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An expert survey on Danube fish – current status and the way forward
No full textThe Horizon Europe project DANUBE4all, supporting the EU’s 2030 water
restoration mission, aims to develop a scientifically grounded Restoration Action
Plan for the Danube River Basin, from alpine headwaters to the Black Sea coast.
The project focuses on restoring ecological integrity, enhancing biodiversity,
and improving river connectivity, through a joint process involving stakeholders,
practitioners, and the public. An initial gap analysis was conducted to identify
deficiencies in biodiversity data, monitoring schemes, and restoration efforts
across the basin. Notably, spatial data gaps were concentrated in tributaries
of the Upper and Middle Danube, where biodiversity monitoring is sparse. To
complement the results from JDS monitoring activities and species distribution
models, the project applied the Delphi method, a structured, interactive survey
approach designed to establish an expert consensus. The process began with a
comprehensive literature review to assess dominant environmental stressors and
current conservation and restoration measures within the Danube catchment.
These findings informed the first-round questionnaire. Over 800 experts from
academia, public authorities, NGOs, and private sectors were then invited to
evaluate the status of fish fauna and identify key pressures and conservation
priorities. Responses were analyzed to identify divergent viewpoints and
knowledge gaps, leading to a second-round survey with targeted questions. In
total, 143 experts across the Danube region completed both rounds. Survey
results confirmed a deteriorating status of fish communities across the basin.
Migratory species, biomass, and community structure showed a consistent
decline from upstream to downstream. Native species are still slightly dominant
over non-native/invasive species, but loss of habitat, hydromorphological
alterations,and hydropower development were identified as principal drivers of their decline. Participants highlighted the need for more context-specific fish
stocking strategies adapted to both habitat conditions and human use. Urgency of
establishing more extensive, standardized, and transboundary fish monitoring and
prioritizing conservation-focused measures was emphasized. The study identified
regionally relevant restoration measures and possible solutions to the challenges
of implementation. DANUBE4all project contributes to the scientific and practical
foundations necessary for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Directive,
particularly with respect to fish habitat restoration. Its outputs will support future
transboundary monitoring frameworks and evidence-based restoration actions in
the Danube River Basin
Design of a Completely Eco-friendly Mulch Foil for Agricultural Production
No full textMulching is an ancient technique for covering the topsoil used in agriculture and gardening
practice. It protects the plants from low temperatures, moisture loss, insects and pests, soil
erosion, and weed growth. At first, it included materials like stones, pebbles, wood chips, straws,
or leaves, but during the 1950s, plastic (especially polyethylene) gained popularity and became
the most commonly used material for mulching. According to FAO, 2.5 million tons of plastic
mulch films are used in agricultural production annually. The lack of their recyclability and their
decomposition in the fields during tillage and under UV irradiation leads to the accumulation of
microplastics in soil. The United Nations Environment Programme calls for a solution to reduce
soil microplastic levels, as it poses a serious risk of pollution and harm to the ecosystem and
human health. This work aims to synthesize new biobased and biodegradable mulches using
renewable resources to replace the currently used plastic films. To achieve this, different natural
polymers and their combinations are tested. The mechanical properties, permeability, and
degradation rates of the obtained mulch prototypes are studied. For the validation of mulch
efficiency experiments on plants cultivated with the prototype films, plants with plastic films and
control plants, are conducted. Tomato and radish are chosen as model plants to monitor their
morphological and physiological characteristics during biological study. Soil analysis before and
after planting will assess the impact of foils on soil quality and active microbial population. This
innovation will enable the replacement of the existing plastic and bioplastic mulches with a
completely eco-friendly solution
LIGNOCELLULOSIC ARCHITECTURE AND BIOCONVERSION POTENTIAL OF ARUNDO DONAX AND ZEA MAYS: A FLUORESCENCE APPROACH - Abstract
