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Dominance of invasive Johnsongrass in roadside vegetation of Serbia
No full textRoads, railways and watercourses represent major terrestrial invasion corridors, which enable long-distance dispersal and transport of invasive alien plants between previously isolated regions. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) is a highly invasive perennial weed species of cosmopolitan distribution. It forms dense, monodominant stands, which can crowd out native vegetation. Given its importance in agricultural production, especially in light of its multiple herbicide resistance, and the recognition of roads as major non-agricultural areas for Johnsongrass spread, our aim was to evaluate the role of roads as linear corridors facilitating its spread in Serbia. Field research was carried out in July-September of 2018-2020, at a total of 205 field sites.
These field sites were distributed along highways and major state roads in Serbia, with 100 m 2 belt transects set up parallel to the road, in every section of the roadside terrain. Cover values of the roadside vegetation were expressed in % of the transect area. Correlation between the Johnsongrass invasion (presence and cover) and selected characteristics of the field site were analyzed using linear regression analysis in Statistica software. Johnosongrass was recorded at 57% of field sites (55% of relevés). In the majority of field sites (64%), its cover ranged between 5% and 50% of the transect. However, more than 10% of transects contained dense stands: 15 with 51–75% cover and five fully dominated (>75%). Records of its presence and dominance were concentrated in the northern, low-lying part of Serbia, where at two field sites it formed nearly monodominant stands (>90% cover). While its presence and cover were negatively correlated with altitude of the field site, both were positively correlated with the number of other aliens plants in the transect
Quality and Phenolic Acid Content in Tubers of Different Potato Varieties
No full textPotato is a very popular food that is consumed all over the world. Climatic conditions, genotype, and cultivation technology determine quality production. The aim of the study was to determine the quality and content of phenolic acids in different potato varieties grown over three years in conditions western Serbia. The research material included three potato varieties of different maturity periods: Esmee (red skin, early), Arizona (white skin, middle early) and Kuroda (red skin, middle late). The analysis of variance showed a significant effect (p<0.01) of the year (Y), genotype (G) and interaction Y×G on dry matter content and starch content in tubers. On a three-year average, the highest DMC in tubers (21.90%) was recorded in the mid-late variety Kuroda, followed by the middle-early variety Arizona (20.83%), while the lowest DMC in tubers (17.68 %) was determined in the early variety Esmee. In all tested varieties, significantly higher starch content in tubers was recorded in 2020, compared to the other two years, which is the result of a more favorable distribution of precipitation during 2020, compared to the other two years. The concentration of individual phenolic acids (chlorogenic, p-coumaric, caffeic, trans-cinnamic, and trans-ferulic) varied and depended on ecological conditions and variety genotype: chlorogenic acid (36.09 µg/g FW), p-coumaric acid (30.47 µg/g FW), caffeic acid (28.09 µg/g FW), trans-cinnamic acid (12.81 µg/g FW) and trans-ferulic acid (2.60 µg/g FW). The presence of gallic acid in the tuber core of the tested varieties in all three years of the study was not recorded. Year and genotype significantly influence the quality and content of biologically active substances (phenolic acids) in the flesh of potato tubers
Buckwheat as a high-quality raw material nutritional and technological properties under different storage conditions
No full textBuckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a pseudocereal with extremely beneficial nutritional composition. High content of quality proteins, dietary fibers, polyphenolic compounds (especially rutin), as well as the absence of gluten, makes it very common in human and animal nutrition since ancient times. Thanks to its low glycemic index, content of resistant starch and fiber, as well as the presence of bioactive compounds that affect enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, buckwheat shows a favorable effect on the glycemic response. The aim of this work was to examine the chemical composition and content of biologically active compounds in buckwheat seeds, as well as the effects of storage conditions on changes in the quality of buckwheat.
