MANGANESE POLLUTION IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY

Introduction and objective: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for the plant and it is necessary for maintain physiological processes, notably photosynthesis, but its higher content in the soil may negative affect the plant, and consequently human health. The objective of this study was to examine the Mn accumulation in edible parts of tested food crops growing on soils near two Mn ore deposits in Bužim municipality (active Mn mine Bužim and Mn ore deposits Radostovo). Methods: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine Mn content in soils and edible parts of different food crops; onions, cabbage strawberry, garlic, potato, pepper, beans and raspberry. Results: The content of Mn available forms, and accumulation in edible parts of examined food crops was significantly higher in soils in the area around Mn mine Bužim although the content of the total Mn in the soils at the site Radostovo were much higher. Considering that soils in the area around Mn mine Bužim are much more acidic than soils at the site Radostovo, it is evident that soil pH is one of the key factors in the assessment of Mn availability in soil. The results of study also showed that the content of Mn in edible parts of all tested food crops did not exceed the toxic value for Mn in plants (400 mg/kg). Conclusions: From the point of view of soil pollution with Mn, both examined sites can be considered suitable for production of healthy food

Heavy Metals Concentration in Greenhouse Soil Used in Intensive Cucumber Production (Cucumis sativus L.)

Heavy metal contamination is one of the most important issues regarding the pollution of agricultural soils. Among heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are of great concern, because they are toxic to organisms at low concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in a greenhouse soil-plant system under intensive cucumber production. The experiment was conducted  in a greenhouse located at the Srebrenik municipality, in the north-eastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in soil and plant samples. The concentration of total Cr and Ni in the examined greenhouse soil was higher than the permissible values established by the legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while concentrations of Cd and Pb did not exceed the permissible values determined by the same legislation. The concentration of available forms of all examined heavy metals in the tested soil as well as in edible parts of the cucumber was low regardless. These results indicate that the assessment of total heavy metals concentration in soils (to the contrary of the assessment of their available forms) is generally deficient in providing reliable information on the contamination of soil by heavy metals, and thus the suitability of such soils for cucumber production

MANGANESE POLLUTION IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY

Introduction and objective: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for the plant and it is necessary for maintain physiological processes, notably photosynthesis, but its higher content in the soil may negative affect the plant, and consequently human health. The objective of this study was to examine the Mn accumulation in edible parts of tested food crops growing on soils near two Mn ore deposits in Bužim municipality (active Mn mine Bužim and Mn ore deposits Radostovo). Methods: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine Mn content in soils and edible parts of different food crops; onions, cabbage strawberry, garlic, potato, pepper, beans and raspberry. Results: The content of Mn available forms, and accumulation in edible parts of examined food crops was significantly higher in soils in the area around Mn mine Bužim although the content of the total Mn in the soils at the site Radostovo were much higher. Considering that soils in the area around Mn mine Bužim are much more acidic than soils at the site Radostovo, it is evident that soil pH is one of the key factors in the assessment of Mn availability in soil. The results of study also showed that the content of Mn in edible parts of all tested food crops did not exceed the toxic value for Mn in plants (400 mg/kg). Conclusions: From the point of view of soil pollution with Mn, both examined sites can be considered suitable for production of healthy food

Enhancement of Antioxidant Properties of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.), Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by Application of Natural Biostimulants

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of seaweed extract (Algaren), nettle extract and microbial biostimulant (Slavol) on total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of leaves of lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The experimental trial was set up in a randomized block design with four biostimulant treatments in three replications. The first application of biostimulant was carried out immediately after the transplanting of seedlings, and the second and third treatments 15 and 30 days later, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and ferric-reducing/ antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of each leaf extract. The nettle extract was found to be the most effective in increasing total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in leaves of studied plants. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts was in line with total phenolics/flavonoids, regardless of plant species and biostimulant treatments, suggesting that phenolic compounds greatly contribute to antioxidant capacity of studied plants

The Effect of Grafting on Calcium Influx in Tomato Fruits under Salt Stress Conditions

Two commercial tomato cultivars were used to determine whether grafting could prevent decrease of Ca2+ concentration under salt stress conditions. The cultivars Buran F1 and Berberana F1 were grafted onto rootstock "Maxifort" and grown under three levels of the elevated soil salinity (S1 EC 3.80 dS m-1, S2 6.95 dS m-1 and S3 9.12 dS m-1). Ca2+ concentration of non-grafted plants of both examined hybrids was lower at all salinity levels in comparison to the control. In the fruits of grafted plants salt stress significantly decreased Ca2+ concentration only at the third salinity level (EC 9.12 dS m-1). The possibility of grafting tomato plants to improve influx of Ca2+ under salt stress conditions is discussed

Enhancement of Antioxidant Properties of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.), Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by Application of Natural Biostimulants

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of seaweed extract (Algaren), nettle extract and microbial biostimulant (Slavol) on total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of leaves of lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The experimental trial was set up in a randomized block design with four biostimulant treatments in three replications. The first application of biostimulant was carried out immediately after the transplanting of seedlings, and the second and third treatments 15 and 30 days later, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and ferric-reducing/ antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of each leaf extract. The nettle extract was found to be the most effective in increasing total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in leaves of studied plants. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts was in line with total phenolics/flavonoids, regardless of plant species and biostimulant treatments, suggesting that phenolic compounds greatly contribute to antioxidant capacity of studied plants

Uticaj različitih stimulatora na parametre razvoja kadifice (Tagetes patula L.)

