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A global soil spectral grid based on space sensing
(Elsevier, 2025-02-20) Demattê, José A.M.; Rizzo, Rodnei; Rosin, Nícolas Augusto; Poppiel, Raul Roberto; Novais, Jean Jesus Macedo; Amorim, Merilyn Taynara Accorsi; Rodriguez-Albarracín, Heidy Soledad; Rosas, Jorge Tadeu Fim; Bartsch, Bruno dos Anjos; Vogel, Letícia Guadagnin; Minasny, Budiman; Grunwald, Sabine; Ge, Yufeng; Ben-Dor, Eyal; Gholizadeh, Asa; Gomez, Cecile; Chabrillat, Sabine; Francos, Nicolas; Fiantis, Dian; Belal, Abdelaziz; Tsakiridis, Nikolaos; Eleni, Kalopesa; Naimi, Salman; Ayoubi, Shamsollah; Tziolas, Nikolaos; Das, Bhabani Sankar; Zalidis, George; Francelino, Marcio Rocha; de Mello, Danilo Cesar; Hafshejani, Najmeh Asgari; Peng, Yi; Ma, Yuxin; Coblinski, João Augusto; Wadoux, Alexandre M.J.-C.; Savin, Igor; Malone, Brendan P.; Karyotis, Konstantinos; Milewski, Robert; Vaudour, Emmanuelle; Wang, Changkun; Salama, Elsayed Said Mohamed; Shepherd, Keith D.
Soils provide a range of essential ecosystem services for sustaining life, including climate regulation. Advanced technologies support the protection and restoration of this natural resource. We developed the first fine-resolution spectral grid of bare soils by processing a spatiotemporal satellite data cube spanning the globe. Landsat imagery provided a 30 m composite soil image using the Geospatial Soil Sensing System (GEOS3), which calculates the median of pixels from the 40-year time series (1984–2022). The map of the Earth's bare soil covers nearly 90 % of the world's drylands. The modeling resulted in 10 spectral patterns of soils worldwide. Results indicate that plant residue and unknown soil patterns are the main factors that affect soil reflectance. Elevation and the shortwave infrared (SWIR2) band show the highest importance, with 78 and 80 %, respectively, suggesting that spectral and geospatial proxies provide inference on soils. We showcase that spectral groups are associated with environmental factors (climate, land use and land cover, geology, landforms, and soil). These outcomes represent an unprecedented information source capable of unveiling nuances on global soil conditions. Information derived from reflectance data supports the modeling of several soil properties with applications in soil-geological surveying, smart agriculture, soil tillage optimization, erosion monitoring, soil health, and climate change studies. Our comprehensive spectrally-based soil grid can address global needs by informing stakeholders and supporting policy, mitigation planning, soil management strategy, and soil, food, and climate security interventions.
A review of organophosphonates, their natural and anthropogenic sources, environmental fate and impact on microbial greenhouse gases emissions – Identifying knowledge gaps
(Journal of Environmental Management, 2024-03-01) Furtak, Karolina; Szafranek-Nakonieczna, Anna; Furtak, Adam; Pytlak, Anna
Organophosphonates (OPs) are a unique group of natural and synthetic compounds, characterised by the presence of a stable, hard-to-cleave bond between the carbon and phosphorus atoms. OPs exhibit high resistance to abiotic degradation, excellent chelating properties and high biological activity. Despite the huge and increasing scale of OP production and use worldwide, little is known about their transportation and fate in the environment. Available data are dominated by information concerning the most recognised organophosphonate – the herbicide glyphosate - while other OPs have received little attention. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge about natural and artificial OPs is presented (including glyphosate). Based on the available literature, a number of knowledge gaps have been identified that need to be filled in order to understand the environmental effects of these abundant compounds. Special attention has been given to GHG-related processes, with a particular focus on CH4. This stems from the recent discovery of OP-dependent CH4 production in aqueous environments under aerobic conditions. The process has changed the perception of the biogeochemical cycle of CH4, since it was previously thought that biological methane formation was only possible under anaerobic conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether OP-associated methane is also formed in soils. Moreover, it remains unclear whether anthropogenic OPs affect the CH4 cycle, a concern of significant importance in the context of the increasing rate of global warming. The literature examined in this review also calls for additional research into the date of OPs in waste and sewage and in their impact on environmental microbiomes.
