Although chemical priming agents have been successfully used to improve seed germination, emergence and seedling quality in different plant species, still they are not yet useful for organic cultivation. Marigold is a multipurpose plant and rich source of lutein and gallic acid, to be explored as an organic priming agent. The purpose of this study was to identify an organic priming agent for organic growing and to develop appropriate methods by using two different species of marigold (Tagetes patula L. and T. erecta L.). Herbal tea obtained from the dried flower of marigold was used as a priming agent for eggplant (Solanum melongena L) cv. Pala seeds. Hydropriming and control seeds were compared with organic priming (T. patula and T. erecta) for germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate, two different emergence tests, seedling height, seedling fresh and seedling dry weights. Data obtained from the application of organic priming (T. patula and T. erecta) showed a difference in both the germination (82 and 80%), and the emergence (73 and 76%) from Controls and Hydropriming. Seeds emerged in, which unprimed in 52 and 39% respectively, when primed with T. patula, emerged in 73 and 56% respectively. The mean germination time and the mean emergence time were shortened compared with Controls and Hydropriming. MET decreased in 1 cm and 2.5 cm depth sowing from 14.0 and 16.1 days than 10.3 and 11.9 days in Emergence-1 and 10.4 and 10.2 days in Emergence 2, respectively. Seedling quality characteristics were examined in the seedling height, the seedling fresh and dry weights of T. patula and T. erecta applications were also statistically significant. This is the first report which results showed that marigold species can be used as a potential organic priming agent.

Many chrysanthemum mutants are chimeras built from tissues of a varied genetic composition. Regeneration in vitro of somatic embryos from the whole mutated ligulate florets or only from their small mutated fragments can lead to the separation of chimera components and, as a result, producing a new original cultivar. There was determined the effect of growth regulators (2,4-D; KIN or BAP) and explant type (whole or transversely-cut-into-half ligulate florets) on the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis of Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitam. ‘Cool Time’. For the induction of the somatic embryogenesis ant the regeneration of somatic embryos the MS medium [Murashige and Skoog 1962] with 18.08 µM 2,4-D as well as with this auxin and 4.44; 8.88; 22.20 µM BAP or 4.65; 9.30; 23.25 µM KIN was used. The best results were obtained when transversely-cut-into-half ligulate florets were inoculated onto the medium with 4.65 µM KIN and 18.08 µM 2,4-D. This results may increase the probability of success in separation of chimera components in chrysanthemum breeding.

Abies fraseri (FF) is a North American conifer which is crucial for growers of Christmas trees. This species suffers 100% mortality after infection of root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. The hybrid material A. cilicica × A. cephalonica (CZ) and A. koreana × (A. cilicica × A. cephalonica) was utilized as mother trees for applications of Abies fraseri pollen. In addition to resistance to fungal disease, a long-term monitoring of growth of young seedlings along with the impact of artificial crossing on morphology of the progeny is covered. Except for increased resistance, some offspring has also exhibited a remarkable heterosis effect at younger age and different growth habit and different shape of their needles. All this may offer in the future a wide range of applications, both for crops under strong anthropogenic pressure with changing climatic conditions and for crops grown for production of Christmas trees and outstanding ornamental cultivars. Annual crossing success was determined in present study using X-ray imaging. The most successful combinations in 2012 were those of CZ1 × FF25 and CZ1 × FF76 with 7% of full seeds, followed by CZ2 × FF25 with 6% and CZ2 × FF31 with 4% of the full seeds. The evaluation of young seedlings from control crossing in 2007 highlighted significant accented height growth of complicated hybrid (A. koreana × (A. cilicica × A. cephalonica)) × FF PC. Morphology of needles showed variability in their length as compared with the needle width which was found to be less appropriate characteristic for distinguishing between different combinations.

The study determined the antagonistic effect of microorganisms of the soil environment of salsify towards the following pathogenic fungi: A. alternata, F. culmorum, F. oxysporum, R. solani and S. sclerotiorum. The field experiment considered mulching the soil with such cover crops as oats, phacelia and common vetch. Laboratory tests pointed to oats as the plant which has the best influence on the quantity of antagonistic Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Gliocladium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. These microorganisms reduced the growth of A. alternata and F. culmorum in the most effective way. Antagonistic fungi inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum, R. solani and S. sclerotiorum in a greater degree than antagonistic bacteria. Mulching the soil with cover crops can reduce the growth and development of soil-borne fungi pathogenic to salsify.

