Ageing in oak barrels affects the tertiary aroma of red wine, yet further research on the impact of different conditions used for medium toasting of barrels could still be conducted to optimise wine production and meet consumer preferences. In this study, using the GC/MS method, the aroma profiles of two consecutive vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon wine and samples aged for 12 months in different vessels were determined. Besides the stainless steel tanks, Excellence barrels with medium, medium plus, and medium long toasting, and Premium barrels with medium toasting were used. A total of 48 aroma compounds were identified, and their odour activity value (OAV ≥ 1) was calculated. According to it, 10 key compounds were selected: β-damascenone, ethyl octanoate, ethyl vanillate, ethyl cinnamate, lauric acid, linalool, hotrienol, ethyl hexanoate, diethyl succinate, and 2-phenylethanol. The results showed that wooden barrels have a greater impact on wine aroma during ageing, compared to stainless steel tanks. The initial wine aroma and key compounds with fruity, floral, and fatty notes were most preserved in the stainless steel tank. The study highlights that controlled selection of barrel type (grain density) and toasting method can significantly modulate the aromatic complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Toasted barrels resulted in an increase in smoky and woody notes (volatile phenols and lactones), and a decrease in fruity and floral notes (β-damascenone, 2-phenylethanol, hotrienol, linalool, etc.). These findings could provide practical guidelines for winemakers for optimising ageing strategies and contributing new insights into the impact of wine vessels on aroma development and sensory perception.

Salvia pratensis L. is a valuable medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds, yet its allelopathic potential remains underexplored. This study evaluated allelopathic effects and total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of water extracts from the dry aboveground biomass of S. pratensis. To assess their selectivity and potential application in sustainable weed management, extracts at five different concentrations were tested on the germination and early growth of lettuce, radish, tomato, and carrot. The results demonstrated that the phytotoxic effects of S. pratensis extracts were both concentration- and species-dependent. Higher extract concentrations significantly inhibited germination and seedling growth, while lower concentrations of extracts stimulated shoot elongation by up to 30% compared to the control. Phytochemical analysis revealed that S. pratensis extracts contain notable TPC and TFC contents, with their concentrations increasing consistently with the extract concentration. Correlation analysis showed that higher TPC and TFC contents were strongly negatively correlated with germination and seedling growth parameters. Radish exhibited the highest sensitivity to the extracts, while lettuce was the most tolerant. Further research under field conditions is needed to assess the efficacy, selectivity, and practical potential of S. pratensis extracts in sustainable crop production systems.

Excessive use of fossil fuels has an extremely negative impact on the environment and climate, as it results in the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere. The goal of this research was to compare the use of solar energy and biomass as an ener...

Allelopathic plants and their chemical compounds offer promising possibilities for sustainable weed management. This study aimed to assess the phytotoxic potential of birthwort ( Aristolochia clematitis L.) on the germination and early growth of crops (wheat, barley, basil) and the weed species redroot pigweed ( Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Extracts from fresh and dry aboveground biomass of A . clematitis , in different concentrations, were evaluated using a Petri dish bioassay and a pot experiment with soil. The results indicated that allelopathic effects of A. clematitis extracts depended on extract concentration, biomass type, test species, and application method. Germination and growth of the test species generally decreased as the concentration of weed biomass in the water extracts increased. In the Petri dish bioassay, extracts from fresh biomass had both positive and negative effects, while higher concentrations of dry biomass extract suppressed germination and seedling growth by up to 90 %. In the pot experiment, the allelopathic impact was less pronounced, and inhibition was observed only with the application of extracts from dry biomass. Variability in species sensitivity was also noted, with barley and A. retroflexus being the most affected. A. clematitis shows great potential as a subject for further research.

Cilj istraživanja je bio utvrditi utjecaj barrique bačava različite starosti na kakvoću senzornih karakteristika vina Babić, Plavac mali i Tribidrag. Istraživanje je provedeno u vinariji Galić d.o.o. iz Kutjeva. Grožđa od kojeg je proizvedeno vino po...