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The optimal growing environment for various crops differs. Constructing separate protected culture facilities for different crops is not affordable for smallholder producers. Estimates of the crop optimal parameter ratio index are used to select nearly optimal multicrop mixes for production in a single protected culture facility. The crop subranking index of seven criteria of six crops was estimated by the ratio of the environment value for a protected culture facility with environmental criteria of: temperature (26°C), relative humidity (70%), air CO2(360 mg·kg−1), light irradiance (22 W·m−2), 13 hours of daylight, growth medium pH 6.5, and plants spaced at 50 cm, in relation to the optimal environment values of the crops derived from secondary sources. The average crop suitability ranking was estimated by determining average crop subranking index values. The optimal value of the controlling parameters for Tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.), Pepper (Capsicum annumL.), Lettuce (Lactuca sativaL.), Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassaDuchesne), Cucumber (Cucumis sativusL.), and Spinach (Spinacia oleraceaL.) were used to determine crop suitability rankings. A crop suitability ranking index equal and close to one for crops represents the best and second best crop, respectively, for growing in a protected culture facility with specific environmental design features. The crop suitability ranking index based on design environmental values for tomato, pepper, lettuce, strawberry, cucumber, and spinach were estimated to be 0.890, 0.848, 0.988, 0.720, 0.724, and 1.118, respectively. The crop with an index value one is best; in this case it would be lettuce whose index value (0.988) is closer to one. Tomato and pepper had nearly similar crop suitability indices and can be grown in the protected culture facility with the listed environmental criteria. The other crops would likely not do as well under the same criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting date influences grain soybean yield and quality, but no information is available regarding the responses of seed chemical compositions to delayed planting date in vegetable soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Three vegetable soybean cultivars, CAS No.l, Tai 292, and 121, were planted on 3 May, 15 May, 27 May, and 8 June in the field during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications on a typical Mollisol (black soil). We found that late planting reduced fresh pod yield in all cultivars and years. The reduction in fresh pod yield to delayed planting was significantly correlated with the reduction in the number of two-seed pods per plant. Cultivars with strong capacity in retaining more two-seed pods may possess an advantage if planting is delayed. Planting after 15 May increased seed protein content by 4.1% to 7.5% and reduced oil content by 2.4% to 26.3% for different cultivars. The contents of free amino acid, sum of fructose and glucose, raffinose, and stachyose in seed were also increased by late planting. By contrast, late planting reduced the seed sucrose content ranging from 7.6% to 45.5% for the different cultivars. Planting on 3 May usually produced the greatest fresh pod yield and highest seed sucrose content. These results demonstrated that late planting after early May might have a negative impact on the eating quality of vegetable soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about genetic diversity and combining abilities of sugar beet parental components are of a great importance for hybrid creation. The aim of this research was to evaluate genetic diversity among sugar beet pollinators from different breeding programs and their combining abilities for main root traits of sugar beet, root weight, sugar content and sugar yield. As plant material were used eight pollinators originating from three different USDA-ARS breeding programs and four from Institute of field and vegetable crops Novi Sad. The analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test revealed significant differences (p = 0.05) among pollinators for all investigated traits. Pollinator CR10 differs from all others in terms of quantitative traits and in terms of combining ability. Despite small root weight CR10 had significantly positive GCA for that trait and showed that genotypes with small root should not be automatically discarded. Pollinators from Institute of field and vegetable crops used in this research had negative GCA for root weight and should be used only as hosts for introduction of new germplasm in future breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts, above all, to provide a summary, on a strictly scientific basis, about the strategies of conservation of autochthonous agrobiodiversity followed in Italy. A special focus is dedicated to vegetables and, therefore, could represent a contribution to improve the national strategy for the safeguarding of its agrobiodiversity in general. The paper offers also an outlook on the most critical factors of ex situ conservation and actions which need to be taken. Some examples of 'novel' recovered neglected crops are also given. Finally a case study is proposed on 'Mugnolicchio', a neglected race of Brassica oleracea L., cultivated in Altamura (Ba) in southern Italy, that might be considered as an early step in the evolution of broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) like 'Mugnoli' another neglected race described from Salento (Apulia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]