The aim of this study was to assess the ability of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm.) to absorb heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb) from different plant-based substrates and to determine the bioaccumulation factor of the aforementioned heavy metals from the substrate to the oyster mushroom basidiomes. The substrate used in this study were: maize straw, beech sawdust supplemented with wheat bran at a rate of 20%, a mixture of maize straw and spent coffee grounds in a ratio of 70:30, and a mixture of maize straw and spent coffee grounds in a ratio of 50:50. Heavy metal contents in substrate and mushroom samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy using the Shimadzu AA-7000 device, while the bioaccumulation factors of oyster mushroom for each investigated heavy metal were calculated from the heavy metal content in mushrooms divided by that found in substrates. The study showed that oyster mushrooms have a high capacity to absorb Zn and Cd from the growing medium and bioaccumulation factor values for Zn and Cd determined in this study strongly support this observation. On the other hand, bioaccumulation factor values for Ni, Fe, and Mn were less than 0.3 and ranged from 0.04 to 0.05, from 0.09 to 0.12, and from 0.10 to 0.25, respectively. In general, the results of this study lead to the conclusion that substrate chemical composition strongly affects the heavy metal accumulation in oyster mushroom basidiomes. The results of this study also showed that oyster mushrooms can be considered a promising species for Cd and Zn bioremediation.

Vine-leaved kitaibelia (Kitaibela vitifolia Willd.), also known as balkanmalva or chalice flower, is a critically endangered plant species with a high risk of extinction in the wild. A reason given for this is, among others, a low germination rate primarily caused by dormancy. The present study evaluated the seed germination and seedling growth parameters of vine-leaved kitaibelia in response to eight different pre-sowing treatments. The final germination percentage ranged from 0 % to 55 %, depending on the pre-sowing treatment. The most effective method for breaking dormancy and increasing vine-leaved kitaibelia seed germination was the treatment with seeds soaked in H2SO4 for 5 min. The mechanical scarification of vine-leaved kitaibelia seeds also improved germination as compared to control treatment, while treatments with nitric acid and gibberellic acid were not effective in enhancing seed germination. All evaluated seedling growth parameters were not affected by pre-sowing treatments. Considering that successful germination and seedling establishment are crucial for the regeneration of vine-leaved kitaibelia further studies are required in order to identify other pre-sowing treatments that could further enhance seed germination and, consequently, seedling development.

Održivi razvoj i očuvanje krajobraza, danas postaju dio strategija razvoja mnogih država. Kako bi se osigurala dozvoljena intervencija u krajobrazu, potrebno je snimiti postojeće stanje, odrediti krajobrazne vrijednosti i kapacitet nosivosti tog područja. U krajobraznom oblikovanju važno je poznavati entomofaunu kako zbog bioraznolikosti, tako i zbog očuvanja biljnih vrsta. Revitalizacija i oblikovanje novih krajobraznih cjelina podrazumijeva analizu postojeće flore te razmatra ideju zadržavanja flornih elemenata unutar novog projekta kako bi se očuvala autentičnost terena, ali i vrednovala starost prisutnih vrsta. Cilj rada bio je istražiti entomofaunu na postojećim hortikulturnim vrstama u posjedu Franjevačkog samostana i Franjevačke klasične gimnazije u Visokom. Istraživanje je provedeno od rujna 2022. do kolovoza 2023. godine. Determinirane su 81 drvenasta i grmolika vrsta te 28 kukaca čije je djelovanje štetno. Determinacijom nađenih vrsta utvrđuje se kako najviše štetnika pripada redu Hemiptera, zatim Coleoptera te Lepidoptera, dok je najmanje pripadnika redova Diptera i Hymenoptera.

Summary The aim of this study was to examine the effects of seaweed extract (Algaren), nettle extract and microbial biostimulant (Slavol) on total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of leaves of lavender ( Lavandula officinalis L.), sage ( Salvia officinalis L.) and basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The experimental trial was set up in a randomized block design with four biostimulant treatments in three replications. The first application of biostimulant was carried out immediately after the transplanting of seedlings, and the second and third treatments 15 and 30 days later, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and ferric-reducing/ antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of each leaf extract. The nettle extract was found to be the most effective in increasing total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in leaves of studied plants. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts was in line with total phenolics/flavonoids, regardless of plant species and biostimulant treatments, suggesting that phenolic compounds greatly contribute to antioxidant capacity of studied plants.

