Search Results (27)

Background and Objectives: Physical activity represents a cornerstone in the management of diabetes mellitus; however, the majority of persons with diabetes remain insufficiently active. Current guidelines emphasise the need to educate individuals with diabetes on physical activity at each clinical visit. The aim of the study was to develop an adequate instrument and test diabetologists’ knowledge on physical activity and related guidelines in diabetes, as well as investigate their prescribing habits. Materials and Methods: The instrument was developed with four diabetologists using Delphi and RAND appropriateness methods, then distributed to diabetologist societies in 12 Southeast European countries for anonymous completion by their members. Data were analysed using Mann–Whitney U test and Pearson ${ x}^2$ test. Results: Out of 302 analysed respondents, 123 (41%) worked at university hospitals, at average four days a week in outpatient departments, mean number of patients was 16 a day; 95 (32%) had a PhD, and 105 (35%) university teaching positions. Median overall knowledge was 15 (Q1–Q3, 13–17) out of 22 maximum points. 26% diabetologists knew recommended level of physical activity for people with diabetes. Physical activity goals were discussed during check-ups in 53.0% of cases; re-education and goal adjustments were provided in 33.4% when health status changed; and clear instructions were documented in 25.5% of medical records. Conclusions: Diabetologists’ overall knowledge of physical activity was found to be at least satisfactory in 90% of participants. Knowledge of the guidelines is insufficient in 75% of participants. The prescribing habits are inadequate in half of the participants. Full article

Utilizing environmentally friendly techniques for pathogen control in agriculture is a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to managing crop diseases. These techniques leverage the natural environment and ecosystem dynamics to reduce pathogen pressure, minimize the use of chemical inputs, and promote long-term agricultural productivity. Key strategies include crop rotation, intercropping, and maintaining biodiversity, all of which disrupt pathogen life cycles and enhance soil health. Biological control, such as introducing natural antagonists like beneficial fungi or bacteria, suppresses pathogen populations while promoting plant resilience. Additionally, practices such as mulching, soil solarization, and water management optimize environmental conditions to limit the development and spread of pathogens. These techniques also contribute to integrated pest management by providing sustainable, cost-effective solutions that reduce chemical dependency and mitigate climate change and other environmental impacts. This review discusses the importance of utilizing environmentally friendly techniques, highlighting their advantages, practical challenges, and limitations in different agro-ecological settings, and their role in advancing sustainable agriculture. Full article

Tomato mosaic disease, caused by tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), was studied under naturally elevated [CO₂] concentrations to simulate the potential impacts of future climate scenarios on the ToMV–tomato pathosystem. Tomato plants infected with ToMV were cultivated under two distinct [CO₂] environments: elevated [CO₂] (naturally enriched to approximately 1000 μmol mol⁻¹) and ambient [CO₂] (ambient atmospheric [CO₂] of 420 μmol mol⁻¹). Key parameters, including phytopathological (disease index, ToMV gene expression), growth-related (plant height, leaf area), and physiological traits (chlorophyll content, flavonoid levels, nitrogen balance index), were monitored to assess the effects of elevated [CO₂]. Elevated [CO₂] significantly reduced the disease index from 2.4 under ambient [CO₂] to 1.7 under elevated [CO₂]. Additionally, viral RNA expression was notably lower in plants grown at elevated [CO₂] compared to those under ambient [CO₂]. While ToMV infection led to reductions in the chlorophyll content and nitrogen balance index and an increase in the flavonoid levels under ambient [CO₂], these physiological effects were largely mitigated under elevated [CO₂]. Infected plants grown at elevated [CO₂] showed values for these parameters that approached those of healthy plants grown under ambient [CO₂]. These findings demonstrate that elevated [CO₂] helps to mitigate the effects of tomato mosaic disease and contribute to understanding how future climate scenarios may influence the tomato–ToMV interaction and other plant–pathogen interactions. Full article

