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This work aimed to assess the potential of thermal treatments for controlling P. interpunctella on sunflower seeds, based on its tolerance to high/elevated temperatures and effect on seed vitality. The tests involved mature larvae (L5) and pupae, exposed to 35, 40, 42, 44, 45, 50, 55 and 60 °C, for 15 and 30 min, and 1, 2, 6, 24, 48 h. Larval mortality and survival, Probyt analysis, developmental dynamics, longevity analysis, progeny production and the effect on sunflower seed vitality (germination energy and germination) were assessed. Larval mortality of 75.9% was achieved after 30 min of exposure at 44 °C, 77.0% at 45 °C after 15 min, and 100% after 45 min. At 60 and 65 °C total mortality was achieved already after 15 min of exposure. Lethal exposure time (LT50) needed to kill 50% of larval population was 15 min at 44.2 °C, 30 min at 43.3 °C, 45 min at 42.1 °C or 41.8 °C at 60 min, respectively. LT90 can be achieved after 15 min of exposure at 45.2 °C, 30 min at 44.3 °C, 45 min at 43.3 °C, or 60 min at 42.1 °C. Pupal LT50 was 15 min at 56.7 °C, 30 min at 53.1 °C, 45 min at 52.4 °C or 60 min at 52.2 °C, while LT90 was 15 min at 59.7 °C, 30 min at 56.3 °C, 45 min at 56.1 °C or 60 min at 55.6 °C. The fastest development, and the highest progeny production was in treatments when the parenteral population was exposed to 40 °C for 1, 2 and 6 h. The developmental duration was significantly shortened when parenteral population was exposed to 40 °C for 48 h. The temperature and exposure did affect the duration of the adult life stage only when exposed for 2, 3, 6, 24 and 48 h to 40 °C. The germination of sunflower seed (86.7%) was inhibited by heat at 45 °C when exposed for 24 h.

Honey has become a focal point of concern due to the potential presence of pesticide residues originating from agricultural practices. This study undertakes a comprehensive toxicological assessment of pesticide residues in conventional and organic honey, as well as a risk assessment employing estimated daily intakes (EDIs) in the evaluation of the potential risks of these agrochemicals to public health. A total of 200 honey samples originating from conventional and organic producers were collected and analyzed by a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe method (QuEChERS). Analysis of organic honey didn’t detect any residue of investigated pesticides. The most detected pesticides in conventional honey samples were boscalid (0.01 µg/kg), and coumaphos ranging between 0.012 µg/kg to 0.016 µg/ kg, respectively. Detected pesticides such as acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid, and azoxystrobin were under the reporting level (RL). Results obtained by EDI indicated that all investigated honey samples are safe for human consumption. In conclusion, this research contributes to the understanding of the toxicological implications of pesticide residues in both conventional and organic honey consumption. By delineating the potential health hazards associated with each type, this study aims to provide consumers, regulators, and beekeeping industries with valuable insights to make informed decisions that safeguard human health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices., Med je postao fokus zabrinutosti zbog potencijalne prisutnosti ostataka pesticida. Cilj ovog rada je toksikološka procena ostataka pesticida u konvencionalnom i organskom medu, kao i procena rizika primenom procenjenih dnevnih unosa (EDI) po javno zdravlje stanovništva. Ukupno 200 uzoraka meda poreklom od konvencionalnih i organskih proizvođača prikupljeno je i analizirano pomoću Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuEChERS) metode. Analiza organskog meda nije zabeležila ostatke ispitivanih pesticida. Najviše detektovani pesticidi u uzorcima konvencionalnog meda su bili boskalid (0,01 µg/kg) i kumafos, u rasponu od 0,012 µg/kg do 0,016 µg/kg. Pesticidi poput acetamiprida, piraklostrobina, tiakloprida i azoksistrobina bili su ispod nivoa izveštavanja (

Oplemenjivanje suncokreta je kontinuirani proces dizajniran da poveća nivo prinosa i poboljša otpornost na biotičke i abiotičke stresove. Oplemenjivači su bili uspešni u proizvodnji velikog broja sorti koristeći konvencionalne metode oplemenjivanja koje se razlikuju u zavisnosti od vrste. Pojava novih tehnika, kao što je genomska selekcija i izmena genoma, zajedno sa efikasnim platformama za fenotipizaciju, utrle su put efikasnijem unošenju poželjnih osobina. Novi pristupi u genotipizaciji i fenotipizaciji omogućili su efikasnije prikupljanje podataka za identifikaciju kvantitativnih svojstava i objašnjenje genetske osnove agronomski važnih osobina. Stvaranje genotipova suncokreta otpornih na promene klime može doprineti ublažavanju negativnog uticaja koje poljoprivredna proizvodnja ima na životnu sredinu, poput intenzivnog iskorišćavanja voda i emisije gasova staklene bašte, dok s druge strane obezbeđuje resurse za stabilnu poljoprivrednu proizvodnju. U radu je dat pregled novih pristupa i koraka u oplemenjivanju suncokreta i stvaranju genotipova tolerantnih na promene klime, uz osvrt na aktivnosti u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo vezane za njihovu primenu u NS oplemenjivačkom programu., Sunflower breeding is a continuous process designed to increase yield levels and improve resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Breeders have been successful in producing a large number of varieties using conventional breeding methods that vary by species. The emergence of new techniques, such as genomic selection and genome editing, together with efficient phenotyping platforms, have paved the way for more efficient introduction of desirable traits. New approaches in genotyping and phenotyping have enabled more efficient data collection to identify quantitative traits and explain the genetic basis of agronomically important traits. The creation of sunflower genotypes resistant to climate change can contribute to mitigating the negative impact that agricultural production has on the environment, such as intensive water depletion and greenhouse gas emissions, while on the other hand providing resources for stable agricultural production. The paper provides an overview of new approaches and steps in sunflower breeding and the creation of genotypes tolerant to climate changes, with a review of the activities at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops related to their application in the NS breeding program.

