Ferenc Pál-Fám

Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences · Institute of Plant Production Department of Agronomy

A well-known insect phenomenon is colour polymorphism, from which the species hopes to gain some ecological advantage. Herbivores adapt to the colours of their environment to reduce their chances of becoming prey, while predators use camouflage colours to succeed in hiding from prey. The larvae of the cosmopolitan, highly invasive cotton bollworm (...

The potency of vacuum and oxygen absorption-based treatments for controlling Sitophilus granarius L. damage in wheat grains was compared under laboratory conditions. The efficacy of the treatment methods was evaluated at different temperature ranges (-5, 26, 42 °C) and exposure times (0.5, 1, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72 h). The survived imagoes were measured,...

After decades of development, neonicotinoids were widely used in Hungarian sugar beet production and seeds included thiamethoxam treatment by 2019 increasing protection against early spring pests. In Hungary, neonicotides’ influence on bee health led to their removal of emergency authorization. In the absence of thiamethoxam in 2020, experience sho...

Water is a valuable yet scarce resource in agriculture. Optimizing crop production relies on irrigation, but within the framework of sustainable agriculture, efforts should prioritize reducing irrigation water usage. Unfortunately, climate change increases plant water requirements, consequently heightening the need for irrigation. The aim of the re...

The occurrence and regularity of macrofungal fruitbody formation are influenced by meteorological conditions; however, there is a scarcity of data about the use of machine‑learning techniques to estimate their occurrence based on meteorological indicators. Therefore, we employed an artificial neural network (ANN) to forecast fruitbody occurrence in...

The granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), is considered a serious pest in stored grain worldwide. As residual-based protection possibilities become scarcer, the development of eco-friendly control technologies that can be implemented in practice is becoming urgent. In this spirit, our objective was to assess the effectiveness of different leve...

Heavy metals (HMs) are among the most important toxic agents since they reach the soil through various routes and accumulate in the food chain. Therefore, HMs induce problems in soil integrity and in plant, animal, and human health. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a significant crop worldwide, utilized in animal production. Furthermore, because of...

The climatic changes observed in Poland are manifested by an increase in air temperature, but not an increase in rainfall, which causes an increase in the water needs of plants, and hence the necessity to develop irrigation systems for crops. The aim of this study was to assess the water needs of grapevines in 2021–2050 in the Bydgoszcz region (nor...

The aim of our three consecutive years (2017–2019) field trial was to obtain information as to the effect of weather conditions of the actual year as well as to assess the impact of some technological parameters such as fertilisation, the choice on the hybrid type on the yield parameters, phytosanitary conditions and mycotoxin contamination of maiz...

The granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L. is a pest causing substantial damage to stored wheat worldwide, against which the elaboration of sustainable control methods has recently been gaining importance. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of a rapid atmospheric convection heat transfer method against S. granarius under laboratory conditions...

During the growing period of many agricultural and horticultural plants, the use of fertigation usually increases the yield; however, the response to this treatment may depend on the cultivar. The effect of subsurface drip fertigation with nitrogen on the yield of three asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) cultivars grown for green spears in light soi...

Willows are one of the plants which can be used to produce biomass for energy purposes. Biomass production is classified as a renewable energy source. Increasing the share of renewable sources is one of the priority actions for European Union countries due to the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the best possible growth of the wi...

Achieving high quantitative and qualitative parameters of maize harvest is a global interest of mankind because this cultivated plant provides the bulk of forage and energy for both animal husbandry and industry (Hossain 2020). Successful maize production is mainly determined by the correct application of cultivation inputs that provide sustainable...

According to the SRES A1B climate change scenario, by the end of the 21st century temperature in Poland will increase by 2-4°C, no increase in precipitation totals is predicted. This will rise crop irrigation needs and necessity to develop irrigation systems. Due to increase in temperature and needs of sustainable agriculture development some chang...

The nutritional value and the content of bioactive compounds in potato tubers are influenced by many soil, climate and agrotechnical factors. This study investigated the effect of drip irrigation and nitrogen fertilization by broadcasting and fertigation on the content of dry matter, starch, monosaccharides, total sugars, vitamin C, polyphenolic co...

Giant miscanthus is a vigorously growing energy plant, popularly used for biofuels production. It is a grass with low soil and water requirements, although its productivity largely depends on complementary irrigation, especially in the first year of cultivation. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the forecast climate changes, mainly a...

