The worldwide problem of infectious diseases has appeared in recent years, and antimicrobial agents are crucial in reducing disease emergence. Nevertheless, the development and distribution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi and Citrobacter koseri, has become a major society health hazard. Essential oils could serve as a promising tool as a natural drug in fighting the problem with these bacteria. The current study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effectiveness of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betche) Cheel), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus obliqua L’Hér.), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill) essential oils. The antimicrobial properties of essential oils were screened against four pathogenic bacteria, E. coli, S. aureus, S. Tyhpi, and C. koseri, and two reference bacterial strains, while for the testing, the agar well diffusion method was used. Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometric (GC–MSD) analyses were performed on essential oils. The obtained results showed that M. alternifolia essential oil is the richest in terpinen-4-ol, R. officinalis and E. oblique essential oils in 1,8-cineole, and L. angustifolia essential oil in α-terpinyl acetate. In addition, the main bioactive compounds present in the essential oil of tea tree are rich in α-pinene (18.38%), limonene (7.55%) and γ-terpinene (14.01%). The essential oil of rosemary is rich in α-pinene (8.38%) and limonene (11.86%); eucalyptus essential oil has significant concentrations of α-pinene (12.60%), p-cymene (3.24%), limonene (3.87%), and γ-terpinene (7.37%), while the essential oil of lavender is rich in linalool (10.71%), linalool acetate (9.60%), α-terpinyl acetate (10.93%), and carbitol (13.05%) bioactive compounds, respectively. The obtained results from the in vitro study revealed that most of the essential oils exhibited antimicrobial properties. Among the tested essential oils, tea tree was discovered to demonstrate the strongest antimicrobial activity. The recorded MIC of S. Typhi was 6.2 mg/mL, 3.4 mg/mL of C. koseri, 3.1 mg/mL of E. coli, and 2.7 mg/mL of E. coli ATCC 25922, compared to M. alternifolia. Similarly, only S. aureus ATCC 25923 showed antimicrobial activity towards R. officinalis (1.4 mg/mL), E. oblique (2.9 mg/mL), and L. angustifolia (2.1 mg/mL). Based on the obtained results, it is possible to conclude that tea tree essential oil might be used as an ecological antimicrobial in treating infectious diseases caused by the tested pathogens.

Five two-row winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars divergent in spike traits were crossed in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals to produce 10 F 1 and F 2 hybrids for analysis of combining abilities. The analysis of variance of combining abilities showed significant differences for GCA and SCA in F 1 hybrids and F 2 generation, suggesting additive and non-additive gene action. The GCA/SCA ratio in F 1 and F 2 indicated the prevalence of the additive component of genetic variance for spike length, grain weight per spike and spike harvest index. By contrast, the SCA variance for grain weight per spike was higher than the GCA variance, indicating the dominance of non-additive gene action. Good GCAs were found in parents having high values for spike length (Djerdap, NS-293), grain number per spike (Vada, Jagodinac), grain weight per spike (Vada, NS-293) and spike harvest index (Djerdap, Jagodinac). None of the parents had good GCA for all traits, suggesting a potential increase in combining abilities for spike traits. The best SCA were obtained mostly from crosses between parents having high x low, high x high or average x low GCA values. Parents having high GCA values may be used to produce improved lines in hybridisation programmes. Combinations with high SCA values may yield good segregating lines in further selection programmes.

An objective evaluation of maize hybrids in intensive cropping systems requires identification not only of yield components and other agronomically important traits but also of stability parameters. Grain yield and its components were assessed in 11 maize hybrids with different lengths of growing season (FAO 300-700 maturity groups) using analysis of variance and regression analysis at three different locations in Western Serbia. The test hybrids and locations showed significant differences in grain yield, grain moisture content at maturity, 1,000-kernel weight and ear length. A significant interaction was observed between all traits and the environment. The hybrids with higher mean values of the traits, regardless of maturity group, generally exhibited sensitivity i.e. adaptation to more favourable environmental conditions as compared to those having lower mean values. Regression coefficient (b i) values for grain yield mostly suggested no significant differences relative to the mean. The medium-season hybrid gave high yields and less favourable values of stability parameters at most locations and in most years, as compared to mediumlate hybrids. As compared to medium-early hybrids, medium-late hybrids (FAO 600 and 700) mostly exhibited unfavourable values of stability parameters i.e. a specific response and better adaptation to favourable environmental conditions, and gave higher average yields. Apart from producing lower average yields, FAO 300 and 400 hybrids showed higher yield stability as compared to the other hybrids tested. Medium-late hybrids had higher yields and showed a better response to favourable environmental conditions compared to early-maturing hybrids. Therefore, they can be recommended for intensive cultural practices and low-stress environments. Due to their more favourable stability parameter values, medium-early hybrids can be recommended for low-intensity cultural practices and stressful environments.

The appearance of pest insects can lead to a loss in yield if farmers do not respond in a timely manner to suppress their spread. Occurrences and numbers of insects can be monitored through insect traps, which include their permanent touring and checking of their condition. Another more efficient way is to set up sensor devices with a camera at the traps that will photograph the traps and forward the images to the Internet, where the pest insect’s appearance will be predicted by image analysis. Weather conditions, temperature and relative humidity are the parameters that affect the appearance of some pests, such as Helicoverpa armigera. This paper presents a model of machine learning that can predict the appearance of insects during a season on a daily basis, taking into account the air temperature and relative humidity. Several machine learning algorithms for classification were applied and their accuracy for the prediction of insect occurrence was presented (up to 76.5%). Since the data used for testing were given in chronological order according to the days when the measurement was performed, the existing model was expanded to take into account the periods of three and five days. The extended method showed better accuracy of prediction and a lower percentage of false detections. In the case of a period of five days, the accuracy of the affected detections was 86.3%, while the percentage of false detections was 11%. The proposed model of machine learning can help farmers to detect the occurrence of pests and save the time and resources needed to check the fields.

Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.) is one of most important defoliating pests of deciduous trees. Due to increased environmental demands, the use of plant-based preparations is gaining in importance as a control option for this pest in forestry, agriculture and horticulture. The aim of this study was to evaluate antifeeding and insecticidal activity of 0.5, 1 and 2% extracts of Ailanthus altissima bark and leaves, and Morus alba leaves, against L. dispar larvae under laboratory conditions. Antioxidant capacity of plant extracts was determined, as well as the content of phenolic compounds by spectrophotometric and HPLC-DAD methods. Antifeeding and insecticidal effects were tested in a "no-choice" test. The highest content of all bioactive phenolic compounds was in A. altissima bark and M. alba leaf extracts. The lowest leaf consumption after 24 and 48 h was in A. аltissima bark (5.03, 9.30%, respectively) and M. alba leaf (1.44, 3.22%, respectively) extracts. A. altissima bark and M. alba leaf extracts expressed strong antifeeding activity. After 24 h, all extracts expressed slight insecticidal effect (2.25-17.50% of mortality). The mortality increased after 48 h in treatments with A. altissima bark extract, at all applied concentrations (40.0-57.50%) and M. alba leaves at 1 and 2% concentrations (30.0-62.50%). Our results indicate that extracts of A. altissima bark and M. alba leaves may act as effective low-cost natural protectants able to control the presence of gypsy moth in ecosystems. Extracts of A. altissima bark and M. alba leaves expressed strong antifeeding activity and significant insecticidal effect on gypsy moth larvae, at all applied concentrations.