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As a part of the SafeSeed project, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (call Prisma) among other traits, we will assess the tolerance of a up to 30 genotypes of 10 agronomically important plant species to the most important stored product pests. 39 maize genotypes of different genetic composition were included in the research. Inbred lines of standard grain type and corresponding F1 hybrids, populations of different genetic basis, biparental F2 obtained from F1 hybrids, local and introduced populations were examined. This paper presents preliminary results of morphological characterization of mentioned maize genotypes, based on kernel hardness and color. As a wide variety of material was examined, including flint and popcorn (as the hardest), dent, and maize genotypes with sugary and oily kernel type (as the softest), significant differences in the hardness and color of the kernels were recorded. As these can affect the interaction with store product pests, the tolerance level might differ among genotypes.

Astrocytes are the main homeostatic cells in the central nervous system, with the unique ability to transform from quiescent into a reactive state in response to pathological conditions by reacquiring some precursor properties. This process is known as reactive astrogliosis, a compensatory response that mediates tissue damage and recovery. Although it is well known that SOX transcription factors drive the expression of phenotype-specific genetic programs during neurodevelopment, their roles in mature astrocytes have not been studied extensively. We focused on the transcription factors SOX2 and SOX9, shown to be re-expressed in reactive astrocytes, in order to study the reactivation-related functional properties of astrocytes mediated by those proteins. We performed an initial screening of SOX2 and SOX9 expression after sensorimotor cortex ablation injury in rats and conducted gain-of-function studies in vitro using astrocytes derived from the human NT2/D1 cell line. Our results revealed the direct involvement of SOX2 in the reacquisition of proliferation in mature NT2/D1-derived astrocytes, while SOX9 overexpression increased migratory potential and glutamate uptake in these cells. Our results imply that modulation of SOX gene expression may change the functional properties of astrocytes, which holds promise for the discovery of potential therapeutic targets in the development of novel strategies for tissue regeneration and recovery.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises whenbacteria and other microbes stop respondingto medications. AMR is now recognized as oneof serious global health threats, repeatedlyappearing in the World Health Organization’s(WHO) lists of urgent global health challenges,including the 2024 list. It is taking a fatal toll– nearly 5 million deaths globally per year areassociated with AMR, encompassing 1.27 milliondirectly attributed to AMR. The COVID-19pandemic paved the way for aggravation ofbacterial AMR – primarily due to enhancementin unspecific and unjustified prescription anduse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, resulting inwhat is now recognized as „silent pandemic ofAMR“. Bacteriophages (phages) are natural andspecific predators of bacteria - viruses that caninfect, replicate inside and lyse arguably anybacteria. Their therapeutic potential is beinghastily evaluated through different approaches:in silico, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo – in laboratoryanimals as well as in human case and clinicalstudies. Although the results are promising,bacteria rapidly develop resistance againstphages, which why the isolation and researchof new phages is needed. Our work is concentratedon three bacterial species for which criticalpriority by WHO has been declared – carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Twenty distinct pathogenic strains ofA. baumannii, 6 K. pneumoniae and 6 P. aeruginosawere used as targets for bacteriophageisolation, and total of 14, 22 and 8 potentiallydistinct phages were collected, respectively. Allstrains were nosocomial isolates obtained fromvarious tissues, including from terminally ill patients.Six phages were characterized in detail.In particular, phage vB_AbaM_ISTD was appliedagainst A. baumannii in zebrafish embryomodel of systemic infection, and demonstratedpowerful therapeutic potential, eradicating theinfection. Interestingly, its DNA was characterizedwith highly modified thymidine (amassing1228 Da)

This paper focuses on the study of the strength of facade sandwich panels used in building construction. The paper describes the results of experimental and numerical research on the behavior of sandwich panels made of polyisocyanurate core (PIR) and their structural connections when exposed to tensile and compressive loads. In the initial phase of this study, laboratory tests were performed to determine the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material from which the sandwich panels are made. Laboratory tensile and compression tests were performed on small samples of sandwich facade panels. In order to verify the obtained results, they were compared with the numerical analysis performed in the ANSYS software. The numerical model was found to accurately predict the results of the laboratory tests, suggesting that the model can be used to predict the behavior of these panels under different loads in service. The study showed that the foam core sandwich panel exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The results indicate the suitability of foam-based composite structures in the construction industry for various applications, such as roof and wall structures. The findings of this study may help in the development of lightweight and durable construction materials for the industry.

Ovo je hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 5760 priznat od strane Uprave za poljoprivredno zemljište, biljnu proizvodnju i tržište Ministarstva poljoprivrede Republike Hrvatske.

Ovo je hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 6007 priznat od strane Uprave za poljoprivredno zemljište, biljnu proizvodnju i tržište Ministarstva poljoprivrede Republike Hrvatske.

U toku procesa identifikacije perspektivne hibridne kombinacije, priznavanja hibrida u sortnoj komisiji i odabira najboljih priznatih hibrida za semesku proizvodnju, jedna hibridna kombinacija prođe veći broj ogleda na različitim lokacijama i u različitim godinama gajenja. U ovom radu pokušali smo da prikažemo proces testiranja, kroz ostvarene rezultate hibrida kukuruza NS 4006. U pretkomisijskim ogledima 2017. godine NS 4006 je na 9 lokacija ostvario 106,3% prinosa zrna od proseka standarda, sa procentom pobeda 67% u odnosu na bolji standard. U komisijskim ogledima u 2018. i 2019. godini na ukupno 15 lokacija hibrid je postigao 104,6% prinosa zrna u odnosu na prosek standarda, uz proce nat pobeda od 73% u odnosu na bolji standard., During the process of identifying a promising hybrid combination, variety registration and and selection the best registed hybrids for seed production, one hybrid combination undergoes a number of trials at different locations and in different growing years. In this paper, we tried to show the testing process, through the achieved results of the maize hybrid NS 4006. In preregistration trials in 2017, NS 4006 achieved 106.3% grain yield from average of two standards, with a winning percentage of 67% compared to the better standard. In registration trials in 2018 and 2019 at a total of 15 locations, the hybrid achieved 104.6% grain yield compared to average of two standards, with a winning percentage of 73% compared to the better standard.

Ovo je hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 2000 priznat od strane Uprave za poljoprivredno zemljište, biljnu proizvodnju i tržište Ministarstva poljoprivrede Republike Hrvatske.

