This paper presents the results of the project titled " Agricultural Biomass Cross-border Development of Energy in Posavina” - ABCDE Posavina implemented within the IPA Cross-border Programme between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its main objective is to promote agro-bioenergy in rural economies by including utilisation of agricultural biomass for energy purposes in the Posavina region. The region includes Vukovar-Srijem County (VSC) in Croatia and four municipalities (Odžak, Domaljevac-Samac, Orasje, Samac) and Brcko District in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). These areas represent valuable agricultural land with a good potential for economic utilisation. The analysis of agricultural biomass potential includes production of biogas in co-digestion of manure (cattle, pigs and poultry manure) and maize silage (input of maize silage is limited at 30% of feedstock mass) as well as biodiesel from oilseed rape and bioethanol from maize. Potential GHG savings are estimated for the biogas and biofuels use. Theoretical biogas energy potential is estimated at 1,386 TJ/yr for VSC and 574 TJ/yr for BiH. Based on the theoretical potential for generation of electricity and heat from biogas, total installed capacity in VSC would be 19.8 MW e while 8.2 MW e in BiH. The corresponding theoretical potentials for biodiesel production are 4,258 TJ/yr (VSC) and 1,415 (BiH) while for bioethanol these are 6,140 TJ/yr and 1,689 TJ/yr, respectively. It is assumed that 50% of total theoretical biogas potential and 30% of total theoretical biofuel potential are achievable. Annual GHG savings for biogas use are estimated at 31.30 ktCO2-eq (VSC) and 26.84 ktCO2-eq (BiH). Annual GHG savings due to biodiesel use are estimated at 37.46-64.22 ktCO2-eq (VSC) and 12.45-21.34 ktCO2-eq (BiH) and for bioethanol use at 54.02-92.61 ktCO2-eq (VSC) and 14.86-25.48 ktCO2-eq (BiH).

The Programme for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in the Republic of Srpska was established in 2008. The main objective of the Programme is effective management of plant genetic resources through carrying out of continuous field inventories and collection, evaluation, exchange and conservation of germplasm. The Genetic Resources Institute, University of Banja Luka was appointed as a expert unit for coordination and implementation of the Programme. In the period from 2009 to 2011, the inventory was made for part of the area of the Republic of Srpska. An innovative approach was adopted for conservation of plant genetic resources by means of long-term seed preservation, in vitro conservation, morphological and molecular characterisation, as well as regular database updates. Contacts were established with producers for the purpose of on farm protection of local ecotypes and populations. An ex situ collection was established in the Botanic Garden for plant species that can not be conserved in the form of seeds. By the end of 2011, the Gene Bank had reached its full operation with 455 accessions in long-term storage (-18 o C), around 150 accessions in the working collection and 100 accessions in the field collection. With its 91 accessions, the Genetic Resources Institute is part of a European web-based catalogue of inventories of plant genetic resources (EURISCO). Having adopted the Programme, the Republic of Srpska has not only fulfilled one of the world's peremptory obligations to conserve biodiversity of agricultural crops, but also a moral obligation to future generations.

Pomological characterisation of pears of the so-called “Lubenicarka” (watermelon pear) group has been based on three genotypes identified in numerous vegetative progeny as part of the native assortment of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Krupna Lubenicarka” (common watermelon pear) variety was recommended for the expansion of production at the beginning of the XX century, and there were two more genotypes (“Crna Lubenicarka” (black watermelon pear) and “Bijela Lubenicarka” (white watermelon pear)) that were listed under the common name of “Lubenicarka”. The research results show that “Krupna Lubenicarka” variety has vegetative progeny characterised by stable pomological features which clearly and reliably determine this variety. “Crna” and “Bijela Lubenicarka” genotypes are characterised by certain pomological distinctions that clearly make them different, but also by some similarities, whose variability raises up the question of their reliable pomological and genetic characterisation. Morphometric analyses of the fruit and leaf of “Krupna Lubenicarka” variety and “Crna” and “Bijela Lubenicarka” genotypes represent their first pomological characterisation that can be adopted as a reliable foundation for collecting, further pomological studies and genetic characterisation.

Stone fruits from commercial as well as abandoned orchards were evaluated for European Stone Fruit Yellows phytoplasma (ESFY) presence during 2004-2007 years. Orchards were monitored in western and southern districts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the first survey conducted in period of 2004 till 2005 the causal agent of ESFY was identified on peach ( Prunus persica ) and apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ) plants in both surveyed districts. During 2007, a new survey was performed and samples were taken from symptomatic and symptomless plants of European plum ( Prunus domestica ), Japanese plum ( Prunus salicina ), Myrobalan plum ( Prunus cerasifera ) and cherry ( Prunus avium ). Samples were analyzed using real-time PCR and nested PCR approaches. In this extended survey, the presence of ESFY phytoplasma was additionally identified in Japanese plum and myrobalan plum trees. Keywords : Bosnia and Herzegovina, myrobalan plum, Japanese plum, phytoplasma, ESFY, PCR

During autumn 2005 and summer 2006, field surveys were carried out to assess the sanitary status of pome fruit trees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Inspections were done in the main pome fruit growing areas including 10 orchards, 2 nurseries and one varietal collection. A total of 65 apple and 50 pear cultivars were tested by biological indexing for the presence of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV). The average infection level was 81%. Both species showed a similar infection rate (83% for apple and 78% for pear). The most frequent viruses of apple were ACLSV (72%) and ASPV (69%), and of pear ASGV (69%) and ACLSV (64%). The same samples were also tested by ELISA, with a lower virus detection rate compared to the biological indexing. Multiplex RT-PCR results of 20 randomly selected apple cultivars were in line with biological indexing. Results of our surveys report for the first time th e presence of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV and ApMV on pome fruits in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Keywords : Malus , biological indexing, ELISA, multiplex RT-PCR, sanitary status

