Biostimulators
IN MODERN AGRICULTURE
Solanaceous Crops
E D I T O R : Zbigniew T. Dąbrowski W
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Biostimulators IN MODERN AGRICULTURE
Solanaceous crops EDITOR: Zbigniew T. Dabrowski ,
Warsaw 2008
2 The series of monographs under a common name BIOSTIMULATORS IN MODERN AGRICULTURE contains a review of recent research related to this subject and consists of the following parts: GENERAL ASPECTS FIELD CROPS SOLANACEOUS CROPS VEGETABLE CROPS FRUIT CROPS ORNAMENTAL AND SPECIAL PLANTS
EDITORIAL BOARD: Andrzej Sadowski, Department of Pomology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS) chairman Zbigniew T. D¹browski, Department of Applied Entomology, WULS Helena Gawroñska, Laboratory of Basic Natural Sciences in Horticulture, WULS Aleksandra £ukaszewska, Department of Ornamental Plants, WULS Adam S³owiñski, Arysta LifeScience Poland
PRODUCTION EDITORS: Zbigniew T. D¹browski, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS) Anna Karbowniczek, Arysta LifeScience Poland Ada Krzeczkowska, Wie Jutra Halina Skrobacka, Wie Jutra
REVIEWERS: Zbigniew T. D¹browski, Department of Applied Entomology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS) Ma³gorzata Kie³kiewicz-Szaniawska, Department of Applied Entomology, WULS Marian Saniewski, Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Skierniewice Anna Tomczyk, Department of Applied Entomology, WULS This edition was supported by Arysta LifeScience Cover: Plantpress
ISBN 83-89503-55-7 Published by the Editorial House Wie Jutra, Limited Janowskiego 6 02-784 Warszawa phone: (0 22) 643 82 60 e-mail:
[email protected] www.wiesjutra.pl Printed by Ryko Copies 300, publishing sheets: 8.0
3 CONTENTS PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................... 5 INFLUENCE OF BIO-ALGEEN S-90 ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF SMALL-SIZED TOMATO ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Renata Dobromilska, Kamila Gubarewicz EFFECTS OF BIOSTIMULATORS ON CULTURE OF ALBONEY F1 GREENHOUSE TOMATO .................................................................................................................................... 13
Krzysztof Kossak, Barbara Dyki EFFECT OF GOTEO TREATMENT ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF TOMATO GROWN ON ROCKWOOL ......................................................................................................... 21
Katarzyna Kowalczyk, Teresa Zielony TOMATO PLANT GROWTH AND RESISTANCE TO SOME ARTHROPOD HERBIVORES IN RESPONSE TO HARPIN AND GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT TREATMENTS ................. 27
Ma³gorzata Kie³kiewicz, Bartosz Willimowski, Paulina Szaryñska BIOSTIMULATORS IN SWEET PEPPER CULTIVATION UNDER COVERS .............................. 36
Agnieszka Stêpowska EFFECTS OF GA 142 (GOËMAR GOTEO) AND GA 14 (GOËMAR BM86) EXTRACTS ON SWEET PEPPER YIELD IN NON-HEATED TUNNELS ......................................................... 45
Agnieszka Stêpowska EFFECT OF ASAHI SL BIOSTIMULATOR ON YIELD OF POTATO TUBERS AND THEIR QUALITY ............................................................................................................... 52
Tomasz Maciejewski, Tadeusz Michalski, Monika Bartos-Spycha³a, Wojciech Cielicki MODIFICATION OF POTATO TUBER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION BY APPLICATIONS OF THE ASAHI SL BIOSTIMULATOR ...................................................................................... 61
Barbara Sawicka, Maria Mikos-Bielak RATE OF SPREAD OF FUNGAL DISEASES ON POTATO PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY APPLICATION OF A BIOREGULATOR AND FOLIAR FERTILISER ......................................... 68
Barbara Sawicka APPLICATION OF GROWTH REGULATORS IN POTATO SEED PRODUCTION FROM MICROTUBERS .......................................................................................................................... 77
Krystyna Rykaczewska POLISH SUMMARIES ............................................................................................................... 86
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5 PREFACE The high yield potential of modern cultivars is often restrained by various environmental stresses both of biotic and abiotic nature, affecting the crop status. The present approach in pro-ecological plant protection from such biotic stresses as weeds, diseases and pests emphasises enhancement of naturally occurring compounds, organisms or plant defence mechanisms. These compounds should fill the gap resulting from the regulatory decisions of national authorities in many countries, leading to restrictions in use of a number of synthetic pesticides. Extensive research carried out in the last two decades has shown that some natural products may be efficiently used in enhancing the plants endogenous resistance or tolerance to the biotic and abiotic stresses. A group of such active products is presently classified as biostimulators. When reduction of the chemical input is expected, the use of biostimulators becomes a particularly promising option. Biostimulators are defined as compounds of biological origin and should act by increasing natural capabilities of plants to cope with stresses. Biostimulators do not act neither as nutrients nor affect directly the stress factors making them less harmful for plants. The efficacy of biostimulators is not limited to reducing effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. They stimulate growth and development of plants under unfavourable soil and climatic conditions. Although the effects of biostimulators are not so spectacular and not always stable over the years due to interaction with other used chemicals and/or environmental factors the interest of farmers in using biostimulators is successively increasing over time. According to the national legislation, biostimulators are related to the category of plant protection products. Therefore they must comply with all rules for registration and hence prior to formal approval for use they must be tested for safety to humans and the environment. The dynamic increase of research projects on biostimulators and of farmers interest in their use in agriculture and horticulture production provoked an idea of the international conference on Biostimulators in Modern Agriculture. It was organized by the Laboratory of Basic Sciences in Horticulture, at the Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The conference has attracted a large group of scientists and graduate students from universities and research institutions involved in basic and applied research
6 in agriculture as well from the industry. About three hundred sixty participants included also representatives of farmers and distributors of agricultural supplies. The extensive and creative discussions during the conference and interest in conference materials as well as suggestions from participants indicated the urgent need for dissemination of the state of knowledge on biostimulators. This inspired the organizers of the Conference to co-ordinate preparing reviews on recent scientific achievements in the field of biostimulators, including the practical aspects of their application on various crops. Following suggestions appearing at the Conference, the organisers invited scientists having experience and achievements in work on biostimulators to prepare relevant reviews related to particular products and crops. Based on the submitted manuscripts the Editorial Board decided to publish a series of monographs entitled: BIOSTIMULATORS IN MODERN AGRICULTURE comprising the following six volumes: General Aspects, Field Crops, Solanaceous Crops, Vegetable Crops, Fruit Crops and Ornamental and Special Plants. The Editors hope that this publication would fill the gap in knowledge on the mechanisms of action of various biostimulators and on the conditions for their high efficacy. We are very grateful to the authors who willingly agreed to contribute to these books.
EDITORS
7 INFLUENCE OF BIO-ALGEEN S-90 ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF SMALL-SIZED TOMATO Renata Dobromilska, Kamila Gubarewicz University of Agriculture in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
INTRODUCTION Sea algae are unicellular or multicellular organisms, which live mainly in salty or salted water. Thallophytic algae containing a brown pigment, which have been used as a fertilizer since a long time, are characterized by special nutritive value. They contain a lot of vitamins, carbohydrates and amino acids, iodine, calcium, magnesium and iron. Ascophyllum nodosum is the most widespread species, used to production of algae preparations. These algae are typically coastal, their thallus forms a close thicket, they are very important component of sea biocenosis. The preparations made of sea algae can be used especially in the ecological agriculture, whose main idea is to keep harmony and compactness with nature. Although algae and a lot of other sea products have been used in agriculture since a long time, the mechanism which stimulates growth and development of plants has not been fully explained yet [Crouch, van Staden 1992]. Among plant hormones cytokinins are the basic components of algae extract which affect growth of treated plants. The natural cytokinins, contrary to the synthetic stimulators, can be of great importance in protection of plants from different plant diseases and noxious insects [Norrie, Hiltz 1999]. There are also auxins and gibberellins, besides cytokinins, in the algae composition. Antioxidants, which prevent from creation of free radicals, are in the midst of components occurring in the algae. The free radicals affect acceleration of growing-old processes [Czeczko, Mikos-Bielak 2000]. Stimulation of antioxidants can give positive results in sustained storage of fruits and vegetables [Norrie, Hiltz 1999]. Laminarine a polysaccharide, which is also the reserve material, was meant in the composition of Ascophyllum nodosum [Partier et al. 1993]. Algae extracts induce also a higher concentration of chlorophyll in plants leaves. It was proved that content of chlorophyll in leaves of plants treated with the algae extracts is dependent on content of betanine [Blunden et al. 1996]. Algae biostimulators occur the most often as a liquid or as a powder. There are leaf or soil application of the algae biostimulators available on market. In both cases they affect metabolism, microbiological activity and growth of plants [Vernieri et al. 2005]. Another way of application is soaking of seeds in the biostimulators, which increases their energy of germination [Bralewski, Ho³ubowicz 2003]. Both in the cultivation of agricultural and horticultural crops the algae extracts are used in low concentrations [Becket, van Standen 1989, Blunden et al. 1996, Kowalski et al. 1999].
8 Bio-algeen S-90 is one of the most popular preparations made on the base of the thallophytic algae containing a brown pigment, which can be used in soilless or in traditional cultivation of tomato under covers [Wysocka-Owczarek 2001]. It stimulates development of tomato root system, its flowering and fructification. It increases hardiness of plants and supports defensive mechanisms of plants. The aim of experiments conducted in the years 2004-2005 in the Department of Vegetable Crops of Agricultural University in Szczecin was to examine the influence of using of sea algae preparation Bio-algeen S-90 on growth and yielding of cherry tomato cv Conchita F1.
MATERIAL AND METHODS Cherry tomato cv Conchita F1 TmC5VF5FrWi (De Ruiter Seeds, The Netherlands) belongs to the group of cocktail cultivars of red fruits, suitable for cluster harvest. It is characterized by a high biological value, greater content of sugars, vitamin C, carotenoid pigments and organic acids in comparison with middle- and large-scale-farming cultivars. They are also characterized by a high content of dry matter, intensive aroma and sweet taste. Tomato seeds were sown in the glasshouse on 20th March and seedlings were planted in the plastic tunnel after 15th May in rows, using row spacing 1.4 x 0.25 cm, on the 3.5-square-meter plots of ground (10 plants on the plot of ground). Tomato plants were cultivated in a high, unheated plastic tunnel. Bio-algeen S-90 preparation was used in the 0.3% concentration in the form of spraying conducted one, two, three or four times. The first spraying was carried out at the stage of 2-3 proper leaves, second before planting, third at the beginning of flowering, fourth at the initial stage of plant yielding. The cherry tomato was headed in the first decade of July behind the sixth cluster. During the plant vegetation period following biometrical measurements were carried out as: a height of plant, diameter of stem, number of leaves, number of flowers and fruits. Harvest of fruits took place from the third decade of July to the first decade of September. The total, early marketable and out-of-choice yield was evaluated. Chemical analyses of fruits were also carried out to evaluate the dry matter and vitamin C content. The dry matter was estimated by a drying method and level of vitamin C by Tillmans titrimetric method with 2, 6-dichloroindophenol. L-dehydroascorbic acid is reduced for ascorbic acid. The experiments were established in the randomized blocks design, in four replications. Results of the experiments were statistically verified by Tukeys test at the significance level a = 0.05.
RESULTS The biometric measurements of plants conducted during their vegetation showed that the height of plants depended significantly on number of sprayings with Bio-algeen S-90 preparation (Tab. 1). The control plants were of height 136.6 cm, however plants treated three times with Bio-algeen S-90 were 6.6 cm higher. The control plants formed also the
9 fewest leaves. Using of Bio-algeen, independently of number of sprayings, increased number of leaves by 1.2 average leaf. Single, double and triple spraying of plants increased on the average 0.87 mm diameter of stem of tomato in comparison with the control and to plants treated four times with the biostimulator. Number of formed flowers and set fruits depended significantly on dosing of Bio-algeen S-90 (Tab. 2). Those plants, which were sprayed with Bio-algeen two times formed the greatest number of flowers and fruits, but those fruits were of smaller diameter. Using of Bio-algeen increased significantly the total and marketable yield of fruits. The total and marketable yield was the highest in the year 2006 (Fig. 2). TAB LE 1. TH E EFFEC T OF B IO-ALGEEN SPR AYIN G ON TH E VEGETATIVE GR OWTH OF SMALLSIZED TOMATO PLAN TS (2004-2006) Tabela.1. Wp³yw traktowani a roli n Bi o-algeenem na wzrost wegetatywny roli n pomi dora (2004-2006) N U MB ER OF B IOALGEEN H IGH OF PLAN TS N U MB ER OF D IAMETER OF STEM TR EATMEN T Wysokoæ roli n LEAVES [pcs] redni ca ³odygi Li czba zabi egów Bi o-algeenem [cm] Li czba li ci [sz t.] [mm] C ONTROL Kontrola 1 TREATMENT 1 oprysk 2 TREATMENTS 2 opryski 3 TREATMENTS 3 opryski 4 TREATMENTS 4 opryski MEAN redni a LSD /NIR a = 0.05 SOURC E: OWN STUD Y ród³o: badani a w³asne.
136.6
15.9
14.2
139.4
17.3
15.3
138.1
16.8
15.6
143.2
17.3
15.8
138.9
16.9
14.7
139.2
16.8
15.1
3.6
0.7
0.6
TAB LE 2. TH E EFFEC T OF B IO-ALGEEN SPR AYIN G ON TH E FLOWER S AN D FR U ITS N U MB ER AN D D IAMETER OF TOMATO FR U ITS Tabela 2. Wp³yw traktowani a roli n Bi o-algeenem na li czbê kwi atów i owoców oraz redni cê owoców N U MB ER OF B IO-ALGEEN N YMB ER OF N U MB ER OF FR U ITS D IAMETER TR EATMEN T FLOWER S [pcs/plant] [pcs/plant] OF FR IU TS Li czba zabi egów Li czba kwi atów Li czba owoców redni ca owoców Bi o-algeenem [sz t./rolina] [sz t./rolina] [cm] C ONTROL Kontrola 1 TREATMENT 1 oprysk 2 TREATMENTS 2 opryski 3 TREATMENTS 3 opryski 4 TREATMENTS 4 opryski MEAN redni a LSD /NIR a = 0.05 SOURC E: OWN STUD Y ród³o: badani a w³asne.
153.30
120.70
3.30
168.30
136.30
3.39
185.00
146.30
3.24
161.00
137.30
3.30
150.30
129.30
3.32
163.58
133.98
3.31
13.20
10.40
0.05
10 &21752/.RQWUROD
75($70(17RSU\VN
75($70(176RSU\VNL
FIGURE 1. THE PERCENTAGE OF SET FRUITS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF FLOWERS SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 1. Odsetek zawi¹zanyh owoców w stosunku do wytworzonych kwiatów [%] ród³o: badania w³asne.
The highest yield was obtained when the preparation was used three times (Tab. 3). Fruits of plants treated with Bio-algeen contained more dry matter and vitamin C (Tab. 4). The greatest number of flowers (185 flowers) was formed by those plants which were treated with the preparation two times. Significantly smaller number of flowers was formed by the control plants and when plants were sprayed with Bio-algeen four times (respectively 31.7 and 34.7 flowers less). Similar differences were found when fruits were formed. The most fruits (146.3 fruits) were formed on plants which were sprayed with Bio-algeen two times. Number of fruits of the control plants and of those which were sprayed four times significantly decreased (respectively 25.6 and 17.0 fruits per plant). The formulations efficacy on fruits forming appeared differently. Plants sprayed three and four times formed a greater percentage of set fruits in relation
kg . m-2
75($70(176RSU\VNL
1 2 3 4 TREATMENTS Opryski
1 2 3 4 TREATMENTS Opryski
CONTROL Kontrola
75($70(176RSU\VNL
CONTROL Kontrola
CONTROL Kontrola
1 2 3 4 TREATMENTS Opryski
FIGURE 2. THE INFLUENCE OF BIO-ALGEEN ON THE TOTAL AND MARKETABLE YIELD OF SMALL-SIZED TOMATO CV CONCHITA F1 IN THE YEARS 2004-2006 SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 2. Wp³yw preparatu Bio-algeen na plon ogólny i handlowy owoców odmiany Conchita F1 w latach 2004-2006 ród³o: badania w³asne.
11 TAB LE 3. TH E IN FLU EN C E OF B IO-ALGEEN TR EATMEN T ON TH E YIELD OF SMALL-SIZED TOMATO (2004-2006) Tabela 3. Wp³yw traktowani a roli n preparatem Bi o-algeen na plon pomi dorów drobnoowocowych (20042006) N ON -MAR K ETN U MB ER OF B IO-ALGEEN TOTAL YIELD MAR K ETAB LE EAR LY YIELD YIELD AB LE YIELD Plon wczesny TR EATMEN T Plon ogólny . -2 . -2 Plon handlowy Plon poza [kg m ] Li czba zabi egów [kg m ] . -2 [kg m ] wyborem [kg. m-2] Bi o-algeenem C ONTROL 5.34 5.11 1.57 0.23 Kontrola 1 TREATMENT 5.54 5.27 1.60 0.27 1 oprysk 2 TREATMENTS 6.16 5.89 1.49 0.27 2 opryski 3 TREATMENTS 6.64 6.46 1.62 0.18 3 opryski 4 TREATMENTS 6.32 6.15 1.59 0.24 4 opryski MEAN 6.00 5.78 1.57 0.24 redni a LSD /NIR a = 0.05 0.29 0.23 n.s./r.n. 0.04 SOURC E: OWN STUD Y ród³o: badani a w³asne.
TAB LE 4. TH E EFFEC T OF B IO-ALGEEN SPR AYIN G ON TH E D RY MATTER [% ] AN D VITAMIN C C ON TEN T [ mg·100 g-1 F.W.] IN TOMATOES IN TH E YEAR S 2004-2006 Tabela 4. Wp³yw Bi o-algeenu na zawartoæ suchej masy [%] i wi tami ny C [g.100 g-1 .m.] w latach 20042006 C H AR AC TER ISTIC of FR U ITS N U MB ER OF B IO-ALGEEN TR EATMEN TS MEAN C echa owoców Li czba zabi egów Bi o-algeenem redni a C ON TR OL TR EATMEN TS kontrola Opryski 1 2 3 4 D RY MATTER C ONTENT Zawartoæ suchej masy [% ] VITAMIN C C ONTENT [mg·100 g-1 f.w.] Zawartoæ wi tami ny C [mg·100 g-1 .m.]