Agricultural production faces a significant reduction as a result of unpredictable weather events due to global warming. Among the most significant abiotic stresses contributing to crop yield loss are drought, extreme temperatures, and soil salinity. Sunflower, the fourth most important oil crop worldwide, is considered to be moderately drought tolerant. However, recent studies showed that drought can cause up to 51% yield loss. Breeders are thus facing a complicated challenge - breeding for drought resistance which is a quantitative trait causing complex changes on all levels: morphological, physiological, and molecular. Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops is situated in the Pannonia region which is characterized as one of the European regions that will be the most affected by extreme climate changes such as drought. Within our breeding programs and project activities, we are conducting sunflower phenotyping at the germination stage in in vitro conditions and rhizothrons to identify traits that can be exploited in drought-tolerant sunflower breeding. This research is accompanied by an analysis of the expression of genes identified as of potential interest in enhancing drought tolerance. Further studies will include analysis of lncRNAs and small RNAs to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of mechanisms involved in drought tolerance on a molecular level. The final goal is to identify key drought-tolerant genes as well as epigenetic-targeted genes.

Sunflower is an economically important oil crop, mostly grown in arid and semi-arid regions where drought stress is a major limiting factor. Although sunflower is generally considered tolerant, drought stress still significantly hampers its productivity and nutritional quality across its major cultivation areas. Therefore, understanding the impact of stress and plant response is vital for enhancing the sunflower's drought tolerance. Mitigating the adverse effects of drought on productivity and fostering the development of tolerant sunflower genotypes have emerged as strategic objectives in sunflower breeding. Breeders use all available resources and methods to increase genetic variability, thereby enhancing the probability of generating highly productive genotypes. Several mechanisms (morphological and physiological) have been developed that help mitigate the effects of drought and adapt to arid or water-limited environments. Recognizing that phenotype manifestation depends on genotype-environment interactions, enhancing genetic variation in plant architecture is imperative for optimizing productivity under prevailing environmental conditions. Genomic and transcriptomic studies have elucidated the complex genetic mechanisms underlying sunflower's response to drought stress, facilitating the discovery of novel genes and pathways involved in drought tolerance. This molecular insight has enabled breeders to accelerate the introgression of favorable alleles and genomic regions conferring drought resilience into elite sunflower germplasm.

Balkan Peninsula is considered dispersion route of grasspea into Europe, leaving rich diversity of grasspea in this geographic area. Grasspea was familiar in Serbian agriculture throughout the centuries; however, nowadays it is only grown on small acreages. In the last decade, there have been attempts of the grasspea reintroduction in Serbia and other Western Balkan countries. One of the factors that limit the use of grasspea is the presence of anti-nutritional factors, including protease inhibitors (PI) - trypsin and chymotrypsin. On the other hand, we started to explore the possible role of protease inhibitors in seed protection against bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus), as the most devastating and limiting factor in legume production, including grasspea. Therefore, the main goals of this research are (1) to determine the content of chymotrypsin inhibitor (CI) activity in seeds of 12 grasspea accessions and (2) to examine the suitability of grasspea in relation to other two legumes (common bean and faba bean) as the feeding medium for the development and population growth of the bean weevil. CI activity ranged from 5.7 CUI/mg to 16.3 CUI/mg, with medium of 13.3 CUI/mg for the analyzed collection. Further, the lowest total number of bean weevils emerged from faba bean, while the population growth of the bean weevil was the highest on common bean, followed by grasspea. These are preliminary results of larger research, which will focus on a role of protease inhibitors in protection of legumes to bean weevil and possibility of PIs to be used in the production of bioinsecticide. The correlation between these two parameters will be done in ongoing research.

Among the effects of wide-ranging climate change, drought presents a significant threat to global agricultural production. Drought reduces yield quantity and quality of crops, particularly in the semi-arid and arid regions. Sunflower is known for its moderate tolerance to water stress conditions thanks to its well-developed root system and ability to grow in different agroecological conditions. However, prolonged exposure to drought significantly reduces sunflower seed and oil yields, impacting global oil quality. Drought stress in sunflower mostly occurs during the seedling stage, vegetative phase or reproductive phase. Understanding the mechanisms and factors influencing drought tolerance is essential for developing resilient sunflower capable of sustaining agricultural productivity in the face of climate variability and water scarcity. Therefore, breeding for drought tolerance is an economical, feasible, and environmentally friendly control method However, it requires the use of the unexploited approach in sunflower research due to the complexity of the trait. Initially, determination of the genetic diversity existing within and between sunflower species remains the basis for elucidating of the genetic structure and for improvement of traits, including drought tolerance. Manipulation of this diversity to improve drought tolerance among sunflower genotypes may be achieved through selection of adaptive mechanisms that include drought escape, avoidance and tolerance. The breeding tools and technologies for drought tolerance are based on so-called “-omics” techniques, including phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics. Phenomics refers to a quantitative description of the plant's morphological, anatomical, ontogenetic, physiological, and biochemical properties. Recent advancements in phenomics, facilitated by highthroughput phenotyping tools, empower researchers to explore multivariate phenotypic information. Utilizing mainly no

Variation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) core collection was assessed based on the main nutritive and bioactive components. Nutritional profile was described for each cultivar and landrace. Protein content was in the familiar range for common bean (19.6-31.6%). Detected variability for potassium, sulphur, iron and zinc was 7.78, 16.7, 14.99, and 40.17%, respectively. Total phenolic content ranged from 1.8 to 14.1 mg GAE /g DW, with high variation (CV = 41.3%). Likewise, antioxidant tests DPPH, ABTS and FRAP had high, genotype-based, CV in range 29-46%. With the application of PCA and cluster analysis, better insight in underlying germplasm structure was acknowledged, as well accession’s grouping based on the studied traits. Cultivars Vulkan and Panonski tetovac, breeding line HR45, landraces L24, L92, L119, L120, and L125 had larger amounts of iron, nitrogen, and proteins. Elevated phenolic content was observed in cultivars Balkan and Spinel, as well as landraces L19, L29, L41 and L60. In addition, cultivar Royal Dutch was recognized for higher levels of zinc, and higher antioxidant capacity revealed by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Therefore, these tests could be used in the selection of the accessions for breeding for nutritive quality enhancing.