A Review of the Biological Activity and Structure–Property Relationships of the Main Compounds from Schisandra chinensis
(Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach, 2025) Skalski, Bartosz; Kuźniak, Elżbieta; Kowalska, Iwona; Sikora, Monika; Olas, Beata
Schisandra chinensis is a plant from the Schisandraceae family that grows in humid climates, such as forests and mountain slopes. This plant is attracting the attention of an increasing number of scientists around the world, mainly due to its medicinal properties. It contains a variety of bioactive compounds that exhibit significant biological activities, including lignans, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, organic acids and essential oils. This publication is a review of the latest knowledge and research conducted in the field of analysis of biologically active compounds isolated from Schisandra chinensis.
A Step Forward in Hybrid Soil Laboratory Analysis: Merging Chemometric Corrections, Protocols and Data-Driven Methods
(Remote Sensing - MDPI, 2024-12-04) Anjos Bartsch, Bruno; Rosin, Nicolas Augusto; Santos, Uemeson José; Coblinski, João Augusto; Pelegrino, Marcelo; Fim Rosas, Jorge Tadeu; Poppiel, Raul Roberto; Ortiz, Ednilson; Kochinki, Viviana; Gallo, Paulo; Ben Dor, Eyal; Falcioni, Renan; Nanni, Marcos Rafael; Gonçalves, João; Almeida de Oliveira, Caio; Vedana, Nicole; Herrig Furlanetto, Renato; Demattê, José
The need to maintain soil health and produce more food worldwide has increased, and soil analysis is essential for its management. Although spectroscopy has emerged as an important tool, it is important to focus primarily on predictive modeling procedures rather than specific protocols. This article aims to contribute to a routine work sequence in a hybrid laboratory that seeks to provide the best data for its users. In this study, 18,730 soil samples from the state of Paraná, Brazil, were analyzed using three different laboratories, sensors and geometries for data acquisition. Thirty soil properties were analyzed, some using different chemical methodologies for comparison purposes. After a spectral reading, two literary protocols were applied, and the final prediction results were observed. We applied cubist models, which were the best for our population. The combination of different spectral analysis systems, with a standardized protocol using LB for the ISS detection of discrepant samples, was shown to significantly improve the accuracy of predictions for 21 of the 30 soil properties analyzed, highlighting the importance of choosing the extraction methodology and improving data quality, which have a significant impact on laboratory analyses, reaffirming spectroscopy as an essential tool for the efficient and sustainable management of soil resources.
A study of natural radioactivity of rock meals used for soil fertilization
(2024) Łukaszek-Chmielewska, Aneta; Piotrowska, Barbara; Isajenko, Krzysztof; Lipiński, Paweł; Podleśna, Anna; Lewicka, Sylwia; Rachwał, Marzena
Granite and basalt meals (rock meals) are regarded as micronutrient fertilizers due to their rich content of macro- and microelements essential for proper development of planta. However, they also are rich in radionuclides which may pose a radioactive hazard to environment, food and people. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental and human exposure to ionizing radiation emitted by natural radioactive isotopes containing in granite and basalt meals increasingly used for soil fertilization. Gamma ray spectrometry was applied in order to determine concertation of radioactive isotopes: 40K, 226Ra and 232Th. Afterwards, radiological hazard parameters were calculated in order to assess health and environmental risks. The obtained results indicated that the average radioactivity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K of all granite meal samples were higher than their average content in the Earth’s crust. Whereas, basalt meals contained much lower natural radioactive isotopes. Similarly, the radiological hazard indices were higher and exceeded limit values in case of granite meals, thus excluding them from use in fertilization. Basalt meals were characterized by lower values of these indices, suggesting the possibility of their safe use in agriculture as soil fertilizers.
