Results of studies on plant health in organic cultivation on the background of other farming systems

Investigations concerned effect of organic and other farming systems on cereal health status. Research material were roots, stem bases, leaves, ears and harvested grain of winter wheat and spring barley. Results showed lower health of spring barley in organic system, while this farming system did not affect winter wheat negatively. Fusarium spp. were prevalent among pathogens of winter wheat in all systems and in the case of spring barley - in integrated and conventional system. The exception was organically grown barley where Bipolaris sorokiniana dominated. Alternative seed treatment methods used in these studies did not limit growth of B. sorokiniana considerably, but some tendencies to lower incidence of this species on barley seedlings were noted. Antagonistic strain of Trichoderma viride did not show advantageous effect as biological seed treatment agent

Biscogniauxia Charcoal Canker—A New Potential Threat for Mid-European Forests as an Effect of Climate Change

Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze is a fungus which induces strip-cankers on beech, commonly referred to as charcoal canker. The symptoms of infection are visible on the host tree’s bark as elongated, blackish bark lesions on the trunk and branches. Recent years have shown that, due to climate change causing local epidemics, the species is increasing its economic impact in Mediterranean regions. Until recently, B. nummularia was considered rare and uncommon in central Europe. However, in the last few years it has been noticed more often, mostly in coniferous trees, which are out of B. nummularia’s host range. A similar situation has been observed with the closely related species Biscogniauxia mediterranea (De Not.) Kuntze, which prior to 2017 had not been observed in central Europe at all. This study shows the genetic diversity of mid-European strains of Biscogniauxia spp. (based on the ITS, TEF1, TUB2 and ACT regions) and, as the first in Europe, presents a molecular investigation of this species isolated from coniferous trees. It is also the first attempt at estimating the potential impact of this pathogenic fungus on European forestry management in the close future

Is the Survivability of Silver Fir under Condition of Strong Ungulate Pressure Related to Mycobiota of Bark-Stripping Wounds?

The aim of the research was to check whether the healing of bark-stripping wounds of the silver fir tree trunks reduces the share of wood-decomposing fungi, which may be the result of inter-species interactions. The study carried out in Gorce National Park in Polish Western Carpathians analyzed drill holes of sapwood from three types of wounds (fresh, healed and old) on fir trunks with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 4.0–16.9 cm as a result of bark-stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus). In the wood of fresh wounds Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. and Arthrinium arundinis (Corda) Dyko & B. Sutton had the largest share in mycobiota. Phompsis spp. and the species Sydowia polyspora (Bref. & Tavel) E. Müll. and Epicoccum nigrum Link were also isolated. The dominants in old wounds were Eutypa spp., Phomopsis spp. and Cylindrobasidium evolvens (Fr.) Jülich. Healed wounds were dominated by Trichoderma atroviride P. Karst, a fungus antagonistic to many fungal pathogens. Such properties are shared by A. arundinis, especially common in fresh wound wood. It seems that these fungi support the process of wounded tree regeneration (healing of wounds) and limit the activity of wood-decaying fungi in old age, which makes fir survival very high. Thus, even a strong red deer pressure cannot be considered the basic factor determining the dynamics of fir in this part of the Carpathians

Development of a Highly Sensitive FcMito qPCR Assay for the Quantification of the Toxigenic Fungal Plant Pathogen Fusarium culmorum

Fusarium culmorum is a ubiquitous, soil-borne fungus (ascomycete) causing foot and root rot and Fusarium head blight on cereals. It is responsible for yield and quality losses as well as grain contamination with mycotoxins, which are a potential health hazard. An extremely sensitive mitochondrial-based qPCR assay (FcMito qPCR) for quantification of F. culmorum was developed in this study. To provide specificity, the FcMito assay was successfully validated against 85 F. culmorum strains and 53 isolates of 30 other fungal species. The assay efficiency and sensitivity were evaluated against different F. culmorum strains with various amounts of pure fungal DNA and in the presence of background wheat DNA. The results demonstrated the high efficiency of the assay (97.2–106.0%, R2-values > 0.99). It was also shown that, in the presence of background DNA, 0.01 pg of fungal template could be reliably quantified. The FcMito assay was used to quantify F. culmorum DNA using 108 grain samples with different trichothecene levels. A significant positive correlation was found between fungal DNA quantity and the total trichothecene content. The obtained results showed that the sensitivity of the FcMito assay was much higher than the nuclear-based qPCR assay for F. culmorum

Can Cold Plasma Be Used for Boosting Plant Growth and Plant Protection in Sustainable Plant Production?

