Does overhead irrigation with salt affect growth, yield, and phenolic content of lentil plants?

Overhead irrigation of lentil plants with salt (100 mM NaCl) did not have any significant impact on plant growth, while chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm were affected. Under such poor irrigation water quality, the malondialdehyde content in leaves was increased due to the lipid peroxidation of membranes. In seeds, the total phenolic content (TPC) was correlated to their total antioxidant capacity (TAC). High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) detection showed that flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, rutin, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid and resveratrol) appear to be the compounds with the greatest influence on the TAC values. Catechin is the most abundant phenolic compound in lentil seeds. Overhead irrigation with salt reduced the concentration of almost all phenolic compounds analyzed from lentil seed extracts

Uticaj Prohexadione-Ca i zakidanja prvih serija mladih izdanaka na fiziološka svojstva lista i ploda sorte maline 'Willamette'

The research was designed to evaluate the effect of growth regulator Prohexadione-Ca (ProCa) and young canes removal on the changes of photosynthetic pigment content and modification activities of antioxidant enzyme defense system in leaves and fruits of raspberry cultivar 'Willamette' (Rubus idaeus L.). The experiment was performed in the period of 2011-2012. It consisted of five treatments: control - no treatment; 2ProCa - with 2 ProCa applications; Z - one removal of young canes; Z+2ProCa - young canes removal with 2 ProCa applications; 2Z - two removals of young canes. The first series of young canes were removed for the first time in mid-April and for the second time at the begining of May. In 2ProCa and Z+2ProCa treatments foliar application of ProCa was carried out twice during the period of April-May in interval of three weeks, i.e. when the primocane growth reached 30 cm in height. The following concentrations of ProCa: 125 ppm (first application) and 200 ppm (second application) were applied. Significantly higher mean values of chlorophyll b content were registered in the 2ProCa (42.84 μg·g-1 FW) and Z+2ProCa (46.12 μg·g-1 FW) treatment. The highest SOD and POD activities were found in leaves of new young canes which developed after the young canes removal was applied. Z+2ProCa treatment significantly increased CAT activity in raspberry leaves (63.51 U mg-1 prot.). Both of implemented measures, especially applied in combination, resulted in higher activity of CAT, POD and SOD enzymes in the fruits of the examined cultivar.U radu je proučavan uticaj retardanta rasta Prohexadione-Ca (ProCa) i pomotehničke mere zakidanja prvih serija mladih izdanaka na promene u sadržaju fotosintetskih pigmenata i modifikaciju aktivnosti enzima antioksidacionog zaštitnog sistema u listovima i plodovima sorte maline 'Willamette' (Rubus idaeus L.). Eksperiment izveden u periodu 2011-2012. godine obuhvatio je pet tretmana: kontrola - bez tretiranja; 2ProCa - sa dva tretiranja ProCa i bez zakidanja izdanaka; Z - sa jednim zakidanjem izdanaka i bez tretiranja ProCa; Z+2ProCa - sa jednim zakidanjem izdanaka i dva tretiranja ProCa; 2Z - sa dva zakidanja izdanaka i bez tretiranja ProCa. Prvo zakidanje mladih izdanaka je obavljeno sredinom aprila, a drugo krajem aprila u obe godine ispitivanja. U 2ProCa i Z+2ProCa tretmanu folijarna aplikacija sa ProCa vršena je dva puta u periodu april-maj u intervalu od tri nedelje srazmerno dinamici porasta novih izdanaka tj. u momentu kada oni dostignu visinu od 30 cm. Primenjene su sledeće koncentracije ProCa: 125 ppm (kod prvog tretiranja) i 200 ppm (kod drugog tretiranja). Statistički značajno veća prosečna vrednost sadržaja hlorofila b registrovana je u 2ProCa (42,84 μg·g-1 sveže mase lista) i Z+2ProCa (46,12 μg·g-1 sveže mase lista) tretmanima. Najveća aktivnost enzima superoksid dismutaze i peroksidaze registrovana je u listovima novih mladih izdanaka, koji su se razvili nakon primenjene mere zakidanja izdanaka. Z+2ProCa tretman je uticao na značajno povećanje aktivnosti katalaza u listovima maline (63,51 U mg-1 proteina). Obe navedene mere, a naročito primenjene u kombinaciji, uticale su na povećanje aktivnosti pomenutih enzima u plodu ispitivane sorte