Adaptive Agronomic Strategies for Enhancing Cereal Yield Resilience Under Changing Climate in Poland
(MDPI, 2024) Wójcik-Gront, Elżbieta; Gozdowski, Dariusz; Pudełko, Rafał; Lenartowicz, Tomasz
Climate-driven changes have raised concerns about their long-term impacts on the yield resilience of cereal crops. This issue is critical in Poland as it affects major cereal crops like winter triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, spring barley, and winter barley. This study investigates how soil nutrient profiles, fertilization practices, and crop management conditions influence the yield resilience of key cereal crops over a thirteen-year period (2009–2022) in the context of changing climate expressed as varying Climatic Water Balance. Data from 47 locations provided by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing were analyzed to assess the combined effects of agronomic practices and climate-related water availability on crop performance. Yield outcomes under moderate and enhanced management practices were contrasted using Classification and Regression Trees to evaluate the relationships between yield variations and agronomic actors, including soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilization, and levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The study found a downward trend in Climatic Water Balance, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on regional water resources. Crop yields responded positively to increased agricultural inputs, especially nitrogen. Optimal soil pH and medium phosphorus levels were identified as crucial for maximizing yield. The findings underscore the importance of tailored nutrient management and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on cereal production. The results provide insights for field crop research and practical approaches to sustain cereal production in changing climatic conditions.
Agricultural resilience and agricultural sustainability – which is which?
(IUNG-PIB, 2024) Berbeć, Adam Kleofas
Agricultural sustainability and agricultural resilience are two related concepts focus on maintaining the productivity and functionality of agricultural systems. Agricultural sustainability, a part of sustainable development, focuses on the long-term viability of agricultural practices, with conservation and efficient use of natural resources, the promotion of biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem services delivery to ensure the continued productivity of agricultural systems as central point of the concept. Agricultural sustainability seeks to balance the environmental goals with economic and social aspects of agricultural operations. Agricultural resilience is a narrower concept, focusing mostly on the ability of agricultural systems to withstand and recover from specific external disturbances (negative effects of climate change, market fluctuations). The interconnections between two concepts are currently under-explored. Agricultural resilience must be seen through the lens of a specific context or challenge to which it responds. Both concepts are essential for developing agricultural systems that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and contribute to food security, environmental protection and economic stability. Agricultural sustainability provides a foundation for resilience, while improved agricultural resilience can contribute to long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. At the same time not all sustainable agricultural systems are resilient to specific shocks and stresses, and vice-versa. The aim of the study was to identify similarities and differences between the concepts of agricultural sustainability and resilience, with particular reference to their interaction.
Anti-platelet activity of sea buckthorn seeds and its relationship with thermal processing
(MDPI, 2024-07-29) Sławińska, Natalia; Żuchowski, Jerzy; Stochmal, Anna; Olas, Beata
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a tree or shrub with small, orange berries. Sea buckthorn seeds have shown many properties beneficial to human health, including antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and retinoprotective activities. Seeds, as a component of food, are often exposed to high temperatures, which can increase or decrease their biological activity. In our previous study, we showed that both raw and roasted sea buckthorn seeds had significant antioxidant activity, which was measured in human plasma in vitro. In this paper, we evaluated the effect of extracts from raw and roasted sea buckthorn seeds on several parameters of hemostasis in vitro, including thrombus formation in full blood (measured by the Total Thrombus formation Analysis System—T-TAS), blood platelet activation (based on the exposition of P-selectin, the active form of GPIIb/IIIa on their surface and platelet-derived microparticles formation), aggregation (measured with impedance aggregometry), adhesion to fibrinogen and collagen, arachidonic acid metabolism in washed platelets stimulated by thrombin, and COX-1 activity. We also measured the levels of free 8-isoprostane in plasma and the total non-enzymatic antioxidant status of plasma. The extract from roasted seeds (50 µg/mL) significantly prolonged the time of occlusion measured by T-TAS—the AUC10 (area under the curve) value was decreased by approximately 18%. Both extracts decreased the exposition of the active form of GPIIb/IIIa on the surface of platelets activated with 10 μM ADP (by 38.4–62.2%) and 20 μM ADP (by 39.7–51.3%). Moreover, the extract from raw seeds decreased the exposition of P-selectin on the surface of platelets stimulated with 20 μM ADP (by 31.2–34.9%). The adhesion of thrombin-stimulated platelets to fibrinogen and collagen was inhibited only by the extract from roasted sea buckthorn seeds (by 20–30%). Moreover, the extract from raw seeds inhibited the level of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, an indicator of enzymatic peroxidation of arachidonic acid) in washed platelets stimulated with thrombin; the activity of COX-1 was inhibited by both extracts, although the effect of the extract from raw seeds was stronger. These results indicate that sea buckthorn seeds have anti-platelet activity that is not decreased by thermal processing, but more research is needed to determine which exact chemical compounds and mechanisms are responsible for this phenomenon.
