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The most important pests of acacia black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) (Fabaceae) are: Appendiseta robiniae Gillette, Phyllonorycter robiniella Clemens, Parectopa robiniella Clemens, Nematus tibialis Newman and Obolodiplosis robiniae Haldemann, species from North America, where it also originates the acacia, which is the host plant. In Europe these species were introduced accidentally, being considered invasive species. In Europe, O. robiniae Haldemann was first reported in July 2003 in northeastern Italy, in Paese near Padua, from where it spread to almost the entire European continent, especially through trade in infested biological material from nurseries. The attack occurs in the species R. pseudoacacia L., R. viscosa L. and R. hispida L., mainly in urban areas, where it mainly affects their aesthetic value. The larvae develop characteristic leaf margin roll galls on the infested leaves. There are up to 6 galels on a leaflet, and on average there are up to 5-6 larvae. In Europe it develops two, three and, in optimal conditions, even four generations a year. Zoophagous entomofauna can cause population decline, especially parasitoid species. For Platygaster robiniae Buhl & Duso (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) the percentage of parasites reported was up to 40%. A low percentage of parasitism can be produced by other species, such as: Aprostocetus sp., Chrysocharis sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Eupelmus urozonus Dalman (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Eurytoma verticillata F. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), Mesopolobus mediterraneus Mayr. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Torymus sp (Hymenoptera: Torymidae).

Montane grasslands must be managed effectively to conserve biodiversity since they play an important role in sustaining healthy and diversified ecosystems. A 9 km transect was used to assess plant and lepidopteran biodiversity in mountain meadows in Bilbor, Romania. Different management strategies were used in each plot. The identified plants were divided into three categories: Poaceae, Fabaceae, and other families. In the case of lepidoptera, diurnal butterfly species from three families were observed: Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, and Pieridae. The number of plant species in the abandoned meadows was reduced, with a focus on those with low fodder value (Nardus stricta and Deschampsia flexuosa), as well as some invasive species (Vaccinium myrtillus). The implementation of protection and conservation measures resulted in species diversification, with an increase in the number of Poaceae (11 to 16 species) and Fabaceae (nine to fourteen species). In addition to providing more feed, the flora can benefit lepidopteran entomofauna. During the monitoring period, 29 species were identified from the three lepidopteran families. The most abundant species were Maniola jurtina L., Boloria selene Denis & Schif., Argynnis paphia L., Coenonympha pamphilus L. (Nymphalidae), Pseudophilotes schiffermuelleri Hemming (Lycaenidae), and Pieris mannii Mayer (Pieridae). Traditional mowing and grazing activities can help to maintain the structure and composition of these ecosystems, limiting biological succession to forest and sustaining floristic biodiversity.

Pear is one of the most important fruit species grown in the temperate zones of the globe. Besides fruit production, pear species are highly valued in forestry and agroforestry systems; in landscaping, as ornamental features; as fruits of ecological value, and in other areas. The Pyrus species, obtained from a gene bank, were evaluated for the different morphological traits of the trees, leaves, flowers, and fruits, as well as their responses to attacks from principal diseases and pests. Phenotypic data were examined using correlation and multivariate analyses, and a dendrogram of morphological traits was completed via molecular investigations at the DNA level using the RAPD markers. The findings revealed the complexities of the phenotypic and genetic connections among Pyrus species, as well as the difficulty in establishing phylogenetic relationships among pear species. The findings also demonstrated that the wide variability between species with different geographical origins, and their multiple peculiarities of interest, represents a cornerstone as the source of genes of great utility for pear breeding or for utilizing trees for different edible crops and for silvocultural, landscape, or ecological purposes.