7.28
7.25
7.82
7.68
7.52
7.51
41.62
43.03
51.81
48.43
45.06
45.99
SOURC E: OWN STUD Y ród³o: badani a w³asne.
to produced flowers on the average 85.7%, but in the other treatments on the average 79.6% (Fig.1). It was found that in combination where plants produced the highest number of fruits, their diameter was significantly smaller (3.24 cm) than diameter of fruits of the other treatments (Tab. 2). Results relating to yielding of tomato showed significant differences in the total and marketable yield under the influence of spraying plants with Bio-algeen (Tab. 3). The highest total and marketable yield of tomato was produced by plants treated three times with Bio-algeen. The total yield amounted to 6.64 kg.m-2 and was on the average 1.2 kg m-2 greater than the yield of the control plants and than the yield of plants treated once with the biostimulator. The marketable yield was high and amounted to 97.3% of the total yield in the combination where the preparation was used three times. The marketable yield, obtained from the control plants and from those which were treated only once with the preparation was significantly on the average 19.7% smaller.
12 It was observed that the early yield of tomato did not depend on treating of plants with Bio-algeen. The yield obtained in the first three weeks amounted on the average to 1.57 kg.m-2. Triple spraying of plants with Bio-algeen decreased significantly the non-commercial yield of plants to 0.18 kg . m-2 in comparison to other treatments, where it amounted on the average to 0.25 kg.m-2 (Tab. 3). It was found that fruits of cherry tomato cv Conchita F1 were characterized by the high biological value with fruits contented 7.28-7.82% of dry matter (Tab. 4). The highest content of dry matter was noted for fruits of those tomatoes which were sprayed with Bio-algeen S-90 two times. It was also evaluated that fruits of tomato cv Conchita were characterized by a very high level of vitamin C (between 41.62 and 51.81 mg .100 g-1 fresh weight). Fruits of the control plants contained the least vitamin C, however, fruits of the plants which were treated with Bio-algeen two times, contained the most vitamin C. Fruits of tomato sprayed three times with Bio-algeen S-90 were characterized by similarly high content of dry matter and vitamin C.
CONCLUSIONS 1. Spraying plants with Bio-algeen S-90 stimulated the vegetative growth of the smallfruit tomato cv Conchita F1. 2. Spraying plants three times with Bio-algeen S-90 in the concentration of 0.3% significantly increased the total and marketable yield. 3. Bio-algeen used two and three times increased content of dry matter and vitamin C in tomato fruits. REFERENCES Beckett R.P., van Staden J. 1989: The effect of seaweed concentrate on the growth and yield of potassium stressed wheat. Plant and Soil., vol. 116, 1, 29-36. Blunden G., Jenkins T., Yan-Wen L. 1996: Enhanced leaf chlorophyll levels in plants treated with seaweed extract. J. Appl. Phycol., vol. 8, 6, 535-543. Bralewski T., Ho³ubowicz R. 2003: Wp³yw biostymulatorów na jakoæ nasion marchwi (Daucus carota L.) i kopru (Anethum graveolens L.). Folia Hortic. Suplement, 1, 117-119. Crouch I.J., van Staden J. 1993: Evidence for the presence of plant growth regulators in commercial seaweed products. Plant Growth Regulation, vol. 13, 1, 21-29. Czeczko R., Mikos-Bielak M. 2000: Wp³yw Atoniku na zawartoæ witaminy C i zwi¹zków polifenolowych w wybranych gatunkach warzyw. Roczniki AR Poznañ, 31, cz. 2, 239-240. Kowalski B., Jäger A.K., van Staden J. 1999: The effect of a seaweed concentrate on the in vitro growth and acclimatization of potato plantlets. J. Potato Res., vol. 42, 1, 131-139. Norrie J., Hlitz D.A. 1999: Seaweed extract research and applications in agriculture. Agro-Food-IndustryHi-Tech, March/April, 25-28. Patier P., Yvin J.C., Kloareg B., Liénart Y., Rochas C. 1993: Seaweed liquid fertilizer from Ascophyllum nodosum contains elicitors of plant D-glycanases. J. Appl. Phycol., vol. 5, 3, 343-349. Wysocka-Owczarek M. 2001: Zaburzenia wzrostu i rozwoju pomidora. Wyd. Plantpress Sp. z o.o., Kraków, 108 pp. Vernieri P., Borghesi E., Ferrante A., Magnani G. 2005: Application of biostimulants in floating system for improving rocket quality. J. Food Agr. Environ., vol. 3 (3&4 ), 86-88.
13 EFFECS OF BIOSTIMULATORS ON CULTIVATION OF ALBONEY F1 GREENHOUSE TOMATO Krzysztof Kossak 1, Barbara Dyki 1
2
Horticultural Farm Eko Warta, Warta, Poland Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Skierniewice, Poland
2
INTRODUCTION Presently, it is necessary to limit chemical agents in the production of greenhouse vegetables, including a tomato, and the pressure is put on the use of integrated methods [Babik 2004] to achieve yield with high quality, taste values and with excellent looks [Kossak 2007a]. These are the requirements dictated by customers. The practice shows that intensive cultivation of greenhouse tomato is not always possible to achieve the maximum economic effect [Wysocka-Owczarek 2004]. Even small mistakes in cultivation, which are often difficult to eliminate, can cause disorders defined as physiological plants diseases [Dyki, Borkowski 2000, Wysocka-Owczarek 2004]. Moreover, stressogenic, abiotic environment conditions have a negative influence on the quantity and quality of the yield [Wysocka-Owczarek 2004, Dyki, Borkowski 2007]. Therefore, biostimulators are being looked for to the exogenous use in cultivation of different plant species, including tomatoes in order to keep more stable yield and increase the quality of fruits [Kossak 2007 b, S³owiñski 2007ab, Wysocka-Owczarek 2007]. Stimulation of physiological plants activity with the treatment of biostimulators obtained from chitin scutums of Arctic krill, grapefruit or the rocks containing titanium compounds was proved by several authors [Borkowski, Kowalczyk 1999, Borkowski et al. 2004, Borkowski, Dyki 2004, Dyki et al. 2000, Górnik et al. 2003]. The Vegetables Quality Improvement Program which has been realized since several years popularizes the potential positive effects of products obtained from sea algae [Wysocka-Owczarek 2002, S³owiñski 2007ab, Kawka 2008]. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of biostimulators applications on the quantity and quality of the yield of greenhouse tomato and on morphological characters of plants.
MATERIAL AND METHODS The 2006 and 2007 experiments were conducted in the greenhouse on the tomato cultivar Alboney F1 of Enza Zaden company. The plants were treated with the different kinds of biostimulators. The tomato plants were cultivated on the mineral wool substrate (Pargro Neptune) during the extension cycle. Obtained in the 2006 research results were a base to continuation of experiments in 2007. The seeds of tomato cultivar Alboney F1
14 were sowed at the beginning of December in 2006. The tomato plants were transplanted to destination place in greenhouse on 12th of February 2007. Five kinds of biostimulators in the form of watering were applied. Goëmar Goteo (Goëmar Lab. company) at the concentration of 0.1% and 0.2% was applied four times in two combinations 1, 7, 14, 21 (x 4) and 1, 7 days after planting tomato plants to destination place, plus two times in July during the full fruiting of tomatoes (x2+2). Bioalgeen S90 (Polger-Kido company) at the concentration of 0.2% every 30 days, Bio Jodis (Jeznach company) 0.04% every 7 days and Resistim (Broste company) 0.01% every 10 days in the form of watering were applied. Tytanit (Intermag company) at the concentration of 0.02% was applied every 20 days in the form of watering and every 14 days in the form of spraying. The experiment was conducted in the random blocks scheme in three replications. Each combination included 54 plants. The biostimulators were dosed manually starting from plant seedlings to the end of production. Statistical analyses were performed with using analyze of variance. Statistical important differences between means were estimated by the NEWMAN-KEULS test at the significance level P = 0.05.
MICROSCOPIC ANALYSES Material for histological analyses were collected twice: (a) after the creation of the third bunch and (b) at the end of fruiting. The fragments of the stem, root and petiole (with the length of approximately 20 mm) were always collected from the half of analyzed part of the plant height. The plant material was treated 48 hours in the CrAF agent (chromic acid, acetic acid, formalin), dehydrated in ethanol and embedded in paraffin [Gerlach 1972]. The cross-sections were stained with safranine and light green [Filutowicz, Ku¿dowicz 1951]. Analyses of cross-section was done with a light microscope Jenaval at the magnification of 250x. Additionally, the presence of a pollen grains on the surface of pistils stigma of the flower of the first and the second bunch was analyzed with the use of a scanning electron microscope JEOL JSM-S1 type after fixing the pistils in CraF, dehydration in ethanol and acetone, drying with CO2 in the apparatus Critical Point Drying and coated with gold [Hayat 1976].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The highest total yield (45.9 kg·m-2) and marketable yield (44.8 kg·m-2) were obtained after treatment of plants with Resistim biostimulator, whereas from the untreated control plants only 44.0 and 43.3 kg·m-2 respectively. Also high quality total yield (45.0 kg·m-2) was obtained from the plants treated with Goëmar Goteo at the concentration of 0.1% (x 4) (Tab. 1). Small but positive influence on highness of tomato total yield was proved in plants treated with biostimulators: Bio Jodis and Goëmar Goteo at the concentration of 0.2% (x4). The highest total and marketable yield were not proved in remaining combinations. The early yield was higher in seven combinations in comparison to the control (Tab. 1). The squeezing resistance of tomato fruits was only increased for plants treated with Resistim and Goëmar Goteo at the concentration of 0.1% (x4) and it was obtained lower values in remaining combinations in comparison to the control (Tab. 2).
15 TAB LE 1. TH E IN FLU EN C E OF B IOSTIMU LATOR S ON TH E TOMATO FR U ITS YIELD [kg. m-2] Tabela 1. Wp³yw bi ostymulatorów na plon owoców pomi dora [kg.m-2] AGEN T EAR LY TR AD E GEN ER AL Preparat C R OP C R OP C R OP Plon Plon Plon wczesny handlowy ogólny RESISTIM 7.00 f 44.8 k 45.9 i Bi o-algeen 6.24 a 41.4 d 42.3 c Tytani t spray 6.80 d 41.9 e 43.1 d Tytani t wateri ng 6.50 b 40.2 a 41.2 a Goëmar Goteo 0,1%x4 6.90 e 44.0 j 45.0 j Goëmar Goteo 0,1%x2 7.10 g 41.0 c 42.3 c Goëmar Goteo 0,1%x2+2 7.40 i 42.4 f 43.3 e Goëmar Goteo 0,2%x2+2 6.60 c 40.5 b 41.4 b Goëmar Goteo 0,2%x4 7.30 h 43.0 g 44.3 h B i o Jo d i s 7.30 h 43.2 h 44.2 g C ONTROL/Kontrola 6.60 c 43.3 i 44.0 f MEANS FOLLOWED BY THE SAME LETTER DO NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY AT a =0.05 (NEWMAN-KEULS TEST SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Wartoci oznaczone t¹ sam¹ liter¹ nie ró¿ni¹ siê istotnie, przy a = 0,05 (Test Newmana-Keulsa) ród³o: badania w³asne.
TAB LE 2. PH YSIC AL FEATU R ES OF TOMATO FR U IT Tabela 2. C echy fi zyczne owoców pomi dora B IOSTIMU LATOR SQU EEZIN G R ESISTAN C E Wytrzyma³oæ na zgni atani e Goëmar Goteo I 112.85 a Resi sti m 223.50 k BIO JOD IS 163.52 d Tytani t sprayi ng 189.67 h Tytani t wateri ng 128.85 b Bi o-algeen S90 175.47 e C ontrol 210.35 i Goëmar Goteo II 0.1% 187.47 g Goëmar Goteo III 0.1% 163.50 c Goëmar Goteo IV 0.2% 179.00 f Goëmar Goteo V 0.2% 211.65 j EXPLANATIONS AND SOURCE: SEE TAB. 1. Objanienia i ród³o: jak w tab. 1.
Tissues hardness is mainly designated by cells turgor which is determined by cells water supply [Kacperska 2002a, b, Wony 2001] and the structure of cells walls [Wojtaszek 2001]. During the experiment the hardness of tomato fruits was essentially higher in plants treated with Bio Jodis and Goëmar Goteo in concentration of 0.1% than in the control and it was insignificantly highest after watering the plants with Tytanit (Tab. 2). The colour of fruits was a characteristic feature which, compared to the control, was marked advantage-
H AR D N ESS (FIR MN ESS) Twardoæ (jêdrnoæ) 23.65 b 25.94 c 30.93 k 27.91 f 28.31 h 26.78 d 28.28 g 29.75 j 28.43 i 26.80 e 21.95 a
C OLOU R A/B (R ED /YELLOW) Barwa a/b (czerwona/¿ó³ta) 2.31 2.27 2.38 2.14 2.25 2.29 2.23 2.33 2.34 2.32 2.31
ously on almost all combinations apart from plants sprayed with Tytanit. Tytanit in the form of spraying had a positive influence on pollination process (Phot. 1 A,B). More pollen grains was noticed on the pistils stigmas of the first flowers of tomato plants treated with Titanit (Phot. 1A, B) in compare to the control or with the application of Bioalgeen S90. Tytanit was led to earlier flowers development, better pollination and faster fruit-setting, which caused early yield increment. Pais et al. [1977] and Pais [1983] presented a positive influence of titanium on many crops. It was proven that the yield was increased by 10-20% after spraying the plants with titanium solutions. In some experiments regarding apple trees, corn and sugar beet, the yield increased by 30%, and the chlorophyll content in leaves was 16-65% higher than in the control. Pais [1983] also noticed that titanium decreases herbicide damages of tomatoes, increases fruit dry mat-
16 A
B
PHOTOGRAPHY 1 A,B. GERMINATION OF POLLEN ON FLOWER STIGMAS FROM THE FIRST BUNCH OF THE TOMATO CONTROL PLANT (A) AND THE PLANT TREATED WITH TYTANIT (B) (PHOTO: AUTHORS) Fotografia 1 A,B. Kie³kowanie py³ku na znamionach kwiatów z pierwszego grona kontrolnej roliny pomidora (A) i roliny traktowanej Tytanitem (B) (fot. autorzy)
ter by 10-33% and increases activity of many enzymes and the rate of photosynthesis. Pais [1983] used mainly titanium combined with ascorbic acid in the form of chelate complex, which was later patented under the name of Titavit. It is advised only for plants spraying, as when it is added to the soil, it quickly loses its activity. Czekalski et al. [1990] proved that in the case of corn cultivated on the alkaline soil, Titavit increased the yield of the fresh matter by 44%, whereas on acid soil the same treatment did not increase the yield at all. Dumon and Ernest [1988] presented data that in case of a very acid soil rich in titanium, there can be 40 times more of this element in plants being grown there than in case of other plants grown on the soil with far lower acidity. Besides leaves of treated plants accumulate highest quantities of this element. Kri¿ala [1995] proved the increment of sugar unit in sugar beet by 29% after double spraying with Titavit. The Research Institute of Vegetable Crops in Skierniewice for several years has conducted experiments with Tytanit [1999], which consists 0.8% of titanium, to fertilize leaves. It was found that female cucumbers of the WI 4783 line, which poorly produced seeds, after spraying three times by the 0.02% Tytanit solution, set considerably higher number of seeds which are collected earlier then in the control [Dyki et al. 2000]. It was subsequently conformed that after the use of Titanit the number of seeds increased even by 300% in comparison to untreated control [Doruchowski et al. 2000]. Earlier microscopic studies showed that Tytanit had an influence on better adherence of pollen grains to the stigma of the pistil which stimulates their germination [Dyki et al. 2000, Doruchowski et al. 2000]. After preliminary experiments in 2006 and analysis of the results from the 2007 experiment described in this study it was proves the aplication of following biostimulators as: Goëmar Goteo, Bio Jodis, Tytanit, Resistim and Bio-algeen S90 produced higher yield of tomato fruits and increment of their quality. The effects of stimulating activity of biostimulators are determined not only by suitable selected rate or its concentration but they are depend on the plant development stage during the treatments. The received in expe-
17 TAB LE 3. TH E IN FLU EN C E OF B IOSTIMU LATOR S ON C H EMIC AL FEATU R ES OF TOMATO FR U ITS Tabela 3. Wp³yw bi ostymulatorów na cechy chemi czne owoców pomi dora FR U IT FEATU R ES AN ALYSIS AGEN T Preparat
D RY VITAMIN C TOTAL AC TIVE TOTAL AC ID ITY R ATIO OF MASTER C OMPOSITION SU GAR S AC ID ITY IN % OF TH E SU GAR S Sucha Zawartoæ C ukry Kwasowoæ C ITR IC AC ID TO AC ID S masa wi tami ny C ogó³em czynna Kwasowoæ Stosunek [% ] [mg.100 g-1] [% ] [pH ] ogólna w % cukrów do kwasu kwasów cytrynowego GOËMAR I 4.0 11.05 f 2.89 f 4.64 f 0.30 a 10.6 RESISTIM 4.4 10.21 c 2.96 g 4.63 e 0.31 b 9.5 BIO JOD IS 4.4 9.79 a 2.83 e 4.60 b 0.31 b 9.1 TYTANIT spray 4.4 10.42 d 2.79 d 4.62 d 0.34 e 8.3 TYTANIT wateri ng 4.4 10.21 c 2.75 c 4.70 h 0.32 c 8.6 BIO-ALGEEN 4.4 10.00 b 2.89 f 4.62 a 0.33 d 9.3 C ONTROL/ Kontrola 4.4 9.79 a 2.89 f 4.66 g 0.35 f 8.4 GOËMAR II 0,1% 4.5 11.47 g 2.75 b 4.60 b 0.35 f 7.8 GOËMAR III 0,1% 4.5 10.42 d 2.75 h 4.62 c 0.34 e 8.1 GOËMAR IV 0,2% 4.5 10.42 d 2.83 e 4.60 c 0.36 g 8.1 GOËMAR V 0.2% 4.5 10.84 e 2.65 a 4.60 b 0.31 b 9.5 EXPLANATION AND SOURC E: SEE TAB. 1. Objani eni a i ród³o: jak w tab. 1.
riments results concerning the highness of yield and quality of tomato fruits were attested to stimulating activity of biostimulators. After the use of Goëmar Goteo biostimulator better fruit colouring, increment of the dry matter of tomato fruits, suitable ratio of sugars to acids and higher content of vitamin C in fruits were noted (Tab. 3). It was proved that Goëmar Goteo has a chance to conquer the market as a biostimulator in the production of greenhouse tomatoes. The results of plant`s morphology observations and microscopic studies were used to describe the influence of biostimulators on roots structure, pollination and the vascular bundles structure of root, stem and petiole. Besides the microscopic observations of root system proved bigger root system of the plants treated with Bio Jodis as well as in case of plants treated with Goëmar Goteo (Phot. 2A,B), Bio-algeen S90 and Resistim. Microscopic observations shown that after the use of biostimulators: Goëmar Goteo and Bio Jodis, the xylem tissues in sprout, roots, stems and petiole vascular bundles were better developed [Kacperska 2002a]. There was more xylems cells and they were bigger in plants treated with biostimulators, they had thicker and stronger lignified secondary walls than the cells in the control. Floems bundles were numerous and more developed (Phot. 3A-D). It could contribute to more efficient transport of water with mineral substances in the plant and as a result to increase of tomato fruits weight. Since it is known that increment of transport intensity of water and mineral substances from roots to leaves [Starck 2002] improves conditions for photosynthesis and assimilates accumulation in fruit, therefore better developed root vascular bundles could improved quality of fruits. It is known that stress caused by mistakes during the cultivation leads to disorders of tomato plants development which are treated as a physiological diseases but some biostimulators can counteracted plants stresses [Wysocka-Owczarek 2002, 2004]. The effects of stressogenic abiotic conditions such as temperature, light, air and soil humidity or mineral supply deficiency [Kacperska 2002b] can be limited after treatment of tomato plants with selected biostimulators which caused increment of plants resistance.
