Search

Copper (Cu) locally contaminates soils and might negatively affect growth and yield of crops. A better understanding of plant copper tolerance and accumulation is needed in order to breed more Cu-tolerant or Cu-efficient crops. Cu tolerance was evaluated in different varieties of seven species (Brassica carinata, B. juncea, B. napus, Cynara cardunculus, Helianthus annuus, Nicotiana tabacum and Raphanus sativus) exposed to a series of CuSO4 concentrations (0.1–8 μM CuSO4) in the nutrient solution. Plants were further exposed to 0.1 μM CuSO4 and to their variety-specific concentrations that reduced root growth to 50% of the maximum rate (EC50). Among all the varieties of all the species the EC50 varied from 0.7 up to 3.1 μM Cu. B. carinata was significantly more Cu-sensitive than the other species, which were not significantly different among each other, and B. carinata and H. annuus accommodated significant intra-specific, inter-varietal variation. There were significant differences between species in Cu uptake efficiency and nutrient status. When under EC50 exposure, all the Brassicaceae, except B. carinata, maintained low Cu concentrations in shoots, whereas the other species and B. carinata exhibited significantly increased shoot Cu concentrations, compared to the control. There was no apparent relationship between Cu tolerance and Cu accumulation in roots and shoots, suggesting that the observed variation in tolerance, both between and within species, is not explained by differential exclusion capacity. Discriminant analysis and treatment comparisons suggest possible contribution of lignin, saturated fatty acids, manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in tolerance to high Cu concentrations in shoot.

Current farm systems rely on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure high productivity and control threats to the quality of the crops. However, PPP use may have considerable impacts on human health and the environment. A study protocol is presented aiming to determine the occurrence and levels of PPP residues in plants (crops), animals (livestock), humans and other non-target species (ecosystem representatives) for exposure modelling and impact assessment. To achieve this, we designed a cross-sectional study to compare conventional and organic farm systems across Europe. Environmental and biological samples were/are being/will be collected during the 2021 growing season, at 10 case study sites in Europe covering a range of climate zones and crops. An additional study site in Argentina will inform the impact of PPP use on growing soybean which is an important European protein-source in animal feed. We will study the impact of PPP mixtures using an integrated risk assessment methodology. The fate of PPP in environmental media (soil, water and air) and in the homes of farmers will be monitored. This will be complemented by biomonitoring to estimate PPP uptake by humans and farm animals (cow, goat, sheep and chicken), and by collection of samples from non-target species (earthworms, fish, aquatic and terrestrial macroinvertebrates, bats, and farm cats). We will use data on PPP residues in environmental and biological matrices to estimate exposures by modelling. These exposure estimates together with health and toxicity data will be used to predict the impact of PPP use on environment, plant, animal and human health. The outcome of this study will then be integrated with socio-economic information leading to an overall assessment used to identify transition pathways towards more sustainable plant protection and inform decision makers, practitioners and other stakeholders regarding farming practices and land use policy. EEA Balcarce Fil: Silva, Vera. Wageningen University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Alaoui, Abdallah. University of Bern. Institute of Geography. Centre for Development and Environment; Suiza. Fil: Schlünssen, Vivi. Aarhus University. Department of Public Health; Dinamarca. National Research Centre for the Working Environment; Dinamarca. Fil: Vested, Anne. Aarhus University. Department of Public Health; Dinamarca. Fil: Graumans, Martien. Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Países Bajos. Fil: Van Dael, Maurice. Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Países Bajos. Fil: Trevisan, Marco. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Department for Sustainable Food Process; Italia. Fil: Suciu, Nicoleta. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Department for Sustainable Food Process; Italia. Fil: Mol, Hans. Wageningen University and Research. Wageningen Food Safety Research; Países Bajos. Fil: Beekmann, Karsten. Wageningen University and Research. Wageningen Food Safety Research; Países Bajos. Fil: Figueiredo, Daniel. Utrecht University. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences; Países Bajos. Fil: Harkes, Paula. Wageningen University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Hofman, Jakub. Masaryk University. Faculty of Science. Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment; Republica Checa. Fil: Kandeler, Ellen. University of Hohenheim. Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation; Alemania. Fil: Abrantes, Nelson. University of Aveiro. Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Environment and Planning; Portugal. Fil: Campos, Isabel. University of Aveiro. Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Environment and Planning; Portugal. Fil: Martínez, María Ángeles. Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas; España. Fil: Pereira, Joana Luísa. Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Environment and Planning; Portugal. Fil: Goossens, Dirk. Wageningen University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group. Países Bajos. KU Leuven Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Belgica. Fil: Gandrass, Juergen. Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry; Alemania. Fil: Debler, Freya. Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry; Alemania. Fil: Huerta Lwanga, Esperanza. Wageningen University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Jonker, Marlot. Dutch Mammal Society; Países Bajos. Fil: Van Langevelde, Frank. Wageningen University and Research. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Sorensen, Martin. Aarhus University. Department of Animal Science; Dinamarca. Fil: Wells, Jerry. Wageningen University and Research. Host-Microbe Interactomics, Animal Sciences Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Boekhorst, Jos. Wageningen University and Research. Host-Microbe Interactomics, Animal Sciences Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Huss, Anke. Utrecht University. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences; Países Bajos. Fil: Mandrioli, Daniele. Ramazzini Institute. Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center; Italia. Fil: Sgargi, Daria. Ramazzini Institute. Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center; Italia. Fil: Nathanail, Paul. Land Quality Management; Reino Unido. Fil: Nathanail, Judith. Land Quality Management; Reino Unido. Fil: Tamm, Lucius. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture; Suiza. Fil: Fantke, Peter. Technical University of Denmark. Department of Technology, Management and Economics; Dinamarca. Fil: Mark, Jennifer. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture; Suiza. Fil: Grovermann, Christian. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture; Suiza. Fil: Larsen, Ana Frelih. Ecologic Institute; Alemania. Fil: Herb, Irina. Ecologic Institute; Alemania. Fil: Chivers, Charlotte Anne. University of Gloucestershire. Countryside and Community Research Institute; Reino Unido. Fil: Mills, Jane. University of Gloucestershire. Countryside and Community Research Institute; Reino Unido. Fil: Alcon, Francisco. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; España. Fil: Contreras, Josefina. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; España. Fil: Baldi, Isabelle. Bordeaux University. INSERM U1219; Francia. Fil: Pasković, Igor. Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Department of Agriculture and Nutrition; Croacia. Fil: Matjaz, Glavan. University of Ljubljana. Biotechnical Faculty; Eslovenia. Fil: Norgaard, Trine. Aarhus University. Department of Agroecology; Dinamarca. Fil: Aparicio, Virginia Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Fil: Ritsema, Coen. Wageningen University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Geissen, Violette. University and Research. Soil Physics and Land Management Group; Países Bajos. Fil: Scheepers, Paul. Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Países Bajos.