Suncokret je sve više ižložen negativnim uticajima klimatskih promena, posebno visokim temperaturama i sušnim periodima, što neretko uzrokuje značajne varijacije i smanjenje prinosa semena. S obzirom na to da se klimatske promene ne mogu zaustaviti, neophodno je identifikovati promene u biljci koje omogućavaju prilagođavanje na ekstremne klimatske uslove i primeniti ova saznanja u procesu oplemenjivanja. Stvaranje novih genotipova tolerantnih na sušu i sve vrste stresa je prioritet u sadašnjem ali i budućem procesu oplemenjivanja biljaka. Postizanje ovog cilja zahteva ispitivanje performanši hibrida na više lokaliteta i u ražlićitim godinama, osiguravajuć i tako pouzdane rezultate i prilagodljivost u promenljivim okolnostima. Institut za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Institut od nacionalnog značaja za Republiku Srbiju, Novi Sad sprovodi svake godine multilokacijske mikro i proizvodne ogleda širom zemlje, testirajući adaptabilnost i stabilnost novih i već raširenih hibrida suncokreta u različitim mikroklimatskim uslovima. Tokom 2023. godine hibridi nove generacije, odnosno dva konvencionalna hibrida (NS Kruna i NS Ronin) i dva Express (SUMO) hibrida (NS H 8002 i NS H 8005) posejani su u osam regiona tj. okruga, kod četiri poljoprivredna proizvođača a u svakom okrugu. Imajući u vidu da je u 2023. godini, prosečan prinos semena suncokreta u Republici Srbiji prema procenama iznošio 2,7 -2,9 t/ha, a kada uporedimo ovu vrednost sa prosečnim prinosima u mreži proizvodnih ogleda osam okruga, jasno se ističe visok kvalitet NS hibrida suncokreta nove generacije. NS Ronin je ostvario izuzetan prinos od 4,2 t/ha, prati ga NS Kruna sa 4 t/ha, dok su SUMO hibridi NS H 8002 i NS H 8005 postigli prinose od 3,7 t/ha i 3,8 t/ha. Rezultati AMMI analize pokazuju da je za prinos semena tokom 2023. godine u proseku kroz sve okruge najstabilniji bio hibrid NS H 8002, sa vrednosć u IPC1 najblizoj nuli. Hibridi NS Kruna, NS Ronin i NS H 8005 su pokazali manju stabilnost, jer su bili udaljeniji o

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.

Frankliniella occidentalis (thrips) is a widespread polyphagous insect pest that causes damage and yield losses. Control of this and other thrips species is challenging due to the emergence of insecticide-resistant populations. Wild sunflower species have proven useful in sunflower breeding programs as a source of resistance genes. Therefore, this work is aimed to evaluate the suseptibility of five annual wild species of Helianthus (H. annuus, H. argophillus, H. neglectus, H. praecox and H. petiolaris) in relation to the tolerance of F. occidentalis. The bioassay was set up in a greenhouse with an uncontrolled thrips population, in ten replicates. The number of adults of F. occidentalis was counted twice during the experiment, within ten days, from five leaves of each plant (replication). The density of non-glandular trichomes on both epidermises was analyzed with a light microscope on the same leaves (except H. argophyllus). According to our results, the highest average number of thrips adults was on H. annuus and H. argophilus during both observation periods that also have a very dense indumetnum. The most tolerant, with the lowest number of thrips adults were H. praecox and H. neglectus, characterized with less developed indumentum. According to our results, we can conclude that the density of non-glandular trichomes does not affect the preference of F. occidentalis. However, the development and distribution of the leaf epidermal cuticle, epicuticular waxes and glandular trichomes (capitate and linear) may be related to the degree of resistance, which is the subject of our future research.

The presence of microplastic particles in agroecosystems has profound implications for soil quality, crop yield, and soil biota. Earthworms are widely recognized as valuable soil bioindicators due to their abundance, fast reproduction, and easy manipulation. The aim of this study was to observe Eisenia fetida avoidance behavior and changes in biomass and mortality rate in soil samples spiked with polyethylene microplastic particles. Three types of soil sampled from the agricultural fields (“Banat 1”, “Banat 2”, and “Bačka”) were tested, as well as three microplastic concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%). The calculated avoidance percentages ranged from 18.67% for “Banat 1” and 23.70% for “Banat 2” to 27.40% in the case of “Bačka” soil samples. Generally, E. fetida specimens avoided the sections with plastic in all bioassays: 38.42% of the earthworms were in the chamber section that contained microplastics, as opposed to 61.58% in the control section. The changes in the earthworms’ post-test biomasses were directly proportional to the number of surviving earthworms, with the highest loss in “Bačka” soil samples with 0.3% MPs (−53.05%). The highest mortality rate (46%) was noted in “Bačka” soil samples spiked with the highest concentration of microplastic particles.

Legumes are a rich source of valuable nutrients thus represent important component in human and animal nutrition. The most important and often a limiting factor in legume production is the presence of seed pests, such as the bean weevil Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831). This work tested the suitability of three different legume species (common bean, faba bean and grass pea), the species with a growing interest in the human diet, for the development of the bean weevil, aiming to provide a reliable forecast of its population growth. After four months, been weevils consumed the highest percentage of the common bean kernels (70.79%), followed by the grass pea (53.13%), and faba bean (0.42%). The progeny production and population growth were significantly affected by the tested legume species. After each month, the total number of adults was the highest on the common bean, indicating its best suitability for the weevil’s development. Based on the number of the emerged specimens after each month of the observation, the bean weevil development was unhampered and continuous also on the grass pea. The lowest number of emerged adults, in all observation periods, was in faba bean, indicating its low preference and suitability for the weevil’s development. The population growth of the bean weevil was the highest on the common bean, followed by grass pea, and it fitted best to the quadratic equation model that enabled the prediction of the population growth of the bean weevil for each legume species in the next generations., Leguminoze su višestruko značajne, jer predstavljaju dragocen izvor različitih nutrijenata u ljudskoj i životinjskoj ishrani. Njihovim uzgojem doprinosi se raznolikosti agroekosistema i pozicioniraju se kao klimatski prilagodljiv usev. Najvažniji ograničavajući faktor u proizvodnji leguminoza predstavljaju štetotočine zrna (semena), poput pasuljevog žiška Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831). U ovom radu ispitana je pogodnost tri različite leguminoze (pasulj, sastrica i bob) sa rastućom popularnošću u ljudskoj ishrani, za razviće i rast populacije pasuljevog žiška. S ciljem utvrđivanja pouzdanog modela za prognozu populacijskog rasta štetočine, rezultati su korišćeni u matematičkom modelovanju. Istraživanja pokazuju da je, posle četiri meseca, zrno pasulja konzumirano u najvišem procentu (70,79%), manje sastrice (53,13%) i najmanje zrna boba (0,42%). Na produkciju potomstva i rast populacije statistički značajno je uticala vrsta leguminoze u ishrani. Ukupan broj eklodiralih imaga, na kraju svakog meseca u eksperimentalnom periodu, bio je najveći na pasulju, što pokazuje pogodnost ove biljke hraniteljke za razviće insekta. Eklozija imaga ukazuje da je razviće moguće i na sastrici. Najmanji broj imaga je eklodirao na zrnima boba, što ukazuje na nisku preferentnost i nepogodnost za razviće ovog insekta. Rast populacije žiška najintenzivniji je na pasulju, pa na sastrici, što je u potpunosti podržano kvadratnim regresionim modelom, koji omogućava prognozu rasta populacije pasuljevog žiška u svakoj narednoj generaciji.