Alfalfa is the most significant perennial and multi-crop forage legume in Serbia. Seed production has numerous problems, which causes high variability in seed yield. One of the problems in this production is the weed seeds that are in the natural alfalfa seed after harvesting. Minimum purity must be greater than 95 %, up to 2 % of other species are allowed, and up to 0.5 % of weeds, but no quarantine weeds such as dodder (Cuscuta.sp). Weed seeds were detected in natural alfalfa seeds: Sinapis arvensis L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Rumex obtusifolius, L., Cuscuta campestris Yunk., Rumex acetosella L., Plantago lanceolata L., Plantago major L., Rumex crispus L., Galium aparine L., Convolvus arvensis L. as expected, the variability of the number of weed seeds detected from the seed lots over three years was high: CV% = 14.78 for wild sorghum – S. halepense (L.) Pers. In the 2022, to CV% = 65.47 for ribwort plantain – Plantago lanceolata L. in the 2020. For the weight of 1000 seeds of the examined weeds, the variability was determined from CV% = 5.869 for the ribwort plantain – Plantago lanceolata L. (year 2020), to CV% = 34.41 for yellow dock – Rumex crispus L. (year 2022)., Lucerka je naznačajnija višegodišnja i višeotkosna krmna leguminoza u Srbiji. Proizvodnja semena je sa brojnim problemima što uzrokuje visoku varijabilnost za prinos. Jedan od problema u ovoj proizvodnji čine i semena korova koja se nakon ubiranja nalaze u naturalnom semenu lucerke. Na drugoj strani za stavljanje semena u promet minimalna čistoća semena mora da bude viša od 95 %. Dozvoljeno je do 2 % drugih vrsta i do 0.5 % korova, ali u semenu lucerke ne smeju da budu prisutni karantinski korovi kao što su: vilina kosica (Cuscuta spp.). U ovim istraživanjima su predstavljeni rezultati varijabilnosti broja semena i mase 1000 semena detektovanih korova u naturalnom semenu pet partija semena lucerke sa različitih lokaliteta u Srbiji, tokom tri godine. U naturalnom semenu lucerke je detektovano seme sledećih korova: Sinapis arvensis L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Rumex obtusifolius L., Cuscuta campestris Yunk., Rumex acetosella L., Plantago lanceolata L., Plantago major L., Rumex crispus L., Galium aparine L., Convolvus arvensis L. Varijabilnost broja semena detektovanih korova bila je visoka za divlji sirak- Sorghum halepense. (L.) Pers. (CV% = 14.78 u 2022.), do CV% = 65.47 za uskolisnu bokvicu - Plantago lanceolata L. u 2020. godini. i za masu 1000 semena od CV% = 5.86 Plantago lanceolata L. (2020.), do CV% = 34.41 za Rumex crispus L. (2022.)

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 5055 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 5055 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 6606 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 6606 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 4045 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 4045 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 3090 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 3090 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 3035 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 3035 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

In early stages of maize breeding program, large number of new genotypes is grown in a set of field trial locations. The best ones are identified to move to the next stage so that in the final stages of breeding program small number of superior hybrids is grown in pre-registration and post-registration field trials across set of locations. Field trials were conducted in a partially replicated design, each genotype with two replications per location at six locations in 2020. The experiments included 150 hybrids obtained by crossing different S2 progenies with an elite inbred tester. These field trials were conducted to identify the best performing genotypes using appropriate statistical model. The factor analytic (FA) model accommodates the heterogeneity of genetic variance for locations and heterogeneity of genetic covariance between pairs of locations.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 2090 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 2090 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 3009 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 3009 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 5080 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 5080 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 5004 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 5004 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 4090 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 4090 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 4050 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 4050 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

Ovo je novostvoreni hibrid kukuruza (Zea mays L.) NS 6036 priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije., This is registered newly-developed hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.) NS 6036 released by the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

In agricultural production, sowing is one of the most important agro-technical operations that influence the quality of the product and yield. The crops sowing quality, including wheat, depends on properly prepared soil, that is, on the quality of soil cultivation. However, despite well-executed soil cultivation, satisfactory results cannot always be achieved if sowing is not done in an appropriate manner. The achieved depth of sowing affects the speed of sprouting, rooting, resistance of plants to low temperature and drought, intensity of budding, growth and development, and achieving the highest yield in certain conditions. In unfavorable agro-technical conditions, and especially in the conditions of dry farming, optimal conditions for high-quality sowing often cannot be ensured by applying the conventional method. Therefore, new cultivation and sowing systems are being applied in order to perform high-quality sowing in time. During the experiment, the influences of the tillage system and sowing method on the sowing depth and the depth of the formation of the tillering nodes were registered. The results of two-year study are given, where four methods of tillage were applied, namely conventional tillage at depths of up to 25 cm and three reduced tillage methods at different depths. Reduced cultivation with a discc harrrow was done at a depths between 8 and 12 cm, and reduced cultivation with rototiller was done at depths of 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm. During the tests, the sowing depth and the depths of the tillering nodes were determined by direct measuring of the knots positions of the analyzed plants. Furthermore, it was verified that depth of the knot has a significant effect on the resistance of wheat to low temperatures during winter and lack of moisture during summer droughts. Achieved results enable further optimization of applied cultivation and sowing systems.

