Janja Kuzevski’s research while affiliated with Institute for Science Application in Agriculture and other places

Colorado potato beetle is one of the most important pests of potatoes and one of the most difficult insects to control. Over the years, none of the control techniques developed against this pest has provided long-term protection for potato crops. Worldwide, CPB is resistant to all major groups of insecticides, including organophosphates and carbamates. The target site of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate insecticides is the same; they in‐ hibit the activity of AChE. The function of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is degradation of acetylcholine (ACh-neurotransmitter) in the insect cholinergic synapses. Mutations in the AChE-encoding locus have been shown to confer target site insensitivity to organo‐ phosphate and carbamate insecticides, leading to modification of AChE (MACE). A range of other amino acid substitutions in AChE confer insecticide resistance, and these muta‐ tions typically reside near to or within the active site of the enzyme. Such AChE muta‐ tions, associated with insecticide resistance, mostly known as Ace in Drosophila, have also been observed in other species, including L. decemlineata. Based on bioassays and literature, modified/insensitive AChE confers two major patterns of resistance to OPs/ carbamates. Pattern I resistance is characterized by significantly higher resistance ratios (RR) (much greater reduction in the sensitivity of AChE at the biochemical level) to carba‐ mates than to organophosphate insecticides. Pattern II resistance is characterized by re‐ sistance ratios (and/or reductions in the sensitivity of AChE) that are approximately equivalent for both carbamates and OPs. There are also a few species for which an insen‐ sitive AChE has been reported and for which molecular data have been collected, but for which the resistance profiles for both OPs and carbamates have not been reported. For CPB, both patterns were registered.

The productivity traits of rye, khorasan wheat and quinoa on degraded soil were investigated in a threeyear research (2010-2012). The research was carried out in two localities: Stanari (ST) (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and at “TENT 2“in Obrenovac (OB) (Serbia). A significant interdependence between grain yield and aboveground biomass yield was observed in the investigated genotypes and localities. The resulting average grain yields in these localities ranged between 1,166-1,702 kg ha-1 (rye), 1,826-1,943 kg ha-1 (khorasan wheat) and 520-966 kg ha-1 (quinoa). Fluctuations in grain yields were due to different soil conditions – different nutrient contents and the distribution of precipitation at initial stages of crop development. This research confirmed that rye is a crop with minimum soil requirements and it can be successfully grown in poor soil. The second best biomass yield was obtained by khorasan wheat, while the lowest biomass yield was obtained by quinoa.

The productivity traits of rye, khorasan wheat and quinoa on degraded soil were investigated in a three-year research (2010-2012). The research was carried out in two localities: Stanari (ST) (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and at " TENT 2 " in Obrenovac (OB) (Serbia). A significant interdependence between grain yield and aboveground biomass yield was observed in the investigated genotypes and localities. The resulting average grain yields in these localities ranged between 1,166-1,702 kg ha-1 (rye), 1,826-1,943 kg ha-1 (khorasan wheat) and 520-966 kg ha-1 (quinoa). Fluctuations in grain yields were due to different soil conditions – different nutrient contents and the distribution of precipitation at initial stages of crop development. This research confirmed that rye is a crop with minimum soil requirements and it can be successfully grown in poor soil. The second best biomass yield was obtained by khorasan wheat, while the lowest biomass yield was obtained by quinoa.

