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ABSTRACT Aim Location Time Period Major Taxa Studied Methods Results Main Conclusions To determine which riverine invertebrate traits respond consistently to anthropogenic impacts across multiple biogeographic regions.Europe.1981–2021.Riverine invertebrates.We compiled a database of riverine invertebrate community time series for 673 sites across six European countries spanning six freshwater ecoregions. We compared trait responses to anthropogenic impacts (quantified as changes in ‘ecological quality’) among regions for seven ‘ecological’ traits, which reflect habitat preferences, and nine ‘biological’ traits (e.g., morphology or life history), which represent taxon‐specific attributes that can influence ecosystem processes.Four ecological traits (current, microhabitat, salinity and trophic preferences) and one biological trait (dispersal mode) responded consistently across regions. These responses were primarily driven by spatial differences among poorer to better quality sites. Responses to temporal changes in quality were comparable but less pronounced.Consistent responses to anthropogenic impacts across multiple ecological traits indicate these traits may improve broader scale measurements, comparisons and predictions of community responses. However, we could not use ecological traits to identify the actions of specific stressors because multiple traits always responded as a group. Inconsistent responses across almost all biological traits indicated that these traits may be less predictive of impacts across regions. Predictions of how biological traits, and associated ecosystem processes, respond to anthropogenic impacts may be most effective at regional scales where responses are more consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between intraspecific trait variability (ITV) and its biotic and abiotic drivers is crucial for advancing population and community ecology. Despite its importance, there is a lack of guidance on how to effectively sample ITV and reduce bias in the resulting inferences. In this study, we explored how sample size affects the estimation of population‐level ITV, and how the distribution of sample sizes along an environmental gradient (i.e., sampling design) impacts the probabilities of committing Type I and II errors. We investigated Type I and II error probabilities using four simulated scenarios which varied sampling design and the strength of the ITV‐environment relationships. We also applied simulation scenarios to empirical data on populations of the small mammal, Peromyscus maniculatus across gradients of latitude and temperature at sites in the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) in the continental United States. We found that larger sample sizes reduce error rates in the estimation of population‐level ITV for both in silico and Peromyscus maniculatus populations. Furthermore, the influence of sample size on detecting ITV‐environment relationships depends on how sample sizes and population‐level ITV are distributed along environmental gradients. High correlations between sample size and the environment result in greater Type I error, while weak ITV–environmental gradient relationships showed high Type II error probabilities. Therefore, having large sample sizes that are even across populations is the most robust sampling design for studying ITV‐environment relationships. These findings shed light on the complex interplay among sample size, sampling design, ITV, and environmental gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a vulnerability factor for affective disorders that may originate from deficits in cognitive control (CC). Although measures of ED are often designed to assess trait-like tendencies, the extent to which such measures capture a time-varying (TV) or state-like construct versus a time-invariant (TI) or trait-like personality characteristic is unclear. The link between the TV and TI components of ED and CC is also unclear. In a 6-wave, 5-month longitudinal study, community participants (n = 1281) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), a commonly used measure of ED and measures of CC. A latent variable (trait-state-occasion) model showed that the proportion of TI factor variance (.80) was greater than the TV factor variance (.19). Although TV factor stability was significant, the coefficients were small in magnitude. Furthermore, regression weights for the ED TI factor (average $\beta$ β = −.62) were significant and larger than those for the TV factor (average $\beta$ β = −.10) in predicting latent CC at each of the six-time points. These findings suggest that ED, as assessed by the DERS-16, is largely TI and this TI component is more strongly linked to CC than the TV component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive regulation refers to learners’ ability to use a repertoire of metacognitive strategies to guide, observe, and manage thoughts, actions, and emotions in learning activities. It has been widely acknowledged as a significant predictor of language learning success, including writing. However, this line of research has been conducted in a single language context, and the interactions across L1 and L2 contexts have received insufficient scholarly attention. Situated in mainland China, we raise an innovative attempt to investigate metacognitive strategies in writing with a cross‐linguistic approach, thus illuminating the conceptualization of metacognitive regulation by testing its trait/state distinction. A group of 502 university students from different disciplinary majors were recruited to report their metacognitive strategy use in L1 and L2 task‐situated writing by filling in the assigned post‐task questionnaires. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) on the two questionnaire datasets provided empirical evidence for the cross‐language generalizability of metacognitive regulation in writing with the identified measurement invariance of the factor structure between L1 and L2 contexts, indicating its trait facet. However, the latent mean comparison results revealed that the actual usage frequency of metacognitive strategies scored significantly higher in L1 writing than in L2 writing, suggesting the state facet. These results are discussed extensively in this study to inform relevant theories and pedagogical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phishing attacks continue to be a concern for academia and practice. Practitioners ranked phishing attacks second to data breaches in a recent industry survey. For scholars, interest in understanding the factors that influence phishing susceptibility, defined as user vulnerability to phishing attacks, continues to grow. While prior research has identified either state (situational cues) or trait (technology use) factors that influence users' response to phishing attacks, little previous research has investigated simultaneously user control of both state and trait factors on susceptibility to phishing. Additionally, the influence of users' automatic or routine technology use, user traits, on phishing susceptibility has not been examined. We investigate the effects of users' control of both state and trait factors on phishing susceptibility. Our results offer several interesting insights. Specifically, while routine technology use trait decreases phishing susceptibility, automatic technology use trait increases phishing susceptibility. Furthermore, while situational cues are related to phishing susceptibility, only users' automatic technology use is related to susceptibility to phishing under message sender situational cues. Our findings provide practical insights for developing countermeasures that incorporate the level of control into training programs that target trainees with customised training aimed at preventing successful phishing attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question: What is the impact of professional skepticism on auditors' judgment across varying levels of control risk? Motivation: Professional skepticism has attracted the attention of various regulators, practitioners, and researchers. However, the empirical results of previous studies have not consistently yielded findings regarding the impact of professional skepticism on auditors' judgment. Idea: This paper aims to investigate the relationship between professional skepticism and auditors' judgment across different control risk scenarios within the Tunisian context. Data: The experimental study comprised 127 auditors. Tools: A between-subjects experiment was conducted, manipulating control risk at two levels (low and high risk). Hurtt (2010) professional skepticism scale was utilized to measure auditors’ professional skepticism. Subsequently, a multivariate regression analysis was performed. Findings: The experimental study provided evidence that professional skepticism leads auditors to exhibit skeptical judgments regarding the assessment of the truthfulness of the client's explanation and the assessment of fraud risk. Additionally, the results show that auditors tend to make more skeptical judgments in a high-risk setting. Contribution: Understanding the role of trait professional skepticism is crucial for practicing auditors and accounting firms. The findings suggest that professional skepticism has a significant effect on auditors’ judgment. Consequently, firms should pay particular attention to the allocation of audit team members based on their level of skepticism.

