scholarly journals Goji Berry Gall Mite Expansion in Europe, with Emphasis on Southeastern Part of Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Roxana CICEOI ◽  
Vasilica LUCHIAN ◽  
Andrei Florin TABACU ◽  
Minodora GUTUE ◽  
Mala Maria STAVRESCU-BEDIVAN
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Goji Berry ◽  
Gall Mite ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
And Control

In Europe, the goji crop is expanding rapidly, to satisfy the increased market demand for functional foods, with effects in chronic diseases treatment (cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc.). Romania has become in recent years one of the most important growers of goji berry, especially for organic production, as the species was quite resistant to main pests and diseases. Still, in 2008, a non-indigenous species of Eriophyid mites, called Aceria kuko, was identified on goji plants in UK and spread rapidly throughout the EU. The plant protection institutions took eradication measures, however the pest continued to spread in new plantations and recently on spontaneous plants. Based on GBIF, iNaturalist, personal observations and communication, the paper presents the current distribution of goji berry gall mite in Europe and in Romania and also suggests the use of new citizen science tool - ProtectGoji maps, that aims both to increase awareness of goji producers and consumers about this pest and to geolocate the species expansion in Romania for a better containment and control strategy.

scholarly journals ORGANIC PRODUCTION IS THE BASIS OF HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND NATURE

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (7) ◽  
pp. 76-83
Author(s):  
Bogdan KUZNYAK ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Natural Fertility ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Strategic Direction ◽  
And Control

The search of forms and methods of promoting the development of organic agriculture, consumption of organic products and its distribution through the long-term marketing concept is considered. Life expectancy in Ukraine in recent years has decreased by 10 years compared to European countries. The natural fertility of the land is gradually deteriorating due to excessive use of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, toxic chemicals and other negative factors. This led to destruction of the fertile soil layer and its most valuable component – humus, the content of which has decreased from 13-14% to 3-5% over the past 100 years. This significantly worsened the living conditions of soil microorganisms ensuring the activities of organic substances and nutrition of agricultural plants and reduced the quality of grown produce, which adversely affects the health of people and nature. The way out of this difficult situation is the transition to organic farming, which at the present stage is increasingly becoming a global strategic direction. The basic principles of organic farming are: (i) refusal to use mineral fertilizers and chemical means of plant protection (pesticides); (ii) use of organic fertilizers and siderates (“green fertilizers”, which fill the soil with organic mass and destroy weeds); (iii) surface cultivation of the soil (not more than 11 cm) sufficient for fluffing its upper layer, protection against weeds and microform balance; (iv) provision of scientifically sound crop rotation, which ensures fertility of the soil and control of weeds and pathogens.

Reversion from organic to conventional agriculture: A review

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henriette Sahm ◽  
Jürn Sanders ◽  
Hiltrud Nieberg ◽  
Gesine Behrens ◽  
Heike Kuhnert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Number ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
The Past ◽  
And Control

AbstractOver the past 10 years, the organic sector has expanded continuously in Europe due to policy support and a growing market demand for organic products. In line with this development, many farmers converted to organic farming each year. Nevertheless, the total number of organic farms has not increased constantly in Europe. In several countries, the absolute number of organic farms actually decreased in some years of the past decade. Some of the deregistered farmers gave up completely; others reverted to conventional agriculture. Against this background, this article aims (i) to give an overview of the extent of reversion to conventional agriculture in Europe based on statistics, (ii) to conceptualize the decision to revert in the form of a theoretical model, (iii) to compare farmers’ reasons to revert to conventional farming based on existing studies, and (iv) to identify further research needs. The importance of reversions to conventional agriculture is difficult to determine with the existing data, especially as in most cases it is not recorded as to what happened to the farms after deregistering from organic certification. The data nevertheless show that there are large fluctuations in the organic sector with many farmers entering and exiting each year. In order to reveal the farmers’ reasons for deregistering, various qualitative as well as quantitative surveys have been carried out already. For most farmers, the decision to revert is a result of different factors. Reasons for the reversion of their farms can be classified into economic motives, difficulties regarding certification and control, problems with organic production techniques as well as the farms’ macro environment. In most cases, however, economic reasons played a main role. Suggestions for organic legislation bodies, advisory services and policy makers are derived out of the findings. A deeper understanding of the influencing aspects regarding reversions and the necessary changes in the organic sector to avoid them should be an important objective of forthcoming research.

scholarly journals The Role of Biofilms Developed under Different Anthropogenic Pressure on Recruitment of Macro-Invertebrates

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2030
Author(s):  
Eva Cacabelos ◽  
Patrício Ramalhosa ◽  
João Canning-Clode ◽  
Jesús S. Troncoso ◽  
Celia Olabarria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Propagule Pressure ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
And Control

