Permanent grasslands are characterized by herbaceous flora adapted to local conditions, with deep root systems that facilitate resource uptake and provide resistance to anthropogenic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to develop and implement efficient diagnostic and agronomic management tools for farmers. In order to demonstrate the methodology, we selected five diverse grasslands with different characteristics. The research tested the grass typology method to diagnose these areas and establish optimal management practices based on floristic composition. The method was applied to achieve the rational management of the grasslands studied. The results provided valuable data on floristic composition, species frequency, and specific functional indices. The characterization of the five grasslands in Moșnița Nouă in Timiș County enabled us to recognize optimal grassland strategies for each area, maximizing production based on the grass typology. Thus, the study demonstrated the impact of using simplified tools to improve grassland diagnosis and management, significantly contributing to the more sustainable maintenance of the permanent grasslands for farmers.

Drosophila melanogaster serves as a important research model both for genetic investigations and for the study of metal toxicity, facilitating the elucidation of physiological mechanisms comparable to those of human organisms. In our research, we evaluated the toxicity effect resulting from exposure to various concentrations of lead and copper on the prolificity rates throughout the life cycle (egg-adult) of four genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster: wild-type (control), white, brown, and white-vestigial. During our study, the prolificity rates were examined across three repetitions under the impact of exposure to concentrations of 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, and 4.00 mM of copper (CuSO4) and lead (Pb(C2H3O2)2). Prolificity rates throughout the life cycle exhibited variations as a direct consequence of genetic factors, the concentration of exposure, and the specific type of metal, either copper or lead. The mutant white-vestigial genotype revealed an IC50 concentration for prolificity inhibition at lower doses of 2.00 mM for copper and 4.00 mM for lead, in contrast to the control genotype (wild-type), which exhibited an inhibition concentration rate >IC50 of 4.00 mM only in the case of copper. Our results concluded that the (i) dose influences the prolificity rate in a directly proportional manner, (ii) comparative analyses between copper and lead revealed that copper displayed toxicity across all genotypes within the concentration range of 0.50 mM to 2.00 mM. In contrast, lead exhibited toxicity within the concentration range of 1.00 mM to 4.00 mM, highlighting a (iii) more acute toxicity characteristic in the case of copper. Thus, the results of this research reflect the importance of using Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model in the comparative study of the interaction between genetic factors and the toxicity of metals, offering significant insights into monitoring their impact and defining the maximum permissible doses on organisms.

Applications of the Drosophila melanogaster (D.m.) research model have an important means both for genetic investigations and for the study of metal toxicity, because D.m. has physiological mechanisms comparable to those in human organisms. In this research, the toxic effect of lead (Pb2+) and copper (Cu2+) on four D.m. genotypes—the wild genotype (Oregon-R, used as control) and three mutant genotypes (white, brown, and white-vestigial)—was compared. Five replicates were made to observe the development progress of monitorized genotypes exposed to five different concentrations 0, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 2.00 mM of copper (CuSO4) and lead Pb(C2H3O2)2. Proliferation rates of larvae, pupae, and adults depend on genetic factors, metals used (copper or lead), and their concentrations. The white-vestigial mutant genotype showed the greatest sensitivity at IC50 concentration (inhibition of proliferation of more than 50% compared with the control sample) at doses of 1.00 mM for Cu2+ and 2.00 mM for Pb2+. In contrast, the control genotype (Oregon-R) showed only an inhibition IC50 concentration of 2.00 mM for Cu2+. The white-vestigial mutant genotype showed the greatest sensitivity at IC50 concentration (inhibition of proliferation of more than 50% compared with the control sample) at doses of 1.00 mM for Cu2+ and 2.00 mM for Pb2+. In contrast, the control genotype (Oregon-R) showed an inhibition at the IC50 concentration of 2.00 mM for Cu2+. The results conclude that (i) the dose influences the prolificacy rate in a directly proportional way, (ii) the comparative analyses between Cu2+ and Pb2+ revealed a more acute effect of Cu2+, and (iii) differentiated prolificacy values according to genotypes were recorded. Those reflect the importance of using D.m. as a research model in the comparative studies of the interactions between genetic factors and metal toxicity. Also, this study provides significant information on non-toxic maximum doses for organisms.