The purpose of the current work was to evaluate new winter common wheat varieties developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” according to the main economic and biological traits and properties. The competitive testing was carried out after two forecrops, such as maize for grain and sunflower. As initial forms when deve- loping new genotypes, there were taken the varieties of Zernograd breeding (‘Donskoy syurpriz’, ‘Rostovchanka 5’, ‘Spartak’,’ Don 107’) and of non-regional breeding (‘Zolushka’, ‘Sibirskaya niva’, ‘Irishka’) released in different years.The mean three-year productivity of new varieties (2021–2023) when sown after maize for grain varied from 7.77 t/ha (‘Volny Don’) to 8.32 t/ha (‘Flagman’), exceeding the standard variety ‘Don 107’ by 0.45–1.00 t/ha. When sown after sunflower it ranged from 6.64 t/ha (‘Volny Don’) to 6.82 t/ha (‘Donets’), with an increase relative to the standard variety from 0.45 to 0.63 t/ha. New winter common wheat genotypes produced higher yields relative to the standard variety due to various components of its elements. Maximum impact on productivity of the new winter common wheat varieties in 2021–2023 was made by 1000-grain weight (r = 0.54±0.37) and grain weight per ear (r = 0.77±0.26). New winter common wheat varieties had the same high and even higher frost resistance (72.2–84.5 %) as the highly frost- resistant standard variety ‘Don 107’ (74.1 %), short stemness (88.3–100 cm), lodging resistance (4.8–5.0 points). On an infectious background they were affected by brown rust and powdery mildew to a lesser extent compared to the standard variety ‘Don 107’. They formed good grain quality with protein (12.75–13.78 %), gluten (23.4–25.7 %), grain nature weight (787–812 g/l), hardiness (60–83 %).

Abstract Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) is a widely used approach for the generation of gene co-expression networks. However, networks generated with this tool usually create large modules with a large set of functional annotations hard to decipher. We have developed TGCN, a new method to create Targeted Gene Co-expression Networks. This method identifies the transcripts that best predict the trait of interest based on gene expression using a refinement of the LASSO regression. Then, it builds the co-expression modules around those transcripts. Algorithm properties were characterized using the expression of 13 brain regions from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. When comparing our method with WGCNA, TGCN networks lead to more precise modules that have more specific and yet rich biological meaning. Then, we illustrate its applicability by creating an APP-TGCN on The Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project dataset, aiming to identify the molecular pathways specifically associated with APP role in Alzheimer’s disease. Main biological findings were further validated in two independent cohorts. In conclusion, we provide a new framework that serves to create targeted networks that are smaller, biologically relevant and useful in high throughput hypothesis driven research. The TGCN R package is available on Github: https://github.com/aliciagp/TGCN .

Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) is a widely used approach for the generation of gene co-expression networks. However, networks generated with this tool usually create large modules with a large set of functional annotations hard to decipher. We have developed TGCN, a new method to create Targeted Gene Co-expression Networks. This method identifies the transcripts that best predict the trait of interest based on gene expression using a refinement of the LASSO regression. Then, it builds the co-expression modules around those transcripts. Algorithm properties were characterized using the expression of 13 brain regions from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. When comparing our method with WGCNA, TGCN networks lead to more precise modules that have more specific and yet rich biological meaning. Then, we illustrate its applicability by creating an APP-TGCN on The Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project dataset, aiming to identify the molecular pathways specifically associated with APP role in Alzheimer's disease. Main biological findings were further validated in two independent cohorts. In conclusion, we provide a new framework that serves to create targeted networks that are smaller, biologically relevant and useful in high throughput hypothesis driven research. The TGCN R package is available on Github: https://github.com/aliciagp/TGCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) is a freely available online resource for information on inherited traits/diseases (called phenes) in animals, including Equus caballus (horse) and eight other Equus subgroups. Maintaining up-to-date information in OMIA is a major challenge, especially in relation to variants (mutations), as reference genomes continue to evolve. The site is curated by faculty at the University of Sydney based on publications of peer-reviewed research. Curation has been aided by contributions from faculty and students at other institutions. Recently, OMIA has introduced computerized lists of standardized names and synonyms (called ontologies) for breeds of horses and other animal species and for phene categories. These ontologies facilitate increased connectivity between OMIA and other online resources. OMIA is and will continue to be a major reference resource for Mendelian phenes in the genus Equus. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA is a freely available information resource, which includes information for Equus inherited traits/diseases (collectively called phenes). The database focuses on Mendelian traits and their likely causal variants (mutations). Some of these Mendelian traits are favored by humans, e.g., coat color, while others are diseases. Additions to OMIA are based on publications of peer-reviewed research. Maintaining up-to-date information in OMIA is a challenge, owing to the multiplicity of species, the increase in the number of relevant publications, and as reference genomes and methods of citation continue to evolve. This challenge has been successfully aided by contributions from scientists from around the world. In some cases, those scientists are faculty members who charge their students with curation as an educational activity. Recently, OMIA has introduced computerized lists of standardized names and synonyms (called ontologies) for breeds of Equus and other animals and for phene categories. These ontologies facilitate increased connectivity between OMIA and other online resources. OMIA is and will continue to be a major reference resource for Mendelian phenes in the genus Equus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 4‐year prospective study investigated the dynamic relationship between stress, self‐compassion, and resilience among university students, a population with increasing rates of mental health challenges. Drawing on stress theories, the research explored whether the combination of stress and self‐compassion strengthens resilience over time. A sample of 1137 university students (47.6% White, 38% female) completed measures of stress, resilience, and self‐compassion annually during the Spring semester across their four undergraduate years. A random intercept cross‐lagged panel model with latent interactions was used to test the hypothesized causal relationships. Contrary to the common belief that stress is debilitating, the results revealed a positive association between an increase in stress and a subsequent increase in self‐compassion. Moreover, when stress levels increased alongside self‐compassion, students demonstrated higher resilience. Notably, an increase in either stress or self‐compassion alone did not enhance resilience. These findings highlight the synergetic effect between self‐compassion and stress in enhancing resilience; under the right conditions, stress can lead to positive outcomes and increased capacity for coping with future stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To better understand the potential impact of climate change on butterfly assemblages across a tropical island, we model the potential for taxonomic and functional