Plants of honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium L.) from commercial nursery, showing stunted growth and severe leaf and flower malformation were found to be naturally infected with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). The virus was identified on the basis of its host range and in vitro and serological properties. It was mechanically transmitted onto therteen herbaceous test plants and induced local or local and systemic symptoms. The isolated virus had a TIP of 65–70°C, a LIV of 4–5 h and DEP of 10^-4–10^-5. It reacted positively in DAS-ELISA with CMV-ToRS (II) commercial antibodies but not with antibodies against CMV-DTL (I). Rabbit antiserum was produced, and it showed the titre at least 128 000 in F(ab’)₂-ELISA with homologous isolate, as well as with isolate CMV-M belonging to serogroup DTL.

Abstarct. The influence of biopreparations Bioczos SL, Biosept 33 SL, Biochikol 020 PC, Propolis and synthetic fungicides Euparen Multi 50 WG, Horizon 250 EW and Teldor 500 SC was examined on the growth of micorrhizal fungus Oidiodendron sp. Fungicides were added to PDA medium at the following concentrations: recommended dose, 5-times lower than the recommended and 5-times higher than the recommended. The synthetic fungicides were more toxic to Oidiodendron sp. than biopreparations. On the medium containing Horizon 250 EW fungus did not growth. The greather part of biopreparations inhibited growth of Oidiodendron sp. but only Bioczos SL and Propolis in dose 5-times higher than the recommended, toataly inhibited growth of fungus colonies.

The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of autumn infestation of leaves for apple cultivars (McIntosh, Idared, Jonagold) on the occurrence of conidia of Venturia inaequalis on twigs. It was found that high infestation of apple leaves in autumn is advantageous to conidia overwintering on twigs. Loosely spread hyphae and conidial spores were more frequently observed on twigs in an orchard where no chemical control was employed. The largest amount of conidial spores was recorded on twigs of unprotected McIntosh apple trees as a result of high infestation of leaves in later autumn. A considerably lower amount of conidia was recorded on twigs of Jonagold apple trees. In orchards under chemical control the conidia wintering occurs less frequently and only if leaves were highly infested in the autumn.

The aim of the study was to determine the causes of dying down of sprout and needles of Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) and its cultivar ‘Glauca’ in the park collection of the Botanic Garden of Jagiellonian University in Cracow. For several years, the disease symptoms described in the article have led to the loss of decorative values of these trees. The study was conducted in the years 2002 and 2003 by means of the control of plant healthfulness, phytopathological diagnostics, isolation of microorganisms from tissues exhibiting diseases symptoms, as well as the culture and identification of the isolated fungi. Both, the control of tree healthfulness, and specialized laboratory techniques proved that the symptoms diagnosed in plants had an infectious character, and that the fungi might be the main causing agents. The analysis of the fungal populations isolated from the affected tissues indicates the combined occurrence of fungi in tissues of the studied plants and the domination of the following species: Alternaria consortiale, Aureobasidium pullulans, Penicillium canescens, Phoma pomorum, Ulocladium consortiale, Zythiostroma pinastri.

As a result of the mycological analysis of vervein seeds, 17 fungi species were identified. They included typical saprobiotic ones, namely Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichothecium and pathogens such as Altenaria, Botrytis, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia. Fungi frome the genera Altenaria, Fusarium and Botrytis cinerea constituted the highest proportion. In in vitro study the following fungi were the most pathogenic towards vervein seedlings: A. alternata, F. oxysporum, F. culmorum, B. cinerea and R. solani. The results showed that in vitro conditions the growth and development of A. alternata and F.  oxysporum were most effectively inhibited by Zaprawa Funaben T and Captan suspension, whereas Topsin M was much less effective and in the case of fungus A. alternata it even stimulated the development of mycelium.

In 1998–2001, 2025 trees-of-heaven were recorded in 647 locations in Wrocław, Lower Silesia, Poland. They grew in a variety of habitats. Most were found in low- or high-density residential areas, commercial areas, and in city’s parks. These habitats were moderately to highly transformed and classified as euhemerobic, mainly β-euhemerobic. The mean level of their hemeroby was 61. This is probably an optimum level of hemeroby for tree-of-heaven growing in the urban environment. Because the highest concentration of the locations, where tree-of-heaven grows, was found in densely developed areas of the urban thermal island, it is considered a thermophilic species adapted to urban conditions. Tree-of-heaven spreads largely spontaneously. It is a pioneer species colonising habitats unsuitable for other trees. Therefore, it is recommended for planting in urban areas, especially those situated in western Poland.

The studies conducted in a growth chamber observed the protective effect of biopreparations such as Biosept 33 SL, Biochikol 020 PC and Polyversum, used as seed dressing for common bean and pea. The fungicide Zaprawa Oxafun T was used as a comparison, while the seeds that were not dressed constituted the control. The studied plants grew in the medium grown over with different species of fungi pathogenic towards pea and common bean. Irrespective of the species, the fewest plants, with the greatest proportion of infected ones, were obtained in control combinations. The application of biopreparations and the fungicide turned out to be an effective protection of pea and common bean from the infection by the examined phytopathogens. Biosept 33 SL in the concentration of 0.2% showed to have the best effect among the tested biopreparations.

The experiment was conducted in the years 1999–2001. The object of the studies was the rhizosphere soil of soybean ‘Polan’ cv., and 0.1% chitosan. This compound was used once (seed dressing), twice (seed dressing and seedling spraying), three times (seed dressing, seedling spraying and plant spraying at anthesis). The experiment also considered a control combination, i.e. without chitosan. The purpose of the studies was to determine the effect of chitosan on the qualitative and quantitative composition of microorganisms in rhizosphere soil with antagonists distinguished. The microbiological analysis of samples of soybean rhizosphere soil taken from particular experimental combinations pointed to different numbers of bacteria and fungi. The greatest total number of bacteria colonies and the smallest number of fungi colonies were characteristic of the rhizosphere soil of soybean after using chitosan three times. This sample of soil contained the greatest number of bacteria and fungi with antagonistic effect towards plant pathogens.

Corms of Sparaxis tricolor were planted in the second 10 days period: from 20^th April to 20^th May, on three depths: 4 cm, 6 cm and 8 cm. The largest number of descendant corms and fresh matter of total and commercial yield was obtained from corms planted in the field on 20^th April. Retarding of planting date influenced dispersion of the total yield of offspring corms. The largest number of corms produced in corners of leaves was obtained in the second 10 days’ period of April. Depth of planting did not influence the total yield of corms. Plants from earlier terms produced, more descendant corms at the depth of 4 cm, while these from May dates more descendant corms produced at growing depth 8 cm.

The object of a field experiment conducted in the years 2003–2004 was the rhizosphere soil of soybean ‘Mazowia’ cv. Before the sowing, the seeds were dressed with biopreparations (Biochikol 020 PC, Biosept 33 SL, Polyversum) or fungicide (Oxafun T). The non-dressed seeds constituted the control. The microbiological analysis of the rhizosphere soil of soybean, carried out at anthesis, showed that the greatest number of bacteria in total and bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. occurred after the application of Biochikol 020 PC, while the lowest occurred in the control combination. The smallest number of fungi was observed after the application of Biochikol 020 PC or Oxafun T, slightly bigger after the introduction of Biosept 33 SL or Polyversum into the soil, while the biggest in the control combination. Fungi from the genera of Alternaria, Fusarium, Pythium and Gliocladium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma were most frequently isolated from the rhizosphere of soybean. After the application of biopreparations the proportion of pathogenic fungi in the rhizosphere of soybean was much smaller than in the control. The highest proportion of Gliocladium spp. occurred after the application of Polyversum or Biochikol 020 PC, while that of Trichoderma spp. after the introduction of Biochikol 020 PC or Biosept 33 SL. Besides, tests on dishes showed that the biopreparations and the fungicide used in the experiment contributed to increased numbers of antagonistic bacteria (Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) and fungi (Gliocladium spp. and Trichoderma spp.).

Cut leaves of Zantedeschia aethiopica Spr. and Hosta ‘Undulata Erromena’ are widely used as the florists’ green. Effect of pulsing leaves with growth regulators and a storage method (dry or wet, in light or darkness, at 5°C) on postharvest longevity and chlorophyll content was investigated. Leaf vase life after 3 days storage was evaluated at 20°C and 12 h light/12 h night. Results confirmed that a dry and dark storage of Zantedeschia leaves negatively affected their decorative values while for Hosta foliage a dry storage was improper both in darkness and in light. Negative effects of storage conditions could – at least partly – be alleviated by a 24 h puls conditioning with gibberellic acid or benzyladenine for Zantedeschia and Hosta, respectively. In Zantedeschia the pulsed leaves cold stored in darkness had their vase life seven-fold that of non pulsed leaves. In Hosta pulsing leaves with BA prior to storage increased their vase life six times relative to untreated leaves, however, the cytokinin did not completely overcome a negative effect of dry storage. Positive action of both growth regulators was reflected in the leaf higher chlorophyll contents at all sampling dates.

The study were carried out in the years 1996–1998 on the soil characterized as a good rye complex. The experiment was set according to the method of randomized sub blocks at 3 replications. The four following factors were examined: 1) cultivation technologies: a) conventional technology – control, b) with polyethylene sheeting, c) with polypropylene sheeting, d) with double shield of polypropylene and polyethylene sheeting; 2) methods of weed control of potato: a) mechanical, b) with Afalon, c) with Racer, d) with herbicide mixture Afalon + Command; 3) potato cultivars: Aster and Drop; 4) harvest terms: a) 60 days after planting, b) 75 days after planting, c) harvest at full maturity. Coverage application at potato cultivation, as compared to traditional one, contributed to the decrease of dry mass and the increase of starch, total sugars, reducing sugars and sacharose in the potato tubers.

The consequent effect of growth retardants: paclobutrazol – 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 mg l^-1, flurprimidol – 0.1, 1, 5 mg l^-1, chlorocholine chloride (CCC) –5, 50 mg l^-1 on the growth and development of Tibouchina urvilleana Cogn. in vitro was examined. Paclobutrazol at concentration of 1 or 5 mg l^-1 and flurprimidol at 5 mg l^-1 inhibited the growth of shoots significantly. It was noted that shoots originating from these media had thicker, straighter stems and shorter internodes. The stimulating influence of CCC at 5 mg l^-1 on the elongation of the main shoot was observed. Axillary shoots formation was the best when shoots were derived from the medium supplemented with flurprimidol 1 mg l^-1. Paclobutrazol at 0.5 and 1 mg l^-1 and flurprimidol at 5 mg l^-1 influenced the formation and fresh weight of roots increase, but flurprimidol was more effective. Growth retardants (except paclobutrazol at 5 mg l^-1) applied in the earlier passage stimulated elongation of roots.

Observations on the aphid number were carried out in the years 2001–2003, simultaneously in four different sites. In each of these three shrubs were marked: of park rose ‘Grandhotel’, rugosa rose, multiflorous rose and five shrubs of border roses of various cultivars. The purpose of these study was to conduct a quantitative analysis of the aphid fauna colonizing roses growing in various types of city green areas. As a result of studies conducted the occurrence of 10 aphid species was found out on the analyzed shrubs. No significant differences were observed in the species composition of aphids colonizing roses growing in various types of city green areas. The studies showed significant differences in the aphid number between the analyzed sites. The road and street sites on the one hand and the road and housing estate ones on the other were most similar regarding the number of aphids.