Federation of Greek Mariculture

Improper management of residues from rice cultivation and livestock farming can exert severe pressure on the environment. Anaerobically digesting these residues for biogas production is a plausible solution to mitigate their environmental impact. However, due to the low degradability of rice straw, pretreatment is imperative to enhance its methane production. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of eight thermal and four thermochemical pretreatment methods on the biodegradability of rice straw. Results indicated that the thermochemical pretreatment, with NaOH, increased methane production by 13%–15%, while thermal pretreatment increased it by 2%–5%, compared to untreated rice straw. Subsequently, the most effective pretreatment was used in co-digestion batch experiments with cattle and swine slurries separately to determine the optimal ratio of pretreated rice straw (p-RS) with each slurry. Co-digestion of p-RS with swine slurry increased methane production up to 59%, while co-digestion with cattle slurry increased it by 14%, compared to the mono-digestion of each slurry. Moreover, a techno-economic analysis was employed to assess the feasibility of establishing a biogas power plant treating the optimum co-digestion mixture. Based on our assessment, the plant can generate an annual revenue and net profit of approximately €2,418,000 and €1,510,000, respectively. The payback period was estimated at 2.98 years, while the return on investment and profit margin were 33.5% and 62.4% per year, respectively.

The current investigation involved preliminary laboratory research regarding the accumulation capacity of three types of hyperaccumulator plants when specific soil factors are altered during their cultivation. Three different plants participated in this experiment, namely, milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaerth), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), which were cultivated in two soils with different pH values, yet containing similar levels of metal pollutants. ABC fire extinguisher powder (FP), which had been tested in the past and found to cause a significant change in nutrient availability, was added to the soils. The FP was added at 1% v/v and, in order to facilitate its fast incorporation into the soil, the soil moisture was maintained at 60–65%. The experiment was conducted in pots where the plants were grown in contaminated soils, with and without the FP addition. The pseudo-total (after extraction with Aqua Regia), available (after extraction with DTPA), and water-soluble concentrations (after extraction with CaCl2 solution) of Cd, Cr, and Cu were determined in the soils. The plants completed their growth cycle (in 112, 128, and 139 days, respectively), were harvested, and the metal concentrations were assessed after extraction with Aqua Regia, both in the underground and above-ground parts. FP addition caused a significant decrease in the availability of each of the three metals, yet mainly Cr, as it caused a maximum reduction of 19.6% and 16.0% in the rate of water-soluble and available (after extraction with DTPA) Cr, respectively, in relation to the total Cr concentration in acidic soil, revealing the decisive role played by soil reaction in metal availability. FP addition caused a significant Cd reduction in accumulation in the above-ground parts of cultivated plants in the order of hemp > thistle > tobacco. FP use appears to significantly alter the plant-to-soil metal transfer, affecting the plants’ ability to accumulate Cd, Cr, and Cu. Apparently, this material, disposed of in the environment, could be a useful and low-cost soil conditioner, in line with the principles of the circular economy.

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, particularly in low-input systems where resilient cultivars are crucial. Traditional pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) landraces represent a valuable genetic reservoir for adaptation, yet their agronomic and nutritional potential remains underexplored. In this study, twenty-five Greek pepper landraces and commercial varieties were comprehensively evaluated for morphological traits, early and total yield characteristics, and key fruit quality parameters. The results revealed substantial phenotypic diversity in both vegetative and reproductive traits, as well as considerable variation in fruit nutritional composition across the tested genotypes. Notably, ‘Skopos’, ‘Mesoropi’, and ‘Lygaria’ demonstrated superior yield performance, while ‘Pogoniou’, ‘Lyra’, and ‘Kantanou’ excelled in several nutritional quality traits, including high phenolic content, vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity. Heatmap analysis further identified ‘Pogoniou’, ‘Filuria’, ‘Lyra’, ‘Lagada’, and ‘Lygaria’ as consistently ranking among the top performers across yield and quality traits. These findings highlight the dual agronomic and nutritional value of traditional pepper landraces, underscoring their importance as a genetic resource for breeding programs. Overall, the study highlights the importance of conserving and utilizing local pepper germplasm as a sustainable approach to improve productivity, nutritional quality, and resilience in the face of climate change and low-input cultivation systems.