Kadifica (Tagetes patula L.) se ubraja u grupu jednogodišnjih cvjetnih kultura, a zbog svojih dekorativnih osobina posljednjih godina zauzima sve veći udio u proizvodnom asortimanu proizvođača cvijeća u Bosni i Hercegovini.Sve veća potražnja za rasadom kadifice nameće potrebu intenziviranja njene proizvodnje i podizanje njene kvalitete, a jedan od načina kojim se to pokušava postići je primjena različitih stimulatora rasta. Cilj ovog rada je bio ispitati uticaj stimulatora rasta Bio-algeena S-92, Slavola i Ergonfilla na parametre rasta i razvoja kadifice (Tagetes patulaL.). Od parametara rasta i razvoja kadifice u ovom istraživanju ispitivani su: sadržaj pigmenta u listovima i površina listova, te prečnik cvijeta i broj cvjetnih glavica po biljci. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da ni jedan od primijenjenih stimulatora rasta nije iskazao statistički značajan uticaj na povećanje estetski važnih parametara kvaliteta cvijeća: prečnika cvijeta i broja cvjetnih glavica na biljci iz čega se može zaključiti da kadifica nije zahtjevna kultura za uzgoj jer je u stanju uspješno razviti svoje cvjetove čak i ako joj se u toku uzgoja ne dodaju stimulatori rasta. Preduslov za ostvarenje navedenog je da supstrat u kojem se kadifice uzgajaju svojim fizičkim i hemijskim karakteristikama zadovoljava sve kriterije potrebne biljkama za njihov uspješan rast i razvoj

Uticaj primjene različitih biljnih hormona na parametre kvaliteta presadnica paprike (Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'Sivrija')

Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio ispitati uticaj primjene različitih koncentracija sintetski proizvedenih biljnih hormonana parametre razvoja presadnica paprike (Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'Sivrija'). Biljni hormoni korišteni u ovom ogledu bili su indol-sirćetna kiselina (IAA), indol-butilna kiselina (IBA) i benzil adenin (BA), a svaki od njih primijenjen je u pet različitih koncentracija: 100, 300, 500, 1000 i 3000 mg l-1.Od parametara kvaliteta presadnica paprike u ovom istraživanju ispitivani su: masa svježe tvari korijena, broj korijenovih dlačica po jedinici površine korijena, površina listova, te sadržaj fotosintetskih pigmenata u listovima.Najveći uticaj na povećanje ispitivanih parametara kvaliteta presadnica paprike je iskazala primjenahormonaIAA i IBA u koncentracijama 100 i 300 mg l-1 , te se iste preporučuju za primjenu kod uzgoja presadnica paprike (Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'Sivrija').U varijantama gdje su hormoni IAA, IBA i BA primijenjeniu koncentracijama od 500 i više mg l-1 mlade presadnice paprike nisu uspjele nastaviti svoj životni ciklus, te je došlo do njihovog venuća, što se može objasniti činjenicom da previsoka koncentracija hormona može iskazati i herbicidni učinak na biljku, posebno u ranim stadijima razvoja biljke

A Comparison of Antioxidant Properties of Two Apple Cultivars

The apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) possesses a number of health-promoting properties. The main beneficial effects of apple fruits on human health are associated with the antioxidant properties of components synthesising in apple fruits during their growth and development. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are such components that contribute significantly to the antioxidant capacity of fruits, thus enhancing their health properties. The purpose of this study is to compare the antioxidant properties (namely antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic and flavonoid contents) of the ‘Idared’ and ‘Braeburn’ apple cultivars, grown under optimal growing conditions in the Goražde area. Ascorbic acid contents were estimated using the 2.6-dichlorophenolindophenol titration method, whereas total phenolics were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Furthermore, total flavonoids were determined using the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay, whereas the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay was used to determine the total antioxidant capacity of the apple fruits examined. The average values of the ascorbic acid, the total phenolic and flavonoids contents, and the total antioxidant capacity of the ‘Idared’ apples under consideration were 8.09 mg 100 g−1, 34.56 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1, 12.62 mg catechin equivalents 100 g−1 and 323.28 μmol Fe2+ 100 g−1of fresh weight, respectively. The average values of the total phenolic and flavonoids contents, as well as the antioxidant capacity of the ‘Braeburn’ apples examined were as follows: 8.89 mg 100 g−1, 33.4 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1, 13.56 mg catechin equivalents 100 g−1 and 367.01 μmol Fe2+ 100 g−1 of fresh weight, respectively. The analyses performed indicate that the differences recorded in the parameter values between the apple cultivars ‘Idared’ and ‘Braeburn’ were statistically non-significant. A correlation data analysis confirmed that phenolic compounds are the carriers of the antioxidant activity of apples

Biostimulants’ influence on tomato fruit characteristics at conventional and low-input NPK regime

Plant biostimulants are commercial products based on different chemical substances used to enhance plant growth and productivity. The effects of biostimulants, Megafol and Viva, with different dominant compositions (amino acids and humic acids) on two tomato cultivars (cv. Gravitet F1 and cv. Minaret F1) exposed to conventional and low-input macronutrient nutrition were investigated. Application of both biostimulants positively affected yield at conventional nutrition. In low-input nutrition variant, biostimulant application prevented yield loss only in cv. Minaret F1. Inter-cultivar differences were noticed in fruit characteristics (total phenol content, total flavonoids content and total antioxidative capacity) where application of biostimulants leads to opposite results in the examined cultivars. We considered the possibility of biostimulant usage as an effective nutritional addition for overcoming the problem of excessive fertilisation