homogenization and determine climate‐ and trait‐mediated shifts in projected species distributions. Location: Puerto Rico. Methods: We used thousands of museum records of diurnal Lepidoptera to model current (1970–2000) and forecast future (2061–2080) species distributions and combined these to test for taxonomic and functional homogenization. We then quantified climatic‐mediated effects on current and forecasted taxonomic and functional composition and, specifically, whether temperature was a primary driver, as predicted by the temperature–size rule and the thermal melanism hypotheses. Finally, we measured wing traits important in thermoregulation (size and colour) and determined trait‐mediated changes in forecasted species distributions over time. Results: Based on ensemble model outputs, taxonomic and functional richness and turnover were predicted to vary across the island's complex topography. Our models projected an increase in taxonomic and functional richness over time, and a decrease in taxonomic and functional turnover – a signature of biotic homogenization. Under future climate scenarios, models projected a decrease in wing length and an increase in wing brightness at higher elevations. One variable, temperature seasonality, was the strongest predicted driver of both the current spatial distribution and the projected per cent change over time for not only wing traits but also taxonomic and functional richness and turnover. Main conclusions: The species distribution models generated here identify several priority regions and species for future research and conservation efforts. Our work also highlights the role of seasonality and climatic variability on diverse tropical Lepidoptera assemblages, suggesting that climatic variability may be an important, albeit overlooked, driver of climate change responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, two fundamentally different theoretical approaches have been used in emotion research to model (human) emotions: discrete emotion theories and dimensional approaches. More recent neurophysiological models like the hierarchical emotion theory suggest that both should be integrated. The aim of this review is to provide neurocognitive evidence for this perspective with a particular focus on experimental studies manipulating anxiety and/or curiosity. We searched for evidence that the neuronal correlates of discrete and dimensional emotional systems are tightly connected. Our review suggests that the ACC (anterior cingulate cortex) responds to both, anxiety, and curiosity. While amygdala activation has been primarily observed for anxiety, at least the NAcc (nucleus accumbens) responds to both, anxiety and curiosity. When these two areas closely collaborate, as indicated by strong connectivity, this may indicate emotion regulation, particularly when the situation is not predictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores the relationship between trait-like characteristics and the cognitive appraisals of stressful situations. Using a scoping review approach, we assessed the role of specific personality traits, as measured in the Big Five inventory, in shaping individuals' cognitive appraisals. Our findings reveal significant but small to medium relationships between enduring traits and cognitive appraisals. Neuroticism was positively correlated with primary appraisal but negatively correlated with secondary appraisal in all studies. Reversely, extraversion correlated negatively with primary appraisal but positively with secondary appraisal. Openness to experience was positively correlated with secondary appraisal. Agreeableness was positively correlated with primary and secondary appraisals. Lastly, Conscientiousness was negatively correlated with primary appraisal and positively correlated with secondary appraisal. These results underscore the importance of targeting modifiable personal characteristics, given the challenges of altering external circumstances. Mental health professionals may leverage these traits for intervention, recognizing their role in triggering and maintaining adaptive or maladaptive appraisals. Thus, our findings contribute to new insights into the complex interplay between personality traits and cognitive appraisals, highlighting their role in shaping how individuals navigate and cope with stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to look into the differences in leaf functional traits between Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances, as well as to expose the response characteristics of leaf morphological and stoichiometric traits of Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances to diverse the environment of provenances. In this study, we chose 30 Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances as the research object and analyze the differences in leaf morphological and stoichiometric traits of Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances, the relationships among leaf functional traits, and the relationships between leaf functional traits and environmental factors of provenances. The results showed that the coefficient of variation of leaf morphological traits was 15.31% to 22.86%, and the coefficient of variation of stoichiometry provenances was 3.19% to 26.05%. The coefficient of variation of leaf carbon content was relatively small, indicating that carbon is the most stable element in the Cunninghamia lanceolata. And significant correlations are observed among different leaf functional traits. Using redundancy analysis to explore the relationship between leaf functional traits and environmental factors of provenances, it was found that the genetic effects of environmental factors explained 43.19% of the heterogeneity in leaf functional traits of Cunninghamia lanceolata. As a result, studying the variation of leaf functional traits of Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances, as well as how they correlate with environmental factors in provenances, is critical for understanding and predicting the responses and adaptations of Cunninghamia lanceolata from different provenances in the backdrop of global changes in the environment, and it additionally serves as a scientific basis for the sustainable development of Cunninghamia lanceolata and the selection of excellent Cunninghamia lanceolata provenances. Meanwhile, it makes scientific recommendations for China to do research on the sustainable development and productivity enhancement of cedar plantation forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding the relationship between intraspecific trait variability (ITV) and its biotic and abiotic drivers is crucial for advancing population and community ecology. Despite its importance, there is a lack of guidance on how to effectively sample ITV and reduce bias in the resulting inferences. In this study, we explored how sample size affects the estimation of population‐level ITV, and how the distribution of sample sizes along an environmental gradient (i.e., sampling design) impacts the probabilities of committing Type I and II errors. We investigated Type I and II error probabilities using four simulated scenarios which varied sampling design and the strength of the ITV‐environment relationships. We also applied simulation scenarios to empirical data on populations of the small mammal, Peromyscus maniculatus across gradients of latitude and temperature at sites in the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) in the continental United States. We found that larger sample sizes reduce error rates in the estimation of population‐level ITV for both in silico and Peromyscus maniculatus populations. Furthermore, the influence of sample size on detecting ITV‐environment relationships depends on how sample sizes and population‐level ITV are distributed along environmental gradients. High correlations between sample size and the environment result in greater Type I error, while weak ITV–environmental gradient relationships showed high Type II error probabilities. Therefore, having large sample sizes that are even across populations is the most robust sampling design for studying ITV‐environment relationships. These findings shed light on the complex interplay among sample size, sampling design, ITV, and environmental gradients.

