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Integrated pathogen management incorporates biological control and ecological services of plant growth-promoting bacteria as base components. The biocontrol activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D5 ARV toward Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum, Botrytis cinerea, and Macrophomina sp. was estimated through a confrontation test, and the potential of volatile and non-volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results of the confrontation test showed 60, 46, 37, and 33% of F. oxysporum, F. graminearum, B. cinerea, and Macrophomina sp. growth inhibition, while VOCs effects reached 30%, 47%, 53%, and 0% growth inhibition, respectively. A collection of non-volatile metabolites was made at a stationary phase; afterward, they were sterilized by filtration or autoclaving. Autoclaving caused a significant loss of non-volatile metabolite antifungal activity. GC-MS analysis of VOCs detected the presence of compounds with antifungal and antimicrobial properties such as pentadecanoic acid, and hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. The multiple antifungal mechanisms revealed in this study are part of the B. amyloliquefaciens D5 ARV arsenal and make it a potentially powerful biocontrol agent against selected phytopathogens.

Agricultural production has benefited a lot from herbicides; however, the use of herbicides caused many environmental problems. Herbicide application can affect the biodiversity of an ecosystem by killing non-target organisms. Microorganisms in the soil are important factors for plant growth; they represent the biological factor of soil fertility. Herbicides can have a beneficial effect on the development of some microorganisms and a negative on others, leading to depletion of microbial diversity in soil. The objective of this work is to determine microbial activity in the soil and to isolate herbicide-resistant bacteria after the use of the "Stomp" herbicide. Agar plate method was used for the determination of microbial prevalence in the soil. The results showed an increase in the total number of bacteria, ammonifiers, fungi, and actinomycetes. Nine isolates, mostly Gram-positive spore-forming rods, showed an ability to grow in the mineral salt medium with different concentrations of "Stomp" herbicide. Isolates G1/1 and G1/2, showed high level of tolerance at the initial pendimethalin concentration of 25 mg/l. Those isolates have the potential to be used to decontaminate herbicide affected ecosystems.

Synthetic fungicides are the most effective protection against plant pathogens, but, their uncontrolled and long-term use can lead to many harmful effects: environmental degradation, human health problems and pathogen resistance. The biological compounds contained in essential oils have no harmful effects on humans or the environment and can therefore be an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Essential oils are products of plant metabolism and often show antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and insecticidal effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial potential of essential oils from peppermint, basil and sage essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation, on Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. The experiment was carried out on potato dextrose agar. After inoculation of the agar with fungal mycelia, paper discs impregnated with 10 µl of oils were placed on the agar surface. In the control, the impregnation was carried out with distilled water. The inhibition zones were measured after 3, 6 and 9 days. The results showed that peppermint oil had the highest antimicrobial potential compared with other oils. Sage essential oil showed the lowest antifungal suppression. A negligible zone of inhibition was observed in the control. A statistically significant influence betwwen the oils and the incubation period was found in this study. Our results confirm the potential use of peppermint essential oil for the suppression of Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), one of the major pollutants from industrial facilities, is very toxic and harmful for human health and environmental quality. Due to the lack of conventional methods, bioremediation was recommended as an environmentally friendly and effective technique. The aim of this paper was the isolation, identification and selection of the microorganisms which are capable of Cr(VI) reduction in vitro. Heavy metal concentration, detected in four soil samples, within and around the former bicycle factory “Rog” (Republic of Slovenia), was measured using the ICP-OES method. Bacteria were isolated and tested for chromium tolerance using LB agar supplemented with various Cr(VI) concentrations, whilst Cr(VI) reduction and bacterial growth was determined using the LB liquid medium. From 53 bacterial isolates, five of them showed a tolerance of 1000 mg/L of Cr(VI). Those five isolates showed the capability of growth under various Cr(VI) concentrations (50-1000 mg/L). Initial Cr(VI) concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 mg/L were completely reduced by four bacterial isolates, whilst 500 to 1000 mg/L by Bacillus safensis 342-9. Using 16S rDNA and tuf gene sequence analyses, isolates 270-9R and 342-9 were identified as Bacillus safensis, isolates 351-9 and 270-9C as Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis, and 212-9 as Bacillus thuringiensis. These results indicated that these bacteria may be promising tools for remediation of metal-polluted sites. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31080 and Grant no. 173026]

Modern agricultural production considers intensive use of agro-technology and chemical agents, which in addition to multiple benefits, results in loss of diversity. One of the methods for improvement of ecological interactions within the agroecosystem is increasing the diversity of cultivated plants. Previous studies have shown the impact of diversification of crops on pest populations in agricultural agroecosystems and demonstrated how certain techniques such as intercropping, can significantly affect the control of herbivores. This paper presents the influence and the role of intercropping in suppression of pests, weeds and diseases. According to the data presented, it is evident that, by using intercropping, multiple beneficial effects for the plant populations can be achieved, followed by development of resistance mechanisms, as well as production of compounds with suppressive effects on overall plants pathogens, weeds and pests.

Copyright of Glasnik Zastite Bilja is the property of Zadruzna Stampa D.D. 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.)

