Variability, heritability and correlations of some factors affecting productivity in peach

Factors affecting productivity in peach, such as flower density, initial and final fruit set by open pollination, and yield per m length of shoot were studied in 40 cultivars during a three-year period. Significant differences among cultivars were found for all studied properties. The coefficients of variability were the lowest for initial fruit set and then for final fruit set and flower density; while they were the highest for yield. The relatively high values of heritability were found for flower density and yield. Significant correlation coefficients were found between initial and final fruit set, flower density and yield, as well as between final fruit set and yield. In areas with a higher risk of freeze damage the cultivars characterized by higher flower density and fruit set should be grown because they can provide more consistent yield potential. At the same time, these cultivars require more intensive pruning and fruit thinning to achieve quality fruit

The impact of land use changes on soil erosion in the river basin of miocki potok, montenegro

Land use change in all river basins leads to changes in hydrologic response, soil erosion, and sediment dynamics characteristics. Those changes are often viewed as the main cause of accelerated erosion rates. We studied the impact of land use changes on soil erosion processes in one of the watersheds in Montenegro: the Miocki Potok, using this watershed as a pilot river basin for this area. We simulated responses of soil erosion processes by using a process-oriented soil erosion Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) model, with different settings of land use for the years 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. The model provides fast, effective, and affordable insight into the effects of land use change on soil erosion processes. Testing of the applied procedures was important for the further establishment of watershed management methodologies at the national level, for the other 300 river basins of Montenegro. For the current state of land use, calculated peak discharge for the Miocki Potok was 364 m3 s−1 (2020)–372 m3 s−1 (1970) for the incidence of 100 years, and there is a possibility for large flood waves to appear in the studied basin. Real soil losses, Gyear, were calculated at 13680 m3 year−1 (2020) and specific 333 m3 km−2 year−1 (2020). A Z coefficient value of 0.439 (2020) indicated that the river basin belongs to destruction category III. The strength of the erosion process was medium, and according to the erosion type, it was mixed erosion. According to our analysis, the land use changes in the last 50 years influenced a decrease in the soil erosion intensity for 14% in the Miocki Potok River Basin. Further studies should be focused on the detailed analysis of the land use changes trends with the other river basins at the national level, closely following responses of soil erosion to the changed land use structure, and effects of plant-and-soil interaction on soil erosion and sediment dynamics

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (April, 2014)

According to reports, the following 16 species have extended their distribution to other Mediterranean areas or have made a new appearance in other regions. The first category includes the following organisms: The rare and common Indo-Pacific seaweed Codium arabicum (Lebanese coasts), the acari Thalassarachna affinis (Marmara Sea), and the non-indigenous nudibranch Flabellina rubrolineata, which has also been found in many other areas of the Aegean Sea. In addition, the rare sea slug Thecacera pennigera (Piccolo of Taranto), the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina (National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Ionian Sea), the carangid Seriola fasciata (Gulf of Antalya), Lagocephalus sceleratus (SE. Ionian Sea), the reticulated leatherjacket Stephanolepis diaspros (Slovenia, N. Adriatic Sea), the marbled stingray, Dasyatis marmorata (NE Levantine), the starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias (Iskenderun Bay, NE Mediterranean), the cephalopod Ommastrephes bartramii (Ionian Sea) have also been reported. The Atlantic crab Dyspanopeus sayi has expanded to many Italian areas and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus to a lake in N. Greece and in the S. Adriatic Sea. Finally, Farfantepenaeus aztecus has been found in the Ionian Sea, thus showing its wide expansion in the Mediterranean. The larval stages of Faccionella oxyrhyncha have been found, after many years, in the Aegean Sea and the first report of an existence on intersexual acari Litarachna duboscqi in Split(Adriatic Sea) was reported

New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 15

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungus Geastrum morganii, Guignardia istriaca and Hypoxylon howeanum, mycorrhizal fungus Amanita friabilis and Suillus americanus, xanthophyte Vaucheria frigida, stonewort Chara hispida, liverwort Calypogeia integristipula and Ricciocarpus natans, moss Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum transsylvanicum, Tortella pseudofragilis and Trematodon ambiguus, fern Ophioglossum vulgatum subsp. vulgatum, monocots Epipactis exilis, Epipactis purpurata and Epipogium aphyllum and dicots Callitriche cophocarpa, Cornus sanguinea subsp. hungarica and Viscum album subsp. austriacum are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions

