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Drought stress (DS) is a significant abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. In semi-arid climates, one potential solution to alleviate the deleterious effects of drought is the use of soil amendments such as nanoparticles. The current research was conducted out to probe the sway of drought at critical growth stages (CGS) of wheat crop (D 0 : Control, D 1 : Drought at tillering stage, and D 2 : Drought at anthesis stage) and the application of Cu-nanoparticles (T 0 : 0 mg L -1 , T 1 : 300 mg L -1 , T 2 : 700 mg L -1 , and T 3 : 950 mg L -1 ) in order to improve drought resilience. Results of the study revealed that DS considerably decreased the wheat growth and yield during CGS. However, Cu-nanoparticles application alleviated the detrimental backlash of DS and led to improvements in various aspects of wheat growth and yield, including plant height, spike length, 1000 grain weight, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, leaf turgor potential, relative water content, and ultimately the grain yield. The use of principal component analysis allowed us to integrate and interpret the diverse findings of our study, elucidating the impact of Cu-nanoparticle treatment on wheat growth and yield under drought. Overall, the study concluded that DS during the anthesis stage had the most significant negative impact on crop yield. However, applying Cu-nanoparticles at the rate of 300 mg L -1 proved to be an effective strategy for improving crop productivity by reducing the harmful effects of drought., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The use of rhizospheric SynComs can be a new and sustainable strategy in the agrobiotechnology sector. The objective of this study was to create the most appropriate SynCom composition; examine the ability to dissolve natural rock phosphate (RP) from Morocco in liquid-modified NBRIP medium; determine organic acids, and phytohormones; and verify plant growth promoting and nutrition uptake effect in the pot experiments of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum ). A total of nine different microorganisms were isolated, which belonged to three different genera: Bacillus , Pseudomonas , and Streptomyces . Out of the 21 treatments tested, four SynComs had the best phosphate-dissolving properties: IJAK-27+44+91 (129.17 mg L -1 ), IIBEI-32+40 (90.95 µg mL -1 ), IIIDEG-45+41 (122.78 mg L -1 ), and IIIDEG-45+41+72 (120.78 mg L -1 ). We demonstrate that these SynComs are capable of producing lactic, acetic, gluconic, malic, oxalic, citric acids, and phytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, gibberellic acid, and abscisic acid. In pot experiments with winter wheat, we also demonstrated that the designed SynComs were able to effectively colonize the plant root rhizosphere and contributed to more abundant plant growth characteristics and nutrient uptake as uninoculated treatment or uninoculated treatment with superphosphate (NPK 0-19-0). The obtained results show that the SynCom compositions of IJAK-27+44+91, IIBEI-32+40, IIIDEG-45+41, and IIIDEG-45+41+72 can be considered as promising candidates for developing biofertilizers to facilitate P absorption and increase plant nutrition., Competing Interests: The company Roquette Amilina’s role was technical support, Jurgita Kailiuvienė and Edita Mažonienė participated in part of experimental design investigations. Roquette Amilina has no conflicts of interest with this research. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Endophytic microorganisms represent promising solutions to environmental challenges inherent in conventional agricultural practices. This study concentrates on the identification of endophytic bacteria isolated from the root, stem, and leaf tissues of four Artemisia plant species. Sixty-one strains were isolated and sequenced by 16S rDNA. Sequencing revealed diverse genera among the isolated bacteria from different Artemisia species, including Bacillus , Pseudomonas , Enterobacter , and Lysinibacillus . AR11 and VR24 obtained from the roots of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris demonstrated significant inhibition on Fusarium c.f. oxysporum mycelial growth. In addition, AR11, AR32, and CR25 exhibited significant activity in phosphatase solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and indole production, highlighting their potential to facilitate plant growth. A comparative analysis of Artemisia species showed that root isolates from A. absinthium , A. campestris , and A. vulgaris have beneficial properties for inhibiting pathogen growth and enhancing plant growth. AR11 with 100% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis , could be considered a promising candidate for further investigation as microbial biofertilizers. This finding highlights their potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, thereby contributing to sustainable crop protection practices.

Drought is an environmental stressor that significantly impacts plant growth and development. Comprehending the complexity of drought stress and water utilization in the context of plant growth and development holds significant importance for sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenously applied phytohormones on lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) sugar content profiles and antioxidant enzyme activity and productivity. Lettuce plants were grown under normal and drought conditions in a growth chamber with a photoperiod of 14/10 h (day/night). Kinetin and abscisic acid were applied separately and in combinations when the second leaf was fully expanded. The results showed that sugar accumulation and productivity of the pretreated plants under drought were significantly higher than the controls. The perspective offered by this work showed that growth-related and stress-related phytohormones significantly influenced plant sugar metabolism, metabolic profiles, and productivity, thus enabling the control of yield and quality.

Recent focus has been given to nanoparticles as an alternative fungicidal compound instead of chemical ones. More environmentally friendly ways of synthesis are the highest priority regarding the antifungal agents in the agriculture sector. Therefore, in this research, hyssop ( H. officinalis ) and sage ( S. officinalis ) aqueous extracts were prepared and used as a reducing source in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Aqueous extracts and green synthesized AgNPs were examined for phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. Hyssop and sage extracts based AgNPs were analyzed using UV-vis spectrometry, SEM-EDS, and TEM-EDS. Antifungal activity against Fusarium spp. isolates collected from different infected crops was determined. Fusarium spp. isolates from strawberry, asparagus, pea, carrot, wheat, and rapeseed samples identified at the molecular level by translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α) gene amplification and sequencing. Green synthesized AgNPs had lower phytochemical content, however higher antioxidant activity compared to pure extracts. Both hyssop and sage extracts are suitable reducing agents for AgNPs formation, and sage extract results in larger particle size. Aqueous hyssop extract had higher antifungal activity than aqueous sage extract. However, a 10% concentration of whole sage extract based AgNPs solution, added to the PDA medium, and a 5% concentration of hyssop extract based AgNPs inhibited Fusarium spp. the most. F. proliferatum was the most sensitive to all treatments among the other fungi.

Acute and chronic wounds present a significant healthcare challenge, requiring innovative solutions for effective treatment. The exploitation of natural by-products with advanced cell regeneration potential and plant-based materials, which possess bioactive properties, is an innovative topic in wound management. This study investigates the potential of donkey gelatin and keratin for blending with natural bioactive extracts such as sumac, curcumin, and oak acorn to fabricate antioxidant and antimicrobial nanofibers with accelerated wound healing processes. The fabricated nanofibers possess good in vitro biocompatibility, except for the sumac-based donkey nanofibers, where cell viability significantly dropped to 56.25% ( p < 0.05 compared to non-treated cells). The nanofiber dimensions showed structural similarities to human extracellular matrix components, providing an ideal microenvironment for tissue regeneration. The donkey nanofiber-based sumac and curcumin extracts presented a higher dissolution in the first 10 min (74% and 72%). Curcumin extract showed similar antimicrobial and antifungal performances to rivanol, while acorn and sumac extracts demonstrated similar values to each other. In vitro tests performed on murine fibroblast cells demonstrated high migration rates of 89% and 85% after 24 h in the case of acorn and curcumin nanofibers, respectively, underscoring the potential of these nanofibers as versatile platforms for advanced wound care applications.

