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Replacing chemical fertilizers with non-toxic waste that meet all fertilizing purposes, including ash from plant biomass and their management is becoming the important goal of sustainable agriculture concerning energy plants production in a closed system. This study aims to explore a novel strategy for utilizing natural sorghum ash together with digestate and ecological compounds, to replace synthetic fertilizers, for the energy plant development improvement and thus reduction of the environment pollution. Sorghum, as an energy plant, cultivated in low quality sandy and podzolic soils, in Central and North Poland climate, was fertilized with different doses of YaraMila Complex, a synthetic fertilizer (0, 150, 300 kg ha−1 Each dose was supplemented with different amounts of sorghum ash (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 t ha−1), used alone or with addition of APOL-HUMUS (soil improver; 10 L ha−1), biogas plant digestate (30 m3 ha−1) and Stymjod (nano-organic leaf fertilizer; 5 L ha−1). Added to each YaraMila Complex dose, the applied ash amounts (optimally 2–4 t ha−1), increased growth of plants, crop biomass, index of chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, content of intercellular CO2, activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase, RNase and dehydrogenase and energy properties. Sorghum ash used with the lesser YaraMila Complex doses of 0 or 150 kg ha−1 caused the enhanced growth of plants more than the doubled YaraMila Complex amounts applied alone (150 or 300 kg ha−1, correspondingly). Additionally, applied biogas plant digestate, APOL-HUMUS and Stymjod further increased the plant growth. This indicates that the application of natural sorghum ash accelerates energy plant development, can reduce by half the recommended synthetic fertilizer doses on poor and marginal soil and enables the cultivation of sorghum in a closed production cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizosphere microbial communities can influence plant growth and development. Natural regeneration processes take place in the tree stands of protected areas, which makes it possible to observe the natural changes taking place in the rhizosphere along with the development of the plants. This study aimed to determine the diversity (taxonomic and functional) of the rhizosphere fungal communities of Norway spruce growing in one of four developmental stages. Our research was based on the ITS region using Illumina system sequencing. Saprotrophs dominated in the studied rhizospheres, but their percentage share decreased with the age of the development group (for 51.91 from 43.13%). However, in the case of mycorrhizal fungi, an opposite trend was observed (16.96–26.75%). The most numerous genera were: saprotrophic Aspergillus (2.54–3.83%), Penicillium (6.47–12.86%), Pyrenochaeta (1.39–11.78%), pathogenic Curvularia (0.53–4.39%), and mycorrhizal Cortinarius (1.80–5.46%), Pseudotomentella (2.94–5.64%) and Tomentella (4.54–15.94%). The species composition of rhizosphere fungal communities was favorable for the regeneration of natural spruce and the development of multi-generational Norway spruce stands. The ratio of the abundance of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi to the abundance of pathogens was high and promising for the durability of the large proportion of spruce in the Wigry National Park and for forest ecosystems in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine is the main forest forming species in Poland. Despite the great importance of natural reconditioning of forest trees, a substantial source of reforestation is the nursery production of seedling material. Pre-sowing seed conditioning, consisting of chemical and physical treatments, is commonly used to improve seed quality as well as to advance uniform development and increase plant efficiency. The influence of semiconductor laser irradiation wavelength on Scots pine seeds (Pinus sylvestris L.) was tested in both laboratory and pot experiments. Irradiation rates used in trials were (D3) three-, (D6) six- and (D9) nine-fold of the basic rate of 2.5·10−1 J·cm−2 with a control (D0) of non-irradiated seeds. Irradiation accelerated emergence and increased seedling numbers. The germination energy and capacity of tested Scots pine genotypes were reduced under higher (D6) doses of laser irradiation. Stimulation of morphological traits and increase in chlorophyll contents was observed under the lowest (D3) irradiation rate, while an increase in polyphenol contents occurred under the highest, nine-fold rate of irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is an important medicinal plant revealing sedative, hypotensive, anti-spasmodic and anxiolytic activity. The purpose of the study was to determine the intraspecific variability of the common valerian growing wild in Poland and the 'Lubelski' landrace, as to their developmental traits, chemical composition and selected genetic parameters. Both wild-growing populations (19) and the landrace (1) were evaluated under ex situ conditions. Observations of the underground organs parameters, both developmental and chemical (according to the European Pharmacopoeia) were carried out in the first year of the plant's development, while the characteristics of the aboveground organs, followed by the sowing