Selenium content increasing in the seeds of garden pea after foliar biofortification

Selenium plays an important role as an antioxidant in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Content of selenium in the crops is constantly in the spotlight of professional public. Vegetables, as an important source of chemo protective substances, have irreplaceable position within the food of plant character. The aim of research work was to solve the Se content increasing in the seeds of garden pea (varieties Premium and Ambassador) through the foliar biofortification of the plants (50 g Se / ha and 100 g Se / ha) and to monitor its effect on production of photosynthetic pigments. In the seeds of fresh garden pea, the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content was determined by spectrophotometer depending on a variety and the doses of selenium. In lyophilized seeds there was measured content of selenium by ET-AAS methods. The statistically significant increase of selenium was confirmed with its increasing concentrations in case of both varieties. In the var. Ambassador there was increasing from 0.083 ±0.009 mg.kg-1 DM to 4.935 ±0.598 mg.kg-1 DM (60-fold) and in a var. Premium the values increase from 0.067±0.007 mg.kg-1 DM to 3.248 ±0.289 mg.kg-1 DM (48-fold) after application of 100 g Se / ha. After application of 50 g Se / ha in both varieties of peas there was reported 25-fold increasing in the selenium content in comparison with control. The content of photosynthetic pigments was also increased, or possibly left at level of un-fortificated variant (chla - Ambassador - 50 g Se / ha; chlb - Premium - 100 g Se / ha) by foliar biofortification. Chlorophyll a content was high significantly increased according to used statistical methods in varieties Premium, from the content of 24.527 ±5.156 mg.kg-1 FM to 66.953 ±6.454 mg.kg-1 FM, likewise the content of chlorophyll b from the value of 19.708 ±5.977 mg.kg-1 FM to 37.488 ±6.146 mg.kg-1 FM (after 50 g / ha application).  Foliar biofortification of different vegetable species can provide large-scale intake of minerals with antioxidant properties for human as well as an increase of certain biologically active substances as a result of their synergie

Total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity changes in dependence on chosen garden pea varieties

The green pea is ranged between the crops with high antioxidant potential. This potential is connected with phytochemical components mainly with polyphenols. All these bioactive chemicals have disease - fighting properties. In real human diet there is no usually possibility of fresh garden pea consumption during the whole year. The total polyphenol content is significantly changed among other things by processing methods. Focus on variety, bio-fortification and other specific agricultural inputs, could be the right method of total polyphenol contents and total antioxidant capacity increasing. The main objective of the present work was to consider the changes of total polyphenols content in dependence on variety and to evaluate an antioxidant potential six garden pea varieties arranged by the ripening point of view. Variety “Exzeleus” belongs to very early type, ́Premium ́ is early maturing,”Flavora” is middle ripening variety and the last three varieties “Utrio”, “Jumbo” and “Ambassador” are middle late types of varieties. Every variety was grown in four replications, i.e. on 24 m2 total plot in Botanical garden of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra during 2013. Total polyphenols were determined by the Lachmans method and expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalent per kg fresh mater. Total antioxidant capacity was measured by the Brand - Williams method using a compound DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-pikrylhydrazyl)). The highest value was reached in case of variety “Jumbo” 1179.995±28.081 mg/kg, the lowest value in case of “Premium” 674.505 ±26.541 mg/kg. When evaluating an antioxidant capacity in chosen varieties of garden pea, the interval estimated by our trail ranged from 0.523 ±0.206% (“Exzeleus”) to 6.844 ±0.591% (“Flavora”) Following the both observed parameters, TPC and TAC, variety “Flavora” (as a member of middle ripening varieties) seems to be the most optimal from the human nutrition point of view. The various varieties had significant influence on TPC and TAC according to used statistical analyzes. Within the all observed varieties, when they were arranged by ripening, there was estimated significant difference only in case of garden pea varieties early – middle late. Other couples didn’t show any statistical important differences in total polyphenol content

Less-known Leaf Vegetables Grown in Slovak Republic Conditions: New Sources of Antioxidants

The goal of this study was to determine the content of bioactive substances (chlorophyll, carotenoids, vitamin C) in less-known leafy vegetable species, such as Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. Et Coss.), mibuna (Brassica rapa ssp. japonica Makino) and mizuna (Brassica rapa ssp. nipposinica (Bailey) Hanelt). Within study, two cultivars of Chinese mustard were tested, concretely cv. Ruby Streaks (purple leaves) and cv. Spicy Green (green leaves). The field experiment was realised on the land of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in 2014 and 2015. The highest content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, as the biologically most active chlorophyll types, was found in mibuna leaves. The Chinese mustard cv. Ruby Streaks was shown as the richest source of total carotenoids. The highest vitamin C content was found in leaves of Chinese mustard cv. Spicy Green. Compared to the typical leafy species like spinach, all tested less-known vegetable species were indicated as the comparable sources of chlorophyll. The content of other tested substances, such as carotenoids and vitamin C, was even higher than results presented in studies of several authors with spinach

