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© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.Thanks to its ecological and geographical location, Turkey is the homeland of many fruit species and allows many fruit species to be grown. Hawthorn, which is understood to be important in human health and nutrition, is one of these fruit types. This study was carried out to identify morphological, biochemical, and molecular genetic variations of 22 hawthorn genotypes belonging to three different species collected from Kayseri province. The fruit (fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, stone weight and soluble solid content) and leaf (leaf length, leaf width, petiole thickness) characteristics of the genotypes showed differences. Among the biochemical properties of the genotypes, the antioxidant activity, as % inhibition, ranged from 23.13 to 61.59%, the total flavonoid content ranged from 14.63 to 57.22 mg QE/100 g, and the total phenolic content ranged from 277.28 to 310.80 mg GAE/100 g. In the principal component analysis, species generally formed similar clusters. In molecular marker analysis, 101 bands were obtained from 13 ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) primers. 76 of the bands were polymorphic and the polymorphism rate was calculated as 75.24%. The similarity index in the UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean of Cluster analysis) dendogram because of the molecular analysis ranged between 0.71 and 0.88. In the dendrogram, genotypes did not show a dense clustering by species. The results obtained may benefit researchers in the determination and protection of genetic resources in breeding studies on hawthorn species.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential soil microorganisms for terrestrial ecosystems and form beneficial symbioses with the root systems of most agricultural plants. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of the community of six AMF on the growth, physiological response, and flowering performance in organic potted lavender culture. The mixture of AMF containing Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus claroideum, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis geosporum, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Glomus microaggregatum was added in a pot with peat, volcanic rock, and coconut bark. We analyzed the fresh shoot biomass, root biomass, total plant biomass, leaf area, flowering performance, photosynthesis rate, and photosynthetic pigment content. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was performed to get a better understanding of the relationships between the studied variables. The total plant biomass was more pronounced in plants with AMF-S20g (212.01 g plant−1) and AMF-S30g (220.25 g plant−1) than with AMF-S10g (201.96 g plant−1) or in untreated plants (180.87 g plant−1). A statistically significant increase for Chl a, Chl b, and Car was found for AMF-S20g and AMF-S30. Our findings suggest that the AMF mixture application in a growing substrate with peat, coconut bark, and volcanic rock improved plant growth, physiological processes, and ornamental value in mycorrhizal lavender plants. This environmentally friendly agricultural practice could be used for the sustainable production of lavender.

Common Agricultural Policy represents the main instrument of the European Union for the development of agriculture and rural areas. European funds are vital for the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural holdings, as well as for the transfer of agricultural knowledge and innovation. Supporting small and young farms is essential for the vitality of rural areas and for the renewal of generations of farmers. The aim of this work is to transfer agricultural knowledge in order to improve the productivity of agricultural holdings, especially among young farmers and small farms. We implemented training program through European funds related to Measure 1. “Actions for knowledge transfer and information actions” from Rural Development Programme of Romania. The characteristic of 100 participants and their responses were analyzed. Most of the participants were young people up to 40 years old (59%). The vast majority of the participants were from the rural area and only 17% were from the urban area. 53% from participants were strongly agree with the fact that level of knowlegde influence farm productivity. Actions for knowledge transfer improve the adaptation of farmers to the new challenges of agriculture, as well as productivity.

Environmentally friendly grape growing is an important objective of modern viticulture. The aim of the study was to examine the response of two grapevine Vitis vinifera L. cultivars to humic acids (HA) foliar application as biostimulant in order to provide sustainable viticultural practices for farmers. The experiment was carried out under field conditions and repeated in two consecutive years. In order to evaluate the effect of humic acids application, the grapevines were treated with three concentrations: 30 ml.L-1 (HAT1), 40 ml∙L-1 (HAT2) and 50 ml∙L-1 (HAT3). The grapevines were represented by two grape varieties: cv. Feteasca Regala (cv. FR) and cv. Riesling Italian (cv. RI). Foliar sprays with humic acid derived from vermicompost at a concentration of 50 ml∙L-1 induced a significant increase in the total leaf area, yield and total soluble solids. For several measurements performed in plants we found no significant difference between grapevines treated with HAT2 and those with HAT3. The experimental results in the present study confirm that foliar application with humic acid may improve growth, yield, and berry quality attributes of grapevine.

Grapevine is a perennial crop whose growth and productivity can be affected by many pedoclimatic and agrotechnological factors. Currently, land terracing is a common field organization for new vineyard plantations, reducing slope on the cultivated land, and for the introduction of new areas for agricultural production. One of these pedoclimatic factors is the position of vines on vineyard slope. The aim of this paper was to assess the effect of the grapevine position on the field slope on growth expressed by pruning weight and on cold hardiness of bud and cane grapevine. The research used relatively simple methods and it was conducted in a commercial hillside vineyard from Samburesti viticultural region in Romania. The grapevines used for this study were represented by three red grape varieties: Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon, Vitis vinifera L. cv. Merlot, and Vitis vinifera L. cv. Feteasca Neagra. Annual growth of grapevine and cane maturation in the previous growing season was influenced by slope positions. The lowest pruning weight was recorder in Merlot planted at the top of the vineyard slope. For all grapevine cultivars we found statistically significant differences between vines cultivated on the top of slope and vines cultivated on the foot of slope.

