Publikationsfonds der Universität Hohenheim

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Über den Publikationsfonds der Universität Hohenheim erhalten Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler der Universität finanzielle Unterstützung bei der Veröffentlichung ihrer Forschungsergebnisse im Open Access. Gefördert werden Zeitschriftenartikel in Fully-Open-Access-Zeitschriften (Gold-OA) und hybriden Subskriptionszeitschriften (Hybrid-OA) sowie Monografien. Autorinnen und Autoren können online einen Förderantrag zur Finanzierungsbeteiligung ihrer Publikation stellen.

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Iron partitioning and photosynthetic performance in Cannabis sativa L. reveal limitations of nanoscale zero-valent iron as a fertilizer
(2025) Büser, Christian; Hartung, Jens; Deurin, Lukas; Graeff-Hönninger, Simone
Iron (Fe) is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust but remains the third most limiting nutrient for crop productivity due to its low solubility in most soils. The emergence of nanotechnology has introduced nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) as a potential Fe fertilizer with high surface reactivity and improved bioavailability. However, its comparative efficacy relative to conventional chelated Fe sources remains poorly understood. This study investigated Fe partitioning, photosynthetic efficiency, biomass accumulation, and cannabinoid synthesis in Cannabis sativa L. grown hydroponically under Fe-EDTA, nZVI, or Fe-deficient (-Fe) treatments. Total Fe concentrations were markedly reduced in -Fe plants compared with both Fe-EDTA and nZVI treatments. Despite similar root Fe contents between Fe-EDTA and nZVI, only Fe-EDTA facilitated efficient translocation to shoots, while nZVI-derived Fe predominantly accumulated in roots. Consequently, nZVI-treated plants exhibited intermediate photosynthetic performance and water-use efficiency—lower than Fe-EDTA but significantly higher than -Fe. Although Fe translocation differed substantially, inflorescence biomass and cannabinoid yield were comparable between nZVI and Fe-EDTA treatments, both exceeding those of -Fe plants. These results suggest that yield reductions under Fe deficiency arise not solely from Fe scarcity but also from the metabolic costs of Strategy I Fe acquisition, which are partially circumvented by root Fe availability from nZVI. Overall, Fe-EDTA demonstrated superior nutrient use efficiency, whereas nZVI partially alleviated Fe deficiency and revealed distinctive interactions between nanomaterials and plant Fe physiology. This study advances understanding of nZVI as an alternative Fe source in C. sativa and provides new insights into nanoparticle–plant nutrient dynamics.
Poultry perfection : comparison of computer vision models to detect and classify poultry products in a production setting
(2025) Einsiedel, Daniel; Vita, Marco; Jox, Dana; Dunnewind, Bertus; Meulendijks, Johan; Krupitzer, Christian
This study explores the use of computer vision, specifically object detection, for quality control in ready-to-eat meat products. We focused on a single process step, labeling products as “good” or “imperfect”. An “imperfect product” constitutes a product that deviates from the norm regarding shape, size, or color (having a hole, missing edges, dark particles, etc.). Imperfect does not mean the product is inedible or a risk to food safety, but it affects the overall product quality. Various object detectors, such as YOLO, including YOLO12, were compared using the mAP50-95 metric. Most models achieved mAP scores over 0.9, with YOLO12 reaching a peak score of 0.9359. The precision and recall curves indicated that the model learned the “imperfect product” class better, most likely due to its higher representation. This underscores the importance of a balanced dataset, which is challenging to achieve in real-world settings. The confusion matrix revealed false positives, suggesting that increasing dataset volume or hyperparameter tuning could help. However, increasing the dataset volume is usually the more difficult path since data acquisition and especially labeling are by far the most time-consuming steps of the whole process. Overall, current models can be applied to quality control tasks with some margin of error. Our experiments show that high-quality, consistently labeled datasets are potentially more important than the choice of the model for achieving good results. The applied hyperparameter tuning on the YOLO12 model did not outperform the default model in this case. Future work could involve training models on a multi-class dataset with hyperparameter optimization. A multi-class dataset could contain more specific classes than just “good” and “imperfect,” making trained models capable of actually predicting specific quality deviations.
