<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The aim of this study was to explore the efficiency of foliar potassium fertiliser relative to morphological, physiological and biochemical properties of hybrid long pepper (<italic>Capsicum annuum</italic>). Pepper plants were grown in a greenhouse and supplied with three sources of foliar potassium fertilisers, i.e., potassium-humate (1 g/L = 1,250 g/ha), potassium sulfate (1 g/L = 1,250 g/ha), and potassium chloride (1 g/L = 1,250 g/ha). Water served as control. The impacts of these treatments on the phytosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, leaf carotenoids) and chlorophyll <italic>a</italic> and <italic>b</italic>, metabolic compounds and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were measured. The phytosynthetic parameters significantly improved by different foliar potassium application and the highest level of photosynthetic activity was noted in plants supplied with potassium sulfate, followed by potassium-humate and potassium chloride. Plant biomass accumulation, cholorophyll (<italic>a</italic> and <italic>b</italic>), and total yield showed larger increases in plants fertilised with potassium sulfate than those fertilised with potassium-humate; smallest increases occurred with potassium chloride. Concentrations of total sugars, carotenoids, chlorophyll (<italic>a</italic> and <italic>b</italic>), and endogenous level of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents in plants and fruits were possitively influenced by varying sources of potassium. The fruit color parameters and total soluble solid were also significantly increased with all foliar potassium treatments compared with control. Foliar application of potassium sulfate recorded the highest values and significantly increase all anatomical characters for leaf, stem and fruit of pepper plant.</abstract>

Responding of Long Green Pepper Plants to Different Sources of Foliar Potassium Fertiliser

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Plants and microbes have enormous importance in our daily life. Iron is said to be the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust from soil, still many plants face problem in uptaking iron because it is found in insoluble form, which severely restricts the bioavailability of this metal. In response to this, microorganisms present in soil such as <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> sp., <italic>Enterobacter genera</italic>, <italic>Bacillus</italic> and <italic>Rhodococcus</italic> produce special iron carriers or iron-binding compounds called as ‘siderphores’ or ‘siderochromes’. This paper is an attempt to review the importance of siderphores in enhancing plants’ iron utilisation strategies, the mode of transport of siderophores along with iron across the memberane and depending on the difference in their chemical structure, functional moiety and their source of isolation of four different types of siderophore (hydroxamates, catecholates, carboxylates and siderophore with mixed ligand). Siderophore and their derivative have large application in agriculture as to increase soil fertility and as biocontrol for fungal pathogen. This review unlike other reviews includes (1) types of siderophore, (2) the structural difference amongst them, (3) siderophore biosynthesis, (4) transport mechanism, (5) the genetics of siderophore and (6) their efficacy in human life.</abstract>

Siderophore: Structural And Functional Characterisation – A Comprehensive Review

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Naturally occurring lignans are present in seeds, nuts, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. Lignans play various roles in plants and their multipurpose functions of different organisms including humans is considerable. They are involved in plant defence mechanisms through their antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. The lignans content may be affected by a variety of factors such as genotype, tissue type, geographic origin, local environmental conditions, nutrition, and plant maturity. Interactive relationships between individual factors are also considered. This review aimed to summarize the biological functions of lignans for plants and empasize the importance of these compounds for the added value of individual genotypes of plant food resources. Understanding the biological functions of lignans in plants can provide solutions to the ever-increasing requirements for the production of functional foods. Flaxseed is the richest source of lignans, and as such is considered the model species for lignans studies. Within our review, one paragraph is focused on the properties and biological functions of flax lignans.
</abstract>

Biological functions of lignans in plants

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi living in the soil closely collaborate with plants in their root zone and play very important role in their evolution. Their symbiosis stimulates plant growth and resistance to different environmental stresses. Plant root system, extended by mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, has better capability to reach the water and dissolved nutrients from a much larger volume of soil. This could solve the problem of imminent depletion of phosphate stock, affect plant fertilisation, and contribute to sustainable production of foods, feeds, biofuel, and raw materials. Expanded plant root systems reduce erosion of soil, improve soil quality, and extend the diversity of soil microflora. On the other hand, symbiosis with plants affects species diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and increased plant diversity supports diversity of fungi. This review summarizes the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in relation to beneficial potential of their symbiosis with plants, and their function in the ecosystem.</abstract>

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi – Their Life and Function in Ecosystem