COMPARISON OF FIELD PERFORMANCE AND FRUIT QUALITY AMONG NEWLY RELEASED ITALIAN JUNE-BEARING STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS

This study illustrates the differences in phenology, vegetative growth, productivity and fruit quality of newly released June-bearing strawberry cultivars (‘Quicky’, ‘Sandra’, ‘Lofty’, ‘Mila’ and ‘Aprica’) aiming to recognize their potential for wider cultivation. A field study was carried out in a strawberry plantation situated in municipality of Šid (Serbia), during the period of 2021 to 2022. The orchard was planted in July 2020 in double rows on beds covered with black polyethylene foil. Cultivars were evaluated for their flowering and ripening time, yield components, plant growth, as well as for biometrical fruit traits (fruit weight, index of fruit shape) and nutritional value (content of soluble solids - SS, total acids - TA, vitamin C, total anthocyanins –TACY, total phenolics - TPC and total antioxidant capacity - TAC). The results showed that cv. ‘Quicky’ started to ripen earliest, while cv. ‘Aprica’ was the latest in both experimental years. The number of branch crowns per plant was significantly higher in cvs. ‘Sandra’ and ‘Lofty’, whereby cv. ‘Sandra’ had also the highest number of leaves per rosette (41.5) in comparison with the other tested cultivars. Cv. ‘Aprica’ was superior in terms of productivity (1061 g/plant and 4.67 kg/m2) accompanied by the largest fruit weight (29.9 g) and index of fruit shape (1.15). Contrary to this, the lowest yield potential was found in cv. ‘Mila’ (608 g/plant and 2.68 kg/m2). Cvs. ‘Lofty’ and ‘Sandra’ ranked the highest in terms of SSC and they are also characterized by a considerably high level of TPC (1.29 mg GAE eq g-1 FW) and TACY (24.4 mg pg-3-g eq100 g-1 FW ), respectively.&nbsp

Uticaj sive protivgradne mreže na kvalitet ploda borovnice (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) sorte "Bluecrop"

