The beans are an important protein source. In our three-year experiment, we examined the effect of sowing times and fertilizer doses on the protein content of the seed and the protein yield per hectare. We set up the trial on sandy soil, without irrigation, in four replications with 300,000 plant per hectare in Nyíregyháza (Hungary). 10 m² plots were in randomized blocks, with three sowing times (in normal time, earlier and later) and three fertilizer doses (0 %; 100 % and 150 %). We measured the nitrogen content of the seed with a Vario-Max CNS analyzer. The protein contents were counted from that value. The data were evaluated with Excel and SPSS 22.0. In examined 3 years the largest protein contents were in the third sowing time with 150 % fertilizer dose. In 2016-17 the yield and protein yield of the third sowing time were larger than the value of earlier sowing times for all three fertilizer doses. This was because of favourable weather. The significant effect of increased fertilizer doses was not proved at a given sowing time. If the weather was favourable, then the significant relationship among the sowing time, protein content, yield, and protein yield was positive and strong.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most widely consumed grain legume in Europe, yet dry bean production in Hungary remains below domestic demand. This study aimed to identify optimal cultivation strategies for improving yield by evaluating the combined effects of sowing time, plant density, and fertiliser dose across three dry bean varieties under field conditions in Nyíregyháza (Hungary) from 2015 to 2017. The results revealed that all three agronomic factors significantly influenced yield and its components, with varietal differences in response patterns. Sowing time and plant density consistently affected pod number, thousand-seed weight, and yield per plant. Fertiliser application had a more variable impact, depending on the variety and year. The findings underline the importance of variety-specific recommendations to optimise yield under varying environmental and soil conditions.

In the context of the current socio-economic and technological transformations, plant-based diets have gained an increasing importance. The present comparative study, conducted on a sample of 70 participants (35 vegans and 35 omnivores), investigated the influence of education level and socio-economic conditions on the adoption of a plant-based diet in Romania. Statistical analysis, based on the Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression, did not reveal significant associations between the studied variables, highlighting the need for further exploration of cultural and ideological factors. Limitations of the study, including the small sample size, are acknowledged and this preliminary analysis opens directions for future research. Soon, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will provide new tools for analyzing nutritional behaviours and personalizing dietary recommendations.

Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. is a widely used medicinal species valued for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. This study examined the variation in hydrolysable tannin and flavonoid content in rhizomes of wild-growing populations collected along an elevational gradient in the Ukrainian Carpathians (180–2020 m above sea level). Rhizomes from fifteen populations were analyzed using pharmacopoeial methods, including thin-layer chromatography for tannins and spectrophotometry for flavonoids. Tannin levels ranged from 15.57% to 31.82%, while flavonoid contents varied between 0.23% and 0.40%, expressed as a percentage of dry weight. Both metabolites showed a strong positive correlation with altitude (r = 0.88 for tannins; r = 0.84 for flavonoids), indicating a clear influence of elevation on their accumulation. The highest concentrations were consistently found in high-mountain populations. These results suggest that environmental factors associated with increasing elevation, such as reduced temperature and enhanced ultraviolet radiation, play a significant role in shaping the phytochemical profile of P. erecta. The study contributes to the understanding of altitudinal effects on secondary metabolite accumulation in mountain plants and provides a basis for further ecological and pharmacological-oriented research related to this species.

Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is a phytochemically rich yet underexplored species with potential biomedical applications. This study aimed to provide an organ-specific chemical characterization of its secondary metabolites and to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of ethanolic extracts derived separately from its leaves and flowers. Using UHPLC-MS/MS, we identified a total of 54 compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. In total, 35 compounds in the flower extract and 38 in the leaf extract were reported here for the first time. The antimicrobial activity of both extracts was tested against six multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Acinetobacter baumannii) using seven concentration levels (12.5–87.5%). While the leaf extract showed limited antibacterial effects, the flower extract demonstrated stronger, concentration-dependent inhibitory effects. At concentrations of 62.5% and above, it markedly reduced viable bacterial counts in all tested MDR strains. These findings highlight the importance of organ-specific phytochemical analysis in medicinal plants and suggest that A. foeniculum, particularly its flowers, may serve as a promising source of bioactive compounds for further antimicrobial research and development.