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Due to changes in the climate and the existence of a wide range of Asparagus officinalis L. cultivars, it is necessary to identify their suitability for cultivation in Poland and investigate their susceptibility to infection by the most common pathogens. The identification of the species composition of fungi of the Fusarium genus found in green spears of edible A. officinalis cultivars and the factors contributing to their occurrence will enable the effective protection of these crops. The study was conducted on seven A. officinalis cultivars bred in different countries, which were dioecious cultivars with male and female specimens: 'Ariane' (Germany), 'Cipres' (France), 'Eposs' (Germany), as well as cultivars with male specimens only: 'Andreas' (France), 'Gynlim', 'Grolim' (Netherlands), and 'Hannibal' (Germany). The analysis of the composition of the fungi isolated from the green A. officinalis spears showed that most of the isolates belonged to the Fusarium genus (F. culmorum Wm.G. Sm., F. equiseti (Corda) Sacc., F. oxysporum Schltdl., F. proliferatum (Matsush.) Nirenberg ex Gerlach & Nirenberg, F. solani (Mart.) Sacc., and F. fujikuroi Nirenberg). Other fungal species (Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stemphylium) were rarely isolated. The majority of the Fusarium genus isolates came from the spears of the 'Ariane' and 'Eposs' cultivars showing disease symptoms and from the spears of the 'Grolim' cultivar without showing disease symptoms. The fungi of the Fusarium genus colonised both the spears with and without disease symptoms, but there were always more isolates on the ones with disease symptoms. Fungi of the Fusarium genus occurred more often in the epidermis than in the parenchyma. F. oxysporum was the dominant fungus in the A. officinalis spears under analysis. The number of fungi isolates of the Fusarium genus collected from the green A. officinalis spears tended to increase at the consecutive harvest dates, which means that the spears harvested at the latest date (late June) were the most heavily colonised by fungi. All of the fungi isolates of the Fusarium genus collected from the spears exhibited pathogenicity against A. officinalis plants.

This work deals with the study of a pre-treatment method promoting degradability of lignocellulosic biomass and hence biogas yield therefrom, as this material is challenging to decompose due to its structure. The investigated pre-treatment methods are hydrolysis of the material in NaOH (0.5% and 5%) and H₂SO₄ (0.5% and 5%) at temperatures of 90-100 °C for 2 h. This work aimed to compare the effects of these pre-treatment methods on the lignocellulosic composition of maize waste (maize stalks, leaves and cobs), rapeseed straw and wheat straw and the biogas yields from its subsequent anaerobic digestion. Pre-treatment by 0.5% NaOH increased the biogas production the most (by 159% for rapeseed straw, 240% for wheat straw and 59% for maize waste) also the degrees of solubilisation was higher, at the same time the proportions of total organic carbon (TOC) in the solid component appear to be sufficiently high, it could be assumed that there has been sufficient disturbance of the material structure. Alkaline methods have proven to be more suitable compared to acid pre-treatment methods, also the use of alkali with a lower concentration has shown to be more efficient, which is more advantageous for use in practice from an environmental and economic point of view.

