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Research on strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was carried out in greenhouse in 2022-2023, arranging a 4 x 2 factorial experiment, consisting of four levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solutions (1.2, 1.7, 2.2, and 2.7 dS m-1) and application of gypsum (without application – control and application). The plants were grown in coconut fibre substrate from late October to early June. The 2.2 dS m-1 ECsol resulted in the highest yield, whereas the highest values of dry matter and soluble solids were recorded under 2.7 dS m-1 ECsol. Gypsum application resulted in the increase of dry matter, soluble solids, firmness and colour components. The 2.2 and 2.7 dS m-1 ECsol led to the highest levels of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities as well as polyphenols and vitamin C. From the research carried out on strawberry grown in coconut fibre, it arose that the 2.2 dS m-1 EC of the nutrient solution showed the best effect on yield, but it did not generally differ from 2.7 dS m-1 regarding the quality of the 'fruits'. Gypsum treatment represents an effective strategy to improve some important qualitative characteristics of strawberry 'fruits', under the perspective of sustainable management of crop systems.

Flooding is an important factor, decreasing Allium cepa bulb yield and quality. A comparison, in terms of biometrical and biochemical parameters, of five Allium cepa cultivars, grown at two different locations, characterized by contrasting conditions of water availability, i.e., precipitation excess at the end (A) or at the beginning (B) of plant growth, revealed a significant decrease in bulb weight, height, and diameter, and an increase in oxidative stress parameters, such as total antioxidant activity and polyphenol content, monosaccharides, proline, malonic dialdehyde in the condition of excessive soil humidity at the end of the vegetation period (A). Among the five cultivars studied (Zolotnichok, Zolotie cupola, Black prince, Globus, and Myachkovsky), the lowest variations of the above parameters under precipitation excess at cycle end or beginning were recorded in Zolotnichok and Zolotie cupola, which was in accordance with their high adaptability. Cultivar Myachkovsky showed the highest differences of the parameters examined between A and B conditions. Outer scale biochemical parameters demonstrated the highest stability in both regions. The participation of proline, monosaccharides, total polyphenols, and total antioxidant activity in plant defense against hypoxia, caused by waterlogging, was proved by high correlation coefficients between inner scale parameters (‘r’ from +0.714 to +0.920) and the latter with bulb yield (‘r’ from −0.745 to −0.924). High adaptability cultivars (Zolotie cupola, Zolotnichok, Black prince) showed significantly lower MDA inner/outer scales ratio and lipids outer/inner scales ratio compared to cultivars with moderate adaptability in (B) conditions. The results provide important information regarding biochemical peculiarities of Allium cepa in diverse soil humidity, which should be considered in future breeding activities of onion genotypes, characterized by high adaptability to different water excess conditions.

Field experiments were conducted two consecutive years, in order to investigate runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) cultivated in pure crop system and in intercropping system. To achieve the desired aim, we set the following objectives: study of runner bean plant phenology, study of assimilating pigments content in the runner bean leaves, agro productivity study of runner bean crop, yield of runner bean crop, study of chemical composition of runner bean dry seeds. The studied experimental factor was the trellis system with six variants: (V1) - trellis, with double rows, on individual string, (V2) - trellis, with a single row, on individual string, (V3) - trellis, in a single row, on synthetic net (17 cm mesh), (V4) - intercropping with common maize plants, (V5) - intercropping with sunflower plants, (V6) - intercropping with Jerusalem artichoke plants. Runner bean yield ranged from 3,610 kg ha-1 (V2) to 1,684 kg ha-1 (V6) (first year) and from 3,170 kg ha-1 (V2) to 1,189 kg ha-1 (V6) (second year). Runner bean dry seeds contain: crude protein 22.65% (V6) - 25.47% (V3), crude fat 1.91% (V6) - 2.16% (V4), crude fibre 5.41% (V4) - 5.81% (V5) and nitrogen free extractive substances 62.11% (V3) - 64.92% (V4). The best variant of trellis for runner bean crop was the single row trellis system on individual string and the best intercropping system was intercropping with sunflower.