Stanisław Cebula

Ozone fumigation results in accelerated growth and persistent changes in the antioxidant system of Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. alba.

The growth response and antioxidant capacity of Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba plants treated with 70ppb of ozone was examined. Four week old cabbage seedlings were fumigated with O3 for 3 days before being transplanted into the growing field. The effect of O3 treatment was determined directly after fumigation and over the course of field cultivation. Plants subjected to O3 treatment had an increased diameter of rosettes and number of leaves after 3 and 7 weeks in agriculture, respectively. In addition, the vast majority of fumigated plants reached marketable quality faster than control plants, indicating a positive role of episodes of increased O3 concentrations during vegetation on growth and yielding. Our analysis revealed that by fumigating juvenile white cabbage plants with moderate doses of O3 the activity of catalases (CAT) and peroxidases was elevated. The activity of the examined enzymes was not affected directly after fumigation, but it increased after several weeks in the experimental field. Increased CAT activity was accompanied by changes in 2 out of the 3 CAT genes CAT1 and CAT2, where CAT2 seemed to be responsible for the induced CAT activity. The biosynthesis of low-molecular stress protectants - tocopherols and the glucosinolate (GLS) sinigrin was transiently affected by ozone. γ-Tocopherol (γ-toc) content significantly increased directly after fumigation, but after 3 weeks of vegetation in the field its concentration reached values similar to control. The biosynthesis of α-tocopherol (α-toc) and sinigrin seemed to be upregulated in fumigated plants. However, the response was delayed; no differences were registered directly after treatment, but 3 weeks after transplanting the concentration of sinigrin and α-toc was elevated.

The Effect of Plant Pruning on the Light Conditions and Vegetative Development of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) in Greenhouse Cultivation

The Effect of Plant Pruning on the Light Conditions and Vegetative Development of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) in Greenhouse Cultivation The aim of the present investigations was to find the relations between pruning methods and chosen parameters of vegetative eggplant development in greenhouse conditions. The plant shape modifies the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) conditions in the plant profile. Independence between different pruning methods and vegetative plant development particularly leaves characteristics as well as pigments and photosynthesis products content in leaves was stated. The investigations were carried out in 1999-2001 in the experimental greenhouse of Agricultural University in Kraków, Poland. Eggplant of Tania F1 hybrid was used in the early spring-summer production in a heated greenhouse. The following pruning systems were applied: pruning to one shoot with leaving on every node 2 fruit sets and 1, 2 or 3 leaves, and pruning to two shoots with leaving on every node 1 fruit set and 1, 2 or 3 leaves. With the introduction of a greater number of leaves and fruit sets on eggplant shoots irradiation in plant profile was reduced. The value of leaf area index (LAI) depended on the way of pruning. Chemical composition of leaves was slightly dependent on the method of pruning only in the case of assimilation products, i.e. reducing sugar and starch. Improvement of photosynthesis efficiency of intensively pruned eggplants was achieved by the increase of single leaf area and thickness of leaf mesophyll tissues without the increase of the level of assimilative pigments per plant mass unit. Wpływ Cięcia roślin na Warunki świetlne I rozwój Wegetatywny oberżyny (solanum Melongena L.) W Uprawie Szklarniowej Celem badań było określenie relacji pomiędzy metodą cięcia a wybranymi parametrami charakteryzującymi rozwój wegetatywny oberżyny. Badania prowadzono w latach 1999-2001 w Akademii Rolniczej w Krakowie. Obiektem badań była odmiana Tania F1, uprawiana w szklarni ogrzewanej w terminie wiosenno-letnim. Zastosowano następujące metody cięcia roślin: na jeden pęd, pozostawiając w każdym węźle 2 zawiązki owoców i 1, 2 lub 3 liście oraz na dwa pędy, pozostawiając w każdym węźle 1 zawiązek i 1, 2 lub 3 liście. Intensywne cięcie polepszało warunki napromieniowania w profilu roślin. Wskaźnik pokrycia liściowego (LAI) zależał od metody cięcia roślin. Skład chemiczny liści był uzależniony od metody cięcia tylko w przypadku produktów asymilacji (cukry redukujące, skrobia). Poprawa wydajności fotosyntetycznej intensywnie ciętych roślin była następstwem zwiększenia powierzchni blaszki liściowej i grubości tkanek miękiszowych, natomiast poziom barwników fotosyntetycznie czynnych pozostawał bez zmian.

