Introduction of certification program in production of plum planting material

Certification program for the production of fruit planting material has not been fully established in the Republic of Serbia. Despite this fact, Fruit Research Institute, Čačak has initiated the introduction of certification into the production of plum planting material of cultivars developed at the Institute. The main goal is to establish plum mother plantations with basic material satisfying the EPPO recommendations and national certification standards.Propagated material from pomologically selected trees in commercial and experimental orchards was collected and grafted onto virus-free Myrobalan rootstock. Candidate clones are kept in screen house which ensure absence of infection. Fifteen plum (Prunus domestica) cultivars are included in this study: ‘Čačanska Lepotica’, ‘Čačanska Rodna’, ‘Čačanska Najbolja’, ‘Čačanska Rana’, ‘Valjevka’, ‘Valerija’, ‘Čačanski Šećer’, ‘Jelica’, ‘Timočanka’, ‘Boranka’, ‘Mildora’, ‘Krina’, ‘Pozna Plava’, ‘Požegača’, ‘Stanley’, and perspective hybrid 14/21.All tests were done according to the EPPO recommendations. Selected clones were tested on woody indicators Prunus tomentosa, P. persica and P. serrulata cv. Shirofugen. ELISA test was duly performed for the detection of the following viruses: Plum pox virus, Prune dwarf virus, Prunus necrotic ringspot virus, Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus, Apple mosaic virus and Myrobalan latent ringspot virus. To increase the sensitivity of Plum pox virus detection, IC-RTPCR was used. The material was also tested for the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum’ by nested-PCR method.The presence of viruses was found in 8 plants. ELISA test revealed that four plants of cv. ‘Jelica’ were found to be positive on the presence of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus. Latent infection with Plum pox virus was detected by IC-RTPCR in 4 candidate clones (1 plant of each of cvs ‘Valerija’, ‘Čačanska Rodna’, ‘Čačanska Lepotica’ and ‘Požegača’). The rest of the material was free of all other viruses. The infection with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum’ was not evidenced in any of the tested plants.Keywords: certification, plum, viruses, phytoplasma

Health status of pome and stone fruit planting material imported to Serbia

We summarize results of the analysis of pome and stone fruit planting material to be imported to Serbia for the presence of quarantine and economically important viruses and phytoplasmas. The analysis was conducted 2004 – 2009 whereby, in compliance with the phytosanitary law regulations of the Republic of Serbia, officially inspected samples were subjected to the examination. During the period, a total of 325 samples were analyzed, i.e. 89 rootstock samples, 215 samples of different pome and stone fruit varieties, and 21 samples of stone fruit seed. The obtained results reveal that 5 samples were infected with viruses. Apple chlorotic leafspot virus was found in one sample of apple budwood, Prune dwarf virus was detected in Prunus avium L. seedlings, Plum pox virus was confirmed in 2 plum budwood samples, and Apple mosaic virus was also found in one sample of apple budwood. Keywords: Pome fruits, stone fruits, planting material, seed, viruses, phytoplasma

The Process of Mergers And Acquisitions – a Way For Higher Concentration in the Banking Sector

