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The increasing use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has brought about a significant transformation in numerous fields, such as image categorization and identification. In the development of a CNN model to classify images of sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don] from weed images, four architectures were explored: CNN model variant 1, CNN model variant 2, the Visual Geometry Group (VGG16) model, and ResNet50. CNN model variant 1 (batch normalization with adjusted dropout method) demonstrated 100% validation accuracy, while variant 2 (RMSprop optimization with adjusted learning rate) achieved 90.78% validation accuracy. Pre-trained models, like VGG16 and ResNet50, were also analyzed. In contrast, ResNet50's steady learning pattern indicated the potential for better generalization. A detailed evaluation of these models revealed that variant 1 achieved a perfect score in precision, recall, and F1 score, indicating superior optimization and feature utilization. Variant 2 presented a balanced performance, with metrics between 86% and 93%. VGG16 mirrored the behavior of variant 2, both maintaining around 90% accuracy. In contrast, ResNet50's results revealed a conservative approach for class 0 predictions. Overall, variant 1 stood out in performance, while both variant 2 and VGG16 showed balanced results. The reliability of CNN model variant 1 was highlighted by the significant accuracy percentages, suggesting potential for practical implementation in agriculture. In addition to the above, a smartphone application for the identification of SL in a field-based trial showed promising results with an accuracy of 98–99%. The conclusion from the above is that a CNN model with batch normalization has the potential to play a crucial role in the future in redefining and optimizing the management of undesirable vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has brought about a significant transformation in numerous fields, such as image categorization and identification. In the development of a CNN model to classify images of sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don] from weed images, four architectures were explored: CNN model variant 1, CNN model variant 2, the Visual Geometry Group (VGG16) model, and ResNet50. CNN model variant 1 (batch normalization with adjusted dropout method) demonstrated 100% validation accuracy, while variant 2 (RMSprop optimization with adjusted learning rate) achieved 90.78% validation accuracy. Pre-trained models, like VGG16 and ResNet50, were also analyzed. In contrast, ResNet50’s steady learning pattern indicated the potential for better generalization. A detailed evaluation of these models revealed that variant 1 achieved a perfect score in precision, recall, and F1 score, indicating superior optimization and feature utilization. Variant 2 presented a balanced performance, with metrics between 86% and 93%. VGG16 mirrored the behavior of variant 2, both maintaining around 90% accuracy. In contrast, ResNet50’s results revealed a conservative approach for class 0 predictions. Overall, variant 1 stood out in performance, while both variant 2 and VGG16 showed balanced results. The reliability of CNN model variant 1 was highlighted by the significant accuracy percentages, suggesting potential for practical implementation in agriculture. In addition to the above, a smartphone application for the identification of SL in a field-based trial showed promising results with an accuracy of 98–99%. The conclusion from the above is that a CNN model with batch normalization has the potential to play a crucial role in the future in redefining and optimizing the management of undesirable vegetation.

Introduction: Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) is a warm-season perennial legume well-adapted to the warm, moist climate of the southeastern USA. High in condensed tannins and other secondary compounds, SL has potential as an anti-parasitic nutraceutical forage for sheep and goats in this region and throughout the world where it is adapted. Objectives: To summarize the nearly 20 years’ work of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) related to the anti-parasitic properties of SL in the diet of small ruminants. Results: In a series of experiments with goats and sheep fed SL in fresh (grazed), dried (hay, leaf meal, pellets) or preserved (ensiled) forms, this forage showed promising anti-parasitic efficacy against GIN, particularly Haemonchus contortus, and coccidia (Eimeria spp.), lowering gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) fecal egg counts (FEC), coccidial fecal oocyst counts (FOC), and reducing GIN larval development and worm burdens. Implications: These results indicate the potential of SL as a component of integrated, novel (non-chemical) parasite management programs for on-farm application by small ruminant producers. Conclusions: Sericea lespedeza has very good anti-parasitic activity against GIN and coccidial infection in sheep and goats and has excellent potential as a nutraceutical forage for small ruminant producers, either for their own use or for sale as nutraceutical hay or pellets.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary factor limiting agricultural productivity in acid soils. The cell wall is mainly composed of saccharides and the first barrier for aluminum (Al) to enter plant root cells, but it is unknown whether and how root saccharide components are involved in regulating the Al tolerance of Lespedeza that is well adapted to acid soils. Here, we used Al-tolerant Lespedeza bicolor and Al-sensitive Lespedeza cuneata to examine the association of root saccharide components with Lespedeza Al tolerance through analyzing the saccharide changes of roots exposed to Al toxicity. Al-sensitive Lespedeza accumulated more Al and pectin but less hemicellulose in the root cell walls than Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the amounts of total sugar secreted from and within the roots of only Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the content of root monosaccharides including glucose and mannose in both Lespedeza species, but increased the xylose contents in only Al-sensitive Lespedeza. Taken together, less cell wall pectin rather than hemicellulose is responsible for less root Al accumulation, and Al-decreased root saccharide contents may enhance root organic-acid secretion to chelate toxic Al, both of which contribute to Lespedeza Al tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection poses the most significant obstacle to the sustainable development of small ruminant (sheep and goat) farming globally. Resistance of GINs to synthetic anthelmintic drugs has led to rising interest in exploring alternative methods for parasite control, such as the utilization of bioactive plants with anti-parasitic properties. In this investigation, black seed (Nigella sativa), a shrub high in secondary antioxidant compounds, and sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a perennial legume high in tannins with anti-parasitic properties were combined to determine if two bioactive plants containing different types of secondary compounds can provide a stronger anti-parasitic effect than sericea lespedeza alone. In a 49-day trial, naturally parasitized 6–7-month-old intact male Spanish goats (n = 15/treatment) were fed pelletized feeds encompassing sericea lespedeza leaf meal (SL), a combination of black seed meal (BS) and sericea lespedeza leaf meal (BS-SL - 75 % SL, 25 % BS), or alfalfa (Medicago sativa , control parasitized; CONP), with an additional group of dewormed kids given the alfalfa pellets (Control treated; CONT). Weekly measurements of animal weights and samples of blood and feces were collected to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), GIN fecal egg counts (FEC), and coccidia fecal oocyte counts (FOC), respectively. All animals were processed at the end of the trial (60 total), with adult Haemonchus contortus worms recovered from the abomasum of each goat for counting and sex determination. Carcass weights were recorded after processing. Goats given the SL and BS-SL treatments had lower FEC (P<0.05) than the parasitized alfalfa (CONP) goats. At the end of the study, the SL and BS-SL groups' FOC values were lower (P < 0.05) than the CONT and CONP groups. A rise in PCV values was seen over time for all groups; SL, BS-SL, and CONT animals exhibited higher PCV values (P < 0.05) in comparison to the CONP goats. The parasitized goats fed SL-only pellets showed greater feed intake and animal body weights (P < 0.05) compared to goats fed BS-SL or alfalfa pellets. However, the treatments had no effect on the weight of the goats' carcasses. Although the H. contortus adult worm counts in the CONT goats (alfalfa-dewormed) were lower (P < 0.05) than in the CONP goats (alfalfa-parasitized), they did not differ from the SL or BS-SL animals. This study indicates that sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet diet, either by itself or in combination with black seed meal, showed promising results as an anthelmintic and may prove to be an effective alternative to exclusive use of conventional deworming drugs. The addition of black seed did not appear to enhance the effectiveness of sericea lespedeza in this study. • Study evaluates natural alternatives to anthelmintics in small ruminants. • Experiment on goats' tests effects of sericea lespedeza and black seed meals. • Results: SL and BS-SL diets significantly reduce gastrointestinal nematode eggs. • Both treatments also lower coccidia counts, indicating better animal health. • SL diet increases feed intake and weight gain, boosting ruminant productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceous (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons. Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] is the dominant pasture grass across much of the southeast of the USA. The species is productive, but grows slowly in summer. Plants also harbor an endophytic fungus (Epichloe coenophiala), which produces alkaloids that are toxic to cattle. Adding summer-productive forages to fescue-based systems may benefit animal production by providing extra herbage and diluting fescue toxins. A three-year study was conducted in Virginia, USA to determine animal and vegetation responses when alfalfa (Medicago sativa) or Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don) swards were established into tall fescue pastures. Average daily gain (ADG) of steers and seasonal herbage mass dynamics were monitored from 2016 to 2018. Forage and weed species composition measurements were collected to address a secondary objective that sericea might suppress weeds through allelopathy. Steer performance was acceptable (0.73 kg d−1 ADG), but interseeded legumes did not improve weight gain. Steers avoided sericea plants, and this resulted in greater herbage mass accumulation in summer compared with other treatments. Alfalfa was selectively grazed and cover decreased to almost zero by year 3, while sericea cover increased to over 82%. We found little evidence that sericea was allelopathic against weeds. Neither summer-productive legume species proved to be satisfactory in improving summer animal performance in this tall fescue-based grazing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire and grazing are two of the most common global disturbances that maintain and promote many grassland ecosystems worldwide. The presence of non‐native, invasive plant species can alter fire regimes through changes in fuel properties that affect native vegetation in many ecosystems and are a leading threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a non‐native, invasive forb frequently present in many North American tallgrass prairies, may reduce flammability by altering the fuel bed moisture and structural characteristics to reduce fire in this fire‐dependent ecosystem. The goal of this research was to examine the influence of sericea lespedeza on fuel bed structure, moisture, and flammability compared to native grassland fuels. Fuel bed burning trials, conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, tested for the effect of fuel load mass of native grass and sericea lespedeza litter, proportion of sericea fuel load, and fuel moisture content on flammability metrics. Regardless of moisture content, sericea lespedeza reduced flammability and reduced maximum fire temperatures by as much as 500°C. Sericea lespedeza poses a major threat to North American tallgrass prairies by decreasing flammability of fuel beds through increased fuel bed density and moisture retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fire and grazing are two of the most common global disturbances that maintain and promote many grassland ecosystems worldwide. The presence of non‐native, invasive plant species can alter fire regimes through changes in fuel properties that affect native vegetation in many ecosystems and are a leading threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a non‐native, invasive forb frequently present in many North American tallgrass prairies, may reduce flammability by altering the fuel bed moisture and structural characteristics to reduce fire in this fire‐dependent ecosystem. The goal of this research was to examine the influence of sericea lespedeza on fuel bed structure, moisture, and flammability compared to native grassland fuels. Fuel bed burning trials, conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, tested for the effect of fuel load mass of native grass and sericea lespedeza litter, proportion of sericea fuel load, and fuel moisture content on flammability metrics. Regardless of moisture content, sericea lespedeza reduced flammability and reduced maximum fire temperatures by as much as 500°C. Sericea lespedeza poses a major threat to North American tallgrass prairies by decreasing flammability of fuel beds through increased fuel bed density and moisture retention.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary factor limiting agricultural productivity in acid soils. The cell wall is mainly composed of saccharides and the first barrier for aluminum (Al) to enter plant root cells, but it is unknown whether and how root saccharide components are involved in regulating the Al tolerance of Lespedeza that is well adapted to acid soils. Here, we used Al-tolerant Lespedeza bicolor and Al-sensitive Lespedeza cuneata to examine the association of root saccharide components with Lespedeza Al tolerance through analyzing the saccharide changes of roots exposed to Al toxicity. Al-sensitive Lespedeza accumulated more Al and pectin but less hemicellulose in the root cell walls than Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the amounts of total sugar secreted from and within the roots of only Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the content of root monosaccharides including glucose and mannose in both Lespedeza species, but increased the xylose contents in only Al-sensitive Lespedeza. Taken together, less cell wall pectin rather than hemicellulose is responsible for less root Al accumulation, and Al-decreased root saccharide contents may enhance root organic-acid secretion to chelate toxic Al, both of which contribute to Lespedeza Al tolerance.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major factors limiting plant growth in acid soils, where most P is fixed by toxic aluminum (Al). Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSBs) are important for the solubilization of fixed P in soils. Many PSBs have been isolated from neutral and calcareous soils, where calcium phosphate is the main P form, whereas PSBs in acid soils have received relatively little attention. In this study, we isolated a PSB strain from the rhizosphere of Lespedeza bicolor, a plant well adapted to acid soils. On the basis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence, this strain was identified as a Nguyenibacter species and named L1. After incubation of Nguyenibacter sp. L1 for 48 h in a culture medium containing AlPO4 as the sole P source, the concentration of available P increased from 10 to 225 mg L−1 , and the pH decreased from 5.5 to 2.5. Nguyenibacter sp. L1 exhibited poor FePO4 solubilization ability. When the pH of nonPSB-inoculated medium was manually adjusted from 5.5 to 2.5, the concentration of available P only increased from 6 to 65 mg L−1 , which indicates that growth medium acidification was not the main contributor to the solubilization of AlPO4 by Nguyenibacter sp. L1. In the presence of glucose, but not fructose, Nguyenibacter sp. L1 released large amounts of gluconic acid to solubilize AlPO4. Furthermore, external addition of gluconic acid enhanced AlPO4 solubilization and reduced Al toxicity to plants. We conclude that secretion of gluconic acid by Nguyenibacter sp. L1, which is dependent on glucose supply, is responsible for AlPO4 solubilization as well as the alleviation of Al phytotoxicity by this bacterial strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceous (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons. Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] is the dominant pasture grass across much of the southeast of the USA. The species is productive, but grows slowly in summer. Plants also harbor an endophytic fungus (Epichloe coenophiala), which produces alkaloids that are toxic to cattle. Adding summer-productive forages to fescue-based systems may benefit animal production by providing extra herbage and diluting fescue toxins. A three-year study was conducted in Virginia, USA to determine animal and vegetation responses when alfalfa (Medicago sativa) or Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don) swards were established into tall fescue pastures. Average daily gain (ADG) of steers and seasonal herbage mass dynamics were monitored from 2016 to 2018. Forage and weed species composition measurements were collected to address a secondary objective that sericea might suppress weeds through allelopathy. Steer performance was acceptable (0.73 kg d−1 ADG), but interseeded legumes did not improve weight gain. Steers avoided sericea plants, and this resulted in greater herbage mass accumulation in summer compared with other treatments. Alfalfa was selectively grazed and cover decreased to almost zero by year 3, while sericea cover increased to over 82%. We found little evidence that sericea was allelopathic against weeds. Neither summer-productive legume species proved to be satisfactory in improving summer animal performance in this tall fescue-based grazing system.

