Horticultural Science, 2017 (vol. 44), issue 2

Effect of polyploidization on morphology in two apple (Malus × domestica) genotypesOriginal Paper

Niek Hias, Leen Leus, Mark W. Davey, Stijn Vanderzande, Johan Van Huylenbroeck, Johan Keulemans

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):55-63 | DOI: 10.17221/7/2016-HORTSCI  

Because polyploidy often results in enhancement of desirable properties, artificial genome doubling is commonly used in agri- and horticultural crop breeding programs. In this study genome doubling was induced in two apple genotypes. The effect on vegetative morphological and physiological traits of the plants was then comprehensively determined by comparing the obtained tetraploid apple plants with their diploid counterparts. Out of 17 different physio- and morphological characteristics, 15 were significantly affected in one or both genotypes. The response of these 15 characteristics also appeared to have been caused by two effects; 10 of the 15 characteristics...

How does sharka affect the phenolics of plum fruit (Prunus domestica L.)?Original Paper

Valentina Usenik^*, Franci Stampar, Damijana Kastelec, Mojca Virscek Marn

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):64-72 | DOI: 10.17221/196/2015-HORTSCI  

Plum pox virus (PPV), the causal agent of the sharka disease, is the most important viral disease in plums. To understand plant defense response against PPV-infection, changes in the composition of phenolics were studied in plum fruit (Prunus domestica L.). The phenolics were determined in visually undeformed and necrotic tissue during the last three ripening stages. The results indicated a significantly modified composition of anthocyanins, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids, in necrotic tissue the most. The phenolics differed significantly also between developmental stages and give insight into the phenolic profile of fallen unripe...

Salicylic acid treatment saves quality and enhances antioxidant properties of apricot fruitOriginal Paper

Ahmed Ezzat, Amin Ammar, Zoltán Szabó, Imre J. Holb

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):73-81 | DOI: 10.17221/177/2015-HORTSCI  

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three salicylic acid (SA) concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2 mmol/l) on 7 fruit quality attributes of three apricot cultivars ('Flavor Cot', 'Jumbo Cot' and 'Bergeron') during cold storage (at 1°C for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days). Applications of 1 or 2 mmol/l SA significantly reduced chilling injury and fruit decay of apricot fruit as well as membrane electrolyte leakage and ascorbic acid content. Fruits treated with SA resulted in high total polyphenolic content, antioxidant capacity and carotenoids content while these parameters significantly decreased in non-treated control fruits. Overall, our results...

Exogenous auxin improves root morphology and restores growth of grafted cucumber seedlingsOriginal Paper

Astrit Balliu, Glenda Sallaku

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):82-90 | DOI: 10.17221/53/2016-HORTSCI  

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenously applied auxin over the rootstock cuttings on root morphology parameters and stand establishment rate of salt-stressed cutting grafted cucumber seedlings. For that purpose, before grafting, the cut ends of the rootstocks were soaked for few seconds into auxin solution (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3- butyric acid (IBA))at different concentrations and afterwards were grafted by the root pruned splice grafting (RPSG) method. Ten days after grafting, the grafted seedlings were transplanted into individual pots where two different levels of salt-stress (0 and 50 mM) were established....

Effects of cultural cycle and nutrient solution electrical conductivity on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of 'Friariello' pepper grown in hydroponicsOriginal Paper

Carmine Amalfitano, Laura Del Vacchio, Silvano Somma, Antonio Cuciniello, Gianluca Caruso

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):91-98 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2015-HORTSCI  

'Friariello' pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was grown with nutrient film technique (NFT) in order to evaluate the effects of four nutritive solutions, at electrical conductivities (EC) of 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.4 mS/cm, in two cultural cycles (winter-summer versus spring-autumn) on growth, yield and fruit quality. In the winter-summer cycle, fruit yield was significantly higher than in the spring-autumn one. The 3.8 mS/m EC resulted in the highest yield in the winter-summer crops, whereas the 4.1 mS/m EC was the most effective under the spring-autumn cycle. Water consumption was 34% higher in winter-summer than in spring-autumn season. The 3.8 mS/m...

Comparative analysis of photosynthetic indicators in freesia hybrids on the Black sea coast of Krasnodar regionOriginal Paper

Oksana Belous, Kristina Klemeshova, Olga Pashchenko

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):99-104 | DOI: 10.17221/189/2015-HORTSCI  

The paper discusses some features in Freesia refracta pigment system and possible use of this option as a plant diagnostic characteristic on the resistance in limiting environments. The study included freesia cultivars and hybrid forms selected in the Russian Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Crops, which had different flowering terms. A detailed analysis was provided on any changes in the photosynthetic pigments content during the growing process. There are parameters of slow chlorophyll fluorescence induction (vitality index, ratio of photosynthetic activity and estimated coefficient of photosynthetic activity)...

Germination of Corylopsis seeds evaluated by X-ray imaging and cold stratificationOriginal Paper

Ji Hee Kim, Kyung Ok Kim, Ae Kyung Lee, Mark S. Roh, Jeung Keun Suh

Hort. Sci. (Prague), 2017, 44(2):105-111 | DOI: 10.17221/194/2015-HORTSCI  

Effects of immersing seeds in water and X-ray imagining on germination of Corylopsis seed were investigated. Seeds that sank or floated were collected after immersing in water for 5 min, 4 h or 16 h, and germinated with or without 5°C cold stratification (CS). In C. coreana and C. sinensis var. calvescens, 52% and 89%, respectively, of seeds that sank immediately developed embryos and cotyledons germinated. Germination of C. sinensis var. calvescens seeds that sank after 16 h increased to 45% after the first CS treatment, as compared to 12% without CS. Immersing seeds in water for 16 h...