In Europe, the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) was first reported in 2006, in southwestern Germany, then spread to almost all countries. Larvae of this species affect the aesthetic value of the box tree. In the last period, numerous studies were carried out regarding the identification of useful entomofauna that reduce the numerical density of the population of Cydalima perspectalis. In this study conducted in north-western Romania (Cluj County, in 2019), entomopathogens and useful entomofauna were monitored in four areas, represented by four cities. The entomopathogenic agents contaminated the larvae of the box tree moth in a proportion of 5.6% at Gherla, 6.8% at Dej, 8.7% at Cluj-Napoca and 15.3% at Ciucea. Most larvae have been infected with Bacillus. At Cluj-Napoca and Ciucea, the presence of the larval endoparasite Exorista larvarum L. (Diptera: Tachinidae) was reported. Parasitoid species determined a parasitization rate of 5.1% at Dej, 8.6% at Gherla and 13.4% at Cluj-Napoca. Predators affected pupae in a proportion of 3.8% at Gherla, 4.2% at Dej and 16% at Cluj-Napoca. Among the pupae predators, for the first-time common earwig was reported, Forficula auricularia L. Entomopathogenic agents affected 5.3% of the pupae collected from Cluj-Napoca, 7.7% in Gherla and 12.5% in Dej. During the monitoring period of the zoophagous entomofauna and the entomopathogenic microorganisms, affected the pupae in a percentage of 20.1% in Gherla, 21.8% in Dej, 34.7% in Cluj-Napoca, contributing to the diminution of the population of the harmful species.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive polyphagous species, that is frequently found in blackberry culture, affecting the commercial value of fruits. Between 2020-2021, in the blackberry collection of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), were carried out observations on susceptibility of five cultivated varieties (‘Thornless’, ‘Loch Ness’, ‘Thornfree’, ‘Thornless Evergreen’ and ‘Navaho’) to D. suzukii. In 2020, the attack frequency in the whole collection was 78.2%. ‘Thornfree’ had the highest attack frequency, 89% while ‘Loch Ness’ was the least susceptible with a frequency of attack of 71%. In 2021, the overall proportion of damaged fruits in the collection was 59.6%. The most susceptible was ‘Thornless’ with an attack frequency of 66% and ‘Thornless Evergreen’ with only 49%. The incidence of infestation by the spotted-wing Drosophila suzukii is influenced by the thermal characteristics of the year, with temperatures higher than 30 °C impacting the fertility of females and the viability of eggs. In the year 2020, the average number of larvae per fruit collected was 6.4, while the average number of larvae in the ‘Loch Ness’ cultivar was 9.4, with a maximum of 48 larvae per fruit. In 2021, an average of 3.4 larvae per fruit were observed, with variations ranging from 2.8 larvae in the ‘Thornfree’ cultivar to 4.2 larvae in the ‘Navaho’ cultivar.

In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have received increased attention from the research community, and the EOs of cinnamon, patchouli, and geranium have become highly recognized for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Due to these properties, they have become valuable and promising candidates for addressing the worldwide threat of antimicrobial resistance and other diseases. Simultaneously, studies have revealed promising new results regarding the effects of physical fields (magnetic and electric) and LASER (MEL) exposure on seed germination, plant growth, biomass accumulation, and the yield and composition of EOs. In this frame, the present study aims to investigate the influence of MEL treatments on cinnamon, patchouli, and geranium EOs, by specifically examining their composition, antimicrobial properties, and antioxidant activities. Results showed that the magnetic influence has improved the potency of patchouli EO against L. monocytogenes, S. enteritidis, and P. aeruginosa, while the antimicrobial activity of cinnamon EO against L. monocytogenes was enhanced by the electric and laser treatments. All exposures have increased the antifungal effect of geranium EO against C. albicans. The antioxidant activity was not modified by any of the treatments. These findings could potentially pave the way for a deeper understanding of the efficiency, the mechanisms of action, and the utilization of EOs, offering new insights for further exploration and application.

