There is no sign of saturation in accumulation of alien species (AS) introductions worldwide, additionally the rate of spread for some species has also been shown to be increasing. However, the challenges of gathering information on AS are recognized. Recent developments in citizen science (CS) provide an opportunity to improve data flow and knowledge on AS while ensuring effective and high quality societal engagement with the issue of IAS (Invasive Alien Species). Advances in technology, particularly on-line recording and smartphone apps, along with the development of social media, have revolutionized CS and increased connectivity while new and innovative analysis techniques are emerging to ensure appropriate management, visualization, interpretation and use and sharing of the data. In early July 2018 we launched a European CO-operation in Science and Technology (COST) Action to address multidisciplinary research questions in relation to developing and implementing CS, advancing scientific understanding of AS dynamics while informing decision-making specifically implementation of technical requirements of relevant legislation such as the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on IAS. It will also support the EU biodiversity goals and embedding science within society. The Action will explore and document approaches to establishing a European-wide CS AS network. It will embrace relevant innovations for data gathering and reporting to support the implementation of monitoring and surveillance measures, while ensuring benefits for society and citizens, through an AS CS European network. The Action will, therefore, increase levels of participation and quality of engagement with current CS initiatives, ensuring and evaluating educational value, and improve the value outcomes for potential users including citizens, scientists, alien species managers, policy-makers, local authorities, industry and other stakeholders.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important forage plant species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this study, conducted in Banja Luka, the investigated ten alfalfa genotypes originated from different regions of USA and Europe. The study objective was to determine their grain yield per plants and four morphological properties. The interactions analyses provided to select individual genotypes that are shown the highest stability and yield potential in different production conditions. Genotype with the highest yield shown lower stability level. The influence year and genotype on GYP - the grain yield per plants for investigated alfalfa genotypes was significant (Fexp=7.54* and Fexp= 8.34*). The highest average value for investigated parameter in the first research year had genotypes G53 and G44 and in second research year genotype G2. The lowest value in both research years had genotype G100 (0.28 kg ha-1 and 0.30 kg ha-1. Positive and strong correlations were found between the grain yield per plants and the number of pods per plants (r= 0.74**) and the grain yield per plant and the number of flower per inflorescence (r= 0.51*). On the basis of the obtained values, we conclude that we have excellent genotypes G2, G44, G53 and G51 for successful breeding work in order to obtain new high-yielding varieties of alfalfa.

In South-Eastern Europe, the majority of runner-bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) production is based on local populations grown mainly in home gardens. The local runner-bean plants are well adapted to their specific growing conditions and microclimate agro-environments, and show great morpho-agronomic diversity. Here, 142 runner-bean accessions from the five South-Eastern European countries of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Romania were sown and cultivated in their respective countries and characterised using 28 quantitative and qualitative morpho-agronomic descriptors for Phaseolus spp. based on inflorescences, leaves, plants, pods and seeds. For each of these morpho-agronomic descriptors, the accessions can be classified into two or three specific groups. The highest correlations were observed within the fluorescence, seed and pod traits. The highest variability, at 76.39%, was between the different countries, representing different geographic origins, while the variability within the countries was 23.61%. Cluster analysis based on these collected morpho-agronomic data also classified the accessions into three groups according to genetic origins. The data obtained serve as useful genetic information for plant breeders for the breeding of new bean varieties for further studies of the morpho-agronomic traits of the runner bean.

The review summarizes practical experiences in using mutation breeding for crop improvement in South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and Central Asia (CA), demonstrating that mutation breeding can be a field-validated, effective approach for developing climate-resilient crops. Drawing on coordinated research conducted within national breeding programs and international initiatives supported by FAO/IAEA, applied methodologies, trait-evaluation strategies, and concrete breeding outputs in cereals, legumes, and industrial crops are presented. The use of gamma irradiation, fast neutrons, and chemical mutagens has successfully generated stable mutant lines stable mutant lines with enhanced traits, such as increased thousand-grain weight in wheat, altered oil quality in sunflower, and improved drought tolerance in common bean and sesame. The integration of classical pedigree selection with modern breeding tools such as high-throughput phenotyping, molecular and biochemical markers, and doubled-haploid technology has enabled earlier and more efficient identification of superior genotypes in mutation breeding programs. The review underscores the practical relevance of mutation breeding in contemporary pipelines to maintain yield stability and quality under adverse environmental conditions.