Winter wheat achieves freezing tolerance (FT) through cold acclimation (CA) - a process which is induced by low positive temperatures in autumn. The increasing occurrences of temperature fluctuations in winter lead to deacclimation (DEA), causing premature loss of FT, and the cultivars capable of reacclimation (REA) are more likely to survive the subsequent cold spells. The genetic mechanisms of DEA and REA remain poorly understood, necessitating further research to bolster climate resilience in winter wheat. Here, we selected two winter wheat genotypes with contrasting levels of FT and conducted a ten-week-long experiment imitating low-temperature fluctuations after CA under controlled conditions. Crown and leaf tissue samples for RNA-sequencing were collected at CA, DEA, and REA time-points. It is the first transcriptomic study covering both short- and long-term responses to DEA and REA in winter wheat. The study provides novel knowledge regarding CA, DEA, and REA and discusses the gene expression patterns conferring FT under temperature fluctuations. The freezing-tolerant genotype "Lakaja DS" showed elevated photosynthetic activity in leaf tissue and upregulated cryoprotective protein-encoding genes in crowns after CA when compared to the freezing-susceptible "KWS Ferrum". "Lakaja DS" also expressed cold acclimation-associated transcripts at a significantly higher level after 1 week of DEA. Following REA, "Lakaja DS" continued to upregulate dehydrin-related genes in crowns and exhibited significantly higher expression of chitinase transcripts in leaves, when compared to "KWS Ferrum". The findings of this study shed light on the genetic mechanisms governing DEA and REA in winter wheat, thus addressing the gaps in knowledge regarding FT under low-temperature fluctuations. The identified genes should be further examined as potential molecular markers for breeding strategies focused on developing freezing-tolerant winter-type crops. Publicly available datasets generated in this study are valuable resources for further research into DEA and REA, contributing towards the enhancement of winter wheat under global climate change., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Vaitkevičiūtė, Aleliūnas, Brazauskas and Armonienė.)

The use of saline water under drought conditions is critical for sustainable agricultural development in arid regions. Biochar is used as a soil amendment to enhance soil properties such as water-holding capacity and the source of nutrition elements of plants. Thus, the research was carried out to assess the impact of biochar treatment on the morphological and physiological characteristics and production of Solanum lycopersicum in greenhouses exposed to drought and saline stresses. The study was structured as a three-factorial in split-split-plot design. There were 16 treatments across three variables: (i) water quality, with freshwater and saline water, with electrical conductivities of 0.9 and 2.4 dS m - 1 , respectively; (ii) irrigation level, with 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of total evapotranspiration (ETC); (iii) and biochar application, with the addition of biochar at a 3% dosage by (w/w) (BC 3% ), and a control (BC 0% ). The findings demonstrated that salt and water deficiency hurt physiological, morphological, and yield characteristics. Conversely, the biochar addition enhanced all characteristics. Growth-related parameters, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and dry and wet weight, and leaf gas exchange attributes, such rate of transpiration and photosynthesis, conductivity, as well as leaf relative water content were decreased by drought and salt stresses, especially when the irrigation was 60% ETc or 40% ETc. The biochar addition resulted in a substantial enhancement in vegetative growth-related parameters, physiological characteristics, efficiency of water use, yield, as well as reduced proline levels. Tomato yield enhanced by 4%, 16%, 8%, and 3% when irrigation with freshwater at different levels of water deficit (100% ETc, 80% ETc, 60% ETc, and 40% ETc) than control (BC 0% ). Overall, the use of biochar (3%) combined with freshwater shows the potential to enhance morpho-physiological characteristics, support the development of tomato plants, and improve yield with higher WUE in semi-arid and arid areas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Raspberry seeds are a by-product of berries, both from their primary processing, such as in juice production, and secondary processing, such as in oil extraction. These seeds contain plenty of valuable components such as crude fiber, proteins, fats, and vitamins. Quality characterization is the initial step toward using these seeds as a sustainable and functional food. The aim of studying raspberry seeds' quality profile, both before oil extraction and after different processing methods (supercritical CO 2 , subcritical CO 2 , cold pressing, and hexane solvent), is to point out the benefits of this by-product and to raise consumer awareness about their health and well-being benefits. This study provides evidence that raspberry seeds have good physical parameters for use in other products as a functional food enrichment ingredient, such as in baked goods, offering considerable health benefits due to their high nutrient content. The weights, peroxide values, moisture content, nutritional energy values, and colors were determined before oil extraction to give initial seed values. The nutrient content and amounts of macroelements, P, K, Ca, and Mg, as well as microelements, B, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn, were determined in the tested variety 'Polka', both before and after oil extractions and using different methods. The raspberry seeds' moisture was 9.2%, their peroxide content was 5.64 mEq/kg, their nutritional value was 475.25 Kcal., and their total weight was 2.17 mg (1000 units). The seeds contain 7.4% protein, 22.1% crude fiber, 11.0% crude fat and oil, and 2.8% sugar. We determined how different oil extraction methods influence the nutrient, micro-, and macro-component values. We concluded that the seeds contained the highest manganese (45.3 mg/kg), iron (29.2 mg/kg), and zinc (17.4 mg/kg) contents and the lowest content of copper (5.1 mg/kg). This research shows that raspberry seeds represent a potential natural food ingredient, and after oil extraction with subcritical or supercritical CO 2 or cold pressing, they can be used as a sustainable and functional food.

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human-wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sour cherry ( Prunus cerasus L.) is a deciduous tree belonging to the Rosaceae Juss. family. Cherry leaves are an underutilized source of biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of the phenolic compounds, as well as the total antioxidant activity, in leaf samples of P. cerasus cultivars and to elucidate the cultivars with particular phytochemical compositions. The phytochemical profiles of P. cerasus leaves vary significantly in a cultivar-dependent manner. The total content of identified phenolic compounds varied from 8.254 to 16.199 mg/g in the cherry leaves. Chlorogenic acid ranged between 1413.3 µg/g ('North Star') and 8028.0 µg/g ('Note'). The total content of flavonols varied from 4172.5 µg/g ('Vytenu zvaigzde') to 9030.7 µg/g ('Tikhonovskaya'). The total content of identified proanthocyanidins varied from 122.3 µg/g ('Note') to 684.8 µg/g ('Kelleris'). The highest levels of phloridzin (38.1 ± 0.9 µg/g) were found in samples of 'Molodezhnaya', while the lowest level of this compound was determined in the leaf samples of 'Turgenevka' (6.7 ± 0.2). The strongest antiradical (138.0 ± 4.0 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) and reducing (364.9 ± 10.5 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) activity in vitro was exhibited by the cultivar 'Vytenu zvaigzde' cherry leaf sample extracts. 'Kelleris', 'Note', and 'Tikhonovskaya' distinguish themselves with peculiar phytochemical compositions.

The study aims to improve the quality of wooden breast meat (WBM) via the use of newly developed marinades based on selected strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in combination with the by-products of the dairy and fruit/berry industries. Six distinct marinades were produced based on milk permeate (MP) fermented with Lacticaseibacillus casei (Lc) and Liquorilactobacillus uvarum (Lu) with the addition of apple (ApBp) and blackcurrant (BcBp) processing by-products. The microbiological and acidity parameters of the fermented marinades were evaluated. The effects of marinades on the microbiological, technical, and physicochemical properties of meat were assessed following 24 and 48 h of WBM treatment. It was established that LAB viable counts in marinades were higher than 7.00 log 10 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL and, after 48 h of marination, enterobacteria and molds/yeasts in WBM were absent. Marinated (24 and 48 h) WBM showed lower dry-matter and protein content, as well as water holding capacity, and exhibited higher drip loss (by 8.76%) and cooking loss (by 12.3%) in comparison with controls. After WBM treatment, biogenic amines decreased; besides, the absence of spermidine and phenylethylamine was observed in meat marinated for 48 h with a marinade prepared with Lu. Overall, this study highlights the potential advantages of the developed sustainable marinades in enhancing the safety and quality attributes of WBM.

