Temporal analysis of epilithic diatom community was studied within four seasons per year at five sampling sites in the Mlava River. A trout fish farm was built in the upper part of the river (between the first (ML1) and the second sampling site (ML2)). The highest diversity was noticed in spring (159 diatom taxa), while the lowest in the period of autumn (89). A total number of taxa that were dominant (relative abundance greater than 5% at least at one sampling site) during four seasons was 13. Conspicuous temporal dynamics was shown using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Large number of taxa was identified in more than two seasons; some were, however, specific to only one season. Many of them were found only in the winter, while a slightly smaller number of taxa were characteristic only for spring or summer.

The sequential extraction procedure was applied for partitioning of metals in river sediments collected along the course of the river Tisa (Serbia). Eight elements (Sb, Sn, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) from twenty-one sampling site were analyzed using the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure in combination with ICP-OES. The results of sequential extraction, statistical analyses and calculation of EF and lithogenic and anthro?pogenic ratio of metals are similar. In the river Tisa sediments Sn, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, while As, Cu and Sb are of lithogenic and anthropogenic origin. The sediments from the river Tisa show high risk for Cd, medium risk for Hg and Zn, low risk for Sn, As, Cu and Pb, whereas Sb does not show the risk for the aquatic environment.

Due to raising environmental pressures, the number of species exposed to risk of extinction is also increasing. One of the first steps in species preservation is their legal protection. However, it is impossible to protect all species, therefore, conservation priorities are to be established. The aim of this study was to analyze the environmental niches of species from two genera: Eumerus Meigen, 1822 and Platycheirus le Peletier et Serville, 1828 recognized as important for conservation in Serbia (strictly protected and protected according to national legislation or ones to be suggested for future protection). For species of genera Eumerus and Platycheirus, distributional patterns in relation to altitude, annual precipitation and annual mean temperature were established. In order to compare environmental niches of these species, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out, which indicated partial overlap of the environmental niches of these two genera, but Platycheirus species seemed to be better adapted to harsher conditions. Species richness maps indicated that for Eumerus the most species-rich areas were Backa and mountains of Eastern Serbia, while Dinaric mountains in Western Serbia were rich in species of both genera. Protecting habitats with different combination of climatic conditions will contribute to protection and conservation of species with different environmental preferences.

Considering that mushrooms synthesize different kinds of compounds with antioxidative activity and that search for natural antioxidants is a topical study area, testing of unstudied species is fully justified. The aim of the study was to evaluate antioxidative capacity of Lenzites warnieri basidiocarps using different solvents. Antioxidative potential of 96% ethanolic, 70% ethanolic and methanolic extracts was evaluated by 2,2?-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) bleaching assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. Additionally, total content of phenols and flavonoids in extracts was determined as galic acid equivalent (GAE) and quercetin equivalent (QE), respectively. Presented as EC50, 70% ethanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidative capacity by DPPH assay (3.08 ? 0.49 mg/mL) and 96% ethanolic extract by ABTS assay (3.08 ? 0.24 mg/mL). Methanolic extract exhibited the lowest antioxidative activity in both assays (6.02 ? 0.99 mg/mL and 4.92 ? 0.38 mg/mL, respectively). Results showed that antioxidative capacity of extracts depended on solvents and assay used, indicating that ethanolic extracts were with higher capacity in free radicals neutralization. The highest content of total phenols was detected in 70% ethanolic extract (37.45 ? 0.36 ?g GAE/mg of dried extract) while the lowest amount was noted in methanolic extract (22.73 ? 0.05 ?g GAE/mg of dried extract). Total flavonoid contents were negligible and ranged between 1.91 ? 0.10 and 2.24 ? 0.13 ?g QE/mg of dried extract. The obtained results indicate that Lenzites warnieri possess significant antioxidative capacity which is mainly correlated to phenols present in the extracts.

The production of fumonisins by potentially toxigenic Fusarium verticillioides isolates originating from Serbian maize and wheat kernels was tested in vitro. A total of six F. verticillioides isolates were incubated on yeast extract sucrose medium (YESA) for 4 weeks at 25 ?C in the dark. Their toxin production potential was tested by applying a modified HPLC method for determination of fumonisins in cereals, since the TLC method gave no results. Analyses were performed on a HPLC-FLD system after sample extraction from YESA and extract cleanup on a SPE column. Although the isolates were tested for fumonisin B1, B2 and B3, only fumonisin B1 was detected. The results showed that all tested isolates had toxigenic potential for fumonisin B1 production. The average fumonisin B1 production of the isolates ranged from 7 to 289 ?g/kg, thus indicating a highly variable toxigenic potential among the isolates. Isolate 1282 expressed the highest toxigenic potential for fumonisin B1 production (289 ?g/kg), while isolate 2533/A showed a questionable potential for fumonisin production (7 ?g/kg).

