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Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an annual, leafy crop with a short growth in cool season. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of microbiological fertilisers, genotype and growing seasons on the fresh weight (FW), concentration of nitrate and vitamin C in the rosette (head) of red lettuce. The greenhouse experiment included three cultivars ('Murai', 'Gaugin' and 'Carmesi') of red lettuce grown in fertile soil during successive growing seasons: autumn, winter and spring. Three types of microbiological fertilisers: (1) mixture of fungi and bacteria and their products, referred to as effective microorganisms (EM), (2) containing Trichoderma spp. and (3) mixture of EM and Trichoderma spp., were applied for red lettuce. Microbiological fertilisers were applied in the soil and via foliar spray before planting. Significantly higher FW of the rosette was in spring and winter than in autumn. The 'Murai' showed significantly the highest (264.7 g) FW of the rosette in spring. Trichoderma spp. fertiliser and the combination of effective microorganisms and Trichoderma spp. significantly increased FW of the rosette for the 'Murai' and 'Gaugin' grown in autumn. The highest nitrate concentration was observed for winter grown 'Carmesi' (805.2 mg kg(-1)) treated by effective microorganisms, and the lowest for spring grown 'Gaugin' (62.2 mg kg(-1)) without microbial fertilisers. Generally, the application of microbiological fertilisers contributed to a significantly higher concentration of nitrate in the rosette of red lettuce. The concentration of nitrate did not exceed maximum level for protected lettuce (EC No 563/2002). In spring, significantly the highest concentration of vitamin C (12.2 mg 100 g(-1) FW) was found in the 'Carmesi' treated with Trichoderma spp. Microbiological fertilisers contributed to significantly higher concentration of vitamin C in the 'Gaugin' and 'Carmesi' grown in winter and spring. This study indicated that genotype, treatment and growth season affected all the tested parameters highlighting the importance of application of Trichoderma spp. or the combination of Trichoderma spp. with effective microorganisms.

The demand for organic food is rising since consumers want food from reliable, highest quality sources originating from the environment, undisturbed by cultivation and processing. It is necessary to determine to what extent there is a scientific basis for the claims that organic food is of high quality. In this study, beetroot from an organic production system originating from 6 certified organic food producers from different geographic locations was examined. The organic beetroot samples were processed by pasteurization at 700 C and 900 C into beet juice or by drying at 550 C. The following samples were tested and compared: fresh beetroot, pasteurized beet juice and dried beetroot slices. The concentration of vitamin C, level of total phenol compounds (TPC) and antioxidative activity (TAA) in beetroot were influenced by the geographic origin and the applied processing method. The highest degradation for all analysed parameters was found in the samples treated by drying or pasteurisation at 90ºC. The lowest losses of studied phytochemical components were observed during juice pasteurisation at 700C. The correlation coefficient between TPC and TAA was high and significant (r2 = 0.966).

In the present research, the chemical composition of aerial parts of cultivated citral chemotype of Thymus pannonicus All. (Lamiaceae), growing at different soil conditions was studied. Two plant lineages were unfertilized or treated using either nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizers at different concentration levels. Essential oil (EO) content, EO composition, and composition of hydromethanol extracts (MEs) were compared to the results obtained for wild growing plants in order to evaluate the potential of T. pannonicus for its industrial production. EO content (%, V/m) in cultivated samples varied between 0.32-0.75% and 0.62–1.05% within two examined lineages, whereas the herbs from the natural habitat contained 0.49–1.29% of EO. GC-FID/MS analysis showed that citral, i.e. mixture of isomers geranial and neral, was the most abundant constituent in all EOs (51.90–81.96%). HPLC analysis revealed that total caffeic acid derivatives, with rosmarinic acid (RA) as the most abundant compound in all extracts, as well as total apigenin glycosides contents were significantly higher in the extracts originating from the cultivated herbs (112.15–184.94 mg/g and 5.08–15.29 mg/g, respectively), in comparison to the extracts of the herbs from the natural habitats (67.61–98.75 mg/g and 1.17–1.32 mg/g). In general, the composition of cultivated herbs varied less than that of samples originating from natural habitats, indicating that controlled cultivation of citral chemotype of T. pannonicus can provide herbal drug with favourable characteristics. Only minor differences were observed between cultivated samples treated with different fertilizers.

