The effect of high power microwave (HPM) irradiation on seed germination and seedlings was evaluated. Vegetable seeds were subjected to HPM irradiation. The main focus was on the thermal heating elimination during seeds irradiation. For that reason short high frequency microwave pulses were used. The study object was seeds of different harvest years (2000, 2003 and 2008) of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) variety 'Babtų žara', tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) variety 'Viltis', carrot (Daucus sativus Rohl.) variety 'Vaiguva' and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) variety 'Red Cherry' (seeds harvested in 1980). In the first experiment, all seeds were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 10 min. In the second experiment, carrots 'Vaiguva' seeds (11 years-old) were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 5 and 20 min and exposed to 2.6 and 5.7 GHz microwaves for 10 min. To establish microwave effect on seedling growth rate, tomato, carrot and radish seeds harvested in 2008 were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 10 min. It was established that 11 year-old radish seeds exposed to 9.3 GHz microwaves had higher germination as compared with non-irradiated seeds. HPM increased radish germination energy by 6% in seeds harvested in 2003. HPM exposure significantly increased the germination energy and germination of 8 year-old carrot seeds. The highest carrot seed germination was established at 9.3 GHz microwave frequency under 5 min exposure. Seed exposure to HPM (9.3 GHz) had a significant positive effect on dry weight of tomato seedling shoots and on tomato and radish seedling height, but it had negative influence on carrot seedling height. Seed irradiation with HPM (9.3 GHz) had a significant positive effect on the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophylls a + b and carotenoids in tomato seedlings' fresh mass, but the opposite effect was determined in carrot seedlings' fresh mass.

Tomato and tomato based products are an important agricultural production worldwide. More than 80 % of grown tomatoes in the worldwide are processing in the products such as tomato juice, paste, puree, catsup, sauce, and salsa. Tomato fruit is rich in phytochemicals and vitamins. Tomato nutritional value, color, fruit and flavor of their products depends mainly on lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid and sugars and their ratio in fruits. Epidemiological studies and the results associated with the consumption of tomato products against the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, confirming the tomato products as a functional food, and show that lycopene and β-carotene acts as an antioxidant. In order to increase the amount of these elements in tomato fruit, it is important to evaluate and investigate tomato genotypes influence to the carotenoids accumulation. Studies have confirmed that the carotenoid content in tomato fruits is determined by genotypic characteristics. In this work the main attention will be focused on from the biochemical and physical properties in tomato of different varieties, chemical and physical properties, to functional properties of supercritical fluid extraction of lycopene from tomato processing by products supercritical fluid tomato extracts.

Karklelienė R., Dambrauskienė E., Juškevičienė D., Radzevičius A., Rubinskienė M., Viškelis P., 2014. Productivity and nutritional value of dill and parsley. Hort. Sci. (Prague), 41: 131-137.Investigations of productivity and biochemical value of dill cvs Moravan, Szmaragd, Common, Mammoth and parsley cvs Moss Curled, Astra, Festival, Gigant d'Italia were estimated. Dill cv. Common was the highest, 62.3 cm, and the most productive, up to 29.1 t/ha. The analyses of biochemical compounds showed that cv. Szmaragd accumulated significantly highest amount of the dry matter (14.7%) and total sugar (3.07%). Dill cvs Moravan and Common were close as to the ability for chlorophyll accumulation (2.04-2.02 mg/g). The highest amount of essential oils was estimated in the cvs Szmaragd and Mammoth, 0.17 and 0.18%, respectively. Investigations of parsley showed that even-leaved parsley cv. Gigant d'Italia formed rosette with higher leaf up to 56.7 cm, whereas cv. Festival was the most productive -36.0 t/ha. Parsley cv. Moss Curled accumulated the highest amount of dry matter (19.4%) and ascorbic acid (162.8 mg/100 g). Cv. Astra accumulated the highest amount of essential oils (0.10%) and chlorophyll (1.44 mg/g).

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Productivity and Root-Crop Quality of Lithuanian Carrot (Daucus Sativus Röhl.) Breeder Lines The investigation was carried out at the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture in 2004-2006. Nine promising Lithuanian breeder lines of carrots: 2030, 2046, 2049, 2056, 2065, 2075, 2084, 2091, 2095, and hybrid Svalia F1were included in our experiment. The following sets of parameters were estimated: plant phenology, morphology (length, diameter and mass of root), yield and biochemical composition (carotene, dry soluble matter, total sugar, nitrates). Carrots were cultivated in sandy or sandy-loam Calc (ar)i - Epihypogleyc Luvisols (LVg-p-w-cc), on a profiled surface in four replications. Multiyear results show that carrot root-crop quality depends not only on genotype but also on soil type and growing conditions. In Lithuania the most popular hybrid root-crops have the same shape, about 18-25 cm length and 3.6-3.9 cm diameter. Thus, for our experiment we chose breeder lines meeting to these popular standards. Breeder lines 2030 and 2075 had the best root shape: root length 18.0-21.0 cm and diameter 3.7-3.9 cm. During three years of observation, we found that breeder line 2056 carrots were large (root mass 172.7 g). Yield analysis showed that the highest total and marketable yield was achieved by breeder line 2030 and Svalia' F1. Carrot breeds 2030, 2091 and Svalia' F1had the best biochemical composition.

cultivars and 25 vegetable cultivars suitable for organic production were included in the National Plant Variety List and into the European Union Common Catalogue of Agricultural Plant and Vegetable Varieties. The cultivar development programs have focused on improving cold hardiness, resistance to diseases and pests, and yield, as well as on shipping, shelf life qualities, plant development, and biotechnological applications.

This study was carried out in the experimental field and in unheated greenhouses of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Horticulture. The investigation aimed to evaluate the morphological features, amount of essential oil, and productivity of 10 basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars grown under different growing conditions. Studied cultivars were different according to morphological parameters, productivity, and the accumulation of essential oil. Most of the investigated parameters were influenced by growing conditions. Basil plants of cultivars Sweet Genovese and Toscano were determined to be the highest, and their height reached up to 70.5 cm. Cultivar Sweet Genovese was the most productive; its fresh herb mass per plant reached up to 0.71 kg under growing in the open field and greenhouse. Higher air temperature and constant watering of the soil in the greenhouse increased the accumulation of essential oils of basil. The biochemical analyses showed that the essential oil amount of 31% was higher when basils were grown in a greenhouse compared to an open field.

The new carrot (Daucus sativus Röhl.) hybrids 'Ieva' and 'Rokita' and the garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivar 'Dangiai' were developed at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry during 2012-2015. The breeding direction was to increase vegetable production and to improve its quality. Carrot roots of the new hybrids have good properties for storage and maintenance of biochemical components. The hybrids 'Ieva' and 'Rokita' were compared with three foreign hybrids 'Jitka', 'Maestro' and 'Champion'. Lithuanian hybrids were distinguished by the highest marketable yield ranging from 64.6 to 66.7 t ha -1 . The hybrid 'Ieva' accumulated the highest content of carotene 21.8 mg 100 g -1 , total sugar 8.6% and dry soluble solids 11.5%. Roots of the hybrid 'Rokita' were the most resistant to black rot of carrots and bacterial soft rots. Good adaptability, productivity and a stable number of cloves per bulb is characteristic of the new garlic cultivar 'Dangiai'. The overwinter survival rate of plants was 98%, the productivity -14.6 t ha -1 and the average weight per bulb -75 g. The carrot hybrids 'Ieva' and 'Rokita' and the garlic cultivar 'Dangiai' have been included in the National Plant Variety List and in the EC Common Catalogue of Varieties of Vegetable Species.