The role of biodiversity in consumer research on food : a review and research agenda
(2025) Schneider, Deborah; Osieja, Sanja; Herbes, Carsten; Weinrich, Ramona
The move towards sustainable consumption has drawn significant attention from scholars and practitioners alike. Biodiversity is an integral part of environmental sustainability and food security, but it has received little attention in consumer research. Findings are fragmented into how biodiversity as a product attribute affects consumer food choices. Thus, we conducted a systematic literature review on consumer research on biodiversity in the context of food choice. We reviewed 45 papers published between 2014 and March 2025. Our analysis was guided by the TCCM (Theories, Contexts, Characteristics, and Methodology) framework for developing a systematic literature review. We examined how biodiversity was conceptualized and defined within the studies and towards study participants. Our findings show that biodiversity as a product attribute generally has positive effects on consumer attitude, willingness to pay, and product choice. However, knowledge about biodiversity and the inherent trade-offs in product choices remains limited, so consumers cannot realistically factor biodiversity into their decision-making. We find that research has taken a narrow view of biodiversity, qualitative studies are rare, and few efforts have been made to build theoretical perspectives from empirical data. We conclude with a proposed agenda for future research and a tentative definition of biodiversity for social science.
Structure formation in fruit preparations by fruit fermentates produced with exopolysaccharide-forming lactic acid bacteria
(2025) Festini, Silvan; Zipori, Dor; Wallisch, Marc; Weiss, Agnes; Neidhart, Sybille; Schmidt, Herbert; Jekle, Mario
Fruit preparations are intermediate food products that are primarily used in the dairy industry for the production of fruit yogurt or frozen desserts. Typically, they are stabilized by added hydrocolloids like pectins. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential replacement of conventional stabilizers by structure-forming fermentates produced by exopolysaccharides (EPS)-forming lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Peach puree was selected as fermentation matrix. Prior to 72 h of incubation, it was inoculated with either the heterofermentative LAB strain Levilactobacillus brevis TMW 1.2112 or the homofermentative LAB strain Pediococcus parvulus strain LTH 1110, both being known to produce EPS in form of β-D-glucan. The lyophilized fermentates were applied as stabilizers to produce strawberry fruit preparations. Flow curves, viscoelastic behaviour and shear stability were measured to investigate the effect of fermentate incorporation on the rheological properties of the products. A fermentatively induced effect was observed in terms of a 1.3-fold increase in viscosity of strawberry model fruit preparations with 10 % fermentate of Lv. brevis TMW 1.2112 compared to the addition of the same dose of fermentate blank. Further, increasing the fermentate blank dose from 10 % to 15 % resulted in a 2.4-fold viscosity increase of the model fruit preparations. High shear stability was found in all model strawberry fruit preparations. However, fermentation had no clear benefit in terms of viscoelastic behaviour and shear stability of the fruit preparations. Although the fermentatively induced thickening potential was limited, production of viscosity-increasing peach fermentate with minor changes in the sugar and amino acid profiles of the fruit proved to be feasible.
Expression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and αKlotho in two commercial laying hen strains fed with and without dietary mineral P supplements before and after the onset of the laying phase
(2025) Meier, Leonie; Wallauch, Nadine; Feger, Martina; Oster, Michael; Sommerfeld, Vera; Schmucker, Sonja; Wimmers, Klaus; Huber, Korinna; Stefanski, Volker; Rodehutscord, Markus; Föller, Michael
Maintenance of phosphate homeostasis is particularly critical in laying hens for bone formation and calcium mobilization. The supplementation of their feed with mineral phosphate is common although recent research questions the usual levels of supplementation. Phosphate homeostasis is classically regulated by active vitamin D (calcitriol) and parathyroid hormone, whereas fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and its co-receptor αKlotho are novel factors. FGF23 has emerged as an important disease biomarker and αKlotho as an anti-aging factor in mammals, however, little is known about their role in poultry. Here, we studied FGF23 and αKlotho expression in two commercial laying hen strains under conditions of dietary mineral phosphorus renunciation and sufficient phosphorus supply. Fifteen- and 20-week-old Lohmann Brown-Classic (LB) or LSL-Classic (LSL) hens were fed a standard maize-soybean-based diet containing 0 or 1 g/kg additional mineral phosphorus for 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed, and gene expression studied in different organs by quantitative real-time PCR and protein expression by western blotting. Statistical correlation with further parameters of mineral metabolism was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient or Spearman’s Rho. As a result, FGF23 bone expression was significantly lower and hepatic FGF23 expression higher in 24-week-old than in 19-week-old hens. Bone, hepatic, and renal αKlotho expression was significantly higher in older than younger animals. Compared to LB hens, LSL hens exhibited higher hepatic αKlotho irrespective of diet and age. Dietary phosphorus content did not significantly affect FGF23 and αKlotho expression. Bone FGF23 expression was positively and hepatic FGF23 negatively associated with plasma phosphate concentration whereas bone FGF23 expression was negatively and hepatic FGF23 positively associated with plasma calcitriol concentration. To conclude, we uncovered a strong impact of age and strain on FGF23 and αKlotho expression in two high performance laying hen strains, effects possibly associated with initiation of the egg-laying phase. Moreover, the regulation of hepatic FGF23 expression differed from the regulation of bone FGF23 expression. Further studies are needed to elucidate the physiological relevance.