The cypress jewel beetle Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva is a wood-boring pest posing a major threat to the phytosanitary conditions of several coniferous trees. Its unprecedented European expansion has triggered serious plant protection concerns in several new habitats. Parts of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana injured by L. festiva were collected and analysed by computed tomography in order to study the dimensions of the cavities caused by L. festiva larvae as well as the larval positions. It is concluded that computer tomography representing a non-invasive approach is a promising tool for the visual depiction of the position and the physical parameters of the cavities formed. According to our experimental data, the penetration into the cypress caused by larvae and, inherently, its depth depends on the diameter of the branch. Additionally, the developing larvae appeared to keep distance from each other, which also depended on the diameter of the attacked branch. Our approach provides new data to the biological traits of the species. The main benefit that our imaging method furnishes is the exact, stress-free measurement method of the hidden developing stages. Its additional advantage is the indirect pest identification, which is based on the predetermined pest-specific damage characters.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-breed genetic diversity of Lithuanian Trakehner horses. The current population in Lithuania numbers 1 039 Trakehner horses. The study included the immunogenetic data analysis of 316 blood samples. Pedigree was traced back to 7-11 generations. The horses were assigned to genealogical clusters originating from East Prussian Trakehner Stud, Thoroughbred and Arab sires. The first two clusters were subdivided into nine-horse groups according to the most important ancestors. The evaluation of genetic diversity was based on six blood groups and five protein polymorphism systems. The differences between genealogical groups were confirmed by principal component analysis and applied cluster analysis. According to the allelic frequency, the Trakehner population changed very slightly through a 30-year period, and only one rare (0.013) allele Tf^RR (frequent in other Trakehner populations), has been newly found. The analysis of genetic polymorphism systems based on a very low rate of alleles Q^abc (0.093) and D^dkl (0.046), which are typical of other populations, indicated the exclusivity of the Trakehner population in Lithuania. The average expected heterozygosity by blood protein polymorphism and blood groups were 0.409 and 0.441, respectively. The genetic clustering diverged by observed heterozygosity of blood groups and by pedigree data in Pilger through Egoist, Bay Ronald through Dark Ronald and Dampfross through Hyperion subgroups. The determined distinctiveness of subdivided Trakehner horse groups suggests reconsidering the breeding strategies and conservation programme of Trakehner horses. Breeding and selection of subdivided sire lines could be among the appropriate solutions for the maintenance and extension of the genealogical structure.

Ovarian teratomas are rare neoplasms in female dogs, and they are characterised by the proliferation of tissues of embryonic origin. Most teratomas are benign, but a histological diagnosis is important for clinicians. The objective of this article is to describe a benign ovarian teratoma in a dog, which was found on the street and was appearing like pregnant. A veterinary inspection by palpation documented an enlarged abdomen with a mass of tough matter located on the right side in the abdominal-pelvic part. An ultrasound examination presumed neoplastic mass in region of ovary. A bilateral ovariohysterectomy was performed and the subsequent histological evaluation revealed a benign ovarian teratoma with a histochemically and immunohistochemically verified nervous tissue. After one year, no distant metastases were found and the dog was recognised as being clinically healthy without problems. On the basis of the ultrasonography diagnostics and histopathological analyses, we have demonstrated the occurrence of a benign ovarian teratoma in a dog.

An 11-year-old intact female Pomeranian dog was referred for jaundice, anorexia, and vomiting. The blood analysis revealed increased alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity was within the normal reference range. The radiography revealed no significant findings. On ultrasound, the gallbladder was enlarged with a markedly distended common bile duct (CBD) measuring up to 6 mm in diameter. The pancreas had an irregular contour, a hypoechoic peripheral rim, multiple hyperechoic foci with acoustic shadowing, and showed increased echogenicity of the adjacent mesentery. Based on these results, an extrahepatic biliary obstruction secondary to the presumed chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed. The computed tomography (CT) images showed a hypoattenuating pancreatic parenchyma compared to the liver in the early phase, as well as multiple calcifications. A laparotomy was performed to reserve the patency of the CBD. The histopathological examination of the pancreas revealed exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma. While various appearances of exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma on CT have been reported in humans, CT features of pancreatic adenocarcinoma have not been well-established in dogs. The purpose of this report is to describe the atypical imaging features of pancreatic adenocarcinoma that are similar to those of chronic pancreatitis in a dog.

