EMU DSpace
Digitaalarhiiv EMU DSpace kogub, säilitab ja loob ligipääsu Eesti Maaülikooli liikmeskonna poolt loodud või Eesti Maaülikooli vastutusvaldkondadega seotud teadustöödele toetamaks maaülikooli konkurentsivõimet ja teadmistepõhist ühiskonna arengut. Digitaalarhiivi haldab Eesti Maaülikooli raamatukogu.
Valdkonnad DSpace's
Valige valdkond, et selle kogusid sirvida.
- Institute of Forestry and Engineering (MII)
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (PKI)
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (VLI)
- Publications
- Units
Hiljutised sisestused
Stress tolerance and cultivation technologies of oilseed hemp – their effect on plant productivity and seed quality
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Mäeorg, Erkki; Runno-Paurson, Eve (advisor); Niinemets, Ülo (advisor); Kännaste, Astrid (advisor); Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Centritto, Mauro (opponent); Agho, Collins Aimuaenvbosa (reviewer)
ABSTRACT. The expansion of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation across Europe has increased the need to investigate the combined effects of diseases, pests, and crop management practices on the productivity of this relatively understudied crop under northern growing conditions. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to determine the effects of crop management practices and biotic stress factors on industrial hemp productivity, seed quality, and yield stability under Estonian conditions. The field studies included this thesis were conducted between 2019 and 2024 at the experimental fields of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Although industrial hemp has traditionally been regarded as a crop with relatively few disease and pest problems, Alternaria leaf spot and the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) emerged as the most important biotic stress factors during the six-year experimental period. The severity of leaf spot on hemp plants was influenced by crop management practices and varied significantly among growing seasons. Increased nitrogen supply reduced cumulative disease pressure (rAUDPC) by up to 76%, with consistent effects observed across years and in both cultivars (’Finola’, ’Estica’) studied. Damage caused by the European corn borer reduced seed yield by more than 7% at maximum; however, the extent of visible damage did not always accurately reflect its impact on yield performance. Hemp seed yield ranged from 0.6 to 2.7 t ha⁻¹ during the study period. Yield variability was significantly lower in the cultivar 'Estica' than in 'Finola' (standard deviation 0.45 and 0.80, respectively). These findings highlight the importance of yield stability in industrial hemp production and suggest that the principal advantages of industrial hemp as a low-input crop arise from its phenotypic plasticity and biotic interactions, both of which should be taken into account when developing crop management strategies.
Variation in bumble bee sensitivity to pesticides across intraspecific, exposure and dietary contexts
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Jürison, Margret; Mänd, Marika (advisor); Karise, Reet (advisor); Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Roessink, Ivo (opponent)
ABSTRACT. Pollinators are increasingly exposed to multiple agricultural stressors, with pesticides considered among the most important. Yet current pesticide risk assessments often overlook intraspecific variation, pesticide interactions, toxicokinetic processes, and nutritional context. This doctoral thesis investigated how these factors influence pesticide responses in the bumble bee (Bombus terrestris). Controlled laboratory experiments assessed pesticide effects across life stages, exposure routes, and nutritional conditions using toxicokinetic, developmental, and physiological analyses.
OECD-based laboratory protocols were adapted to account for bumble bee biology and extended to the testing of males and queens. Comparisons among workers, males, and queens revealed substantial differences in pesticide sensitivity that could not be explained solely by body size, indicating physiological variation in susceptibility.Comparative analyses showed that pesticide clearance and toxicity varied among castes, compounds, and exposure routes. In several cases, toxicity continued to increase despite declining residue levels, indicating delayed toxicodynamic effects relative to pesticide elimination. Interactions between sulfoxaflor and azoxystrobin were highly context-dependent, ranging from largely additive to antagonistic depending on dose and exposure route. Larval exposure to sulfoxaflor altered development, growth, and adult traits, with responses strongly influenced by pollen diet. Multifloral pollen generally supported better larval performance, while sulfoxaflor effects varied among diets, showing that nutritional context can modify their direction and magnitude.
Current pesticide risk assessment frameworks underestimate the biological complexity of pollinator responses to chemical stress. This thesis shows that pesticide effects cannot be reliably predicted from chemical identity alone, but depend on exposure and the organism’s physiological, developmental, and nutritional state Mortality endpoints alone do not capture all pesticide effects, highlighting the need for complementary physiological and developmental endpoints. Risk assessment and pollinator protection would be improved by accounting for this complexity.
EPA Zootehnikateaduskonnast EMÜ Veterinaarmeditsiini ja loomakasvatuse instituudiks
(Estonian Academic Agricultural Society, 2022) Lüpsik, Anne
1951 – Eesti Põllumajanduse Akadeemia.
Zootehnikateaduskond alustas tööd kolme kateedriga: põllumajandusloomade aretus (juhataja kt dots Cerelius Ruus, hiljem dots Aarne Pung), põllumajandusloomade söötmine (juhataja dots August Muuga), eriloomakasvatus (juhataja dots Cerelius Ruus. 1958. aastast toodi zootehnikateaduskonda ka bioloogia ja orgaanilise keemia kateeder (juhataja prof August Siim). Teaduskonna koosseisu kuulus aastatel 1953–1958 ka piimasaaduste tehnoloogia osakond (juhataja dots Jaan Klaar).
19th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy: 24.-28.08.2026 Tartu, Estonia : Book of abstracts
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Estonian University of Life Sciences
The 19th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy took place from 24 to 28 August 2026 at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu. Under the leadership of ESA President Prof Evelin Loit-Harro, the congress brought together leading experts in agronomy and crop science to discuss the main challenges and opportunities of modern crop production and agriculture. The focus was on soil–plant interactions, experiences from organic production, increasing the resilience of agriculture, and different agronomic technologies that helped keep yields stable under climate change.
Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food and antimicrobial effect of plant additives in meat products
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Koskar, Julia; Roasto, Mati (advisor); Meremäe, Kadrin (advisor); Mäesaar, Mihkel (advisor); Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences; Uyttendaele, Mieke (opponent)
ABSTRACT. Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that poses a significant public health risk, particularly in the consumption of long shelf-life ready-to-eat foods that do not require additional heat treatment. The ability of this pathogen to remain viable and grow at refrigeration temperatures is especially hazardous for vulnerable consumer groups. Increasing consumer demand for natural and minimally processed foods necessitates the identification of alternatives to synthetic food preservatives. This thesis analysed the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods produced in Estonia and assessed the effects of plant-based powders and their mixtures on microbial growth in both raw and heat-treated minced meat samples. The results indicated that contamination of ready-to-eat foods with L. monocytogenes was generally low, pathogen was detected in 3.6% of samples (n = 30,016). The pathogen was most frequently found in fish products, particularly in lightly salted and cold-smoked fish. Although the counts of L. monocytogenes in most samples remained below 10 CFU/g, the food safety criterion (100 CFU/g) was exceeded in certain fish, meat, and fruit and vegetable products. The findings demonstrated that plant powders, especially rhubarb, inhibited the growth of microorganisms, with the exception of L. monocytogenes. The most effective suppression of microbial growth was achieved using mixtures of plant powders, particularly in low-fat minced meat samples. The utilisation of juice processing by-products, such as pomaces, offers a promising approach to improving the microbiological quality of meat products while aligning with the principles of the circular bioeconomy.