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This study aimed to isolate and characterise the pathogen associated with Alternaria leaf spot on broccoli and to evaluate the inhibitory effects of fungicides against it. We isolated and identified the fungal pathogen as Alternaria sp. using morphological and cultural methods. Based on the aligned sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and molecular phylogenetic analysis by the neighbour-joining method, the isolates (Ab1 and Ab2) were confirmed as Alternaria alternata. The conidia of the isolates were dark brown, cylindrical, obclavate to muriform. The conidiophores were olivaceous brown, septate, and branched. The conidial morphology of the isolates ranged from 52.4-92.4 × 10-20 μm with 2-6 transverse and 0-3 longitudinal septa. Both isolates yielded positive results in the pathogenicity test on broccoli leaves by developing brown and circular spots with concentric rings on the leaves surrounded by yellow halos. The culture studies revealed that the maximum growth of the pathogen was obtained at 30 °C and pH 6.0. Tilt 250 WC showed the highest potential in suppressing the mycelial growth of the A. alternata in vitro at a concentration as low as 50 µg/mL. The results from this study contributed to the positive identification of the pathogen and characterised A. alternata as a destructive pathogen of broccoli which may be successfully controlled by the fungicide Tilt.

Hazelnut is a product with high nutritional and economic value. In maintaining the quality value of hazelnut, the classification process is of great importance. In the present day, the quality classification of hazelnuts and other crops is performed in general manually, and so it is difficult and costly. Performing this classification with modern agricultural techniques is much more important in terms of quality. This study was based on a model intended to detect hazelnut quality. The model is about the establishment of an artificial intelligence-based classification system that can detect the hidden defects of hazelnuts. In the developed model, the visuals used in the dataset are divided into training and test groups. In the model, hazelnuts are divided into 5 classes according to their quality using AlexNet architecture and modern deep learning (DL) techniques instead of traditional hazelnut classification methods. In this model developed based on artificial intelligence, a very good approach was presented with the accurate classification of 99%. Moreover, the values regarding precision and recall were also determined at 98.7% and 99.6%, respectively. This study is important in terms of becoming widespread information technology use and computer-assisted applications in the agricultural economics field such as product classification, quality, and control.

In this study, the relationships of temperature humidity index (THI) with milk yield and some physiological responses in dairy cattle were investigated. Our goal in the meta-analysis was to find the parameter(s) primarily affected under heat stress. A total of 16 studies with the temperature humidity index value higher than 72, which is an important factor in determining the effect of heat stress, were included in the meta-analysis. The variables of interest in the meta-analysis included: milk yield (kg/day), respiratory rate (breaths/min), rectal temperature (°C). In addition to the meta-analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) was also performed. In the meta-analysis, high variation or heterogeneity (I² > 99%) was determined between the results of the studies. This may depend on many factors (climate, region, number of samples and management etc.). Heterogeneity is desirable in the meta-analysis, because it provides accurate and reliable interpretations of the variances of parameters. Due to high heterogeneity, the results of the studies were combined according to the mixed model. According to the mixed model and PCA results, a linear relationship was determined between the temperature humidity index and these physiological parameters. According to the meta-analysis, at THI > 72, the mean effect size of milk yield was 50%, and the effect sizes of respiratory rate and rectal temperature were approximately 65% and 38%. All three parameters have a significant effect under heat stress (P < 0.000 1). As a result, there is a linear relationship between temperature humidity index, milk yield and physiological parameters. According to the other characteristics, the respiratory rate was determined as the primary response parameter in parallel with the increase in temperature humidity index.

A frost occurred in spring following high temperatures in Michigan in 2007. It caused important crop losses. In this study, the damage the frost had on the flower buds of some cherry cultivars on 'Gisela 5' at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) and different cherry scion/rootstock combinations at the Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) were determined. In cherries, the frost damage at SWMREC varied from 26.7% to 99.3% depending on the cherry cultivar while it varied from 41.9 to 99.3% at CHES depending on the cherry combinations. 'Rainier/Gisela 6' at CHES and 'NY119' at SWMREC were promising. The bud development stage during the freeze, the cultivar, the rootstock, the ages of the trees and the low temperature level were effective in the spring frost resistance.

