5782 research outputs found
Sort by
Urban Precipitation Scavenging and Meteorological Influences on BTEX Concentrations: Implications for Environmental Quality
No full textThis study provides an assessment of BTEX compounds—benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers—in urban precipitation collected in the city of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, during autumn and winter 2024, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). By combining chemical analysis with meteorological observations and HYSPLIT backward trajectory modeling, the study considers the mechanisms of BTEX removal from the atmosphere via wet scavenging and highlights the role of local weather conditions and long-range atmospheric transport in pollutant concentrations. During the early observation period (September to late November), average concentrations were 0.45 µg/L benzene, 3.45 µg/L ethylbenzene, 4.0 µg/L p-xylene, 2.31 µg/L o-xylene, and 1.32 µg/L toluene. These values sharply dropped to near-zero levels in December for benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, while toluene persisted at 1.12 µg/L. A pronounced toluene spike exceeding 6 µg/L on 28 November was likely driven by transboundary air mass transport from Central Europe, as confirmed by trajectory modeling. The environmental risks posed by BTEX deposition, especially from toluene and xylenes, underline the need for regulatory frameworks to include precipitation as a pathway for pollutant deposition. It should be clarified that the identified risk primarily concerns aquatic organisms, due to the potential for BTEX infiltration into surface waters and subsequent ecotoxicological impacts. Incorporating such monitoring into EU policies can improve protection of air, water, and ecosystems
Synergistic Effect of PGPR and Nutrient Complex on Soybean Seed Germination and Initial Seedling Growth
No full textBiostimulants based on Bradyrhizobium japonicum are commonly used in soybean production. However, the effect of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in consortia with other plant
growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and their integration with mineral nutrients on
soybean seed quality has not been explored. The study aimed to examine the effects of
five treatments on seed germination and initial seedling growth of two soybean cultivars
(‘NS Apolo’, ‘NS Rubin’): control (untreated seeds); Br. japonicum (BJ), BJ and nutrient
complex (NC), BJ, Azotobacter chroococcum (AC), Bacillus subtilis (BS), and NC; BJ, AC,
Bacillus megaterium (BM), and NC. Seed treatments significantly enhanced germination
energy, seedling vigor index, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot
weight, and dry root weight of both cultivars, as well as final germination, shoot length,
and shoot elongation rate of ‘NS Rubin’, as compared to the control. The highest effect
on the investigated parameters was achieved by integrated use of PGPR and nutrients
(BJ + BM + AC + NC), indicating that integration of PGPR with a targeted NC represents an
innovative approach with practical implications for improving early soybean establishment
and field performanc
Comparison of RNA isolation techniques in red clover (Trifolium repens L.)
No full textRed clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a valuable medicinal and economic crop, but extracting RNA from
it can be challenging due to high levels of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites.
This study compared four common methods used for isolating RNA from plants rich in secondary
metabolites: a modified CTAB method, the TRIzol method, the commercial RNeasy Plant Mini Kit, and
a modified sodium citrate method developed by our team.
All methods effectively isolated RNA from red clover samples, though there were notable variations in
purity and yield based on the extraction method and sample type. The A260/A280 ratios for the RNA
samples demonstrated a range from 0.87 to 2.08, clearly indicating differences in purity across the
various extraction techniques. Additionally, the A260/A230 values, which ranged from 0.16 to 2.02,
revealed variability in contamination levels among the samples. The TRIzol method yielded the highest
RNA amounts, although it had lower purity, with A260/A230 ratios between 0.16 and 1.91. On the other
hand, the modified sodium citrate method consistently produced the highest quality RNA from leaf,
seed, and seedling samples, while the quality of RNA from flower samples was comparatively lower.
Gel electrophoresis confirmed that RNA extracted from all tissues using the sodium citrate protocol was
of good integrity and free of DNA contamination. The isolated RNA was also suitable for downstream
applications, such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR
(qPCR).
Improving the sodium citrate method for flower samples with high polyphenol content could enhance
its effectiveness in research. This study's findings aid the development of reliable RNA isolation
methods crucial for gene expression analysis in plants like red clover
Effects of agroecological conditions and agrotechnical practices on sunflower grain characteristics
No full textThe production of sunflowers has multiple economic importance in the world. The stability of sunflower production significantly depends on abiotic stress. The occurrence of stress is significantly influenced by global and regional climate change, which will be increasingly pronounced in the near and distant future. Consequently, it has been decided to study the impact of agroecological conditions on grain yield, oil content and oil yield of sunflower grains. The object of study was three sunflower hybrids (NS-H-111, Velja and Baţvanin), which had been developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad. Small-plot field trials were conducted in the period from 2007 to 2011, in three locations (Baţka, Banat and Srem). The experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. Sunflower grain yield, oil content and oil yield were determined. The obtained results indicated that the grain yield of sunflower was not significantly affected by genotype. However, locality and year significantly affected the grain yield. Localities Banat and Srem showed significant difference. The oil content was significantly affected by the studied hybrids, location and year. Factor analysis confirmed that the oil yield of sunflower mostly depends on the oil content in seed. The studied hybrids, location and weather conditions significantly affected the sunflower oil yield
CARINA.WP1.T1.2_T1.3. Field Trials Serbia.V1
No full textThis dataset shows field trials with camelina and carinata as cash-cover crops. The trials were performed in the period 2022-2025 on the experimental fields of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia within the Horizon Europe project CARINA. Concept of double cropping was to use cash-cover crops (camelina) and subsequently food crops. In double cropping systems, two varieties of winter camelina (Lenka and CCE 44) and one spring variety (CCE 117) were used as cover crops preceding main summer crops (sunflower in one, and sorghum in another field trial), except in the first season 2022-2023, when spring varieties of camelina NS Slatka and NS Zlatka were used for sowing in autumn and spring. For intercropping trials, camelina (winter and spring types) or carinata were sown simultaneously in the same field with food crops in autumn (camelina only) and spring (both species). Winter pea was used for intercropping with winter camelina (pea NS Junior was used for sowing only in the first season 2022/23, and pea NS Mraz in 2023/24, and 2024/25). In the second season 2023/24 only, spring barley was intercropped with carinata. Chickpea was intercropped with carinata in spring. Relay cropping design was performed with winter barley and carinata, and winter pea and carinata.This dataset is connected to: Biochemical Analyses Serbia [https://fiver.ifvcns.rs/handle/123456789/5702
Soil microbial properties across different land use types of Vojvodina Province
No full textSoil microorganisms participate in the processes of soil formation and in
the processes necessary for soil ecosystem to function. Both arable and nonarable lands host diverse microbial communities that contribute to nutrient
cycling, organic matter decomposition, carbon storage, plant growth
regulation, and overall soil health and fertility. The abundance and diversity
of soil microorganisms can vary considerably depending on the different land
use patterns; however, the intricate drivers of these variations are not fully
understood.
