EJPAU, 2014, Volume 17, Issue 2

The experiment was conducted in 2008–2010 on the experimental field in Prusy near Krakow, a part of the Experimental Station of the Institute of Crop Production of the University of Agriculture in Krakow. The aim of the research was to compare the effect of diversified levels of nitrogen fertilization on grain yield, its structure and protein content in grain in two spring wheat cultivars. Diversified weather conditions during the period of investigations and the cultivar factor influenced the level of spring wheat yielding ability. Nitrogen fertilization caused a significant increase in grain yield to the dose of 90 kg N, at which the greatest grain yield was observed. Bigger doses of 120 and 150 kg of nitrogen did not cause any significant increase in the level of yield, on the contrary, a declining tendency in yielding was observed. Among the grain yield components only the number of ears per area unit remained under the influence of the weather conditions. The number of grains per ear and 1000 grain weight, remained similar as the number of ears depended on the cultivar. On the other hand, the level of nitrogen fertilization affected the increase in ear density and 1000 grain weight until the dose of 60 kg N∙ha^-1. It was concluded that protein content in grain depends on the prevailing weather conditions, cultivar and nitrogen fertilization levels. Among the compared cultivars, Bombona c.v. revealed a bigger protein accumulation in grain, which yielded lower than Tybalt c.v. Applied nitrogen doses caused increased protein content in grain within the range from 13.06 to 15.18% when the highest dose of 150 kg N∙ha^-1of nitrogen was applied.

In this paper we introduced an analysis of technological parameters of the mid-class harvesters John Deere 770D and Valmet 911.1. We focused on their production rate, movement and work in relation to ecological effects of their activity in forest stands. In the next part we offered a brief analysis of the economic efficiency of these mid-class harvesters in comparison with classic methods of timber harvesting and skidding in thinnings in mountainous terrains of Central Slovakia – Forest Enterprise Kriváň and Čierny Balog. We obtained primary data during the realization of premature logging in the thinning forest stands of the mountainous terrains. This work also contained a brief description of technical parameters of the harvesters and a proposal of an optimal or suboptimal technology in thinnings. The results confirmed the economic efficiency of presented harvesters in premature felling of conifer forest stands. Results of performances – Valmet 6.5 m³·h^-1 and John Deere 5.7 m³·h^-1 are comparable with the results of the others authors in similar production conditions.

Cultivation of indeterminate tomato in the field is one of the most intensive methods for obtaining fruits on the “fresh market”. Fruit harvest largely affects the inputs (labor) and are not regularly carried out. The frequency of harvest depends on the number and ripeness of fruits, possibilities to make harvest, and market trends.

The aim of the study performed in 2007–2010 was to evaluate the yielding of indeterminate tomato in the field at the stakes in the region of Sandomierz. The study was conducted on moderate alluvial soils in the Vistula river valley. The studied object consisted of tomato 'Faustine F1' and 'Brooklyn F1' cultivars. Potted seedlings were planted after 15 May and the plants were carried out for a single shoot by varying the harvest frequency every 2, 4, and 6 days. Fruits were harvested at the stage of full coloring. Based on the tests, a significant dependence between the frequency of harvest vs. total and marketable yields of tomato fruits, was recorded. Significantly the highest total yield (95.0 t·ha^-1) was obtained by harvesting the fruits every 4 days, while the lowest – every 2 days (92.8 t·ha^-1). The largest marketable yield was achieved by harvesting the fruits every two and four days, although no significant difference were observed between these combinations. Harvesting the fruits every 2 days, the largest share of marketable in total yield was recorded. Analysis of the results also showed a remarkable correlation between the frequency of harvests and average weight of a single fruit, which was the highest at harvests made every 4 and 6 days; there were no significant differences here, either.

