Chilling influences the growth and metabolism of plants. The physiological response and acclimatization of genotypes in relation to stress stimulus can be different. Two sage cultivars: ‘Icterina’ and ‘Purpurascens’ were subjected to 4 °C and 18 °C (control), and sampled between the 5th and 14th day of the treatment. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity was up-regulated in chilled ‘Purpurascens’ on the 14th day, while guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity increased on the 10th and 12th day in relation to the control. GPX activity of the control ‘Icterina’ was frequently higher than chilled plants, and chilling did not affect APX activity of that cultivar. Catalase activity remained stable in both sage cultivars. Chilled ‘Purpurascens’ showed a significant increase in total phenolics contents on the 5th, 7th, and 12th day and in total antioxidant capacity on the 5th and 10th day as compared to the control for respective sampling days. Higher malondialdehyde content was found in chilled plants on the 12th, or 14th day, differences reached 26–28% of the controls. Chilling caused significant decrease in dry matter content. The stress response was more stable and effective in ‘Icterina’, while more dynamic changes were found for ‘Purpurascens’. Based on our results, we propose to use ‘Purpurascens’ for targeted stress-induced studies and ‘Icterina’ for field applications.

JEZDINSKÝ, A., VOJTÍŠKOVÁ, J., SLEZÁK, K., PETŘÍKOVÁ, K., POKLUDA, R.: Eff ect of drought stress and Glomus inoculation on selected physiological processes of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'Slávy'). Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 3, pp. 69-76 Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. 'Slávy' F1) plants were colonized by the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus and grown in two irrigational levels: 1. optimal water supply (the irrigation activation by available water capacity (AWC) < 65 %); 2. drought stress (irrigation activation by AWC < 45 %). In the fi eld experiment selected physiological parameters, such as photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and water use effi ciency were observed. The highest photosynthetic activity was observed in the fi rst measuring date in both experimental years (2010: 7.5-8.1 μmol . m −2 . s −1 2011: 6.1-8.6 μmol . m −2 . s −1 ). In the next measuring dates, when the temperature decreased and the plants were older stage, the activity of leaves decreased. The inoculation by Glomus species had not clear eff ect. The inoculation did not increased the activity of plants (photosynthesis, transpiration) under optimal water supply conditions. However, based on results from 2011, under drought stress the inoculation had slightly positive eff ect on the photosynthetic rate. Under drought stress conditions, the water use effi ciency (WUE) of plants increased slightly by the Glomus inoculation (from 4.7 to 5.1 μmol CO 2 . mmol H 2 O −1 ).Capsicum annuum, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use effi ciency (WUE), Glomus

Nowadays one of the most important issues of greenhouse vegetable production in soilless media is the protection of the environment, in particular, the selection of the root medium to be applied. The objective of the trial was to test the applicability of baked (expanded) clay granules in hydroponic pepper growing with special respect to the growing pot (plastic tubes and buckets with bottom and lateral holes). From the result of the experiment it can be concluded that baked clay pellets, similarly to rockwool, are a suitable medium for providing root anchorage for pepper, however, it is necessary to examine some technological issues (e.g. fertilization, irrigation) prior to starting a large scale commercial cultivation. Relative to the three growing containers tested, it can be concluded that with the 4-8 mm crushed clay pebbles cultivation can be carried out successfully both in the white plastic tube and in the bucket, with the latter it is recommended to locate the drainage holes on the side of the growing container (at 6 cm from the bottom of the bucket).

No abstract

Abstract), but without signifi cant diff erences with control treatment. The N, P and K content of aboveground parts was signifi cantly lower in the nitrogen defi ciency treatment, than in the case of the potassium surplus, too. The eff ect of treatments on the dry weight of the plants, the stomatal conductance and the water use effi ciency was not proven statistically.

