indicates that while Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is highly accurate, it is too expensive for widespread adoption. Conversely, geometry-based methods are inexpensive but struggle with complex biological structures. Learning-based methods, especially 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), have revolutionized the field by enabling a balance between visual fidelity and real-time inference speed. We conclude that the best chance for scalability and accuracy lies in hybrid pipelines that integrate Vision Foundation Models (VFMs) with geometric priors. We believe that "hybrid intelligence" systems, such as edge-native 3D Gaussian Splatting combined with semantic priors, are the future of 3D reconstruction. These systems will enable the creation of real-time, spatiotemporal (4D) digital twins that drive automated decision-making in precision agriculture.

ABSTRACT During host-pathogen interactions, fungal pathogens secrete effector proteins into host cells to manipulate the host immune system and facilitate infection. Although many effector genes are highly expressed during infection stages, there is limited information on the mechanisms regulating their in planta expression. Here, we characterize the promoter of MoHTR1 , a nuclear effector gene of the rice blast fungal pathogen, to elucidate its in planta -specific expression. Using promoter deletion and mutation analyses, we identified a core cis -element (TATTTCGT) within the MoHTR1 promoter, designated the in planta active (IPA) element, which is crucial for in planta -specific expression. The IPA element is responsible for the expression of not only MoHTR1 , but also other effector genes including a known effector Slp1 . Furthermore, the IPA element enables the in planta expression of MobZIP14 , a gene specifically expressed during vegetative growth. The IPA element plays a critical role in fungal virulence by enabling MoHTR1 expression and regulating host immune responses. Bioinformatic and DNA-protein interaction analyses revealed that RGS1, a transcription factor containing a winged-helix binding domain, acts as a transcriptional regulator of MoHTR1 by directly binding to the IPA element. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms driving the in planta -specific expression of fungal effector genes.

ABSTRACTVeterinarians should be vigilant in limiting embryonic, foetal and neonatal losses through appropriate reproductive programs and management strategies following natural mating and artificial insemination, especially after embryo transfer (ET) procedures, due to their high associated costs in Elite Hanwoo breeding programs. To establish a breeding population of Hanwoo cows with top 1% genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) for carcass weight and compare reproductive outcomes between OPU‐IVF and MOET. Elite donor cows were assigned to either OPU‐IVF or MOET groups, and the resulting embryos were transferred to synchronized recipient cows. Pregnancy rate, calving success, abortion, birth weight, sex ratio and dystocia were evaluated. The MOET group showed 100% calving success with no abortions; the OPU group had a 68.2% calving rate and 31.8% abortion rate. The sex ratio of the resulting offspring was similar between the groups, with female calves accounting for 37.5%–40.0% and male calves for 60.0%–62.5% of total calves. While the mean birth weights of female calves did not significantly differ between the groups (32.0–32.8 kg), male calves from the OPU group exhibited a significantly higher average birth weight (36.9 kg) than those from the MOET group, with a mean difference of 4.9 kg (p < 0.05). Spontaneous calving was more frequent in MOET (62.5%), while induced parturition was common in OPU (56.7%). Dystocia incidence was higher in OPU, especially with early induction. OPU‐IVF was linked to higher abortion and dystocia risks, while MOET showed more favourable calving outcomes. Appropriate embryo production strategy and careful periparturient management are crucial for successful Hanwoo reproduction.