Almost 24% of the Ukrainian Carpathian ecosystems are assigned to the conservation fund due to their ecological values and attraction to numerous tourists. The forest litter in mountain forest stands plays an important role in terms of its ability to mitigate the impact of tourist activities, and erosion processes along with its contribution to the soil mineralization. Water interception, infiltration, and retention ability of forest litter have an impact on hydrological processes of forest ecosystems. At the same time, the accumulation and spatial distribution of litter can be affected not only by environmental conditions, but also by tourism. In this study, 13 Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) stands distinguished by average distance to the trail were chosen to investigate whether there are any differences in litter structure, water retention, and infiltration abilities as well as litter accumulation in areas along popular hiking trails in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Results showed that the litter thickness has increased with altitude and slope steepness. Moreover, results of one-way ANOVA demonstrate a significant difference (P < 0.05) in litter stock between two groups of sample plots: established directly to adjoin hiking trails and at a distance. Therefore, the forest litter stock nearby hiking trails may indicate that trampling caused by tourists has a negative impact on litter accumulation. However, no statistical difference was found (P > 0.05) in the accumulation of litter along three trails and altitudes across all surveyed forest stands. Results of the immersion test showed that the litter infiltration rate has a significant negative correlation with the maximum mass of absorbed water (r = -0.62, P < 0.05), litter stock (r = -0.69, P < 0.01), and retained precipitation (r = -0.62, P < 0.05). Despite our assumption, the infiltration rate was lower for sites distanced from the hiking trail in comparison with adjoining ones. According to our measurements, the water holding capacity of the litter varies from 42.3 t.ha^-1 to 187.3 t.ha^-1 regardless of the stand composition. Further, the precipitation amount retained by litter varies between 4.2 mm and 18.7 mm. Insignificant differences in litter fractional structure and accumulation were observed in pure spruce stands and mixed spruce-beech with an admixture of beech up to 20%. Further observational and modelling studies are necessary to clarify the role of the beech share in stand composition in relation to fractional structure and water interception and retention ability.

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.

Biochar-based fertiliser (BF) is beneficial to improve yield and quality, but the effect of BF on open field tomato remains unclear, especially in karst mountainous areas. The objective of this study was to identify the application effect and optimum application rate of BF. A field experiment was carried out in Southwestern China from 2019 to 2020 to study the effects of different application amounts of BF on the yield, quality, nutrients accumulation and fertiliser utilisation of open field tomatoes. The results showed that compared with the traditional fertilisation practice, BF can significantly increase the yield of open field tomato by 5-9% (2019) and 12-23% (2020), and significantly reduce nitrate content and increase vitamin C content of fruits. Meanwhile, nutrient accumulations, agronomic efficiency, and recovery efficiency of BF treatments were all significantly improved. In conclusion, the BF rate of 2 326 kg/ha improves yield and fertiliser utilisation in open-field tomatoes and could be recommended for tomato production in karst mountainous areas.

