Industrialization and urbanization have led to an increased accumulation of waste materials that are transformed into a nutrient-rich and high-quality product called vermicompost by the vermicomposting process. Vermicomposting is an ecofriendly and economically favorable biotechnological process that involves the interaction of earthworms and microorganisms. Due to the importance of this process and its great potential in dealing with the consequences of waste accumulation, this review aims to provide key insights as well as highlight knowledge gaps. It is emphasized that there is a great challenge in understanding and clarifying the mechanisms involved in the vermicomposting process. The optimization of the factors affecting the possible application of vermicompost is crucial for obtaining the final product. Information on the composition of bacterial communities, amount of vermicompost, effect on heavy metal content, plant pathogens, diseases and organic waste selection is here recognized as currently the most important issues to be addressed. By answering these knowledge gaps, it is possible to enable wider utilization of vermicompost products.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a one-year plant known as a source of nutrients that can be consumed in the diet in the form of seeds or sprouts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of illumination for 24 and 48 h on dark-grown chia microgreens. Total antioxidant capacity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, along with the total phenolics, ascorbic acid and cellulose content, and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the biochemical composition and elucidate the changes in compound structures between dark-grown and illuminated chia microgreens. Analysis of the results showed that illumination significantly increased the content of all measured bioactive compounds as well as antioxidative capacity, especially 48 h after exposure to light. FTIR analyses supported structural and molecular changes in chia microgreens grown under different light regimes. Our results suggest that illumination has a positive effect on the antioxidant potential of chia microgreens, which may present a valuable addition to the human diet.

The aim of this article is to determine the influence of women in Serbian politics on the basis of attitudes of members of the Serbian parliament. The core of this paper is a survey carried out among both male and female members of the Serbian parliament. Our results show that there are two kinds of factors (obstacles) for greater participation of women in modern Serbian politics: 1) the system factor and 2) the psychological factor. Gender inequality is still present in Serbian society, and it is particularly influenced by traditional conceptions about gender relations and differences. The second factor is psychological. Although women can generally take part in public life and be engaged in politics, they themselves have psychological barriers which prevent them to take an active part in politics. The reason for this is the fact that women are taught to focus themselves on family and their private lives and their activities are not directed toward the public sphere. The duality between private and public aspects makes women feel awkward, as if they were put on some kind of trial of character, capacity and knowledge. .

In this study, we evaluated the leaf antioxidative responses of three wheat varieties (Srpanjka, Divana, and Simonida) treated with two different forms of zinc (Zn), Zn-sulfate and Zn-EDTA, in concentrations commonly used in agronomic biofortification. Zn concentration was significantly higher in the flag leaves of all three wheat varieties treated with Zn-EDTA compared to control and leaves treated with Zn-sulfate. Both forms of Zn increased malondialdehyde level and total phenolics content in varieties Srpanjka and Divana. Total glutathione content was not affected after the Zn treatment. Zn-sulfate increased the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) in both Srpanjka and Divana, while glutathione S-transferase (GST) was only induced in var. Srpanjka. Chelate form of Zn increased the activities of GST and GPOD in both Simonida and Divana. Catalase activity was shown to be less sensitive to Zn treatment and was only induced in var. Srpanjka treated with Zn-EDTA where GPOD activity was not induced. Concentrations of Zn used for agronomic biofortification can induce oxidative stress in wheat leaves. The antioxidative status of wheat leaves could be a good indicator of Zn tolerance, whereas wheat genotype and chemical form of Zn are the most critical factors influencing Zn toxicity.

Selenium (Se) deficiency in human and animal nutrition is primarily due to low levels of Se in soils. It can be prevented by enriching crops, such as wheat, with Se through agronomic biofortification. Although Se is not essential for plants, it shows a dual effect on their metabolism depending on its concentration. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of five different concentrations (0.4, 4, 20, 40, and 400 mg/kg) of selenate and selenite on the oxidative status and antioxidative response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Kraljica) shoots and roots. According to morpho-physiological analyses, selenite was found to have a lower toxicity threshold than selenate. The measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers showed that Se did not cause oxidative damage to wheat seedlings due to the activation of detoxification mechanisms at the biochemical level, which depended on the type of tissue, concentration, and form of applied Se. Treatment with 20 mg/kg of selenate can be recommended for wheat seedling biofortification due to a sufficient increase in Se accumulation in shoots without signs of toxicity. These results contribute to a better understanding of wheat seedlings’ physiological and biochemical responses to Se and the development of more effective biofortification strategies.

Wheat production worldwide is significantly threatened by phytopathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium, while inadequate nitrogen fertilization can contribute to the development of Fusarium head blight (FHB), ultimately leading to reduced yield and grain quality. This study aimed to elucidate the individual and interactive effects of genotype, Fusarium inoculation and different nitrogen treatments on the antioxidant response of wheat spikes across two growing seasons. The study was conducted under field conditions on four winter wheat genotypes differing in FHB susceptibility. Oxidative stress was assessed by lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant responses by glutathione content and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed that wheat antioxidant responses to Fusarium infection were mainly shaped by genotype and seasonal conditions, with significant genotype-dependent interactions with nitrogen supply. FHB-susceptible genotypes, Srpanjka and Sofru, showed consistently lower basal glutathione levels and glutathione S-transferase activity than the resistant genotypes Apache and Graindor in both growing seasons. In both seasons, Fusarium inoculation increased guaiacol peroxidase activity in most genotypes, suggesting a consistent association with infection response. These findings improve understanding of wheat defence responses under varying nitrogen levels and may support more effective FHB management. Overall, the results indicate that antioxidant responses reflect both defence activation and stress intensity, depending on genotype and environmental conditions.