<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Use of hydroponics is increasing because of its ability to be used for year round vegetable production using an environmentally sustainable system. Management of solution pH is an important challenge in hydroponics systems. Our objective was to quantify the effects of various pH modifiers on growth and nutrient uptake of leafy greens and stability of nutrient solution’s pH. Lettuce, basil, and Swiss chard were transplanted into an Ebb and flow system, and nutrient solution pH was maintained using three different pH modifiers (pH Down, lime juice, or vinegar). The nutrient solution’s pH was maintained between 5.5 and 6.5. pH Down resulted in the most stable solution pH and required the least amount of product used when compared to lime juice and vinegar. The cost of using phosphoric acid or lime juice was greater than that of using vinegar. Vinegar reduced the yield of all crops in comparison to pH Down. When compared to pH Down, lime juice reduced the yield of basil and Swiss chard but not that of lettuce. Therefore, growers can use lime juice as an alternative to pH Down in lettuce production but not for basil and Swiss chard, while vinegar would not be recommended for any of the crops studied.</abstract>

Hydroponic pH Modifiers affect Plant Growth and Nutrient Content in Leafy Greens

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Due to the high degree of perishability and vulnerability to spoilage, tomatoes have limited marketability, which leads to extensive postharvest losses. The edible coatings are generally used to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables; therefore, this study investigated the use of chitosan and starfruit leaf extract (SFLE) in the composition of edible coatings for tomato fruit. Firmness, total titratable acidity, reducing sugar content and microbial load were measured every 5 days for 25 days. The results showed that the addition of SLFE to chitosan did not enhance the antimicrobial effect or firmness over the effects made by a separate use of chitosan and SFLE. Both components improved the shelf life of tomato fruits compared to untreated tomatoes.
</abstract>

The Improvement of Tomato Shelf Life using Chitosan and Starfruit Leaf Extract as Edible Coatings

<abstract><title style='display:none'>ABSTRACT</title> Pineapple is a delicious tropical fruit with a fine flavour and high nutritive value. It is one of the most important commercial fruit crops in the world. Despite its popularity, no proper data on the costs of its production in Nigeria are available. The study determines profitability and constraints of pineapple production in Osun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain information from 50 respondents using purposive and random selection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and budgetary technique. Results indicated that majority of the farmers were males, aged 53.7 years on average and engaged full time in pineapple production. The modal level of farmer’s education was primary. The average period of experience in pineapple farming was 13.5 years. The gross margin and net profits in Naira (Nigerian currency) were N182 725 and N162 045, respectively. The questionnaire in the study contained the most serious problems confronting pineapple farmers: limited availability of high quality planting materials, high fruit perishability, low fruit prices, low access to credits and plant diseases. Availability of high yielding pineapple varieties, establishment of cold storages to reduce fruit perishability, agricultural price support programmes, easier access to credit from formal sources and farmers’ education were considered essential to improve productivity and profitability of pineapple production in Nigeria.</abstract>

Profitability and constraints of pineapple production in Osun State, Nigeria

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Bulb onion is an ancient vegetable crop that has been cultivated for at least 5,000 years. In Japan, this cultivation has only 150 years of history, but nowadays, it ranks fourth in total production, fourth in cropping acreage, and second in consumption among vegetables grown domestically. Until the 1970s, open-pollinated onion cultivars were predominantly cultivated throughout the country; they were selected mainly from old US cultivars. Over the past three decades, these open-pollinated cultivars have been replaced with F1 hybrid cultivars that offer higher yield, better disease resistance, uniformity at maturity, and high bulb quality. In this review, an attempt is made to characterize the commercial production and consumption of Japanese bulb onion as well as agronomic characteristics of representative cultivars.
</abstract>

