Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology

Influence of Particle Size Fractionation via Pulse Spray Drying on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Fruit Smoothie Powders

Fractionation of powders by Pulse Spray Drying (PSD) may improve drying behaviour in fruit smoothies prepared with apple, orange, banana, and whey protein. The objective of this study was to determine whether cyclone-based fractionation via PSD yields smoothie powder fractions wi...

Unravelling the Potential Regulatory Role of Blood lncRNA on Swine Immunity

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory RNA molecules involved in numerous biological processes, including immune response. Although their functions remain difficult to characterize, lncRNAs have been associated with both productive and immune traits in pigs. Because immune...

Effect of live yeasts and essential oils as functional feed additives on growth performance and stress response in juvenile cobia

The intensification of aquaculture introduces significant challenges, including increased exposure to environmental stressors that promote disease outbreaks, historically managed through antimicrobial use. As sustainable alternatives, functional feed additives are being explored...

Management legacy effects drive soil food web resistance and resilience to climatic stress

Abstract Soil organisms’ response to climate change largely depends on soil management practices and resulting soil organic carbon levels. Conservation agriculture practices (e.g., no-tillage and crop diversification) have been shown to protect soil organisms, improve micro-food...

Occurrence and Detection Profiles of Technology-Critical Elements (Ga, Ge, Nb, Ta and W) in Wild Mushrooms from Leicester and Leicestershire, UK

Technology-critical elements are increasingly used in electronics, renewable-energy systems, high-performance alloys and other strategic technologies, yet their occurrence in wild fungi remains poorly characterised. This study evaluated gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), niobium (Nb),...

Early Physiological and Gut Microbiota Responses to Dietary Fishmeal Reduction in Mugil cephalus Under Biofloc Technology

The early intestinal response of Mugil cephalus to fishmeal replacement with alternative protein sources under biofloc technology (BFT) was assessed. Juvenile mullet (82.68 ± 0.05 g) were distributed among three dietary treatments with decreasing fishmeal inclusion levels of 15%,...

Cultivar and phenological stage susceptibility of almond flowers to Monilinia laxa infection

Abstract BACKGROUND Blossom blight caused by Monilinia laxa is a major constraint to almond production in southern Europe, yet variation in floral susceptibility among cultivars and phenological stages remains poorly understood. RESULTS Floral susceptibility to M. laxa was assess...