value of seeds (according to the International Seed Testing Association)—in the second year. The genetic analyses were performed using the NGS-DArT-seq method. Results indicate the presence of five different gene pools covering the regions of population's origin, with a gene flow within and between them. A high level of developmental and chemical variabilities among the wild-growing populations was noticed, however without a clear relation to the region of the origin. The mass of underground organs ranged from 107.4 to 403.6 g FW × plant−1 with the content of sesquiterpenic acids at the level of 0.004–0.094%. Population no 18 was distinguished by the highest content of sesquiterpenic acids and the relatively high mass of underground organs, followed by the admixture of the gene pool, typical for the 'Lubelski' landrace. Unlike the 'Lubelski' landrace, the wild-growing populations were characterized by a high amount of an essential oils (3.90 to 10.04 mL/kg), which may be promising from the perspective of their potential use. In turn, the sowing value of the seeds obtained from the populations, expressed as the germinability, was rather low (25.25–62.25%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current production of water energy in Poland is much lower than the theoretical and technical potential. The aim of the article is to analyse the current state of hydropower in Poland as well as the prospects and conditions for development. Poland's total technical hydropower potential is estimated at 12,000–14,000 GWh/year, but currently, approx. 20% of this potential is used. The considerations undertaken in the study concern, for example, pumped-storage power plants and the development of small hydropower plants. Hydropower plants are not only important from the point of view of electricity production and storage, but also fulfill many other functions, including the general social, which is an essential element of the implementation of the concept of sustainable development. The analyses show that the hydropower sector in Poland may be an important element of low-carbon energy and an important element of energy security. Increasing the volume of electricity production from hydropower by 5% will contribute to the growth in CO2 reduction by 140,702 tons. The stabilization function of the power system in Poland is also significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to present the possibility of cultivating selected plants of the genus Ocimum in central-eastern Poland and to assess the chemical composition of the obtained raw material, considering the development stage of the plant. The research object consisted of six selected plants from the genus Ocimum: Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum basilicum var. purpurescens, Ocimum basilicum × citrodorum, Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon', Ocimum basilicum 'Siam Queen', Ocimum basilicum var. minimum 'Minette'. The herb was harvested on the following dates: mid-June (vegetative stage), mid-July (beginning of flowering), late July/early August (full flowering), end of August (late flowering). The research showed that plants of genus Ocimum sp. can be successfully introduced to cultivation in central-eastern Poland. The yield of these plants was at a high level (average yield of fresh herb—1.15 kg m−2 and average marketable yield—0.14 kg m−2). Plants of genus Ocimum sp. accumulated the least essential oil, flavonoids, and tannins in the vegetative stage (mean: essential oil—0.86%, flavonoids—0.60%, tannins—0.41%). The highest content of all tested secondary metabolites was found in the variety O. basilicum var. minimum "Minette". The variability of the content of the analyzed compounds depending on the growth and flowering stage of the plants under study is diversified. For this reason, the date of harvesting raw materials from these plants should be selected individually to obtain a high-quality product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern agriculture, preparations qualified as biostimulants are used alongside pesticides. They influence the development of plants and enable a yield-forming effect. An important feature of these preparations is that they are safe for the environment. They can be treated as substitutes for plant protection agents, which is especially important in the era of implementation of the European Green Deal, ordering the reduction of chemicalization of agriculture. The purpose of this paper was to compare the production and economic results of five methods of plantation care in Solanum tuberosum cultivation: on the first object (control), mechanical cultivation was used, and on the second, object the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (1.5 dm3·ha−1), on object three, the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (1.5 dm3·ha−1) and the biostimulant PlonoStart (2.0 dm3·ha−1), on object four, the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (1.5 dm3·ha−1) and biostimulant Aminoplant (1.5 dm3·ha−1), and on object five, the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (1.5 dm3·ha−1) and biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium (4.0 dm3·ha−1). The research was conducted from 2018 to 2020 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Zawady, central-eastern Poland. The results were analyzed, on average, for two Polish