Foliar selenium (Se) treatment of garlic at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg of Se/mL was carried out in open field conditions in 2008 and 2009 in Estonia. Bulb weight and yield structure, content of total Se, S, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, ascorbic acid content (AAC), pungency, total phenolics, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined. The highest level of Se decreased total S, K, and Ca in both years; no negative impact on bulb weight was observed. In 2009 Se10 treatment had significantly more bulbs with the largest diameter compared to the other treatments. In 2008, the AAC was decreased by Se50 and the content of total phenolics by all Se treatments; however, TAC was increased. Foliar Se fertilization of garlic at rates of 10-50 μg of Se/mL can be recommended to increase the number of large bulbs and increase bulb antioxidant capacity.

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Apple preferences of Estonian consumers (n=336 in 2007 and 332 in 2012) were determined regarding apple origin, production method and different quality attributes. The aim was to find out whether apple preferences of young people raised in a capitalistic system differ from older people raised in the Soviet Union and also to determine if and how these preferences have changed over five years. The majority of the respondents preferred domestic apples (91% and 81% in 2007 and 2012, respectively), the main motivation being food safety: domestic apples were believed to contain fewer chemical residues. Apple taste was the most important quality attribute, followed by appearance which was rated equally important as health benefits and finally, price. Young people (<25 years) were significantly more indifferent towards apple origin compared to others. However, the preference for apple taste and colour was similar in all age groups. Over the five year period surveyed, the preference for domestic and organic apples had decreased, but taste and colour preference had remained unchanged.

A large part of the research carried out with strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) has been with the aim of gaining higher yields. At the same time postharvest losses are remarkable. Therefore the need for research with the aim of increasing quality is rising. The aim of the present research was to study the influence of mulch (plastic and straw), fertilization and the age of plants (two, three and four years) on the quality of strawberry fruits. Experiments were carried out with cultivar Bounty during 2000-2002 at the Estonian Agricultural University. Results showed that fertilization had a positive effect on the yield of first grade fruits with both mulches. With plastic mulch, fertilization had a positive influence on vitamin C content. With straw mulch, fertilization decreased fruit damage. None of the experimental factors had an impact on the content of soluble solids. We concluded that injecting fertilizer solution into the soil under plastic mulch is an effective and inexpensive way to avoid a decrease in fruit size in the third year of production. Vitamin C content was negatively influenced by plant age, and in the three-year-old plantation, smaller fruits contained more vitamin C than larger fruits.

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The research was conducted with the apple ( Malus domestica ) cultivars Krameri Tuviõun and Talvenauding at the Estonian Agricultural University during 2003–2005. The aim was to study the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment (1 ppm, at room temperature, 24 h) on the biochemical content and physiological disorders of apples and on external quality after 4 months of storage. The apples were stored in a normal atmosphere at 2–5°C and 80–85% RH. In the first storage season 1-MCP treatment did not improve apple quality in general; only the peel background colour of treated apples remained greener. In the second storage season 1-MCP treatment influenced the biochemical content of the apples and improved apple quality: treated fruits were firmer (increase from 4.7 kg/cm 2 to 8.1 kg/cm 2 ) and contained more vitamin C; also, the SSC decreased and the loss of titratable acids was delayed. Consequently fruit spoilage decreased by 30%.

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