Consumer attractiveness and the usefulness for food processing of sweet pepper are determined by fruits quality values. The large weight, thick pericarp and intensive color at physiological ripeness as well as the share of pericarp to the fruit weight are most important. Such sweet pepper cultivars are now available in Poland. These cultivars are adopted to growing in less favourable environmental conditions and they reveal high stability. The aim of this study was evaluate the open field yielding and comparing the utility and biological value of fruits of seven sweet pepper cultivars adapted to growing under less favorable environmental conditions in terms of the fresh vegetables market usefulness for consumption and processing. The highest average marketable yield of fruits was achieved from ‘Caryca F₁’ cv., which was larger in comparison to the yield of ‘Roberta F₁’ and ‘Jova’ cvs. The yield of remaining cultivars was not significantly different from ‘Caryca F₁’cv. Evaluated cultivars showed a great diversity in terms of their utility and biological value of fruits. The ‘Mino’ cv. was distinguished by the largest weight fruits while ‘Jova’ cv. by thick pericarp. The great weight of fruit, pericarp thickness and the great weight of edible parts of fruits was shown by ‘Caryca F₁’ cv., while in a view of the assessed parameters of biological value the most L-ascorbic acid were contained ‘Roberta F₁’, ‘Robertina’, ‘Corrida F₁’ cv. fruits and the extract ‘Roberta F₁’ cv. fruits.

Arnica montana L. is one of the most important herbal plants used in medicine, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The number of studies performed with molecular markers on arnica genotypes is very limited. Because of this fact the aims of presented examination were optimization of protocols DNA isolation from fresh leaves of A. montana and identification of genetic diversity among this plant genotypes. In presented study to obtain pure DNA Plant & Fungi DNA Purification Kit (EURx) were used. To clean obtained DNA long and slow electrophoresis and isolation DNA from gels were used. A. montana genotypes were analyzed using 40 RAPD primers (Operon Technologies), out of which 12 produced high number of polymorphic and repeatable fragments. In total, selected primers produced 120 fragments, among them 111 (92.5%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity matrices were produced based on RAPD using the Dice’s coefficient. RAPD based genetic similarity was estimated between 0.535 and 0.945. The highest genetic similarity was estimated among GA17 and GA18 genotypes, which are closely located on the obtained dendrogramme.

Turkey is rich in terms of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) germplasm resources. The country also has traditional cornelian cherry production for a long time. The purpose of this study was to assess the chemical properties, antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content in the fruits of five cornelian cherry genotypes grown in Coruh valley of Turkey. The total phenolics content, total antioxidant activity and the total anthocyanin content (TAC) of cornelian cherry fruit extracts were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, β-carotene bleaching, and pH-differential method respectively. The individual anthocyanins of cornelian cherry fruits were analyzed by using HPLC. The results showed that three anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-rutinozit chloride, delphinidin chloride, peonidin-3-O-glucoside chloride) were found in cornelian cherry fruits. There was a significant difference on total anthocyanin content among genotypes. The highest total anthocyanin content was recorded in genotype 1 (342 mg·100 ml^-1) whereas genotype 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 276; 271; 239 and 262 mg·100 ml^-1 total anthocyanin content, respectively. The major anthocyanin in cornelian cherry fruits was cyanidin-3-O-rutinozit chloride followed by delphinidin chloride and peonidin-3-O-glucoside chloride, respectively.

