The numerous publications on the positive impact of sea buckthorn and its products on human health concern mainly the fruits and seeds. However, there is little data relating to the properties of sea buckthorn leaves. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and isotope content in the leaves of sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides L. depending on where its existence. The habitat conditions significantly differentiated the studies traits. Mean crude protein content in the leaves reached 235.0 g∙kg^-1 d. m. The most proteins contain plants growing on native soil in the Dolna Odra Power Station. The ash content, fat, fiber and total carbohydrates was significantly higher in the leaves of sea buckthorn growing on sandy soil reclaimed from using ash from coal with NPK 60 – 70 – 70 + sludge. Their average concentration was: 49.2, 63.0, 128.1, 587.4 g∙kg^-1 d. m., respectively. The concentration of micronutrients was varied and depended significantly from the place of living plants. A higher level of δ¹⁵N found in sea buckthorn grown on land reclaimed and fertilized with NPK. The conditions living of sea buckthorn didn’t differentiate δ¹³C value. It cannot be unequivocally determined whether the results of the study on the influence of habitat conditions on chemical and isotope composition of sea buckthorn leaves are permanent. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the research.

North American hackberry as a tree with resistance to Dutch elm diseases, pollutions and urban conditions is predisposed to becoming one of the common tree species for urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods for nursery production of this species. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of fertilization and different methods of cultivation in rows with simultaneous use of geocomposite on the growth of North American hackberry in nursery production. Mechanical fallow in rows ha the most preferably influence, while living mulch with perennial ryegrass had rather negative impact on tested biometric features of North American hackberry. There was found a positive correlation between biometric features and foliar N content, as well as negative correlation between biometric features and soil salinity.

The blooming wild plants in the vicinity of orchards may attract adult Syrphidae to these cultivations. Hence in 2008–2010 studies were conducted around Czempiń (western Wielkopolska) which covered the occurrence of the imagines of 5 dominant predatory Syrphidae species in apple orchards and on their edges. The phenology of Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer), Eupeodes corollae (F.), Melanostoma mellinum (L.), Sphaerophoria scripta (L.) and Syrphus vitripennis Meigen in apple orchards as well as in the neighbouring shrubberies and on the side of the road overgrown with trees and bushes was analysed. A greater abundance of imagines of the studied species was found on the edges than in the apple orchards. Also a preference for either orchards or their sides was indicated for Syrphidae, as they appeared in these biocenoses earlier or later, but not at the same time. A correlation between a mass catch of Syrphidae in the orchards and their edges was found. It was shown that the blooming plants of orchard edges, such as Tilia cordata, Symphoricarpos albus, Cirsium arvense and Galium aparine, could attract Syrphidae imagines to the orchards.

The bionomy and ecology of Aphis craccivora on Robinia pseudoacacia was studied. The number of generations per year was determined, as well the lifespan of a generation and fecundity of the females. For the first time the strategy of development of a dangerous pest has been determined which enables it to spread worldwide. A. craccivora is a cosmopolitan species. It is a polyphagous insect settling on over fifty different plant species across nineteen families. It settles on green plants and trees of the Leguminosae family. It is considered to be one of the most important pests of crops causing great losses to yield. The cowpea aphid adapts to changing environmental conditions, particularly to high temperatures as well as to different host plants. Its adaptation strategies can be seen in its biology, morphology and behaviour. The main adjustment is the production of even up to 15 generations per year, high fecundity, ability to form dwarf morphs, and settling not only green plants but also trees. These features enable this species to expand and adjust to new conditions and new plants.

Clematis is a popular vine with showy flowers therefore there is an increasing interest in growing it for cut flowers. The results of trials – carried out for over a decade – on vase life of 54 clematis taxa are presented. Only 3 cultivars lasted as short as 3 days when kept in water (‘Krakowiak’, ‘Olgae’ and ‘Pink Flamingo’), 7 cultivars had the vase life of 11–12 days (‘Arabella’, ‘Blue Light’, ‘Nina’, ‘Proteus’, ‘Rooguchi’, ‘Silver Moon’ and ‘Solina’) while for most of taxa it ranged between 6 and 8 days. The efficiency of postharvest treatments depended on a taxon and a preservative. Generally, none of the solutions tested significantly prolonged flower vase life, though the standard preservative composed of 8-HQC and sucrose markedly improved flower longevity in 10 cultivars. Clematis flowers should be harvested when fully open and the shoot length does not affect flower longevity. Though the flowers of ‘Julka’ did not produce ethylene in detectable amounts they were sensitive to exogenous C₂H₄ and 24 h conditioning with the inhibitors of ethylene action, STS or 1-MCP, significantly prolonged their longevity. However, this treatment was not completely effective against ethylene as flowers pulsed in ethephon solutions had their vase life decreased relative to flowers untreated with ethylene.

The genus Helleborus belongs to the family Ranunculaceae and comprises about 22 species, which are distributed over different parts of Europe and West Asia. In Poland, only H. purpurascens is native and it occurs in the Western Bieszczady Mountains. Hellebores are popular as ornamental cut flowers and medicinal plants in Europe and the USA. Conventional propagation by seeds or division has a low multiplication rate and is time-consuming. Vegetative propagation is necessary to maintain the desirable characteristic of a particular hellebore cultivar. Although some research on tissue culture of hellebores has been published, effective commercial micropropagation of these species has not been attained because cultivation in vitro is still very difficult. This review presents the progress in Helleborus species propagation in vitro for its commercial production. The efficacy of hellebore micropropagation (initiation and stabilization of culture, multiplication and rooting in vitro and acclimatization ex vitro) has been influenced by several factors, such as: type of initial explants, genotype, growth regulators, and environmental factors (temperature, sucrose, nitrogen salts, phosphorus). The genotype-dependence of multiplication and rooting in vitro, and acclimatization ex vitro of some Helleborus species has been presented.

In terms of turnover value on the global wholesale flower markets, freesia has been for many years in the top ten of cut flowers. Achieving high quality inflorescences in a cultivation center without cooling the substrate is a huge challenge for the producers. The study was conducted in the years 2010–2012, during the summer-autumn season in an unheated foil tunnel. The material consisted of prepared daughter corms of ‘Summer Beach’ variety. Chitosan of 8 000 g∙dm^-3 molecular weight was used in the research. Chitosan application methods (watering or spraying), its concentration (0.0; 0.2 or 0.4%), and application frequency (every 7 or 14 days) were compared experimentally. During the experiment, the number of days from the beginning of sprouting until the end of flowering was determined, and the vegetative and generative organs were evaluated. The yield of daughter corms was assessed after the end of the cultivation. High temperatures prevalent in the time of generative organ formation prolonged the flowering period of ‘Summer Beach’ freesia but the inflorescences were typical and characteristic of the variety. The effect of chitosan depended also on the temperature during the cultivation. Irrespective of chitosan application method, its concentration and frequency of treatment, its presence delayed freesia heading at higher temperatures and accelerated the process at lower temperatures. Chitosan caused an increase in freesia height, number of generated shoots and leaves and leaf greenness index. It positively affected the quality of the resulting inflorescences. However, this effect was concentration and application dependent. Moreover, chitosan increased the ratio of daughter corm formation and total ratio of corm number and mass, and reduced the ratio of daughter corm mass gain.

Plant regeneration through the tissue culture techniques would be a excellent alternative for improving the quality and faster production of Asparagus species. The number of reports on application of biotechnological methods (such as direct organogenesis, indirect organogenesis and somatic embriogenesis) for ornamental asparagus are scarce in comparison to edible asparagus. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of chemical and physical factors on organogenetic response of Asparagus setaceus ‘Pyramidalis’ explants. The results showed that nodes cultured on MS medium supplemented on IAA (1.71 µM) and BA (13.32 µM) gave highest number of shoots per explant (14 – in the fourth passage). Rhizogenesis were achieved on MS medium with IBA (2.45 µM) and ancymidol (2.88 µM). Finally, 90% of rooted shoots (microcuttings) survived. The fastest increase in callus tissue on internodal explants were observed on MS medium with addition of TDZ (9.08 µM) and adenine sulphate (10.86 µM).

Particularly adverse growing conditions are found in urban green areas, where apart from salinity stress plants are exposed to drought stress. For this reason the aim of this study was to determine the effects of negative action and enhanced resistance to substrate salinity caused by increasing doses of NaCl in cultivation of ornamental grasses Koeleria glauca (Spreng.) DC., Sesleria caerulea (L.) Ard. and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. Recorded results will provide a contribution to a preliminary classification of analysed grass species in terms of their tolerance to substrate salinity. Sesleria caerulea and S. nutans may be considered to be halophytes, since they tolerate substrate salinity caused by a dose of 30 g NaCl·dm^-3, losing max. 50% fresh matter of the aboveground parts. At this salinity level neither RWC nor total N content changed in leaves of these grasses in comparison to those of plants not watered with saline solution. It was shown that contents of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in leaves of S. nutans increased under the influence of salinity. Koeleria glauca may be considered a salt-tolerant glycophyte, since a 50% loss of fresh matter of the aboveground parts in this grass was observed at salinity caused by the dose of 10 g NaCl·dm^-3, while it also accumulated much more Na⁺ and Cl^- in leaves than the above-mentioned species.

Virus-infected tulip bulbs produce flowers with virus symptoms what makes cut flowers unmarketable. The aim of the work was to check frequency of virus presence in bulbs intended for forcing and originating both from the Polish farms and imported from The Netherlands. The tests were carried out on four tulip cultivars– ‘Hermitage’, ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Purple Prince’ and ‘Strong Gold’ during four forcing seasons between 2010 and 2013. Bulb samples were tested by DAS-ELISA using antibodies specific for following viruses: Tulip breaking, TBV, Tobacco necrosis, TNV, Lily symptomless, LSV, Cucumber mosaic, CMV, Tobacco rattle, TRV (J and F strains) and Tulip X, TVX. The most frequently detected virus, both in Polish and Dutch bulbs, was TBV (138 positive results among 1,360 tested samples, during four seasons, what means approx. 10 percent). However, TBV was detected predominantly in bulbs originating from the Polish plantations. Other viruses were detected sporadically. Our results lead to the conclusion that the selection done during tulip vegetation on the examinated Polish farms and removal of diseased plants was not effective and chemical protection against aphids as TBV vectors may be insufficient. Consequently, many tulip bulb lots taken from the examined Polish plantations cannot meet the high quality level of Dutch bulbs, in particular in the case of TBV occurrence.

The aim of this study was to assess vase life of leaves harvested at two dates – in the spring and summer, for 3 cultivars of Heuchera L. following the application of benzyladenine in spraying of maternal plants one day prior to leaf harvest. Leaves of cultivar ‘Southern Comfort’ were most durable, while those of cultivar ‘Purple Petticoats’ – least durable. Leaves harvested in summer had a longer vase life, except for leaves of cultivar ‘Plum Royale’. BA (300 and 600 mg·dm^-3) in leaves of cultivar ‘Plum Royale’ improved vase life only in leaves harvested in the summer. BA (100 and 300 mg·dm³) in cultivar ‘Purple Petticoats’ – in leaves harvested in spring, while when used at a concentration of 300 and 600 mg·dm^-3 – in those collected in the summer. BA (100–600 mg·dm^-3) in cultivar ‘Southern Comfort’ considerably improved vase life of leaves cut in the spring and summer. BA inhibited protein degradation. In the tested cultivars in leaves, harvested in the spring and summer, treated with benzyladenine the content of saccharides was higher.

Soybeans serve as one of the most valuable crops in many countries, including Poland, due to the high nutritional value of its seeds, its resistance to diseases and pests. Under the climatic conditions of Poland, soybean yield is largely dependent on weather conditions in a particular growing season, primarily temperature and rainfall. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops (winter rye, winter oilseed rape, and white mustard), mulching method (aboveground biomass mulching after mowing or desiccation) and reduced herbicide rates (down to 75 and 50% of the recommended rate) on soybean seed quality and yield. The present study showed that the weather conditions in the particular study seasons and mulching treatments caused the greatest variation in soybean seed yield and its quality. The highest yield was obtained from control treatments, desiccated winter rye and white mustard. The applied herbicide rates did not cause variations in seed yield and yield component traits. The protein and oil content was affected by the type of the mulch plant used. Mulch with rye and winter rape favors increased protein content, while more oil seed were accumulating after the white mustard and both mulch forms of rape.

