Maize leaf weevil [(Tanymecus dilaticollis (Gyllenhal, 1834)] represents one of the most dangerous pests of the maize crops in Romania. Each year, around one million hectares cultivated with maize are attacked by this pest with different levels of attack intensities. In the case of the high weevils invasion, the maize seedlings could not survive, and the farmers have to sow their fields again, causing unexpected costs. Spring drought and higher temperatures that usually occur in Romania's south-east is even more favorable circumstances for the weevils attack. Also, maize monoculture has an increasing effect on pest density associate with a higher impact on the attack. The maize seeds' chemical treatment with systemic insecticides was the most effective method to reduce the loss. However, the use of neonicotinoid insecticides for seed treatment was banned in the European Union in 2019. As a result, no effective insecticides are available for maize seed treatment against T. dilaticollis in Romania. This study aimed to evaluate possible alternatives at seed treatment to control the maize leaf weevil. The experiences were carried out at the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea, both under the field and greenhouse conditions, with artificial infestation, between 2015 and 2018. Maize foliar treatment with deltamethrin (100 g/l), thiacloprid (480 g/l), and maize seeds treatment with imidacloprid (600 g/l) active ingredients were assessed. In all years from this trial, in the field conditions studied foliar treatments haven't assign effective protection of the maize plants in early vegetation stages against maize weevil attack. In case of high pest attack in the absence of the seeds treatment, more than 90 % of the plants can be destroyed by the weevils. Until now, no alternatives are available to replace maize seed treatments with systemic insecticides.

This paper presents studies performed for the monitoring of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam residues applied as seed treatment in rapeseed (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera), maize (Zea mays) and sunflower crops (Helianthus annuus). The experiments were located in representative areas of the mentioned crops. Residue levels were determined in plant samples at different phenological development stages, including flowers, as well as in bees and hive products (pollen, honeycomb, honey) by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). The analyses were performed in ISO 17025-accredited laboratories, referring to the limit of quantification (LOQ), characteristic of the method used to determine the residues. In 2019, the percentage of samples that contained residues of the three substances, applied to the seed, was 16.39%, representing 20 samples out of the total of 122 analyzed samples. In 2020, 10 samples contained neonicotinoid residues above the LOQ, including 5 soil samples and 5 plant samples, representing 6.17% of the total samples. In 2021, from 149 samples with neonicotinoid applied as seed treatment, residues were identified in 12 soil samples and 11 plant samples, representing 15.43% of the total number of samples. In 2022, only 12 soil samples and 1 pasture sample contained residues above the LOQ. The results show that the highest percentage of samples with residues above the LOQ was recorded by the soil samples, while the flower and bee samples had the lowest percentages of samples with residues above the LOQ; no residues of the three neonicotinoid substances were identified in the honey samples.

This paper presents a five-year study monitoring cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) flight dynamics using pheromonal traps and a study relating to the behavior of nine maize hybrids from two maturity groups in response to a pest attack in 2024. The monitoring and field assessments were conducted in Southeast Romania, Călărași County, at the NARDI Fundulea. During the monitoring period, from 2020 to 2024, air temperature was higher than average in the summer months while rainfall was below average, except in June 2021. The total number of moths captured in the traps was 246 in 2020, 406 in 2021, 5064 in 2022, 1024 in 2023, and 4145 in 2024. In the middle of July 2022, the average captured moths per trap was 483.3; in the middle of September, it was 589.0 catches. In 2024, in the last 10 days of July, the average captured moths per trap was 311.7; in the last 10 days of August, it was 358.0, while in the middle of September, it was 362.3. In 2024, at the beginning of August, the attack incidence of corn earworm on maize hybrids ranged from 43.75 to 53.75%, and on 13 September, it was 100% for all hybrids. This is the first report from southeast Romania that mentions a higher population of cotton bollworm in the late summer and beginning of autumn and the first report to mention a large number of pest attacks on maize cobs in September.

Currently, according to the specialists in the field, Amaranthus species are part of alternative agricultural crops recommended for organic farming. In this context, our scientific approach is to analyse the adaptability of these species in the specific conditions of the southern part of Romania (Reviga village, Ialomita County). Thus, for two consecutive years, two varieties of Amaranthus cruentus, namely ‘Bolivia 153’ and ‘Golden Giant’, were studied regarding: morphology, biology, cultivation technology, plant productivity and quality of yields in the organic farming conditions. After the study period, the ‘Golden Giant’ variety was characterized by the following: 8 days - sowing-emergence period; flowering start on 21 July; 124 days - vegetation period; 839.3 Growing Degree Days (GDD) (Σ t °C > 15 °C); 23.24 g - grains mass per plant; 1.375 g - Thousand Weight Grains (TWG); 2,647 kg ha^-1 - grains yields. By comparison, ‘Bolivia 153’ variety plants were presented as follows: 11 days - sowing-emergence period; flowering start on 21 July; 127 days - vegetation period; 842.4 GDD; 22.09 g - grains mass per plant; 1.46 g TWG; 23.78 kg ha^-1 - grains yields. In average, the chemical composition of Amaranthus cruentus grains was: 15.20% proteins; 51.70% starch; 5.96% lipids; 13.36% cellulose and 3.35% ash. In conclusion, the experimentation area proved to be favourable to Amaranthus cruentus cultivation, so that the tested varieties behaved well, had a fairly uniform emergences, and the good level of grains yields and quality.

Technology of the European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn) Mass Rearing, Successive Generations, in Controlled Conditions, at NARDI FUNDULEA