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Wheat (genus <italic>Triticum</italic>) is considered to be an important source of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites with numerous health-promoting effects. Many phytochemicals are responsible for the high antioxidant activity of whole grain products. However, there is a lack of information about composition of phenolic acids and their concentrations in different <italic>Triticum</italic> species. Despite the fact that the increased consumption of whole grain cereals and whole grain-based products has been closely related to reduced risk of chronic diseases, bioactive compounds found in whole grain cereals have not achieved as much attention as the bioactive compounds in vegetables and fruits. Recent studies have revealed that the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of whole grain cereals have been regularly undervalued in the literature, because they contain more polyphenols and other phytochemicals than was reported in the past. Phenolic acids represent a large group of bioactive compounds in cereals. These compounds play a significant role in the possible positive effects of the human diet rich in whole grain cereals, especially in wheat and provide health benefits associated with demonstrably diminished risk of chronic disease development. Ferulic acid, the primary and the most abundant phenolic acid contained in wheat grain, is mainly responsible for the antioxidant activity of wheat, particularly bran fraction. In this paper, selected phenolic compounds in wheat, their antioxidant activity and health benefits related to consumption of whole grain cereals are reviewed.</abstract>

Phenolic acids and antioxidant activity of wheat species: a review

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Parameters of Wheat Flour, Dough, and Bread Fortified by Buckwheat and Millet Flours</title>The composite flours were created from basic wheat flour and from buckwheat and millet flours used as additives in the weight ratio of 5-30%. Basic technological parameters of flours (ash content, wet gluten, gluten swelling, sedimentation index, falling number), rheological properties of dough, and sensory parameters of baked bread loaves (weight, specific volume, aroma, taste, structure) were studied. Additives influenced all traits of flours, doughs, and baked breads. From the technological and sensory points of view, baked breads with the addition of buckwheat were accepted up to the addition of 20% and breads with millet up to 5% (even though taste and flavour were accepted up to 15% addition).</abstract>

Parameters of Wheat Flour, Dough, and Bread Fortified by Buckwheat and Millet Flours

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Soil organic matter (SOM) represents one of the largest and most important reservoirs of organic carbon in terrestrial eco-systems. The quality of SOM (e.g., content of soil organic carbon, humic substances, humic acids, fulvic acids, and HA/FA ratio) is a key factor in determining soil fertility and productivity. The loss of SOM is currently considered a detrimental form of soil degradation. The study aims to evaluate the effect of mineral fertilising (NPK), farmyard manure, cattle slurry, and digestate applications in intensively used permanent grassland. The long-term field experiments were carried out at the locality Jevíčko, region of Boskovice Furrow Malá Haná (the Czech Republic). The effect of amending soil with different organic and mineral fertilisers was studied. Qualitative parameters of SOM, soil reaction, and the content of available nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) were followed. Results showed that the control (no organic input) and the NPK variants had the lowest SOM quality. Higher SOM quality was after the farmyard manure, Slurry, and Digetsate applications. The highest acidity (indicated by the lowest values of pH/KCl) was determined in the control, NPK, Slurry, and D variants. The most favourable soil reaction and available nutrient content were after the farmyard manure application. Humic substances spectral absorption in the UV-VIS and infrared spectral ranges showed that the highest absorbance and amount of aliphatic hydrophobic components were observed after the application of farmyard manure. The multi-criteria statistical evaluation, including principal component analysis and factor analysis, confirmed that amending soil with farmyard manure and slurry resulted in an increase in humic substances content and improved SOM quality.
</abstract>

Effect of Grasslands Fertilisation on Soil Organic Matter Quality and Nutrients Status

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Improperly used farming systems and agrotechnical practices with ongoing climate change can contribute to the reduction of the level of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks not only in intensively cultivated arable soils but also in grasslands. One of the ways to track changes in the SOC stock is the use of mathematical models. The RothC model was validated at the locality Suchý vrch, which hosts long-term experiments on grassland. The soil type is sandy-loam textured Cambisol. Validation was done for the period 1993 – 2009 on grassland with various applications of mineral and organic fertilisers. Results of validation show that the RothC model appropriately predicts the development of grassland SOCs and can be used in forecasting SOC stock in the future. Five different management scenarios, with carbon input 2.3 to 6.4 t/ha and three climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5) of the MPI climate model were used to track the changes of SOC stock on grassland in the period 2009 – 2100. Modelling results of SOC development show, that in the future, a relatively low-temperature increase (RCP 2.6) and a relatively high carbon input into the soil (6.4 t/ha) can ensure moderate carbon sequestration. However, between the low-carbon management scenarios (2.3 and 4.1 t/ha), SOC stocks are continuously decreasing in the RCP 2.6 climate scenario. At a significantly higher temperature (climate scenario RCP 8.5), that is expected in future, it will not be possible to maintain the current level of SOC stock not even at a high carbon input (6.4 t/ha).
</abstract>

