The effects of heat stress on the relative water content (RWC), turgidity loss, total soluble protein (TSP), SDS-PAGE protein profiles, and heat shock protein of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. "Kandil") leaves were studied. During the seedling stage, leaf samples were obtained from the plants and subjected to heat stress treatments in a water bath at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 °C in 30-minute increments. Heat stress tolerance (LT50) was then computed. The results revealed that the LT50 value for the bell pepper cultivar was 41.2 °C. As temperature rose, leaf RWC decreased and turgor loss increased. The TSP content was higher in the 35 and 40 °C treatments compared to the control group, a significant decrease was observed at 60 °C. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed various polymorphic protein bands ranging from 7 to 54 kDa. The HSP60 antibody identified a band around 54 kDa under all temperature treatments. Moreover, the intensity of 54 kDa protein in plants at 35, 40, and 55 °C was higher than in the control group. Furthermore, the strength of this band fell considerably at 60 °C. These results suggest that the 54 kDa protein may play a role in enhancing HST in bell pepper plants.

Eurygaster integriceps, commonly known as the sunn pest, begins its biological activity in the second decade of April, when adults emerge from hibernation at temperatures of 12–16°C, with mass flights occurring on sunny days at temperatures above 18°C. Males appear a few days before females, and the migration to wheat fields is completed by May. After feeding, mating takes place, and females lay between 70 and 100 eggs, grouped in batches of 14, on leaves, stems, and preferably on emerging spikes. Egg hatching occurs within 7–15 days, from early May to mid-June. The larvae go through four instars and three molts, followed by the nymph stage. The full development cycle lasts 30–40 days, with new adults emerging between the second half of June and July. These adults feed intensively for about 10 days to accumulate fat reserves necessary for hibernation, after which they migrate to deciduous forests. Comparative studies between Gorban and Țuțora (2020–2024) reveal differences in the development rate, influenced by microclimatic conditions: maturation occurs faster in Gorban, while delays in hatching, larval development, and adult emergence are observed in Țuțora.

inoculated PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria) applications on the growth of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The experiment was carried out under unheated greenhouse conditions using a commercial NPK fertilizer (18:18:18) and five different PGPR isolates: Bacillus megaterium U2-1, Pseudomonas putida 9-4-2, Bacillus thuringiensis 2B-2-2, Bacillus spp. 2B-3-1, and Bacillus pumilus EU-20. The bacterial treatments were applied by soaking the seeds for one minute in bacterial suspensions at a concentration of 1×10³ cfu; the control group was treated with sterile distilled water under the same conditions. Observations were conducted until the beginning of the flowering stage to evaluate the effects of PGPR on plant development. The results revealed that bacterial applications significantly enhanced plant height, stem diameter, fresh and dry plant weight, root fresh and dry weight, root length, leaf area, and leaf number compared to the control. Overall, the effects of different rhizobacterial isolates on growth parameters were found to be comparable to those of commercial fertilizer applications. These findings highlight the potential of PGPR formulations as promising biostimulants agents in vegetable production and their role in promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.