Postharvest losses of stored grains are recognized as a major constraint in food security. Thus, the reduction of losses caused by stored product pests (insects, microorganisms and rodents) can increase available food supplies. The control of pests in storage and processing industry is mainly relying on the use of chemically synthesized pesticides and toxic fumigants. However, due a ban or restriction of a number of insecticides, there is an expansion in use of natural products (particularly inert dusts and botanicals). The efficacy of several inert dusts (diatomaceous earth - DE, kaolin clay - KA and vermiculite - VE (5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 gm-2)) and plant extracts of weed and invasive plant species (Erigeron cannadensis, Daucus carota and Halacsya sendtneri (0.5, 1 and 2%)) in suppressing the Sitophilus oryzae weevils was evaluated in contact toxicity tests. DE caused significant mortality at rates 10 (67.8%), 15 (75.3%) and 20 gm-2 (98.2 %), as well as KA (75%) at 10 gm-2, after 24 h. The mortality increased with the exposure period, so in both cases, after 72 h, the mortality was very high (97.8 – 100%), regardless on the applied rates. However, VE as well as plant extracts exhibited very low insecticidal activity, since the mortality was 0-17.5%, and 0-11%, respectively.

Climate change, manifested in increasingly warmer weather conditions, prolonged drought periods and changed precipitation amount and patterns, has been identified as a changing force in agriculture production. Extreme weather events have a major impact on crops, but also on agricultural pests. Specifically, drought conditions enable pests to thrive and make higher damages due to altered bionomy but also increased susceptibility of host plants. Wireworms are most devastating soil-dwelling pests of a number of crop species, and according to the predictions, they are likely to become a bigger problem under the conditions of climate change. This work aimed to monitor the occurrence and activity of wireworms in sunflower, depending on the environmental conditions, precipitation patterns in particular, and plant growth stage. Wireworm presence was monitored in a three-year period, 2018, 2019 and 2021, on an untreated sunflower field. Wireworm presence and activity was deduced based on damaged plants (%), field emergence (%) and plant density (number of plants per 10 m out of 40 sown seeds), observed at two phenophases (one and three to four pair of leaves).

Recent EU regulations aim at reducing the use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture. In sunflower production systems in Serbia, the use of insecticides as soil and seed treatments was predominant practice of wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) control. However, a number of compounds that were effi ciently used as seed treatments are banned (neonicotinoids and carbofuran in 2014, bifenthrin in 2018), which imposes a need for novel approach in wireworm management. One of the promising alternatives is the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) as environmentally favorable microbiological agents. This work aimed at assessing the potential of an “Attract & Kill” strategy for controlling wireworms in sunflower in comparison with conventional insecticides. This strategy involved the use of the product “ATTRACAP®”, capsules containing the EPF Metarhizium brunneum and CO2 as attractant. The experiment was set in 2018, at Rimski šančevi (Novi Sad, Serbia), as a randomized block design with a) soil treatments with ATTRACAP® and tefluthrin based insecticide; b) seed treatments with thiacloprid, bifenthrin, tefluthrin and flupyradifurone based insecticides and c) the control (untreated seeds).

Legumes represent a valuable source of proteins in human and animal nutrition, as well as of different nutrients. Also, they enable diversification of agroecosystems and can be considered climate smart crops. Therefore, they are gaining importance in both developed and developing countries. The most important, and often limiting factor in legume production is the presence of the bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus). This work tested the suitability of three different legume species, i. e. common bean, grass pea and faba bean (two accessions of each species) with growing interest in human nutrition, for the development and population growth of this pest, with special emphasis on the levels of anti-nutritive compounds – trypsin inhibitors. The suitability was assessed based on the progeny production after each month. The development and progeny production were significantly affected by the legume species, but also by the accessions. The highest number of emerged adults was on common bean, while the lowest regardless on observation period, was on faba bean, indicating its low suitability for weevil development. Correlation analysis detected significant influence of the level of trypsin inhibitors on progeny production.

Climate change substantially influences biology, ecology, occurrence, and distribution of plant pests (insects, pathogens, and weeds), pest-host plant interactions, and activity of natural enemies. Indirectly, altered climate conditions have an influence on the efficacy of control measures applied within Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Some of the IPM techniques, primarily pest resistance/tolerance and biocontrol measures are highly susceptible to environmental changes. 14.1. Introduction 14.2. Climate change impact on agro-ecosystems: present knowledge, implications and uncertainties 14.3. Crops responses to changing climate 14.4. Effects of climate change on plant pests 14.5. General IPM Principles 14.6. Evaluation and adaptation of IPM practices under the conditions of changing climate and climate-smart pest management 14.7. Conclusions

Store product pests often cause high qualitative and quantitative losses to seeds of agricultural plants during storage. Damages inflicted to a high category seed result in reduced germination that practically affects agricultural production. Therefore, it is important to control insect pests and mitigate losses in storages, but at the same time to preserve the germination potential of the seeds as well as their vitality and quality. Fumigation with CO2 is a biorational method used for controlling store product pests in a variety of commodities. Its insecticidal potential is well documented, however the information about the effect on seeds is lacking. In this work, we assessed the efficacy of CO2 fumigation and its effect on vitality (germination energy and germination) and quality (fatty acid composition) of sunflower and common bean seeds. CO2, (62, 93 and 96 %), was applied to sunflower seeds artificially infested with Plodia interpunctella larvae and common bean infested with Acanthoscelides obtectus adults, in gastight bags. The lowest concentration (62 %) caused total mortality (100 %) of P. interpunctella larvae after 7 days of exposure. The two highest CO2 concentrations caused relatively high mortality after two hours of exposure (81 and 86 %), while total mortality (100 %) was achieved after 24 h. The lowest concentration caused only 62.0 % mortality of A. obtectus after 24 h of exposure. In treatments with 93 and 96 % of CO2 mortality was 88 and 93 % after 24 h exposure, respectively. Fumigation with CO2, irrespective of concentrations, showed no adverse effect on seed germination of sunflower (97.0 to 99.5 % in all treatments) or common bean (91.3-95.3 %), or on the percentage of detectable fatty acids in sunflower seeds. However, varietal differences should be considered.