This study aimed to understand the differences in the performance of diploid and tetraploid daylily cultivars under water deficit conditions, which are essential indicators of drought tolerance. This research revealed that tetraploid daylilies performed better than diploid varieties in arid conditions due to their enhanced adaptability and resilience to water deficit conditions. The analysis of the results highlighted the need to clarify the specific physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the enhanced drought tolerance observed in tetraploid plants compared to diploids. This research offers valuable knowledge for improving crop resilience and sustainable floricultural practices in changing environmental conditions. The morphological and physiological parameters were analyzed in 19 diploid and 21 tetraploid daylily cultivars under controlled water deficit conditions, and three drought resistance groups were formed based on the clustering of these parameters. In a high drought resistance cluster, 93.3% tetraploid cultivars were exhibited. This study demonstrates the significance of ploidy in shaping plant responses to drought stress. It emphasizes the importance of studying plant responses to water deficit in landscape horticulture to develop drought-tolerant plants and ensure aspects of climate change.

Field studies with the large-stemmed plant Artemisia dubia ( A. dubia ) have been carried out at the Vėžaičiai Branch of LAMMC since 2018. According to three years of experimental results, annual dry matter (DM) yield varied from 7.94 to 10.14 t ha -1 . Growing conditions, nitrogen application level, and harvesting time had statistically significant impacts on A. dubia productivity. The most important tasks of this article were to investigate and determine the factors influencing A. dubia plant biomass productivity and the evaluation of technological, power, and environmental parameters of plant biomass utilization for energy conversion and the production of high-quality solid biofuel pellets. For the experiments, six variants of A. dubia samples were used, which were grown in 2021. Plants were cut three times and two fertilization options were used: (1) no fertilization and (2) fertilization with 180 kg ha -1 of nitrogen fertilizer. These harvested plants were chopped, milled, and pressed into pellets. The physical-mechanical characteristics (moisture content, density, and strength) of the A. dubia pellets were investigated. During this study, it was found that the density in the dry mass (DM) of the pellets ranged from 1119.86 to 1192.44 kg m -3 . The pellet moisture content ranged from 8.80 to 10.49%. After testing pellet strength, it was found that the pellets which were made from plant biomass PK-1-1 (first harvest without N fertilization) were the most resistant to compression, and they withstood 560.36 N of pressure. The dry fuel lower heating value (LHV) of the pellets was sufficiently high and was very close to that of the pine sawdust pellets; it varied from 17.46 ± 0.25 MJ kg -1 to 18.14 ± 0.28 MJ kg -1 . The ash content of the burned pellets ranged from 3.62 ± 0.02% to 6.47 ± 0.09%. Emissions of harmful pollutants-CO 2 , CO, NO x , and unburnt hydrocarbons (C x H y )-did not exceed the maximum permissible levels. Summarizing the results for the investigated properties of the combustion and emissions of the A. dubia pellets, it can be concluded that this biofuel can be used for the production of pressed biofuel, and it is characterized by sufficiently high quality, efficient combustion, and permissible emissions to the environment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the characteristics of non-treated and fermented [via submerged (SMF) and solid-state (SSF) fermentation using Pediococcus acidilactici ] lentils ( Lens culinaris ) grown either in pure stands (L) or relay intercropped with winter rye (LR). It was observed that the lentils were suitable substrate for lacto-fermentation. Most of the free amino acid concentrations increased in lentils after both fermentations. The highest concentration of γ-aminobutyric acid was found in SSF LR samples. However, fermentation led to higher biogenic amines (BA) content in lentils. The most abundant fatty acid in lentils was C18:2. SSF lentils showed more complex volatile compound (VC) profiles (with between nine and seventeen new VCs formed), whereas, in SMF samples, between two and five newly VCs were formed. When comparing lentil grown types, L contained significantly higher concentrations of Na, K, Ca, P, Mn, and Se, while LR contained significantly higher concentrations of Fe and Ni. To sum up, fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) contributed to the improved biological value of lentils; still, the quantity of BA needs to be considered. Further investigations into the P. acidilactici metabolism of certain compounds (such as phenolic and antinutritional compounds) in lentils during fermentation ought to be carried out.

The European Green Deal encourages the use of non-productive activities in agriculture. One of the measures is the cultivation of melliferous floral plants at the field margins. Their influence on soil compaction and other deterioration is due to heavy machinery, its inappropriate use and frequent driving on field margins, is little studied. Plants of a high environmental value though rarely grown by farmers were selected for melliferous plant strips: perennial grass swards (PGS), perennial legume swards (PLS), annual floral plats mixture (AEP) and natural grassland swards (NGS). The experiment was installed on a clay loam and loam Cambisol with the aim to determine the effect of different plant composition strips grown at the field edges on the physical and chemical soils parameters of with different granulometric structure. It was found that the highest amounts of roots and plant residues in the soil were left after cultivating sward strips of PGS and NGS compared to the field where cereals had been intensively grown. The amounts of root and plant residues produced by plants, soil rest increase the amount of organic carbon in the soil. During the five-year period, the plants edges strips improved the properties of the field margin top and subsoil., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Šarūnaitė et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Beer has over 600 flavor compounds and creates a positive tasting experience with acceptable sensory properties, which are essential for the best consumer experience. Spontaneous and mixed-culture fermentation beers, generally classified as sour beers, are gaining popularity compared to typical lager or ale styles, which have dominated in the USA for the last few decades. Unique and acceptable flavor compounds characterize sour beers, but some unfavorable aspects appear in conjunction. One such unfavorable flavor is called "mousy". This description is usually labeled as an unpleasant odor, identifying spoilage of fermented food and beverages. It is related as having the odor of mouse urine, cereal, corn tortilla chips, or freshly baked sour bread. The main compounds responsible for it are N-heterocyclic compounds: 2-acetyltetrahydropyridine, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, and 2-ethyltetrahydropyridine. The most common beverages associated with mousy off-flavor are identified in wines, sour beers, other grain-based beverages, and kombucha, which may contain heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and/or yeast/fungus cultures. In particular, the fungal species Brettanomyces bruxellensis are associated with mousy-off flavor occurrence in fermented beverages matrices. However, many factors for N-heterocycle formation are not well-understood. Currently, the research and development of mixed-cultured beer and non/low alcohol beverages (NABLAB) has increased to obtain the highest quality, sensory, functionality, and most notably safety standards, and also to meet consumers' demand for a balanced sourness in these beverages. This paper introduces mousy off-flavor expression in beers and beverages, which occurs in spontaneous or mixed-culture fermentations, with a focus on sour beers due to common inconsistency aspects in fermentation. We discuss and suggest possible pathways of mousy off-flavor development in the beer matrix, which also apply to other fermented beverages, including non/low alcohol drinks, e.g., kombucha and low/nonalcohol beers. Some precautions and modifications may prevent the occurrence of these off-flavor compounds in the beverage matrix: improving raw material quality, adjusting brewing processes, and using specific strains of yeast and bacteria that are less likely to produce the off-flavor. Conceivably, it is clear that spontaneous and mixed culture fermentation is gaining popularity in industrial, craft, and home brewing. The review discusses important elements to identify and understand metabolic pathways, following the prevention of spoilage targeted to off-flavor compounds development in beers and NABLABs.