Purpose: To analyze the effects of an aqueous extract of Sericea lespedeza (SL) on rat male menopause. Methods: Levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cGMP, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the penile corpus cavernosum of the rats were evaluated using appropriate kits. Serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Total and motile sperms were counted on a hemocytometer. Histological changes in rat testis and epididymis were analyzed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: The levels of NO, NOS, and cGMP (but not PGE2) increased in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05) upon administration of an aqueous extract of SL (AESL), while levels of DHT, 17β-HSD, and testosterone increased in the group administered with 300 mg/kg of AESL. Epididymal sperm count increased by 24 % in such rats compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The aqueous extract of SL improves sperm count and muscle mass in rats by increasing the levels of NO, NOS, cGMP and testosterone. Thus, SL extract can potentially be developed as an alternative therapeutic agent for clinical management of TDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Examine the effects of supplementing bahiagrass hay (BG) with potentially anthelmintic quantities of hays of perennial peanut (PEA) or sericea lespedeza (LES) or seeds of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L.; MUC) or papaya (PAP) on the intake and nutritive value (Experiment 1), and the performance and parasite burden (Experiment 2) of goats. Methods In Experiment 1, 38 male goats (27.4±5.7 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to each of 5 treatments: i) BG alone and BG plus; ii) PEA; iii) LES; iv) MUC; and v) PAP. Goats were fed for ad libitum consumption and adapted to the diets for 14 d followed by 7 d of measurement. The PEA, LES, MUC (50%, 50%, and 10% of the diet dry matter [DM], respectively), and PAP (forced-fed at 10 g/d) were fed at rates that would elicit anthelmintic effects. In Experiment 2, goats remained in the same treatments but were allocated to 15 pens (3 pens per treatment) from d 22 to 63. All goats were infected with parasites by grazing an infected bahiagrass pasture from 0800 to 1500 h daily and then returned to the pens. Results Dry matter intake tended to be greater in goats fed PEA and LES than those fed BG (757 and 745 vs 612 g/d, respectively). Digestibility of DM (59.5% vs 54.9%) and organic matter (60.8% vs 56.0%) were greater in goats fed MUC vs BG, respectively. In Experiment 2, feeding PAP, LES, and PEA to goats reduced nematode fecal egg counts by 72%, 52%, and 32%, reduced abomasal adult worm counts by 78%, 52%, and 42%, and decreased plasma haptoglobin concentrations by 42%, 40%, and 45% relative to feeding BG alone, respectively. Conclusion Supplementation with PEA, LES, and PAP decreased the parasite burden of goats but did not increase their performance. PAP was the most effective anthelmintic supplement.

[Objective] The morphological structure of flower and leaf organs of 17 Lespedeza materials were studied in order to provide scientific basis for the identification of the germplasm resources. [Method] The morphological structure of flower and leaf organs such as inflorescence type, flower color and size, lobes, petiole length and leaf size about 17 Lespedeza materials were measured in the peak anthesis period. Cluster analysis was used. [Result] The 17 materials were firstly divided to Sect. Macrolespedeza Maxim and Sect. U:spedeza. according to the presence or absence of cleistogamous flower. The length of inflorescences and leaves could further distinguish L. fornwsa (Vog.) Koehne and L. bicolorTurcz. The leaf shape and size, ratio of calyx to corolla could distinguish the materials of Sect. Lespedeza. All materials of U:spedeza were divided into 4 categories by cluster analysis. Hl was a self-contained class because of having the super inflorescence. The second type of H3, H8, H16 and H18 had bigger inflorescence and belonged to having no cleistogamous flower. The third group of H14, H20, H21 and H26 had no pedicels, but had the slender leavers. Although there were many kinds of materials in the fourth group, they were all Sect. Lespedeza. [Conclusion] As a supplement of germplasm morphological classification, quantitative classification was feasible in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperate grass and legume yield and quality are markedly reduced during hot, dry summer months in the southern USA; therefore, browse species could add feed options for small ruminants during this season. Our objective was to compare total biomass yield and forage nutritive value of two browse species, leguminous bristly locust (Robinia hispida) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), as well as a leguminous shrub known as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneate), during summer months (June, July, August and September). Plants were sampled monthly during growing-seasons in 2012 and 2013 to determine biomass yield (foliar, shoot, and total above ground) and foliar nutritive value [crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and condensed tannins (CT)]. There was a species × harvest time interaction for foliar biomass yield (P = 0.0125). This interaction was likely due to low yield in June for bristly locust compared with sericea lespedeza and smooth sumac, but in all other months (July, August, and September) yields were similar for each species. Bristly locust had the highest CP (16.9%), followed by sericea lespedeza (14.8%), and smooth sumac (12.3%). Acid detergent fiber and ADL were similar between bristly locust (ADF 38.5%; ADL 24.1%) and sericea lespedeza (ADF 38.4%; ADL 23.1%), but was lower for smooth sumac (ADF 22.1%, ADL 6.3%; P < 0.05). Condensed tannins, an anti-nutritive yet anti-parasitic phenolic compounds, were highest in smooth sumac, intermediate in bristly locust, and lowest in sericea lespedeza. Plant foliar percentage (ratio of foliar