Broad bean seeds, with a high nutritional value at green maturity stage, are used for direct human consumption and in food processing. However broad bean green seeds had as a very shortly time to use because the green seeds very quickly lost the white-green fresh colour. The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of biologically active substances in fresh broad bean seeds immediately after the harvest and seeds from pods stored for a week under low temperature conditions. Experimental material consisted of fresh, green broad bean seeds of Bachus, Basta, R-366/1, Bolero, Jankiel Biały, and Windsor Biały cultivars. Broad bean seeds were sown in the second decade of April at 60 × 10 cm spacing, 100 seeds per plot of 6.0 m² area. Broad bean pods were harvested once at the stage of technological maturity of seeds in the second and third decade of July. Marketable seed samples of 500 g were collected for laboratory tests. At the same time, immediately after the harvest, samples of 2 kg marketable broad bean pods of each cultivar were collected and storage within 7 days at 1–4°C. The contents of L-ascorbic acid, chlorophyll (a + b), flavonoids (QE), free phenolic acids sum (CAE), and dry matter were determined in broad bean seeds directly after the harvest as well as in the seeds from the pods stored for 7 days. In the results of the investigation indicate that green faba bean seeds from the storage pods had a good white-green colour and marketable quality, however the seeds had the significantly lowest content of L-ascorbic acid and chlorophyll (a + b). The content of selected biologically active substances in the seeds after storage in the pods indicates a significant difference in dependence on cultivar.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA101 (pTd33) strain carrying uidA (GUS) reporter gene was used in model experiments on roseroot callus transformation. The T-DNA of pTd33 binary vector plasmid harbors nptII gene conferring resistance to kanamycin, and a uidA reporter gene, encodes the ß-glucuronidase enzyme. Roseroot seeds were sterilized and germinated on half strength MS media of which 70% germinated without any pretreatment. Calli were obtained from leaf segments of the in vitro grown seedlings. Calli was grown on solid MS medium supplemented with 1 mg l^-1 NAA and 0.5 mg l^-1 BAP. Different types of calli were obtained of which the green and compact type was chosen for transformation experiments. After co-cultivation with agrobacteria, calli were transferred to the same medium supplemented with 20 mg l^-1 kanamycin, 200 mg l^-1 carbenicillin and 300 mg l^-1 claforan with antioxidants (Polyclar and DTE) for selection. GUS test using a titron buffer was applied for monitoring the transformation of the calli. DNAs of 20 individual samples was extracted and subjected for PCR analysis proved the stable transformation in all of the taken samples by amplifying the nptII gene fragment. The method introduced here can be a tool for inserting and over-expressing the genes encoding for hypothesized enzymes to be involved in the biosynthesis of pharmaceutically important bioactive molecules of roseroot and therefore facilitating the applications for callus culture of roseroot in different bioreactor systems for pharmaceutical productions.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) may be cultivated either for white or for green spears, the latter method started to prevail in the world in the last years. The aim of the study was a comparison of yielding of white and green asparagus cv. ‘Ravel’ in the open field and in the PE tunnel. The weight, number and diameter of spears in the total, marketable and non-marketable yields in the first and second harvest year were assessed. Total and marketable yield of white asparagus was higher than that of green one, but the latter formed significantly more spears in the total and nonmarketable yield. The yield and number of spears obtained in the tunnel was significantly higher than with no cover. Marketable spears constituted on average 77.8% of yield weight and 63.0% of the total number of spears and the values for both cultivation methods were similar. Mean weight and diameter of white spears were higher than those of the green ones.

Wild raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is abundantly grown and widely distributed in temperate regions of lower Himalayan range which represents rich biological diversity for raspberry. Thirty accessions were explored from three different locations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan), several traits were visualized at sampling locations and some characteristics were evaluated and quantified after harvest of leaf and fruit samples. The accessions differed greatly in growth habit, blooming time, intensity of flowering, fruit setting, ripening time, productivity, fruit shape and color. Concerning quantitative characteristics, significant differences were found in plant height, leaf length and width, number of braches per plant, duration of flowering, fruit setting percentage, days to maturity, fruit length, width and weight among the samples collected from different locations. Ripe fruits were evaluated for their chemical composition i.e. moisture, carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, ash, TSS, acidity, pH and mineral (K, Ca, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cr) contents. The location also had significant effect on chemical composition of ripe fruits.

