Heavy metal pollution represents a pervasive environmental challenge that significantly exacerbates the ever-increasing crisis of antimicrobial resistance and the capacity of microorganisms to endure and proliferate despite antibiotic interventions. This review examines the intricate relationship between heavy metals and AMR, with an emphasis on the underlying molecular mechanisms and ecological ramifications. Common environmental metals, including arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead, exert substantial selective pressures on microbial communities. These induce oxidative stress and DNA damage, potentially leading to mutations that enhance antibiotic resistance. Key microbial responses include the overexpression of efflux pumps that expel both metals and antibiotics, production of detoxifying enzymes, and formation of protective biofilms, all of which contribute to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. In the soil environment, particularly the rhizosphere, heavy metals disrupt plant–microbe interactions by inhibiting beneficial organisms, such as rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and actinomycetes, thereby impairing nutrient cycling and plant health. Nonetheless, certain microbial consortia can tolerate and detoxify heavy metals through sequestration and biotransformation, rendering them valuable for bioremediation. Advances in biotechnology, including gene editing and the development of engineered metal-resistant microbes, offer promising solutions for mitigating the spread of metal-driven AMR and restoring ecological balance. By understanding the interplay between metal pollution and microbial resistance, we can more effectively devise strategies for environmental protection and public health.

Alfalfa anthracnose is an economically significant disease that leads to substantial biomass losses due to stem rot, reduced stand longevity, and a decline in forage nutritional quality. The disease is caused by multiple species within the genus Colletotrichum, including the 14 described species: C. gloeosporioides, C. truncatum, C. lindemuthianum, C. destructivum, C. dematium, C. trifolii, C. medicaginis, C. graminicola, C. coccodes, C. sojae, C. spinaciae, C. lini, C. americae-borealis, and C. tofieldiae. A thorough understanding of key aspects of the pathogen’s biology, along with its epidemiology, infection cycle, and accurate disease diagnosis, is essential for the development of sustainable management strategies. Knowledge of these factors allows us to anticipate disease outbreaks, implement timely interventions, and design integrated control measures that reduce reliance on chemical fungicides while maintaining crop productivity and forage quality. Although anthracnose management has traditionally relied on synthetic fungicides, this review synthesizes alternative control strategies to clarify the current state of knowledge and to provide new insights into the development of effective and sustainable approaches for managing Colletotrichum species.

Analysis of the weed flora in the vegetable gardens in the village of Trmčare (Kruševac municipality) revealed the presence of a total of 44 weed species [23 weed, 19 weed-ruderal, 1 ruderal and 1 weed of meadows and pastures]. The recorded weed flora is dominated by representatives of the class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons, broad-leaved weeds) with 38 species, while only six species are present from the class Liliopsida (monocotyledons, grass weeds). The analysis of life forms of weeds recorded in vegetable gardens shows a dominance of therophytes (70.45%), compared to geophytes (13.64%). Meanwhile, hemicrypthophytes make 11.36% of the weed flora and thero-hemicrypthophytes only 4.55%. The number of weeds was not high, because the inter-row cultivation was done every ten to fifteen days, and weeds were manually removed in the rows, around the plants. Regardless of the mechanical removal of weeds, the diversity of the weed flora was not negligible. In all observed vegetable gardens under organic production, the most frequent winter weeds were: Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz., Poa annua L., Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill., Veronica persica Poir., Cerastium glomeratum Thuill., Lamium purpureum L. Of the early spring weeds the most frequent were Chenopodium polyspermum L., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Polygonum persicaria L., Polygonum convolvulus L, and Galium aparine L., and of the late spring weeds the most often present were Chenopodium album L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Amaranthus hybridus L., Setaria viridis (L.) P. B., Hibiscus trionum L., and Portulaca oleracea L.

Analysis of the weed flora of organically grown oat in the village of Trumčare (near Kruševac) revealed the presence of a total of 28 species of weed (16 weed-ruderal, 11 weedy and 1 ruderal). The recorded weed flora was dominated by representatives of the class Magnoliopsida and 26 species, while only two species were present from the class Liliopsida. The analysis of life forms of weeds in wheat showed the dominance of therophytes represented by 78.57%, compared to geophytes and hemicryptophytes with 10.71% each. The number of weeds was not high, because the basic, pre-sowing soil preparation and sowing were carried out under favorable weather conditions and in the optimal period. On all observed areas under oat, the following weed species were most frequent: Agrostemma githago L., Ambrosia artemiisifolia L., Polygonum aviculare L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic., Calepina irregularis (Asso) Thell., Lamium purpireum L., Viola arvensis Murr., Cerastium glomeratum Thuill, Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Agropyrum repens Beauv.

Organic walnut (Juglans regia L.) production in Serbia is becoming increasingly important; however, data on the composition and ecological structure of weed flora in young orchards remain limited. The aim of this study was to determine the floristic composition, biological spectrum, and dominant weed species in an organic walnut orchard in the village of Trmčare (municipality of Kruševac, Serbia). A total of 59 weed species were recorded, including 32 weed-ruderal, 21 weed, and 6 ruderal species. The flora was dominated by representatives of the class Magnoliopsida (50 species), while 9 species belonged to the class Liliopsida. Life form analysis showed the predominance of therophytes (52.54%), followed by hemicryptophytes (37.29%), geophytes (8.47%), and therophyte-hemicryptophytes (1.69%). A high level of weed infestation was recorded, mainly due to the absence of inter-row soil cultivation, as well as the fact that deep plowing (rigolage) was not applied during primary soil preparation before planting, together with the use of uncomposted cattle manure during soil preparation. Immediately after orchard establishment, a massive occurrence of Rumex obtusifolius was recorded, which was likely introduced through contaminated organic fertilizer. The most frequently recorded species, in addition to Rumex obtusifolius L., were Lamium amplexicaule L., Galium aparine L., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv., Bromus arvensis L., Bromus sterilis L., Poa pratensis L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Veronica persica Poir., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Lamium purpureum L., Plantago media L., Plantago lanceolata L., and Plantago major L. The results indicate that weed community structure in young organic walnut orchards is strongly influenced by reduced soil tillage intensity, the application of organic fertilizers, and orchard management practices. This study contributes to a better understanding of weed vegetation dynamics in organic walnut production and provides a basis for developing sustainable weed management strategies adapted to local agroecological conditions.

Analysis of the weed flora of organically grown barley in the village of Trumčare (near Kruševac) revealed the presence of a total of 55 species of weed (30 weed-ruderal, 20 weedy and 5 ruderal). The recorded weed flora was dominated by representatives of the class Magnoliopsida and 47 species, while only eight species were present from the class Liliopsida. The analysis of life forms of weeds in barley showed the dominance of therophytes represented by 67.27%, compared to geophytes and hemicryptophytes which were represented by 10.91% each. Therohemicryptophytes were represented by 9.10% and nanophanerophytes by 1.82%. The number of weeds was not high, because the basic, pre-sowing soil preparation and sowing were carried out under favorable weather conditions and in the optimal period. On all observed areas under barley, the following weed species were most frequent: Lamium amplexicaule L., Agrostemma githago L., Avena fatua L., Calepina irregularis (Asso) Thell., Agropyrum repens Beauv., Lamium purpireum L., Viola arvensis Murr., Veronica hederifolia L., Veronica persica Poir., Cerastium glomeratum Thuill, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., and Galium aparine L.