Janko Červenski

This study investigated the postharvest storage performance of three commercial head cabbage hybrids (Bravo F1, Excalibur F1 and Discos F1) and one open-pollinated cultivar (Varaždinski) under three storage temperature regimes (2°C, 4°C and 7°C) at a constant relative air humidity of 90%. The experiment was conducted using a two-factor factorial design, with genotype and storage temperature as the main factors, and each treatment replicated eight times (96 experimental units in total). Storage duration, defined as the number of days from the beginning of storage until the cabbage head no longer met market quality standards, was used as the primary evaluation parameter. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant effects of genotype (F = 1148.15), storage temperature (F = 542.74) and their interaction (F = 83.29) on storage longevity. Genotype accounted for the largest share of the total treatment variation (approximately 67%), confirming the dominant role of genetic background in determining postharvest performance. Bravo F1 and Excalibur F1 achieved the longest storage durations under optimal low-temperature conditions (99.5 and 98.7 days at 2°C, respectively), while Discos F1 showed the shortest and most temperature-sensitive storage life. The Varaždinski cultivar demonstrated notable stability at moderately elevated temperatures. These results highlight the necessity of combining appropriate genotype selection with precise cold-storage management to maximize postharvest quality and minimize economic losses in commercial cabbage production.

Considering the daily importance of vegetables in the human diet, breeders are expected to find faster and more accurate methods of creating new varieties of vegetables. To more precisely meet the demands of vegetable producers and consumers, breeders are increasingly combining hybrid and molecular techniques. The integration of hybrid and molecular breeding represents a logical step towards the development of efficient vegetable breeding strategies. For this purpose, the aim of this review is to point out several representative vegetable species (tomato, pepper, cabbage, lettuce, and cucumber) the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages of the integration of hybrid and molecular methods of breeding. While conventional breeding techniques are based on selective breeding, mass selection, pure line selection, backcrossing, and hybrid breeding that exploit the effects of heterosis, advanced techniques such as phenomics, molecular markers, genome-wide association studies, and next-generation sequencing facilitate the identification and selection of desirable traits and improve nutritional quality. Breeding a new and promising vegetable cultivar can take 10 to 15 years before it becomes available for commercial production. Molecular techniques definitely represent a faster and more precise part of this mentioned integration. However, classical-hybrid breeding still develops stable, uniform, and marketable varieties without the high costs and significant access of advanced laboratory infrastructure, and without the regulatory barriers that accompany genetic engineering.

Considering the daily importance of vegetables in the human diet, breeders are expected to find faster and more accurate methods of creating new varieties of vegetables. To more precisely meet the demands of vegetable producers and consumers, breeders are increasingly combining hybrid and molecular techniques. The integration of hybrid and molecular breeding represents a logical step towards the development of efficient vegetable breeding strategies. For this purpose, the aim of this review is to point out on several representative vegetable species the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages of the integration of hybrid and molecular methods of breeding. While conventional breeding techniques are based on selective breeding, mass selection, pure line selection, backcrossing, and hybrid breeding that exploit the effects of heterosis, advanced techniques such as phenomics, molecular markers, genome-wide association studies, and next-generation sequencing facilitate the identification and selection of desirable traits and improve nutritional quality. Definitely, molecular techniques represent a faster and more precise part of this mentioned integration. However, classical-hybrid breeding still develops stable, uniform, and marketable varieties without the high costs and significant access of advanced laboratory infrastructure, without the regulatory barriers that accompany genetic engineering.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a significant crop cultivated worldwide for its culinary, nutritional, and medicinal value. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different fertilization regimes on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, nutritional value, and mineral composition of garlic. The field experiment was conducted at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, in three replications. Fertilization significantly influenced the bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, nutritional quality, and mineral composition of garlic. Cattle manure proved to be the most effective treatment, increasing protein (by approx. 5.1%), total sugars (17.9%), sucrose (24.9%), sulfur content (7.2%), total phenolics (3.1%), flavonoids (30.7%), and antioxidant activity (by 5.2–23.1% depending on the assay) compared to the control, indicating superior nutritional and functional quality. Multivariate analyses highlighted the significant impact of fertilization regimes on garlic quality, with mineral fertilizer, control (treatment without fertilizer application), and cattle manure enhancing bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and nutritional composition. Fertilization had limited effects on macroelements, although cattle and sheep manure increased nitrogen and sulphur contents, while molasses reduced phosphorus and potassium levels. Organic fertilization significantly modified microelement composition, with sheep manure notably increasing zinc and copper, while most fertilizers reduced boron, iron, and sodium contents compared with the control. Animal-based fertilizers, particularly cattle manure, provide a sustainable alternative to mineral fertilization, enhancing garlic’s dry matter, nutritional and bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity.

Cabbage is a biennial vegetable species and, as such, it requires vernalisation to transition from the vegetative to the generative phase. This study compared and analysed the quality and seed production after overwintering and vernalisation of cabbage in the open field at several developmental phenophases. The first treatment was carried out at the technologically mature head (TMH) formation phenophase of cabbage. The second treatment included cabbage plants at the fully-developed leaf rosette (LR) phenophase, while the third treatment included cabbage plants after the development of all rosette leaves and the removal of head leaves (OIS). In the first and third treatments, the plants overwintered in the ground, whereas in the second treatment, the plants were allowed to grow and develop naturally in the open field. Average total seed weight per plant (the main component in the seed production) varied between 26.0 g under the outer and inner stem treatment and 81.3 g under the fully developed leaf rosette treatment. As anticipated, this trait differed significantly across all three treatments. The fully developed leaf rosette treatment produced a markedly higher seed weight per plant compared with both the technologically mature head and outer and inner stem treatments.

