The presented paper deals with monitoring of the ways of selenium (Se) content increase by foliar biofortification with inorganic Se in two varieties of garden pea Pisum sativum L. (Premium, Ambassador) in the conditions of south Slovakia in 2014–2015. The results of experiments show that treatment of plants with two doses of Se concentration (50 g and 100 g Se ha^–1 in the form of a sodium selenate anhydrous solution) at the flowering stage significantly increased the total Se content in the seeds of both varieties. Following the results by the consumption of 25 g of dried seeds of peas or 100 g of fresh pea seeds after the biofortification with 100 g Se ha^–1 a recommended daily dose of Se in humans may be covered. The significantly positive influence of Se application on the total polyphenols content (TPC) has been confirmed in the both varieties after application of dosage in 100 g Se ha^–1 (52% and 33%). A significant increase in the average value of total antioxidant capacity (TAC by DPPH method) in garden pea var. Ambassador was observed after the application of both doses of Se, in case of Premium variety only after application with a 100 g Se ha^–1. Significantly increasing level of TAC by PCL (photochemiluminescence) method was found out only in case of var. Premium.

Drought stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses that cause reduction in plant growth, development and yield in many parts of the world. The plants have developed different morphological, physiological and biochemical mechanisms to withstand drought stress. The present study investigated different levels (S1: 100% of field capacity – Control; S2: 50% of field capacity –moderate stress; S3: 0% of field capacitysevere stress) of drought stress on oxidative damages and variations in antioxidants in the two tomato genotypes Tom-163 (drought-sensitive), Tom-143 (drought-tolerant) to elucidate the antioxidative protective mechanism governing differential drought tolerance. The shoot fresh weight, shoot height, leaf number and area, relative water content (RWC) were reduced with different level of drought stress. However, this reduction clearly occurred in Tom-163 (sensitive). Antioxidative enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutation reductase had a greater increase in tolerant genotypes (Tom-143) than in sensitive ones (Tom-163). The level of lipid peroxidation was measured by estimating malondialdehyde content. Lipid peroxidation increased with rising drought level in both genotypes although Tom-143 was the least affected when compared with the Tom-163. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents increased in tomato genotypes under S2 and S3 conditions. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were attained in Tom-143 subjected to S3 treatment. These results indicated that antioxidant defense systems, osmolytes and secondary metabolites play important roles in tomato during drought stress.

The influence of chelated iron (0, 250 and 500 mg· L^–1 as Fe-EDDHA 6%) and silicon (0, 2, 4 mmol· L^–1 as K2SiO3) on the yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Strain B cultivar, were investigated under semi-arid conditions in Ras Sudr region, Egypt, in years 2013–2014. A significant influence of chelated iron and silicon applications on tomato growth, yield and quality were observed. The highest plant growth, leaf mineral contents (N, P and K), vitamin C and Ca contents in fruit, fruit firmness, early and total yield were observed in plants which treated with 500 mg· L^–1 chelated iron and 2 and 4 mmol· L^–1 silicon. Meanwhile, these treatments decreased the proline content of leaves and T.S.S content of fruit.

The influence of leaf blanching with black polyethylene non-woven (PP) or white and black polypropylene foil (PE) used as soil mulching and blanching of leaves on yield, usefulness and biological value of cardoon leaf petioles were evaluated in the presented work. The effect of blanching duration of petioles (30, 25 and 10 days before leaves’ harvest) on the content of bioactive compounds was also estimated. The aim of the research was to evaluate the total yield of leaves, yield structure, dry weight, content of crude fibre, total sugars, L-ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, phenolic acids in conversion to caffeic acid, total flavonoides and DPPH activity in leaf petioles depending on the method and duration of leaves blanching. The content of apigenin, chlorogenic acid and cynarin in leaf petioles were marked with HPLC. Petioles of non blanched plants showed more dry weight and contained more L-ascorbic acid, chlorphyll, total phenolic acids and flavonoides than the uncovered ones. As a tendency it was observed that together with lengthening the blanching time from 10 to 30 days before harvest, the level of dry weight, crude fibre, total sugars, L-ascorbic acid and chlorophyll decreased. A reverse relationship was observed related to the blanching duration, as extending the time from 10 to 30 days before harvest, the content of total phenolic acids increased from 0.144 to 0.155% of fresh weight, while the content of flavonoides decreased from 0.662 to 0.352% of fresh weight. Lengthening blanching from 10 to 30 days before harvest of leaves decreased the content of apigenin and cynarin in petioles while increased the content of chlorogenic acid. The antioxidant activity DPPH did not depend on the method and duration of blanching. Unusual nutritional and medicinal benefits of cardoon petioles come from its rich and valuable chemical composition.