edible potato cultivars (Malaga and Oberon), and three years of study (2018–2020) were taken into consideration. The experiment was established as a two-factor experiment in three replicates on light soil in a spit-plot arrangement. A beneficial effect of herbicides and biostimulants on the yield and profitability of edible potato production was observed. An average increase of 33.2% in marketable yield was obtained. The gross margin increased by an average of 49.3%. The highest total yield, as compared to the control object, was obtained from object 5, where the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC with biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium was applied, such as the greatest economic effect was achieved also in object no. 5. Application of this biostimulant was most beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was caried out in three growing seasons (2013-2016) at the Agricultural Experimental Station - Zawady (52°03'N and 22°33'E) belonging to the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Poland. The experiment was set up in a split-plot configuration with three replications. The examined factors were: I - morphotypes of winter oilseed rape: population (Poznaniak), hybrid restored with a semi-dwarf type of growth (PX104), hybrid restored with a traditional type of growth (Konkret); II - four types of biostimulators: 1. control variant, 2. biostimulator Tytanit® (titan), 3. biostimulator Asahi®SL (sodium ortho-nitrophenol, sodium para-nitrophenol, sodium 5-nitroguaiacol), 4. biostimulator Silvit® (active silicon, potassium oxide, boron - form of pure element, zinc - form of pure element). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulators containing various active substances on the morphological characteristics of winter oilseed rape plants in the leaf rosette stage (number of rosette leaves, tap root length, height of the growth cone) and on the fresh and dry mass of the above-ground rosette and the root system of traditional and semi-dwarf winter oilseed rape morphotypes type of growth under changing climatic conditions. The genetic factor significantly influenced the morphological features of plants, marked in autumn by inhibition of vegetation. The population variety Poznaniak developed more rosette leaves, greater length of the tap root, and fresh and dry mass of the rosette and the root system as compared to the restored hybrids. The applied biostimulators significantly influenced plant parameters determined in the fall before the vegetation inhibition. After the use of a biostimulator containing the active substance in the form of sodium o-nitrophenol, sodium para-nitrophenol and sodium 5-nitroguajakol, a significantly higher value of the tested features was obtained compared to the control variant. Regardless of the type of biostimulator used, the height of the growth cone was the same as in the control object. The most favourable parameters of the leaf rosette were obtained in the first and second periods of summer-autumn vegetation and winter dormancy, while in extreme drought conditions during sowing and a fairy dry period of emergence, its weakest features were obtained. Natural growth stimulants are becoming an increasingly common elements of agricultural plant agrotechnics. Their use has a positive effect on the growth and development of plants and increases the resistance of plants to the adverse effects of stress factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work assesses heat resources in central-east Poland (2001-2019). As a measure of heat resources, the concept of growing degree days (GDD) was used. GDD is a useful tool for agriculture as it takes into account the aspects of local weather and, based on it, plant development can be predicted. Daily maximum and minimum air temperatures were used to calculate GDD at 7 stations using threshold base air temperatures of 0°C (commencement of the warm season) and 5°C (start of the period of active plant growth). The following basic characteristics of the distribution were calculated: arithmetic mean, minimum and maximum values as well as coefficient of variation. The direction and significance of changes of the heat resources were determined on the basis of linear trend equations. The significance of directional coefficient of the trend was estimated with t-Student test at the significance level of α = 0.05. The average air temperature during the growing season ranged from 14.6°C in Białystok and Białowieża to 15.6°C in Włodawa, its greatest increase being recorded in Włodawa and Siedlce (by 0.36°C per year). GDD increased from north to south in the study area, but the mean GDD varied considerably from one location to another. GDD0 and GDD5 showed an upward trend over the 2001-2019 period for the study region as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Agricultura is the property of University of Technology & Life Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study reports on research results obtained in the years 2014-2015 on two sugar beet production plantations in Central Poland. The purpose of any production is to obtain homogeneous canopy with the plants of demanded morphological and qualitative traits. The aim of the research was the assessment of the range and scale of plant variability in sugar beet canopy and impact of investigated plant and canopy