SummaryThe effect of storage conditions and 1-MCP treatment on ethylene production and quality of 'Gala' apples stored in normal and controlled atmosphere conditions was evaluated during two successive seasons, 2001/2002 and 2002/2003. Apples were harvested in a commercial stage and cooled down to a temperature of 1°C. After that there were treated with 1-MCP in a concentration of 0.625 μl·L -1 for 24 hours. Treated and untreated (control) apples were stored for 120 and 180 days in the cold storage rooms at 2±0.5°C under normal atmosphere (NA) conditions or controlled atmosphere (CA) with 2% O 2 and 2% CO 2 . Directly after storage and after shelf life (additionally 7 days at 18°C) internal ethylene concentration (IEC) and activity of ACC oxidase were determined. The following quality parameters were recorded as well: flesh firmness (FF), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA).Application of 1-MCP after harvest strongly inhibited ACC oxidase in apples following storage in air or controlled atmosphere for 120 and 180 days. This inhibition was also noted after 7 days of shelf life. There was no reduction in ACC oxidase activity of CA stored apples in comparison to NA stored, but the IEC directly after storage was lower for fruits stored in CA conditions than for fruits stored in NA. Internal ethylene concentration was significantly lower for the 1-MCP treated fruits, both directly after storage in NA or CA and after shelf life. The application of 1-MCP delayed softening and loss of titratable acidity in 'Gala' apples stored in NA and CA conditions. There was no clear effect of 1-MCP treatment on total soluble solids content in stored 'Gala' apples

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit quality of 13 Asian pear cultivars grown in climatic conditions of central Poland. The following cultivars were tested: ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Dżin Li’, ‘Er Shi Shinge’, ‘Er Jang Li’, ‘Golden 20th’, ‘Min Czi Li’, ‘San Li’, and ‘Shinseiki’. Pears were harvested in Experimental Orchard of Research Institute of Horticulture in Dąbrowice (near Skierniewice). Fruits were stored for 10 weeks at 0 °C in regular atmospheric conditions. Flesh firmness (FF), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA) were measured at harvest and after the storage followed with 1 and 7 days of shelf life (SL) at 18 °C. After the storage, the sensory evaluation was also performed. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Min Czi Li’ and ‘San Li’ were the most firm (above 45 N) and ‘Kosui’ was the least firm (below 28 N) at harvest time. High amount of TSS (above 11% in both seasons and harvest dates) was observed in ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, and ‘Er Jang Li’ pears. Low TSS (not more than 10.6% at harvest) was observed in ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Dżin Li’, and ‘Er Shi Shinge’ cultivars. The large differences among cultivars were observed in TA. High TA was observed in ‘Nijisseiki’ (above 0.32% in all terms of analyses) and low TA in ‘Hayatama’ and ‘Kosui’ (below 0.14%). All of the evaluated cultivars can be stored for 10 weeks at 0 °C in regular atmosphere without major negative impact on their quality characteristics. Fruits showed a slight (sometimes significant) decrease in FF after storage and a slight or no changes in TSS and TA. In sensory evaluations, ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, ‘Er Jang Li’, ‘Er Shi Shinge’, and ‘Shinseiki’ (mostly cultivars characterized by high TSS) obtained highest scores for the overall quality (above 5.0 points in 10 points scale).

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A group of professional bus drivers have done two rides on a city bus simulator – the fist one into the city centre and the other one in the suburbs. One dangerous incident was simulated during each ride. The visual strategy was evaluated by the FaceLab system comprising two pairs of cameras, one facing the road and the other to the left side. The main selected criteria of the visual strategy included the number and duration of gaze fixations. Furthermore, eyelid movements (PERCLOS index) and pupil diameter were recorded. The results were subjected to a statistical analysis.

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A chamber, named SOIL-INSECT toolbox, was developed to analyse the effect of various factors on the behaviour of soil-dwelling insects. It is equipped with sensors that continuously monitor the concentration of CO 2 in the different compartments of the chamber without disturbing the air balance in the soil. The chamber can be adapted to study different stimuli, including volatile compounds, both in the presence and absence of plants. The chamber was tested using the larvae of Melolontha spp., which confi rmed its suitability for carrying out complex studies on insect-insect and insect-plant-microbiome interactions in a complex environment such as soil. The results of behavioural experiments using L3 larvae of Melolontha spp. in sterilized and natural soils revealed that the soil condition affected the behaviour of the larvae, likely due to its effect on the soil microbiome and physicochemical characteristics.