Later harvest time increased the infection of stems by Fusarium spp. and plant lodging. With the delay of harvest, the dry matter content in grain increased, but the crop in the later periods decreased. The optimal harvest time seems to be 20 days after reaching physiological maturity. In spite of using different genotypes and a wide range of harvest dates, the chemical analysis used to determine the presence of trichothecens B (DON, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON and NIV) did not reveal their presence above the detection limit 0,001 mg/kg.

The research on the influence of pollution emitted by the WBM-30 bituminous mass factories on the winter wheat-crop was carried out in 1981. The factory was situated in the agricultural area far from the farm buildings in the village of Trzebownisko. The experimental area was divided into four zones (three zones of pollution and one control zone). The wheat ear samples were collected during full grain ripeness per 100 ears from different plantations in three repetitions in each zone. They showed that all examined features, such as, e.g. the average ear length and I OOO grain mass were substantially different between the l" pollution zone and control zone.

The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions on sterile and nonsterile humus soil treated with 1'C-2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP). The disappearance dynamics of extractable residues, and formation of the bound ones, as well as diffusion of radioactive volatile substances to the air were observed during 112 days. The results showed that disappearance of extractable residues of 2,4-DCP and binding to the soil matter run much faster in the presence of soil microorganisms than under abiotic factors. It has been stated that soil microorganisms played an important role as the regulator of free residues level in soil solution, enhanced their mineralization process. Moreover, by participation in binding of 2,4-DCP to soil matrix microorganisms also limited the release of toxic substance into the air.

In the period of 1993-1998 six wells known as being contaminated were monitored 3-6 times per year (a total of 143 samples) for the presence of atrazine, simazine and respective chloro-dealkyl metabolites. Samples were prepared for analysis by solid phase extraction (SPE) and determination was by HPLC/UV or GC/NPD techniques, GC/MSD and HPLC/DAD were employed as secondary (confirmatory) techniques. Residues of analysed compounds were present in more than 90% of samples with exception for DeDiA that was found in 81.6% of samples. The highest concentrations of atrazine, simazine, DeA, DiA, and DeDiA were 16.80; 18.60; 7.49; 2.98 and 3.43 μgil respectively. New inputs of atrazine and simazine were observed in ground water of three wells occasionally, probably resulting from fresh herbicide treatments. In the other wells contamination was rather stagnant at lower levels (0.X mg/I).

The influence of cinnamic acid, 1-tryptophane, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 2,4-dichlorophenol modifying IAA-oxidase activity and indoleacetic acid on the development and reproduction of cereal aphids in laboratory conditions was tested. We observed that IAA and Try stimulated the reproduction of cereal aphids whereas CA, DOPA and DCP decreased it.

The level of free (PAs) and conjugated (CPAs) soluble polyamines in leaves ofChenopodium album was determined using the fluorometric method for dansy lated derivatives. The tests made at the 4-6 leaf growth stage showed that the concentration of PAs in susceptible (S) and resistant (R) biotypes ranged between 32-43 μg and 45-56 μg per 100 μl of cell sap, respectively. The analyses performed later, namely at the beginning of flowering showed that the difference in the level of polyamines between Sand R biotypes was greater. In this case the amount of PAs in biotype S ranged between 15-34 μg and in biotype R between 51-73 μg per 100 μl of cell sap. Therefore, the level of PAs cans act as an indicator for susceptibility or resistance of C. album biotypes to atrazine.

In the years 1997-1999, studies on the periods of A. lusitanicus development and on the occurrence of its developmental stages were carried out. Dates of overwintering, mating, egg-laying, hatching and population peaks of the slug were observed on six sites located in horticultural habitats, as well as in the isolation cage, where slugs were reared. It was ascertained that A. lusitanicus has a year-long life cycle. The slug overwinters in the form of eggs or juvenile stages and rarely as adult individuals. Young slugs leave their winter shelters by the end of February. The mating period starts in the second half of July and lasts from 6 to IO weeks. Eggs are laid from mid-August till late autumn. Slug hatching occurs in spring and autumn at the time of plant sprouting.

In 1998 and I 999, the research on the contents of entomofauna settlement of Heracleum Sosnowskyi Manden was carried out at Mochełck, and in 1999 - at Minikowo near Bydgoszcz. Useful insects were the most abundant group in the tested habitats. Based on the results of the investigations, it can be concluded that only two species: blunt's flat-body (Depressaria depresel/a Hb.) and celery fly (Phi/lophylla heraclei L.) may be of any importance in the fight against population of this plant.