ABSTRACTUnderstanding crop domestication offers crucial insights into the evolutionary processes that drive population divergence and adaptation. It also informs the identification of genetically diverse wild germplasm, which is essential for breeding and conservation efforts. While domestication has been extensively studied in many Mediterranean fruit trees, the evolutionary history of the almond (Prunus dulcis) remains comparatively underexplored. To address this, we analyzed 209 wild and cultivated almond accessions sampled across Eurasia and genotyped with 23 microsatellite markers. Using population genetics and coalescent‐based inference, we reconstructed the domestication history of P. dulcis and its relationships with wild relatives. Bayesian clustering revealed four genetically distinct clusters of cultivated almonds: Turkish, Caucasian–Central Asian, Southern Spanish, and European/North American. These groups were differentiated from wild almond species—including Prunus turcomanica, Prunus orientalis, Prunus fenzliana, and Prunus spinosissima—each forming its gene pool across the Middle East and Central Asia. Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) supported a single domestication event in the Middle East, originating from either P. orientalis or P. turcomanica, with subsequent gene flow from P. fenzliana and P. spinosissima into the Turkish and Central Asian cultivated gene pools, respectively. We also inferred reciprocal introgression from cultivated almonds back into wild populations. Notably, sharka resistance—caused by plum pox virus (PPV)—was identified in three P. dulcis clusters and P. fenzliana, suggesting that resistance may have arisen independently or been maintained through crop–wild introgression. Together, our results highlight a complex and protracted domestication history for almond, shaped by contributions from multiple wild relatives and recurrent gene flow. These findings enhance our understanding of perennial crop evolution and underscore the value of wild germplasm in breeding programs aimed at increasing resilience in fruit trees.

Cannabis sativa L., a versatile plant grown for its seeds, fiber, and cannabinoids, has recently received significant scientific interest due to its wide range of industrial and pharmaceutical uses and economic prospects. The objective of this study is to assess the genetic variation of cannabis by examining its morphological and molecular characteristics in 83 different genotypes preserved at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources in Thessaloniki. Utilizing 10 microsatellite markers, important genetic variation was observed among the samples. Population structure analysis using STRUCTURE software indicated four distinct genetic subpopulations, which were further supported by the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). The validity of these clusters was further confirmed through unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the genetic variation is present within individuals rather than among them or among populations (9% among populations, 53% within individuals). The expected heterozygosity (He or uHe) turned out to be 0.60–0.66, which supports moderate diversity. The fixation indices (Fst = 0.094, Fis = 0.417, Fit = 0.472) were statistically significant and suggested a moderate level of genetic differentiation between the two populations. Nei’s genetic distance between hemp and marijuana groups was calculated as D = 0.288, indicating a moderate level of genome-wide divergence between these two major use types. Additionally, high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis utilizing sex-linked markers successfully identified 73 female and 10 male plants, underscoring the value of early sex identification in enhancing breeding strategies. These findings contribute valuable insights into the genetic diversity and sex determination mechanisms of Cannabis sativa and support future breeding programs which aim at developing cultivars with favorable traits.

