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Functional role of Pseudomonas rhizobacteria in enhancing plant growth under stress-adaptive agricultural systems
No full textThis study explores the functional traits of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from rhizospheric soils and their potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Four isolates were selected and characterized based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters. The results demonstrated their tolerance to various abiotic stresses, resistance to heavy metals and pesticides, and ability to produce plant-beneficial compounds, including siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, and indole-3-acetic acid. Although certain PGPR traits were absent, the overall profile indicates the potential utility of these isolates in sustainable agriculture and stress-prone environments
Influence of cultivar on macro- and micronutrient composition, potential toxic elements accumulation and their interrelationships in leaves and fruits of European plum (Prunus domestica L.)
No full textThis study examined 13 European plum (Prunus domestica L.) cultivars developed at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, to assess genotypic variability in nutrient content, potential toxic elements accumulation and nutritional balance in fruits and leaves, over a three-year period. Significant differences were observed among cultivars, years and their interactions for all examined parameters. Cultivars such as ‘Valjevka’ and ‘Čačanska Najbolja’ demonstrated higher nutrient uptake capacities, whereas ‘Krina’ and ‘Mildora’, showed lower mineral accumulation and greater imbalance. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly for Mn, Zn and Fe were noted in both leaves and fruits. All potential toxic elements concentrations remained within acceptable limits, with notable genotypic variations. Nutritional balance, assessed via DOP and ΣDOP indices, revealed that ‘Čačanska Rodna’ and ‘Pozna Plava’ maintained more stable nutrient profiles. Correlation analysis indicated complex interrelationships among nutrients in both leaves and fruits, including synergistic and antagonistic interactions. Principal component analysis highlighted distinct genotype-driven nutrient accumulation patterns, clustering cultivars by mineral composition and nutritional status.
These findings emphasize the role of genotype in managing nutrient uptake efficiency, limiting the accumulation of undesirable elements and improving fruit quality. The results may support future breeding strategies and site-specific cultivar selection to improve nutritional quality and promote sustainable plum production
Effect of pH and carbon source on in vitro propagation of plum, sour cherry and raspberry
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of medium pH and different types of carbon sources (CSs) on the in vitro multiplication of plum (Prunus domestica L.), sourmcherry (Prunus cerasus L.), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). In the first experimental setup, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1.0 mg l-1 BAP, 0.1 mg l-1 IBA, and 0.1 mg l-1 GA₃) was set at an initial pH 5.7. Five types of CSs (each at final concentration of 30 g l-1) were tested: sucrose, fructose, glucose, sorbitol, and a combination of all four sugars (mix). The change in media pH was monitored after autoclaving and after four weeks of subculturing. The results indicated that the pH of all media containing different CSs decreased after autoclaving. However, after four weeks of multiplication, an increase in pH was observed only in the medium with fructose. Fructose significantly enhanced multiplication in plum and raspberry, while the sugar mix yielded the highest multiplication index in sour cherry. In the second experimental setup, fructose and the sugar mix were further evaluated at different pH levels (5.2 and 4.7), and compared with sucrose as the standard CS. In sour cherry, a sugar mix at pH 4.7 increased shoot lenght and leaf number. In raspberry, fructose yielded the highest multiplication index at pH 5.2, whereas the lowest index was observed at pH 4.7 with the same sugar. The study found that pH and CS significantly affect multiplication, with fructose and the sugar mix having the most favorable effects, depending on pH conditions
Enhancing productivity and quality of blackberries ‘Čačanska Bestrna’ with bioregulator Regalis application
No full textBackground: Blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus Watson) is valued for its nutritional content, and optimizing its production
is crucial in temperate regions like Serbia. Plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as Regalis (Prohexadione-Ca), have potential to enhance yield and fruit quality by modulating plant growth. This study evaluates the effects of Regalis on the
‘Čačanska Bestrna’ blackberry cultivar in Serbia.
Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of Regalis on vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, and nutrient composition of blackberries.
Methods: The study was conducted at two locations in Western Serbia on blackberry canes foliar treated
with the growth regulator Regalis and compared to untreated control bushes. Physical and chemical fruit traits
were determined by validated analytical procedures. Mineral content was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Results: The results showed that Regalis significantly improved yield, fruit size, soluble solids, sugars, and micronutrient
content, with effects varying by cultivation site.
Conclusions: Regalis is an effective tool for enhancing blackberry yield and quality, especially under specific agro-ecological conditions in Serbia. Further research on long-term effects is recommended
Postharvest quality of Granny Smith apples: Interplay of harvest stage, storage duration, and shelf-life
No full textApples are the most widely consumed temperate fruit worldwide and are often stored for long-term to ensure year-round availability. However, maintaining fruit quality during storage and subsequent shelf-life remain a significant postharvest challenge. This study investigated the combined effects of the harvest stage, cold storage duration, and shelf-life on the physico-chemical properties of Granny Smith apples. Key quality attributes including texture, maturity indices, color, and starch degradation were evaluated using instrumental methods and Raman microscopy. Fruit quality was affected differently by individual factors and their interactions. Texture parameters showed varied sensitivity: the harvest stage affected several parameters, storage duration had the strongest overall impact, shelf-life influenced a moderate number of parameters, and some were affected by combined factor interactions. Maturity indices were significantly influenced by all factors individually and combined. Color parameters were consistently affected by harvest stage and storage, with shelf-life and interactions influencing fewer parameters. These findings emphasize the complex interplay of factors shaping apple quality after harvest. The study demonstrates the importance of timing harvest and tailoring postharvest handling to maintain apple quality. It also demonstrates the potential of combining traditional and advanced techniques for effective ripeness monitoring
First report of fig mosaic virus and fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 in Ficus carica in North Macedonia
No full textCommon fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivation in North Macedonia is primarily based on local populations, which have spontaneously developed and persisted over time in various micro-regions without formal selection or classification into defined cultivars. During a 2024 survey, 20 leaf samples were collected from locations in Skopje and Bogdanci. The majority of collected leaves were symptomless, but samples from three trees exhibited mosaic, chlorosis, yellow spots, and leaf distortion. Samples were tested for the presence of fig mosaic virus (FMV), fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV1) and fig mild mottle-associated virus (FMMaV). Total nucleic acids were extracted from fresh leaves with the CTAB method. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were performed with genus- and virus-specific primers. The analysis on the FMV with primers EMARAVGP and E5 (Elbeaino et al. 2009) confirmed virus presence in two samples showing mosaic and chlorosis from Bogdanci. An expected 350 bp fragment of FLMaV1 was amplified with N17 primers (Elbeaino et al. 2006) in a sample from Bogdanci. The presence of FLMaV1 was confirmed by additional RT-PCR with virus-specific LM1-Hel primers (Mathioudakis et al. 2020). RT-PCR analysis with LM3 primers (Elbeaino et al. 2010) revealed no FMMaVpositive samples. To validate the results, PCR amplicons were sequenced and the resulting nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession Nos. PV766017 and PV766018 (FMV) and PV766019 (FLMaV1). Sequences of two Macedonian FMV isolates showed the highest nucleotide (nt) identity with isolates from Costa Rica (KP796424)
Darko Jevremović [email protected]