Since the inception of modern plant breeding, especially with the discovery of heterosis and the development of hybrids, which are known for their ability to enhance crop yields, plant breeders have consistently strived to advance and identify an efficient method for developing inbred lines. In this endeavor, breeders have encountered various challenges, including the complexity of requiring multiple generations to develop inbred lines and the struggle to find effective ways to optimize this process. In our research, we aim to present a method for cytological diagnosis and the identification of high levels of inbreeding. Our study involves the analysis of sunflower genotypes, both hybrids and inbred lines, regarding the mitotic index and its correlation with leaf area and root development in an automatic rhizotron. During our research, we observed significant differences between hybrid genotypes and inbred lines in terms of the mitotic index and variations in leaf area and root development. Therefore, this research provides insight into the applicability of cytology for timely identification and elimination of inbred genetic material, thereby contributing to increased resilience and economic efficiency in breeding programs through the adoption of cytological diagnostic techniques.

Salt stress induces cytotoxicity at the cellular level, influencing the vacuolization process, disrupting mitotic division, and thus inhibiting plant growth. The results for a range of species used in agriculture have shown that high soil salt levels affect germination, chlorophyl content and yield. In this study, an experiment was carried out in the laboratory using NaCl concentration treatments of 0, 100, 125 and 150 mM on sunflower seeds of the inbred line HA-89 obtained from the USDA gene bank. For the experiment, the seeds were germinated in a salt solution and analyzed cytologically by calculating the mitotic index, chromosomal aberration index, provacuolar index and vacuolization index. Following our cytological studies, we observed that the vacuolization phenomenon was caused by salt stress and progressively accentuated by the salt concentration levels and exposure times. The formation of vacuolized cells is due to the fusion of provacuoles, which contributes to a uniform or non-uniform distribution of genetic material around them. According to our results, the vacuolization index showed high values depending on the NaCl concentration and stress exposure time. Similarly, high salt concentrations significantly decreased the mitotic index and increased the chromosomal aberration index. The effect of salt stress causes cell vacuolization, a decrease in the mitotic index and an increase in the number of chromosomal aberrations in meristematic tissues, inhibiting growth and development and consequently leading to a reduction in productivity per unit area.

Forest hazelnuts are very valuable fruits, both for their phytochemical content and economically for cultivation. In this work, the development of some hazelnut varieties, such as Tonda Gentile Delle Longue, Butler, Tonda Romana, Tonda di Giffoni, and Barcelona, has been studied. Morphological characteristics were analysed in two periods, at 30 days and 60 days, "in vitro," by recording the number of roots and leaves as well as their length. From the analyses carried out, it was found that the genetic variation of the five varieties studied had a significant influence on all the morphological characteristics examined and the varieties Tonda di Giffoni and Barcelona show higher plasticity under in vitro conditions compared to the other varieties included in the study. In addition, total polyphenol (TPh) content and antioxidant capacity were analysed using FRAP and DPPH assays and the results reported that the Tonda di Giffoni cultivar recorded the highest TPh content (192.71 +/- 0.77 mg GAE/100 g Fw), with high antioxidant capacity (FRAP = 5.9 +/- 0.02 and DPPH = 216.31 +/- 1.38 mol TE/100 g Fw), compared to the other varieties studied.

By product is broadly understood as a product obtained in a usually industrial or biological process in addition to the main product for which the process is carried out. The main challenge addressed to humanity as well as productive ecosystems, regardless of the form of terrestrial or aquatic substrate, is to cope with the rapid rate of growth of the planet's population. The demographic growth of the planet must be in balance with the maintenance of the environment and also with climatic shifts. By-products are often considered agricultural waste or residues, it contains valuable cellulosic nutrients that due to their organic origin can be successfully used in many other agricultural or industrial subfields. It can be appreciated that at the level of Romania, the agricultural sector has as a land heritage about 18 million hectares, of which 10 are arable, 5 million are permanent meadows and about 3 million hectares are forests, with very favorable geographical conditions for the growth of plants and animals. This report illustrates the fact that each inhabitant of Romania has an area of approximately 0.41 ha of arable land. This value is far above the average of several countries in the European Union and at the same time, it is double the EU average, which is at the level of 0.212 ha/inhabitant. The huge quantities of by-products, of vegetable residues from agriculture, can be estimated quantitatively at 15 million tons, and when converting this secondary production into money, the current value of 2.5 billion dollars is exceeded.

