There is no sign of saturation in accumulation of alien species (AS) introductions worldwide, additionally the rate of spread for some species has also been shown to be increasing. However, the challenges of gathering information on AS are recognized. Recent developments in citizen science (CS) provide an opportunity to improve data flow and knowledge on AS while ensuring effective and high quality societal engagement with the issue of IAS (Invasive Alien Species). Advances in technology, particularly on-line recording and smartphone apps, along with the development of social media, have revolutionized CS and increased connectivity while new and innovative analysis techniques are emerging to ensure appropriate management, visualization, interpretation and use and sharing of the data. In early July 2018 we launched a European CO-operation in Science and Technology (COST) Action to address multidisciplinary research questions in relation to developing and implementing CS, advancing scientific understanding of AS dynamics while informing decision-making specifically implementation of technical requirements of relevant legislation such as the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on IAS. It will also support the EU biodiversity goals and embedding science within society. The Action will explore and document approaches to establishing a European-wide CS AS network. It will embrace relevant innovations for data gathering and reporting to support the implementation of monitoring and surveillance measures, while ensuring benefits for society and citizens, through an AS CS European network. The Action will, therefore, increase levels of participation and quality of engagement with current CS initiatives, ensuring and evaluating educational value, and improve the value outcomes for potential users including citizens, scientists, alien species managers, policy-makers, local authorities, industry and other stakeholders.

In South-Eastern Europe, the majority of runner-bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) production is based on local populations grown mainly in home gardens. The local runner-bean plants are well adapted to their specific growing conditions and microclimate agro-environments, and show great morpho-agronomic diversity. Here, 142 runner-bean accessions from the five South-Eastern European countries of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Romania were sown and cultivated in their respective countries and characterised using 28 quantitative and qualitative morpho-agronomic descriptors for Phaseolus spp. based on inflorescences, leaves, plants, pods and seeds. For each of these morpho-agronomic descriptors, the accessions can be classified into two or three specific groups. The highest correlations were observed within the fluorescence, seed and pod traits. The highest variability, at 76.39%, was between the different countries, representing different geographic origins, while the variability within the countries was 23.61%. Cluster analysis based on these collected morpho-agronomic data also classified the accessions into three groups according to genetic origins. The data obtained serve as useful genetic information for plant breeders for the breeding of new bean varieties for further studies of the morpho-agronomic traits of the runner bean.

In total 76 varieties of alfalfa were collected and sown and 41 alfalfa genotypes showed tolerances to lower soil pH. The selected alfalfa genotypes are then sown in a test field on the soil that belongs to the type of brown soil on the gravel or the cambisol with the soil pH from 5.33 to 5.64. After 5 years, 10 genotypes were selected based on the agronomic properties and the experiment was set up on the soil with the pH from 5.0 to 5.1 in H2O. The following genotypes were used for these tests: G-2, G-11, G-19, G-34, G-39, G-44, G-48, G-51, G-53 and G-100. The following properties were observed: plant height (cm), number of stems per plant, stem thickness (mm), number of internodes per stem, leaf/stem ratio (%), yield of biomass in the I cut (g plant-1). During these tests, the highest degree of tolerance towards the lower soil pH was shown by the genotype G-44. Good results were achieved with alfalfa genotypes G-11 and G-48 where the percentage of survivors was over 80%. The highest average plant height during the three-year study (36.9 cm) was recorded in the genotype G-100. The high and stable yield of dry mass per plant have genotypes G-44 and G-19 and they are grouped in group I and are desirable for further breeding. Genotype and year have statistically significant and highly significant influence on the tested parameters, while the significance of the interaction of the genotype x year was determined only for the thickness of the stem.