to shoot mass), was highest in smooth sumac (55.1%), followed by sericea lespedeza (47.7%), and bristly locust (42.6%). Overall, smooth sumac had the highest foliar biomass and lowest ADF and ADL; however, this species had the lowest CP and highest CT. Consequently, average foliar biomass yield of all three browse species in our study far exceeded forage yield from dominant forage species [tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and bermudagrass (Cyanodon dactylon)] in this region and may provide high-yielding, low input, anti-parasitic fodder for small ruminants during this period in the Southeastern U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lespedeza (tribe: Desmodieae) consists of about 40 species that have high medicinal and economic value. However, in this genus, using morphological characters, the species identification is quite complicated, which can be solved by the analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes. As primary organelle genomes, the complete genome sequences of chloroplasts (cp) provide unique molecular information to study the divergence of species, RNA editing, and phylogeny. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we sequenced the complete cp genomes of two representative Lespedeza species: Lespedeza davurica and Lespedeza cuneata. The cp genomes of both the species were found to be 149,010 bp in length, exhibiting the typical angiosperm chloroplast structure containing four regions. The Lespedeza cp genomes showed similar conserved gene contents, order, and orientations with a total GC content of 35.0%. A total of 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, were identified from each genome. Unique molecular features of the two Lespedeza cp genome sequences were obtained by performing the analysis of repeats, sequence divergence, codon usage, and predicting the RNA editing sites in addition to phylogenetic analysis with other key genera in tribe Desmodieae. Using the two datasets, the phylogenetic relationship of Lespedeza species among Deasmodieae was discovered, suggesting that whole cp genomes provided useful information for phylogenetic studies of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary manipulations to include tannins can change the proportion and amounts of nitrogen (N) excreted in the urine and feces as well as improve nitrogen use efficiency by ruminants. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of adding different proportions of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneate) hay (SL) containing tannins (16.8% total condensed tannins; CT) to alfalfa (Medicago sativa) silage. Alfalfa silage was either offered alone (0 g/kg; CONT) or mixed with chopped SL to provide 90 (LOW), 180 (MED), or 270 g/kg SL (HIGH) or 15, 30, or 45 g CT/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis. These diets were offered randomly for ad libitum consumption to 16 Dorper ewe lambs (42.1 ± 1.15 kg BW; Period 1; 41.7 ± 1.12 kg BW; Period 2) in a randomized complete block design experiment where each treatment was offered to four lambs during each of two periods. The same 16 lambs were used in both periods, resulting in eight total observations/treatment. Each period consisted of a 14-d dietary adaptation period followed by 5 d of total fecal and urine collection. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility as well as digestible DM and OM intake (g/day or g/kg BW) decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing SL in the diet. Ruminal acetate and butyrate molar proportions increased quadratically (P = 0.01), whereas ruminal isobutyrate and isovalerate decreased linearly (P = 0.02) with increasing SL in the diet. Apparent N absorption (g/kg N intake) decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing SL in the diet. Urinary N excretions (g/kg N intake) tended (P = 0.10) to respond quadratically while fecal N (g/kg N intake) increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing SL proportion in the diet. In this study, supplementation with sericea lespedeza as a tannin source to alfalfa silage decreased forage digestibility without affecting feed intake, and significantly increased N excreted in feces and tended to decrease urine N excretion without affecting N balance. Therefore, feeding tannins in diet can alter N excretion route from urine to feces but may not improve N-use efficiency by the animal. • Tannins have multiple uses in ruminant diets. • The objective was to compare different levels of sericea lespedeza and alfalfa. • Sericea lespedeza reduced digestibility as feeding levels were increased. • Sericea lespedeza had minimal impact on ruminal fermentation. • Sericea lespedeza improved nitrogen apparent absorption but not nitrogen retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and reducing stress have been reported to improve meat quality and food safety in goats. In a completely randomized design with split-plot, thirty-six uncastrated male Spanish goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (n = 12/treatment): ground ‘Serala’ sericea lespedeza hay (SER), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay (BG), or bermudagrass hay—dewormed goats (BG-DW; Control) at 75% of intake, with a corn-based supplementation (25%) for 8 weeks. Prior to slaughter, goats were either transported for 90 min to impose stress or held in pens. Basophil counts were lower (p < 0.01) in the SER group compared to BG or BG-DW groups suggesting a better anti-inflammatory capacity due to polyphenols in the SER diet. Compared to BG-DW group, cortisol level was higher (p < 0.05) and norepinephrine was lower (p < 0.05) in the SER group. The SER group had the lowest aerobic plate counts (APC) in both rumen and rectum (p < 0.01). Longissimus dorsi muscle initial pH was not affected by diet or stress. Feeding sericea hay to goats may have beneficial effects, such as enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties during stress and reduced gut microbial counts, without changing meat quality characteristics.

