Procter & Gamble (United Kingdom)
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The role of natural biostimulants in climate-smart agriculture: Ascophyllum nodosum’s impact on alfalfa yield
No full textIn the context of growing challenges posed by climate change, sustainable agriculture increasingly recognizes the importance of biostimulants derived from natural bioactive molecules, which offer an ecological alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The significant variability in bioactive compounds and sources of biostimulants highlights a broad spectrum of potential solutions for improving crop yields and enhancing plant stress tolerance, particularly in response to climate-induced stresses such as drought and temperature extremes. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Ascophyllum nodosum liquid extract as a biostimulant in promoting the growth and yield of the hybrid alfalfa variety Banat VS during its first year of vegetation. The experiment was conducted under the agroecological conditions of the Banat region in the eastern part of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. Alfalfa seeds were treated by irrigation with liquid seaweed extract, and their effect on yield was assessed after three harvests. The average mass of treated plants was 19.82 g, representing a 4.6% increase compared to the control group (18.95 g). In addition to quantitative results, treated plants demonstrated an accelerated flowering phase and a higher percentage of inflorescences compared to control samples. The application of Ascophyllum nodosum-based biostimulant significantly enhanced the vegetative growth and yield of alfalfa, confirming its potential in sustainable agriculture. These findings highlight the efficacy of biostimulants in stimulating plant growth, particularly under challenging growth conditions that may become more frequent due to climate variability
Burial depth and temperature effects on the germination and viability of Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) seeds
No full textAmbrosia trifida is a problematic weed species in many annual crops, and its allergenic
pollen can be harmful to human health. Understanding the latency and germination
rates of this weed species is crucial for planning effective weed management strategies. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of burial depth
(5, 10, 15, 25 and 40 cm) and temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 C) on % germination, viability and latency in A. trifida using seeds from one population from Nebraska,
North America, and two populations from Serbia, Europe. Nebraskan seeds were
three times heavier than the Serbian seeds and had a higher seed viability and germination rate and lower germination latency. Despite this, burial depth and temperature
affected the seeds from all populations in a similar way: the germination rate
decreased and latency increased with increasing burial depth, while germination rate
increased and latency decreased with increasing temperature. At shallow burial
depths (5 cm), almost all seeds had very low levels of dormancy, while seeds buried
deep (40 cm) did not germinate at any temperature treatment. We conclude that
burial depth and temperature have opposite effects on A. trifida germinate rate and
latency, but at very shallow or very deep soil depths, the seeds will germinate or will
not germinate, respectively, regardless of the tested temperatures. The low dormancy at shallow soil depths means that A. trifida may be vulnerable to management
strategies that focus on quickly emptying the seedbank without burying the seeds
Mode of Action of Brassinosteroids: Seed Germination and Seedling Growth and Development—One Hypothesis
No full textBrassinosteroids, as unique plant steroid hormones that bear structural similarity to animal steroids, play a crucial role in modulating plant growth and development. These hormones have a positive impact on plant resistance and, under stressful conditions, stimulate photosynthesis and antioxidative systems (enzymatic and non-enzymatic), leading to a reduced impact of environmental cues on plant metabolism and growth. Although these plant hormones have been studied for several decades, most studies analyze the primary site of action of the brassinosteroid phytohormone, with a special emphasis on the activation of various genes (mainly nuclear) through different signaling processes that influence plant metabolism, growth, and development. This review explores another issue, the secondary influence (the so-called mode of action) of brassinosteroids on changes in growth, development, and chemical composition, as well as thermodynamic and energetic changes, mainly during the early growth of corn seedlings. The interactions of brassinosteroids with other phytohormones and physiologically active substances and the influence of these interactions on the mode of action of brassinosteroid phytohormones were also discussed. Seen from a cybernetic point of view, the approach can be labeled as “black box” or “gray box”. “Black box” and “gray box” are terms for cybernetic systems, for which we know the inputs and outputs (in an energetic, biochemical, kinetic, informational, or some other sense), but whose internal structure and/or organization are completely or partially unknown to us. The findings of many researchers have indicated an important role of reactive species, such as oxygen and nitrogen reactive species, in these processes. This ultimately results in the redistribution of matter and energy from source organs to sink organs, with a decrease in Gibbs free energy from the source to sink organs. This quantitative evidence speaks of the exothermic nature and spontaneity of early (corn) seedling development and growth under the influence of 24-epibrassinolide. Based on these findings and a review of the literature on the mode of action of brassinosteroids, a hypothesis was put forward about the secondary effects of BRs on germination and the early growth of plant seedlings
