EJPAU, 2004, Volume 7, Issue 1
Horticulture

The paper aimed at estimating the genetic improvement in yield and some quality traits of globose and slightly flattened cultivars of red garden beet listed in Poland during the years 1988-1999. The method of deviations from a check was used. The calculations were based on the results of cultivar testing conducted by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka. A significant genetic improvement of 0.55%/yr. was achieved in marketable yield. The genetic gain in betanin content amounted to 0.78%/yr. and vulgaxanthine to 1.33%/yr. However, the content of dry matter decreased at an annual rate of –0.77% and of sugar at the rate of -1.12%/yr. The content of nitrates negatively increased by 0.74%/yr. Depending on the trait analysed approximately 17% - 30% of the total improvement could be attributed to genetic factors.

Saprol 190 EC (trifryna) and Rubigan 12 EC (fenarimol) were diluted in 6 types of water without any addition of adjuvants, and they were applied against powdery mildew on roses in field cultivation. Only the emulsions of fungicides diluted in the water from Poznań were prepared with any addition of a surfactant (Citoewtt AL). Generally, no significant effect of the water type on the efficacy of fungicides against powdery mildew on roses was found. Slightly better results of rose protection were obtained when for the dilution of Saprol 190 EC very soft waters (distilled water and water after reverse osmosis) and well water from Szczepankowo were used. On the other hand, in case of Rubigan 12 EC, better results were obtained with very hard waters (hardened and well water from Koœcian i Œmigiel) and well water from Szczepankowo. An essential influence on the increase of fungicides effectiveness was exerted by the addition of a surfactant (Citowett AL).

Strawberry plants of ‘Senga Sengana’ cv. obtained in vitro from axillary (K-V0) and adventitious (P-V0) shoots were compared with their runner progeny (K-V1 and P-V1, respectively) and with standard runner (S, control) plants under field conditions. No differences were found in leaf shape and colour. In the planting year, in vitro obtained plants, both ‘K-V0’ and ‘P-V0’, developed significantly more crowns and runners while compared to other groups. Such differences, especially in runners’ number were not observed in the next two years. Flowering behaviour was appreciably influenced by propagation method. In the planting year, all in vitro propagated plants and about 80% their runner progeny flowered contrary to control (the only 3% plants). Every year ‘V0’ plants developed significantly more inflorescences than other studied groups. Plants obtained in vitro produced bigger fruits and higher yield than other groups in the first two years. However, a

The experiment tested the following entomopathogenic fungi isolated by the method of bait insects: Beauveria bassiana (Bb), Metarhizium anisopliae (Ma) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Pf), which were obtained from a cultivated field (Bb I, Ma I, Pf I) and from a herbicide fallow belt (Bb II, Ma II, Pf II) in an apple orchard with a full program of plant protection. The fungi were inoculated on Sabouraud’s medium with an addition of fungicides: Atemi C 76 WG, Delan 700 WG, Captan 50 WP and Rubigan 12 EC in the following doses: one recommended in agricultural practice – (A), 10 times lower than the recommended one – (B) and 100 times lower than the recommended one (C). The studies showed that the effect of fungicides on entomopathogenic fungi was related to the active substance of the preparations while the toxic effect was most frequently directly proportional to their concentration in the soil. Fungus M. anisopliae was the most sensitive to the applied

The chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were used as a method of assessing the influence of Tetranychus urticae feeding on photosynthetic apparatus of ‘Lobo’ and ‘Jester’ apple cultivars. The photochemical efficiency measured with such parameters like: the initial fluorescence (F₀), the maximum fluorescence (F_m), the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (F_v/F_m), and the area under the fluorescence curve (S_c) decreases continuously with increasing infestation by mites. The only parameter not influenced by mites feeding was the half-rise time from F₀ to F_m (T_fm). Antennas of both ‘Lobo’ and ‘Jester’ cvs. were similarly injured by mites (comparable decrease of F₀) but photochemical reactions of the harvested energy of ‘Jester’ leaves were less influenced by this pest (lower decrease for F_v/F_m). It suggests a higher tolerance of the photosynthetic apparatus of ‘

The North American species – Phyllonorycter robiniella (Clem.) – which mines the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L. was reported from Europe in 1993 for the first time. It was discovered in Poland in 1999. Caterpillars feeding cause premature leaf fall due to its desiccation, which negatively influence the aesthetic appearance of the trees.

The effect of the potato cultivation method (no covering, under Pegas Agro 17 agrotextile from planting to the plant height of 15 cm) and the level of nitrogen fertilization (without nitrogen, 30, 60, 90 kg Nˇha^-1) on the size and structure of the tuber yield of two very early potato cultivars (‘Aster’, ‘Drop’) was investigated. The potatoes were harvested after 60 and 75 days from planting.

In the years 1999-2001 at August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Poznań the selected characters of 18 local populations of bean (Phaseolus ssp.) were tested. These were dwarf types grown for dry seeds. The tested materials came from submontane areas of Poland, Slovak and Ukraine. As the standard, the Polish cultivar ‘Igołomska’ was used. The following characters were evaluated: plant height, height of setting of the first pod, beginning and length of the blooming period, time needed to get useful and physiological ripenesses, mean number of pods per plant, total seed yield per plant, pod’s length and width, thickness of the pod`s wall, numbers of seeds per pod, seed colour and 1000 seeds weight. The resistance to antracnose [Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. et Magn) Briosi] and halo blight [Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Burkh.) Young, Dye] were also evaluated. The tested materials` seeds were also evaluated for their tolerance to germination at 12&de

The studies concerned the effect of green manure and soil liming on the yielding of rooted celery, ‘Edward’ cv. Celeries were cultivated directly after organic fertilization. The plants intended for green manure were sown in July and they were ploughed over in October. The yielding of celery was related to the weather conditions in particular years of the experiment. The highest yields of celery were obtained in 2002. A significant influence on the yield of storage roots and the leaves of rooted celery was exerted by soil liming and the kind of applied organic fertilizer. A higher yield of callosities - both total and commercial – was obtained on the soil where the carbonate lime fertilizer was used. The best yields were obtained of celeries cultivated after ploughing in faba bean and manure. Green manure in the form of phacelia, rye and winter vetch had a similar or greater yield-forming effect than rye straw in the quantity of 6 tˇha^-1. Joint application of soil liming and orga

Free polyphenolic acids content in four cauliflower cultivars – ‘Panther’, ‘Isabel’ F₁, ‘Amfora’ F₁ (cultivars with green curds) and ‘Coleman’ (cultivar with a white curd) was examined in 2001-2002. Cauliflowers were grown for harvest in spring, summer or autumn. The influence of gas composition of atmosphere during 6-week storage in a cold store (at the ambient atmosphere and at CA 5% CO₂ + 3% O₂) on polyphenolic acids content in cauliflowers harvested in autumn was also examined. Polyphenolic acids content was affected by period of growing and cultivar. Their concentration varied from 1.2 to 1.8 mg·g^-1 of f.w. (means of the two years). The highest polyphenolic acids concentration was found in cv. ‘Amfora’ F₁ and the lowest in cv. ‘Coleman’. During storage of cauliflowers polyphenolic acids concentration decreased. However, CA conditions inhibited to some degree changes in polyphenolic acids concentration i