Propagation of juniper from cuttings is the primary method used in the nursery. Process of rhizogenesis in these plants is long and not always allows to obtain a good quality of rooted cuttings. In the experiment there was investigated the effect of laser light doses (semiconductor laser, model CTL 1106MX, power 200 mW, wave length 670 µm) and the footing agent AB on percentage of rooted cuttings, plants height, length and the number of roots. The examined juniper taxa proved diverse response to the variants applied (combination of laser radiation and the rooting agent AB). The increase in the number of rooted cuttings after application of the rooting agent AB, as well as three times introduced irradiation in Eastern redcedar ‘Blue Arrow’. This form also produced longer roots for the variant combining twelve times applied irradiation and the effect of rooting agent. In the cuttings of Chinese juniper ‘Stricta’, exposed to laser radiation in six – (D6) and twelve times applied doses (D12), there was observed significant stimulation of root length. Introduced treatment variants of shoot cuttings of Common juniper ‘Schneverdinger Goldmachangel’ brought about considerable root elongation (except for D3 dose). The dose providing for significant increase in the percentage of rooted cuttings in all the examined juniper varieties proved to be D3 dose.

In vitro flowering and micropropagation are useful for plant breeding programs and commercial production of important ornamental plants. In vitro conditions including media components, kind, concentration and ratio of plant growth regulators and culture conditions significantly affect in vitro flowering and micropropagation. There is no any report dealing with the in vitro flowering of Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum). Here, a protocol was developed for flowering and high frequency in vitro micropropagation of E. grandiflorum, an ornamental plant. Micropropagation is an effective tools for propagation of ornamental plants in large scale. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of NAA and BA on micropropagation and flowering of Lisianthus, in vitro. Used culture medium was MS enriched with 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 2 mg L^-1 of NAA and BA. In establishment process of explants, the most shoot length (2.07 cm per plant) was obtained on medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L^-1 BA (without NAA). Maximum shoot number (5.80 per plant) was produced in medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 BA along with 0.2 mg L^-1 NAA. Bud explants in culture media containing 0.2 mg L^-1 NAA (without BA) and 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA along with 2 mg L^-1 BA produced maximum node number (3.20 per plant). The largest number of root (14.53 per plant) and root length (3.87 cm per plant) were produced on 0.2 mg L^-1 NAA without BA, also 0.2 mg L^-1 BA plus 0.2 mg L^-1 NAA and 0.2 mg L^-1 BA without NAA. Explants produced flower on medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 BA along with 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA without transition of callus formation. Flower was produced from callus in medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 BA along with 2 mg L^-1 NAA. Regenerated plants showed 98% survival in greenhouse during acclimatization. Acclimatized plants were morphologically similar to the mother plants.

Blue honeysuckle due to the high health benefits of its fruit, early ripening (before the first strawberries cultivars) and high frost resistance of both plants and flowers has gained the great popularity both in cultivation and breeding. The implementation of the breeding program of new cultivars requires the knowledge of the characteristics that determine its direction in the selected material. Therefore, in this study the evaluation of the phenological phases, yield, fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit and pollen viability in the cultivars and breeding clones of this species was made. The tested cultivars and clones had different levels of the analysed qualities except the pollen viability which was high but did not differ significantly within the genotypes. The evaluation of such characteristics as yield potential and fruit weight indicates that cultivars ‘Warszawa’, ‘Wojtek’ and T2 clone which had higher values of these characteristics as compared to other genotypes are possible to be used in breeding programme. Obtainment of the forms with early fruit ripening can be realised through the use of the selected Russian cultivars. The objective of this study was also to characterise the blue honeysuckle germplasms using RAPD markers and to assess their genetic similarity. The analysed primers produced 61 fragments out of which 57 (93.44%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity matrix was made on the basis of RAPD markers. The mean genetic similarity was calculated at 0.56. The presented study confirms that the use of RAPD markers is a practical and effective method to evaluate the genetic similarity of blue honeysuckle genotypes and to establish genetic relationships between these genotypes.