In this research the effect of biostimulant on the Begonia transplants roots and above-ground mass growth and development and on the nutrients contents was investigated. The results showed that biostimulant application significantly improved root and above-ground mass growth and development compared to untreated plants. Also, there has been a statistically significant difference in nutrient concentration where higher N and K concentrations were found in treated plants. However, in the root of the untreated plants the higher P concentration occurred. At the end, it can be concluded that biostimulant treatment helps the nutrient uptake in the young Begonia plants together with improving their growth and development.

The influence of biostimulant and substrate volume on scarlet sage transplants growth and development was examined in this investigation. There was one cultivar of scarlet sage used in trial which was transplanted in pots of two different volumes. Plants were treated with biostimulant (Radifarm) in concentration of 0.25% or left untreated (control). During the trial, root and aboveground fresh and dry mass were recorded. Treatment with biostimulant and bigger substrate volume showed good results by increasing investigated parameters. Investigation shows how biostimulant application to scarlet sage transplants production improves growth and development of root and aboveground mass which is important for faster plant adaptation to stress during transplanting.

U ovom istraživanju je ispitan utjecaj biostimulatora i volumena supstrata na rast i razvoj presadnica kadife. U pokusu je koristena jedna sorta kadife koja je pikirana u loncice dva razlicita volumena, a biljke su tretirane biostimulatorom u koncentraciji 0, 25% ili netretirane (kontrola). Analizirana je svježa i suha masa korijena i nadzemnog dijela biljke. Tretman biostimulatorom i veci volumen supstrata su rezultirali vecom masom korijena i nadzemnog dijela presadnica. Istraživanje ukazuje da primjena biostimulatora u proizvodnji presadnica kadife poboljsava rast i razvoj korijena i nadzemnog dijela sto je preduvjet brže adaptacije biljaka na stres uslijed presađivanja.

Republika Srpska is located in the northern, eastern and south-eastern parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Owing to its geographical position, there are two types of climate: continental in the north and east, and Mediterranean in the south. This area has been exposed to different civilizations and cultures throughout history, becoming very rich in biological diversity as the civilizations and climates mixed. There were only a few studies on the inventory and collection of fruit genetic resources in the past. The most comprehensive one was conducted during 1989 - 1991 within the Plant Gene Bank of Yugoslavia project. Due to war, these activities were canceled for more then ten years. Documentation was saved only for some inventories, including MCPDs (Multi Crops Passport Descriptors) for the accessions: Malus × domestica Borkh. (11), Prunus domestica L. (6), Pyrus communis L. (11), Prunus avium L. (4), Prunus cerasus L. (2), Prunus persica (L) Batch. (2), Prunus armeniaca L. (1), Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (6) and Juglans regia L. (4). PGR activities have restarted through the project 'South Eastern European Network on Plant Genetic Resources 2004 - 2014' with the University of Banjaluka as a partner for SEEDNet implementation in Republika Srpska. This project has enabled the inventory and collection activities to be resumed and has supported capacity building for the establishment of both the Gene Bank and the national PGR programme. The inventory and collection activities have been implemented through the Republic Working Group on Fruits and Vitis established according to the project proposal as well as through regional activities. Since 2004, the following accessions have been either inventoried or collected: Pyrus communis L. (91), Malus × domestica Borkh. (64), Prunus avium L. (44), Prunus domestica L. (20), Ficus carica L. (11), Vitis vinifera L. (11) Corylus avellana L. (5), Prunus cerasus L. (3), Prunus cerasifera L. (2), Prunus persica L. (1), Cydonia oblonga (1) and Sorbus domestica (1). These accessions have been documented via collection forms and MCPDs. Conservation work is being conducted ex situ in a collection orchard 20 km south of Banjaluka and on farms at two locations.

Surveys were conducting in autumn 2004, 2006 and summer 2005 and 2007 in the traditional areas dedicated to grapevine cultiva- tion in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim is to monitor the presence and distribution of grapevine yellows phytoplasmas diseases and asses the presence and distribution of Scaphoideus titanus vector of 'Candidatus phytoplasma vitis'. The presence of phyto- plasmas in plant samples and their identification was carried out by symptom observations in the field, nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. The first laboratory analyses showed the presence of phytoplasma belonging to 16SrXII group, subgroup A. Presence of S. titanus was confirmed in the southern district of the country.

The main physical and chemical properties of uranium, its origin and distribution in Serbia, with respect to the geochemical composition of soil, are presented. Data on the concentration of uranium from natural and technological sources (coal ashes and slugs, phosphate fertilizers etc.) are given. The results of long term studies of the uranium content in soil, water, plants, food, fodder and others in Serbia indicate an enhanced radiation burden on the environment due to certain technological production processes. The activity of uranium in the soil - plant - product system are in the range of Bq or mBq. By determination of transfer factors for uranium in food chains, i.e. in the soil-plant-product system, bioindicators for uranium were established. The transfer factors are mainly in the range 10-3 do 10-1. Also, some recommendations for the study of uranium originating from the depleted uranium ammunition used in Serbia are given.