The rhizosphere is a dynamic environment in which multiple microbial activities elicit phenotypical, physiological, and molecular crop responses. For a better understanding of the rhizosphere microbiome, researchers are utilizing next-generation sequencing to focus on microbiome regulations with an emphasis on multi-functional microbes. There are two main concepts currently being focused on: identifying microbial antagonists (between beneficial microbes and plant pathogens) from predominant stocks of plant-growth-promoting microbes, preferably with an aim towards bioprospecting soil-plant health; and secondly, developing a more microbially active rhizosphere through a process called rhizosphere hybridization (RH). The present review is focused on some recent studies on the outcome of RH in citrus cultivars, showing renewed functional corridors of the rhizosphere characterized by secondary metabolites providing a load-supporting functional dichotomy through elevated nutrient-supply, activated soil enzyme profiles, and improvements in root- shoot systems and plant defense enzymes. These response trade-offs collectively contributed to higher quality yield coupled with possibly a better shelf life of fruits. The rhizobiome of heritage trees viz., Azadirachta, Ficus, Dendrocalamus, Populus, Sasa, Acer, Alnus, Quercus, and Phyllostachys, could be effectively used in exercising RH. These observations on RH mean the concept could be expanded in other fruit crops, with an emphasis on developing a robust holobiont (climate-smart suppressive soils and engineering rhizosphere microbiomes for microbially engineered plants) as a part of regenerative agriculture.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest posing a significant threat to agricultural crops in various regions, including Northern Greece. This study investigates the seasonal abundance and population dynamics of H. halys in kiwifruit orchards across two prefectures, Imathia and Pieria, over a 3-year period (2021-2023). Monitoring was conducted using pheromone-baited traps to capture mobile life stages from May to October. Our results showcase adult emergence from overwintering sites in April, followed by two peaks in adult captures in late July to mid-August and late September, indicating the presence of two overlapping generations, furtherly corroborated by the corresponding seasonal pattern of L2 nymphs in both regions. Population density and peaks varied regionally, with Imathia consistently exhibiting higher numbers of H. halys compared to Pieria. Environmental factors, such as climatic conditions, likely influenced the timing of adult emergence and diapause termination and the seasonal shifts in population structure. The findings of this study underscore the importance of localized management strategies tailored to the specific ecological conditions of each region to mitigate the impact of H. halys on agricultural production.

O estudo apresenta a ferramenta “Avalia”, que utiliza um Large Language Model (LLM) para analisar dados do ENADE do curso de Sistemas de Informação da Faculdade Metodista Granbery. A ferramenta correlaciona questões do exame, disciplinas e resultados dos alunos para identificar lacunas de conhecimento e subsidiar revisões curriculares. Foram processados dados do ENADE 2021 por meio de uma abordagem híbrida que combina similaridade de cosseno e LLM, com geração de relatórios e um chatbot interativo para consultas em linguagem natural. Os resultados atingiram 90,9% de acurácia, evidenciando a viabilidade dos LLMs na análise educacional. Esses achados incentivam a ampliação do uso de ferramentas baseadas em LLM em ambientes acadêmicos e a expansão para outros cursos.

The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and factors that could influence their in situ conservation was undertaken, employing a series of field surveys conducted in the Northern Moroccan IBRM ecosystems. In total, 42 sites were surveyed in four protected areas of the Moroccan part of the IBRM. In total, 21 Orchidaceae species and subspecies (taxa) belonging to seven genera were identified, including Orchis spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis, as newly recorded in Morocco, as well as several new reports for different sites and/or areas surveyed, thus updating the previous knowledge of Moroccan Orchidaceae. Most of the Orchidaceae taxa were found in limited numbers of individuals (<30) and were restricted in a few sites (1-3) or a single area; thus, they were assessed as poorly conserved due to the scarcity of rainfall coupled with human pressures, such as the abstraction of surface water, forest fires, and the conversion of protected forests to Cannabis farms. The enforcement of existing laws, the adoption of strategies to combat desertification and forest fires, the prohibition of Cannabis farming, and raising awareness among the local population could reduce the pressures on the protected Orchidaceae members and their habitats, thereby contributing to their conservation.

Understanding and evaluating directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) is crucial for causal discovery, particularly in high-dimensional and small-sample datasets such as microbial abundance data. This study introduces DAGMetrics, an R package designed to comprehensively evaluate and compare DAGs. The package provides descriptive and comparative metrics, streamlining the assessment of outputs from various structure learning algorithms. It was applied to datasets generated for potato tubers and soils from different terroirs (continental and island) and stages (at harvest and post-harvest). Using a comprehensive set of descriptive and comparative metrics, DAGMetrics facilitated model selection by identifying balanced and robust DAGs. The PC algorithm with Spearman correlation produced DAGs with moderate complexity and high stability across scaling and transformation setups. Additionally, the package enabled detailed exploration of the Markov blanket space, revealing small Markov blankets (up to seven nodes) and numerous isolated nodes. Identified matching edges between Markov blankets across different terroirs and stages aligned with known microbial interactions, highlighting the package’s utility in facilitating the discovery of biologically meaningful relationships. This study illustrates the utility of DAGMetrics in providing objective and reproducible tools for DAG evaluation along with its potential application in agronomic and other domains involving complex structured data.