The effects of different fertilisation treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on AMF root colonisation, fruit yield, nutrient and total phenol contents, volatile compound composition, and sensory attributes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were investigated. Mineral, organic, and mineral + organic fertiliser application positively affected tomato yield (35%–50%) and phosphorus concentration (24%–29%) compared with controls. AMF application had a significant impact on the total nitrogen (+9%), manganese (+12%), and hydrophilic phenol (+8%) contents in the fruit. Volatile compounds were affected by the interactive effects of fertilisation and AMF application. The response of tomato fruit sensory quality indicators was relatively modest, with only a few sensory characteristics affected to a lesser extent. Although tomato showed susceptibility to field-native AMF, particular combinations of fertilisation and AMF inoculation were more effective at improving the quality parameters of tomatoes under field conditions applied in this study.

The interactive effects of cultivar, collecting period, and geographical location on the content and composition of biophenols and macro and micronutrients in olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf were investigated. Leaves of six cultivars were collected at three periods in two locations in Croatia. The leaves of Istarska bjelica cultivar had the greatest biophenol (oleuropein) potential, especially those sampled in January and in March at the location of Pag. All the cultivars yielded leaves with the highest concentration of biophenols in March, which coincided with the pruning period. Except for high oleuropein concentration in Istarska bjelica, flavonoids were found to be most useful for differentiating olive leaves according to cultivar. Verbascoside turned out to be the most potent differentiator of collecting periods, while phosphorus and zinc turned out to be most useful for differentiating locations. Despite different agroecological conditions at the two locations, cultivar exhibited a significant effect on olive leaf nutrient composition, which was certainly causally related to that of the biophenols. The results obtained showed that it is possible to plan more well-timed and efficient exploitation of biophenols from olive leaf based on the knowledge about the interactive effects of the three studied factors.