Japanese Bulb Onion: Production, Consumption, and Cultivars

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Field experiments were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria, in the cropping seasons of 2015 and 2016. The soil at the site of the experiment is an Alfisol classified as an Oxichaplustalf or a Luvisol. The trial consisted of sole and combined applications of urea fertilizer (U) applied at 0, 60, and 120 kg·ha−1 and maize cob ash (M) applied at 0, 3, and 6 t·ha−1. The results showed that U and M alone or in combinations increased the soil chemical properties, growth, yield, and mineral composition of okra compared with the control. M alone at 3 t·ha−1 produced optimum soil chemical properties, yield, and mineral composition of okra fruit. U alone at 60 kg·ha−1 produced optimum yield of okra, while growth and mineral composition were increased when urea fertilizer was applied at 120 kg·ha−1. The treatment with U applied at 60 kg·ha−1 in combination with M applied at 3 t·ha−1 (U60M3) produced the highest values of okra yield, while U applied at 120 kg·ha−1 in combination with M applied at 3 t·ha−1 (U120M3) has the highest growth and highest N, K, Ca, Cu, and Fe contents of okra fruit. Compared with the control and using the mean of the two years, U60M3 increased okra fruit yield by 93.3%. Therefore, for viable production of okra in low nutrient soil of the Nigeria derived savanna or similar soils elsewhere, 60 kg·ha−1 U + 3 t·ha−1 M (U60M3) is recommended. However, for improved mineral quality of okra, 120 kg·ha−1 U + 3 t·ha−1 M (U120M3) is recommended.</abstract>

Effect of Urea Fertilizer and Maize Cob Ash on Soil Chemical Properties, Growth, Yield, and Mineral Composition of Okra, <italic>A<sc>belmoschus esculentus</sc></italic> (L.) MOENCH

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Fruits and vegetables are the horticultural crops playing a significant role in Ethiopia's food security, livelihood, and economy. However, the postharvest loss results are a severe challenge for the producers, and this review summarizes this problem. The total postharvest loss of horticultural crops, including fruits and vegetables, at various stages: harvesting, storage, transportation, and marketing ranges from 15 to 70%. Postharvest loss of vegetables alone is about 40%. Fruits like mango, banana, papaya, avocado, sweet orange, etc., take the largest share of the total postharvest loss. The postharvest causes of losses are diseases, insects, rodents, thefts, mechanical damage, premature harvesting, harvesting of overmature crops, improper harvesting and storage techniques, shortage of appropriate packaging and marketing system, seasonal fluctuation of the products, and gender inequality. Therefore, applying a possible and convenient loss reduction strategy is imperative to increase the supply of fruits and vegetables in the country.
</abstract>

Postharvest Loss, Causes, and Handling Practices of Fruits and Vegetables in Ethiopia: Scoping Review

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of biostimulants derived from <italic>Streptomyces avermitilis</italic> metabolites on entomopathogenic nematodes: <italic>Steinernema carpocapsae</italic>, <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic>, and <italic>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</italic>, obtained from the soil of several <italic>Miscanthus</italic> × <italic>giganteus</italic> plantations in 2020–2023. The nematodes were isolated, identified, and cultured using live insects (the greater wax moth <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic>). Three preparations containing biostimulants – Charkor, Stimpo, and Regoplant, were tested for compatibility with entomopathogenic and plant parasitic nematodes. Their effect on nematode survival was evaluated using the Petri dish test. The study showed that the effect of biostimulants on the survival of nematodes depended on the concentration of aversectin contained in the evaluated preparations. Stimpo and Regoplant had an adverse effect on plant parasitic nematodes. The highest <italic>G. mellonella</italic> mortality was observed at the higher dose of Charkor (0.4%), and the lowest at the lower dose of Regoplant (1.22%). The study showed that the virulence of the nematodes decreased after 48 hours of incubation in Regoplant and Stimpo solutions containing aversectin. The degree of interaction between nematodes depended on the nematode species, trophic preferences, and the concentration of active ingredients in the preparations. This conclusion is crucial for the selection of appropriate types of entomopathogenic nematodes and the application rate of plant parasitic nematodes in the assessment of their short- and long-term spread, persistence, and recycling in field conditions.
</abstract>

Effect of the Biostimulants of Microbiological Origin on the Entomopathogenic and Plant Parasitic Nematodes from <italic>M<sc>iscanthus</sc></italic> × <italic>G<sc>iganteus</sc></italic> Plantations