18 A
B
PHOTO 2A,B. FRAGMENTS OF ROOT SYSTEM OF CONTROL TOMATO PLANT (A) AND AFTER TREATMENT WITH GOËMAR GOTEO (B) (PHOTO: AUTHORS) Fot 2A,B. Fragmenty systemu korzeniowego roliny kontrolnej (A) i traktowanej Goëmar Goteo (B) (fot. autorzy) A
C
X
X
F
F
B
D
F
F X
F
X
F PHOTO 3A-D. CROSS SECTIONS THROUGH XYLEM (X) AND FLOEM (F) VASCULAR BUNDLES OF THE CONTROL TOMATO STEM (A) AND TREATED WITH BIOSTIMULATORS (B, C, D) (PHOTO: AUTHORS) Fotografia 3A-D. Przekroje poprzeczne przez ksylem (X) i floem (F) wi¹zek przewodz¹cych ³odygi roliny kontrolnej (A) i rolin traktowanych biostimulatorami (B, C, D) (fot. autorzy)
19 CONCLUSIONS 1. The results of two years studies proved that tested biostimulators improved the yield and quality of tomato fruits, however the influence was different and depends on biostimulators. The best stimulating characters of the yielding of tomato cultivar Alboney F1 shown following biostimulators: Resistim, Goëmar Goteo and Bio Jodis. Besides Titanit biostimulator caused faster fruit-setting. 2. Bigger root system produced by tomato plants treated with Bio Jodis and also with Goëmar Goteo, Bio-algeen S90 and Resistim. 3. Tomato plants treated with Goëmar Goteo and Bio Jodis biostimulators showed more numerous and bigger cells of xylem and floem vascular bundles in the stem. 4. The use of biostimulators like a Goëmar Goteo or Bio Jodis in the production requires further economical calculations. REFERENCES Babik J. 2004: Ekologiczne metody uprawy pomidorów w gruncie i pod os³onami (praca zbiorowa pod redakcj¹ Józefa Babika). Instytut Warzywnictwa, materia³y dla rolników, 4-48, Radom. Borkowski J., Kowalczyk W. 1999: Influence of Tytanit and chitosan sprays and other treatments on the tomato plant growth and the development of powdery mildew (Oidium lycopersicum). Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci., Biol. Sci., 47 (2-4), 129-132. Borkowski J., Dyki B. 2004: Kilka uwag o chitozanie. Wiadomoci Botaniczne, 48 (1/2), 66-67. Borkowski J., Dyki B., Niekraszewicz A., Struszczyk H. 2004: Effect of the preparations Biochikol 020 PC, Tytanit, Biosept 33 SL and others on the healthiness of tomato plants and their fruiting in glasshouse. Polish Chitin Society, Monograph v. X, £ód, 167-173. Czekalski A., Dryjañska M., Urbañski M. 1990: Wp³yw tytanu na plonowanie niektórych rolin uprawnych. Prace Komisji Nauk Roln. PTPN. Rol. 69, 75-82. Doruchowski R.W., £¹kowska-Ryk E., Dyki B. 2000: Treatment of virus diseased cucumber plants with titanium for improved seed production. Mendel Centenary Congress. Poster Abstracts 116, March 710. Brno, Czech Republic. Dumon J.C., Ernest W.H.O. 1988: Titanium in plants. J. Plant Physiol., 133, 203-209. Dyki B., Borkowski J. 2000: Wp³yw niedoboru miedzi na budowê anatomiczn¹ ³odygi i lici pomidora. Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk Roln., 471, cz. I, 67-73. Dyki B., Borkowski J. 2007: Br¹zowe plamy na owocach pomidora. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 8, 122-123. Dyki B., Borkowski J., £¹kowska-Ryk E., Doruchowski R.W., Panek E. 2000: Influence of the Tytanit compound on fertilization and stimulation of seed development in cucumber and tomato. Mendel Centenary Congress. Poster Abstracts, 115, March 7-10. Brno, Czech Republic. Filutowicz A., Ku¿dowicz A. 1951: Mikrotechnika rolinna. PWRiL, Warszawa. Gerlach D. 1972: Zarys mikrotechniki botanicznej. PWRiL, Warszawa. Górnik K., Dyki B., Grzesik M. 2003: Application of Tytanit and Asahi SL in horticultural seeds production in individual germinating cabbage seeds. Programme Book of Abstracts. International Workshop on Applied Seed Biology New Developments in Seed Quality Improvement. £ód, Poland, 23-25 October, 27-29. Hayat M.A. (ed.) 1976: Principles and techniques of scanning electron microscopy. Vol. 5, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York. Kacperska A. 2002 a: Gospodarka wodna. [W:] Fizjologia rolin (pod red. J. Kopcewicza i S. Lewaka). PWN, 192-227. Kacperska A. 2002b: Reakcje rolin na abiotyczne czynniki stresowe. [W:] Fizjologia rolin (pod red. J. Kopcewicza i S. Lewaka). PWN, 613-678. Kawka B. 2008: Goëmar Goteo papryce na dobry pocz¹tek. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 3, 107. Kossak K. 2007a: Wp³yw temperatury na wzrost i rozwój pomidora. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 10.
20 54 Zjazd PTB, Szczecin, 3-8.X, 51. Kri¿ala J. 1995: Vysledky vegetacnich zkousek novych druchu hnojiv z prerovskych chemickych zavodu, Puo¿ti Biologicky Activnich Latek v Reprodukci Zahradnickych Rostlin: Zahradnicka Fakulta v Lednici na Mor., 18-19.1, 1989. Pais I., Feher M., Farkas E., Szabo Z., Cornides I. 1977: Titanium as a new trace element. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 8 (5), 407-410. Pais I. 1983: The biological importance of titanium. J. Plant Nutr., 6, 3-131. S³owiñski A. 2007a: Asahi SL w programie poprawy jakoci warzyw. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 5, 151. S³owiñski A. 2007b: Goëmar BM 86 zastosowanie w warzywach. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 6, 119. Starck Z. 2002: Gospodarka mineralna rolin. [W:] Fizjologia rolin (pod red. J. Kopcewicza i S. Lewaka). PWN, 228-271. Tytanit 1999: Ulotka przedsiêbiorstwa InterMag, Osiek, k/Olkusza. Wojtaszek P. 2001: ciana komórkowa. [W:] Podstawy biologii komórki rolinnej (pod red. A. Wonego, J. Michejdy i L. Ratajczaka). Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, 431-487. Wony A. 2001: System b³on wewnêtrznych. [W:] Podstawy biologii komórki rolinnej (pod red. A. Wonego, J. Michejdy i L. Ratajczaka). Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, 93-157. Wysocka-Owczarek M. 2002: Biostymulatory wzrostu w uprawie pomidorów pod os³onami, I i II. Has³o Ogrodnicze, 4, 73-74, i 5, 55-57. Wysocka-Owczarek M. 2004: Zaburzenia wzrostu i rozwoju pomidora. Plantpress, Kraków, 6-172.
21 EFFECT OF GOTEO TREATMENT ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF TOMATO GROWN ON ROCKWOOL Katarzyna Kowalczyk, Teresa Zielony Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
INTRODUCTION During the cultivation of tomato on rockwool in all-the-year production growth disorders caused by different factors are often noticed. Adverse growing conditions such as temperature, EC and pH, or oxygen deficiency within the plant root zone may result in an ineffective ions uptake and active root surface lesions. The inhibition of growth and development follows in consequence [Gough, Hobson 1990, Adams 1991]. Low root activity impedes, among others, effective calcium supply to tomato fruit. This in turn causes blossom-end rot (BER) which disqualifies fruits [Adams, Holder 1992, Tabatabaie et al. 2004]. It is expected to increase plant tolerance to stress conditions after application of different biostimulators. The aim of this work was to test the effect of biopreparation GOTEO GOEMAR on yielding of tomato grown on rockwool.
MATERIALS AND METHODS In these work the influence of Goëmar Goteo on the early, total and marketable yield and average weight of fruit and fruit quality was determined. The content of dry matter by drying at 105oC and chosen chemicals parameters of tomato fruit were investigated. They were examined for the content of total sugars using Luffa-Schoorla method and titratable acids by potentiometry with citric acid base titration, ascorbic acid using Tillmans method, the concentration of nitrate-nitrogen using a spectrophotometric method (Fiastar analyzer), a percentage content of sugar extract expressed by the amount [%] of cell sap soluble solids with a refractometric analysis, Titratable acids using a potentiometric method and the results were expressed as percentage of citric acid (g of citric acid per 100 g fresh weight), the content of P with colorimetric test, the content of K and Ca with flame method. The plants of four tomato cultivars were cultivated on rockwool from February till November in 2006 and 2007. The factors of this experiment were: A treated plants: with Goëmar Goteo and untreated control, B cultivars of tomato (from the De Reuiter Seeds) as: Azarro F1, Lemance F1, Admiro F1 and Ladiva F1. Goteo was applied in 0.1% concentration together with fertilizer solution using drop irrigation system. First treatment was applied directly after planting and next treatments were done in high temperatures conditions (a few times during the experiment). 1 dm3 of fertigation nutrient contained: 200 mg N-NO3, 70 mg P, 340 mg K, 80 mg Mg, 200 mg Ca, 2 mg Fe, 0.6 mg Mn, 0.3 mg B, 0.15 mg Cu, 0.3 mg Zn, 0.05 mg Mo. EC and pH gradients in
22 representative rockwool slabs were systematicly for tomato crop investigated. Two-factor analysis of variance was used for statistical calculations in the Statgraphics Plus v. 4.1 program. Differences between means were calculated with t-Student test at the significance level a = 0.05.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Early (up to July 20) harvest of tomatoes amounted to 18.24 kg/m2 for the plants treated with Goteo and to 16.67 kg/m2 only, for untreated (Fig. 1). The highest early harvest gave plants of cv Admiro F1 with the Goteo combination (20.37 kg/m2). The highest increase in early harvest in response to Goteo applications was observed for cv Azarro F1 while the early harvest of cv Lemance F1 did not reflect any reaction to the treatment (Fig.1). Although similar relations were obtained for marketable yield of fruits collected before July 20, a positive effect of Goteo was in this case statistically insignificant (Fig. 2). A significant, positive effect of the preparation was however shown in the case of the number of fruit collected during early harvest. Mean number of fruits given in early yield by plants treated with Goteo was higher comparing to the control, respectively 131 and 121 fruits . m-2 (Tab.1). Mean weight of fruits obtained during early harvest or the number and weight of marketable fruits from early yield were not related to Goteo treatkg . m-2 FIGURE 1. TOTAL EARLY YIELD OF TOMATO IN DEPENDENCE ON CULTIVAR AND GOTEO TREATMENT, TILL THE 20 OF JULY (MEANS FROM 2 YEARS) SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 1. Plon ca³kowity wczesny pomidora, do 20 lipca, w zale¿noci od odmiany i stosowania Goteo (rednie z dwóch lat) rd³o: badania w³asne.
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23 TAB LE 1. TH E N U MB ER AN D AVER AGE MASS OF FR U IT IN EAR LY YIELD OF TOMATO IN D EPEN D EN C E ON C U LTIVAR AN D GOTEO TR EATMEN T, TILL TH E 20 OF JU LY (MEAN S FR OM 2 YEAR S) Tabela 1. Li czba i redni a masa owocu pomi dora w ploni e wczesnym, do 20 li pca, w zale¿noci od odmi any i zastosowani a Goteo (redni e z dwóch lat) C U LTIVAR OF TOMATO EAR LY YIELD TILL TH E 20 OF JU LY Odmi ana pomi dora Plon wczesny do 20 li pca GLOB AL YIELD MAR C ETAB LE YIELD Plon ca³kowi ty Plon handlowy AVER AGE MASS N U MB ER AVER AGE MASS N U MB ER OF FR U IT OF FR U IT OF FR U IT OF FR U IT redni a masa [pcs m-2] redni a masa [pcs m-2] owocu owocu Li czba owoców Li czba owoców [g] [g] [sz t..m-2] [sz t..m-2] Azarro F1 Lemance F1 Admi ro F1 Ladi va F1 MEANS redni e LSD /NIR SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. ród³o: badani a w³asne.
Goteo
C ontrol
Goteo
C ontrol
Goteo
C ontrol
Goteo
C ontrol
114.3 165.8 144.4 101.0
93.6 161.8 139.1 91.6
176.1 101.0 142.2 169.7
183.6 103.7 137.2 163.7
103.6 151.9 131.6 74.8
79.6 145.1 131.7 78.9
190.2 106.8 151.8 203.3
210.0 112.4 142.9 181.4
131.4 121.5 9.26
147.2 147.1 n.s./r.n.
115.5 108.9 n.s./r.n.
163.0 161.7 n.s./r.n.
ments (Tab. 1). The positive influence of fertilizer with the preparation which contained seaweed algae Ascophyllum nodosum on photosynthesis in relation to fruit yield of bell pepper was also observed [Eris et al. 1995, Pramod et al. 2000]. The effect of other biopreparation (Asahi SL) on the yield of such plants as celery, tomato and leek or bean was reported by Szewczuk and Juszczak [2003] and Czeczko and Mikos-Bielak [2004], respectively. The analysis of the total yield of tomato fruits harvested during a two-year study (till the end of November) did not reveal any significant differences in yield between the
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trol, the mean weights of the first fruits from harpin- or Grevit-treated plants were lower by 40% or 54%, respectively. ab ab Leaf chemistry response to harpin or Grevit treatment. As compared to the untreated control, the concentration of soluble proteins and reducing sugars in leaves of harpin treated tomato plants increased significantly by +DUSLQ+DUSLQ0LWH *UHYLW *UHYLW0LWH 49 and 53%, respectively (Fig. 2A and 2B). As compared to the control, in tomato leaves treated with Grevit the level of soluble proteb ins did not change and reducing b b sugars increased by 55% (Fig. 2A b and 2B). The level of total phenolics after the 3rd treatment with harpin or Grevit remained unchanged (Fig. 2C). Leaf chemistry response to mite feeding on plants pre+DUSLQ +DUSLQ0LWH *UHYLW *UHYLW0LWH viuosly treated with elicitors. The feeding of TSSM (15 females/leaf) on control plants (treated with distilled water) for 6 days resulted in only a slight, nonsignificant increase in the concenab b tration of soluble proteins and greab a at increase (by 71%) of reducing sugars level (Fig. 2A and 2B). The level of phenolics did not differ significantly between the miteinjured leaves and control ones (Fig. 2C). bc
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FIGURE 2 A-C. SOLUBLE PROTEIN (A), REDUCING SUGARS (B) AND TOTAL PHENOLICS (C) CONCENTRATIONS IN LEAVES AFTER 6 DAYS OF TSSM FEEDING ON TOMATO PLANTS THREEFOLD TREATED WITH WATER (CONTROL), 0.03% HARPIN OR 0.15% GREVIT. DIFFERENT LETTERS ABOVE BARS (X±SD) INDICATE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TREATMENTS BY KRUSKAL-WALLIS TEST, P=0.05 SOURCE: OWN STUDY Rysunek 2 A-C. Stê¿enia bia³ek rozpuszczalnych (A), cukrów redukuj¹cych (B) oraz fenoli ogólnych (C) w liciach pomidora po 6 dniach ¿erowania przêdziorka chmielowca na rolinach opryskanych wod¹ (kontrola), 0,03% roztworem harpiny lub 0,15% roztworem Grewitu. Ró¿ne litery nad s³upkami (x±SD) wskazuj¹ na ró¿nice statystycznie istotne (test Kruskal-Wallisa, P=0,05) rod³o: badania w³asne.
31 The level of soluble proteins, reducing sugars and phenolics remained unchanged comparing harpin-treated leaves injured by TSSM and the corresponding control (plants treated with harpin) (Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C). As compared to the control (plants treated with Grevit), in the leaves with a threefold Grevit treatment the 6-day mite feeding induced a significant increase in soluble protein concentration (by 45%) (Fig. 2A). In leaves treated with Grevit and infested by TSSM non-significant increase in reducing sugars level (Fig. 2B) and no changes in the level of phenolics (Fig. 2C) occurred. Effects of treatments on mite and cotton leafworm larvae. TSSM females feeding on the plants treated with harpin or Grevit laid more eggs by 49 and 89%, respectively relative to the control (Fig. 3A). However, differences between means were not statistically significant (H = 9.4382; P = 0.089). On day 6th slightly more larvae and nymphs of TSSM were found on tomato plants treated with elicitors (harpin or Grevit) compared to the controls that revealed a shorter developmental time of this pest (Fig. 4A-C). Data from the Fig. 3 B indicate that A a daily weight gain of 5th instar S. lit toralis slightly increased for the larvae feeding on leaves from harpin or Grevit treated plants. However, the diffe rences were not significant (H=8.3257; P=0.156) after 3 days of larvae feeding. Within 12 days after pupae formation, 60 and 54% of the pupae derived from caterpillars fed tomato leaves treated with harpin or Grevit reached the moth stage (Fig. 5A-C). After this time only 30% of the pupae derived from la&RQWURO +DUSLQ *UHYLW rvae fed leaves of control plants turned into moths (Fig. 5A).
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DISCUSSION The present studies show that harpin or Grevit applications did not significantly impact either tomato plant growth, leaf number or surface. Similarly, the growth rate of glasshouse tomatoes treated with 0.006% harpin [Boughton et al. 2006] and rose, chrysanthemum, gerbera, pansy and oak plants treated with grapefruit extract (Biosept 33 SL) did not differ in relation to the controls [Wojdy³a 2005]. On the contrary, Rocher et al. [2002] studies proved a stimulating effect of harpin treatments on the shoot growth of pepper, wheat, tobacco and tomato and on the growth of root mass of cotton, rye, maize and barley.