Unstable conditions in the milk market in the Czech Republic (CR) and in the European Union (EU), mainly due to volatility of milk prices, are increasing pressure on dairy farmers to maximise production at the lowest possible production costs. Break-even point (BEP) analysis is a useful tool in dairy herd management for determining minimum requirements for profitability. BEP values for milk yield and milk price were calculated based on data obtained from 95 dairy farms in the CR. BEP values were estimated also for another eight EU countries based upon production and cost data from the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). With the milk price ranging from EUR 28 to EUR 38 per 100 L and while excluding subsidies, zero profitability would be achieved on Czech dairy farms with milk yields ranging from 6 706 L to 13 151 L per cow and from 7 450 L to 14 088 L per cow in Czech Fleckvieh (C) and Holstein (H) herds, respectively. In order to achieve 5% profitability, the milk yield would need to increase by 21%. Considerable variability exists among EU countries in estimated BEP values depending upon average milk yields, input prices, and milk prices in different countries.

The introduction of new varieties in fruit production should consider consumer attitudes regarding the appearance and taste of the fruits. In order to evaluate the consumer attitudes in Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina (B&H), on the most important characteristics of cherry fruits, an online survey was conducted with 402 respondents. Participation in the survey was taken by 53.23% of respondents from Serbia and 46.77% from B&H, most of which were women (54.23%). Consumers expressed their views on the most important external (fruit colour, fruit shape, fruit size, presence of a stalk on the fruit, length of the stalk and the presence of damage to the fruit) and internal (fruit taste, fruit firmness) characteristics of the fruit. According to the results, the attitude toward the fruit size, the presence of a stalk and the stalk length, as well as fruit firmness was dependent upon respondents' residence. Both male and female respondents had similar attitudes toward the cherry characteristics except for the fruit taste and the most important cherry characteristics. The age of a respondent influenced the attitude toward the fruit size and the presence of a stalk, as well as the fruit firmness.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is one of the most discussed game species, distributed across Europe, therefore the management of this species is considered important. This management should be based on data presented, population quality and preferences and craniometric dimensions show the development of the individual and its prosperity. A sample of 148 male and 153 female wild boar mandibles was studied to compare differences in craniometric measurements, especially to find out wild boar environmental demands and population trends. The width of the caput mandibulae and angle of the mandible showed significant difference between males and females. Measurements analysed with forest area size and other data also showed that larger craniometric dimensions were reached in hunting areas with at least 200 ha of forested area, which may be due to the wild boar's need for safety and vegetative cover in the first months of piglet development with respect to its home range. The development of young wild boar is dependent on rest and shelter in the first months of life. A forest cover of at least 200 ha appears to be sufficient in this respect. Information on habitat preferences and individual development can lead to improvements in wild boar management.

The production of summer maize is greatly affected by nitrogen (N) sources through regulating root growth and distribution. Four N treatments in the field experiment were designed as UAN (urea ammonium nitrate solution was applied under traditional side-dressing method), urea (urea was applied under traditional side-dressing method), UWFI (UAN was applied underwater and fertiliser integration technology) and CK (no N applied). The results showed that the root length density, surface area density and volume of DH605 (mid-late hybrid) and DH518 (mid-early hybrid) under UWFI were higher than other treatments, especially in shallow layers. The root absorption area of each soil layer under N application treatments varied with the growth stage. The grain yield and the accumulations of N, P and K in the shoots showed the trend of UWFI > UAN > urea > CK. Compared with UAN and urea, the nitrogen agronomic efficiency of UWFI treatment increased by 40.5~78.6%, and the nitrogen partial factor productivity increased by 4.75~7.61%. Consequently, rational application of UAN would improve root traits, nutrient uptake and utilisation, and yield of summer maize.

With the need to obtain new methods to protect seed material from Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) nematodes, a study was conducted to evaluate the nematicidal effects of several plants' essential oils on the mortality of D. dipsaci. Tests were performed under in vitro conditions; a concentration of 2 000 ppm was tested, nematodes were added into diluted oils, and numbers of living/dead nematodes were scored after 4 and 24 h. The results show a significant effect of several plant essential oils on D. dipsaci mortality, with the highest efficacy found for oil from Cinnamomum cassia ((L.) J. Presl), with 100% mortality observed even after 4 h.