Cilj rada je bio da se utvrdi uticaj sorte i tretmana semena na glavne pokazatelje kvaliteta semena tri sorte paprika (Merak, Ordesa i PWC 15001). Ogled je izveden 2022. godine u Laboratoriji za kontrolu kvaliteta semena i sadnog materijala Instituta za zaštitu bilja i životnu sredinu u Beogradu. Kao materijal u ogledu korišćeno je seme sorti paprika proizvedeno u 2022. godini. Tretman semena je izveden sa 1% rastvorom natrijum hipohlorida u trajanju od 10 minuta, zatim je ispirano i osušeno. Ispitivanje klijavosti semena izvršeno je standardnom laboratorijskom metodom na filter papiru navlaženom 0,2% vodenim rastvorom KNO3 na 4 x 100 semena. Seme je inkubirano 14 dana na temperaturi 20 - 30ºC i relativnoj vlažnosti vazduha od 95%. Sedmog dana inkubacije ocenjena je energija klijanja, a 14 dana ukupna klijavost. Zdravstvena ispravnost semena ocenjivana je vizuelnom metodom. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da su pojedinačni faktori sorta i tretman semena značajno uticali (p< 0,01) na energiju klijanja, ukupnu klijavost i procenat bolesnog semena, dok njihov uticaj na procenat nenormalnog semena nije utvrđen. Takođe, uticaj interakcije faktora na posmatrane pokazatelje kvaliteta semena je izostao. Primenjeni tretman na semenu uticao je u proseku na povećanje energije klijanja i ukupne klijavosti za po 4% kod sve tri ispitivane sorte paprika. Kod sorti paprika utvrđeno je prisustvo samo patogena Alternaria sp., čija se zastupljenost kretala od 6 do 9% u varijantama bez tretmana semena (kontrola). Primenom ovog tretmana kod ispitivanih sorti procenat zaraženog semena Alternaria sp. se značajno smanjio ispod 5%, što predstavlja zakonski maksimum za stavljanje semena paprike u promet., The aim of the work was to determine the influence of variety and seed treatment on the main indicators of seed quality of three pepper varieties. The experiment was carried out in 2022 at the Laboratory for Quality Control of Seeds and Planting Material of the Institute for Plant Protection and the Environment in Belgrade. As material in the experiment, seeds of pepper varieties produced in 2022 were used. The seeds were treated with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes, then rinsed and dried. Seed germination was tested using a standard laboratory method on filter paper moistened with a 0.2% aqueous solution of KNO3 on 4 x 100 seeds. The seeds were incubated for 14 days at a temperature of 20 - 30ºC and a relative humidity of 95%. On the seventh day of incubation, the energy of germination was evaluated, and on the 14th, the total germination, that is, the number of typical seedlings. The healthiness of the seeds was assessed by the visual method. The obtained results indicate that the individual factors of variety and seed treatment significantly influenced (p< 0.01) the energy of germination, total germination and the percentage of diseased seeds, while their influence on the percentage of abnormal seeds was not determined. Also, the influence of the interaction of factors on the observed indicators of seed quality was absent. The treatment applied to the seeds affected on increase in the energy of germination and total germination by 4% in all three tested pepper varieties. In pepper varieties, the presence of only the pathogen Alternaria sp. was determined, whose prevalence ranged from 6 to 9% in varieties without seed treatment (control). By applying this treatment to the investigated varieties, the percentage of infected seeds of Alternaria sp. has significantly decreased below 5%, which is the legal maximum for placing pepper seeds on the market.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important silage crop due to its low buffer capacity, high amount of dry matter and optimal concentration of soluble carbohydrates. Silage of maize is a process of anaerobic preservation by lactic acid fermentation, which reduces the possibility of loss of nutrients from harvest to consumption of animal feed. By silage maize, they try to preserve and maintain for a longer time the nutrients of the maize fresh biomass, without significant changes. In this study, the following maize hybrids were examined: H1- AS 160, H2- Pionir 1535 and H3- NS 6000. The quality of the green biomass of the examined maize hybrids was analyzed: content of protein, content of water and percentage of dry matter. The test results show that the percentage of crude proteins in the examined sample was the highest (2.72%) in hybrid H1, a slightly lower percentage (2.66%) in H2, and the lowest percentage of crude proteins was measured in hybrid H3. The percentage of dry matter in the tested sample was the highest (36.56%) in the NS 640 hybrid, slightly lower (35.05%) in the percentage in the AS 160 hybrid, and the lowest (33.80%) crude protein percentage was measured in the Pionir hybrid 1535. The percentage of moisture in the tested sample was the highest (66.20%) in H2, the slightly lower (64.95%) percentage of moisture was in hybrid H1, and the lowest (63.44%) percentage of moisture was measured in hybrid H3. Different hybrids have different levels of various maize plant components' quality.The results show that the hybrid had a significant impact on the examined quality parameters.

Weeds are an important challenge in agriculture significantly reducing crop yields. The use of pesticides in conventional agriculture to control weeds is associated with environmental and health risks, which has led to interest in more environmentally friendly methods of weed control. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the use of essential oils as an alternative for controlling invasive weed species. The effect of essential oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeilanicum L.) on the germination of creeping thistle (Cirsum arvense L.) seeds was investigated. Germination tests were performed in a germination chamber at 4 °C for 21 days, as well as at 25 °C (day) and 15 °C (dark) for seven days. Each essential oil was applied at four concentrations — 1%, 0.5%, 0.2% and 0.01% — and water as a control. Cirsium arvense seeds were completely prevented from germinating when exposed to treatments containing high amounts of EO essential oils (1% and 0.5%). The most effective oil at a concentration of 0.2% to prevent seed germination was cinnamon oil, which had a 30% germination success rate. Oregano and lavender were next, with 31% and 35% germination success. The lowest concentration applied to creeping thistle seed for all oils was similar. The average number of germinating seeds in a concentration of 0.01% was 45%. The obtained results show that it is possible to use essential oils as natural pesticides to control various weeds in sustainable agriculture.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of four major food crops in the world beside wheat, maize and rice. The plant originated in the highlands of Peru particularly the region around Lake Titicaca and it was first domesticated at least 7 000 years ago. The food security provided by potato and maize allowed the development and survival of civilizations such as, Huari and Inca for centuries. In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadores searching for the "treasure of the Andes" brought to Europe, beside gold, potato along with its parasites – the potato cyst nematodes (PCN): Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens and G. pallida (Stone) Behrens, two nematode species that have quarantine status. The morphology of potato cyst nematodes was until recently almost the only way to identify these quarantine organisms. In the last two decades, molecular analyses as new trends in modern agriculture, contributed to faster and more efficient identification of these species and allowed insight into the genetic structure of those parts that were practically inaccessible by morphological studies. The nematodes are present in all European potato growing regions, especially in the Balkan (Helm) peninsula, either PCN or both are reported. The collected specimens of cysts were found in soil originating from a seed potato crop in a village near Gornji Milanovac after the official phytosanitary control in 2022. Individual cysts were used for DNA extraction with a Dneasy blood & tissue kit. The PCR was done with primers for direct sequencing: TW81 and AB28. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of PCN is used for confirmation of species identity together with its morphological characterization. According to EPPO Standards, the morphological identification comprised larval and cyst characteristics, namely larval stylet length and stylet knob shape, cyst vulval basin diameter, distance between vulva and anus, Granek´s ratio, and number of cuticular ridges in perineal area. Results confirmed the s, Krompir (Solanum tuberosum L.) je jedan od četiri glavna prehrambena useva u svetu pored pšenice, kukuruza i pirinča. Biljka potiče iz planinskog pojasa Perua, posebno iz regiona oko jezera Titikaka i prvi put je odomaćena pre najmanje 7 000 godina. Sigurnost u hrani koja je nastala gajenjem krompira i kukuruza je omogućila vekovni razvoj i opstanak civilizacija kao što su Huari i Inke. U 16. veku su španski osvajači tražeći "blago sa Anda" pored zlata, u Evropu doneli i krompir zajedno sa parazitnim nematodama-cistolikim nematodama krompira (CNK): Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens i G. pallida (Stone) Behrens, dve nematodne vrste koje imaju karantinski status. Morfologija cistolikih nematoda krompira je do skoro bila jedini način identifikacije ovih karantinskih organizama. U poslednje dve decenije, molekularne analize kao novi trendovi u modernoj poljoprivredi, su doprineli bržoj i efikasnijoj identifikaciji ovih vrsta, omogućavajaći uvid u genetičku strukturu onih delova koji su praktično bili nedostupni morfološkim studijama. Nematode su prisutne u svim evropskim regionima gajenja krompira, posebno na Balkanskom (Humskom) poluostrvu, pojedinačno ili obe zajedno. Prikupljeni uzorci cista su pronađeni u zemlji poreklom iz useva semenskog krompira u selu pored Gornjeg Milanovca, posle zvanične fitosanitarne kontrole. Pojedinačne ciste su korišćene za ekstrakciju DNK sa Dneasy blood & tissue kitom. PCR je urađen sa prajmerima za direktno sekvenciranje: TW81 and AB28. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regioni CNK su korišćeni za potvrdu identiteta vrste, zajedno sa morfološkom karakterizacijom. Prema EPPO Standardu, morfološka identifikacija obuhvata karakteristike larvi i cisti, zapravo dužinu i oblik stileta larvi, prečnik vulvalnog bazena cisti, distancu između vulve i anusa, Granekov odnos i broj kutikularnih nabora u perianalnoj oblasti. Rezultati su potvrdili identitet vrste. Morfologija naše populacije G. rostochiensis je bila slična prethodno opisanim domaćim i stra

