ȘTIINȚA AGRICOLĂ / AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

IMPACTUL GENOTIPULUI, PLOIDIEI ȘI FACTORILOR DE MEDIU ASUPRA CARACTERELOR MORFOLOGICE ȘI PRODUCTIVE ALE PORUMBULUI

Grigorii BATIRU — 2025-07-15

Maize is an essential crop for global food security, providing vital nutrients to billions of people. Its adaptation to climate challenges requires the development of productive and resilient varieties using both conventional and molecular breeding methods. Polyploidy significantly contributes to genetic diversity, with effects such as increasing plant organ size, reducing the impact of harmful mutations, and enhancing heterosis. The aim of this research was to evaluate the morphological and productive characteristics of diploid and tetraploid maize lines under polyfactorial experimental conditions. The study was conducted during the 2023-2024 period on the experimental field of the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences at the Technical University of Moldova, on a typical chernozem soil under irrigated conditions. The biological material included three maize lines at both diploid and tetraploid levels. The analyzed parameters were plant height, ear insertion height, leaf size, panicle length, number of branches, and yield. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the Fisher polyfactorial test. The factors investigated were year of research, ploidy, genotype, and replication. The experimental results showed that genotype and ploidy are the main determinants of morphological and agronomic trait variation, significantly influencing (p<0.05) plant height, leaf size, and panicle architecture. Environmental factors, especially the year of the experiment, had a variable impact, mainly affecting leaf and panicle size, but with a limited effect on yield. The interactions between genotype, ploidy, and the year of the experiment highlight the complexity of these influences on plant development. Their significance suggests that breeding strategies should consider optimal genotype-ploidy combinations to obtain stable and high-yielding varieties.

EVALUAREA HIBRIZILOR SIMPLI ȘI SIMPLI MODIFICAȚI DE PORUMB TIMPURIU DEZVOLTAȚI ÎN MODELUL HETEROTIC IODENT X BSSS-B37

Simion MUSTEAȚA — 2025-07-15

This article reports on the research results concerning: 1) the climatic conditions influence on the productivity of the single cross and modified single early maize hybrids based on the related crosses A x A1; 2) the modification of the single cross hybrid Porumbeni 310; 3) the inbred lines and related crosses tolerance to low soil temperatures. The investigations included 309 single crosses and 255 single modified hybrids tested in 2021-2024 under extremely contrasting meteorological conditions. Inbred lines and related crosses of Iodent heterotic group have been used as female components of the hybrids. The experimental date of single crosses and modified single hybrids show insignificant differences concerning the duration of the emergence-silking and physiological maturity period, moisture and grain production in different meteorological conditions of the testing years. The comparative analysis of 12 inbred lines and 15 related crosses in 2021 and 2023 demonstrates the meteorological conditions influence on kernel size, differences being recorded for the weight of 1000 kernels (TKW). For this indicator, related crosses are superior to inbred lines, their TKW being 49,2 g (25,5%) higher in the favorable 2021 and 22,9 g (15,1%) higher in 2023. The related crosses manifested a heterozis effect on the plant hight, silking, grain yield and tolerance to lower soil temperatures. Investigations concerning the modification of single cross hybrid Porumbeni 310 resulted in creation of its analogue Porumbeni 309 with a significantly higher grain yield under stressing environmental conditions.

EVALUAREA PRODUCTIVITĂȚII ȘI A PARAMETRILOR AGROBIOLOGICI LA GENOTIPURILE DE SOIA ÎN FUNCȚIE DE EPOCA DE SEMĂNAT

Aliona MALII — 2025-07-15

This study evaluated the influence of sowing time on the productivity and agro-biological parameters of soybean genotypes under the specific climatic conditions of the central region of the Republic of Moldova. Two sowing dates were compared for six genotypes obtained through gamma ray-induced mutagenesis and conventional hybridization. Higher-than-usual temperatures during this period favored uniform emergence of 100% of the plants. The genotypes obtained by mutagenesis showed more stable productivity and superior adaptability to variations in sowing time, while those derived from hybridization exhibited high yields at early sowing but significant decreases at delayed sowing. These results emphasize the importance of selecting the optimal sowing time according to genotype type to maximize production and agro-biological performance.

