The cultivation of alfalfa is crucial for farmers as it is an excellent forage crop with a high nitrogen-fixing capacity, making it indispensable in crop rotations. Breeding programs face challenges in advancing more rapidly in genetic diversity to achieve a higher heterosis effect and, consequently, greater yield. In this study, we used 30 alfalfa varieties, which were used for molecular analyses by 5 ISSR primers and 13 RAPD primers. The results obtained highlighted the greater efficiency of ISSR primers in identifying genetic diversity. On the other hand, the simultaneous use of ISSR + RAPD allowed for clearer clustering of varieties that enabled more efficiently distinguishing the genetic diversity. The most efficient ISSR primer, A17, generated 31 polymorphic bands, while the most efficient RAPD primer, L-07, generated only 21 bands. Varieties such as “Pastoral” and “F1413-02” exhibited low similarity coefficients (0.39), suggesting their potential for enhancing genetic variability through crossbreeding, thereby increasing the potential of achieving a greater heterosis effect. Conversely, varieties with high similarity coefficients, such as ”Cristal” and “Viking” (0.81) are less suited for this purpose. The correlation between specific markers highlights that using both ISSR and RAPD markers together offers a clear understanding of genetic diversity in alfalfa, aiding in more effective selection for crossbreeding in breeding programs.

The effect of biopesticide compound spinosad in different concentrations was tested for the first time under laboratory conditions against the rapidly spreading forest pest, oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata, Say 1832), and its effects were compared with the synthetic pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin. These results revealed a significant effect of spinosad at 2 mL/4 L and 2 mL/2 L water concentrations against C. arcuata nymphs. The mortality rate after 3 days was similar to synthetic insecticide effects and reached 94% and 98%, respectively. Overall, it can be concluded that spinosad is an effective biological method to control oak lace bug; treatments under field conditions should consider the high diversity of other insects in oak forests.

The corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), microbial symbiont and 9 soil-type microbial diversities were genetically analyzed along a gradient of maize management systems that includes 3 different crop control strategies from 3 climatic regions. The central point of interest was to assess whether any similarity could be detected between the corn leaf aphid’s rapid distribution increase throughout mainland Europe and variation in its endosymbiont microbiome diversity. According to the results, it was detected that the bacterial community differs between regions. The obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola dominated across all climate regions, while facultative symbionts such as Serratia symbiotica and Wolbachia varied in relative abundance under different temperature conditions. Fewer effects of soil types were detected. Our study comprises analyses about a pest aphid and its associated symbiont community in relation to ambient temperature conditions, and as such, we believe it may well help in the development of new control strategies.

Urban forests serve as representations of nature within city landscapes. Green Forest, spanning 5,198,412 square meters, has been incorporated into the Municipality of Timișoara’s public domain and designated as a forest park. This fact increased green space per capita and enriched biodiversity within Timișoara’s landscape architecture. This study explores the diversity of Green Forest trees and highlights their contribution to urban landscapes. Statistical methods, including comparative and linear relationships analyses, were employed to assess significant variations in the dendrometric parameters of the analyzed tree species: mean tree height, mean diameter at breast height (DBH), tree age, and stand density. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were applied to uncover underlying patterns in the data. Using ArchiCAD and Lumion, high-quality 3D visual representations were developed for an ecological education area, an active recreation region, and a passive recreation area within Green Forest. Due to their morphological characteristics and phenotypic traits, the predominant tree species include Quercus robur, Quercus cerris, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ulmus campestris and Robinia pseudoacacia, contribute to Timișoara’s urban aesthetic. Moreover, the results of the dendrometric analysis provide a foundation for further research in urban ecology. A key practical application of this study is landscape design renderings, which provide detailed and realistic visualizations to effectively communicate the design and functionality of Green Forest’s spaces. If implemented, these developments will encourage public engagement with nature, promoting mental and physical well-being within the community.

Urban forests serve as representations of nature within city landscapes. Green Forest, spanning 5,198,412 square meters, has been incorporated into the Municipality of Timișoara’s public domain and designated as a forest park. This fact increased green space per capita and enriched biodiversity within Timișoara’s landscape architecture. This study explores the diversity of Green Forest trees and highlights their contribution to the urban landscape. Statistical methods, including comparative and linear relationships analyses, were employed to assess significant variations in the dendrometric parameters of the analyzed tree species: mean tree height, mean trunk diameter at breast height (DBH), tree age, and stand density. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were applied to uncover underlying patterns in the data. Using ArchiCAD and Lumion, high-quality 3D visual representations were developed for an ecological education area, an active recreation region, and a passive recreation area within Green Forest. Due to their morphological characteristics and phenotypic traits, the predominant tree species include Quercus robur, Quercus cerris, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ulmus campestris, and Robinia pseudoacacia, which contribute to Timișoara’s urban aesthetic. Moreover, the results of the dendrometric analysis provide a foundation for further research in urban ecology. A key practical application of this study is landscape design renderings, which provide detailed and realistic visualizations to effectively communicate the design and functionality of Green Forest’s spaces. If implemented, these developments will encourage public engagement with nature, promoting mental and physical well-being within the community.

In the present study, the bacterial symbionts of two species of oak aphid, Thelaxes dryophila and Tuberculatus annulatus were tested as indicators between naturally and artificially regenerated oak forests. In total, 195 bacterial taxa were identified using the Ion Torrent PGM system. Here, we report for the first time differences in bacterial symbiont diversity between oak forests natural and artificial regeneration sites, and aphid species. Differences in the abundance of the primary obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola were also detected between the two study aphid species. In the ant attended Thelaxes dryophila, the species was found to harbour a higher density of the facultative symbionts Serratia symbiotica and Wolbachia, while in the non-ant attended Tuberculatus annulatus, the dominant facultative symbionts were Hamiltonella and Rickettsia. In addition, we report the presence of Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae as symbionts of Thelaxes dryophila and Shigella boydii as a symbiont of Tuberculatus annulatus. We conclude that the two aphid species harbour different facultative symbionts between oak forest regeneration types; these results might have importance in oak forest pest management via aphid adaptation through their endosymbions.