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Item Improvement of salt tolerance in Vicia faba (L.) seedlings: a comprehensive investigation of the effects of exogenous calcium chloride(2025) Abo-Shanab, Walaa A. ; Elshobary, Mostafa E.; Czubacka, Anna; Diab, Rana H.Background This study investigated the effects of the different concentrations of CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) on the growth, physiology, and cytological characteristics of salt-stressed Vicia faba (L.) seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions. Results Salinity stress (150 mol m−3 NaCl) had detrimental effects on all measured growth parameters, increased the micronucleus count number (MCN) by 26.6 micronuclei/1000 cells, decreased the mitotic index (MI) by 66.6%, and caused various chromosomal aberrations, nuclear alterations, and chromatin bridges in salt-stressed seedlings compared to the untreated plant. Nevertheless, the seed priming with CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) significantly alleviated the toxic effects induced by salinity stress, improved growth parameters, total chlorophyll (TChl), proline, and total soluble sugar (TSS) contents in salt-stressed faba bean seedling compared with seedlings germinated from non-primed seeds. The antioxidative system of salt-stressed faba bean was highly stimulated by increasing the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes as well as phenolics and flavonoids were increased in all salt stressed seedlings germinated from seeds primed with CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) indicating an improved tolerance of faba bean plant to salinity stress. Notably, the pretreatment with CaCl2 (10 mol m−3) reduced the micronuclei number per 1000 cells by 91.3% and decreased the abnormality index by 58.9% more effectively than CaCl2 (15 mol m−3). SDS-PAGE profiling revealed the presence of 16 proteins with different molecular weights, including two peptides, induced by CaCl2 (10 mol m−3) in response to salinity stress. Conclusions This study showed that 10 mol m−3 CaCl2 significantly improved salt tolerance in treated faba bean plants mitigating the antagonistic effects of salt stress on several physiological and cytological parameters.Item The Effect of Farming Systems and Cultivars on the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Bioactive Compounds in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)(MDPI, 2025) Kowalska, Iwona; Soluch, Agata; Mołdoch, Jarosław; Jończyk, KrzysztofTriticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (cv. Rokosz) and common winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (cv. Arktis, Belissa, Estivus, Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon, Linus, Markiza, Ostka Strzelecka, Pokusa) grown in an organic farming system were analyzed and compared. Furthermore, the productivity of four common wheat cultivars (cv. Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon) grown under four different (organic, conventional, integrated, and monoculture) farming systems was compared. Using UPLC-DAD-MS, UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, and TLC-DPPH•, nine phenolic acids, nine alkylresorcinols, and their antiradical activity were identified and quantified. In the organic farming system, the highest yield was observed for T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum cv. Fidelius (4.17 t/ha). Infections of wheat cultivars were low or at a medium level. The highest resistance to Fusarium fungi was shown by cv. Fidelius, which also exhibited the highest alkylresorcinol content and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic acid content was highest in cv. Rokosz (1302.3 µg/g), followed by common winter wheat cultivars cv. Linus (1135.1 µg/g) and cv. Markiza (1089.6 µg/g). The potential of winter wheat cultivars for human health and their suitability for cultivation in different production systems was determined, showing significant differences in bioactive compounds depending on cultivars, systems, and years.Item Seseli foliosum (Somm. et Levier) Manden.—A Comprehensive Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation(MDPI, 2025-02-05) Nersezashvili, Mariam; Berashvili, Dali; Jokhadze, Malkhaz; Metreveli, Mariam; Świątek, Łukasz; Salwa, Kinga; Pecio, Łukasz; Wojtanowski, Krzysztof Kamil; Skiba, Adrianna; Korona-Głowniak, Izabela; Zengin, Gökhan; Skalicka-Woźniak, KrystynaThe genus Seseli L. (Apiaceae family) is widespread across Europe and Asia, with ten species identified in Georgia. Among these, Seseli foliosum (Somm. et Levier) Manden., is notable for its unique pharmacological properties. To our knowledge, comprehensive phytochemical and biological investigations have not yet been conducted. The primary aim of this research is to explore the chemical and biological properties of S. foliosum, thereby enhancing its potential applications in medicine and related fields. Different chromatographic techniques were utilized to isolate individual compounds and to identify