Applying biochar has beneficial effects on regulating plant growth by providing water and nutrient availability for plants due to its physicochemical characteristics. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how soil and biochar interactions strengthen crop lodging resistance. The objective of the current study was to find out how soil physicochemical conditions and alterations in biochar affect lodging resistance and crop productivity in cereals. To do this, a meta-analysis was carried out using nine groups of effective variables including type of feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application rate, soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, organic matter (OM), and soil texture. Results showed that straw-derived biochar caused the highest positive effect size in the dry weight of biomass (20.5%) and grain yield (19.9%). Also, the lowest lodging index was observed from straw (-8.3%) and wood-based (-5.6%) biochars. Besides, the high application rate of biochar results in the highest positive effect sizes of plant cellulose (8.1%) and lignin content (7.6%). Soils that contain >20 g kg-1 OM, resulted in the highest positive effect size in dry biomass (27.9%), grain yield (30.2%), and plant height (4.7%). Also, fine-textured soil plays an important role in increasing polymers in the anatomical structure of plants. Overall, the strong connection between biochar and soil processes, particularly the availability of OM, could strengthen plants' ability to tolerate lodging stress and contribute to high nutrient efficiency in terms of crop output and cell wall thickening.

• Klíčová slova
• Biochar amendment, Crop resistance, Crop yield, Lodging index, Meta-analysis,
• MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí * MeSH
• půda * chemie   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny * růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• metaanalýza MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biochar MeSH Prohlížeč
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí * MeSH
• půda * MeSH

To keep up with the growth of human population and to circumvent deleterious effects of global climate change, it is essential to enhance crop yield to achieve higher production. Here we review mathematical models of oxygenic photosynthesis that are extensively used, and discuss in depth a subset that accounts for diverse approaches providing solutions to our objective. These include models (1) to study different ways to enhance photosynthesis, such as fine-tuning antenna size, photoprotection and electron transport; (2) to bioengineer carbon metabolism; and (3) to evaluate the interactions between the process of photosynthesis and the seasonal crop dynamics, or those that have included statistical whole-genome prediction methods to quantify the impact of photosynthesis traits on the improvement of crop yield. We conclude by emphasizing that the results obtained in these studies clearly demonstrate that mathematical modelling is a key tool to examine different approaches to improve photosynthesis for better productivity, while effective multiscale crop models, especially those that also include remote sensing data, are indispensable to verify different strategies to obtain maximized crop yields.

• Klíčová slova
• C4 rice, Improving photosynthesis and crop yield, Leaf and crop models, Photorespiration bypasses, Photosynthesis models, Synthetic biology,
• MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• fotosyntéza * fyziologie   MeSH
• listy rostlin * fyziologie   metabolismus   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• teoretické modely MeSH
• transport elektronů MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny * růst a vývoj   genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The vast majority of agricultural land undergoes abiotic stress that can significantly reduce agricultural yields. Understanding the mechanisms of plant defenses against stresses and putting this knowledge into practice is, therefore, an integral part of sustainable agriculture. In this review, we focus on current findings in plant resistance to four cardinal abiotic stressors-drought, heat, salinity, and low temperatures. Apart from the description of the newly discovered mechanisms of signaling and resistance to abiotic stress, this review also focuses on the importance of primary and secondary metabolites, including carbohydrates, amino acids, phenolics, and phytohormones. A meta-analysis of transcriptomic studies concerning the model plant Arabidopsis demonstrates the long-observed phenomenon that abiotic stressors induce different signals and effects at the level of gene expression, but genes whose regulation is similar under most stressors can still be traced. The analysis further reveals the transcriptional modulation of Golgi-targeted proteins in response to heat stress. Our analysis also highlights several genes that are similarly regulated under all stress conditions. These genes support the central role of phytohormones in the abiotic stress response, and the importance of some of these in plant resistance has not yet been studied. Finally, this review provides information about the response to abiotic stress in major European crop plants-wheat, sugar beet, maize, potatoes, barley, sunflowers, grapes, rapeseed, tomatoes, and apples.