The training courses for professional development of the advisors from the Agricultural Advisory Service of the Republic of Serbia, developed as part of the CaSA project (WP4), have been carried out by the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture. E-learning courses for agricultural advisors, as well as Training courses catalogue for 2015/2016, will also be placed on the National Repository for Agricultural Education (NaRA) at http://arhiva.nara.ac.rs. INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE The authorised organization for training and perfecting of agricultural advisors and agricultural producers Since 2010, the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture as the organization authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia has been providing continuous training of advisors from PSSS, in order to improve their knowledge and skills in the field of agriculture. These continuous training courses substantially contribute to the transfer of knowledge and information from advisors to agricultural producers, being carried out to strengthen the competitiveness of agricultural production and increase the quality of agricultural products. Besides agricultural advisors, the trainees are also producers associations, local government, rural development centres, NGOs and other subjects interested in acquiring and improving their knowledge. The trainees receive the Certificate of Training/Education Completion issued by the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture, and this certification is necessary for getting the License for Advisory Work. The training programme is designed based on the need assessment of agricultural advisors and producers as well as on priorities of agriculture and rural development in the Republic of Serbia. The training programmes have been implemented with the help of the funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, as well as through the participation of partner organisations (Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops from Novi Sad, GIZ, SDC), USDA technical assistance, project collaboration (TEMPUS, IPA, FADN). The Institute organises 10 to 20 modules per year. From 2010 to 2016, the Institute carried out 54 modules and 3 workshops, as well as 8 seminars of the Agricultural Advisory Service of the Republic of Serbia. All modules were approved by the Expert Council on Advisory Work and Applied Research of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia. During 2015 and 2016, the Institute with its partners from the TEMPUS project (544072-TEMPUS- 1-2013-1-RS-TEMPUS-SMHES (2013-4604 / 001-001) “Building Capacity of Serbian Agricultural Education to Link with Society (CaSA)” developed and implemented 10 modules. Their special contribution is reflected in the development of modules for distance learning (“e-learning”), aimed to build the capacity of PSSS and the capacity of agricultural education in the Republic of Serbia through modern means of learning. The training courses cover all areas of agricultural production (animal husbandry, field and vegetable crop production, fruit production and viticulture, plant protection, food technology, agricultural economics), as well as production management, EU standards and regulations, rural tourism, rural development, agricultural policy measures and training of advisors on advisory techniques and skills. The task of these training courses is to enable: 1. Modernisation of knowledge, i.e. innovation of knowledge on new and modern production technologies, 2. Extension of knowledge from the areas not covered by regular schooling, and 3. Acquiring of applied knowledge - mastering advisory skills. The training courses are carried out through different types of training: classroom lectures, practical training, distance learning (e-learning) and combined thematic lectures and distance learning (blended). To ensure the quality and practical use of training courses, the Institute carries out the courses in collaboration with prominent experts, in groups with a limited number of trainees. In all the courses the trainees have direct contact with the trainer, take part in discussions and can have answers on their questions. The Institute posts the PowerPoint presentations from all the implemented courses on the internet portal of the Agricultural Advisory Service to be available for the advisors from PSSS, agricultural producers and other interested subjects. Moreover, as the training courses are supported with educational materials in the form of flayers, manuals, brochures, leaflets and online applications on the PSSS portal (www.psss.rs). In the previous decades, the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture through its work on training courses and applied research has greatly contributed to the transfer of scientific achievements from all areas of agriculture, mainly to the Agricultural Advisory Service (PSSS) and agricultural producers. The expert team from the Institute consists of prominent experts in the most important areas of agriculture, who can use their knowledge to meet the demands of multidisciplinary projects from modern agriculture. We have made this catalogue to present part of the educational programmes we organise that can be useful for your future professional development.

U monografiji pod naslovom Alternativne ratarske biljke u konvencionalnom i organskom sistemu gajenja autora: Đorđa Glamočlije, Snežane Janković, Vere Popović, Vladimira Filipovića, Janje Kuzevski i Vladana Ugrenovića obrađena su pitanja vezana za privredni značaj, poreklo, biološke osobine, odnos prema uslovima uspevanja i agrotehniku 44 ratar-ske biljke koje se na velikom geografskom području, od tropskih klimatskih, do kontinentalnih područja. Klimatski uslovi naše zemlje pružaju mogućnost gajenja svih opisanih vrsta i velika su šansa za naše male poljoprivredne proizvođače jer se, uz standardnu poljoprivrednu mehanizaciju i veće učešće ručnog rada, mogu gajiti na manjim površinama i pružiti potpunije angažovanje svih članova domaćinstava. Uz malo veća ulaganja u primarnu preradu glavnog i sekun-darnih proizvoda, farmer je u mogućnosti da ostvari veću dobit nego ako gaji standardne ratarske useve. Pored konvencionalnog sistema gajenja ovih biljaka, u monografiji je prikazan i sistem ekološke (organske) proizvodnje opisanih ratarskih vrsta, tako da potencijalni proizvođači mogu saznati kako mogu proizvesti zdravstveno bezbedne sirovine za prehrambenu i farmaceutsku industriju. Vrednost ovoj monografiji daje i činjenica da je napisana tako da je studenti mogu koristiti kao udžbenik, a kao priručnik poljoprivredni struč-njaci i svi sadašnji i budući proizvođači ovih „malih“ biljaka velikih proizvodnih mogućnosti.

In the three year trials tested yield and quality of five sugar beet genotypes. According to results, highest average weight of root ( X =1.13 kg), as well as highest value of root mass (X max=1.35 kg) was recorded by variety Otis. Variation in yield by varieties was statistically significant. Highest yielding varieties were Chiara and Otis. Highest yielding variety Chiara had 97% higher yield than variety Severina, 36.76 t ha-1. Highest digestion individual and in average, have had varieties Severina and Irina while the lowest was variety Otis. Highest digestion stability had variety Irina (Cv=2.52%). Quality, namely technological root value largely depends of genotype. Coarseness of the root was in inverse proportion to the content of sugar

In the three year trials tested yield and quality of five sugar beet genotypes. According to results, highest average weight of root ( X =1.13 kg), as well as highest value of root mass (X max=1.35 kg) was recorded by variety Otis. Variation in yield by varieties was statistically significant. Highest yielding varieties were Chiara and Otis. Highest yielding variety Chiara had 97% higher yield than variety Severina, 36.76 t ha-1. Highest digestion individual and in average, have had varieties Severina and Irina while the lowest was variety Otis. Highest digestion stability had variety Irina (Cv=2.52%). Quality, namely technological root value largely depends of genotype. Coarseness of the root was in inverse proportion to the content of sugar.