From import to establishment? Experimental evidence for seasonal outdoor survival of two Rhipicephalus species in Germany
(2025) Fachet-Lehmann, Katrin; Lindau, Alexander; Mackenstedt, Ute
The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.), though not endemic in Germany, is regularly introduced via travelers with dogs and imported rescue dogs. Due to its relevance in veterinary and human medicine, its potential to establish in Germany’s climate is of interest. Although previous studies confirm indoor survival and reproduction of R. sanguineus s.s. in Germany, climate change and milder winters may also allow outdoor survival. This study assessed the survival of R. sanguineus s.s. and R. innaei from February 2023 to May 2024 using laboratory-bred ticks placed at indoor and outdoor sites. Tick survival (adults, nymphs, larvae) was monitored weekly, along with temperature and humidity. Reproductive success was evaluated via oviposition and larval hatching. R. sanguineus s.s. adults survived up to 44 weeks, nymphs up to 20 weeks, and larvae up to 5 weeks. R. innaei showed shorter survival (37, 10, and 4 weeks, respectively). Successful oviposition and larval hatching occurred outdoors between May´23 and September´23 for both species. However, winter survival was not observed; all ticks died following sub-zero temperatures in December´23. Despite the inability to overwinter outdoors, both species can survive for extended periods in spring and summer and may enter homes via dogs, where conditions favor year-round survival. Their ability to transition indoors via dogs, where conditions favor year-round survival, suggests a potential for establishment in Germany through combined indoor and seasonal outdoor persistence.
Bioaccessibility and anti-inflammatory activity in Caco-2 cells of phytochemicals from industrial by-products of coffee (Coffea arabica L.)
(2025) Jiménez-Gutiérrez, Milena; Zielinski, Christian; Esquivel, Patricia; Frank, Jan; Irías-Mata, Andrea; Jiménez-Aspee, Felipe
Coffee by-products are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds in free soluble form and bound to cell wall components. These compounds undergo chemical changes during gastrointestinal digestion, affecting their bioaccessibility and bioactivity. This study is the first to investigate coffee by-products from industrial wet processing to evaluate the impact of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on their phytochemical composition and subsequent anti-inflammatory activity in Caco-2 cells. Digestion significantly reduced the stability and solubility of main compounds; however, digested bioaccessible by-products still exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, reducing IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels. Correlation analysis identified rutin, quercetin-3-glycoside, caffeine and 5-caffeoylquinic acid as strongly linked to cytokine suppression, suggesting key roles and possible synergies. These results highlight the potential of coffee by-products as functional ingredients targeting intestinal inflammation. Future work should confirm in vivo efficacy, optimize extraction at scale, and address regulatory requirements to support industrial application and promote circular economy benefits.