Recent European Union regulations aim at reducing the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture. In sunflower production in Serbia, the use of synthetic insecticides for soil and seed treatments has become a prevailing practice for wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) control. However, a number of compounds efficiently used as seed treatments have been phased out. This work aimed at assessing the potential of an environmentally friendly “Attract and Kill” strategy (A&K) for controlling wireworms in sunflower in comparison to conventional insecticides. The experiments were carried out in 2018, 2019 and 2021 involving (a) soil treatments with ATTRACAP® and a Force 1.5 G; (b) seed treatments with Sonido, Force 20 CS, Lumiposa and Buteo Start 480 FS; (c) controls (i.e., untreated seeds). The efficacy of the treatments was assessed based on the plant density and emerging plant damage (%). A damage rating scale (levels 0–5) was created, aiming for a more reliable and concrete interpretation of the results. Data were processed using binomial and multinomial regressions, followed by modelling of the damage and calculating the odds of damage occurrence, depending on the applied insecticide. In all experimental years and at all localities, the Force 20 CS and/or Force 1.5 G treatments resulted in the highest plant density and the lowest percentage of plant damage. ATTRACAP® showed good effectiveness, since plant density and percentage of damaged plants were at the same level of significance as the commonly used conventional insecticides in sunflower production (Sonido for seed treatment and Force 1.5 G for soil treatment). Thus, the A&K strategy was efficient in controlling wireworms at conditions of low abundance, based on three-year experimental results. Although the damage rating scale enabled a clear differentiation of plant damage caused by wireworms responsible for reduced plant density, more reliable models were obtained by binomial regressions, classifying plants as dama

Proizvodnja uljane repice u Srbiji prati trend porasta površina pod uljaricama u svetu. Kao najvažniji preduslov za uspešnu proizvodnju i postizanje visokih prinosa neophodno je obezbediti seme visokog kvaliteta i osigurati optimalan sklop biljaka. Kvalitetan tretman semena se pokazao kao najbolje rešenje za zaštitu biljaka u početnim fazama razvoja. Ispitivanja su izvedena na tri sorte ozime uljane repice: Ana, Zorica i Jasna. Seme je tretirano fungicidima sa aktivnim materijama karboksin + tiram i fluopikolid + fluoksastrobin, kao i insekticidom sa a.m. flupiradifuron, a kontrola je bilo netretirano seme. Uticaj tretmana ispitan je primenom standardnog laboratorijskog metoda i nakon 7 dana utvrđeni su klijavost semena i dužina ponika. Klijavost semena u kontroli se kretala od 92% do 93%. U proseku, najveću klijavost imalo je seme tretirano sa fungicidom fluopikolid + fluoksastrobin (94 – 98%). Značajno nižu klijavost imalo je seme sorte Jasna (84%) i Ana (88%) tretirano kombinacijom fungicida karboksin + tiram i insekticida. Dužina ponika je bila statistički značajno najveća kod semena sorte Jasna (18,27 cm) tretiranog fungicidom fluopikolid + fluoksastrobin, koja je i u proseku za sve tretmane imala najveću vrednost ispitivanog parametra. Najniže vrednosti su dobijene kod ponika sorte Zorica (13,39 cm) pri tretmanu fungicidom karboksin + tiram. Za uspešnu proizvodnju treba odabirati tretmane koji imaju pozitivan efekat na kvalitet semena., The production of oilseed rape in Serbia follows the trend of increasing areas under oil crops in the world. As the most important precondition for successful production and achieving high yields, it is necessary to provide high-quality seeds and ensure an optimal plant number per hectare. Quality seed treatment has proven to be the best solution for plant protection in the initial stages of development. Test was performed on three varieties of winter rapeseed: Ana, Zorica and Jasna. The seeds were treated with fungicides with a.i. carboxin + thiram and fluopicolide + fluoxastrobin, as well as an insecticide with a.i. flupyradifurone, and control was untreated seeds. The effect of the treatment was tested using a standard laboratory method, and after 7 days, seed germination and seedling length were determined. Seed germination in the control ranged from 92% to 93%. On average, seeds treated with the fungicide fluopicolide + fluoxastrobin had the highest germination (94-98%). The seeds of Jasna (84%) and Ana (88%) varieties treated with the combination of fungicide carboxin + thiram and insecticide had a significantly lower germination rate. The seedlings length was statistically significantly highest in the seeds of Jasna variety (18.27 cm) treated with fungicide fluopicolide + fluoxastrobin, which had the highest value of the tested parameter on average for all treatments. The lowest values were obtained in seedlings of Zorica variety (13.39 cm) treated with the fungicide carboxin + thiram. For successful production, treatments that have a positive effect on seed quality should be selected.

