A circumpolar study unveils a positive non-linear effect of temperature on arctic arthropod availability that may reduce the risk of warming-induced trophic mismatch for breeding shorebirds.

Seasonally abundant arthropods are a crucial food source for many migratory birds that breed in the Arctic. In cold environments, the growth and emergence of arthropods are particularly tied to temperature. Thus, the phenology of arthropods is anticipated to undergo a rapid change in response to a warming climate, potentially leading to a trophic mismatch between migratory insectivorous birds and their prey. Using data from 19 sites spanning a wide temperature gradient from the Subarctic to the High Arctic, we investigated the effects of temperature on the phenology and biomass of arthropods available to shorebirds during their short breeding season at high latitudes. We hypothesized that prolonged exposure to warmer summer temperatures would generate earlier peaks in arthropod biomass, as well as higher peak and seasonal biomass. Across the temperature gradient encompassed by our study sites (>10°C in average summer temperatures), we found a 3-day shift in average peak date for every increment of 80 cumulative thawing degree-days. Interestingly, we found a linear relationship between temperature and arthropod biomass only below temperature thresholds. Higher temperatures were associated with higher peak and seasonal biomass below 106 and 177 cumulative thawing degree-days, respectively, between June 5 and July 15. Beyond these thresholds, no relationship was observed between temperature and arthropod biomass. Our results suggest that prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can positively influence prey availability for some arctic birds. This positive effect could, in part, stem from changes in arthropod assemblages and may reduce the risk of trophic mismatch.

Low-density SNP markers with high prediction accuracy of genomic selection for bacterial wilt resistance in tomato.

Bacterial wilt (BW) is a soil-borne disease that leads to severe damage in tomato. Host resistance against BW is considered polygenic and effective in controlling this destructive disease. In this study, genomic selection (GS), which is a promising breeding strategy to improve quantitative traits, was investigated for BW resistance. Two tomato collections, TGC1 (n = 162) and TGC2 (n = 191), were used as training populations. Disease severity was assessed using three seedling assays in each population, and the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values were obtained. The 31,142 SNP data were generated using the 51K Axiom array™ in the training populations. With these data, six GS models were trained to predict genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) in three populations (TGC1, TGC2, and combined). The parametric models Bayesian LASSO and RR-BLUP resulted in higher levels of prediction accuracy compared with all the non-parametric models (RKHS, SVM, and random forest) in two training populations. To identify low-density markers, two subsets of 1,557 SNPs were filtered based on marker effects (Bayesian LASSO) and variable importance values (random forest) in the combined population. An additional subset was generated using 1,357 SNPs from a genome-wide association study. These subsets showed prediction accuracies of 0.699 to 0.756 in Bayesian LASSO and 0.670 to 0.682 in random forest, which were higher relative to the 31,142 SNPs (0.625 and 0.614). Moreover, high prediction accuracies (0.743 and 0.702) were found with a common set of 135 SNPs derived from the three subsets. The resulting low-density SNPs will be useful to develop a cost-effective GS strategy for BW resistance in tomato breeding programs.

Reproductive biology of Lepidocephalichthys guntea: a key conservation approach considering environmental factors in Payra River, Bangladesh.

The guntea loach, Lepidocephalichthys guntea, is categorically common freshwater fish in Southeast Asia. Current study is the first elucidation on the reproductive feature of L. guntea including population structure, sex ratio (SR), size at first maturity (Lm), breeding period, and condition factor, emphasizing on the effect of environmental factors on reproduction of this fish in the Payra River (Southern Bangladesh) during July 2021 to June 2022. Using various conventional gears, 1128 individuals (534 males and 594 females) have been collected. Total length (TL), standard length (SL), and body weight (BW) of each fish were measured. Ovaries were cautiously dissected, removed, and precisely weighed. TL ranges from 4.6 to 9.7 cm (BW = 0.7-9.27 g) for male and 4.6-10.3 cm (BW = 0.8-10.75 g) for female. Both male (47.34%) and female (52.66%) populations were the leading group in 7.00-7.99 cm TL. Overall SR was not notably altered from anticipated value of 1:1 (male:female = 1:1.11). Nonetheless, monthly variations of SR specified females were considerably outnumbered males in each month excluding March-May. Lm range was 6.4-7.0 cm, so larger than Lm is recommended to exploit. Monthly changes in GSI indicated that the main spawning season was from March to June. The spawning season was substantially correlated with rainfall, nonetheless with temperature. Additionally, relative weight indicated that habitat was imbalanced with higher predators. A fishing ban is recommended during peak spawning to protect L. guntea in the Payra River and its surroundings based on current research.

