There is a growing demand for high quality and sustainable food in the world and this need falls within the context of the European Green Deal’s strategy “From Farm to Fork”. In order to achieve these outcomes, the use of modern and innovative technologies of plant production and protection is required. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture and horticulture is an example of such technology. However, research on the effect of length of exposure to metal nanoparticles on seeds germination and seedlings development are limited in the literature. In our study, the effect of silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the seedling growth and biochemical response of rapeseed after 7, 14 and 21 days was analyzed. In the experiments, 0, 50 and 100 ppm concentrations of NPs were used in vitro. The level of photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanins as well as other stress parameters, such as free phenolic compounds, free sugars or H₂O₂, decreased due to the application of both AgNPs and AuNPs at the initial culture period; however, the differences were observed in the successive weeks of exposure. The parameters were increasing, irrespective of the kind of nanoparticles; however, as for the content of free sugars and free radicals, higher values were recorded due to the effect of AuNPs. Our results showed that length of plants exposure to NPs is very important factor modifying growth and final response of seedlings. Better understanding of its influence could speed up use of NPs in agriculture and horticulture for production of high-quality plant material (e.g., to seed priming, stimulation of seedlings’ growth and their protection), not contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers and mycotoxins.

Rhizoctonia cerealis and Rhizoctonia solani are considered to be among the most harmful soil-borne pathogens for crop plants globally. The lack of effective protection and the requirement to minimize the use of chemical pesticides necessitate the need to develop alternative protective methods. One such method is resistance breeding against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we present studies on the presence of resistance traits in winter wheat genotypes that evaluate the plants’ resistance to the above two pathogens, in both field and laboratory environments. In the field environment, the incidence and severity of sharp eyespot were studied using 132 winter wheat cultivars, where random samples at the BBCH 75–77 were collected for analysis. The degree of the intensity of sharp eyespot was determined, applying the 0–4° scale. The susceptibility of the 132 cultivars of winter wheat to R. cerealis (AG-D subgroup I) and R. solani (AG-5) was also studied under laboratory conditions. In the laboratory, test pieces of potato dextrose agar colonized by the test isolates were placed onto filter paper soaked with distilled water and then placed into Petri dish. Infection on the roots, coleoptiles and leaves was then assessed after 15 days for R. cerealis and after 10 days for R. solani. None of the tested winter wheat genotypes were found to be asymptomatic to the pathogens. A moderate susceptibility was observed for such genotypes as Anthus, Baryton, Bellenus, Borderland Benatka, Blonde, Cubus, Estero, and Flairway. However, the classification of those associated with moderate susceptibility in laboratory tests resulted in severe symptoms in field tests. Hence, field experiments provide the most reliable measurements to determine the effects of pathogens on the plants.

With the advancement of nanotechnology and the increasing utilization of nanoparticles (NPs), their production and release into the environment are on the rise. Consequently, it is crucial to continuously monitor the toxicity of nanoparticles for humans, animals, and plants, as well as their impact on the environment. This is particularly significant in relation to human health and food production, given the escalating use of nanomaterials in agriculture and horticulture. The aim of the study was to investigate the response of rapeseed seedlings to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) over different periods of exposure. This research analyzed the impact of these nanoparticles on the biochemical response of rapeseed seedlings after 7, 14, and 21 days of growth in their presence. This study assessed the activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), pyrogallol peroxidase (PPOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and free protein content, as well as the interactions between key elements responsible for oxidative stress and the antioxidant response. The findings demonstrated a significant effect of AgNPs and AuNPs on stimulating the response of rapeseed seedlings, with the activity of PPOX, GPOX, and SOD being dependent on the exposure time and the type and dose of nanoparticles used. Enzyme activity increased with the length of exposure time, while the content of free protein decreased over the weeks. The most intense reaction of seedlings was observed in the case of GPOX, with the lowest activity observed in PPOX and SOD. High effects of the nanoparticle type and rate were also observed in the correlation matrix. This study suggests that a comprehensive analysis of plant reactions to nanoparticles could have a significant impact on the proper and effective use of nanoparticles in agriculture and horticulture. This could lead to the environmentally friendly production of high-quality plant material.

