Search

The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic traits and genetic diversity of the 13 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties and 6 hybrids developed at the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LRCAF IH). For the molecular characterisation, seven previously published microsatellite markers (SSR) were used. A24 and 26 alleles were detected in tomato varieties and hybrids, respectively. Based on the polymorphism information content (PIC) value, the most informative SSR primers for varieties were TMS52, TGS0007, LEMDDNa and Tom236-237, and the most informative SSR primers for hybrids were SSR248 and TMS52. In UPGMA cluster analysis, tomato varieties are grouped in some cases due to genetic relationships, as the same cluster cultivars 'Viltis' (the parent of cv. 'Laukiai') and 'Aušriai' (the progeny of cv. 'Jurgiai') are present. The grouping of all hybrids in the dendrogram is related to the parental forms, and it shows the usefulness of molecular markers for tomato breeding, as they can be used to trace the origin of hybrids and, eventually, varieties accurately. The knowledge about the genetic background of Lithuanian tomato cultivars will help plan targeted crosses in tomato breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation features of Lithuanian garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars 'Žiemiai' and 'Dangiai' were investigated. The survival rate and state of explants, depending on the type of explant, and dehydration conditions were evaluated in the experiment. Explants isolated from cloves and bulbils were dehydrated with a plant vitrification solution 3 (PVS 3) containing 50% w/v glycerol and 50% w/v sucrose in liquid MS medium. Three different exposure durations of 1.5, 2, and 3 h in PVS3 solution were applied at 0 °C. Unloaded stem domes were planted in Petri dishes with MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6–dimethylallylamino purine (2-iP) on 0.8% plant agar. The obtained results showed that the cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen reduced the survival rate of explants by 20–40%. The average number of surviving explants after freezing reached 64.3% for both cultivars. Cultivar 'Žiemiai' showed a 24% higher capability for survival than 'Dangiai'. The total number of surviving explants of 'Žiemiai' reached 76.1%. Explants from bulbils were 23% more effective for cryopreservation compared to cloves. Evaluation of the effect of dehydration duration showed that the survival rate of the explants from bulbils of both cultivars was highest after treatment with PVS3 for 3 h and reached 91%. Treatment in PVS3 solution for 2 h was sufficient for survival of explants from cloves. Obtained results confirm that the efficiency of garlic cryopreservation depends on complex factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations of genetic resources in Lithuania started in 1924. Collections including more than 110 samples of different vegetable species have been accumulated and continue to expand. The breeding program is focused on productivity, quality traits and biochemical composition, and tolerance of unfavorable environmental factors in changing climates. Currently, over 95 cultivars and hybrids of vegetables have been released, about 40 of which are included in the EU Common catalogue of varieties of vegetable species. From 2012 to 2021, twelve cultivars were developed at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, seven of which are fruit vegetables, four are root crops, and two are in the onion group. The breeding direction was to increase the sustainable production of vegetables and improve the quality of the products by using national and adapted genetic resources as valuable parental forms. For 10 years, vegetable plant hybrids and cultivars were developed to meet commercial cultivars' market requirements. The tomato cultivars 'Ainiai' H, 'Adas' H, 'Auksiai' H, 'Alvita' and cucumber cultivar 'Roliai' are distinguished by a good biochemical composition and taste, while the sweet pepper cultivar 'Gabija' has high productivity and fruit quality. The carrot hybrids 'Ieva', 'Rokita', 'Jola', garlic cultivar 'Dangiai', and onion cultivar 'Joriai' are distinguished by their productivity and good storage ability. The Jerusalem artichoke cultivar 'Sauliai' has tubers with white skin and the colour of the flowers is yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in the experimental field and in unheated greenhouses of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Horticulture. The investigation aimed to evaluate the morphological features, amount of essential oil, and productivity of 10 basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars grown under different growing conditions. Studied cultivars were different according to morphological parameters, productivity, and the accumulation of essential oil. Most of the investigated parameters were influenced by growing conditions. Basil plants of cultivars Sweet Genovese and Toscano were determined to be the highest, and their height reached up to 70.5 cm. Cultivar Sweet Genovese was the most productive; its fresh herb mass per plant reached up to 0.71 kg under growing in the open field and greenhouse. Higher air temperature and constant watering of the soil in the greenhouse increased the accumulation of essential oils of basil. The biochemical analyses showed that the essential oil amount of 31% was higher when basils were grown in a greenhouse compared to an open field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zemdirbyste-Agriculture