During the process of maize seed production, in order to ensure the genetic purity of parental forms of hybrid maize, an important work performed is the removal of male inflorescences from plants on mother rows. Hand detasseling has high precision but is labor-intensive. Mechanical detasseling offers the possibility to cover large acreages in a short period of time, but the number of leaves removed has a varying influence on plant performance and seed yield. The aim of this study was to simulate three types of damages on plants similar to those induced through mechanical detasseling and to assess the effects for five inbred lines during the course of three years. Results show that when tassels alone were removed, the average seed yield decreased an average of 4–21%. When two leaves were removed with the tassel, yield decreased an average of 22–31%, while when plants were cut above the main ear, seed yield decreased an average of 31–66%. Environmental conditions influenced seed yield, especially high temperatures during flowering. Yield response to tassel and leaves removal varied between the inbred lines. Genotype controls maize ear and kernel characters, while environmental factors exercise a strong influence on seed yield, due to the succession of years with contrasting weather conditions in a key phenophase. Within the trend of full mechanization in agriculture, identification of inbred lines that cope better with plant damage can assist in optimizing seed production.

The aim of the present study was to correlate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of three Dracocephalum moldavica L. cultivars with their polyphenolic compositions. The polyphenols were identified and quantified using spectrophotometrical methods and LC–MS analysis. Their antioxidant capacities were assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Their in vitro antimicrobial efficacies were assessed using the agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Their cytotoxicity was investigated on normal diploid foreskin fibroblasts (BJ) and on colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell lines. The results pointed out significant amounts of polyphenolic compounds in the compositions of the tested cultivars, with rosmarinic acid as the main compound (amounts ranging between 5.337 ± 0.0411 and 6.320 ± 0.0535 mg/mL). All three cultivars displayed significant antioxidant (IC₅₀ ranging between 35.542 ± 0.043 and 40.901 ± 0.161 µg/mL for the DPPH assay, and for the FRAP assay 293.194 ± 0.213 and 330.165 ± 0.754 µmol Trolox equivalent/mg dry vegetal material) and antimicrobial potential (especially towards the Gram-positive bacteria), as well as a selective toxicity towards the tumoral line. A significant positive correlation was found between antioxidant activity and the total phenolic acids (r² = 0.987) and polyphenols (r² = 0.951). These findings bring further arguments for strongly considering D. moldavica cultivars as promising vegetal products, which warrants further investigation.

The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the yield potential of 25 different varieties of oat as a reaction to seeding distance and fertilization for improvement of crop technology and identification of the most adapted varieties. Based ANOVA test, the main influence on yield is due to climate, followed by the amount of fertilizers. The sowing distance reveals its influence when combined with the fertilization, this aspect pointing out the differences between studied varieties. The triple interactions gradually reduce the influence of the factors, their combination being very significant in the case year X sowing distance X variety. The spatial comparative analysis of the three experimental years presents an overlap in the median area of the PCA ordering of the 12.5 cm sowing distance, fertilized with N₅₀P₅₀ with the 25 cm sowing distance fertilized with N₁₀₀P₅₀. There are differences between the oat varieties regarding the reaction to the nitrogen fertilization, highlighting especially the Mureşana variety where comparable yields are obtained on both levels of fertilization: 5.18 t ha⁻¹ (N₅₀P₅₀) and 5.59 t ha⁻¹ (N₁₀₀P₅₀).

The sowing date of maize significantly impacts its main yield elements. The experiment, conducted at the Research and Development Station for Cattle Breeding (R.D.S.C.B.) Târgu Mureș, Sângeorgiu de Mureș, România, from 2018 to 2021, involved nine maize hybrids from different maturity groups, sown on three dates: early sowing (ES) at 6 °C soil temperature, optimal sowing (OS) at 10 °C soil temperature, and late sowing (LS) two weeks after the optimal date. The experiment was placed in a poly-factorial experience of type: A × B × C × C − R: 3 × 9 × 4 − 3, organized according to the subdivided plots method. The study examined the influence of sowing date on grain yield (GY), thousand-kernel weight (TKW), test weight (TW), percentage of grains per cob (% G/C), and grain humidity at harvest (GHH). The results indicated that yield was not negatively impacted by early or late sowing compared to the optimal date, with differences of 52 kg ha⁻¹ between ES and OS, 147 kg ha⁻¹ between ES and LS, and 95 kg ha⁻¹ between OS and LS. ES increased TW (723.4 kg hl⁻¹) and % G/C (86.7%), but reduced GY (13,377 kg ha⁻¹), TKW (335.3 g), and GHH (19.5%). Conversely, LS positively influenced GY (13,524 kg ha⁻¹), TKW (356.7 g), and GHH (23.9%), but negatively affected TW (692.8 kg hl⁻¹) and % G/C (84.9%). Yield data obtained by P9900 and Kapitolis hybrids suggest that they are suitable for early sowing.

An increasing market demand concerning lavender essential oil is reported. Identification and characterization of the main compounds of this oil is needed, in order to identify chemotypes. This information is useful for further uses of the produced oil. Essential oil extracted from two Lavandula angustifolia L. varieties, cultivated in different areas of Transylvania, Romania, was analysed from the point of view of qualitative and quantitative composition, using gas-chromatography. Basic statistics was used for calculation of essential oil compounds means and dispersion parameters, while the profile of the essential oil composition was emphasized using Box-Plot diagrams and cluster analysis. Nine compounds, in different amounts were quantified, and two chemotypes, corresponding to ‘Mailette’ and ‘Vera’ varieties were established (linalool, and linalyl acetate, respectively). Differences in essential oil composition are recorded in ‘Vera’ variety corresponding to ‘Vera’ linalyl acetate chemotype, function of specific condition of lavender cultivation area.

In the last few years, Romania has become a top maize producer. Export potential is sustained by ensuring high-quantity and -quality maize. Success of maize crop is highly dependent on inputs. In this context, insight into the potential of different fertilizers to maximize crop performance could shed light on best practices to enhance yields and other traits of interest. The aim of this study was to assess the agronomic performance of maize under a fertilization gradient. Six fertilizer regimes were tested on three maize hybrids between 2018 and 2020, in conditions from the Transylvanian Plain. Results showed that fertilization had a significant influence on yield, thousand kernels weight, grain quality (starch and protein content) and crop health. The experimental year also played a significant role in the expression of productivity potential of maize genotypes. Different fertilizer regimes could be used for targeting desired outcomes, but top performance across all or multiple agronomic components remains a challenge and should receive further attention for optimization.