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This study was conducted to determine the sea fennel essential oil (SFEO) yield, composition, and antioxidant activity of leaves, stem, inflorescences, and umbels from seeds of wild sea fennel (SF) (Crithmum maritimum L.) from the Montenegro coast. The chemical composition of isolated essential oil was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID analyses. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay. The maximum SFEO yield was found in umbels with seeds (4.77 mL/100 g p.m.). The leaves contained less EO (0.52 mL/100 g p.m.) than immature inflorescence (0.83 mL/100 g p.m.) The minimum EO content was found in the stem (0.08%). Twenty components were isolated from SFEO leaves, twenty-four from inflorescence, thirty-four components from the stem, and twenty-one components from umbels with seeds. Limonene (62.4–72.0%), γ-terpinene (9.5–14.0%), α-pinene (1.4–5.8%), and sabinene (1–6.5%) were found to be the main components of the SFEO from monoterpene hydrocarbons as dominant grouped components (86% to 98.1%). SF plant parts showed differences in chemical profiles, especially in specific and low-represented ingredients. (E)-anethole (4.4%), fenchone (0.5%), and trans-carveol (0.2%) were present only in umbel with seeds, while the β-longipipene (0.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (0.5%), and (2E)-decenal (0.2%) were found only in the stems. The degree of DPPH radical neutralization increased with incubation time. The SFEO isolated from the stems showed stronger antioxidant activity during the incubation times of 20 and 40 min (EC50 value of 5.30 mg/mL and 5.04 mg/mL, respectively) in comparison to the SFEO isolated from the other plant parts. The lowest antioxidant activity was obtained with the SFEO leaves (155.25 mg/mL and 58.30 mg/mL, respectively). This study indicates that SFEO possesses significant antioxidant activities and is animportant component in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is important to preserve the existing gene pool and biodiversity with rational use SF for the extraction of high-quality essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The essential oil content was 4.63% for non-shaded plants and 4.81% for shaded plants. GC/MS analysis revealed twenty-one and twenty-two components in dill seed from non-shaded and shaded plants, respectively. The terpenic fraction of essential oil from non-shaded plants consisted mainly of oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (53.6%), with carvone (46.1%) as the primary component, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (46.4%), predominantly limonene (43.8%). Essential oil from shaded plants contained a higher content of carvone (49.8%) and a lower content of limonene (37.8%) compared to essential oil from non-shaded plants. Non-shaded plant essential oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (EC50 value: 26.04 mg mL−1) than shaded plant essential oil (54.23 mg mL−1). Dill seed essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method) against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 15–18 mm). Shaded plants demonstrated a positive influence of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carvone and its derivatives, as the main components, hold significant potential in the food industry and alternative medicines. A practical implication of this study could be higher plant densities or intercropping of dill, as it thrives with minimal light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoselective, light-dispersive shade nets can be used as an alternative to protect crops from adverse environmental conditions such as; excessive solar radiation, heat and drought stress, wind and hail, birds, flying pests, thus improving crop’s production, yield and quality. The physiological parameters discussed in the review include: vegetable growth parameters (leaf area, leaf chlorophyll), tissue structure, fruit ripening, physiological disorders, pest and disease incidence, fruit quality parameters (soluble solids content and titratable acidity), bioactive compounds (antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, carotenoid and flavonoid contents) and aroma volatile compounds at harvest. Also, it is evident in the reviewed literature that light quality influences the biosynthesis, accumulation and retention of vegetable phytochemicals, as well as the decay development during storage. These new strategies to modulate light quality should be conveyed to vegetable producing farmers, thus allowing them to preserve the freshness and post-harvest quality of vegetables for an extended period of time, and to meet the consumers demand for vegetables with high nutritional value all year round. Research on light manipulation in horticultural systems is necessary for a sustainable and market-oriented open field and greenhouse vegetable production in the future.

The objective of this study was to investigate the application of different instrumental methods for measuring the hardness of fresh and cooked parsnip. Research was carried out on two previously prepared commercial parsnip samples, both fresh and cooked for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Hardness was measured using a TA. XTPlus Texture Analyzer, equipped with different fixtures and load cells. Penetration test was performed on the parsnip discs, while the instrument was equipped with a 5 kg load cell and a 2 mm diameter stainless steel flat cylinder probe. Shearing test was conducted on the whole parsnip roots with a 30 kg load cell and Warner-Bratzler (WB) flat knife blade. The obtained values of the coefficients of variation for both methods indicated that these methods are more suitable for measuring the hardness of fresh parsnip. The results of analysis of variance showed that penetration test generally expressed better differentiation between the samples A and B. The greatest change of firmness during cooking was observed after the first 5 minutes, as measured by both methods. Parsnip firmness progressively decreased with increasing cooking time, with less pronounced differences between the cooking times obtained by shearing test. Further experiments should include more representative parsnip samples and more repetitions within the sample in order to make general conclusions. All results should be verified with sensory evaluation of parsnip hardness by an expert panel or a panel of trained assessors.

