University of Sopron

Ash dieback is an often-fatal disease caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (T. Kowalski) Baral, Queloz & Hosoya. It emerged in Europe during the 1990s and poses a substantial threat to ash populations. In Hungary, symptoms were first detected on common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in 2008. The disease also severely impacts another native species, the narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl). An effective strategy for counteracting ash decline is to identify and utilize sources of tolerance. We are monitoring the health status of the selected trees that demonstrate low susceptibility (plus trees) and conducting molecular genetic studies to enable their genetic characterization and individual identification using 16 nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) markers. The PCoA (Principal Coordinates Analysis) separated the eight assessed groups into two distinct clusters based on the taxonomic traits. Based on the Structure analysis results, K = 2 was the most probable cluster number. Hybridization was also indicated in the case of several individuals across various groups. We intend to incorporate the results in the establishment of seed orchards using the selected plus trees, considering the taxonomical, geographical, and genetic distinctiveness of the different groups.

A series of grey poplar (Populus x canescens) samples was irradiated by strong ultraviolet (UV) light emitter mercury lamp, while another series of specimens were treated with the combination of UV irradiation and water leaching. The total duration of UV irradiation for both series of specimens was 20 days. The colour parameters (CIE L*, a*, b*) were measured and evaluated after both UV irradiation and water leaching. Due to the 20 days of UV irradiation, the initial redness value of sapwood increased 2.69 times, while leaching reduced this factor to 1.77. In case of heartwood, the initial redness value increased 1.34-fold due to the 20-day UV exposure, while the leaching reduced this factor to 1.14. These multiplier values are 2.07 and 1.44 for the yellowness of sapwood, as well as 1.57 and 1.29 for the yellowness of heartwood. The leaching partly removed the yellow and red chromophore molecules generated by the UV irradiation. The samples were slightly lighter after water leaching.

The spongy moth is a significant Lepidopteran species across Europe, where it occurs in oak stands. Tree species composition has a crucial effect on larval development, population density, and outbreaks. Host switching is more likely to occur in a mixed forest than in a monospecific forest. We aimed to better understand the effect of host alternation on the development of the spongy moth. In a laboratory, we reared spongy moth larvae on either (a) Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) or (b) European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) only or on host plants that were changed from Turkey oak to European hornbeam (c) in the early (L3) or (d) late (L5) larval instar. Both Q. cerris and C. betulus proved suitable hosts for the spongy moth larvae. However, the larvae fed exclusively on Turkey oak leaves had better developmental indicators than the others. The groups that switched hosts had weaker developmental indicators than the larvae fed only on Turkey oak but showed better development than the group reared only on Hornbeam leaves. The results of our laboratory research on host switching may offer valuable insights into the developmental dynamics of spongy moths in monospecific forests versus those with higher biodiversity.

This study demonstrates the mosaic nature of European regions in terms of the usage and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. A dataset of EU27 NUTS 2 regions is compiled and analysed using multilayer perceptron neural networks to produce original research results that contribute to the evolving discourse on regional AI. The findings indicate that considerable regional differences exist in AI-technology usage across European regions. Mapping results enhance understanding of the sharp performance disparities between and within countries. The study presents a clear centripetal development with the capital regions, metropolitan areas and Northern European regions generally outperforming the rest. It reveals a largely continuous corridor along the 'Aarhus-Bologna Axis' and the 'German Pentagon' area characterised by substantial capacity to use and adopt AI technology.

Solar-powered irrigation Systems (SPIS) are critical for agricultural production enhancement, food security and climate change adaptation, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL). There is increased attention towards shifting to more abundant and cleaner energy potential sources for revitalising irrigation strategies in ASAL areas. This study employed a geospatial approach to identify suitable locations for solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) in Baringo County, Kenya. Based on an integrated use of GIS spatial analysis and analytical hierarchy procedure (AHP), suitable locations for solar-powered irrigation were mapped. Precipitation, irrigated areas, proximity to rivers, slope, and solar radiation were analysed and processed to derive spatially explicit SPIS suitability classes ranging from very low to very high suitability. The thematic layers were assigned weights based on Saaty’s AHP method, where weights for each factor were determined from a pairwise comparison matrix, and a Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) approach was used to derive the final suitability classes for the county. The findings reveal that approximately 58