Optimization of the process of biotransformation of hydroquinone into its β-D-glucoside – arbutin, was performed in agitated shoot cultures of Schisandra chinensis. The optimisation involved testing various concentrations of the precursor and different ways of administering it. Arbutin was accumulated mainly in the in vitro cultured biomass (85.2–98.6%). By optimizing the process, a 2.26-fold increase in the overall product content was obtained. The highest amount (17.8 mg· g^–1 DW) was found after administering 384 mg· l^–1 hydroquinone in a dose divided into two portions. An experiment with the biotransformation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid did not produce arbutin but a mixture of two products of glucosylation of the precursor – hydroxybenzoic acid 4-O-β-glucopyranoside and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid β-glucopyranosyl ester. The identity of all biotransformation products was confirmed by ¹H-NMR analysis. The results for the production of arbutin by the biotransformation of hydroquinone are of potential practical importance. On the other hand, the fact of confirming the presence of two glucosylation products has a great cognitive value.

The chemical composition and activity of herbal raw material depend, among others, on ontogenetic variability. The present study investigated the effect of harvest date of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) herb and plant age on fresh and dry herb yield as well as on the content of L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, chlorophylls, essential oil, flavonoids and tannins. S. montana herb from a oneand two-year-old plantation was harvested in June (vegetative stage), July (beginning of flowering), August (full flowering) and September (senescent plants). As the plants progressed to the successive growth stages, they were characterized by a higher fresh and dry herb yield. Two-year-old plants produced a significantly higher fresh and dry herb yield compared to one-year-old plants. The herb harvested before flowering contained most L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids and tannins, whereas the herb harvested at full flowering – most chlorophylls, essential oil and flavonoids. Two-year-old plants accumulated in the herb more L-ascorbic acid, chlorophylls and essential oil than one-year-old plants.

Climate change as a global phenomenon manifested mainly through global warming and water scarcity in the world. Using of native drought resistant plants in the urban landscape of arid and semi-arid regions can help water resources management. We conducted an experiment to investigate drought resistance of a native plant (Nitraria schoberi) in Iran by three irrigation intervals (each 2, 4 and 6 days). Data collection was performed in three stages. Our results indicated that irrigation intervals did not affect significantly the chlorophyll a and b content and ratio of chlorophyll a/b. Generally with increasing in irrigation intervals, carotenoid, proline and sugar content and also RWC were increased in during experiment. It is concluded that due to increase of proline and sugar content with increasing of irrigation interval, Nitraria schoberi is a drought tolerant plant which can be used in urban landscape of arid and semi-arid regions.

Xeriscaping focus on the use of drought tolerant species of plants for environmental sustainability leading to the conservation of natural resources. We need to look for drought tolerant, water efficient plant species. Present research was aimed to assess the water use efficiency of Leucophyllum frutescens (silvery) for its adaptability and potential as xerophyte. In this study, seven treatments were applied were 100% field capacity was considered as control while 85%, 70%, 55%, 40%, 25% and 5% field capacities were taken as different drought levels. Effect of drought commenced at 40% field capacity and lower drought treatments as decrease in shoot and root fresh and dry weight, root length, leaf area and leaf area index and leaf firing percentage increased with severity of drought compared to 100% field capacity. Physiological parameters including water use efficiency (A/E), leaf water potential ( leaf), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis rate, cell membrane stability and total chlorophyll contents proved that this plant species can tolerate severe drought conditions. Positive correlation was found among most of the attributes but leaf temperature was negatively correlated with leaf water potential, photosynthesis rate, cell membrane stability, and chlorophyll contents. Moreover, regression analysis between various morphological and physiological attributes showed the predictive power of the model yielding significant results for leaf area and cell membrane stability (R² = 0.74), root length and photosynthesis rate (R² = 0.65), leaf temperature and chlorophyll contents (R² = 0.43) and leaf area and leaf water potential ( leaf) (R² = 0.93).

Exogenous gibberellins GA3 and GA4+7 treatments on ‘English Morello’ sour cherry trees 58 days after anthesis were evaluated in relation to their effect on fruit firmness, size distribution, colour development, titratable acidity to firmness ratio, yield, efficiency indices as well as leaf fall senescence. Moreover in the season following the applications their effect on flower bud characteristics including frost hardiness, fruit set and fruit drop, were examined. Foliar GA3 treatment had the most positive effect on ‘English Morello’ fruit size in the year of application and in the following season. GA4+7 treatment in the first experimental year increased sour cherry fruit firmness. Both GA3 and GA4+7 delayed leaf senescence process in the autumn. GA3 application had a positive effect on flower buds survival in comparison to control trees after frost occurred in spring. No GAs subsequent effect on next year fruit set and yield compared to control was found.

The aim of this research has been to analyse the effect of a cultivation system on the content of minerals in carrot roots. Roots of two carrot cultivars (Koral and Bolero) grown in organic plantations and plantations maintained according to integrated agriculture guidelines were chosen for the study. The thermal and moisture conditions differentiated the content of macroand microelements more than the cultivation system or genotype specific traits of the cultivars did. In general, a significantly higher content of the analysed minerals was observed in the first year of the experiment. Carrot grown in the integrated system contained higher amounts of N and Mg as well as Cu, Zn and Mn, while organic carrot roots had more P, Fe and Pb. The late cv. Koral contained significantly more P as well as Mg and Cu, Zn and Pb, while the cultivar Bolero was richer in N. With respect to the other elements, no differences were determined between the cultivars. After storage, the content of N in roots of both cultivars decreased, while the levels of the other macronutrients was higher. Larger changes in the content of N, Na, Mg and Ca were detected in roots of the carrot from organic plantations, while P and K differed more in carrot roots from the integrated system.

A condition for achieving a high potato tuber yield on an early harvest is to provide plants with good growth conditions. In modern horticulture, plant growth stimulants have been gaining increasing importance. This study examined the effect of dose (0.2 dm³ ha^–1 or 0.4 dm³ ha^–1) and date (leaf development stage – BBCH 14-16, tuber formation stage – BBCH 41-43, leaf development stage and tuber formation stage) of Tytanit^® application (8.5 g Ti in 1 dm³) on the growth of very early-maturing potato cultivars (‘Lord’, ‘Miłek’). Following the Tytanit^® application, the plants were higher and produced a greater aboveground biomass and tuber weight, however, the leaf weight ratio (LWR) and leaf area ratio (LAR) were lower than in the cultivation without the growth stimulant. Tytanit^® had a greater effect on the leaf weight ratio (LAR) and tuber weight for the ‘Lord’ cultivar. Tytanit^® dose had no effect on the plant growth. A double Tytanit^® application resulted in a reduction in the length and weight of stems and tuber weight. The date of Tytanit^® application had no effect on the weight of leaves. The leaf area ratio (LAR) was the highest when Tytanit^® was only applied in the tuber formation stage, and the leaf weight ratio (LWR) was the highest when Tytanit^® was applied twice. A positive correlation was found between the tuber weight and the LWR and LAR.