33 Our short-term observation indicates that both harpin and Grevit treatments delay fruits development at the initial time of fruit ripening, whereas results given by Rocher et al. [2002] show an increase of fruit yield of tomato plants cv Marglowe treated with the Messenger® formulation. On the contrary, no significant differences in yield of harpintreated and untreated garlic plantations were found [Chaowen et al. 2005]. Borkowski and Nowosielski [2001] reported that the fruit yield of glasshouse tomatoes treated with grapefruit extract did not exceed the one obtained for control plants. Results of Thaler [1999] show that fewer fruits were produced by JA-treated tomato plants. Chemical analyses of tomato leaves revealed that application of harpin or Grevit caused the increase in the level of soluble proteins and reducing sugars, but no changes in total phenolics concentrations relative to the control were found. It was observed that threefold treatments of tomato plants by harpin or Grevit induced changes in the level of reducing sugars and soluble proteins of similar direction but of different intensity. The study also showed that TSSM feeding similarly to harpin- and stronger than Grevit- treatment induced the increase of soluble protein concentration in tomato leaves. Boughton et al. [2006] found that the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in leaves of harpin-treated tomato plants did not significantly differ from the activity of these defense-related proteins in leaves of tomato plants treated with water. Treating tomato plants with harpin was shown to clearly delay the process of increase of leaf soluble proteins accumulation due to the feeding of TSSM. Opposite, spraying tomato plants with Grevit significantly increased the accumulation of soluble proteins in leaf of plants infested by TSSM. Treating tomato plants with harpin, but not with Grevit, only slightly affected the increase of the level of phenolics in mite-infested tomato leaves, although the accumulation of phenolic compounds in tomato plants in response to TSSM feeding is well known phenomenon [Kie³kiewicz 2003]. The results presented here indicate that fecundity of TSSM females fed tomato leaves treated with harpin or Grevit was not significantly different than the one observed on leaves of control plants. These findings are in agreement with a previously reported result of Boughton et al. [2006] indicating that the rates of growth of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Suzler, Homoptera: Aphididae) populations on harpin-treated and water-treated tomato plants did not differ significantly. However, in our study, there was a tendency to enhance the rate of TSSM development on harpin or Grevit-treated plants compared to the controls. It probably resulted from an altered leaf composition in response to elicitors used in this study. Similarly, SAR (systemic acquired resistance)-induced tobacco plants were not worse as host plants for aphids (Myzus nicotianae), whiteflies (Bemisia argentifolii) or leafminers (Liriomyza) [Inbar et al. 1998]. On the other hand, Ament et al. [2004] found an increased mortality rate of T. urticae eggs and a prolongation of egg embryogenesis after treating cucumber plants with JA. Results of the study show that treatment with harpin or Grevit slightly stimulated the weight gain of 5th instar cotton leafworm larvae and slowed the metamorphosis. Determining the cause of these phenomena needs further studies. Other studies showed that treating tomato plants with BTH solution intensified the feeding of Helicoverpa zea [Stout et al. 1999] and S. exigua caterpillars [Thaler et al. 1996]. However, cotton plants treated with BTH and control plants (without an induced SAR) were equally attractive
34 for H. armigera (Hübner) larvae [Inbar et al. 2001]. According to some literature reports, inducing a JA-related pathway in plants have a negative impact on the feeding of S. exigua, Myzus persicae, T. urticae, Lyriomyza trifolii as well as H. zea and Manduca sexta larvae [Orozco-Cardenas et al. 1993, Stout et al. 1998, 1999, Thaler et al. 1996]. In summary: 1) 0.03% harpin or 0.15% Grevit applications did not significantly induce either tomato plant growth, leaf number or leaf surface, although fruits development was slightly delayed, (2) threefold application of harpin or Grevit modified the concentration of tomato leaf nutrients (proteins and sugars) but did not influence the concentration of antinutrient phenylpropanoid compounds, (3) lack of clear negative effect of harpin or Grevit treated tomato plants on the two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) and cotton leafworm larvae (S. littoralis) development imply that none of the biostimulators examined here could effectively induce defense response against these pests. REFERENCES Ament K., Kant M.R., Sabelis M.W., Haring M.A., Schuurink R.C. 2004: Jasmonic acid is a key regulator of spider mite-induced volatile terpenoid and methyl salicylate emission in tomato. Plant Physiol., 135, 2025-2037. Borkowski J., Nowosielski O. 2001: The use of Trichodex 25 WP, Biosept 33SL, Chitosan and Florochron in the protection of tomato against powdery mildew. The effect of these preparations on the fruit yield. Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci. Biol. Sci., 49 (3), 173-178. Branch C., Hwang C. F., Navarre D. A., Williamson V. M. 2004: Salicylic acid is part of the Mi-1mediated defense response to root-knot nematode in tomato. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact., 17:351- 356. Boughton A.J., Hoover K., Felton G.W. 2006. Impact of chemical elicitors applications on greenhouse tomato plants and population growth of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 120, 175-188. Bradford M. M. 1976: A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein dye binding. Ann. Biochem., 72, 248-254. Cipollini D.F., Redman A.M. 1999: Age-dependent effects of jasmonic acid treatment and wind exposure on foliar oxidase activity and insect resistance in tomato. J. Chem. Ecol., 25, 271-281. Chaowen L., Yunliang P., Yibing C., Jingjing H., Hongli J., Everaarts A., Kumar P. 2005: Effects of fertilization and messenger application on garlic yield and diseases in Pengzhou district. VEGSYS: ICA4-CT-2001-10054. Cooper W.R., Goggin F.L. 2005: Effects of jasmonate-induced defenses in tomato on the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 15, 107-115. Dong H-P, Peng J., Bao Z., Meng X., Bonasera J.M. 2004: Downstream divergence of the ethylene signaling pathway for harpin-stimulated Arabidopsis growth and insect defense. Plant Physiol., 136, 3628-3638. Inbar M., Doostdar H., Sonoda R.M., Leibee G.L., Mayer R.T. 1998: Elicitors of plant defensive systems reduce insect densities and disease incidence. J. Chem. Ecol., 24 (1), 135-149. Inbar M., Doostdar H., Gerling D., Mayer R.T. 2001: Induction of systemic acquired resistance in cotton by BTH has a negligible effect on phytophagous insects. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 99, 65-70. Johnson G., Schaal L A. 1957: Accumulation of phenolic substances and ascorbic acid in potato tuber tissue upon injury and their possible role in disease resistance. Am. Potato J., 34, 200-209. Karban R., Baldwin I.T. 1997: Induced Responses to Herbivory. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, USA. Kie³kiewicz M. 2003: Strategie obronne rolin pomidorów (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) wobec przêdziorka szklarniowca (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, Acari: Tetranychidae). Rozprawy Naukowe i Monografie, Wydawnictwo SGGW, Warszawa. Li X.C., Schuler M.A., Berenbaum M.R. 2002: Jasmonate and salicylate induce expression of herbivore cytochrome P450 genes. Nature 419, 712-715.
35 Li Q., Xie Q. - G., Smith-Becker J., Navarre D., Kaloshian I. 2006: Mi-1-mediated aphid resistance involves salicylic acid and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact ., 19, 655-664. Lyon G.D., Newton A.C. 1999: Implementation of elicitor mediated induced resistance in agriculture. [In:] Induced plant defenses against pathogens and herbivores. APS PRESS, The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, Minnesota, 299-317. Nandi B., Kundu K., Banerjee N., Babu S.P.S. 2003: Salicylic acid-induced suppression of Meloidogyne incognita infestation of okra and cowpea. Nematology, 5, 747-752. Nelson N. 1944. A photometric adaptation of the Somogyi method for determination of glucose of protein utilizing the principle of protein dye binding. Ann. Biochem. 72, 248-254. Omer A.D., Granett j., Karban R., Villa E.M. 2001: Chemically-induced resistance against multiple pests in cotton. Int. J. Pest Manag., 47, 49-54. Orozco-Cardenas M., Mc Gural B., Ryan C.A. 1993. Expression of an antisense prosystemine gene in tomato plants reduces resistance toward Manduca sexta larvae. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., (USA) 90, 82738276. Peng J.L., Dong H.S., Dong H.P., Delaney T.P., Bonasera J.M., Beer S.V. 2003: Harpin-elicited hypersensitive cell death and pathogen resistance require the NDR1 and EDS1 genes. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol., 62, 317-326. Redman A.M., Cipollini D.F., Schultz J.C. 2001: Fitness costs of jasmonic acid-induced defense in tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum. Oecologia 126, 380-385. Rocher J.D., Bauer D., Qui D. 2002: Messenger boosts plant growth and development. EDEN Bioscience® Corporation 2002: www.edenbio.com. Saniewska A. 2002: Oddzia³ywanie rodka Biosept 33SL na Phoma narcissi Aderh. Post. Ochr. Rol., 42(2), 801-803. Stout M.J., Workman K.V., Bostock R.M., Duffey S.S. 1998: Stimulation and attenuation of induced resistance by elicitors and inhibitors of chemical induction in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) foliage. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 86, 267-279. Stout M.J., Fidantsef A.L., Duffey S.S., Bostock R. M. 1999: Signal interactions in pathogen and insect attack: systemic plant-mediated interactions between pathogens and herbivores of the tomato Lycopersicon esculentum. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol., 54, 115-130. Thaler J.S. 1999: Induced resistance in agricultural crops: Effects of jasmonic acid on herbivory and yields in tomato plants. Environ. Entomol., 28 (1), 30-37. Thaler J.S., Stout M.J., Karban R., Duffey S.S. 1996: Exogenous jasmonates simulate insect wounding in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) in the laboratory and field. J. Chem. Ecol., 22(10), 1767-1781. Thaler J.S., Fidantsef A.L.,Bostock R.M. 2002: Antagonism between jasmonate- and salicylate-mediated induced plant resistance: effects of concentration and timing of elicitation on defense-related proteins, herbivore, and pathogen performance in tomato. J. Chem. Ecol., 28, 1131-1159. Wojdy³a A. 2005: Wyci¹g z grejpfruta w ochronie rolin ozdobnych przed m¹czniakiem prawdziwym. Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk. Roln., 504(2): 533-539. Walling L.L. 2000: The myriad plant responses to herbivores. J. Plant Growth Regul., 19, 195-216.
Acknowledgements: S. littoralis larvae were kindly provided by Dr. Piotr Bêbas, Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw.
36 BIOSTIMULATORS IN SWEET PEPPER CULTIVATION UNDER COVERS Agnieszka Stêpowska Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Skierniewice, Poland
INTRODUCTION Apart from the traditional methods of fertilization, other substances are becoming more and more important, which positively influence the life processes in plants, in a different way to ordinary nutrients. According to the Act of Fertilizers and Fertilization dated 10th July 2007 [1336_u.htm], they are classified as growth stimulators. This definition contains, however, an exclusion regarding growth regulators, which are subject to the Act of Plant Protection [Dz.U... 2004] and have been regarded as plant protection agents. The definitions in both Acts, in fact, regard the same group of substances. The only difference is based, to put it briefly, on the statement that the effect of a stimulator is always beneficial for plants, whereas an active substance of a regulator could have any effect on the plant (in this group are included retardants). The term regulator has got, in this perspective, a wider meaning. On the other hand the growth regulator is denoted as a factor with specific direction and the biostimulant as whole-coursed substance. These clauses cause some confusion with regard to different research methods and registration procedures in relation to the assessments of plant protection agents or fertilizers and also substances aiding plant cultivation (growth stimulators, substances improving the soil and growing media). As a result of the specific chemical structure of most stimulators, they denote both protective activity and nutrition. Some of them act as typical elicitors factors which induce systemic acquired resistance in plants (SARIP) against pathogens or damages (laminarine, betaine). Others provide microelements, beneficial nutrients (titanium) or organic compounds, ready to be used by plants (amino acids). In rare cases, however, they can denote a typical protective role e.g. a vaccine containing laminarine [Joubert, Lefranc 2008]. The evaluation of their effect on the yield should be based on the rule of loss limitation (in relation to the infected control) [Grosch, Kofoet 2001]. The use of some stimulators leads to vigour improvement in conditions of periodical stress. The increase of the crop potential of plants treated with a stimulator neutralizing the cold or drought effect (e.g. Asahi) is based on the same mechanism as in the case of a typical protective agent. By protecting endangered plants, we reduce potential yield loss. A lot of new stimulators increase plant vigour, regardless of the cultivation conditions. However, the effects are more visible in places where the control of climatic conditions is impeded or impossible, as in the case of extensive production methods and in the case of species which are resistant to exogenous hormones improving pollination and fruit setting. In such cases, we can expect a real rise in yield and an improvement in its quality, which is determined by similar physiological
37 mechanisms as in the case of the use of fertilizers. A number of such substances with stimulating and fertilizing properties were registered as organic-mineral fertilizer before the Act of Fertilizers and Fertilization came to power [e.g. Bio-aleen S90, Goëmar Goteo, Goëmar BM86, Pentakeep®] and some of them were registered as biostimulators [e.g. Kelpak]. Such classification causes, however, some problems. From the practical point of view, all of them should be regarded as biostimulators, but according to the existing law, it would be advisable to keep to the nomenclature corresponding with the registration documents and labelling. In this present paper only those biostimulators were included which were or have been investigated with a view to registration in compliance with the Act of Fertilizers and Fertilization. In the light of the fact that the research concerning the use of stimulators in sweet pepper in our Institute started in 2005, this publication should be regarded as a review containing preliminary data.
REVIEW OF REFERENCES Seaweed has been used in agriculture in countries situated along the coast of the Atlantic for centuries. Very good effects were obtained on poor sandy soil. The use of seaweed was restricted to areas close to the coast, because transportation to further destinations was very expensive fresh seaweed contains about 85% of water. In the 1950s, intense research was commenced concerning extract production, and detailed research was carried out on the mechanism of their action on soil and living organisms [www.algaran.com]. One of the first researchers, who began the experiments in a systematic way was Senn [1987]. He claimed that seaweed extracts speeded up germination, improved root development, enhanced the development of generative organs, and also prolonged the shelf life of fruits. Containing about 70 microelements and trace elements, they aid enzymatic reactions and, because of natural hormones, they play a direct role in the development and functioning of a plant organism. Crouch and Van Staden [1993] performed a review of publications concerning this topic. They declared, however, that the mechanism of the action of elicitors was still not completely clear. The latest data from Goëmar Laboratories shows that the main elicitor in GA142 and GA14 concentrates is mannitol. Allen et al. [2001], proved the anti-oxidant properties of seaweed extracts. Their use in fertilization of pastures had a positive effect on autoimmunity of farm animals. At present, it is possible to find a lot of information on seaweed extracts and their stimulative effects [www.seaspray.com, www.naturalfarmers.com], but in the scientific publications there is not a lot of data on the use of biostimulators in sweet pepper culture.
THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BIOSTIMULATORS IN SWEET PEPPER CROPS IN POLAND (1999-2000) Thirty years ago, sweet pepper was a little known vegetable in Poland, but now it has become the third most popular vegetable grown under cover just after tomato and cucumber the cultivation area is as large as 1000 ha. The largest area is occupied by plantations in high, non-heated plastic tunels on wooden construction (ca 700 ha), located in the central Poland on sandy-loam soil class IV-VI. The second largest area is in the
38 south-east of Poland Podkarpacie (ca 300ha) represented by plantations on rich soil class II III in tunnels based on stell construction, 140 cm high, usually disassembled before winter (so called igo³omski tunnels). Other steel supported tunnels are not so popular, and greenhouse production are very rare. Due to the specific character of nonheated tunnels, i.e. no possibility to control the climatic conditions, such plantations are managed in an extensive way [Stêpowska 2007]. The first problems with cultivation usually occur already at the phase of production of young plants. Growers produce transplants seedlings themselves and usually have problems with keeping the right temperature and humidity of air and the medium. The low intensity of light in March causes an irregular growth of young plants. Growers count on good weather conditions and hope to transplant the young seedlings as soon as possible (around the 20th April) and sow the seeds too early (end of February). As a result, the seedlings grow very tall and then the young transplants age very quickly, because it is usually impossible to plant them before the 1st May. This leads to a longer period of acclimatization and delayed yielding. It is a common phenomenon that after planting, cold weather occurs, with temperatures below 150C or sometimes heat waves, which disturbs the correct development of plants. Sweet pepper needs at least 2-3 weeks for acclimatization. After this period, the temperatures do not influence the vegetative growth so much, but they have a negative effect on fruit setting and the shape of fruits. The plants are planted in soil and grow without any pruning or cutting, so they set only 10 to 20 fruits, a mainly in the lower part of the crown. These fruits vary a lot in appearance from the characteristic look of their genotype. Year by year, Polish growers have better possibilities of co-operation with supermarket chains and even of exporting abroad, but they cannot often fulfil the requirements. Although the marketable yield amounts to 90% of the total yield, only 30-40% of fruit could be classified as class I. Therefore, an implementation of any methods to improve the quality of crops is of vital importance for the commercial production of sweet pepper in Poland. The first biostimulators used for growth and development activation in sweet pepper in Poland were Bio-algeen S90 (extract from seaweed ) and Tytanit (an organic complexone of titanium). The first one improves the functions of the root system (applied to the roots) or the functions of the green parts (applied in the form of spray). The second one, applied to the leaves, is supposed to intensify the rebuilding of green matter and flowering in the period of stress and afterwards. Some authors also expected that it would enhance plant immunity against infectious diseases and pests, but they did not obtain satisfactory results [Borkowski et al. 2004]. Both fertilizers were first used in practice. In the case of Bio-algeen S90, the recommendations for tomato were applied. It was used willingly because the effects on plant condition were so quickly visible. There was no danger of over fertilizing, which happened quite often in the case of fertilizers applied to the roots and even to the leaves. Tytanit was first used during the huge floods in Poland in order to save the plantations by all allowed means. The growers declared that in spite of the weak effect of Tytamit on yielding, it greatly improved the condition of plants. During the years 1999-2004, in the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, experiments were carried out aimed at the scientific confirmation of the significance of the effect of Tytanit on a few vegetable species. The experiments regarded its protective activity and effect on yielding in such species as tomato, aubergine and sweet pepper. It was concluded that a single spray on sweet
39 pepper (tomato- like fruit cultivar) and repeated spraying on aubergine cv Rodo, caused an increase in the yield [Janas et al. 2000, 2002]. These days, however, Tytanit is not widely used in sweet pepper cultivation. As it was mentioned before, in Polish conditions biostimulators can be a very effective method for increasing the yield of sweet pepper. This is why in the Laboratory of Vegetable Cultivation of the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops in Skierniewice detailed experiments and strict tests have been conducted on the efficiency of seaweed extracts with stimulating properties, which will allow us to work out of recommendations for the use of biostimulators in sweet pepper cultures under cover. The experiments have been conducted on fertilizers based on seaweed homogenate form Ascophyllum nodosum. In the first experiments (2005-2006), 0.1% concentrate of GA142 (Goëmar Goteo) was used for fertigation of sweet pepper cv Roxy F1, in the phase of intense vegetative growth, and a 0.1% concentrate of GA14 (Goëmar BM86) for foliar application in the phase of intense flowering. The best effect on sweet pepper yield was given by Goëmar BM86. Goëmar Goteo used alone, only had a positive effect on the early yield. The fertilizers used together did not bring the expected effect. In 2007, a new experiment in which fertigation with Goëmar Goteo was applied in the phase of young plants, showed that such treatments helped to improve the yield of the plant treated with both bio-stimulators of the Goëmar Goteo series. Whole results of theese experiments are present in other chapter of this monography [Stêpowska 2008]. Such experiments, however, should be continued. It would be advisable to compare a few cultivars, because, according to Kelley [2001], different sweet pepper genotypes react to stimulators in a different way.