traits (number of days from sowing to emergence, development stage of plants in the juvenile period, the plant living area, the location centrality index) to the final root mass at harvest time. Variability of investigated plant and canopy traits was evaluated using the variation coefficient, while the impact of these traits on the final root mass was assessed using the analysis of multiple linear regression. The obtained results show that sugar beet canopy reveals large, within-field variability in the investigated traits. The established relationship between final root mass during harvest and the canopy traits indicates that to obtain a large final root mass of individual plants during harvest, the most important is fast and even plant emergence, as well as the rapid development of plants in the juvenile period. At both production plantations, the impact of the living area of individual plants on the final mass of their roots was significant. However, no significant effect of the location centrality index on plant living area and the final root mass was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

15 years have passed since the first agricultural biogas plant in Poland was established. The history of agricultural biogas plants in Poland is presented along with the characteristics of the selected installations. Currently, there are 93 agricultural biogas plants operating in Poland. The formal and legal requirements for the construction of an agricultural biogas plant in Poland are described, and the perspectives of biogas plants development have been presented. The calculated amount of energy that can be obtained from biogas in Poland is 131 PJ/year. Sociometric surveys were conducted among the biogas plant owners. The respondents described the barriers and elements of the investment risk in Poland. A PEST (political, economic, social and technological environment) analysis of agricultural biogas plants in Poland was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Progress in Plant Protection is the property of Institute of Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo L.) has low habitat requirements, which is why this species is often used in the reclamation of industrial areas. The development of the reclamation plantings depends on the optimal water soil conditions that can be controlled by watering treatments. However, the use of irrigation requires determining the water needs of the cultivated species. The objective of the study was to evaluate the water needs of the ashleaved maple in the reclamation plantings, in the period of over three years after planting. The water needs of the ash-leaved maple were determined using the crop coefficients method. Potential evapotranspiration was calculated using the Blaney-Criddle's formula that was modified for the Polish conditions by Żakowicz. The water needs of the ash-leaved maple were assessed for five agro-climatic regions of Poland, in the years 1981-2010. The water needs of the ash-leaved maple in the growing period (April-October) were the highest in the C-E (638 mm) and C-N-W (637 mm) regions, and the lowest in the N-E (598 mm) and S-E (601 mm) regions. In July, the highest water needs were noted in the C-N-W region (149 mm) and the lowest in the S-W region (129 mm). In the studied thirty-years period, there was a significant upward trend in the water needs of the ash-leaved maple both during the growing season (except for the C-N-W region) and in July, in all the considered regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies conducted during 2009-2013 at the Experimental Orchard located in the central region of Poland showed that the highest number of V. inaequalis pseudothecia occurred on 'McIntosh' and 'Cortland' leaves. A smaller number of pseudothecia was found on the leaves of the Alwa and Jonagold cultivars, but there were no statistical differences. The first discharges of ascospores were noted at a similar time on the leaves of all of the apple cultivars, usually at the end of March or in early April. For the forecasting of ascospore discharges and dates of critical periods, a simulation model by RIMpro was used. The number of critical periods and apple scab severity differed in each season. The most critical periods (above 20) were recorded in 2010 and 2013, which also corresponded with a high severity of apple scab. The number of infected leaves and fruits on the untreated trees of the very susceptible cultivar McIntosh reached nearly 100% during these seasons. In other years, the severity of the disease on the same apple trees was lower and amounted to 30-54% of infected leaves and 23-80% of infected fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Agricultura is the property of University of Technology & Life Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present a preliminary assessment of a new Lower Devonian biota from an exposure of the Zagórze Formation at Bukowa Góra quarry in the Łysogóry Region of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland. Abundant plant macrofossils preserved as carbonaceous compressions, adpressions, and permineralizations occur alongside a diverse assemblage of microfossils. Palynostratigraphic analysis places the fossiliferous sequences in the narrow Pro. Zone within the AP Zone of the douglastownense-eurypterota Miospore Zone, which corresponds to the upper part