The experiment assess the effectiveness of two mineral oils: Sunspray 850 EC (85% mineral oil) and Sunspray Ultra-Fine (98.8% mineral oil) on tulip ‘Leen van der Mark’ fields. Tulip plants were sprayed once a week for three weeks. Mineral oils were applied at concentrations of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%. The oil preparations did not negatively affect the length of flower shoot and tepals of tulips grown in field. No phytotoxic symptoms were observed on leaves, however their color was altered. In all combinations protected using oils, the number of plants with virus symptoms on petals was lower than for control. No decrease in the commercial and the first choice bulb yields due to the mineral oils application were recorded. Mineral oils applied at concentration up to 2.0% had no negative contribution on the quality of produced tulip flowers. Despite of the selection made in the field, from 60 to 73% plants showed virus symptoms in control combination during plant forcing. Efficiency of oils in reducing the spread of viruses depended on the year of study and oil type. The best effects were achieved using Sunspray 850 EC at 1.5% concentration (26% virus-infected plants). The oil preparations, despite of high efficiency in reducing the virus spread, did not guarantee a full protection in the field in any year of study.

The genetic diversity was investigated among two chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum Ramat./Kitam.) cultivars ‘Lady Salmon’ and ‘Lady Vitroflora’ and its 15 lines of plants derived from somatic embryos in using ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. All primers gave 108 bands with 1218 products from 148.65 to 4391.20 bp in size. The average number of bands per primer was 10.8. Most fragments (54; 50%) were polymorphic, 9 (0.8%) specific and others (45; 49.2%) were monomorphic. Cluster analysis grouped all the cultivars and their lines into two main clusters and two subclusters. Most genetic diversity was characteristic for LS2 lines of plants derived via somatic embryogenesis from cultivar ‘Lady Salmon’. All lines were different from each other and from the original cultivar propagated by meristematic explants. RAPD markers are a helpful tool to detect the genetic diversity of chrysanthemum plants derived via somatic embryogenesis (SE). Our result will provide useful information for production laboratory and for breeding programmes.

The cultivation system with cover crops as living mulches is growing in importance in the worldwide agriculture as it combines an economical effect with pro-ecological and soil protecting activities. The plant species tested in the research were not frost resistant: buckwheat, millet, white mustard and berseem clover. A control were the plots without cover crops. The intercrops were sown in the first decade of August, in autumn a grown biomass was a living mulch, and after being damaged by frost in spring, the mulch was covering ground surface. Winter garlic bulbs were planted in grown biomass of cover plants, in the first decade of September. In the first decade of November and in the first decade of April, the selected soil parameters were determined in the soil layer of 0–10 cm: actual soil moisture (%), soil bulk density (Mg · m^–3), total porosity (%) and water stability of soil aggregates (%). The harvest of garlic was conducted in the first decade of July. Cover crops mulches had an influence on soil physical properties. In spring, the soil from plots with cover crops mulching characterized with the highest moisture, higher total porosity and soil aggregates stability as well as lower soil bulk density. In comparison to the control cultivation of winter garlic, without cover crops, the effect of plants used for mulching on marketable yield was not observed. Garlic plants intercropped with the white mustard mulch formed leaves and bulbs of higher weight in comparison to cultivation without cover crops.

There were tested and screened, in vitro, nine plant extracts manufactured by Hofigal S.A., against Fusarium oxysporum (strain Fo 18) isolated from blackcurrant plants (Ribes nigrum L.). The highest in vitro activity (efficacy 78.6%) was recorded for Allium sativum extract, followed by Satureja hortensis and Valeriana officinalis extracts (71.4% efficacy), at 20% concentration. A good inhibitory activity on mycelial growth has been observed for Mentha sp., Rosmarinus officinalis, Hyssopus officinalis and Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’ (62.8%, 58.6%, 57.1% and, respectively, 50% efficacy). Achillea millefolium extract had no effect on radial growth of F. oxysporum isolate. This report is the first in Romania regarding the in vitro antifungal activity of some plant extracts on F. oxysporum in blackcurrant. These data are very useful for plant protection practice, particularly for medicinal plants, as blackcurrant, which demands for non pollutant and environmental friendly alternative methods to fungicides. Locally plant extracts could have important roles in sustainable based management strategies of Fusarium disease in blackcurrant.