AGRICULTURA CONVENȚIONALĂ VERSUS AGRICULTURA CONSERVATIVĂ: DIFERENȚE ȘI PERSPECTIVE

Mihail RURAC — 2025-07-15

In the Republic of Moldova, a new agricultural system is emerging, based on a new development paradigm that promotes biological processes, maintains permanent soil cover, and rejects soil tillage. Conservation agriculture is globally recognized and accepted by the FAO. However, it is often confused with conservation tillage and is not fully acknowledged. Based on two field experiments – one under conventional agriculture and the other under conservation agriculture – the differences between these two systems are presented, along with their potential to address key issues related to climate change adaptation and soil degradation prevention. Conventional agriculture is viewed as a compromised system that contributes to soil degradation, whereas conservation agriculture is seen as a system with potential for climate change adaptation and halting degradation. Conservation agriculture should only be considered valid when all three principles recognized by global organizations are applied: minimal mechanical soil disturbance (no tillage) by direct placement of seeds and fertilizers; permanent soil cover with plant residues (at least 30%) and/or cover crops; species diversification, through varied crop successions and associations involving at least three different crops.

ОЦЕНКА ПРОДУКЦИОННОГО ПОТЕНЦИАЛЛА И АГРОЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ АДАПТИВНОСТИ ГЕНОТИПОВ ОЗИМОГО ЯЧМЕНЯ К УСЛОВИЯМ ВОЗДЕЛЫВАНИЯ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ МОЛДОВА

Виктор БУРДУЖАН — 2025-07-15

The present study presents research results on the productivity and agroecological adaptability evaluation of five new winter barley genotypes under the conditions of various agro-climatic zones of Moldova during 2022–2024. Indicators contributing to agroecological adaptability were studied, such as the relative yield index, genotype responsiveness to favorable years, and degree of yield depression. It was established that the average genotypic grain yield across the country ranged from 3.62 t/ha (southern zone) to 8.12 t/ha (central zone), with an average across zones of 6.48 t/ha. Calculations of genotype responsiveness showed high values, ranging from 65.28% (Excelent) to 74.69% (HVM 018), indicating high potential for yield increase under favorable conditions. The degree of yield depression among genotypes did not vary significantly, ranging between 53.37% (HVU 021) and 57.73% (HVR 021). Agroecological adaptability of all studied genotypes was in the positive segment, varying from 8.29% (Excelent) to 18.74% (HVG 020). Genotypes HVM 08 and HVG 020 showed high adaptability, HVR 021 and HVM 021 showed moderate adaptability, and the control variety Excelent showed low adaptability.

ВЛИЯНИЕ МИНЕРАЛЬНОГО ПИТАНИЯ ПОДСОЛНЕЧНИКА НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ ПРИ КАПЕЛЬНОМ ОРОШЕНИИ

Светлана МАЦКОВА — 2025-07-15

In field experiments, the effect of different doses of fertilisers (ammophoska and ammonium nitrate) depending on the irrigation regime was studied on the development and yield of sunflower in a nine-field crop rotation system, on ordinary medium-deep clay loam chernozem. In general, on the plots without fertilisers and at all fertilizer doses, the nitrate content in the soil arable layer tends to rise. With increasing doses of fertilisers, the content of mobile phosphorus in the soil increased as well: from 44 to 72 mg/kg of soil (no irrigation) and from 39 to 63 mg/kg (irrigation). The trend of exchangeable potassium content is also positive, increasing from 296 to 406 mg/kg of soil (no irrigation) and from 302 to 369 mg/kg (irrigation). The fertilizers had a positive effect on sunflower plant development, but it was less significant than from irrigation. On fertilised plots the plant development indicators (leaf width, capitulum diameter, leaf length, plant height) were, on average, 7-29% higher than on unfertilised variants. The maximum yield level (5,6 t/ha) was obtained under the irrigation regime with a pre-irrigation soil moisture level of 90% of the lowest moisture capacity, on N120P90K90+N45 background.