Variations between fruit cultivars can significantly impact their biochemical composition. The present research examined the variability in the qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic compounds in berry extracts of Actinidia kolomikta and Actinidia arguta cultivars. Additionally, antioxidant activities of berry extracts were evaluated. The total phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin contents and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined using the appropriate methodologies. The average amount of phenolic compounds in A. kolomikta berries (177.80 mg/g) was three times higher than that of A. arguta (54.45 mg/g). Our findings revealed that berries of A. kolomikta and A. arguta accumulated, on average, 1.58 RE/g DW (rutin equivalent/g dry weight) and 0.615 mg RE/g DW of total flavonoids, 1439.31 mg EE/g DW (epicatechin equivalent/g dry weight) and 439.97 mg EE/g DW of proanthocyanidins, and 23.51 mg CAE/g DW (chlorogenic acid equivalent/g dry weight) and 5.65 mg CAE/g DW of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, respectively. The cultivars of both species were characterized by higher antioxidant activity of total phenolic compounds determined using CUPRAC and FRAP methods compared to the ABTS •+ method. The variability in phenolic compounds' qualitative and quantitative content in tested berry extracts was evaluated by applying ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem with electrospray ionization. Significant intraspecific differences in the amounts of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds, proanthocyanidins, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined among cultivars. Four phenolic acids, eight flavonols, two flavones, and five flavon-3-ols were identified in the berry extracts.

A freely available Monilinia spp. marker database was created, containing microsatellite (SSR) data of the three most essential European fungal pathogens: M. fructigena , M. laxa , and M. fructicola . These pathogens cause brown rot blossom blight. Microsatellites were identified using the bioinformatics tool Genome-wide Microsatellite Analyzing Toward Application (GMATA). The database provides information about SSR markers: forward and reverse sequences of the primers, fragment sizes, SSR motifs (and repeats), and the exact locations with the coordinates in the reference genome. This database currently contains information about 39,216 SSR motifs and 26,366 markers. In total, eight primers generated in silico were validated experimentally and they are marked in the database. All scientists can join this collaboration by adding their experimental data. This database is the initial start of organizing Monilinia spp. molecular data worldwide and, in the future, it could be extended by adding more molecular and genomic information.

Outbreaks of Lymantria monacha are of great concern, as their occurrence is predicted to become more intense and frequent due to a warming climate. A frequent treatment to control mass outbreaks of the pest is with the bioinsecticide Foray 76B. However, knowledge of how this treatment affects non-target insect species is limited. We surveyed the assemblages of non-target epigeal and arboreal insects in Pinus sylvestris forests in the year following bioinsecticide application. A collection of insects using sweep nets and pitfall traps was carried out in L. monacha -infested pine stands, (i) treated with Foray 76B and (ii) untreated, in three regions of Lithuania from May to October 2021. The results revealed that, in Neringa forests, species richness of the epigeal insects was lower in treated than in untreated sampling plots, with 36 and 41 different insect species, respectively. The relative abundance of epigeal Coleoptera in treated plots was 3.6%, while in untreated it was 53.2%. There was a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Carabus arcencis in Kapčiamiestis (by 7.4%) and Marcinkonys (by 16.7%). Treated plots were distinguished by lower relative abundance of arboreal Hymenoptera at all three study locations.

The global escalation in cereal production, essential to meet growing population demands, simultaneously augments the generation of cereal crop residues, estimated annually at approximately 3107 × 10 6 Mg/year. Among different crop residue management approaches, returning them to the soil can be essential for various ecological benefits, including nutrient recycling and soil carbon sequestration. However, the recalcitrant characteristics of cereal crop residues pose significant challenges in their management, particularly in the decomposition rate. Therefore, in this review, we aim to summarize the influence of different agricultural practices on enhancing soil microbial decomposer communities, thereby effectively managing cereal crop residues. Moreover, this manuscript provides indirect estimates of cereal crop residue production in Northern Europe and Lithuania, and highlights the diverse roles of lignocellulolytic microorganisms in the decomposition process, with a particular focus on enzymatic activities. This review bridges the knowledge gap and indicates future research directions concerning the influence of agricultural practices on cereal crop residue-associated microbial consortia.

Mousy off-flavor describes N-heterocycles compounds related to spoilage in the brewing industry. It has also been identified in sour beers through sensory analysis. Therefore, preventing spoilage N-heterocycles development is essential to preserve end-products and obviate economic losses. To this day, no methods or protocols have been reported to identifying mousy off-flavor compounds in a beer matrix. The main objective of this work was to develop a standardized quantification method for 2-acetyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (ATHP) in beer matrix, by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry with Electrospray Ionization (LC-MS-ESI). Extraction of ATHP in the samples was performed using QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) technique. Over a dozen different potentially mousy cask-aged sour beers including other spontaneously fermented beverages were provided, based on sensory analysis, to determine the variation in ATHP levels. Results indicated ATHP was found in all the samples, ranging from 1.64 ± 0.06 to 57.96 ± 2.15 µg L -1 . Herein, we described our detection method of mousy-off flavor compounds which enables future research to mitigate the occurrence of such defects in fermented beverages matrix.•ATHP content in samples varied from 1.64 ± 0.06 to 57.96 ± 2.15 µg L -1 .•The recovery range of ATHP using LC-MS-ESI varied from 71% to 97%.•Basified QuEChERS salting-out procedure is applicable for ATHP extraction from beer and other fermented beverages matrices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The present work is the first comprehensive study of fungus-like stramenopilous organisms (Oomycota) diversity in Lithuanian fish farms aimed at proper identification of saprolegniasis pathogens, which is important for water quality control, monitoring infection levels and choosing more effective treatments for this disease in aquaculture. Pathogenic to fish, Saprolegnia and other potentially pathogenic water moulds were isolated from adult fish, their eggs, fry and from water samples. All detected isolates were examined morphologically and confirmed by sequence-based molecular methods. A total of eight species belonging to the genera Saprolegnia, Achlya, Newbya and Pythium were identified. Four species (S. parasitica, S. ferax, S. australis and S. diclina) were found to be the main causative agents of saprolegniasis in Lithuania. S. parasitica and S. ferax dominated both in hatcheries and open fishponds, accounting for 66.2% of all isolates. S. parasitica was isolated from all farmed salmonid fish species as well as from the skin of Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius and Perca fluviatilis. S. australis was isolated from water and once from the skin of Oncorhynchus mykiss, and S. diclina was detected only once on the skin of Salmo salar fish. In addition, Achlya ambisexualis, Saprolegnia anisospora and Newbia oligocantha isolated during this study are noted as a possible source of saprolegniasis. The results of this study are relevant for assessing the risk of potential outbreaks of saprolegniasis or other saprolegnia-like infection in Lithuanian freshwater aquaculture., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Nanotechnologies can improve plant growth, protect it from pathogens, and enrich it with bioactive and mineral substances. In order to fill the lack of knowledge about the combined environmental effects of lighting and nanoparticles (NPs) on plants, this study is designed to investigate how different HPS and LED lighting combined with CuO and ZnO NPs influence the elemental composition of ice plants ( Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). Plants were grown in hydroponic systems with LED and HPS lighting at 250 ± 5 μmol m -2 s -1 intensity, sprayed with aqueous suspensions of CuO (40 nm, 30 ppm) and ZnO (35-45 nm, 800 ppm) NPs; their elemental composition was measured using an ICP-OES spectrometer and hazard quotients were calculated. LED lighting combined with the application of ZnO NPs significantly affected Zn accumulation in plant leaves. Cu accumulation was higher when plants were treated with CuO NPs and HPS illumination combined. The calculated hazard quotients showed that the limits are not exceeded when applying our selected concentrations and growth conditions on ice plants. In conclusion, ice plants had a more significant positive effect on the accumulation of macro- and microelements under LED lighting than HPS. NPs had the strongest effect on the increase in their respective microelements.