Phenolic compounds are naturally occurring substances in plants. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to the family Lamiaceae, is a good source of phenolic compounds and natural antioxidants. Elicitors can activate specific genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Chitosan, as elicitor, is a natural biopolymer modified from chitin, which is the main structural component of squid pens, cell walls of some fungi and shrimp and crab shells. On the other hand, water deficit stress is one of the most abiotic stress, which effects on the levels of secondary metabolites. To evaluate the effect of chitosan and different irrigation regimes on essential oil yield, total phenol content and antioxidant activity of extracts from green and purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), an experiment was conducted at Shahrekord, southwestern Iran. Treatments comprised control, 0.0, 0.2, and 0.4 g· L^–1 chitosan applied to plants under normal irrigation, slight and mild drought stress conditions. Results indicated that the different levels of chitosan and irrigation had significant effects on the essential oil yield, total phenol content, and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. Foliar-applied chitosan in particular 0.4 g· L^–1 increased total phenolic content in the basil as compared to untreated plants. In conclusion, it is suggested that the foliar application of chitosan as an elicitor could be a promising material used to increase biological activity and pro-health functional value of basil plants.

The pericarp of common bean Phaseoli Pericarpium syn. Fructus Phaseoli sine semine, is a medicinal raw material that has been long used in traditional folk medicine as an antidiabetic drug and now it is a pharmacopoeial material that belongs to one of the most frequently used plant raw materials that support treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological characteristics of Phaseoli Pericarpium of over a dozen bean cultivars and to determine the content of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant properties of pericarp extracts. Bean pericarp used for phytochemical analysis came from field experiments conducted over the period 2010–2011. The experimental material consisted of white-flowered varieties of common bean – 5 cultivars and of runner bean – 6 cultivars. The bean pericarp, Phaseoli Pericarpium, was characterized by a high content of secondary metabolites: phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins, whereas the pericarp extracts also exhibited antioxidant activity in scavenging DPPH. The pericarp of common bean was found to show high variation (V – 40.8%) in phenolic acid content, whereas the runner bean pericarp was characterized by high variation V (45.1%) in flavonoid content. Among the common bean cultivars studied, the pericarp of cv. ‘Laponia’ showed the greatest accumulation of biologically active substances – phenolic acids (CAE) – 0.18 mg· g^–1 DM, flavonoids (QE) – 13.2 mg· 100 g^–1 DM, and tannins 3.43% DM. Likewise, the pericarp of the ‘Felicja’ runner bean cultivar stood out in terms of the accumulation of these compounds, as it contained the following amounts: phenolic acids – 0.33 mg· g^–1 DM, flavonoids (QE) – 10.8 mg· 100 g^–1 DM, and tannins – 2.72% DM.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an important crop due to its cultivation as staple food for millions of small farmers as well as for poor people in Latin America, Asia, Africa and in many other parts of the world. This tuberous crop is susceptible to drought stress especially during the period of crop establishment as well as vine development and tuber initiation. Yield of the crop vary widely among farmers due to improper planting systems. This current study was aimed to investigate the influence of various irrigation intervals and planting systems on vegetative growth, storage root yield and quality of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) cv. ‘White star’ under field conditions. Three irrigation intervals (7, 14 and 21 days for summer crop, and 14, 28 and 42 days for winter crop) and two planting systems (bed planting and ridge planting) were adopted in this study. Vine length, number of branches and average leaf area significantly reduced as the irrigation interval was increased. Ridge planting produced longer vines with greater leaf area in winter crop as compared to bed planting. Yield parameters (storage root length, storage root diameter, number and fresh weight of marketable roots per plant) were directly linked with vegetative growth especially in summer crop. Under water stress conditions, as vegetative growth decreased storage root yield was also reduced. However, yield attributes were not affected by the planting systems. Vitamin C content decreased with water stress, whereas total soluble solids (TSS) and leaf proline content significantly increased with water stress in summer crop. Ridge planting also resulted in increased leaf proline content in summer crop. It is concluded that for attaining good vegetative growth and storage root yield, sweet potato should be irrigated at an interval of 7 days during summer and 14 days during winter crop and planted on ridges.