Monitoring the Macrozoobenthos of the Sasar River Basin, Based on Some Ecologic Indices

The hydrographic basin of the Sasar River is located in the North-Western part of Romania, and it totalizes 311 km2. A large part of the catchment basin is within the mining perimeter of Baia Mare; the Sasar River is its main drainage axis. Subsequent to the systematic studies of 2003-2006, 74 taxons were identified

Measures for Improving the Quality of Watercourses in the Impact Area of the Baia Mare Industrial Perimeter

The Baia Mare industrial area is located in the Baia Mare Depression (NW Romania). The main source of impact on the watercourses of the Baia Mare industrial area is the exploitation of non-ferrous ores that, over time, a number of changes generated in the environmental parameters. The main drainage axis of the above noted industrial center is formed by the Săsar River and the Firiza River. Since the response of the aquatic communities to the environmental factors best reveal the local conditions; the zoobenthos communities in 10 stations located in the Săsar basin were analyzed during 2003-2009. Contributions to improving the quality of water contaminated by the industrial effluents.    In the conditions of limiting disturbances that block the detoxification and self-purification processes, there are prerequisites for improving the quality of aquatic life

A New Source of Genetic Resistance to Potato Blight (Phytophthora infestans)

Abstract. A local potatoes selection was evaluated, under field condition, for its resistance to potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). Data obtained during 2011-2013 assessments suggest that this selection is highly resistant to potato blight (AD = 0,03%) and could be used as a source for breeding new varieties genetically resistant to this disease. Since there were no reliable data concerning the origins of this selection, it was named MB-1

Mineral Nitrogen Fertilization of Sweet Corn in Central Transylvania I. In Conventional Agricultural System

Five Romanian sweet corn hybrids (Prima, Dulcin, Estival, Deliciul verii and T145) were tested in three years (2008-2010) in three locations of Central Transylvania with obviously different soil and climatic conditions. The experiments were organized in a split-plot design in which, on a general level of organic fertilization (40 t/ha manure), four levels of mineral N fertilization were applied: N0, N50, N100 and N150. Ear yield (with and without husk) was registered each year and location and a superiority index (Pi) was computed according to the procedure suggested by Lin and Binns (1988). The shares of G and G x E effects in the total value of Pi were also computed and thus the tested hybrids were classified on the basis of their yield stability expressed by Pi index, ear yield level and the prevalence of G or G x E effects in the total value of Pi. Quite expectedly, the highest ear yields were recorded in all tested hybrids, when N100 and N150 were applied. Fertilization with N50 had no significant effects on ear yield in either hybrid. Prima cv. reacted very poorly to increasing rates on mineral N, most probably due to its earliness. Dulcin and Estival were classified as most stable and high yielding hybrids in all experimental environments while Prima showed the lowest stability of its rather poor ear yield

Influence of cadmium on the respiration intensity of Zea mays seedlings

The respiration intensity of corn seedlings treated with different concentrations of cadmium chloride was ascertained at the beginning of the experiment for a duration of three consecutive days, followed then by a new assessment in the 10th day, and the respiration intensity at the roots and at the above ground parts of corn seedlings of each experimental kind were measured in the last day of the experiment. In order to test the cadmium effect, this element was administered as a cadmium chloride water solution (CdCl2) of different concentrations. In this study it was found that the respiration intensity proportionally increases with the quantity of administered heavy metal. Comparing the results obtained subsequent to the determining of the respiration intensity of the root and above ground parts of corn seedlings it was found that the highest recorded values of the respiration intensity were obtained at the above ground parts

Taxonomic spectrum of macroinvertebrate communities in Săsar River (NW Romania)

The following article analyses the taxonomic composition of benthic macroinvertebrates in Săsar river, which flows in the North West of Romania in a highly industrialized area. According to prior studies, increased biological unbalances have been observed due to mining activities, meaning that Săsar river, out of its 31 kilometers from the spring to the flow, has 17 kilometers which are completely downgraded. According to the systematic research done between 2003-2006, 41 taxa were identified. After working with the physical-chemical monitoring data, it was noticed that the low diversity of zoobenthic communities was due to the toxic pollutants from the mining and metallurgic industries