Brain trauma leads to the induction of neural stem cell proliferation and the migration of young neurons to injured areas. However, these neurons are insufficient to fully restore neuronal function due to the limited potential of adult neurogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hypoxia, a condition that underlines a wide spectrum of brain pathologies, on pluripotency and the capacity of stem cells to differentiate into neural progenitors. We analyzed the expression of SOX genes and microRNAs as they control a variety of cellular processes during neuronal differentiation, including cell proliferation and cell fate determination. In vitro neuronal differentiation of human embryonal carcinoma cell line NT2/D1 and induced pluripotent stem cells were used as a model system of adult neurogenesis. Cobalt chloride was used to induce hypoxia. The results of the analysis showed that, following hypoxia, the efficiency of neuronal induction was significantly decreased, that coincident with decline in mRNA expression levels of SOXB and SOXC genes. In contrast to that, the expression level of miR-21 was significantly increased. Our findings advance the study of SOX TFs, miR-21, and their possible interplay in ischemia-related pathologies, establishing them as prospective biomarkers and possible targets for future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

“Devil’s Town” is a natural park dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees, and made up of two rare natural phenomena in the world: earthen statues, as specific forms of relief, and two springs of highly acidic water with high mineralization. Devil’s Town is a “biodiversity star” with a unique ambient, flora, fauna, and microbiome. The research aimed to: investigate the concentration of chemical parameters in the soil of the natural park, identify nematodes that can survive in extreme conditions, explore feeding habits of nematodes, and infer phylogenetic relationships of nematodes based on 28S rRNA sequences. Soil samples were collected from two sites, designated Soil under vegetation and Saxon mine soil, from which nematodes were discovered. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with 28S rRNA gene primers, using Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The presence of minerals and heavy metals, combined with high acidity created extreme environmental conditions in which specific nematode species can survive. These circumstances favored fast-moving species with teeth and spears, such as mononchids and dorylaimids, enabling them to adopt predatory feeding behavior. In contrast, Acrobeloides, Prismatolaimus, Rhabditis spp. etc., are saprobionts adapted to specific chemical pollutants, and they tolerate high levels of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd and As.

NS 3311 je hibrid kukuruza priznat od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije.

Depression is linked to changes in GABAergic inhibitory neurons, especially parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, which are susceptible to redox dysregulation. Olanzapine (Olz) is an atypical antipsychotic whose mode of action remains unclear. We determined the effect of Olz on PV-positive (+) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) + cell numbers in the layers of dorsal hippocampus (dHIPP) cornu ammonis (CA1–CA3) and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions in rats exposed to chronic social isolation (CSIS), which is an animal model of depression. Antioxidative enzymes and proinflammatory cytokine levels were also examined. CSIS decreased the PV+ cell numbers in the Stratum Oriens (SO) and Stratum Pyramidale (SP) of dCA1 and dDG. It increased interleukin-6 (IL-6), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), and copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) levels, and it decreased catalase (CAT) protein levels. Olz in CSIS increased the number of GAD67+ cells in the SO and SP layers of dCA1 with no effect on PV+ cells. It reduced the PV+ and GAD67+ cell numbers in the Stratum Radiatum of dCA3 in CSIS. Olz antagonizes the CSIS-induced increase in CuZnSOD, CAT and SOCS3 protein levels with no effect on IL-6. Data suggest that the protective Olz effects in CSIS may be mediated by altering the number of PV+ and GAD67+ cells in dHIPP subregional layers.

Background: This study was carried out for an understanding of the antioxidant mechanisms of field pea varieties under osmotic stress conditions caused by a lack of water. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were examined and analyzed. The gene expression levels of Cu/Zn SOD, cAPx and GR genes were also examined. Methods: Osmotic stress was stimulated using PEG 6000 with the osmotic potential of -0.1 MPa in 10 days old plant seedlings. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes was measured in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. The gene expression levels of genes coding antioxidative enzymes were examined by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Arabidopsis 18S rRNA was used as endogenous control. Result: Osmotic stress changed the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. Varieties more tolerant to osmotic stress showed a significant increase in antioxidant activities in shoots and roots, while sensitive varieties showed a significant decrease. The results of the analysis of the expression of genes, coding for antioxidant enzymes, showed that the reaction of the tested cultivars to ROS was the result of increased expression of the tested genes in tolerant cultivars, i.e. decreased expression in sensitive cultivars.