the chemical composition of S. foliosum MeOH and Et2O extracts from seeds and roots. A battery of biological assays (antimicrobial, antioxidant, enzymatic, anxiolytic, and cytotoxic) were employed to assess the pharmacological properties of the extracts. The results from gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed that both MeOH and Et2O extracts contain a diverse array of compounds, including monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Furanocoumarin edultin was isolated from the MeOH extract by liquid–liquid separation (LLS). The MeOH extracts exhibited important antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antimicrobial activities with notable efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 125 μg/mL) and Candida glabrata (MIC 62.5 μg/mL). Underground Et2O extracts showed advanced cytotoxic activity, particularly against hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CC50 22.33 μg/mL and 27.16 μg/mL, respectively). The study provides a wide-range analysis of the phytochemical composition and biological activities of S. foliosum, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds. These findings contribute to the understanding of the therapeutic potential of S. foliosum and lay the groundwork for further pharmacological and clinical research.Item 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, JustynaSkin 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.Item 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, ChristianScenario 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.Item Phytochemical analysis of the extract from berries of Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) and its anti-platelet potential in vitro(MDPI, 2025-01-25) Sławińska, Natalia; Kontek, Bogdan; Żuchowski, Jerzy; Moniuszko - Szajwaj, Barbara; Białecki, Jacek; Zakrzewski, Kamil; Bogusz, Paulina; Stochmal, Anna; Olas, BeataSchisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) is a dioecious vine belonging to the Schisandraceae family. Its berries show beneficial activities, including cardioprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. We examined the chemical content of S. chinensis berry extract and its antiplatelet potential in vitro. The antiplatelet activity assays included measurements of thrombus formation in full blood (with Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System) and platelet activation and adhesion. We also assessed the extract’s effect on coagulation times in human plasma and its cytotoxicity toward blood platelets based on extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity. The most important constituents of the extract were dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans; schisandrin was the dominant compound. S. chinensis berry extract at the concentration of 50 μg/mL inhibited thrombus formation by approximately 15%. The adhesion of unstimulated and thrombin-activated blood platelets to collagen was inhibited by all used concentrations of the extract (0.5–50 μg/mL), while the adhesion of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-activated platelets to fibrinogen was inhibited only by the concentrations of 10 and 50 μg/mL. The extract also inhibited the exposition of the active form of GPIIb/IIIa on the surface of platelets stimulated with 10 μM ADP (at 0.5–50 μg/mL) and 20 μM ADP (at 50 μg/mL). The exposition of P-selectin was inhibited only by the extract at the concentrations of 5–50 μg/mL in platelets stimulated with 10 μg/mL collagen. Moreover, the extract was not cytotoxic toward blood platelets. This indicates that S. chinensis berries hold promise as new antiplatelet agents, but more studies are needed to determine their mechanisms of action and in vivo efficiency.Item 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, BeataSchisandra 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.Item 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, JudytaHops (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.Item Changes in Growth and Metabolic Profile of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Response to Sodium Chloride(MDPI, 2024-12-17) Ślusarczyk, Sylwester; Grzelka, Kajetan; Jaśpińska, Joanna; Pawlikowska-Bartosz, Anna; Pecio, Łukasz; Stafiniak, Marta; Rahimmalek, Mehdi; Słupski, Wojciech; Cieślak, Adam; Matkowski, AdamScutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a valuable medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family. Its roots have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (under the name Huang-qin) since antiquity and are nowadays included in Chinese and European Pharmacopoeias. It is abundant in bioactive compounds which constitute up to 20% of dried root mass. These substances are lipophilic flavones with unsubstituted B-ring, baicalein, and wogonin and their respective glucuronides–baicalin and wogonoside being the most abundant. The content of these compounds is variable and the environmental factors causing this remain partially unknown. The role of these compounds