The main focus of our study was to investigate effects of the modified microclimate under a grey hail protection net (HPN) on biometrical fruit characteristics (fruit weight, index of fruit shape, and seed number per fruit) and nutritional value (soluble solid content - SSC, titratable acidity - TA, total anthocyanins - TACY, total phenolics - TPH and total antioxidant capacity - TAC) of the 'Bluecrop' highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The study was conducted in the 'Bluecrop' highbush blueberry plantation located in Mladenovac (Serbia) during two consecutive years (2013, 2014). The orchard was established using two-year-old nursery trees in spring 2011, at a planting density of 3,300 bushes per ha. The grey polyethylene net (SILVERLUX®, Helios Group, Lurano, Italy) with a Leno wave structure and a mesh size of 2.8 x 8 mm was used. During the research period, light intensity was measured weekly at 12.00 hr using a digital lux-meter 'Peak teck' PT-5025 (Germany). Air temperature and relative humidity within the canopy were recorded using climate dataloggers (type DT-171, Shenzhen Flus Technology Co., Ltd, China) both under HPN and in the open field (OF). Twelve readings per treatment were taken at 2-hour intervals every day in each season. In both years of observation, light was reduced by 5-20% under HPN, whereby daily maximum temperature was 2.4°C lower causing 4% higher daily minimum relative air humidity than in OF. 'Bluecrop' had significantly higher average fruit weights under HPN ranging from 1.93 g (2013) to 1.86 g (2014) in comparison to those observed in OF. The SSC did not differ between the treatments in 2014, whereas a significantly higher mean value was registered in the fruits harvested under HPN (12.8%) compared to those from OF in 2013. The mean TA was higher under HPN in 2014 (0.57%), whereas in 2013 a significantly higher TA content was found in OF (0.87%). HPN showed a positive effect on the TPH content (7.12 mg GA/g FW), but an almost 2-fold higher value was registered in 2013. Similar to this, TAC was 2.5-fold higher in 2013, without a significant effect of HPN in both experimental years.U ovom radu su ispitivani efekti izmenjene mikroklime pod sivom protivgradnom mrežom (PGM) na fizičke osobine ploda (masa ploda, indeks oblika ploda i broj semenki u plodu) i nutritivnu vrednost (sadržaj rastvorljive suve materije - RSM, ukupnih kiselina i ukupnih fenola, kao i ukupni antioksidativni kapacitet ploda) sorte borovnice "Bluecrop" (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Ispitivanja su izvedena u periodu 2013-2014. godina, u zasadu borovnice koji se nalazi u blizini Mladenovca. Zasad je podignut u proleće 2011. godine sa trogodišnjim sadnicama i gustinom sadnje od 3.300 žbunova po ha. Primenjena je siva PGM (SILVERLUX®, Helios Group, Lurano, Italy), težine 48 g/m2, sa veličinom otvora 2,8 x 8 mm. Tokom perioda ispitivanja, intenzitet svetlosti je meren jedanput nedeljno u 12 h korišćenjem luks metra "Peak teck" PT-5025 (Germany). Temperatura i relativna vlažnost vazduha su merene uređajem za evidentiranje podataka (engl. data logger, DT-171, Shenzhen Flus Technology Co., Ltd, China) na svaka 2 h pod PGM i na otvorenom polju (kontrolni tretman) od početka cvetanja do kraja zrenja borovnice u obe ispitivane godine. Intenzitet svetlosti pod PGM je bio u proseku smanjen za 5-20% u obe eksperimentalne godine. Dnevne maksimalne temperature bile su za 2,4 oC niže pod PGM uslovljavajući za 4% višu minimalnu dnevnu relativnu vlažnost vazduha u poređenju sa otvorenim poljem. Značajno veća prosečna vrednost mase ploda kod ispitivane sorte borovnice registrovana je pod PGM u poređenju sa otvorenim poljem, i kretala se od 1,93 g (2013) do 1,86 g (2014). Sadržaj RSM se nije značajno razlikovao između tretmana u 2014. godini, dok je u 2013. godini značajno povećanje registrovano u plodovima koji su ubrani pod PGM (12,8%) u poređenju sa otvorenim poljem (11,6%). Prosečna vrednost sadržaja ukupnih kiselina je bila veća pod PGM u 2014. godini (0,57%), dok je u 2013. godini značajno veći sadržaj pronađen u plodovima ubranim na otvorenom polju (0,87%). PGM je ispoljila pozitivan efekat na sadržaj ukupnih fenola (7,12 mg galne kis. g-1sv.m.pl.), međutim skoro dva puta viša vrednost je bila registrovana u 2013. godini. Slično sadržaju ukupnih fenola, ukupni antioksidativni kapacitet ploda je bio za 2,5 puta veći u 2013. godini, bez značajnog uticaja PGM u obe ispitivane godine

Maltose-mediated, long-term stabilization of freeze- and spray-dried forms of bovine and porcine hemoglobin

Slaughterhouse blood represents a valuable source of hemoglobin, which can be used in the production of heme-iron based supplements for the prevention/treatment of iron-deficiency anemia. In order to obtain a stable solid-state formulation, the effect of maltose addition (30 %) on the stability and storage of bovine and porcine hemoglobin in powders obtained by spray-and freeze-drying (without maltose: Hb; with maltose: HbM) were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry of spray- and freeze-dried powders indicated satisfying quality of the formulation prepared with maltose on dissolving back into solution. After two-year storage at room temperature (20 +/- 5 degrees C) in solid forms, protected from moisture and light, rehydrated spray- and freeze- dried HbM were red, while Hb were brown. Dynamic light scattering showed the presence of native hemoglobin monomers in rehydrated spray- and freeze- dried HbM, but their agglomerates in Hb samples. UV-Vis spectrophotometry confirmed an absence of significant hemoglobin denaturation and methemoglobin formation in HbM freeze-dried powders. In spray-dried HbM, an increased level of methemoglobin was detected. The results confirmed the stabilizing effect of maltose, and suggested its use in the production of long-term stable solid-state formulations of hemoglobin, along with drying processes optimization