The severity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are greater in males than in females, though the infection rate is the same in the two sexes. We investigated sex hormone differences associated with the hyperinflammatory immune response to SARS-CoV-2 on the basis of patients’ cytokine profiles and vaccination statuses. Clinical and laboratory data of 117 patients with COVID-19 were collected to examine sex differences associated with oxidative stress markers, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and plasma cytokine levels up to 5 months from hospital admission. The testosterone and free testosterone levels were low in male patients with COVID-19 and returned to normal values after recovery from the disease. The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were transiently reduced, while the sex hormone-binding globulin levels were decreased in post-COVID-19 male patients. The levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 appeared generally increased at diagnosis and decreased in post-COVID-19 patients. In females, the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was increased by four times at diagnosis. The levels of the coagulation markers intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin were consistently upregulated in post-COVID-19 female patients, in contrast to those of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-selectin, and chemokine IL-8. DHT increased the levels of reactive oxygen species in the neutrophils of male patients, while estradiol decreased them in females. Markers for NET, such as circulating DNA and myeloperoxidase, were significantly more abundant in the patients’ plasma. Sex hormones have a potential protective role during SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is weakened by impaired testosterone synthesis in men.

S obzirom na postojanje interakcije između genotipa i spoljašnje sredine, ispitivanje performansi prinosa zrna novostvorenih genotipova kukuruza vrši se na nekoliko lokacija i/ili godina u ogledima sa manjim oglednim parcelama (MESPT). Ovo bi trebalo da obezbedi izbor najboljih genotipova, što je od kritične važnosti za proces oplemenjivanja. Nivo i stabilnost prinosa zrna su najvažnije karakteristike kada je u pitanju oplemenjivanje kukuruza u okviru odgovarajućih grupa zrenja. Vema je važno izabrati eksperimentalne lokacije, sa ciljem da se pokrije raspon zemljišno-klimatskih uslova ciljnog uzgojnog područja. Kako se tokom eksperimenata ne mogu kontrolisati ni zemljišni ni klimatski faktori, kao i zbog niza drugih okolnosti, podaci koje dobijamo u ovim eksperimentima nisu uvek savršeni., Considering the existence of genotype × environment interaction, grain yield performance testing of newly created maize genotypes is performed in several locations and/or years in trials with smaller experimental plots (MESPT). This should ensure the selection of the best genotypes, which is of critical importance for the breeding process. Certainly, the level of grain yield and yield stability are the most important features when it comes to breeding corn within the framework of the appropriate maturation groups. It is important to choose the locations where the experiments will be carried out, with the aim of covering the range of soil and climatic conditions of the target cultivation area. As it is about conducting experiments where neither soil nor climatic factors can be controlled, and due to a number of other circumstances, the data we get in these experiments are not always perfect.

Prvi cilj ovog master rada je bio sinteza supstituisanih 2-piridona 5 polazeći od jednostavnih, komercijalno dostupnih reagenasa, primarnih amina 1, etil-propiolata 2 preko diena 4 kao intermedijera. U tom smislu, važan deo ovog projekta predstavlja rad na unapređenju sinteze ključnih diena i ispitivanje njihove reaktivnosti. Sinteza 2- piridona je planirana da se izvede na čvrstoj fazi, bez prisustva rastvarača, korišćenjem različitih baza. Drugi cilj rada jeste redukcija određenih 2-piridona čime su dobijene delimično 6 i potpuno redukovane strukture 7 u različitim prinosima.

The present study provides a new insight into the existing Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) bacterial population originating from peach and apricot in two Western Balkans countries (Serbia and Montenegro). Multilocus sequence typing and analysis of the sequences of nine housekeeping genes revealed homology between the tested Xap strains as well as with the European population of this bacterium. The tested strains share the same haplotype (Haplotype I) with the Xap strains from Italy, France, Spain, United States, Australia and Brazil. The revealed single nucleotide change (G ↔ C) in the sequences of the gyrB1 gene differentiates Haplotype I from Haplotype II (Xap from South Korea, New Zealand, Argentina and Uruguay). The detached-leaf bioassay results confirmed differences in virulence between strains originating from peach and apricot towards Prunus armeniaca (apricot), indicating host specialization of the apricot strain towards this host. For the first time, immunity of P. fruticosa (European ground cherry) to Xap was established. According to the AUDPC, PCA and cluster analysis, other Prunus spp. were classified as having low susceptibility (P. mahaleb, P. cerasus and P. avium), as susceptible (P. domestica) and as highly susceptible (P. persica, P. dulcis, P. cerasifera and P. spinosa). Xap strains were also found to be susceptible to 10 tested antibiotics. This study provides valuable knowledge on the Xap population from stone fruit grown in the Western Balkans region as well as the source of immunity, which could serve as a starting point for breeding Prunus cultivars and could be used as the main control strategy.

Introduction: Brevibacillus laterosporus is a promising microbiological agent that can be used to prevent and control destructive diseases affecting honey bee colonies. In the presentstudy, the short-term effect of the B. laterosporus BGSP11 bee diet on microbiota and mycobiota was investigated. Methods: The honey bee diet was supplemented with spores of B. laterosporus BGSP11 at a concentration of 1×108 CFU/mL in sucrose solution. Metabarcoding analysis of the bee microbial community profile was performed based on 16S RNA (bacteriobiota) and Internally Transcribes Spacer (ITS) region (mycobiota) obtained using MiSeq Illumina sequencing. The QIIME2 v2021.4 pipeline was used to analyze the obtained amplicon data library. Results: The results show that the BGSP11 bee diet slightly altered the bee microbiota and did not lead to potentially harmful changes in the bacterial microbiota. Moreover, it can potentially induce positive changes, mainly reflected in the reduction of opportunistic bacteria. On the other hand, the treatment had a greater effect on mycobiota. However, the changesin the bee mycobiome caused by the treatment cannot be considered a priori as beneficial or harmful,since the interaction between the bee and its mycobiome is not sufficiently studied. The observed positive changes in the bee mycobiome are mainly reflected in the reduction of phytopathogenic fungi that may affect the organoleptic and techno-functional properties of honey. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the introduction of BGSP11 in beekeeping practice as a biological agent could be considered due to no harmful effects observed on the microbiota of bees.