Antiaging Properties of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Ethanol Extract—Ex Vivo and In Vitro Studies
(MDPI, 2024-11-25) Stefanowicz-Hajduk, Justyna; Nowak, Anna; Hering, Anna; Kucharski, Łukasz; Graczyk, Piotr; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Sulikowski, Tadeusz; Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, Anna
Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine, linked to their remarkable medical properties. These species include Kalanchoe blossfeldiana succulents, which grow in tropical regions. Despite the great interest in this plant, there are no reports about its therapeutic effects on the skin. In this study, the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana ethanol extracts and the skin permeation of a topical hydrogel containing the extract (HKB) were assessed. Additionally, the content of active compounds in the K. blossfeldiana extract was evaluated by UHPLC-MS and HPLC-UV. The extract was analyzed with three antioxidant assays: ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP. Furthermore, the antielastase and antihialuronidase properties of the tested extract were assessed. Ex vivo penetration studies were performed using the Franz diffusion cells. The estimation of the cytotoxicity of HKB was performed by using an MTT assay ((4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) on the human fibroblasts HFF-1. The results obtained show that the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana extract were similar to those of ascorbic acid, while antielastase and antihialuronidase tests indicated the strong antiaging and anti-inflammatory activity of the extract (IC50 was 26.8 ± 0.13 and 77.31 ± 2.44 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, active ingredients contained in K. blossfeldiana extract penetrated through the human skin and accumulated in it. The cytotoxicity test showed that HKB had no significant effect on human bibroblasts at a concentration up to 0.5%. In conclusion, the hydrogel containing the K. blossfeldiana extract can be considered as an interesting and new alternative to dermatologic and cosmetic preparations.
Anticholinesterase Activity and Bioactive Compound Profiling of Six Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Varieties
(MDPI, 2024) Sagan, Bartłomiej; Czerny, Bogusław; Stasiłowicz-Krzemień, Anna; Szulc, Piotr; Skomra, Urszula; Karpiński, Tomasz M.; Lisiecka, Jolanta; Kamiński, Adam; Kryszak, Aleksandra; Zimak-Krótkopad, Oskar; Cielecka-Piontek, Judyta
Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) are widely recognized for their use in brewing, but they also possess significant pharmacological properties due to their rich bioactive compounds, with many varieties exhibiting diverse characteristics. This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts from six hop varieties, focusing on quantifying xanthohumol and lupulone using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) analysis. The hop varieties demonstrated significant variability in bioactive compound concentrations, with Aurora showing the highest xanthohumol (0.665 mg/g) and Zwiegniowski the highest lupulone (9.228 mg/g). TPC analysis revealed Aurora also had the highest phenolic content (22.47 mg GAE/g). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, with Aurora and Oregon Fuggle displaying the most potent capacities. Aurora, in partic ular, showed the highest activity across multiple assays, including significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase inhibition, with IC50 values of 24.39 mg/mL, 20.38 mg/mL, and 9.37 mg/mL, respectively. The chelating activity was also assessed, with Apolon demonstrating the strongest metal ion binding capacity (IC50 = 1.04 mg/mL). Additionally, Aurora exhibited the most effective hyaluronidase inhibition (IC50 = 10.27 g/mL), highlighting its potential for anti-inflammatory applications. The results underscore the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the bioactive compound profiles of hop varieties and their biological activity offering promising avenues for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the potential interactions between hop cones components.
