Presence of Francisella tularensis in Apodemus spp. on the Edges of Forest Areas in Belgrade, Serbia

Tularemia, a zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis, is considered endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. Themain reservoirs of this disease are rodents and lagomorphs, which usually show no clinical signs and are a potential disease source for other animals and humans. The presence of F. tularensis in the tissues of rodents in Serbiawas examined for the first time. The animalswere collected near walking tracks and places for recreation in forest areas in Belgrade. A total of 96 mice were collected in three forest locations in the autumn of 2023. Tissue samples of lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys were taken by autopsy, and pool samples were made for all captured animals, that is, 71 striped field mice (SFM), 13 wood mice (WM), and 12 yellow-necked mice (YNM). The bacterium F. tularensis was detected by PCR, using primers that target the tul4 gene, which codes 17-kDa lipoprotein and amplifies the 400- bp product. Thirteen samples tested positive by PCR, seven of which were confirmed by sequencing to belong to F. tularensis. F. tularensis was detected in SFM animals collected from all investigated forest areas. Based on the observed results, we can conclude that F. tularensis is present in the tissues of SFM animals captured in Belgrade’s forest areas

Bioherbicidal Evaluation of Methanol Extract of Sorghum halepense L. Rhizome and Its Bioactive Components Against Selected Weed Species

Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (common name Johnson grass) is a perennial invasive weed that causes great harm worldwide, and its allelopathy has been demonstrated in a series of experiments. The present study offers new insights into its organ-specific phytochemical profiles using state-of-the-art metabolomic technology and explores the effects of a methanol extract of S. halepense rhizomes (ShER) and its major bioactive compounds (p-hydroxybenzoic acid and chlorogenic acid) on three noxious weed species. The phytotoxic effects of ShER are reflected through the inhibition of seed germination and reduced seedling growth, which are accompanied by changes in the antioxidant system of seedlings. Phytotoxicity is species specific and concentration dependent, and it is more pronounced against Chenopodiastrum murale (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila & Borsch and Datura stramonium L. than highly tolerant Amaranthus retroflexus L. Catalase (CAT) is most likely the major mediator in the removal of reactive oxygen species, which are generated during germination and early seedling growth of Ch. murale exposed to ShER. The results of the present study imply the high potential of ShER in the management of amaranthaceous and solanaceous weeds, such as Ch. murale and D. stramonium, respectively. The present study offers an environmentally friendly solution for the biological control of weeds belonging to the families Amaranthaceae and Solanaceae. Also, the results of this research highlight the possibility of effective management of S. halepense by using it as a feedstock for bioherbicide production

Characterization of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium vorosii originated from Small Cereals Grain in Serbia

In the present study, the species diversity of Fusarium graminearum species complex was investigated based on morphological, pathogenic, toxicological and genetic characteristics. Fifty-two isolates, derived from small grains from 20 different locations in Serbia, were studied. The phylogenetic analysis of seven selected sequences of three gene regions, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α), histone H3, and β-tubulin, revealed that six isolates were identified as F. graminearum sensu stricto and one as Fusarium vorosii. The TEF-1α and histone H3 genes were found to be sufficiently informative to distinguish the species F. vorosii. These species are of particular concern due to their ability to synthesize mycotoxins that affect both human and animal health. In this study, it was confirmed that all isolates tested belong to the 15ADON chemotype. Since previous investigations have shown that climate change is the leading cause of the appearance of new, potentially more toxic species, future research must pay special attention to changes in the population of this complex. Given that there is little information in the literature about the damage of the F. vorosii species in the production of small grains, this work aimed to examine its aggressiveness and toxicity and thus determine the potential danger of its spreading. Results of the present study showed that the genetic diversity of isolates of F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) in Serbia, as well as their potential for toxin production and aggressiveness, indicate that continuous study of this species is necessary, both in Serbia and the world outside

Improving germination and protection of wheat seeds with new bacterial isolates from alkaline soil

