THE EFFECT OF SOME CULTIVATION CONDITIONS ON PROPERTIES OF LEAVES OF THE CONTAINER-PRODUCED SPECIES ALNUS GLUTINOSA (L.) GAERTN

Abstract JEZDINSKÝ, A., ŘEZNÍČEK, V: The eff ect of some cultivation conditions on properties of leaves of the containerproduced species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Plants diff er in their reactions to unfavourable environmental conditions and the eff ect of the acting factors directly and indirectly results in changes in a number of plants organs. The leaves are vegetative organs and as such they are completely exposed to external conditions. Most markedly these conditions aff ect the assimilative organs. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the eff ect of four substrates and two sites diff ering in light intensity on the leaf morphology of the model plant species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. The used substrates were the commercial peat-bark substrate (RKS II), sand and bark substrate. With these substrates the soil conditioner TerraCottem was applied at a rate of 5 g per one litre of the substrate. The experimental plants were grown in 2-litre containers. The focus of evaluations of the individual treatments was on some leaf properties. TerraCottem showed that it had a positive eff ect also on the leaf area ratio and on leaf effi ciency. The number of leaves varied. The eff ect of the substrate and of the light intensity was identical; the latter parameter was strongly correlated with leaf weight. The shape of the leaves (leaf length/width ratio) and the SLA index responded to the diff erent light intensities. Other parameters were calculated from the results of the measured values which specifi ed in greater detail the eff ect of the year, media, hydro absorbent and light. Treatments A3 (1 697.60 mm 2 ) and a conrol (1 708.10 mm 2 ) had the smallest leave area. These two treatmens signifi cantly statistically diff ered frome those in the shade location. In the 2005 year the highest values were measured at the treatment B1 (41.22 m

Agricultural practices, biology and quality of eggplant cultivated in Central Europe. A Review.

The eggplant is a warm-climate crop of high economic importance. In many Asian and Mediterranean countries, eggplants are essential components of everyday dishes, while in Central Europe they have become popular only in recent years. Eggplants are harvested at an immature stage and have low storage value; therefore, the sale of fruits in local markets requires an appropriate production strategy. In Poland, consumer demand for eggplants is currently met by imports and domestic production, which, until recently, has been carried out only in greenhouses, ensuring the availability of fresh fruits but resulting in high selling prices. The demand for eggplants is growing among Polish consumers, and, accordingly, field production is expected to gradually gain in importance due to the fruit’s profitability. Accordingly, the biology and farming practices of this warm-climate crop remain in the investigation phase in temperate climate. This review aims to report the status of current knowledge regarding the technologies affecting the biology, cultivation, and nutritional value of eggplant grown in temperate climatic zone