Modelling of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamic on Grassland Under Different Management and Climate Scenarios

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The production of antioxidant flavonoids is an important aspect of plant defence mechanisms under stress conditions. The hypothesis of increased antioxidant flavonol quercetin and isoflavone content in soybean leaves subjected to UV-B irradiation and copper toxicity was proposed, and their accumulation was investigated using HPLC analysis. However, the accumulation of antioxidant quercetin was not induced by either UV-B irradiation or copper treatment. UV-B irradiation strongly induced isoflavone aglycones, mainly genistein, daidzein, formononetin, and to a lesser extent, biochanin A. Isoflavone glycosides, genistin and daidzin were also induced. Copper treatment, whether applied to leaves or root media, resulted in the accumulation of genistin and its malonylated form, whereas aglycones were only slightly affected. The higher accumulation of genistein over daidzein after copper treatment could be related to the higher chelating ability of genistein and its glycosides. Soybean isoflavones, which possess antioxidant and chelating properties, rather than flavonols, play a crucial role in the plant‘s defence mechanisms against both UV-B irradiation and copper toxicity.
</abstract>

Changes in Isoflavonoid and Flavonoid Content in Soybean Leaves Affected by UV-B or Copper

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study is focused on the evaluation of the efficacy of conventional fungicides against Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) on sugar beet. The results showed that the best protection against CLS was achieved by treatment with kresoxim-methyl + epoxiconazole (T1) and tetraconazole (T2). The second highest fungicide efficacy was detected after treatment with (kresoxim-methyl + epoxiconazole -T1) + difenoconazole -T2, followed by (azoxystrobin + cyproconazole) + difenoconazole, (prochloraz + propiconazole) + tetraconazole, <italic>Urtica dioica</italic> plant extracts + <italic>Salix</italic> spp. plant extracts, (trifloxystrobin + cyproconazole) + tetraconazole, and picoxystrobin + tetraconazole. The positive effect of fungicide protection on yield and sugar content was higher in the year with a higher occurrence of CLS. Good CLS management could increase the root yield by up to 19.34%, and sugar yield by up to 23.83% in comparison to the untreated check. The highest sugar yield was achieved in the treatment by (prochloraz + propiconazole) + tetraconazole, followed by (kresoxim-methyl + epoxiconazole) + difenoconazole, (azoxystrobin + cyproconazole) + difenoconazole, (trifloxystrobin + cyproconazole) + tetraconazole, picoxystrobin + tetraconazole, and <italic>Urtica dioica</italic> plant extracts + <italic>Salix</italic> spp. plant extracts. The results showed a strong relationship of root yield and sugar yield on fungicide treatment during the vegetation. The occurrence of fungicide resistance in <italic>Cercospora beticola</italic> population has an important impact on efficacy of applied fungicides in field conditions. The highest economic effectiveness coefficient was achieved at treatment by (prochloraz + propiconazole) + tetraconazole.
</abstract>

The Efficacy of Fungicides Against <italic>Cercospora beticola</italic> in Field Conditions

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The application of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for seed coating of agricultural crops is an innovative and promising method to effectively reduce plant stress during dry periods and thereby contribute to sustainable agriculture. However, due to the lack of experiments using SAP in field conditions in Central Europe, we focused on determining the effect of synthetic SAP, which was used for coating maize seeds, on the germination and emergence of these plants as well as on determining its impact on the genetic diversity of microbial communities in the maize rhizosphere for two consecutive years. The results showed that the growth parameters of coleoptiles and root systems of germinating maize plants at the very early development stage were biased in favour of SAP-coated seeds, and some values were statistically higher in the second year of evaluation. Similar observations were recorded in the assessment of maize emergence parameters. Also, these values were better when using SAP-coated seeds compared to the untreated controls. Plant height, dry weight, leaf tip number, and the Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD ) value were statistically higher in the second year of evaluation. The rhizosphere bacterial and fungal genetic diversity results did not confirm statistically significant differences between the SAP-coated and control maize seeds. They concern both alpha diversity indices and the results from multivariate statistical methods. Principal coordinate analysis results with cluster analysis show that the main factor influencing the microbial diversity in the maize rhizosphere was the collection date, especially the year of sampling than t he use of SAP-coated seeds.
</abstract>