of the Emsian. Palynofacies analysis confirms that these sediments formed in a shallow-water, alluvial environment. The biota contains a rich assemblage of freshwater and brackish water organisms and fully terrestrial ones. Common elements include filamentous green algae, arthropods, terrestrial fungi-like filaments, nematophytes and abundant land plants. Scolecodonts and acritarchs are much rarer, suggesting limited marine influence. The new flora contains stem-group vascular plants, lycophytes and euphyllophytes. Among the permineralized remains is some of the earliest evidence of complex vascular systems, including cruciform and plate-like stelar organizations and secondary wood. We record the earliest fossil evidence of a dissected stele of the cladoxylopsid type. Innovations such as these were fundamental to the later evolution of arborescent growth in plants and the development of forest ecosystems. The biota complements and extends our knowledge of Emsian biotas in Euramerica just prior to the rapid changes that marked the Middle Devonian. It provides insights into a diverse early terrestrial community and raises further questions about the affinities and roles of arthropods and nematophytales in these ecosystems. • A new locality of Devonian (Emsian) plants was recognized. • Permineralized stems and coalified films of Emsian plants were recognized. • Lagoonal/alluvial quite-water regime condition were identified. • Research reveal the earliest evidence of a dissected stele of the cladoxylopsid type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence ofAzotobacterspp., which has beneficial effects on plant development, is related to various soil properties, such as pH and fertility. This study evaluated the prevalence ofAzotobacterspp. in industrial (H) and agricultural soils (P) in Nowa Huta, Cracow and determined the phenotypic and genetic diversity of these bacteria. The examined bacteria were present in 40% of H and in 50% of P soils. Taxonomic identification of the bacterial isolates indicated the presence of three species—A. salinestris,A. chroococcumandA. vinelandii. The genetic diversity, determined using two fingerprinting methods—Random Analysis of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Rep-PCR (BOX) revealed high level of population diversity. In AMOVA analysis most of diversity was attributed to within-population variation (76–85%), and only 3.78–6.18% was associated with among-group H and P variation. Global test of differences revealed distinct population structure within bacterial strains isolated from H and P areas only for BOX markers (Fst= 0.05732,P= 0.00275). Phenetic analyses: UPGMA and DCA better discriminated H and P groups based on RAPD data. Both BOX and RAPD methods provided an insight into the genetic complexity ofAzotobacterspp. variation in soils of different land-use types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Semi-natural ecosystems in Poland and all over Europe have become endangered due to succession. A more effective plan of protection of these ecosystems can only be developed when based on thorough knowledge of the habitat requirements, successional pathways and related threats. Studies conducted in a nature reserve were aimed at defining the most important changes observed in non-forest communities under uninterrupted secondary succession conditions since a reserve was erected. Several years of strict protection within the reserve resulted in the partial disappearance of non-forest habitats. Their area is now three times smaller than it was in the mid-20th century. Meadows described in the 1960s have undergone different transformations. The meadows have been replaced with initial forest communities that belong to the dynamic circle of riparian, alder, and oak-hornbeam forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to assess the strategy developed by terrestrial plants growing in an area contaminated by arsenic to avoid or minimize the toxic effects caused by this element. Eight plant species from two arsenic-contaminated areas were selected for the investigation. Arsenic uptake by different plants was discussed. The speciation analysis of arsenic in plant leaves was performed as well and both inorganic As(III) and As(V) were detected. Moreover, the concentration of phytochelatins in the investigated terrestrial plants was determined. It was noted that the highest concentration of arsenic was found in herb Robert (Gernium robertianum) 21 mg·kg-1 and common nettle (Urtica dioica) 5.3 mg·kg-1 in the cases of Zloty Stok and Łomianki, respectively. Phytochelatins were present in all investigated plant species: PC3 was present in the highest concentration in plants from Złoty Stok (compared to other phytochelatins) while none of the phytochelatins dominated in plants from Łomianki. A correlation between concentrations of phytochelatin and arsenic was found in one of the nettle samples from Łomianki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Agricultura is the property of University of Technology & Life Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Agricultura is the property of University of Technology & Life Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Latvian Journal of Agronomy / Agronomija Vestis is the property of Latvian Journal of Agronomy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Heavy metals