COMPORTAREA SOIURILOR DE PRUN ÎN PERIOADA DE FRUCTIFICARE ÎN ZONA DE NORD A REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

Maxim BURLACU — 2025-07-15

This study evaluated the growth, development and productivity of plum trees in an intensive cropping system during the fructification period. The research was carried out in 2024 in the plantation of the enterprise SRL “Agrofields”, founded in the spring of 2018, with 6 plum varieties of the European assortment: Piteșteanca (control), Cacanska Najbolia, Empresso, Stanley, Blue Free and President, grafted on the Myrobalan seedling rootstock, tree spacing 5.0x3.0 m, with improved pyramid-shaped crown. During the research, trunk diameter and growth, trunk cross-sectional area, phenological phases, productivity of the plantation and fruit weight as well as yield per unit cross-sectional area were studied. Trunk diameter increment was largely influenced by plum production in the crown as well as by the biological characteristics of the variety. At the end of the growing season of 2024 the trunk diameter increment ranged from 8.3 mm (President) to 9.9 mm (Cacanska Najbolia). The onset of flowering took place over 6 days. The varieties Cacanska Najbolia and President were characterized by early flowering (05.04.2024). The varieties Piteștean and Stanley were characterized by later flowering (10.04.2024). The ripening phenophase started 103 days after flowering for the earliest variety Piteștean and 152 days after for President. The lowest mean fruit weight was recorded for Stanley (38.8 g), and the highest for President (54.7 g). It was established that the varieties under study allow to obtain yields from 11.7 to 25.4 t/ha of competitive quality, distributed over 45 harvesting days.

EFECTELE TĂIERII POMILOR DE CIREȘ (PRUNUS AVIUM L.) ASUPRA RANDAMENTULUI ȘI CALITĂȚII FRUCTELOR

Vasile ȘARBAN — 2025-07-15

The study analyzes the impact of different types of pruning on the yield and quality characteristics of cherry fruits, including size, weight, soluble matter, and firmness. The research was carried out on four cherry varieties: ‚Record’ and ‚Valery Chkalov’, grafted on Mahaleb rootstock and planted in 2003, at a distance of 6x5 m, and ‚Skeena’ and ‚Stella’, grafted on MaxMa 14, planted in 2012, at a distance of 5x3 m. Gradual rejuvenation pruning of 3–5-year-old semi-skeletal branches led to yield increases of 6.7% and 8.9% for ‚Valery Chkalov’ and ‚Record’, respectively, compared to crown maintenance and fruiting pruning performed during both dormant and growing seasons. In Skeena and Stella, early autumn pruning had a positive effect by stimulating the production of fruits with a diameter over 26 mm (up to 70%), without reducing total yield. Pruning during the growing season proved to be a practical method for improving fruit quality and size. The values for soluble dry matter content, titratable acidity and fruit firmness remained relatively stable and showed no significant differences between the various pruning treatments.

EFICIENŢA PREPARATELOR TRICHODERMIN-SC ȘI UNICAL, SC ÎN CONTROLUL PUTREGAIULUI CENUȘIU LA FLOAREA-SOARELUI ÎN CONDIȚIILE INTENSIFICĂRII CULTURII ÎN ZONA DE SUD A REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