In order to investigate the potential of various olive cultivars and leaf sampling times for phytochemical farming practice in Croatia, phenolic and mineral composition was determined in olive leaves of four Croatian cultivars and Italian cultivar Leccino collected at three occasions, in October 2017, January 2018, and March 2018. Istarska bjelica turned out to have the largest phytochemical potential among the investigated cultivars due to steady high oleuropein concentrations found in its leaves. The concentration of main phenolic components in Istarska bjelica leaves changed only slightly during the sampling period, suggesting the possibility of its higher capability for low air temperatures stress resistance and different metabolic response compared to the other studied cultivars. Low air temperatures increased the oleuropein level and antioxidant activity in leaves of Leccino, Oblica, Levantinka, and Drobnica cultivars, which may be of crucial phytochemical farming interest. Each of the investigated olive cultivars was characterized by a specific leaf mineral nutrient composition, which could have had a specific role in their interplay with phenols.

This study set out to evaluate the effect of using sewage sludge-derived compost (SSC) or biochar (SSB) as a soil amendment on the phytoaccumulation of potentially toxic elements, PTE (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and natural radionuclides (U-238 and Th-232) by Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt) in terra rossa and rendzina soils, which are the two common soil types in Croatia. The experiment consisted of a greenhouse pot trial using a three-factor design where soil type, sludge post-stabilisation procedure and amendment rate (12 and 120 mgP/L) were the main factors. At harvest, the concentrations of analytes in the substrate, leaves and roots were measured, from which the edible tissue uptake (ETU) and concentration ratios (CR) were determined. Also, the average daily dose (ADD) and hazard quotient (HQ) were determined to assess the health risk, as well as soil contamination factor (CF). The results showed that neither adding SSC nor SSB affected the soil loading at the rates applied, suggesting a low risk of soil contamination (CF ≤1). The ETU of Cd, Cu, and Zn were 0.0061, 1.23, and 0.91 mg/plant from compost-amended soil and 0.0046, 0.78 and 0.65 mg/plant for biochar-amended soil, respectively. This difference suggests that their ETU was higher in compost-amended soils than in soils treated with biochar. The CR data indicate that the bioavailability of Cu (CR of 5.30) is highest at an amendment rate of 12 mgP/L, while for Zn (CR of 0.69), the highest bioaccumulation was observed with an amendment rate of 120 mgP/L. Translocation of Cr, Ni, Pb and 238U to the leaves was limited. Overall, the HQ (

Reactions that occur when the plant is subjected to Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) infection often result in triggering numerous defence mechanisms to fight the infection. The reactions vary regarding virus strain, host genotype, time exposure to the infection and environmental conditions. No study has examined, to date and in detail, the consequence of ten-year exposure to CTV infection on biochemical and physiological status of susceptible Mexican lime plants (Citrus aurantifolia). To understand such kind of infection changes in nutrient status, total proteins, enzyme activity involved in scavenging stressed condition, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, chlorophyll content, membrane permeability and water content were analysed between different CTV strains and healthy plants. The activity of superoxide dismutase and polyphenol oxidase significantly decreased in the infected leaves, as well as membrane permeability which were lower in the infected plants. Macro- and micro-nutrient elements were significantly changed: concentrations of leaf nitrogen, zinc, magnesium and iron were elevated but potassium concentration depressed in relation to non-infected control leaves. No changes were found with other analysed nutrient elements, enzymes, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content and relative water content. As shown in this study clear physiological changes were found among infected and non-infected control plants but none between different CTV strains. Data suggests that some of the defence mechanism investigated here were supressed due to the continuous and long-term pressure of biotic stress. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Food safety is one of the main concerns in the world and in wine it depends mostly on metabolites of microbial origin. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of natural contaminants, ochratoxin A and biogenic amines (cadaverine, histamine, putrescine and tyramine), in Croatian commercial red wines originating from different Croatian wine-making regions. Ochratoxin A was detected in 92.8% of samples, however its concentrations in all samples were more than 10-fold lower than the limit set by the European Union (2 &micro, g/kg), marking these wines as safe for consumption. The frequency of occurrence and measured concentrations of ochratoxin A were higher in wines produced in southern regions with highest values obtained in wines from southern Dalmatian islands. All samples were contaminated with cadaverine and putrescine, while 88.2% and 82.7% were contaminated with histamine and tyramine, respectively. Histamine concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection to 8.5 mg/L. Higher histamine concentrations were measured in wines with higher pH values which coincided with southern geographic origin. These results reinforce the need for routine detection and quantification of biogenic amines in Croatian wines to achieve better control of vinification and minimize their formation.