To study the effects of straw return and aeration of the water layer on oxygen and redox status in the water column and at different depths in paddy field soil, a short-term incubation experiment was conducted with four treatments: (1) no straw return (NS); (2) straw return without aeration (S); (3) straw return and 30 minutes of aeration per day (SO30); and (4) straw return and 90 minutes of aeration per day (SO90). Compared to NS, S decreased dissolved oxygen (DO) and redox potential (ORP) by 23-58% and 47-53 mV, respectively, and increased active reducing substance (ARS) by 21-46% in the water and soil layers. The aeration treatments increased DO and ORP by 25-120% and 11-86 mV, respectively, and reduced ARS by 5-16% compared to S. The results indicated that straw return to paddy fields exacerbated hypoxia and reducing conditions in the soil. SO90 achieved better effects than SO30 in alleviating the negative impact of straw return by supplying more oxygen, but the effects weakened over time and with soil depth.

The genus Solanum comprises numerous wild and cultivated species that are important for potato breeding. This pilot-scale study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity in 44 accessions from Solanum sect. Petota, comprising wild species, Andean landraces, and modern cultivars, obtained from the Potato Research Institute Havlíčkův Brod, Ltd. and the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Nuclear microsatellite markers (SSR, 29 loci) were applied via five multiplex PCR reactions and analysed using capillary electrophoresis. Binary data matrices were analysed using DARwin software to generate dendrograms reflecting allelic polymorphism. The SSR panel effectively differentiated cultivated accessions from wild types, consistent with the current taxonomy of the genus Solanum, with particularly clear clustering of Andean landraces and modern varieties. However, resolution among wild accessions was limited, likely due to their high genetic complexity and interspecific overlap. These results support the suitability of the SSR panel for analysing diversity in cultivated potatoes. while also highlighting the challenges in resolving wild Solanum taxa. This study contributes to germplasm characterisation and provides a molecular basis for future breeding programmes.

This paper presents the important features of indigenous wild cherry genotypes suitable for processing. The research took place between 2017-2020, having ten Romanian wild cherry genotypes as study material. The harvesting maturity was recorded in the first decade of June for the early cultivar (G10) and decades two and three of June for the other studied genotypes, all of them with a middle season maturation. The number of days between the end of the flowering and the maturation was between 54 days (G10) and 66 days (G9). The average weight of the fruit and the equatorial diameter varied between 2.1 g and 13.80 mm for G4, respectively, and 5.5 g and 21.35 mm for G10. The proportion (%) between the pulp and waste (stone and peduncle) was measured as 81.95% pulp (G4) and 93.64% pulp (G10). The values of the soluble dry substance content were between 13.1-24.0 °Brix, the titratable acidity was between 0.48-1.16 mg malic acid/100 mL juice and the total content of the polyphenols was between 229.00-720.00 mg GAE/100 mL fresh juice. In terms of the bitter taste intensity, G10 has a weak intensity, G3, G7, G8 and G9 have an average intensity and G1, G3, G4, G5 and G6 have a high intensity.

The standardisation of protocols and discussion of therapeutic procedures in the rehabilitation of turtles affected by oil spills are necessary to optimise the recovery time and increase the chances of survival of these animals. This study aimed at reporting the processes adopted for the stabilisation, decontamination, rehabilitation and release of an oiled olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), rescued alive on September 23, 2019, at Santa Rita Beach, Extremoz municipality, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Its entire body was covered by oil. At first, the animal was mechanically dry cleaned using a gauze soaked in mineral oil in the keratinised regions (carapace and plastron) and a gauze soaked in vegetable oil was used on the oral, nasal, ocular, and cloacal mucous membranes. The second stage of the oil removal consisted of washing the animal with heated pressurised water (39 °C) and a neutral detergent using a soft foam sponge. The animal received treatment with antitoxins, antibiotics, analgesics, gastrointestinal protectors, and fluid therapy. After 7 days of treatment, the blood count showed that all the parameters were within the normal range. The oil cleaning process and the therapeutic protocol used in the rehabilitation of the olive ridley sea turtle were efficient.