Ion PALADI — 2025-07-15

The year by year expansion of the arable areas devoted to sunflower cultivation increases the risk of spreading pathogens, and in particular of the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which has a negative impact on the phytosanitary status in the agroclimatic conditions of the southern part of the Republic of Moldova. Since the economic and agro-climatic situation of agricultural producers requires the identification of cheap and effective products to face the challenges, it was proposed to test the preparations Trichodermin-SC and Unical, SC for the control of Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mould in sunflower crops. The research was conducted during the agricultural years 2022-2024. The tri-factorial experiment included three variants in three replications: 1) biological method of protection with the use of the ecological preparation Trichodermin-SC (based on the fungus Trichoderma lignorum), 2) chemical method of protection with the use of the chemical preparation Unical, SC (based on tebuconazole) and 3) the genetic factor. Three commercial hybrids of sunflower were tested: P64LE25, P64LP130 and LG5377. Overall, the results show a high biological efficacy of Trichodermin-SC preparation in the control of grey mould, reaching levels of 63.4% and 56.2%, but with a noticeable decrease (17.55%) on an intensive background of infection in 2024. The chemical preparation Unical, SC showed biological efficiencies ranging from 37.20%-60.0%. The Hybrids P64LE25 and P64LP130 manifested increased resistance to sunflower grey mould and are considered suitable for both conventional and ecologic systems.

ФЕНОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ОСНОВНЫХ CЕЛЕКЦИОННОЦЕННЫХ КОЛИЧЕСТВЕННЫХ ПРИЗНАКОВ У ГИБРИДОВ F1 ТОМАТА

Миланья МАКОВЕЙ — 2025-07-15

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of heterotic F1 tomato hybrids (10 combinations) obtained from crossing specially created breeding lines with different combinations of mutant marker genes. Differences between F1 hybrids in the degree of variability of the main economically valuable quantitative traits depending on the genotypic features of parental forms and growing conditions of plants were shown. Early maturing, highly productive F1 hybrids (4 combinations) with optimal ratio of the elements of plant morphological structures and with high total and marketable yield, simultaneously combining resistance to high- and low temperature stress factors and stable manifestation of all studied traits were selected. The ambiguous influence of mutant marker genes on the manifestation and degree of variability of traits is shown: a) positive, on the change of plant structural elements (length of internodes, limited formation of lateral shoots and dense placement of inflorescences); b) negative, on the nature of manifestation of reproductive system traits (pollen quality and its functionality, fruit traits).

EFICACITATEA BIOLOGICĂ COMPARATIVĂ A UNOR PRODUSE DE UZ FITOSANITAR STROBILURINICE ȘI TRIAZOLO-STROBILURINICE PENTRU COMBATEREA UNOR MICOZE ÎN CULTURILE DE FLOAREA-SOARELUI

Sergiu BĂDĂRĂU — 2025-07-15

The paper presents the results of state testing in the Republic of Moldova of new strobilurin-based phytosanitary products (Arkheon, SC, Netrix 500 SC, and FUN 3 SC) and triazole-strobilurin-based products (Binazol 300 SC, AGFun-10, SC, and FUN 5 SC) against fungi such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Phoma mcdonaldi, Phomopsis helianthi, and Alternaria helianthi, which cause key diseases for sunflower – white rot, phoma, phomopsis, and alternaria. The products subjected to state trials showed sufficiently high biological efficacy to be approved and included as fungicides in the integrated sunflower protection system and in the State Register of Phytosanitary Products and Fertilizers, approved for use in the Republic of Moldova.

ANALIZA CÂMPULUI DE TEMPERATURĂ LA DESHIDRATAREA FRUCTELOR CU APLICAREA MICROUNDELOR

Victor POPESCU — 2025-07-15

This paper presents a fruit dehydration plant with the application of microwaves, developed by the team of researchers from the Technical University of Moldova. The main purpose of the research was to analyze the distribution of the temperature field in the processing chamber and to argue the constructive-technological parameters of the dehydration plant. The dehydration method proposed by the authors consists of heating the product under the action of the electromagnetic field generated by the magnetron. The general objective pursued by the researchers was to determine the necessary number of microwave reflectors to obtain the most uniform heating of the product in the working chamber. The main results obtained are determination of the positioning of the treatment source and uniformization of the distribution of the temperature field, to increase the efficiency of the technological process, increasing the dehydration speed, reducing electricity consumption and increasing the quality of finished products.