MATERIALS AND METHODS OF RESEARCH IN 2005-2007 90% of plantations in central Poland and 50% of plantations in the region of Podkarpacie have drop irrigation systems. But only half of them are equipped with feeders. Therefore, application to the roots is in many cases impossible. Experiments on use the organic-mineral fertilizers classified as stimulators only in young plants production were started in 2007. The second aim of this experiment was to check the duration of stimulation effects of the biostimulators. It allowed us to find out which stimulator can only influence the quality of young plants and which can ensure better crops, at least in the early stages of yielding. Two already known formulas were chosen: Bio-algeen S90 and Goëmar Goteo both produced from Ascophyllum nodosum and two designated for the use in cultivation: mineral-organic Radifarm and mineral Resistim. Radifarm contains organic N (1-1.2%) and uretic N (2-2.4%), K, Zn and organic C (8-9.6%). It also contains biologically active agents: glycosides, arginine, asparagine and tryptophane. Thanks to them the activity of the meristematic tissues is enhanced and also the propagation and the formation pace of lateral roots. The mineral formula of Resistim P-K 12:7 containing phosphite bonds (without betaine) possesses similar properties. According to the knowledge about root physiology [Sytnik et al. 1997] a positive effect of Resistim and Radifarm should be more usual than of the formulas from seaweed. Traditionally produced young plants of cv Lustro F1 were fertigated with biostimulators. Doses and concentrations were applied according to the recommendations of the producers.
40 On 14 March, the seeds of this cultivar were sown into deacidified peat and on 2nd April, the seedlings were pricked out into the specialized substrate Potgrond. During the production, the young plants were fertigated 2 or 4 times with 0.2% solution of Bio-algeen S90 and 0.1% solution of Goëmar Goteo (GG). The first fertigation was carried out 2 days after the pricking and the last one 7 days before proper planting. In the case of objects fertigated 4 times, the treatments were repeated every 8 days. In the case of two more objects, the plants were fertigated 4 times with 0.1% solution of Radifarm (RF) or 0.1% solution of Resistim (R). The control plants were treated with water. All the plants were watered when the soil humidity decreased. On 7th May, some of the plants from each treatment were planted in the tunnel and the rest (30 plants from each object) were measured. The measurements concerned the height of plants, the weight of the shoots and leaves, the leaf area, chlorophyll content and the weight of roots. In the case of plants in the tunnel, the measurements regarded the yield comprised the level and structure of the early yield, marketable yield and total yield and also marketable quality of fruits sorted according to the European quality standards. The biostimulators used in the experiments differed with regard to chemical properties and the mechanism of biological activity. Therefore, it is advisable to compare the features of seaweed formulas separately, but on the other hand, it is already possible to conduct a general analysis of the results in the early stages of the research. For the statistical analysis of the means, we used the Newman-Keuls test.
RESULTS Fertigation of sweet pepper young plants with all the biostimulators caused an increased development of the crown and the roots, in comparison to the plants only treated with water (Tab. 1). The weight of the roots was increased, as was the weight of leaves and shoots. The diameter of the main stem was also larger, and the leaf area and chloroTAB LE 1. TH E IN FLU EN C E OF R OOT-APPLIED B IOSTIMU LATOR S ON GR OWTH PAR AMETER S OF YOU N G PLAN TS OF PEPPER C V LU STR O F1 (SK IER N IEWIC E 2007) Tabela 1. Wp³yw dokorzeni owego stosowani a bi ostymulatorów na parametry wzrostowe rozsady papryki odm. Lustro F1 (Ski erni ewi ce 2007) OB H EIGH T LEAVES- Æ OF STEAM PLAN T LEAVES LEAVES LEAVES C H LO- R OOT JEC T Wysokoæ SPR EAD WEIGH T WEIGH T N U MB ER AR EA R OFIL* WEIGH T AB OVE Obi ekt [cm] Rozpi ê- C OTYLED ON Masa Masa Li czba Powi erz- C hlorofi l* Masa toæ li ci Æ pêdu nad roli ny li ci li ci chni a li ci korzeni [mm] [g] [g] [sz t.] [cm2] [g] li ci eni ami [mm] C ontrol 12.6 e 20.5 e 4.6 c 7.0 d 4.8 e 10 d 17 8 c 39 b 2.2 c GG 2x 17.5 c 22.6 c 5.3 b 11.4 b 7.2 b 11 c 283 b 43 a 4.2 a GG 4x 19.8 b 23.6 b 5.6 b 11.8 b 7.2 b 12 b 287 b 41a b 4.4 a B 2x 16.3 c 20.6 d 5.1 b 9.8 c 6.4 c 11 c 2 41 b 44 a 3.4 b B 4x 14.8 d 20.6 d 5.2 b 9.2 c 5.8 d 11 c 231 b 45 a 3.4 b RF 18.9 b 22.9 c 5.5 b 11.4 b 7.4 b 12 b 281 b 45 a 4.3 a R 23.2 a 25.8 a 6.2 a 15.6 a 9.2 a 13 a 352 a 43 a 4.8 a * C HLOROPHYLL IN ABSOLUTE UNITS (ON SPAD APPARATUS): VERY LIGHT LEAF 38, VERY D ARK L E A F 51) a, b MEANS IND IC ATED AS THE SAME LETTERS ARE STATISTIC AL INSIGNIFIC ANT D IFERR SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. * chlorofi l w jednostkach bezwzglêdnych (aparat SPAD ): li æ bardzo jasny 38, li æ bardzo ci emny 51 a, b wartoci oznaczone t¹ sam¹ li ter¹ statystyczni e ni e ró¿ni ¹ si ê i stotni e. ród³o: badani a w³asne.
41 phyll content were increased. The quality of the over-ground-parts of transplants is mainly determined by the area and weight of the leaves, but also by the chlorophyll content, thickness and length of the stem. Bio-algeen S90 used twice had a better effect on the leaf area and also the height of the plants than when it was used 4 times. The plants fertigated with Goëmar Goteo 4 times, had a larger leaf area (because of the increased number of leaves) and also a longer stem than the ones fertigated only after pricking and 7 days before proper planting. The leaves, however, were thinner and contained less chlorophyll. A large root system was obtained for Goëmar Goteo especially when used four times. Excluding control, the shortest young plants with the lowest weight of plant and leaves were obtained after four times Bio-algeen S90 use. The effects of Bio-algeen S90 and Goëmar Goteo used twice were comparable. Radifarm used four times had a similar effect to Goëmar Goteo used at the same terms. The largest plants with the best developed root system were obtained for Resistim the differences were statistically significant. The comparison of the early yield (green fruits from the first picking on 5th of July) of plants treated with Goëmar Goteo and Bio-algeen S90 did not reveal any beneficial effects of tested formulas (Tab. 2). Only plants treated four times with Goëmar Goteo had a similar yield to the control. However the plants treated with Resistim and especially with Radifarm, had a significantly better yield than the control. Later during the cultivation (coloured fruit picked between 8th July and 16th October and all ripe fruit picked until 22nd October) the sweet pepper plants fertigated with Goëmar Goteo and Bio-algeen S90 produced a better yield than plants treated with water alone (Tab. 3).The highest total, marketable and class I yield, were found for sweet pepper plants treated four times with Goëmar Goteo, Radifarm and Resistim. The same results were observed for Goëmar Goteo and Bio-algeen S90 when used twice for young plants fertigation. However, the TABLE 2. THE INFLUENCE OF ROOT-APPLIED BIOSTIMULATORS IN YOUNG PLANTS PRODUCTION ON EARLY YIELD (IST PICKING) OF PEPPER CV LUSTRO F1 (SKIERNIEWICE 2007) Tabela 2. Wp³yw dokorzeniowego stosowania biostymulatorów w produkcji rozsady na plon wczesny (I zbiór) papryki odm. Lustro F1 (Skierniewice 2007) OB AVER AGE MAR K ETAB LE YIELD OF IST PIC K IN G N ON TOTAL JEC T WEIGH T Plon handlowy I zbi oru MAR K ETAB LE YIELD ST Obi ekt OF I C L. Ni ehandlowe OF IST P I FR U IT C LASS I C LASS II C LASS I + D ISA- OTH ER S C K IN G Plon redni a Klasa I Klasa II C LASS II SED Inne ogólny masa Klasa I C hore I zbi oru owocu kl. I + klasa II [kg.m-2] [g] kg.m-2 % M.Y. % T. Y. % M.Y. % T. Y. kg.m-2 % T. Y. % TOTAL YIELD P.h. P.og. P.h. P.og. P.og. Plon ogólny C ontrol 2 14 b 1.3 ab 81 81 19 19 1.6 b 10 0 0 0 GG 2x 2 13 b 0.7 bc 54 50 36 40 1.3 bc 93 0 7 GG 4x 207 c 1.1 b 69 61 31 28 1.6 b 89 7 4 B 2x 18 3 d 0.5 c 46 36 54 43 1.1 c 79 3 18 B 4x 209 c 1.0 b 10 0 83 0 0 1.0 c 83 8 9 RF 303 a 1.6 a 70 70 30 30 2.3 a 10 0 0 0 R 206 c 1.5 a 94 83 6 5 1.6 b 89 0 11 a, b MEANS IND IC ATED AS THE SAME LETTERS ARE STATISTIC AL INSIGNIFIC ANT D IFERR M.Y. MARKETABLE YIELD , T.Y. TOTAL YIELD SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. a, b wartoci oznaczone t¹ sam¹ li ter¹ statystyczni e ni e ró¿ni ¹ si ê i stotni e, P.h. plon handlowy, P.og. plon ogólny. ród³o: badani a w³asne.
1.6 bc 1.4 c 1.8 b 1.4 c 1.2 cd 2.3 a 1.8 b
42 TAB LE 3 TH E IN FLU EN C E OF R OOT-APPLIED B IOSTIMU LATOR S IN YOU N G PLAN TS PR OD U C TION ON YIELD IN G OF PEPPER C V LU STR O F1 (SK IER N IEWIC E 2007) Tabela 3 Wp³yw dokorzeni owego stosowani a bi ostymulatorów w produkcji rozsady na plonowani e papryki odm. Lustro F1 (Ski erni ewi ce 2007) MAR K ETAB LE YIELD OF IST PIC K IN G N onTOTAL OB AVER AGE Plon handlowy I zbi oru MAR K ETAB LE YIELD JEC T WEIGH T Ni ehandlowe OF IST Obi ekt OF IST C L. FR U IT P I C LASS I C LASS II C LASS I + D ISA- OTH ER S C K IN G redni a Plon Klasa I Klasa II C LASS II SED Inne masa ogólny Klasa I + klasa II C hore owocu kl. I I zbi oru kg . m-2 % M.Y. % T.Y. % M.Y. % T.Y. kg .m-2 % T.Y. % TOTAL YIELD [kg .m-2] [g] P.h. P.og. P.h. P.og. P.og. Plon ogólny C ontrol 2 16 d 4.0 b 68 65 32 GG 2x 2 14 d 4.4 b 72 67 28 GG 4x 2 42 b 6.7 a 81 77 19 B 2x 239 b 4.4 b 72 67 28 B 4x 237 b 4.8 b 87 77 13 RF 260 a 6.7 a 83 81 17 R 229 c 6.2 a 78 69 22 EXPANATIONS AND SOURC E: SEE TAB. AND 2. Objani eni a i ród³o: jak w tab. 1.
30 25 18 25 12 17 20
5.9 bc 6.1 b 8.3 a 6.1 b 5.5 c 8.1 a 8.0 a
95 92 95 92 89 98 89
0 2 2 3 5 0 0
5 6 3 5 6 2 11
6.2 c 6.6 c 8.7 cb 6.6 c 6.2 c 8.3 b 9.0 a
average weight of class I fruit was higher for Bio-algeen S90. The treatment with Bioalgeen S90 four times on young plants did not have any positive effect on the level of the marketable yield and the total yield of sweet pepper. Each of the stimulators showed a positive effect on the quality of sweet pepper young plants. Thanks tested to them, we can obtain strong plants with a large assimilation area and, what is more important, with a strong and young root system. These features are extremely important in sweet pepper culture in non-heated tunnels with soil temperatures below 150C. Under such conditions, the fast regeneration of roots damaged during transplantation and the capability of new root formation against unfavourable conditions helps to achieve a higher yield potential. Well-balanced doses of biostimulators used during young plant production increase the yield of sweet pepper even when the fertilizer supply is optimal. The role of growth stimulators as supplements to the normal fertilization was already emphasized by Akande [2006] and the scientists from the Goëmar company. However, because variation in the regional climatic and production conditions the research should be continued in Poland.
FIRST OBSERVATION ON BRIVAL`S EFFECT ON FRUIT COLORATION Fully coloured fruits of the sweet pepper are appreciated the most. In the phase of intense colouring, apart from visual changes, physiological changes take place. Breathing intensifies, as well as the production of ethylene, which leads to a further acceleration of colouring. The more ethylene that is produced, the faster the colouring, but also the ageing of fruits (softening). Some cultivars produce so little ethylene that the process of colouring is very slow and almost completely stopped after picking. A very interesting issue is the possibility of using certain substances causing a strictly located effect e.g. the acceleration of colouring in fully grown fruits, without any influence of the general condition of the plants. One of the formulas containing such substances is Brival a mineral fertilizer also containing N, K (4:14), B and Zn. We used it for the first time in our
43 experiments at the end of the cultivation period of sweet pepper. In the doses recommended for tomato, it positively influenced the ripening of sweet pepper. At the beginning of September, 20 days prior to the planned harvest, the plants of yellow-fruited cultivar of sweet pepper with green fruits were sprayed with Brivale in the dose of 8 L ha-1 (B8), 4 L . ha-1 (B4) or just water. After 10 days the object B4 was sprayed again with the same dose of Brival, whereas other objects were sprayed with water. After three weeks counting from the first spray, all the fruits in object B8 were completely coloured in yellow (24 fruits on 5 plants). The fruits in object B4 (20 fruits) were coloured in 30-50%. The fruits of the control plants were still green. The same test was carried out on 8th October. Until the time of closure (22th October), the temperatures were low and this is probably why there was no effect of Brival on the fruit colouring. The preliminary results suggest that this formula is effective in temperatures above 17°C and can be used as soon as the early yielding strts. This is the time, when the prices of coloured fruit are the highest.
CONCLUSIONS The results of presented here experiments on the use of biostimulators in sweet pepper cultivating, should only be regarded as the preliminary stage of research on this interesting and vast issue. It is beyond doubt that biostimulators applied as supplements have positive effects on the quality of young plants and at the same time, they aid the start in early plant life. When used in the young plant phase, they can have a very positive effect on crops, without the necessity of use larger amount of biostimulators during cultivation. Thanks of that we can reduce costs of the preparate and labour as well installation of irrigation system. Biostimulators in spray, increase the yield potential of plants in a direct way, and induce the colouring of fruit. There are a lot of formulas which contain very different biologically active substances like amino acids, polyamines, polysaccharides or humus acids. Their properties and effect on plants is being investigated by scientists and growers, but because of the novelty of their application it is necessary to work out the recommendation for a particular crop species, so as their use would bring measurable economical effects. REFERENCES Akande M.O. 2006: Effect of organic root plus (biostimulant) on the growth, nutrient content and yield of amarnthus. African J. Biotechnology, vol. 5 (10), 871-874. Allen V.G., Pond K.R., Saker K.E., Fontenot J.P., Bagley C.P., Ivy R.L., Evans R.R., Schmidt R.E., Fike J.H., Zhang X., Ayad J.Y., Brown C.P., Miller M.F., Montgomery J.L., Mahan J., Wester D.B., Melton C. 2001: Tasco: Influence of a brown seaweed on antioxidants in forages and livestock-A. J. Anim. Sci., 79, E21-E31. Borkowski J., Dyki B., Niekraszewicz A., Struszczyk H. 2004: Effect of the preparations Biochikol 020PC, Tytanit, Biosept 33 SL and others on the healthiness of tomato plants and their fruiting in glasshouse. [In:] Progress on chemistry and application of chitin and its derivatives. Struszczyk H. (ed.). Vol. X, PCS, £ód, Poland. Crouch I.J., Staden J. 1993: Evidence of the presence of plant growth regulators in commercial seaweed products. Plant Growth Regul. Springer NL, vol. 13, No 1, 21-29. Grosch R., Kofoet A. 2001: Biological control of root pathogens in soilles culture using bacteria. Acta Hortic. 548, 393-400.
44 Janas R., Ko³osowski S., Szafirowska A. 2000: Effect of Titanium on yield and seed health status of solanaceous vegetables. Proc. & Abstr. Intern. Seed Health Conf. PTFit.-IHAR 2000, 28. Janas R., Szafirowska A., Ko³osowski S. 2002: Effect of titanium on eggplant yielding. Veg. Crops Res. Bull., vol. 57, 37-44. Joubert J.M., Lefranc G. 2008: Seaweed biostimulants in agriculture: Recent studies on mode of action two types of products from algae: growth and nutrition stimulants and stimulants of plant defense reactions. Proc. Book of abstracts of Conference: Biostimulators in modern agiculture. 7-8 February, Warsaw, Poland 16. Kelley W.T. 2001: Effect of BM86 and MZ63 on fall pepper production. Georgia Vegetable ExtentionResearch Rep. W. T Kelley & D. B. Langston, Jr (eds). The Univ. of Georgia, 13. Senn T.L. 1987: Seaweed and Plant Growth,Clemson. SC, Clemson University, 181. Stêpowska A. 2007: The history and presence of sweet pepper cultivation under covers in Poland. [In:] K. Niemirowicz-Szczytt (ed.) Progress in Research on Capsicum & Eggplant. WULS Press, Warsaw, 311324. Stêpowska A. 2008: Effects of extracts GA 142 (Goëmar Goteo) and GA 14 (Goëmar BM86) applying on sweet pepper yielding in non-heated tunnels. [In:] Biostimulators in modern agriculture Soalnaceous crops (D¹browski Z.T. (ed.). Wie Jutra, Warszawa, 44-50. Sytnik K. M., Kniga N. M., Musatienko L. I. 1997: Fizjologia korzenia. PWRiL, Warszawa: Ustawa o ochronie rolin. Dz. U. z dn. 27 stycznia 2004 r. Ustawa o nawozach i nawo¿eniu [http;//orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc5.nsf/1336_u.htm]. www.algaran.com. Algaran. www.naturalfarmers.com/research.html. Kelp Research. www.seaspray.com/plants.html._SeaSpray.Plant 101.