The experiments took into account four cultivars origin from different agroclimacteric regions, usually grown in our country (Prizrenski pogačar, Kupusinski jabučar, Trebinjska kapula and Holandski žuti), are The sowings were realized on 15 July (first term), 5 August (second) and 25th August (third). Sowings were carried out in rows 45cm apart and 5cm apart along the row (number of plants 44,8/m2). Experimen was split-plot designed with three replicaties. Gibberellic acid-GA3 sprays were applied with concentration at 50ppm on plants at the 6-7 leaves stage. Yield and its principal components were analyzed (percentage of flowering, capsules/umbel, seed/capsule, 1000 seed weight, germination energy, germination). Flowering percentage in the two years was affected by sowing date. Sowing postponement from July to August caused a reduction in the flowered plant from 90% to 40%, which produced only one umbel per plant. Sowing-flowering-seed ripening was reached almost simultaneously after 405-370 days. Seed production was highest in the first term sowing from 15 July for all cultivars. The cultivars showed differences in both years. Cultivar Kupusinski jabučar obtained the highest yield in the first term sowing - 440,4 kg/ha (in first year), while Holandski žuti obtained significantly lower in the third term from 25 August with only 140,6kg/ha (in first year).

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest maturity and postharvest washing treatments (hot water, H2O2, NaOCI) and unwashing (control) on the nitrate content of carrots (Daucus carrota 'Maestro F1') celeriac (Apium graveolerts var rapaceum 'Mentor') and parsnip (Pastinaca sativa 'Banatski dugi') roots stored at 0± 1 °C and >95% RH (S-1) or at 0-5 °C and 85-92% RH (S- 2). Nitrate content was analyzed after 0,120 and 180 days of storage and was found to depend on the species (celeriac> carrot>parsnip), time of harvest (regular harvest>late harvest) and year of production (2012> 2013> 2011). The highest nitrate concentrations were found in celeriac (675 mg kg-1 fw at first harvest in 2013). The nitrate levels in carrots ranged from 72 to 349 mg kg-1 f.w., while in parsnips no detectable amounts of nitrate were found (<5 mg kg-1 f.w.) Storage condition (S-2; high temperature and low humidity) and prolonged storage (180 days) resulted intensive changes of nitrate content in the root vegetables. Our experimental results indicate that prestorage root washing (hot water, NaOCI and H2O2,) significantly reduces nitrate levels in comparison to unwashed roots. Storage at cold room (S1) after these treatments is a practical strategy for reducing changes of nitrate content in the root vegetables during prolonged storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The concept of photo-selective netting using commercial cultivation practices was studied in a tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum 'Vedetta') summer cultivation in south Serbia (under high solar radiation 910 W m−2, with a photosynthetic photon flux density of 1661 µmol m−2 s−1), under four different coloured shade-nets (pearl, red, blue and black) with 40% relative shading. The aim of the study was to determine how different environmental control technologies (coloured shade-nets as screen house or plastic-house integrated with coloured shade-nets) could influence plant parameters, production and quality traits in tomato fruits cultivated in south Serbia (Balkan region). RESULTS The leaf area index ( LAI) ranged from 4.6 to 5.8 in open field and plastic tunnels plants (control) with maximum LAI values of 7.9-8.2 in net houses with red colour nets. Shade-grown leaves generally have higher total chlorophyll and carotenoids content than do control leaves. Pericarp thickness was significantly higher tomatoes grown under pearl (7.215.82 µm), red (7099.00 µm) and blue nets (6802.29 µm) compared to other treatments and to control (6202.48 µm). The highest concentration of lycopene was detected in tomatoes grown in plastic houses integrated with red colour nets (64.9 µg g−1 fresh weight). The plastic house and open field (control) tomato production had a taste index mean value of 1.09-1.10. This is significantly higher than the values determined for the treatments with different coloured shade-nets. CONCLUSION These results show that red and pearl photo-selective nets create optimal growing conditions for the growth of the plant and produce fruits with thicker pericarp, the highest lycopene content, a satisfactory level of taste index and can be further implemented within protected cultivation practices. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in the heavy metals and nitrate contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Robin-F1, Amati-F1, and Elpida-F1). The tomato as a fruit vegetable is not characterized by high accumulation of heavy metals and nitrates. We found significantly greater concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni in conventional tomatoes, but we found the growing method to have no influence on cadmium Cd, Co, and Cr levels in all cultivars. In the present study, the detected levels of contaminants were found to be markedly lower than the maximum limits allowed by law. The concentrations of heavy metals in tomato fruit decreased in the order Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni>Co>Cd. This study confirms that the most important variable in the nitrate content of tomatoes is cultivar. The lowest content of nitrates is registered in the variety Elpida, especially in the organically fertilized (20 mg ⋅ kg-1). The nitrate content in this study is presented as the average of all cultivars, and it was found to be lower in organic production (29%-41%) compared to conventional production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]