This paper examined the influence of agro-coal application as one of the possible components in the substrata for flower production. The agrocoal, also known as bio-coal, is a natural organic component obtained in the process of pyrolysis of wood and other organic residues from the plant, such as straw and corn representing partially burnt carbon-rich material, which is used to improve productive soil-substrata properties. Agro-coal processing in Serbia still has no practical application in agriculture, and due to its soil-substrata properties (increasing porosity, better water and nutrition, as well as beneficial microorganisms), the aim of this paper was to examine the possibility of using agro-coalin substratafor flower production. We selected Pelargonium x hortorum as one of the most commonly cultivated flower cultures. The tested substrata were prepared on the basis of the volume ratio of the components, in which the agro-coal participated with 20% and 30%. The research was carried out on three different hybrids: Dark Red , Shocking pink and Blancheroche. The results of the research showed the justification for the application of agro-coal. By applying 20% in the substrata, it improved the productive properties of the examined hybrids such as a greater number of branches, higher above-ground mass and a greater number of flowers per plant.

The aim of this paper is to show the state of production of seed intended for the establishment of organic crops in Serbia. Current regulations in many countries require that the seed and planting material used for organic farming must be produced according to the rules applicable to organic crops. Organic seed production, compared to conventional, carries a higher risk of weed seed contamination and of seed-borne diseases which make it more difficult to obtain high quality seeds. The early harvest is one of the possible measures to improve the seed health and there are various forms of seed treatments (natural plant extracts and substances of natural origin). Results within the field of seed production are closely related to conservation of plant landraces and exchange of their seeds that are necessary for organic food producers in Serbia.

One of the most important traits of onion bulb is its bulb fresh weight. Also, this trait is in a group of morphological markers that, together with RAPD, represent the parameter of the most precise identification of onion genotype. For the purpose of this study, the chosen genotypes were: Makoi bronzi, Piroska, AC 101, Jasenicki crveni, Bukino beo. Also, they were of a different geographical origin. Method of full diallel without reciprocals was applied in order to obtain F1 and F2 generation. Field trial with parents and hybrids F1 and F2 generation was set in a random block system with five replications at the Institute for Vegetable Crops, Smederevska Palanka, Serbia. Considering all crossing combinations, super-domination and domination are the modes of inheritance for bulb fresh weight. The best general combiner was the line Makoi bronzi. The highest level of SCA in F1 and F2 generation was found in hybrid combination Makoi bronzi x Piroska. Also, this hybrid combination had the highest values of heterosis. Među najbitnije proizvodne osobine lukovice crnog luka ubraja se njena masa. Zatim, ova osobina spada u grupu morfoloških markera koja zajedno sa primenom molekularnih markera (RAPD), služi kao parametar za najtačniju identifikaciju genotipova crnog luka. U cilju ispitivanja načina nasleđivanja ove osobine izvršeno je ukrštanje između pet divergentnih genotipova crnog luka, različitog geografskog porekla. Primenjen je metod punog dialela bez recipročnih ukrštanja, radi dobijanja potomstva F1 i F2 generacije. Poljski ogled sa roditeljima i hibridima F1 i F2 generacije postavljen je po slučajnom blok sistemu u pet ponavljanja u Institutu za povrtarstvo, Smederevska Palanka. Uzevši u obzir sve kombinacije ukrštanja, može se zaključiti da superdominacija i dominacija predstavljaju način nasleđivanja mase lukovice. Najbolji opšti kombinator bila je linija Makoi bronzi. Najvišu vrednost za SCA u F1 i F2 generaciji imao je hibrid nastao ukrštanjem linija Makoi bronzi x Piroška. Takođe, ova hibridna kombinacija imala je i najveće izračunate vrednosti za heterozis.