The characterisation of agricultural activity depends on what firms produce. In this article, we introduce the importance of the vegetative cycle in the prediction of bankruptcy of agricultural firms, analysing the financial ratios proposed by the classical models of Altman (1983), Ohlson (1980) and Zmijewski (1984). We consider a total of 2 228 Portuguese firms, with 83 failing between 2015 and 2019. The findings confirm that the differences between healthy and bankrupt firms depend on their vegetative cycle. Although predictors based on liquidity are helpful only in predicting the bankruptcy of non-perennial crop firms, activity predictors are better in identifying healthy perennial crop firms. In addition, we show substantial statistical differences in terms of liquidity and profitability, but only in healthy firms. The results encourage the topic of the vegetative cycle to be more present in the construction of more accurate bankruptcy prediction models.

The effect of simultaneous intercropping of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with different legumes of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and purple clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) on selected production and qualitative parameters of wheat was evaluated in field trials conducted both in organic and conventional cropping systems, in comparison with pure sown wheat. Wheat intercropped with legumes achieved higher grain yield compared to pure sown wheat for an average of two years. However, in organic cultivation, the positive effect of intercropping on wheat yields was more pronounced. In addition, a strong influence of the year was noted. In 2021, in the organic cropping system, the most yielding intercropped wheat (especially with pea and bean) achieved 114-117% higher yields compared to pure sown wheat (in the previous year of 2020, it was usually only about 102-106%). In the conventional cropping system, the effect of intercropping on wheat yield was significantly weaker, and in 2021, wheat intercropped with legumes reached even lower yields than pure sown wheat in some cases. In terms of sowing methods (both in organic and conventional cropping systems), mixed sowing with individual legumes significantly exceeded the yields of wheat grown with legumes in separate, alternating rows. As regards quality parameters, wheat intercropped with legumes reached in comparison with pure sown wheat usually had higher crude protein content in wheat grain dry matter and higher values of Zeleny sedimentation.

The competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation strain against indigenous rhizobia was examined in a soil pot experiment. The effect of inoculation strain was evaluated under different soil conditions: with or without previously grown soybean and applied commercial inoculant. Molecular identification of inoculation strain and investigated rhizobial isolates, obtained from nodules representing inoculated treatments, was performed based on 16S rDNA and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequencing. Inoculation strain showed a significant effect on the investigated parameters in both soils. Higher nodule occupancy (45% vs. 18%), nodule number (111% vs. 5%), nodule dry weight (49% vs. 9%), shoot length (15% vs. 7%), root length (31% vs. 13%), shoot dry weight (34% vs. 11%), shoot nitrogen content (27% vs. 2%), and nodule nitrogen content (9% vs. 5%) was detected in soil without previously grown soybean and applied commercial inoculant. Soil had a significant effect on the shoot, root and nodule nitrogen content, while interaction of experimental factors significantly altered dry weight and nitrogen content of shoots, roots and nodules, as well as number of nodules. Nodulation parameters were significantly related with shoot dry weight, shoot and nodule nitrogen content. Symbiotic performance of inoculation strains in the field could be improved through co-selection for their competitiveness and effectiveness.

The basic chemical composition of the meat of fifteen freshwater and saltwater fish species was studied. Fourier transform-near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy was applied for determination of the content of fat, protein and dry matter in the fish meat samples. The fish species analysed differed significantly in dry matter, fat, and protein content (P < 0.05). The highest fat percentage was determined in the samples of Cyprinus carpio (17.14 ± 0.53%) and the lowest value was found in the samples of Lophius piscatorius (0.06 ± 0.003%). Thunnus albacares samples had the highest content of proteins (24.26 ± 1.89%), whereas the lowest protein content was observed in Oreochromis niloticus (14.73 ± 0.87%). The results of the measured dry matter varied from the highest content in C. carpio samples (35.73 ± 0.47%) to the lowest content of L. piscatorius samples (15.64 ± 0.43%). Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three major groups, which differentiate the analysed samples based on their protein, lipid and dry matter content. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) confirmed the use of three variables (protein, fat, dry matter) measured by FT-NIR to separate the observed fish species.