To enhance our understanding of forest carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation and drought impact on forest ecosystems, the availability of high-resolution annual forest growth maps based on tree-ring width (TRW) would provide a significant advancement to the field. Site-specific characteristics, which can be approximated by high-resolution Earth observation by satellites (EOS), emerge as crucial drivers of forest growth, influencing how climate translates into tree growth. EOS provides information on surface reflectance related to forest characteristics and thus can potentially improve the accuracy of forest growth models based on TRW. Through the modelling of TRW using EOS, climate and topography data, we showed that species-specific models can explain up to 52 % of model variance (Quercus petraea), while combining different species results in relatively poor model performance (R 2  = 13 %). The integration of EOS into models based solely on climate and elevation data improved the explained variance by 6 % on average. Leveraging these insights, we successfully generated a map of annual TRW for the year 2021. We employed the area of applicability (AOA) approach to delineate the range in which our models are deemed valid. The calculated AOA for the established forest-type models was 73 % of the study region, indicating robust spatial applicability. Notably, unreliable predictions predominantly occurred in the climate margins of our dataset. In conclusion, our large-scale assessment underscores the efficacy of combining climate, EOS and topographic data to develop robust models for mapping annual TRW. This research not only fills a critical void in the current understanding of forest growth dynamics but also highlights the potential of integrated data sources for comprehensive ecosystem assessments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: With the acceleration of social life, people's interest and demand for forestry recreation activities is increasing. However, with this increase, it is inevitable that negative environmental effects will occur. Particularly mass participation poses an important risk for environmental sustainability. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the recreational activities organized in forest areas in Turkey and Lithuania, the environmental effects of these activities and the precautions to be taken., Methods: In Turkey and Lithuania, interviews were conducted to determine the attitudes of experts involved in recreational activity processes towards a clean environment and environmental sustainability. A semi-structured interview form was used in the interviews with forest operators and other experts. The sample group of the research consists of 17 experts from Turkey and Lithuania., Results: According to the results of the research, recreational activities are organized in forest areas in both countries, but the most important problem related to these activities is waste production. In addition, there is also damage to the natural environment. Although there are legal regulations in both countries, there are no definite results in solving environmental problems., Conclusions: It can be said that necessary measures such as raising awareness of people and ecological education should be taken in order to ensure the right of individuals to live in a safe and clean environment and at the same time to ensure sustainability in forest areas. as the improvement of legal regulation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Atalay, Perkumiene, Aleinikovas and Škėma.)

Plant by-products, which are discarded into the environment, are rich in valuable compounds. The aim of this research was to determine the antibacterial activity of Rubus idaeus L. morphological parts and its correlation with total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The authors also aimed to evaluate the plant's potential as added-value products. New aspects were revealed for further use and for making novel and natural products. The study's results indicated that raspberry leaves, inflorescences, and fruits could effectively combat three Gram-positive bacteria. According to the findings, among the various plant parts, root and seed extracts had the lowest antibacterial activity. Data revealed moderate, weak, or very weak correlation between the antimicrobial activity and phenolic content parameters. These findings underscore the viability of substituting synthetic antimicrobials with natural alternatives. The present study is significant for preparing novel products as antibacterials by appropriate and optimized processing using all raspberry morphological parts, and the research results show promising prospects for future purposeful utilisation of nature-based products. Raspberry plant parts can find applications in emerging fields that generate economic and environmental value.

Fusarium species are common plant pathogens that cause serious crop losses worldwide. Fusarium spp. colonize not only the main host plants, crops, but also alternative hosts. The effectiveness of fungicide use in disease management ranges from very successful to possibly promoting the growth of the pathogen. Triazole fungicides are widely used to control these pathogens due to their broad-spectrum activity and systemic nature. This paper reviews the sensitivity of 40 Fusarium strains isolated from weeds, non-gramineous plants, and spring wheat to metconazole, prothioconazole, and tebuconazole. The effect of fungicides was determined by the percentage inhibition of F. graminearum , F. culmorum , F. sporotrichioides , and F. avenaceum fungal mycelial growth. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of all isolates on metconazole were lower than 2.9 mg L -1 , prothioconazole EC50 ranged from 0.12 to 23.6 mg L -1 , and tebuconazole ranged from 0.09 to 15.6 mg L -1 . At 0.00025-0.025 mg L -1 , the fungicides were ineffective, except for the growth of the F. avenaceum species. It was observed that isolates from weeds were more sensitive to low concentrations of fungicide than isolates from crop plants. In general, information is scarce regarding the comparison of fungicide resistance in Fusarium isolates from weed and crop plants, making this study an additional contribution to the existing knowledge base.

We investigated the presence of spatial genetic groups within forest tree populations and determined if the genetic divergence among these groups is greater than that between populations using Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) as a model species. We genotyped 890 adult trees of Scots pine in six natural populations in Lithuania at 11 nuclear microsatellite loci. We used a Bayesian clustering approach to identify the within-population genetic groups within each of the six populations. We calculated the differentiation indexes among the genetic groups within each population and among the six populations by ignoring the genetic groups. The Bayesian clustering revealed 2 to 6 distinct genetic groups of varying size as the most likely genetic structures within populations. The genetic differentiation indexes among the genetic groups within populations were nearly tenfold greater (F ST  = 0.012-0.070) than those between the populations (F ST  = 0.003). We conclude on the existence of markedly stronger structuring of genetic variation within populations than between populations of Scots pine in large forest tracts of northern Europe. Such genetic structures serve as a contributing factor to large within population genetic diversity in northern conifers. We assume that within population mating in Scots pine is not completely random but rather is stratified into genetic clusters. Our study provides pioneering novel key insights into structuring of genetic variation within populations. Our findings have implications for examining within-population genetic diversity and genetic structure, conservation, and management of genetic resources., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Maize (Zea mays) is an influential crop in its production across the world. However, the invasion of many phytopathogens greatly affects the maize crop yield at various hotspot areas. Of many diseases, bacterial stalk rot of maize caused by Dickeya zeae results in severe yield reduction, thus the need for efficient management is important. Further, to produce epidemiological information for control of disease outbreaks in the hot spot regions of Sialkot District, Punjab Pakistan, extensive field surveys during 2021 showed that out of 266 visited areas, the highest disease incidence ranging from 66.5 to 78.5% while the lowest incidence was ranging from 9 to 20%. The Maxent modeling revealed that among 19 environmental variables, four variables including temperature seasonality (bio-4), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio-8), annual precipitation (bio-12), and precipitation of driest month (bio-14) were significantly contributing to disease distribution in current and coming years. The study outcomes revealed that disease spread will likely increase across four tehsils of Sialkot over the years 2050 and 2070. Our findings will be helpful to policymakers and researchers in devising effective disease management strategies against bacterial stalk rot of maize outbreaks in Sialkot, Pakistan., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The extracellular enzymes secreted by soil microorganisms play a pivotal role in the decomposition of organic matter and the global cycles of carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N), also serving as indicators of soil health and fertility. Current research is extensively analyzing these microbial populations and enzyme activities in diverse soil ecosystems and climatic regions, such as forests, grasslands, tropics, arctic regions and deserts. Climate change, global warming, and intensive agriculture are altering soil enzyme activities. Yet, few reviews have thoroughly explored the key enzymes required for soil fertility and the effects of abiotic factors on their functionality. A comprehensive review is thus essential to better understand the role of soil microbial enzymes in C, P, and N cycles, and their response to climate changes, soil ecosystems, organic farming, and fertilization. Studies indicate that the soil temperature, moisture, water content, pH, substrate availability, and average annual temperature and precipitation significantly impact enzyme activities. Additionally, climate change has shown ambiguous effects on these activities, causing both reductions and enhancements in enzyme catalytic functions.