Superabsorbent polymer and its effect on maize germination, emergence and genetic diversity of rhizosphere microorganisms

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Quality protein maize (QPM) commercialization can combat the food and nutritional insecurity that is common in some developing nations of the world. Evaluation of QPM hybrids under varying rainfed environments provide valuable evidence for the selection of the most productive genotypes for the target environment. The present study was conducted at three locations to assess the agronomic performance and the grain yield stability of 11 QPM and 2 commercial hybrids (checks) over two years. There were significant (<italic>p</italic> ≥ 0.01) differences among the environments in the expression of all measured traits while genotype as well as genotype × environment interaction also differed significantly for all the traits except for husk cover and Anthesis-silking interval. The tested QPM hybrids outperformed the local and reference checks by 17.28% and 29.47% respectively. The biplot explained 85.3% of the total variation in yield, with 65.4% attributed to principal component 1 and 19.9% to principal component 2. Three vertex hybrids, EWQH-25, EWQH-21 and Local Check, were identified as the most responsive in the environments within which they fall. Hybrid EWQH-21 produced the highest yield across all environments but was unstable. Therefore, hybrids EWQH-22, EWQH-9, and EWQH-13, with similar yield values and more stable performances were recognized as ideal across environments. Lapai 2017 (E2) proves to be both representative and discriminative, making it the ideal test environment for selecting hybrids with broad adaptability. The study concludes that EWQH-9, EWQH-13, and EWQH-22 be recommended for cultivation across the environments while EWQH-21 be recommended for the specific area of adaptation.
</abstract>

Performance and Yield Stability of Quality Protein Maize (<italic>Zea mays</italic> L.) Hybrids under Rainfed Condition

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In order to assess the effects of green synthesized nanoparticles (GNPs) of Zn and Fe oxides on plant growth traits, photosynthetic capacity and nutritional quality of red radish (cv. Champion), two open field experiments were organised based on RCBD with four replicates. Treatments included: chicken manure, foliar application of ZnO + FeO (GNPs at a rate of 60 and 50 ppm, respectively), chicken manure plus ZnO + FeO (GNPs). This study revealed that growth and yield of radish plants significantly increased by ZnO + FeO nanoparticles application. The maximum vegetative growth, leaf pigments and root quality (diameter and weight) were recorded in plants treated with ZnO + FeO (GNPs) alone or in combination with chicken manure. Furthermore, the combined application of chicken manure with ZnO and FeO significantly improved the concentration of anthocyanins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, crude protein and carbohydrates contents in radish root than single treatment. Similar trends were noted in photosynthesis rate, water use efficiency and values of Zn and Fe contents. In addition, health risk index for Zn and Fe were less than 1, which indicated to red radish plants supplied with ZnO and FeO GNPs were free of risks on human health. It was concluded that combination between chicken manure and ZnO + FeO GNPs can be considered as appropriate strategy for improving yield and nutritional status of red radish.</abstract>

Effect of Foliar Zno and Feo Nanoparticles Application on Growth and Nutritional Quality of Red Radish and Assessment of Their Accumulation on Human Health

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Accumulation of heavy metals in edible crops is amongst major international concerns today. While consuming Lenjan variety of rice is very popular in Iran, limited evidence exists on its safety. Amid increasing public concern about the safety of locally grown and imported rice in the market, a field study was carried out to investigate uptake and translocation of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn by a local variety of rice crop (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic>) exposed to contaminated water. At harvest time and in paddy fields, 41 soil and plant samples were collected from four locations of Lenjan, central Iran; irrigated from Zayandeh Rood River. In the laboratory, different parts of the plant were milled, digested via acid digestion method, and then analysed for Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that average concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn were 1.07, 17.22, 1.73 and 13.75 mg/kg in the plant’s stem; and 1.27, 12.32, 1.099 and 19.39 mg/kg in its grain, respectively. In general, both in the plant’s stem and grain, the Cd and Pb concentrations were much higher than the FAO/WHO standard and labelled as harmful for consumers. Moreover, among the studied heavy metals, Ni transported very weakly, while Cd and Zn conveyed most easily into the plant’s stem and grain. Of course, Pb was the least mobile metal. However, it had highly accumulated in the plant’s stem and grain.</abstract>