Abstract Distribution of rhizobial species is affected by geographical isolation and selected by leguminous hosts, however, little is known about the molecular evolution of rhizobia nodulating the same legume in different eco-environments. In present study, the microevolution of Bradyrhizobium associated with the leguminous grass Kummerowia grown in exurban areas and cultivated in urban areas in China was investigated. Total 14 genospecies, including seven new groups, were identified based on a concatenated sequence analysis of taxonomic markers (SMc00019, truA and thrA) for 94 representative strains. Results demonstrated that lower levels of nucleotide diversity were found in the strains isolated from urban areas compared with those isolated from exurban areas, based on the evolutional analyses of three housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and recA), two symbiosis-related genes (nodC and nifH), and the taxonomic markers. Moreover, compared with urban areas, gene exchange and recombination occurred more frequently among the genospecies isolated from exurban areas, regardless of the geographical distribution. Finally, the evolutionary lineage of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from urban areas was independent of that of the strains isolated from exurban areas. In summary, the evolutionary history of Kummerowia bradyrhizobia may have been gradually segregated to different evolutionary lineages, irrespective of distinct biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models for community invasion can inform grassland management if patterns involving the environment, other species, and invader success are evident. We evaluated unplanned invasion by Lespedeza cuneata into an experiment on a reconstructed tallgrass prairie. Our goal was to determine whether the pattern of invasion by this exotic legume was consistent with either the limiting similarity hypothesis (LSH), which predicts poorer establishment of exotic species in communities with related species, or the biotic resistance hypothesis, which predicts a negative association between species richness and invasion. We also examined how the abiotic environment and hemiparasite abundance affect spread of L. cuneata. From 2006 to 2015 we manipulated fertilizer and presence of the hemiparasitic plant, Pedicularis canadensis, in 1-m2 plots, and manipulated shade for the first 5 years. We found greater support for the LSH. Biomasses of legumes and other forbs in 2008 were negatively associated with change in L. cuneata biomass over the next 7 years but species richness was not a significant effect. Lespedeza cuneata cover in 2015 was lower in fertilized plots relative to unfertilized plots and was negatively associated with a composite variable that described the number and combined cover of legume species and number of exotic species currently in the plots. Shading for five seasons reduced L. cuneata growth, but only significantly in fertilized plots from which the hemiparasite had been removed. Other analysis suggested that L. cuneata increased more as the hemiparasite abundance increased. Prairie management that increases the kinds and abundances of native legume species and increases soil fertility may slow the spread of L. cuneata, but we caution against adding P. canadensis to large areas without greater knowledge of site-specific effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was assessing the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) Sericea lespedeza hay on the parasitic burden, packed cellular volume (PCV), and whole-plasma metabolome of naturally infected goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (>5,000 eggs/gram) Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (Bermudagrass hay), AS (Unfertilized lespedeza), and AR (fertilized lespedeza) for 60 days. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage: concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and fecal samples were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, fecal egg counts, and PCV. Additionally, whole-plasma metabolomic analysis was performed using chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. Data were analyzed with the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Total condensed tannins and precipitable phenolics were greater (P < 0.05) in AS compared with AR (13.9 vs. 6.5% DM; 95.3 vs.9.5 mg/g). However, both AS and AR reduced (P < 0.01) fecal egg counts compared with the control (1,100, 1,450 vs. 3,500 eggs/gram). Conversely, PCV was greater in AR compared with the control (23.6 vs. 20.6%), but no differences between AR and AS (23.6 vs. 22.5%) were observed. Compared with the control, relative distribution of glutamine and betaleucine were increased in AS and AR. The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that dietary AS and AR increased glycine, serine, and purine metabolism compared with the control. Collectively, results from this study suggest that dietary AS and AR reduced fecal egg counts by improving anti-oxidative metabolism, muscle regeneration capacity, and immune response in naturally infected goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) hay on body weight (BW), average daily gain, and plasma metabolome of goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (>5000 eggs/gram) 9-month-old intact male Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (bermudagrass hay), b) AS (unfertilized lespedeza), and c) AR (fertilized lespedeza) for a 60-day pen feeding trial. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage:concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and BW were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, initial and final BW, and average daily gain (ADG). Metabolome analysis of the plasma samples was performed using a chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. All other data were analyzed following the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS, with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Chemical composition revealed greater (P ≤ 0.05) CP (15.6 vs. 12%) and NDF (50 vs. 40.8%) in AR hay compared with AS hay. Compared with the control, dietary AR increased (P < 0.05) final BW (30.1 vs. 27.3 kg) and ADG (130.2 vs. 84.5 g/d) in parasite-infected goats. Compared with the control, nitrogen metabolism was enriched (P ≤ 0.05) in AR and AS goats. Compared with AR, the lysine degradation pathway was enriched in AS (P = 7.51 x 10-6) animals. Moreover, the relative concentration of β-leucine was greater (P < 0.05) in goats on the AR diet compared with the control. Results from this research suggest that both AS and AR sericea lespedeza increased nitrogen metabolism in parasite-infected goats. However, dietary AR hay reduced lysine degradation or increased plasma β-leucine concentration compared with AS and the control, respectively. In conclusion, dietary AR lespedeza hay improved the growth performance of parasite-infected meat goats by preventing amino acid degradation and increasing leucine availability, which may help promote muscle regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility is a significant issue in the livestock industry. Parasitic infestation is a significant cause of infertility in small ruminants. Sericea Lespedeza (SL) and Black seed meals (BSM) have been reported to improve sperm quality and fertility in rodents; however, little is known about their effects on livestock. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of feeding male goats with SL and BSM on their sperm quality and fertility. We conducted an 8-week pen study involving 60 mature, intact Spanish bucks divided into four groups. The animals were randomly assigned to four groups and fed diets of 60% pellets and 40% concentrate. The treatment groups were SL (n = 15), SL+ BSM (n = 15), alpha-alpha with deworming (n = 15), and alpha-alpha without deworming (naturally parasitized n = 15). At the end of the trial, scrotum circumferences (SC) were measured, and the animals were transported to a processing facility for slaughter. Testicles and epididymides were collected after slaughter for measuring their weights and lengths. Epididymal spermatozoa were retrieved and evaluated for their motility, concentration, viability, abnormalities, and membrane integrities. No significant differences were observed in SC and sperm motility between the 4 groups (ranged 56.7% to 67.3%). However, sperm cell concentrations, viable sperm, and the percentage of sperm with intact acrosome were greater (P < 0.05) in SL and SL+BSM groups than in the other 2 groups. Furthermore, the sperm abnormalities were less (P < 0.05) in SL and SL+BSM groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with SL and BSM significantly improved sperm viability and reduced sperm abnormalities in goats. This study assures the potential benefits of SL and BSM on the fertility of male goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lespedeza (tribe: Desmodieae) consists of about 40 species that have high medicinal and economic value. However, in this genus, using morphological characters, the species identification is quite complicated, which can be solved by the analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes. As primary organelle genomes, the complete genome sequences of chloroplasts (cp) provide unique molecular information to study the divergence of species, RNA editing, and phylogeny. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we sequenced the complete cp genomes of two representative Lespedeza species: Lespedeza davurica and Lespedeza cuneata. The cp genomes of both the species were found to be 149,010 bp in length, exhibiting the typical angiosperm chloroplast structure containing four regions. The Lespedeza cp genomes showed similar conserved gene contents, order, and orientations with a total GC content of 35.0%. A total of 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, were identified from each genome. Unique molecular features of the two Lespedeza cp genome sequences were obtained by performing the analysis of repeats, sequence divergence, codon usage, and predicting the RNA editing sites in addition to phylogenetic analysis with other key genera in tribe Desmodieae. Using the two datasets, the phylogenetic relationship of Lespedeza species among Deasmodieae was discovered, suggesting that whole cp genomes provided useful information for phylogenetic studies of these species.

