The antioxidant activities of extracts of purple, yellow and orange carrot varieties were evaluated by in vitro methods i.e. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC. The total polyphenols concentration was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu technique. The content of anthocyanins, chlorophylls and carotenoids was evaluated in fresh and frozen carrots. The anthocyanin concentration was also determined in carrot extracts. The effect of certain parameters of ultrasound-assisted extraction, i.e. extraction time, concentration and acidifying of extractant, as well as the type of raw material (fresh or frozen) was analyzed. The antioxidant potential as well as content of polyphenols and plant pigments were the highest in purple carrot extracts. The most effective extractant seems to be 70% (v/v) ethanol. The extension of the extraction time, in majority of cases, led to an increase of antioxidant activity of extracts, whereas the freezing of raw material generally decreased the above-mentioned activities. The effect of acidification of extractant is ambiguous and depends on the method applied to evaluate antioxidant activity.

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of phytostimulators application (Messenger, Crop-Set, ISR-2000) on yield and morphological parameters of common bean cultivars grown under four irrigation regimes [25% (I25), 50% (I50), 75% (I75) and 100% (I100)]. Phytostimulators reversed the negative effect of drought on plant growth. Significant interaction was determined for all parameters except stem diameter and stomatal conductivity between phytostimulator and drought applications. The best effect on stomatal conductivity was provided from ISR-2000 (23.5% reduction) application. The highest yield was obtained from the 25% water deficiency applied with 1.91 ton per hectare. It was determined that the best results were obtained from Messenger in Efsane and Asya cultivars and ISR-2000 in the Öz Ayşe cultivar on yield. Therefore, it was concluded that the use of phytostimulators under drought stress is important for the effective use of water.

In this study the quantity of the main nutritional and bioactive compounds, as well as the antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods) and essential oil composition of Monarda fistulosa L. and Monarda citriodora subsp. austromontana Cerv. ex Lag. ‘Bees’ Favourite’ flowers were investigated. The field experiment was carried out for three years (2014–2016) and the laboratory analyses in the years 2015–2016. The obtained results showed that M. citriodora flowers were characterized by a dry matter (22.42%), total ash (1.86% FW), crude fibre (4.89% FW), sucrose (0.31% FW), total flavonoids (0.795% DW) and antioxidant activity in FRAP test (7.96 mg TE g–1 FW), while M. fistulosa showed the highest values of total sugars/titratable acidity ratio (4.05), antioxidant activity in DPPH test (7.35 mg TE g–1 FW) and contents of reducing sugars (1.46% FW), total chlorophyll (401.10 μg g–1 FW), chlorophyll a (271.74 μg g–1 FW) and b (92.07 μg g–1 FW), L-ascorbic acid (48.99 mg 100 g–1 FW) and total polyphenols (7.64 mg GAE g–1 FW). The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main compounds of M. fistulosa oil were carvacrol (28.16 and 23.66% in 2015, and 2016, respectively), p-cymene (20.10 and 17.94%), thymoquinone (12.60 and 16.30%) and γ-terpinene (8.72 and 4.07%), whereas linalool (34.86 and 26.96%), thymol (17.83 and 37.34%), β-thujene (6.12 and 2.00%) and camphene (5.80 and 5.64%) were the major constituents of M. citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. ssp. austromontana ‘Bees’ Favourite’ oil.

Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural antioxidant, belonging to the group of polyphenolic compounds. It displays a broad spectrum of pro-health effects, ranging from the prevention of cancer to antiviral properties. It is present in many fruit from the rose family (Rosaceae): strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and walnuts as well as cranberries and grapes. The available literature states that the fruit of roses, in addition to their aesthetic and functional applications, also show therapeutic properties, which, among other things, are associated with a high content of polyphenols, including ellagic acid derivatives. The aim of this research was to determine the differences in the content of free ellagic acid in the fruit of selected rose species. The test material consisted of freeze-dried sublimation and ground fruit from the following species of roses: R. canina, R. moyesii, R. pendulina. The fruit was separated into two fractions: flesh and seeds. Quantitative analysis of free ellagic acid was carried out by spectrofluorimetry. The free EA was present both in the flesh and in the seeds of the studied species of roses. Its content in the mentioned fractions varied depending on the species. The flesh of R. pendulina was characterised by the highest level of EA in free form (247.72 μg·g–1 of dry weight). The seeds of R. moyesii proved to be the most abundant in free EA (105.69 μg·g–1 of dry weight.