Background: This study was carried out for an understanding of the antioxidant mechanisms of field pea varieties under osmotic stress conditions caused by a lack of water. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were examined and analyzed. The gene expression levels of Cu/Zn SOD, cAPx and GR genes were also examined. Methods: Osmotic stress was stimulated using PEG 6000 with the osmotic potential of -0.1 MPa in 10 days old plant seedlings. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes was measured in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. The gene expression levels of genes coding antioxidative enzymes were examined by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Arabidopsis 18S rRNA was used as endogenous control. Result: Osmotic stress changed the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. Varieties more tolerant to osmotic stress showed a significant increase in antioxidant activities in shoots and roots, while sensitive varieties showed a significant decrease. The results of the analysis of the expression of genes, coding for antioxidant enzymes, showed that the reaction of the tested cultivars to ROS was the result of increased expression of the tested genes in tolerant cultivars, i.e. decreased expression in sensitive cultivars.

Thermal springs represent a habitat with extreme conditions that harbor a unique microbial community adapted to thrive in this environment. In addition to the geothermal springs in Iceland, the thermal springs of Vranjska Banja are considered the hottest in Europe with a water temperature of 63-95°C. Due to global warming and climate change, there is a growing need for knowledge about the biodiversity of extreme natural habitats. Besides the exceptional importance of studying extremophilic microorganisms, the difficulty in their cultivation limits the expanding necessity of research in this field. This study provides information about the microbial community structure and physicochemical characteristics of the thermal spring of Vranjska Banja. To determine and monitor the microbiota diversity of the Vranjska Banja hot spring, for the first time, comprehensive culture-independent metagenomic analysis in parallel with a culture-dependent approach was applied. The culture-independent composition of bacterial communities of the thermal water was investigated using MiSeq-Illumina technology and analyzed by the computing environment QIIME2 v2021. The applied cultivation approach resulted in the isolation of 17 strains belonging to genera Bacillus, Anoxybacillus, Hydrogenophilus, and Geobacillus, based on 16S rRNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing of five representative strains has been performed. The complete DNA was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq from the MicrobesNG service. Genomic characterization and OrthoANI analysis have shown that two of them are candidates for novel species. Products of extremophilic microorganisms adapted to harsh conditions have great potential to be used for biotechnological research and industrial application. Results of BAGEL4 and AntiSMASH showed that the sequenced strains from Vranjska Banja hot spring have the potential to produce thermostable enzymes (proteases, lipases, amylases, phytase, chitinase, and glucanase) and various antimi

Introduction: Prolonged exposure to sunlight, has a harmful effect on skin cells encompassing reduced viability, morphological changes, and altered gene expression. The two most prevalent types ofskin cancer,squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), arise from malignant transformation of keratinocytes. UV radiation, among other factors, serves as the primary cause of these tumors. Previous data hasshown that changesin different SOX genes expression in these cancer types correlates with disease progression, suggesting their role as oncogenes/tumor suppressors. The presented work is focused on examining the impact of UVB radiation on the expression of SOX2 and SOX9 genesin HaCaT cells derived from human keratinocytes. Methods: Using a custom-made UV solarsimulator for the irradiation of HaCaT cells with 150 mJ/cm2 or 300 mJ/cm2 , we analyzed SOX2 and SOX9 gene expression. In order to determine the protective effects of quercetin, anti-inflammatory bioflavonoid, we treated irradiated HaCaT with quercetin, and analyzed SOX gene expression. Results: Our resultsindicate that UVB radiation induces a dose dependent decrease of SOX2 expression while expression of SOX9 was increased at the dose of 150 mJ/cm2 in HaCaT. Treatment of cells with quercetin increased the expression of both SOX2 and SOX9 genesin HaCaT cellsfollowing UVB radiation at both doses compared to irradiated cells. Conclusions: Further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms and significance of SOX2 and SOX9 in UVB-induced cellular responses, in the context of nonmelanoma cancers with potential implications for targeted therapeutic strategies for nonmelanoma cancers

Astrocytes are the main homeostatic cells in the brain with important roles both in physiological and pathological conditions. They have a unique ability to become reactivated in response to different types of brain pathologies, which serves as a compensatory response that modulates tissue damage and recovery. Also, senescent astrocytes have profound implications in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying astrocyte reactivation and senescence are still not well understood. To investigate the roles of SOX2 and SOX9 transcription factors and miR-21 in these phenotypic alternations of astroglia, astrocytes derived from NT2/D1 cell line (NT2/A) were used as a model system. Western blot analyses showed that the expression of both SOX2 and SOX9 decreases during the maturation of NT2/A and they are re-expressed upon in vitro induced injury. Further modulation of the SOX2 and SOX9 expression will reveal their roles in the regulation of astrocytes reactivation. Down-regulation of mir-21 in both immature and mature NT2/A by using the antisense technology, induced the decline in cell proliferation revealed by Ki67 proliferation marker. Also the premature cellular senescence was induced as indicated by increase in SA-ß-gal activity and the expression of p21 and p53. Additionally, in silico analysis predicted many of the genes, previously shown to be upregulated in senescent astrocytes, as miR-21 targets. Clarifying the roles of SOX genes and miRNAs in astrocyte reactivation and senescence would contribute to better understanding of the functions of these cells at the molecular level, which holds promise for development of new therapeutic strategies.

In the current study, honey bees’ diet was supplemented with spores of Brevibacillus laterosporus BGSP11 at concentration of 108 CFU/ml in sucrose solution and its short-term effects on their micro- and mycobiota have been analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Obtained results indicate that this treatment does not lead to potentially harmful changes in the bacterial microbiome of worker bees, slightly affecting the composition of core microbiota. Moreover, several potentially beneficial changes have been observed. The treatment has led to a significant increase in the abundance of Snodgrassella alvi, and species from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera which play important roles in protection against several honey bee pathogens. Simultaneously, B. laterosporus enriched diet have led to almost complete eradication of Enterobacteriaceae family, the taxon that contains several putative pathogen species. On the other hand, the treatment affected mycobiota more profoundly, which was expected considering the greater instability compared to microbiota. Although the observed changes in honey bee mycobiome cannot be considered a priori beneficial or harmful, since the interaction between the bee and its mycobiome has not been sufficiently studied, certain beneficial consequences of the treatment have been observed. They are primarily reflected in the reduction of phytopathogenic fungi that can affect the organoleptic and techno-functional characteristics of honey. In addition, before introducing B. laterosporus in beekeeping practice as a biological agent for pathogen control it is necessary to perform more thorough studies of the impact on the honey bee microbiome, immune system, physiology and economic characteristics of honey bee colonies.

