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Maize is a major staple crop in China, and the sustainable productivity of this primary crop has been recently threatened by fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, invasion. The five fungal isolates, Aspergillus sp. BM-3 and SE-2-1, Cladosporium tenuissimum SE-10, Penicillium citrinum CTD-24, and Beauveria bassiana ZK-5 were assessed for their efficacy in causing mortality against first to sixth instar eggs and neonate larvae seven days post-treatment, and their effects on the feeding performance of sixth instar S. frugiperda larvae at 48 h post-treatment at three concentrations (1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 conidia mL−1) were also assessed. The six instar S. frugiperda larvae were not susceptible to the five tested fungal isolates. However, B. bassiana ZK-5 caused the highest egg mortality of 40, 70, and 85.6% at 1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 conidia mL−1, respectively, followed by P. citrinum CTD-24 (30.6, 50, and 75.6%) and C. tenuissimum SE-10 (25.6, 40, and 55.6%). In addition, B. bassiana ZK-5 caused the highest neonate mortality of 54.3% at 1 × 108 conidia mL−1. B. bassiana ZK-5 and P. citrinum CTD-24 caused cumulative mortality, including 93.3 and 83.3% mortality of eggs and neonates, respectively, at 1 × 108 conidia mL−1. Furthermore, B. bassiana ZK-5 reduced the feeding efficacy of first to third instar S. frugiperda larvae by 66.7 to 78.6%, while P. citrinum CTD-24 and C. tenuissimum SE-10 reduced larval feeding by 48.3 to 57.1% at 1 × 108 conidia mL−1. However, these fungal isolates were less potent in reducing the feeding activity of fourth to sixth instar S. frugiperda larvae (>46% with B. bassiana at 48 h post-treatment). The tested fungal isolates could play an essential role as microbial biopesticides in suppressing the S. frugiperda population in China after further investigations on their efficacy are obtained in the field.

Objectives: To elucidate the role of SMAD8 in geese egg production, we analyzed the expression patterns of SMAD8 in geese during the egg-laying and non-laying periods. Materials and Methods: LDN-193189, a specific SMAD8 inhibitor, was injected into the geese prior to the onset of egg-laying. Subsequently, the ovaries, oviducts, and serum of the geese at various reproductive stages were collected for subsequent detection and analysis. Results: The results indicated that the development of ovaries and oviducts in geese during the egg-laying period was superior to that during the non-laying period. In addition, SMAD8 expression in ovaries and oviducts of egg-laying geese was significantly higher than that in non-laying geese (p < 0.05). Injection of the SMAD8 inhibitor LDN-193189 at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg body weight per day significantly inhibited SMAD8 expression. Concomitantly, the expression levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) expression in the ovaries and oviducts were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the average egg production of geese was significantly increased by 4.1 eggs (p < 0.05), while the hatchability of breeder eggs remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Collectively, this study demonstrates that SMAD8 is differentially expressed at different reproductive stages in geese. Exogenous SMAD8 inhibitors can regulate in vivo SMAD8 expression, thereby modulating the expression of ovulation-related hormone receptors and ultimately improving the goose egg production. Conclusions: These findings suggest that SMAD8 may serve as a key intracellular regulator connecting reproductive organ development, hormone receptor abundance, and egg-laying performance in Wanxi White Goose (WWG) and indicate that targeted modulation of SMAD8 activity could provide a novel strategy for boosting egg production in low-yield goose breeds without compromising hatchability.

A total of 2000 Hubbard Classic females and 180 males (male to female ratio 1:11) close to standard body weights were selected and managed separately in the same shed. The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of egg size (small, medium and large) at mid (45 weeks) production cycle and flock age (30, 45 and 60 weeks old) on hatching egg weight loss, fertility, hatchability traits, chick weight and chick yield in a commercial Hubbard Classic broiler breeder flock. The results showed that minimum egg weight loss (P ≤ 0.05) was recorded in large egg size group at different incubation periods and egg weight losses decreased with advancing the age of breeder hens. Maximum fertility and hatchability (P ≤ 0.05) was noticed in small egg size group, followed by medium and large egg size groups. However, maximum embryonic mortality (P ≤ 0.05) during incubation and higher percentage of infertile eggs was recorded in large size egg group, followed by medium and small egg size groups. Low fertility, hatchability was recorded (P ≤ 0.05) in older hen at the age of 60 weeks. The chick weight and chick length were amplified (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing the egg size. However, egg size was not influenced (P ≥ 0.05) on chick yield. The chick weight, chick yield and chick length were improved (P ≤ 0.05) with advancing age of broiler breeder.

The presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in poultry diets decreases the hatchability, hatchling weight, growth rate, meat and egg production, meat and egg quality, vaccination efficiency, as well as impairing the feed conversion ratio and increasing the susceptibility of birds to disease and mortality. AFB1 is transferred from poultry feed to eggs, meat, and other edible parts, representing a threat to the health of consumers because AFB1 is carcinogenic and implicated in human liver cancer. This review considers how AFB1 produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus strains can affect the immune system, antioxidant defense system, digestive system, and reproductive system in poultry, as well as its effects on productivity and reproductive performance. Nutritional factors can offset the effects of AFB1 in poultry and, thus, it is necessary to identify and select suitable additives to address the problems caused by AFB1 in poultry.

Storing hatching eggs is a common practice in the poultry industry, but data on the effects of storage under tropical ambient temperatures are limited. This study evaluated the impact of prolonged egg storage on the hatchability, moisture loss, incubation period, and embryonic mortality of Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) eggs, alongside their effects on hatchling weight. The experiment was carried out at the Quail Rearing Facility and Hatchery Production Site at the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sandakan. A total of 495 Japanese quail eggs were divided into 11 storage groups (0 to 10 consecutive days), with three replicates of 15 eggs in each experimental group. The eggs were stored at room temperature (28 ± 1 °C, 60-65% relative humidity) before incubation under controlled conditions at 37.5 °C and 60% relative humidity. The results indicated that hatchability significantly decreased with increasing storage period ( p <0.05), from a peak of 82.22% in eggs stored for two days to only 4.44% in eggs stored for 10 days. The total moisture loss increased significantly with increasing storage period ( p <0.05), with notable differences between the storage and incubation phases. However, only storage moisture loss significantly differed across all the storage periods ( p <0.05). The incubation moisture loss did not significantly differ across the different storage periods ( p >0.05). Prolonged storage also delayed the incubation period (p <0.05) and increased embryonic mortality rates ( p <0.05). However, both hatchling weight and relative chick weight did not differ significantly across all the storage periods ( p >0.05). These findings demonstrate that storing Japanese quail eggs at tropical ambient temperatures for up to seven days resulted in a progressive decrease in the hatchability of the eggs with excessive moisture loss. Hence, for producers without access to refrigeration, storing eggs for no more than three days is recommended to maintain economically viable hatch rates.

Five experiments were conducted to identify optimal temperature, light, water depth, and hatching facility suitable for the hatchability of Barbus altianalis embryos and larval growth. In experiment I, eggs were incubated at 24, 27, and 30°C with and without aeration. In experiment II, eggs were incubated in conical jars, re‐circulating and glass tanks at 27°C. In experiment III, eggs were incubated at lux values of 54.2 ± 5.5 and 10,701.8 ± 2224.3 SD. In experiment IV, eggs on trays were placed at the bottom of glass tank (60 cm depth) and others at the surface. In experiment V, six old day larvae were treated at 24, 27, 30, and 31°C. Results indicated that optimal embryo hatchability ranged from 92.9 ± 2.0% to 94.1 ± 2.9% (no aeration) at 24°C and 89.3 ± 1.0% to 91.8 ± 0.8% SE at 27°C (aeration) in two trials. Re‐circulating (84.3%) and glass tanks (80.3%) were more suitable for hatching than conical jars (37.2%). Optimal larvae growth and survival were attained at 30°C (207.4 ± 16.3 mg SE; 78.9 ± 2.0% SD). No differences were observed in egg hatchability with light and water depth treatments (p > 0.05). These results will guide farmers to produce sufficient and quality B. altianalis seeds for farming.

The melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) and the pumpkin fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae), are important invasive pests on Cucurbitaceous hosts. The acute toxicity of five insecticides to females of these two fruit fly species was bio-assayed by membrane method, and effects of their sublethal concentration on the survival, reproduction, and ovary development of females were evaluated in the laboratory. Results showed that based on the LC50 values, both B. cucurbitae and B. tau were the most susceptible to trichlorfon. After treatment with sublethal concentration (LC30) of trichlorfon, abamectin+β-cypermethrin, spinetoram, and lambda-cyhalothrin, the female survival days of the two Bactrocera species were significantly shortened compared with the control. Moreover, the fecundity of two Bactrocera species was remarkably decreased, after exposure to abamectin+β-cypermethrin and trichlorfon LC30. However, the sublethal concentration (LC30) of insecticides had no significant influence on the egg hatchability of the fruit flies. Furthermore, after treatment with abamectin+β-cypermethrin LC30, the ovary length, width, and egg load of B. cucurbitae were significantly lower than that of the control; however, only the ovarian length and egg load of B. tau were significantly decreased on the 16th and 20th day. In conclusion, abamectin+β-cypermethrin has an excellent insecticidal activity against B. cucurbitae and B. tau.

