Volume 27 (2015): Issue 1 (June 2015)

Disinfection of plant material is the most important step of the tissue culture protocol. In this process, an attempt is made to eliminate microbial contaminants from the surface and interior of plant material, thus giving the explant a fighting chance at survival in vitro. Initial cultures of Anthurium species and cultivars, which are usually established from ex vitro material grown in a greenhouse, pots or in the field, easily contaminate the in vitro milieu. This review highlights the differences in disinfection protocols that exist for different species or cultivars of Anthurium. The protocol needs to be adjusted based on the material used: spadices, spathes, seeds, leaves, or roots. Regrettably, most of the currently published protocols, derived from a literature that spans over 100 published papers, have numerous weaknesses and flaws in the information provided pertaining to disinfection and infection levels. Advice for future Anthurium researchers should thus be followed cautiously.

A three-year experiment was set up to assess the effect of three mulch types on the growth and yield of ‘Polka’ autumn fruiting raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). The experimental arrangement comprised four combinations of two parallel blocks, one of which was a field crop and the second was a covered crop in the form of a high tunnel with raised beds sides. The crop was grown on raised beds (approximately 30 cm high) covered with a mulch made of: 1) polypropylene non-woven (PP); 2) PP with a photodegradant; 3) polylactide nonwoven (PLA). A crop on a raised bed without any mulch was the control. Biometric, physiological and yield parameters were assessed and included the number of canes, plant height, chlorophyll content in the leaves, fruit yield, weight of 20 fruits and the extract content.

The obtained results show that the height of the canes grown on PLA and PP mulch was significantly higher than for the PP with photodegradant. Cultivation on PP, PLA and PP with photodegradant mulch resulted in a significant increase in the weight of 20 raspberry fruits and higher chlorophyll content in the leaves compared to the control combination.

A study of 13 grapevine cultivars was carried out in a vineyard located near Krakow (Poland) in order to identify the most suitable grapevine cultivars for cool climate regions. The vines’ vigour, yield and the yield efficiency index were studied in the years 2010-2013. The grapes were analysed to determine soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity, total polyphenol content (TPC) as well as fruit antioxidant activity (FRAP). Moreover, organic acid concentrations (tartaric, malic, citric and ascorbic) were ascertained. Significant fluctuations in yield and quality were caused by variable climatic conditions during the vegetation period, especially before the vintage. SSC varied from 15.7°Brix (‘Swenson Red’) to 20.8°Brix (‘Frontenac’). The highest sugar:acid ratio was measured for ‘Regent’ as well as for ‘Hibernal’ and ‘Muskat Odesskij’ among white grapes. The lowest concentration of tartaric acid was measured for ‘Frontenac’ (1.03 g L^-1) as well as ‘Jutrzenka’ (1.76 g L^-1). The latter cultivar tended to accumulate one of the highest amounts of malic and citric acid. The highest total polyphenol content along with outstanding antioxidant activity was measured for the following red cultivars: ‘Frontenac’, ‘Leon Millot’ and ‘Marechal Foch’. The most promising cultivars were ‘Seyval Blanc’, ‘Aurora’ and ‘Regent’, which performed well in terms of their moderate vigour, increased fruitfulness and consistently higher yields.

Apples are rich in components that are important for human health, such as polyphenols, organic acids and microelements, but their chemical composition varies with different apple cultivars. We aimed to find out if there is any superiority in traditionally grown apple cultivars in terms of their fruits’ bioactive components content. Juice from two traditionally grown apple cultivars, ‘Mutsu’ and ‘Reinette Simirenko’, was compared to eight popular apple cultivars, ‘Jonagold’, ‘Jonagold Decosta’, ‘Jonica’, ‘Šampion’, ‘Gloster’, ‘Elise’, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Rubin’, and the results are presented. In the study we determined several major and minor nutrient elements, organic acids, phenolic content as well as the antioxidant activity of apple juice made from different cultivars, both modern and traditionally grown. Antioxidant activity determined as FRAP varied from 1.12 (‘Elise’) to 12.10 (‘Jonagold’) mmol Fe dm^-3. The concentration of polyphenols fell between 0.16 (‘Elise’) and 1.30 (‘Jonagold’) mg ml^-1 gallic acid equivalent. Malic acid concentration was highest in ‘Reinette Simirenko’ and ‘Mutsu’ (6.58 and 5.84 g dm^-3, respectively) and lowest for ‘Jonagold’ (3.73 g dm^-3). The microelement concentrations for the apple cultivar juices were as follows: 8-24 mg dm^-3 for Na, 567-1022 mg dm^-3 for K, 26.9-59.4 mg dm^-3 for Mg and 0.105-0.201 mg dm^-3 for Zn. Statistical analysis confirmed a highly positive correlation between total polyphenols and antioxidant activity (r = 0.98, p = 0.001).

The study revealed that modern apples had the same or higher value of bioactive compounds in comparison to the older varieties. The highest pro-health activity among the investigated apple cultivars was found in the ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Rubin’ cultivars. Other studied cultivars - with the exception of the older ones, ‘Reinette Simirenko’ and ‘Mutsu’ - had much smaller pro-health activity. Therefore, ‘Reinette Simirenko’ and ‘Mutsu’ can be a worthwhile alternative for consumers in the future.

