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Background: Antibiotics used to treat livestock species enter agricultural fields when they are excreted by grazing animals or are present in manure that is added to fields as fertiliser. In the European Union, the potential effects of such antibiotics on terrestrial plants must be evaluated following the standardised OECD 208 method, which specifies the crop and wild species that should serve as "sentinels" for assessing antibiotic exposure. The present study aimed to compare this approved list of sentinel species against crop and wild plant species actually present in agricultural and pasture lands in Mediterranean Europe in order to identify the most appropriate sentinel plants for the region. The study focused on Spain as a region representative of Mediterranean Europe. Georeferenced layers for wild plant species and cultivated areas (crops), livestock density and land cover were combined, and then selection criteria were applied, leading to the identification of sentinel crop and wild species for crop land and pasture scenarios. Results: In the crop land scenario, the sentinel crop species were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum spp.), corn (Zea mays L), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), dried pea (Pisum sativum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and sugar beet (Saccharum officinarum L.), all of them listed in the OECD 208 method with the exception of alfalfa; the sentinel wild species were Papaver rhoeas L., Galium aparine L. and Chenopodium album L. In the pasture scenario, sentinel wild species were Bromus tectorum L., Agrostis capillaris L., Trifolium pratense L., Lotus corniculatus L. and Galium aparine L. The following common weed species in field boundaries or in pasture lands also emerged as potential sentinel species for risk assessment, even though they are not listed in the OECD 208 method: Sonchus oleraceus L., Avena sterilis L., Dactylis glomerata L., Hordeum murinum L. and Lolium rigidum Gaudin. Conclusions: The sentinel species identified in this study may be useful in risk assessment procedures covering the Mediterranean Europe. The method developed for this study could be applied to identify sentinel species for other representative agroclimatic regions in Europe (such as Atlantic and Continental). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture intensification threatens farmland bird populations because, among other reasons, it reduces the availability of food resources required to rear their offspring. In our study, we sampled and analyzed total arthropod abundance, biomass and richness, and orthopteran and coleopteran abundance and biomass in different agricultural habitats (alfalfa fields, stubble fields, grazed fields, and field margins) across 4 study localities with different levels of agriculture abandonment–intensification, comparing between areas used and not used by one of the most threatened farmland birds in Europe, the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), during the chick‐rearing season. Field margins were the taxonomically richest habitat, while alfalfa fields presented significantly higher total arthropod abundance and biomass than other habitats. All arthropod variables were the highest in the localities with clear conservation‐focused agrarian management, and the lowest in the most intensive one. Areas used by little bustards had higher orthopteran and coleopteran abundance and biomass than nonused areas, except for coleopteran biomass in grazed fields. These results highlight the relevance of these arthropods for the species, the importance of dry alfalfa fields as food reservoirs in this critical time of year, the food scarcity in sites where agrarian management disregards farmland bird conservation, and the role of stubbles as providers of food resources during the chick‐rearing season in areas used by the species. The adequate management of alfalfa fields and stubbles to provide those key resources seems crucial to improve little bustard breeding success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclitols are secondary metabolites with bioactive properties, naturally occurring in plants. Accumulation of such metabolites is directly connected with abiotic stressing factors. This article investigates the influence exercised by a series of abiotic factors including plant treatment with elicitors and cultivability in various regions of Europe, in some cases during two seasons, onto the amounts of cyclitols produced in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The obtained results highlighted that NaCl elicitation acts to increase the quantity of cyclitols, while AgNO3 and Zn(NO3)2 generally decreased the obtained amount of cyclitols. When considering the seasonal impact, samples harvested in August presented a double amount of cyclitols in comparison with those collected in May. Correlation analysis proved that this phenomenon is related mainly to sunshine period versus low humidity. However, our investigation suggests that soil type, salinity level, lack of humidity, the number of sunny days, and plant elicitation play a role on the amount of cyclitols produced in alfalfa plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of