Comparative Analysis of Lettuce Morphological and Physiological Traits: Effects of Cultivar, Biofertiliser, and Seasonal Variations in Different Soil Types
No full textA multi-factor analysis of cultivar, biofertiliser, and growing season was conducted to optimise lettuce agronomic and quality traits in diverse soil conditions. The goal was to identify soil differences and offer practical recommendations to improve lettuce traits and quality for farmers and the processing industry. The study employed a complete block design with four treatments, three involving biofertilisers, applied to six lettuce cultivars grown in two contrasting soil types- Mollic Gleysol (Calcaric)-GL and Hortic Anthrosol (Terric, Transportic)-AT, across three consecutive greenhouse seasons (autumn, winter, and spring). Biofertilisers were applied to the soil before transplanting and foliarly during the growing cycle, with four of the following treatments: control (no fertilisation), a fertiliser containing beneficial microorganisms, a Trichoderma-based fertiliser, and a combination of both. In GL soil, all biofertiliser treatments increased rosette height, leaf number, and stem length, whereas in AT soil, all morphological parameters declined significantly. The green cultivars ‘Aquino’ and ‘Kiribati’ showed superior morphological performance, particularly in spring and winter. Rosette fresh weight, a key indicator of plant biomass, reached 236.4 g in ‘Aquino’ grown in GL soil, and 208.6 g in ‘Kiribati’ grown in AT soil. Dualex™ leaf sensor measurement indicated that ‘Aquino’ exhibited the highest nitrogen balance index (NBI), while the red cultivar ‘Gaugin’ recorded the highest chlorophyll, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents. Combined fertilisers increased NBI by 6.3% and chlorophyll by 6.8% in GL soil. Trichoderma fertiliser alone raised NBI by 6.8% in GL soil, whereas in AT soil, plants accumulated more flavonoids and anthocyanins (by 9.2% and 8.5%). Optical parameters were highest in autumn. The three-factor experiment demonstrated that cultivar, biofertiliser, and growing season significantly influenced the majority of measured traits. Correlation analysis revealed that rosette fresh weight was positively associated with NBI but negatively correlated with quality-related traits. Based on these findings, cultivars ‘Aquino’, ‘Kiribati’, and ‘Gaugin’ are recommended for both farmers and the processing industry to improve lettuce production quantity and quality. Overall, cultivar, biofertiliser, and season strongly influenced the measured parameters, underscoring the importance of tailoring biofertiliser application to soil type and season to achieve optimal production outcomes
Primena zoocida i biocida u Srbiji: stanje i perspektiva
No full textSavremena poljoprivreda se, i dalje, u značajnoj meri oslanja na primenu pesticida, gde zoocidi imaju vrlo važno mesto u zaštiti useva/zasada i uskladištenih biljnih proizvoda od štetnih insekata, grinja, glodara, puževa i nematoda. Biocidi, odnosno biocidni proizvodi su značajni za javno zdravlje i komunalnu higijenu u urbanim sredinama, jer se pomoću njih mogu suzbiti štetočine kao što su komarci, muve, bubašvabe, krpelji, buve i glodari.
U Srbiji je tokom poslednjih godina, uglavnom zbog usklađivanja regulative i statusa aktivnih supstanci pesticida u Evropskoj Uniji, došlo do značajnih promena u pogledu raspoloživosti zoocida za zaštitu useva/zasada u polju i plodova/semena u skladištu. Međutim, kod biocida je do sličnih promena došlo tek u poslednje dve godine, iako je poznato da mnogi od njih sadrže iste aktivne supstance kao i zoocidi koji se primenjuju u poljoprivredi.
Aktuelne informacije o zoocidima smo mogli da dobijemo na skupovima o zaštiti bilja, prilikom predstavljanja novih izdanja priručnika Pesticidi u poljoprivredi i šumarstvu u Srbiji ili u okviru izveštavanja o aktivnostima Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije, dok o primeni biocida do sada nije bilo prikazanih referata/postera. Zato je namera u ovom radu bila da se na osnovu detaljnije analize postojećeg stanja na sveobuhvatan način sagleda perspektiva njihove dalje primene u poljoprivredi i urbanim sredinama.
Analiza je koncipirana tako da se sagledaju raspoloživi podaci o registrovanim zoocidima/biocidima u poslednjih pet do deset godina i da se odgovori na najčešća pitanja koja svi postavljamo: (1) Kakva je rasploživost zoocida i biocida u odnosu na njihovu namenu? (2) Da li ima dovoljno aktivnih supstanci/preparata za uspešno suzbijanje štetočina? (3) Na bazi kojih aktivnih supstanci ima najviše preparata? i/ili (4) Kakva je zastupljenost aktivnih supstanci prirodnog porekla?
