Differently substituted hetaryl thioketones react with less reactive diazoketones under microwave (MW) irradiation in toluene solution. After only 2 min, the reactions were complete and, depending on the type of the used diazoketone, α,β-unsaturated ketones, acyl substituted thiiranes or 1,3-oxathioles were obtained as final products. In the case of azibenzil and di(thiophen-2-yl) thioketone, a new type of 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization of the intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide involving a thiophene ring led to a fused sulfur heterocycle. In contrast to hetaryl thioketones, the ferrocenyl analogues decompose under MW irradiation. Alternatively, they react with diazopropanone and 2-diazo-1-phenylethanone in boiling THF in the presence of LiClO₄ to give α,β-unsaturated ketones as sole products. In these cases, the reactions require long reaction times. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

The European Green Deal is the EU’s latest growth strategy and action plan, which will meet the challenges concerning climate change and environmental degradation. The components of the Green Deal which are intended to prevent biodiversity loss, to reduce pollution level, and to improve food quality are: The Farm to Fork Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy. Their main aims include: Reducing the application of pesticides by 50% by 2030, reducing nutrients loss by 50% while preserving soil fertility, reducing the application of mineral fertilizers by a minimum of 20% by 2030, as well as supporting the development of organic farming to reach 25% of all the arable land in the EU. These aims are very ambitious and they pose a serious challenge. Can the European Green Deal provide an opportunity for fungal grass endophytes? This paper presented different aspects in which endophytes of the Epichloë genus affect colonized plants, as well as their possible applications in biological grass protection and in improving the performance properties of different grass biotopes. Literature was reviewed to provide evidence of how fungal endophytes might be used to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal strategy, in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit antifungal properties and may be applied for limitation of pathogen growth in crop production. The objectives of the study were: 1) to investigate and compare the effects of ZnO submicron particles (ZnO SMPs) and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the in vitro response of Botrytis cinerea , Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata and 2) to evaluate the impact of those particles on suppressing disease symptoms caused by the three plant pathogens on potted tomato plants ( Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Bawole Serce’). In the in vitro experiment ZnO SMPs or ZnO NPs at the concentration of 0, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/l were applied. In the in vivo experiment, potted tomato plants were infected with pathogens and sprayed with ZnO SMPs or ZnO NPs suspensions at the concentration of 500 mg/l. Experimental objects included also non-infected control plants, as well as infected and ZnO SMPs/NPs non-treated control plants. The addition of ZnO NPs and ZnO SMPs to the PDA medium significantly inhibited the growth of mycelium of all tested pathogens. However, the advantage of ZnO NPs over ZnO SMPs in inhibiting the growth of mycelium has not been demonstrated. Interestingly, the lowest tested ZnO SMPs/NPs concentration (100 mg/l) caused a significant reduction of mycelium growth of F. oxysporum and A. alternata (up to 33.32%). As for B. cinerea , only the concentration of 500 mg/l and higher concentrations of tested material samples limited the growth of its mycelium (up to 82.67%). In vivo experiment on tomato plants did not confirm the effectiveness of ZnO SMPs in the reduction of B. cinerea and A. alternata infection, in contrast to ZnO NPs, which significantly limited the growth of all pathogens (by between 56.99% and 65.11%).

Modern, technologically advanced fertilizers that increase the efficiency of the plant’s use of macro and microelements while reducing the doses used are one of the most important elements of sustainable plant production. Current European Union policy, especially the from-farm-to-fork strategy, which is part of the European Green Deal and sustainable agriculture, requires producers to seek new solutions that will ensure higher yields while reducing the number and volume of fertilizers and pesticides introduced into the environment. The aim of conducted research was to determine the effect of the application of Techno Z (sulphur 67% + zinc 14%), an advanced microgranular sulphur/zinc fertilizer with patented ORT technology on greenhouse-grown tomato, one of the most popular vegetables grown worldwide. Consumption is constantly growing, and demand is much higher in many countries than domestic production. Therefore, measures aimed at increasing yields, such as more effective, sustainable fertilization, are extremely important.