The objective of this research is to investigate the application of new Bacillus spp. isolates from alkaline soil as potential biocontrol agents for the management of wheat pest-wireworms (A. lineatus larvae), diseases caused by the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium spp., and their plant growth-promoting potential. Among five new Bacillus spp. isolates, BHC 1.3 and BHC 1.5 showed ability to suppress only mycelial growth of F. proliferatum. Insecticidal activity resulting in a wireworm mortality rate of 17.24% after ten days of experimentation was observed for BHC 1.5. The final percentage of seed germination was in the range of 95% - 100% with the additional highest production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by BHC 1.5. The results of this study indicate that the new Bacillus spp. isolate may have the potential for formulating microbial inoculants effective in promoting wheat plant growth and biocontrol of soil-borne diseases and pests

BRODISAN blue PF FORTE–Rodenticid namenjen za suzbijanje jedinki sivog pacova

Za ljude, kao i domaće i divlje životinje, štetni glodari predstavljaju domaćine i prenosioce prouzrokovača velikog broja različitih bolesti, kao što su Francisella tularensis, Clostridium botulinum, Rickettsia prowazeki, Trichinela spiralis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira sp., Brucella sp., Yersinia spp., Mycobacterium sp., Hanta virus, Aphthovirus, arbovirusi i mnogi drugi. Bolesti koje ovi uzročnici izazivaju su tularemija, botulizam, tifus, pegavi tifus, trihineloza, lajmska bolest, kju groznica, leptospiroza, bruceloza, kuga, lepra, pseudotuberkuloza, tuberkuloza, hemoragična groznica, laišmanioza, slinavka i šap, i druge. Jedno od naših poslednjih istraživanja ukazuju da je prevalenca bakterije leptospire u jedinkama sivog pacova na teritoriji grada Beograda 29,94 % (Gajdov i sar., 2024)

The effect of Artemisia dracunculus essential oil on Chenopodium album and Sorghum halepense

The application of secondary metabolites produced by plants (allelochemicals) has great potential as a tool for integrated weed control. The species of the family Asteraceae and especially the genus Artemisia are characterised by a high production of allelochemicals that can have a phytotoxic/herbicidal effect on other plants. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the effect of Artemisia dracunculus essential oil on the aboveground fresh mass of Chenopodium album and Sorghum halepense. The essential oil was extracted from the dried aerial plant material of cultivated A. dracunculus by steam distillation. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique was used to identify the constituents of the essential oil. The in vivo experiment included 5 treatments with different concentrations of oil (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) and one control treatment (distilled water with Trend 90 surfactant at a concentration of 0.2%). All treatments were applied at the stage of the first pair of developed leaves of C. album and at a height of 8 cm of S. halepense using an automatic pesticide application chamber (Lechler nozzle 110-02; 2bar; 20 ml/m 2 ). Visual damage was assessed 1, 7, 14 and 21 days after application of the treatments and after 21 days the fresh mass was measured. The main compounds in the oil were methyl eugenol (52.70%), sabinene (28.60%) and terpinen-4-ol (2.40%). On the first day after application, examined treatments caused visual injuries observed as leaf chlorosis and necrosis and the degree of visual damage was 11.67-96.67% in C. album and 0.00- 61.67% in S. halepense, compared to the control plants. However, the treated plants were able to overcome the damage up to a certain percentage, especially at lower concentrations. The inhibition of fresh mass was between 6.57-82.45% for C. album and 4.46-40.26% for S. halepense for the applied treatments. The results obtained showed the herbicidal potential of the essential oil of A. dracunculus with a greater sensitivity of C. album compared to S. halepense. The phenylpropanoid methyl eugenol as the main component of the oil could be responsible for the phytotoxic effect, which will be tested in further experiments

Allelopathy and weed control in changing climate

Modern agriculture involves dealing with challenges from climate change, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, as well as pressure to cope with dependence on agricultural inputs with aim sustainable management of crop production and the environment. Weeds are one of the most challenging problems facing agricultural production, while modern agriculture relies heavily on synthetic herbicides for weed control. The excessive use of synthetic herbicides has contributed significantly to soil degradation, environmental pollution and adverse effects on non-target organisms and human health. Also, long-lasting exploitation of herbicides with one target site in plants has resulted in the evolution of weeds resistant to herbicides. Due to all these problems, there is a need to develop a sustainable, environmentally friendly tool for weed management. One great field for discovering new approaches for weed control is allelopathy and allelochemicals. Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon of chemical interaction between plants and this phenomenon has great potential to be used as an effective and environmentally friendly tool for weed management in agriculture. Previous studies showed that some plant species possess potent allelochemicals that have great potential to be ecofriendly bioherbicides