Serbia has started transition of its financial system in 2000 and until 2008 the first phase of transition is finished. The national financial system became of bancocentric character, with very week insurance, leasing,innovative institutions, funds and financial markets. The main step ahead made banking system, whichrecovered credit and saving functions, with high capitalization, high interest rates and interest margins,but with low efficiency and low level of its concentration. If look at the process of mergers and acquisition in Serbian banking system one can recognized two episodes. The first wave of mergers was happened in 2005-2006, when more than one dozen of banks changed ownership structure, both state owned and private ones. As a result of this first wave the ownership structure of banking sector became completely different with three fourth of banks in foreign hands, like in other transitory economies. Although the transition of all banks is not finished before the Global economic crisis came, and a lot of economists expected the new wave of mergers and acquisition, the crisis phase was rather not seen as right time for doing this. With general economic recovery started in 2015 it seems that there were some steps forward in this regard. Some banks left the national market because of their own problems (Greek, Belgian, French), some banks were lost their licenses. In recent period several banks were acquired and it seems that the general picture is changed, with 20 banks all in all, with increasing concentration of the sector. One has to be aware of still high potential of national banking system for development. In other words, total volume of bank’s crediting is still on the low level, measuring their share in GDP. Although the national banking system became profitable from 2005 on, the profitability is still low. Total capital of banks is also too low, and on the microeconomic level (considering a bank as a single company) the capital of average bank is too small by international standards. It is also worth noting that banks during last several years considerably lowered the share of nonperforming loans, NPLs, due to measures introduced by the Central bank and by its own. The share of NPLs in the total portfolio of Serbian banks is now even lower than in comparison to the pre- crisis period. In the future firstly, there is a need for further concentration of the national banking system. Secondly, considering a banco-centric character of the national financial system there is a room for additional changings, which the Central bank as the main regulator can introduce. A process of liberalization of banking system is one of the important issues, as it is necessary to open room for new players, like micro credit institutions and saving companies and cooperatives, and especially for new innovative hi-tech institutions. The aim of the paper is threefold. Firstly, to measure the level of concentration of the national banking system, with intention to point a need for further process of mergers and acquisitions. Secondly, to point differences in two waves of M&E, which produces sharp discrepancies in the prices of acquired banks. Thirdly, to suggest further necessary market reforms in the national financial system. The paper is based on the results of the process of mergers and acquisitions of banks in Serbia with reference to the period since 2000, both in the period before and after Covid-19. During the pandemic (2019-2021) and after, larger banks increased the level of liquidity and decreased the level of credit activity compared to smaller banks operating in Serbia. Nevertheless, the profitability of larger banks in Serbia remained at a high level compared to smaller banks. Larger banks in the pre- and post-pandemic period achieve higher rates of return on capital compared to smaller competitors. In the same period, larger banks reduced the share of capital in the balance sheet, but within limits that do not threaten the stability of the banking sector. Also, large banks have opportunities when it comes to reducing costs, through digitalization, and achieve higher rates of profitability, but also lower passive interest rate

Electronic Ceramic Structure within the Voronoi Cells Model and Microstructure Fractals Contacts Surfaces New Frontier Applications

In this study, in order to establish grain shapes of sintered ceramics, new approach on correlation between microstructure and doped BaTiO3 -ceramics properties based, on Voronoi model and mathematical statistics calculations on fractal geometry, has been developed. BaTiO3-ceramics doped with Yb2O3 (from 0.1 to 1.0wt% of Yb) were prepared by using conventional solid state procedure and were sintered from 1320 degrees C to 1380 degrees C for four hours. The microstructure of sintered specimens was investigated by Scanning electron microscope JEOL-SEM-5300. For better and deeper characterization and understanding of the ceramics material microstructure, the methods which include the fractal nature structure, and also Voronoi model and mathematical statistics calculations, are applied. In our research the Voronoi is one specific interface between fractal structure nature and different stochastically contact surfaces, defined by statistical mathematical methods. Also, the Voronoi model practically provided possibility to control the ceramics microstructure fractal nature. Mathematical statistic methods enabled establishing the real model for the prognosis based on correlation: synthesis-structures-properties

Microelectronics miniaturization and fractal electronic frontiers

The intergrain ceramic structures are very complex and difficult to describe by using traditional analytical methods. In this study, in order to establish grain shapes of sintered ceramics, new approach on correlation between microstructure and properties of doped BaTiO3 -ceramics based on fractal geometry has been developed. BaTiO3 ceramics doped with CeO2, Bi2O3, Fe2O3, CaZrO3 Nb2O5, MnCO3 , La2O3, Er2O3, Yb2O3 and Ho2O3, were prepared using conventional solid state procedure and sintered at 1350°C. The sintered specimens microstructure was investigated by SEM-5300 and capacitance has been done using LCR-metra Agilent 4284A. The fractal modeling method using a reconstruction of microstructure configurations, like grains or intergranular contacts shapes has been successfully done. Furthermore, the area of grains surface was calculated by using fractal correction which expresses the grains surface irregularity through fractal dimension. For better and deeper the ceramics material microstructure characterization the Voronoi model and mathematical statistics calculations, are applied, also. The fractal nature for ceramics structure analysis providing a new ideas for modeling the grain shape and relations between the BaTiO3 ceramic structure and dielectrical properties and new frontier for higher integration on electronic circuits. The presented results indicate that fractal method for structure ceramics analysis creates a new approach for describing, predicting and modeling the grain shape and relations between the BaTiO3 -ceramic structure and dielectric and generally electric and microelectronics properties

Morphological description and molecular detection of Pestalotiopsis sp on hazelnut in Serbia