Domestic donkey is a transboundary breed present in many Balkan countries. According to the Law on Animal Production, in many Balkan countries, for every breed of domestic animals it is necessary to create a separate breeding programme. Based on the results of a study evaluating the main morphological, reproductive and functional traits in 47 domestic donkeys in Macedonia during 2017 and 2018, current standards and breeding goals were defined for the next national breeding programme of this breed. According to the fact that the domestic donkey is a metapopulation and transboundary breed in almost all Balkan countries, it is a good recommendation to create a regional breeding programme with flexible standards and breeding goals for this relative of horses for all Balkan countries together.

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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important forage plant species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this study, conducted in Banja Luka, the investigated ten alfalfa genotypes originated from different regions of USA and Europe. The study objective was to determine their grain yield per plants and four morphological properties. The interactions analyses provided to select individual genotypes that are shown the highest stability and yield potential in different production conditions. Genotype with the highest yield shown lower stability level. The influence year and genotype on GYP - the grain yield per plants for investigated alfalfa genotypes was significant (Fexp=7.54* and Fexp= 8.34*). The highest average value for investigated parameter in the first research year had genotypes G53 and G44 and in second research year genotype G2. The lowest value in both research years had genotype G100 (0.28 kg ha-1 and 0.30 kg ha-1. Positive and strong correlations were found between the grain yield per plants and the number of pods per plants (r= 0.74**) and the grain yield per plant and the number of flower per inflorescence (r= 0.51*). On the basis of the obtained values, we conclude that we have excellent genotypes G2, G44, G53 and G51 for successful breeding work in order to obtain new high-yielding varieties of alfalfa.

Numerous studies conducted worldwide indicate a tendency towards a continuous decline in number of cattle. Appropriate measures should be taken to prevent the reduction of the number of cattle and to increase the concentration of animals per farm. In this regard, the objective of this study was to analyze the total number of cattle after an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the Republic of Serbia. Due to the occurrence of this highly dangerous infectious disease in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, emergency and preventive vaccination was performed in infected and vulnerable areas in the Republic of Serbia. To prevent the spread of LSD, competent authorities banned public gatherings of cattle at fairs, exhibitions, livestock markets and purchase places, which resulted in economic losses for certain farmers. This disease is believed to have impacted the total number of cattle slaughtered and the number of deaths, as well as the import and export of live cattle, animal products and by-products of animal origin. The comparison between indices for the number of cattle shows a decline in the total number of cattle in the analyzed period across statistical territorial units. Results on the total number of cattle can be used, among other things, to create new and more complex questions arising from current and future farming problems.

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorim L.) is a short-term grass species that is of great importance for the production of quality fodder on arable land. It is grown in pure sowing or in short-term grass-leguminous mixtures. For the sowing of grasslands in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the significant seed quantities of the Italian ryegrass are used. The aim of this paper is to examine the yield variability and yield components of the progeny of the own selection of Italian ryegrass "BL Vubo" in relation to the four varieties of the Italian ryegrass that are most often used in our area. The research was carried out in the testing field and in the laboratories of the Agricultural Institute of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka during 2014 and 2015. These tests include the local selection "BL Vubo" and 4 foreign and local diploid and tetraploid varieties of the Italian ryegrass: Tur, Danergo, Draga and Tetraflorum. During the study, the following properties were monitored: number of generative stems per plant, spike length, number of spikelets per spike and seed yield per plant.During the two-year study, the highest average number of generative stems per plant was found in the Draga variety (183,6) and the lowest in the Tur variety (158,2). The average length of the Italian ryegrass in the tested genotypes varied from 23,4 cm (Draga) to 29,5 cm (Tetraflorum). The highest average number of spikelets/spike was found in the Tur variety (27,1). When it comes to yield of seeds/plants, the variety Draga (72,4 g) and the local selection "BL Vubo" (68,8 g) were distinguished. The variety had a highly significant influence on all tested properties (p<0,01). For the spike length, it is determined that year had highly significant influence (p<0,01), while for the rest of the examined properties, the effect of the year was significant (p<0,05). The existence of an interaction genotype x year has not been determined for any property.