in stress response is still being investigated and in our efforts to measure the effect of NaCl treatment on S. baicalensis growth and metabolic profile, we hope to contribute to this research. Short-term exposure to salt stress (50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) resulted in a marked increase of baicalein from 1.55 mg to 2.55 mg/g DM (1.6-fold), baicalin from 8.2 mg to 14.7 mg (1.8-fold), wogonin from 4.9 to 6.8 (1.4-fold), and wogonoside from 3.3 to 6.8 mg/g DM (2-fold) in the roots. Conversely, in the aerial parts, the content of individual major flavonoids: carthamidine-7-O-glucuronide and scutellarein-7-O-glucuronide decreased the most by 10–50% from 18.6 mg to 11.3 mg/g (1.6-fold less) and from 6.5 mg to 3.4 mg/g DM (0.52-fold less), respectively. The amino acid profile was also altered with an increase in root concentrations of the following amino acids: arginine from 0.19 to 0.33 mg/g (1.7-fold), glutamate from 0.09 to 0.16 mg/g DM (1.6-fold), alanine from 0.009 to 0.06 mg/g (6.8-fold), proline from 0.011 to 0.029 (2.4-fold) and lysine from 0.016 to 0.063 mg/g (3.9-fold). Aspartate concentration decreased from 0.01 to 0.002 mg/g (4.8-fold less) at 150 mM NaCl. In the aerial parts, the concentration and variation in levels of specific amino acids differed among groups. For instance, the glutamate content exhibited a significant increase exclusively in the treatment group, rising from 0.031 to 0.034 mg/g, representing a 1.2-fold increase. Proline concentration showed a marked increase across all treated groups with the highest from 0.011 to 0.11 mg/g (10-fold). In conclusion, moderate salt stress was shown to increase S. baicalensis root biomass and flavonoid content which is rarely observed in a glycophyte species and provides a foundation for further studies on the mechanisms of osmotic stress adaptation on the specialized metabolism level.Item Growth Parameters, Yield and Grain Quality of Different Winter Wheat Cultivars Using Strip Tillage in Relation to the Intensity of Post-Harvest Soil Cultivation(MDPI, 2024-12-20) Różewicz, Marcin; Grabiński, Jerzy; Wyzińska, MartaItem Berkeleyomyces rouxiae - A Pathogen Causing the Black Root Rot of Tobacco(MDPI, 2024-12-18) Korbecka-Glinka, Grażyna; Trojak-Goluch, Anna; Czarnecka, DianaBlack 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.Item 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, ApoloniuszTobacco 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.Item Foliar Application of Silicon Influences the Physiological and Epigenetic Responses of Wheat Grown Under Salt Stress(MDPI, 2024) Tobiasz-Salach, Renata; Stadnik, Barbara; Mazurek, Marzena; Buczek, Jan; Leszczyńska, DanutaSoil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) on the physiological and epigenetic responses of wheat grown under salt stress conditions. The experiment with wheat seedlings was established in pots with 200 mM NaCl added. After 7 days, foliar fertilizer (200 g L−1 SiO2) was used at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%. Physiological parameters were measured three times. The addition of salt caused a significant decrease in the values of the measured parameters in plants of all variants. In plants sprayed with Si fertilizer under salinity conditions, a significant increase in CCI and selected gas exchange parameters (PN, Ci, E, gs) and chlorophyll fluorescence (PI, RC/ABS, FV/Fm, Fv/F0) was observed. Si doses of 0.1 and 0.2% showed a better mitigating effect compared to the dose of 0.05%. The observed effect was maintained over time. The results obtained indicate a positive role for foliar silicon fertilization in mitigating salinity stress in wheat. Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in regulating gene expression in response to stress. Changes in the status of methylation of the 5′CCGG3′ sequence of the nuclear genome of wheat plants exposed to salinity and treated with Si at different doses were determined by the MSAP approach. The obtained results showed a clear alteration of DNA methylation in plants as a response to experimental factors. The methylation changes were silicon dose-dependent. These modifications may suggest a mechanism for plant adaptation under salt stress after silicon application.Item The Carpathian Agriculture in Poland in Relation to Other EU Countries, Ukraine and the Environmental Goals of the EU CAP 2023–2027(MDPI, 2024-08) Zieliński, Marek; Łopatka, Artur; Koza, Piotr; Gołębiewska, BarbaraThis study discusses the issue of determining the direction and strength of changes taking place in the structure of agricultural land in the mountain and foothill areas of the Carpathians in Poland in comparison with Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. The most important financial institutional measures dedicated to the protection of the natural environment in Polish agriculture in the Areas facing Natural and other specific Constraints (ANCs) mountain and foothill in the first year of the CAP 2023–2027 were also established. Satellite data