is the property of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture & Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is the second most popular vegetable in the genus Allium in Lithuania. The field collection of garlic in the LRCAF Institute of Horticulture was established in 1992. New accessions enter the collection continually. The aim of the research was to determine the productivity and structure of yield, to assess the morpho-biological features of 24 hardneck and the 14 of softneck garlic clonal accessions. Colour of external scale of bulbs, number of cloves in a bulb, arrangement and skin colour were estimated according guidelines for DUS test. The data of yield was statistically processed by the ANOVA method and analysis of principle coordinates within SPSS. Results showed the differences in productivity and morphological features between both of types, populations and cultivars. The yield of hardneck garlic bulbs reached 16.8 t·ha-1, and lower yield 12.1 t·ha-1 was found of softneck garlic. Local populations of hardneck garlic showed higher possibility of yield formation compared with the foreign cultivars. More cloves per bulb were observed from softneck garlic accessions, while hardneck garlic distinguished with the formation of heavier cloves. Three garlic cultivars Žiemiai, Dangiai and Vasariai are included in the National List of Plant varieties and Common catalogue EU of vegetable species varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective was determination of ripening attributes of intact tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. 'Rutuliai' using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and reference analysis. Tomatoes were picked at six different ripening stages in order to evaluate the correlation between data obtained by near infrared spectra and physicalchemical analyses and how the quality parameters change during ripening. Primarily, spectroscopic measurements were followed by chemical analyses. NIR spectroscopy measurements and reference analyses showed that tomato fruit had lost skin and flesh firmness during the ripening processes and there were no big differences between the methods used for the determination of dry matter and soluble solids (°Brix) and the obtained results varied slightly. The obtained results of dry matter, soluble solids content (°Brix) and fruit skin and flesh firmness were presented as simple linear regression between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses. A high correlation between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses of dry matter was established and this correlation, expressed by regression coefficient, reached 0.9089. Regression coefficient between NIR spectroscopy and reference analyses of soluble solids was 0.815. Meanwhile, the highest correlation was detected for tomato fruit skin and flesh firmness and regression coefficient, respectively, reached 0.9119 and 0.9624. Hence the near infrared calibration has the potential to estimate the physical-chemical properties of tomato fruit according to their infrared spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various types of stress, microwaves and temperature can induce major impacts on plant growth. There is information describing the thermal impact of microwaves on living organisms, but it is necessary to segregate the warming effect and direct impact of microwaves irradiation on plants. It was detected that High Power Microwaves (HPM) (9.3 GHz) and elevated temperature exposure upon tomato seeds and sprouts in primary ontogenetic stages showed a slightly incentive effect on plant-growing indicators such as dry mass, fresh mass, plants height, and assimilation area. Such a positive effect on plant growing parameters could be related to saccharides distribution by microwaves in seeds or plants and nutrients mobilization. Moreover, tomato plants (+R) and seeds (R) irradiation significantly reduced the content of non-structural carbohydrates (raphinose, glucose, fructose, and sucrose). Obtained results confirm that a common plant acclimatization response to various environmental elements is the concentration of secondary metabolites and antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Lithuanian selection lines (137, 998/1000, 194/463, 21/1154, 1428, 1429) of edible tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were investigated in 2006-2007. Fruit quality and physiological parameters were evaluated: the content of lycopene and β-carotene and colour indexes (L*, a*, b* and hue angle h0) at four different stages of fruit ripening (stage I - green, stage II - beginning of ripening, III - not fully ripened, IV - fully ripened), the average fruit number on plant and the average fruit weight. The colour index a* showed the most obvious change, there was a sharp increase between stage I and other ripening levels with a* changing from negative (green color) to positive (red color) values. This could be related with the start of lycopene and β-carotene synthesis. When these carotenoids started to be synthesized, the L* value went down, indicating the darkening of tomato red colour, but in the selection line 1428 fruit colour from stage III to stage IV became lighter. The colour index b* values reached their peak at stage II when tomatoes started to get the red colour. In all the fruit ripening process, the hue angle had a tendency to decline, particularly the h0 value decreased between ripening stages I and II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biologija is the property of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)