In response to urgent demand to raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of tomato consumption and to advocate for healthy diets through increased sustainable production and consumption of fruits and vegetables, this study is intended to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle, sharing the best practices of production and consumption. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of the growing system (field vs. plastic tunnel) and of genotype characteristics for organic improved tomato genotypes. The research was carried out in the 2019 and 2020 years on eight improved tomato genotypes. The results showed that the ascorbic acid content presented higher values for organic tomatoes cultivated in the field for all genotypes studied, with an upper limit of 18.57 mg·100 g−1 FW. In contrast, the content in β-carotene and lycopene showed higher values for genotypes grown under plastic tunnel conditions. Significant statistical differences were noticed concerning the mean values of all genotypes according to cultivation conditions (field vs. plastic tunnel) for most parameters excepting total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), maturity index (MI) and flavor index (FI). This highlights the major importance of the selection of some genotypes of tomatoes that respond positively to the organic cultivation system in terms of the presence of the antioxidants compounds (vitamin C, lycopene, and carotene) in representative quantities. Genotype 3 is highlighted by the highest content in carotene (7.4 mg·100 g−1 F.W.) and lycopene (8.4 mg·100 g−1 F.W.) and genotype 5 by the highest content in vitamin C (16.8 mg·100 g−1 F.W.). The results of the study suggest that by applying appropriate techniques for growing organic tomatoes in the plastic tunnel system, the antioxidant substrate can be optimized compared to the results obtained for the field system.

In this study, the ability of Nepeta cataria L. to grow and synthesize bioactive compounds on soil treated with different salt concentrations was tested to evaluate the opportunity of cultivating it in soils affected by salinization. N. cataria L. was grown in soil containing specific amounts of NaCl, Na2SO4, and their mixture. After harvesting, the plants were analyzed from the morphological and physiological point of view. Salinity stress inhibited the growth, with the highest decrease of the plant yield up to about 70% in the case of salt mixture, and smaller values for the separate salt treatments. In the same time, as a defense mechanism, there was an increase of granular trichomes’ density, as observed with the scanning electron microscope. For mild concentrations of salt, the amount of chlorophyll pigments was enhanced, while for stronger salinity stress, it decreased. The opposite behavior was evidenced for the polyphenol content, as antioxidant activity was used as a protective mechanism against reactive oxygen species produced under salinity stress. The antioxidant activity was considerably higher for separate NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments than for the salt mixture variants. The results showed that the species Nepeta cataria L. reacts well to high salinity levels, with an increased content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity even for the highest studied salinity conditions.

In this work, the effects of salt stress on Nepeta racemosa Lam. were studied to analyze the possibility of using it as a potential culture for salinity-affected soils. A total of nine concentrations of salts—NaCl (18, 39, and 60 mg/100 g soil), Na2SO4 (50, 85, and 120 mg/100 g soil), and a mixture (9 g NaCl + 25 g Na2SO4, 19 g NaCl + 43 g Na2SO4, and 30 g NaCl + 60 g Na2SO4/100 g soil)—simulated real salinity conditions. Environmental electron microscopy offered information about the size and distribution of glandular trichomes, which are very important structures that contain bioactive compounds. The chlorophyll pigments, polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were determined based on spectrophotometric protocols. The results have shown a different impact of salinity depending on the salt type, with an increase in bioactive compound concentrations in some cases. The highest polyphenol concentrations were obtained for Na2SO4 variants (47.05 and 46.48 mg GA/g dw for the highest salt concentration in the first and second year, respectively), while the highest flavonoid content was found for the salt mixtures (42.77 and 39.89 mg QE/g dw for the highest concentrations of salt in the first and, respectively, the second year), approximately 100% higher than control. From the Pearson analysis, strong correlations were found between chlorophyll pigments (up to 0.93), antioxidant activity and yield for the first harvest (up to 0.38), and antioxidant activity and flavonoid content for the second harvest (up to 0.95). The results indicate the possibility of growing the studied plants in salt-stress soils, obtaining higher concentrations of bioactive compounds.

Climate factors strongly impact the growth of grapes and their flavonoid composition, especially due to heat and drought stress. Four varieties—Gelu, Moldova, Purpuriu, and Coarna Neagra—from a Copou vineyard were analyzed to assess the impact of climate change on the anthocyanin concentration in grapes and total chlorophyll content of the leaves, and find possible correlations between these parameters during the two studied years, such as to raise producer awareness regarding the climate impact on table grape vine growth. Moldova and Purpuriu show adaptation to a slight temperature increase above the normal average and also to a water deficit, with increased concentrations of anthocyanins of up to three times. The Moldova variety accumulated low amounts of chlorophyll pigments in most analyzed development phases, indicating a negative correlation between these pigments. Coarna neagra exhibited an increase of the foliar pigments, a variety that proved to be less valuable from the point of view of anthocyanin content. Positive correlations were found between the anthocyanin and chlorophyll concentrations in the case of Gelu, Moldova, and Coarna neagra cultivars during the latter phase of the fruit development, whereas the water deficit in the second year induced negative correlations during fruit development and at the time of harvest for all studied varieties except Moldova.

Wheat is an important cereal around the world and is a nutrient source in people’s diets. In this work, we focused on the potential of some biostimulators on four wheat varieties - Dropia, Glosa, Gruia, and Pegasus, with a focus on the effects during the first developing stages from germination to the appearance of the second leaf. Our results indicated that germination and some biochemical traits can be strongly influenced by biostimulants, with the effects also depending on the genetic background of the variety. Some treatments proved beneficial for germination, and also growth as found by the biometric measurements, while others inhibited both traits. Some of the biostimulants increased the concentration of the photosynthetic compounds, thus being recommended for use during all stages of wheat development. Dropia, Glosa, and Gruia reacted positively in most tests, their germination and plant and root development were stimulated by Super fifty, Atonik, Asfac, and Cropmax. Thus, we recommend the use of these biostimulants in the first development stages. The concentrations of photosynthetic pigments increased after treatment with Asfac, Atonik, and Cropmax. The treatment showing the most inhibitory effects was Lebosol.