Comparative research has been carried out to determine the quantities and accumulation of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in the vegetative and reproductive organs of crops of the Solanaceae family (tomato, pepper, and aubergine) as well as to identify the possibilities of growing them on soils contaminated by heavy metals. The analyses were carried out by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry after dry ashing. Heavy metals have an impact on the development and productivity of the crops of the Solanaceae family. The high anthropogenic contamination impedes the normal development and fruit-bearing ability of the pepper and aubergine plants, and in the case of tomatoes, it led to an increased assimilation of heavy metals without reducing the yield and the quality of the production of tomatoes. Crops from the Solanaceae family, tomato, pepper, and aubergine plants, could be cultivated on soils having low and medium levels of contamination of heavy metals, because they do not show a tendency to accumulating Pb, Zn, and Cd in their fruits, which could still be used for consumption.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of organic fertilization on nutritional characteristics and antioxidant capacity of three melon varieties fruits (Cucumis melo L.) - Hybrid 15 F1, Desserten 5, and Galia. The trials were carried out under greenhouse conditions in the infested with root-knot nematodes soil. Galia was grown with mineral fertilization. The other two varieties were treated with organic fertilizers - Liquid “Humus Active” during vegetation and Neem cake twice - before planting and during flowering. The dry matter, ash, titratable acidity, pH, carbohydrate, protein, lipid content, pigments, total phenols, and total flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Desserten 5 demonstrated the highest sugars content – sucrose (5.32 g/100 g), glucose (1.35 g/100 g) and fructose (2.51 g/100 g), as well as the highest carotenoids (90 μg/100 g fw), total phenols (540 mg GAE/100 g fw), and total flavonoids content (73 mg QE/100 g fw) and antioxidant capacity(25 mM TE/100 g). The results revealed that the nutritional value of melon fruits could be improved by using organic fertilization for the production of foods for healthy nutrition.
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