The research was conducted to comprise the forage yield, quality and nutritional values of newly developed hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) genotypes. The experiment was carried out in subtropical ecological conditions at Güveçli village Süleymanpaşa-Tekirdağ, Türkiye with three replications in randomize block design. Nineteen newly developed hairy vetch lines and cv. Ceylan were used as seed materials. The genotypes were harvested at full-bloom stage to determine green and dry fodder yields (t ha-1). According to the results of the study, natural plant height of hairy vetch genotypes varied between 54.30-100 cm, plant height 124.16-187.85 cm, green fodder yield 41.89-63.29 t ha-1, dry fodder yield 6.35-16.73 t ha-1, dry matter ratio 88.98-89.99%, crude protein ratio 16.72-16.99%, crude fiber ratio 23.51-24.00%, crude ash ratio 7.48-8.10%, NDF 45.63-45.97%, ADF 35.59-35.61%, ADL 12.15-12.20%, P 0.51-0.47%, K 1.93-1.96%, Ca 3.93-4.12%, Mg 0.47-0.50%, tetany ratio 0.42-0.44, digestible dry matter (DDM) 61.16-61.25%, dry matter intake (DMI) 2.61-2.63%, total digestible nutrients (TDN) 55.40-55.54%, net energy for lactation (Nel) 0.5631-0.5647(Mcal lb-1), net energy for maintenance (Nem) 0.5982-0.6000 (Mcal lb-1), net energy for gain (Neg) 0.2712-0.2730 (Mcal lb-1) and relative feed value (RFV) 123.93-124.69%. The highest green fodder yield was recorded in genotypes TYF16 and TYF12, and the highest dry fodder yield in genotype TYF14. The highest crude protein ratio was found in genotype TYF17. When the RFV were examined, it is seen that the hairy vetch genotypes have the characteristic of being high quality roughage. The highest RFV was found in lines TYF16 and TYF9 and cv. Ceylan. The TYF9, TYF12, TYF14, TYF16 and TYF17 genotypes have enough potential and come to the fore to be used for forage production in sub-tropical ecological conditions.

The work includes the results of the study of saproxylic beetles carried out in forest reserves in the Republic of Moldova. Three genera Lymexylon, Leiestes, Pediacus and four saproxylic coleopteran species Grynocharis oblonga, Lymexylon navale, Leiestes seminiger and Pediacus dermestoides were recorded for the first time in the Republic of Moldova in the wood decompose of Codrii and Plaiul Fagului Reserves. Adults of Coleoptera were collected manually under the bark of dead trees in winter or captured using the trunk traps in summer.

When dealing with everyday life problems, people use a variety of coping strategies, depending on the actual situation and on their psychological and biological constitution. Biological variables may have a role in influencing the stress response and, thus, the use of specific coping mechanisms. The aim of our study was to examine this association. We have measured the preference for specific coping strategies using The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Carver, Scheier, Weintraub, 1989). As biological variables we have considered the ABO blood type, the RH, sex and age of our respondents. Our sample is composed of 265 people, 85 from Bulgaria and 180 from Romania. Out of them, 62 of are men and 203 women. The mean age of the respondents is 32,08 years. The distribution of the blood types in our sample is: 90 blood type O, 113 blood type A, 42 blood type B and 20 blood type AB. A number of 173 respondents have positive Rh, while 54 have negative Rh (38 of the respondents do not know their Rh). Descriptive analysis shows that the most used coping mechanisms are: positive reinterpretation, planning and direct approach of problems. Seeking instrumental social support or emotional social support and acceptance are also preferred. The strategies less preferred are denial, behavioral disengagement and substance use. While the Rh shows no relevance for coping in the univariate analysis, the blood type appears to create a difference in using the social support dimension (F=2.742 p=.044), with the A blood type being the last willing to make use of such support. We have also found differences between men and women. Women obtain significantly higher scores (p<.05) on the scales measuring venting of emotions, the use of social support, active coping, planning and religious coping. Age shows positive correlations with active coping, planning and religious coping (p=.001), and negative correlations with mental disengagement and substance use (p=.01). We have also considered the joint influence of the biological variables upon the coping style, using GLM ANOVA-based statistical models. We have found some interaction effects, mainly for Rh and sex; for example, for the problem-focused dimension, we have found the highest mean for women with negative Rh (F=5,60, p=.019). Based on the results we can conclude that the coping profile of each person is complex and can be linked to specific biological variables.

The genus Lunaria L. belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is of interest to humans due to its numerous properties. This study aimed to investigate Lunaria redivivus's tolerance to high temperatures, low positive temperatures, and soil salinity by germination of the seeds. To achieve this goal, the following objectives were established: assess the high-temperature tolerance, low-temperature tolerance, and salt tolerance of Lunaria rediviva by measuring the percentage of germinated seeds under these conditions. Seeds were germinated in the Petri dishes. Six different concentrations of the salt were used. A seed was considered germinated if it produced a root. This species is not tolerant of high temperatures for germination. The tolerance to the low positive temperatures is at a medium level. A salt concentration of 2% totally blocked germination. A low salt concentration (up to 0.5% of salt) does not significantly influence the germination of the seeds. At a 1% salt concentration, seed germination was very low. Overall, the salt tolerance of Lunaria rediviva is moderate.