Antimicrobial natural polymer film with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using aqueous plant root extracts as reducing capping agents and for film formatting show extensive applicability for pathogenic microorganism problems. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques. The antimicrobial activity of biofilm with green AgNPs was analysed by inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria culture using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were slightly higher in aqueous extracts of Sym. Radix than in Sym. Radix / AgNPs . The antimicrobial effect of polymer film/AgNPs against selected test bacteria cultures was substantially more robust than with pure film. Pictures of AgNPs obtained by TEM revealed the presence of spherical-shaped nano-objects with an average size 27.45 nm. SEM-EDS studies confirmed the uniform distribution of metal nanoparticles throughout the biopolymeric matrix. Morphological studies of the surface showed that the obtained surface of the films was even, without holes or other relief irregularities. These apparent Symphyti radix polymer film/AgNPs' biological functions could provide a platform for fighting pathogenic bacteria in the era of multi-drug resistance.

Every year, over 30% of food production is wasted. However, promoting a sustainable food supply not only fosters economic stability in agriculture and the food industry, but also safeguards precious natural resources and ensures universal food access and safety. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine how specific growth conditions (utilizing by-products: sprouted potatoes (1), wheat bran (2), brewers' spent grain (3), and a control sample with agar-agar gels (4)) affect the larvae of yellow mealworms ( Tenebrio molitor ). This includes their nutritional and energy value, consumer sensory profiling, and technological parameters of processing. The results have indicated that larvae reared on the substrate with wheat bran had the highest energy value, at 708.26 kcal. In larvae, the difference in protein content was not significant when changing the rearing conditions, and ranged between 48.54 and 59.18%. The larvae contained a significant content of fibers, with the highest amount detected in samples with brewers' spent grain. The data indicate that glucose and arabinose were distinctive to larvae. Our study has also revealed a statistical difference in ash content between larvae and the substrate, with higher levels of nitrogen, copper, and zinc detected in the larvae compared to the substrate. We have found that the salt was naturally occurring in the substrates, with the brewers' spent grain sample having the highest amount, at 1.83%. However, the control sample yielded the highest ratings, achieving a score of 7.30 for general smell acceptability. These findings emphasize the potential of utilizing various industrial and farm by-products as substrates for mealworms, transforming them into a sustainable and nutrient-rich food source. This contribution adds to the broader discourse on nutritional value and resource efficiency.

Due to climate warming, the occurrence of Lymantria monacha outbreaks is predicted to become more frequent, causing repeated and severe damage to conifer trees. Currently, the most effective way to control the outbreaks is aerial spraying with the bioinsecticide Foray 76B. The present study aimed to determine the impact of both: (i) L. monacha outbreaks and (ii) treatment with Foray 76B on tree resistance through the synthesis of polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and soluble sugars (TSS) in Pinus sylvestris needles. Samples were collected from visually healthy (control), damaged/untreated, and damaged/Foray 76B-treated plots in 2020 and 2021 (following year after the outbreaks). The results revealed that L. monacha outbreaks contributed to the increase in TPC by 34.1% in 2020 and 26.7% in 2021. TFC negatively correlated with TPC, resulting in 17.6% and 11.1% lower concentrations in L. monacha -damaged plots in 2020 and 2021, respectively. A decrease in MDA was found in the damaged plots in both 2020 and 2021 (10.2% and 23.3%, respectively), which was associated with the increased synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in 2021. The research results also showed that in the following year after the outbreaks, the increase in the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments was also affected by the treatment with Foray 76B. Moreover, the increase in the synthesis of TPC and photosynthetic pigments in the damaged plots in 2021 illustrates the ability of pines to keep an activated defense system to fight biotic stress. Meanwhile, a higher synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in Foray 76B-treated plots indicates a possible effect of the treatment on faster tree growth and forest recovery after L. monacha outbreaks.

Key Message: QPm.NOBAL-3A is an important QTL providing robust adult plant powdery mildew resistance in Nordic and Baltic spring wheat, aiding sustainable crop protection and breeding. Powdery mildew, caused by the biotrophic fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, poses a significant threat to bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the world's most crucial cereal crops. Enhancing cultivar resistance against this devastating disease requires a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of powdery mildew resistance. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using extensive field trial data from multiple environments across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway. The study involved a diverse panel of recent wheat cultivars and breeding lines sourced from the Baltic region and Norway. We identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 3A, designated as QPm.NOBAL-3A, which consistently conferred high resistance to powdery mildew across various environments and countries. Furthermore, the consistency of the QTL haplotype effect was validated using an independent Norwegian spring wheat panel. Subsequent greenhouse seedling inoculations with 15 representative powdery mildew isolates on a subset of the GWAS panel indicated that this QTL provides adult plant resistance and is likely of race non-specific nature. Moreover, we developed and validated KASP markers for QPm.NOBAL-3A tailored for use in breeding. These findings provide a critical foundation for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs aimed at pyramiding resistance QTL/genes to achieve durable and broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We investigated the diversity and occurrence of wood wasps in Lithuania and determined communities of associated fungi. Trapping of wood wasps resulted in three different species, including Sirex juvencus , Urocerus gigas , and Tremex fuscicornis . Fungal culturing from adult females of T. fuscicornis mainly resulted in fungi from the genera Penicillium and Trichoderma . High-throughput sequencing of ITS2 rDNA resulted in 59,797 high-quality fungal sequences, representing 127 fungal OTUs. There were 93 fungal OTUs detected in U. gigas , 66 in S. juvencus , and 10 in T. fuscicornis . The most common fungi were Fusarium sporotrichioides (63.1% of all fungal sequences), Amylostereum chailletii (14.9%), Penicillium crustosum (7.8%), Microascus sp. 2261&#95;4 (5.0%), and Pithoascus ater (2.1%). Among these, only A. chailletii was found in all three insect species with the highest relative abundance in U. gigas (15.2%), followed by S. juvencus (7.7%), and the lowest in T. fuscicornis (0.3%) ( p < 0.0003). Correspondence analysis of fungal communities showed a distant placement of different species of wood wasps, indicating that fungal communities in each of these were largely different. In conclusion, the study showed that the economically important tree pathogen A. chailletii was among the most common fungal OTUs vectored by siricid wood wasps.

We studied the diversity, composition, and long-term dynamics of wood-inhabiting fungi in Quercus robur stumps left after commercial tree harvesting in Lithuania. Sampling of wood was carried out at three sites and from stumps, which were 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-year-old. DNA was isolated from wood samples and fungal communities analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that stump age had a limited effect on fungal diversity. The development of fungal communities in oak stums was found to be a slow process as fungal communities remained similar for decades, while larger changes were only detected in older stumps. The most common fungi were Eupezizella sp. (18.4%), Hyphodontia pallidula (12.9%), Mycena galericulata (8.3%), and Lenzites betulinus (7.1%). Fistulina hepatica, which is a red-listed wood-decay oak fungus, was also detected at a low relative abundance in stump wood. In the shortage of suitable substrate, oak stumps may provide habitats for long-term survival of different fungal species, including red-listed and oak-related fungi., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Histosols cover about 8-10% of Lithuania's territory and most of this area is covered with nutrient-rich organic soils (Terric Histosols). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained Histosols contribute more than 25% of emissions from the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. In this study, as the first step of examining the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) fluxes in these soils, total soil CO 2 efflux and several environmental parameters (temperature of air and topsoil, soil chemical composition, soil moisture, and water table level) were measured in drained Terric Histosols under three native forest stands and perennial grasslands in the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The drained nutrient-rich organic soils differed in terms of concentrations of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, as well as soil organic carbon and total nitrogen ratio. The highest rate of total soil CO 2 efflux was found in the summer months. Overall, the rate was statistically significant and strongly correlated only with soil and air temperature. A trend emerged that total soil CO 2 efflux was 30% higher in perennial grassland than in forested land. Additional work is still needed to estimate the net CO 2 balance of these soils.