Garlic was examined in field experiments conducted in central Serbia (Belgrade). Spring garlic was examined. The objective was to examine the effect of plant density on photosynthesis productivity (LAR-Leaf Area Ratio, NAR-Net Assimilation Rate) and the yield of garlic. The analysis involved the following plant densities: 300 (G1), 450 (G2), 600 (G3), 750 (G4) and 900 (G5) thousand plants ha-1. The garlic exhibited better results in denser crop establishment. It is clearly indicated by the yield of garlic attained in the experiments. Average yield rates range from 5.6 (G1) to 12.5 t ha-1 (G5). The results demonstrate that the garlic should be grown in high density establishment. Beli luk je ispitan u poljskim ogledima koji su izvedeni u centralnom delu Srbije (Beograd). Ispitan je beli luk proletnjak. Postavljen je cilj da se ispita uticaj gustine useva na produktivnost fotosinteze (LAR-Leaf Area Ratio, NAR-Net Assimilation Rate) i prinos belog luka. Ispitivanjima su bile obuhvaćene sledeće gustine useva: 300 (G1), 450 (G2), 600 (G3), 750 (G4) i 900 (G5) hiljada biljaka ha-1. Beli luk je ostvarivao bolje rezultate u gušćim usevima. Na to jasno ukazuje prinos koji je beli luk ostvarivao u ogledima. Prosečne vrednosti prinosa kreću se u rasponu od 5,6 (G1) do 12,5 t ha-1 (G5). Rezultati pokazuju da beli luk treba gajiti u usevima veće gustine.

In Serbia, basil has been grown traditionally as a decorative, medicinal, seasoning and ritual herb, and there is a variety of different populations of basil. Basil is considered to have been brought to Serbia in the 12th century by monks returning from their pilgrimages. Essential oils isolated from herb of ten basil populations traditionally grown on the territory of the Republic of Serbia have been analyzed. The selected populations have been designated under codes from T-1 to T-10 and deposited in the Plant Genes Bank of Serbia and at the Institute for Crop Sciences of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade. Essential oils of all tested basil populations were light yellow and had a specific aromatic scent. The composition of essential oil in the dry herb of the tested populations ranged from 0.87 to 1.84%. The results of gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils in tested basil populations pointed to their complex chemical composition and to the fact that they belong to the most appreciated European chemotype. In total, 33 components have been identified in the essential oils. The most common fraction of components in all tested oils was terpenoides. The predominant component in all essential oils is monoterpen linalol, ranging from 51.52 to 74.73%. Phenylpropranoid methylchavicol ranged from 2.49 to 18.97%. Essential oils of populations T-6, T-7, T-8 and T-10 were characterized by elevated 1.8-cineol (4.44, 3.70, 4.01 and 3.43%, respectively). Populations T-3 and T-4 in essential oil contained higher percent of geraniol (4.27 and 3.31%, respectively). In all ten essential oils sesquiterpen fraction consisted of greater number of components, with germacrene having special significance as it was found in high percentage in all populations. The highest content of germacrene was registered in population T-9 (4.30%), T-10 (4.18%), while in others it ranged from 2.17 to 3.69%. Basil populations traditionally grown in Serbia have exceptional quality. They represent an excellent raw material for the production of basil essential oils, for the needs of pharmaceutical, food and chemical industry. Analizirano je etarsko ulje izolovano iz herbe deset populacija bosiljka koje se tradicionalno gaje na teritoriji Republike Srbije. Sadržaj etarskog ulja u suvoj herbi ispitivanih populacija se kretao od 0,87 do 1,84%. Rezultati gasnohromatografske analize etarskih ulja ispitivanih populacija bosiljka ukazuju na njihov složen hemijski sastav i da pripadaju najcenjenijem evropskom hemotipu. Dominantna komponenta kod svih deset etarskih ulja je monoterpen linalol i kreće se u rasponu od 51,52 do 74,73%. Fenilpropranoid metil kavikol se kreće od 2,49 do 18,97%. Etarsko ulje populacija T6, T-7, T-8 i T-10 karakteriše se povišenim 1,8 cineolom (4,44, 3,70, 4,01 i 3,43%, redom). Populacije T-3 i T-4 u etarskom ulju sadrže veći procenat geraniola (4,27 i 3,31%, redom), Najveći sadržaj germakrena D registrovan je kod populacije T-9 (4,30%) i T-10 (4,18%), dok se kod ostalih kretao od 2,17 do 3,69%.