Variranje sadržaja zdravstveno korisnih komponenti u plodu borovnice povezano sa različitim načinima ishrane u sistemu gajenja u supstratu

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the content of total anthocyanins (TACY), total phenolics (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of the fruit of 'Bluecrop' highbush blueberry grown under different nutrient management practices in a soilless production system. A field study was carried out in a highbush blueberry plantation situated near Belgrade (Serbia), during the period of 2016-2017. The orchard was planted in the spring of 2016 in 50 l polypropylene pots with 5-year-old nursery plants. Each pot was filled with the mix of pine sawdust (60%), white peat (30%) and perlite (10%), and placed at a distance of 0.8 m within the row and 3.0 m between the rows (4,170 bushes ha-1 ). The following fertilizer treatments were evaluated: 1. organic fertilizers (Org); 2. mineral fertilizers (Min) and 3. a combination of organic and mineral fertilizers (Org-Min). Soluble NPK fertilizers were applied with irrigation water, whereas granulated mineral and pelleted organic fertilizers were mixed with the substrate. Fruit samples were collected in triplicate at the beginning of ripening, full maturity and the end of the harvest season. No significant effect of harvest time on each of the tested parameters was observed, whereas the content of TACY did not even differ under various fertilizer treatments. TPC in the fruit significantly increased in Org and Org-Min treatments (139.8 and 139.3 mg eq GA 100 g-1 FW, respectively) compared to Min treatment (122.7 mg eq GA 100 g-1 FW), while a considerably high TAA level was found only in berries under Org-Min treatment (0.53 mg asc g-1 FW).Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se odredi i uporedi sadržaj ukupnih antocijana i ukupnih fenola, kao i antioksidativna aktivnost u plodu sorte visokožbunaste borovnice 'Bluecrop' gajene u supstratu pod uticajem različitih načina ishrane. Poljsko istraživanje je izvedeno u proizvodnom zasadu borovnice koji se nalazi u blizini Beograda (Srbija), tokom perioda 2016-2017. godine. Zasad je podignut u proleće 2016. godine sadnjom petogodišnjih biljaka u saksije od polipropilenske folije zapremine 50 l. Svaka saksija je ispunjena supstratnom smešom sastavljenom od strugotine četinara (60%), belog treseta (30%) i perlita (10%). Primenjeno rastojanje sadnje je 0,8 m u redu i 3,0 m između redova (4.170 žbunova po ha). Ispitivana je primena sledećih đubriva: 1. organska đubriva (Org); 2. mineralna đubriva (Min) i 3. kombinovana primena organskih i mineralnih đubriva (OrgMin). Rastvorljiva NPK đubriva su primenjivana kroz sistem za navodnjavanje, dok su granulisana mineralna i peletirana organska đubriva mešana sa supstratom. Uzorci plodova su uzimani u 3 ponavljanja na početku, sredini i na kraju sezone berbe. Vreme berbe nije ispoljilo značajan uticaj na testirane parametre, dok se sadržaj ukupnih antocijana nije razlikovao čak ni pod uticajem primenjenih đubriva. Sadržaj ukupnih fenola u plodu bio je značajno povećan u Org i Org-Min tretmanima (139,8, odnosno 139,3 mg ekv. gal. kis./100 g sv.m.pl.), dok je značajno veća ukupna antioksidativna aktivnost ustanovljena u plodovima iz OrgMin tretmana (0,53 mg ask./g sv.m.pl.)

Profiling antioxidant activity of two primocane fruiting red raspberry cultivars (Autumn bliss and Polka)