The interaction of genes and environment on percent of juniper in the diet of goats divergently selected for high or low juniper consumption.

Diet selection and preference by grazing animals are determined by genetic and environmental factors that interact and affect their efficacy for managing vegetation as targeted grazers and developing animals adapted to local grazing environments. The effect of the rearing environments on the consumption of juniper (Juniperus spp.) by goats that for 15 years were divergently selected for high (J+) or low (J-) percent juniper in their diet was investigated. To test the effect of rearing environment, at the end of the breeding season, pregnant does from both selection lines were grazed on either juniper-infested (JIR) or juniper-free (JFR) rangelands until their kids were weaned at about 75 days of age. Fecal samples were analyzed with fecal near-IR spectroscopy to determine the percent juniper in the diet. Fecal samples were collected from does on JIR when their offspring were 30 days of age and at weaning. Then, does that raised kids in both rearing environments grazed a common JIR pasture for a 28-day adaptation period before collecting fecal samples. After weaning, kids from both rearing environments grazed JIR for 22 days before collecting fecal samples. The J+ does always consumed more (P < 0.001) juniper than J- does, demonstrating different maternal role models for kids reared in the JIR environment. There was no effect of rearing environment (P = 0.488) or rearing environment × selection line interaction (P = 0.096) when J- and J+ does grazed a common JIR pasture. The percentage of juniper in J- kid diets (7%) was the same regardless of the rearing environment. However, the rearing environment did affect the percentage of juniper in the diet of J+ kids, resulting in a gene-environment interaction (P = 0.022). The percentage of juniper in the diet of J+ kids reared in JFR (16%) and JIR (24%) were about two and three times higher than J- kids, respectively, indicating that genetics and the rearing environment contributed about equally to the increase in the percentage of juniper in the J+ kid diets. Regardless of the rearing environment, the J+ kids had a higher percentage of juniper in their diets than J- kids (P < 0.001). Compared to males, female kids had a higher percentage of juniper in their diets (12 vs 17%, respectively; P = 0.002). The ability to select animals with specific dietary preferences holds promise for targeted grazing strategies to restore degraded rangelands, with potential applications in conservation and ecosystem management.

Dataset on evaluation of intra-specific genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey in southwest Nigeria using rbcL gene maker.

Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin Ex C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae) popularly known as "African wild lettuce" is a neglected, underutilized, and sometimes classified as a weed in West and Central Africa. The plant has been naturalized in numerous regions of the world, including Asia, North America, Europe, and North Africa. This highly nutritional and medicinal leafy vegetable is endemic to some states in southwest, Nigeria. People who utilize the species still depend largely on its spontaneous appearance in the wild, except for some herbalists who cultivate it for therapeutic uses. Its domestication and cultivation are still at infant stage. Without the intervention of breeders, the full potential of this species would remain untapped. The inadequate information about the genetic diversity of L. taraxacifolia hinders its improvement through breeding programme and for conservation purposes, hence this dataset. A total of fifteen (15) accessions of L. taraxacifolia were collected from Oyo, Osun and Ogun states in Nigeria. The accessions were partitioned into three populations according to their collection states and subjected to DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction amplification and Sanger sequencing using ribulose-1,5-carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene (rbcL). The dataset composed of partial rbcL gene sequences which provides information on L. taraxacifolia distribution in southwest, Nigeria, its genetic diversity, single nucleotide polymorphic information, codon usage bias and amino acids molecular weight profile. The dataset recorded a relatively low number of segregating sites (3), total number of haplotypes (4), and nucleotide diversity (0.298) with a high gene diversity (0.667) and average number of nucleotide differences (0.895). A significant low level of genetic differentiation (Fst) was recorded for the population in the decreasing order of 0.103 (Ogun and Oyo populations), 0.000 (Ogun and Osun populations) and -0.222 (Oyo and Osun populations). The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean revealed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of L. taraxacifolia accessions which could be explored for its domestication, cultivation, genetic improvement and conservation in Nigeria.