ZnO-nanostructured electrochemical sensor for efficient detection of glyphosate in water

Glyphosate is a widely used broad-spectrum herbicide for controlling grassy weeds, despite having potential health hazards. Herein, we report on a solid-state electrochemical sensor based on ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for on-site detection of glyphosate. Accordingly, ZnO NPs was drop-cast on the surface of a disposable screenprinted carbon electrode. Eco-friendly ZnO NPs of only 7 nm crystallite sizes were obtained by green sol-gel synthesis using lemon (Citrus limon) waste aqueous extract as the green reducing and capping/stabilizing agent and Zn nitrate precursor as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance. SEM confirmed successful electrode functionalization with the synthesized nanoparticles. Under laboratory conditions in acetate buffer (pH 5), the sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.648 μM, a wide linear detection range (0.5 μM to 7.5 mM), and a rapid detection time of 30 min. When tested in river water, the sensor achieved a detection limit of 0.96 μM using differential pulse voltammetry. It also exceptionally tolerated interference from similar organophosphorus compounds and ions commonly found in river water. The excellent detection performance of the sensor was attributed to the strong coordination interactions between Zn atoms and phosphonate/ carboxylate groups that are enhanced by a hydrogen bond at acidic pH, as determined by chemical calculations. This disposable sensor offers a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for monitoring glyphosate in water systems

Discovering Ecological Interactions Between Biocontrol Bacterial Strains and Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Button Mushroom Production

The substrate for button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation includes a highly complex microbiome. The aim of the study was to evaluate ecological inter- actions (synergistic, antagonistic, or additive) between a commercial population of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae (EPN) and beneficial microorganisms, bac- terium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B-241 (BA) or actinobacterium Streptomyces flavovirens A06 (SF). Their relationships were evaluated in efficacy against the pathogenic fungus Trichoderma aggressivum and the fungus gnat Lycoriella ingenua. Moreover, their impact on mushroom yield was estimated. The synergy factor was calculated as the ratio of observed to expected values regarding their efficacy against T. aggressivum/L. ingenua and influence on mushroom production. Additive relationships in efficacy against T. aggressivum were observed between EPN and BA or SF. As for the impact on yield, synergistic interactions were indicated between each beneficial microorganism and EPN. Considering suppression of L. ingenua, a mild antagonistic reaction between EPN and each beneficial microorganism was observed in plots without T. aggressivum and additive in plots inoculated with the pathogenic fungus, although high efficacy was achieved in all combinations (>80%). Tested native strains of both beneficial microorganisms could be combined with the commercial EPN strain for successful biological pest and disease control in mushroom productio

Diversity and patulin production of Penicillium spp. associated with apple blue mold in Serbia

Apple blue mold, caused by the Penicillium species, is a significant postharvest disease, leading to food loss and impacting food safety due to mycotoxin contamination. This study aimed to identify the Penicillium species associated with apple blue mold in Serbia, assess their pathogenicity, and evaluate their patulin production potential. A total of 70 Penicillium isolates were collected from symptomatic apple fruit and identified as P. expansum (92.9%), P. crustosum (4.3%), P. solitum (1.4%), and P. chrysogenum (1.4%). The pathogenicity assay revealed P. expansum strains as the most virulent. Molecular detection of msas gene and HPLC analysis confirmed patulin production exclusively in P. expansum isolates. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) grouped P. expansum strains in two distinctive clusters, while P. crustosum strains clustered separately with P. solitum and P. chrysogenum, yet in distinct positions. This is the first report of P. solitum and P. chrysogenum as causal agents of apple blue mold in Serbia. The results of the study provide insights that might be useful in the development of effective control strategies for apple blue mold, ensuring consumption of healthy and safe apple fruit and apple-based products