More than 50% of agricultural land is threatened by water erosion in the Czech Republic. With respect to soil erosion, maize (Zea mays L.) belongs to the most problematic crops; one of the possibilities to increase protection against erosion is intercropping. In this study, we attempted to find out the effects of individual intercrops and their mixtures (sown 4-6 weeks after sowing maize) or a mixed culture (maize plus lupine) on the soil losses and surface runoff in the period 2019-2021. The study was realised in a sugar beet growing region (Haplic Luvisol); a field rainfall simulator was used. From the used variants with Lolium perenne L., Trifolium repens L., Vicia villosa Roth, Lolium multiflorum Lam., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Triticum aestivum L. or a mixture (Vicia villosa plus a Trifolium hybrid diploid), the variants with Lolium perenne, Lolium multiflorum, Vicia villosa or Vicia villosa plus the Trifolium hybrid diploid, established between the maize rows (hybrid maize, cultivar Walterinio) on May 27, were the most efficient in case of both the soil losses and runoff reductions in the year 2019. For example, Triticum aestivum between the maize rows mostly reduced the soil losses and the surface runoff was similar (or higher) compared with the control (maize without any intercrop). The variant with Trifolium repens had mostly higher (or similar) soil loss values (compared with the control); in this variant, the runoff was lower compared with the control. We proved our hypothesis with regards to the higher reduction in the soil losses than with the runoff in the variant with Lolium perenne. The results from the years 2020 (the used variants with Lolium multiflorum, Secale cereale L., Trifolium incarnatum L., Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth., Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, Lolium multiflorum plus Vicia pannonica Crantz) and 2021 (the variants with Lolium multiflorum, Lolium multiflorum - early sowing, Secale cereale, Trifolium incarnatum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, a mixed culture = maize plus Lupinus albus L.) showed the variants with Trifolium incarnatum, the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum), Phacelia tanacetifolia (in the year 2020) or the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum) and a mixed culture (maize plus Lupinus albus) (2021) had the most positive effect - the soil loss and surface runoff values were lower when the maize was > 2 m compared with the maize < 1 m. The results obtained in the period 2019-2021 showed the grasses were the most efficient in decreasing the soil losses when the maize was < 1 m and when the maize was > 2 m with the used mixtures.

In this study, the isolation, biotyping and molecular characterisation of Brucella melitensis from cattle, sheep and goats in North Cyprus are reported on. A total of 319 raw milk samples obtained from seropositive dairy livestock (190 cattle, 74 sheep and 55 goats) and tissue samples including the liver, spleen and abomasal contents obtained from 32 aborted foetal samples (5 cattle, 18 sheep and 9 goats) were analysed for the presence and characterisation of the agent. B. melitensis was isolated and identified from 90 out of 319 (28.2%) milk and 19 out of 32 (59.4%) foetal samples by conventional bacteriological methods. Identification of all 109 isolates was confirmed by using real-time PCR with genus and species-specific primers. Following the preliminary identification, 27 selected isolates representing various counties and herds were further analysed by conventional methods. Twenty (74.1%) isolates were identified as B. melitensis biovar 1 and seven (25.9%) were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3. The Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR assay revealed that all the isolates were field strains. The results of the present study confirmed the presence of B. melitensis in livestock including the cattle population in North Cyprus. Even though the majority of the samples came from seropositive cattle, Brucella abortus was not isolated in the study. The results also revealed the potential public health risk of brucellosis in livestock emphasising the need of implementing strict control and eradication strategies against the disease in animal populations in order to protect human health.

The efficacy of potable water and antimicrobial agents, including turmeric extract, black pepper extract, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, in reducing Listeria monocytogenes on the leaf mustard (Brassica integrifolia) and iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was compared. The uncontaminated samples of two raw leafy vegetables were inoculated with L. monocytogenes at a concentration of 5 log and 7 log colony-forming units (CFU) g-1 for 1 h. At the high L. monocytogenes contamination level, the treatment with black pepper extract 0.6 mg mL-1 for 5 min was found to produce the most considerable decrease in L. monocytogenes counts, resulting in 1.44 log and 1.68 log reduction on leaf mustard and iceberg lettuce, respectively. Similarly, the black pepper extract also showed the highest L. monocytogenes reduction, approximately 0.79 log CFU g-1 on two leafy vegetables at the low contamination level. However, the odour of black pepper extract was left on the vegetables after being washed.