This study was conducted to identify the selection criteria and husbandry practices of chicken producers in different agro-ecological zones of Northwest Ethiopia as input for designing a breeding program. The study employed a purposive selection of districts and peasant associations with high indigenous chicken potential. The study areas were stratified based on the major agro-ecologies (highland, midland, and lowland). A total of 360 households were included in the study, and data on chicken breeding practices, selection criteria, and reproductive performance were collected and analyzed using SPSS software. In all agro-ecologies, egg production was prioritized by chicken owners when choosing female chickens. For male chickens, plumage color (index = 0.27), appearance (index = 0.24), and growth rate (index = 0.23) were the main selection factors. Farmers kept chickens primarily to generate cash through the sale of eggs and live animals (male chickens). There was a significant difference (p

Antibiotic resistance crisis dictates the need for resistance monitoring and the search for new antibiotics. The development of monitoring protocols is hindered by the great diversity of resistance factors, while the “streetlight effect” denies the possibility of discovering novel drugs based on existing databases. In this study, we address these challenges using high-throughput environmental screening viewed from a trait-based ecological perspective. Through an in-depth analysis of the metagenomes of 658 topsoil samples spanning Europe, we explored the distribution of 241 prokaryotic and fungal genes responsible for producing metabolites with antibiotic properties and 485 antibiotic resistance genes. We analyzed the diversity of these gene collections at different levels and modeled the distribution of each gene across environmental gradients. Our analyses revealed several nonparallel distribution patterns of the genes encoding sequential steps of enzymatic pathways synthesizing large antibiotic groups, pointing to gaps in existing databases and suggesting potential for discovering new analogues of known antibiotics. We show that agricultural activity caused a continental-scale homogenization of microbial antibiotic-related machinery, emphasizing the importance of maintaining indigenous ecosystems within the landscape mosaic. Based on the relationships between the proportion of the genes in the metagenomes with the main predictors (soil pH, land cover type, climate temperature and humidity), we illustrate how the properties of chemical structures dictate the distribution of the genes responsible for their synthesis across environments. With this understanding, we propose general principles to facilitate the discovery of antibiotics, including principally new ones, establish abundance baselines for antibiotic resistance genes, and predict their dissemination.

The large-fruited fresh-market tomato cultivated in the U.S. represents a unique fruit market class of contemporary (modern) tomatoes for direct consumption. The genomes of F2 plants from crosses between inbred contemporary U.S. large-fruited fresh-market tomatoes were sequenced. 516 F2 individual plants randomly selected from five different biparental segregating populations were used for DNA extraction. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free, paired-end (2 × 150 bp) sequencing libraries (350 bp DNA fragment length) were prepared, and sequenced on average 5 Gb for each plant using the Illumina next-generation sequencing technologies [1,2]. Raw Illumina reads with adapter contamination and/or uncertain nucleotides constitute (Ns, >10 % of either read; Q-score 5 or lower, >50 % of either read) were removed. This data article will contribute to improving our knowledge of the genetic recombination and variation in tomato.

Background. The relevance of the study is associated with the activation of malevolent creativity at the macro level in the form of information wars and isolation of Russia, which create threatening socio-political conditions, against the background of the special military operation in Ukraine. Objectives. Objective of the study was to find out whether there are differences at the micro-level in different socio-political conditions in malevolent creativity as well as to identify its connections with personal characteristics: hostility, the trait of “Agreeableness”, and moral identity. The following hypotheses were formulated: 1. The level of antisocial creativity varies in different contexts and will be higher in threatening socio-political conditions and 2. the relationship between such personal characteristics as hostility, Agreeableness, moral identity, and malevolent creativity will be different in different socio-political conditions. Study Participants. The study is a cross-sectional one. The first stage was carried out in 2019 with the participation of 81 young students from one of Moscow universities (mean age 19.2, SD = 1.2). 152 young students of the same Moscow university took part at the second stage in 2023 (mean age 19.1, SD = 1.29). Methods. Participants filled out forms with the questionnaires “NEO-FFI” (a shortened version of the questionnaire “NEO PI-R”), BRAQ-24, moral identity questionnaire, “Behavioral features of antisocial creativity”. Results. It is shown that there are differences in variables at the microsystem level in different sociopolitical conditions: MC and hostility are significantly lower, and moral identity and cooperation are significantly higher in the sample of 2023. The predictors of MC in the sample of 2023 were the traits of Agreeableness and hostility. In the sample of 2019, the trait of Agreeableness alone predicted MC. Differences in the strength of the relationship between the variables were revealed: in the sample of 2023, the relationship of hostility with antisocial creativity and the trait of Cooperation was significantly stronger than in the sample of 2019. Conclusions. In threatening socio-political conditions, young people with high hostility and low level on the “Agreeableness” trait fall into the risk group, due to the high probability of the realization of creativity in behavior that harms other people, while realization of MC in behavior may be restrained through actualizing moral identity. In a calm and peaceful period, moral identity and hostility are less relevant for the implementation of MC in harmful behavior, since the development of “Agreeableness” is important in this case.

