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An Experimental Assessment of Miscanthus x giganteus for Landfill Leachate Treatment: A Case Study of the Grebača Landfill in Obrenovac
No full textWater pollution caused by landfill leachate, which contains high concentrations of heavy metals and organic contaminants, poses a serious environmental threat. Among the potential remediation strategies, phytoremediation using Miscanthus x giganteus (giant miscanthus) has gained attention due to its strong resistance to harsh conditions and its capacity to accumulate heavy metals. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Miscanthus x giganteus in treating landfill leachate, with a focus on removing key pollutants such as zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) by simulating wetland conditions. A pilot-scale experiment conducted at the Grebača landfill site assessed the plant’s ability to enhance metal bioavailability, stabilize contaminants, and limit their mobility within the leachate system. The results demonstrated that Miscanthus x giganteus effectively mobilized Zn and Ni through rhizospheric activity, whereas Cu remained largely immobile, indicating potential for phytostabilization. Sequential extraction analysis further confirmed that the plant significantly reduced the mobile fractions of Zn and Ni in the soil, highlighting its dual role in both phytoremediation and phytostabilization. These findings suggest that Miscanthus x giganteus offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach to landfill leachate treatment, serving as a viable alternative to conventional methods. By integrating this nature-based solution into industrial and municipal waste management, it promotes environmental sustainability while enhancing remediation efficiency
Correlation between weather conditions and volatile organic compound profiles in Artemisia absinthium L. essential oil and recovery oil from hydrolate
No full textThis study investigated the influence of weather conditions (precipitation and temperature) on volatile organic compound profiles of Artemisia absinthium essential oil and recovery oil from hydrolate over three consecutive growing seasons. Plant material was harvested during flowering and subjected to steam-distillation to obtain essential oil, while recovery oil from hydrolate was extracted using the Likens-Nickerson method. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detection (FID) were employed to analyze the volatile organic compound composition and their concentrations. Trans-thujone and trans-sabinyl acetate were identified as the dominant compounds in both essential oil and recovery oil from hydrolate. Time constants revealed dynamic changes in volatile organic compound profiles throughout the study period. Sensory analysis revealed an almost identical odor profiles for the essential oil and hydrolate, dominated by a characteristic strong thujonic scent. This research provides valuable insights into the impact of weather conditions on the chemical composition of A. absinthium essential oil and recovery oil from hydrolate. The identical chemical and sensory profiles of the recovery oil and corresponding essential oil from A. absinthium indicate the potential for industrial application of the hydrolate in products that require both an essential oil and an aqueous phase. This suggests that A. absinthium hydrolate has the potential to evolve from waste products into a value-added product in various industries, such as agriculture, as well as cosmetic and food production
Research management: Experiences from coordinating EMPHASIS (2017-2024)
No full textThis is a material from the training delivered by the Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany on 12 March 2025 to the administration and research staff of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Serbia within the CROPINNO project. The material covers a short history of the ESFRI RI EMPHASIS, strategy development, funding models, service provision and access management, legal and governance aspects, stakeholder engagement, and opportunities for building further management competences
Approaches and challenges in machine learning for monitoring agricultural products and predicting plant physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stresses
No full textThe world’s population and the subsequent demand for food are increasing at an unprecedented rate, presenting
significant challenges to sustainable food production. The impact of abiotic and biotic stresses on agricultural
productivity is one of the major obstacles threatening food security. As a potential solution to these challenges,
advancements in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) based systems analyzing have emerged as
promising solutions for improving crop yields, as well as mitigating plant stresses with high accuracy and efficiency. Furthermore, the increasing availability of sensor technologies and communication networks in the
agriculture sector has led to the widespread adoption of ML for yield prediction and plant phenotyping,
particularly on a large scale. The application of ML in conjunction with high-throughput imaging and genomic
data is examined for early detection of physiological stress indicators and acceleration of crop improvement