crop and forage yield stability is of increasing relevance in the context of current and recent environmental changes but, in contrast to other field crops, there are no published systematic analyses among forage crops in Europe. A study of stability performance was conducted with 13 Czech cultivars of lucerne at four locations over a 2‐year period with the following aims: (a) to evaluate yield stability of varieties across different environments and (b) to calculate measurable benefits of variety selection in relation to the specific environment. The cultivar Vlasta was identified as the highest yielding cultivar (annual yield 16.0 t DM/ha), whereas the lowest yielding cv. Magda, Tereza and Oslava averaged around 14.9 t DM/ha. Effect of genotype × environment interaction (G × E) was two times higher than for genotype alone. Additive main effects and the multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model showed that the highest yielding cultivars may not be stable across environments. This study demonstrated further that significant yield improvement could be detected, even among a relatively homogenous group of domestic cultivars, and this was driven mainly by site productivity: the improvement was +10% in low‐yielding sites, compared with +3% in high‐yielding sites. Results highlight that advanced agronomy should also consider stability parameters such as AMMI stability value or superiority measures for forage crops in response to the challenges associated with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period 2007-2009 was conducted a field trial with eighth alfalfa cultivars: Europe (France), and a seven Bulgarian: Prista 2, Prista 3, Prista 4, Obnova 10, Pleven 6, Dara and Multifoliate. The adaptability and stability of the tested cultivars were determined in relation to damage indicators from Apion seniculus and some biochemical traits. It was found a highly significant influence of the genotype, environment and the interaction between them on the studied traits (plants with damaged stems by Apion seniculus, degree of damaged stems, content of crude protein, crude fiber, soluble sugars, and saponins) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The cultivar Multifoliate could be revolved as close to the excellent type (bi≈1.0), propitious for growing in any environment and for breeding purposes. It was determined as stable with good responsiveness to changing environmental conditions, providing high tolerance to A. seniculus and high content of crude protein and soluble sugars. Europe had an unstable reaction in regard to damaged stem trait, but the variety showed greater adaptability in an unfavourable environment and a low rate of damage. Europe was classified as a cultivar with high stability and better adaptability for crude protein, crude fiber and soluble sugar content. Prista 2 could be defined as stable and with good environmental responsiveness to the studied traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing climatic conditions in north-western Europe require adaptations in management of ley grassland, requiring new grass-legume mixture designs in response to increased variability in precipitation and warmer summers. Evaluation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)-grass swards with the grasses cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), which are potentially more tolerant to summer water shortage, have yet to be evaluated under the agro-climatic conditions of north-western Europe. We tested these grasses in three-species swards and binary lucerne grass swards and compared them against pure stands and a standard lucerne-grass mixture. The study was conducted in eight environments resulting from the combination of four soil sites during the two full main production years 2020 and 2021 with an annual precipitation range of 416–839 mm. Swards were harvested three to five times annually and the accumulated herbage dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) yields, as well as species proportions were recorded. We found an average yield of 11.1 t DM ha-1 and no significant differences in herbage DM yields between lucerne pure stands and the different mixture swards. This pattern was stable irrespective of environmental conditions, but in general herbage yield and aboveground N yield were affected by precipitation amount. Swards with cocksfoot had a greater grass proportion than those with tall fescue. The N yield of lucerne-grass swards was lower and declined as the grass proportion increased, and reached on average 353 kg N ha-1. The maximum N yield of lucerne pure stands was 547 kg N ha-1. Species mixtures yielded higher than expected from the pure stands (net mixture effect, NE) pointing at overyielding. Consequently, synergistic interspecific interactions occurred but did not lead to transgressive overyielding. The results indicate that the inclusion of grass species with tolerance to water shortage into lucerne-based swards offers the potential to diversify grasslands without losses of agronomic potential, at least during the first two main production years. • Lucerne pure stands were tested against binary and three-species mixtures with tall fescue and cocksfoot. • Precipitation had a strong positive influence on the productivity of