Evidence of dystocia in an oviparous shark.

Dystocia, or obstructed labor, is a well-documented phenomenon in various captive vertebrates, including fish. However, despite the documentation of dystocia in several viviparous (live-bearing) Chondrichthyan species (i.e., sharks, rays, skates, and chimaeras), there are no reports to date of dystocia in any oviparous (egg-laying) species. Here we present a case of a captive female epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) that demonstrated symptoms of dystocia in a research-related captive breeding programme. This communication serves as documentation that dystocia can occur in oviparous Chondrichthyans, and this information can help inform researchers and veterinary practitioners for improved care.

Callus-specific CRISPR/Cas9 system to increase heritable gene mutations in maize.

MAIN CONCLUSION: A callus-specific CRISPR/Cas9 (CSC) system with Cas9 gene driven by the promoters of ZmCTA1 and ZmPLTP reduces somatic mutations and improves the production of heritable mutations in maize. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, due to its editing accuracy, provides an excellent tool for crop genetic breeding. Nevertheless, the traditional design utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 with ubiquitous expression leads to an abundance of somatic mutations, thereby complicating the detection of heritable mutations. We constructed a callus-specific CRISPR/Cas9 (CSC) system using callus-specific promoters of maize Chitinase A1 and Phospholipid transferase protein (pZmCTA1 and pZmPLTP) to drive Cas9 expression, and the target gene chosen for this study was the bZIP transcription factor Opaque2 (O2). The CRISPR/Cas9 system driven by the maize Ubiquitin promoter (pZmUbi) was employed as a comparative control. Editing efficiency analysis based on high-throughput tracking of mutations (Hi-TOM) showed that the CSC systems generated more target gene mutations than the ubiquitously expressed CRISPR/Cas9 (UC) system in calli. Transgenic plants were generated for the CSC and UC systems. We found that the CSC systems generated fewer target gene mutations than the UC system in the T0 seedlings but reduced the influence of somatic mutations. Nearly 100% of mutations in the T1 generation generated by the CSC systems were derived from the T0 plants. Only 6.3-16.7% of T1 mutations generated by the UC system were from the T0 generation. Our results demonstrated that the CSC system consistently produced more stable, heritable mutants in the subsequent generation, suggesting its potential application across various crops to facilitate the genetic breeding of desired mutations.

GWAS analysis reveals the genetic basis of blast resistance associated with heading date in rice.

Rice blast is a destructive fungal disease affecting rice plants at various growth stages, significantly threatening global yield stability. Development of resistant rice cultivars stands as a practical means of disease control. Generally, association mapping with a diversity panel powerfully identifies new alleles controlling trait of interest. On the other hand, utilization of a breeding panel has its advantage that can be directly applied in a breeding program. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for blast resistance using 296 commercial rice cultivars with low population structure but large phenotypic diversity. We attempt to answer the genetic basis behind rice blast resistance among early maturing cultivars by subdividing the population based on its Heading date 1 (Hd1) functionality. Subpopulation-specific GWAS using the mixed linear model (MLM) based on blast nursery screening conducted in three years revealed a total of 26 significant signals, including three nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes (Os06g0286500, Os06g0286700, and Os06g0287500) located at Piz locus on chromosome 6, and one at the Pi-ta locus (Os12g0281300) on chromosome 12. Haplotype analysis revealed blast resistance associated with Piz locus was exclusively specific to Type 14 hd1 among japonica rice. Our findings provide valuable insights for breeding blast resistant rice and highlight the applicability of our elite cultivar panel to detect superior alleles associated with important agronomic traits.

Non-invasive methods for analysing pig welfare biomarkers.

At present, the assessment of pig welfare quality has gained significant importance, prompting the exploration of novel biomarkers for this purpose. Traditionally, these biomarkers have been monitored in the blood; however, blood sampling is considered an invasive procedure. Currently, non-invasive methods for collecting samples are emerging as viable alternatives for assessing these biomarkers. This article aims to present the current knowledge regarding the use of non-invasive methods for analysing pig welfare biomarkers, specifically focusing on the saliva, hair, faeces, and urine as matrices to determine these biomarkers. The saliva analysis encompasses various biomarkers, such as cortisol, alpha-amylase, chromogranin A, the total esterase, oxytocin, acute phase proteins, adenosine deaminase, immunoglobulins and parameters of redox homeostasis. Cortisol, a specific biomarker, can be determined in the hair, urine and faeces, while urine samples allow for the analysis of catecholamines as non-invasive markers of pig welfare.