Uptake and Translocation of Some Heavy Metals by Rice Crop (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic>) in Paddy Soils

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The influence of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) ions (50 and 100 mg/kg soil) on growth, photosynthetic pigment content, Cd, and iron accumulation in faba bean (<italic>Vicia faba</italic> L. cv. Aštar) was studied under laboratory conditions. No significant changes were observed in the growth parameters of shoots (length, fresh, and dry weight). Both tested Cd doses resulted in decrease in root fresh weight by 31.7% and 28.68% and in dry weight by 32.2% and 33.33%, respectively. Increased accumulation of Cd was observed in roots (125- and 173-fold higher than in control) and shoots (125- and 150-fold higher than in control) as a result of applied doses of Cd. Increased accumulation of iron was detected in roots (1.45- and 1.69-fold higher than in control). Decrease in the content of chlorophyll <italic>a</italic> (by 25.52 and 24.83%, respectively) and chlorophyll <italic>b</italic> (by 6.90%) after application of Cd 100 as well as decrease in carotenoids (by 40.39 and 38.36%, respectively) was detected. Weak translocation of Cd from roots to shoots pointed to low phytoremediation potential of the tested bean variety in contaminated soil. However, the high tolerance of this cultivar, its relative fast growth, as well as priority of Cd accumulation in roots presume this plant species for phytostabilisation and revegetation of the Cd-contaminated soils.</abstract>

Effect of Cadmium on Growth, Photosynthetic Pigments, Iron and Cadmium Accumulation of Faba Bean (<italic>Vicia faba</italic> cv. Aštar)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium (PGPR) represents a wide variety of soil bacteria that, when grown in association with a host plant, result in stimulation of growth of their host. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of inoculation with a PGPR, Pseudomonas fluorescence, alone or in combination with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. &amp; Gerd.), on antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX)), phosphatase activity, solutes accumulation, growth and minerals nutrient uptake in shoots of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) affected by three levels of salt stress. Salinity decreased bean growth, regardless of the biological treatment and the salt stress level. The plants inoculated with P. fluorescence had significantly greater shoot biomass than the control plants at all salinity levels, whereas the mycorrhizal inoculation treatments were only effective in increasing shoot biomass at a low salinity level. The plants inoculated with P. fluorescence presented higher concentrations of shoots’ K+ and lower concentrations of shoots’ Na+ under high salt conditions. Salt stress increased shoots’ proline concentration, particularly in plants inoculated with the PGPR. Increasing salinity stress raised significantly the antioxidant enzyme activities, including those of total POX and CAT, of bean shoots compared with their corresponding nonstressed plants. The PGPR strain induced a higher increase in these antioxidant enzymes in response to severe salinity. Inoculation with selected PGPR could serve as a useful tool for alleviating salinity stress in salt-sensitive plants.</abstract>

Ph.D. of plant physiology, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on antioxidant enzyme activities in salt-stressed bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.)

<abstract>Transformational changes after 1989 were primarily caused by major social changes, including those in the economy and agriculture. Slovakia is also affect by globalization processes. The aim of this article is to characterize the changes in agricultural land use and their spatial distribution in relation to the political transformation of society after 1989, using the Dunajská Streda, Levice, Prievidza and Stará Ľubovňa districts as examples. These districts contain all individual agricultural production types in Slovakia. Changes in agricultural land use were analyzed on the basis of the total areas of land use categories for these districts between 1980 and 2010 and for municipal cadastral areas in selected districts between 2000 and 2010. Two basic indicators of changes in land use were selected for this purpose. The first was the percentage increase or decrease in individual land use categories and the second was the dominant processes in land use based on analysis of the main landscape processes. The cumulative surfaces of selected crops and their products were analyzed using a simple continuous diagram depicting the course of harvesting areas between 1980 and 2010. Crop yields were analyzed by linear regression. The tendency for disappearance of agricultural land use was confirmed in the less agriculturally active areas of Slovakia. This decrease in agricultural land use was at the expense of an increase in urban areas and in the processes of greening, forestation and water body construction.</abstract>

Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute, Gagarinova 10, 827 13 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Regional Geography, Protection and Planning of the Landscape, Mlynská dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Mlynská dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Changes in Agricultural Land Use in the Context of Ongoing Transformational Processes in Slovakia

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