all mixed swards. • Positive interspecific interactions in lucerne-grass swards resulted in overyielding without transgressive overyielding. • Grass identity effects were of less importance for yield and cocksfoot was more competitive than tall fescue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, the stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci has been listed as a quarantine pest by EPPO: without any control, it may cause complete failure of alfalfa crops. Movement of nematodes associated with seeds is considered to be the highest-risk pathway for the spread of this pest. Since the 2010 official withdrawal of methyl bromide in Europe, and in the absence of any alternative chemical, fumigation of contaminated seed batches is no longer possible, which makes the production of nematode-free alfalfa seeds difficult to achieve and leads to unmarketable seed batches. Thermotherapy is being considered as a realistic alternative strategy, but its efficiency still remains to be validated. The combination of the currently available methods (i.e. use of resistant cultivars, seed production according to a certification scheme, mechanical sieving, seed batch inspection) could significantly reduce the likelihood of seed contamination. However, it does not guarantee a total eradication of the nematode. Although it is already widely distributed all over Europe, reclassification of D. dipsaci as a regulated non-quarantine pest to reduce the possibility of further introductions and the rate of spread of this pest appears to be a risky strategy because of the lack of up-to-date documented data to evaluate damage thresholds and determine acceptable tolerance levels. [[ArtCopyrightmsg]] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat selection in animals is a fundamental ecological process with key conservation implications. Assessing habitat selection in endangered species and populations occupying the extreme edges of their distribution range, or living in highly anthropized landscapes, may be of particular interest as it may provide hints to mechanisms promoting potential range expansions. We assessed second- and third-order foraging habitat selection in the northernmost European breeding population of the lesser kestrel ( Falco naumanni ), a migratory falcon of European conservation interest, by integrating results obtained from 411 direct observations with those gathered from nine GPS-tracked individuals. The study population breeds in the intensively cultivated Po Plain (northern Italy). Direct observations and GPS data coincide in showing that foraging lesser kestrels shifted their habitat preferences through the breeding cycle. They positively selected alfalfa and other non-irrigated crops during the early breeding season, while winter cereals were selected during the nestling-rearing phase. Maize was selected during the early breeding season, after sowing, but significantly avoided later. Overall, vegetation height emerged as the main predictor of foraging habitat selection, with birds preferring short vegetation, which is likely to maximise prey accessibility. Such a flexibility in foraging habitat selection according to spatio-temporal variation in the agricultural landscape determined by local crop management practices may have allowed the species to successfully thrive in one of the most intensively cultivated areas of Europe. In the southeastern Po Plain, the broad extent of hay and non-irrigated crops is possibly functioning as a surrogate habitat for the pseudo-steppe environment where most of the European breeding population is settled, fostering the northward expansion of the species in Europe. In intensive agricultural landscapes, the maintenance of alfalfa and winter cereals crops and an overall high crop heterogeneity (deriving from crop rotation) is fundamental to accommodate the ecological requirements of the species in different phases of its breeding cycle., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2022 Cioccarelli et al.)

Background: The common vole (Microtus arvalis) is a very destructive agricultural pest. Particularly in Europe, its monitoring is essential not only for adequate management and outbreak forecasting, but also for accurately determining the vole's impact on affected fields. In this study, several alternatives for estimating the damage to alfalfa fields by voles through unmanned vehicle systems (UASs) and multispectral cameras are presented. Currently, both the farmers and agencies involved in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs of voles do not have sufficiently precise methods for accurate assessments of the real impact to crops., Results: Overall, the four multispectral classification methods presented showed similar performances. However, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)-based segmentation exhibited the most accurate and reliable appraisal of the affected areas. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the simplest method, which was based on an automatic classification, provided results similar to those obtained by more complex methods. In addition, a significant direct relationship was found between the number of active burrows and damage to the alfalfa canopy., Conclusion: Unmanned vehicle systems, combined with multispectral imagery classification, are an effective and easily transferable methodology for the assessment and monitoring of common vole damage to agricultural plots. This combination of methods facilitates decision-making processes for IPM control strategies against this pest. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Abstract: The predicted worldwide increase in arid areas and water stress episodes will strongly affect crop production. Plants have developed a wide diversity of physiological mechanisms for drought tolerance. A decline in photosynthesis and thus yield production is a common response to drought, as are increases in the water use efficiency of photosynthesis (WUEph) and productivity (WUEp). The aim of our study was to determine the physiological effects (especially WUEph and WUEp) of progressive drought and subsequent recovery in three cultivars adapted to a Mediterranean climate [Tafilalet (TA), Tierra de Campos (TC), and Moapa (MO)], and another representative from an oceanic climate (Europe (EU)). The accuracy of the relationships between WUEph or WUEp and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) in shoots was also investigated as a function of water stress intensity. Mild drought (7 days of water withholding) decreased the net CO2 exchange (A), leaf conductance to water (g) and transpiration in EU leading to an increased WUEph. Δ13C was correlated with WUEp but not with WUEph, probably due to a late decrease in g. After moderate drought (14 days), A and g decreased in all cultivars, increasing WUEph. In this period WUEp also increased. Both WUE parameters were correlated with Δ13C, which may indicate that the g value at the end of moderate water stress was representative of the growing period. After 21 days, TA was the most productive cultivar but under severe drought conditions there was no difference in DM accumulation among cultivars. After the recovery period, leaf area was increased but not total DM, showing that leaves were the most responsive organs to rewatering. Severe water stress did not decrease WUEph or WUEp, and Δ13C did not increase after recovery. This absence of a response to severe drought may indicate significant effects on the photosynthetic apparatus after 21 days of withholding water. As for mild drought, WUEp but not WUEph was correlated with Δ13C, supporting the view that WUEp is a more integrative parameter than WUEph. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Organic livestock production is steadily increasing in Europe. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) can play a key role in organic crop-livestock systems of southern Europe, owing to its positive attributes of adaptation, forage quality and nitrogen provision. This study tackled the unprecedented question on whether specific variety recommendation and, possibly, specific breeding are necessary for lucerne in organic systems. In lowland of northern Italy, where competition against weeds is expected to be the main determinant of success in organic farming, eight cultivars were evaluated in one environment under a chemically weeded management and an ‘organic’ management mimicked by no weed control, with the objectives of: (i) assessing the extent of cultivar×management interaction for dry matter (DM) and seed yield traits; and (ii) comparing different germplasm types for competitive ability and suitability to organic farming. The experiment was designed as a split-plot holding managements on main plots and cultivars on sub-plots. The test germplasm encompassed varieties bred under conventional or organic management and landraces from northern and central Italy, as well as germplasm with semi-erect or semi-prostrate habit. The recorded traits were lucerne DM yield over 3 years (13 harvests), DM yield over the first harvest of both the fourth and fifth year (as a measure of persistence), seed yield and its components assessed in the third year, and competitive ability against weeds as expressed by lucerne proportion under ‘organic’ management. Weed competition caused a severe reduction of DM yield and lucerne proportion in the ‘organic’ management but just a slight, non-significant reduction of seed yield, for which the greater stand thinning in this management relative to the chemically weeded one was largely compensated by increases in racemes per stem and seed weight. No cultivar×management interaction was observed for 3-year DM yield, seed yield and persistence (P >0.05), suggesting that specific variety testing under organic management is not necessary. Greater relative growth rate, implying both better DM yield in the absence of severe weed competition and greater competitive ability under organic management, was inferred as the main reason for the consistency between managements for response of best-performing germplasm. The low competitive ability of semi-prostrate germplasm reflected its low vigour. The results did not suggest any specific adaptation to organic conditions of landraces or material bred under organic management. Specific adaptation to the region of evaluation was the main driving factor for cultivar adaptation to both managements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is considered to be one of the worst invasive alien species in Europe. Common