45 EFFECTS OF GA 142 (GOËMAR GOTEO) AND GA 14 (GOËMAR BM86) EXTRACTS ON SWEET PEPPER YIELD IN NON-HEATED TUNNELS Agnieszka Stêpowska Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Skierniewice, Poland
INTRODUCTION The correct balance between the root system, assimilation surface and the number of generative organs in sweet pepper is a necessary requirement of high yield potential. In cultivation production under cover in non-heated tunnels, the plants are exposed to climatic stress factors (temperature and humidity different from optimal) and also to specific conditions determined by the method of cultivation. Relinquishment of clipping the first fruit set and lack or restrictive pruning of shoots, lead to the state when the plants start to flowering and bear fruit before they reach the appropriate weight of the above-ground part. The temperatures observed in that period (10-170C) are conducive to the development of deformed fruit, due to incorrect pollination. Excessive congestion of shoots with short internodes above the ramifications of the main branch, causes the fruit to get jammed between them and, as a result, get damaged during harvest. With such a burden of young plants, the fruit develop in the lower part of the crown in low numbers (up to 12 pieces) mostly deformed with their weight exceeding the standard weight characteristic for the variety (often more than 300 g). No sooner than after the collection of the first crop (middle of July), sweet pepper restarts fruit setting, but the next harvest takes place as late as the middle of August. During this time, the green matter of plants is increasing continually, especially if there is no competition from generative organs. The excess of shoots and leaves causes a decrease of light entering the crown, which, in turn, restricts the transport of assimilates and affects the development of flowers and fruit [Cebula, Czarnowski 2000a]. A correct balance between the activity of vegetative and generative parts occur, when the ratio is about 12 shoots per 1 m2, and according to Brakeboer [2007] even half of that. A characteristic feature of sweet pepper is the compensation phenomenon, which refers to the ratio between the number of leaves and the leaf area. Together with a decreased number of leaves, the assimilation intensity increases because better light penetration through stems. On the other site, under this condition increases leaf blades area. Cebula and Czarnowski [2000b] claim that it is enough to have two leaves per 1 set to provide sufficient assimilates. These authors agree that the shade inside the crown caused by the excessive number of leaves, leads to decreased crops. On Polish plantations, such an extensive system of cutting and pruning is not applied because of excessive labour and usually very large size of the plantations. Therefore, other methods are needed to stimulate the growth and development of plants influencing the earliness, quantity and quality of yield.
46 Many years ago it was found that a substance present in some seaweed had a positive influence on living organisms. The research on the use of extracts from seaweed in agriculture is taking on more importance, but still there are few scientific reports on this topic. The species which is also used in horticulture is Ascophyllum nodosum, also called Norwegian kelp. The first fertilizer of this type used in Poland was Bio-algeen S90, and for a few years research has been carried out on fertilizers based on concentrate GA14 (Goëmar BM86). Recently a new formula GA142 (Goëmar Goteo), produced from homogenate of A. nodosum with the addition of phosphorus, potassium, molybdenum and bor was included in studies. Biologically active ingredients of the organic material obtained from the homogenate of seaweed are varied: endogenous growth hormones, alginic acid, amino acids, polysaccharides, lipids, vitamins and even antibiotics. When mixed with minerals they are easily absorbed and directly included in the metabolism of plants, without the necessity of going through a long chain of changes from the minerals to organic forms [humate.html]. The function of chelator and elicitor is fulfilled by sodium alginate and potassium alginate as well as by mannitol, which is known for its use in regenerating protoplasts in vitro [Fiuk et al. 2003]. Thanks to mannitol oxydase and the immunological properties of 2-dehydrogenase (MTD), the organs and tissues of celery react better to cold, high temperature or drought, and mobilize for normal functioning in stressful conditions [Zamski et al. 1996]. Therefore, it is possible to restrict the use of fertilizers which are often ineffective and costly, in the case of plants with an underdeveloped root system. Goëmar Goteo is used for watering of plants. Its main property is to stimulate growth and increase the efficiency of the root system. It also influences the growth of vegetative matter. This allows the balance to be kept between the underground and over-ground parts of the plant and, as a result, increases the crops potential. Goëmar BM86 has been used so far in orchards during blossoming and setting, because it enhances cell division in organs in which the growth is determined mainly by cell proliferation. Thanks to this action, flowers and sets endured thermal stress more easily [Tomala, Woniak 2008]. The aim of the research in the Institute was to determine the effects of concentrates GA142 and GA14 in the culture of sweet pepper.
METHODOLOGY The research was carried out in the years 2005 and 2006 in a high, non-heated plastic tunnel. The soil was fertilized prior to vegetation, to the level recommended for sweet pepper: N 250, P 300, K-400, Mg 120, Ca 2500 mg . dm-3. Young plants of the cultivar Roxy F1 were produced in pots with peat substrate Potgrond H. The plants were planted in the soil in the tunnel at the beginning of May, spaced 35 cm x 70 cm apart. The surface was covered with black Agril. After planting, the plants were watered by drop irrigation and fertigation was implemented after the first harvesting (end of June). The plants were trained for 4 shoots to the level of 4 internode and the natural crown was left above. The objects of the experiments were: G plants watered twice during intense growth (middle of May, to the end of June) with 0.1% solution of GA142 (Goëmar Goteo), BM86 plants sprayed twice during intense flowering (beginning of June, end of
47 July) with 0.1% solution of GA14 (Goëmar BM86)], G+BM86 plants watered twice with Goëmar Goteo and sprayed twice with Goëmar BM86, control plants watered and/or sprayed with water. The cultivation was carried out until the end of October. The assessment regarded the mean weight of fruit class 1, yield of fruit class 1, the marketable yield, the total yield of the first harvest and the total yield of the whole cultivation. The comparison of means was carried out with the use of mono-factorial analysis of variance (p = 0.05).
RESULTS In sweet pepper, the increase of vegetative mass during intense growth after planting induces a better development of the first generative organs, but in the further period its prevalence restricts flowering and, as a result, the number of fruits [Cebula and Czarnowski 2000ab, Somos 1984]. This is why watering with Goëmar Goteo with restrained pruning did not bring the expected effect of an increase in crops. The transport of nutrients to the leaves and consecutive intense vegetative growth was faster than the transport of assimilates and it restricted the production of flowers and the keeping of fruit settings [Somos 1984]. If Goemar BM86 (GA14) stimulator acting on young generative parts was applied after Goëmar Goteo (GA142) the yield did not increase. It was effect of flower set reducing in consequence of intensive green mass production after Goëmar Goteo. Due to smaller number of fruit the average fruit weight was bigger than in other treatments. The vegetative growth of plants treated only with the GA14 was weaker then after GA 142 or GA 142+GA14 but flowering and fruit setting was more intensive. According to Verberne [2006] the increase in activity or quantity of plant hormones during flowering of the upper parts of the crown mobilizes sweet pepper to set. Goemar BM86 contains such natural plant hormones and in consequence of its applying the crop was better than in other treatments. Goëmar Goteo is used in order to stimulate the growth and function of roots and in this way to influence the vigor of plants, which is of great importance in the primary period of pepper cultivation. This is why the first yield has been accepted as the indicator of its efficiency. The vigor of plants was positively influenced by the double watering with Goëmar Goteo after planting. The internodes were longer by about 1 cm in comparison to the control plants and the crowns were more spacious. Thanks to this, fewer fruits were subject to mechanical deformation. The most important indicator for the assessment of the early yield is the so called marketable yield, especially the yield of fruit class 1. Watering with Goëmar Goteo had a positive influence on the marketable yield. Whereas, the general yield was higher by 0.2 kg . m-2 in the control plants (Tab. 1). For G plants the marketable yield amounted to 1.8 kg . m-2 and was 0.3 kg . m-2 (20%) higher than for the control plants. The share of the marketable yield in the total yield was 100% where as in the control plants it was only 75%. A similar tendency occurred in the yield of 1st class fruit, which was 78% of the total yield for G plants (1.4 kg . m-2) and 65% for the control plants (1.3 kg . m-2). According to the rule, the fewer fruits the higher the weigh, in the controlled plants class
48 TAB LE 1. EFFEC T OF GOËMAR GOTEO ON EAR LY YIELD OF PEPPER C V R OXY F1 IN N ON H EATED TU N N EL Tabela 1. Wp³yw stosowani a Goëmar Goteo na plon wczesny papryki odm. Roxy F1 w tunelu ni eogrzewanym K IN D OF AVER AGE MAR K ETAB LE TOTAL IST C LASS YIELD STIMU LATION WEIGH T Plon klasy I YIELD YIELD S p o só b OF IST C LASS Plon handlowy Plon stymulacji FR U IT kg . m-2 % OF MAR K ET- % OF TOTAL kg . m-2 % OF TOTAL ogó. lny-2 [kg m ] redni a masa AB LE YIELD YIELD YIELD owocu klasy I % plonu % plonu % plonu [g] handlowego ogólnego ogólnego C ONTROL 207 a 1.3 b 86.7 65.0 1.5 b 75.0 2.0 b Kontrola G 18 6 b 1.4 a 77.8 77.8 1.8 a 100.0 1.8 a LSD /NIR 2.6 0.06 0.09 0.06 a = 0.05 a,b MEANS ARE STATISTIC AL SIIGNIFIC ANT D IFFER SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. a,b wartoci ró¿ni ¹ si ê i stotni e ród³o: badani a w³asne.
1 fruit had a mean mass of 207 g, whereas for plants watered with a stimulator, the fruit was 20% lighter 186 g. The differences where statistically significant. The positive influence of Goëmar Goteo was restricted to the early yield. The average weight of class 1 fruit obtained during the whole period of cultivation was 194 g and was the lowest among all the tested objects (8.5% lower than in the control and 15% lower than in the highest weight of BM86). In addition, the yield of this class and the marketable yield were significantly differ from the yield in the control. Similar results were obtained for BM86 by Kelley [2001], but he suggested that research should be continued. Goëmar BM86 is used in order to improve the effectiveness of pollination and the better setting and growing of buds. Its main characteristic is to increase the number of cells, whereas other regulators influence the size of cells. The first treatment with this formula was performed at the beginning of the intense flowering phase, when the fruit for the first picking was developed. This is why the Goëmar BM86 plants where not taken into account for the assessment of the early yield. The most effective methods influencing the mean mass of 1st class fruit and all fractions of the yield obtained during the whole period of cultivation was the use of Goëmar BM86 (Tab. 2). In BM86 the general yield was the highest (9.6 kg . m-2). The next highest result was from the marketable yield (9.5 kg . m-2) and the 1st class fruit yield (8.4 kg . m-2) and the mean mass of 1st class fruit (227 g). The share of marketable yield (99%) and the share of 1st class fruit (88%) in the total yield were also the highest. The synergic effect of Goëmar Goteo and Goëmar BM86 resulted in a significant increase in the average weight of 1st class fruit in comparison to the control plants and G plants, but had a negative effect on the general yield (Tab. 2). Although the marketable yield presented 97% of the total yield, all fractions of the yield were the lowest amongst the tested objects. The yield of 1st class fruit (6.6 kg . m-2) was significantly lower in comparison to BM86 (8.4 kg . m-2), G (6.7 kg . m-2) and the control (6.7 kg . m-2). The structure of the yield was, however, better than in G plants watered with Goëmar Goteo alone. The share of non-marketable fruit in G+BM86 was less
49 TAB LE 2. EFFEC T OF GOËMAR GOTEO (G) AN D GOËMAR B M86 (B M86) ON PEPPER C V R OXY F1 YIELD IN G IN N ON -H EATED TU N N EL. SK IER N IEWIC E 2005-2006 Tabela 2. Wp³yw stosowani a Goëmar Goteo(G) i Goëmar BM86 (BM86) na plonowani e papryki odm. Roxy F1 w tunelu ni eogrzewanym. Ski erni ewi ce 2005-2006 K IN D OF AVER AGE IST C LASS YIELD MAR K ETAB LE TOTAL STIMU LATION WEIGH T Plon klasy I YIELD YIELD S p o só b OF IST C LASS Plon handlowy Plon stymulacji FR U IT % OF % OF TOTAL kg . m-2 % OF TOTAL ogólny 2 kg . m-2 redni a masa [kg . m- ] MAR K ETAB LE YIELD YIELD owocu klasy I YIELD % plonu % plonu [g] % plonu ogólnego ogólnego handlowego C ONTROL 2 12 b 6.7 b 78.8 77.9 8.5 b 98.8 8.6 b Kontrola G 19 4 c 6.7 b 81.7 72.0 8.2 b 88.2 9.3 a GG + BM86 224 a 6.2 c 82.7 80.5 7.5 c 97.4 7.7 c BM86 227 a 8.4 a 88.4 87.5 9.5 a 99.0 9.6 a LSD /NIR 2.1 0.28 0.33 0.30 a = 0.05 THE D ATA IN UPPER LEFT C ORNER OF C OLUMNS ARE REGARD PARAMETERS OF YIELD FROM IST PIC KING (6.07.07) a,b MEANS IND IC ATED AS THE SAME LETTERS ARE STATISTIC AL INSIGNIFIC ANT D IFFER SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. 1 dane w lewym, górnym rogu kolumn dotycz¹ parametrów plonu I zbi oru (6.07.07) a,b wartoci oznaczone t¹ sam¹ li ter¹ statystyczni e ni e ró¿ni ¹ si ê i stotni e ród³o: badani a w³asne. 1
than 3% of the total yield, whereas in G almost 12%. The potential of the root system is determined as soon as the early period of vegetation. When the system is properly formed it has a large surface for active absorption of nutrients. Then its capability of keeping the plant in good contrition is stable, even in negative conditions if they occur periodically and not continually. The complicated physiology of the root makes difficult thesimple explanation of the mechanism of compensation or the elimination of the two formulas used for foliar application or root application. According to Sytnik et al. [1997], in worse conditions for root development the plant acts faster to incentives such as growth hormones. The results obtained in our field experiments carried out in 2006 seem to support this opinion. The experiments were conducted with the same methods as in simultaneous experiments in a tunnel with Goëmar Goteo and Goëmar BM86 used after transplanting of pepper seedlings. In field cultivation, on a firm, sandy-clay soil without regular irrigation, a positive effect of both stimulators was observed, both individual and synergic. The latter had, however, better effects. On the other hand, scientists from the Goëmar Laboratoires [Joubert, Lefranc 2008] claim that the effect of seaweed biostimulants is more visible when the fertilization is appropriate according to the rule: The better the fertilization, the better the effect of the biostimulants. Of course, it does not only refer to the amount of fertilizes in the soil but also to the conditions of absorption, which are usually better in the soil in tunnels. The same opinion is presented by Akande [2006] who tested the root organic stimulator plus containing seaweed extract in amaranthus cultivation. In the 2007 experiments similar methods as in 2005-2006 were used, but with the additional use of Goëmar Goteo for the watering of seedlings which were then used as
50 TAB LE 3. EFFEC T OF GOËMAR GOTEO (G) AN D GOËMAR B M86 (B M86) ON PEPPER C V YEC LA F1 YIELD IN G IN N ON -H EATED TU N N EL. SK IER N IEWIC E 2007 Tabela 3. Wp³yw stosowani a Goëmar Goteo(G) i Goëmar BM86 (BM86) na plonowani e papryki odm. Yecla F1 w tunelu ni eogrzewanym. Ski erni ewi ce 2007 IST C LASS YIELD MAR K ETAB LE YIELD TOTAL K IN D OF AVER AGE Plon klasy I Plon handlowy YIELD STIMU LATIWEIGH T Plon ON OF IST C LASS . -2 . -2 kg m % OF MARKET- % OF TOTAL kg m % OF TOTAL ogólny FR U IT S p o só b AB LE YIELD YIELD YIELD redni a masa [kg . m-2] stymulacji % plonu % plonu % plonu owocu klasy I handlowego ogólnego ogólnego [g] C ONTROL Kontrola G GG + BM86 BM86 LSD /nIR a = 0.05
2 0 0 a1 236 a 200 a 224 b 227 b 221 b ie 5.8
0.3 b 75.0 3.7 c 0.9 a 100.0 4.6 b 5.4 a 4.6 b 0.09 0. 68
74.0 74.2 80.6 80.7 -
75.0 75.0
68.5 68.7 77.1 74.2 -
0.4 b 100.0 5.0 c 92.6 0.9 a 75.0 6.2 ab 92.5 6.7 a 95.7 5.7 b 91.9 0.12 0.56 -
0.4 b
5.4 c 1.2 a 6.7 ab 7.0 a 6.2 b 0.14 0.32
THE D ATA IN UPPER LEFT C ORNER OF C OLUMNS ARE REGARD PARAMETERS OF YIELD FROM IST PIC KING (6.07.07) a,b MEANS IND IC ATED AS THE SAME LETTERS ARE STATISTIC AL INSIGNIFIC ANT D IFFER SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. 1 dane w lewym, górnym rogu kolumn dotycz¹ parametrów plonu I zbi oru (6.07.07) a,b wartoci oznaczone t¹ sam¹ li ter¹ statystyczni e ni e ró¿ni ¹ si ê i stotni e ród³o: badani a w³asne. 1
G, G+BM86. It turned out that the yield increased significantly (Tab. 3). In object G the yield of 1st class (5.5 kg.m-2), marketable yield (6.7 kg.m-2) and total yield (7.0 kg . m-2) were always higher the in the control (3.7, 5.0, 5.4 kg.m-2). In object G+BM86 the results were as follows: 4.5, 6.2, 6.7 kg . m-2, better than in G and even better than in BM86 with seedlings watered with water: 4.5, 5.7, 6.2 kg.m-2. In addition, in G+BM86 the share of the yield of 1st class and marketable yield in the total yield was the highest, respectively 77.1 and 95.7%. In this new research a different cultivar of sweet pepper was used (Yecla F1), but of the same type (Roxy F1). Although we cannot exclude the influence of the genotype on the reaction of plants treated with biostimulants [Masny et al 2004, Kowalczyk, Zielony 2008], it seems that the most important factor was the early stimulation of roots for intense growth and functioning. In plants programmed for better vigor as early as the young plant phase, the stimulation of roots did not influence negatively the system growthdevelopment. The additional production of flowers, brings the effect of an increased number of fruit. Their weight also increases, thanks to the enhanced yield potential of well-formed and fertilized plants. On the basis of presented research it is possible to conclude how to use Goëmar Goteo and Goëmar BM86 in the cultivation of fruit producing vegetables, since similar results were obtained for tomato and aubergine [Kossak 2008]. Hitherto, existing laboratory analysis shows, however, that the answer to the question as to why the proceeding reactions are changeable, is not so simple. Especially, although a lot of new organic and organic-mineral stimulators have been introduced onto the market, still the number of scientific papers regarding this topic is insufficient.