Assessing and mapping changes in soil ecosystem services and soil threats in agroecosystems through scenario-based approaches – A systematic review
(Elsevier, 2025-02-25) Scammacca, Ottone; Montagne, David; Asins-Velis, Sabina; Bondi, Giulia; Borůvka, Luboš; Buttafuoco, Gabriele; Cadero, Alice; Calzolari, Costanza; Cousin, Isabelle; Czuba, Martina; Foldal, Cecilie; Malli, Armin; Klimkowicz-Pawlas, Agnieszka; Kukk, Liia; Lumini, Erica; Medina-Roldán, Eduardo; Michel, Kerstin; Molina, María José; O'Sullivan, Lilian; Pindral, Sylwia; Putku, Elsa; Kitzler, Barbara; Walter, Christian
Scenario analysis plays a central role in estimating how global changes affect the relationships linking ecosystem conditions and functioning to human needs. This is particularly true for agroecosystems, which are pivotal to ensure sustainable land planning, ecological management and food security strategies. Soils are key providers of multiple ecosystem services (ES) in agroecosystems but they are very sensitive to global drivers such as changes in climate, land use and cover. How agroecosystems should achieve sustainability, through optimizing soil capacity to supply ES while limiting the occurrence of threats, is a priority of EU policy agendas. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive framework of scenario-based approaches to assess changes in soil ES (SES) and soil threats (ST). As a part of the project SERENA funded by the European Joint Program on Agricultural Soil Management, this study aims to: i) understand how drivers of global change are commonly studied in the scientific literature; ii) identify how some SES and ST are assessed in scenario-based approaches; iii) provide a preliminary discussion on how soil properties are represented in these approaches. Through a systematic review of 230 published articles related to seven SES and ten ST, this study highlights that not all SES and ST are considered with the same frequency and geographic distribution in scenario-based approaches. Despite a great methodological variability in the assessment and mapping of SES and ST, dominant methodological trends can be identified. SES are mapped more frequently than ST and, specific SES appear more disposed to spatially explicit assessments than others. Due to its novelty and complexity, research on this topic is limited to a small subset of ST or SES and projections of the combined impacts of climate, land use and management changes on multiple ST and SES should be a scientific priority to help policy makers.
Assessment of Physicochemical Properties and Quality of the Breads Made from Organically Grown Wheat and Legumes
(MDPI, 2024-04-18) Cacak-Pietrzak, Grażyna ; Sujka, Jerzy; Księżak, Jerzy; Bojarszczuk, Jolanta; Ziarno, Małgorzata; Studnicki, Marcin; Krajewska, Anna; Dziki, Dariusz
This study aimed to explore the feasibility of substituting wheat flour with varying levels (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of flour derived from field bean, chickpea, lentil, and pea seeds. The investigation focused on assessing the physical properties of wheat dough and the physicochem ical characteristics of bread samples. The addition of legume seed flours significantly influenced the dough’s development time, particularly with chickpea flour causing a notable increase in this parameter. While dough stability was generally shorter for mixtures containing wheat flour and legume seed flour, chickpea flour was an exception, significantly prolonging dough stability time. Furthermore, the inclusion of legume flours resulted in increased protein, ash, fiber, fat, and phenolic contents in the enriched bread, while the carbohydrate content decreased. Additionally, the crumb exhibited increased redness and yellowness and decreased lightness due to the enrichment of the bread. Notably, the antioxidant activity of bread containing legume flour also increased, with the most significant increase observed when pea flour was utilized. Conversely, negative effects on bread volume, crumb density, and texture parameters were noted with the incorporation of legume addi tives. Taking into consideration the results of both physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation, it is recommended that the incorporation of the specified legume flours should not exceed 15% in relation to the quantity of wheat flour used.
Assessment of Resistance of Barley Varieties to Diseases in Polish Organic Field Trials
(MDPI, 2024) Lenartowicz, Tomasz ; Bujak, Henryk; Przystalski, Marcin; Mashevska, Inna; Nowosad, Kamila; Jończyk, Krzysztof; Feledyn-Szewczyk, Beata
Leaf rust and net blotch are two important fungal diseases of barley. Leaf rust is the most important rust disease of barley, whereas net blotch can result in significant yield losses and cause the deterioration of crop quality. The best and the most environmentally friendly method to control diseases is to cultivate resistant varieties. The aim of the current study was to identify barley varieties with an improved resistance to leaf rust and net blotch in Polish organic postregistration trials conducted in the years 2020–2022. For this purpose, the cumulative link mixed model with several variance components was applied to model resistance to leaf rust and net blotch. It was found that the reference variety Radek was the most resistant to leaf rust, whereas variety Avatar outperformed the reference variety in terms of resistance to net blotch, although the difference between the two varieties was non-significant. In the present study, the use of the cumulative link mixed model framework made it possible to calculate cumulative probabilities or the probability of a given score for each variety and disease, which might be useful for plant breeders and crop experts. Both, the method of analysis and resistant varieties may be used in the breeding process to derive new resistant varieties suitable for the organic farming system.