No full textArundo donax and Zea mays L. are increasingly recognized as valuable lignocellulosic feedstocks for second-generation biofuels due to their high biomass yield, renewability, and rich content of cellulose and hemicelluloses. While maize provides high digestibility and methane yield per ton, giant reed thrives on marginal land with minimal inputs and offers significantly higher biomass per hectare. However, its dense structure and higher lignin content require more intensive pretreatment for effective bioconversion. The aim of this study was to compare the structural properties of A. donax and Z. mays using fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence-detected linear dichroism (FDLD) microscopy as complementary, non-destructive methods. These techniques enabled detailed analysis of cell wall architecture and lignocellulosic composition, providing insights into the distribution of wall components and their response to pretreatment. In addition, mathematical modeling was applied to deconvolute spectroscopic data and identify key structural features relevant to biomass conversion. The results highlight distinct advantages of both crops in biogas production—Z. mays for higher digestibility and A. donax for long-term sustainability—and underscore the importance of structural characterization for optimizing biomass conversion efficiency. By integrating fluorescence-based methodologies into biomass research, this work contributes to the development of sustainable bioenergy strategies and advances the broader goals of the circular economy
PERSPECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN NURSERY PRODUCTION THROUGH THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE SUBSTRATES
No full textTresetišta predstavljaju jedinstvene ekosisteme bogate ugljenikom,
rasprostranjene skoro u svim zemljama na planeti i kao takvi čine najveća skladišta
ugljenika na kopnu. Nastanak treseta vezuje se za akumulaciju organske materije pri
anaerobnim uslovima, što ova staništa čini jednim od najosetljivijih ekosistema na klimatske
promene. Ovakvi ekosistemi su važan faktor za ublažavanje prirodnih nepogoda, fi ltriranje i
skladištenje vode. Ujedno, treset formira supstrat pogodnih fi zičkih i hemijskih karakteristika
što predstavlja glavni razlog upotrebe kao tradicionalnog supstrata za gajenje biljaka u
rasadničkoj proizvodnji. Posledice degradacije tresetnih ekosistema i klimatske promene
ukazuju da je pronalazak održivih rešenja za korišćenje treseta u hortikulturi od globalnog
značaja za očuvanje biodiverziteta ovakvih staništa. Cilj rada je pronalaženje supstrata
koji bi uspešno zamenio upotrebu treseta u proizvodnji Hydrangea macrophylla i doprineo
razvoju održive rasadničke proizvodnje. U pejzažnoj arhitekturi velikolisna hortenzija se
koristi za ornamentalne svrhe, ali ima veliki potencijal za remedijaciju zemljišta i adaptibilna
je na abiotičke uslove. Ogled je sproveden u rasadniku Šumarskog fakulteta, činilo ga je 9
tretmana vrste Hydrangea macrophylla. Alternativni supstrati 2 (treset 30%, borova kora
50%, humus 10%, glistenjak 10%) i 3 (kompostni supstrat 50%, borova kora 30%, pesak
10%, vermikulit 10%) pokazali su se kao najbolja zamena za treset, iako su zabeleženi
nedostaci u razvoju korenovog sistema. Rezultat ukazuje na mogućnost dobijanja ekološki
prihvatljivog rešenja za gajenje hortenzije, što je od izuzetne važnosti za smanjenje upotrebe
treseta u hortikulturi i očuvanje vlažnih staništa u regionu.Peatlands serve as unique ecosystems rich in carbon, distributed in almost
all countries on the planet and as such represent the largest carbon reservoirs on land.
The formation of peat is related to the accumulation of organic matter under anaerobic
conditions, which makes these habitats one of the most sensitive ecosystems to climate
change. Such ecosystems are an important factor for mitigating natural disasters, fi ltering
and storing water. At the same time, peat forms a substrate with suitable physical and
chemical characteristics, which is the main reason for its use as a traditional growing
substrate in nursery production. The consequences of the degradation of peat ecosystems
and climate change indicate that fi nding sustainable solutions for peat use in horticulture
is of global importance for the preservation of the biodiversity of such habitats. The aim of
this research is to fi nd a substrate that would successfully replace the use of peat in the
production of Hydrangea macrophylla and contribute to the development of sustainable
nursery production. In landscape architecture, large-leaved hydrangea is used for ornamental
purposes, but it has great potential for soil remediation and is adaptable to abiotic conditions.