The purpose of this study was to determine which shrub species will enhance soil anti-scouring resistance on an ecological slope. Root traits and soil anti-scouring resistance of three shrubs (Amorpha fruticosa Linn (AFL), Swida alba Opiz (SAO) and Lespedeza bicolor Turcz (LBT)) were measured. Results showed that root biomass and root morphological traits of three shrubs were significantly correlated with the soil anti-scouring resistance index. According to the composition characteristic values, root morphological traits among the three shrubs had a high contribution rate. Under two slopes and two rainfall conditions, when root biomass and root morphological traits (e.g., root length, root volume and root surface area) were identical, AFL had the highest soil anti-scouring resistance index. These results suggested that root biomass and morphological traits of AFL had more significant effects on soil anti-scouring resistance comparing with SAO and LBT. Therefore, in engineering practice, AFL with stronger soil anti-scouring resistance can be selected as slope plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2023 Zhou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Graphical abstract Highlights • Replacing alfalfa hay with lespedeza pellets reduces urine N and increase fecal N. • Replacing alfalfa hay with lespedeza pellets reduces N, DM and fiber digestibility. • Only minute quantities of condensed tannins from lespedeza survive sheep digestion. • Feeding lespedeza pellets with alfalfa hay may reduce long-term growth of sheep. Abstract Sustainable ruminant livestock production could benefit from feedstuffs containing condensed tannin (CT) if they maintained or improved livestock health and productivity while reducing the excretion of urinary nitrogen (N), which can be readily lost to the environment. Such feedstuffs would be most useful if they were easy and inexpensive to grow and could be field dried and pelletized for ease of transport and storage. One feedstuff that may meet these criteria is pelleted sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata). Therefore, a 4 × 4 Latin square trial was conducted with four mature male sheep fed four proportions of pelleted SL with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay cubes, to determine effects on digestion and N excretion, and the fate of the CT during digestion. Pelleted SL contained (g/kg dry matter; DM) 182 CT, 23.3N, 341 aNDF, 227 ADF, 87 ADL and 55 ash, while the cubed alfalfa hay contained (g/kg DM) 28.5N, 381 aNDF, 284 ADF, 78 ADL and 137 ash. The SL pellets were consumed readily, but increasing their proportion in the ration DM from 0 to 0.4 linearly decreased apparent digestibility of DM from 59.7 to 49.9% and N from 74.7 to 53.4%, with associated reductions in urinary N excretion. Evaluation with 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC NMR) spectroscopy detected trace amounts of intact CT in sheep feces and analysis of the feces from the 0.4 lespedeza pellet ration using the HCl-butanol-acetone-iron assay indicated that 96% of the CT had been modified into non-proanthocyanidin components. Fiber analysis conducted with and without sulfite indicated an accumulation of sulfite-resistant CT-protein complexes in feces which likely contributed to the reduction in digestibility of fiber and N. This study has shown that SL pellets reduced urinary N excretion and diverted feed N to feces, but their inclusion in the diet reduced the apparent digestibility of DM and N. Complexes of CT, protein and fiber were the main contributor to the poor digestibility of aNDF and ADF in diets containing SL pellets. Findings presented here suggest a potential negative effect of these SL pellets on long-term sheep productivity in contrast to short-term productivity improvements due to the ability of the SL pellets to reduce gastrointestinal parasite populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Surface mining activities usually devastate the landscape, rendering it unsuitable for plant growth. Organic amendments have been widely applied for the restoration of soil nutrients as well as the soil structure in mine tailings. However, the responses of growth and nutrient uptake among plant species to organic amendments have not been well evaluated. In this study, we conducted a pot experiment to examine the impacts of peat and cattle manure amendments on the total soil C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg; the available soil P, K, Ca, and Mg; and the growth and nutrient concentrations of re‐established Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), lespedeza (Lespedeza daurica), and lyme grass (Elymus dahuricus) in the Guliku placer gold mine area in northeastern China. Organic amendments, especially cattle manure, improved the soil nutrient status and availability compared with those in nonamended mine soils. The plant biomass and nutrients of the 3 species were altered differently by the 2 amendments. Although peat addition increased the total soil C, total N, and available Ca, it had little impact on plant biomass production due to a lesser increase in available soil P, K, and Mg and a decrease in total soil K. Our results highlight that both balanced increase in soil nutrients by applying appropriate soil amendments and the selection of suitable plant species are necessary for the successful reclamation of postmined lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbial communities are important for ecological restoration and succession on mine tailings. In the present study, we performed Illumina sequencing to investigate the effects of long term Lespedeza bicolor revegetation on bacterial diversity and community structure in mine tailings under subtropical and moist climatic conditions. Microbial diversity indices (Shannon, OTU number and coverage estimator) of the revegetated soils were higher than that of the control, and increased over sampling period compared to the decreased pattern in the control. Species within known acid tolerant and nutrient regulated genera dominated both revegetated tailings and the control, and exhibited more abundant in the revegetated tailings. At the phylum level, percentage of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were remarkedly higher in revegetated tailings than that in the control, while Chloroflexi performed reversely. Overall, this study found the positive role of L. bicolor revegetation in bacterial diversity development in the acidic mine tailings. Furthermore, the 30-year L. bicolor revegetation made the microbial community structure more homogenizable as a decrease of dissimilarity in tailings was identified over sampling times. Redundancy analysis at the OTU level indicated that Olsen-P and pH were the main regulators of microbial composition, suggesting that soil P and pH are determinant for ecological restoration and microbial community development in acidic mine tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dumont de Courset] G. Don.; SL) is a perennial, warm‐season legume containing condensed tannins (CT) that can play important roles in ruminant ecosystems. Our research objective was to determine season‐long average herbage CT fractions, crude protein (CP) and fiber concentrations under three harvest regimens for SL cv. AU Grazer at five locations within the southeastern USA during 2010. Harvest regimens were regrowth every 35 days (35‐day), previously uncut plots every 35 days (ACCUM), or regrowth when height reached 40 cm (40 cm). We found harvest regimen by location interactions (P ≤ 0.05) for all dependent