Plant-parasitic nematodes belonging to the genus Meloidogyne are known as root-knot nematodes. In regions with hot weather or brief winters, they are found in the soil. This nematode can be infected by microbial parasites like fungi. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the fungal parasite that infect nematode Meloidogyne spp. Fusarium solani has been isolated from nematode in the rhizosphere of a Okra plant infected with root-knot nematodes. The morphological and molecular identifications appeared to be identical by 100%. The pathogenicity test indicated that F. solani did not infect the radish seeds. 96% of the seeds germinated in the distilled water. However, F. solani was responsible for 93% of the seeds germinating. After 24 hours, the hatchability rate was 18.52%; after 72 hours, it was 28.6%. At the 25% concentration, the hatchability was 18.26%; at the 100% concentration, it was 28.39%. The mortality% on the larvae of root-knot nematodes between the three concentrations, 25%, 50%, and 100%, were 42.81, 56.49, and 64.65%, respectively. Additionally, the mortality% of larvae has also been significantly impacted by time. The difference between 72 and 24 hrs and 58.32 and 51.09 was statistically quite significant, respectively. While the interaction effect was not significant.

Background Infectious diseases prompted by micro-organisms such as fungi, parasites, or microbes, have influenced many countries’ public health causing death. Scientists declared that metal oxide composites have various advantages in the medical field such as the antimicrobial feature has freshly been revealed as well as its role in suppressing mosquito population. Methods In this work silver doped zinc oxide nanorods (Ag/ZnO NRs, 10 wt.%) were prepared by simple chemical route, and their microstructural characteristics were investigated by XRD, EDX, SEM, and TEM techniques. The antimicrobial, larvicidal, and ovicidal of the synthesized nanocomposites were examined. Results The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited binary phase of crystallite size 112 nm was calculated from Williamson-Hall method. EDX spectrum revealed the purity of the composite consists of Zn, O, and Ag elements. The SEM and TEM micrographs showed the particles in nanorods with high density on the surface. The energy gap ( E g ) was evaluated from the UV–Vis absorbance in the range from 2.90 - 3.08 eV inside the visible spectrum. The antimicrobial activity of the nanorods was examined against Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis ) with inhibition zones 10.5 and 14.5 mm, respectively. Whereas gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) were 14 and 17 mm, respectively. Further, Candida albicans was investigated with inhibition zone 7.5 mm. Besides, the insecticidal impact of the nanocomposite against Culex pipiens larvae was performed at 30 mg/l causing 100% larval mortality with LC 50 (11.78 mg/l). The micrograph images showed deformations in the larval body as well as egg resulting in zero egg hatchability. Conclusion The findings approved that synthesized nanorods have a significant impact on controlling pathogens that impart different diseases to humans and the environment. Graphical Abstract

Emerging avian influenza viruses pose a high risk to poultry production, necessitating the need for more broadly protective vaccines. Live attenuated influenza vaccines offer excellent protective efficacies but their use in poultry farms is discouraged due to safety concerns related to emergence of reassortant viruses. Vaccination of chicken embryos inside eggs (in ovo) induces early immunity in young chicks while reduces the safety concerns related to the use of live vaccines on farms. However, in ovo vaccination using influenza viruses severely affects the egg hatchability. We previously engineered a high interferon-inducing live attenuated influenza vaccine candidate with an enhanced protective efficacy in chickens. Here, we asked whether we could further modify this high interferon-inducing vaccine candidate to develop an in ovo-compatible live attenuated influenza vaccine. We first showed that the enhanced interferon responses induced by the vaccine is not enough to attenuate the virus in ovo. To reduce the pathogenicity of the virus for chicken embryos, we replaced the hemagglutinin cleavage site of the H7 vaccine virus (PENPKTR/GL) with that of the H6-subtype viruses (PQIETR/GL) and disrupted the ribosomal frameshifting site responsible for viral polymerase acidic X protein expression. In ovo vaccination of chickens with up to 105 median egg infectious dose of the modified vaccine had minimal effects on hatchability while protecting the chickens against a heterologous challenge virus at two weeks of age. This study demonstrates that targeted genetic mutations can be applied to further attenuate and enhance the safety of live attenuated influenza vaccines to develop future in ovo vaccines for poultry.