In autumn 2015, hazelnut plants with leaf blight symptoms were noticed in a commercial plantation in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Symptomatic samples were collected and submitted to laboratory analysis. Based on morphological characterization, the fungus isolated from the material was initially identified as Pestalotiopsis sp. Pathogenicity tests showed that two selected isolates infected hazelnut leaves and fruits that developed symptoms after artificial inoculation. The pathogen was re-isolated from diseased leaves and fruits, confirming Koch's postulates. Molecular identification was performed with sequence and phylogenetic analysis of ITS, EF1-alpha, and TUB genomic regions. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the results of the morphological identification. The detection of Pestalotiopsis sp., a causal agent of leaf blight on hazelnut in Serbia, is one of a few reports of these pathogenic fungi on hazelnut

Generalized Lorentz model description-Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative approach, of electrical, dielectric, conductive and magnetic processes in materials

In this study, generalized Lorentz model is basic one-particle model in the framework of dielectric, conductive and/or magnetic responses of materials. AC conductivity studies of various BaTiO3 or similar ceramics produced equivalent circuits with impedance spectra, usually within the framework of RCPE elements serial connection (CPE - constant phase element) or Cole element. This element, in the generalized Lorentz model, corresponds to Caputo fractional derivative, who, as operator, contains a singular integral kernel in itself. However, in the literature, fractional derivatives with a non singular integral kernels have recently emerged. One of them is a Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative. In this work, physical basics and all three behaviors (dielectric, conductive and magnetic) of materials and their relationships are considered in the case of electric or magnetic alternate fields, which are the tools for experimental measurements

Seasonal variations of microbiological parameters of water quality of the Velika Morava river Serbia

In this study, we investigated the level of sanitary pollution and organic contamination of the Velika Morava River, the largest river in central Serbia. Samples of water for microbiological analysis were collected at 5 sites, monthly, from April 2010 to February 2011. Sanitary analysis, i.e. enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci, indicated moderate to critical fecal contamination, while organic load assessment (oligotroph to heterotroph ratio, index of phosphatase activity) revealed the category of moderately polluted water. We also investigated seasonal variations of these groups of bacteria and the factors that could contribute to these differences. Our results showed that the micro- biological quality of the water in the Velika Morava River during different seasons is affected by numerous factors such as unequal loading of wastewaters, solar irradiation, and relations of flow/dilution and rainfall/runoff. [Acknowledgments. This study was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia: projects No 173025, No 177045 and No 043002.

Prirodna mikobiota i prisustvo aflatoksina B1 u polenu prikupljenom u Srbiji

Total fungal count, incidence of fungi and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentration were studied in 33 samples of bee pollen randomly collected from beekeepers in Serbia. The total number of fungi was determined by dilution method whereas AFB1 was detected using the Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The mycological estimation showed the presence of nine genera of fungi as followed: Acremonium, Alternaría, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Epiccocum, Fusarium, Mucor, Pénicillium and Rhizopus, with total number ranging from 1 x 103 to 1 x 105 CFU g-1. The results have shown the predominance of the fungi from the genera Aspergillus and Alternaria. Among Aspergillus species it was observed that the most frequent species was A. flavus with incidence of 27.27 %. Mycotoxin AFB1 was detected as 100% positive in all samples (100%) with an average concentration of 8.61 μg kg-1. The obtained results indicated that honey bee pollen must be strictly controlled during its manipulation in the harvesting and manufacturing. Therefore, the implementation of good manufacturing (beekeeping) practice to define procedures for honeybee products could be crucial to reduce the risk of possible contamination and provide natural and safety product without risk on the human health.Ukupan broj gljiva, učestalost (incidenca) gljiva i koncentracija aflatoksina B1 (AFB1) ispitivani su u 33 uzoraka polena sakupljenih od pčelara iz različitih regiona u Srbiji. Ukupan broj gljiva određen je primenom metode razređenja a AFB1 je određen primenom imunoadsorpcione enzimske metode (ELISA). Mikološkim ispitivanjima identifikovano je devet rodova gljiva: Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Epiccocum, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium i Rhizopus, sa ukupnim brojem od 1 x 103 to 1 x 105 CFU g-1. Najučestalije vrste gljiva su u rodovima Aspergillus i Alternaria. Među Aspergillus vrstama najučestalija je vrsta A. flavus sa incidencom od 27,27%. AFB1 je detektovan u svim uzorcima sa prosečnom koncentracijom od 8,61 μg kg-1. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da pčelarski polen mora biti strogo kontrolisan tokom prikupljanja i njegove dalje prerade. Zbog toga, sprovođenje dobre proizvođačke (pčelarske) prakse podrazumeva definisanje procedura za pčelarske proizvode što bi moglo biti presudno za smanjenje rizika od moguće kontaminacije i dobijanje prirodnih i bezbednih proizvoda bez rizika po zdravlje ljudi