U monografiji pod naslovom Alternativne ratarske biljke u konvencionalnom i organskom sistemu gajenja autora Đorđa Glamočlije, Snežane Janković, Vere M. Popović, Vladimira Filipovića, Janje Kuzevski i Vladana Ugrenovića, obrađena su pitanja u vezi sa privrednim značajem, poreklom, biološkim osobinama, odnosom prema uslovima uspevanja i agrotehnikom 44 ratarske biljke koje se na velikom geografskom području, od tropskih do kontinentalnih klimatskih područja. Klimatski uslovi naše zemlje pružaju mogućnost gajenja svih opisanih vrsta i velika su šansa za naše male poljoprivredne proizvođače jer se, uz standardnu poljoprivrednu mehanizaciju i veće učešće ručnog rada, mogu gajiti na manjim površinama i pružiti potpunije angažovanje svih članova domaćinstava. Uz malo veća ulaganja u primarnu preradu glavnog i sekundarnih proizvoda, poljoprivredni proizvođač je u mogućnosti da ostvari veću dobit pri gajenju standardnih ratarskih useva. Pored konvencionalnog sistema gajenja ovih biljaka, u monografiji je prikazan i sistem ekološke (organske) proizvodnje opisanih ratarskih vrsta, tako da potencijalni proizvođači mogu saznati kako mogu da proizvedu zdravstveno bezbedne sirovine za prehrambenu i farmaceutsku industriju. Alternativne ratarske biljke su posebno značajne za organski sistem gajenja jer većina vrsta pripada grupi biljaka koje je čovek gajio još na počecima ratarske proizvodnje. Tokom više hiljada godina proizvodnje ove vrste su se dobro prilagodile različitim agroekološkim i zemljišnim uslovima. Danas su u proizvodnji podjednako zastupljene stare visokoadaptirane populacije i savremene sorte dobijene iz ovog genetičkog materijala. Vrednost ovoj monografiji daje i činjenica da je napisana tako da je može poslužiti kao udžbenik studentima ili kao priručnik poljoprivrednim stručnjacima i svim sadašnjim i budućim proizvođačima ovih „malih“ biljaka velikih proizvodnih mogućnosti.

The effect of storage was studied on grain metabolites, functional properties and digestibility of three oat cultivars selected in Serbia – Dunav, Vrbas and NS Tara. During the 12 and 24 months of storage, there was a decrease on average in total proteins (10.98% and 15.95%) lipids (7.55% and 11.82%), crude cellulose (6.65% and 14.77%) and starch concentration (6.48% and 9.48%), and an increase in total ash concentration (4.8% and 9%) and dry matter (4.53% and 5.92%). Storage period caused a decrease in β-glucan concentration. The concentration of total phenolics (28.79–41.19%) and caffeic acid markedly decreased after 24 months of storage. The storage period significantly influenced the ferric reducing ability (FRAP) (36.34–43.12%) and the DPPH radical scavenging activity (76.92–237.14%). Organic matter digestibility of oat grains was slightly changed, but remained over 70%. Based on the present study, oat grain should not be stored longer than 12 months since phenolics contribute markedly to health promoting effect of oats.

Environmental conditions significantly influence agricultural production, i.e. they are one of the main factors that affect its efficiency. Continuous monitoring of economic results makes it possible to identify the basic elements of revenues and expenditures in production of major agricultural crops, and use these data to plan future production – in other words, to choose the right enterprise for respective environmental conditions. The gross margin is a quick and efficient indicator used to analyse an enterprise when considering economic indicators of different enterprises and choosing the most efficient one in economic terms. In this paper we used the gross margin to compare the two production years with different production conditions, but on the same farms. Therefore, gross margin was used as an adequate indicator that aims to show the difference which is in function of various agro-ecological conditions, price and yield within the period of two years. The paper used the questionnaire carried out in 2011 and 2012 on a total of 69 chosen leader farms from the territory of 11 stations of the Agricultural Extension Service of Serbia. The questionnaire collected data on revenues and expenditures based on which gross margins for maize were calculated. The main indicator of this calculation is the gross margin, which is the difference between the value of production (value of the primary and the secondary product) and total variable costs that covers seed costs, fertilizer costs, costs of plant protection products, diesel fuels and contracted services (for sowing, harvest and labour). In these periods climatic conditions differed significantly. In 2012 there was considerably less precipitation with higher air temperatures, which was one of the main reason for reduced yields per area unit. In 2012, yields decreased by 28%, while price per kilogram of maize increased by about 37%, reducing total value of production by about 1%. It was estimated that total variable costs increased by 6%, while the gross margin was reduced by about 8%.