This study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (totally 655 observations). The fixed effects of dam's age (dams grouped as: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years and older), ewe's live weight (LW; ewes grouped as: < 72 kg; 72-83 kg; > 83 kg), and backfat thickness at mating (BT; ewes grouped as: < 7.9 mm; 7.9-10.5 mm; > 10.5 mm) were evaluated. The dam's age influenced reproductive and productive traits such that 2- and 6-year and older ewes reached the lowest values. Ewes with LW > 83 kg had significantly higher lambing rate (11.8%) compared to those with LW < 72 kg. The group of ewes with LW < 72 kg gave birth to a significantly lower number of live lambs in litter (-8.9%) in comparison with LW < 83 kg group. An increase (9.9%; P < 0.01) of total litter weight at birth or an increase (12.5%; P < 0.05) of total litter weight at 100 days of age were detected in LW > 83 kg group compared to LW < 72 kg group. BT > 10.5 mm ewes had by 8.9% lower lambing rate (P < 0.05), by 6.8% lower litter size (P < 0.05), by 14.5% lower number of live lambs in litter (P < 0.01), and by 8.6% lower total litter weight at birth compared to BT < 7.9 mm ewes. A significantly lower total litter weight at 100 days of age (-10.8%) and a significantly lower total litter gain from birth to 100 days of age (-11.5%) were detected in BT > 10.5 mm ewes in comparison to BT 7.9-10.5 mm ewes.

Myclobutanil is a chemical pesticide commonly used in the production of some vegetables and fruits like greenhouse peppers, grapes, and apples. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of myclobutanil fungicide on the Allium cepa plant, the model organism. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and inter simple sequence repeat-PCR techniques were performed on the DNA of A. cepa exposed to the different myclobutanil doses and time periods. The nucleus anomalies and abnormal anaphases were investigated using a light microscope. PCR analyses showed that myclobutanil causes some DNA sequence changes on the onion genome depending on the increase in the fungicide dose and exposure time. It was determined that myclobutanil has a serious genotoxic effect, even in low doses like 25-50 ppm.

Previous studies indicated that the antioxidant and water balance capacity played important roles in improving the vase life of cut flowers. As a trace element, selenium (Se) has been proven to play an important role in extending the vase life of lily cut flowers. However, there is still no report on the effects of Se on the vase life of other cut flowers. In this study, we explored the role of inorganic selenium, named sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), in improving the vase life of Eustoma grandiflorum cut flowers. Compared with the control (distilled water) and the other Na2SeO3 concentrations, 4.0 mg/L Na2SeO3 significantly increased the superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities, and decreased the malondialdehyde content and the electrolyte leakage. Meanwhile, compared with the control and the other of Na2SeO3 concentrations, 4.0 mg/L Na2SeO3 significantly increased the soluble sugar, proline and soluble protein contents, relative water content, average fresh weight change rate and average water balance value. The above results imply that Na2SeO3 showed an important role in strengthening the antioxidant capacity and maintaining the water balance. Besides, 4.0 mg/L Na2SeO3 significantly increased the flower diameter and the vase life. The above findings suggested that Na2SeO3 extended the vase life and the ornamental value of E. grandiflorum cut flowers by enhancing the antioxidant capacity and water balance, which provides new knowledge for the application of Na2SeO3 in improving the fresh keeping of E. grandiflorum cut flowers.