Sulfate enhances metabolic acclimation under drought stress - a comparative study of grapevine and maize
(2025) Lehr, Patrick Pascal; Erban, Alexander; Kopka, Joachim; Zörb, Christian
The importance of sulfate fertilization in plant production has becoming increasingly relevant due to the decline in atmospheric sulfur inputs. Moreover, high-intensity cropping systems are increasingly facing drought scenarios. The role of stomata is crucial during drought stress and is linked to sulfate metabolism. This study investigates the impact of sulfate application on the drought response of grapevine and maize guard cells. Both plant species may serve as crop model for analysing underlying physiological processes in a low fertilizer demanding crop such as grapevine and a high fertilizer demanding crop such as maize. Increased sulfate concentration in leaves was triggered by drought in maize and grapevine, but in grapevine only when additional sulfate was applied. Additional sulfate application improved sulfur availability under drought conditions, which enhanced drought stress response in grapevine and maize. This was characterized by enhanced metabolic acclimation under drought conditions. The effect of sulfate on the drought stress response was markedly diminished in guard cells, indicating enhanced metabolic stability of guard cells against external influences. These results underscore the significance of adequate sulfate supply to crops for optimal drought stress response and suggest that sulfate fertilisation may serve as a potential option to enhance drought acclimation
Effect of liquefaction temperature and enzymatic treatment on bioethanol production from mixed waste baked products
(2025) Almuhammad, Mervat; Kölling, Ralf; Einfalt, Daniel; Almuhammad, Mervat; Yeast Genetics and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 23, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Kölling, Ralf; Yeast Genetics and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 23, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Einfalt, Daniel; Botanical Garden, Ulm University, Hans-Krebs-Weg, 89081, Ulm, Germany
This study investigates the effect of different liquefaction temperatures (50–70 °C) and four commercial enzyme formulations on glucose release and subsequent ethanol yield, using mixed waste baked products as a substrate. Among the enzymes tested, Amylase GA 500 proved to be superior in the hydrolysis of starch at lower temperatures (50 °C and 55°C). At higher liquefaction temperatures (65 °C and 70°C) all four enzyme preparations showed comparable activity. The highest glucose concentration (205.7 g/L) and the highest ethanol yield (92 g/L) were achieved with Amylase GA 500 at 65 °C. Its superior performance is attributed to the synergistic activity of α-amylase and glucoamylase, which facilitates efficient starch hydrolysis. Crucially, we discovered that the liquefaction temperature profoundly affects fermentation speed independently of the initial glucose concentration or the enzyme preparation used for starch hydrolysis. This novel mechanistic insight suggests that higher temperature treatment either makes an additional factor crucial for yeast fermentation available or depletes/destroys an inhibitor present in the complex waste bakery product matrix. These findings highlight the critical role of temperature and enzyme formulation in optimizing bioethanol production from bakery waste, supporting the development of more sustainable and efficient waste-to-biofuel processes.
Towards sustainable biointelligent food design: structuring potential of plant-based materials exemplified using apricot seed oil oleogels and bigels through 3D food printing
(2025) Reinmuth, Evelyn; Fahmy, Ahmed Raouf; Ribette, Olivia; Jekle, Mario; Reinmuth, Evelyn; Bioeconomy Office Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Fahmy, Ahmed Raouf; Department of Plant-Based Foods, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Ribette, Olivia; Department of Plant-Based Foods, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Jekle, Mario; Department of Plant-Based Foods, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Background/Introduction: Biointelligence in the approach of food additive manufacturing represents a significant advancement, enabling the reverse engineering and design of foods. Legislation restricting trans-fats has accelerated research into alternatives, but ingredients like saturated and trans fats play key roles in food quality and functionality. Oleogels are a promising replacement. Food additive manufacturing introduces a biointelligent approach, combining biological and technical components with information technology to optimize food design. This study investigates 3D printing of oleogel and bigel systems using apricot seed oil, aiming to assess their significance, applicability, and printability as sustainable alternatives to trans fats for innovative, resource-efficient food production. Methods: Apricot seed oil, rich in antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids, was processed into plant-based oleogels and bigels. The material systems were incorporated into 3D printed food structures. Material characterization and techno-functional analysis were conducted to evaluate the suitability of apricot seed oil for structuring 3D printed foods and controlling food texture. Results: Adjusting the type and concentration of oil-gelator mixtures enabled tailored texture and lipid distribution to fit consumer preferences. Sustainability impacts were assessed at intermediate processing steps, demonstrating the value of holistic evaluations beyond technical factors. Discussion: Biointelligent 3D printing offers a platform to optimize sensory and sustainability qualities in food design. The integration of apricot seed oil into novel food matrices enables versatile nutritional product development, supporting researchers and industry stakeholders in advancing consumer-centric, sustainable production and consumption practices.
Monomorium dine sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): a new inquiline social parasite ant species from North America
(2025) Cover, Stefan P.; Rabeling, Christian
Among the very rarest of Nearctic ants are three species of inquiline social parasites belonging to the genus Monomorium, namely Monomorium inquilinum DuBois, Monomorium pergandei (Emery), and Monomorium talbotae DuBois. All three species are known only from the type collections. Here, we describe Monomorium dine Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov., from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, USA, a new species closely similar to the three known social parasites. Like them, M. dine appears to be a workerless inquiline that exploits a free-living Monomorium host. We also provide keys to the queens of the Nearctic Monomorium inquilines, provide the first images of these species, report new collections for Monomorium talbotae DuBois, discuss host-parasite associations, and summarize what is presently known about these mysterious social parasites.