Sustainable agriculture with low inputs of chemicals and fertilizers has been recently attracting more attention from producers and researchers in the EU. The main reason for such attention is The European Green Deal—the EU’s latest growth strategy concerning environmental degradation and climate change. One of its main components is the Farm to Fork strategy, which especially features the reduction in pesticide and mineral fertilizer application and also supports the development of organic farming. At the same time, food demand is rising. These ambitious challenges require extensive research, development and innovation. Therefore, new non-chemical techniques for improving plant growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses must be explored for their potential in this field. One of the most promising is the use of non-thermal plasma for such purposes. As this physical factor is a complex mixture of ions, atoms, electrons, radicals and molecules, its effect on plants and pathogens is also complex. This review presents different aspects of the effect of non-thermal plasma on seed germination, development of seedlings, plants and pathogens. The literature was explored to provide evidence for the possible use of non-thermal plasma for boosting plant growth and plant protection

Can Cold Plasma Be Used for Boosting Plant Growth and Plant Protection in Sustainable Plant Production?

Sustainable agriculture with low inputs of chemicals and fertilizers has been recently attracting more attention from producers and researchers in the EU. The main reason for such attention is The European Green Deal—the EU’s latest growth strategy concerning environmental degradation and climate change. One of its main components is the Farm to Fork strategy, which especially features the reduction in pesticide and mineral fertilizer application and also supports the development of organic farming. At the same time, food demand is rising. These ambitious challenges require extensive research, development and innovation. Therefore, new non-chemical techniques for improving plant growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses must be explored for their potential in this field. One of the most promising is the use of non-thermal plasma for such purposes. As this physical factor is a complex mixture of ions, atoms, electrons, radicals and molecules, its effect on plants and pathogens is also complex. This review presents different aspects of the effect of non-thermal plasma on seed germination, development of seedlings, plants and pathogens. The literature was explored to provide evidence for the possible use of non-thermal plasma for boosting plant growth and plant protection

Simultaneous selection for yield-related traits and susceptibility to Fusarium head blight in spring wheat RIL population

Neuropatija peronealnog živca je jedna od češćih kompresivnih mononeuropatija tijekom koje su pogođene podjednako i mlađa i starija populacija. Najčešće nastaje kao posljedica kompresije živca zbog pretjerane imobilizacije ili direktne traume živca tijekom fraktura. Fizikalna terapija ima glavnu ulogu u liječenju pareze peroneusa. Stoga, cilj ovog rada je prikazati cjelokupni rehabilitacijski proces kod pacijenata sa dijagnozom periferne pareze ili plegije nervusa peroneusa. Da bismo prikazali dobrobiti rehabilitacije provedena su ispitivanja na pacijentima sa navedenom dijagnozom. Metode koje su korištene se temelje na testovima procjene mišićne snage i obujma ekstremiteta. Nakon deset dana primjene različitih fizioterapijskih postupaka došlo je do povećanja mišićne snage i poboljšanja funkcionalnih sposobnosti. Iako je istraživanje provedeno kroz kraći vremenski period pozitivni rezultati su svakako vidljivi. Na temelju toga možemo donijeti zaključak da procedure fizikalne terapije poput intenzivnih vježbi snaženja mišića i elektroterapijskih tehnika vode k postupnom oporavku osoba sa peronealnom neuropatijom.Neuropathy of the peroneal nerve is one of the more frequent compressive mononeuropathy during which both equaly younger and older population are affected. It is most commonly caused as a result of nerve compression due to excessive immobilization or direct nerve trauma during the fracture. Physical therapy has the main role in the treatment of peroneal paresis. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to present the complete rehabilitation process in patients with peripheral paresis or plegia of peroneal nerve. In order to demonstrate the benefits of rehabilitation, tests have been carried out on patients with the above mentioned diagnosis. The methods that have been used are based on muscle strength and limb volume assessment. After ten days of application of various physiotherapeutic procedures, there was an increase of muscle strength and improvement of functional abilities. Although research has been carried out over a shorter period of time, positive results are certainly apparent. Based on this we can conclude that physical therapy procedures such as intense muscle strength training and electrotherapy techniques lead to gradual recovery of people with peroneal neuropathy