TriticeaeSSRdb: a comprehensive database of simple sequence repeats in Triticeae.

Microsatellites, known as simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are short tandem repeats of 1 to 6 nucleotide motifs found in all genomes, particularly eukaryotes. They are widely used as co-dominant markers in genetic analyses and molecular breeding. Triticeae, a tribe of grasses, includes major cereal crops such as bread wheat, barley, and rye, as well as abundant forage and lawn grasses, playing a crucial role in global food production and agriculture. To enhance genetic work and expedite the improvement of Triticeae crops, we have developed TriticeaeSSRdb, an integrated and user-friendly database. It contains 3,891,705 SSRs from 21 species and offers browsing options based on genomic regions, chromosomes, motif types, and repeat motif sequences. Advanced search functions allow personalized searches based on chromosome location and length of SSR. Users can also explore the genes associated with SSRs, design customized primer pairs for PCR validation, and utilize practical tools for whole-genome browsing, sequence alignment, and in silico SSR prediction from local sequences. We continually update TriticeaeSSRdb with additional species and practical utilities. We anticipate that this database will greatly facilitate trait genetic analyses and enhance molecular breeding strategies for Triticeae crops. Researchers can freely access the database at http://triticeaessrdb.com/.

A gender-responsive breeding approach to the intensification of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) production in the Maradi region of Niger.

Climatic variability and a decrease in soil fertility have had a detrimental effect on the productivity of the main rainfed crops in Niger (millet, sorghum, and cowpea) and led to a deterioration of the nutritional status and income of the country's farmers. The spatio-temporal variability in rainfall has led rural populations to diversify their farms by integrating sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) into their cropping systems because of its low water and fertilizer requirements. Sesame is increasingly becoming a significant source of income for farmers, and it contributes to their food and nutritional security. To boost the production of sesame and facilitate its rapid adoption, our breeding program focused on participatory breeding and varietal selection with the inclusion of gender-specific preferences, from the variety design to the evaluation of new lines on farms. This case study shows that, although women have more experience in sesame cultivation than men, they have less access to production factors such as land. This limited access is especially problematic, as recent trends in land tenure mean that the poorest are no longer able to exploit large areas of cultivable land. It also evidenced that the varietal preferences of sesame growers as well as the mastery of production techniques are a function of the livelihoods and the investment capacity of actors in the value chain. Our study found that men mainly prefer production traits, whereas women have fewer trait preferences, and their preferences tend to be related to marketing and processing. This finding highlights the contrasting roles and responsibilities between men and women in the sesame value chain. Therefore, the inclusion of complementary traits preferred by women and men, provided that they are not negatively correlated with a variety profile, will help meet the full range of needs across the value chain. We recommend the inclusion of gender research in setting breeding goals prior to variety design.

Multispectral imaging for distinguishing hybrid forest seeds of Corymbia spp. and Eucalyptus spp. from their progenitors.

In the forest industry, interspecific hybridization, such as Eucalyptus urograndis (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla) and Corymbia maculata × Corymbia torelliana, has led to the development of high-performing F1 generations. The successful breeding of these hybrids relies on verifying progenitor origins and confirming post-crossing, but conventional genotype identification methods are resource-intensive and result in seed destruction. As an alternative, multispectral imaging analysis has emerged as an efficient and non-destructive tool for seed phenotyping. This approach has demonstrated success in various crop seeds. However, identifying seed species in the context of forest seeds presents unique challenges due to their natural phenotypic variability and the striking resemblance between different species. This study evaluates the efficacy of spectral imaging analysis in distinguishing hybrid seeds of E. urograndis and C. maculata × C. torelliana from their progenitors. Four experiments were conducted: one for Corymbia spp. seeds, one for each Eucalyptus spp. batch separately, and one for pooled batches. Multispectral images were acquired at 19 wavelengths within the spectral range of 365-970 nm. Classification models based on Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) was created using reflectance and reflectance features, combined with color, shape, and texture features, as well as nCDA transformed features. The LDA algorithm, combining all features, provided the highest accuracy, reaching 98.15% for Corymbia spp., and 92.75%, 85.38, and 86.00 for Eucalyptus batch one, two, and pooled batches, respectively. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of multispectral imaging in distinguishing hybrid seeds of Eucalyptus and Corymbia species. The seeds' spectral signature played a key role in this differentiation. This technology holds great potential for non-invasively classifying forest seeds in breeding programs.