Fertilization of plants with silicon is particularly justified in soilless culture in which the roots of plants cannot use silicon resources in the soil. Silicon is the only element that does not harm plants when taken up in excessive amounts and its use in plant fertilization improves the yielding ability of plants and their resistance to various stress factors. The effectiveness of silicon application in growing plants is strictly dependent on both the source of this element, plant species and cultivars. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of root application of colloidal silicon as well as of three types of growing media of different silica content and varying ability to release orthosilicate monomers (rockwool, sand, straw) on yield and chemical composition of greenhouse tomato. The research was conducted in greenhouse in the period 2008–2009. Tomato was grown in an extended growth cycle (22 clusters) using a drip irrigation and fertilization system with closed nutrient solution circulation. Tomato plants fertigated with the nutrient solution enriched with silicon showed significantly higher total fruit yield (15.98 kg·plant^-1) compare to plant grown in control treatments. In the studies not found significant differences in total and marketable yield as well as in mean fruit weight between plants grown in rockwool and straw mediums. The total fruit yield of tomato plants grown in sand was lower compared to rockwool-grown plants. The fruit of tomato grown in sand was shown to have more dry matter (5.52%), total sugars (2.58% FR.W.) and potassium (4.19% DW) compared to rockwool culture as well as significantly the highest amount of silicon. The leaves of tomato fertilized with the silicon-enriched nutrient solution contained more silicon as well as less manganese and zinc compared to control plants.

The biological value of fresh and dried spice material is strongly influenced by climatic and agronomic conditions as well as by genetic and ontogenetic factors. In the available scientific literature, few publications present the problems of growing herbal plants for direct consumption and discuss the biological value of fresh herbal material. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the yield and quality of tarragon herb grown for bunching depending on plant density (20 × 20 cm and 30 × 30 cm) and harvest date (beginning of July and beginning of September). This study was conducted during the period 2010–2012 at the Experimental Station of the Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, in south-east region of Poland (51º14’N 22º34’E). In fresh plant material, the contents of L-ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, carotenoids and essential oil were determined, while the contents of essential oil, tannins and flavonoids were determined in leaf herbage. The yield of tarragon herb grown for bunching was dependent on the plant density and harvest date as well as their interaction. Plants grown at lower density and harvested during the early summer period were characterized by better yield parameters compared to the other treatments. Tarragon herb harvested at the beginning of July was characterized by higher concentrations of L-ascorbic acid, chlorophyll a, b and a + b, flavonoids and essential oil as well as a lower content of tannins than the plant material harvested at the beginning of September. The carotenoid content in tarragon herb was not dependent on the factors studied, with their significant interaction. In growing tarragon for bunching, lower plant density can be recommended, since it contributes to high herb and essential oil yields. The beginning of July proved to be a more favourable time for harvesting tarragon grown for bunching than the beginning of September due to the quantity and biological value of tarragon yield and essential oil yield.

In recent years, biofertilisers have emerged as a promising component of an integrated nutrient supply system in agriculture. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of selected biofertilisers on the vegetative growth, the content of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O in the leaves and stems, and on the physiological parameters of pepper of the variety of ‘Sofiiska Kapiya’ cultivated under organic agriculture conditions. This experiment was carried out from 2009 to 2011 on the experimental fields of the Agroecological Centre at the Agricultural University-Plovdiv (Bulgaria), situated on the territory of a certified ecological farm. The study included the following biofertilisers – Boneprot, Lumbrical, Baikal EM “Effective Microorganisms”, Emosan, and Bio One. The results of the biometric measurements of the average plant height at the end of the vegetative period showed the highest values for the variant treated with Emosan on the Boneprot basic fertilisation (62.60 cm – 2009; 64.80 cm – 2010, and 63.87 cm – 2011). Upon feeding with the biofertilisers Emosan and Baikal EM on basic fertilisation with Boneprot (2009, 2010 and 2011) at the pepper mass fruit yield stage, plants showed higher values of net photosynthesis (P_N) that were also similar to the high values observed in the flower bud stage. The highest intensity of transpiration (Е) was observed for the variants treated with the biofertilisers Baikal EM (2009 and 2011) and Emosan (2010) on basic fertilisation with Boneprot. It was concluded that the feeding with Emosan stimulated the vegetative growth of the pepper plants due to the high concentrations of nutrient-providing proteins contained in this biofertiliser. The results showed that biofertilisers do not significantly impact the P content of the pepper leaves and stems, but changes were more obvious in the leaves. The fertilisation with the studied biofertilisers increased the K2O content in leaves and stems compared to the control (non-fertilised) plants; the values were higher for the leaves.