JEZDINSKÝ, A., PETŘÍKOVÁ, K., SLEZÁK, K., POKLUDA, R.: Eff ect of drought stress and mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth, photosynthetic activity and water use effi ciency of leek (Allium porrum L. 'Gigante Suizo'). Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 8, pp. 101-108 During the experiments it was examined two irrigation levels: 1. optimal water supply -the irrigation activation by available water capacity (AWC) < 65 %; 2. drought stress -irrigation activation by AWC < 45 %) and inoculation of plants by the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus in leek culture. The eff ect of treatments on the photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), water use effi ciency (WUE), biomass production (weight, dry matter content of diff erent plant part), size of pseudostem, leaf area and specifi c leaf area (SLA) was observed. The drought stress had eff ect on all observed parameters: it decreased the photosynthetic and transpiration rate (A: from 5.04-5.37 to 3.33-3.43 μmol CO 2 .m −2 . s −1 , E: from 1.78-1.91 to 0.99-1.03 mmol H 2 O. m −2 . s −1 in the average of 5 measuring date), the weight total fresh weight of plants: from 355-453 g to 152-255 g), and the leaf area, the length and diameter of pseudostem, too. The WUE, the dry matter content and the thickness of leaves increased under stress. In the most parameters, the water supply had stronger eff ect than the inoculation. The inoculation had positive eff ect mainly under drought stress: it improved the WUE at 3 measuring time (from 3.45 to 3.50 μmol CO 2 .mmol H 2 O −1 , in the average of 5 measuring date), increased the weight (total fresh weight of plants: from 152 g to 255 g) and the leaf area (from 0.16 to 0.12 m 2 ).leek, Glomus, inoculation, morphology, photosynthetic rate, specifi c leaf area, water use effi ciency (WUE)

The changed economical surroundings and the more strict ecological rules induced a need of changes also of the system of advisory on nutrient-supply of vegetable growing. There were many experiences and scientific results born after the last summarizing vegetable fertilization directives (1981), which allowed finishing a new system of advisory mentioned and presented above. We are sure, that the new directives, based on the modern view of vegetable production and also laying on economical possibilities will help the domestic vegetable production to stay competitive on the domestic and the foreign markets both.

In our experiments, we have chiefly tested the salt sensitivity of sweet pepper varieties. In cold forcing, 0.3 1/plant nutrient solutions of different NaCI content were given twice weekly. EC of the nutrient solutions containing 0.25% Volldünger Linz complex fertilizer was made up to 6, 10, 14 and 18 mS/cm, respectively, by 2.51/9.17/17.97/26.76 g/m2 doses of pharmacopeal NaCI every week. The solution used for the control treatment contained Volldünger only (EC 4.4 mS/cm). Irrigation was made with pure water (EC 0.6 mS/cm) when necessary. The varieties chosen for the experiments were the following: Feherözön, HRF F1, Syn. Cecei (of white, conical fruit), Boni (of white, blunt, infolded fruit), Titan F1 (of pointed, hot fruit) and Pritavit F1 (of tomato shaped fruit). In general, the symptoms caused by NaCI treatments (with doses higher than 10 g/m2 weekly) have been the following: They have reduced the leaf area, the height of the plants, the total and the early yield, the number of fruit set per square meter, the average weight of the fruit (and, in some measure, fruit length, too) and the thousand seed weight. They have increased the calcium and the chlorine content of the leaves and fruits and the dry matter content of the fruits. They haven't affected the dry matter content of the leaves, the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of the leaves and fruits, and the germinating ability of the seed. The effect on stem diameter and on seed production per fruit has been contradictory in some cases. The effects of the intermediate treatments haven't been explicit in several cases. The results of the examination of cuticular secretion have indicated the increase of the sodium and chlorine content of the leaves. This can be important in field growing where the rainwater may wash out a part of sodium and chlorine from paprika leaves. The hot, pointed variety and the tomato shaped paprika haven't shown clearly higher salt tolerance than the varieties of white fruit colour.