A patented warning method for late-frost damage in orchards based on phenoclimatic simulation was used to analyze the late-frost damage probability (LFDP) trends for sour cherry in Romania for the decades of 2013-2022 and 2000-2009. Areas with the lowest LFDP were identified in the south, and southeast, as well as in narrow north-eastern and western sectors (p≤16%, i.e. damage may occur less than once every seven years). Above 30% LFDP was found in the west (Lipovei Hills), the north of the Western Plain and Transylvanian Depression, the south of Western Carpathians, Getic and Curburii Sub-Carpathians, and especially in areas located in the south-eastern part of the Transylvanian Depression, with an LFDP>40% (damage more frequently than once every 2.5 years). Compared to the decade 2000-2009, no changes in LFDP were observed in the Getic Plateau, the west of the Romanian plain, and southeast of the Dobrogea Plateau. Areas with the most unfavorable evolution were located in the eastern part of the Transylvanian Depression (where LFDP increased by 10-12%) and the east of the Moldavian Plateau (LFDP of 9-10%). The study warns of the danger represented by the increase of the frequency and intensity of the damages caused by the late frosts under the conditions of the climatic changes of the last 25 years.
In recent years, climate changes more and more evident, have increased the risk of late spring frost during the flowering time with negative implications on fruit buds, flowers, fruit set and fruit production. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate some plum cultivars with different origins regarding the resistance to the late spring frosts in order to identify potential genitors for future breeding work. The research was carried out in plum demonstrative plots of Genetic - Breeding and Plant Propagation Departments by the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania, on 26 cultivars (7 from Romania, 15 from Germany, 1 from Serbia and 1 from Canada). In the last decade, spring frosts were observed in 2017 (-4,2 ºC, Aprilie, 21-22, young fruit stage), 2020 (-7,1ºC, Aprilie, 1-7, beggining of flowering), 2022 (-5,8ºC, Aprilie, 18-21, full flowering), 2023 (-6,4ºC, March, 29-30, green button) și 2025 (-5,7ºC, Aprilie, 7-11, full flowering). These climatic accidents caused damage of 80-100% in 2017, 18-90% in 2020, 15-45% in 2022, 7-65% in 2023 and 51% in 2025. Throughout this period, the least affected were 'Romanţa', 'Piteştean', 'Carpatin', 'Katinka', 'Hanka', 'Presenta', 'Elena', 'Topstar', 'Toptaste', 'Topfive', 'Tophit', 'Voyageur' and 'Stanley' cvs., the level of damage being very low (below 10%), and the percentage of fruit set being over 20%. All of these cultivars are recommended as genitors for resistance to late spring frosts in breeding programs.
The study was conducted during the period 2023-2024 in a fruit-bearing peach orchard on the territory of the Fruit-Growing Institute of Plovdiv. Changes in the content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe in the leaves of three peach cultivars ('Cresthaven', 'Glohaven', and 'Redhaven') were monitored during the vegetation growing season. Regression equations were derived, expressing the dependence between the content of nutrients and the time of sample collection, which enabled the prediction of nutrient content throughout the growing season with a high degree of accuracy. Complex synergistic and antagonistic relationships were established, which varied depending on the plant development stage and the cultivar. A clearly expressed synergistic relationship between K/Fe at 60 and 120 days after full bloom (DAFB) in the three studied cultivars. In 'Glohaven' and 'Redhaven', a positive correlation was reported between P and K, as well as between P and Fe. Strong antagonism was found between N/K, N/Ca, and N/Fe, especially at higher nitrogen concentrations in the early stages of tree development.
In the context of climate change, improving orchard crop management is essential for effectively addressing the major challenges facing contemporary agriculture. Among these, the thermal stress generated by extreme temperatures and climate variability has an important negative impact on biodiversity, fertility, and soil health. In addition, it is vital to properly manage pests and pathogens that can affect crop quality and yield, as well as to adapt to hyper-intensive cultivation systems that aim to optimize the use of space and simplify harvesting processes. This study explores a number of alternative, sustainable, and effective technologies to improve productivity in orchards using advanced irrigation systems and the use of emergent biofertilizers. These agricultural technologies facilitate precise and efficient management of nutrients, water and biopesticide. The results of the conducted research have demonstrated that these innovative technologies can contribute to a significant long-term increase in productivity, as well as improve the quality of agricultural soils.
This paper presents data on the diversity of entomophagous fauna in an ecologically managed blueberry plantation, as well as comparative aspects regarding the structure of the entomophagous complex under two phytoprotection technologies: 'Ecological' and 'Conventional'. The study was conducted at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, during the period 2024-2025, in a blueberry plot with an area of 1.0 ha belonging to Experimental Base No. 1. Observations were carried out visually, in the experimental field and in the laboratory, under a binocular stereomicroscope, noting the entomophagous insects present, as species, number, and biological stage of development. Following this study, seven species of arthropods were identified: Coccinella septempunctata, Adalia bipunctata, Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata, Chrysopa carnea, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Aphidoletes aphidimyza and Anthocoris spp., belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Mesostigmata, Diptera, and Hemiptera.