It is difficult to estimate flood discharges and the flood zones as well as to design hydraulic structures in rivers without using hydrometric stations. Furthermore, using different models to determine the mentioned cases will be accompanied by errors. Therefore, flood marks on the trunks of trees located in the Babolrood riverbed were used to determine the peak discharge, flood flow depth, and flood zone in northern Iran. First, a hydraulic model for the study river was provided using topographic maps with a scale of 1: 1 000, HEC-GeoRAS extension (GIS), and HEC-RAS model. Then, the flood marks of past floods in the form of silt and clay sediments (deposits on the trees in the riverbed) were evaluated and the maximum flood flow depth was determined. Finally, the peak discharge of the past flood was estimated by the trial-and-error method to achieve the flood flow depth in the different river reaches. Then, the hydraulic model using the flow depth data was calibrated in the reaches, and, in the final step, based on the flood marks of other reaches, the model was validated. According to the results, the maximum instantaneous discharge rate of the study flood was 155 m³.s^-1 and the maximum flood flow depth was about 2 m. Furthermore, the results showed that the flood mark data in forest lands can be used as a tool for the calibration and validation of hydraulic models. The present methodology is an efficient method for determining the flood peak discharge, spatial variation of the flood depth, and flood zone in forest watersheds without hydrometric stations.

The pear psyllid [Cacopsylla pyri (L.), (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)] represents one of the most economically significant pests of pear in Serbia and worldwide. It causes direct damage throughout feeding on young stems and leaves, but also creates favourable conditions for the development of plant diseases. In this article susceptibility of C. pyri to spirodiclofen, spirotetramat, and their combinations with foliar fertilizer (carboxymethyl cellulose-boron, CMC-B) was investigated in order to assess their efficacy. Experiments were conducted in accordance with standard OEPP/EPPO methods, in field trials on two localities in the Republic of Serbia (Kula, Vrbas), during 2020/21. Results of the field trials indicate good efficacy for all variants in pear psyllid control in pear orchards. The high efficacy of spirodiclofen (87.4-95.4%), spirotetramat (82.5-91.8%), spirodiclofen + CMC-B (90.3-99.8%), spirotetramat + CMC-B (89.5-96.8%) was achieved at both localities seven days after treatment during 2020/21 field trials. Also, it can be concluded for examinations 14 days after treatment, where the efficacy of spirodiclofen (84.9-92.0%), spirotetramat (81.2-91.7%), spirodiclofen + CMC-B (88.9-97.5%), and spirotetramat + CMC-B (82.3-92.5%) was high at both of investigated localities. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the high efficacy of the researched insecticides is a good indicator of C. pyri susceptibility in pear orchards.

Cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal glands, is an endogenous glucocorticoid hormone that delivers its hormonal message to cells by acting on glucocorticoid receptors. It is one of the main stress hormones responsible for stress responses in animals and humans, and its overproduction is characteristic of certain diseases. While acute stress disorder can be evaluated by means of measuring the cortisol concentration in blood and urine, chronic stress disorder can be detected by monitoring the cortisol concentration in fur or hair. Hair collection is simple, inexpensive and non-invasive, and can be performed easily and rapidly; thus, it appears to be a suitable method for determining the level of stress in dogs from shelters, abused dogs or dogs involved in different types of animal interactions. Since it is a relatively new method, monitoring cortisol in hair or fur requires further research in order to definitively prove its efficacy, and possibly to determine reference range values for different breeds of dogs.

The specificity of the agricultural sector (seasonality, the methods of obtaining human resources and so on) affects the situation in the labour market. The demand of agriculture companies for qualified workers is relatively high; unfortunately, people still prefer to work in the related or other fields where they have more suitable work conditions related. Building the brand of the employer, improving the awareness of the public and increasing the loyalty of the present employees can raise the offer of vacancies and obtain new qualified employees. The aim of the paper is to identify the benefits of human resource branding in businesses arising therefrom. A partial aim is to identify the present key managerial challenges of agriculture businesses. In the work, the data collected from a questionnaire survey (n = 108) were used together with the information from the Czech Statistical Office, in the opinion of which the labour market in the agricultural sector does not exhibit a positive trend. As a part of the evaluation, a factor analysis was carried out identifying three categories of benefits (the stabilisation of workers, organisational processes, and other benefits) crucial for the employer branding in agriculture.

