Sedimentological-Geochemical Data Based Reconstruction of Climate Changes and Human Impacts from the Peat Sequence of Round Lake in the Western Foothill Area of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania

This paper presents the results of comparative sedimentological and geochemical analysis of the mire at Sânpaul, Round Lake (Kerek-tó). The palaeoecological site is situated in the western foothill area of the Eastern Carpathians in Romania. The primary objective of this study was to analyse the accumulation of major and trace elements in a 7500 year-long peat and lake deposition. The concentrations of 13 elements were determined by using handheld XRF. This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study, for which the principal aims were to examine the long-term relationship between land degradation in the Homoród Hills using various palaeoecological techniques, primarily comparative geochemical analyses. The PCA of elemental concentrations suggests that Round Lake is mainly controlled by the input of inorganic mineral matter and the LOI550 of peat. However, some elements are influenced by biological processes of vegetation and groundwater. Geohistorical studies compared with vegetation changes and elemental distribution helped the detection of erosion phases in the level of 12 prehistoric cultures.

Relationship between agro-ecological resources of vineyards and the anthocyanins complex in berries

This article is aimed at identifying the relationship between the territories agro-ecological conditions and the anthocyanins complex formation of grapes, which determines the quality and biological value of red wines. Using HPLC, the anthocyanins complex of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' cultivar from 6 industrial vineyards, located in three natural regions of Crimea, was studied. The agro-climatic resources of vineyards were assessed using the methods of geoinformation and mathematical modeling. It was detected that according to parameters of heat and moisture supply vineyards discriminated with Wilks L. = 0.007; α<0.00001. The direct correlation (r = 0.88-0.95) was identified between growing degree days above 10 °C, growing degree days above 20 °C, Winkler index, average growing season temperature and the rate of monoglucosides of malvidin and its derivatives in anthocyanins complex of berries; the inverse correlation – between the same agroecological indexes and the rate of cyanidin, petunidin and their derivatives. The similarity (Ed = 2.79-2.98) of anthocyanins complex of grapes from Villino v., Uglovoe v. and Yalta t. located in the western foothill-coastal and south coast regions was discovered. The highest content of anthocyanins was found in grapes from Privetnoe v. (5487 ± 384 mg kg-1), the smallest - from Solnechnaya Dolina v. (2154 ± 129 mg kg-1) located in the same natural region. The results obtained indicate the need for a "point" assessment of the agro-ecological resources for creation of industrial vineyards.

Susceptibility of collection pear cultivars to the agent of scab pathogen Venturia pirina Aderh

The objective of the research is to study the biology of the pathogen of the scab Venturia pirina Aderh depending on the agrometeorological conditions of the pear vegetation and to assess the collection cultivars for susceptibility to the disease. The biological features of the pear scab in the western foothill agro-climatic region of the Crimea are studied. The influence of climatic conditions on the occurrence of various epidemiological types of scab manifestations on pears is estimated. As a result of the research, highly resistant cultivars were found: Zhukovka, Zaporozhskaya, Triumph of Jodoin, Vodyanistaya, Dorodnaya, Bere Shibasso, Martin Sekl, which showed moderate levels of infection spread in all years of research, with the development of the disease in the range of 0.2-1.3%. Immune cultivars of pears with absolute resistance to the pathogen agent V. pirina, which was not affected by changes in weather conditions, were identified. These cultivars are the following: Zimovka, Trapezitsa, Chervona, Shara Bera, Seyanets Kolossa, Populyarnaya, Kurzemskaya Maslyanaya, Wonderful Italy, which can be used in breeding and ecologized protection systems when supplying with cuttings horticultural industries in the Crimea and the south of Russia.

Rekognosciranje antičkih lokaliteta na području Kiseljaka / Reconnaissance of the ancient sites in Kiseljak area

This article presents the results of the field reconnaissance of the sites situated in the Kiseljak valley. The sites in question are: the site of excavated hill in Gromiljak, the field in the western foothill of Humac, the Humac hill, two sites to the north-east of the site of Gradac in Višnjica, the presumable archaeological site containing the remains in the site Han Ploča, and the presumable archaeological site in the site of Kovači. All sites are located in the Kiseljak municipality. The reconnaissance of the aforementioned sites was organized to gather information about their current state and to gather new information about one section of Dolabella’s road route. During the reconnaissance, only a small amount of the surface materials was uncovered, and only on the sites near western foot of Humac hill, and on the two sites in Višnjica (with contains two sites). On the other hand, there are a couple of potential archaeological sites (Han Ploča and Kovači). During the years of plowing, fragments of different sizes have been found on the surface. Unfortunately, during the reconnaissance of the Han Ploča and Kovači sites, only two shards of pottery were found. In order to obtain more information about the part of Dolabella’s road that went through this region, as well about the Roman period itself, new research needs to be carried out. It is important to note that some of these sites were affected by the war, so the question is to what extent have the archaeological findings been preserved.