Horticultural Science, 2007 (vol. 34), issue 3

Fruit quality changes during marketing of new plum cultivars (Prunus domestica L.)

E. Vangdal, S. Flatland, R. NORDBØ

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2007, 34(3):91-95 | DOI: 10.17221/1892-HORTSCI  

Registrations of crop, fruit size and fruit flavour in the plum cultivar testing programmes in Norway indicated that Souffriau, Avalon, Reeves, Excalibur and Jubileum could be valuable cultivars in commercial plum production in Norway. Norwegian plums are aimed at the fresh fruit market; hence, shelf life of new cultivars is very important. In short-term storage experiments the cultivars were compared to the standard cultivar Victoria. No significant changes in the content of soluble solids during storage were found in the cultivars tested; however, titratable acidity decreased, and as a consequence, the soluble solids:titratable acidity ratio increased....

Orchard performance and fruit quality of 50 apple cultivars grown or tested in commercial orchards of the Czech Republic

J. Blažek, I. Hlušičková

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2007, 34(3):96-106 | DOI: 10.17221/1888-HORTSCI  

Tree vigour, occurrence of mildew and scab, yields, yield efficiency, fruit weight, flesh firmness and soluble solids content of apple trees on M 9 rootstock were monitored between 1998-2005 in 42 commercial orchards situated in all the major growing regions of the Czech Republic. Altogether 50 cultivars were included into the evaluation. The characteristics of newly bred or newly introduced cultivars were compared to the cultivars of standard assortment such as Gloster, Golden Delicious, Idared, Jonagold, Melrose, Rubín and Šampion. The group of late ripening cultivars imported from France (Baujade, Early Smith, Granny Smith and Red Winter) proved...

Ideotype of apples with resistance to storage diseases

J. Blažek, H. Opatová, J. Goliáš, I. Homutová

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2007, 34(3):107-113 | DOI: 10.17221/1890-HORTSCI  

Upon the completion of a three-year evaluation of natural occurrence of storage diseases within a range of cultivars or advanced selections and a simultaneous assessment of their other characteristics, an apple ideotype has been proposed that could be used in breeding of new cultivars resistant to these diseases. The ideotype combines the potential of apples for long-term storage with higher skin thickness and toughness, a lower production of ethylene, a higher natural content of calcium, a higher content of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, a higher flesh firmness, and a higher acidity of juice expressed in pH values. For some of...

In vitro selection of NaHCO₃ tolerant cultivars of Morus alba (Local and Sujanpuri) in response to morphological and biochemical parameters

P. Ahmad, S. Sharma, P. S. Srivastava

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2007, 34(3):114-122 | DOI: 10.17221/1889-HORTSCI  

In vitro experiments were conducted to study the effect of NaHCO₃ (alkalinity) stress on saplings of Morus alba (cv. Local and Sujanpuri) cultured from nodal explants. For shoot multiplication 2.5 mg/l of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 0.3 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA₃) were used and root formation was induced with 1.0 mg/l of indolebutyric acid (IBA). NaHCO₃ salt was added to the culture medium in three concentrations, i.e. 3.57, 20.0 and 59.0mM that increased pH to 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2, respectively. The increased salt concentration affected survival and growth parameters, subsequent cultures promoted them. The...

Morphological and nutritional parameters of Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea) in hydroponic culture

R. Pokluda

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2007, 34(3):123-128 | DOI: 10.17221/1891-HORTSCI  

Chinese mustard is a perspective vegetable species due to its high nutritional value. The aim of this work was an evaluation of Chinese mustard assortment for hydroponic cultivation, comparison of morphological parameters and nutritional value of fresh leaves. The highest mean weight of one plant was shown in cv. Red Giant (179 g). The biggest leaves with the length of 459 mm were formed by cv. Ta Tou Tsai. The highest cultivar was Cai Cai Tai (1,063 mm), with an abundant number of leaves (57 leaves). Cv. Osaka Purple Leaf showed the highest content of vitamin C (738 mg/kg); the highest carotenoids content (899 mg/kg) was found in cv. Swollen Stem....