Klimatske promene značajno utiču na gajene kulture, smanjujući stabilnost prinosa i kvalitet semena. Adaptabilnost suncokreta na promenu klime ima ključnu ulogu u perspektivi gajenja ove kulture u Evropi. Prilagođavenjem besplatne agrotehničke mere kao što je datum setve suncokreta, poljoprivrednici mogu povećati prinose. Cilj istraživanja je da analizira i proceni kako različiti genotipovi reaguju na različite datume setve u uslovima promenjene klime, te da identifikuje najpovoljnije uslove za maksimalne prinose semena, ulja, kvalitet proizvedenog semena i morfološke osobine. Istraživanje je sprovedeno od 2020. do 2022. godine na oglednim poljima Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo Novi Sad. Ogled se sastojao od tri izolacije u četiri ponavljanja sa šest genotipova, kao simulacija semenske proizvodnje osnovne kategorije semena i setrifikovane kategorije semena I generacije. Svi genotipovi su posejani u četiri različita datuma setve sa razmakom od dve nedelje između datuma. Analizom rezultata može se primetiti da datum setve, genotip i njihova interakcija značajno utiču na variranje ispitivanih osobina. Utvrđeno je da povećanje prinosa semena prati povećanje kvaliteta proizvedenog semena u svim datumima setve. Korelacijama je utvrđeno da, smanjenje padavina u fazi nalivanja semena utiče na smanjenje prinosa semena i ulja. Primećeno je da visoke temperature od nicanja do butonizacije imaju negativan uticaj na prinos semena, ali povećavaju visinu biljke, energiju klijanja i klijavost proizvedenog semena. Visoke temperature tokom cvetanja negativno utiču na energiju klijanja i klijavost proizvedenog semena, ali pozitivno na prečnik glave. Prilagođavanje datuma setve može biti pouzdan alat za odgovor na buduće klimatske promene. Pomeranje optimalnih datuma setve (sredina aprila) na kasniji period (početak ili sredina maja) može smanjiti stresne uslove tokom oplodnje i nalivanja semena, rezultirajući većim prinosima i boljim kvalitetom proizvedenog semena, što je cilj s, Climate change has a significant impact on cultivated crops, reducing yield stability and seed quality. The adaptability of sunflower to climate change plays a key role in the perspective of growing this crop in Europe. By adjusting a free agrotechnical measure such as the sunflower sowing date, farmers can increase yields. The goal of the research is to analyze and evaluate how different genotypes react to different sowing dates in conditions of a changed climate, and to identify the most favorable conditions for maximum yields of seeds, oil, quality of produced seeds and morphological characteristics. The research was conducted from 2020 to 2022 on the experimental fields of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. The experiment consisted of three isolations in four replications with six genotypes, as a simulation of seed production of the basic seed category and the certified seed category of the first generation. All genotypes were sown on four different sowing dates with a two-week interval between dates. Analyzing the results, it can be observed that the date of sowing, the genotype and their interaction significantly affect the variation of the tested traits. It was found that the increase in seed yield is accompanied by an increase in the quality of the produced seed on all sowing dates. Through correlations, it was determined that the decrease in precipitation during the seed-filling phase affects the decrease in seed and oil yields. It was observed that high temperatures from germination to budding have a negative effect on seed yield, but increase plant height, germination energy and germination of the seeds produced. High temperatures during flowering have a negative effect on the energy of germination and germination of the seeds produced, but a positive effect on the diameter of the head. Adjusting sowing dates can be a reliable tool to respond to future climate change. Shifting the optimal sowing dates (mid-April) to a later period (early

Evropski bioekonomski sektor generiše godišnji promet od oko 2 triliona evra sa više od 17 miliona zaposlenih. Međutim, u EU postoji nedostatak alternativnih useva, koji bi mogli lako da se uvedu u postojeće plodorede i da obezbede vredne sirovine za višestruku upotrebu. Raznovrsnost i diverzifikacija poljoprivrednih sistema može doprineti održivoj evropskoj bioekonomiji obezbeđivanjem stabilnih prihoda za poljoprivrednike, smanjenjem negativnih uticaja na životnu sredinu i povećanjem otpornosti na klimatske, ekonomske i biološke rizike. Karinata i kamelina su odlični kandidati koji bi mogli da zadovolje navedene specifične potrebe kada se jednom integrišu u poljoprivredne sisteme sa tradicionalnim glavnim usevima. Kamelina je biljna vrsta poznata u evropskoj poljoprivredi još od njenih početaka i dostupnost ozimih i prolećnih genotipova omogućava njeno gajenje u gotovo svim evropskim klimatskim uslovima. Karinata je uljana vrsta u razvoju, sa visokom tolerancijom na toplotni stres i stres suše, i može biti odlično rešenje u sistemima proizvodnje kao naknadni usev kasnog proleća/leta na području Mediterana, kao i glavni usev na marginalnim i slabo plodnim zemljištima koji su pod rizikom od dezertifikacije. Od obe vrste se mogu dobiti različiti proizvodi sa raznovrsnim potencijalom primene: ulje – kao sirovina za “zelenu” hemiju; pogača bogata proteinima - kao sastojak hrane za domaće životinje direktno ili kao koncentrat proteina, kao i mnoštvo visokokvalitetnih koproizvoda sa dodatnom vrednošću, dobijenih preradom semena i iz ostatka biomase., The European bioeconomy sector generates an annual turnover of around 2 trillion EUR with more than 17 million persons employed. However, in EU there is a lack of alternative crops, which could easily fit the existing rotations and produce valuable feedstocks for multiple end-uses. The diversity and diversification of farming systems can contribute to a sustainable European bioeconomy by securing stable revenues for farmers, lowering environmental negative impacts and increasing resilience to climatic, economic and biological risks. Carinata and camelina are perfect candidates to meet all these specific needs once integrated in agricultural systems with traditional staple crops. Camelina is a mature crop for European agriculture and the availability of winter and spring types makes it quite easily adapted to all European climates. Carinata is an emerging oilseed crop with high tolerance to heat and drought stress and can perfectly act as a late spring/summer double cropping in Mediterranean Europe as well as a main crop in marginal and poorly fertile soils with desertification risks. From both camelina and carinata different products could be obtained with a variety of potential uses: oil – as a feedstock for green chemistry; protein-rich cake - as animal feed ingredient directly or as protein concentrate, and a multitude of high added-value co-products, derived both from seed processing as well as from residual biomass.

Temeljno ispitivanje morfoloških osobina korena je ključno za odabir genotipova suncokreta sa odgovarajućim osobinama korena bolje prilagođenim uslovima suše. Ova studija, deo SmartSun projekta koji finansira Fond za nauku Republike Srbije, ima za cilj da proceni potencijal postojećih genotipova suncokreta da tolerišu sušne uslove korišćenjem visoko propusne fenotipizacije korena u rizotronima. Rizotroni su providni kontejneri koji omogućavaju nedestruktivno posmatranje rasta i razvoja korena u realnom vremenu. Morfološke osobine korena u studiji su procenjene korišćenjem rizotrona pod dobro navodnjenom kontrolom (70% zapreminskog sadržaja vode) i stresom od suše (41-50% zapreminskog sadržaja vode), praćeno analizom digitalne slike korena pomoću WinRhizo skenera. Studija je otkrila da nekoliko morfoloških osobina korena, uključujući svežu i suvu masu korena, širinu korena, dužinu primarnog korena, ukupnu dužinu korenovog sistema, zapreminu, površinu i prečnik, mogu ukazivati na različit odgovor na sušu. Generalno, ispitivani genotipovi su ispoljili smanjenu brzinu rasta i značajno smanjenje merenih parametara, osim prosečnog prečnika korenovog sistema, u uslovima smanjene dostupnosti vode u poređenju sa rastom pod dobro zalivenom kontrolom. Fenotipizacijom korena suncokreta u rizotronima i odabirom odgovarajućih osobina korena, mogu se identifikovati genotipovi tolerantni na sušu koji mogu da izdrže uslove vodenog stresa, usmeravajući napore oplemenjivanja ka većem fokusu na ove osobine., Investigating root morphological traits thoroughly is crucial for selecting sunflower genotypes with suitable root traits better adapted to drought conditions. This study, a part of the SmartSun project funded by the Fund of Science in the Republic of Serbia, aims to assess the potential of existing sunflower genotypes to tolerate drought conditions using high-throughput root phenotyping in rhizotrons. Rhizotrons are transparent containers that allow non-destructive real-time observation of root growth and development. Root morphological traits in the study were assessed using rhizotrons under well- watered control (70% volumetric water content) and drought stress (41-50% volumetric water content), followed by root digital image analysis using a WinRhizo scanner. The study revealed that several root morphological traits, including fresh and dry root mass, root width, primary root length, a total length of the root system, volume, surface area, and diameter, can indicate a differential response to drought. Generally, the tested genotypes exhibited a reduced growth rate and a significant decrease in measured parameters, except for the average diameter of the root system, under reduced water availability conditions compared to growth under well-watered control. By phenotyping sunflower roots in rhizotrons and selecting appropriate root traits, drought-tolerant genotypes that can withstand water stress conditions can be identified, directing breeding efforts towards a greater focus on these traits.