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) growing in conditions of southern Slovak republic

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) belongs to very important crops from aspect of its world production. It is grown in large areas in Asia, on the contrary, sweet potato production in Europe presents minimal part of its total world rate. The sweet potato is less-known crop, grown only on small area in home gardens in Slovak Republic. Tubers of sweet potato are characterized by anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative properties due to the presence of valuable health-promoting components, such as carotenoids or vitamin C. The main objective of study was testing of sweet potato growing in conditions of southern Slovak Republic with focus on quantity and quality of its yield. The field trial was realised on land of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in 2015. Within trial, effect of cultivar and mulching on the selected quantitative (average tuber weight; yield per plant; yield in t.ha-1) and qualitative (total carotenoids; vitamin C) parameters were tested. One certified cultivar of sweet potato 'Beauregard' was used as a comparative cultivar. Other two cultivars were marked according to the market place at which were purchased and sequentially used for seedling preparation. Tubers of first un-known cultivar were purchased in the Serbian market (marked as 'Serbian'). Tubers of next sweet potato cultivar were purchased on the market in Zagreb (marked as 'Zagrebian'). Outplating of sweet potato seedlings were realised on the 19th May 2015. The sweet potato was grown by hillock system. Each cultivar was planted in two variants (rows): non-mulching (bare soil) and mulching by black non-woven textile. All variants were divided to three replications with 6 plants. Difference between rows was 1.20 m and seedlings were planted in distance of 0.30 m in row. The harvested tubers were classified in two size classes: &gt;150 g (marketable yield) and &lt;150 g (non-marketable yield). Total carotenoid content was determined spectrophotometrically. The vitamin C content was measured chromatographically (HPLC). The highest values of average tuber weight, yield per plant and total yield (t.ha-1) were found in cultivar 'Serbian'. Statistical analysis showed statistically significant difference in all yield quantitative parameters of cultivar 'Serbian' against cultivars 'Beauregard' and 'Zagrebian'. The highest content of total carotenoids was determined in cultivar 'Serbian' (99.52 mg.kg-1 fresh weight) with orange-creme flesh color, followed by cultivar 'Beauregard' (94.78 mg.kg-1) with orange flesh color and cultivar 'Zagrebian' (28.79 mg.kg-1) with yellow-creme flesh color. Differences among all cultivars were showed as statistically significant. The highest vitamin C content was detected in tubers of cultivar 'Serbian' (155.70 mg.kg-1), followed by cultivar 'Beauregard' (154.37 mg.kg-1) and cultivar 'Zagrebian' (146.33 mg.kg-1). Statistical analysis confirmed differences among cultivars as statistically non-significant. The mulching of sweet potato plants had statistically significant impact to all quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sweet potato. The application of black non-woven textile resulted in increase of average tuber weight, tuber yield and vitamin C content in sweet potato tubers. On the contrary, higher total carotenoid content was found in non-mulching variant compared to the variant with mulching.&nbsp;&nbsp; <!--[endif] --

Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of Serbian tomato varieties grown in conditions of Slovak republic

The aim of submitted article was to estimate qualitative and quantitative characteristic of Serbian tomato varieties grown in conditions of Slovak republic and to compare the results with control tomato variety and evaluate their potential for the Slovak market. There were included 6 Serbian tomato varieties: &acute;Fantom VFCTm F1&acute;, &acute;Marathon ASVF F1&acute;, &acute;Honey Heart VF F1&acute;, &acute;Uragan SVF F1&acute;, &acute;Kazanova F1 VF&acute;, &acute;Dinka F1&acute; and &acute;Tornado F1&acute; in control variant, which is wide spread in Slovak tomato production. As qualitative characteristic for every variety total yields (in kg) per every plant, total number of harvested fruits (in pieces for each plant) and average weight of one fruit in kg were evaluated. In Department of vegetable growing laboratory qualitative characteristics in case of all chosen tomato varieties were estimated (included firmness of fruits, total carotenoids estimation, ascorbic acid estimation). Serbian varieties reached lower total yields per plant. From the &acute;fruit weight&acute; point of view they created more or less homogenous group of bigger and heavier fruits in comparison with &acute;Tornado F1&acute; and statistically significant homogenous group when focusing on total number of fruits per plant in comparison with &acute;Tornado F1&acute; variety. Differences between control variant and chosen Serbian varieties were even more considerable in case of qualitative characteristics, where &acute;Tornado F1&acute; reached the lowest values in case of all observed characteristics - firmness of fruits, total carotenoids and ascorbic acid content. According to increasing importance of antioxidants in human diet, all tested Serbian varieties appeared to be very interesting for Slovak consumers from following both qualitative and quantitative characteristics.<!--[endif] --