Aeroponics is a modern and soilless technology that is used for the efficient production of pre-basic seed potatoes, namely minitubers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the cultivar and type of planting material on the production of minitubers in the aeroponic facility in Guča, Serbia, at short, 7-day harvest intervals. Although aeroponic cultivation prolonged the vegetative cycle in all five investigated cultivars, the dynamics of minituber formation varied between genotypes. Two early maturing cultivars, Cleopatra and Sinora, quickly completed the vegetative cycle and formed a small number of minitubers, while the medium-late to late cultivars, Kennebec and Agria, steadily tuberized during the entire cultivation period in the aeroponic facility. The type of planting material affected the dynamics of minituber formation in three investigated cultivars. Sinora, Cleopatra, and Désirée’s plants of in vitro origin reached the final number of minitubers and the vines started senescing much earlier than plants of minituber origin. Kennebec and Agria plants of in vitro origin produced the largest number of minitubers (53.8–54.5) and showed the highest yield (9.8–10.5 kg m⁻²) during the cultivation period, while the heaviest minitubers were formed by Sinora plants of minituber origin (15.48 g). In addition, the temperature during pre-harvest periods significantly affected the number of tubers at harvests in Kennebec and Agria, and minituber mass in Désirée.

Potato is a globally important, highly heat-susceptible crop species. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures and exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on microplant growth and heat-shock response (HSR) in three unrelated potato genotypes/cultivars. Long-term exposure to 29 °C (mild heat stress) caused a significant reduction in the number of surviving explants and shoot morphometric parameters in heat-sensitive genotypes, while exposure to 26 °C (warming) caused only a decline in shoot growth. Interestingly, 26 °C-temperature treatment stimulated root growth in some investigated genotypes, indicating a difference between favorable temperatures for potato shoot and root growth. SA showed a protective effect regarding potato shoot growth at 26 °C. At 29 °C, this effect was genotype-dependent. SA did not affect the number of roots and inhibited root elongation at all temperature treatments, indicating the difference between shoot and root responses to applied SA concentration. Although HSR is mainly considered rapid and short-lived, elevated transcript levels of most investigated HSFs and HSPs were detected after three weeks of heat stress. Besides, two StHSFs and StHSP21 showed elevated expression at 26 °C, indicating extreme potato heat-susceptibility and significance of HSR during prolonged warming. SA effects on HSFs and HSPs expression were minor and alterable.

Plant growing technology involves usage of complex agrotechnical operationsaimed at creating favorable conditions for plant growth and development, that is,for better exploitation of cultivar genetic potential. Effects of mulching with whiteand black polyethylene foil, and organic mulch (straw) were studied in three, dripirrigatedpotato cultivars: Carrera (early), Laura (medium early) and Agria(medium late). Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block designwith four replications at the site of Zemun Polje, Serbia (44°88'N, 20°35'E, 79 ma.s.l.) in three consecutive years (2011–2013). Results obtained on the variantswith different mulch materials were compared with results attained on the plot withbare soil (control). The highest average number of tubers per plant was determinedin cv. Laura’s control variant (12.0), while the lowest average number of tuberswas determined in the cv. Agria with white mulch (8.2). The highest average tubermass (146.3 g) and total tuber yield (59.6 t ha-1) was determined in cv. Carrerasubjected to the straw mulch treatment. The lowest average tuber mass and tuberyield was found in the cv. Agria on the variant with black polyethylene foil (83 gand 27.8 t ha-1). The results obtained in our study indicate positive effect of thecombination of straw mulch and irrigation on the productivity of potato. Moderngrowing technology, which includes the regulation of temperature in the surfacesoil layer by combination of soil mulching, drip irrigation system, and the use ofadequate genotypes, can result in high potato yield.

Aeroponics is a modern farming technology for soilless potato cultivation that enables the efficient production of high-quality pre-basic seed potatoes (minitubers). In this system, the roots and underground stems (stolons) of the potato plants grow within closed modules, suspended in a fine mist of a nutrient-rich solution that continuously recirculates. This setup enables the formation of numerous minitubers with a length greater than 10 mm during the growing period. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of the genotype and origin of the planting material on minituber production in an aeroponic facility in Guca, Serbia. Three potato cultivars were analyzed: Cleopatra, Kennebec, and D?sir?e, using two types of planting material: acclimated microplants and plants derived from the previous season?s minitubers. The plants were cultivated aeroponically from late May to December 2019, with a planting density of 24 plants per square meter and harvest intervals of approximately 14 days. The D?sir?e cultivar produced the highest average number of minitubers per plant (19.89), followed by Kennebec (15.71) and Cleopatra (11.05). The average weight of minitubers was significantly greater in plants grown from last season?s minitubers compared to plants grown in vitro. The Kennebec plants originating from minitubers achieved the highest yield of 10.27 kg per square meter. Additionally, the plants originating from minitubers consistently produced tubers throughout the entire cultivation period in the aeroponic growing system.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different organic fertilizers on weed infestation in durum wheat over a two-year period. The experiment was conducted at the "Radmilovac" experimental field, managed by the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture. The durum wheat cultivar "Durumko " was selected for this study . The experiment was established as two factorial, with three repetitions. Factor A consisted of two growing seasons (2023/24 and 2024/25), while factor B included six fertilization treatments involving different organic fertilizers (ZEO PULLUS, ZEO MAG, ZEO FOS and their combination with microbiological fertilizer Slavol) and control treatment. Annual weeds were predominantly represented, with Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Consolida regalis S. F. Gray identified as the most abundant species. The highest total number of weeds was recorded in the treatment where organic fertilizer ZEO MAG and microbiological fertilizer Slavol were applied simultaneously. The highest fresh weed biomass was recorded in the treatment with the organic fertilizer ZEO FOS (152 g m-2), and the highest air-dried biomass was also observed in this treatment. Proper fertilization management, harmonized with agroecological conditions, represents an important agronomic measure in the control of weed infestation in durum wheat.