Weeds are harmful organisms connected with human activities; therefore there is a need for their control. human development and mobility have caused on purpose or purely incidental introduction of plants, exotic very often, to new sites and ecosystems. A dominating method of weed control is applying chemicals. However, chemical compounds are often of low selectivity, they also contaminate the environment and become ineffective quickly because of acquired resistance of treated organisms. The control of Rumex confertus Willd. and other weeds of the genus Rumex spp. is often not possible because of economical reasons. Large areas abundant in sorrel populations would require a large sum of money invested in expensive chemical control. Biological methods of weed control look far more promising solution to this problem. Rumex confer/us Willd. is a plant corresponding to criteria to qualify it as an object for biological regulation. The objective of the study was to evaluate dynamic of population and development of the insects of the genera Gastroidea spp. (Gastroidea viridula Deg. and Gasrroidea polygoni L.) occurring on Rumex confertus Willd.

Larvae of June chafer (Amphimallon solstitiale L.) are important pests of the turf-grass. During a routine field collection of A. solstitiale grubs numerous larvae of a curculionid. Strophosoma faber were frequently observed in the soil. Both insects shared the same environment in the same season. Since entomopathogenic nematodes are considered as candidates for control of A. solstitiale it was decided to examine the effect of concurent presence of S. faber on the efficacy of S. glaseri. The laboratory test revealed that both insects were infected by S. glaseri. In conclusion, could be support the suggestion that S. faber is probably most susceptible for entomopa-thogenic nematodes and could become the alternative host for them.

In the years 1997-1999 the occurrence of ryc diseases in the region of south-western Poland was investigated on rye varieties Warko, Dańkowskie Złote and hybrid rye Marder. Eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides var. acuformis) and brown rust (Puccinia recondita) occured most frequently in the experimental period. Fusarium stem base rot and leaf blight iFusarium spp.) and leaf scald iRhynchosporium secalis) were occasionally of considerable importance, but their occurrence was usually less frequent. Variety Marder showed high susceptibility to stem base and leaf diseases, especially to brown rust. When one treatment with fungicides was applied, grain yield increase of cv Marder reached the value of 20,03% in conditions of high infection by pathogens. It was concluded that in the years favourable for the development of diseases on ryc, chemical control with broad-spectrum fungicides might be advisable, especially for protecting susceptible varieties.

In the paper, we present a gradual transition from domination of men to equal treatment for men and women during the several decades of Polish expeditions to scientific stations in the Arctic and the Antarctic. This research has been based on the data available in the archives and at the database created within the project Female polar explorers (Polarniczki in Polish), which contains information about the number of female participants of expeditions to Polish research stations. Women participated in the seasonal expeditions almost from the very beginning when Polish research stations were established in 1970s and 1980s, but a significant increase of female participants is visible especially at year-round stations in the second decade of the 21^st century. In 1984, the first Polish female scientist overwintered in the Antarctic and in 1996 in the Arctic. In 1986, the first woman became a leader of a summer scientific expedition to Spitsbergen, and in 1991 a first woman became the leader of a year-long expedition to Arctowski Station. In the presented database, there are 825 records, that correspond to 417 surnames of female participants in Polish polar expeditions, 145 participated in more than one expedition. Women who were working at Polish polar research stations represented a variety of occupations, but most of them were scientists or combined science and station service. The collected data clearly show that the days when the presence of women at polar stations was unwelcome are a thing of the past.

Prolonged stays in extreme living and working conditions at Antarctic stations can result in both negative psychological manifestations and possible positive, salutogenic effects. The aim of this study was to check an assumption about existing salutogenic outcomes and their personality predictors in expeditioners who participated in year-long expeditions. We examined 62 expeditioners who participated in expeditions to the Ukrainian Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky station between 1996 and 2021, including 59 men and three women aged 27 to 68 years. We used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory—Expanded, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and the Professional Hardiness Questionnaire. The majority of expeditioners (55–71%, on various grounds) recorded personal growth following Antarctic deployment, at a level from moderate to high. Based on personality characteristics diagnosed in the abovementioned questionnaires, we created an informative prognostic model explaining 30–45% of the variation in several indicators of expeditioners’ post-expedition growth. The most important predictors of expeditioners’ post-expedition growth were indicators of professional hardiness. Our findings provide additional opportunities to improve psychological evaluation and training for Antarctic expedition personnel.

The effects of climate change are much more rapid and visible in the Arctic than in the rest of the globe. The Arctic is extremely attractive scientifically and cognitively. Therefore, polar regions may serve as some of the most captivating natural settings capable of engage society in discussions on environmental changes. The primary objective of this paper is to present selected initiatives implemented by the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences that aimed to connect polar research with schools and society, and show evidence on their effectiveness, with special focus on pupils from primary and secondary schools. In this paper, an overview of the educational and science communication initiatives undertaken by the Institute of Geophysics PAS for schools and whole society is presented, with the focus on polar research. Next, some results of the evaluation studies for those projects, that conducted detailed impact assessment, are discussed. Based on the evaluation studies and on general not-structured feedback received from diverse audiences of Institute’s activities, positive impact of bringing polar research closer to the society was observed. Using the Arctic and polar research as a vehicle to inspire interest in science and to raise societal awareness of the environmental challenges in various groups of non-specialists may be a very effective mean of science communication.