stress influences generative reproduction. • Abnormalities in the male and female lines development are costs of adaptation. • Seed production and population maintenance can be considered as a reproductive success. • Remodeling of pectins in the embryo cell wall could be a resistance/defense system. The costs of Biscutella laevigata adaptation, a facultative metallophyte, to an environment polluted with heavy metals were established by analyzing the differences in embryological processes between plants from two populations in Southern Poland (a mountain, in the Tatra Mountains and calamine, in Bolesław). Disturbances in male and female lineage development occurred in plants from both populations. The higher frequency of degenerations in plants from the calamine population could be interpreted as a strategy to save resources limited by the environment. The distribution of high-esterified homogalacturonan detected by LM20 antibody in the cell walls of embryos from the calamine population could be part of a resistance/defense system. The results from both populations indicate that B. laevigata has already developed adaptation/tolerance, enabling maintenance of the calamine population over time. Tolerant species could be an important source for revitalization and/or phytoremediation of polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on Dahlia cultarom plants with bushy growth accompanied by shoot proliferation and aster yellows phytoplasmas in Skierniewice, Poland. According to a research made in Italy, dahlia plants with shoot proliferation symptoms were associated with aster yellows phytoplasma infection. In Poland, three plants that have the symptoms were investigated as well as the two symptomless plants for the presence of phytoplasma 16S rDNA by PCR. The results of the study confirmed that infection of dahlia by aster yellows phytoplasma belonging to group 16Sr-B and group 16SrX-A.

A 60 year (1948-2007) dataset gathered by Polish researchers working on the Vistula Lagoon fish assemblages and fisheries has shown this stressed transitional environment to be always been dominated by a few highly abundant fish species. During this period, the surrounding countries Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad) were transformed from centrally-planned economies with fixed prices to free market systems. The organization of the fishery evolved from one in which the majority of the fishing effort was expended by cooperatives, to one which was characterized by individual economic activity. The fishing gear deployed also evolved from cotton to monofilament, as well as from large sailing vessels with small-sized pair trawls to fyke nets targeting eel (Anguilla anguilla) and pound nets targeting herring (Clupea harengus). Small-sized gillnets targeting perch (Perca fluviatilis) grew in popularity as eel and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) catches decreased. Cooperation between Polish and Russian fishery managers began in 1952 with the aim of implementing joint agreements to establish protection guidelines. The substantial nutrient loads into the lagoon in 1970 and 1980 put very large pressure on the environment, and contributed to the loss of macrophytes as well as the development of non-commercial fish populations. One of the consequences of these changes was the rapid growth of a black cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) breeding colony. These multi-faceted changes are considered to be the factors that have influenced the exploitation of fish assemblages in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon. The most evident change in the fish assemblage structure during the study period was the permanent decrease in the basin's top predators--pike (Esox lucius) and pikeperch. Eel stocking was initiated in 1970 following a crucial decline in yield from natural recruitment, and stocking was successful in increasing eel abundance., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Very few studies on ungulates address issues of inter-specific synchrony in population responses to environmental variation such as climate. Depending on whether annual variation in performance of ungulate populations is driven by direct or indirect (trophic) interactions, very different predictions regarding the pattern of inter-specific synchrony can be derived. We compared annual autumn body mass variation in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Poland over the period 1982-2002, and related this to variation in winter and summer climate and plant phenological development [the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from satellites]. Roe deer fawns (approximately 1.3 kg increase from year 1982 to 2002) and yearlings both increased markedly in mass over years. There was also an increase for wild boar mass over years (approximately 4.2 kg increase for piglets from 1982 to 2002). Despite our failure to link annual body mass to spring or winter conditions or the NDVI, the body mass of roe deer and wild boar fluctuated in synchrony. As this was a field roe deer population, and since wild boar is an omnivore, we suggest this may be linked to annual variation and trends in crop structure (mainly rye). We urge future studies to take advantage of studying multiple species in order to gain further insight into processes of how climate affect ungulate populations.