This research was conducted in the nursery of the Faculty of Forestry, and it consisted of
9 treatments of Hydrangea macrophylla species. Alternative substrates 2 (peat 30%, pine
bark 50%, humus 10%, vermicompost 10%) and 3 (compost 50%, pine bark 30%, sand
10%, vermiculite 10%) proved to be the best substitute for peat, although defi ciencies in
root system development were noted. The result indicates the possibility of obtaining an
ecologically acceptable solution for growing hydrangea, which is extremely important for
reducing the use of peat in horticulture and preserving wetland habitats in the region
POPULUS x EURAMERICANA WINDBREAK FORESTS - AN INCREASED SOURCE OF NON-RECALCITRANT CELLULOSE FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
No full textThe use of bioenergy can decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Woody biomass is a significant renewable energy source for biofuel production. Knowledge of the wood anatomical structure and chemical composition is essential for the efficiency of bioenergy technologies. Biofuel production depends on lignocellulose composition. It increases with a higher cellulose content, lower cellulose crystallinity, pectin acetylation levels, lower lignin content, higher syringyl (S) to guaiacyl (G) ratio, higher coniferaldehyde content, and lower ash content. In response to gravitropic environmental stimuli in stems and branches, woody angiosperms develop tension wood (TW), while in response to mechanical stimuli (such as wind or artificial bending treatments), they develop tensile flexure wood (TFW). TFW, similarly to TW, contains more cellulose and less lignin, and therefore represents an increased source of non-recalcitrant cellulose for biofuel production. Histochemical, SEM, and Raman microspectroscopic analyses of TFW in juvenile Populus x euramericana cl. NS 11-8 trees, exposed to long term severe static bending, showed a higher S/G ratio, the difference in lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose structure and pectin methylesterification compared to normal wood. The presented preliminary results encourage further investigation of TFW in P. x euramericana for biofuel production. Planting fast-growing tree species, such as P. x euramericana, as windbreak forests could provide TFW as an increased source of non-recalcitrant cellulose for biofuel production
A methodological framework for the conservation of the gene pool of woody species in urban forests: a case study of Zvezdara forest
No full textGene pool conservation in forest trees has become essential and especially important in the
context of adaptive potential of species and ecosystem stability regarding modern challenges.
We developed a methodological framework for the conservation of the gene pool of woody
species which is applied in Zvezdara Forest as a case study. Thanks to its specific location,
heterogeneous flora, and ecological stability, Zvezdara Forest has become an important
biodiversity refuge and a vital component of the city’s green infrastructure. Framework is
consisted of the following steps: 1) field reconnaissance and species inventory; 2) assessment
of factors contributing to genetic erosion; 3) evaluation of the current state and degree of
threat to the gene pool; 4) identification of target species; 5) georeferencing of target species
individuals and/or groups; 6) determination of key traits of the georeferenced individuals;
7) mapping of the gene pool of target species; 8) creating a database for long-term
monitoring, 9) assessment of variability using morphological and molecular markers, and 10)
establishing a long-term genetic resource management strategy for the study area. In
Zvezdara Forest applied framework resulted in 89 woody species recorded distributed in two
in situ conservation units. All the data were saved in digital form for long-term monitoring
purposes. Ex situ conservation, a progeny tests of wild cherry, pedunculated and sessile oaks,
and field elm were established. As the overall result strategy for forest genetic conservation
of the conservation of the gene pool of woody species in Zvezdara Forest is developed
Mikrobiom u službi zaštite bilja u vinogradima Crne Gore: Primena Bacillus spp. za biokontrolu bolesti drveta vinove loze
No full textVinova loza (Vitis vinifera L.) predstavlja jednu od najvažnijih gajenih biljnih vrsta u svetu, ali na kvalitet i prinos negativan uticaj imaju fitopatogeni, među kojima su najznačajnije fitopatogene gljive prouzrokovači bolesti drveta vinove loze, koje inficirajući sprovodne sudove dovode do postepene degradacije tkiva, nekroze, truleži i smanjene vitalnosti čokota. Zbog dugog i latentnog razvoja simptoma, kao i nedostatka efikasnih mera zaštite, ove bolesti se smatraju jednim od glavnih razloga propadanja vinograda, naročito u područjima sa mediteranskom klimom. Stoga, zaštita zahteva primenu integrisanih pristupa, sa posebnim naglaskom na biološke mere zaštite, što ujedno predstavlja i glavni cilj ovog istraživanja.