Kalanchoe is a perennial succulent plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family and is highly susceptible to various pathogens, particularly fungal and bacterial diseases. Among these, anthracnose is one of the most prevalent disease factors affecting Kalanchoe. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a bioformulation containing four plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains—Bacillus subtilis (61.29e and 3.3a) and Bacillus thuringiensis (2B3-1 and 2B2-2)—in controlling anthracnose disease. PGPR solutions were prepared at two concentrations (3×10⁸ and 3×10³ CFU/mL), and six treatment groups were established by foliar spraying on the plants: (1) application of diluted bacterial solution (3×10³ CFU/mL) four days after anthracnose inoculation, (2) full-dose bacterial solution (3×10⁸ CFU/mL) applied four days after inoculation, (3) repeated full-dose application at four-day intervals post-inoculation, (4) culture medium application four days after inoculation, (5) bacterial application followed by anthracnose inoculation after four days, and (6) control group with anthracnose inoculation only. The results demonstrated that the application of PGPR prior to disease inoculation was the most effective strategy in reducing disease symptoms. This was followed by the application of the full-dose bacterial solution post-inoculation. In contrast, application of the diluted solution after infection showed higher disease incidence. Nevertheless, all PGPR treatments, whether applied before or after infection, significantly outperformed the control and culture medium treatments in suppressing anthracnose. These findings highlight the potential of Bacillus spp. based PGPR formulations as promising biological control agents for anthracnose management in ornamental plants, contributing to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly plant disease management strategies.

This paper presents a review regarding the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oilseeds, oils and derived processed products and the factors that influence their presence. PAHs are a large group of toxic environmental and food-processing contaminants with two or more fused aromatic rings which present mutagenic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects and can contaminate food by many paths. Regulation (EU) No 835/2011 sets the maximum levels in oils and fats intended for direct human consumption or used as an ingredient in food at 2 µg/kg for benzo(a)pyrene and at 10 µg/kg for sum of 4 PAHs. Different factors are correlated with the presence of PAHs in edible oils: environmental conditions and the seeds drying method, the stages of seeds processing to obtain the oil (crude oil extraction, refining and purification), storage conditions and how the oils are used (frying, roasting). Vegetable oils and fats are widely used in human consumption, therefore the presence of these contaminants should be monitored as they represent a major source of dietary exposure to PAHs.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial legume used for forage production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different basal media (Murashige&Skoog-MS, Schenk& Hildebrant-SH, Gamborg-B5 or CHU-N6), explant types (cotyledon and hypocotyl), and growth regulators (kinetin and thidiazuron) on the induction of somatic embryogenesis in sainfoin. For this purpose, hypocotyl and cotyledon explants isolated from in vitro grown sterile seedlings were cultured in solid MS, SH, B5, or N6 basal media supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.2 mg/L kinetin or thidiazuron, and 1 g/L proline. The developing embryonic callus was then transferred to a solid MS medium containing 3% sucrose. As a result of the experiment, callus weights per explant varied between 248.3-534.7 mg, 408.7-609.1, 220.3-537 mg and 127.3-428.3 mg in MS, B5, N6, and SH basal media respectively, depending on explants and growth regulators. Average callus weights were higher in B5 and N6 basal media than in MS and SH media, TDZ-containing media than kinetin containing media and cotyledon explant than hypocotyl explant. The highest frequency of explants developing somatic embryos (mean 33.3%) was obtained from kinetin-containing MS or B5 basal media, while the highest embryo per explant (mean 2.6 somatic embryo per explant) was obtained from kinetin-containing MS medium. The somatic embryo number per hypocotyl explant was higher than that of cotyledon explants.