Spatiotemporal climatic signals in cereal yield variability and trends in Ethiopia
(2025) Abera, Kidist; Gayler, Sebastian; Piepho, Hans‑Peter; Streck, Thilo; Abera, Kidist; Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Biogeophysics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Gayler, Sebastian; Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Biogeophysics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Piepho, Hans‑Peter; Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Streck, Thilo; Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Biogeophysics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Climatic variability and recurrent drought can strongly affect the variability of crop yield and are therefore frequently considered a risk to food security in Ethiopia. A better understanding of how crop yields vary in space and time, and their relationship to climatic and other driving factors, can assist in enhancing agricultural production and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. We applied a multiple linear regression model to examine the spatiotemporal climatic signal (air temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation) in the yields of the most important crops (maize, sorghum, tef, and wheat) over the period 1995–2018. An analysis of the climatic data indicated that growing season temperature increased significantly in most regions, but the trends in precipitation were not significant. The yields of maize, sorghum, tef, and wheat tended to increase across most crop-growing areas, particularly in the west, but was highly variable. The results highlight large spatial differences in the contribution of climatic trends to crop-yield variability across Ethiopian regions. The trends in climatic variability did not significantly affect crop yields in some areas, whereas in the main crop-growing areas, up to − 39.2% of yield variability could be attributed to the climatic trends. Specifically, the climatic trends negatively affected maize yields but positively affected sorghum, tef, and wheat yields. Nationally, the average impacts of climatic trends on crop yields was relatively small, ranging from a 3.2% decrease for maize to a 0.7% increase for wheat. In contrast, technological advancements contributed substantially more to yield gains, with annual increases ranging from 4.3% for wheat to 5.1% for sorghum. These findings highlight the dominant role of non-climatic drivers, particularly improved agricultural technology, in shaping crop yield trends. Our findings underscore the spatial heterogeneity of climate impacts on agriculture and highlight the critical importance of technological progress in enhancing crop productivity. They also provide actionable insights for designing crop- and location-specific adaptation strategies, and stress the need for integrated, climate-resilient development pathways in the region.
A diamine oxidase from Glutamicibacter halophytocola for the degradation of histamine and tyramine in foods
(2025) Kettner, Lucas; Freund, Alexander; Bechtel, Anna; Costa-Catala, Judit; Fischer, Lutz; Kettner, Lucas; Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Freund, Alexander; Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Bechtel, Anna; Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Costa-Catala, Judit; Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomia, Campus de l’Alimentació de Torribera, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain; Fischer, Lutz; Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
A novel diamine oxidase (DAO) was discovered in the bacterium Glutamicibacter halophytocola (DAO-GH). The gene of DAO-GH was integrated into the genome of the yeast Komagataella phaffii and recombinantly produced under control of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter in a bioreactor cultivation. A high DAO activity of 70.2 ± 5.2 µkat/Lculture (5.25 ± 0.22 µkat/gprotein) was yielded after 90 h of cultivation. The DAO-GH was partially purified by the polyethyleneimine precipitation of nucleic acids, fractionated ammonium sulfate precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, resulting in a specific DAO activity of 19.7 µkat/gProtein. The DAO-GH was then biochemically investigated regarding its potential for histamine and tyramine degradation in fermented foods and the human small intestine. Interestingly, the DAO-GH showed activity even at a low pH of 5 and low temperature of 6 °C. Both histamine and tyramine were effectively degraded and DAO-GH showed especially very high affinity towards tyramine (Km of 0.009 mM). The DAO-GH was shown to be capable of degrading around 20% of the initially applied histamine in tuna paste (pH 5.6) at 5 °C within 24 h and completely degraded the histamine in a simulated intestinal fluid within 1.5 h in bioconversion experiments. The DAO-GH was spray-dried for the production of a storable enzyme preparation. Only around 17% of activity were lost in this process and the DAO-GH remained stable at room temperature for at least 3 months. The discovery of this DAO with its very advantageous biochemical properties allows the preparation of histamine-reduced or -free fermented foods by a simple enzymatic treatment or the treatment of histamine intolerance symptoms as a dietary supplement or medicine.
