The present study investigated developing biological control agents against plant pathogens as an alternative to pesticides. The plant growth-promoting (PGP) and biocontrol potential of bacteria from the Bacillus genus is due to their ability to produce proteolytic and amylolytic enzymes, assist in the solubilization of phosphorus and zinc, and the production of siderophores. Cell culture and cell-free supernatant were used to investigate the antimicrobial activity of different Bacillus strains against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum in vitro. Fusarium graminearum is a fungus that causes plant disease, particularly in cereals like wheat and barley. As a result, significant suppression of the growth and development of this plant pathogen was observed. Plant growth-promoting activity manifested when the bacteria were applied alone and in combination. A single strain and combinations of two, three, and four strains of Bacillus were tested for their antimicrobial effects against Fusarium graminearum. The fluorescence spectroscopy results proved that the combination of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus licheniformis showed the best stimulation of development, expressed as a comparative evaluation of the yield compared to the untreated control variant. The four strains showed their potential application as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium graminearum. The four Bacillus strains also can promote plant growth by affecting nutrition, root structure, and plant health, and they have the capacity to dissolve phosphates and zinc.

Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) is a valuable source of essential amino acids, especially sulphur-containing ones, which are generally lacking in leguminous crops, thus representing an alternative source of protein for both humans and farm animals. Rhizosphere soil samples from five experimental plots with mono- and mixed cultivations of three camelina cultivars, including two introduced varieties Cs1.Pro (Luna) and Cs2.Pro (Lenka) and one Bulgarian variety Cs3.Pro (local Bulgarian landrace) with variety 666 of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) (Cs3-Vs.Pro) and variety Mir of pea (Pisum sativum L.) (Cs3-Ps.Pro), were collected and analysed. The total DNA was isolated from the rhizosphere soils and the presence of the 16S rRNA gene was confirmed by amplification with the universal primer 16SV34. In the present study, the structure of the soil bacterial community in five different plots (Cs1.S.Pro, Cs2.S.Pro, Cs3.S.Pro, Cs3.Vs.S.Pro, and Cs3.Ps.S.Pro) where camelina was grown alone and by being intercropped with pea and vetch was analysed via a metagenomic approach. The number of observed species was highest in the local genotype of the camelina Cs3 grown alone, followed by soil from the intercropped variants Cs3-Vs and CsS-Ps. The soil bacterial communities differed between the sole cultivation of camelina and that grown with joint cultivation with vetch and peas, indicating that legumes considerably affected the growth and development of beneficial microorganisms by aspects such as nitrogen fixing, levels of nitrifying bacteria, and levels of phosphorus-dissolving bacteria, thus helping to provide better plant nutrition. The α-diversity indicated that bacterial communities in the rhizosphere were higher in soils intercropped with vetch and pea. The optical properties of cereals and legumes were determined by their energy structure, which includes both their occupied and free electronic energy levels and the energy levels of the atomic vibrations of the molecules or the crystal lattice.

The increasing interest to Camelina sativa in the last decade is provoked by its various applications as source for biodiesel, edible oil or fodder. It regains interest the last decades with its good adaptation to various conditions and lower cost cultivation. Evaluation of morphological traits and productive potential of some plant genetic resources of the ex situ collection of the National gene bank of Bulgaria has been presented. Field trials of three cultivars and one local landrace in 3 succeeding years on two different soil types were conducted. Results are commented in order to establish possibilities for cultivation and expected yields of seed and oil and its fatty acid composition. Environmental and economic gain can be projected estimating the possible uses of the presented accessions or strategies for further breeding programs has been marked.

Creams are semisolid dosage forms widely used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes due to their pleasant appearance, easy spreadability, and the possibility to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic active agents. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of type and concentration of different oil phases on the mechanical and rheological properties of cosmetic creams. For this purpose, a series of blank and anti-age creams were prepared applying the hot homogenization method (9000 rpm for 5 minutes). The blank creams contained an emulsifying base (Neofin Nat 8% w/w) and varying types of lipid phase: 1) babassu oil (8% w/w), 2) Cannabis sativa (2% w/w) and Camelina sativa (6% w/w) oils, 3) babassu (6% w/w) and Cannabis sativa (2% w/w) oils, and 4) babassu (6% w/w) and Camelina sativa (2% w/w) oils. The anti-age creams contained additionally Jasminum sambac flower extract (5% w/w) and Аrgireline^® solution (5% w/w). The spreading, mechanical, and rheological properties of the developed formulations were investigated. The anti-age cream based on babassu (6% w/w) and Camelina sativa (2% w/w) oils exhibited suitable textural and rheological characteristics that would facilitate its application onto skin and provide sufficient contact time to exert its beneficial effects.

Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) is a valuable source of seed oil, which contains above 30% of essential omega-3 fatty acid (alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3). On the one hand, this high content of linolenic acid is healthy and hence preferable, but on the other hand, highly unsaturated oils are easily deteriorated. The stabilization of such oils with respect to their oxidative changes is a significant problem in oil technology and is directly related to the quality of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of ascorbyl palmitate in various concentrations (0.1–2.0 mM) as an additional antioxidant in camelina seed oil during its autoxidation, by determination of oil induction periods and initial rates of oxidation. The results revealed that the added ascorbyl palmitate caused a decrease in oxidation rate, but in terms of oil stability, opposite effects were observed depending on its concentration. Thus, at low levels (0.1–0.2 mM), ascorbyl palmitate had a pro-oxidant effect and the induction period decreased; no effect was observed in its presence of 1.0 mM, whereas 2.0 mM ensured a much higher protective effect. Rosmarinic acid as an individual antioxidant (at 0.2 mM) increased the stability of camelina oil, while in a mixture (1:1) with ascorbyl palmitate at the same concentration, its effect/activity was significantly reduced.

The seeds of camelina (Camelina sativa L.) are a valuable source of glyceride oil, which contains about 30% of essential omega-3 fatty acid (alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3). On the one hand, this high content of linolenic acid is healthy and hence preferable, but on the other hand, highly unsaturated oils are easily deteriorated. The stabilization of such oils with respect to their oxidative changes is a significant problem in fat technology and is directly related to the quality of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of ascorbyl palmitate in various concentrations (0.1-2.0 mM) as an additional antioxidant in camelina seed oil during its autoxidation, by deter-mination of oil induction periods and other oxidative kinetic parameters. The results re-vealed that the added ascorbyl palmitate caused decrease in oxidation rate, but in terms of oil stability and induction period opposite effects were observed depending on its concen-tration. Thus, at low levels (0.1-0.2 mM) ascorbyl palmitate had a prooxidant effect and the induction period decreased, no effect was observed in its presence of 1.0 mM, whereas 2.0 mM ensured high level of oxidative stability. Effects of rosmarinic acid as individual an-tioxidant and as mixture with ascorbyl palmitate were evaluated as well.