Cornel Negrușier

Paulownia trees represent a convergence of ecological innovation and economic opportunity. Beyond their extraordinary growth rates, adaptability to diverse climates, and capacity to produce high-value timber, Paulownia farms offer a unique solution to pressing environmental and economic challenges. However, economic sustainability is the most crucial factor for any farmer when deciding to introduce this species. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the profitability of seven existing Paulownia farms in Romania. The economic analysis has been carried out by adopting the discounted cash flow method. The results showed that the cultivation of Paulownia for both timber and woodchip production as a dual production system with an annual gross margin between 27 and 55% can present a viable alternative as compared to other agricultural crops. However, profitability highly depends on the selection of plant species according to the environmental conditions and agricultural practices applied, as well as demand and market price variations.

The genus Vaccinium, which includes approximately 450 species, features economically significant berries such as bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Bilberries flourish in acidic, well-drained soils, typically found in heathlands and coniferous forests, while blueberries benefit from a broader range of soil types and intensive agricultural practices. Sustainable cultivation strategies, including organic fertilization and efficient water management, are vital for optimizing production and addressing the environmental challenges posed by climate change. Both berries are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, driving consumer interest and market growth despite competition from alternative crops. Additionally, tailored fertilization techniques are crucial for maximizing yield and fruit quality. By implementing circular economy principles, the production of bilberries and blueberries can enhance sustainability and profitability, ensuring their long-term success in agricultural systems.

Paulownia trees represent a convergence of ecological innovation and economic opportunity. Beyond their extraordinary growth rates, adaptability to diverse climates, and capacity to produce high-value timber, Paulownia farms offer a unique solution to pressing environmental and economic challenges. However, economic sustainability is the crucial factor for any farmer to decide the introduction of this species. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the profitability of seven existing paulownia farms from Romania. The economic analysis has been carried out by adopting the discounted cash flow method. The results showed that the cultivation of Paulownia for both timber and woodchip production as a dual production system with an annual gross margin between 27-55% can present a viable alternative as compared to other agricultural crops. However, the profitability highly depends on the selection of plant species according to certain environmental conditions, agricultural practices applied but also on demand and market price variations.

The genus Vaccinium, which includes approximately 450 species, features economically significant berries such as bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Bilberries flourish in acidic, well-drained soils, typically found in heathlands and coniferous forests, while blueberries benefit from a broader range of soil types and intensive agricultural practices. Sus-tainable cultivation strategies, including organic fertilization and efficient water management, are vital for optimizing production and addressing the environmental challenges posed by climate change. Both berries are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, driving consumer interest and market growth despite competition from alternative crops. Additionally, tailored fertilization techniques are crucial for maximizing yield and fruit quality. By implementing circular economy principles, the production of bilberries and blueberries can enhance sustainability and profitability, ensuring their long-term success in agricultural systems.

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches amaranth, which is a plant with high nutritional potential. Based on the unique pedoclimatic conditions of the Somes meadow in Transylvania and the known adaptability of amaranth varieties to diverse environments, we hypothesize that certain amaranth varieties of South American origin will demonstrate their potential for morphological development, grain biomass yield, and quantitative characteristics when cultivated in this specific environment. Our study aims to identify if, based on morpho-productive traits, the six amaranth varieties under investigation in a specific environment are suitable for consumption as functional food. A bifactorial trial was implemented with the following factors: amaranth species and amaranth varieties. Two species and seven varieties of amaranth were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately contribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly contributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that while current research offers valuable perspectives on the performance and nutritional composition of amaranth varieties studied, there are recommended more studies conducted across diverse environments.

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches the amaranth, which is a plant with high potential, highlighting the morphological growth, grain biomass pro-duction, and quantitative traits of seven varieties of amaranth cultivated in the pedoclimatic con-ditions of Somes meadow in Transylvania. A bifactorial trial was implemented with factors ama-ranth species and amaranth varieties. Two amaranth species and seven varieties were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The interrelationships between amaranth morphological traits quantified by using Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately con-tribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly con-tributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that morpho-productive, and nutritional characteristics of the seven amaranth varieties comprised by our study recommend the plans to be used in various nutritional aims, being a valuable replacer of traditional raw materials in specific food and feed industry sectors.

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of an electric field and gamma radiation upon the germination of spruce seeds. In order to carry out the research, spruce seeds from different provenances have been subjected to different treatments: electric field (EF) with 10 V, 30 V, and 50 V voltages and intensity of E = 266V/m, exposure time of 15 and 35 min, and gamma (G) radiation with several treatments (1 Gy-31 min, 1.5 Gy-46 min, 2 Gy-62 min, and 6 Gy-186 min). Under the influence of EF, the best results upon seed germination (80.83%) were recorded when seeds were treated with 30 V for 15 min, for all provenances investigated. Regarding gamma radiation, the highest germination percentage (87.50%) was achieved in T5_G when seeds were subjected to 6 Gy for 186 min. It was also considered the interaction between seeds origin and the different EF and G treatments applied to the seeds to induce germination and further seedlings’ development. The results obtained after seeds were exposed to gamma radiation came out on top compared to electric field treatments, both for the germination and seedlings’ height.

Climate change and its detrimental effects on agricultural production, freshwater availability and biodiversity accentuated the need for more stress-tolerant varieties of crops. This requires unraveling the underlying pathways that convey tolerance to abiotic stress in wild relatives of food crops, industrial crops and ornamentals, whose tolerance was not eroded by crop cycles. In this work we try to demonstrate the feasibility of such strategy applying and investigating the effects of saline stress in different species and cultivars of Portulaca. We attempted to unravel the main mechanisms of stress tolerance in this genus and to identify genotypes with higher tolerance, a procedure that could be used as an early detection method for other ornamental and minor crops. To investigate these mechanisms, six-week-old seedlings were subjected to saline stress for 5 weeks with increasing salt concentrations (up to 400 mM NaCl). Several growth parameters and biochemical stress markers were determined in treated and control plants, such as photosynthetic pigments, monovalent ions (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻), different osmolytes (proline and soluble sugars), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde—a by-product of membrane lipid peroxidation—MDA) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids). The applied salt stress inhibited plant growth, degraded photosynthetic pigments, increased concentrations of specific osmolytes in both leaves and roots, but did not induce significant oxidative stress, as demonstrated by only small fluctuations in MDA levels. All Portulaca genotypes analyzed were found to be Na⁺ and Cl⁻ includers, accumulating high amounts of these ions under saline stress conditions, but P. grandiflora proved to be more salt tolerant, showing only a small reduction under growth stress, an increased flower production and the lowest reduction in K⁺/Na⁺ rate in its leaves.