Effect of prostaglandin treatment on the estrus behaviour, follicular and luteal morphometry and serum hormone profile in sub-estrus buffaloes during non-breeding season.

Sub-estrus buffaloes do not exhibit estrus signs despite being cyclic contributing to extended service periods and inter-calving intervals causing significant economic loss. The present study described the effect of synthetic prostaglandin (PGF2α) on estrus behaviour, follicular and luteal morphometry, and serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) profile in sub-estrus buffaloes during the non-breeding season. The incidence of sub-estrus was 38.4% during the non-breeding season. The sub-estrus buffaloes (n = 33) were divided into two groups, viz., Control (n = 16) and PGF2α treatment (Inj. Cloprostenol 500 µg, i.m., n = 17). Estrus induction response was significantly greater in the treatment (100 vs. 18.75%, p < .001), and a relatively greater proportion of animals conceived in the treatment group (29.41 vs. 6.25%, p = .08). The time elapsed to induction of estrus and insemination following treatment was significantly lower in the treatment group than control. A significant increment in the follicle diameter (9.72 ± 0.45 vs. 13.00 ± 0.45 mm, P < .0001) and serum estradiol (E2) concentration (66.01 ± 11.92 vs. 104.9 ± 13.21 pg/mL, p = .003) observed at the post-treatment period in the PGF2α treatment group. At the same time, CL diameter was reduced significantly at a higher regression rate in the PGF2α treated buffaloes than those of control. Of the responded buffaloes, only 30% showed high-intensity estrus attributed to the expulsion of cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM), uterine tonicity, micturition, and mounting response by a teaser bull. From this study, it can be concluded that the administration of PGF2α could induce estrus in the sub-estrus buffaloes during the non-breeding season. Behavioural changes, along with sonographic observation of POF, regressing CL, and serum E2 and P4 concentration would be useful to determine the right time of insemination in sub-estrus buffaloes during non-breeding season.

afila, the origin and nature of a major innovation in the history of pea breeding.

The afila (af) mutation causes the replacement of leaflets by a branched mass of tendrils in the compound leaves of pea - Pisum sativum L. This mutation was first described in 1953, and several reports of spontaneous af mutations and induced mutants with a similar phenotype exist. Despite widespread introgression into breeding material, the nature of af and the origin of the alleles used remain unknown. Here, we combine comparative genomics with reverse genetic approaches to elucidate the genetic determinants of af. We also investigate haplotype diversity using a set of AfAf and afaf cultivars and breeding lines and molecular markers linked to seven consecutive genes. Our results show that deletion of two tandemly arranged genes encoding Q-type Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger transcription factors, PsPALM1a and PsPALM1b, is responsible for the af phenotype in pea. Eight haplotypes were identified in the af-harbouring genomic region on chromosome 2. These haplotypes differ in the size of the deletion, covering more or less genes. Diversity at the af locus is valuable for crop improvement and sheds light on the history of pea breeding for improved standing ability. The results will be used to understand the function of PsPALM1a/b and to transfer the knowledge for innovation in related crops.

Thirty years of conservation breeding: Assessing the genetic diversity of captive Livingstone's fruit bats.