For the prevention of hilly soils from erosion, a smart selection of crop rotations is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different agrophytocenoses on seed numbers in the soil runoff sediments and soil seed banks' relations to soil properties in hilly landscapes. This study analyzes long-term monitoring data from three different agrophytocenoses (permanent grassland, cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with a row crop) set up on slopes of 9-11° steepness with collectors for soil and water installed. The soil of the southern exposition slope was a slightly eroded Eutric Retisol. In the soil of permanent grassland, the number of seeds was 4036 seeds m -2 , 6.0 and 3.2 times smaller compared to cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with a row crop. The seeds found in the soil runoff sediments composed, on average, 0.9% of the soil seed bank, and the number of seeds depended on the number of days with heavy precipitation during the plant vegetation period, as well as on the plant communities grown in a particular rotation. Correlation analysis showed the seed numbers' dependence on the soil's chemical and physical properties. Hill slopes were not affected by water erosion, when agrophytocenoses were based on perennial grassland and also cereal-grass crop rotation, where reduced soil tillage was applied.

Growing crops on marginal lands is a promising solution to alleviate the increasing pressure on agricultural land in Europe. Such crops will however be at the same time exposed to increased drought and pathogen prevalence, on already challenging soil conditions. Some sustainable practices, such as Silicon (Si) foliar fertilization, have been proposed to alleviate these two stress factors, but have not been tested under controlled, future climate conditions. We hypothesized that Si foliar fertilization would be beneficial for crops under future climate, and would have cascading beneficial effects on ecosystem processes, as many of them are directly dependent on plant health. We tested this hypothesis by exposing spring barley growing on marginal soil macrocosms (three with, three without Si treatment) to 2070 climate projections in an ecotron facility. Using the high-capacity monitoring of the ecotron, we estimated C, water, and N budgets of every macrocosm. Additionally, we measured crop yield, the biomass of each plant organ, and characterized bacterial communities using metabarcoding. Despite being exposed to water stress conditions, plants did not produce more biomass with the foliar Si fertilization, whatever the organ considered. Evapotranspiration (ET) was unaffected, as well as water quality and bacterial communities. However, in the 10-day period following two of the three Si applications, we measured a significant increase in C sequestration, when climate conditions where significantly drier, while ET remained the same. We interpreted these results as a less significant effect of Si treatment than expected as compared with literature, which could be explained by the high CO 2 levels under future climate, that reduces need for stomata opening, and therefore sensitivity to drought. We conclude that making marginal soils climate proof using foliar Si treatments may not be a sufficient strategy, at least in this type of nutrient-poor, dry, sandy soil., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

How the multiple facets of soil fungal diversity vary worldwide remains virtually unknown, hindering the management of this essential species-rich group. By sequencing high-resolution DNA markers in over 4000 topsoil samples from natural and human-altered ecosystems across all continents, we illustrate the distributions and drivers of different levels of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of fungi and their ecological groups. We show the impact of precipitation and temperature interactions on local fungal species richness (alpha diversity) across different climates. Our findings reveal how temperature drives fungal compositional turnover (beta diversity) and phylogenetic diversity, linking them with regional species richness (gamma diversity). We integrate fungi into the principles of global biodiversity distribution and present detailed maps for biodiversity conservation and modeling of global ecological processes.

Early detection of pathogenic fungi in controlled environment areas can prevent major food production losses. Grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea is often detected as an infection on lettuce. This paper explores the use of vegetation indices for early detection and monitoring of grey mould on lettuce under different lighting conditions in controlled environment chambers. The aim was focused on the potential of using vegetation indices for the early detection of grey mould and on evaluating their changes during disease development in lettuce grown under different lighting conditions. The experiment took place in controlled environment chambers, where day/night temperatures were 21 ± 2/17 ± 2 °C, a 16 h photoperiod was established, and relative humidity was 70 ± 10% under different lighting conditions: high-pressure sodium (HPS) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. Lettuces were inoculated by 7-day-old fungus Botrytis cinerea isolate at the BBCH 21. As a control, non-inoculated lettuces were grown under HPS and LEDs (non-inoculated). Then, the following were evaluated: Anthocyanin Reflectance Index 2 (ARI2); Carotenoid Reflectance Index 2 (CRI2); Structure Intensive Pigment Index (SIPI); Flavanol Reflectance Index (FRI); Greenness (G); Greenness 2 (G2); Redness (R); Blue (B); Blue Green Index 2 (BGI2); Browning Index 2 (BRI2); Lichtenthaler Index 1 (LIC1); Pigment Specific Simple Ratio (PSSRa and PSSRb); Gitelson and Merzlyak (GM1 and GM2); Zarco Tejada-Miller Index (ZMI); Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); Simple Ratio (SR); Red-Eye Vegetation Stress Index (RVSI); Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI); Photochemical Reflectance Index 515 (PRI515); Water Band Index (WBI); specific disease index for individual study (fD); Healthy Index (HI); Plant Senescence Reflectance (PSRI); Vogelmann Red Edge Index (VREI1); Red Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RENDVI); and Modified Red Edge Simple Ratio (MRESRI). Our results showed that the PSRI and fD vegetation indices significantly detected grey mould on lettuce grown under both lighting systems (HPS and LEDs) the day after inoculation. The results conclusively affirmed that NDVI, PSRI, HI, fD, WBI, RVSI, PRI, PRI515, CRI2, SIPI, chlorophyll index PSSRb, and coloration index B were identified as the best indicators for Botrytis cinerea infection on green-leaf lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. cv Little Gem) at the early stage of inoculated lettuce's antioxidative response against grey mould with a significant increase in chlorophyll indices.

Climate change and global food security efforts are driving the need for adaptable crops in higher latitude temperate regions. To achieve this, traits linked with winter hardiness must be introduced in winter-type crops. Here, we evaluated the freezing tolerance (FT) of a panel of 160 winter wheat genotypes of Nordic origin under controlled conditions and compared the data with the winter hardiness of 74 of these genotypes from a total of five field trials at two locations in Norway. Germplasm with high FT was identified, and significant differences in FT were detected based on country of origin, release years, and culton type. FT measurements under controlled conditions significantly correlated with overwintering survival scores in the field ( r ≤ 0.61) and were shown to be a reliable complementary high-throughput method for FT evaluation. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with FT under controlled conditions mapped to chromosomes 2A, 2B, 5A, 5B, and 7A. Field trials yielded 11 significant SNP markers located within or near genes, mapped to chromosomes 2B, 3B, 4A, 5B, 6B, and 7D. Candidate genes identified in this study can be introduced into the breeding programs of winter wheat in the Nordic region.

Scientifically informed decisions for the long-term conservation of extant genetic diversity should combine in situ and ex situ conservation methods. The aim of the present study was to assess if a progeny plantation consisting of several open pollinated (OP) families and established for breeding purposes can also serve as an ex situ conservation plantation, using the case study of a Lithuanian progeny trial of Alnus glutinosa , a keystone species of riparian ecosystems that warrants priority conservation actions. We employed 17 nuclear microsatellite (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers and compared the genetic diversity and copy number of the captured alleles of 22 OP progeny families from this plantation, with 10 wild A. glutinosa populations, originating from the two provenance regions of the species in Lithuania. We conclude that the progeny plantation could be used as an ex situ plantation for the A. glutinosa populations from the first provenance region (represented by eight genetic conservation units (GCU)). Based on the present study's results, we can expect that the A. glutinosa progeny plantation harbors enough genetic diversity of wild A. glutinosa populations from the first provenance region. This progeny plantation can serve as a robust ex situ collection containing local alleles present in at least one wild population with at least 0.05 frequency with 25 replications.