Fruit extracts of two raspberry (Rubus idaeus L) cultivars (Autumn Bliss and Polka) were analysed for total phenolic (TPC) and anthocyanin (TACY) content. Correlation of TPC with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) showed higher free-radical scavenging properties of Autumn Bliss (r(2) = 0.9999) compared to Polka (r(2) = 0.8972). Correlation coefficient between TACY and TAC were higher in Autumn Bliss (r(2) = 0.9939) compared to Polka fruits (r(2) = 0.8419). Although total protein concentrations were similar in both cultivars (similar to 0.35 mg mL(-1)), activities of peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases were much higher in Polka, which were confirmed with isoelectric focusing in cationic (pl 9.3) and anionic (pl 3.6) range. HPLC detection showed that among detected flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, rutin, myricetin, resveratrol, quercetin and kaempferol) epicatechin appears to be the most abundant compound. Chlorogenic, caffeic and p-coumaric acid were also detected. The results indicate that the changes in enzymes activities related to content of substrates play an important role in nutrient quality definition of raspberry fruits

Prohexadione-Ca and young cane removal treatments control growth, productivity, and fruit quality of the Willamette raspberry

Plant growth retardants' applications have a practical use in fruit production, generally resulting in better vegetative growth and cropping level balance. Foliar applications of the gibberellin synthesis inhibitor prohexadione-Ca (ProCa), removal of young canes, and the combination of these treatments were evaluated in the Willamette raspberry (Rubus idaeus L). The experiment consisted of 5 treatments, including 1 untreated control. ProCa was applied during the period of April May, as a foliar spray at active ingredient concentrations of 100 ppm (first application) and 200 ppm (second application) at a 3-week interval, either in treatment with ProCa alone or in combination with young cane removal (R+ProCa). The first series of young primocanes were removed for the first time in mid-April (R and R+ProCa) and for the second time at the beginning of May (2R). Application of a growth retardant resulted in the inhibition of the cane's growth, followed by increasing the number of nodes per meter of cane. Positive effects of ProCa and R+ProCa on the number of fruiting laterals and yields per floricane were found without negative consequences on fruit quality, except for a reduction of total acidity. All treatments increased yield per cane. Total antioxidant capacity, total phenolics, and anthocyanin contents were significantly increased using ProCa

A comparison of major taste- and health-related compounds of Vaccinium berries

The chemical fruit composition, phenolic profile, and corresponding total antioxidant activity of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and 2 commercial blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum) were analyzed. Results from this study showed that cultivar Berkeley yielded the highest glucose and fructose contents (70.8 and 88.8 mg/g FW, respectively), and the sweetness index expressed a similar trend, achieving the highest value for cultivar Berkeley (279.2). Citric acid was the major organic acid in the berries tested. V myrtillus yielded a total organic acids value 2-fold higher (0.35 mg/g FW) as well as the highest vitamin C content (25.8 mg/100 g FW). Among the flavonols measured, myricetin was most abundant in V myrtillus (10.7 mu g/g FW), whereas the highest amounts of kaempferol and quercetin were detected in the blueberry cultivar Bluecrop (4.75 and 9.11 mu g/g FW, respectively). Despite the challenge of characterizing phenolic acids due to the complexity and natural variation in fruit composition, this study confirms that cultivars of V corymbosum are rich sources of chlorogenic acid, particularly cultivar Bluecrop (71.2 mu g/g FW). Nevertheless, total phenolics were higher in V myrtillus than in the cultivated blueberries, and consequently the highest level of total antioxidant capacity was recorded in wild bilberry (6.16 mg asc/g FW). This semicomprehensive study characterizes the fruit quality attributes and illustrates differences in the content of taste- and health-related compounds present in these Vaccinium berries

Phenolic Profiling of 12 Strawberry Cultivars Using Different Spectroscopic Methods

Phenolic compounds of 12 strawberry cultivars were profiled using spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, coupled with multivariate regression analysis. Total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and total antioxidant capacity (TPC, TACY, and TAC, respectively) and concentrations of individual phenolics were evaluated, and the multivariate statistic was employed to identify the most promising cultivars based on their phenolic content. According to the principal component analysis, TAC was strongly correlated with the TPC (0.81), pointing out its importance in overall antioxidant activity. 'Joly', 'Laetitia', and 'Asia' cultivars were distinguished from others as the richest in concerning identified anthocyanins, almost all flavonoids and phenolic acids. Multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares indicated the presence of two main types of fluorophores assigned to anthocyanins and phenolics, in which emission spectral ratios also showed the highest values in the referred cultivars. These cultivars could be recommended to consumers in terms of the health functionality of fruit