Mapping genes for resilient dairy cows by means of across-breed genome-wide association analysis
(2025) Keßler, Franziska; Zölch, Maximilian; Wellman, Robin; Bennewitz, Jörn; Keßler, Franziska; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Zölch, Maximilian; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Wellman, Robin; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Bennewitz, Jörn; Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 17, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: Indicator traits based on variance and autocorrelation of longitudinal data are increasingly used to measure resilience in animal breeding. While these traits show promising heritability and can be routinely collected, their genetic architecture remains poorly understood. We conducted GWAS for three resilience indicators across German Holstein ( n = 2,300), Fleckvieh ( n = 2,330), and Brown Swiss ( n = 1,073) dairy cattle ( Bos Taurus ) populations. The indicators included variance ( ) and autocorrelation ( ) of deviations of observed from predicted daily milk yield and variance of relative daily milk yield ( ). Additionally, we analysed a selection index combining these traits. Prior to GWAS, we examined population structure through multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and LD patterns, revealing distinct genetic clusters for each breed and similar LD decay patterns. Results: The GWAS results confirmed the polygenic nature of resilience, with multiple genomic regions showing significant associations. Notable signals were detected on BTA5 ( ), BTA14 ( ), BTA2 and BTA8 ( ) for single indicator traits. For selection index resilience, strong suggestive SNPs are located on BTA4 , BTA16 , BTA21 , and BTA27 . Detected regions overlapped with previously reported QTLs for performance, reproduction, longevity and health, providing new insights into the biological pathways underlying dairy cattle resilience. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that resilience indicators have a complex genetic architecture with both breed-specific and shared components, supporting their potential use in selective breeding programs while highlighting the importance of careful trait definition.
Pathways for biodiversity enhancement in German agricultural landscapes
(2025) Sponagel, Christian; Thompson, Amibeth; Paetow, Hubertus; Mupepele, Anne‐Christine; Bieling, Claudia; Sommer, Martin; Klein, Alexandra‐Maria; Settele, Josef; Finger, Robert; Huber, Robert; Albert, Christian; Filser, Juliane; Jansen, Florian; Kleemann, Janina; Schreiner, Vera; Lakner, Sebastian; Sponagel, Christian; Department of Farm Management, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Thompson, Amibeth; Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Paetow, Hubertus; DLG e.V.—German Agricultural Society, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Mupepele, Anne‐Christine; Department of Biology—Animal Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Bieling, Claudia; Department of Societal Transition and Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Sommer, Martin; Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege (DVL)—Landcare Germany, Ansbach, Germany; Klein, Alexandra‐Maria; Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Settele, Josef; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Finger, Robert; Agricultural Economics and Policy, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Huber, Robert; Agricultural Economics and Policy, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Albert, Christian; Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Filser, Juliane; Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany; Jansen, Florian; Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany; Kleemann, Janina; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Schreiner, Vera; Department of Sustainable Landscape Development, Institute for Geosciences and Geography, Martin‐Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg, Halle, Germany; Lakner, Sebastian; Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
Conserving biodiversity, especially in agricultural landscapes, is a major societal challenge. Broad scientific evidence exists on the impacts of single drivers on biodiversity, such as the intensification of agriculture. However, halting biodiversity decline requires a systemic understanding of the interactions between multiple drivers, which has hardly been achieved so far. Selecting Germany as a case study, the goal of our analysis is (i) to understand how various socio‐economic drivers of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes interact at the national scale, (ii) to identify plausible pathways that most likely will lead to an improvement of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and (iii) to discuss guiding principles for policy‐making based on the pathways. We applied the expert‐based Cross‐Impact‐Balance (CIB) methodology to the German agri‐food system (target year 2030). Seven descriptors that represent the most relevant socio‐economic drivers of biodiversity (here, we focus on species richness) in agricultural landscapes in Germany were defined. In three workshops with different groups of experts, we assessed all the interactions and impacts between these descriptors. From the workshops, seven overlapping scenarios were identified and aggregated into four main future pathways for enhancing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. These pathways are: (1) ‘Innovation and stricter legislation’, (2) ‘Major change in protein production and CAP shift’, (3) ‘Major change in protein production and national legislation’ and (4) ‘Major social changes compensate for a lack of innovation in food production’. Socio‐economic drivers interact to varying degrees. Societal values have a strong active influence on the system, e. g. agricultural policy, whereas the orientation and objectives of agriculture, e. g. focus on public goods, are rather passively determined. Conserving biodiversity thus depends upon the evolution of societal values, European and national nature conservation and agricultural policies, innovations in plant and protein production as well as on global commodity markets. A key message for policymakers is that there are generally different, complementary options for achieving the objective of improving biodiversity. This is important when specific drivers such as the CAP cannot be steered in a particular desired direction.