Background: This study was carried out for an understanding of the antioxidant mechanisms of field pea varieties under osmotic stress conditions caused by a lack of water. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were examined and analyzed. The gene expression levels of Cu/Zn SOD, cAPx and GR genes were also examined. Methods: Osmotic stress was stimulated using PEG 6000 with the osmotic potential of -0.1 MPa in 10 days old plant seedlings. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes was measured in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. The gene expression levels of genes coding antioxidative enzymes were examined by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Arabidopsis 18S rRNA was used as endogenous control. Result: Osmotic stress changed the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the shoots and roots of pea seedlings. Varieties more tolerant to osmotic stress showed a significant increase in antioxidant activities in shoots and roots, while sensitive varieties showed a significant decrease. The results of the analysis of the expression of genes, coding for antioxidant enzymes, showed that the reaction of the tested cultivars to ROS was the result of increased expression of the tested genes in tolerant cultivars, i.e. decreased expression in sensitive cultivars.

Investigati on of natural compounds showing specific toxicity to tumor cells aims to improve the efficacy of available therapies. Our previous research demonstrated the cytotoxic acti vity of the bacterial pigment violacein against rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines. RMS is the most common soft tissue malignancy in children. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of violacein on RMS cells in combinati on with conventi onal chemotherapeutics doxorubicin, irinotecan, and vinflunine.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a global health threat and bacteriophages are a potential solution in combating pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections. Two lytic phages, LASTA and SJM3, active against several pandrug-resistant, nosocomial strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated and characterized. Their host range is narrow and latent period is particularly long; however, their lysogenic nature was refuted using both bioinformatic and experimental approaches. Genome sequence analysis clustered them with only two other phages into the new genus Lastavirus. Genomes of LASTA and SJM3 differ in only 13 base pairs, mainly located in tail fiber genes. Individual phages, as well as their cocktail, demonstrated significant bacterial reduction capacity in a time-dependent manner, yielding up to 4 log reduction against planktonic, and up to 2.59 log on biofilm-embedded, cells. Bacteria emerging from the contact with the phages developed resistance and achieved numbers comparable to the growth control after 24 h. The resistance to the phage seems to be of a transient nature and varies significantly between the two phages, as resistance to LASTA remained constant while resensitization to SJM3 was more prominent. Albeit with very few differences, SJM3 performed better than LASTA overall; however, more investigation is needed in order to consider them for therapeutic application.

Arranged patterns obtained via ultrafast laser processing on the surface of Ti/Cu/Ti/Si and Ti/Zr/Ti/Si thin-film systems are reported. Two differently designed multilayer thin films Ti/Cu/Ti/Si and Ti/Zr/Ti/Si were deposited on silicon using the ion sputtering method. The bioactive surfaces of these systems involve the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) in each of the laser-written lines of mesh patterns on 5 × 5 mm areas. The formation of nano- and micro-patterns with an ultra-thin oxide film on the surfaces was used to observe the effects of morphology and proliferation of the MRC-5 cell culture line. To determine whether Ti-based thin films have a toxic effect on living cells, an MTT assay was performed. The relative cytotoxic effect, as a percentage of surviving cells, showed that there was no difference in cell number between the Ti-based thin films and the control cells. There was also no difference in the viability of the MRC-5 cells, except for the Ti/Cu/Ti/Si system, where there was a slight 10% decrease in cell viability. © 2023 by the authors.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of four major food crops in the world beside wheat, maize and rice. The plant originated in the highlands of Peru particularly the region around Lake Titicaca and it was first domesticated at least 7 000 years ago. The food security provided by potato and maize allowed the development and survival of civilizations such as, Huari and Inca for centuries. In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadores searching for the "treasure of the Andes" brought to Europe, beside gold, potato along with its parasites – the potato cyst nematodes (PCN): Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens and G. pallida (Stone) Behrens, two nematode species that have quarantine status. The morphology of potato cyst nematodes was until recently almost the only way to identify these quarantine organisms. In the last two decades, molecular analyses as new trends in modern agriculture, contributed to faster and more efficient identification of these species and allowed insight into the genetic structure of those parts that were practically inaccessible by morphological studies. The nematodes are present in all European potato growing regions, especially in the Balkan (Helm) peninsula, either PCN or both are reported. The collected specimens of cysts were found in soil originating from a seed potato crop in a village near Gornji Milanovac after the official phytosanitary control in 2022. Individual cysts were used for DNA extraction with a Dneasy blood & tissue kit. The PCR was done with primers for direct sequencing: TW81 and AB28. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of PCN is used for confirmation of species identity together with its morphological characterization. According to EPPO Standards, the morphological identification comprised larval and cyst characteristics, namely larval stylet length and stylet knob shape, cyst vulval basin diameter, distance between vulva and anus, Granek´s ratio, and number of cuticular ridges in perineal area. Results confirmed the s, Krompir (Solanum tuberosum L.) je jedan od četiri glavna prehrambena useva u svetu pored pšenice, kukuruza i pirinča. Biljka potiče iz planinskog pojasa Perua, posebno iz regiona oko jezera Titikaka i prvi put je odomaćena pre najmanje 7 000 godina. Sigurnost u hrani koja je nastala gajenjem krompira i kukuruza je omogućila vekovni razvoj i opstanak civilizacija kao što su Huari i Inke. U 16. veku su španski osvajači tražeći "blago sa Anda" pored zlata, u Evropu doneli i krompir zajedno sa parazitnim nematodama-cistolikim nematodama krompira (CNK): Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens i G. pallida (Stone) Behrens, dve nematodne vrste koje imaju karantinski status. Morfologija cistolikih nematoda krompira je do skoro bila jedini način identifikacije ovih karantinskih organizama. U poslednje dve decenije, molekularne analize kao novi trendovi u modernoj poljoprivredi, su doprineli bržoj i efikasnijoj identifikaciji ovih vrsta, omogućavajaći uvid u genetičku strukturu onih delova koji su praktično bili nedostupni morfološkim studijama. Nematode su prisutne u svim evropskim regionima gajenja krompira, posebno na Balkanskom (Humskom) poluostrvu, pojedinačno ili obe zajedno. Prikupljeni uzorci cista su pronađeni u zemlji poreklom iz useva semenskog krompira u selu pored Gornjeg Milanovca, posle zvanične fitosanitarne kontrole. Pojedinačne ciste su korišćene za ekstrakciju DNK sa Dneasy blood & tissue kitom. PCR je urađen sa prajmerima za direktno sekvenciranje: TW81 and AB28. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regioni CNK su korišćeni za potvrdu identiteta vrste, zajedno sa morfološkom karakterizacijom. Prema EPPO Standardu, morfološka identifikacija obuhvata karakteristike larvi i cisti, zapravo dužinu i oblik stileta larvi, prečnik vulvalnog bazena cisti, distancu između vulve i anusa, Granekov odnos i broj kutikularnih nabora u perianalnoj oblasti. Rezultati su potvrdili identitet vrste. Morfologija naše populacije G. rostochiensis je bila slična prethodno opisanim domaćim i stra