Experimental studies were conducted in 2015–2017 in the Department of Dendrology, Pomology and Nursery of Poznan University of Life Sciences. The aim of the research was to study the usefulness of three rootstocks: Larix decidua, Pinus armandii, Cedrus deodara and two grafting methods: side grafting and split grafting for propagation purposes of Cedrus deodara ‘Karl Fuchs’. In addition, it was evaluated how the rootstock and the age of cultivar shoots influenced the level of chloroplast pigments in the needles. A higher percentage of grafts success was obtained on Pinus armandii and Cedrus deodara using the side grafting method. Grafted scions of ‘Karl Fuchs’ produced the greatest number of lateral buds and the longest lateral increments of growth on Cedrus deodara root stock. Side grafting significantly improved the percentage of plants that restarted their growth in the second year of cultivation. The largest number of buds on two-year-old shoots were counted on plants grafted on Cedrus deodara using split grafting method. The rootstocks used in this experiment had a slight effect on the content of chloroplast pigments in the needles. Plants grafted on Pinus armandii had the highest level of chlorophyll B, and those grafted on Larix decidua – chlorophyll A/B ratio. The content of chloroplast pigments in the needles depended on the age of shoots. The highest level of chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and carotenoids was observed when needles were collected from the last year’s growth.

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of higher conductivity of nutrient solution created by nitrate or chloride salts of potassium and calcium on growth characteristics of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum var annuum) during four months of growth period. Two EC5 and EC8 dS/m of Hoagland nutrient solution were prepared using various salt combinations, namely; KCl + CaCl2, KNO3 + CaNO3, and KNO3 + CaNO3 + NaCl. Hoagland nutrient solution with EC 1.8 dS/m was served as control. Higher conductivity treatments had different effects on pepper plant growth. The most significant reduction in growth parameters of plant height, shoot fresh weight, fruit yield and nutrients uptake were in plants treated with KCl + CaCl2 particularly at EC8. Application of KNO3 + CaNO3 particularly at EC5 showed no difference with control regarding many growth parameters. Application of KNO3 + CaNO3 at EC5 resulted in higher shoot fresh weight compared to control. All salinity treatments except KNO3 + CaNO3 at EC5 reduced fruit yield compared to control. Treatments of KCl + CaCl2 and KNO3 + CaNO3 + NaCl particularly at EC8 of nutrient solution resulted in higher leaf proline concentration, catalase and peroxidase enzymes activity compared to control. Other conductivity treatments showed no difference in catalase or peroxidase enzymes activity. The significant lowest amount of leaf N, K, Mg and Ca was in KCl + CaCl2 at EC8. On the other hand, the highest leaf macronutrient concentrations were in KNO3 + CaNO3 at EC5 and/or EC8 that showed only higher leaf N and Ca values compared to control. Leaf micronutrient concentrations were highest in KNO3 + CaNO3 at EC5 that generally showed no difference with control plants. However, application of KCl + CaCl2 particularly at EC8 and to less extent KNO3 + CaNO3 + NaCl at EC8 reduced leaf micronutrient concentrations. Application of KNO3 + CaNO3 at EC5 increased and KCl + CaCl2 or KNO3 + CaNO3 + NaCl at EC8 decreased the leaf Fe concentration compared to control plants.