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The research aimed to determine the phenotypic characteristic, pathogenicity and molecular characterization of <italic>Hypomyces perniciosus</italic> isolates responsible for wet bubble disease of the white button mushroom <italic>Agaricus bisporus</italic>. Phenotypic characteristics such as colony appearance, mycelium texture, and pigmentation were studied on four different agar media, i.e., potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), Czapek-Dox yeast agar (CYA), and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), after eight days of incubation. Additionally, the growth rate of the tested isolates was studied depending on the pH of the medium. Fungal isolates showed the highest mycelial growth on MEA and SDA at pH 6.0. However, on CYA at pH 7.0, the mycelium exhibited the worst growth. Isolate identification and genetic relationship analysis were carried out using internal transcribed spacer region sequencing and the random amplified polymorphic DNA method. The research confirmed that all Polish isolates belong to the species <italic>H. perniciosus</italic>, and the genetic diversity is relatively low. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three subgroups of <italic>H. perniciosus</italic> isolates. The first group included three genetically distinct isolates with a similarity coefficient in the range of 0.76–0.85 to isolates CBS 815.73 and CBS 322.52. The second group was divided into two subgroups and included 16 isolates with a genetic similarity range of 0.91 to 1.0 to CBS 815.73 and CBS 322.52 isolates. Furthermore, the eight genetically similar isolates exhibited the greatest pathogenicity towards <italic>A. bisporus</italic>.
</abstract>

Phenotypic Characteristics, Pathogenicity, and Molecular Identification of <italic>Hypomyces perniciosus</italic> Causing Wet Bubble Disease of Edible Mushrooms

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The study aimed to determine the magnitude of changes in air temperature in Skierniewice, Poland, over the last 100 years, with particular emphasis on multi-year variability. The source material for the analyses were air temperature measurements from 1923 to 2022 obtained from the meteorological station in the Experimental Field of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and the station in the Experimental Orchard of the National Institute of Horticultural Research. The study presents average annual, minimum, and maximum air temperatures along with an assessment of the trend of their multi-year variability. The features of changes in the average air temperature in Skierniewice presented in the study based on a 100-year series of meteorological measurements are characterized by high temporal variability with a clear upward trend. The average warming rate over 100 years was 0.17 °C per 10 years, but in the last 60 years it has already reached 0.38 °C per 10 years. In the case of the average annual air temperature since 1981, there has been a sequence of years warmer than average throughout the measurement period. The number of summer days (&gt;25 °C) and hot days, when the maximum temperature exceeds 30 °C, is also increasing. In the analyzed period, the decade 2013–2022 was the warmest.
</abstract>

Variability of Air Temperature in Skierniewice, Poland, Over the Period 1923–2022

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Climate change and warming affect the development cycle of ornamental plants and, thus, their quality and ornamental value. The study aimed to investigate the flowering phenology of 37 cultivars of shrub roses in response to meteorological conditions based on eight years of observations. Based on 14,800 field records, we grouped shrub rose cultivars according to their dominant flowering stage as a sensitive indicator of variability in weather conditions. We also selected the rose cultivars that would retain the highest ornamental value even at increasing temperatures. The total flowering duration of the cultivars ranged from 31 to 115 days (mean 90.4 days) and was significantly positively correlated with temperature. Meteorological conditions significantly influenced individual flowering stages (FS) and a trend of changes concerning the long-term gradient was observed: the increase in temperature extended FS10 and shortened FS25, FS50, and FS75 but did not affect FS100. If the warming trend continues, the abundant flowering of roses may be shortened considerably. Rose cultivars with the longest flowering period at FS10 abundance may adapt better to rising temperatures, and, therefore may be more useful in landscape planning and management.
</abstract>

Flowering Phenology of Shrub Roses as a Sensitive Indicator of Meteorological Variability in Central Europe