Đokić D., M. Tabaković, J. Knežević, B. Milenković, D. Poštić, R. Štrbanović, R.Stanisavljević (2023). Variability and correlation between quality of maize hybrid seeds of different fractions obtained after seed processing and the initial seedling growth.- Genetika, Vol 55, No.1, 289-300. The shape and the size of maize seeds are the most variable traits, which are determined by a genotype and environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to understand the effects of the mechanism of the relationship and significance of seed variability on germination and morphology of seedlings. The seeds of five hybrids ZP388, ZP434, ZP555, ZP606, and ZP6263 were used in this study. The following seed traits were analysed: physical ones: seed length (L), thickness (T) and the width (W); morphological ones: seed weight (SW), seedling length (SLW), root length (RL), shoot length (SL) and seed germination (G) as a phydiological trait.There are statistically significant differences not only among physical traits of the seeds of the five hybrids (p≤0.05), but also among the morphological traits (p≤0.05). Statisticlly significant differences (p≤0.05). in the 290 GENETIKA, Vol. 55 No1, 289-300, 2023 width (W), length(L) and thickness (T) of seeds of all hybrids were determined in the small flat fraction (SP). The large rounded seed fraction (KO) mainly differed in the width and thickness between hybrids ZP434 and ZP 555, while the large flat seed fraction differed the most in the length between these two hybrids. Large-flat (KP) seed fractions are also characterized by the highest germination (99%). As the seed weight increases, the seedling weight decreases (R2=0.527). Segmentation within hybrids according to the diversity of morphological and physiological properties of seeds was carried out according to the seed size, fraction and seedling weight, while the other parameters were less important. The characteristic of all hybrids is that large seeds of the KP fraction have high ge, Oblik i veličina semena kukuruza su najpromenljivije osobine koje određuju genotip i uslovi životne sredine. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da se sagleda značaj varijabilnosti semena i njen odnos sa klijavošću semena i morfologijom klijanaca. U radu je korišćeno seme pet hibrida ZP388, ZP434, ZP555, ZP606 i ZP6263. Analizirane su sledeće osobine semena: fizičke: dužina (L), debljina (T) i širina (V); morfološke: masa semena (SV), dužina semena (SLV), dužina korena (RL), dužina izdanka (SL) i klijavost semena (G) kao fiziološka osobina.Postoje statistički značajne razlike ne samo među fizičkim osobinama semena pet hibrida p≤0,05) već i među morfološkim osobinama (p≤0,05). Statistički značajne razlike (p≤0,05). širina (V), dužina (L) i debljina (T) semena svih hibrida su određene u sitno pljosnatoj frakciji (SP). Frakcija krupnog okruglog semena (KO) se uglavnom razlikovala po širini i debljini između hibrida ZP434 i ZP 555, dok se frakcija krupnog plosnatog semena najviše razlikovala po dužini između ova dva hibrida. Krupno-plosnata (KP) frakcija semena takođe se odlikuju najvećom klijavošću (99%). Sa povećanjem mase semena, težina semena se smanjuje (R2=0,527). Selekcija unutar hibrida prema raznovrsnosti morfoloških i fizioloških osobina semena vršena je prema veličini semena, frakciji i masi semena, dok su ostali parametri bili manje važni. Karakteristika svih hibrida je da krupno seme KP frakcije ima visoku klijavost i dobro razvijene klijance.

Background The cultivation of medicinal plants is a promising alternative to overcoming problems in the overharvesting of wild plants and ecosystem degradation. Cultivation depends upon two major factors: seed quality and the presence of seed-borne pathogens. Organic production of marshmallow plants (Althea officinalis L.) does not allow for the use of conventional pesticides. This study aimed to find an environmentally safe solution and the equilibrium between seed germination and the presence of fungal pathogens. The study was performed on a population of marshmallows which were cultivated for a period of 3 years (2018–2020) in Pančevo, The Republic of Serbia. The following six essential oils: Origanum vulgare L., Cinnamomum cassia Presl., Ocimum basilicum L., Carum carvi L., Mentha piperita L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill. at five concentrations (1%, 0.5%, 0.2%, 0.02%, 0.002%) were used for seed treatment along with water and PEG-40 (emulsifier) as controls. Germination, dormant seeds, dead seeds, abnormal seedlings and the presence of seed-borne pathogens were determined under laboratory conditions. Results Among the aforementioned treatments using oregano, cinnamon, basil, caraway, mint, and lavender essential oils, the most effective treatment resulted with lavender essential oil at a concentration of 0.02% in 3-year-old seeds. The highest values for seed germination and dead seeds were 46% and 20% in 3-year-old seeds, respectively. This treatment increased seed germination by 13%, and seedling growth i.e., the growth of seedling stems and radicles by 24–35%, respectively. It also reduced the presence of seed-borne fungal pathogens from 53 to 100%. Conclusions The results revealed that an increase in seed germination rate and simultaneous reduction in seedborne fungal infection was achieved with the lavender essential oil seed treatments. This is the first discovery of the stimulating effect of lavender essential oil on seed quality parameters. Furthermore, th