• Klíčová slova
• abiotic stress, cold stress, crop, drought, heat stress, metabolites, phytohormones, salinity,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * genetika   MeSH
• fyziologický stres genetika   MeSH
• pěstování plodin MeSH
• reakce na tepelný šok genetika   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin * MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• metaanalýza MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• regulátory růstu rostlin * MeSH

This study analyzes the relationship between drought processes and crop yields in Moldova, together with the effects of possible future climate change on crops. The severity of drought is analyzed over time in Moldova using the Standard Precipitation Index, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, and their relationship with crop yields. In addition, rainfall variability and its relationship with crop yields are examined using spectral analysis and squared wavelet coherence. Observed station data (1950-2020 and 1850-2020), ERA5 reanalysis data (1950-2020), and climate model simulations (period 1970-2100) are used. Crop yield data (maize, sunflower, grape), data from experimental plots (wheat), and the Enhanced Vegetation Index from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellites were also used. Results show that although the severity of meteorological droughts has decreased in the last 170 years, the impact of precipitation deficits on different crop yields has increased, concurrent with a sharp increase in temperature, which negatively affected crop yields. Annual crops are now more vulnerable to natural rainfall variability and, in years characterized by rainfall deficits, the possibility of reductions in crop yield increases due to sharp increases in temperature. Projections reveal a pessimistic outlook in the absence of adaptation, highlighting the urgency of developing new agricultural management strategies.

• Klíčová slova
• Republic of Moldova, climate change, crop yields, drought, global warming,
• MeSH
• déšť MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace fyziologie   MeSH
• globální oteplování * MeSH
• klimatické modely MeSH
• klimatické změny MeSH
• kukuřice setá růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• období sucha * MeSH
• pšenice růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny * růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Moldavsko MeSH

Natural pest and weed regulation are essential for agricultural production, but the spatial distribution of natural enemies within crop fields and its drivers are mostly unknown. Using 28 datasets comprising 1204 study sites across eight Western and Central European countries, we performed a quantitative synthesis of carabid richness, activity densities and functional traits in relation to field edges (i.e. distance functions). We show that distance functions of carabids strongly depend on carabid functional traits, crop type and, to a lesser extent, adjacent non-crop habitats. Richness of both carnivores and granivores, and activity densities of small and granivorous species decreased towards field interiors, whereas the densities of large species increased. We found strong distance decays in maize and vegetables whereas richness and densities remained more stable in cereals, oilseed crops and legumes. We conclude that carabid assemblages in agricultural landscapes are driven by the complex interplay of crop types, adjacent non-crop habitats and further landscape parameters with great potential for targeted agroecological management. In particular, our synthesis indicates that a higher edge-interior ratio can counter the distance decay of carabid richness per field and thus likely benefits natural pest and weed regulation, hence contributing to agricultural sustainability.

• Klíčová slova
• distance decay, ecosystem services, ground beetles, natural pest and weed control, species spillover, sustainable agriculture,
• MeSH
• Fabaceae * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny MeSH
• zemědělství * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Selenium and iodine are essential trace elements for both humans and animals. Among other things, they have an essential role in thyroid function and the production of important hormones by the thyroid gland. Unfortunately, in many areas, soils are deficient in selenium and iodine, and their amount is insufficient to produce crops with adequate contents to cover the recommended daily intake; thus, deficiencies have an endemic character. With the introduction of iodized table salt in the food industry, the thyroid status of the population has improved, but several areas remain iodine deficient. Furthermore, due to the strong relationship between iodine and selenium in metabolic processes, selenium deficiency often compromises the desired positive impact of salt iodization efforts. Therefore, a considerable number of studies have looked for alternative methods for the simultaneous supplementation of selenium and iodine in foodstuff. In most cases, the subject of these studies is crops; recently, meat has also been a subject of interest. This paper reviews the most recent strategies in agriculture to fortify selenium and iodine in crop plants, their effect on the quality of the plant species used, and the potential impact of food processing on their stability in fortified crops.