Rezultati analize pokazuju da je danas u Srbiji na raspolaganju oko 30% manje zoocida nego ranije, jer su tokom proteklog perioda ukinute 32 aktivne supstance, a samo je 13 novouvedenih, dok je broj ostalih pesticida, fungicida i herbicida, značajno povećan tako da ih je sada oko 60% više nego zoocida. Kod zoocida je najveća promena vidljiva kod insekticida i rodenticida, odnosno kod grupa jedinjenja: organofosfata, neonokotinoida i antikoagulanata, jer su sada prisutni samo sa po jednom aktivnom supstancom. Ako se u analizu uključi kriterijum da ima dovoljno zoocida tokom sezone ako je ≥ 2 aktivne supstance/preparata na raspolaganju za uspešno suzbijanje štetočina, nameće se zaključak da u Srbiji, i pored zabeleženih promena, ima dovoljno zoocida. Dalje, na osnovu rezultata analize možemo da konstatujemo da je danas na raspolaganju značajno veći broj registrovanih preparata na bazi aktivnih supstanci prirodnog porekla (mikroorganizama, biljnih ulja, piretrina, spinosina i karbida), nego što je to bilo, na primer 1976. godine kada su bili registrovani preparati samo na bazi mikroorganizma, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. Alesti. Takođe, vidi se da po broju svih registrovanih preparata zoocida dominiraju aktivne supstance insekticida iz sledećih IRAC MoA grupa: piretroidi, avermektini i diamidi, dok je, na primer, kod rodenticida ostala samo aktivna supstanca cink-fosfid.
Prema rezultatima analize biocidnih proizvoda može da se konstatuje da je u Srbiji, prema nameni, registrovan dovoljan broj aktivnih supstanci/preparata biocida, kao i da je među njima 17 aktivnih supstanci insekticida i rodenticida koje su ukinute u poljoprivredi. Po broju preparata insekticida dominiraju aktivne supstance iz grupe piretroida, dok su kod rodenticida još uvek dominantni antikoagulanti. Procena je da je u odnosu na prethodni period značajno više registrovanih preparata na bazi aktivnih supstanci prirodnog porekla: mikroorganizama (Bacillus sphaericus i B. thuringiensis sp. israelensis H14), piretrina, limonoida (azadirahtina) i spinosina.
Perspektivu primene zoocida i biocida treba posmatrati u kontekstu glavnih zadataka zbog kojih postoje i zbog kojih se primenjuju u poljoprivredi i urbanim sredinama. Na primer, kod zoocida je utisak da se od nekadašnjeg opredeljenja da treba da budu visoko efikasni u suzbijanju štetočina samo sa 1-2 tretiranja useva/zasada tokom sezone sada očekuje da prvenstveno budu delotvorni i bezbedni, sa što kraćom karencom. Takođe, utisak je da je danas u Srbiji, posle registracije novih aktivnih supstanci i supstanci prirodnog porekla, na raspolaganju veći broj preparata insekticida kod kojih stoji da je maksimalan broj tretmana 2-4 puta tokom sezone. Perspektiva primene biocidnih proizvoda u budućnosti je jasna, jer je od početka njihov zadatak da budu visoko efikasni posle jednokratne primene u urbanoj sredini. Tako je, na primer, u regulativi koju u Evropskoj Uniji propisuje Evropska agencija za hemikalije, a prati je i Srbija, kod insekticida normirano da mogu da se registruju i primenjuju samo one aktivne supstance čiji su preparati efikasni ≥ 90%. Međutim, i kod primene biocida u praktičnim uslovima se može zapaziti da se sve češće ponavljaju tretmani kako bi se prisustvo štetočina održalo na nivou koji možemo da tolerišemo.
Očigledno je da će na primenu zoocida i biocida u narednom periodu sve više uticati uslovi sredine sa globalnim zagrevanjem, ali i isplativost njihove primene u odnosu na nepesticidne mere i metode suzbijanja i zaštite. Zato smatramo da će najveći izazov u budućnosti biti kako da se osposobi dovoljan broj ljudi sa visokim nivoom znanja, preciznosti i iskustva da uspešno i na održiv način suzbijaju štetočine značajne u poljoprivredi, kao i u javnom zdravlju i komunalnoj higijeni u urbanim sredinama
Allelopathic potential of marigold extract in the control of weeds in tomato crop
No full textThe most common method of controlling weeds in agricultural production is chemical.
However, due to the negative impact of chemical herbicides on the environment and human
health, the use of allelopathy as an environmentally friendly approach to weed control is
increasingly being used. Some medicinal plants such as marigold have allelopathic effects
against weeds and their extracts can be used to control weeds in crops. Also, it is well known
that marigold have good compatibility with tomato crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the effect of applying marigold extract on weed control in tomato crop. The experiment was
conducted during the growing season of 2024 under field conditions and was set up according
to the design of a randomized block system with four replications. During the vegetable season,
foliar spray with 5% water extract of marigold was applied three times. In addition to the
marigold extract, weeds were once removed by hand hoeing during the season. The number of
weed plants and weed species were monitored compared to the control at the and of experiment,
in the phase of fully maturity. The results showed that in the treatment with applied marigold
extract the average number of weed plants per replication was 5/m2 and the number of weed
species in all replications was 7, while in the control treatment the number of weed plants was
8/m2 and the number of weed species was 9. The number of weed plants and weed species
decreased by 37.5% and 22.2% compared to the control when marigold extract was applied.
