The aim of this work was to evaluate the yield parameters (number of fruits per plant, total yield per plant and average fruit weight), level of ascorbic acid, and pungency (SHU units) of different genotypes of chilli pepper in protected cultivation in the Czech Republic in order to identify a suitable and prospective chilli cultivar which could be recommended to the Central European growers. The experiment took place in two years (2016 and 2018) in a plastic greenhouse with 17 genotypes of the species Capsicum chinense Jacq., C. annuum L., C. baccatum L. and C. pubescens Ruiz. & Pav. From the viewpoint of yield parameters and stability of yield, ‘Habanero Red’, ‘Jamaican Yellow’, ‘Jwala’ and ‘Rocoto Orange’ can be recommended for Czech conditions. The majority of the tested cultivars were a good source of vitamin C (mostly reaching a value of at least 800 mg kg−1). From the perspective of pungency, the following cultivars can be recommended: low pungency – Fish, Jalapeño, Jwala, Pimiento de Padrón and Rocoto Orange; medium pungency – Cayenne Gold, NuMex Piñata and Scotch Bonnet Orange; and high pungency – Aji Lemon Drop, Cayenne Purple, TMSR and Tricolor Variegata.

The susceptibility of twenty-four cabbage breeding lines to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was evaluated. The selection of appropriate inoculation method was done on 4 cabbage cultivars ('Cerox', 'Sintex', 'Sonja' and 'Avak'). One month old plants were infected by 5 inoculation methods (spraying, injection by syringe, multiple pricking, carborundum abrasion and scissor clipping method). Four different bacterial isolates of Xcc (WHRI 3811, 3971A, 1279A; SU) and their mixture were evaluated for the aggressiveness on 'Cerox' and 'Sonja' cultivars. On the basis of obtained results, breeding lines of head cabbage were inoculated by mixture of all tested isolates using multiple pricking method. The disease severity of inoculated seedlings proved high susceptibility of young plants to the Xcc infection. The disease incidence determined 75 and 105 days after sowing showed changes for 16 of tested lines and indicated that resistance testing should be observed until mature stage. The study revealed five breeding lines (DP25, T1, IT10, Kalibos and Avak1) with disease incidence lower than 20 % as perspective sources of resistance for further breeding.

The nutritional and sensory value of Chinese radish, cv. Jarola F1, grown in organic and conventional systems was evaluated. The experiments were based on certified organic land and conventional land of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague at the experimental station of Troja. Radish was grown in two spacings. Radish from the organic cultivation system exhibited a significantly lower dry matter content compared to the conventional production, 62.4 g/kg <br /> and 68.9 g/kg, respectively. This can be explained by growing under unwoven textile. Furthermore, radish cultivated organically had a significantly lower content of monosaccharides (17.2 mg/kg, while the conventional production contained 26.1 mg/kg) and significantly higher contents of nitrates. The content of vitamin C in organic production tended to be higher (212 mg/kg, in conventional production 169 mg/kg). The crude fibre content or the content of minerals was not significantly affected by the growing system. Growing spacing did not affect the nutritional value. Organically produced radish had better sensorial evaluation. &nbsp;

Selected cultivars of Asian brassicacean vegetables were evaluated for their yield potential and susceptibility to bacterial infection. Chinese broccoli, two cultivars of Chinese cabbage (‘Dwarf milk cabbage’ and improved ‘Tahtsai’), and mizuna were grown in the conditions of the Czech Republic. Morphological and yield parameters for the field conditions (plant height, plant diameter, and marketable weight) were verified. In addition, genotypes were tested for resistance to black rot [<em>Xanthomonas campestris</em> pv. <em>campestris</em> (Xcc)] at the planting stage. The results show that a very promising genotype of mizuna, which yielded best (1,478 g per plant). Chinese cabbage (cultivar ‘Dwarf milk cabbage’) also showed high yield values (2,839 g per plant), especially when compared to the reference value for Napa cabbage. Chinese Cabbage 1 (‘Dwarf milk cabbage’) and mizuna also showed a low susceptibility to infection by bacterial black rot at the planting stage. Both cultivars reached Level 2 (median) of infection, which corresponds to the extent of the symptoms on 25% of the leaf surface.

Brassica vegetables are one of the most important groups of vegetables in terms of their nutritional composition. The aim of this work was to evaluate the lesser known Asian species from the family Brassicaceae cultivated in the conditions of the Czech Republic and to carry out a comparison with cabbage as a reference species. For the evaluation, two species of Chinese broccoli, two cultivars of Chinese cabbage ('Dwarf milk cabbage' and improved 'Tahtsai') and mizuna were selected. Among the properties evaluated were dry matter production, crude fiber content, vitamin C, carotenoids, TAC, flavonoids, phenols, and mineral composition (K, Na, Ca, and Mg). The highest contents of vitamin C were found in mizuna and the lowest in Chinese Cabbage 2. In comparison to the reference species, the majority of the properties of Chinese cabbage had higher values in comparison to traditional cabbage (range: 101-577%). Positive results were also found for mizuna. The worst brassica was Chinese Cabbage 2 in which the majority of the properties measured were lower in comparison to traditional cabbage.

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IntroductionSmart management in crop cultivation is increasingly supported by application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), which sustain soil fertility and plant performance. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effects of consortia composed of (Claroideoglomus claroideum BEG96, Claroideoglomus etunicatum BEG92, Funneliformis geosporum BEG199, Funneliformis mosseae BEG 95, and Rhizophagus irregularis BEG140) and PGPM (Azospirillum brasilense – AZ, or Saccharothrix sp. – S) on onion cultivated in growing media with a composition corresponding to a degraded soil. MethodsThree types of substrate formulations were used, with peat:sand ratios of 50:50, 70:30, 100:0 (v:v). The analysis of substrate parameters crucial for its fertility (pH, salinity, sorption complex capacity, and elements’ content) and characteristics reflecting onion seedlings’ performance (fresh weight, stress biomarkers, and elements’ content) was performed. ResultsAMF colonized onion roots in all treatments, showing increasing potential to form intercellular structures in the substrates rich in organic matter. Additionally, co-inoculation with PGPM microorganisms accelerated arbuscular mycorrhiza establishment. Increased antioxidant activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) activity of onion roots sampled from the formulations composed of peat and sand in the ratio of 100:0, inoculated with AMF+S, and positive correlation between GPOX, fresh weight and antioxidant activity of onion roots reflected the successful induction of plant acclimatization response. Total phenols content was the highest in roots and leaves of onion grown in substrates with 70:30 peat:sand ratio, and, in the case of roots, it was correlated with AMF colonization parameters but not with antioxidant activity.DiscussionAMF and PGPM efficiency in supporting onion growth should be linked to the increased onion root system capacity in mineral salts absorption, resulting in more efficient aboveground biomass production. AMF and PGPM consortia were effective in releasing minerals to soluble fraction in substrates rich in organic matter, making elements available for uptake by onion root system, though this phenomenon depended on the PGPM species. Microorganism consortia enhanced onion seedlings’ performance also in substrates with lower content of organic carbon through plant biofertilization and phytostimulation

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