• Klíčová slova
• biofortification, crops, deficiency, iodine, nutrition, selenium,
• MeSH
• biofortifikace MeSH
• jod * MeSH
• jodidy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• selen * MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• iodized salt MeSH Prohlížeč
• jod * MeSH
• jodidy MeSH
• selen * MeSH

Agriculture is vital to human life and economic development even though it may have a detrimental influence on soil quality. Agricultural activities can deteriorate the soil quality, endangers the ecosystem health and functioning, food safety, and human health. To resolve the problem of soil degradation, alternative soil conditioners such as wood ash are being explored for their potential to improve soil-plant systems. This study provides an overview of the production, properties, and effects of wood ash on soil properties, crop productivity, and environmental remediation. A comprehensive search of relevant databases was conducted in order to locate and assess original research publications on the use of wood ash in agricultural and environmental management. According to the findings, wood ash, a byproduct of burning wood, may improve the structure, water-holding capacity, nutrient availability, and buffering capacity of soil as well as other physico-chemical, and biological attributes of soil. Wood ash has also been shown to increase agricultural crop yields and help with the remediation of polluted regions. Wood ash treatment, however, has been linked to several adverse effects, such as increased trace element concentrations and altered microbial activity. The examination found that wood ash could be a promising material to be used as soil conditioner and an alternative supply of nutrients for agricultural soils, while, wood ash contributes to soil improvement and environmental remediation, highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution for addressing soil degradation and promoting environmental sustainability in agricultural systems.

• Klíčová slova
• Environmental remediation, Liming effect, Nutrient turnover, Soil acidification, Wood ash,
• MeSH
• dřevo * MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   MeSH
• pěstování plodin metody   MeSH
• půda * chemie   MeSH
• regenerace a remediace životního prostředí * metody   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny růst a vývoj   MeSH
• zemědělství metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• půda * MeSH

• Klíčová slova
• candidate gene analysis, crop wild relative (CWR), de novo domestication, domestication cost, genomics, phenomics,
• Publikační typ
• úvodníky MeSH

Crop breeding advancement is hindered by the imperfection of methods to reveal genes underlying key traits. Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) is one such method, identifying genomic regions linked to phenotypes. Post-GWAS analyses predict candidate genes and assist in causative mutation (CM) recognition. Here, we assess post-GWAS approaches, address limitations in omics data integration and stress the importance of evaluating associated variants within a broader context of publicly available datasets. Recent advances in bioinformatics tools and genomic strategies for CM identification and allelic variation exploration are reviewed. We discuss the role of markers and marker panel development for more precise breeding. Finally, we highlight the perspectives and challenges of GWAS-based CM prediction for complex quantitative traits.

• Klíčová slova
• Causal gene, Causative mutation, Crop breeding, GWAS, Molecular markers,
• MeSH
• celogenomová asociační studie * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genetické markery MeSH
• lokus kvantitativního znaku genetika   MeSH
• šlechtění rostlin * metody   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny * genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• genetické markery MeSH

Lactobacilli, streptococci and coliforms of pigeon crop contents, 5th wash, macerate and those of first-day pigeon milk have been studied. Streptococci predominated in all the samples tested. Relatively higher counts of lactobacilli and streptococci in crop macerate than in the 5th wash suggested the adhesion of these bacteria to crop wall. Because of frequent occurrence in crop of partially digested fibrous food, its contents were tested for the presence of cellulolytic bacteria. The results indicated that four isolates were capable of utilizing cellulose with the resultant production of reducing sugars. It is inferred that the crop microflora is involved in the degradation of dietary fibre in the pigeon.

• MeSH
• Columbidae mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Enterobacteriaceae izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• Lactobacillus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Streptococcus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• tělesná hmotnost MeSH
• vole ptačí mikrobiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH