The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different liquid fertilisers on selected physiological parameters in order to evaluate the drought tolerance of cherry tomato seedlings. The following physiological parameters were investigated: total phenolic and flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity and proline content of leaf extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP assay) was used to measure the total antioxidant capacity, while proline content was evaluated according to the method of Bates. The contents of proline, total phenolics and flavonoids were significantly higher in the leaves of cherry tomato seedlings exposed to water stress, which suggests that the higher synthesis of these substances by plants represents an important defence mechanism of drought tolerance. The results also indicate that the application of all the used fertilisers in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions can significantly increase the content of phenol compounds and total antioxidant capacity of plants under normal growth conditions, thus improving survival under subsequent stress.

The eggplant is a warm-climate crop of high economic importance. In many Asian and Mediterranean countries, eggplants are essential components of everyday dishes, while in Central Europe they have become popular only in recent years. Eggplants are harvested at an immature stage and have low storage value; therefore, the sale of fruits in local markets requires an appropriate production strategy. In Poland, consumer demand for eggplants is currently met by imports and domestic production, which, until recently, has been carried out only in greenhouses, ensuring the availability of fresh fruits but resulting in high selling prices. The demand for eggplants is growing among Polish consumers, and, accordingly, field production is expected to gradually gain in importance due to the fruit’s profitability. Accordingly, the biology and farming practices of this warm-climate crop remain in the investigation phase in temperate climate. This review aims to report the status of current knowledge regarding the technologies affecting the biology, cultivation, and nutritional value of eggplant grown in temperate climatic zone.

Effects of immersing seeds in water and X-ray imagining on germination of Corylopsis seed were investigated. Seeds that sank or floated were collected after immersing in water for 5 min, 4 h or 16 h, and germinated with or without 5°C cold stratification (CS). In C. coreana and C. sinensis var. calvescens, 52% and 89%, respectively, of seeds that sank immediately developed embryos and cotyledons germinated. Germination of C. sinensis var. calvescens seeds that sank after 16 h increased to 45% after the first CS treatment, as compared to 12% without CS. Immersing seeds in water for 16 h to collect full and mostly full seeds is recommended. X-ray imaging coupled with immersion is effective technique to select viable seeds. Dormancy could be partially released by immersing seeds in water for 16 h; however, germination was improved after CS.

The paper discusses some features in Freesia refracta pigment system and possible use of this option as a plant diagnostic characteristic on the resistance in limiting environments. The study included freesia cultivars and hybrid forms selected in the Russian Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Crops, which had different flowering terms. A detailed analysis was provided on any changes in the photosynthetic pigments content during the growing process. There are parameters of slow chlorophyll fluorescence induction (vitality index, ratio of photosynthetic activity and estimated coefficient of photosynthetic activity) in the leaves of different cultivars and hybrid forms. In order to determine the dependences between photosynthetic pigments content and parameters of slow chlorophyll fluorescence induction in freesia cultivars and hybrid forms pair correlation coefficient; it was calculated between these features among all hybrids and cultivars in general. The relationship recorded between optical indicators, and structural features of the pigment system will allow us to develop a method of rapid diagnosis of photosynthetic activity in freesia on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar region.

‘Friariello’ pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was grown with nutrient film technique (NFT) in order to evaluate the effects of four nutritive solutions, at electrical conductivities (EC) of 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.4 mS/cm, in two cultural cycles (winter-summer versus spring-autumn) on growth, yield and fruit quality. In the winter-summer cycle, fruit yield was significantly higher than in the spring-autumn one. The 3.8 mS/m EC resulted in the highest yield in the winter-summer crops, whereas the 4.1 mS/m EC was the most effective under the spring-autumn cycle. Water consumption was 34% higher in winter-summer than in spring-autumn season. The 3.8 mS/m EC caused the highest water consumption, whereas a 25% reduction was recorded under 4.4 mS/cm. The macronutrients absorption was the highest with 3.8–4.1 mS/cm EC and the lowest with 3.5 mS/cm. Fruits harvested in late summer and berries obtained under 4.4 mS/cm EC mostly showed the best quality. The fruit ascorbic acid and α-carotene content was higher in late summer than in late spring and all fruit antioxidants attained the highest values with 4.4 mS/cm EC.

Three primocane-fruiting raspberry cvs, Polana, Polka and Polesie, were evaluated for their performance under various early spring coverings during the 2010-2013 growing seasons. Three cultivation techniques were compared: covering plants with perforated plastic cover, covering plants with fibre cover (in early spring, for a period of about 1 month), mowing of young canes in the middle of May; the control combination were plants without covers and not mown. During each growing season, plant growth vigour, yielding and fruit quality (soluble solids and vitamin C content) were assessed. The use of low covers (perforated plastic cover and fibre cover) advanced the fruit ripening of the tested cultivars by about 2 weeks. The covers of raspberry plants also increased significantly yield of the early fruit (harvested in July and August) compared with the control. The investigated techniques can be recommended for implementation and use on commercial raspberry plantations to force early fruiting and thus increase their production potential in the summer-autumn period.

Růžek L., Růžkova M., Koudela M., Beckova L., Becka D., Krulis Z., Sarka E., Vořisek K., Ledvina S., Salounova B., Venyercsanova J. (2015): Biodegradation of composites based on maltodextrin and wheat B-starch in compost . Hort. Sci. (Prague), 42: 209–214.

Self-fertile cherry cultivars can produce an excessive crop of small fruits with low sugar content. In order to prevent overcropping and provide high quality fruits, chemical thinning of flowers is required. Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), surfactants and plant oils are used to thin flowers, mostly in apple and peach. The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of the blossom thinners ATS, surfactant Silwet and rapeseed oil (Ogriol) in reducing fruit set of the self-fertile sweet cherry cultivars Alex and Sunburst and their potential to improve fruit quality. At lower rates (1 and 2%) ATS did not consistently reduce fruit set, while at higher rate (3%) it produced visible phytotoxicity on the leaves. ATS treatments did not increase the average weight and diameter of fruits. 10 and 30 ml/l Ogriol application did not reduce fruit set significantly or improve fruit quality of self-fertile sweet cherries. The surfactant Silwet applied at the rates of 1 or 3 ml/l was found to consistently thin self-fertile sweet cherry cultivars, leading to better fruit quality.

The objective of this study was to produce high quality planting material in a soilless greenhouse system. Cv. Elsanta plants were planted in containers and set on a special rack in the greenhouse. Emerging plantlets were set (clipped with metal clips) in micro-pots filled with peat or coconut substrate and detached from mother plants after 7, 10 or 14 days. Efficiency of this nursery method depended on the number of runners emerging from mother plants and the number of plantlets on the runners. Plantlets rooted for a longer period showed greater tolerance to stress. Growing media used in the experiment did not have a significant influence on the dynamics and quality of plantlet rooting. Using the method developed in this study, all plantlets were properly rooted.

Milosevic T., Milosevic N., Glisic I., Nikolic R., Milivojevic J . (2014): Early tree growth, productivity, fruit quality and leaf nutrients content of sweet cherry grown in a high density planting system . Hort. Sci. (Prague), 42: 1–12. From 2008 to 2013 the phenology, early tree growth, precocity, yield, fruit quality attributes and leaf nutrient status of four sweet cherry cultivars (May Early, Germersdorfer, Sunburst and Celeste) were evaluated on Colt rootstock in the Cacak region (Serbia) with 1,250 trees/ha. The soil type was heavy and acidic. The results showed that cv. May Early blossomed and ripened earlier than the other cultivars, and had the highest tree vigour, better yield performance and the poorest fruit physico-chemical attributes. The best fruit quality was found in cv. Sunburst which is categorized as a low precocious cultivar with small yield capacity. Lower tree vigour, good productivity and fruit quality were shown by cv. Celeste. In general, leaf analysis indicated that all cultivars had excessive levels of N and Cu, and in some cases P, whereas K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and B were deficient in all cultivars. The best balanced nutritional values (ΣDOP) were observed in cv. Sunburst, whereas wider imbalance was observed in cv. Celeste for macronutrients. In contrast, the ΣDOP for micronutrients indicated that cv. Celeste had the best balanced nutritional values, whereas cv. Sunburst had the worst.