Vine-leaved kitaibelia (Kitaibela vitifolia Willd.), also known as balkanmalva or chalice flower, is a critically endangered plant species with a high risk of extinction in the wild. A reason given for this is, among others, a low germination rate primarily caused by dormancy. The present study evaluated the seed germination and seedling growth parameters of vine-leaved kitaibelia in response to eight different pre-sowing treatments. The final germination percentage ranged from 0 % to 55 %, depending on the pre-sowing treatment. The most effective method for breaking dormancy and increasing vine-leaved kitaibelia seed germination was the treatment with seeds soaked in H2SO4 for 5 min. The mechanical scarification of vine-leaved kitaibelia seeds also improved germination as compared to control treatment, while treatments with nitric acid and gibberellic acid were not effective in enhancing seed germination. All evaluated seedling growth parameters were not affected by pre-sowing treatments. Considering that successful germination and seedling establishment are crucial for the regeneration of vine-leaved kitaibelia further studies are required in order to identify other pre-sowing treatments that could further enhance seed germination and, consequently, seedling development.

Stress caused by drought induces plant morphology, biochemistry, and physiology changes, leading to considerable reductions in plant growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant defence system of impatiens seedlings (Impatiens walleriana L.) under drought. The antioxidant response of impatiens to drought was evaluated using following parameters: the activity of catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, pyrogallol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, total phenolic and flavonoids contents and total antioxidant capacity. The experiment was conducted during 2020 in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Half of the impatiens seedlings (20 plants), after the acclimation period in the greenhouse, were exposed to drought for a period of five days, while the second half was not (20 plants were regularly watered). The results of the study showed that the exposure of impatiens seedlings to drought increased the activity of enzymatic components, total phenolics and flavonoids contents and total antioxidant capacity of leaves. Greater exposure of impatiens to drought (in the observed period) implied a higher plant enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence system activity. These results confirm that impatiens has evolved both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence mechanisms to adapt and survive the short-term drought exposure.

Summary The aim of this study was to examine the effects of seaweed extract (Algaren), nettle extract and microbial biostimulant (Slavol) on total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of leaves of lavender ( Lavandula officinalis L.), sage ( Salvia officinalis L.) and basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The experimental trial was set up in a randomized block design with four biostimulant treatments in three replications. The first application of biostimulant was carried out immediately after the transplanting of seedlings, and the second and third treatments 15 and 30 days later, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and ferric-reducing/ antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of each leaf extract. The nettle extract was found to be the most effective in increasing total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in leaves of studied plants. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts was in line with total phenolics/flavonoids, regardless of plant species and biostimulant treatments, suggesting that phenolic compounds greatly contribute to antioxidant capacity of studied plants.

The aim of this study was to compare the yield and fruit quality characteristics of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivar ʽMeeker' grown in organic and conventional cultivation systems. The total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic and flavonoid contents and total antioxidant capacity of raspberry fruits were assessed. The analyses showed that raspberry yields per cane were significantly higher in the conventional cultivation system. In contrast, fruits from organic farming had higher antioxidant levels. The findings of this study indicated that organic farming in the study region increased raspberry quality, but decreased yield, as compared to conventional farming.

The aim of this study was to study the impact of crop load on the yield and grape quality of ‘Merlot’ and ‘Vranac’ (Vitis vinifera L.) in Trebinje vineyard. The crop load levels studied in this trial were 9 buds (V1) and 12 buds (V2) per vine at each variety trained on Lenz-Moser bilateral cordon system. The impact was determined by measurements of yield per vine and grape quality characterized by the contents of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolics, total flavonoids and by total antioxidant capacity. The measured parameters of grape quality of ‘Merlot’ and ‘Vranac’ were not influenced significantly by crop load levels. V2, compared to the V1, showed the potential for increasing grape yield only for Merlot variety under experimental conditions. The results of this study also showed a positive correlation between total phenolics/flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity of grape berries in both varieties, regardless of crop loads applied.

This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of eight native plant species on heavy metal polluted soils along the Spreča river valley (the northeast region of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Plants selected for screening were: ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), common nettle (Urtica dioica L.), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.), wild mint (Mentha arvensis L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), dwarf nettle (Urtica urens L.) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.). All aboveground parts of selected native plants and their associated soil samples were collected and analysed for total concentration of Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu. The bioaccumulation factor for each element was also calculated. The levels of Cr (90.9–171.1 mg/kg) and Ni (80.1–390.5 mg/kg) in the studied soil plots were generally higher than limits prescribed by European standards, indicating that the soils in the Spreča river valley are polluted by Cr and Ni. Among the eight screened plant species, no hyperaccumulators for toxic heavy metals Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb were identified. However, the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in the above-ground parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. and Trifolium repens L. were significantly higher than in the other studied plants, indicating that both plant species are useful for heavy metal removal.  

This study investigates levels of soil pollution and estimates the phytoremediation potential of 7 native plants growing close to the Zenica steel mill. Plant leaves or roots and associated soil samples were collected from this site and characterized in terms of the concentrations of the heavy metals Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni. Heavy metal concentrations in soil and plant samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioaccumulation factors for heavy metals were also calculated. All plants studied had a low ability to remove or stabilize heavy metals in soil. This was probably associated with the poor mobility and thus poor availability of heavy metals to the plants growing in the vicinity of this steel mill.

This study attempted to evaluate the efficiency of zeolite and pyrophyllite ore materials in reducing the mobility of heavy metals in soil near the lignite mining dumps, and consequently in their availability for plants. Extraction of pseudo-total and available forms of heavy metals from soil samples was performed by using aqua regia and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, respectively. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil and plant samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of this study illustrate that application of zeolite and pyrophyllite could be a suitable technique to reduce heavy metals availability in soils. Zeolite treatments have been shown to be significantly effective in reducing cadmium (Cd) mobility, as well as pyrophyllite treatments in reducing lead (Pb) mobility in the studied soil, regardless of applied rates. The accumulation of heavy metals in leaves of maize grown on soil plots treated by zeolite and pyrophyllite, was found to be lower compared to the untreated plots. This finding was to be expected, considering the effects of these treatments on heavy metals mobility in the studied soil.

The Vraca Memorial Park was built in 1980-1981 around the old Austro-Hungarian fortress located above the city of Sarajevo, on northwestern slopes of Trebevic mountain slightly above 600 m asl. It covers an area of approximately 8 ha. The southwestern part of the park is mostly covered by seminatural forest, central part of the range mostly paved, and northeastern is covered by partly ornamental forest and some grassland patches. Despite being declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005, the Park is neglected and ruined, which allowed diverse subspontaneous vegetation to develop. The paper presents the results of systematic research and analysis of the spontaneous vascular flora of the Vraca Memorial Park. A total of 280 species of 182 genera and 67 families were recorded. With 37 species, Poaceae are the most abundant, followed by Asteraceae (incl. Cichoriaceae) with 29, and Fabaceae and Rosaceae (23 species each). Numerous seedlings of shrubs and trees planted for ornamental purposes were observed, as well as the presence of two protected Orchidaceae species.