variables. The ACCUM plants usually had greater (P ≤ 0.05) fiber concentrations where there were differences, except for the Louisiana location. The lowest (114 g kg−1; P ≤ 0.05) CP concentrations were measured in ACCUM plants at the driest location (Texas) while the highest (181 g kg−1 for North Carolina plants) came from the 35‐day regimen. Total CT (TCT) concentration varied (P ≤ 0.05) from a low of 61.1 g kg−1 for ACCUM plants in Louisiana to 100.7 g kg−1 for Texas plants harvested from 35‐day plots. In summary, harvest regimen influenced SL nutrient and CT concentrations. Fiber concentration was better correlated (−0.621 for acid detergent fiber; P ≤ 0.05) with TCT than CP (−0.014; P = 0.82). Sericea lespedeza regrowth harvested every 35 days had higher season‐long average TCT concentrations in two of five locations along with greater CP and less fiber concentrations in four of five locations compared to the ACCUM regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out experiments with various concentrations of Trichoderma harzianum YC459 in different soil types (forest soil, mixed soil, merchantable soil, and leaf mold soil) to evaluate its effect on seed germination and seedling establishment of four species (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Dianthus barbatus var. asiaticus Nakai, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya Miq., and Parthenocissus tricuspidata Planch) for rock slope restoration. We also investigated the use of drilled slanted holes on the rock slopes for seedling establishment. The results showed that T. harzianum concentration had significant effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and seedling survival for all the species with different soil types. Seed germination and survival rates peaked at 5% T. harzianum concentration with leaf mold soil and decreased as T. harzianum concentration increased from 5% to 10%. Seedling survival rates of all four species were generally lowest at 0% T. harzianum concentration in all soil types. The height of F. arundinacea and L. cyrtobotrya peaked at 5% T. harzianum concentration whereas that of D. barbatus and P. tricuspidata peaked at 10% T. harzianum concentration. We concluded that 5% T. harzianum concentration with leaf mold soil is appropriate for seed germination and seedling survival rates of most species, thus enhancing seedling establishment. Practical application of the findings of this study will contribute in the vegetation restoration of steep rocks in mountain environments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and fertilizers affect the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition and allocation among organs in dominant species in natural vegetation on the semiarid Loess Plateau. This study aimed to clarify the N and P accumulation and N:P ratio at organ and plant level of a local legume species mixed with a grass species under varying water and fertilizer supplies, and thus to fully understand the requirements and balance of nutrient elements in response to growth conditions change of native species. The N and P concentration in the organ (leaf, stem, and root) and plant level of Lespedeza davurica (C3 legume), were examined when intercropped with Bothriochloa ischaemum (C4 grass). The two species were grown outdoors in pots under 80, 60, and 40% of soil water field capacity (FC), -NP, +N, +P, and +NP supply and the grass:legume mixture ratios of 2:10, 4:8, 6:6, 8:4, 10:2, and 12:0. The three set of treatments were under a randomized complete block design. Intercropping with B. ischaemum did not affect N concentrations in leaf, stem and root of L. davurica, but reduced P concentration in each organ under P fertilization. Only leaf N concentration in L. davurica showed decreasing trend as soil water content decreased under all fertilization and mixture proportion treatments. Stems had the lowest, while roots had the highest N and P concentration. As the mixture proportion of L. davurica decreased under P fertilization, P concentration in leaf and root also decreased. The N concentration in L. davurica at the whole plant level was 11.1-17.2%. P fertilization improved P concentration, while decreased N:P ratio in L. davurica. The N:P ratios were less than 14.0 under CP and CNP treatments. Our results implied that exogenous N and P fertilizer application may change the N:P stoichiometry and influence the balance between nutrients and organs of native dominant species in natural grassland, and P element should be paid more attention when considering rehabilitating degraded grassland via fertilization application in semiarid Loess Plateau region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Examine the effects of supplementing bahiagrass hay (BG) with potentially anthelmintic quantities of hays of perennial peanut (PEA) or sericea lespedeza (LES) or seeds of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L.; MUC) or papaya (PAP) on the intake and nutritive value (Experiment 1), and the performance and parasite burden (Experiment 2) of goats. Methods: In Experiment 1, 38 male goats (27.4±5.7 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to each of 5 treatments: i) BG alone and BG plus; ii) PEA; iii) LES; iv) MUC; and v) PAP. Goats were fed for ad libitum consumption and adapted to the diets for 14 d followed by 7 d of measurement. The PEA, LES, MUC (50%, 50%, and 10% of the diet dry matter [DM], respectively), and PAP (forced-fed at 10 g/d) were fed at rates that would elicit anthelmintic effects. In Experiment 2, goats remained in the same treatments but were allocated to 15 pens (3 pens per treatment) from d 22 to 63. All goats were infected with parasites by grazing an infected bahiagrass pasture from 0800 to 1500 h daily and then returned to the pens. Results: Dry matter intake tended to be greater in goats fed PEA and LES than those fed BG (757 and 745 vs 612 g/d, respectively). Digestibility of DM (59.5% vs 54.9%) and organic matter (60.8% vs 56.0%) were greater in goats fed MUC vs BG, respectively. In Experiment 2, feeding PAP, LES, and PEA to goats reduced nematode fecal egg counts by 72%, 52%, and 32%, reduced abomasal adult worm counts by 78%, 52%, and 42%, and decreased plasma haptoglobin concentrations by 42%, 40%, and 45% relative to feeding BG alone, respectively. Conclusion: Supplementation with PEA, LES, and PAP decreased the parasite burden of goats but did not increase their performance. PAP was the most effective anthelmintic supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lespedeza cuneata (poorman’s lucerne; sericea lespedeza), a tannin-rich perennial legume, was offered as hay to dry Merino ewes in a confined feeding experiment to evaluate the effect on the level of gastrointestinal parasite infection in sheep. Medicago sativa (a low tannin containing perennial legume) was used as the control treatment. Parameters faecal egg count (FEC), FAMACHA© scores and rectal temperatures were used. FECs were substantially lower (p = 0.05) in the Lespedeza group after 35 days, together with a trend of higher rectal temperatures, compared with the Medicago group. Although non-significant (p > 0.05), the higher rectal temperatures suggested a lower level of anaemia in the sheep on the Lespedeza ration and, therefore, a lower parasite-worm burden. However, FAMACHA© scores showed no significant (p > 0.05) differences between treatments despite the differences in FEC that were recorded, indicating that host homeostasis was possibly mediated by improved nutrition as a result of the high protein content of both experimental diets.

