THREE MAIN PATHOGENS THAT AFFECT APPLES DURING STORAGE AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON FRUITS QUALITY

The postharvest pathogens that infect apples during storage period affect fruits quality and lead to important economic losses worldwide every year. Three appreciated apple varieties (Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Starkimson) have been evaluated for the incidence of main storage pathogens that operate in fruits (Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia fructigena) and their impact on fruits quality. The results emphasized negative correlation between water content and dry matter for all apple varieties affected by storage pathogens. Despite the fact that were not significant differences between apple varieties, Golden Delicious has been recorded the lowest water content (74,62% for fruits affected by Penicillium expansum, 77,87% for fruits affected by Botrytis cinerea and 74,68% for fruits affected by Monilinia fructigena) and highest dry matter (24,63% for fruits affected by Penicillium expansum, 25,38% for fruits affected by Botrytis cinerea and 21,86% for fruits affected by Monilinia fructigena). Potassium and Phosphorus content decreased, while Iron content increased for all apple varieties affected by pathogens. The sugar content decreased with almost 20% for apple fruits, the lowest values for all varieties have been recorded in case of Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia fructigena attack. The highest raw protein values have been determined to all apple varieties affected by Monilinia fructigena (Golden Delicious 0,69g, Jonathan 0,89g and Starkimson 0,52g). The study revealed that apple quality during storage depends on the variety susceptibility, postharvest fruit health, fruit mineral composition, fungal inoculum and storage conditions

EFFECTS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN ABIOTIC STRESS AND PATHOGENS IN CEREALS IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW

The scenario that climate change will lead to higher incidence of crop diseases, following geographical distribution of the host and cropping technology, suggests that can be positive, negative or neutral depending of multiple interactions between host, pathogens and abiotic stress factors. Both plants and pathogens are constantly threatened by abiotic stress factors such as high temperature, moisture, drought, salinity, soil pH, greenhouse gases, Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation and air pollutants. Currently the research focused on this topic is inconsistent therefore these interactions are poorly understood. In the process of adaptation to these adverse conditions, it is expected that abiotic stress factors impact pathogens into a wide range of responses such as changes in life cycles (pathogen reproduction – shorter incubation -, dispersal, survival and activity), increased incidence, modified pathogenicity, genetically recombination and aggressiveness traits.  The present review is focused particularly on the impact of abiotic stress factors on cereals pathogens and all changes in their life cycles and host-pathogen interaction associated with under climate change conditions. However, our study suggest that a better understanding of interaction between pathogens and abiotic stress factors can be an important mechanism to estimate disease risk on a large scale and to introduce new understandings in developing management strategies

PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF MAIZE AND SORGHUM CROPS IN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF IALOMITA COUNTY

Three conventional tillage methods combined with two fertilizing levels werecompared using two different maize and sorghum hybrids in terms of yields and quality yields parameters (test weight and 1000-kernel weight). Autumn plow and N120P70 fertilizing treatment determined the higher yields and quality parameters values for both maize and sorghum. Fertilizing treatment with N120P70 lead to significant yield increases with 11-19 q/ha for maize and 8 q/ha for sorghum. On three years average the best yield results were recorded by Partizan (maize hybrid) and Fundulea 21 (sorghum

INTEGRATED DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT, A SUSTAINABLE OPTION FOR WHEAT GROWERS WORLDWIDE

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) worldwide, mainly caused by Fusariumgraminearum-telemorphGibberellazeae – leading to important yield losses, reduced seed quality and accumulation of mycotoxins such as Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Nivalenol (NIV) which are injurious to both human and animal health. Management of FHB and the associated mycotoxins have not been achieved by any single control measure. An integrated approach which includes resistant varieties, chemical and biological control and cultural control measures is critical to obtain the most efficient FHB management. The use of resistant varieties is very much welcomed by resource-poor farmers because it does not require additional cost and is environment-friendly

GENETIC AND CHEMICAL APPROACHES TO MANAGE RYE LEAF RUST (PUCCINIA RECONDITA F.SP. SECALIS) IN NATURAL CONDITIONS FROM MARGINAL AREAS