51 CONCLUSION 1. The highest early yield indicated by total, marketable and yield of Ist class fruit in Ist picking of pepper cv Roxy F1 was obtained after watering with Goëmar Goteo (GA142). 2. Watering with Goëmar Goteo (GA142) increased the total yield of sweet pepper cv Roxy F1, planted in the non-heated plastic tunnel. 3. Spraying with Goëmar BM86 increased marketable yield and yield of Ist class fruit of pepper cv Roxy F1. 4. Synergic action of Goëmar Goteo and Goëmar BM86 increased only the average weight of Ist class fruit of pepper cv Roxy F1. 5. The highest total yield, marketable yield and yield of Ist class fruit of pepper cv Yecla F1 was obtained after seedlings watering with Goëmar Goteo and with Goëmar Goteo + Goëmar BM86 treatment during cultivation in non-heated plastic tunnel. REFERENCES Akande M.O. 2006: Effect of organic root plus (biostimulant) on the growth, nutrient content and yield of amaranthus. African J. Biotechnology, vol. 5 (10), 871-874. Brakeboer T. 2007: Better balance between work and yield. Fruit Veg. Tech., vol. 7, No 4, 18-19. Cebula S., Czarnowski M. 2000a: Zale¿noci pomiêdzy liczb¹ zawi¹zków i lici u rolin papryki s³odkiej prowadzonej na jeden pêd w uprawie szklarniowej. Cz I. Wzrost rolin i warunki napromieniowania. Ann. UMCS, Sectio EEE, vol. VIII, suplement, 319-325. Cebula S., Czarnowski M. 2000b: Zale¿noci pomiêdzy liczb¹ zawi¹zków i lici u rolin papryki s³odkiej prowadzonej na jeden pêd w uprawie szklarniowej. Cz II. Plonowanie i jakoæ owoców. Ann. UMCS, Sectio EEE, vol VIII, suplement, 327-332. Fiuk A., Rajkiewicz M., Rybczyñski J. J. 2003: Gentiana kurroo (Royle) w kulturach in vitro. Biotechnologia 3(63), 267-274. Joubert J-M., Lefranc G. 2008: Seaweed phytostimulants in agriculture: recent studies on mode of two types of products from algae: growth and nutrition stimulants and stimulants of plant defense reactions. Proc. Book of abstracts of conference: Biostimulators in modern agiculture. 7-8 February, Warsaw, Poland, 16. Kelley W. T. 2001: Effect of BM86 and MZ63 on Fall Pepper Production. Georgia Vegetable Extention-Research Rep. W. T Kelley & D. B. Langston, Jr (eds). The Univ. of Georgia, 13. Kossak K. 2008: Effects of biostimulators on the glasshouse `Alboney F1` tomato plants. Proc. Book of abstracts of conference: Biostimulators in modern agiculture. 7-8 February, Warsaw, Poland, 152. Kowalczyk K., Zielony T. 2008: Effect of Goteo treatment on yield and fruit quality of tomato grown on rockwool. Book of abstracts of conference: Biostimulators in modern agiculture. 7-8 February, Warsaw, Poland, 154. Masny A., Basak A., ¯urawicz E. 2004: Effects of foliar applications of Kelpak SL and Goëmar BM86® preparations on yield and fruit quality in two strawberry cultivars. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., vol 12, 23-27. Tomala K., Woniak M. 2008: Improving apple quality by use of biostimulators. Book of abstracts of conference: Biostimulators in modern agiculture. 7-8 February, Warsaw, Poland, 30. Somos A. 1984: The paprika. Akademiai Kiado. Budapest. Sytnik K.M., Kniga N.M., Musatienko L.I. 1997: Fizjologia korzenia. PWRiL, Warszawa. Verberne C. 2006: Thinning keeps crop in balance. Fruit Veg. Tech., vol. 6, No 1, 10-11. Zamski E., Yamamoto Y.T., Williamson J.D., Conkling M.A., Pharr D.M. 1996: Immunolocalization of mannitol dehydrogrnase in celery plants and cells. Plant Physiol., 112 (3), 931-938. Biofertilizers [www.gayatriherbalsindia.com/biofertilizers.html]. Humate-seaweed-advantage [www.naturesnog.com/humate-seaweed-advantage.html]. Seaweed-extract [www.sulekhab2b.com].
52 EFFECT OF THE APPLICATION OF BIOSTIMULATOR ASAHI SL ON THE YIELD OF POTATO TUBERS AND THEIR QUALITY Tomasz Maciejewski, Tadeusz Michalski, Monika Bartos-Spycha³a, Wojciech Cielicki Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
INTRODUCTION Application of biostimulators in fruit and vegetable production as well in the cultivation of ornamental plants has been known for many years and the possibilities of their application keeps increasing. Biostimulators activate the synthesis of hormones and intensify their activity. They can also improve plant resistance to stress factors. At the same time, it is believed that biostimulators are safe for the environment [S³owiñski 2004a,b, Starck 2005]. In plant cultivation, among others, the following two biostimulators are applied: Asahi SL and Atonik SL, which contain compounds from the nitrophenols group. Nitrophenols occur in the natural state in plant cells and they participate in physiological and biochemical processes [Dynowski, Mroczko 1995]. These biostimulators are mainly applied in orchards, on vegetables and in the cultivation of ornamental plants. On the other hand, they are only used sporadically on agricultural crops. So far, there are no extensive elaborations dealing with the effects of biostimulators on the development and yielding of field crops. Recommendations referring to biostimulators used in agriculture are generally limited to the growing of sugar beets, rape, wheat and occasionally to potato and maize cultivation. The objective of the present studies was the estimation of the effect of the discussed biostimulators on the yielding and the quality features of potato tubers. The need of such studies resulted from the limited experimental data, as well as from the interest of agricultural practitioners who want to know whether the use of biostimulators really meets their expectations in the cultivation of potatoes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS Field experiments were carried out in the years 2005-2007 in the Experimental and Didactic Farms in Gorzyñ and Z³otniki of Agricultural University of Poznañ. The experimental fields are characterized by grey-brown podsolic soils counted to IIIb and IVa classes with about 1% of organic matter content. In 2005, in Gorzyñ, the potato cultivar Satina was grown, while in Z³otniki, cv Bila. In 2006, Ditta cv was grown in Gorzyñ and Satina cv in Z³otniki. In 2007, in both farms, Ditta cv, was planted. The growing season 2005 was characterized by thermal conditions similar to the mean values of recent years. During the period of particular potato sensibility to water
53 TAB LE 1. WEATH ER C ON D ITION S IN EXPER IMEN TAL STATION S AT GOR ZYÑ AN D Z£OTN IK I Tabela 1. Warunki pogodowe w Stacjach D owi adczalnych Gorzyñ i Z³otni ki R AIN FALL MON TH TEMPER ATU R E Opady [mm] Mi esi ¹c Temperatura [0C ] 2005 2006 2007 AVER AGE 2005 2006 2007 AVER AGE redni a 1959-2004 redni a 1959-2004 EXPER IMEN TAL STATION AT GOR ZYÑ Stacja D owi adczalna Gorzyñ IV 10.1 9.6 10.3 8.7 10.6 47.8 4.8 36.2 V 14.9 14.7 15.2 14.3 94.4 58.9 103.1 51.7 VI 17.9 20.3 18.5 17.7 43.7 17.0 86.3 64.6 VII 20.8 25.8 18.1 19.3 98.2 25.4 100.7 72.3 VIII 17.8 18.1 18.1 18.7 63.7 135.4 40.4 55.9 IX 16.5 17.7 13.3 14.0 29.9 41.5 37.6 44.6 EXPER IMEN TAL STATION AT Z£OTN IK I Stacja D owi adczalna Z³otni ki IV 11.6 10.6 10.9 8.4 20.5 40.4 7.4 31.3 V 14.7 15.8 15.7 14.2 71.3 45.1 73.1 47.7 VI 18.5 20.2 20.1 17.3 14.2 43.9 44.3 58.9 VII 21.3 26.4 19.3 19.0 88.2 14.5 72.2 75.4 VIII 19.1 18.6 20.5 18.4 49.7 124.8 65.7* 53.0 IX 17.8 18.3 14.6 13.6 27.8 23.3 32.6 46.5 * INC LUD E RAINFALL 55 mm (11.08.2007) SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. * w tym opad 55 mm (11.08.2007). ród³o: badani a w³asne.
shortage, the rainfalls were exceptionally low in Z³otniki and in June occurred in the first and in the second decades and it amounted only to 14.2 mm. While in July, rain occurred only in the third decade. The 2006 year was also very dry and warm. In Gorzyñ, the rainfall sum in June was 17.0 mm and in July 25.4 mm. In turn, in Z³otniki, in July, the precipitation was only 14.5 mm. The 2007 year was comparatively the most favourable one regarding rainfalls (Tab. 1). One-factorial field experiments were carried out in four replications in 2005 and in five replications in the 2006 and 2007 years. The plot size was 21 m2. Biostimulators Asahi SL and Atonik SL were applied according to the standard scheme: control without biostimulators, Asahi SL in doses of 0.5 l·ha-1 at plant height of 10-15 cm (BBCH 14-16) + 1.0 l·ha-1 in the phase of row covering (BBCH 36-38), Asahi SL spraying applied 5 times every 10-14 days, each time with a dose of 0.3 l·ha-1, starting from the plant height of 10-15 cm (BBCH 14-16), during the 2005 and 2007 years, Asahi SL was used by spraying 3 times every 10-14 days, each time in the dose of 0.5 l·ha-1, starting at plant height of 10-15 cm (BBCH 14-16), during the 2006 and 2007 years, Atonik SL biostimulator was used in the doses of 0.5 l·ha-1 at plant height of 10-15 cm (BBCH 14-16) + 1.0 l·ha-1 in the phase of raw covering (BBCH 36-38).
54 During vegetation period, the growth and development of plants were observed with particular attention to any possible phytotoxicity symptoms caused by the applied biostimulators and to infestations caused by potato blight. Harvest took place about 2 weeks after the termination of vegetation. The following parameters of tubers were evaluated: yield and its structure, content of starch and reducing sugars, as well as the size of starch grains. The determinations of the two latter parameters were carried out in the Central Laboratory of Potato Industry in Poznañ.
RESULTS During three years of experimental studies, independent of the term, dose and type of biostimulator application, no symptoms of phytotoxic action on the potato plants were observed. Hydrothermal conditions in the years of experimental studies were not favourable for the occurrence of potato blight. Only single symptoms of infection by Phytopthora infestans (Mont.) were observed both on the control and biostimulators treated plants. However, the scarce symptoms did not authorize to draw any conclusions on the effect of the applied biostimulators. Potato yielding varied between years, especially in the Z³otniki Experimental Farm, where the lowest yields were recorded for the year 2005, while the highest ones in 2007 (Fig. 1). In each experimental year, different potato cultivars were planted. It must be stressed that the cultivars had similar yield potential. Therefore, the differen- 0.30 &KHFN CHECK/kontrola ces in the yield were not caused by the Asahi SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l $VDKL6/OO cultivar factor, but by different hydroAsahi SL 5 l x 1.0 l $VDKL6/[O 0.26 thermal conditions. Asahi SL 3 l x 1.0 l NIR/LSD = 4.0 $VDKL6/[O The effect of biostimulators on the Atonik SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l $WRQLN6/OO potatoes yielding was statistically proven only for the 2006 year in the Gorzyñ 0.22 Experimental Farm and in 2007 in the = 4.40 NIR/LSD Z³otniki Farm. However, it must be underlined that significant yield increase was 0.18 also obtained in 2005 in Gorzyñ. Based on the experimental data, one can state that the most advantageous method of 0.14 Asahi SL biostimulator use was its twoDitta Ditta Satina Dita fold application on the BBCH 14-16 pha2006 2007 2006 2007 se and on the 36-38 phase, in the doses Gorzyñ Z³otniki of 0.5 l . ha-1 and l.0 l . ha-1 respectively. FIGURE 1. INFLUENCE OF BIOSTYMULATORS ON The application of biostimulator Asahi SL TUBER YIELD on these plant developmental stages evon.s. NO SIGNIFFICANT DIFFERENCES SOURCE: OWN STUDY. ked an increase of tuber yield in the 2005 Rysunek 1. Wp³yw stosowania biostymulatorów na and 2006 years in Gorzyñ and in 2007 in plony bulw ns. ró¿nice statystycznie nieistotne. Z³otniki by about 0.5.l l . ha-1. a=0.05
a=0.05
ród³o: badania w³asne.
55
&KHFN CHECK/kontrola n.s./r.n. $VDKL6/OO Asahi SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l Asahi SL 5 l x 1.0 l $VDKL6/[O Asahi SL 3 l x 1.0 l $VDKL6/[O $WRQLN6/OO Atonik SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l
n.s./r.n.
n.s./r.n. n.s./r.n.
n.s./r.n.
n.s./r.n.
Satina 2005
Ditta 2007
Gorzyñ
Bila 2005
Ditta 2007
Z³otniki
FIGURE 2. INFLUENCE OF BIOSTYMULATORS APPLICATION ON STARCH CONTENT n.s. NO SIGNIFFICANT DIFFERENCES SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 2. Wp³yw stosowania biostymulatorów na zawartoæ skrobi r.n. ró¿nice statystycznie nieistotne. ród³o: badania w³asne.
0.30
CHECK/kontrola Asahi SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l Asahi SL 5 l x 1.0 l $VDKL6/[O Asahi SL 3 l x 1.0 l $VDKL6/[O Atonik SL 0.5 l + 1.0 l $WRQLN6/OO &KHFN
$VDKL6/OO
0.26
0.22
0.18
0.14
Ditta 2006
Ditta 2007
Gorzyñ
Satina 2006
Dita 2007
Z³otniki
FIGURE 3. INFLUENCE OF BIOSTYMULATORS APPLICATION ON THE SUGAR REDUCING CONTENT SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 3. Wp³yw stosowania biostymulatorów na zawartoæ cukrów redukuj¹cych ród³o: badania w³asne.
The effect of biostimulator application on potato yielding in the Z³otniki Farm was significantly lower than in Gorzyñ. Because of the prevailing unfavorable climatic conditions during the 2005 growing season, the yield of tubers was low and oscillated 14.2 t . ha-1 and 16.3 t . ha-1. Similarly, in 2006, the tuber yields, in comparison with those obtained in Gorzyñ, were lower and the application of biostimulators did not cause any significant yield changes. Nevertheless, the application of biostimulator contributed to yields increase, as compared to the control, ranging from 7.4% to 13.4% (Fig. 1). The use of biostimulators, both of Asahi SL and Atonik SL did not exert any effect on the content of starch. Particularly small amounts of starch, independent of the cultivar, were contained in tubers originating from the experiments carried out in the 2006 year, when it amounted to about 10%. A high content of starch (about 20%) was shown by Bila cultivar in 2005 (Fig. 2). Significant variation in the yield structure of potato tubers in the particular years did not permit to calculate the mean values, therefore, it had to be presented in the form of year x locality. Results of 3- year studies carried out in two localities differing in the habitat conditions permit to state that the application of biostimulators did not exert any major effect on the yield structure. The structure of potato tubers yield depended in a significant degree on the cultivar used. In Satina cv, a significant share in the yield was shown by big tubers with diameters exceeding 6 cm. In 2006, in Gorzyñ and in 2005 in Z³otniki, the share was above 30%. In the Ditta cv yields in 2006 and 2007 in Gorzyñ, and in Bila cv in 2005 in Z³otniki, the share of big tubers was small and it
56 TABLE 2. SHARE TUBERS FRACTION IN THE TOTAL YIELD EXPERIMENTAL STATION AT GORZYÑ Tabela 2. Udzia³ frakcji bulw w plonie ogólnym Stacja Dowiadczalna Gorzyñ TR EATMEN T R ATE SH AR E TU B ER S FR AC TION Kombi nacja D awka Udzi a³ frakcji bulw [%] [l, g/ha] >6 cm 5-6 cm 4-5 cm 3-4 cm 6 cm 4-6 cm 3-4 cm ): P@
'URS
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PROPORTION TRUE PROTEIN/TOTAL PROTEIN/ Stosunek bia³ka w³aciwego/bia³ko goó³em [% .m.]
GROWTH REGULATORS Regulatory wzrostu
FIGURE 2. INFLUENCE OF A CULTIVAR TOTAL PROTEIN AND TRUE PROTEIN CONTENT AND PROPORTION TRUE PROTEIN/TOTAL PROTEIN IN POTATO TUBERS SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 2. Wp³yw odmian na zawartoæ bia³ka ogó³em i bia³ka w³aciwego oraz proporcja bia³ka w³aciwego do bia³ka ogó³em w bulwach ziemniaka ród³o: badania w³asne.
64
FIGURE 3. PROPORTION OF STARCH TO PROTEIN IN POTATO TUBERS SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 3. Stosunek skrobi do bia³ka w bulwach ziemniaka ród³o: badania w³asne.
STARCH/Skrobia
PROPORTION STARCH/PROTEIN/Proporcja skrobi/dobia³ka PROTEIN/Bia³ko Drop
Jagna
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Grot
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mg . kg-1 FIGURE 4. INFLUENCE OF ASAHI SL AND CULTIVARS ON NITRATES CONTENT IN FRESH MATTER OF POTATO TUBERS SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 4. Wp³yw Asahi SL i odmian na zawartoæ azotanów w wie¿ej masie bulw ród³o: badania w³asne.
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The cultivar reaction to Asahi SL biostimulator application varied in case of dry matter, nitrate, ash and crude fibre content (Fig. 1 and 4-6). The specific protein percentage in the total protein content also depended on a cultivar (Fig. 2). Grot cv was characterized by its highest level. As it results from studies of Sawicka [1999, 2000], Czeczko [2001], Mikos-Bielak [2004] and Czeczko and Mikos-Bielak [1997, 2004], the influence of cultivars on tuber`s chemical composition is determined by their genetic features.
65 FIGURE 6. INFLUENCE OF ASAHI SL AND CULTIVARS ON CRUDE FIBRE CONTENT IN THE FRESH MATTER OF POTATO TUBERS SOURCE: OWN STUDY. Rysunek 6. Wp³yw biostymulatora Asahi SL i odmian na zawartoæ w³ókna surowego w wie¿ej masie bulw ziemniaka ród³o: badania w³asne.