American plum line pattern virus (APLPV) is the most infrequently reported Ilarvirus infecting stone fruit trees and is of sufficient severity to be classified as an EPPO quarantine A1 pathogen. In late spring, yellow line pattern symptoms were observed on leaves in a few flowering cherries (Prunus serrulata Lindl.) grown in a public garden in Northwest Italy. RNA extracts from twenty flowering cherries were submitted to Ilarvirus multiplex and APLPV-specific RT-PCR assays already reported or developed in this study. One flowering cherry (T22) with mixed prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) infection also showed infection with APLPV. Blastn analysis of PCR products of the full coat protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes obtained from flowering cherry T22 showed 98.23% and 98.34% nucleotide identity with reference APLPV isolate NC_003453.1 from the USA. Then, a LAMP-specific assay was designed to facilitate the fast and low-cost identification of this virus either in the laboratory or directly in the field. The developed assay allowed not only the confirmation of APLPV (PSer22IT isolate) infection in the T22 flowering cherry but also the identification of APLPV in an asymptomatic flowering cherry tree (TL1). The LAMP assay successfully worked with crude flowering cherry extracts, obtained after manually shaking a single plant extract in the ELISA extraction buffer for 3–5 min. The developed rapid, specific and economic LAMP assay was able to detect APLPV using crude plant extracts rather that RNA preparation in less than 20 min, making it suitable for in-field detection. Moreover, the LAMP assay proved to be more sensitive in APLPV detection in flowering cherry compared to the specific one-step RT-PCR assay. The new LAMP assay will permit the estimation of APLPV geographic spread in the territory, paying particular attention to surrounding gardens and propagated flowering cherries in ornamental nurseries. Full article

Species of the genus Colletotrichum are among the most important plant pathogens globally, as they are capable of infecting many hosts—apple (Malus spp.) and other fruit and woody plant species—but also vegetable crops, cereals, legumes, and other annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The apple (Malus spp.) is attacked by various species from the genus Colletotrichum, whereby 27 different species from this genus have been described as the causative agents of apple bitter rot (ABR) and 15 as the cause of Glomerella leaf spot (GLS). These species generally belong to one of three species complexes: Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Colletotrichum boninense. The largest number of apple pathogens of the genus Colletotrichum belong to the species complex C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides. However, further data on these species and the interactions between the species complexes of the genus Colletotrichum that cause these two apple diseases is needed for the development of effective control measures, thus ensuring successful and profitable apple cultivation. To contribute to this endeavor, a comprehensive review of the causative agents of ABR and GLS from the genus Colletotrichum is provided. In addition to presenting the species’ current names, distribution, economic significance, and the symptoms they cause in apple, their development cycle, epidemiology, and molecular detection strategies are described, with a particular emphasis on control measures. Full article

In the latest literature, climate models show that the conditions for pines, spruces, larches, and birches will deteriorate significantly. In Poland, as well as in other European countries, there are already signs of the decline of these species. This review article deals with the symbiotic relationships between fungi and plants, which can hardly be overestimated, using the example of pine trees. These are the oldest known symbiotic relationships, which are of great benefit to both components and can help plants, in particular, survive periods of severe drought and the attack of pathogens on the roots. This article describes symbioses and their causal conditions, as well as the mycorrhizal components of pine trees and their properties; characterizes ectomycorrhizal fungi and their mushroom-forming properties; and provides examples of the cultivation of pure fungal cultures, with particular attention to the specificity of the mycorrhizal structure and its effects on the growth and development of Pinus species. Finally, the role of mycorrhiza in plant protection and pathogen control is described. Full article

Ash trees are an important component of both forests and the countryside. Emerging new diseases like ash dieback poses new challenges to Fraxinus spp., which not only have to adapt to global warming but also defend themselves against new threats from pathogenic fungi and insect pests. A new species of fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has arrived in Europe from Asia and has severely damaged shoots which alters the structure of ash tree crowns. While some older trees have survived, younger trees are dying en masse, so the only hope is that the surviving trees will produce a younger generation that may be more resistant to the new diseases. The fine roots of ash trees are also attacked by pathogenic oomycetes, and others by Armillaria spp. The current stressed condition of ash trees in Europe is exacerbated by a new threat from insects. Agrillus planipennis, emerald ash borer, migrating from the east (from near Moscow airport) towards the borders of the European Union, killing thousands of ash trees on its way. This raises the question of future prospects for ash cultivation in Europe. This article takes a closer look at the information described in the literature. Full article