Bioremediation has proven successful in numerous applications to petroleum contaminated soils. However, questions remain as to the efficiency of bioremediation in lowering long-term soil toxicity. In the present study, the bioassays Spirotox, Microtox, Ostracodtoxkit F, umu-test with S-9 activation, and plant assays were applied, and compared to evaluate bioremediation processes in heavily petroleum contaminated soils. Six higher plant species (Secale cereale L., Lactuca sativa L., Zea mays L., Lepidium sativum L., Triticum vulgare L., Brassica oleracea L.) were used for bioassay tests based on seed germination and root elongation. The ecotoxicological analyses were made in DMSO/H2O and DCM/DMSO soil extracts. Soils were tested from two biopiles at the Czechowice oil refinery, Poland, that have been subjected to different bioremediation applications. In biopile 1 the active or engineered bioremediation process lasted four years, while biopile 2 was treated passively or non-engineered for eight months. The test species demonstrated varying sensitivity to soils from both biopiles. The effects on test organisms exposed to biopile 2 soils were several times higher compared to those in biopile 1 soils, which correlated with the soil contaminants concentration. Soil hydrocarbon concentrations indeed decreased an average of 81% in biopile 1, whereas in biopile 2 TPH/TPOC concentrations only decreased by 30% after eight months of bioremediation. The bioassays were presented to be sensitive indicators of soil quality and can be used to evaluate the quality of bioremediated soil. The study encourages the need to combine the bioassays with chemical monitoring for evaluation of the bioremediation effectiveness and assessing of the contaminated/remediated soils.

The effects of regular litter removal and annual variation in temperature and precipitation on seedling recruitment of species differing in their seed size and mode of dispersal were studied in a 16-year (1984-1999) experiment in a mixed oak-pine wood in southern Poland. Litter was the most important factor in determining spatial variability in seedling recruitment, whereas differences in climatic conditions among years, especially temperature fluctuations in late winter and early spring, determined the temporal variability in seedling recruitment. Compared with control plots, significantly more new individuals of bryophytes and seedlings as well as a number of new species of vascular plants were noted in the litter-removal plots over the 16-year study. Litter strongly impeded seedling emergence of small-seeded species. The negative effect of litter on seedling recruitment of large-seeded species and the recruitment of new shoots in species growing clonally was much weaker. There was a significant positive correlation between the numbers of seedlings in the litter-removal and control plots and temperatures in January to March. In the litter-removal plots this mainly affected small-seeded species. Seedling recruitment was less consistently related to variation in precipitation. Positive relationships were found only between the number of seedlings of large-seeded species in the litter-removal plots and precipitation in July of the current year and in September of the previous year, and between the number of seedlings in the control plots and precipitation in September and November of the previous year.

Study was made of waste waters from two of the seven state horticultural farms producing vegetables and flowers, located in South-Eastern Poland, samples were taken from collectors carrying waste waters from the greenhouse culture surface, from a ditch and from the Wisłok River where these waste waters are carried. Pesticides were extracted with dichloromethane or petroleum ether. Extracts were evaporated to dryness, whereupon the residues were dissolved in 5 ml of acetone or petroleum ether, and were analysed by gas chromotography (series 104 Pye Unicam gas chromotograph fitted with ECD and TID detectors). The following pesticides were found to penetrate into waste waters: methylpyrimiphos, methidathion, fenitrothion diazinon, methoxychlor, endosulfan, iprodione, vinclozoline, captan, carbendazim (MBC), dichlofluanid. These pesticides were present also in water samples collected from aditch into which waste waters from one of the investigated state farms are carried. There were no pesticides in samples of the Wisłok River waters.