1 Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, Republic of Serbia 2 Institute of Agriculture – Skopje, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
and Greece (MT122759) (93.67% and 93.0%, respectively), whereas the FLMaV1 isolate had the highest nt identity (92.57%) with isolates from Montenegro (KU198383) and Iran (MG407556). The detection of FMV and FLMaV1 in fig trees from local, unmanaged populations indicates a potential phytosanitary risk to the genetic resources and future development of fig cultivation in North Macedonia
Probing the effects of dextran-coated CeO2 nanoparticles on lung fibroblasts using multivariate single-cell Raman spectroscopy
No full textIn this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of highly soluble dextran-coated CeO2 nanoparticles on human fetal lung fibroblasts MRC-5. We examined individual nanoparticle-treated cells by Raman spectroscopy and analyzed Raman spectra using non-negative principal component analysis and k-means clustering. In this way, we determined dose-dependent differences between treated cells, which were reflected through the intensity change of lipid, phospholipid and RNA-related Raman modes. Performing standard biological tests for cell growth, viability and induction of apoptosis in parallel, these changes were correlated with nanoparticle-induced apoptotic processes. The cells with specific spectral characteristics, referring to non-apoptotic, but possibly autophagic cell death modality, were also detected. Additionally, Raman imaging combined with principal component and vertex component analysis was used to map the spatial distribution of biological molecules in treated and untreated cells. This work provided the description of different resulting states of the treated cells depending on the dextran-coated CeO2 nanoparticles dose, which can be later used in the design of the nanoparticles for industrial or medical applications. The wide content of information resulting from single-cell Raman spectroscopy has the potential to detect biochemical changes caused by nanoparticles that would otherwise require a series of expensive and time-consuming standard biological techniques
Fusarium oxysporum, the cause of Fusarium wilt on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Serbia
No full textCucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a vegetable crop with a global production of approximately 87 million tons in 2021, according to FAO data. It is also an important vegetable species cultivated in both greenhouses and open fields in Serbia. One of the most devastating diseases affecting cucumbers is Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Infected older plants may exhibit yellowing starting from the oldest leaves, stunted growth, or wilting. Affected plants can develop lesions on the lower stem. The fungus infects the vascular system, and symptoms may remain unnoticed until the plant begins to bear fruit. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study on Fusarium wilt in cucumbers in Serbia. Samples were collected in 2022 from the Trebotin locality, Kruševac. A total of 15 samples from Mirabelle F1 hybrid cucumber plants were analyzed. Our research has shown that, based on morphological, molecular, and pathogenic characteristics, cucumber wilting in Serbia is caused by F. oxysporum. The morphological characteristics of the isolates (appearance, size, and septation of macro- and microconidia) were as follows: microconidia dimensions ranged from 3.8–15.5 µm×2.8–4.9 µm, macroconidia from 14.6–37.9 µm×2.4–5.6 µm, with the number of septa ranging from 1 to 4. PCR analysis using F. oxysporum-specific primers resulted in the amplification of the expected 315 bp fragment in all tested isolates. The pathogenicity test showed that symptoms of Fusarium wilt initially appeared as yellowing of the oldest leaves. The disease progressed, eventually leading to plant wilting and death. The characterization and confirmation of F. oxysporum on cucumber in Serbia is a significant finding, emphasizing the need for an effective disease management program to reduce yield losses
New S-alleles identified in sweet cherry cultivars of autochthonous origin in the Balkan countries