This study was conducted in Çanakkale Province, Bayramiç County between 2011 and 2013. The aim of this study was to determine the best rootstock × genotype combination by grafting 14 standard and local sweet cherry genotypes cultivated in Amasya Province on Mazzard, Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 rootstocks with T-budding method. Graftings were conducted on August 15^th in both years. Following the grafting, the average daily temperature and relative humidity values in addition to bud sprout ratios and graft shoot lengths and diameters were examined. The experiment location was suitable for fall T-budding based on obtained climate data. The results of research showed that cherry genotypes and rootstocks had significant effects on bud sprout ratio. The best bud sprout rates among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks were obtained from ‘Kargayüreği’ genotype (100%) and Gisela 6 rootstock (91.4 and 94.5%, respectively) in both year. Graft shoot lengths and diameters showed differences depending on genotypes and rootstocks. Among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks, the best graft shoot length were obtained from ’Kargayüreği’ genotype and Gisela 5 rootstock in both year. The highest graft shoot diameter values among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks were obtained from ‘Bing’ genotype and Gisela 5 rootstock in both years. As a result, it was shown that the 14 sweet cherry genotypes cultivated in Amasya can be successfully grafted on Mazzard, Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 cherry rootstocks and that 1^st and 2^nd class sweet cherry saplings can be produced.

This study was carried out during 2012 in oil rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) production areas in Burdur province of Turkey. A total of 102 oil rose leaf samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected from 8 different locations. All oil rose leaf samples were tested for Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) using commercially available DAS-ELISA kit with negative and positive control. 16 samples of 102 were found to be infected with PNRSV (16%). DAS-ELISA positive samples were later inoculated onto Cucumis sativus L. cv. Cemre F1, Chenopodium quinoa Wild. and Catharanthus roseus L.G. Don. Inoculation with extracts from PNRSV-positive plants produced chlorotic local lesions on Chenopodium quinoa Wild. The symptoms was not observed on Cucumis sativus L. cv. Cemre F1 and Catharanthus roseus L.G. Don. Total RNA was extracted from leaves of oil rose samples which were positive in the DAS-ELISA and PNRSV- inoculated Chenopodium quinoa Wild. plants. Total RNA was isolated from EZ-10 spin column plant total RNA minipreps kit (Bio Basic, Canada Inc). Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using PNRSV specific primers as described by Rosner (15). The expected fragment size of 785 bp was observed after electrophoresis of PCR products in 1% agarose gel. RNA isolated from healthy Chenopodium quinoa Wild. was used as a negative control. No PCR products were amplified from this sample.

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. (Basidiomycota) – known as the oyster mushroom – is a mushroom species distributed on all continents, except for Antarctica. Since World War I it has been commercially cultivated on a large scale. Pleurotus ostreatus is a valuable mushroom of dietary importance. It is rich in primary and secondary metabolites and chemical elements of physiological significance. One hundred grams of fresh fruiting bodies contains 15% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, 40% of niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin, and 0.5 mg of vitamin B_12. This species is also characterized by a high content of oleic acid (40%), linolenic acid (55%), and substances responsible for decreasing serum cholesterol levels. High contents of lovastatin, an approved hypolipidemic drug, and pleuran, an immunomodulating polysaccharide, have been found in fruiting bodies of this species. It exhibits antiatherosclerotic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. Due to its wide spectrum of biological activities, P. ostreatus is considered a medicinal mushroom. Fruiting bodies and extracts of P. ostreatus have found applications in the treatment of civilization – related diseases, especially diabetes, arteriosclerosis and cancer. It is also a potential source of active ingredients in cosmetics and topically applied preparations.

This paper shows the results of many years researches of the weed vegetation of vineyards in western Balkan which includes eight associations: Panico-Galinsogetum parviflorae Tüxen et Becker 1942, Panico-Portulacetum oleraceae Lozanovski 1962, Cynodono-Sorghetum halepensae (Laban 1974) Kojić 1979, Amarantho-Fumarietum Tüxen 1955, Diplotaxietum muralis Kovačević 2013, Convolvulo-Polygonetum aviculare Kovačević 2014, Erigerono-Setarietum glaucae Šumatić 1997 and Convolvulo-Agropyretum repentis Felföldy 1943. By projecting the plant communities on the main components (Principal Component Analysis) and comparing them to the ecological indices (variables), it shows that Cynodono-Sorghetum halepensae and Diplotaxietum muralis are similar according to their humidity (F) and temperature (T) requirements and Cynodono-Sorghetum halepensae and Diplotaxietum muralis are similar according to their chemical reaction of the soil (R). Amarantho-Fumarietum and Erigerono-Setarietum glaucae are the similar according to their demands for the light (L).