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Grapevine pruning is one of the most essential tools to ensure grapes quality and efficient yields of vineyards. Vine horticultural performance and leaf physiology of grapevine are influenced by viticultural practices. One of these practices is represented by pruning. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pruning system on leaf physiology and vine performance. Currently, viticulture as a sector of agriculture is a priority sector for national and European Union policies that receive support and funding to ensure the competitiveness of wine-growing and the quality of wine products. In this context, the management of vineyard is essential to ensure the competitiveness of viticultural farms. The experiment was carry out on field conditions in a Stefanesti non-irrigated mature vineyard for two grapevine Vitis vinifera L. cultivars. The grapevines were represented by two Romanian table grape varieties: Vitis vinifera L. cv. Argessis and Vitis vinifera L. cv. Augusta. The training system used for grapevine was represented by Cazenave bilateral and cordon spur pruning with 14 buds per vine cordon. Effects of the pruning system on leaf physiology and vine performance were expressed using the following parameters: leaf area, photosynthesis rate (μmol CO2 m-2 s-1) in leaves, the relative water content (%) in leaves, respiration rate (μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), coefficient of relative and absolute fertility, relative and absolute productivity index. The coefficient of absolute fertility had a higher value for Augusta under the influence of cordon spur pruning and Argessis cultivar under the influence of Cazenave pruning. The highest value of photosynthesis rate was determined in Argessis for Cazenave pruning (7,643 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1). Grapevine canopy management by pruning is essential to select the best pruning method taking in consideration the local environment and grapevine cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most essential tools to protect nature, environment and biodiversity is to ensure the proper policy and environmental legislation in the creation of protected areas. Nowadays, green economy and environmentally friendly technologies play a major role for sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed picture of the Romanian policy and environmental legislation regarding biodiversity and protected areas and to outline the importance of the institutional framework, global approach of the environmental issues, international and European law and the legislation and policy of national state in order to promote the establishment of protected areas. In this work, we included a documentary synthesis and an analysis of legal and institutional frameworks for biodiversity and protected areas. Romania is the only state in the European Union having five biogeographical regions (alpine, Black sea, continental, steppic, pannonian). Taking in consideration that Romania has a rich biodiversity and more than 22% Romanian territory is under Natura 2000's ecological network, institutional framework, policy and environmental legislation are the most important instruments to protect species, habitats and ecosystems and to maintain biodiversity. In the last decade the terrestrial and marine protected areas has increasing mainly under the influence of European environmental directives. The Romanian Natura 2000 network is composed of 435 sites under the Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance, SCIs, and Special Areas of Conservation, SACs) and 171 sites under the Birds Directive (Special Protection Areas, SPAs). Romania currently counts 19 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 1,156,448 hectares and three Biosphere Reserves including the Danube Delta, Europe's largest natural wetland. As a European Union member, Romanian environment legislation and policy is strongly influence by European law. European legislation in the field of nature protection has been compatible at national level mainly with the adoption Government Emergency Ordinance no. 57/2007 on protected natural regimes, natural habitats, wild flora and wild fauna, approved with amendments by Law no. 49 of April 7, 2011. In order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of nature in Romania through legal instruments is necessary to create: an institutional framework in line with the new environmental protection requirements; sustainable use of natural resources; access to financial support; monitoring, evaluation and control of activities with environmental impact; public-private partnership, institutional and cross-border cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For Romanian agriculture is essential to promote products based on natural extracts. Seaweeds extracts, humic acids, and other natural compounded often enhancing growth, development, abiotic stress tolerance or ability to tolerate plant disease. Many articles show results of using seaweed extracts as biostimulants to improve tolerance to drought or salinity. Most products are extracted from marine algae belonging to the Ascophyllum nodosum species. In our research, we tested the role of SuperFifty® 0-0-8 in reducing the oxidative stress produced by copper increasing in the culture medium of sunflower seedlings. Two levels of copper have been studied (300 μmol L-1 Cu+2 and 1300 μmol L-1 Cu+2), compared with variants that contained a combination of copper and seaweeds extract (1:1000). For each variant, 50 sunflower seeds were placed in 9 cm diameter Petri dishes. As a germination support, filter paper was soaked with solution corresponding to each variant. Experiments were conducted in three repetitions. The germination of sunflower seeds was not significantly influenced by the tested doses of copper and by the administration of seaweeds extract. Concentration of 1300 μmol L-1 Cu+2 produced a decrease in root size, and the seaweeds extract caused a significant reduction in physiological stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweed extracts have many uses. Growth stimulation results obtained from different plant species are mentioned. Also, algae extracts are used to reduce biotic and abiotic stress. Salt stress is one of the most important factors decreasing the productivity of plants. High soil salinity can have a negative effect on major physiological processes. In our work, we investigated the response of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. 'Berggold' plants treated with SuperFifty solution (1:1000 and 5:1000), under salt stress conditions (100 mM NaCl). SuperFifty® 0-0-8 is an organic fertilizer from brown marine alga - Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis. It is a highly concentrated product: 500 g dry mass per liter. After seeds germination, the plants were grown in the plant growth chamber. Been plants have been influenced by salt stress at the end of vegetative growth period. The plants were sprayed with SuperFifty solution. Three replicate pots per each variant were used. Sodium chloride, in tested dose, caused inhibition of the following physiological parameters: plant height, foliar area, relative water content. The seaweed extract contained in the Super Fifty product can help reduce the physiological stress caused by salt. The lowest tested concentration of SuperFifty (1:1000) has shown its effectiveness in reducing saline stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]