Assessment of Resistance to PVY in Interspecific Hybrids Obtained by Combining Type va Resistance from Nicotiana tabacum with the Resistance from PVY-Immune Species Nicotiana africana
(MDPI, 2024) Depta, Anna; Doroszewska, Teresa; Berbeć, Apoloniusz
Tobacco veinal necrosis caused by the potato virus Y (PVY) substantially affects yields and crop quality of tobacco. PVY shows high variability in virulence due to numerous mutations and recombinations. The types of resistance available for tobacco include the va type, effective against some PVY isolates but succumbing to others, and the Nicotiana africana-derived type, fully effective in its native genetic milieu but limited to varying degrees of tolerance when transferred to N. tabacum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pyramiding potential of these two sources of resistance in alloploid hybrids of Nicotiana tabacum x N. africana. To this end, amphidiploids involving N. tabacum cvs. VAM andWi ślica, each being the carrier of a different variant of the va gene, were created and advanced from F1 to two subsequent selfed generations and to BC1 generation with either VAM or Wiślica as the recurrent N. tabacum parent. The hybrid populations thus produced were challenged with two PVY necrotic isolates, IUNG 23 and IUNG 20, mild and severe isolate belonging to the PVYN-Wi and PVYNTN groups, respectively. The mild isolate failed to infect any of the hybrids or parental species. The hybrids varied in their response to IUNG 20. The F1 and F2 populations were composed of asymptomatic hosts to PVY and of those showing mild vein clearing but no necrotic plants. There was a progressive increase in ability to resist PVY in successive amphidiploid generations, with 30 and 10% of fully resistant plants appearing in the F3 amphidiploids involving VAM and Wiślica. Further research is needed to account for the appearance of segregants completely resistant to PVY, since neither N. africana factor is fully expressed in N. tabacum, nor do the va alleles confer resistance against PVYNTN isolates.
Assessment of soil impact on pre- and post-harvest NDVI extrema by machine learning
(Polskie Towarzystwo Gleboznawcze, 2024-06-01) Łopatka, Artur; Koza, Piotr; Suszek-Łopatka, Beata; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Jadczyszyn, Jan
It was observed that the difference in the maximum and minimum NDVI values at a time close toharvest (mxNDVI and mnNDVI, respectively), referred to as the haNDVI index (harvest amplitudeof NDVI), correlates with agricultural soil quality and the share of sowings. The NDVI becomes satu-rated when the values of the Leaf Area Index (LAI) signi ficantly exceed one so spatial variation inhaNDVI is mainly due to the minimum post-harvest NDVI (mnNDVI). To explain the variability ofmnNDVI values three hypotheses were formulated: i) impact of crop selection, ii) field size impact,and iii) impact of soil. To determine which of these hypotheses had the highest impact on the vari-ation in the mnNDVI, the developed machine learning models of this indicator were subjected toa test removing individual explanatory variables from them. Removing a variable does not causea signi ficant increase in model error if a variable does not contribute useful information to themodel. This test showed that the mnNDVI index depends almost exclusively on the crop indicatorwhich was the median of mnNDVI for crops, not directly from soil variables such as the agriculturalquality of soil or soil moisture. According to this, the hypothesis of direct impact of soil was rejected.The explanation for the observed correlation of haNDVI with soil quality is the agricultural practiceof choosing crops with low mnNDVI (cereals, rapeseed) at better soil conditions and crops with highmnNDVI (fodder crops, grassland) for worse soil conditions.