Most species of Cucurbitaceae respond favorably to irrigation, especially when combined with fertilizers. The effect of drip irrigation combined with nitrogen fertigation in melon grown on a very light soil in Central Poland, during 2013–2015, was evaluated. The field experimental design was a split-plot with four replications. Two factors were stu...

The aim of this study was to verify the response of 13 American asparagus cultivars cultivated for green spear on surface postharvest drip irrigation. Irrigation, used to compensate for periodic deficiencies in precipitation, allows for high- and good-quality crops for many species. The field experiment was carried out in 2006–2008 on a very light...

Climate warming increases the water needs of plants. The aim of this study was to estimate the water needs of grapevines in central Poland. Water needs were calculated using the crop coefficients method. Reference evapotranspiration was assessed by the Blaney–Criddle’s equation, modified for climate conditions in Poland. Crop coefficients were assu...

Sitophilus granarius (L.) is an important pest of stored grain worldwide. In recent years, sustainable methods against it have received attention as grain stock protective means. Our aim was to obtain information about the efficacy of infrared irradiation (IR) against S. granarius in laboratory conditions. The change in adult-activity and median le...

The purpose of this research was to determine the water needs and results of drip irrigation of mid-early potato cultivar Courage. Studies were carried out in central Poland in 2011–2013 on very light soil. The experiment was designed as two-factorial trials with four replications. The first factor was drip irrigation: O = control (without irrigati...

Educational material for the professional mushroom expert training.

The insecticidal efficacy of microwave irradiation against the at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h following exposure to microwave irradiations (100, 300 W) and the progeny production was assessed 45 days later. Linearly increasing irradiation power range (100, 200 and 300 W) was set up for determining mortality tendency. An increase of insect mortality caused...

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to am...

The longhorn beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) was studied in the Zselic region (Somogy county) in Hungary in seven consecutive years (2009-2015). In total 2931 specimens were observed and the presence of 83 species was identified during the sampling period. The most abundant species were: Plagionotus arcuatus L. (pi=10.542); Cerambyx scopoli...

According to Laznik et al. (2012), herbal oil vapours from Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae), and Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) were tested for their toxicity against the adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.). The results revealed that both examined essential oils exerted strongly toxic effect on S. granarius, but C. officinalis triggere...

The efficacy of X-ray radiation as a method of protection of maize grain against the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera Dryophthoridae) was evaluated in laboratory tests. Irradiation was applied at five doses: 10, 50, 70, 100 and 200 Gy. After each irradiation treatment samples were divided into two parts. One group (n = 50) was l...

The results of a mycological monitoring, carried out from 2001 until 2003 in two forest reserves (in the Bükk and the Mecsek Mountains) within the frame of a project of the Hungarian Biodiversity Monitoring System (HBMS) aiming to monitor forest reserves and managed forests, are presented. Standard sampling method had to be developed and methods of...

The diversity of easy-to-study organisms (e.g. vascular plants) is often used as a proxy for the diversity of other organisms whose investigation needs more effort, time and specialist knowledge. Some previous studies have found positive relationships between plant and macrofungal diversity and thus support this approach, while others question this...

In the framework of the 5th Hungarian Biodiversity Days in 27–28 June 2009 the biodiversity of macrofungi was examined at the Fekete Hill near Szentbékkálla village. Four additional field days were carried out during the summer (4 July 2009), autumn (7 October, 4 November 2009) and spring (24–25 April 2010). Altogether 228 macrofungi taxa were docu...

Macrofungi play an extraordinarily important role in the catalysis of the nutrient cycle of deciduous and coniferous forests. Habitat degradation adversely influences the number of fruiting bodies of macrofungi and diminishes the diversity of the fungal community. The diversity of the terricolous- and lignicolous macrofungi assemblages were compare...

The insecticidal efficacy of the diatomaceous earth formulation DiatoSec® (Ediafilt Diatomite Mining and Processing Ltd., Hungary) against the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was evaluated on maize and barley grain in laboratory tests. The diatomaceous earth formulation was applied at three doses of 1, 2 and 4 g kg...

Present examination was motivated by a hailstorm, which damaged the vegetative and generative development of the maize. Although the hailstorm touched the vegetative, assimilating organs sensitively, significant changes have happened in the development of female organs, too. The developing internodia lengths of the hail stormed plants were decrease...