As a polyphagous organism, Rhizoctonia is one of the most infectious soil-borne pathogens for many plant species. To reduce this threat to plants and hence provide good quality plant products for the end-user, it is crucial to develop sophisticated and environmental friendly plant protection methods. One such method is biological control using beneficial agents, e.g., microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, but also mites or insects. To investigate the potential of this control, we present here a study involving AG B0 (BNR), which is a binucleate, non-pathogenic Rhizoctonia as a control against pathogens from the same genus, namely, Rhizoctonia cerealis (AG DI) and Rhizoctonia solani (AG5 and AG 1IC). This is novel because the relationship between plant-pathogen and plant-non-pathogen interactions has received only limited attention. Once the relative activities of the various plant defense mechanisms and the overall plant conditions were taken into account, the non-pathogenic binucleate strain was found to lower the impact of the pathogenic strain. We conclude that the response of plant genotype within the context of the protective activity of the non-pathogenic Rhizoctonia is race-specific. The research showed the ability to successfully protect wheat plants from R. cerealis negative impact, as well as in some cases from R. solani.

In a 2-year field study, the impact of mineral nitrogen fertilization on the productivity of a new potato cultivar, promising due to the highest resistance to potato late blight among the registered ones, was compared to the proven, widely cultivated Denar cultivar. The study determined morphological features (size and weight of organs), physiological indicators (cover of soil by leaves – LAI. leaf greenness – SPAD) of potato plants during the growing season, yield and quality characteristics of tubers and optimal level of nitrogen fertilization. Tuber quality was assessed based on the share of tuber size and external defects in the yield structure. Optimal mineral nitrogen fertilization was determined based on the relationship between the increase in tuber yield and the increasing dose of this ingredient. The research took into account two factors: nitrogen dose (0, 50 kg‧ha–1, 100 kg‧ha–1, 150 kg‧ha–1) and cultivar (Gardena and Denar). The increase in the dose of mineral nitrogen fertilization to 150 kg‧ha–1 resulted in a significant increase in plant height, the weight of the root system, stems, leaves and the share of large tubers in the yield. It was shown that the Gardena cultivar was characterized by greater requirements for mineral nitrogen fertilization, low effectiveness of its use, a higher share of large tubers (diameter above 60 mm) and lower tuber yield than the Denar cultivar. In a year characterized by excess rainfall, plants produced a greater mass of the root system and the mass of the above-ground part, and in a year with an amount of rainfall close to optimal the final yield of tubers and the share of large tubers in the yield were higher.

The article presents the results of research conducted at Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology concerning the abundance of a serious maize pest—the European corn borer-Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn (O. nubilalis). The study focused on the actual occurrence of this pest in maize stubble grown after different forecrop and among different maize cultivars. Our research fits perfectly within the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and is important because feeding by the European corn borer increasingly leads to substantial yield losses. From a sustainability perspective, knowledge of larval abundance and vertical distribution may support the development of targeted non-chemical control measures that complement existing Integrated Pest Management strategies. For the purposes of this study, maize was harvested for green fodder in September and for grain in November 2025. It was found that up to three pest larvae were present in some stubbles. On average, for every 25 plants analyzed at stubble grain harvest, over 30 larvae were found inside the stems—some contained as few as three larvae. It was found that the forecrop did not significantly affect larval abundance, whereas cultivar characteristics were the key factor differentiating their occurrence. The results of this study indicate that maize growers should pay increasing attention to this serious pest and strive for its more effective control, particularly through the use of the numerous available non-chemical methods for regulating its population. A patented design solution developed by the authors for the mechanical reduction in O. nubilalis abundance may also be helpful in this regard.