Pot experiment on yellow lupine cv. Mister covered the differentiated N_min content in plant growth medium and methods of seed preparation for sowing, including seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium lupini and/or genistein. Abundance of Nmin in the growth substrate as well as method of preparing seeds for sowing did not affect the formation of the mean dry matter of yellow lupine plants and their total N content. The highest dry matter of seeds per one lupine plant was obtained with a high (calculated for field conditions 80 kg N·ha^-1) N_min content in the growth substrate. The total N content in the aboveground parts of plants significantly decreased since 35 days after emergence, and was significantly the lowest at full seed maturity, while in the underground parts the total N underwent significantly smaller changes during vegetation. The mean N content in yellow lupine seeds did not significantly depend on the abundance of Nmin in the growth substrate, nor on the use of seed inoculation with rhizobia and genistein.

In this study, some physical and mechanical properties of jujube fruits, were measured and compared at constant moisture content of 15.5% w.b. The results showed that the mean length, width and thickness of jujube fruits were 18.88, 16.79 and 15.9 mm, respectively. The mean projected areas of jujube perpendicular to length, width, and thickness were 147.01, 224.08 and 274.60 mm², respectively. The mean mass and volume were 1.51 g and 2672.80 mm³, respectively. The arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter and equivalent diameter varied from 14.53 to 20 mm, 14.5 to 19.94 mm, and 14.52 to 19.97 mm, respectively. The sphericity, aspect ratio and surface area of jujube fruits were 0.91, 0.89 and 926.28 mm³, respectively. Whole fruit density, bulk density and porosity of jujube fruits were measured and found to be 1.52 g·cm^-3, 0.3 g·cm^-3 and 79.3%, respectively. The angle of repose of jujube fruit was 14.66° (±0.58°). The static coefficient of friction on galvanized iron steel was higher than that on plywood and lower than that on glass surface. The values of rupture force, deformation, hardness and rupture energy were found to be between 11.13–19.91 N, 2.53–4.82 mm, 3.06–5.81 N·mm and 20.13–39.08 N·mm^-1, respectively.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cell wall biopolymers present in biomass of different types of filamentous fungi, yeasts and in biomass of insects on the expression of lytic enzymes in selected representatives of filamentous fungi: Trichoderma harzianum T33 and Trichoderma citrinoviride C1. Dried biomass of filamentous fungi, yeast and insect cells constituted a carbon source and also acted as an inductor of evaluated enzymes biosynthesis. The biosynthesis dynamics of chitinases, proteases and laminarinases depending on the type of inductor introduced into the culture were characterized and compared to the control cultures, not complemented with the cell wall biopolymers. The differences in the kinds and level of enzymatic activity, due to the addition of carbon source were demonstrated. The addition of insect biomass (1%) was the most preferred for expression of laminarinases and proteases in both Trichoderma strains (with a little predominance in the C1 strain). Geotrichum and Botrytis biomass was most effective in the induction of expressed chitinases (with a little predominance in T33 strain).

Monkey puzzle tree [Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch] is an endemic coniferous plant. Its natural locations are on the slopes of dormant volcanoes in Cordillera Mountains in the Andes and insular locations are in Patagonia. According to some authors cultivation of that species in Poland in open ground is impossible because of too low temperature in winter. The aim of the research was to evaluate the hardiness of monkey puzzle tree grown in open ground in Szczecin and to determine the possibilities of its cultivation in climatic conditions of the city. Field research was conducted in the years 1998–2012. In the years of the research every time after winter (in the second half of May) degree of frost damages was determined according to the scale commonly used in the research centers. Was also studied the vitality of needles and determined the color of the upper surface of the needles. Selected weather factors: absolute minimal and maximal temperature, average year temperature and average minimal and maximal temperature and also precipitation and average air humidity were analyzed. In the years of the research thirteen cultivation places of monkey puzzle tree of height of over 1.5 m were found. In most cases those are specimens planted in the years 1998–2005, currently of height in the range from 2.5 to 4.2 m, with 6–11 whorls of sprouts. The greatest monkey puzzle tree growing in the garden in Tarnobrzeska street from the year 1990 was characterized by height of 6 m, trunk circumference of 59 cm at the height of 1.3 m above ground level and 14 whorls of sprouts. Trees growing in Szczecin have not initiated generative phase yet. The greatest damages of needles, frozen sprouts and even totally frozen plants were observed after winters of 2005/2006, 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 with temperature decrease over -20°C.