The results showed an extremely high content of gallic and p-coumaric acids, as well as epicatechin (91, 102.4 and 95.7 μg/g DW, respectively). Storage conditions did not significantly affect the content of gallic and p-coumaric acids, while the content of epicatechin decreased with longer storage time. Also, the content of total phenols, as well as antioxidant activity decreased with increasing storage time compared to the native sample. The results of this research contribute to the promotion of buckwheat and buckwheat flour as an extremely important raw material and the possibility of its application in the modern food industry
Statistical modeling and prediction of the influence of stored buckwheat on the color of the final product
No full textIncorporating plant-based ingredients into meat products faces challenges regarding raw material stability and its impact on sensory quality. This study aimed to apply multivariate statistical analysis to map the interdependency between the degradation of bioactive compounds in stored buckwheat flour and the color change of emulsion-type chicken sausages. Buckwheat flour was stored for 0, 3, 6, and 9 months at 40 °C and incorporated (3%) into sausage formulations. The relationship between flour antioxidant parameters (TPC, FRAP, individual phenolics) and sausage instrumental color was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Linear Regression. Results indicate that storage causes a drastic drop in antioxidant power (FRAP decreased 2.9-fold) and epicatechin degradation. A strong positive correlation was established between flour FRAP values and sausage redness (a*, r=0.984). PCA confirmed clear differentiation between fresh and aged samples based on oxidative status. The linear regression model predicted redness with high apparent precision (R2=0.969), though residual analysis (RMSE=0.274) revealed non-linear deviations. In conclusion, the antioxidant power of the raw material is a critical predictor of final product color. While linear models provide high accuracy, future research should consider non-linear algorithms to fully address complex matrix interactions
Morphophysiological, Molecular and Phytopathological Characteristics of Colletotrichum siamense, the Causative Agent of Ficus elastica Anthracnose
No full textColletotrichum siamense is an emerging plant pathogen with a broad host range and increasing global prevalence, yet its role in
ornamental plant diseases remains underexplored. This study reports the first detailed characterisation of C. siamense associated
with anthracnose symptoms on Ficus elastica. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic leaves exhibiting dark, necrotic lesions
with yellow halos. Morphophysiological features were consistent with C. siamense and included fast-growing floccose colonies,
globose conidiomata, cylindrical conidia, and melanized appressoria. Species identity was confirmed through multilocus sequencing of ITS and β-tubulin (BenA) regions, and phylogenetic analyses clustered the isolate with known C. siamense strains
from diverse hosts. Additionally, physiological assays revealed enzymatic activity for amylase, hemicellulases, and laccases,
whereas the activity of cellulases was absent. Finally, pathogenicity trials on healthy F. elastica leaves fulfilled Koch's postulates,
with symptomatic lesions and successful re-isolation of the pathogen. An NCBI database search retrieved over 38,000 C. siamense sequences, with only two associated with F. elastica, underscoring the rarity of reported infections in this host. This study
not only expands the known host range of C. siamense but also highlights its pathogenic potential in indoor ornamental settings.
These findings emphasise the importance of accurate pathogen identification using a polyphasic approach and underscore the
need for phytosanitary vigilance to manage emerging threats to ornamental horticulture
PROTEIN QUALITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BRKULJA TRADITIONAL WHEAT
No full textThis study evaluated the protein content chemical composition and polyphenolic profile of the traditional wheat landrace Brkulja cultivated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH and Montenegro, ME. Grain samples were collected from Kneževo (BiH) and Bijelo Polje (ME). Protein content was determined using a modified Kjeldahl method, while individual polyphenolic compounds were identified and quantified by RP-HPLC. Distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing confirmed that Brkulja wheat from Kneževo is a stable and distinct spring wheat variety. Protein content averaged 15.3% in Brkulja from Kneževo and 14.0% in Brkulja from Bijelo Polje, indicating a relatively high protein level compared to modern bread wheat. Fourteen polyphenolic compounds were detected, with quercetin, naringin and dihydrocaffeic acid as dominant constituents. The results demonstrate that Brkulja wheat possesses valuable nutritional and functional properties, supporting its conservation and potential use in sustainable and quality-oriented food systems
Use of Indigenous Bacillus velezensis Strain BK17 in the Control of Sugar Beet Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata
No full textBacterial leaf spot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), caused by bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata, threatens the sugar beet industry worldwide. Isolations of a suitable biocontrol agent from the sugar beet phyllosphere conducted in this study led to the discovery of a highly effective strain BK17. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, along with tuf, gyrA, and yngG gene analyses, as well as sequencing of genes involved in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial lipopeptides (fenD-2, bamC, sfp, srfAB, and ituA-B), strain BK17 was identified as Bacillus velezensis. Biological efficacy of strain BK17 was demonstrated on sugar beet (cv. ‘Viola’) plants by applying it in the early plant growth stages, as a part of pot (BBCH 10) and field (BBCH 15-16) experiments, and preventively, 24 hours before inoculation with six P. syringae pv. aptata strains, four of which originated from Serbia and two were reference strains from the Netherlands. These treatments demonstrated the high potential of strain BK17 in the suppression of bacterial spot disease, as reflected in 75.14–82.75% and 66.12–85.10% efficacy in pot and field experiments, respectively. This research enriches the current knowledge of B. velezensis utilization in the biocontrol of bacterial leaf spot, providing a foundation for future studies aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture within integrated pest management strategies
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION IN SERBIA
No full textClimate change has been one of the biggest problems in agriculture production
worldwide. High
temperatures and low precipitation had led to devastating losses and have been one of the biggest
contributors in appearance of some of plant diseases and pests that transmit some of pathogens.