Many studies showed that afforestation increases carbon storage and it can have effects on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Afforestation can affect local and regional climate and these effects differ between tropical, temperate and boreal areas. Forests are also efficient in protecting soils against erosion and their flood mitigation functions or other benefits are described in different publications. In this study, the pattern of air temperatures (20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm above the surface) was studied 10 years after the afforestation of agricultural land (warm, mild dry region of the Czech Republic) with a mixture of broadleaved tree species (Quercus robur L., Quercus rubra L. and Acer platanoides L.) or monospecific Pinus sylvestris L. stand. The aim of our study was to find out the pattern of air temperatures (20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm above the surface) on two plots (one of the plots ‒ old beech trees, the other plot ‒ clearing) in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest in a mildly warm, mildly wet region of the Czech Republic. The afforestation of agriculturally used land led to air temperature cooling and to a reduction of the amplitude of maximum and minimum temperatures. The average air temperature (from April 2021 to the beginning of November 2021) decreased by 0.7-1.1 °C on the afforested plots compared with the agriculturally used plot. In the beech forest, the average temperature decreased on the plot with clearing compared with the old beech trees (from the middle of September 2021 to the middle of November 2021). Our results confirm the benefits of afforestation to climate change mitigation; buffering of extreme temperatures is important for the human thermal comfort.

A farewell to Associate Professor Jiří Čmolík

Peatlands, as important global nitrogen (N) pools, are potential sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. We measured N₂O flux dynamics in Hani peatland in a growing season with simulating warming and N addition for 12 years in the Changbai Mountains, Northeastern China, by using static chamber-gas chromatography. We hypothesised that warming and N addition would accelerate N₂O emissions from the peatland. In a growing season, the peatland under natural conditions showed near-zero N₂O fluxes and warming increased N₂O emissions but N addition greatly increased N₂O absorption compared with control. There was no interaction between warming and N addition on N₂O fluxes. Pearson correlation analysis showed that water table depth was one of the main environmental factors affecting N₂O fluxes and a positive relationship between them was observed. Our study suggests that the N₂O source function in natural temperate peatlands maybe not be so significant as we expected before; warming can increase N₂O emissions, but a high dose of N input may turn temperate peatlands to be strong sinks of N₂O, and global change including warming and nitrogen deposition can alter N₂O fluxes via its indirect effect on hydrology and vegetation in peatlands.

Heat stroke is a clinical emergency secondary to a severe temperature increase due to the inefficiencies of heat dissipation mechanisms, causing central nervous system dysfunctions, which may lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Heat disturbances can be classified as "classic" or "exertional" ones and several predisposing factors are involved in their development. This review provides a broad approach to the pathophysiological mechanisms of this syndrome, and the diagnostic and treatment methods to facilitate their approach in clinical routine and increase the survival rate of patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate population parameters and to describe the genetic variability in the Lipizzan horse populations from stud farms in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) and Serbia (SRB), reported for the first time in the literature. Pedigree data were collected from the national studbooks. Pedigree data for 2 521 horses were used in the analysis, for a reference population covering live animals in the current population. The average generation interval was 10.78 ± 0.36 (BH) and 12.12 ± 0.59 (SRB) years. The equivalent complete generations ranged from 5.49 (BH) to 14.86 (SRB). The average inbreeding values were 3.96 (BH) and 2.12 (SRB), whereas the average relatedness values were 9.24 (BH) and 4.13 (SRB). Values for f_e, f_a, f_g and the f_e/f_a ratio were 21, 12, 6.031 and 1.75 in BH Lipizzan horses, and 79, 20, 9.766 and 3.95 in SRB Lipizzan horses. The number of ancestors explaining 50% of genetic diversity in the BH and SRB reference populations was five and eight, respectively. The effective population sizes obtained from regression on the birth dates were 43.67 (BH) and 211.78 (SRB). The investigated genetic variability parameters were higher in the SRB Lipizzan population than in the BH population. The results of pedigree and genetic structure research indicate the need for a comprehensive approach to monitoring to improve future breeding and genetic diversity in the BH and SRB Lipizzan populations.