The productivity of the grasslands is determined by the biodiversity of the plant species present in the vegetation, their quality, but also their exploitation. For their inventory, a series of determination methods are used, methods that are difficult to manage and that require a good knowledge of the plant species. For an agronomic characterization of the plots, it is sufficient to consider only the main species that dominate the plant biomass. A more simplified method is that of botanical surveys which focus only on recognizing the dominant grasses in grasslands. This method allows for an agronomic diagnosis of a grassland without modifying the variables studied, namely, the percentage of biomass participation and the percentage of each functional type of grasses. The method allows the application of a functional typology that can estimate the value of use (forage quality, productivity, precocity or lateness) of a grassland. The purpose of this work is to classify the species by plant families, establish the pastoral value and inventory the grass species, as well as classify them from a morphofunctional point of view, in order to implement some management strategies aimed at ensuring an optimal exploitation of the grasslands taken into study. The measurements were made on three grasslands belonging to the town of Sasca Montana, Romania, located in the south of the Western Carpathians (44�53'13"N 21�42'33"E), at an altitude of 237 m. In this area, the average annual temperatures is between 9 - 10�C, and the precipitation level is between 700 and 800 mm. The three studied grasslands have a similar floristic composition, but with a different participation percentage of species. The dominant grass species, from a morpho-functional point of view, are species of type C (Festuca valesiaca being the dominant species), which shows that these grasslands are weak and do not adapt to mowing practices, although the species included in this morpho-functional type are species with a fairly good fodder value in the vegetative phase.

Developing more sustainable forage systems requires efficient decision support tools for fertilization management. Soil phosphorus (P) tests have long been used as decision support tools for fertilization management but, more recently, plant nutrition indices using the P concentration of shoot biomass were developed to assess the P nutrition status of grasslands. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the relationship between the phosphorus nutrition index (PNI) and the yield response to P fertilization (ii) analyze relationships between PNI and soil plant-available P (SPAP) indicators, and (iii) evaluate PNI assets for P diagnosis in forage system. Five long-term (>= 9 years) grassland P fertilization experiments under different soil and climate environments in Canada, Switzerland, France and Romania were used. Three SPAP indicators were tested: C-P, the soil solution orthophosphate ions (oPion) concentration (mg P L-1), Olsen P (mg P kg (-1)), and, a process-based assessment (Qw + Pr) from the sum of oPion in the soil solution (Qw, mg P kg(-1)) and diffusive oPion with time and C-P (Pr, mg P kg(-1)). PNI was calculated as sward P concentration divided by the critical P concentration. The cumulative effect of P fertilization resulted in a wide range of SPAP values. Overall, C-P varied from 0.03 to 3.6 mg P L-1, (Qw + Pr60 min) from 6-52 mg kg(-1), and Olsen P from 4 40 mg kg(-1). The PNI varied from 48-94% in plots with no applied P, and from 83-121% in P-fertilized plots. A generally positive relationship between relative forage dry matter yield and PNI was established, with a critical PNI value of 92% that distinguishes P-limited and non-P-limited grassland nutrition. Positive relationships between PNI and the three SPAP indicators confirmed that the soil P status influenced the grassland P nutrition status. Critical values on a stock basis for a target PNI value of 92% were similar for Olsen P (12.9 kg P ha(-1)) and (Qw + Pr60 min) (13.5 kg P ha(-1)). This study opens perspectives for P diagnosis improvement in forage systems.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a forage species widely cultivated in temperate regions around the world. The numerous varieties of alfalfa currently available on the European market, create a great difficulty for farmers in choosing the most suitable variety for their needs. Precise information on the morphological characters of the varieties existing on the market and their behavior in relation to the environmental conditions, greatly helps the farmers to make their management decisions. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most valuable crops of fodder plants due to the high production of green table and the superior quality of the fan, being a very popular fodder culture in Romania. The lucerne fan contains 80% calcium, 0.18% phosphorus, 1.23% potassium, 0.22% magnesium and 0.2% sulfur, mineral salts that recommend it for use especially in dairy cows. Lucerne has a wide variety of uses, being one of the most popular herbs, but also a plant widely used in natural treatments. Lucerne has been grown since ancient times in the territory of our country. Lucerne has been cultivated for millennia. Ancient civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, used to cultivate it. Then it was brought to ancient Greece, Africa and eventually to America, through Spanish colonists. The benefits of growing alfalfa. Lucerne has a great capacity to adapt to various climatic conditions. Due to its long roots, the lucerne can absorb a large amount of water. The objectives of this study were to measure and compare the differences in morphological characteristics of the three different varieties of Medicago sativa L. in three years of cultivation in the Jimbolia area. In the area of Jimbolia there are several lucerne growers, being the only fodder plant cultivated in the area in 2019, and establishing a precedent of measurements and comparisons would help these growers and those in the future to determine if their culture is in the