SURSE DE ALIMENTE NOI PE PIAŢA AUTOHTONĂ

Ana CHIŢANU — 2025-07-15

In this study we aimed to determine the qualitative differences between buffalo milk and cow milk and to carry out a sociological survey to accumulate information on the consumption of buffalo milk and its derivatives. Milk obtained from cows and buffaloes, which are kept under the same conditions in a livestock unit in the Republic of Moldova, served as research material. Milk quality analyses, carried out by standard laboratory methods, revealed that buffalo milk has a much higher fat (9.50%) and protein (7.18%) content than cow milk (4.24% and 3.76% respectively). The content of lactose, mineral salts and dry matter in buffalo milk is also higher than in cow milk. Therefore, the nutritional value of buffalo milk is higher in all parameters. The sociological survey revealed that: most respondents prefer to consume cow milk; their don’t know buffalo milk products and neither do local producers. Among those who consume buffalo milk products, they mentioned Buffalo Mozzarella cheese in the first place, followed by yogurt, semi-hard cheese and drinking milk. For a successful market launch of buffalo milk products, we recommend producers to carry out promotion campaigns and tasting events. Through this, buffalo milk products will be visible to consumers, and local consumers in turn will be more receptive.

EVALUAREA UTILIZĂRII ALBINELOR LA POLENIZAREA RAPIȚEI

Nicolae EREMIA — 2025-07-15

The determination of the efficiency of rapeseed pollination with the help of bees represents the purpose of the current investigation. The researches were conducted in an apiary located near a rapeseed plantation and the following parameters were evaluated: 1) flight intensity of worker bees for nectar and pollen collection, 2) the number of bees, which visited rapeseed flowers, per 1 m2, 3) the mass of rapeseed seeds from plants pollinated by bees. The flight intensity of worker bees during the rapeseed flowering period (13.04.2024-09.05.2024) was studied for 3 consecutive minutes, recording the number of bees that returned from the field with nectar and pollen balls. Three lots of bee colonies were formed at the apiary, 5 in each. In lot I the strongest bee colonies were selected, in lot II – medium-strong colonies and in lot III – weak colonies. The recordings were carried out in the first half of the day at 1000 hours and at 1500hours. The flight intensity of bees varied according to the time of the light-day and the strength of the bee colony. The number of bees collecting pollen was lower compared to the bees collecting nectar. The maximum number of bees that collected pollen (124) and nectar (180) was recorded at 1500 hours (May 6, 2024). For recording flower visitation per 1 m2, three plots were marked on the cultivated rapeseed area: at a distance of 200 m; 800 m and 1500 m from the apiary. It was established that honey bees visited the flowers more frequently at a distance of 200 m where a total of 186 bees were recorded, at 800 m – 103 bees and at 1500 m – 32 bees. The efficiency of honey bee use for rapeseed pollination was assessed on the basis of the amount of seed yield. To determine the contribution of bees to increased seed yield, 5 plants from each plot were isolated at the beginning of flowering. At the beginning of rapeseed harvest, these plants (without pollination by bees) were removed manually from the respective plots. The seeds were collected and weighed, and their mass was compared with the mass of seeds from the pollinated plants. Due to pollination of rapeseed plants by bees, the mass of seeds per plant increased, on average, by 66% and per square meter by 65%. More efficient pollination of rapeseed can be achieved by placing the apiary with strong families near the nectar-pollen source, but not further than 1500 m.

BARIERELE ÎN APLICAREA INOVAȚIILOR ÎN SECTORUL AGROAILIMENTAR AL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

Veronica PRISĂCARU — 2025-07-15

The main objectives of the research were: a) to elucidate the conceptual essence and typology of innovation barriers; b) to assess the innovation barriers in the agri-food sector of the Republic of Moldova and, based on this, to identify directions for reducing their impact. In order to achieve the research objectives, the following methods were applied: bibliographic study, data grouping method, opinion survey, systematization, generalization, and deduction. As a result of the research, the main barriers hindering innovation in the agri-food sector of the Republic of Moldova were identified, and a comparative analysis was conducted between the perceived impact of these barriers by sector representatives and the impact deduced through their analysis based on the Oslo Manual. Consequently, recommendations were formulated to rationalize the innovation activities of enterprises in the agri-food sector, aimed at reducing the influence of innovation barriers.