Temperatures rise in last year has been in great disproportion in comparison with multiyear average
temperatures for each region where sugar beet has been grown with deviations of almost 5 °C in some
months. Precipitation was very low, during months when sugar beet needed it the most it was the
lowest. Following high temperatures and low precipitation we had some shift in plant pathogens and
pest appearances which led to development of certain diseases caused by Aphids and Cixiids. Impact
on sugar beet production is extreme not only in yield losses but in sugar content and quality. This
led to big problems in factories since more complex processes had to be used in order to get sugar.
Those factors have a huge impact but are very unpredictable, varying from year to year, and need to
be addressed in order to
stabilize sugar beet production
Evaluation of agro-morphological traits of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under different environmental conditions
No full textQuinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) exhibits remarkable adaptability to different agroecological conditions,but there are still challenges in introducing it to new environments, especially those in northern latitudes. Thisstudy investigates the impact of genotype, season, sowing density (5 and 10 cm between plants), and theirinteraction on agro-morphological traits of quinoa cultivars (Puno and Titicaca). Seasonal variations, primarilyinfluenced by precipitation, significantly affected all analyzed traits (plant height, number of side branches andflower branches, biomass and grain yield per plant) with the highest values recorded in a favorable season. Theseason factor had the greatest influence in the variation of grain yield, with a share of 89.7% in the totalvariation. Grain yield per plant was 31.41 g in the favorable season compared to 14.64 g in the less favorableseason. The significance of the Genotype × Season interaction in variation of plant height, number of sidebranches and biomass production per plant, as well as the significance of the Season × Sowing densityinteraction in biomass production, highlighted the importance of these factors to optimize cultivation practicesand increase quinoa productivity in different environmental conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA)highlighted the interrelationships among agro-morphological traits, where in less favorable environments grainyield was most closely related to biomass, number of side branches and number of flower branches. Lowersowing density (10 cm between plants) may be more favorable for achieving high values across all analyzedtraits, particularly increasing the number of flower branches (16.75 at lower density and 14.61 at higherdensity). The ‘Puno’ genotype stands out with a pronounced adaptability to less favorable environmentalconditions, especially at lower sowing density. In contrast, the ‘Titicaca’ genotype stands out for its high biomassproduction, especially in the second season (74.9 g)
Conservation and ecological screening of small water bodies in temperate riverine wetlands using UAV Photogrammetry (Middle Danube)
No full textAquatic ecosystems in riverine wetlands are important refuges and nurseries for freshwater
biota. Given the significant global loss and degradation of wetlands, regular conservation
assessments of these habitats, even in not easily accessible regions, are crucial for
implementing effective management. Thus, developing cost-effective approaches for
rapid ecological and conservation screening of water bodies in floodplains, such as
the Danube, is a priority. One potential solution is the use of UAV-based (Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle) ecological indicators to complement existing monitoring frameworks.
This paper aims to explore whether UAV-based macrophyte data can provide a more
precise indication of the trophic state and conservation indices (assessed through
fish and macroinvertebrate communities) of temperate wetland lentic ecosystems,
compared to traditional field surveys. The fieldwork was conducted during the summer
months of 2019 at 23 sampling sites within eight lentic water bodies located in three
wetland areas along the Middle Danube in Serbia. Data on aquatic vegetation, fish, and
macroinvertebrate communities, and samples for water quality analysis were collected
simultaneously. UAV images were acquired using an RGB camera. Orthomosaics were
processed using supervised object-based image (OBIA) classification to obtain a single
vector layer with macrophyte functional groups and taxa. Macrophyte cover metrics
obtained during the fieldwork and UAV data processing were correlated against water
quality parameters and conservation indices calculated for fish and macroinvertebrate
assemblages. The study demonstrated that UAV photogrammetry can provide relatively
precise measurements of macrophyte cover characteristics compared to traditional plotbased monitoring methods, making it effective for assessing aquatic ecosystems. The analysis revealed that sites with high values of fish and macroinvertebrate conservation
indices, optimal oxygen conditions, and mesotrophic states were associated with UAV
orthomosaic polygons showing relatively high macrophyte functional diversity and a
presence of floating-rooted species. Conversely, sites experiencing eutrophication and
a poor oxygen regime with species-poor fish assemblages correlated positively with a
higher cover of amphibian and free-floating vegetation, as well as filamentous algae.
In conclusion, UAV photogrammetry offers a cost-effective method to monitor aquatic
habitats along large river floodplains, including those that are not easily accessible