Versatile classical and modern methods for a new synthesis of (8E,10Z)-tetradeca-8,10-dienal based on Sonogashira cross-coupling, Cahiez-Fürstner reaction as well as other reactions using palladium, iron or copper as catalysts were described. We designed two ways employing two different strategies one of that involves an E-reduction and the other a Z-reduction with crucial importance in terms of diastereoselective synthesis. From the variously formulated pheromone baits, the one containing only the active isomer showed superior activity compared to the mixture of all isomers of 8,10-tetradecandienal. The synthesis of the pure E,Z diastereoisomer allowed to clarify their structure-bioactivity relationships to reveal the diversity in the stereochemical aspects of pheromone communications.

The species of pear sucker, also called pear psylla or pear psyllid, which are destructive insects belonging to the genus Cacopsylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) cause substantial damage to pear tree plantations. Two consecutive years of research were conducted on the population structure and biological cycle of psylla in a small, elderly, and unmaintained pear orchard in northern Romania. Of the two identified species (C. pyri L. and C. pyricola Forster), C. pyri dominated the psylla population with a percentage of 77.8-80.1%. Adults of both species emerge from hibernation in the first part of March and produce three generations per year. First-generation adults emerge in the first decade of June, the second generation in the last decade of July, and the third generation in the first decade of September as they enter the hibernation phase. Larvae of the first generation appear in the second half of April, the second generation at the end of June - the beginning of July, and the third generation in the second decade of August. There have been reports of up to 11 adults and 27 larvae per leaf, 9 larvae per petiole, and 14 larvae per fruit. The number of adults captured on yellow sticky traps exposed on the southern side of the tree crown was significantly higher compared to the northern side. Following the intense attack, the well-known cv. ‘Williams’ was heavily affected, pear trees were badly defoliated, blackened, and aged prematurely. The climatic conditions of the two years did not influence the phenology of the pests, but the importance of monitoring psyllids is widely argued, considering that it remains the key to integrated protection programs in pear orchards.

The present study was focused on evaluating the manner in which heavy metals originated from natural and anthropic sources (former mining activity in Baiut metallogenic area), in the upper basin of the Lăpuș River, transferred into sediments and accumulated in the riparian vegetation. Total concentrations of Pb, Ni, and Cd, classified as priority hazardous substances in the WFD, were measured in samples of water, sediments and some emergent flora species (Equisetum fluviatile, Myosotonaquaticum, Carexaquatilis, Salix fragilis, Mentha aquatica, Juncus spp.), in 4 selected sections of the Lăpuș River, including a reference section (a pollution free area). The heavy metal concentration in collected samples were determined by atomic adsorption spectrometry. In all the monitored sections the heavymetals concentrations were higher in plants than in sediments or water samples. The highest concentrations were recorded for Pb, then for Ni and lastly for Cd in the genus Carexand Salixin the most contaminated river section. The results of the study show that the ability to accumulate heavy metals differs between species, and affinity for a particular metal depends on its bioavailability.

The pear is an important fruit tree in temperate areas, but due to its sensitivity, fruit yield and quality are often affected by disease and pest attacks. Pear genotypes from a germplasm collection comprising 13 Pyrus species, 17 Romanian varieties, and 50 non-Romanian varieties from a worldwide assortment were investigated in this study. Throughout four years, response to attack of the principal pathogens and pests was investigated phenotypically under natural conditions of infection and infestation. SSR markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity of the genotypes. A standardized method for the evaluation of responses to biotic stressors was proposed, which highlighted significant differences between genotypes. The species and varieties with the lowest degrees of attack (DA%), calculated based on the frequency and intensity of attack, were identified for pear scab (Venturia pyrina), septoria (Septoria pyricola), fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), and psyllids (Psylla sp.). These accessions could provide valuable sources of genes of interest to develop resistant varieties in new pear breeding programs. By combining phenotypic and molecular analyses, significant information was obtained that can be exploited to generate high variability for selection through artificial hybridization by harnessing accessions with complementary molecular fingerprints and high genetic distances.