No abstract

IntroductionStrawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) production is in constant increase, primarily due to increasing consumption of the fruit and its high profitability. Intensive farming practices that result in high yield and quality also require extensive use of chemical fertilizers, which are costly and create environmental problems. Therefore, there has been a recent, growing interest in various biofertilizers (microbe inoculants). Use of biofertilizers containing various genera of bacteria, like Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Derxia, and Klebsiella, has been found to be beneficial for plant growth, yield, fruit quality of strawberries, and leaf P and Zn content (Esitken et al., 2010;Pešaković et al., 2013).The other equally important aspect of intensifying strawberry production is the selection of high-yielding cultivars with flavorful fruits that are more desirable to consumers. In this regard, breeding programs are based on improving yield and fruit quality characteristics (sensorial and nutritional), adapting to different growing systems, and ecological production (Capocasa et al., 2008;Magnani et al., 2009;Luković et al., 2012). Furthermore, technologies should be adjusted to a single cultivar or a group of cultivars with similar requirements.Considerations of biofertilizer impacts on chemical fruit characteristics and health benefits of strawberry cultivars have also received attention and are important directions for future research (Anttonen et al., 2006;Agulheiro-Santos, 2009). The objective of this study was to highlight how various bacteria can be used in biofertilization aimed at increasing strawberry production through regulation of vegetative development and how these bacteria can improve the nutritional fruit quality of three strawberry cultivars. In addition to this, we wanted to investigate the combined effect of biofertilizer and cultivar on certain vegetative, generative, and fruit quality traits in strawberries. Materials and methods Plant materialAn open field trial was conducted at the experimental plantation of the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, Serbia (43°53ʹN, 20°20ʹE, 225 m a.s.l.). Soil physicochemical analysis was performed prior to trial establishment. The soil's macronutrient content was determined according to standard laboratory protocols and methods. The trial was conducted on alluvial soil with a sandy-loam texture

An examination was made on the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of four medicinal plants Carum carvi, Coriandrum sativum, Hyssopus officinalis, and Eucalyptus globulus, the first three of which are also used as culinary spice herbs.Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. belong to the Apiacea family. In traditional medicine, Carum carvi is used in the form of a tea as a digestive and diuretic [1]. Coriandrum sativum has been used since ancient times; it was found in pharaonic tombs where it was used for embalming, and there is mention of it in the Bible. It is used as a medicine against flatulence and as a diuretic [1], and it also has an anticonvulsive effect [2]. The essential oils of these two plants are used as spices in preparing food.Hyssopus officinalis L. and Eucalyptus globulus Lab. belong to the Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae families, respectively, and they are used in folk medicine to treat respiratory diseases [1].The aim of this paper was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oils of the said plants and examine their activity against the growth of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus E haemolyticus group A, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterecoccus faecalis ATCC 29212, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853), and fungi (Candida albicans ATCC 10231). Eucalyptus globulus was collected at the Montenegrin Coast and all the rest of the plants were grown in the fields of Vojvodina (Northern Serbia).The essential oils were obtained from the fruits of Carum carvi and Coriandrum sativum and the leaves of Hyssopus officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus by the steam distillation method following Procedure III of the Yugoslav Pharmacopoeia [3]. The GC and GC/MS analyses were used for determination of the essential oil composition. Percentages of the main components of the essential oils investigated are given in Table 1. The essential oils of the plants examined are of different chemical compositions, and monoterpenes are distributed the most. By comparison of the composition of the essential oils of the plants mentioned with the literature data [4] and [5], it was concluded that it was dependent on the geographic region and plant growing conditions. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of the plants investigated was determined by the disc-diffusion method [6] and [7]. Tables 2 gives MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values and inhibition zone diameters for three different essential oil concentrations. The inhibition zone diameters were compared with the reference antibiotics, as shown in the tables. As Enterecoccus faecalis ATCC 29212and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were not inhibited by the essential oils of the plants mentioned, their results are not given in the Tables.The broadest inhibitory activity spectrum was exhibited by the essential oils of Carum carvi and Hyssopus officinalis, and the narrowest one by Eucalyptus globulus. The antimicrobial activity of certain oils (Carum carvi, Hyssopus officinalis, and Eucalyptus globulus) against St...

Flavonols, phenolic acids and other polyphenols possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiproliferative, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antibacterial or antiviral activities to greater or lesser extent (Liu et al. 2002;Ratnam et al. 2006). Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) has been known to have a high content of phenolic compounds and natural antioxidants (Aaby et al. Evaluation was performed of the effect made by integrated and conventional production systems on phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of cv. Senga Sengana strawberry grown under greenhouse conditions over two consecutive years. The experiment also involved three different types of fertilizer. The integrated production system provides significantly larger quantities of polyphenols as well as a higher antioxidant capacity, compared to values obtained using the conventional system. The investigation into total phenolics content and total antioxidant capacity, as well as individual flavonols and phenolic acids (except gallic acid) content reveals a pronounced effect of the applied biofertilizers (PGPR 1 and PGPR 2). On the other hand, applied chemical fertilizer (Multi KMg) gives the best results in terms of anthocyanins content. These results indicate that there were significant differences in phenols content among integrated and conventional production systems, as well as between biofertilizers and a chemical fertilizer.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivar Willamette has long been the most commonly grown raspberry cultivar in Serbia, which is owing to high adaptability of the cultivar to respective agro-environmental conditions. Massive dieback of full bearing plantings is a major problem in raspberry growing hence quality planting material is a must when establishing new raspberry plantings. The study was conducted under protected conditions (in screenhouse) on plants obtained by micropropagation in vitro. In order to achieve optimal vegetative potential, plants were grown for two consecutive years (2004–2005) on two substrates (Steckmedium and Seedling) using three foliar fertilizers (Wuxal, Murtonik and Ferticare). The study revealed optimal vegetative growth in plants studied, excess manganese (150.60-214.52 mg/g), optimum iron content (94.00-123.50 mg/g), and zinc (28.60-31.00 mg/g) and copper (3.10-4.00 mg/g) deficiencies, based on the referent values of microelements content. The assessment of nutritional status of plants by the DOP index suggested significant differences in microelements imbalance when different foliar fertilizers and substrates are applied.

No abstract

SUMMARYCross-sections of leaf blades and petioles of different strawberry genotypes exhibiting different levels of resistance to Chaetosiphon fragaefolii were studied using the paraffin method, and staining with safranin, crystal violet and light green. Besides thicker cell walls of the cortex collenchyma in the more resistant genotypes, and a proportionally wider collenchyma than parenchyma in the cortex, their midribs are also encircled by a ring of more intensely stained lignified cells forming a physical ring. This stain reaction of cells to safranin and crystal violet occurs also in lateral vascular bundles, as well as in leaf palisade tissue. The tissue cross-sections of the sensitive genotypes revealed a predominance of green on the cellulose cell walls and protoplasts due to the reaction to light green SF, while stain reactions to safranin and crystal violet were not evidenced.

No abstract