programs. This review highlights the latest technologies and approaches that are currently employed in ML and
DL to effectively detect biotic and abiotic plant stresses. Despite notable progress, limitations persist in areas such
as data quality, model generalization across agro-ecological zones, and field-level deployment. Emerging
directions—including automated ML (AutoML), quantum machine learning, and digital twin technologies—are
discussed as promising solutions for advancing precision agriculture and enhancing crop resilience under
changing climatic conditions. These cutting-edge technologies have the potential to significantly enhance the
sustainable production of food by efficient crop management and address the challenges posed by the growing
global population and climate change, while mitigating the impacts of environmental and biotic stressors on crop
production
Industrial Hemp Oil Extraction: Techniques, Optimization, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Sustainability
No full textIndustrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is valued for its fiber, seeds, and bioenergy potential. Its biomass is used for solid fuel, bioethanol, and biogas, while its oil is suitable for biodiesel. This review highlights seed pretreatment, oil extraction, and industrial hemp oil (IHO) physicochemical properties. It compares conventional and advanced extraction techniques, focusing on optimization, kinetics, thermodynamics, and techno-economic aspects. Solvent extraction outperforms mechanical pressing but is less efficient than Soxhlet extraction, which is time-intensive. Advanced methods generally yield more oil in a shorter time compared to conventional techniques. Research on IHO extraction remains limited, particularly in comparing traditional and modern methods. The composition of IHO varies significantly depending on the cultivar, geographical origin, climate, agricultural practices, and production methods. Future strategies aim to integrate hemp biomass into a biorefinery framework for sustainability. While IHO holds promise for renewable energy, challenges remain in scaling production, optimizing processes, and ensuring social responsibility
Effects of Trichoderma spp. on gene expression in tomato plants under drought conditions
No full textTrichoderma spp. are cosmopolitan filamentous fungi that inhabit soil and the rhizosphere. These
opportunistic and avirulent plant symbionts are characterized by rapid multiplication and efficient
substrate colonization (1). During the Trichoderma-plant interaction, fungi can significantly enhance
nutrient absorption, promote growth, and improve tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses (2, 3).
In this research, the adaptive responses of tomato plants (cv. Gružanski zlatni) to progressive drought with
addition of T. harzianum and T. brevicopmactum to the rhizosphere were studied. Plants were grown in
pots under controlled conditions of the plant phenotyping platform at SUA in Nitra, Slovakia. The
expressions of PR1b1 (salicylic acid related), PINII (jasmonic acid related), TPX1 (lignin and suberin
related), FLS (flavonoids related), SlJAF13 (anthocyanins related) and C3H (caffeic and chlorogenic acid
related) as well as NCED1 (ABA related) were examined by quantitative reverse transcription real-time
polymerase reaction (qRT-PCR).
All treatments in which Trichoderma was applied demonstrated the activation of the jasmonic acid
signalling pathway, as indicated by the expression of the PinII gene. The salicylic acid signalling pathway
was activated only in plants exposed to drought in the treatment with T. harzianum, as indicated by the
expression of the PR1b1 gene. These changes indicate that Trichoderma treatment promotes a better
potential of plants for resistance to biotic stresses. The increased expression of the NCED1 and SlJAF13
genes indicate that both Trichoderma strains might influence the accumulation of ABA and anthocyanin
content in all treatments, indicating enhanced potential for plant resistance to abiotic stresses. The
increased expression of the C3H gene indicates an increased content of caffeic and chlorogenic acid, which
was detected in tomato leaves in optimally watered plants in the presence of T. harzianum as well as in
the drought treatment in the presence of T. brevicompactum. These observed changes in the plants
indicate they are more resistant to biotic stress and transport nutrients and water more efficiently
ECO-READY towards Consumer-Driven resilience for a sustainable European food system
No full textWith its real-time surveillance system, the EU-funded ECO-READY project will enable that
the challenges and interests of farmers and society at theEuropean level are represented in
future policymaking and monitoring. ECO-READY develops an Observatory (digital
infrastructure) that brings together all existing data, models and knowledge on food security
in the context of impact of the climate change on agro-biodiversity and invasive species and
genetic resources, sustainable production, animal and plant diseases, and nutritional
composition. With forecasts updated regularly and continuously, the observatory will offer
real-time assessments for the food system along with policy recommendations, contingency