The effect of shoot training on yield, fruit quality and leaf chemical composition of eggplant in greenhouse cultivation

Abstract The aim of the investigations was to determine the best method of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) pruning in greenhouse production. The investigations were carried out in 1999 - 2001 in the experimental greenhouse of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland. The ‘Tania F1’ hybrid was used in the early spring-summer production in a heated greenhouse. Plants were pruned to one or two shoots. In the case of two-shoot plants, the second shoot was led out from the first, third, sixth and ninth node. The intense pruning positively affected the PAR conditions in the plant profile. The most effective fruit setting was observed in the intensely pruned plants. The greatest number of fruits was set at the lowest nodes. Pruning affected the total but not marketable yield of fruits. Two-shoot plants with the second shoot led out from the sixth node produced the greatest fruits, both in early and total yield. A high level of reducing sugar was found in the fruits of moderately pruned plants. Fruits of two-shoot plants with the second shoot led out from the sixth node and pruned to one shoot contained the greatest level of L-ascorbic acid. The greatest levels of reducing sugar and starch were found in the leaves of moderately pruned plants, having the best PAR conditions. The method of pruning slightly affected the level of pigments in the eggplant leaves.

The Effect of Pot Zize and Transplant Age on the Yield and Quality of White, Green and Romanesco Cauliflower Curds

The Effect of Pot Zize and Transplant Age on the Yield and Quality of White, Green and Romanesco Cauliflower Curds The subject of the experiment were three cultivars representing three different kinds of cauliflower: white (‵Planita F1‵), green (‵Trevi F1‵) and romanesco (‵Amfora F1‵). All plants were cultivated from transplants of various age (ca. 30 and 40 days) prepared in different size pots (96 and 160 cells/tray). The parameters of transplants ready for planting were determined and the yield level as well as commercial quality of curds was assessed. The fresh mass of overground part and root system of transplants of all cauliflower types was higher in case of older transplants and transplants grown in pots of larger cell volume. The commercial yield and the average curd weight were highest for white cauliflower cultivar, lower for green cultivar and the lowest for the romanesco type variety. All three cauliflower varieties reached their maximal values in this respect with the older-transplant and larger pot size. Most curds of grade I and the biggest diameter were formed in case of white cauliflower plants, slightly fewer of green variety and the least of the romanesco type. In case of all cauliflower varieties plants cultivated from older transplants had a larger root system, which ensured the best quality and most favourable marketable curds. Particular cauliflower types differed quite considerably in respect to their tendency to form curd defects (green bracts, hollow stem, riciness and browning). White cauliflower was the least susceptible to disorder in curd formation with the romanesco being the most sensitive type. In case of white cauliflower, transplants obtained from smaller pots, particularly in the case of younger transplants, resulted in the increased number of defects. However, in case of green and romanesco forms transplants produced in larger pots resulted in the occurrence of higher number of curd defects, particularly for older transplants. Wpływ Wielkości Doniczek i Wieku Rozsady na Plonowanie i Jakość Róż Kalafiora Białego, Zielonego i Romanesco Przedmiotem badań był kalafior o różach białych odmiany Planita F1, zielonych Trevi F1 i romanesco Amfora F1, uprawiany z rozsady o zróżnicowanym wieku (około 30 i 40 dni) oraz przygotowanej w różnej wielkości doniczkach (96 i 160 komórek/paletę). Określono parametry rozsady gotowej do sadzenia, oszacowano poziom plonowania oraz jakość handlową róż. Świeża masa części nadziemnej i systemu korzeniowego rozsady u wszystkich form kalafiora była zdecydowanie wyższa u rozsady starszej oraz z doniczek o większej objętości. Wielkość plonu handlowego oraz średnia masa róż była najwyższa u kalafiora białego, niższa u zielonego, a najniższa u romanesco. Wszystkie trzy formy kalafiora osiągnęły maksymalne wartości plonu i masy róż w obiektach ze starszą rozsadą i większymi doniczkami. Więcej róż I wyboru, o największej średnicy, wykształciły rośliny kalafiora białego, nieco mniej zielonego i wyraźnie mniej romanesco. U wszystkich trzech rodzajów kalafiora, rośliny uprawiane z rozsady starszej i posiadające większą bryłę korzeniową, zapewniły uzyskanie róż o najkorzystniejszych walorach handlowych. Poszczególne formy kalafiora różniły się dość istotnie skłonnością do występowania zaburzeń w rozwoju róż (przerośnięcie liśćmi, jamistość głąba, omszenie, zbrunatnienie). Najmniej podatnym na powstawanie zaburzeń w rozwoju róż był kalafior biały, a najbardziej wrażliwy romanesco. U kalafiora białego rozsada uzyskana z mniejszych doniczek, zwłaszcza młodsza, spowodowała zwiększenie liczby róż z zaburzeniami, natomiast u zielonego i romanesco rozsada wyprodukowana w większych doniczkach, szczególnie bardziej zaawansowana wiekiem, decydowała o wystąpieniu większej ilości róż z wadami.