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The reaction of cultivars on technologies of the tillage was, in the case of the content of the dry mass, nitrates and the ash, diverse (Fig. 1, 4 and 5). Positive effects of Asahi interaction with a potato cultivars were observed at Perkoz cv and Grot cv, where the dry matter content increased (Fig. 1). In the case of nitrates, the biostimulator decreased its concentration in tubers of: Grot and Elba cv As for ash it elevated its content in tubers of: Drop, Perkoz, Grot, and Elba cv (Fig. 5). Such varied reaction of potato cultivars to Asahi application might have resulted from different mechanisms strengthening the cell walls and stimulating the auxins action along with activity of nitrate reductase and tyrosine phosphatase [Starck et al. 1989, Koupil 1997]. That latter play a key role in regulation of ionic channels and accelerates the cytoplasm and assimilates transport from leaves to tubers [Kotyk et al. 1996, Panajatov 1997, Mikos-Bielak 2004, Harasimowicz-Hermann 2007]. Application of Asahi SL biostimulator contributed to decreasing the starch to protein ratio in potato tubers, which determines the improvement of their nutritional value (Fig. 3). In Harsimowicz-Hermann [2007] opinion, such positive effect of Asahi resulted from the fact that the agent`s components influence the cytoplasm dilution and activate so-called cation gates, which makes the molecule movements faster in a cell, and which effectively accelerates the electron transport during photosynthesis and improves the flow of assimilates from leaves to tubers. Moreover, due to specific regulating the calcium concentration in plant cells, it accelerates the cytoplasm flow by about 15%, which is expressed by faster protein, enzymes, sugars, and lipids synthesis within the plant. More effective transport of molecules within the cell involves faster plant`s reaction to stress conditions. In opinion of Kotyk et al. [1996], Malonova and Koupil [1997] or Czeczko and Mikos-Bielak [2004], Asahi SL stimulates polyphenols in cells by protecting them along with enzymatic systems against damage and makes possible to fast reaction and plant`s adaptation to variable environmental conditions (e.g. thermal shock, frost, etc.). Concentrations of chemical components in potato tubers varied through study years (Tab.1). Significantly the highest content of dry matter, starch, and fiber in tubers was recorded in 2002, under sufficient rainfall in May and June, while total and specific protein as well as nitrates was significantly higher in 2001 with drier May and June. The influence of weather conditions on tuber`s chemical observed was also observed by Urwiller et al. [1988], Koppen et al. [1992], Panajatov [1997], Mikos-Bielak et al [1999a, 1999b], Czeczko [2001], Èerný and Ondriík [2003] and Sawicka [1999, 2000, 2003]. (OED
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66 CONCLUSIONS 1. Biostimulator Asahi SL contributed to the decrease of nitrates, increase of starch, total protein, fiber, and ash contents in fresh tuber`s matter. 2. Studied cultivars significantly differed in reference to tuber`s chemical composition. Elba cv appeared to be the cultivar with the highest dry matter, total and specific protein, ash, and nitrates concentrations; Grot cv contained the highest level of starch, and Perkoz cv accumulated the highest amounts of crude fiber. 3. In high-starch cultivars (Grot and Elba) biostimulator Asahi SL can decrease of nitrates concentration and increase of ash content in potato tubers. 4. Very early cv Drop and late Grot demonstrated the highest nutritional value of tubers under application of Asahi SL. 5. The highest dry matter, starch and fiber content in tubers was recorded in the dry growing season, under sufficient rainfall sum in May and June, while total and specific protein as well as nitrates in years with quite dry May and June. REFERENCES AOAC 1984: Official Methods of Analysis, 14th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Arlington, Virginia, USA. Bakuniak E., Krawczyk M. 1995: Znaczenie regulatorów wzrostu w kompleksowych technologiach uprawy rolin. Pestycydy, 6, 16-19. Èerný I., Ondriík P. 2003: Influence of year and Atonik application on variability of sugar beet root yield and digestion. JCEA, 4 (4) [http://www.agr.hr/jcea/issues/jcea4-4/jcea44_16.html]. Czeczko R. 2001: Wp³yw Atoniku-Asahi syntetycznego stymulatora wzrostu i plonowania na chemiczn¹ jakoæ plonów wybranych gatunków warzyw. Maszynopis pracy dokt. AR Lublin. Czeczko R., Mikos-Bielak M. 1997: Effect of applying the Atonik Japanese growth stimulator in vegetables cultivation. Cost 915-Copernicus CIPA-CT 940120. Workshop on Food Quality Modelling Leuven, 04-06. 07, 39. Czeczko R. Mikos-Bielak M. 2004: Efekty stosowania biostymulatora Asahi w uprawie ró¿nych gatunków warzyw. Ann. UMCS, Sec. E, 59, 3, 1073-1079. Dase T. 1978: Higher yields, better quality..... Are growth regulators the answer? World Farm, 20 (12), 8-15. Dyrektywa Komisji 92/89/EWG z dnia 3 listopada 1992 r. zmieniaj¹ca za³¹cznik I do czwartej dyrektywy 73/46/EWG ustanawiaj¹cej wspólnotowe metody analizy do celów urzêdowej kontroli pasz. Za³¹cznik Oznaczanie w³ókna surowego. Dziennik Urzêdowy Wspólnot Europejskich l 344/35, 26.11.1992 Harasimowicz-Hermann G. 2007: Asahi SL innowacja w stymulowaniu produkcji rzepaku ozimego. [http://www.pdffactory.com]. Koupil S. 1996: Effect of growth regulator Atonik on some apple cultivars effect on the shoots growth. Zahradnictv. Hortic. Sci., 23(4), 121-127. Koppen D., Schulz H., Eich D. 1992: Influence of 85 years of differentiated organic manuring and mineral fertilizer application on sugar beet yield and quality characteristics in the long-term experiment at Bad Lauchstadt. Agrobiological-Research, 45 (1), 55-64. Kotyk M., Kaminek J., Pulkarbek J., Zahradnicek J. 1996.: Effect of in vivo and in vitro application of the cytokinin N-6-[m-hydroxybenzyl] adenosine on respiration and membrane transport processes in sugar beet. Biologia Plantarum, 38(3), 363-368. Kraloviè J. 1980: Principy pouivanja regulatorov rosta. Agroch., 20(11), 322-324. Kre³owska-Kulas M. 1993. Badania jakoci produktów spo¿ywczych. PWE, Warszawa. Kuczyñska J. 1984: Wp³yw Ergostimu i Alaru-85 na plonowanie rolin ziemniaka. Pestycydy, 1, 17-21. Lis B., Wierzejska-Bujakowska A. 1995: Wp³yw regulatorów wzrostu Stymulen, Kwartazyna i Lajma na plonowanie ziemniaka odmiany Heban. Pestycydy, 1, 39-43. Malonova H., Koupil S. 1997: Toxicity of biologically active preparations Atonik and Racine. Voj. Zdrov. Lis., 2, 12.
67 Mikos-Bielak M. 2004: Egzogenne regulatory wzrostu. Ann. UMCS, E-60, 281-292. Mikos-Bielak M., Sawicka B., Czeczko R, Rudziñska B. 1999a: Syntetyczne regulatory wzrostu w uprawie ziemniaka. Cz. I. Wp³yw Potejtinu na wybrane sk³adniki chemiczne bulw kilkudziesiêciu odmian ziemniaka. Ann. UMCS, EEE-7, 81-90. Mikos-Bielak M., Sawicka B., Czeczko R., Rudziñska B. 1999b: Syntetyczne regulatory wzrostu w uprawie ziemniaka. Cz. II. Wp³yw Mivalu na wybrane sk³adniki chemiczne bulw kilkudziesiêciu odmian ziemniaka. Ann. UMCS, EEE-7, 91-99. Panajatov N.D. 1997: Sweet pepper response to the application of the plant growth regulator Atonik. Proceedings of the First Balkan Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes. 1, 197-202. PN/90-A-75101/03. Zawartoæ suchej masy w przetworach owocowych i warzywnych. Metoda wagowa. Wyd. PKN, Ars Boni Sp. z o.o., Warszawa. PN-90/A-75101/08. Przetwory owocowe i warzywne. Oznaczanie zawartoci popio³u ogólnego. Wyd. PKN, Ars Boni Sp. z o.o., Warszawa. PN-EN 12014-7: 2001. Artyku³y ¿ywnociowe. Oznaczanie zawartoci azotanów i/lub azotynów. Wyd. PKN, Ars Boni Sp. z o.o., Warszawa. P³oszyñski M. 1996: Ró¿ne aspekty dzia³ania regulatorów wzrostu na roliny. Cz. I i II. Wyd. IUNG Pu³awy. Sawicka B. 1999: Jakoæ bulw w warunkach stosowania regulatorów wzrostu w uprawie ziemniaka. Praca zbiorowa. rodowiskowe i agrotechniczne uwarunkowania jakoci p³odów rolnych. Wyd. SGGW, Warszawa, 128-134. Sawicka B. 2000: Regulatory wzrostu Mival i Potejtin w uprawie ziemniaka. Cz. II. Wp³yw regulatorów na plon bulw i jego strukturê. Biul. IHAR, 213, 61-74. Sawicka B. 2003: Przyrodniczy i gospodarczy aspekt dolistnego stosowania preparatów Insol 7 i Atonik w uprawie ziemniaka. Acta Agrophysical, 85, 145-156. Starck Z. 1976: Ró¿ne aspekty wp³ywu regulatorów wzrostu na fotosyntezê i przemieszczanie metabolitów. Wiadomoci Botaniczne, 20 (2), 21-32. Starck Z., Ho³uj D., Niemyska B. 1989: Udzia³ regulatorów wzrostu w mechanizmie dystrybucji asymilatów i jonów, warunkuj¹cej wielkoæ plonu rolniczego. Biul. Warz., 1, 129-131. Urwiller M.T., Stutte C.A., Clark T.V. 1988: Field evaluation of bioregulans on agronomic crops in Arkansas. Arct. Agric. Exp. St. Res, 371. Vavrina C. 1997: Atonic plant growth stimulator effect on bell pepper under drip irrigation in SW Florida. Vegetable Horticulture, SVFREC Station Report, 97, 3.
68 RATE OF SPREAD OF FUNGAL DISEASES ON POTATO PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY APPLICATION OF A BIOREGULATOR AND FOLIAR FERTILISER Barbara Sawicka University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
INTRODUCTION Late blight (Phytophthora infestans [Mont.] de Bary) and early blight (Alternaria solani Ell & Mont.) are the economically most important and dangerous fungal diseases of potato. The risk consists in direct infection of tubers and the decrease of yields [Osowski, Kapsa 2000, Kapsa 2001, Sawicka, Kapsa 2001]. The size of losses because of the late blight of potato in the world are estimated on 8-10%, which is equivalent to 3 milliards USD [Schlenzig et al. 1999]. In countries of Central and Northern Europe, without the protections from the Phytopthora infestans, they carry out depending on weather conditions and susceptibilities of cultivars, varied from 10 to 50% as the result of premature destruction of the leaves and 0-40% as the result of destructions of tubers [Tjuterev et al. 1979, Kapsa, Osowski 1997, Urban 1997]. In Poland, where the protection from the late potato blight is led only on about 40% plantations of the potato, the average losses of the crop reachs 20-25% [Kapsa 2001, Sawicka, Kapsa 2001, Sawicka 2005]. Potato early blight is caused by fungi Alternaria solani and Alternaria alternata. Symptoms of the disease, called out by these pathogen, in the first period of the development of the disease are often deceived with symptoms of the Phytophthora infestans. The harmfulness of potato early blight, as the factor lowering the crop, is considerably smaller than potato late blight and often underestimated by farmers [Osowski 2003, 2007]. The loss of the crop tubers, as the result of this disease, is estimated on 4-5% [Zarzycka, Sujkowski 1988, Osowski, Kapsa 2000]. At present, there is a tendency to replace synthetic pesticides by alternative methods and compounds that are characterized by different action mechanism. New protection methods are search for plant-origin chemicals that are not toxic or slightly toxic to humans and the environment. Biostimulators, that affect the plants resistance to pathogens, are included in that group [Kraloviè 1980, Stutte, Clark 1990, Koupil 1996]. In effect the agricultural procedures more and more often complies substances having the character of growth regulators. They can cause stimulating responses or be clasified as inhibitors depending on conditions or the character of the process, wherein partake and one of directions of their influence is the influence on the process of the photosynthesis [Kraloviè 1980, Stutte, Clark 1990]. They condition as reported by Kraloviè [1980], the transport of electrons in the light-photosynthesis phase. There one can this evince with the height of the crop, with the change of his chemical constitution and with other chan-
69 ges. Potential and already obtained advantages from applying of growth regulators in crop agricultural plants are: the height of crops; the increase of the resistance of plants in the coolness and the drought; the change of the shape of tubers, the usage to requirements of the processing industry; the modification of the quality of the crop, etc. [Sawicka 1994, 2003, Czeczko, Mikos-Bielak 1997, Panajatov 1997, Vavrina 1997, Ko³odziej 2004]. The present study is aimed at assessment of possibilities of improvement of nutritional status of potato plants and of increase of their resistance to fungal diseases by the application of the Asahi SL growth regulator and the Insol 7 foliar fertiliser.
MATERIAL AND METHODS The field experiment was carried out in the mid-eastern part of Poland in the 20012003 years. It was set up in a split-block design, with the following experimental factors: A. four cultivars Bila, Glada, Danusia, Ania,about the diverse resistance on Phytopthora infestans properly: 3, 5, 5 and 5.5 in the 9° scale; and B. four treatments of a biostimulator or/and foliar fertiliser Asahi SL, Insol, Asahi SL + Insol and control. Organic and mineral fertilisation was applied uniformly on all treatments: 25 t.ha-1 of manure and 90 kg N, 39 kg P, 112 kg K per ha. The preparations were applied at the doses recommended by producers. Asahi SL was applied twice: before bloom and 2 weeks later, at the concentration of 0.1%. Each time 3 dm3 of 0.1% of the working solution was applied per 100 m2 of plantation. The Insol 7 fertiliser was applied at 4 dates: before bloom, at the appearance of the first symptoms of Phytophthora infestans infection, then 7, and 14 days after the appearance of first spots. A single dose was 1 dm3.ha-1, in a standard working solution. The treatments of Asahi SL or/and Insol 7 were accompanied with fungicides applied in the following sequence and doses: Tattoo C 2.5 dm3, Curzate M 2 kg, Bravo Plus 2 dm3, Altima 500 0.4 dm3, Dithane M 45 2 kg, and Brestanid 0.6 dm3 per ha. The first fungicide spray was considered as prophylactic, the second was applied at the appearance of the first infection spots, the following ones every 7-14 days. During the vegetation period, evaluation of infection by the pathogen was carried out at every 10 days starting from the appearance of the first disease symptoms, using the 9. grade scale. It allowed expressing the development of the percentage of leaf area damage in form of linear graphs. The rate of early and late blight spread was considered as a unitary increase of an infection in time. The observation dates were encoded assuming the first as 0, the second as 10, etc. The results from late blight and early blight leaf infestation were statistically processed using linear regression analysis. The infestation was expressed in logarithm values corresponding to scores in 9-grade scale.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The weather conditions during Phytophthora infestans development in study years varied, presented in Table 1. The analyses of meteorological data showed that the date of the first early blight symptoms appearance was about 1 week earlier than that of potato blight (Tab. 1), which is consistent with these noted for pathogens` development biology
70 [Schlenzig et al. 1999, Kapsa TABLE 1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS AND OF PHYTOPHTHORA 2001, Osowski 2003, 2007]. INFESTANS DEVELOPMENT The moment of infecting by Tabela 1. Charakterystyka niektórych elementów Alternaria sp. and Phytophtho- meteorologicznych i rozwoju Phytopthora infestans YEAR S ra infestans depended on the SPECIFICATION Wyszczególni eni e Lata weather conditions in June-July. 2001 2002 2003 The earliest, plants were infected HYDROTHERMAL VI 0.80 1.80 1.10 by early blight in 2001 (mid of COEFFICIENTS VII 2.00 1.00 2.10 VIII 1.10 0.30 1.00 June), because of dry and warm Wspó³czynniki hydrotermiczne T E R M S O F T H E F I R S T A * 2 4 . 0 6 2 4 . 0 7 2 .07 weather prior to that date, which SYMPTOMS OF LATE BLIGHT B** 1.07 2.08 6.07 favoured Alternaria solani and Terminy pierwszych objawów C *** 29.06 28.07 5.07 D **** 21.06 21.07 27.06 Alternaria tennuis reproduction. zarazy A 18.06 17.07 25.06 Conditions favouring the Phyto- TERMS OF THE FIRST PTOMS OF EARLY BLIGHT B 26.06 27.07 29.06 phthora infestans development STeYrM mi ny pi erwszych objawów C 22.06 21.07 27.06 occurred a week later. The latest, alternariozy D 14.06 15.07 20.06 first necroses, early blight, and late * INSOL 7, ** INSOL 7 + ASAHI SL, *** ASAHI SL, blight symptoms were observed in **** CONTROL OBJECT SOURC E: OWN STUD Y. 2002, due to dry and warm we- * INSOL 7, ** INSOL 7 + ASAHI SL, *** ASAHI SL, ather priviciling since mid of June. **** kontrola The first Alternaria sp. symptoms ród³o: badania w³asne. were present in mid of July and TABLE 2. VALUES REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS OF respectively of potato blight at the EARLY BLIGHT SPREAD ON THE POTATO CULTIVARS end of July (Tab. 1). The period Tabela 2. Wspó³czynniki tempa szerzenia siê alternariozy na of the symptoms appearance odmianach ziemniaka C U LTIVAR S VALU ES R EGR ESSION D ETER MIagreed with previous observations Odmiany C OEFFIC IEN TS OF N ATION EAR LY B LIGH T C OEFFIC IEN T by Kapsa and Osowski [1997] as Wspó³czynni k regresji Wspó³czynni k well as Osowski [2003]. They contempa szerzeni a si ê determi nacji [% ] sidered following factors favoAl ternari a sp. uring the early blight development: Bila 0.143 89.7 plant weakening due to lack of nu- Glada 0.141 86.4 0.129 91.9 trients, poor moisture content, vi- Danusia 0.139 95.3 rus infections, or plants physiolo- Ania S O U R C E : O W N S T U D Y . gical weakening. The spreading rate of Phytophthora infestans ród³o: badania w³asne. also appeared to be dependent on meteorological conditions during potato vegetation. The fastest rate of that pathogen spreading was observed in 2001, the slowest in 2003 (Tab. 3). Sawicka [2005] achieved similar results. The influence of resistance features of investigated cultivars mostly determined both the date and the rate of plants infection by late blight and early blight (Tab. 2, Fig. 1,2,4 and 6). Danusia cv appeared to be the variety with the slowest Alternaria sp. spreading, while Bila cv the fastest (Tab. 2, Fig. 2). Potato blight had the slowest spreading on Ania cv with 5.5 level of resistance, whereas the fastest on Bila cv with 3 resistance rank (Fig. 4). The spreading rate of Phytophthora infestans on studied cultivars was sequenced along multinomial, the parabolic curve (Fig. 1). The spreading rate of early blight on
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