The aim of this research was to examine the microbial abundance and
activity across seven land use types of Vojvodina Province. The soil
collection included 1090 samples of croplands, 93 samples under
forestlands, 80 samples under grasslands, 37 samples under gardens, 27
samples under orchards, 4 samples under vineyards, and 39 samples of nonarable lands. Soil samples were collected from the depth of 0–30 cm. The
number of different systematic and physiological groups of microorganisms
was determined using the indirect dilution method, while the activity of the
dehydrogenase enzyme was assessed spectrophotometrically.
Investigated land use types generally had moderate to high microbial
abundance and activity. The highest total bacteria, ammonifiers, and free
nitrogen-fixing bacteria were observed in non-arable lands. Actinobacteria
and azotobacters were most abundant in soils under gardens, whereas the
most intensive development of fungi was observed in soils under vineyards.
Moreover, the highest dehydrogenase activity was recorded in non-arable
lands, followed by forestlands and grasslands. The microbial community
differences among land use types may be associated to a great extent with
various soil properties, particularly the soil pH, humus, and nutrient content.
In addition, vegetation type may be an important factor promoting the number
and activity of soil microorganisms, as well as minimal anthropogenic
disturbance and beneficial interventions such as organic management and
reduced tillage
Content of phytosterols in organic and conventional soybean and buckwheat seed
No full textThe goals of breeding soybean and buckwheat are mainly to maintain and enhance the nutritional quality and a stable and high grain yield. Big use of soybean (Glycine max) in food production is that, it is a cheap source of protein (36-43%) that provides similar quality of protein as meat, milk and eggs. It also contains phytosterols. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) grain is used in food. Grain and sprouts are rich in flavonoid metabolites rutin and quercetin and fitosterols. The best known and most widespread plant sterols are: beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Phytosterols are plant sterols essential for the structure of cell membranes and are also known for their beneficial effects on human health, particularly in lowering blood cholesterol levels and cancer. In many studies the highest level of phytosterols in buckwheat products is found in lipids extracted from roasted buckwheat hulls and raw buckwheat hulls. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in phytosterol content in soybean (v. NS Kaća) and buckwheat (v. Novosadska) seeds grown under organic and conventional production systems. Samples were collected during the 2016 growing season from the experimental field of the Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje” (Serbia)
The equilibrium of the symbiosis of human complexity and artificial intelligence
No full textThe investigation of potential AI applications in diverse fields and facets of human life, habits, and society was encouraged by the well-documented developments of data-driven complicated machine learning techniques that emerged within the wave of artificial intelligence (AI). Deep learning models greatly lessen the need for domain-expert knowledge by enabling autonomous feature engineering surpassing conventional techniques that rely on manual feature engineering and attaining performance that is comparable to or even better than that of humans in certain areas. We require humancentric explainable AI (HC-XAI) that can offer human-understandable interpretations for their algorithmic behaviour and outcomes in order to fully trust, accept, and adopt newly emerging AI solutions in our daily lives and practices
Implementation of defined internal audit in legal entities that prefer a green economy
No full textImplementation of a defined internal audit in legal entities that prefer a green economy is gaining increasing importance in the context of observing small economies, especially those that strive for integrative processes. The framework for defining internal audit and implementing its impacts in the green economy depends on the application of new technologies because they can affect the development of many companies, especially those that have introduced internal audit into their regular operations. This particularly refers to the application of IT technology within internal audit in order to improve the efficiency of operations
Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. honey plants-for nutrition and health
No full textPhacelia tanacetifolia Benth. is honey plants (Hydrolaceae subfamily of the Boraginaceae family). Phacelia tanacetifolia is a commercial species that beekeepers have long recognised as a favourite foraging plant for honeybees with a high potential for honey yield. Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. is a highly appealing crop because of its deep blue blossoms and potent, pleasant scent. Up to 4.5 milligrammes of nectar with a 28% sugar content can be obtained from a single bloom. It has a high potential for honey yield, between 500 and 1200 kg of phacelia honey can be produced on 1 hectare. Lightbeige to white, phacelia honey has a fine, pleasant flavor—a good, subtle lemony scent and taste. They provide pollen and nectar, phacelia have a delicious and complete flower for honey bees. A new variety of phacelia NS Priora was created at the Institute. In an experiment carried out in the dry year of 2025 in Bački Petrovac on chernozem, the NS Priora variety bloomed for 55 days and achieved a high seed yield of 600 kg/ha. The NS Priora variety is an excellent honey crop. The potential of Phacelia as bee forage is noteworthy. Phacelia honey is beneficial to our well-being