The objective was to expand and update the knowledge on the presence and genotype diversity of porcine circoviruses 2 and 3 (PCV2 and PCV3) in the wild boar populations from the hunting grounds in northeastern Serbia. The presence of PCV3 was not determined, and PCV2 was confirmed in 40.32% of the organ samples from 124 wild boars hunted from 2018 to 2019, indicating their significance in virus circulation since traditional pig farms with irregular PCV2 vaccination strategies are widespread in this region. The most prevalent genotype was PCV2d, followed by PCV2b and PCV2a in 55.6%, 38.9%, and 5.5% of the examined samples, respectively. Nucleotide sequences of the detected strains were homogenous within the genotype and clustered within the subgroups PCV2d-2, PCV2b-1A/B, and PCV2a-2D with high identity to European, Chinese, and Serbian domestic pig sequences suggesting their origin. Wild boars presented with no clinical or pathological signs of infection, implying that these animals might be less susceptible to disease, particularly since the cofactors present in pig farming systems that support the disease development are absent in the wild. The high PCV2 detection frequency demonstrates the importance of wildlife monitoring to track virus population dynamics, especially in regions with free-range pig farming in order to plan adequate disease control strategies.

The case study aims to describe the nephrotic syndrome (NS) in a castrated 3-year-old male Cocker Spaniel dog. The patient arrived at the hospital with a loss of appetite and weakness. Skin oedema with ascites was observed along with hypoalbuminaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, and proteinuria (urine protein to creatinine ratio = 22.4). Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with NS, although a renal biopsy was not conducted. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg, p.o. q12 h) and mycophenolate mofetil (10 mg/kg, p.o. q12 h) were prescribed as the immunosuppressive drugs, and previously cryopreserved allogeneic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (2 × 10⁷ cells/kg) were injected intravenously. After several weeks of treatment, the patient recovered from NS. This is the first case report on immunosuppressive drugs and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells being used to treat a dog with NS.

Producing high-quality daughter plants of the June-bearing strawberry is very important for fruit production around the year. This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of different substrates on the runner production of the June-bearing strawberry cultivar 'Senga Sengana'. In April 2019, strawberry mother plants were planted while the daughter plants were examined November 2019. The nursery trial field was separated into four substrate treatments, each included ten strawberry mother plants, approximately homogeneous. The place where the mother plants were planted was with the same substrate (PTS substrate "Pindstrup") and separated from the field for the rooting of the daughter plants. In the field for the rooting of the daughter plants, four types of substrates were used: The first substrate treatment (S1) (soil 50% - decomposed manure 50%); the second substrate treatment (S2) (PTS substrate "Pindstrup" with modules (pots) with a volume of 200 mL/daughter plant); the third substrate treatment S3 (river sand 50% - soil 50%); lastly, substrate treatment four S4 (sawdust 100%). During the research, several parameters were determined for the mother plants: the crown diameter, number of flowers, number of runners per plant, number of daughter plants per runner and number of daughter plants per plant. The examination of some of the qualitative parameters was also performed on the daughter plants: the crown diameter, root length and number of roots. Based on these parameters, the daughter plants were categorised according to the standards: A++, A+, A, A-, OS (out of the standard). From the examined results, it was concluded that S3 formed the largest number of daughter plants at 123 (A++ 19.1, A+ 45.1, A 28.7, A- 17.8, OS 12.3 plants); S2 formed 69.4 daughter plants, but with the highest standards (A++ 34.7, A+ 33.6, A- 1.1 plants); S4 formed 74.8 daughter plants (A++ 26.2, A+ 30.4, A 14 OS 4.2 plants), while S1 formed 62 daughter plants and showed the worst results for both the number of plants and the standard (A+ 7, A 3.8, A- 0.8, OS 50.4 plants).