from 2001 to 2022 were used. The analyses used the land use classification MCD12Q1 provided by NASA and were made on the basis of satellite imagery collections from the MODIS sensor placed on two satellites: TERRA and AQUA. In EU countries, a decreasing trend in agricultural areas has been observed in areas below 350 m above sea level. In areas above 350 m, this trend weakened or even turned into an upward trend. Only in Ukraine was a different trend observed. It was found that in Poland, the degree of involvement of farmers from mountain and foothill areas in implementing financial institutional measures dedicated to protecting the natural environment during the study period was not satisfactory.Item 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, JanIt 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.Item Effect of Genotype and Environment on Yield and Technological and Nutrition Traits on Winter Rye Grain from Organic Production(MDPI, 2024) Stępniewska, Sylwia; Cacak-Pietrzak, Grażyna; Fraś, Anna; Jończyk, Krzysztof; Studnicki, Marcin; Wiśniewska, Magdalena; Gzowska, Marlena; Salamon, AgnieszkaThis study aimed to determine genotype and environment effects on the yield and selected quality traits of winter rye from organic production. The tested material was grain of two hybrid rye cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, and five population cultivars of rye, Dańkowskie Hadron, Dańkowskie Granat, Dańkowskie Turkus, Dańkowskie Skand, and Piastowskie. Field trials were performed at two locations in Poland, Osiny and Grabów, in two growing seasons, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The grain yield, moisture content, falling number, thousand-grain weight, and hectoliter weight were determined. The content of basic nutrients, protein, minerals, lipids, carbohydrates, and dietary fibre, as well as the viscosity of aqueous extracts of grain, were also determined. This study revealed that environmental factors, such as harvest year and growing location, as well as the genotype factor, had the greatest effect on the viscosity of aqueous extracts and protein content. The study’s hybrid cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, are characterized by significantly higher yield but lower dietary fibre and protein contents in rye grain and lower viscosity of aqueous compared to all study population cultivars. Of all the studied population cultivars of rye, the grain of the cultivar Dańkowskie Skand was found to be the most beneficial in terms of nutritional value because it was characterized by the highest viscosity of aqueous extracts.Item The Effect of Harvest Time and Plantation Age on the Yield, Chemical Composition, and Calorific Value of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) Intended for Energy Purposes(MDPI, 2024) Sekutowski, Tomasz R.; Zardzewiały, Miłosz; Belcar, Justyna; Gorzelany, JózefBased on our own research conducted on a purpose-built plantation, the production capacity of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was assessed depending on the age of the plantation and the date of the biomass harvest. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the harvest date and plantation age on the yield, chemical composition, and calorific value of reed canary grass intended for energy purposes. The biomass on the plantation was cut twice during the growing season (summer/winter). The obtained biomass was analyzed for its ash content and selected elements, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, and chlorine. The total moisture, calorific value in working condition, and combustion heat were also assessed. The two-cut harvest system allowed us to obtain 3.85 t·ha−1 of biomass from reed canary grass in the first year of cultivation. The highest biomass yields were obtained in the third and sixth years of cultivation and amounted to 8.50 and 8.75 t·ha−1, respectively. Regardless of the age of the plantation, the biomass yield harvested in the summer period was always higher than the yield obtained from the winter harvest. The contents of some elements in the biomass also depended on the age of the plantation and the harvest date. The biomass of reed canary grass obtained from the summer harvest of the annual plantation was characterized by a high content of nitrogen (1.97% d.m.), potassium (2.35% d.m.), and phosphorus (0.31% d.m.) compared to the content of these elements in the biomass obtained from the three- and six-year plantations. In the case of sodium, the highest content (0.072% d.m.) was found in the biomass obtained from the summer harvest of the three-year plantation, and the lowest was obtained from the winter harvest of the six-year plantation (0.037% d.m.). The average sulfur content was the highest in the biomass obtained from the annual plantation, regardless of the harvest date (0.20% d.m.—summer harvest and 0.21% d.m.