This research aimed to examine the EEG correlates of different stimuli processing instances in a child with ASD and white matter signal abnormalities and to investigate their relationship to the results of behavioral tests. The prospective case study reports two and a half years of follow-up data from a child aged 38 to 66 months. Cognitive, speech–language, sensory, and EEG correlates of auditory–verbal and auditory–visual–verbal information processing were recorded during five test periods, and their mutual interrelation was analyzed. EEG findings revealed no functional theta frequency range redistribution in the frontal regions favoring the left hemisphere during speech processing. The results pointed to a positive linear trend in the relative theta frequency range and a negative linear trend in the relative alpha frequency range when listening to and watching the cartoon. There was a statistically significant correlation between EEG signals and behavioral test results. Based on the obtained results, it may be concluded that EEG signals and their association with the results of behavioral tests should be evaluated with certain restraints considering the characteristics of the stimuli during EEG recording. Full article

In this paper, a comprehensive overview of the ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ presence in Europe was provided. The analyzed findings revealed that, since the first appearance of this pathogen in Finland and Spain in 2008, it has spread to 13 new European countries. Therefore, ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ has spread very quickly across the European continent, as evident from the emergence of new host plants within the Apiaceae, Urticaceae, and Polygonaceae families, as well as new haplotypes of this pathogen. Thus far, 5 of the 15 ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes determined across the globe have been confirmed in Europe (haplotypes C, D, E, U, and H). Fully competent ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ vectors include Bactericera cockerelli, Trioza apicalis, and B. trigonica; however, only T. apicalis and B. trigonica are presently established in Europe and are very important for plants from the Apiaceae family in particular. Moreover, psyllid species such as B. tremblayi, T. urticae, and T. anthrisci have also been confirmed positive for ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. Constant monitoring of its spread in the field (in both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants), use of sensitive molecular diagnostic techniques, and application of timely management strategies are, therefore, of utmost importance for the control of this destructive pathogen. Full article

The existing resistance genes against white rust disease are often ineffective due to racial variation of the causal fungal pathogen, Albugo candida. Therefore, new sources of resistance effective against multiple races are needed for durable resistance. Large-scale phenotyping of advanced introgressed (ILs), mutant, and resynthesized (RBJ) lines of Brassica juncea L., under artificial inoculation at cotyledonary and true leaf stages, against thirteen diverse isolates of Albugo candida and simultaneously at the adult plant stage under multi-location field evaluation from 2019–2022, revealed significant differences in white rust reactions. Amongst 194 introgressed lines, three lines, namely ERJ 39, ERJ 12, and ERJ 15, and three lines among 90 resynthesized and 9 mutant lines, including RBJ 18, DRMR 18-36-12, and DRMR 18-37-13, were identified as potential sources of resistance against multiple isolates at all three developmental stages of the plant. Furthermore, correlation and principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between white rust resistance at true leaf and adult plant stages for ILs as well as mutant and RBJ lines. These novel sources of host resistance will play vital roles are required for the mustard improvement program and to establish a strong genetic and molecular foundation for identifying white rust resistance linked marker(s), QTLs, or gene(s) for sustainable disease management in India. Full article