plans, and resilience solutions created by 10 Living Labs. The data will be communicated via
the digital observatory, informing citizens and supporting policy makers and agri-food supply
chain stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions. In addition to the development of a
digital observatory, ECO-READY is dedicated to scenario development (short- and long-
term) activities that explore agricultural practices, policy changes, innovative farming ideas,
and consumer-producer interactions to help mitigate future shocks. In order to determine their
regional food priorities, the ten ECO-READY living labs covering the majority of Europe's
geo-climatic zones have chosen important drivers. Taking into account drivers, for each of the
living labs tailored-made scenarios relevant to their region and selected priority crops were
created. ECO-READY, in its intention of solving the climate-food-biodiversity challenges,
involved all relevant stakeholders for working together across different fields and taking real
action that includes everyone and leads to lasting change
Economic Productivity of Linum Ussitatisimum L., Chemical Composition and Use in Medicine
No full textTherapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants: The Science Behind Natural Remedies, investigates the bioactive compounds and functionality of medicinal plants and herbs which are recommended to help certain health conditions and overall well-being while highlighting cultivation that can be done sustainably to promote biodiversity conservation
The influence of year on the productivity of oilseed rape
No full textOilseed rape is grown for its oil- and protein-rich grain, which is used in human nutrition, domestic animals and in industrial processing. The paper examined the productivity of two rapeseed hybrids, H1 and H2. in two-year trials during 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 produced in Surduk, on chernozem type soil. The research results showed that the H1 rapeseed hybrid exhibited higher productivity for grain yield, while the H2 hybrid had higher values for plant height and for first pod height. The first year of research was more favorable for production than the second year
Change of some morphological characteristics of soybeans due to the application of aqueous extracts of plant material
No full textFolijarna primena vodenih ekstrakata biljnog materijala mogu statistički veoma značajno uticati na ostvaren prinos, morfološke osobine i kvalitet zrna soje. Radi proučavanja uticaja folijarne primene vodenih ekstrakata na prinos i neke morfološke osobine soje postavljen je dvogodišnji ogled na oglednim parcelama Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo na Rimskim Šančevima. Rezultati pokazuju da vodeni ekstrakt mirođije statistički veoma značajno povećava prinos zrna soje, masu biljaka, broj mahuna po biljci i masu mahuna po biljci. Statistički značajno povećanje prinosa i mase biljaka soje zabeleženo je kod primene vodenih ekstrakata od mirođije, kore banane, ploda banane, koprive, Passiflore incarnata, korena maslačka, ploda đumbira, jestivog dela banane i listova banane, dok je kod primene vodenog ekstrakta od kore limuna zabeleženo statistički veoma značajno smanjenje prinosa soje. Statistički značajno povećanje broja mahuna i mase mahuna po biljci soje zabeleženo je kod primene vodenih ekstrakata od mirođije, kore banane, ploda banane, koprive, Passiflore incarnata, korena maslačka, ploda đumbira i jestivog dela banane. Folijarna primena vodenih ekstrakata od biljnog materijala u fazi intenzivnog rasta biljaka soje ima statistički značajan uticaj na ostvareni prinos zrna, masu biljaka, broj mahuna po biljci i masu mahuna po biljci soje.Foliar application of aqueous extracts of plant material can statistically significantly affect the yield, morphological characteristics and quality of soybeans. In order to study the influence of foliar application of water extracts on the yield and some morphological characteristics of soybeans, a two-year experiment was set up on the experimental plots of the Institute for Agriculture and Vegetables in Rimski Šančevi. The results show that the water extract of fennel statistically very significantly increases the yield of soybeans, plant weight, number of pods per plant and weight of pods per plant. A statistically significant increase in the yield and weight of soybean plants was recorded with the application of water extracts from fennel, banana peel, banana fruit, nettle, Passiflore incarnata dandelion root, ginger fruit, edible part of banana and banana leaves, while with the application of water extract from lemon peel, a statistically very significant decrease in soybean yield was recorded. A statistically significant increase in the number of pods and mass of pods per soybean plant was recorded when applying aqueous extracts of fennel, banana peel, banana fruit, nettle, Passiflore incarnata, dandelion root, ginger fruit and the edible part of banana. Foliar application of water extracts from plant material in the phase of intensive growth of soybean plants has a statistically significant effect on the achieved grain yield, plant weight, and number of pods per plant and weight of pods per soybean plant