Due to the length of egg-laying period (> 80 days), two applications of insecticides against cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus Marsh.) are currently needed. However, resistance of pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus F.) to pyrethroids complicates the choice of suitable insecticide for the second application. The active ingredients cypermethrin, etofenprox, pymetrozine, indoxacarb and chlorpyrifos-ethyl applied as second spring applications to winter oilseed rape crops were assessed under field conditions from 2016 to 2018 to ascertain how they could reinforce the effects of the first spring application (beta-cyfluthrin) on cabbage stem weevil. Chlorpyrifos-ethyl and etofenprox strengthened the effects of the first spring spray on cabbage stem weevil markedly more than cypermethrin. Pymetrozine and indoxacarb, effective on resistant populations of pollen beetles, showed the lowest contribution to increase the effects. Indoxacarb showed a low effect on C. pallidactylus in laboratory tests too. The impacts of the bans on active ingredients chlorpyrifos-ethyl and pymetrozine are discussed.

Insect pollination is one of the most important ecosystem services. Pollinator communities are rarely studied across years and crops in the same location. The aim of this study was to investigate the pollinator community structure on five different fruit crops, as well as the activity of different pollinator groups during the day and their temperature preferences. Pollinator activity was observed across two years on apple trees and blueberry, strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry bushes. Pollinator community structure varied by plant and year. Honeybees were the most numerous pollinators on all plants except blueberry bushes (39-95% of visits). Bumblebee numbers were high on blackcurrant (up to 28%) and blueberry bushes (up to 61%). Solitary bees visited all plants except blueberries. Honeybees, solitary bees, and hoverflies were most active in the middle of the day, while bumblebees became active earlier in the morning and remained active later in the evening. Pollinators also differed greatly in their temperature preferences. This knowledge gained is necessary for less harmful pesticide application management and the development of more sustainable agriculture to maintain pollinator diversity and thus reliable pollination in extreme weather conditions.

This study aimed to characterise the specific phenotypic responses and the sensitivity of photosynthetic parameters to progressive drought in modern wheat genotypes. In pot experiments, we tested eight wheat genotypes (Triticum sp.) that differed in ploidy level and country of origin. Water stress was simulated by the restriction of irrigation, which led to a decreased leaf relative water content of up to 70%. During gradual dehydration, changes in the structure and function of photosystem II (PSII) were analysed using the fluorescence parameters derived from fast fluorescence kinetics (OJIP transient). The results indicated that a group of JIP test-based parameters demonstrated sensitivity to drought, including genotype-specific responses. Severe drought stress led to a decrease in the photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), a reduction in the number of active PSII reaction centers (RC/ABS) and a decrease in parameters, indicating overall photochemical performance at the PSII level (performance indices PIabs and PItot). These findings demonstrate that the approaches used in our experiments were useful and reliable in monitoring the physiological responses of individual varieties of wheat exposed to stress conditions, and they have application potential as selection criteria in crop breeding. The contribution of the high-temperature effects on the photochemical responses under water deficit conditions is also discussed.

A patellar luxation and concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture is a common pathology in dogs. Diagnosis is based on clinical evidence of a patellar luxation and stifle joint instability. However, diagnostic imaging is required to assess the number of skeletal deformities and signs of instability. Surgical options include both soft tissue and osseous techniques, although, in most cases, a combination of multiple procedures is necessary to correct the patellar luxation and restore the stifle joint stability. Complication rates are generally low, but can include reluxation and implant-associated complications. This article describes the patellar luxation and cranial cruciate ligament rupture signs in dogs, including the clinical presentation and diagnosis, and discusses current treatment options.

An 11-year-old spayed female Toy Poodle presented with acute tetraparesis. A small subcutaneous mass was found in the right trunk region, and the magnetic resonance revealed a compressive spinal cord lesion due to an irregular bone proliferation at the third cervical vertebra. After surgical resection of the vertebral lesion, the neurological symptoms improved, and the patient could walk on her own. The excised vertebral and subcutaneous masses were diagnosed as a mammary adenocarcinoma on the histopathological examination, with Ki-67 and HER-2 immunohistochemistry staining. This case report highlights the importance of defining the primary tumours of metastatic vertebral tumours and the necessity of palliative surgery to improve the patient's quality of life.