Oplemenjivanje gajenih biljaka je kontinuirani proces usmeren ka povećanju prinosa i poboljšanju njihove otpornosti na biotičke i abiotičke stresove. U novije vreme, česte i često nepredvidive varijacije u klimatskim i tržišnim uslovima su dovele do toga da klasične metode oplemenjivanja ne mogu uvek da obezbede rešenja i blagovremeni odgovor na nove izazove u poljoprivrednoj proizvodnji. Imajući sve ovo u vidu, Institut za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo (IFVCNS) je osnovao Centar izvrsnosti za inovacije u oplemenjivanju biljaka tolerantnih na promene klime – Climate Crops sa ciljem uvođenja i primene novih tehnika oplemenjivanja (NBT), kao i efikasnih platformi za fenotipizaciju u oplemenjivačke programe ratarskih biljaka u IFVCNS. Očekuje se da će aktivnocti u okviru Climate Crops pozitivno uticati na izvrsnost i inovativne kapacitete IFVCNS u oblasti oplemenjivanja biljaka tolerantnih na ekstremne vremenske uslove koji se javljaju kao posledica promene klime., Crop breeding is a continuous process aimed at increasing yields and improving crop resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Recently, frequent and often unpredictable variations in climatic and market conditions have led to the fact that classical breeding methods cannot always provide solutions and a timely response to new challenges in agricultural production. With all this in mind, the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops (IFVCNS) established the Centre of Excellence for Innovations in the Breeding of Climate-tolerant Plants - Climate Crops with the aim of introducing and applying new breeding techniques (NBT), along with efficient phenotyping platforms in crop breeding programs in IFVCNS. It is expected that the activities within Climate Crops will have a positive impact on the excellence and innovative capacities of IFVCNS in the field of breeding plants tolerant to the extreme weather conditions that occur as a result of climate change.

Različiti vremenski okviri setve i karakteristike genotipova značajno utiču na varijacije u pokrovnosti useva suncokreta. Istraživanja ukazuju na mogućnost optimizacije pokrovnosti useva putem prilagođavanja datuma setve i odabira genotipa, posebno uzimajući u obzir dužinu vegetacije. Razvijeniji habitus biljke može značajno olakšati proces kontrole korova u suncokretu, pružajući veću pokrovnost, koja sprečava dalji rast korova. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se ispita pokrovnost tri inbred linije suncokreta različite dužine vegetacije: ultra rana, srednje rana i kasna i njihov habitus kroz četiri različita roka setve i četiri perioda merenja: 30, 40, 50 i 60 dana nakon nicanja. Korišćenjem aplikacije „CANAPEO“, sprovedeno je detaljno merenje habitusa biljke suncokreta. Analiza varijanse korišćena je da bi se uočile razlike između habitusa kod različitih inbred linija, datuma setve i datuma merenja. Primećeno je da su inbred linije, datum setve i njihova interkacija imali značajan uticaj na habitus biljke tokom većine perioda merenja. Analiza rezultata pokazuje da nakon 30, 40, 50 i 60 dana od nicanja, poslednji rok setve i srednje rana inbred linija u proseku ostvaruje najveći habitus biljke, odnosno pokrovnost useva suncokreta. Srednje rana inbred linija sucnokreta nakon 60 dana od nicanja pokriva više od 99% površine zemlje i ne dopušta dalji rast korova. Može se zaključiti da primenom fenotipske analize habitusa biljke postoji mogućnost za efikasnije suzbijanje korova. Takođe, ističe se da uz pomeranje datuma setve prema kasnijem, dolazi do brže i efikasnije pokrovnosti tla ispod svih inbred linija suncokreta, što doprinosi efikasnom suzbijanju rasta korova., Different sowing dates and genotype characteristics significantly influence variations in sunflower canopy. Various studies indicate the potential for optimizing crop canopy through adjusted sowing times and genotype selection, particularly considering vegetation length. A more developed plant habitus can considerably facilitate weed control in sunflower fields, providing enhanced coverage that impedes further weed growth. The aim of this study was to examine the coverage of three different sunflower inbred lines with varying vegetation lengths: ultra-early, mid-early, and late, across four different sowing dates and four measurement periods: 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after emergence. Through the utilization of the “CANAPEO” application, a comprehensive measurement of sunflower plant habitus was conducted. Analysis of variance was employed to discern differences in habitus among different inbred lines, sowing dates, and measurement periods. It was observed that inbred lines, sowing dates, and their interaction significantly impacted plant habitus throughout most measurement periods. The results indicated that 30, 40, 50, and 60 days post-emergence, last sowing date and mid-early inbred line on average achieved the biggest habitus i.e. crop canopy. The mid-early inbred line covered over 99% of the ground surface after 60 days from emergence, preventing further weed growth. In conclusion, the application of phenotypic analysis of plant habitus presents an opportunity for efficient weed suppression. Additionally, shifting the sowing date towards later periods results in faster and more effective soil coverage beneath all sunflower inbred lines, contributing to effective weed growth inhibition.

