The experiment was established at private apricot orchard near Cacak (Western Serbia) during 2010 and 2011. In the present study we wanted to determine the physico-chemical attributes, phenolics content and antioxidant capacity of three new Serbian cultivars (‘Aleksandar’, ‘Biljana’, ‘Vera’) grafted on Myrobalan seedlings. Results indicated that physico-chemical attributes significantly varied among cultivars. Similarly, total phenolics and flavonoids content and antioxidant capacity significantly depend on the cultivars. Generally, new Serbian cultivars had better properties evaluated than control (‘Hungarian Best’), except stone weight, fruit firmness, moisture and total phenolics content. The highest values of total phenolics and flavonoids content were found in ‘Aleksandar’, whereas the highest antioxidant capacity was recorded in ‘Vera’. Finally, new Serbian cultivars could be recommended for planting in similar conditions and apricot growing programs.

A 3-year study was done to compare the blossoming and harvesting date, fruit physical and chemical composition of six nectarine cultivars grown with High Density Planting system under western Serbian conditions. A high variability among and within cultivars was found and significant differences were observed among them in all properties analyzed. Year-by-year variations were observed for blossoming and harvesting date, length of fruit growth, soluble solids content, fruit weight and fruit firmness. On the basis of evaluated data, the best fruit performance registered in ‘Caldesi 2000’ and ‘Syrio’ grown with HDP on heavy soil. Contrary, the poor fruit physico-chemical properties were observed in ‘Mayfire’, especially in ‘Nectared 4’. This evaluation may help to select a set of nectarine cultivars with better fruit quality attributes, which in our growing conditions might be indicated in ‘Caldesi 2000’, ‘Syrio’, somewhat ‘Weinberger’ and ‘Fantasia’.

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. macrocarpum) is a valuable vegetable from the Solanaceae family. The increased interest in open field pepper cultivation results from higher demand for this vegetable of the processing industry. Preservation and freezing are the main directions of pepper processing. Due to a long growing period and high thermal requirements of this species, a based problem in open field pepper cultivation in Poland is to obtain the largest possible amount of fully red fruits. The present study, conducted during the period 2009–2010, evaluated quantity and quality yield of several sweet pepper cultivars that are currently most frequently grown in the Lublin region for the processing industry. Fruits were picked in a single harvest. The present study determined marketable yield and its structure, depending on the fruit colour stages, as well as basic technological traits of fruits such as fruit weight, pericarp thickness, share of placenta in fruit weight, and technological yield. ‘Socrates F₁’, ‘King Arthur F₁’, and ‘Red Knight F₁’ were the most productive cultivars. The highest red fruit yield was obtained in the cultivars ‘King Arthur F₁’ and ‘Red Knight F₁’, and they also produced the largest fruits. Red fruits accounted for 50.8% of marketable yield, on average, for the cultivars compared. Among the domestic cultivars, ‘Caryca F₁’ was distinguished by a thick pericarp and a high share of placenta in fruit weight. Technological yield of fruits of the evaluated cultivars was in the range of 83.5–91.7%.

Chlorine plays important role in physiological and biochemical processes in plants. It effects significantly on biological value of yield. In Experiment I (2004–2005) the levels of 15, 30, 60, and 90 mg Cl·dm^-3 but in Experiment II (2006) the levels of 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg Cl·dm^-3 in the nutrient solutions on the nutrient contents and some chemical parameters of fruits of greenhouse tomato cv. ‘Grace’ grown in rockwool were studied. It was found, that increased chloride contents in the nutrient solutions increased the content of chlorine in the fruits. Increasing contents of chloride in the nutrient solution at the range of 90 to 120 mg Cl·dm^-3 decreased the nitrogen and increased potassium contents in fruits. Contents of chloride in the nutrient solutions above 90 mg Cl·dm^-3 enhanced the content of α-ascorbic acid and decreased the content of reducing sugars in fruits. There were no effects on the content of nitrate and nitrite contents as well as the acidity and β-carotene in fruits. The tendency of lowering the dry matter of fruits above the level of 90 mg Cl·dm^-3 in the nutrient solutions was appered. It was not found the effect of increased chloride levels in the nutrient solutions on P, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B contents in the fruits of tomato.