ragweed invades a broad range of open disturbed areas (waste lands, roadsides, railway tracks, riverbanks) and causes considerable yield losses in field crops, such as in sunflower, maize and soybean. The species has highly allergenic pollen, which causes allergic rhinitis and asthma. In the last years, extensive common ragweed populations were observed in several European regions and the control of this species became very important from the point of economy and human health. The main purpose of control is the reduction of Ambrosia seeds in the soil seed bank to prevent their germination and further development With the purpose of investigating the suppressive role of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and a mixture of them on the growth and development of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., a study was conducted on a sandy clay loam soil. During the 2008-2009 period, a trial was carried out with the following variants: V1 Medicago sativa, V2 Dactylis glomerata; V3 M. sativa + D. glomerata; V4 Ambrosia artemisiifolia (control); V5 M. sativa + A. artemisiifolia; V6 D. glomerata + A. artemisiifolia; V7 M. sativa + D. glomerata + A. artemisiifolia. The results have shown that some perennial forage plants, e.g. M. sativa, D. glomerata and a mixture of M. sativa + D. glomerata are a reliable means to suppress the growth, development and seed production of A. artemisiifolia under suitable conditions. This approach is an ecological alternative for limiting the spreading of ragweed on arable land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased production of plant protein is required to support the production of protein-rich foods that can replace meat in the human diet to reduce the strain that intensive animal husbandry poses to the environment. The suitability of lupin (Lupinus spp.), pea (Pisum sativum), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), triticale (x Triticosecale), lucerne (Medicago sativa), grasses (Lolium and Festuca spp.), rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus), and potato (Solanum tuberosum) for protein production in Western Europe was studied on the basis of a chain approach. The aspects considered are the familiarity of farmers with the cultivation of the crop, prospects for rapid crop improvement, protein production (kg/ha), protein quality (absence of unwanted substances) and familiarity with the usage for human food in Western Europe. Pea, lucerne, and grasses are the most promising, fair prospects are foreseen for lupin, triticale, rapeseed, and potato, whereas the possibilities for quinoa are judged to lag far behind. Estimated protein production for pea, lucerne, and grasses is 1250, 2500, and 2500 kg/ha, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate of radioactive glycine betaine was investigated in 31-day-old alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv Europe) plants nodulated by Rhizobium meliloti 102 F 34. Radioactive [methyl-14C]- or [1,2-14C]glycine betaine was fed for 6h to plants subjected or not to stress by 0.2 M NaCl. A 36% decrease in glycine betaine uptake was observed in salinized plants. No loss of radioactivity in the gas phase or the growth medium was ever observed from either stressed or unstressed plants, even after a 4-day chase period. Glycine betaine catabolism was negligible in shoots of both control and salinized plants, but it was important in roots and even more significant in nodules of unstressed plants. In unstressed nodules, 52% of the labelled betaine was metabolized after 4 days, and the half life of glycine betaine was estimated at ca 4 days. On the contrary, catabolism was dramatically reduced in stressed roots and, particularly, nodules in which the half-life of glycine betaine increased to at least 16 days. Analysis of the redistribution of radioactivity among plant organs during the chase period shows that glycine betaine was translocated from the roots to the nodules of salinized plants, so that during this period salinization resulted in a 91% increase in nodule radioactivity, whereas a 34% decrease was observed in control plants. Altogether, reduced catabolism and increased translocation of glycine betaine to stressed nodules favored its accumulation in these organs. The high level of glycine betaine might contribute to maintain a better water status in the nodule and, thus, protect the nitrogen fixation activity against the deleterious effects of elevated osmolarity in the nutrient solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pots, 11 English isolates of lucerne race of stem nematode induced hypertrophy in the shoot apices of young lucerne seedlings of the cultivars Europe, Sverre and Vertus. All but one isolate multiplied freely in the shoots of susceptible Europe plants and all isolates multiplied freely in the shoots of supposedly resistant Sverre plants. Some plants of both cultivars appeared resistant cut in the resistant cultivar Venus, some plants were susceptible to several isolates. There were at least two pathotypes among the 11 nematode isolates used. In selecting for resistance to lucerne stem nematode, several nematode isolates should be used and the inoculated plants should be gown to maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]