Tokom 2024. godine prikupljeno je ukupno 44 uzoraka zemlje (rizosferni sloj) i drveta vinove loze uzetih sa oboljelih i čokota sa folijarnim simtpomima bolesti. Izolacija potencijalnih biokontrolnih kandidata iz roda Bacillus rađena je primenom termalne inaktivacije u sterilnoj destilovanoj vodi na 80 °C tokom 10 minuta. Direktni in vitro ogledi su vršeni sa gljivama: Neofusicoccum parvum, Fomitiporia mediterranea i Phomopsis viticola (kolekcija laboratorije za fitopatologiju Biotehničkog fakulteta). Identifikacija sojeva sa dokazanom anatagonističkom aktivnošću izvršena je sekvenciranjem 16S RNK gena, a dobijene sekvence korišćene su za koinstruisanje filogenetskog stabla metodom „Neighbour-joining”.
Ostvareni rezultati su pokazali aktivnost 71 soja od ukupno izolovanih 261 sa morfologijom nalik Bacillus spp. Inhibicija porasta se kretala od 29,9-65,0% kod N. parvum, 14,1-71,0% kod F. mediterranea i 17,8-65,8% kod P. viticola. Filogenetskom analizom (16S rRNK) biokontrolni sojevi su podeljeni u 12 grupa [I grupa: 22 soja – B. amyloliquefaciens operational group; II grupa: 4 soja – B. subtilis/B. tequilensis; III grupa: 1 soj – B. licheniformis/B. paraicheniformis; IV grupa: 6 sojeva – B. halotolerans/B. mojavensis/B. spizizenii/B. subtilis/B. tequilensis; V grupa: 6 sojeva – B. australimaris/B. pumilus/B. safensis; VI grupa: 3 soja – B. arachidis/B. cereus/B. tropicus/B. thuringiensis; VII grupa: 11 sojeva – B. albus/B. anthracis/B. cereus/B. thuringiensis/B. toyonensis; VIII grupa: 1 soj – Fictibacillus barbaricus; IX grupa: 3 soja – B. aryabhattai/B. megaterium; X grupa: 10 sojeva – Peribacillus frigoritolerans/Peribacillus simplex; XI grupa: 3 soja – Brevibacillus laterosporus; XII grupa: 1 soj – Paenibacillus peoriae/Paenibacillus polymyxa]. Dalje sekvenciranje više konzervisanih gena omogućiće precizniju identifikaciju sojeva od interesa na nivou vrste
Organic Production - A Leading World Trend
No full textCrop production is conducted in open fields, making it essential to follow regional climatic characteristics and know edaphic factors, which significantly influence the success of production. It encompasses multiple systems: traditional and conventional production, sustainable production, good agricultural practices, organic farming, and others. Organic farming promotes ecosystem preservation by integrating biodiversity and biological cycles, using methods that exclude external synthetic inputs. Under favorable environmental conditions, cultivated plants are more productive, while in unfavorable conditions, the application of adequate cultivation technology is necessary. The total area of Serbia is 7,747,400 ha (1,984,513 ha - forested, 709,930 ha - unproductive land, and 5,052,957 ha - agricultural land). Arable land accounts for 3,398,700 ha or 66% of the total agricultural land, grasslands and pastures cover approximately 1,455,589 ha (28%), fruit orchards and vineyards occupy 298,667 ha (6%). In 2021, areas under organic agricultural production take place in 191 countries (76 mil. ha, only 1.6% of total agricultural land) were 11% larger compared to 2017 (69.8 mil. ha). Serbia has favorable conditions for the development of organic production. The largest areas under organic production are in Vojvodina (45.07%), followed by Southeastern Serbia (33.88%), Šumadija and Western Serbia (20.74%), while the smallest areas were in Belgrade (0.31%). In 2023, organic farming in Serbia covered 29,002 ha (18,086 ha - organic status and 10,916 ha - conversion period), with the most represented crop types being cereals (5,372 ha), forage crops (3,006 ha), industrial crops (2,286 ha), followed by fruits (4,393 ha), medicinal, spice, and aromatic plants (352 ha), while the smallest areas were under vegetables (223.7 ha) and other crops (430 ha). Organic production in Serbia shows a growth trend in cultivated areas. The market for organic products remains insufficiently supplied, with demand exceeding production. Organic agriculture represents a leading global trend as it generates significant economic profit, positively impacting the trade balance of every country