This study aimed at determining how the volume of emu egg production and the egg quality change with the bird age. Observations were conducted over ten successive emu egg laying seasons. The birds were from own hatching and rearing. At initiation of observations, the birds were 3 years old and started their 2nd egg laying season. The egg laying period extended, reaching a maximum (188 days) in 8 years old female emus, whereas the egg number increased but only to year 6 of layer life. Older female emus were characterised by low laying performance, which supports the statement that it is unreasonable to keep emus being older than 7 years for reproductive purposes. In the first egg laying seasons, the weight of emu eggs and the shape index significantly changed; then, the value of these indicators stabilised, being preserved until the end of flock reproductive performance period.

A total of 177 shrews belonging to the Western (n=102, the Drnholec chromosome race) and Eastern (n=75, the Łęgucki Młyn and the Popielno chromosome races) European Karyotypic Groups were studied. The shrews were collected from 17 sites in Poland to analyze genetic differentiation between the groups. Seven polymorphic autosomal microsatellites (L9, L14, L33, L45, L67, L68, L97) and a Y-linked microsatellite (L8Y) were used for the analysis. Statistically significant genetic differentiation between the analyzed groups, based on F_ST (0.021, P<0.001), was additionally confirmed by the AMOVA test and pertained to both classes of markers used in the  analyses, i.e. inherited from both parents (autosomal microsatellites) and inherited  only from the father (Y-linked locus), (0.027 and 0.071, respectively, P<0.001). The results of STRUCTURE and AMOVA indicate that the two groups are genetically distant. Since, the populations sampled were located beyond the contact zone of WEKG and EEKG, the inference on their formation and survival in the separate glacial refugia needs further studies to avoid false conclusions.

The field experiment was carried out in the years 2009–2011 in the Research and Education Unit in Swadzim near Poznań. Influence of nitrogen dose, type of nitrogen fertilizer and method of fertilizer application on plant health of two types of maize cultivars cultivated for grain was assessed in the study. Incidence of fusarium diseases (Fusarium spp.), corn smut (Ustilago maydis), and European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) was noted. A significant influence of thermal and humidity conditions during vegetation seasons on harmfulness of the examined diseases and pest was demonstrated. “Stay-green” type hybrid exhibited significantly lower susceptibility to damage caused by European corn borer and infestation with diseases than the traditional cultivar. Hence cultivation of such cultivars should be considered an element of integrated maize protection, adopted in European Union countries since 1 January 2014. Row application of nitrogen at the dose from 50 to 150 kg N·ha^-1 caused a significant increase in the percentage of plants infected by fungi of Fusarium spp. genus. In turn, row nitrogen application combined with top-dressing reduced the size of maize infestation with this pathogen.

The relationship between oxidative stress and florets senescence of five broccoli cultivars was investigated during two different storage temperatures. Florets were stored three days at 20°C or 40 days at 0°C, followed by two additional days at 20°C. The florets deterioration rate was strongly affected by storage temperature. Subsequently, a rapid decrease of chlorophyll was observed at 20°C. Postharvest senescence of broccoli is correlated with increasing lipid peroxidation (MDA) level, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and a decline in protein content that has been used as a direct indicator of membrane injury. The antioxidant protection incurred by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes is important for the retention of green colour in broccoli flower buds and the increases in POD were likely related to florets yellowing. The results showed that storage of the most broccoli cultivars at room temperature (20°C) caused a significant increase in SOD activity, while at 0°C activity of the enzyme declined at the end of 40 days, and thereafter increased at room temperature. The lowest POD and increase in SOD activity in ‘General’ and ‘Revolution’ cultivars at 0°C storage, and ‘Liberty’ and ‘Revolution’ at 20°C, is important for the retention of green colour in florets.