Berberis vulgaris L. Root Extract as a Multi-Target Chemopreventive Agent against Colon Cancer Causing Apoptosis in Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines
(MDPI, 2024-04-27) Och, Anna; Lemieszek, Marta Kinga; Cieśla, Marek; Jędrejek, Dariusz; Kozłowska, Aleksandra; Pawelec, Sylwia; Nowak, Renata
Berberis vulgaris L. (Berberidaceae) is a shrub that has been widely used in European folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the mechanisms of the hemopreventive action of the plant’s methanolic root extract (BVR) against colon cancer cells. Studies were conducted in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (LS180 and HT-29) and control colon epithelial CCD841 CoN cells. According to the MTT assay, after 48 h of cell exposure, the IC50 values were as follows: 4.3, 46.1, and 50.2 g/mL for the LS180, HT-29, and CCD841 CoN cells, respectively, showing the greater sensitivity of the cancer cells to BVR. The Cell Death Detection ELISAPLUS kit demonstrated that BVR induced programmed cell death only against HT-29 cells. Nuclear double staining revealed the great proapoptotic BVR properties in HT-29 cells and subtle effect in LS180 cells. RT-qPCR with the relative quantification method showed significant changes in the expression of genes related to apoptosis in both the LS180 and HT-29 cells. The genes BCL2L1 (126.86–421.43%), BCL2L2 (240–286.02%), CASP3 (177.19–247.83%), and CASP9 (157.99–243.75%) had a significantly elevated expression, while BCL2 (25–52.03%) had a reduced expression compared to the untreated control. Furthermore, in a panel of antioxidant tests, BVR showed positive effects (63.93 0.01, 122.92 0.01, and 220.29 0.02 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/g in the DPPH , ABTS +, and ORAC assays, respectively). In the lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition test, BVR revealed 62.60 0.87% of enzyme inhibition. The chemical composition of BVR was determined using a UHPLC-UV-CAD-MS/MS analysis and confirmed the presence of several known alkaloids, including berberine, as well as other alkaloids and two derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acid (ferulic and sinapic acid hexosides). The results are very promising and encourage the use of BVR as a comprehensive chemopreventive agent (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-apoptotic) in colorectal cancer, and were widely discussed alongside data from the literature.
Berkeleyomyces rouxiae - A Pathogen Causing the Black Root Rot of Tobacco
(MDPI, 2024-12-18) Korbecka-Glinka, Grażyna; Trojak-Goluch, Anna; Czarnecka, Diana
Black root rot is a dangerous disease affecting many crops. It is caused by pathogens formerly known as Thielaviopsis basicola and then reclassified as two cryptic species, Berkeleyomyces basicola and B. rouxiae. The aim of this study was to perform species identification, morphological characterization, and pathogenicity tests for fungal isolates obtained from tobacco roots with black root rot symptoms in Poland. DNA sequences of the three regions (ITS, ACT, MCM7) were highly similar to the sequences of B. rouxiae deposited in the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the assignment of the obtained isolates to this species. The cultures of four representative isolates (namely OT2, OT3, WPT7, WPT8) showed a similar structure and gray/brown color of the mycelium, although their growth rate varied from 3.8 to 5.1 mm/day depending on the isolate. The sizes of the endoconidia and chlamydospores showed a considerable variation, although they fit within ranges previously described for B. rouxiae. Pathogenicity tests performed on young tobacco plants grown in the inoculated peat substrate revealed differences among the four isolates. WPT7 demonstrated the lowest level of aggressiveness for tobacco. In contrast, the remaining three isolates caused severe disease symptoms and significantly reduced shoot and root dry weights of the susceptible cultivar Virginia Joyner. A parallel pathogenicity test performed on cultivar VRG 10TL confirmed the effectiveness of black root rot resistance derived from Nicotiana debneyi.
Biodiversity assessment of segetal flora, earthworms and terrestrial invertebrates in various agricultural production systems and crops
(Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, 2024) Harasim, Elżbieta; Feledyn-Szewczyk, Beata
The functioning of societies depends on a number of goods and services provided by the natural environment. Knowledge about the benefits that humans derive from it is an important issue in the era of current environmental and climate changes. Agricultural systems and management methods (e.g., tillage, weed and pest control, fertilization, field consolidation, crop specialization and monoculture) are important for biodiversity, the presence of which is of great importance for people and the environment. The aim of this study was to assess bioenvironmentalindicators such as weed flora, earthworms and terrestrial invertebrates biomass, in selected crops in an organic, integrated and conventional farming systems in southern Poland. The results showed the highest biodiversity weeds, earthworms, and terrestrial invertebrates in crops grown in the organic system in comparison to the conventional or sustainable ones, where chemical herbicides were applied. Species diversity of weeds was, on average, twice as high in the organic system (21 species) compared to the integrated and conventional systems (10–11 species). In the organic system, the highest number of weeds (average 71 pcs m–2) accompanied spring wheat and the lowest number of weeds was observed in legume-grass mixture in the first year of use (average 28 pcs m–2). The highest biomass of earthworms in the soil was estimated under winter wheat and legume-grass mixtures. This indicator was half as much in the soil under plants grown in integrated and conventional systems. Terrestrial invertebrates were also most abundant in crops grown in the organic system, indicating that this agricultural production system is conducive to maintaining high biodiversity in agroecosystems. For winter wheat cultivated in the conventional and integrated sys- tems, the invertebrate richness index was 2.5–3 times lower than in the organic system.
