The present study aims to evaluate the potential for the pollution of the environment by two herbicides (quizalofop-p-ethyl and cycloxydim), using the Allium test. The species in question is Allium cepa (onion, 2n = 16), one of the most common plant indicators of environmental pollution. The working method consisted of obtaining the meristematic roots of Allium cepa and their treatment with herbicides at three different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) for each herbicide for 24 h, for comparison with an untreated control. The results obtained from the cytological study indicated a strong cytotoxic and genotoxic effect for both herbicides, but especially for quizalofop-p-ethyl, where the mitotic index decreased from 30.2% (control) to 9.6% for the variant treated with 1.5% herbicide. In this case, a strong mitodepressive effect was shown by a highly significant percentage (35.4%) of chromosomal aberrations and nuclear alterations: stickiness, fragments, C-mitosis, lobulated nucleus, micronuclei, and nuclear erosion. The mitodepressive effect as well as the percentage of chromosomal aberrations increased with a higher herbicide concentration. The obtained results suggest the strong potential for pollution of the two herbicides, particularly at concentrations higher than 0.5%; therefore, we recommend caution in their use to avoid undesirable effects on the environment.

This study presents the variability of some biochemical indicators in the winter wheat assortments tested in south-western Oltenia (Romania) and identification of the sources showing a high antioxidant activity. The peroxidase activity has intensified as the stress induced by treatment with PEG of different concentrations and in different doses increased. Regarding the peroxidase content, among the varieties treated with PEG 10,000 25%, the majority of the Romanian varieties tested showed higher values of the PEG/control treatment ratio, which suggests tolerance to drought. In reverse, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase is lower in tolerant varieties. The varieties with a subunit report have been noted. Among them are the Izvor variety, known as the drought-tolerant variety, as well as other Romanian varieties: Alex, Delabrad, Lovrin 34, etc. An increased activity of catalase was present in most varieties, so there is the possibility of drought tolerance. Among the varieties highlighted are Romanian varieties (Dropia, Trivale, Nikifor, etc.) but also foreign varieties (Kristina, GH Hattyu, Karlygash, etc.). However, the correlation between yield index in the limited assortment and the antioxidant enzyme content ratios between PEG and control treatments does not exist, suggesting that none of these biochemical indicators are a selective indicator for drought tolerance under the experimental condition.

Production in cereal crops is due to some complex physiological and biochemical processes, but is essentially associated with the process of carbohydrate accumulation in the grain filling phase which in turn is attributed to leaf functionalities. A critical stage in the development of wheat plants is the emergence of the final leaf called the flag leaf. At this point the emphasis of management needs to shift to its protection as the flag leaf is critical for attaining high grain yields. Unlike other leaves in the reproductive phase, flag leaves are the main organ for photosynthesis, providing the main assimilated source for plant growth and spike development and also for sensing environmental conditions conducive to adaptation. This short review aims to analyse some of the most important results from the specialized literature regarding the influence of the flag leaf on cereal production. The main documentation platforms were Google Scholar and Web of Science. The importance of the flag leaf in generating yield in grains is without dispute. Protecting the flag leaf is critical to attaining high yields. The vigil starts as soon as growers are able to recognize when the flag begins to emerge.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), known as „Queen of the forages” is important for its biomass yield and it is the fourth most widely grown crop in the world behind corn, wheat and soybean. Therefore, alfalfa breeding targets forage yield and quality, as well as tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The alfalfa genotypes have been tested in natural conditions to Agricultural and Research Station Caracal in 2020-2021 for assessing their yielding treats. Thus, the biomass yield ranged between 63,5 for F 2909-2 and 72,2 t/ha for F 2910, while dry matter emphasized significant values comparatively with the control (3-11%), only for the genotypes F2907, F2909-1, F2910. The genotypes Ileana and F2910 performed the best in all assessed traits and they are recommended for extended cropping system.