Several popular apple cultivars retain their aborted fruits as mummies on the tree. In laboratory conditions, overwintered fruit mummies collected from a Northern German apple orchard under organic management released inoculum, which caused black rot due to Diplodia seriata and sooty blotch due to Peltaster cerophilus on ripe apples. In a field trial conducted over four years in another organic orchard, the manual removal of fruit mummies in winter and again in late June of each year significantly reduced the incidence of both these diseases. However, fruit mummy removal did not significantly affect the development of storage rots due to Neofabraea alba and N. perennans. The potential, limitations and costs of this phytosanitary measure are discussed in the context of organic apple production.

Environmental monitoring was conducted in the Lublin region in 2009-2012 aimed at the assessment of the supply of several macro- and micronutrients in raspberries plants. The plantations studied were located in eight main regions for the growing of raspberries (Bełżyce, Chodel, Godziszów, Kraśnik, Lublin, Międzyrzec Podlaski, Opole Lubelskie and Urzędów). The contents of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and boron (B) were determined in raspberry leaves. Furthermore, the impact of select soil properties on the content of essential elements in the leaves was assessed. The results obtained revealed the suitable N, P, K, Mg, B, Zn and Cu supplies in the plants. However, the mean content of Mn greatly exceeded the optimal level recommended for this species. Also, the content of Fe in some regions was above the optimal value. The calculated correlation coefficients between soil properties and the content of the elements in raspberry leaves suggest that these variables were interdependent in only a few cases.

By improving the air and water properties of soils, superabsorbent polymers can affect the increase and improvement of the quality of the yield of berry plants, including strawberries. Their presence in the soil has an influence on its biological activity as related to microorganisms. The aim of the research was to assess the influence of superabsorbent polymers added to the soil on the content of macroelements and sodium in the leaves and fruit of strawberry of the ‘Elsanta’ cultivar and changes in the number of soil bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. The superabsorbent polymer (AgroHydroGel) was used in two doses: 1.8 and 3.6 g dm^-3 of soil. The content of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium was assessed using the ASA method, while the content of nitrogen and sulphur was assessed by the elemental analysis method (CHNS analyser). The number of microorganisms was assessed with a BacTrac analyser and the coefficient of microorganism development extent (SR) was also determined. AgroHydroGel increased the content of nitrogen and potassium in leaves and fruit but did not affect the content of phosphorus, sulphur and sodium. The addition of the superabsorbent at a dose of 3.6 g dm^-3 of soil reduced the magnesium content both in the leaves and fruit of the strawberry. AgroHydroGel decreased the content of calcium in the fruit. The use of AgroHydroGel contributed to the expansion of the K ion ratio to other ions, both in the leaves and fruits. We observed a significant increase in the amount of soil bacteria (1.8 g dm^-3 dose) and no significant influence on actinomycetes and fungi (irrespective of dose used).

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of various biological fertilizers on the growth and development of plants of the large-fruited cranberry and the degree of mycorrhizal association in their roots under controlled conditions. Plants of the ‘Pilgrim’, ‘Stevens’ and ‘Ben Lear’ cranberry cultivars were planted in rhizoboxes filled with soils collected from the areas of Krojczyn and Motoga. The following experimental treatments with fertilizers were applied: control plants, plants fertilized with NPK, a bacterial-mycorrhizal consortium, Vinassa, lignite + Vinassa, Florovit Natura and the fertilizer Crop-UP. The study has shown that there was a tendency to stimulate the vegetative growth and development of cranberry plants through the use of bio-fertilizers and beneficial fungi obtained from the rhizosphere of these plants. There was a tendency for the fresh and dry weight of cranberry shoots to increase, especially in ‘Ben Lear’, under the influence of the bio-fertilizer Florovit Natura when compared with the control plants fertilized with NPK. Compared with the NPK control, all of the bio-fertilizers significantly increased mycorrhizal frequency in the roots of the tested plants of the large-fruited cranberry, with the exception of Crop-UP and lignite compost used in conjunction with Vinassa in ‘Stevens’. No statistically significant differences were obtained for plant size and root colonisation by ericoid fungi in the plants grown in the soil from the areas of Motoga and Krojczyn.

Sundaville is the brand name of a new collection of cultivars of the genus Mandevilla (syn. Dipladenia), with the potential to become a leading vine in the world horticultural market. The research was carried out in order to analyse the growth of Sundaville ‘Pretty Red’ at different values of substrate pH (4.0, 4.7, 5.3 and 5.5). The study shows that flowers appeared after more than six months irrespective of soil conditions. Plants cultivated at pH 4.0 had the longest leaves, but at the highest substrate pH the widest leaf laminae were observed. Regardless of the substrate pH, the diameter of a single flower remained the same. Plants cultivated at a pH lower than 5.0 produced more flower buds and more flowers in comparison with the plants exposed to the higher pH. Moreover, pH < 5.0 positively affected the number of stems. The soil pH did not only affect the growth, but also the health of the plants. The lowest pH level (4.0) caused adverse changes to the leaves.