This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of eight native plant species on heavy metal polluted soils along the Spreča river valley (the northeast region of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Plants selected for screening were: ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), common nettle (Urtica dioica L.), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.), wild mint (Mentha arvensis L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), dwarf nettle (Urtica urens L.) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.). All aboveground parts of selected native plants and their associated soil samples were collected and analysed for total concentration of Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu. The bioaccumulation factor for each element was also calculated. The levels of Cr (90.9–171.1 mg/kg) and Ni (80.1–390.5 mg/kg) in the studied soil plots were generally higher than limits prescribed by European standards, indicating that the soils in the Spreča river valley are polluted by Cr and Ni. Among the eight screened plant species, no hyperaccumulators for toxic heavy metals Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb were identified. However, the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in the above-ground parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. and Trifolium repens L. were significantly higher than in the other studied plants, indicating that both plant species are useful for heavy metal removal.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of microbiological fertilizer 'Slavol' (MB) on selected physiological parameters for evaluating drought tolerance of seedlings (content of proline, leaf water potential, leaf area, content of photosynthetic pigments, total phenolic and flavonoids) and subsequently on the yield and fruit quality of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. cerasiforme). Cherry tomato seedlings treated by MB had a lower content of proline and higher leaf water potential compared to non-treated seedlings under water stress, which indicates that microorganisms present in fertilizers contributes to better adaptation of cherry tomato seedlings to stress. The research results also showed that application of MB contribute to increasing of phenolic compounds and consequently strengthening of cherry tomato antioxidant defense system. Fruit quality parameters (TSS, TA, TPC, TFC, FRAP, content of ascorbic acid and lycopene) were significantly higher in fruits of cherry tomato subjected to drought, regardless of MB treatment, suggesting that exposure of plant to controlled water stress conditions may represent a very promising approach to enhance the nutritional quality of cherry tomato.

A fruit tree has always been a determinant of an ornamental garden shaping in Croatia. From the 13th century onward an organized planting of fruit trees has been recorded. A total of 100 gardens in Istria have been analyzed , 50 of which were examined in the Istria interior, and 50 in the coastal area. Due to the shape and architectural style, 8 different types of gardens were determined and classified, by the location,  into three climatic-relief areas A, B and C. There were 7 types of ornamental gardens with a  fruit tree as a primary determinant of the garden, except one without it. Out of the 23 recorded fruit species, cherry, figs, grapes and olives have been mostly common  in the Istria interior whereas olives, Nespoli, figs and grapes have been known in the Istria coast.

Kadifica (Tagetes patula L.) se ubraja u grupu jednogodišnjih cvjetnih kultura, a zbog svojih dekorativnih osobina posljednjih godina zauzima sve veći udio u proizvodnom asortimanu proizvođača cvijeća u Bosni i Hercegovini.Sve veća potražnja za rasadom kadifice nameće potrebu intenziviranja njene proizvodnje i podizanje njene kvalitete, a jedan od načina kojim se to pokušava postići je primjena različitih stimulatora rasta. Cilj ovog rada je bio ispitati uticaj stimulatora rasta Bio-algeena S-92, Slavola i Ergonfilla na parametre rasta i razvoja kadifice (Tagetes patulaL.). Od parametara rasta i razvoja kadifice u ovom istraživanju ispitivani su: sadržaj pigmenta u listovima i površina listova, te prečnik cvijeta i broj cvjetnih glavica po biljci. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da ni jedan od primijenjenih stimulatora rasta nije iskazao statistički značajan uticaj na povećanje estetski važnih parametara kvaliteta cvijeća: prečnika cvijeta i broja cvjetnih glavica na biljci iz čega se može zaključiti da kadifica nije zahtjevna kultura za uzgoj jer je u stanju uspješno razviti svoje cvjetove čak i ako joj se u toku uzgoja ne dodaju stimulatori rasta. Preduslov za ostvarenje navedenog je da supstrat u kojem se kadifice uzgajaju svojim fizičkim i hemijskim karakteristikama zadovoljava sve kriterije potrebne biljkama za njihov uspješan rast i razvoj.

Marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) are hardy annuals, and because for their decorative qualities, occupies an increasing share of the production line of flower producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The growing demand for marigold seedlings imposes the need to intensify their production and improving their quality, and one of the way to do that is application of different growth stimulators.The aim of this study was to examine the impact of growth stimulators Bio-Algae S-92, SLAVOL and Ergonfilla on marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) growth parameters. The following parameters were examined: the content of pigment in leaves and leaf area and diameter of the flowerand the number of flower heads per plant. The results showed that none of the applied growth stimulators demonstrated a statistically significant effect on increasing aesthetic quality of the important parameters of flowers: flower diameter and the number of flower heads per plant. It can be concluded that marigolds are not demanding plants, because there are able to bloom without growth stimulants application. The most important thing is to have soil which satisfies physical and chemical characteristics for successful growth and development of marigold.