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
As trophic organisms, nematodes play an essential role in the soil environment: they mineralize nutrients into plant-available forms, are a food source for other soil organisms, and feed on pathogenic organisms and plant pests, therefore regulating populations of soil microorganisms. The plant-parasitic nematodes are important pests of crops. Nanoparticles (NP) are increasingly used in agriculture and other production sectors. They are present in the soil, not necessarily in trace amounts, and can affect various soil organisms, including nematodes. In this article, the effects of silver (Ag), gold (Au), and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles on the mortality and reproduction activity of selected nematode species from two trophic groups: entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) (<italic>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</italic> and <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic>) and plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) (<italic>Xiphinema diversicaudatum</italic>, <italic>Ditylenchus dipsaci</italic>, <italic>Heterodera schachtii</italic>) were studied under laboratory conditions. All nanoparticles decreased the nematode population to an extent depending on the nematode species, nanoparticle type, and exposure time. AgNP had the greatest nematicidal effect, except for AuNP, which reduced the population of <italic>H. schachtii</italic> the most. The greatest sensitivity to AgNP was observed in <italic>X. diversicaudatum</italic> (100% mortality), <italic>D. dipsaci</italic> (90% mortality), and 37 to 13% mortality in other species. Effect of AuNP and PtNP on entomopathogenic nematodes was comparable to the control, not treated with nanoparticles. AuNP and PtNP similarly influenced nematode mortality. However, the effect of nanoparticles on new generations of entomopathogenic nematodes developing in host larvae <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> was inconclusive. All nanoparticles decreased the number of larvae of <italic>S. feltiae</italic> and increased the number of <italic>H. bacteriophora</italic> migrating outside the cadavers compared to the control.
</abstract>

Effects of Silver, Gold, and Platinum Nanoparticles on Selected Nematode Trophic Groups

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Field surveys were carried out to assess the incidence of peach latent mosaic viroid in nine orchards of stone fruit trees in four growing regions of Poland. Forty of 119 peaches, six of 37 apricots, five of eight nectarines and one of four plums trees tested positive by RT-PCR for this viroid. Most of the infected stone fruit trees did not show any symptoms. Leaf yellow mosaic was only noticed on ‘Maycrest’ peach and ‘Saturn’ nectarine trees, and additional symptoms of cracked fruits with corky sutures and enlarged pits were observed on one ‘Maycrest’ tree. One or two isolates from each orchard and each species of infected tree were selected, and together, 11 isolates of peach latent mosaic viroid were used for genetic analyses. The nucleotide sequence similarity of selected isolates found in Poland was 93.6–100%. They shared 82.0–98.8% similarity with the viroid strains from different hosts and geographical regions. The phylogenetic analysis led to the clustering of all isolates detected during this study in the most numerous represented subgroup II-A, composed of peach latent mosaic viroid strains originating from different geographic regions and host plants. Although Polish isolates were clustered in the same subgroup, some differed in length and nucleotide sequences. It was shown that the genetic variability of isolates found in Poland was unrelated to the regions of their origin. A positive signal was obtained in dot-blot hybridization of all analyzed 11 isolates.
</abstract>

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Peach Latent Mosaic Viroid Isolates Infecting Stone Fruit Trees in Poland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The promotion and consumption of indigenous vegetables could help mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. In this respect, 17 accessions (candidate breeding lines that have not yet officially been released) of five African indigenous vegetables: amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus), nightshade (Solanum scabrum), African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) and okra (Abelmoschus callei), previously selected for their superior agronomic and horticultural traits, were evaluated in Cameroon for minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn and Fe), proteins, and carotenoids content. Nutrient content differed significantly (P&lt;0.001) between cultivars. Amaranth (especially line AM-NKgn) had the highest Ca, Mg, and Zn content in comparison to other genotypes studied. Nightshade had the highest K and Fe content. The highest K and Fe levels were found in nightshades BG24 and SS52, respectively. Nightshade had the highest level of protein, especially line BFS1. The highest amount of carotenoids was identified in the eggplant variety Oforiwa. The study revealed that these vegetables are important sources of some vital nutrients. Increased production and consumption of these nutrient-rich vegetables will help reduce the nutrition-related disorders in Africa.</abstract>

AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Liaison Office, c/o IITA-Cameroon, P.O. Box 2008 Messa Yaoundé, Cameroon

World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), 01 BP 2024 San Pedro, Cote d'Ivoire

Department of Renewable Resources, 3-38 C Earth Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada; current address: Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), local 2208 Pavillon C.-E. Marchand, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 2008 Messa Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nutritional Evaluation of Five African Indigenous Vegetables

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> A field experiment was conducted in the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria from May to July 2014 and September to November 2015 to determine the impacts of poultry manure (PM) and NPK fertilizer on soil physical properties, and growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L.). The five treatments included no manure or fertilizer (control); 10, 20, and 30 megagrams (Mg)·ha-1 of PM; and 300 kg·ha-1 of 15 N-15 P-15 K fertilizer. All levels of PM reduced soil bulk density and temperature, and improved total porosity and moisture content compared to the NPK fertilizer and the control. Plant height, number of leaves, root diameter, root length, and fresh root yield in the PM and NPK fertilizer treatments were improved compared to the control. Growth and yield parameters of carrot plants treated with 20 and 30 Mg·ha-1 PM were higher than the other treatments. The 10 Mg·ha-1 PM and NPK fertilizer treatments produced similar growth and yield responses. There was an interaction for year (Y) × fertilizer (F) on plant height, number of leaves, and fresh root yield. Relative to the control 10, 20, or 30 Mg·ha-1 PM and NPK fertilizer increased fresh root yield of carrot by 39.9%, 62.0%, 64.9%, and 37.3%, respectively. The 20 Mg·ha-1 PM treatment best improved soil properties and carrot productivity as indicated by the benefit-to-cost ratio.</abstract>

Impact of Poultry Manure and NPK Fertilizer On Soil Physical Properties and Growth and Yield of Carrot

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of post-harvest application of silver nanoparticles (N-Ag) and dark storage on plastid pigments, petal abscission, lipid peroxidation and activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) in pelargonium cultivars ‘Blue Wonder’ and ‘Anthony’. N-Ag was applied as foliar spray in concentrations 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg·cm-3 and then the plants were stored for 5 days in a growth chamber in darkness at temperature 20±2 °C and relative humidity 65%. The results revealed that after dark storage the petal abscission of cv. ‘Blue Wonder’ increased up to 40% but significantly decreased in plants treated with 60 mg·cm-3 of N-Ag. Cultivar ‘Anthony’ showed lesser petal abscission than ‘Blue Wonder’, namely 25% in control and 4% after treatment with 60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag. In both cultivars, treatment with N-Ag resulted in higher contents of leaf chlorophylls and carotenoids in comparison to untreated control. In response to treatments with 20-60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag, the activity of APX and POD was higher at the end of 5 days storage period than in the control plants, which coincided with improved post-harvest performance of both pelargonium cultivars. The enhancement of enzyme activities indicated possible beneficial effect of the applied treatment on alleviation of dark storage-induced oxidative stress. Also, in both cultivars, MDA content decreased significantly with the increase of N-Ag concentration up to 60 mg·cm-3 and then a rapid increase at 80 mg·cm-3 followed. It is concluded that treatment with silver nanoparticles is effective for preventing dark storage-induced petal abscission of pelargonium.</abstract>

Effect of Nanosilver on Physiological Performance of Pelargonium Plants Exposed to Dark Storage