Bufadienolide Penetration Through the Skin Membrane and Antiaging Properties of Kalanchoe spp. Juices in Dermal Applications
(MDPI, 2025-02-09) Hering, Anna; Cal, Krzysztof; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Kastsevich, Alina; Ivashchanka, Yahor; Ochocka, J. Renata; Stefanowicz-Hajduk, Justyna
Skin aging is accelerated by inflammation processes generated by oxidative stress and external factors such as UV radiation. Plants belonging to the genus Kalanchoe that are rich sources of antioxidants could potentially strengthen the skin barrier if used as ingredients in cosmetic formulations. However, their use is limited due to the contents of bufadienolides, known cardiotoxins. This study aimed to establish a semi-quantitative profile of bufadienolides in the juices of K. blossfeldiana, K. daigremontiana, and K. pinnata using UHPLC combined with charged aerosol detection (CAD) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). Additionally, the study determined the ability of bufadienolides to penetrate the skin barrier using the Bronaugh Diffusion Cell Apparatus and Strat-M membrane. The study also assessed the ferric and molybdenum-reducing powers, as well as the radical scavenging capabilities of these plants juices using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) methods. The in vitro antihyaluronidase and antityrosinase activities and sun protection factor (SPF) were evaluated spectrophotometrically, indicating moderate capability to inhibit the skin enzymes, but low SPF protection for all analyzed juices. The semi-qualitative analysis demonstrated the presence of bufadienolides occurring in two juices from K. daigremontiana and K. pinnata, with the highest contents of 1,3,5-bersaldegenin-orthoacetate, bryophyllin-A/bryotoxin-C, bersaldegenin-acetate/bryophyllin-C, and diagremontianin. After passing through the skin model, no bufadienolide compounds were present in the subcutaneous filtrate. Antiradical and reduction assays revealed the antioxidant potential of K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata. These results indicate that Kalanchoe juices have antiaging potential and appear safe for dermal applications.
Cause–Effect Modelling of Soil Liming in Poland
(MDPI, 2024-11-27) Zadrożny, Paweł; Nicia, Paweł; Wojewodzic, Tomasz; Dacko, Mariusz; Paluch, Łukasz; Płonka, Aleksandra; Janus, Jarosław; Pijanowski, Jacek; Bejger, Romualda; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Smreczak, Bożena; Parzych, Piotr
This research aimed to use the cause-and-effect diagram (model) as a method to describe the 15 main factors (for example, awareness, knowledge and motivation of farmers, farmers income, institutional and financial support, condition of the natural environment, healthiness of the population, etc.) leading to soil acidification, their impact on soil health and ecosystem functions, and how soil liming serves as a remedial measure. The cause-and-effect model was developed based on questionnaire studies as a part of the project ‘Opportunities and Barriers to the Use of Soil Liming for Improving the Economic Efficiency of Agricultural Production and Reducing Eutrophication of Surface Waters’ in 2022–2023. The results showed that the effects of soil acidification and liming as well as their interrelationships are multifaceted and affect agricultural production economics, agricultural land and crop prices, environmental health and biodiversity, as well as soil productivity and food security. The causes of this situation can be attributed to social, technological–logistical– technical, and economic factors. To change the existing situation, it is necessary to take effective steps to motivate farmers to lime their soils. The most effective would be (1) offering training courses for farmers to discuss the benefits that a farmer can achieve by maintaining optimum soil pH levels while growing a specific crop species; (2) implementing liming payment programs that will be more attractive and motivating from the farmers’ perspective; and (3) linking agri-environmental payments to the necessity of systematic testing of soil pH levels and maintaining optimal pH levels under specific crops species.

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