An annual legume, white lupin is traditionally grown throughout the Mediterranean and the Nile valley for use as fodder, green manuring, and human food. White lupin can be directly used on farms in self-sustaining systems due to the lack of anti-nutritional elements. Commercial varieties, bred by pedigree selection, are pure lines that are primarily self-pollinating. Lupun species are grain legumes that may be a good substitute for soybeans as a source of protein in meals. In Europe, lupines have been proposed as a potential substitute crop and traceable protein supply. The object of study in this research was the genetic variability of 9 white lupin lines concerning 9 quantitative traits by calculating genetic parameters and applying multivariate analysis methods. The experimental activity was carried out in the period 2022-2024 at the Institute of Forage Crops (Pleven). For all studied traits (except for the number of branches), phenotypic coefficients of variation dominated over genotypic coefficients of variation, with values from 2.25 to 22.15% and from 0.79 to 12.52%, respectively. The difference between phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation ranged from 1.39 for 1st pod height to 11.94 for seed weight per plant and seed yield. The variation of the traits of seeds number per plant (22.15%), 1st pod height (13.91%), pods number (18.63%), seed weight per plant (18.37%) and seed yield (18.37%) was determined to a large extent by the environmental conditions. Moderate to high values of heritability and genetic advance were found for 1st pod height (70.82%; 9.68), plant height (68.08%; 12.26) and seed yield (27.18%; 12.27), which reveal the possibility of achieving rapid selection progress in improving these traits. For pods and seeds number per plant, a relatively high coefficient of inheritance (48.03%; 40.27%) was also found, but a lower genetic advance (2.00; 6.72), which may complicate the selection for these traits. The cluster analysis divided the white lupin lines into two main groups and several subgroups depending on their biological manifestations. According to the complex of studied traits, L120, L103 and L118 were genetically distant from L101, L111 and L108.

The experiments were conducted on the demonstration field of the Agricultural Institute of the Republic of Srpska, from 2021 to 2023. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of applied fertilization treatments on the yield of grain and harvesting residues of broad beans under the agro-ecological conditions of the Banja Luka region. Sowing was done manually in the second half of March each year of the study. The experiment was set up in four replications using a randomized block design, with the size of the basic plot being 10 m². For these trials, seed from the broad bean population from the Institute's collection was used, with a sowing rate of 220 kg ha⁻¹. During the study, four fertilization treatments were tested: control (T1), NPK 15:15:15 at a dose of 300 kg ha⁻¹ (T2), biostimulator Slavol S at a dose of 250 ml ha⁻¹ (T3), and NPK 15:15:15 at a dose of 300 kg ha⁻¹ + biostimulator Slavol S at a dose of 250 ml ha⁻¹ (T4). The following parameters were monitored during the study: grain yield per unit area (kg ha⁻¹), harvesting residue yield (kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (kg ha⁻¹), the share of empty dry pods in the harvesting residues (%), the share of dry matter in the plant in the harvesting residues (%), and the harvest index (HI, %). During these experiments, the grain yield of beans ranged from 1,096.7 kg ha⁻¹ in treatment T1 (2021) to 3,240.0 kg ha⁻¹ in treatment T4 (2023). The highest average grain yield during these studies was achieved with treatment T4, amounting to 2,679.9 kg ha⁻¹. The average yield of harvesting residues during the study ranged from 3,049.7 kg ha⁻¹ (T1) to 3,986.8 kg ha⁻¹ (T4). The share of empty dry pods in the total harvesting residue yield varied from 25.5% in treatment T1 (2022) to 36.5% in treatment T4 (2021). On the plots where only the biostimulator (T3) was used, the lowest harvest index was recorded (31.5%), while the highest was achieved with treatment T2 (40.9%).