The aim of study was to compare yield, fruit quality, chemical composition and fruits colour of berries of two blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivars of Polish bred 'Wojtek' and 'Brązowa' collected at the beginning and at the end of harvest season, respectively. On average, 'Wojtek' yielded 1565 g per bush, whereas 'Brązowa' 1941 g. During the fruit ripening process, considerable changes were found in the fruit colour. Fruits of both cultivars became darker and their colour changed from green and yellow to red and blue. With the changes in fruit colour, considerable changes in firmness also occurred. Fruit ripening reduced fruit firmness and puncture resistance. For both genotypes, the berries of late harvest were bigger and richer in soluble solids and total polyphenol, however, they showed decreased firmness, lower acidity, and L-ascorbic acid content. Nevertheless the time of harvest, 'Wojtek' berries surpassed 'Brązowa' fruit regarding soluble solids, titratable acidity and L-ascorbic acid content (for late-crop berries of both cultivars 14.1>12.6%, 3.4>2.7 g citric acid 100 g 1 , and 76>56 mg 100 mL ). Among phenolics, anthocyanins made the substantial group ranging from 94.47 mg 100 g -1 ('Brązowa' berries of early harvest) to 141.96 mg 100 g -1 (late 'Wojtek' fruit).

Two cultivars of chokeberry -'Nero' and Polish 'Galicjanka' are sold in Poland. Sometimes, there are also present the seedlings of 'Viking' and 'Hugin' cultivars. In the experiment some morphological characteristics, the quality of fruits and chemical composition of four chokeberry cultivars ('Galicjanka' , 'Hugin' , 'Nero' , 'Viking') were compared. Chokeberry plants were grown at the Experimental Station of Pomology Department at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. Fruits collected from 'Hugin' cultivar shrubs were the smallest (100 fruits weight was 32 g) and the least juice was obtained from them (73.6%); however, they were characterised by the highest content of soluble solids (18.7°Bx), titratable acids (1.05 g), polyphenols (2340 mg), especially cyanidin 3-galactoside as well as nitrates (98.5 mg) and nitrites (1.87 mg). The 'Hugin' cultivar was characterised by light-coloured fruits, and, as a result, by lightcoloured juice. Fruits of 'Galicjanka' cultivar were the biggest, 100 fruits weight was 111,7 g. In fruits of the 'Nero' and 'Viking' cultivars, the content of individual components was at the lowest level. These cultivars have the largest amount of substances colouring fruits, pulp as well as red and blue juices, are also the darkest and the dark juice was obtained from them. Maceration of fruit pulp resulted in a significant change of colour of the juice obtained, it become darker and had a more intense blue colour.

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The studies were conducted in the period of 2010-2011, in the Laboratory of Orcharding at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, and related to the bushes of the highbush blueberry of the Duke cultivar. The authors examined the impact of foliar calcium fertlizers (Calcinit, Calcium chloride, Fruton Calcium Calcium, Folanx ® Ca29 Lebosol Calcium Forte Calcium Forte) on the fruit size and firmness, their chemical composition, content of macronutrients in the foliage and fruits, and their colour. It was found that the applied fertlizers have varied impact on the examined attributes. The bushes sprayed with the Lebosol Calcium Forte and Calcinit preparations had big fruits with a high content of K and Mg, and dark foliage. The application of the Lebosol Calcium Forte fertilizer increased the content of polyphenols and vitamin C in the fruits. The smallest amounts of such compounds were determined in the fruits sprayed with the Calcinit fertilizer. The highest firmness and resistance to mechanical damage were achieved in the case of the fruits collected from the bushes sprayed with the foliar fertlizers containing calcium chloride, such as Fruton Calcium and Folanx Ca29. It was determined that the application of the calcium preparations resulted in the increase of the calcium content in the fruits and foliage. The highest amounts of this element were determined in the case of the plants sprayed with the Folanx Ca29 and Lebosol Calcium Forte preparations.

AbstractThere is a growing public interest in fruits labeled as „superfood” (functional food). A “superfood” should have a high content of bioactive substances with a positive impact on human health. Seven different cultivars of goji berry fruits (Lycium chinense Mill.) grown in north-western Poland were evaluated for its physicochemical parameters, antidiabetic and antioxidant activity, and polyphenol content. The length of 1-year-old shoots ranged from 36 cm (‘Big Lifeberry’) to 82 cm (‘Korean Big’). Cultivars from the group of Big were characterized by the biggest fruits (17.3-24.2 mm) with the greatest weight of 100 fruits (96.7­122.1 g). ‘Big Lifeberry’ contained high amounts of L-ascorbic acid (408 mg 1000/g) and provitamin A (190 mg 1000/g) and showed high antidiabetic (α-amylase IC50=33.4 mg/mL; α-glucosidase IC50=9.9 mg/mL) and antioxidant activity (ABTS·+ 6.21 and FRAP 5.58 mmol T/100 g). ‘Big Lifeberry’ was also characterized by a high total content of polyphenols (43.64 mg 100/g). Furthermore, the nitrite content in all the cultivars tested was at a relatively low level. Among the examined cultivars, the most attractive one concerning the consumers’ point of view of the size, weight and high content of health-promoting compounds is ‘Big Lifeberry’.

in Szczecin and at a certified production farm specializing in the cultivation of highbush blueberry located in Szczecin. The effect of cultivation conditions-organic plantation in organic peat substrate (pH 3.46) and conventional plantation in mineral substrate (pH 5.32)-on the berry quality of four highbush blueberry cultivars (firmness, size, chemical composition including content of organic compounds and polyphenols) was examined. Blueberry bushes were planted at a spacing of 2.3 × 1.2 m. Bushes were planted on organic and conventional plantations, and the substrates differed in terms of mineral content. Specific environmental conditions and soil conditions (optimum pH of the substrate) resulted in larger berries on the organic plantations, and the total yield contained big berries (diameter, >12 mm; mean, 83.4%) with lower polyphenol content (287 mg 100 g -1 ). The berries of the Elliott cultivar, regardless of how the crops were grown, were the largest, characterized by the lowest content of SS (15.3%) and the highest acidity (0.98 g 100 g -1 ). They were also the most likely to shed. The Duke cultivar was most susceptible to mechanical damage (101 G mm) and was characterized by the lowest berry firmness (162 and 363 G mm) and polyphenol content (organic, 185 mg; conventional, 228 mg 100 g -1 ).