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDRs) are key players in the antiviral defence mediated by RNA silencing in plants. RDR6 is one of the major components of the process, regulating the infection of certain RNA viruses. To better clarify its function against DNA viruses, we analyzed the effect of RDR6 inactivation (RDR6i) in N. benthamiana plants on two phloem-limited begomoviruses, the bipartite Abutilon mosaic virus (AbMV) and the monopartite tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV). We observed exacerbated symptoms and DNA accumulation for the New World virus AbMV in RDR6i plants, varying with the plant growth temperature (ranging from 16 °C to 33 °C). However, for the TYLCSV of Old World origin, RDR6 depletion only affected symptom expression at elevated temperatures and to a minor extent; it did not affect the viral titre. The accumulation of viral siRNA differed between the two begomoviruses, being increased in RDR6i plants infected by AbMV but decreased in those infected by TYLCSV compared to wild-type plants. In situ hybridization revealed a 6.5-fold increase in the number of AbMV-infected nuclei in RDR6i plants but without egress from the phloem tissues. These results support the concept that begomoviruses adopt different strategies to counteract plant defences and that TYLCSV evades the functions exerted by RDR6 in this host. Full article

The genus Fusarium comprises more than 300 species, and many of them are pathogens that cause severe diseases in agricultural, horticultural and forestry plants in both antropogenic and natural ecosystems. Because of their importance as plant pathogens, the genomes of several Fusarium spp. have been sequenced. Within this genus, Fusarium circinatum is one of the most harmful pathogens of pine trees attacking up to 60 Pinus species. Till now, the genomes of 13 strains of F. circinatum have been sequenced. The strain GL1327 we studied lacks a twelfth chromosome, which allows the study of virulence genes on this chromosome. Although the genome of several strains of F. circinatum has been sequenced, it is still almost completely unannotated, which severely limits the possibilities to further investigate the molecular mechanisms of virulence of Fusarium. Therefore, this study aimed to annotate the 12th chromosome of F. circinatum and integrate currently available resources. In silico annotation of the 12th chromosome of F. circinatum revealed the presence of 118 open reading frames (ORFs) encoding 141 proteins which were predicted using an ab initio gene prediction tool. The InterProScan and SMART analyses identified known domains in 30 proteins and eggNOG additionally in 12 of them. Among them, four groups can be distinguished: genes possibly related to heterokaryon incompatibility (4 genes), regulation of transcription (5 genes), plant cell wall degrading enzymes (7 genes) and trichothecene synthesis (3 genes). This study also integrated data of F.circinatum reference strain CMWF1803 assembled to chromosome level but not annotated with currently best annotated but assembled only to scaffold level strain NRRL 25331. Full article

Drought stress is one of the major physiological stress factors that adversely affect agricultural production, altering critical features of plant growth and metabolism. Plants can be subjected simultaneously to abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought and viral infections. Rewarding effects provided by viruses on the ability of host plants to endure abiotic stresses have been reported. Recently, begomoviruses causing the tomato yellow leaf curl disease in tomatoes were shown to increase heat and drought tolerance. However, biological bases underlying the induced drought tolerance need further elucidation, particularly in the case of tomato plants. In this work, tomato plants infected by the tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) were subjected to severe drought stress, followed by recovery. Morphological traits, water potential, and hormone contents were measured in leaves together with molecular analysis of stress-responsive and hormone metabolism-related genes. Wilting symptoms appeared three days later in TYLCSV-infected plants compared to healthy controls and post-rehydration recovery was faster (2 vs. 4 days, respectively). Our study contributes new insights into the impact of viruses on the plant’s adaptability to environmental stresses. On a broader perspective, such information could have important practical implications for managing the effects of climate change on agroecosystems. Full article

The subject of research in the paper is the capital structure of companies in the Republic of Serbia. The research sample consists of companies that operated in the manufacturing industry in the Republic of Serbia in the period 2006–2020. The aim of the research is to identify firm-specific variables that have significant influence on the capital structure of the analyzed companies. Using a panel data methodology, three leverage models were estimated: long-term leverage, short-term leverage, and total leverage. The research results confirm the importance of company size, profitability, tangibility, and risk in determining the capital structure of companies in the Republic of Serbia. However, the research results show that size, profitability, and tangibility of assets have the opposite effect on long-term leverage compared to short-term and total leverage. That is, the behavior of companies in the Republic of Serbia in the case of long-term leverage is in accordance with the predictions of the trade-off theory, while in the case of short-term and total leverage, the behavior of companies can be explained by the pecking order theory. Full article