Abstract. The Yasmina variety is a new, highly productive spring fodder barley. It was created at the Institute of Agriculture in Karnobat by means of a combinatorial selection method. The biological and economic traits of the variety were tested in the Institute’s competitive variety trials and the IASAS system during 2019-2020. The aim of this study was to present the biological and economic traits of the new recognized spring six-row barley variety Yasmina. In the ecological network regions, it demonstrated high productivity. The mean yield from the new variety obtained in 4 Bulgarian regions was proven higher than the one from the standard variety Venera by 22.0%. During the testing period, the variety realized a yield of up to 6500 kg/a. With high protein content of 13.51%, it is ideally suited for fodder.The variety has good lodging resistance. Yasmina was recognized as an original cultivar with Order No RD-12-4/10 Mar 2021 by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and was approved for entry in List A of the Official Variety List of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is the most common citrus fruit, covering nearly 42 % of the total citrus cultivation area in India. The main varieties of mandarin oranges cultivated in India include Nagpur Mandarin, Khasi Mandarin, Coorg Mandarin and Sikkim Mandarin. Globally, genomic data is being used to unravel the complexities and mysteries of citrus taxonomy. However, despite India being a primary centre of citrus origin, these valuable genomic resources remain underutilized. Here, we conducted whole genome resequencing of four mandarin genotypes viz., Nagpur Mandarin (22,861,254 bp raw reads), Sikkim Mandarin (24,160,847 bp raw reads), Coorg Mandarin (27,974,860 bp raw reads), and Khasi Mandarin (40,532,383 bp raw reads) using Illumina Novaseq 6000 sequencing platform with 28x sequencing coverage. These genomic sequences will provide valuable insights into the taxonomic complexities and evolutionary history of mandarin oranges. The identified SNPs can further be used to study the evolution of flowering patterns in citrus, especially under tropical and subtropical conditions. The NGS data obtained (FASTQ format) for all four mandarin genotypes have been deposited in the Indian Biological Data Centre (https://ibdc.dbtindia.gov.in/inda/submittedStudyHome) under INDA study Id INRP000149. The sample accession numbers are INS0004744 (Sikkim Mandarin), INS0004745 (Nagpur Mandarin), INS0004746 (Coorg Mandarin), INS0004747 (Khasi Mandarin).

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is a crop with the potential to significantly contribute to the food systems of farming communities. The evaluation of OFSP genotypes in a multi-environment trial is critical for identifying the best genotype with high yield potential and recommending it for wider-scale production. Ten OFSP genotypes were evaluated in three locations in the southern and northern parts of the country, namely Hawassa, Dilla, and Fogera, for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), with the objective of identifying the best genotypes for root yield, root dry matter (DMC), and beta-carotene contents (BCC), including sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) response. Data were recorded on root yield, SPVD, DMC, BCC, and other traits (root length, root girth, above-ground biomass). The result showed the presence of a highly significant (p

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This study investigates the inheritance pattern of petalous and apetalous traits in yellow sarson (Brassica rapa var yellow sarson) and its significance for breeding efforts. Utilizing three crucial crosses between petalous (Pant Sweta, Pant Girija, YSH0401) and 'apetalous' parents, we observed the absence of apetalous plants in the F1 generation, indicating dominant inheritance of petalous plants. The F2 generation consistently displayed a 3:1 ratio of petalous to apetalous plants, confirming the dominance of the petalous trait. Chi-squared tests on each generation supported this conclusion. Backcrosses with petalous parents yielded no fruit, reinforcing the dominance of the petalous trait. Chi-squared tests on these backcrosses further confirmed the dominance inheritance pattern. Conversely, backcrosses with apetalous parents consistently exhibited a 1:1 ratio, highlighting the recessive nature of the apetalous trait. The study underscores the importance of understanding the inheritance pattern of petalous and apetalous traits in B. rapa var yellow sarson crop, as it has implications for breeding goals. Knowledge on trait inheritance can guide future breeding strategies, facilitating the transfer of the apetalous trait as needed. This study provides valuable insights for genetic investigations and breeding initiatives in B. rapa var yellow sarson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the demand for organic products is increasing. Breeding of naturally colored cotton allows for saving the high costs of dyeing the fiber and obtaining a natural product that is harmless to the human body. Natural colored fiber has air permeable, antiseptic and hydrophobic properties. However, the use of natural colored cotton in the textile industry is limited due to its low fiber quality. Solving this problem requires interdisciplinary research on colored cotton. In the article, morphological traits of natural brown and green cotton cultivars of G.hirsutum L. cotton - duration of vegetation period, plant height, leaf shape, color and hairiness of the main stem, boll shape, type of sympodial branching and fiber color also, agronomic traits - a boll weight, fiber yield and index, fiber length, weight of 1000 seeds were determined and analysis results were presented. The obtained results showed that the brown cotton samples are medium-ripening, the green cotton cultivars are late-ripening, and the plant height of the green cotton cultivars is higher compared to the brown cotton cultivars. Fiber length was longer in the cultivars cone-oval shape of boll than in cultivars with round shape. Fiber length was higher in green fiber cultivars A-800 and 010764 than dark brown fiber cultivars 011250 and 010108. In contrast, brown fiber cultivars had higher indicators than green fiber cultivars in terms of fiber yield, index and boll weight. Green cotton cultivar 011460 with low fiber yield had the highest index of 1000 seeds weight. In terms of cotton yield, dark brown fiber cultivar 011250 (97.4±2.0g) showed a higher index compared to other cultivars. This shows that cultivar 011250 can be used as a raw material to increase the yield of colored cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The invasion success of introduced freshwater fishes is influenced by many factors, including ecological, species, and socioeconomic characteristics. Most studies that document the importance of these characteristics are conducted at local scales and/or focus on a single step of the invasion process. In this study, we aim to determine the species characteristics, ecological characteristics, and socioeconomic characteristics of non-native freshwater fish invasions. Our assessment was done at the global scale and considers all three steps of the invasion (i.e., introduction, establishment, and impact). For this purpose, we applied generalized linear models to 20 variables collected for 307 non-native species and modeled them as a function of ecological characteristics (i.e., environmental features), species traits (i.e., functional and morphological), and socioeconomic characteristics (i.e., human use and introduction pathways). We considered the number of countries in which each species was introduced, established, or had ecological impacts as a proxy of invasion step success. We also explored the specifics of species introduced through the aquaculture and the ornamental fish trade pathways. Results: We found that non-native freshwater fishes with broad diets, high parental care, and multiple introduction pathways are the most widely introduced and established worldwide. The number of countries with impacts reported was best explained by the type of introduction pathway (i.e., aquaculture or fisheries). Moreover, among non-native species introduced through aquaculture, those belonging to Cypriniformes and having broad diets were the most widely introduced and established species. In contrast, the species introduced through the ornamental fish trade pathway belonged to various taxonomic orders but were mainly native to tropical regions. Conclusions: Considering several types of factors is important when analyzing the invasion success of freshwater fish and disentangling the different invasion steps. These findings have strong implications for anticipating the profile of species with a high potential to invade many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusions This study reconceptualized trait resilience, defining it as a network of systems; utilizing direct resilience assessments—engineering, ecological, adaptive capacity, social cohesion—and proxy resilience assessments—personality, cognitive, emotional, eudaimonia, and health.The background of the study addresses the fragmented conceptualization of trait resilience by proposing a unifying network model based on ecological systems theory, illustrating the dynamic interplay of resilience factors across varying levels of disturbance.In Study One, four USA or UK samples (total n = 2396) were used to depict the trait resilience network. Study Two (n = 1091) examined the relationship between the network and disturbance at two time‐points, using mental health levels as a disturbance metric.Study One found that adaptive capacity, and sometimes positive emotional processes, were central variables to the network. Study Two found that in lower disturbance groups, adaptive capacity remained important, while in higher disturbance groups, a broader set of variables became central to the network.Study One suggests a Broaden‐and‐Build approach, where adaptive capacity is a foundational resilience capability, reciprocally associated with positive emotional