—winter harvest). On the other hand, the lowest amount of sulfur was contained in the biomass obtained from the winter harvest of the six-year plantation (0.12% d.m.). Only the magnesium content (from 0.09% d.m. to 0.14% d.m.) in the biomass remained at a similar level, regardless of the age of the plantation or the harvest date. The calcium content was the highest in the biomass obtained from the winter harvest of the annual plantation (0.35% d.m.), and the lowest was obtained from the six-year-old plantation, also from the winter harvest. In addition, the moisture and ash content of the obtained biomass depended on the age of the plantation and the harvest date. The highest moisture content (12.50%) was characteristic of the biomass harvested in the summer period from the one-year plantation. On the other hand, the lowest moisture content was found for the biomass harvested in the winter period from the six-year plantation. The highest ash content was obtained from biomass harvested in the summer period from the one-year plantation (75 g·kg−1 d.m.) and the three-year plantation (69 g·kg−1 d.m.). The lowest ash content was obtained from the winter harvest from the six-year plantation (45 g·kg−1 d.m.). The highest calorific value of 16.0–16.2 MJ·kg−1 d.m. was obtained for biomass harvested in the sixth year of the study (irrespective of the harvest date). The value of the combustion heat was also dependent on the age of the plantation and the date of the biomass harvest. The highest value for the combustion heat of 17.5 MJ·kg−1 d.m. was obtained for biomass harvested in the winter period from the six-year plantation.Item Enterobacteriaceae in Sewage Sludge and Digestate Intended for Soil Fertilization(MDPI, 2024) Wójcik-Fatla, Angelina; Farian, Ewelina; Kowalczyk, Katarzyna; Sroka, Jacek; Skowron, Piotr; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Zdybel, Jolanta Małgorzata; Jadczyszyn, Tamara; Cencek, TomaszSubstances of organic origin are seeing increasing use in agriculture as rich sources of nutrients for plants. The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological contamination of sewage sludge and digestate to assess their safe use as fertilizers in Poland. The assessment of microbial soil, sewage sludge and digestate contamination was based on the total number of mesophilic bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. was identified via culture and the presence of Enterobacteriaceae species was determined via biochemical and molecular methods. In laboratory conditions, the survival of E. coli in soil fertilized with sewage sludge or digestate inoculated with a reference strain was determined. The average concentration of Enterobacteriaceae in soil, sewage sludge and digestate samples was 1.1 × 104 CFU/g, 9.4 × 105 CFU/g and 5.6 × 106 CFU/g, respectively. Escherichia coli was detected in all sample types. From the soil samples, Serratia, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas genera were identified the most frequently, while in sewage sludge and digestate, E. coli was predominant. Based on the results of our laboratory experiment, it can be concluded that after three weeks, fertilization with organic waste in acceptable doses does not significantly increase soil contamination with Enterobacteriaceae.Item 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, JoséThe 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.Item Essential Oils as Potential Natural Antioxidants, Antimicrobial, and Antifungal Agents in Active Food Packaging(MDPI, 2024) Bibow, Aleksandra; Oleszek, WiesławIn the last few years, there has been growing interest in the harmful impact of synthetic additives, the increased consumer focus on nutrition, and their unwillingness to use antibiotics and preservatives. The food industry has been driven to seek natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants and integrate them into the production processes. Moreover, the most significant risk factor for foodborne illness is the consumption of raw or undercooked meats and milk, which may be contaminated with Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., or Salmonella spp. This article presents a review of techniques for the functional properties of biopolymer particles loaded with essential oils that form a stable network to control their release, making them ideal for improving food packaging and processing. Such substances are employed in the manufacture of packaging materials and coated films and as emulsions, nanoemulsions, and coatings directly incorporated into the food matrix. It is of paramount importance to gain an understanding of the migration mechanism and potential interactions between packaging materials and foodstuffs. A more profound comprehension of the chemical constitution and biological characteristics of these extracts and their constituents would be advantageous for the identification of prospective applications in active food packaging. The findings of our study suggest the existence of certain constraints and deficiencies in the investigation of essential oils and their efficacy in food packaging. Consequently, further comprehensive research in this domain is imperative.