The ameliorative effects and its mitigation mechanisms of selenium (Se) on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in cucumber seedlings were studied through hydroponic experiments. Cd and other mineral nutrient concentrations, antioxidant enzyme activities, and antioxidant contents in cucumber were studied. The results revealed that exogenous Se significantly decreased the Cd concentrations in all tissues, especially in the leaves. Moreover, exogenous Se (Cd + Se) could increase Zn, Na, leaf Cu, stem/root Fe, stem/root Ca, and stem/root Mg concentrations; and reduce leaf Mg concentration, compared with Cd alone treatment. Additionally, the application of Se ameliorated the toxicity of Cd by harmonising the activities of antioxidase, such as Cd + Se treatment reduced Cd-induced increase of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, leaf/stem ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, which resulted in the significant decrease of the content of hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdialdehyde; increased root APX, and glutathione reductase activities. In addition, the content of nonenzymatic antioxidants such as root-reduced glutathione and oxidised glutathione was significantly increased by adding Se under Cd stress. Also, exogenous Se enhanced the total antioxidant capacity in terms of cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity and decreased total phenols, flavonoids, and leaf/root proline contents under Cd stress. In general, 3 μmol/L Se was conducive to plant growth and improved the cucumber's ability to alleviate Cd stress.

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.

This study aimed to develop a bamboo culm flour (BCF) to be used in the formulation of cookies, replacing 15% and 30% of wheat flour (WF). The parameters analysed for bamboo flour and cookies were moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates. For the flour, the water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) were also determined. BCF is a good source of protein, with a low lipid content and high fibre content, presenting the potential to be used in several food products. For the cookies produced, hardness, sensory analysis and purchase intent were analysed. In the sensory analysis of acceptability, the samples that showed better acceptance were the control formulation and the 15% BCF cookie; in the same sample, crude fibre increased from 5.92 g (100 g)^-1 to 11.64 g (100 g)^-1 compared to the control, and the intention to purchase the 15% sample was worse than for the control but still good: the majority of tasters said they certainly or maybe would buy. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the use of BCF is considered an excellent option to enrich cookies while keeping them acceptable nutritionally.

The aim of the present study was to compare carcass characteristics and meat quality of fast- (Ross 308), medium- (Hubbard JA757) and slow-growing (ISA Dual) chickens (n = 1 980). When the chickens reached an average live weight of 2 kg, 40 birds (males to females, 1 : 1) of each genotype were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass analysis. Pectoralis major (PM) muscle samples were taken to determine the physical and chemical parameters of the meat quality. The fast- and medium-growing genotypes had higher (+3.24% and +3.84%, respectively) dressing out percentages than the slow-growing chickens. As expected, the breast percentage significantly decreased in the order of fast growth > medium growth > slow growth. The abdominal fat percentage was the lowest in Ross 308 chickens, but the abdominal fat percentage in JA757 and ISA Dual chickens did not differ. For edible organs, fast- and medium-growing chickens had heavier hearts and livers than slow-growing chickens. In contrast, ISA Dual chickens showed heavier gizzards. Genotype dramatically affected the chemical composition of PM muscle. The ISA Dual chickens exhibited a significantly higher proportion of dry matter and protein and lower ether extract and cholesterol content than Ross 308 chickens, with intermediate values for JA757 chickens. The ISA Dual group had a lower ash content than Ross 308 and JA757 groups. In terms of physical parameters, the ISA Dual chickens had higher lightness and yellowness and lower redness, pH 24, and cooking loss than those of the other genotypes. Concerning all genotypes, the shear force values increased from fast- to slow-growing chickens. In conclusion, this study found a difference between the genotypes. Although the slow-growing chickens showed the lowest dressing out and breast percentages compared with the other genotypes, the breast meat of the slow-growing chickens had more favourable nutritional properties.