Lespedeza davurica, a major semi-shrub leguminous plant of the vast semi-arid grasslands in northwest China, has decreased greatly in abundance due to overgrazing. Seed characteristics and fungal pathogens affect seedling recruitment from soil seed banks. However, little is known about how grazing affects seed characteristics and fungal colonization on seeds. Seeds of L. davurica were obtained both from plants and from soil from plots where four intensities of grazing (0, 2.7, 5.3 and 8.7 sheep/ha) had been applied for 13 years. The morphological and germination characteristics and colonization of seed by fungi were examined. Seed size showed a hump-shaped trend with increasing grazing intensity. With freshly harvested seed, the intensity of 8.7 sheep/ha significantly enhanced germination and extended the time over which germination occurred. The occurrence of pathogenic Fusarium species on seeds decreased with increasing grazing intensity. Our study strongly suggests that the intensity of grazing can alter seed morphological and germination characteristics, as well as the colonization of fungi on seeds. Additional studies involving more members of the plant community are needed to determine whether the intensity of grazing results in a compensatory mechanism that serves to enhance the possibility of plant recruitment from seeds under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes with excessive condensed tannins may become unpalatable to ruminants; however, body condition may affect feed intake. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of goats with different initial bodies condition scores fed pellets composed of pure alfalfa, sericea lespedeza, and this with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 35 days. Goats had compensatory gain, once no difference ( P > 0.05) among body scores was obtained in final body weight. Goats in low body scores had greater ( P ≤ 0.05) average daily gain. About feed intake, no differences among legume diets were found in the high diet group. In most of the variables, animals in the high group kept greater their body measures, as well as legumes could be similar ( P > 0.05), despite of SL quality. Pellets made from sericea and plus PEG decreased ( P ≤ 0.05) gases productions. Goats in low body conditions have compensatory gain when fed either sericea or plus PEG, both viable substitutes for alfalfa. Body measurements are a tool to predict body weight, in spite of moderate correlations. Pellets made from sericea can decrease feed energy loss via CH 4 emissions and provide an alternative N pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant community characteristics impact rhizosphere Streptomyces nutrient competition and antagonistic capacities. However, the effects of Streptomyces on, and their responses to, coexisting microorganisms as a function of plant host or plant species richness have received little attention. In this work, we characterized antagonistic activities and nutrient use among Streptomyces and Fusarium from the rhizosphere of Andropogon gerardii ( Ag) and Lespedeza capitata ( Lc) plants growing in communities of 1 (monoculture) or 16 (polyculture) plant species. Streptomyces from monoculture were more antagonistic against Fusarium than those from polyculture. In contrast, Fusarium isolates from polyculture had greater inhibitory capacities against Streptomyces than isolates from monoculture. Although Fusarium isolates had on average greater niche widths, the collection of Streptomyces isolates in total used a greater diversity of nutrients for growth. Plant richness, but not plant host, influenced the potential for resource competition between the two taxa. Fusarium isolates had greater niche overlap with Streptomyces in monoculture than polyculture, suggesting greater potential for Fusarium to competitively challenge Streptomyces in monoculture plant communities. In contrast, Streptomyces had greater niche overlap with Fusarium in polyculture than monoculture, suggesting that Fusarium experiences greater resource competition with Streptomyces in polyculture than monoculture. These patterns of competitive and inhibitory phenotypes among Streptomyces and Fusarium populations are consistent with selection for Fusarium-antagonistic Streptomyces populations in the presence of strong Fusarium resource competition in plant monocultures. Similarly, these results suggest selection for Streptomyces-inhibitory Fusarium populations in the presence of strong Streptomyces resource competition in more diverse plant communities. Thus, landscape-scale variation in plant species richness may be critical to mediating the coevolutionary dynamics and selective trajectories for inhibitory and nutrient use phenotypes among Streptomyces and Fusarium populations in soil, with significant implications for microbial community functional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for natural principles is attracting much interest in the field of skin care. Fabaceae are major agricultural crops and potential sources of bioactive compounds with possible applications in human health and skin care. This study concerns the biological activities of the legume crops Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. and Lespedeza capitata Michx. for their potential use in skin care applications. The effects of plant ethanolic extracts at doses ranging from 0.25 to 50 μg/mL (from 1 to 5000 μg/mL in cell viability assays) were evaluated using in vitro tests on HaCaT human keratinocytes, 46BR.1N fibroblasts, and adipocyte cell cultures, and on matrix-degrading enzymes. MTT assay revealed weak effects on cell viability (IC 50 > 1000 μg/mL) and significant increase of fibroblast growth rate with both extracts. Similar induction of cell motility by the two extracts was observed on keratinocytes, while on fibroblasts M. officinalis induced a stronger effect with respect to L. capitata . Cell-free enzymatic assays showed stronger collagenase inhibition by L. capitata , while an ELISA assay revealed more efficient stimulation of fibroblast collagen production by M. officinalis . Oil-Red-O adipocyte staining showed more pronounced lipolytic effect of M. officinalis with respect to L. capitata . Both extracts showed the ability of stimulating skin cells in order to promote tissue regeneration, prevent skin aging, and reduce fat deposition. In most cases, different patterns of activation/inhibition were observed. Data indicate that these legume crops could be profitably exploited in skin care applications, possibly in combined formulations for the development of antiaging and anticellulite products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a mouthwash containing Lespedeza cuneata extract (LCE) on halitosis as an alternative to chemical mouthwashes. The effect of this natural mouthwash on halitosis-causing bacteria (HCB) was clinically evaluated., Materials and Methods: A total of 84 subjects among 103 participants were recruited from the M Dental Clinic (Busan, South Korea) in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The participants were divided into two groups: 41 in the saline-gargle group (saline group) and 43 in the LCE-gargle group (LCE group). A week before the experiment, scaling and oral health education were conducted to standardise the subjects' oral condition. For clinical evaluation, halitosis and HCB were evaluated pre-gargle (baseline), immediately after gargling (treatment), and 5 days after gargling (5 days post-treatment). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows., Results: The level of subjective improvement was statistically significantly greater in the LCE group than the saline group (p < 0.05). Compared with the saline group, the LCE group showed reduced halitosis after 5 days of application. Furthermore, halitosis statistically significantly decreased over time (p < 0.05). Moreover, the LCE group showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of all six HCBs (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: LCE gargle was effective in reducing halitosis both subjectively and objectively, suggesting an antibacterial effect on HCBs in the oral cavity. Thus, LCE, which can be used as a safe mouthwash ingredient, can promote oral health and will be valuable for the oral healthcare product industry. It might also be helpful for people suffering from halitosis.