Bromopsis inermis and Phalaroides arundinacea are increasingly grown not only for feed but also for other purposes, such as obtaining energy. Composting sewage sludge and using such compost to fertilize various plants is also becoming more popular. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate how the fertilization of the mentioned plants with sewage sludge compost (SSC) affects the biomass yield and biomass quality of these plants. It was also important to determine whether fertilization with SSC is possible in low-yielding soils of light texture without harming these soils There are no similar studies in Lithuania, and there are very few in Europe and the world. It was found that investigated grasses formed a small biomass DM yield (6.6 t/ha within three years). The biomass of B. inermis and Ph. arundinacea had a very high ash content and concentrations of nitrogen and potassium. This greatly reduced the quality of the biomass of these grasses as a solid biofuel. SSC performed poorly as a fertilizer. Fertilization with 125 t/ha SSC significantly increased the total biomass yield of Ph. arundinacea only. At the same time, using SSC as a fertilizer significantly increased the concentration of Cu, Zn, and Cd in the soil.

The Green Deal strategy has the very ambitious goal of transforming the European Union into the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. For the agricultural sector, one of the main challenges is to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Crop protection measures aim to maintain and ensure certain standards of yield and quality, which are generally achieved by the control of pests, diseases, and weeds. One of the possibilities to reduce the use of pesticides could be allelopathic plants, which are not only potential sources of allelochemicals but also renewable biomass sources. The aim of this study was to analyze the productivity of Artemisia dubia Wall and evaluate the allelopathic effects of biomass on crops and weeds. It was determined that the biomass productivity of A. dubia varied from 2 to 18 t ha -1 , depending on how many times it is cut during the growing season and the fertilizer rate. A. dubia has allelopathic properties, which were verified using an aqueous extract and can completely suppress the germination of Taraxacum officinale seeds. Young plants harvested in the middle of summer were characterized by the highest number of phenolic compounds. This shows the strong allelopathic effect of A. dubia biomass on other plants.

A fertilisation experiment, with the aim to determine the effects of different potassium fertiliser rates and their interactions with nitrogen and phosphorus on field-rotation productivity, potassium balance, fertiliser utilization, and changes in the content of potassium in soil, was carried out in Lithuania between 1971 and 2020. The multi-factorial scheme with 45 treatment plots, where seven rates (including zero) of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilisers were studied. The experimental treatments during the study period were carried out on winter wheat, spring wheat, spring barley, sugar beet, spring rapeseed, and annual and perennial grasses. It was found that potassium fertilisers were the most effective on agricultural crops when used in combination with other major plant nutrients-i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus. The required balance of potassium (K 2 O) in the soil was measured, when nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers were applied together to compensate for potassium removal; when applying low nitrogen (N) (72 kg ha -1 ) and phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ) (64 kg ha -1 ) fertiliser rates, 128 kg ha -1 of potassium fertilisers are required. When using high nitrogen (180 kg ha -1 ) and phosphorus (160 kg ha -1 ) fertiliser rates, 160 kg ha -1 of potassium is needed. The highest potassium uptake, reaching 51.6%, was achieved when plants had been fertilised with nitrogen (108 kg ha -1 ), phosphorus (96 kg ha -1 ), and potassium (96 kg ha -1 ). When fertilising with potassium fertilisers alone, the content of plant-available K 2 O content in the soil increased, whereas with fertilisation with nitrogen and phosphorus combined K 2 O content is decreased, except in the plots where the plants had been fertilised with potassium fertiliser at rates of 128 kg ha -1 and higher. Due to the influence of fertilisers, the amount of non-exchangeable potassium in the soil also increased, but relatively little compared to the amount of available potassium content. Thus, one of the main conditions for the effective use of potassium fertilisers is ensuring optimal plant nutrition with other nutrition elements, especially nitrogen and phosphorus.

The EU's goals by 2050 are to ensure food security, prevent bio-diversity loss, and strengthen the EU food system's resilience. Recent scientific research and the situation in the global market show that the cultivation and processing of raspberries is currently completely unsustainable. This sector is experiencing a huge decline in Lithuania. Therefore, we chose the sustainability of raspberry growing (from farm) and processing (to fork) as an object. The aim of this article was (i) to analyze the raw material of the raspberry plant for product sustainable processing, (ii) to create a digital sustainability measurement model, and (iii) to present sustainable development solutions for effective raspberry growing and processing on Lithuanian farms using content and descriptive methods. This paper discusses how to help small raspberry growers and processors achieve sustainable economic, environmental, and social performance from field raw material to processed products. Analysis of the scientific literature has revealed qualitative and quantitative sustainability indicators for improving raspberry production. The assessment of the sustainability according to our created model revealed the (un)sustainable factors and the current situation in raspberry farms on a Likert scale from very unsustainable to very sustainable. Based on the evaluation we have determined sustainable development solutions. Raspberry growing and processing in Lithuania can contribute to environmental conservation, economic growth, and social well-being, fostering a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector by investing in R&D, improving productivity, creating employment opportunities and supporting rural communities, establishing a robust waste management system, and embracing renewable energy sources. Raspberry growers and processors can use the digital model we created for the sustainability, efficiency, and development directions of their farm.

This study focuses on the effect of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers on the quality of perennial grasses. Both grasses and legumes are important in swards, and each type of grass has different biological and ecological properties. Legumes in multi-species swards, especially in their early ages, benefit other Poaceae grasses by improving their growth. When evaluating individual cuts over a three-year period, it was determined that the quality indicators of the forage were significantly influenced by the year of use, N fertilizer application, and the different species compositions of the swards. In many cases, N fertilizers significantly reduced the CP content while tending to increase MADF and NDF. Monoculture grass swards had the highest WSC content; in most cases, N fertilizers increased the WSC content in the forage. DMD was the lowest in the first year of use, specifically in the first cut. Our three-year experiment, which investigated twelve swards with different species compositions, demonstrated that legume grasses improved the quality indicators of forage and contributed to maintaining a more stable overall forage yield over the years. As the climate continues to become warmer, there is a growing need to study a wide range of plant species and different varieties suitable for local growth conditions.

This study aims to evaluate the impacts of the lighting photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) on the growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant response of common purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ) cultivars to determine energy-efficient lighting strategies for CEA. Green and golden purslane cultivars were cultivated in CEA chambers and four experimental treatments consisting of PPFDs of 150, 200, 250, and 300 ± 10 µmol m -2 s -1 were performed, representing daily light integrals (DLIs) of 8.64-17.28 mol m -2 d -1 throughout a 16 h photoperiod. The results show that photoresponses to light PPFDs are cultivar-specific. The green cultivar accumulates 174% more dry weight at 300 PPFD compared to the golden cultivar, and also has a higher LUE, but a lower ETR. Dry weight accumulation, plant height, and leaf area dependence on light intensity do not highlight the economic significance of light PPFD/DLI. The derivative parameter (Δ fresh weight (%)/ΔDLI %) more efficiently explains how the percentage increase in DLI due to an increased PPFD affects the percentage of biomass gain between these PPFD treatments. For both cultivars, the relative fresh weight gain is maximal when the lighting PPFD increases from 200 to 250 µmol m -2 s -1 and declines with PPFD increases from 250 to 300.