Spring Zlatarica is located 6 km northeast of Bugojno. The spring is situated in a distinctly mountainous terrain, which includes the mountains Kalin (1,530 m) and Rudina (1,385 m). The spring is located at the bottom of the mountain Kalin, in the valley of the river Vitina at an altitude of 783 m. This study aimed to examine the physicochemical, microbiological and radiological properties of drinking water and production for the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. Physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics, presence of heavy metals and metalloids and measurement of total beta activity (radiological correctness) were examined thirteen years, in the period from 2008 to 2021. Quality and analyses were performed in accredited laboratories: The Federal Institute of Public Health in Sarajevo, laboratories for chemistry and microbiology of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo. The methods used were in accordance with current legislation and standards for testing researched water quality parameters. Analyses of physical and chemical parameters of water samples taken from the Zlatarica spring showed that the water is: drinkable, low-mineralized, average temperatures at the spring 9.3 0C, with average mineralization 280 mg/L, colourless, odourless and tasteless, and with pH of 7.85. According to the ionic classification, water belongs to the hydro carbonatecalcium type. The sulphate content was very low and had a mean value of 4 mg/L. The chloride content is also low and was 1.77 - 2.48 mg/L. Of particular importance is the sodium (Na) content is very low (2.13 - 6.9 mg/L). Water does not contain nitrites and ammonia, while the content of nitrates is very low, almost insignificant, which indicates the absence of organic pollution of water. Consumption of KMnO4 is very low and is 0.4 - 0.94 mg/L. According to the analysis of metals and metalloids, the content of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (Ar), mercury (Hg), and other heavy metals were very low and corresponds to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Rulebook on health safety of drinking water. The content of fluoride (0,27 mg/L) and selenium (Se) of 6.6 mg/L show the quality important for human health of the tested water. Bacteriological analyses confirmed there weren't coliform bacteria were present, the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was 2, while coliform fecal bacteria, streptococci, Proteus spp., sulphitereducing clostridia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not isolated. Radiological measurement of total beta activity on the beta counter LB5100 was < 1 Bq/L. In accordance with the test results, it can be concluded that all physical and chemical parameters correspond to the values determined by the Rulebook on the health safety of drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Glasnik Zastite Bilja is the property of Zadruzna Stampa D.D. 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.)

Microorganisms in the soil have a very important role because they participate in numerous processes. Intensive and/or inadequate use of the soil leads to disturbance of the plant - microbial interactions, a decline in productivity, and degradation. The abundance and microbiological activity of a certain ecosystem are considered indicators of soil fertility. In this paper, surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) samples of grassland, agricultural soil, forest soil and coal-mine-affected soil at the Banovići municipality (Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina) taken in October 2021 and April 2022 were used for chemical and microbiological characterization. Chemical analyses were performed using the standard methodology, while the microbial count was determined using the agar plate method. Enzyme production was expressed through dehydrogenase activity. The lowest pH value was recorded in forest soil, while the highest in the grassland. In all samples, microbial abundance decreased with increasing soil depth. The lowest microbial activity was observed in coal mine-affected soil. The highest value of the total number of bacteria and ammonifiers was recorded in forest soil. Oligonitrophiles were most abundant in agricultural soil, while the number of actinomycetes was highest in grassland. Dehydrogenase activity was highest in forest and agricultural soil. In most of samples, microbial abundance was higher in spring, while dehydrogenase activity was higher in autumn. This research confirms the impact of land use on microbial abundance as parameter of soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been used to replace the toxic compounds from gasoline and to reduce emission of air pollutants. Due to its intensive use, MTBE has become one of the most important environment pollutants. The aim of this paper is isolation and identification of the bacteria from wastewater sample of “HIP Petrohemija” Pančevo (Serbia), capable of MTBE biodegradation. The results of the investigation showed that only the bacterial isolate 27/1 was capable of growth on MTBE. The result of sequence analyzes of 16S rDNA showed that this bacterial isolate belongs to the Kocuria sp. After the incubation period of 86 days, the degradation rates of initial MTBE concentration of 25 and 125 μg/ml were 55 and 36%, respectively. These results indicated that bacteria Kocuria sp. is successfully adapted on MTBE and can be potentially used in bioremediation of soils and waters contaminated with MTBE.

In this research, the yield and qualitative parameters of tomato cultivar Hector F1 grown in various fertilization and plant protection treatments in two successive growth seasons were investigated. Estimation of fertilization and protection impact on the properties of tomato fruits was carried out using a two-factor ANOVA test, whilst correlation between individual parameters was conducted using a heatmap. Tomato yield was significantly lower in the control compared to the fertilized and chemically/biologically protected tomato, whilst significant differences in yield were not observed between the fertilized and protected treatments. The mean total soluble solids and fruit acids were most pronounced in the treatment with chemical fertilizers and biological protection, whilst the highest vitamin C content was observed in the control. The highest K and Cu content was observed in the organically fertilized and biologically protected tomato. A clustergram showed a positive correlation between the three groups of parameters: i). nitrates, vitamin C and total N; ii). fruit acids, total soluble solids and Cu; and iii). other parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the combined effects of fertilizers and plant protection products on tomatoes grown in conventional and organic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New advances in the food industry are directed towards exploiting natural resources. Nowadays, essential oils and their antimicrobial activities are the subject of many researches. Their possible use as natural food additives is particularly prominent. This study analyzed the influence of ginger and rosemary oil on the growth of pure bacterial culture using the disk diffusion method. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. were used as test organisms for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The results showed that both types of oil inhibit bacterial growth, although inhibition rate varies between different bacterial species. It certainly depends on the type of plant used for oil extraction. Study has shown that ginger and rosemary oil can potentially be used in treating diseases caused by these bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]