Comparative ungulate diversity and biomass change with human use and drought: implications for community stability and protected area prioritization in African savannas
(2025) Bartzke, Gundula S.; Ogutu, Joseph O.; Piepho, Hans‐Peter; Bedelian, Claire; Rainy, Michael E.; Kruska, Russel L.; Worden, Jeffrey S.; Kimani, Kamau; McCartney, Michael J.; Ng'ang'a, Leah; Kinoti, Jeniffer; Njuguna, Evanson C.; Wilson, Cathleen J.; Lamprey, Richard; Hobbs, Nicholas Thompson; Reid, Robin S.; Bartzke, Gundula S.; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Baden‐Württemberg, Germany; Ogutu, Joseph O.; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Baden‐Württemberg, Germany; Piepho, Hans‐Peter; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Baden‐Württemberg, Germany; Bedelian, Claire; Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark; Rainy, Michael E.; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Kruska, Russel L.; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Worden, Jeffrey S.; World Wildlife Fund, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Kimani, Kamau; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; McCartney, Michael J.; Campfire Conservation, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Ng'ang'a, Leah; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Kinoti, Jeniffer; Department of Infrastructure, Lands and Urban Development, County Government of Laikipia, Rumuruti, Laikipia, Kenya; Njuguna, Evanson C.; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Wilson, Cathleen J.; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya; Lamprey, Richard; Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geo‐Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, Overste, the Netherlands; Hobbs, Nicholas Thompson; Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Reid, Robin S.; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Drought and human use may alter ungulate diversity and biomass in contrasting ways. In African savannas, resource‐dependent grazers such as wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and zebra (Equus quagga) may decline or disperse as resources decline, opening space for more drought‐tolerant species such as gazelles (Eudorcas and Nanger) and impala (Aepyceros melampus). This shift can increase species richness, evenness, and overall ungulate diversity. Although higher diversity may stabilize ungulate communities, it may be associated with lower biomass (the total body mass of all individuals in a community), which in turn affects vegetation structure and composition, nutrient cycling, energy flows, and other organisms in savannas. While ungulate biomass often declines during drought or in areas of intense human use, the effects on diversity changes under low‐to‐moderate human use remain less clear. Our fine‐scale censuses in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and adjacent pastoral lands in Kenya showed that ungulate biomass declined more than diversity in the 1999 drought year. In the normal rainfall year of 2002, diversity peaked along the reserve boundary, but species richness leveled off in the drought year. Biomass peaked in the reserve in both census years, and migratory ungulates moved further into the reserve in the drought year, where diversity declined. These findings suggest that core protected areas are crucial for maintaining ungulate biomass, while transition zones from protected and pastoral lands support higher diversity unless drought reduces species richness.
Should we delay leaf water potential measurements after excision? Dehydration or equilibration?
(2024) Perera‐Castro, Alicia V.; Puértolas, Jaime; Fernández-Marín, Beatriz; González-Rodríguez, Águeda M.; Perera-Castro, Alicia V.; Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Puértolas, Jaime; Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Fernández-Marín, Beatriz; Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; González-Rodríguez, Águeda M.; Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
Background: Accurate leaf water potential (Ψw) determination is crucial in studying plant responses to water deficit. After excision, water potential decreases, even under low evaporative demand conditions, which has been recently attributed to the equilibration of pre-excision Ψw gradients across the leaf. We assessed the influence of potential re-equilibration on water potential determination by monitoring leaf Ψw and relative water content decline after excision using different storage methods. Results: Even though leaf Ψw declined during storage under low evaporative demand conditions, this was strongly reduced when covering the leaf with a hydrophobic layer (vaseline) and explained by changes in relative water content. However, residual water loss was variable between species, possibly related to morpho-physiological leaf traits. Provided water loss was minimized during storage, pre-excision leaf transpiration rate did not affect to the magnitude of leaf Ψw decline after excision, confirming that transpiration-driven Ψw gradients have no effect on leaf Ψw determination. Conclusions: Disequilibrium in water potentials across a transpiring leaf upon excision is dissipated very quickly, well within the elapsed time between excision and pressurization, therefore, not resulting in overestimation of leaf Ψw measured immediately after excision. When leaf storage is required, the effectiveness of a storage under low evaporative demand varied among species. Covering with a hydrophobic layer is an acceptable alternative.