The influence of soil mulching with black polyethylene film and fertilization on the yield and quality of kohlrabi was investigated. A two-factor experiment was arranged using a split-plot design with four replications. The main plots included treatments without mulching (control) and with mulching. The subplots comprised fertilization variants: 1. control – without fertilization (K); 2. CM (cattle manure)+N33P33K63; 3. PM (pig manure)+N33P33K63; and 4. N55P55K105. Application of black polyethylene film did not significantly changed the kohlrabi stem weight and total yield, while dry matter content was significantly lower under mulched treatments. The variant PM+N33P33K63 achieved the highest stem weight (385.7 g) and total yield (63.6 t ha-1) in average. Based on the obtained results, pig composted manure in combination with mineral fertilizer without black polyethylene mulch should be used in the production of mid-early kohlrabi.

Intercropping medicinal and aromatic plants with other crops has demonstrated substantial potential for improving sustainable agricultural systems. Across a wide range of species, including yarrow, dill, wormwood, pot marigold, ajowan, coriander, saffron, cumin, lemongrass, Moldavian dragonhead, fennel, hyssop, dragons head, lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, mint, black cumin, basil, rose-scented geranium, aniseed, patchouli, rosemary, sage, summer savory, marigold, thyme, fenugreek, and vetiver, integration with cereals, legumes, vegetables, and perennial trees enhanced both land use efficiency and overall crop productivity. These systems often resulted in improved essential oil (EO) yield and composition, optimized plant growth, and increased economic returns, particularly when combined with organic inputs or biofertilizers. In addition to productivity gains, intercropping provides important ecological benefits. It can enhance soil fertility, stimulate microbial activity, and contribute to effective pest and weed management. Incorporating medicinal and aromatic plants into orchards, vineyards, or agroforestry systems further supported biodiversity. It influenced secondary metabolite production in companion crops, demonstrating the multifunctional role of these species in integrated farming systems. Overall, intercropping medicinal and aromatic plants represents a versatile and economically viable approach for sustainable crop production. The selection of compatible species, careful management of planting ratios, and appropriate agronomic practices are critical to maximizing both biological and economic benefits. Such strategies not only increase farm profitability but also promote environmental sustainability and resilience in diverse cropping systems. This review explores the effects of MAP integration on agroecological performance and identifies key mechanisms and practical outcomes.

This study evaluated the effects of foliar-applied calcium-based fertilizers, including a conventional fertilizer (T1) and a nanofertilizer containing Ca, Si, B, and Fe (T2), on fruit traits, seed quality, and early seedling growth of seven determinate tomato genotypes. Field-grown plants were monitored for fruit traits, while seeds underwent germination tests and seedling growth assessments under controlled laboratory conditions. Factorial ANOVA showed significant effects of genotype, treatment, and their interaction on fruit weight, width, germination energy, final germination, seedling vigor index, and initial plant growth, indicating genotype-specific responses. Treatment T2 significantly increased fruit weight and width, germination energy, final germination, seedling vigor, root length, and biomass compared to T1 and control (T0), while shoot elongation rate remained unaffected. Total soluble solids decreased under both treatments, but fruit length, pericarp thickness, and locule number were mainly genetically determined. Principal Component Analysis highlighted differentiation among treatments and correlations among key traits. The enhanced performance under T2 likely results from the synergistic effects of Ca, Si, B, and Fe, improving nutrient uptake and physiological activity. These findings suggest that foliar nanofertilizer application is a promising approach to optimize tomato yield and seedling performance.

Biostimulants based on Bradyrhizobium japonicum are commonly used in soybean production. However, the effect of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in consortia with other plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and their integration with mineral nutrients on soybean seed quality has not been explored. The study aimed to examine the effects of five treatments on seed germination and initial seedling growth of two soybean cultivars (‘NS Apolo’, ‘NS Rubin’): control (untreated seeds); Br. japonicum (BJ), BJ and nutrient complex (NC), BJ, Azotobacter chroococcum (AC), Bacillus subtilis (BS), and NC; BJ, AC, Bacillus megaterium (BM), and NC. Seed treatments significantly enhanced germination energy, seedling vigor index, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight, and dry root weight of both cultivars, as well as final germination, shoot length, and shoot elongation rate of ‘NS Rubin’, as compared to the control. The highest effect on the investigated parameters was achieved by integrated use of PGPR and nutrients (BJ + BM + AC + NC), indicating that integration of PGPR with a targeted NC represents an innovative approach with practical implications for improving early soybean establishment and field performance.

The rising cost of mineral fertilizers and the decreasing availability of manure in vegetable farming highlight the need for alternative fertilization strategies. To examine the possibility of applying byproducts from the food processing industry, sugar beet molasses, and compost from brewery sewage sludge in celery production, the field experiment was conducted over two years, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The examined variants were T0—control (without fertilizer); T1—mineral fertilizer; T2—cattle manure; T3—sheep manure; T4—poultry manure; T5—supercompost; and T6—molasses. In the first year, there was no significant difference between T1 and T5 in thickened root yield, while these two variants achieved significantly higher yield compared with other variants. In both years, the highest leaf yield was achieved with T1, while no significant difference was found between T5, T6, and conventional organic fertilizers of animal origin. The highest amount of N was absorbed by roots in T1 (42.0 kg/ha and 51.2 kg/ha, respectively), while the lowest amount was absorbed in T0 (25.5 kg/ha and 26.7 kg/ha, respectively). A significantly higher amount of P₂O₅ was absorbed by roots in all organic fertilizer variants compared to T0 and T1. In both years, of all the nutrients, K₂O was the most absorbed nutrient by the celery root, while CaO was absorbed in greater quantities than N. Based on two years of research, it can be concluded that compost from brewery sludge and sugar beet molasses can be used as an alternative source of nutrients for plants.