No full textSweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an economically important fruit species in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. The gametophytic self-incompatibility system in sweet cherry prevents fertilization with its own or genetically related pollen and is controlled by at least two multi-allelic genes located at the S-locus. Therefore, determining S-alleles enables choosing compatible S-genotype combinations for successful fertilization. This study was primarily undertaken to identify S-genotypes in eight sweet cherry cultivars of autochthonous origin across Serbia (‘Canetova’ and ‘G-2’), North Macedonia (‘Dolga Šiška’ and ‘Ohridska Crna’), Romania (‘Amar Galata’, ‘Amar Maxut’ and ‘Amaris’) and Bulgaria (‘Ranna Tcherna’). We employed the PCR detection method with various consensus and allele-specific primer pairs, combined with DNA fragment analysis and S-RNase sequencing, to identify 10 different S-alleles (S1–S6, S12, S22, S39 and S40). The identification of S-genotypes allowed the classification of eight sweet cherry cultivars into six known incompatibility groups (I, IV, XV, XXII, XXIV and LXX) and the ‘0’ group of universal pollen donors (‘Amar Maxut’ and ‘Ohridska Crna’). Two novel S-RNase alleles, named S39 and S40, were revealed in the cultivars ‘Amar Maxut’ and ‘Ohridska Crna’, respectively. The sequences of these alleles were deposited in the NCBI GenBank database. The newly identified alleles enable unique S-genotypes of ‘Amar Maxut’ (S4S39) and ‘Ohridska Crna’ (S4S40), classifying them as universal pollenisers. This study expands our knowledge of S-genotypes and provides valuable insights for breeders and growers. Since genetic diversity in cultivated sweet cherries is severely limited, and breeding programmes focus on a very small number of parental cultivars, a key challenge in developing future cultivars will be enlarging the genetic base to introgress new favourable alleles for various traits.Dr Slađana Marić je bila član radnog predsedništva usmenog dela sekcije Horticulture
Prisustvo virusa smokve (Ficus carica L.) u Makedoniji
No full textZahvaljujući povoljnoj klimi, Makedonija predstavlja region gde se smokva (Ficus carica L.) može uspešno gajiti. Još uvek nema obimnijeg plantažnog gajenja, ali godišnja proizvodnja u poslednjoj deceniji varira od 600 do 1000 t. Uglavnom se gaje lokalne populacije (crna smokva, bela smokva i petrovka), ali se polako šire i inostrane sorte i selekcije. Klimatske promene dodatno doprinose širenju areala pogodnog za ovu kulturu. Očekuje se da će u narednim decenijama potencijal gajenja smokve u zemlji biti još izraženiji.
Prva ispitivanja prisustva virusa smokve u Makedoniji sprovedena su 2024. godine analizom uzoraka lišća uzetih sa 20 stabala iz lokaliteta Bogdanci i Skoplje. Uzorci lišća iz Skoplja nisu imali simptome, dok su uzorci iz lokaliteta Bogdanci pokazivali simptome mozaika, žutih pega i deformacija liske. Uzorci su analizirani na prisustvo: virusa mozaika smokve (fig mosaic virus, FMV), virusa povezanog sa pegavošću lista smokve 1 (fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1, FLMaV1) i virusa povezanog sa blagom pegavošću smokve (fig mild mottle-associated virus, FMMaV). Za detekciju virusa sprovedena je RT-PCR metoda sa specifičnim prajmerima. Analiza na FMV potvrdila je prisustvo virusa u dva uzorka iz zasada u lokalitetu Bogdanci. Pozitivna amplifikacija dobijena je sa virus-specifičnim E5 prajmerima, kao i sa EMARAVGP koji detektuju viruse iz roda Emaravirus, gde pripada i FMV. U jednom od FMV-pozitivnih uzoraka potvrđen je i FLMaV1 u PCR reakciji sa N17 prajmerima. Pozitivna reakcija dobijena je i sa drugim parom FLMaV1-specifičnih prajmera LM1-Hel. U PCR analizi sa FMMaV-specifičnim LM3 prajmerima nije bilo pozitivnih uzoraka. Radi potvrde dobijenih rezultata umnoženi PCR fragmenti su direktno sekvencirani i dobijene sekvence su deponovane u GenBank pod pristupnim brojevima PV766017-PV766018 (FMV) i PV766019 (FLMaV1). BLAST analiza sekvenci makedonskih FMV izolata pokazala je najviši stepen nukleotidne (nt) identičnosti sa izolatima iz Kostarike i Grčke (KP796424 – 93,67% i MT122759 – 93%). Makedonski izolat FLMaV1 je pokazao 92,57% nt identičnosti sa izolatima iz Crne Gore i Irana (KU198383 i MG407556).
Ovo je prvi nalaz virusa na smokvi u Makedoniji i predstavlja značajan rizik po dalje širenje i unapređenje proizvodnje smokve. U toku su ispitivanja prisustva drugih virusa koji su povezani sa bolešću mozaika smokve