Microbial biofilms can be key mediators for settlement of macrofoulers. The present study examines the coupled effects of microbial biofilms and local environmental conditions on the composition, structure and functioning of macrofouling assemblages. Settlement of invertebrates over a gradient of human-impacted sites was investigated on local biofilms and on biofilms developed in marine protected areas (MPAs). Special attention was given to the presence of non-indigenous species (NIS), a global problem that can cause important impacts on local assemblages. In general, the formation of macrofouling assemblages was influenced by the identity of the biofilm. However, these relationships varied across levels of anthropogenic pressure, possibly influenced by environmental conditions and the propagule pressure locally available. While the NIS Watersipora subatra seemed to be inhibited by the biofilm developed in the MPA, Diplosoma cf. listerianum seemed to be attracted by biofilm developed in the MPA only under mid anthropogenic pressure. The obtained information is critical for marine environmental management, urgently needed for the establishment of prevention and control mechanisms to minimize the settlement of NIS and mitigate their threats.

scholarly journals Are they always bad? Assessing benefits of non-indigenous species in aquatic environment and their implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
Muhammad Masrur Islami
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ecological Change ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Vector Management ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
And Control

Non-indigenous species (NIS), non-native, or alien species are any organisms living and spreading outside their natural habitat. Many of NIS spread to a new environment accidentally, while some other species are intentionally introduced by humans to a new habitat in many different pathways, as follows: 1) release; 2) escape; 3) contaminant; 4) stowaway; 5) corridor; and 6) unaided. Threaten native biodiversity may be the most problematic impact of NIS. They can also disrupt food-web organizations and affect the ecosystem structures. Additionally, the problem is exacerbated by disagreements regarding whether or not NIS should be permitted for aquaculture production. The likelihood of NIS escaping, being released from aquaculture, and establishing in its native habitat poses a significant threat to the ecosystem and biodiversity. NIS also have positive impacts as ecosystem engineers which may increase the biodiversity of native communities. Other benefits of NIS include providing an alternative food source and supporting fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Understanding the introduction process and the impacts of NIS should be supported by effective policy frameworks and management approaches, including risk assessment, prevention and control, pathway and vector management, early detection and rapid response, eradication, and mitigation and restoration. Furthermore, the crucial efforts would be raising public awareness, improving scientific research, and developing strategy regarding biosecurity issues as consequences of the emergence of interactions complexity among NIS and other global ecological change drivers.

Meta-analysis on the ecological impacts of widely spread non-indigenous species in the Baltic Sea

2021 ◽  
pp. 147375
Author(s):  
Henn Ojaveer ◽  
Jonne Kotta ◽  
Okko Outinen ◽  
Heli Einberg ◽  
Anastasija Zaiko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

scholarly journals First Record of the Alien Species Procambarus virginalis Lyko, 2017 in Fresh Waters of Sardinia and Insight into Its Genetic Variability

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Daria Sanna ◽  
Ilenia Azzena ◽  
Fabio Scarpa ◽  
Piero Cossu ◽  
Angela Pira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
First Record ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Fresh Waters ◽  
Mediterranean Island ◽  
Marbled Crayfish ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

In the fresh waters of Sardinia (Italy), the non-indigenous crayfish species Procambarus clarkii has been reported from 2005, but, starting from 2019, there have been several reports of a new non-indigenous crayfish in southern and central areas of this Mediterranean island, and its morphology suggests that this species may be the marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis. Forty-seven individuals of this putative species were analyzed, using the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I as molecular marker to identify this crayfish and investigate the level of genetic variability within the recently established population. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were carried out on a dataset including sequences from the Sardinian individuals and from all congenerics available in GenBank. Results showed that the new Sardinian crayfish belong to the species P. virginalis. All the sequences belonging to P. virginalis from European countries are identical, with only few exceptions found among Sardinian individuals. In conclusion, this paper highlights the occurrence of a new further alien species in the Sardinian fresh waters, which are already characterized by the high presence of non-indigenous species.

Economic Analysis of Production of Maize in Meghalaya and Constraints Associated with it

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipriya R. Lyngkhoi
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Net Return ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Average Return ◽  
Maize Cultivation

The present study was undertaken to estimate the costs and returns structure of maize cultivation and identifying the prominent production constraints in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. A sample of 60 farmers was randomly drawn from six villages of Mawthadraishan and Nongstoin block of the selected district. The costs and returns per hectare were calculated on the basis of cost concepts and Garett ranking method was used for employed for determination of constraints in maize production. The overall cost of cultivation was found to be ` 37185.22 per ha and the major cost components were manures (48.25%) and human labour (34.73%). The overall net return was evaluated at ` 19038.20 with small, medium and large farmers having similar returns with the exception of marginal farmers gaining a net return of only ` 13889.83 which was 27.04 per cent lower than the average return among the sample farmers. It may be attributed to their heavy dependence on labour and lack of investment on irrigation, plant protection and better-quality seeds. The realised average yield was found to be 23.65 q/ha which was abysmally low compared to other maize producing states of India. A positive trend between the return over cost ratio and the operational holding was observed with an average of 1.51. The prominent constraints as perceived by the farmers were unfavorable weather conditions, the incidence of pests and diseases and costly fertilizers and manures with the Garrett’s score of 64.70, 62.75 and 54.40 respectively

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