Abstract: Cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an unusual plant. It is distinguished from all other cultivated plants by its single stem and conspicuous, large inflorescence. A sunflower plant is influenced by both the growth stages from planting to maturity, as well as temperature, day length, nutrition and humidity. Hybrid maturity and crop area also have an effect on the length of the growing season. The study investigated the phenology of three sunflower hybrids grown in the western part of Romania. The yield of these hybrids from the morpho-phenological perspective is being sought in order to identify their adaptability to the cultivated area. To grow best, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with heavy mulch. The results obtained from the measurements show that the studied hybrids behave differently from the environmental conditions encountered in the western part of Romania. In order to reach the objectives, the most important characteristics were measured which reflected the behavior of the hybrids in relation to the environmental factors, namely, the height of the plant, the length of the roots, the number of leaves, the length and width of the leaves, the diameter of the stem, the diameter of the flower buds and the diameter of the inflorescence. Those characteristics determine somewhat the use of the plant-as a source of edible oil, as food for people and animals, or as forage. Floriculturists are interested in the variability in flower color, petal structure, and petal size. Descriptive classes are proposed herein for some morphological characters to improve the uniformity of descriptions of inbred lines and cultivars. Many descriptive characters are affected by the environment, so measurements should be made of plants grown under optimum field conditions. The statistical calculation was performed in Microsoft Office Excel 2016, establishing the coefficient of variation, the standard deviation of the mean and the average of the observed variants.

QuestionsThe fundamental trade-off between fine root trait attributes related to resource acquisition and conservation is well documented at species and community levels. However, relations remain unclear between this trade-off and community adaptation to environmental factors. As a result we ask: (1) how do fertility changes influence community position along the root acquisition-conservation trade-off; (2) how does root position along the soil profile influence its functional parameter; and (3) do fertility and soil depth have an interactive effect on community root parameters?LocationNative multi-species temperate grassland in the French Massif Central.MethodsWe assessed botanical composition and measured community root functional parameters (at plot and soil layer levels) in 16 plots differentiated by the amounts of N and P fertilizers applied over 16yr and a soil depth gradient. Structural equationmodels were used to analyse relations among environmental factors, botanical composition and root functional parameters.ResultsBotanical composition and plot-level root functional parameters vary according to fertility and soil depth. Communities from low fertility plots display a resource conservation strategy, i.e. high root tissue density, low specific root length (SRL) and low root length density (RLD), while communities from high fertility plots display a resource acquisition strategy, i.e. opposite parameter values. This demonstrates the importance of root resource management strategies in community adaptation to resource acquisition. Roots display different parameter values with soil depth. Roots in the surface horizon have small diameters and high SRL and RLD, suggesting intensive soil exploration and a high nutrient acquisition capacity. Roots in deep horizons have large diameters and low SRL, suggesting high water transport capacity per root length unit. This pattern is affected by plot fertility, i.e. communities from high fertility plots show higher root strategy differentiation with depth than communities from low fertility plots. We hypothesize that this root specialization along the soil profile enables species to be competitive for nutrient uptake in shallow soil layers and water uptake and transport in deep soil layers.ConclusionOur study provides evidence that fertility and soil depth modified root functional parameters, in agreement with predictions from the economics spectrum theory.

We analyzed the linearity of relationships between soil test P (STP) and cumulative phosphorus (P) budget using data from six long-term fertilized grassland sites in four countries: France (Ercé and Gramond), Switzerland (Les Verrières), Canada (Lévis), and Finland (Maaninka and Siikajoki). STP was determined according to existing national guidelines. A linear-plateau model was used to determine the presence of deflection points in the relationships. Deflection points with (x, y) coordinates were observed everywhere but Maaninka. Above the deflection point, a significant linear relationship was obtained (0.33 < r (2) < 0.72) at four sites, while below the deflection point, the relationship was not significant, with a negligible rate of STP decrease. The relationship was not linear over the range of STP encountered at most sites, suggesting a need for caution when using the P budget approach to predict STP changes in grasslands, particularly in situations of very low P fertilization. Our study provides insights and description of a tool to improve global P strategies aimed at maintaining STP at levels adequate for grassland production while reducing the risk of P pollution of water.

