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Randomly collected samples of parsley and celery from different localities were analysed to determine their quality based on arsenic concentrations, phenolic constituents and the antioxidant capacity of their edible parts. Arsenic concentrations were found in the range: parsley root (0.16 mg/g d.m.) < celery root (0.19 mg/g d.m.) < parsley leaf (0.35 mg/g d.m.) < celery leaf (0.45 mg/g d.m.). Total phenolic contents in roots were similar in both species and varied significantly depending on the cultivation site: 5.03-9.18 mg eqGA/g DE in parsley and 5.04-8.50 mg eqGA/g DE in celery. Lower total flavonoids content was recorded in celery. Among the phenolic acids, ferulic, chlorogenic and several cinnamic acids dominated. Apigenin and its glucosides dominated among flavonoids. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA) it can be concluded that the As content varied depending on the geographical origin of the samples. Also, phenolic compounds showed a significant contribution on PCA clustering, indicating that the cultivation site has a clear significant impact on the metabolites profile, while As content in plants did not significantly affect phenolic compound profile.

In the process of hybrid maize breeding, the greatest attention is directed towards increasing the level and stability of the yield, while grain quality is of secondary importance. The very principles of hybrid breeding, as well as the economic aspects and competition between different breeding companies, have led to an enormous narrowing of the genetic basis of commercial maize hybrids. Concurrently, there is usually a small number of often related hybrids of similar technological and nutritional quality present on the market. Six best-selling ZP maize hybrids in the previous ten years were chosen as the subject of this study. In the period from 2009-2018, both the yield components and parameters of technological and nutritional quality of the grain were studied. It was found that the examined parameters varied a lot in different years of production and that some parameters were more influenced by genotype (number of kernel rows per ear, portion of pericarp, and crude fiber content) while others were more influenced by the environment (kernel weight per ear, total protein, starch, and oil content, respectively). The amount and the distribution of precipitation during the vegetative period affected not only the yield components i .e. grain yield but also the technological quality parameters and nutritional properties of the grain. Based on the observed parental components, it is evident that they are related hybrids that, despite the high genotype by environment interactions, consequently have similar parameters of technological quality and nutritional composition. The imperative is to develop special breeding programs aiming to create both the starting material and parental components to provide hybrids of improved technological quality and nutritional properties on the market. In that way, the needs of the processing industry for raw materials of certain characteristics can be met.

Cabbage takes up significant area in vegetable sowing structure, and one of the factors of improving this production is adequate varieties selection. During the breeding process, experimental hybrids are tested in relation to currently grown varieties and hybrids in production. In this paper the characteristics of 18 cabbage genotypes are presented, out of which there are 9 experimental hybrids, 4 varieties and 5 hybrids from broader production. Cabbage genotypes in the trial are of differing length of growing season, as well as differing head weight. Properties variability analysis was performed using PCA method, where two main components were chosen based on screen test, and these were used to define 57.7%. Head weight and head diameter are properties based on which the tested hybrids were graded into quantitatively different groups.