mechanisms. Study Two suggests a new “Dynamic Resilience Spectrum Theory,” proposing that increased disturbances necessitate the use of a more diverse set of resilience traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in agriculture and plays an important role in supplying high quality proteins for humans. Genetic improvement for important traits is essential for increasing aquaculture production. The aquaculture of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) has become important in Southeast Asia and Australia and has expanded to other countries. In Singapore, a breeding program was initiated in 2004, aimed at improving growth rates, high omega-3 content, and disease resistance within Asian seabass populations. Many genomic resources have been developed to achieve these goals. The breeding program was established with a broodstock of 549 broodfish collected from the wilds of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Through four generations of family-based selection, utilizing a combination of conventional selective breeding, molecular parentage analysis, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection techniques, three distinct elite lines of Asian seabass were successfully established. Each line consisted of approximately 200 broodfish. These lines were selected for growth, higher omega-3 content, and disease resistance, respectively. These traits have been improved without dramatically reducing genetic variation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the methodologies adopted and status of the genetic improvement of the above-mentioned traits. Concurrently, certain gaps in the existing body of research have been identified. In the future, additional traits related to the ability to use feeds with reduced fishmeal, as well as adaptation to climate change and resistance against emerging diseases should be included in the breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yasmina variety is a new, highly productive spring fodder barley. It was created at the Institute of Agriculture in Karnobat by means of a combinatorial selection method. The biological and economic traits of the variety were tested in the Institute's competitive variety trials and the IASAS system during 2019-2020. The aim of this study was to present the biological and economic traits of the new recognized spring six-row barley variety Yasmina. In the ecological network regions, it demonstrated high productivity. The mean yield from the new variety obtained in 4 Bulgarian regions was proven higher than the one from the standard variety Venera by 22.0%. During the testing period, the variety realized a yield of up to 6500 kg/a. With high protein content of 13.51%, it is ideally suited for fodder.The variety has good lodging resistance. Yasmina was recognized as an original cultivar with Order No RD-12-4/10 Mar 2021 by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and was approved for entry in List A of the Official Variety List of the Republic of Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In phytoplankton ecology the shape of microalgae appears predominantly as a categorical variable. Using shape-realistic 3D models of 220 microalgae we proposed and calculated six shape metrics and tested how these relate to each other and to the size of the microalgae. We found that some of the metrics are more sensitive to elongation, while others are related to multicellularity. We found a linear relationship between shape measures and the greatest axial linear dimensions of the microalgae. Our findings suggest that there is an evolutionary trade-off between the shape and size of the microalgae. It is important to stress that we found that surface area to volume ratio of the microalgae are hyperbolic functions of the length and volume for each shape. In our study, we demonstrated that the proposed shape metrics serve as suitable quantitative traits, and help to understand better how simple shapes evolved to more complex outlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because experiential avoidance is considered by some to be the root of most forms of psychopathology, it is often a primary intervention and research target. Yet, the current literature is limited by its assessment and conceptualization of experiential avoidance as a trait variable. Little attention is paid to how it operates as a context-dependent state-based factor. Further, more information is needed to determine how experiential avoidance relates to affective states in specific contexts. Links have been established between experiential avoidance and negative affect intensity in the contextual behavior science (CBS) literature. Studying more specific elements of state-based experiential avoidance as potential mediators of negative affect is an important next step. Thus, the overarching goal of the present study was to measure the indirect effect of state experiential avoidance on the relationship between trait experiential avoidance and dimensions of negative affect following exposure to several challenging tasks. Participants (N = 160) in the current study completed both the cold pressor test and Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in a counterbalanced order. Non-parametric bootstrapping analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of state experiential avoidance on negative affect for the TSST condition. As predicted, these effects were strongest under interpersonal contexts rather than when physiological discomfort was evoked. Implications for conceptualizing experiential avoidance as state and trait and how these relate to CBS interventions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), which involves repeated assessments in people's daily lives, has increased in popularity in psychology and associated disciplines in recent years. A rather challenging aspect of ESM is its technical implementation. In this paper, after briefly introducing the history of ESM and the main reasons for its current popularity, we outline the ESM-Quest experience sampling app which is currently being developed at the University of Vienna. ESM-Quest runs on different operating systems, specifically on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets running either iOS or Android. An internet connection is not necessary during the assessment. Compared to most other ESM apps, ESM-Quest allows event-based random sampling, which is very helpful when assessments need to be collected within specific situations. Currently, ESM-Quest is being utilized at the University of Vienna and will be made available for research groups worldwide upon request. We introduce the technical aspects of ESM-Quest and provide examples of analyses on ESM data collected through this app, such as examining fluctuations in constructs within individuals. Finally, we outline potential next steps in ESM research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metacommunity theory proposes that community structure and biodiversity are influenced by both local processes (such as environmental filtering) and regional processes (such as dispersal). Despite the extensive use of traditional bioassessments based on species‐environment relationships, the impact of dispersal processes on these assessments has been largely overlooked. This study aims to compare correlations between various bioassessment indices, including Shannon Weiner (H′), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), average score per taxon (ASPT), biotic index (BI), and EPT taxa index (EPT), based on macroinvertebrates collected from 147 sampling sites in a subtropical Chinese near‐natural catchment. Modified indices were calculated by removing species strongly influenced by dispersal processes to address the influence of dispersal processes. Their relationship with environmental factors was then compared to the original indices. The study employed random forest regression (RFR) to compare the explanatory power of environmental factors using the two sets of indices. The spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between indices and environmental factors. The river health assessment was performed based on both modified and original indices. The results reveal significant differences between original and modified indices (especially H′ and BI) providing a more accurate reflection of environmental conditions. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the different indices to various environmental factors varied, leading to differences in the bioassessment results between the modified and the original indices. Notably, original H′, BMWP, and ASPT overestimated the bioassessment results, whereas the original BI underestimated them. These findings offer valuable insights into bioassessment and river health assessment evaluation within the catchment and other interconnected freshwater ecosystems, such as lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands. Our study underscores the importance of assessing and mitigating the impact of dispersal processes on bioassessment to obtain a more precise representation of the status of freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, two fundamentally different theoretical approaches have been used in emotion research to model (human) emotions: discrete emotion theories and dimensional approaches. More recent neurophysiological models like the hierarchical emotion theory suggest that both should be integrated. The aim of this review is to provide neurocognitive evidence for this perspective with a particular focus on experimental studies manipulating anxiety and/or curiosity. We searched for evidence that the neuronal correlates of discrete and dimensional emotional systems are tightly connected. Our review suggests that the ACC (anterior cingulate cortex) responds to both, anxiety, and curiosity. While amygdala activation has been primarily observed for anxiety, at least the NAcc (nucleus accumbens) responds to both, anxiety and curiosity. When these two areas closely collaborate, as indicated by strong connectivity, this may indicate emotion regulation, particularly when the situation is not predictable.