Prednost gajenja suncokreta je njegova sposobnost da dobro koristi vodu i hranljive materije iz zemljišta zahvaljujući korenu koji prodire duboko u zemljište, ima dobru usisnu snagu i razvijenost. Prilikom testiranja klijavosti partija semena uočeno je da se u pojedinim godinama kod klijanaca u većoj meri ispoljava nedostatak primarnog korena te je i obavljeno istraživanje sa ciljem da se utvrdi da li ova pojava značajno utiče na prinos, masu 1000 semena i sadržaj ulja tri hibrida suncokreta. Ogled je bio postavljen na dva lokaliteta tokom dve proizvodne godine po split-plot metodu. Parcelice su formirane biljkama razvijenim iz klijanaca sa kompletnim korenom, druga biljkama razvijenim iz klijanaca bez primarnog korena, dok je treća parcelica predstavljala kombinaciju prethodne dve, zavisno od procentualnog učešća klijanaca bez primarnog korena u polaznoj partiji semena. Najveći prinos semena ostvaren je kod useva sa kompletnim korenom, kod hibrida NS-H-111 i Sumo 2 OR i značajno veći u odnosu na prinos useva bez primarnog korena. Masa 1000 semena hibrida NS-H-111 je kao i prinos bila najveća u prvoj varijanti, kod hibrida Oliva u drugoj, dok je kod hibrida Sumo 2 OR najveća vrednost utvrđena kod useva koji je formiran kombinacijom biljaka sa i bez primarnog korena. Značajno najveći sadržaj ulja hibrida NS-H-111 imao je usev bez primarnog korena, dok je kod hibrida Oliva značajno veći bio kod useva sa kompletnim korenom. Kod hibrida Sumo 2 OR značajnih razlika nije bilo. Razvijenost korena je značajno uticala na prinos i komponente prinosa, a utvrđen je i značajan uticaj samog genotipa., Sunflower’s ability to make good use of water and nutrients from the soil by means of strong root represents its cultivation advantage. During the seed lots germination testing, it was observed that the lack of a primary root is significantly manifested in seedlings occasionally, and research was carried out with the aim of determining whether this phenomenon significantly affects the yield, 1000 seed weight and oil content of three sunflower hybrids. The experiment was set up on two locations during two production years using the split-plot method. The plots were formed by plants developed from seedlings with a complete root, the second by plants without a primary root, and the third was a combination of the previous two, depending on the percentage participation in the initial seed lot. The highest seed yield was achieved in crops with complete roots, and in hybrids NS-H-111 and Sumo 2 OR it was significantly higher. The weight of 1000 seeds was the highest in the first variant at NS-H-111, in the second variant at Oliva, while the highest value was determined in the crop with and without primary roots at Sumo 2 OR. NS-H-111 had a significantly highest oil content at a crop without a primary root, while in hybrid Oliva was in crop with complete roots. In the case of the hybrid Sumo 2 OR, no significant differences were found. Root development had a significant impact on yield and yield components, and a significant influence of the genotype itself was also determined.

Klimatske promene negativno utiču na proizvodnju ratarskih useva, posebno tokom dugih sušnih perioda. Jedan od ključnih pristupa za ublažavanje uticaja ekstremnih klimatskih uslova je oplemenjivanje useva kako bi se poboljšala njihova prilagodljivost različitim uslovima gajenja. Međutim, tradicionalne metode oplemenjivanja su često dugotrajne, radno intenzivne i rezultati evaluacije mogu biti pristrasni. U cilju dubljeg razumevanja adaptivnog odgovora suncokreta na sušne stresove uzrokovane klimatskim promenama, SmartSun projekat primenjuje holistički pristup koji obuhvata digitalnu fenotipizaciju korena suncokreta, analizu epigenetskih mehanizama i integraciju dobijenih podataka mašinskim učenjem. Do sada je razvijen protokol za rani rast korena suncokreta kroz fenotipizaciju u rizotronima pod različitim uslovima zalivanja (70, 42 i 50% zapreminskog sadržaja vode). Testirane su inbred linije suncokreta sa Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo kako bi se identifikovali tolerantni i osetljivi genotipovi. Identifikovane su ključne morfološke osobine korena koje su pouzdane u razlikovanju osetljivosti na sušu., Climate change has a negative impact on the production of field crops, especially during extended periods of drought. One of the key strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme climate conditions is crop breeding aimed at enhancing their adaptability to various growing conditions. However, traditional breeding methods are often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and the evaluation outcomes may be biased. To gain a deeper understanding of the adaptive response of sunflowers to drought stress caused by climate change, the SmartSun Project employs a holistic approach encompassing digital root phenotyping, analysis of epigenetic mechanisms, and the integration of acquired data through machine learning. A protocol for early sunflower root growth has been developed using phenotyping in rhizotrons under different watering conditions (70%, 42%, and 50% volumetric water content). Inbred sunflower lines from the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops (IFVCNS) were tested to identify tolerant and sensitive genotypes. Key morphological root traits that reliably differentiate drought sensitivity have been identified.

Suncokret (Helianthus annuus L.), u poređenju sa drugim usevima se smatra bolje adaptiranim prema sušnim uslovima. Međutim, različito ispoljavanje suše može prouzrokovati štete merljive u prinosu semena i sadržaju ulja u semenu. U poljskim uslovima stres izazvan sušom se ispoljava u vidu uvelosti počev od donjih spratova lišća koja napreduje sa trajanjem sušnih uslova. Razlike u stepenu uvelosti između biljaka suncokreta i genotipova su, iako lako uočljive, nedovoljne za pouzdan zaključak o tolerantnosti prema suši. Za potrebe kvantifikacije tolerantnosti suncokreta prema suši i uticaja suše na arhitekturu korena razvijene su različite metode od kojih jedna podrazumeva gajenje biljaka u rizotronima tokom vremenskog perioda ograničenog brzinom rasta korena. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bilo proučavanje korena suncokreta primenom rizotrona u uslovima suše., Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), compared to other crops is considered to be better adapted to drought conditions. However, various drought scenarios can inflict damage quantified in terms of lower seed yield and oil content. In field conditions drought stress in visible in wilting starting with leaves of lower strata and progressing with persistence of stress conditions. Differences in level of wilting symptoms between sunflower plants and genotypes can be observed, although firm conclusion about drought tolerance is not easy to make. To quantify drought tolerance and impact of drought on root architecture various approaches in root phenotyping have been developed. One of methods includes growing plants in rhizotrons for period of time limited by root growth speed.