Sludge from wastewater are containing particles of clay, organic matter from sewage and human waste, salts, detergents, heavy metals. Sewage sludge can be used as fertilising resource fresh, after anaerobic fermentation for biogas and dried on dehydration beds. Most commonly used as fertiliser is fermented sludge which is used as manure or compost. Dried sewage sludge can contain 20-60% dry matter, 25-40% organic matter, 5.1% total N, 0.5 to 4% P2O5, 0.5% K2O and 6.5% Ca. Sewage sludge is considered valuable phosphorus fertiliser, being applied in autumn before plowing for cereals, fodder crops, potatoes, in dose of 25-60 t/ha, corresponding to the addition of nitrogen. Sewage sludge must be applied carefully, knowing the content of heavy metals and pathogens. In this paper we follow the effect of sewage sludge on soil main chemical features. Sludge was applied to a culture of Medicago sativa in three levels: 15,20 and 40 t ha(-1). Arise of soil pH values was observed. Nitrogen content was higher only in variant fertilised with 15 t ha-1. The values of phosphorus content were ranged between 35.76 and 87.82 mg kg(-1). Compared to control variant, potassium content increase is not significant.

Water, N and P shortages are three major factors that limit plant development worldwide. Understanding which plant strategies allow them to cope with these stresses may encourage the selection of species or genotypes better able to make the most of non-optimal growth conditions in grassland agrosystems.To test which strategies allowed species to be more efficient under P and water shortages, we grew 13 Fabaceae species under four growth conditions in a greenhouse experiment that resulted from crossing two levels of both P and water availability.Ten root functional traits were measured under the four growth conditions, including cross-sectional area occupied by aerenchyma, mycorrhizal rate, root hair length, and specific root length (SRL). We determined relations between species' root trait values and their plasticity and response to P and/or water stress in terms of total biomass production and stress intensity.Results showed that mycorrhizal rates were negatively related to biomass production in the four growth conditions. Long root hairs and high aerenchyma production were associated with high biomass production in growth conditions without and with P stress, respectively. Species with acquisitive strategies (high SRL) were less impacted by P and water stress than those with conservative ones (low SRL). Additionally, increased SRL and root hair length decreased the impact of P stress on species' performances.Results showed that grassland Fabaceae display a wide range of root functional strategies (i.e. root functional trait attributes and plasticity), which explain their performances under P and/or water shortage. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Two dominant parameters are characterizing human society at the present stage of development: the rapid growth of world population, increasing food production requiring and advanced state of pollution and environmental damage, requiring increased attention to the quality of investment in kind. Agriculture has gradually become a complex task that is and will remain the safest and most appropriate means of food production for mankind, being real support of human biological existence, being an important source of raw materials for various industries producing of consumer goods. Imbalance between man and the environment, causes serious and irreversible ecological implications. Environmental problems have various aspects and with the development of society, need to be addressed with priority. One such problem is the residues from municipal wastewater treatment. There are multiple concerns for the elimination of these residues in the environment, without negative implications upon environment. The recycling of sludge through land acquired a major interest for many researchers, communities, local governments and not least for farmers. Wastewater treatment is by definition an activity in support of environmental protection, ensuring retention of pollutants in the form of sludge. To bring wastewater to the level of environmental activity it should be coupled with action for recovery / containment sludge from the process. For the specific case of sludge from wastewater treatment, their reintegration into the circuit is achievable in several ways, one of the most practical including application on agricultural land with the following advantages: recovery of large amounts of plant nutrients (humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, microelements etc.), decrease of mineral fertilizer quantities required to maintain high levels of agricultural production. Use of sewage sludge determines increase soil capacity to mineralize organic matter from wastewater and remediates physical, chemical and biological soil features. Expanding range of fertilizing resources through the use of other organic residues outside traditional scientific substances imposed knowledge of the chemical, microbiological and agronomic conditions of their use to avoid negative effects on the environment and consequently on soil resources Sewage sludge manufacturers must provide user with regular information on the availability of sludge and sludge characteristics according to the following indicators: pH, total organic carbon, dry matter, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, cadmium, cromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, zinc content.