Biological diversity within a mixture field allows for better use of habitat and agro-technical conditions by the mixtures, which can be seen by higher and more stable yields than varieties sown separately. Our studies were conducted in the growing seasons 2011/2012–2014/2015 as field experiments with four winter barley varieties (Bombaj, Gil, Gregor, Bażant) and three, two- and three-component mixtures (Bombaj/Gil, Bombaj/Gregor, Gil/Gregor/Bażant). Seven different chemical treatments with fungicides were applied. The aim of this study was to compare the different varieties of winter barley with their mixtures for resistance to powdery mildew infection. To achieve this aim the logistic model for the analysis of data was used. Of the varieties under consideration, the best and the most resistant variety was Gregor, while the weakest and the most susceptible to diseases (powdery mildew) was Gil. This variety was also significantly weaker than any of the other mixtures taken into account. Moreover, it was so weak that when it was included in mixtures with other varieties, it weakened these mixtures as well.

Strawberry leaves showing leaf blight symptoms were collected from six different farms in Ismailia and Beheira Governorates in Egypt during the 2020–2021 growing season. Eight bacterial isolates, i.e., Pa₁, Pa₂, Pa₃, Pa₄ (Ismailia farms) and Pa₅, Pa₆, Pa₇ and Pa₈ (Beheira farms) were isolated. A pathogenicity test of bacterial isolates was carried out using detached strawberry leaf technique. All bacterial isolates produced leaf blight disease symptoms. Isolates Pa₂ and Pa₆ showed the highest pathogenic characteristics with clear symptoms on detached strawberry leaves. The phenotypic, biochemical and physiological characters of the highest pathogenic isolates were confirmed by PCR analysis using 16S rRNA gene. The two bacterial isolates were identified as Pantoea ananatis with similarity of 97.05% with accession number MH_127816.1 (isolate Pa₂, Ismailia), while the isolate ( Pa₆, Beheira) with similarity of 97.03% with accession number NR_026045.1. The 16S rDNA sequences were deposited in the GenBank nucleotide databases under accession numbers OM258167 and OM279507, respectively. According to the pathogenicity test, morphological and physiological characteristics as well as molecular data (16S rRNA sequencing analysis), this finding is the first report of P. ananatis as a causal agent of strawberry leaf blight disease in Egypt.

The paper reports the consequences of lanthanum modifications of barium bismuth niobiate (BaBi2Nb2O9) ceramics. The discussed materials were prepared by solid state synthesis and a one-step sintering process. The investigations are focused on dielectric aspects of the modification. The presented results reveal that the trivalent lanthanum ions incorporate twovalent barium ions, which is connected with the creation of A-site cationic vacancies as well as oxygen vacancies. Such a scenario results in significant decreasing in grain boundaries resistivity. The activation energy of grain boundaries conductivity is significantly reduced in the case of lanthanum admixture.

End-of-life oriented product design (design for recycling, disassembly, remanufacturing) is considered an emerging area in modern approach to product lifecycle. Numerous tools aiding the design process have been developed, but many of them work as independent computer applications. The presented solution is strictly integrated with typical design environment: CAD 3D and PLM systems. This paper presents the application of agent technology operating in the PLM environment to support the design process. The architecture of the proposed solution is shown. A method of product assessment, based of three indicators, is described. The example analysis of real household appliance is presented