Biological control using antagonistic yeast has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives in postharvest protection of fruit and vegetables. The aim of the present studies was to investigate the potential of the yeast Candida melibiosica for biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata and A. radicina, fungi pathogenic to carrot roots, and explain the possible mode of action of this antagonistic microorganism. The ability of the yeast to inhibit fungal growth in vitro, produce volatile compounds and lytic enzymes, and protect infected carrot roots was studied. C. melibiosica inhibited the growth of B. cinerea on potato-dextrose agar and malt agar by 25.9% and 33.3%, respectively, but only slightly restricted the growth of A. radicina and had no effect on A. alternata. The volatile compounds acting against B. cinerea and A. radicina were produced by C. melibiosica growing on malt agar. The yeast produced β-glucanase and chitinase with activities between 34.0–232.86 U · cm^-3 and 20.74–43.7 U · cm^-3, respectively. Application of the yeast to carrot roots before inoculation with the fungi B. cinerea and A.  radicina reduced the progress of the disease

An artichoke is a commonly cultivated vegetable in the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated for an immature flower head. In Poland the artichoke is cultivated as an annual plant because of its high temperature demands. It is difficult to determine the most optimal harvest stage and the most often it is based on expensive chemical analysis. In the years 2007–2009 there was a research undertaken to specify the most optimal harvest stage of flower heads. In order to determine a development stage of head the height of flower bud in the middle part of the receptacle was measured directly after harvest. The unit weight of each head, the level of bracts deflection, content of dry weight, L-ascorbic acid, raw protein, raw fibre and total sugars in whole heads and their fractions: receptacle and bracts were determined. On the basis of obtained results it was stated that the size of flower buds on an inflorescence axis is a sign of full synchronization of head development and changing environmental conditions during artichoke vegetation. The edible part of artichoke, a receptacle, had more dry weight, total sugars, L-ascorbic acid and raw protein and less raw fibre in comparison to inner bracts. The increase of flower buds height on receptacle was accompanied with the increase of dry weight, raw fibre and total sugars content in heads and its fractions. The longer flower buds in the middle part of inflorescence the lower content of total protein in whole heads and bracts and the higher content of this component in receptacle. It was stated that the size of flower buds was negatively correlated with content of L-ascorbic acid as with the increase of flower buds height in receptacle the content of L-ascorbic acid in whole heads and it’s fractions decreased. The obtained results show that the level of bracts deflection may the selection indicator to determine harvest maturity. This feature of artichoke head allows to visually determine its harvest usability. Receptacles of Symphony content more dry matter, total protein and less total sugars than those of Madrigal. Intermediate values were found in Symphony and Madrigal for L-ascorbic acid and crude fibre.

Cirsium pannonicum is a protected species in Poland. The sources of threats are both spontaneous successional changes in vegetation leading to overgrowth of xerothermic grasslands and human activity. Active methods of protection are therefore indispensable for preservation of the species. Micropropagation in an in vitro culture may be one of the useful tools to protect the species actively. The objective of present work was to develop an efficient system for C. pannonicum in vitro propagation and comparison of morphological traits and the ability to flower in plants obtained by micropropagation and from seeds. Isolated shoot tips from 10-day-old seedlings were cultured on MS medium supplemented with: 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), kinetin (KN) or zeatin (ZEA) at concentration of 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg^.L^-1 in combination with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.1 mg^.L^-1). The highest shooting frequency 93.6% and shoot multiplication rate 2.8 shoots/explant was obtained on medium supplemented with 2.0 mg^.L^-1 BA and 0.1 mg^.L^-1 NAA. In subsequent subcultures, average 3.3 axillary shoots per explant on MS with 3.0 mg^.L^-1 BA was recorded, the difference was not statistically significant. The highest rooting frequency 86.1% was observed on 1/2 MS medium. Regenerated plants produced leaf rosettes and inflorescence stems typical for this species. However, compared to plants developed from seeds, these were fewer, much shorter and contained a greater number of capitula on individual stems. In the first year after acclimatization into the field condition, approximately 64% of individuals flowered. During the next years, all plants flowered in a period typical for the species. The flowers were fertile and the seeds were viable.

Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic oils obtained by steam or hydro distillation of botanical material. Different parts of the plants can be used to obtain essential oils, including the flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, bark, wood, etc. There are many ways in which these aroma substances can be used in our life, but more importantly benefits are therapeutic properties of the oils. Distillation of buds and leaves of hazelnut (Corylus L.) grown in Poland revealed the presence of essential oils at efficiencies of 0.49% and 1.01%, respectively. The profile of physicochemical properties of achieved oils was determined, i.e.: density d₂₀ (g ^. ml), refractive index, and optical rotation. The GC/MS analysis allowed for detecting 43 compounds in buds, among which 35 were identified, as well as 42 compounds in leaves, including 37 identified ones. Hydrocarbons and monoterpene alcohols were the main components of examined essential oils. Following compounds dominated in the oil made from hazel buds: nerol (20.6%), myrtenol (19.5%), α-campholenol (4.7%), and p-cymene (3.7%), while hazel leaves contained prevailing amounts of: nerol (13.0%), myrtenol (9.4%), α-campholenol (9.0%), menthol (6.7%), geraniol (4.8%), and limonene (3.9%). The qualitative differences between constituents of essential oils made of both studied materials were found.

Carrot is one of the most important vegetables in Poland. It is the best carotenoid source in a human diet. Carrot is consumed in large quantities, thanks to continuous supply of fresh and storage roots as well as wide choice of processed products on a food market. Also consumer demands increase with regard to carrot quality and biological value. Polish breeders offer new carrot cultivars for processing. The choice of cultivar is the important factor under human control that may be used to improve carrot quality. The experiment was carried out at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, in the years 2009 and 2010, with carrot cultivars (‘Askona F₁’, ‘DZE II F₁’, ‘Galicja F₁’, ‘Karioka F₁’, ‘Karotan’, ‘Rumba F₁’, ‘Afro F₁’, ‘Broker F₁’, ‘Kongo F₁’, ‘Korund F₁’) to evaluate its morphological and chemical characteristics and processing usefulness. Root morphological features predisposed investigated cultivars to mechanical harvest and processing. Analyzed chemical characteristics allowed to point out genotypes of high biological value and low nitrates accumulation, such as ‘Karioka F₁’. The source of frozen cube of the best quality were ‘Karioka F₁’, ‘Rumba F₁’, and ‘Askona F₁’, because of the lowest centrifugal leakage value. ‘Karioka F₁’ and ‘Korund F₁’ showed the greatest capacity for drying, because of the highest value of rehydration ratio. This shows that the comparison of the cultivars is necessary when the decision about the raw material selected for processing should be made. The parameters characterizing the minimally processed carrot cube quality were also correlated with morphological and chemical features of the roots. The equations allowing to predict the processing indices as the function of independent morphological and chemical variables were proposed with a use of the multiply regression method.

The aim of the experiment was study the response of blue honeysuckle cv. ‘Atut’ and ‘Duet’ to application of Betokson Super and some fertilizers. The study was carried out in 2004–2007 on three years old plants growing in clay-loam soil. Bormax applied twice during blooming period and one after fruit harvest in concentration 0.2%. Calcium nitrate Ca(NO₃)₂ applied to the soil around plants in April at the rate of 50 kg · ha^-1. Betokson Super 050 SL applied twice during blooming period in concentration 0.1%. Finally combination of calcium nitrate + Bormax and calcium nitrate + Betokson were used. Untreated by chemicals plants served as a control. Boron fertilization enhanced significantly amount of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in fruit. Blue honeysuckle fruits are plenty of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid and as a first ripening fruit in our climate could be a good its source for human consumption. Soil application of calcium nitrate resulted in significantly lower levels of phosphorus in leaves of blue honeysuckle. However plants did not showed the symptoms of P deficiency. According to results of present study, in order to reach high yield and high fruit quality, blue honeysuckle plants could be fertilized by calcium nitrate and Bormax, as well as treated by Betokson Super. Clear differences in yielding and leaf characteristic of both studied cultivars indicate that they are genetically distant.

Rhodiola rosea is a valuable, perennial plant with important pharmaceutical activity. Its raw material – rhizomes and roots are collected from nature, however due to the intensive collecting, natural populations are highly threatened. Therefore, this is important to understanding the biology and variability of roseroot and introduction of this species to the culture is very important. The objective of this study was to acquaint the biology and morphology of Rhodiola rosea L. plants during seven following years of cultivation in south-eastern part of Poland. Results of our experiment indicate that the rate of growth and development of roseroot in a south-eastern Poland did not differ from that observed in other parts of Europe, but was faster than observed wild growth in the Altai Mountains. The life cycle of plants from bud to fruit production takes place within one growing season. Starting from the second year of vegetation throughout next following vegetation periods plants produced shoots of second or from the third vegetation period – of third generation, so the period of accumulation of biologically active substances extended to five months, causing a rapid increase in weight of rhizomes. Weight and dimensions of the aerial and under ground parts of plants have changed in subsequent years of vegetation. In the first year of cultivation plants produced one to three stems and under ground parts with average air dry matter of 2.38 g plant^-1. In the next following vegetation periods weight of rhizomes and roots systematically increased, reaching the highest value from fourth to sixth year of vegetation.

The smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria Scop.) is a popular and highly demanded ornamental shrub whose propagation can be problematic. The aim of the study was to test the effect of the mineral salt composition in the medium, concentration of plant growth regulators and the medium pH on the in vitro multiplication and shoot growth of C. coggygria Scop. ‘Royal Purple’. Shoot tips were cultured on the following media: Anderson (AN), Murashige and Skoog (MS) (full- , half- and quarter strength), Nitsch and Nitsch (NN), Quoirin and Lepoivre (QL) or Lloyd and McCown (WPM). Media were supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) in combinations with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The medium type and a concentration of the cytokinin significantly affected the regeneration rate of explants, the number, length and weight of axillary shoots as well as callus growth. The MS medium containing full strength of mineral salts with pH 5.8 was the best. High shoot proliferation (100%) and the highest number of shoots per explant (4.6) were obtained due to the use of 1.0 mg·dm^-3 BA in combination with 0.1 mg·dm^-3 NAA .

One of the reasons lowering the esthetic appearance of a lawn are diseases caused by fungi. Studies were conducted on the sowing material of fifteen turfgrasses belonging to five species. Samples of seeds of the studied cultivars were from the harvest of 2007 and 2008. 573 fungi isolates belonging to 28 species and non-sporulating forms were obtained as a result of the mycological analysis during the two years of the experiment. In each year of studies, the greatest number of colonies belonging to Alternaria alternata. Within the group of pathogenic fungi: Fusarium culmorum, F. avenaceum, F.  equiseti, F. solani, F. crookwellense, F. graminearum F. sporotrichioides, B. sorokiniana, D. siccans and Rhizoctonia solani were obtained. Studies on susceptibility of the seedlings of 8 cultivars of 4 grass species to infection by D. avenae No. 2, D. siccans No. 8 and B. sorokiniana No. 69 were conducted in a growth chamber. The statistical analysis of disease indexes for plants that grew in the experimental combination with artificial infection of the subsoil with above-mentioned strains as compared to the control indicated significant differences in all studied cultivars. Strain D. siccans No. 8 proved to be the most pathogenic towards cultivar Info of perennial ryegrass (92.20), and B. sorokiniana No. 69 towards wood bluegrass Pinokio cultivar (97.75). In the experimental combination with D. avenae the mean values of disease index ranged from 12.25 (Pinia) to 84.00 (Info).

The three Bacillus species isolated from petroleum refinery waste were examined for antifungal activity on brewery effluents and molasses for biotechnological applications. Bacillus strains were identified by three different methods: 16S rRNA gene sequences, BIOLOG system and fatty acid analysis (FAME). The results demonstrated the ability of all three Bacillus strains cultured on brewery effluents and molasses to inhibit mycelial growth of the 10 tested fungi to varying degrees measured by agar plate inhibition assays. Fungi inhibited to the greatest degree as measured by the zones of inhibition were Botrytis cinerea A 258, Phomopsis viticola W 977, Septoria carvi K 2082, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides A 259, Phoma complanata A 233 and Phoma exigua var. exigua A 175. It was also observed that the fungal mycelial growth was inhibited by the cell-free supernatants, indicating lipoprotein-like activity of antifungal agents (mainly biosurfactants). Tested fungi were most sensitive to the Bacilli supernatants obtained from the molasses cultures including: B. cinerea A 258, R. solani W 70, S. sclerotiorum K 2291, Phomopsis diachenii K 657, C. dematium K 425, P. complanata A 233, P. exigua var. exigua A 175. In the previous study it was shown that Bacillus species produced biosurfactants. Application of natural products such as these Bacillus species or their byproducts may be a new approach to phytopathogen control therefore reducing the need for fungicides.

The quality of cut lily flowers during its postharvest life is important both for growers and customers. It is determined by two factors: longevity of flowers and a general appearance of the entire cut stem during its vase life. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of growth regulators (gibberellic acid and benzyladenine) and the preservative (200 mg·dm^-3 8HQC+2%S) on quality of cut oriental lily ‘Helvetia,’ a white blooming cultivar very popular on the Polish market. After cutting the flowers were treated for 20 h with growth regulators (GA₃ or BA, 500 mg·dm^-3) and then placed into distilled water. Non pulsed flowers were kept in a preservative solution composed of 200 mg·dm-3 8HQC and 2% sucrose. Untreated flowers held in distilled water served as a control. During the senescence of cut lily flowers the soluble protein and free proline contents were determined. As the major problem in the postharvest handling of lilies is leaf yellowing, the effects of postharvest treatments on quality of leaves and their chlorophyll contents were also studied. The preservative increased vase life of cut lily flowers while gibberellic acid improved the quality of leaves. In leaves treated with GA3 the chlorophyll level was 25% higher than in leaves on stems placed into distilled water directly after harvest. The level of soluble protein in petals dropped while free proline accumulated during flower senescence. Flowers treated with GA3 and those placed into 8HQC + 2%S solution showed a delayed protein degradation: the concentrations of soluble proteins after 12 day of vase life was over 3-fold higher than in control flowers. Also the proline accumulation was delayed in flowers on stems placed in the preservative solution, however, no effect of GA3 on the proline level was observed. The soluble protein level correlated with a flower position on the stem being lower in lower flowers as compared to the upper ones.