This study was conducted in order to assess the effect of inoculation of soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds with Trichoderma asperellum, followed by mites (Tetranychus urticae) exposure on lipid peroxidation (LP) process and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. T. urticae is an occasional pest of soybean that causes biotic stress. Biotic stress leads to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may cause damage to vital biomolecules. Enzymatic antioxidant defense systems protect plants against oxidative stress. T. asperellum is commonly used as biocontrol agent against plant pathogens. It has been suggested that previous inoculation of seeds with T. asperellum may cause induced resistance against biotic stress. The aim of this study was to determine LP intensity and antioxidant enzymes activity in inoculated and non-inoculated soybean seedlings with and without exposure to mites. Noticeably higher LP intensity was detected in non-inoculated group treated with mites compared to control group. Inoculated soybean seedlings treated with mites had lower LP intensity compared to noninoculated group. Also, it has been noticed that inoculation with Trichoderma asperellum itself, produced mild stress in plants. In addition, positive correlation between enzymes activity and LP was noticed. The level of oxidative stress in plants was followed by the change of LP intensity. According to results obtained, it was concluded that the greatest oxidative stress occurred in non-inoculated group treated with mites and that inoculation successfully reduced oxidative stress. The results indicate that inoculation of soybean seeds with T. asperellum improves resistance of soybean seedlings against mites attack.

The intestine habitat is the natural collection of symbiotic microorganisms. The bacterial population enables many permanent metabolic activities in this environment. Inside the intestine of mammals there are an extended genome of millions of bacterial genes named microbiome. In recent years, there has been an increased interest of scientists to discover the place and the role of bio-ecological content and modulation of gut microbiota in a host organism using prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, which may have a great benefit for human health.

New distributional records are given for eight Lepidoptera species in Serbia. Ethmia lugubris (Staudinger, 1879) (fam. Ethmiidae) is reported in Serbia for the first time. Larval mines of Stigmella centifoliella (Zeller, 1848) (fam. Nepticulidae), photos of Hypercalia citrinalis (Scopoli, 1763) (fam. Amphisbatidae) and Cryphia amasina (Draudt, 1931) (fam. Noctuidae), as well as male genitalia of Leptidea reali Reissinger (1988) - Leptidea juvernica Williams, 1946 complex (fam. Pieridae) and Cryphia amasina are presented. UTM 10 x 10 km distribution map for three species is provided.

A hybrid fund of Microcerasus tomentosa comprising 6 families with a total of 287 plants has been created. The features of the inheritance of important economic traits in hybrid offspring intervarietal hybrids Microcerasus tomentosa are defined. The hybrid family and cross combinations with high features of macrocarpa, small fruit size, dry berry separation, vitamin C, immunity and precocity are defined. During the study period of controlled hybrid offspring of crosses a number of elite seedlings was identified - Natali x Jubilejnaja, Natali x Smugljanka vostocnaja, and Natali x Rozovaja urožajnaja that combine high rates of fruit weight with other economic traits.

The results of tests on the presence of yeasts and molds in cornstarch [AD ?IPOK? Zrenjanin, 2007-2008, made at the time when previous Regulations were valid] were analyzed in terms of bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of quality and safety of raw material or final food products. Microbiological analysis was used to detect the presence of a number of microorganisms MMI-0001, and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Public Health in Zrenjanin town (Republic of Serbia), where the anal?yses were done, regarding the microbiological tests on starch. In order to rationalize the analyses and make them more economical, several areas of product quality control (water, food, raw materials, space) were recommended either to be excluded or regarded as optional. Thus, analysis of presence of microfungi as indicators of product quality was categorized as optional. The results obtained from this research suggest a different conclusion because the bacteria in the samples indicated ?microbiologically?, namely bacteriologically, safe samples of food, while, on the contrary, the presence of some microfungi as distinct xerophilous or xerotolerant microorganisms, indicated that the food was mycologically non-safe. The obtained data are crucial for questioning the decision to exclude the earlier required (mycological) analysis of the samples (in the production of starch, or end products, etc.) and categorize such analyses in new Regulations as optional, depending on the manufacturer?s preference. Bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of the quality of starch, clearly point to the shortsightedness of the new Regulations on food hygiene and safety, where tests on certain microorganisms (in this case, yeasts and molds) are not legally defined as mandatory, but the Law leaves manufacturers a possibility to choose (or not to choose) the testing and frequency of testing on the presence (absence) of microorganisms, which can be risky, both in the production and marketing of the finial products.