The tale of two Ions Na⁺ and Cl⁻: unraveling onion plant responses to varying salt treatments
(2024) Romo-Pérez, Maria Luisa; Weinert, C. H.; Egert, B.; Kulling, S. E.; Zörb, Christian; Romo-Pérez, M. L.; University of Hohenheim, Institute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products 340e, Schloss Westflügel, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Weinert, C. H.; Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Haid-und-Neu-Straße 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany; Egert, B.; Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Haid-und-Neu-Straße 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany; Kulling, S. E.; Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Haid-und-Neu-Straße 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany; Zörb, C.; University of Hohenheim, Institute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products 340e, Schloss Westflügel, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: Exploring the adaptive responses of onions ( Allium cepa L.) to salinity reveals a critical challenge for this salt-sensitive crop. While previous studies have concentrated on the effects of sodium (Na⁺), this research highlights the substantial yet less-explored impact of chloride (Cl⁻) accumulation. Two onion varieties were subjected to treatments with different sodium and chloride containing salts to observe early metabolic responses without causing toxicity. Results: The initial effects of salinity on onions showed increased concentrations of both ions, with Cl⁻ having a more pronounced impact on metabolic profiles than Na⁺. Onions initially adapt to salinity by first altering their organic acid concentrations, which are critical for essential functions such as energy production and stress response. The landrace Birnförmige exhibited more effective regulation of its Na⁺/K⁺ balance and a milder response to Cl⁻ compared to the hybrid Hytech. Metabolic alterations were analyzed using advanced techniques, revealing specific responses in leaves and bulbs to Cl⁻ accumulation, with significant changes observed in organic acids involved in the TCA cycle, such as fumaric acid, and succinic acid, in both varieties. Additionally, there was a variety-specific increase in ethanolamine in Birnförmige and lysine in Hytech in response to Cl⁻ accumulation. Conclusion: This comprehensive study offers new insights into onion ion regulation and stress adaptation during the initial stages of salinity exposure, emphasizing the importance of considering both Na⁺ and Cl⁻ when assessing plant responses to salinity.
Recombinant production of Paenibacillus wynnii β-galactosidase with Komagataella phaffii
(2024) Bechtel, Anna; Seitl, Ines; Pross, Eva; Hetzel, Frank; Keutgen, Mario; Fischer, Lutz; Bechtel, Anna; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Seitl, Ines; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Pross, Eva; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Hetzel, Frank; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Keutgen, Mario; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Fischer, Lutz; Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
The β-galactosidase from Paenibacillus wynnii (β-gal-Pw) is a promising candidate for lactose hydrolysis in milk and dairy products, as it has a higher affinity for the substrate lactose (low KM value) compared to industrially used β-galactosidases and is not inhibited by the hydrolysis-generated product D-galactose. However, β-gal-Pw must firstly be produced cost-effectively for any potential industrial application. Accordingly, the yeast Komagataella phaffii was chosen to investigate its feasibility to recombinantly produce β-gal-Pw since it is approved for the regulated production of food enzymes. The aim of this study was to find the most suitable way to produce the β-gal-Pw in K. phaffii either extracellularly or intracellularly.ResultsFirstly, 11 different signal peptides were tested for extracellular production of β-gal-Pw by K. phaffii under the control of the constitutive GAP promoter. None of the signal peptides resulted in a secretion of β-gal-Pw, indicating problems within the secretory pathway of this enzyme. Therefore, intracellular β-gal-Pw production was investigated using the GAP or methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter. A four-fold higher volumetric β-galactosidase activity of 7537 ± 66 µkatoNPGal/Lculture was achieved by the K. phaffii clone 27 using the AOX1 promoter in fed-batch bioreactor cultivations, compared to the clone 5 using the GAP promoter. However, a two-fold higher specific productivity of 3.14 ± 0.05 µkatoNPGal/gDCW/h was achieved when using the GAP promoter for β-gal-Pw production compared to the AOX1 promoter. After partial purification, a β-gal-Pw enzyme preparation with a total β-galactosidase activity of 3082 ± 98 µkatoNPGal was obtained from 1 L of recombinant K. phaffii culture (using AOX1 promoter).ConclusionThis study showed that the β-gal-Pw was produced intracellularly by K. phaffii, but the secretion was not achieved with the signal peptides chosen. Nevertheless, a straightforward approach to improve the intracellular β-gal-Pw production with K. phaffii by using either the GAP or AOX1 promoter in bioreactor cultivations was demonstrated, offering insights into alternative production methods for this enzyme.
EvaMol : A python tool for evaluating molecules in hit-to-lead optimization
(2025) Herzog, Anna-Maria; Steuber, Julia; Fritz, Günter
This Python script was developed as a tool in structure-based drug discovery processes, such as fragment-to-lead-optimization, where a large number of variants of an initially identified hit molecule have to be evaluated and ranked in silico. The tool facilitates the identification and selection of follow-up drug candidates with improved predicted pharmacokinetic and binding properties. These candidates can derive from different procedures like similarity search or systematic chemical modifications. The initial hit data are provided either as coordinates of the protein-molecule complex obtained experimentally or by in silico methods such as docking making the script a versatile tool adaptable to variable workflows.

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