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The aim of this study is to assess the disappearance of boscalid (IUPAC name: 2-chloro-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)phenyl]pyridine-3-carboxamide) and pyraclostrobin (IUPAC name: methyl N-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-N-methoxycarbamate) residues in apple fruit, and to verify whether an organic fertilizer enriched with strains of antagonistic microorganisms can reduce pesticide residue levels. Field trials were conducted in a commercial orchard on apples of the Gloster variety, during 21 days after the treatment with Bellis 38 WG and the subsequent application of Zumba Plant formulation containing Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp. and Glomus spp. In control samples, the decrease rate of boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels followed an exponential function, described by formulae R t = 0.2824e -0.071 t and R t = 0.1176e -0.060 t , with the coefficient of determination of r 2 = 0.8692 and r 2 = 0.9268, respectively. These levels dropped to half (t 1/2 ) of their initial values after 9.8 and 11.5 days, respectively. The treatment with Zumba Plant resulted in a reduction in boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels by 52% and 41%, respectively. The results of this study are of importance for horticulture sciences and for producers of apples using plant protection products (PPPs).

The present study focuses on samples of Polish herbhoneys (HHs), their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used to analyse eight samples of herbal honeys and three samples of nectar honeys. Their antimicrobial activities were tested on selected Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus schleiferi) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as on pathogenic fungi Candida albicans. Ether extracts of HHs showed significant differences in composition but the principal groups found in the extracts were phenolics and aliphatic hydroxy acids typical of royal jelly and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. In spite of the differences in chemical composition, antimicrobial activity of the extracts of HHs against all the tested microorganisms except E. coli was observed., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In the present studies use was made of raw milk derived from a model farm in the Olsztyn voivodeship. Washing and washing-disinfecting agents: Mirax, Bis, Radion, Iosan CP, Rudlak and Ixi, as well as crystalline penicillin were added to milk. Their lowest concentrations inhibiting growth of indicator strain (MIC): Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis C 953, were determined by two microbiological tests. Moreover, the changes in light diffusion by milk, caused by the applied inhibitory substances, were examined. It was found that the microbiological tests for the determination of the lowest inhibitory concentration of the sanitization agents and of penicillin were much more sensitive in the case of milk with a 0.05% fat content, as compared with whole milk.