This study assesses the potential use of different types of stabilized sewage sludge as a soil amendment by considering their physicochemical characteristics, nutritional status, and their trace metal and radionuclide content. The concentrations of trace metals and radionuclides were determined using ICP-OES and gamma-ray spectrometry, respectively. For determining nutritional status and chemical characterization, this study followed standard ISO-recommended procedures. Data analysis revealed that anaerobic sludge contains higher concentrations of Cr, Hg, and Ni compared to aerobic and non-biologically stabilized sludge. A similar observation was observed in the case of 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, and 228Th. Furthermore, the high levels of P and N in aerobic sludge suggest that biologically stabilized sludge has the potential to be a good fertilizer. In addition, the study finds strong evidence that nutrients are involved in the adsorption of metals and radionuclides onto sludge biomass. Overall, eight of the nine studied sludge samples are safe for agricultural use since the concentrations of trace metals fall well below the limits set by Croatian legislation (NN 38/08). In addition, the levels of radionuclides do not pose a radiological risk. This means that soil conditioning with sewage sludge remains a viable strategy for nutrient recovery from municipal waste, although long-term impact assessments of repeated applications are necessary.

Four terroirs where cv. Malvasia Istriana is grown under equal viticultural practices and climatic conditions, but on different soil types, were studied. Grape juice samples were taken during ripening at three grapevine growth stages (S35 – berries begin to colour and enlarge ; S36 – berries with intermediate Brix values ; and S38 – berries harvest ripe). Malvasia Istriana grape juice showed a specific free amino acid profile during all three grapevine growth stages, where arginine was the most abundant free amino acid, followed by alanine, threonine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, serine, histidine and glutamic acid. Leucine was the least abundant free amino acid on all studied terroirs at all grapevine growth stages. Total free amino acids decreased at S38, compared to both S35 and S36, on all terroirs, except Fiorini terroir where total free amino acids concentration at S38 was significantly lower compared to S36, but significantly higher compared to S35.

The present study investigated the effect of boron (B) foliar application on the dynamic changes in the concentration of phenols, especially oleuropein, and volatile compounds of olive leaves during a 90-day period. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse on one year old olive plantlets, sprayed with B at 41.62 mM against a water treated control. It was revealed that total phenols and oleuropein concentration in old and in young olive leaves increased in B treated leaves 90 days after application. Furthermore, B enhanced the concentration of particular terpene and norisoprenoid volatiles in olive leaf infusion. The obtained results may give a new perspective in biochemical farming practice, with a possibility to increase the amounts of phenols and terpenes in olive leaves intended for medical uses, and to enhance olive plant resistance to pathogens and insects.

Organic amendments are often reported to improve soil properties, promote plant growth, and improve crop yield. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the biochar and compost produced from sewage sludge and olive pomace on soil hydraulic properties, water flow, and P transport (i.e., sorption) using numerical modeling (HYDRUS-1D) applied to two soil types (Terra Rosa and Rendzina). Evaporation and leaching experiments on soil cores and repacked soil columns were performed to determine the soil water retention, hydraulic conductivity, P leaching potential, and P sorption capacity of these mixtures. In the majority of treatments, the soil water retention showed a small increase compared to the control soil. A reliable fit with the modified van Genuchten model was found, which was also confirmed by water flow modeling of leaching experiments (R2 0.99). The results showed a high P sorption in all the treatments (Kd 21.24 to 53.68 cm3 g&ndash, 1), and a high model reliability when the inverse modeling procedure was used (R2 0.93 - 0.99). Overall, adding sewage sludge or olive pomace as compost or biochar improved the Terra Rosa and Rendzina water retention and did not increase the P mobility in these soils, proving to be a sustainable source of carbon and P-rich materials.