The results of this study indicate that the application of marigold extract was effective in weed
control which is reflected on reducing the number of weeds, as well as the number of weed
species in tomato crop
Influence of stored buckwheat on colour parameters of emulsion-type chicken sausages
No full textThe standard emulsion-type chicken sausage formulation was
modified by incorporating buckwheat flour stored 0, 3, 6 and 9 months to obtain an
enriched product and monitor the effect of instrumental colour change. The control
(CON) and four combined frankfurter-buckwheat products with time-determined
stored flour (FB0, FB3, FB6, and FB9) were analysed for instrumental colour
properties (L*, a*, b*, C*, h, S, ΔE). The results were statistically processed by
one-way ANOVA (P<0.05) and Tukey’s HSD post-hoc tests (P<0.05). Added
buckwheat flour slightly affects L*, and significantly a* and b*, with the highest
values in FB0 (similar to CON), which was lighter, redder and yellower than the
other combined products. The C* value significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the
h value significantly increased (P<0.05) which caused lower chromatic purity and a
more yellow nuance in FB9 (20.65, 45.40). Significant decrease in the S value
resulted in the greatest attenuation in overall colour perception at FB6, and FB9.
An increase trend of ΔE was observed, indicating the differentiation of sausages
with respect to effect on total colour (ΔE ≤ 5.08). The results suggest that
emulsion-type chicken sausages enriched with stored buckwheat flour are
technologically justified and colour-sensory acceptable as end-products for
consumers
First report of Pseudomonas avellanae causing hazelnut decline in Serbia
No full textDuring July 2024, a decline was observed on hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivar Tonda di Giffoni, 5 years old. Developed symptoms coming out when trees started to yield in form of rapid wilting of leaves on branches. Diseased stems exposed a brown discoloration of vascular tissue. Isolations from wood tissue resulted in the forming of large, convex, levan type, mucoid, cream whitish Pseudomonas like bacterial colonies on Nutrient agar supplemented with 5% sucrose. Results of LOPAT tests (Levan positive, Oxidase negative, Potato soft rot negative, Arginine dehydrolase negative, Tobacco hypersensitivity positive) ranged isolates into Pseudomonas syringae group Ia. Pathogenicity test was performed on shoots of potted 1 year old hazelnut (Tonda di Giffoni) plants inoculated by bacterial suspension through leaf scars in the early autumn. First necrosis at the points of inoculation was observed after ten days, and continued to spread longitudinally through the stem, reaching a length of 15 20 cm after two months. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of the same pathogen from the inoculated stems. Genetic identification was performed by sequencing of gyrB (DNA gyrase subunit B) gene. Nucleotide BLAST analysis of the partial gyrB gene sequence of the two Serbian isolates showed 100% identity with Pseudomonas avellanae strains from the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis indicated genetic homogeneity among the tested and five reference P. avellanae strains (BPIC631, CFBP4960, CIP 105176T, NCPPB 3491, and NCPPB 4222) and confirmed identification by placing them within the same tree cluster. This finding indicates on possibility of wider spread of this bacterium in the territory of EU
Novel distinct strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata associated with bacterial leaf spot of sugar beet in Serbia
No full textBacterial leaf spot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), caused by phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata (Psa) has emerged frequently in Serbia since its initial report in 2013. The latest disease outbreak was detected on cultivar Viola in 2023 in the Bačka region (Vojvodina). A diversity survey of Psa strains associated with bacterial leaf spot based on DNA profiling and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) identified novel, distinct Psa strains. BOX-, ERIC-, and M13-PCR produced the highest and equal number of visually distinct profiles within Psa strains, while GTG5 showed the lowest discriminatory power. MLSA ultimately resulted in the formation of two phylogenetic groups based on the gltA, gapA, and gyrB housekeeping genes, and only one group based on the rpoD, which differed from that previously reported Serbian Psa strains. The representative strain Psa3223 tends to form a separate group, suggesting the presence of a novel allelic variant within the Psa population originating from Serbia, while the other Psa strains were homogeneous and mostly related to the reference strains PD193 and PD197. The newly isolated Psa strains exhibited high aggressiveness in the pathogenicity assay on sugar beet (cv. Viola). The results highlight unexplored genetic richness not only within the Pseudomonas syringae species complex but also specifically within the Psa species. This finding contributes to better understanding of Psa population structure and provides a foundation for ongoing studies into the pathogen’s evolution and epidemiology