To determine the cotton bollworm migrating population rate in Hungary, we examined the weights and the front wing morphological feautures of trapped moths. We used sex pheromone traps to monitor field populations during the maize vegetation cycle period in 2008. We examined moths trapped at various times, and measured their body mass (m) and morpho...

The cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner), which migrated in the Carpathian-basin from Mediterraneum in the last decades, is becoming an increasingly serious problem for maize producers in Hungary. In several regions the damage it causes has reached the threshold of economic loss, especially in the case of the sweet maize cultivation. The a...

To determinate the pests’ damage values and their proportions in different cultivation technologies maize acreages, we examined the well seen damage illustrations of the most important phytopatogen microfungi (Fusarium spp., Ustilago maydis) and arthropod pests (Helicoverpa armigera, Ostrinia nubilalis). The investigations were carried out both in...

Healthy and Fusarium affected ears were collected in Fészerlak, Somogy County at the end of vegetation cycle of maize (25-30 August). Each pattern contains 25-25 ears. We compared the samples on the basis of visual image of Fusarium affection. The ears were shelled and two 0,5 kg samples were formed: healthy and Fusarium contaminated. After surface...

A better understanding of the relationships between insects and microfungi could help to identify the unknown factors reducing yields in maize. As the first step in current research, the aim was to isolate the microfungal species that can be found in the larval cavity of the European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. Lepidoptera. Pyraustidae ) (...

Healthy and Fusarium affected ears were collected in Fészerlak, Somogy County at the end of vegetation cycle of maize (25-30 August). Each pattern contains 25-25 ears. We compared the samples on the basis of visual image of Fusarium affection. The ears were shelled and two 0,5 kg samples were formed: healthy and Fusarium contaminated. After surface...

The costs of maize production became higher in the recent years, growing up with 25% in the case of monoculture in Hungary. Therefore it must be emphasised the investigation and utilisation of alternative ways for grain drying. One of these alternative technologies is the utilisation of diatomaceous earth. An incontestable advantage of this technol...

The aim of present investigations was the increasing of knowledge of the cotton bollworm's ( Helicoverpa armigera Hbn.) (CB) damages in the different breeding season corns. The damage examinations were made in a 29.2 hectares acreage between Igal and Kazsok villages (Somogy county) on the basis of the flight observation at the end of August 2008. W...

During the I. and II. Hungarian Biodiversity Day a total number of 180 macrofungi taxa were documented in a 1 km2 sample plot near Gyűrűfű village. The general functional spectra showed the lignicolous saprotrophic group the biggest (67 species, 37%), but the proportion of mycorrhizal (44 species, 24%) and soil inhabiting saprotrophic (42 species,...

The optimal germinative ability, carbohydrate and in-kernel air-dry content values of corn seeds are essential for the distilling industry. Our examinations were focused on the investigations of the hailstorm and corn smut fungus [Ustilago maydis (DC.)Corda] infection effects on corn seed germination, as well as inkernel air-dry content values of t...

In the course of the small plot trials which was appointed on the corn large field we searched for answer, what happened in the competitive ability of the corn, the dicotyledonous (Amaranthus retroflexus, in the following: AMARE) and the monocotyledonous (Setaria viridis, in the following: SETVI) weeds in relation to changes of the soil pH. It was...

Our experiments was motivated by more accurate knowing of damages of corn weevil (Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyll.) and the preventive chemical treatments. In the interest of trials we placed from acreage originating corn weevils in isolator. In isolator was 1-2 leafy corn. We ended up the trials three different soil types (sand, transition braun fores...

Mycological investigations have been made since 2001 in all characteristic forest types in Central Börzsöny Mts., North Hungary. Among the near 500 macrolungi species documented 8 protected and 32 rare taxa occurred. Present paper concerns 13 of these taxa: 3 critically endangered, 7 endangered and 3 vulnerable in Hungary. Near the summarisation of...

Parallel phyto- and mycocoenological investigations have been made since 2001 in all characteristic forest types in Borzsony Mts., North Hungary. The main aim of this work was the examination of similarities between plant and fungal communities, as well as the plant—fungi connections within certain habitats. Among the total 381 macrofungi species d...

Deciduous forests, developed in Submediterrean climate, differ essentially from those in Central and Western Europe. Present paper concerns fungistical characterization of four Submediterranean climax associations based on 8 years investigation, as well as on literary data. Near common and rare species differential and local character ones are cons...