Grapevine is one of the most important horticultural perennial crops grown in many countries from worldwide. In this paper, we review the global benefits of arbuscular mycorrhiza application for grapevine production and the impact of viticultural practices for these natural microorganisms to establish symbiotic associations with vine roots. This review aims to provide a brief overview of the status of and to outline the most important application and effects of AMF in viticulture in order to increase the sustainability of vineyards. Viticulture has to adapt to new challenges of pest and chemicals fertilizers management, climate change, global urbanization, land erosions, increasing droughts, world population growth and others factors that can affect the sustainability of viticultural production systems. One of eco-friendly approaches is to use the application of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF). Response of grapevine to AMF application demonstrated a lot of benefits for viticultural ecosystems. Technologies on sustainable agriculture and conservation of ecosystems vineyards may consider arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi as biofertilizers. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi could be an effective tool for improving the agro-enviromental perfomance in viticultural farms.

Strawberry is one of the first horticultural species introduced in the plant tissue culture technology. Nowadays microprogation technology is one of the most important techniques to produce plants with high quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors. The researches were carried out in the Biotechnology and Physiology laboratory of University of Pitesti, with the following cultivars of strawberry: Premial, Elsanta and Senga Sengana. The purpose of this study was to examine the reaction of strawberry in vitro cultures on different kinetin concentration. Terminal buds were dissected and cultured on Lee and Fossard medium (1977). The explants were incubated in a growth chamber under 16/8 h light/dark cycle at 22 – 24 oC. LF medium supplemented with kinetin (1.25 mg l-1) was found best for culture survival for all strawberry cultivars. Percentage survival of explants increased with increase in kinetin concentration from 0.5 mg l-1 to 1.25 mg l-1 for all strawberry cultivars.

Gisela 5 rootstock is most important in terms of reducing the vigor of growth. The varieties grafted on Gisela 5 had good horticultural results in terms of yield, adaptability and dwarf growth. This study was aimed to evaluate the growth and physiological behavior of the most popular sweet cherry cultivars in Europe grafted of Gisela 5 rootstock in one of the most important fruit growing area from Romania. The rootstock – scion combinations namely Skeena, Kordia and Ferrovia were grafted on Gisela 5 dwarf rootstocks. Gisela 5 influenced significantly the trunk cross section area among all the tested cultivars (p

Variation in light intensity, air temperature and relative air humidity leads to diurnal variations of photosynthetic rate and leaf relative water content. In order to determine the diurnal changes in net photosynthetic rate of vine plants and influence of the main environmental factors, gas exchange in the vine leaves were measure using a portable plant CO2 analysis package. The results show that diurnal changes in photosynthetic rate could be interpreted as single-peak curve, with a maximum at noon (10.794 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1). Leaf relative water content has maximum value in the morning; the values may slightly decrease during the day (day of June, with normal temperature, no rain, no water restriction in soil).

Environmental growing farm technology involves utilization of agricultural inputs which are friendly with the production and ecosystem. Seaweed extracts are used as biofertilizers in horticulture in special to increase plant growth and productivity. In this study, we investigated the effect of seaweed extracts made from Ascophyllum nodosum, on vegetative growth of Vitis vinifera cv. Feteasca Alba. We used three different concentrations of seaweed extracts to asset the effect on fertility coefficients, shoot length, shoot diameter and leaf area. All treatments with seaweed extract showed a stimulatory effect for studied parameters. The plants treated with the higher levels of seaweed concentrate produced the highest absolute fertility coefficient and relative fertility coefficient relative to the plants treated with lower concentration of or untreated control plants. Foliar spray application at different concentration of seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum influenced the vegetative growth expressed by leaf area of vine stock. The results indicate that the 170 ml-1hl concentration of seaweed extract showed the higher enhanced of growth parameters in grapevine.

The cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a fruit crop of enormous economic importance with over eight million hectares planted in vineyards worldwide. Table grapes and wines represent a considerable share of the economy in many grape and wine-producing countries. During the dormant, due to low temperatures and how to prepare grape for entrance in winter time, wood annual increases and buds may be adversely affected. The way how the vines passed by dormant period can affect the buds and wood viability and rooting ability of vine cuttings. In this study were tested on different culture substrates vine cuttings belonging to a noble variety and a hybrid vines: Merlot and Isabella. Noble grapes are a term used to describe the international variety of grapes that are most recognizable for the top quality wine they produce. In this paper was determinate total dry matter of vine cuttings, humidity of biological material, vine cuttings rooting capacity and viability status buds cuttings placed on three nutritional substrates.

Petunia grandiflora Juss. and Nicotiana alata Link & Otto are two of the most widely spread plants on the market for annual potted ornamental plants. In order to identify the most adequate substrate formula we analyzed the effects of different potting growing media used for P. hybrida grandiflora ’Bravo’ and N. alata ’Dinamo’ on their photosynthetic capacity, leaf area, and flowering potential. Optimization of growing media formula for petunia and ornamental tobacco was performed by preparing four growing media mixing fallow soil (FS), Biolan peat (BP), acid peat (AP), leaf compost (C), and perlite (P) in different proportions. The physiological potential of petunia and ornamental tobacco was investigated by photosynthesis and respiration rate and chlorophyll pigments in leaves, while the vegetative and flowering phenological stages were evaluated by number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of flowers per plant and leaf area/flowers ratio. These measurements were significantly influenced by the different potting growing media used in this study. In the flowering stage, the highest photosynthesis rates (8.612 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1) as well as leaf area (1.766 dm²) of petunias were obtained on growing media with 60% biolan peat, 30% acid peat and 10% perlite (BP60-AP30-P10). Flowering responses to growing conditions vary greatly among plants and the biggest number of ornamental tobacco flowers (22 flowers plant-1) was registered as an effect of BP60-AP30-P10 media. Growing media with the BP60-AP30-P10 formula seem to be the most adequate growth substrate to develop profitable crops for petunias and ornamental tobacco with high decorative value.