THE INFLUENCE OF THE TREE FORM AND CROP LOAD ON PEACH TREE GROWTH, BEGINNING OF CROPPING AND FRUIT QUALITY

Three different tree forms with four different crop load were studied in peach 'Royal Glory'. Trees were grafted on peach seedling and planted as "sleeping eyes" in 2006. Planting spacing was 4 m between the rows and 2 m in the row (1250 trees/ha). The following tree forms were made: 1) 'Perpendicular Y' with two scaffolds orientated transversally to the row direction, 2) 'Parallel Y' with two scaffolds oriented in the row direction and 3) 'slender spindle' with one axis. Each of the tree forms had the following crop load: one fruit per cm(2) trunk cross sectional area (TCA), two fruits per cm(2) TCA, three fruits per cm(2) TCA and four fruits per cm(2) TCA. Cropping started in 2008 (third leaf). The lowest yield per hectare and fruit weight were recorded in the trees grown in 'Parallel Y', while the highest yield and fruit weight were obtained by slender spindle trees. The latter was not significantly different from 'Perpendicular Y'. 'Slender spindle' also had the highest vegetative growth, expressed through annual increase in TCA, so tree shape did not have an influence on the index of productivity. In all tree forms, yield increased together with crop load, while the fruit weight decreased with crop load. Tree crop load influenced the time of ripening. It was observed that the fruits on trees which had one or two fruits per cm(2) TCA ripened earlier, so the optimal harvest period was shorter. The examined factors did produce a significant effect on soluble solids and total acid concentration in the fruit juice

The Influence of the Tree Form and Crop Load on Peach Tree Growth, Beginning of Cropping and Fruit Quality

Three different tree forms with four different crop load were studied in peach 'Royal Glory'. Trees were grafted on peach seedling and planted as "sleeping eyes" in 2006. Planting spacing was 4 m between the rows and 2 m in the row (1250 trees/ha). The following tree forms were made: 1) 'Perpendicular Y' with two scaffolds orientated transversally to the row direction, 2) 'Parallel Y' with two scaffolds oriented in the row direction and 3) 'slender spindle' with one axis. Each of the tree forms had the following crop load: one fruit per cm(2) trunk cross sectional area (TCA), two fruits per cm(2) TCA, three fruits per cm(2) TCA and four fruits per cm(2) TCA. Cropping started in 2008 (third leaf). The lowest yield per hectare and fruit weight were recorded in the trees grown in 'Parallel Y', while the highest yield and fruit weight were obtained by slender spindle trees. The latter was not significantly different from 'Perpendicular Y'. 'Slender spindle' also had the highest vegetative growth, expressed through annual increase in TCA, so tree shape did not have an influence on the index of productivity. In all tree forms, yield increased together with crop load, while the fruit weight decreased with crop load. Tree crop load influenced the time of ripening. It was observed that the fruits on trees which had one or two fruits per cm(2) TCA ripened earlier, so the optimal harvest period was shorter. The examined factors did produce a significant effect on soluble solids and total acid concentration in the fruit juice

Adaptive Filtering based on Recurrent Neural Networks

Abstract — Kalman filter is an optimal filtering solution in certain cases, however, it is more often than not, regarded as a non-robust filter. The slight mismatch in noise statistics or process model may lead to large performance deterioration and the loss of optimality. This research paper proposes an alternative method for robust adaptive filtering concerning lack of information of noise statistics. The method is based on the application of recurrent neural networks trained by a dynamic identity observer. The method is explained in details and tested in the case analysis of object tracking model. Performance evaluation is made for cases of the standard Kalman filter, a noise-adaptive Kalman filter, the adaptive filter with a recurrent neural network trained by a static identity observer, and the adaptive filter with recurrent neural network trained by a dynamic identity observer. The results for different noise statistics as well as noise statistics mismatches are compared and presented. It is shown that in cases with a lack of knowledge of the noise statistics it is beneficial to use the filtering method proposed in this research work. I

IMPROVEMENT OF APRICOT CULTIVAR ASSORTMENT IN SERBIA

In order to improve the apricot cultivar assortment in Serbia the work has been conducted in two directions. The first one is the creation of new domestic cultivars, and the second one is the introduction of foreign cultivars. Nine new apricot cultivars have been released in Serbia so far: 'Cacansko zlato', 'Cacanska pljosnata', 'Vera', 'Biljana', 'Aleksandar', 'NS-4', 'NS-6', 'Novosadska rodna', and 'Novosadska kasnocvetna'. This paper presents the most important properties of these cultivars, as well as the best introduced apricot cultivars. Of all Serbian apricot cultivars, 'Novosadska rodna' and 'NS-4' have shown the best characteristics. These cultivars start to spread in the commercial plantings, especially in the northern part of Serbia (Vojvodina). At the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade, the properties of 75 introduced apricot cultivars were studied in the period of 1996-2005. The best results in the group of early maturing cultivars were manifested by 'Harcot', in the group of medium-late maturing cultivars by 'Ligeti Orias' and 'Kostjuzhenskyi', and in the group of late maturing cultivars by 'Roxana' and 'Silistrenska Kompotna'. In the period after 2005, more than 100 new apricot cultivars were introduced. Among them, the following cultivars were singled out as promising: 'Aurora', 'Tomcot', 'Legolda', 'Pincot', 'Laycot', 'Sylred', 'Goldrich', 'Silvercot', 'Harrow Star', and 'Bergarouge'. In addition to pomological properties, self-(in) compatibility of apricot cultivars was also studied by means of fluorescence microscopy. All Serbian cultivars were self-compatible, while most of the introduced cultivars were self-incompatible