The use of grafted plants in vegetable crop production is now being expanded greatly. However, few data are available on the nutritional composition of grafted vegetables with emphasis on antioxidant properties. Therefore, the major objective of this study was to evaluate antioxidant components of tomatoes influenced by grafting technique. The tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse located at Krizevci, Croatia. The cultivars 'Efialto', 'Heman', and 'Maxifort' were used as rootstocks, while 'Tamaris' was used as scion. Grafting resulted in increase of number of marketable fruits per plant by 30%. Content of total vitamin C and total phenolics significantly decreased after grafting. The concentration of total extractable phenolics in tomatoes ranged from 287.1 to 977.4 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) kg -1 fresh weight, whereas lycopene content ranged from 11.44 to 60.99 mg kg -1 fresh weight. Antioxidant activities determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method of grafts were significantly different compared to their respective rootstocks. The overall results showed that tomato grafting on suitable rootstocks has positive effects on the cultivation performance, but decreases nutritional quality of tomatoes.Additional key words: antioxidant activity; greenhouse; lycopene; plant production; total phenolics; vitamin C. Resumen Efecto del injerto en las propiedades antioxidantes del tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.)En la producción de cultivos hortícolas se está expandiendo actualmente de forma considerable el uso de plantas injertadas. Sin embargo, hay pocos datos disponibles sobre la composición nutricional de las hortícolas injertadas, especialmente sobre sus propiedades antioxidantes. El principal objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los componentes antioxidantes de tomates influenciados por la técnica de injerto. Se cultivaron plantas de tomate en un invernadero de Krizevcii, Croacia. Se utilizaron como portainjertos los cultivares 'Efialto', 'Heman', y 'Maxifort', mientras que 'Tamaris' fue utilizado como injerto. El resultado del injerto fue un aumento del 30% en el número de frutos comerciales por planta, mientras que el contenido de vitamina C y de fenoles totales disminuyó significativamente. La concentración del total de fenoles extraíbles en los tomates varió entre 287,1 y 977,4 mg de equivalentes de ácido gálico (GAE) por kilo sobre la base de peso fresco, mientras que el contenido de licopeno varió desde 11,44 hasta 60,99 mg kg -1 de peso fresco. Las actividades antioxidantes determinadas por el método DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazilo) de los injertos fueron significativamente diferentes respecto de sus respectivos patrones. Los resultados globales muestran que el injerto de tomate sobre patrones adecuados tiene efectos positivos sobre el rendimiento de cultivo, pero la calidad nutricional de los frutos disminuye.

In western Europe, not so long ago, wheat was frequently grown in a blend (mixture) of two or more cultivars, which was not common in southeast European countries. However, in recent times again growing wheat cultivars in a blend become more acceptable. Why? There are several advantages to this practice. In a blend, we have the possibility to combine different characteristics of two or more cultivars. For instance tolerance to different diseases, lodging tolerance, to combine characters in negative relation (for instance high yield and good grain protein content), and finally nutritive value of wheat, especially when essential minerals are in question. The last one will be the subject of this communication. Seven high protein wheat lines and one registered cultivars are sown in sixteen wheat 1:1 blends, and the effect of blending was studied with an intention to get a higher concentration of essential minerals and better nutritive value of wheat flour.

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