Fruit bats (genus Pteropus) are typically island-endemic species important in seed dispersal and reforestation that are vulnerable to increased extinction risk. An effective method of reducing extinction risk in vulnerable species that cannot be conserved in their native habitat is establishing an ex-situ captive breeding programme. Due to anthropogenic threats and low population numbers, in the early 1990s, a captive breeding programme was established at Jersey Zoo, British Isles, for Critically Endangered Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii). Here we use six polymorphic microsatellite loci to assess genetic diversity in the captive breeding population of Livingstone's fruit bats (P. livingstonii), 30 years after the programme's establishment, investigating change over generations and comparing our findings with published data from the wild population. We found no significant difference between the genetic diversity in the captive and wild populations of Livingstone's fruit bats (P. livingstonii), in both expected heterozygosity and allelic richness. The captive population has retained a comparable level of genetic diversity to that documented in the wild, and there has been no significant decline in genetic diversity over the last 30 years. We advise that a full pedigree of the paternal lineage is created to improve the management of the captive breeding programme and further reduce the possibility of inbreeding. However, it appears that the captive breeding programme is currently effective at maintaining genetic diversity at levels comparable to those seen in the wild population, which suggests reintroductions could be viable if genetic diversity remains stable in captivity.

Breeding a new Ganoderma lucidum strain with increased contents of individual ganoderic acids by mono-mono crossing of genetically modified monokaryons.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are major functional components of Ganoderma lucidum. The study aimed to breed a new G. lucidum strain with increased contents of individual GAs. Two mating-compatible monokaryotic strains, G. 260125 and G. 260124, were successfully isolated from the dikaryotic G. lucidum CGMCC 5.0026 via protoplast formation and regeneration. The Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) and squalene synthase gene (sqs) were overexpressed in the monokaryotic G. 260124 and G. 260125 strain, respectively. Mating between the G. 260124 strain overexpressing vgb and the G. 260125 strain overexpressing sqs resulted in the formation of the new hybrid dikaryotic G. lucidum strain sqs-vgb. The maximum contents of ganoderic acid (GA)-T, GA-Me, and GA-P in the fruiting body of the mated sqs-vgb strain were 23.1, 15.3, and 39.8 µg/g dry weight (DW), respectively, 2.23-, 1.75-, and 2.69-fold greater than those in G. lucidum 5.0026. The squalene and lanosterol contents increased 2.35- and 1.75-fold, respectively, in the fruiting body of the mated sqs-vgb strain compared with those in the G. lucidum 5.0026. In addition, the maximum expression levels of the sqs and lanosterol synthase gene (ls) were increased 3.23- and 2.13-fold, respectively, in the mated sqs-vgb strain. In summary, we developed a new G. lucidum strain with higher contents of individual GAs in the fruiting body by integrating genetic engineering and mono-mono crossing.

Comparison of the intestinal flora of wild and artificial breeding green turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Gut microbes are pivotal reference indicators for assessing the health status of animals. Before introducing artificially bred species into the wild, examining their gut microbe composition is crucial to help mitigate potential threats posed to wild populations. However, gut microbiological trait similarities between wild and artificially bred green turtles remain unexplored. Therefore, this study compared the gut microbiological characteristics of wild and artificially bred green turtles (Chelonia mydas) through high-throughput Illumina sequencing technology. The α-diversity of intestinal bacteria in wild green turtles, as determined by Shannon and Chao indices, significantly surpasses that of artificial breeding green turtles (p < 0.01). However, no significant differences were detected in the fungal α-diversity between wild and artificially bred green turtles. Meanwhile, the ß-diversity analysis revealed significant differences between wild and artificially bred green turtles in bacterial and fungal compositions. The community of gut bacteria in artificially bred green turtles had a significantly higher abundance of Fusobacteriota including those belonging to the Paracoccus, Cetobacterium, and Fusobacterium genera than that of the wild green turtle. In contrast, the abundance of bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteriota and genus Nautella significantly decreased. Regarding the fungal community, artificially bred green turtles had a significantly higher abundance of Fusarium, Sterigmatomyces, and Acremonium and a lower abundance of Candida and Rhodotorula than the wild green turtle. The PICRUSt2 analyses demonstrated significant differences in the functions of the gut bacterial flora between groups, particularly in carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Fungal functional guild analysis further revealed that the functions of the intestinal fungal flora of wild and artificially bred green turtles differed significantly in terms of animal pathogens-endophytes-lichen parasites-plant pathogens-soil saprotrophs-wood saprotrophs. BugBase analysis revealed significant potential pathogenicity and stress tolerance variations between wild and artificially bred green turtles. Collectively, this study elucidates the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota in wild and artificially bred green turtles while evaluating their health status. These findings offer valuable scientific insights for releasing artificially bred green turtles and other artificially bred wildlife into natural habitats.