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title><italic>Trichoderma</italic> strains that are beneficial to both the growth and health of plants can be used as plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) or biological control agents (BCA) in agricultural and horticultural practices. In order to select PGPF or BCA strains, their biological properties and taxonomy must be carefully studied. In this study, 104 strains of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> collected at geographically different locations in Poland for selection as PGPF or BCA were identified by DNA barcoding, based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and 2) of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and on the sequences of translation elongation factor 1 alpha (<italic>tef</italic>1), chitinase 18-5 (<italic>chi</italic>18-5), and RNA polymerase II subunit (<italic>rpb</italic>2) gene fragments. Most of the strains were classified as: <italic>T. atroviride</italic> (38%), <italic>T. harzianum</italic> (21%), <italic>T. lentiforme</italic> (9%), <italic>T. virens</italic> (9%), and <italic>T. simmonsii</italic> (6%). Single strains belonging to <italic>T. atrobrunneum</italic>, <italic>T. citrinoviride</italic>, <italic>T. crassum</italic>, <italic>T. gamsii</italic>, <italic>T. hamatum</italic>, <italic>T. spirale</italic>, <italic>T. tomentosum</italic>, and <italic>T. viridescens</italic> were identified. Three strains that are potentially pathogenic to cultivated mushrooms belonging to <italic>T. pleuroticola</italic> and <italic>T. aggressivum</italic> f. <italic>europaeum</italic> were also identified. Four strains: TRS4, TRS29, TRS33, and TRS73 were classified to <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. and molecular identification was inconclusive at the species level. Phylogeny analysis showed that three of these strains TRS4, TRS29, and TRS33 belong to <italic>Trichoderma</italic> species that is not yet taxonomically established and strain TRS73 belongs to the <italic>T. harzianum</italic> complex, however, the species could not be identified with certainty.</abstract>

Department of Microbiology, Research Institute of Horticulture, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland

Department of Plant Genetics Breeding and Biotechnology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

Molecular Identification Of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> Strains Collected To Develop Plant Growth-Promoting And Biocontrol Agents

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The experiment was conducted in order to study effects of seeds priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0, 3, 5 and 8 mM on germination, growth and antioxidant enzymes activity in alfalfa seedlings under salinity stress (200 mM NaCl). All control seeds germinated. The rate of germinated seeds was reduced to 48% in the presence of NaCl, and increased to 76% after seeds priming with 5 mM GA3. Priming with 5 mM GA3 was also correlated with an increase of dry weight of seedlings derived from both stressed and non-stressed seeds as well as with the reduction of electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in salt stressed seedlings. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase in primed and non-primed seeds increased in the presence of NaCl and after priming of seeds with 5 mM GA3, whereas only small effect on glutathione reductase activity in both primed and non-primed seeds was observed. The total ascorbate level was higher in both stressed and non-stressed seedlings from primed seeds. These results suggest that GA3 priming might increase the salt tolerance of alfalfa seedlings through enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reducing the membrane damage as estimated using biomarkers, EL index and MDA content.</abstract>

Effect Of Priming Of Seeds Of Medicago Sativa ‘Bami’ With Gibberellic Acid On Germination, Seedlings Growth And Antioxidant Enzymes Activity Under Salinity Stress

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Chemical compounds containing the tropone structure (2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one), in their molecule, called troponoids, characterized by a seven-membered ring, are distributed in some plants, bacteria and fungi, although they are relatively rare. ß-Thujaplicin (2-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one), also known as hinokitiol, is a natural compound found in several plants of the Cupressaceae family. Besides hinokitiol, related compounds were identified in Cupressaceae trees. It has been demonstrated that hinokitiol and its derivatives have various biological effects, such as antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antimalarial, antitumor, anti-ischemic, iron chelating and the inhibitory activity against polyphenol oxidase activity. Activity similar to ß-thujaplicin has tropolone and its derivatives, which are not present nature. Due to the high scientific and practical interest, synthetic ß-thujaplicin and other troponoids have been produced for many years. In this review, the major biological effects of troponoids, mostly ß-thujaplicin and tropolone, on tyrosinase and polyphenol oxidase activity, ethylene production, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal activities, and biotransformation of ß-thujaplicin by cultured plant cells are presented. Accumulation of ß-thujaplicin and related troponoids has been shown in cell cultures of <italic>Cupressus lusitanica</italic> and other species of Cupressaceae. The biosynthetic pathway of the troponoids in plants, bacteria and fungi has been also briefly described.</abstract>

Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland

Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Plant Physiology and Genetics Prusa 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland

School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand

The Biological Activities of Troponoids and Their Use in Agriculture A Review

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