Choice of orchard system is one of the major factors, on which pear crop size and quality depend. The purpose of this research was to assess the influence of two training systems involving trees trained to different number of leaders on growth, yield, and fruit quality of three pear cultivars. The study was conducted in 2001–2012 near Wrocław (south-western Poland). One-year-old trees of ‘Carola’, ‘Dicolor’ and ‘Erika’ cultivars on the Quince S1 rootstock were planted in the spring 2001 using 3.5 m between rows and a variable in-row spacing: 1.7 m (Drilling form with 3 leaders) and 1.2 m (Güttingen – V system with 1 leader). More vigorous growth was observed from more sparsely planted trees under the Drilling form. The total per-tree yield during 2002–2012 was decreasing as the planting density increased. No differences were observed on yield per hectare between the tested systems. The Drilling trees produced significantly heavier and larger fruit than the trees trained to the V-Güttingen system.

Two inoculums: Effective Microorganisms (EM) specimen available on the market and microbiological BAF1 inoculum, were applied in the experiment. The plants were cultivated in the growth chamber equipped with shelves with fluorescent or LED lamps. The highest number of inflorescences was under the influence of white color of light emitted by fluorescent lamps and blue color of light emitted by LED lamps, especially after application of BAF1 inoculum. Irrespective of microbiological inoculum, no significant effect of the color of light and type of lamps on such traits as height of leaves layer, number of leaves, greening index of leaves (SPAD) and length of inflorescences, was found. The white color light emitted by fluorescent lamps stimulated actinobacteria multiplication, especially after EM application. Regardless of the inoculum application, it was the blue color light emitted by LED lamps that stimulated the multiplication of moldy fungi. After the use of fluorescent lamps, the increase in dehydrogenase activity was observed, especially after the application of BAF1 inoculum. The activity of acid phosphatase was stimulated by blue and white+blue light emitted by LED lamps. The increase in the activity of urease was observed under fluorescent lamps emitting the green, blue and white color of light, after the application of EM.

The study involving 5 cherry cultivars was conducted in 2015–2016. The varieties ‘Techlovan’, ‘Summit’, ‘Sylvia’, ‘Kordia’ and ‘Regina’ were planted in 2010 in the Experimental Orchard of the Department of Pomology in Warsaw-Wilanów on GiSelA5 rootstock. The aim of the study was to evaluate the production value and dessert fruit quality as well as health proprieties of the tested cultivars’ fruits and select the most valuable ones. It was shown that the varieties differed in fruit set and yielding as well as fruit quality (i.e. fruit size, firmness, soluble solid content, acidity) and health benefits (i.e. polyphenol, anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid content). ‘Techlovan’ trees had the lowest yield, but their fruits were of high quality. ‘Kordia’ and ‘Regina’ also provided high quality fruit with high total polyphenol content. In contrast, the ‘Sylvia’ cultivar had a high yield, but the fruit obtained from it was of poor quality. All tested cultivars had similar vitamin C content.

Cornelian cherry in Poland belongs to the alternative fruit species. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption, however they can be used for processing: juice, jams, jellies, syrups, tinctures. Fruits are abundant in mineral elements, vitamin C, organic acids, iridoids, anthocyanins and due to that they have health-promoting significance. In this experiment, the fruit quality of several 16-year-old ecotypes in the Lublin region was compared. They were compared in terms of the beginning of fruit ripening and fruit size (length, diameter, mass), fruit shape index, share of stone in the fruit, SSC, TA, SSC/TA, reducing sugar, dry matter content and anthocyanins content. The color of fruit was evaluated in two dates, visually and using HanterLab spectrophotometer. Cornelian cherry fruits began to mature at the beginning of August and at the latest at the end of August. With the increase of the maturity degree, the SSC, reducing sugars, TA, dry matter and anthocyanins increased significantly. There was no difference in the taste of light red fruits and dark red fruits, which were characterized by similar ratio of SSC/TA. Ecotype No. 11, as the earliest maturing, with big round fruits, dark red colored with the highest content of anthocyanins, could be distinguished. As well as ecotypes No. 4 and 5, ripening in mid-August, and having a high ratio of SSC/TA, providing a good taste. Studied ecotypes could be used in breeding programs to incorporate a wide range of quality and agronomic characteristics into a final cornelian cherry cultivar.