Volumen 5 (2013): Heft 1 (December 2013)

An experiment was concluded to evaluate the effects of priming on germination characteristics and establishment of rapeseed seedlings during three stages. In the first and second stages of experiment, the effects at three factors vis: cultivars (RVS, Hayola), waterdeficit stress (Control,-6 and -12 bar) and cycocel treatment (dry seeds, 300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 μM) on germination and seedling growth of plant were assayed. The results showed that priming had positive effects on germination percentage, germination rate index, germination index, and radicle length under water-deficit conditions. RVS had greater efficiency than other cultivars. The third section of experiment revealed that the priming of RVS seeds improved the stem, root and dry weight, total dry weight as well as leaf number and area of seedlings.

The importance and risk of vector-borne diseases (e.g., leishmaniasis, West Nile Virus, Lyme borreliosis) is going to increase in the European temperate areas due to climate change. Our previous studies have shown that the potential distribution of Leishmania infantum and some Phlebotomus (sand fly) species - a parasite of leishmaniasis, and its vectors - may be expanded even to the southern coastline of the Baltic Sea by the end of the 21st century. The lowland areas of the Carpathian Basin and the main part of Hungary are projected to be suitable for the studied sand fly vectors in the near future. It is important to find some indicator plants to examine whether the sand flies are able to live in a certain climate at a certain time. We studied several Mediterranean and Sub-Mediterranean plant species, and we found that the aggregated distribution of three ligneous species (Juniperus oxycedrus L., Quercus ilex L. and Pinus brutia Ten.) shows high correlation with the union distribution of five sand flies (Phlebotomus ariasi Tonn., Ph. neglectus Tonn., Ph. perfiliewi Parrot, Ph. perniciosus Newst. and Ph. tobbi Adler, Theodor et Lourie). Since these Mediterranean species are highly tolerant of the edaphic characteristics of the planting site, they may prove to be good indicators. The present and upcoming climate of Hungary is seen to be suitable for the selected indicator plant species, and it draws attention to and verifies the potential of the expansion of sand flies, which has been proved by some recent observations of the vectors in Southern Hungary.

The Romans arrived to the Iberian Peninsula in the 3rd century B.C.: they transformed the Hispanian administration, the landscape and culture. The area of Lusitania expanded in the middle and southern part of Portugal, south from the River Douro, as well as on the autonom community of Extremadura, Spain. The production of the Roman villas gave the great mass the agricultural and commercial background of the Province. These produced wares got to the several lands of the Empire on the well-established road network and across the rivers and seas. The Roman villa was on a cultivation- and stock-raising-adapted farming unit with living houses, bath, and outbuildings, which had the biggest importance. The villas of Lusitania were concetrated into several groups: around the cities of Cascais and Lisboa, Èvora and Mèrida, as well. A bigger group ran along the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula: the villas presented in this study (e.g., Milreu, Cerro da Vila, and Abicada) were specialized on seafood products and maritime trade. Other sites are also known where the presence of a villa has not been discovered yet, but where economic and industrial facilities were excavated (e.g., cetaria, which means a basin for the production of the fish sauce garum in the Portuguese terminology).

The effect of freezing rate on the quality of dried Jonagold and Idared (Malus domestica Borkh.) was studied. Apple slices underwent various pre-treatments, i.e. freezing in household freezer (freezing speed/rate: 0,5◦C/min), contact plate freezing (2◦C/min) and vacuumfreezing (3◦C/min). The quality of the freeze-dried product was then evaluated in terms of water activity (aw), hardness, color and rehydration. The texture and color experiments were carried out with texture analyser and colorimeter. The aw of apple slices was measured by aw apparatus. It was found that drying time was influenced by freezing rate. The freezing in household freezer (slow freezing rate) significantly reduces the duration of the freeze-drying process and consequently the process costs. The slow freezing rate allows the growth of large ice crystals at the beginning of the freeze-drying process; this fact should consequently lead to larger pores and injured cell walls and thus to shorter freeze-drying time. Quality of the freezing in household freezer product was assessed as higher than the quality of the other freezing pre-treated material. Slow freezing rate resulted softer texture and higher rehydration capacity than that of other pre-treated samples. In all cases, slow freezing speed lead to lower final moisture content, total color difference and water activity. Freeze-dried samples prepared with higher freezing rates (3◦C/min) were the most white in color because small pores, originated by sublimation of small ice crystals formed by fast freezing.

Areas endangered by slump formation in the M˘agherani Basin, part of the Nirajului Hills (Romania), are studied in the present paper. Time periods considered dangerous regarding the development of slumps and the degree of risk were determined. Pedological conditions of the model area are assessed based on field and laboratory measurements, self-constructed maps and literature data. These factors could have contributed to the formation of slump phenomena in the model area.

The World Health Organization has estimated that more than 80% of the world’s population in developing countries depends primarily on herbal medicine for basic healthcare needs. Approximately two thirds of the 50 000 different medicinal plant species in use are collected from the wild and only 10% of medicinal species used commercially are cultivated. DNA-based molecular markers have utility in the fields like taxonomy, physiology, embryology, genetics, etc. DNA-based techniques have been widely used for authentication of plant species of medicinal importance. The geographical conditions affect the active constituents of the medicinal plant and hence their activity profiles. Many researchers have studied geographical variation at the genetic level. Estimates of genetic diversity are also important in designing crop improvement programmes for the management of germplasm and evolving conservation strategies. The DNA-based molecular marker helps in the improvement of medicinal plant species. DNA markers are more reliable because the genetic information is unique for each species and is independent of age, physiological conditions and environmental factors.