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.

Forests play a significant role for maintaining the biodiversity. In order to manage sustainable forests, tree species history, distribution, and their future prospects are vital. Using standardized quantitative approaches, the age, radial growth, and size class distribution of Abies pindrow (Himalayan fir) were determined from three different altitudinal sites (i.e. high, middle, and lower). The results indicate that Himalayan fir growing in the high-altitude site (Ayubia, 2 917 m a.s.l.) of moist temperate forests of the Himalayan mountains showed lower radial growth (0.13 cm) than in the middle (Bara Gali, 2 617 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.13 cm) and lower (Kuldana, 2 455 m a.s.l.; radial growth = 0.22 cm) altitude sites. Correlation analysis demonstrated that age showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) with diameter at breast height. The tree-ring width chronology (totally 80 core samples) of Himalayan fir was developed from moist temperate forests of Himalayan mountains of Pakistan. At Ayubia site it possesses a long time-span (1703-2020 C.E.), followed by Bara Gali (1862-2020 C.E.) and Kuldana (1864-2020 C.E.). Further, the tree-ring width (TRW) chronology of Ayubia showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with May and June temperature, and a significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) with June and October precipitation, indicating that summer temperatures are the key factor for the radial growth of Himalayan fir. For the Kuldana site, the response of TRW chronology to temperature and precipitation was the same, however, it was significant only for June temperature at Bara Gali. The size class distribution of the high-altitude region (Ayubia) showed a higher number of individuals than the lower altitude region, indicating the lowest disturbance conditions. The absence of individuals in the early size classes and the gap in middle and mature size classes indicate a lower regeneration potential and anthropogenic impact. The pointer year analysis indicated that the Bara Gali forest is more sensitive to abnormal climate events than the other sites. Based on the present study, we suggest that proper attention and conservation strategy should be provided to Himalayan fir growing in the moist temperate forests of Pakistan.

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.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of herbicide application with biostimulants on total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content in potato leaves and tubers. The study was based on a two-factor field experiment established in a split-plot arrangement in three replications. The factors were as follows: factor I - two cultivars of edible potato - Oberon and Malaga; factor II - five methods of using herbicide and biostimulants: 1. control object; 2. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin (Avatar 293 ZC); 3. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant PlonoStart; 4. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant Aminoplant; 5. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium. The herbicide clomazone + metribuzin significantly increased the concentration of glycoalkaloids in potato leaves, and the herbicide used together with the biostimulant Aminoplant significantly reduced the content of TGA in potato leaves compared to the control. The herbicide whether applied with the biostimulants (PlonoStart, Aminoplant, Agro-Sorb Folium) contributed to a reduction in the concentration of glycoalkaloids in tubers compared to the control. Leaves and tubers of the cultivar Malaga were characterised by a significantly lower TGA content than the cultivar Oberon.

Adopting the concept of the waste to wealth approach, agricultural waste from maize cob could be transformed into a renewable form of energy through thermo-chemical methods of treating the biomass. This method can be utilised for biochar production. The utilisation of biochar has several significant applications. These applications include the enhancement of the soil through amendment, stimulation of crop production by a variety nutrient inputs in the soil, etc. In this research work, a biochar was obtained through a slow pyrolysis process of maize cob waste. This experiment was carried out using a small-scale muffle furnace and subjecting the feedstock to heating at different temperatures (300, 400, 500 °C). The biochar was produced and characterised by a proximate analysis, scan electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while the surface area was determined by Saer's method. The effect of the temperature on the yield of the biochar was investigated. The results show that the biochar yield decreases with an increasing temperature for the maize cob biochar at 300, 400 and 500 °C. The results of the physiochemical properties showed that the temperature has a great impact on the physicochemical properties of the biochar. The biochar produced at 300 °C has the highest fixed carbon content of 60.5%. The largest surface area was (281.8 m2.g^-1) at 500 °C.