Pathogens and pests are predicted to spread to areas where they were previously irrelevant due to climate change and human-induced changes, posing new management issues for crops, especially in cropping systems based on minimal cereal crop diversification. In temperate areas of Central and Eastern Europe, rye (Secale cereale) is a minor cereal that contributes to crops diversification particularly in marginal situations where soil and climate are unfavorable for wheat production. During 2021-2022 growing season, a plant–pest-pathogen interaction profile was observed on four rye genotypes (Binnto, Inspector, Serafino, Suceveana) and also was observed the effect of different chemical and biological pesticide formulations on rye leaf rust in a randomized complete block design with three replications in dry area from Research and Development Station for Plant Culture on Sands Dăbuleni in South of Romania. Among all evaluated rye genotypes the greatest resistance was noticed in Serafino that recorded the lowest AUDPC value (51,76), while the most susceptible was Suceveana genotype with AUDPC = 279,55.  The best protection against leaf rust was provided by Poliversum (the 1st assessment – attack degree = 3,23%; the 2nd assessment – attack degree = 7,56%). Negative and significant correlation of leaf rust attack degrees with grain yield (r =-0,9393***) were found during 2021-2022 cropping season

STUDY ON THE PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF AN ASSORTMENT OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE GROWN AT ARDS CARACAL

Jerusalem artichoke is a plant native to North America, having numerous features from the agronomic point of view, such high growth rate, good tolerance to frost, drought and poor soil, strong resistance to pests and plant diseases and very low requirements related the fertilizers. Usually, Jerusalem artichoke has been used for food or animal feed, but due his chemical compounds it starts to be used for the production of functional food ingredients such as inulin, oligofructose and fructose. The biomass is considered a rich source of ethanol and the production of biogas from Jerusalem artichoke is much higher compared to other energy crops. The variety is one of the main factors of technology, the cultivation of a variety should be done only after a prior test on its adaptability to natural environmental factors. In this paper we present the behavior of 4 tested variety of Jerusalem artichoke cultivated in the conditions of the argic chernozem from the Caracal Plain. The most valuable variety proved to be Olimp, which generate o biomass production of over 49 tons/ha, followed by Rareș variety with 43 tons/ha

PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF MAIZE AND SORGHUM CROPS IN NATURAL CONDITIONS FROM SOUTH AREA

Profitability is one of the most important economic parameters taken into account when it carries out an economic activity. The aim of the paper was to establishment maize and grain sorghum productivity and profitability under the influence of tillage methods on different fertilizing levels in the conditions of Ialomiţa County. Economic efficiency was evaluated using specific economic indicators (production cost, net profit and net profit rate) in terms to establish which of two crops performs better. Considering specific climatic regime sorghum showed a better tolerance than maize for water stress and high temperatures so could be further expanded in areas frequently haunted by drought. In dry years sorghum showed profit rate of 145% (Fundulea 21) comparatively with maize (127%-Partizan) in the same technological conditions. Replacing maize with sorghum is proportional to the intensity and frequent droughts in areas targeted to be cultivate

OWERVIEW ON THE MANAGEMENT OF POWDERY MILDEW IN WHEAT (BLUMERIA GRAMINIS F. SP. TRITICI D. C. SPEER) IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici) is one of the most important wheat diseases that farmers claim first in cereals field in Romania. The incidence of powdery mildew in Romania varies from year to year depends on climatic conditions, cultivar susceptibility and inoculum amount. Most of winter wheat cultivars grown in Romania are moderate resistant and sensitive to powdery mildew therefore the risk of yield losses, especially during wet springs increases significantly without proper management strategies. The highest losses occur when the disease affects flag leaf, respectively 16% when the infection affects flag leaf after heading and 25% when the infection affects flag leaf before heading. In the context of climate change which impact host-pathogen relationship one of the best strategies to control powdery mildew in Romania is chemical control applied at stem elongation stage GS39 (flag leaf blade all visible) to booting stage GS43 (flag leaf sheath visibly swollen) and GS 59 (spike completely emerged above flag leaf ligule). However, changes in plant growth and physiology resulting from higher atmospheric CO2 concentration associated with changes in temperature and precipitation conditions can affect the efficacy of systemic fungicides altering their penetration, translocation and mode of action into the plants, which can determine a new fungicide application calendar.   Â

INFLUENCE OF LATE BLIGHT (PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS) ATTACK ON NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF TOMATO

The effect of natural infection with Late Blight (Phytophthora infestrans) on chemical fruit quality on six tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) varieties (Menhir F1, Lady Rosa F1, Kilates F1, Anthalia F1, Prekos F1, Vanessa F1) was investigated in a field trial. Plants were exposed to stress produced by natural infection with P.infestans and biochemical quality parameters were analyzed as well as antioxidant activities for both treated and untreated variants. P.infestans attack on tomato was associated with lower total soluble solids and sugar content and an increased acidity. There was no significant correlation between lycopen content and pathogen attack. Antioxidant activity reflected by PPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity increased in case of pathogen`s attack