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The work focuses on the responses of two baby lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars (green "Paris Island" and red "Sanguine") to different NaCl solutions (0, 5, 10 and 20 mM). Plant mineral composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Cl and Na) and nutritional quality (nitrates, ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity) were determined. Salinity was found to be able to reduce the concentration of K; while, it was able to enhance Zn and Cu concentrations in baby leaves of both cultivars. Salinity was even able to decrease Ca concentration in green lettuce, and to increase the concentrations of Fe, Mn and B in red lettuce. Moreover, salinity was connected to the accumulation of Cl and Na in baby leaves. However, the use of saline waters enhanced health-beneficial phenolic compounds in baby leaves in some instances.

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The Mediterranean basin countries are considered secondary centres of tomato diversification. However, information on phenotypic and allelic variation of local tomato materials is still limited. Here we report on the evaluation of the largest traditional tomato collection, which includes 1499 accessions from Southern Europe. Analyses of 70 traits revealed a broad range of phenotypic variability with different distributions among countries, with the culinary end use within each country being the main driver of tomato diversification. Furthermore, eight main tomato types (phenoclusters) were defined by integrating phenotypic data, country of origin, and end use. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses identified associations in 211 loci, 159 of which were novel. The multidimensional integration of phenoclusters and the GWAS meta-analysis identified the molecular signatures for each traditional tomato type and indicated that signatures originated from differential combinations of loci, which in some cases converged in the same tomato phenotype. Our results provide a roadmap for studying and exploiting this untapped tomato diversity.

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Vegetable grafting is a practice employed worldwide since it helps prevent biotic and abiotic disorders, and watermelon is one of the most important species grafted. The objective of this study was to set critical limits for the characterization of quality categories for grafted watermelon seedlings. Specifically, watermelon (scion) seedlings were grafted onto squash (rootstock) seedlings, moved into a healing chamber for 7 days, and then transferred into a greenhouse for seven more days. At 7 and 14 days after grafting, experienced personnel assessed grafted seedling quality by categorizing them. The categories derived were Optimum and Acceptable for both time intervals, plus Not acceptable at 14 days after grafting. Optimum seedlings showed greater leaf area, and shoot and root fresh and dry weights at both time intervals. Moreover, they had greater stem diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, shoot dry weight-to-length ratio and Dickson’s quality index compared to the other category at 14 days after grafting. Therefore, Optimum seedlings would likely develop into marketable plants of high quality, with better establishment in the field. Not acceptable seedlings showed considerably inferior development, while Acceptable seedlings were between the other categories, but were still marketable.