Application of Microorganisms in Environmental Protection
No full textMicroorganisms are a very significant factor that affects the bio-productivity of agroecosystems
and the production of healthy food. Also, they find significant application in the recultivation of
polluted ecosystems. The goal of the manuscript is to show the possibilities of using
microorganisms in environmental protection. In the manuscript, the method of data analysis was
applied, which were collected from scientific studies, published in scientific journals and at
scientific conferences, including scientific publications of the authors of the manuscript. The
results of numerous research indicate that microorganisms can be successfully applied instead of
mineral fertilizers, which cause pollution of the environment. "Nitragin" is a biopreparation used
to increase the symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation in plants. Azotobacterin, a biopreparation
based on the bacterial genus Azotobacter, isolated from natural ecosystems, is used for the same
purpose. The biopreparation "humivorin" contains different groups of microorganisms, which
carry out processes of decomposition of organic matter, thus enabling effective nutrition of
plants. The soil is very rich in the mentioned taxons of microorganisms. The results of the
research, published by the authors of this manuscript, indicate that the number of Azotobacter sp.
in soil type ''chernozem'' ranged from 100.4-182.7 (102
g-1
), and in ''gajnjaca'' from 45.7-119.2
(102
g-1
), while the highest determined number of aminoheterotrophs in the soil, among which
Bacillus species dominate, was 671.5x105
g-1
. Numerous scientific studies, including the
scientific publications of the authors of this manuscript, also indicate that microorganisms find
significant application in the purification of polluted soils and waters, as well as the precise
bioindication of all environmental components. Based on the analysis of the results of published
scientific research, it can be concluded that microorganisms can be used very successfully in the
production of healthy food, purification of polluted environments and bioindication
Cultivation of Alfalfa as Possible Plant for Plant Nutrition and Soil Conditioners
No full textThe primary use of alfalfa is in feeding livestock in a fresh state and the preparation of canned feed. Unfortunately, the reduction of livestock causes the producer to lose interest in its further cultivation. However, the advantages achieved by growing alfalfa make this plant species one of the most important cultivated plant species. The paper examined some parameters of alfalfa biomass that would be used in plant nutrition as an organic fertilizer. The terrain on which the research was conducted was the atar of the Banatsko Novo Selo settlement with a carbonate chernozem type soil on a loess terrace. Research was carried out in the period from 2018 to 2023 with alfalfa plants of different growing ages. During the research, the content of total nitrogen (N) and its easily accessible forms (NH4-N and NO3-N), as well as the C:N ratio, were measured. Plants need nitrogen (N) for rapid growth and development. Plants adopt it in ammonia (NH4) and nitrate (NO3) form. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen, gives information about the decomposition of fresh organic matter in the soil. The overall average values for all analyzed plants, that is, their above-ground masses, had values of total nitrogen (N) in the interval from 2.1 to 3.7%. NH4-N content varied from 105.6 to 392.4 mg/kg, while NO3-N content ranged from 10.7 to 21.6 mg/kg. The C:N ratio had values in the interval from 13:1 to 23:1, which represents a good ratio of carbon to nitrogen (in the range of 25 to 35) for them to remain active and decompose fresh organic matter. The obtained results create a good basis for the use of alfalfa above-ground biomass as organic fertilizer in the form of pellets, briquettes, compost or as green manure with the aim of substituting synthetic nitrogen fertilizers