The study was conducted for describing the rearing and husbandry practice of indigenous goats in the North Shewa zone. A total of 216 farmers were interviewed for the household survey. Data collected through a questionnaire (survey) were described by descriptive statistics using SPSS. The first objective of keeping goats in all districts was for income. Natural pasture (shrubs and bushes) and river water were the major sources of goat feeding and watering, respectively both in dry and wet seasons in the three districts. Among the interviewed goat keepers 94.4% in Berehet, 84.7% in Basona-Worena and 90.3% in Minjar-Shenkora had their own indigenous breeding male goat. The average flock size per monitored households in Berehet, Basona-Worena and Minjar-Shenkora districts was 14.70 ± 10.95, 7.43 ± 3.94 and 14.52 ± 11.36 goats, respectively. Growth rate, body conformation and coat colour for the breeding buck and litter size, body size or appearance and pedigree for does were the first, second and third selection criteria, respectively in all districts. Feed shortage, disease and labour shortage were the first, second and third-ranked constraints for goat production in the study districts, respectively.

This longitudinal study assessed the communication apprehension, willingness to communicate, and self-perceived communication competence for a group of participants across a 15-year span. In total, 220 of 237 participants completed the 15-year project. The data represent six time points, with data collections happening once every three years. The results show that meeting communication apprehension, dyadic communication apprehension, public communication apprehension, willingness to communicate, and self-perceived communication competence all changed across time, indicating these traditionally thought of trait-like variables behaved more as state-like characteristics. Group communication apprehension did not change over time, indicating it may be more trait-like than state like. Results are limited by evidence of poor temporal stability for the public communication apprehension, self-perceived communication competence, and willingness to communicate measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude of heterosis for economic flower quality and yield traits in china aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees) was estimated from twenty seven F1 hybrids, which were developed by involving nine lines and three testers in line x tester mating design during the year 2021-23 at Floriculture unit, Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. The twenty seven F1 hybrids along with parents and standard check (Arka Kamini) were evaluated in RCBD design with two replications for different flower quality and yield traits. The results revealed that among twenty seven F1 hybrids, majority of them exhibited significant average heterosis and heterobeltiosis for flower quality and yield traits. For flower diameter, hybrid, Miraj Local × AAC-1 (32.14 %) recorded maximum positive significant heterosis over standard check which was followed by Phule Ganesh White × AAC-1 (31.46 %). Similarly, the hybrid, Arka Poornima × Phule Ganesh Purple (33.23%) recorded maximum positive standard heterosis for flower stalk length while, Local White × Arka Kamini (-24.13) has least performed for this trait. The hybrid, Miraj Local × AAC-1 exhibited significant positive standard heterosis for vase life (39.41%) and shelf life (30.41%) which was followed by Phule Ganesh Pink × Phule Ganesh Purple. The maximum significant positive standard heterosis for flower yield per plant was recorded in Phule Ganesh Pink × AAC-1 (80.90%). From this experiment Miraj Local × AAC-1, Arka Poornima × Phule Ganesh Purple, Phule Ganesh Pink × AAC-1 and Arka Poornima × AAC-1 were identified as elite hybrids for flower quality and yield traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies were carried out in 2017–2022 in the Khabarovsk krai to identify the diversity of the collection material of 170 samples of soybeans of various ecological and geographical origin with the prospect of their further use in the breeding process when creating new varieties. The weather conditions of 2017 and 2018 were the closest to the climatic norm with HTC 2.1 and 2.2, respectively. The years 2019 (HTC = 3.0), 2020 (HTC = 2.7) and 2022 (HTC = 2.5) were characterized by excessive humidity. On the contrary, 2021 was the hottest and driest year (HTC = 0.9). Basically, the collection was represented by varieties from the Russian Federation (46.5%) and European countries (34.1%) with a growing season period ranging from 93 to 149 days. Twenty-two varieties with a growing season of up to 100 days were selected as the source material in breeding for early maturity and five highly productive varieties with a seed weight per plant of more than 33 g. According to the number of beans per plant (more than 80 pcs.), five midearly and two midripening variety samples were identified, by seed weight (more than 250 g), eight and nine variety samples, respectively. Three variety samples, forming three–four beans in a productive joint, were identified in the midearly ripening group. It is necessary to expand the search for high-protein forms, involving well-known sources in the study. Accessions K-6777, K-9837 (Germany), K-4842 (Russian Federation), K-9922 (France), K-5564 (China), K-6795 (Poland), which showed the best performance in terms of a set of traits, are of particular interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purposes of the present study were to determine (a) whether the EURO-D measures trait (i.e., time-invariant) versus state (i.e., time-variant) aspects of depression and (b) whether these aspects are stable across countries and ages. In five waves of the SHARE survey (a nationally representative Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe), we estimated trait-state-occasion models (TSO), including multiple-nation TSO, based on data from nine European nations over a 10-year period. Also, we used local structural equation modeling to test for the moderating effects of age on the TSO parameters. Our main findings were: (a) there were differences in the trait/state variances of depressive symptoms across nations. The amount of trait variance was above 60% for Belgium, Denmark, and France. It was between 50% and 60% for Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, while it was below 50% for Italy and Spain. (b) The effects of trait and state were almost equally the source of variance for depression symptoms across ages, with a slight advantage for the effects of trait (56% of the variance). This trend showed substantial stability across the adult life course (from age 40 up to age 95). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periphytic rotifer assemblages from lentic habitats are understudied. To improve knowledge on the principal environmental determinants of their structure and composition, we examined summer periphyton from 184 freshwater bodies from a taxonomic and multi-trait-based perspective. Only the latter allowed consideration of all bdelloids. Alpha diversity decreased with electrolyte and aluminium concentration but increased with macrophyte richness, pointing at salinization, metal toxicity and loss of structural niche heterogeneity as potential threats for rotifer diversity. Replacement was the prominent component of beta diversity, with acidified sites showing the highest local contributions. Variation partitioning indicated that local conditions explained variation in species composition best, but general setting (soil type, land cover, connectivity) and spatial context were also not insignificant. Redundancy analysis related species composition more particularly to gradients of pH and trophic status, whereas the representation of functional groups was structured mainly by phytoplankton productivity. Mirroring shifts observed in the plankton, high phytoplankton productivity associated with larger size and more detritibacterivory. Dominance of collectors constrained variation in guild ratios, underlining the need for more refined functional approaches. To aid the use of periphytic rotifers in regional water quality assessment, we identified indicators and community thresholds for pH and trophic variables and determined optima and tolerances for individual taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted for describing the rearing and husbandry practice of indigenous goats in the North Shewa zone. A total of 216 farmers were interviewed for the household survey. Data collected through a questionnaire (survey) were described by descriptive statistics using SPSS. The first objective of keeping goats in all districts was for income. Natural pasture (shrubs and bushes) and river water were the major sources of goat feeding and watering, respectively both in dry and wet seasons in the three districts. Among the interviewed goat keepers 94.4% in Berehet, 84.7% in Basona-Worena and 90.3% in Minjar-Shenkora had their own indigenous breeding male goat. The average flock size per monitored households in Berehet, Basona-Worena and Minjar-Shenkora districts was 14.70 ± 10.95, 7.43 ± 3.94 and 14.52 ± 11.36 goats, respectively. Growth rate, body conformation and coat colour for the breeding buck and litter size, body size or appearance and pedigree for does were the first, second and third selection criteria, respectively in all districts. Feed shortage, disease and labour shortage were the first, second and third-ranked constraints for goat production in the study districts, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustaining global food security amid a growing world population demands advanced breeding methods. Phenotyping, which observes and measures physical traits, is a vital component of agricultural research. However, its labor-intensive nature has long hindered progress. In response, we present an efficient phenotyping platform tailored specifically for cucumbers, harnessing smartphone cameras for both cost-effectiveness and accessibility. We employ state-of-the-art computer vision models for zero-shot cucumber phenotyping and introduce a B-spline curve as a medial axis to enhance measurement accuracy. Our proposed method excels in predicting sample lengths, achieving an impressive mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.20%, without the need for extensive data labeling or model training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minangkabau entrepreneurs in Indonesia offer a unique perspective on the trait-based entrepreneurial lineage, as they are culturally reinforced by their distinctive cultural norms, including their psychological aspects. This study aims to investigate the performance of marketing, financial, and operational as observed from their creative self-efficacy, intellectual capital, innovative work behavior, and the mediating role of perceived organizational support. This study adopts a quantitative approach where questionnaires are distributed to 254 MSMEs for path analysis construction using PLS-SEM. This study proves that Minangkabau entrepreneurs exhibit innovative behavior and provide trait-based support to their employees, further enhancing their marketing, financial, and operational performance. The government can accelerate the digital transformation and innovation of MSMEs in Indonesia by exploiting these traits in the construction of their policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity increase of many agricultural crops is associated with the production of heterotic hybrid forms that are more productive than conventional varieties. In order to obtain a heterotic effect and develop hybrid seeds in sorghum breeding practice, the phenomenon of cytoplasmic male sterility is used. The purpose of the current work was to study new sorghum-Sudan hybrids developed on the basis of CMS, and to determine heterosis according to the main economically valuable traits that affect green mass productivity. The study was carried out in theAgricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2020–2022. The objects of the study were the sorghum-Sudanese hybrids studied in the competitive variety testing. Sowing and field observations were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The meteorological conditions during the years of study (2020–2022) varied significantly, which made it possible to conduct a comprehensive estimation of hybrids in contrasting conditions. According to the study carried out according to the main traits (length of “sprouts-heading stage” period, plant height, length of the 3rd leaf and number of leaves per plant), which affect the productivity of sorghum-Sudan hybrids, there has been established a high heterotic effect. Hybrids developed on the basis of CMS had a green mass productivity of 3557–5949 g/m2 for two cuts. Hypothetical heterosis ranged from 59.8 to 144.3 %, true heterosis was 22.1–95.1 %. According to the green mass productivity, the hybrids ‘APV-1115 x Kudesnitsa’, ‘APV-1115 x Svetloplenchataya 2’, ‘APV-1115 x ChT-22’, ‘Dzhetta x ChT-22’ were the best ones, exceeding the standard on 755–1384 g/m2 or by 16.5–30.3 %. The identified hybrids have confirmed the expediency of using cytoplasmic male sterility to obtain a highly heterotic effect both in terms of green mass productivity and in terms of the main traits that affect productivity.