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In this study, fermentation-based organic fertilizer (OF) was produced from the aboveground parts of Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr. The quantity of N in OF (17.2 kg t$^{−1}$ fresh lactic-fermented OF) was higher than average in cattle farmyard manure, but on a comparable level to solid poultry and rabbit manure. The OF was applied on a field to evaluate its effect on Chinese cabbage. The applied nutrients with OF N159 were 159, 19 and 100 kg ha$^{−1}$ for N, P, and K, respectively. The applied nutrients with OF N317 were 317, 38, and 200 kg ha$^{−1}$ for N, P, and K, respectively. The average mass of marketable Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis Rupr.) single heads ranged from 253 g with N0 treatment to 602 g with N317 treatment. The nutrient recovery efficiency RE$_{N,P,K}$ was 37, 20, and 50% for N317 and 55, 48, and 77% for N159. The OF was found to be a suitable alternative to farmyard manure. Additionally, OF produced from F. japonica could complement existing approaches to limit the spread of invasive species in cities. Further research should focus on perennial crop rotations and cropping patterns, different soil types, and a greater variety of crops and consider the possible retention of urban farmers using fertilizer from invasive plants.

The polyphagous brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stål.) is an important pest in many countries. Recently it was noticed that it can feed on and cause damage to strawberries (Fragaria xananassa Duch.). The metabolic response of strawberries to brown marmorated stink bug attacks was studied. Brown marmorated stink bugs attacked strawberry fruit which had 18% lower total sugar content compared to that of the control treatment. However, organic acid content had no significant difference among the three treatments, with the exception of shikimic acid, which had the highest content in the attacked fruit. Thirty-one phenolic compounds were identified. Results showed a strong effect on secondary metabolites due to H. halys attacks. Halyomorpha halys treatment had 27% higher total analyzed phenolic content compared to the indirect Halyomorpha halys treatment. The brown marmorated stink bug significantly increased total ellagic acid derivatives (33.1% to 37% higher), hydroxycinnamic acids (22.3% higher) and anthocyanins’ (39% higher) contents. Fruit attacked by Halyomorpha halys also had higher catechin and epicatechin content than that of the control treatments. This pest had a significant influence on the plant’s secondary metabolism, and this improved our understanding of how a strawberry plant reacts to the attacks of this very important pest. H. halys-infested fruit are not suitable for commercial production, due to the production of off-flavors.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of nutrient solution concentrations and composition (NS) on the vegetative properties of tomato transplants. The experiment was set up with tomato, cultivar ‘Belle F1’, non-grafted (B), self-grafted (B/B) and grafted onto rootstock Arnold (B/A) and He-Man (B/H). Nutrient solution for transplant production (composition: 1.25 mM NH4+, 12.71 mM NO3-, 1.25 mM H2PO4-, 8.75 mM K+, 2 mM Mg2+, 4.25 Ca2+, 1.75 mM SO42-, 15 μM Fe2+, 10 μM Mn2+, 5 μM Zn2+, 0.5 μM Mo+, 0.75 μM Cu2+ and 30 μM B+) were applied in three concentrations: EC 3, EC 6 dSm-1 and EC 3 NS + 3 NaCl (EC 6 NaCl) in which a NaCl solution was added to the EC 3 NS to achieve target EC (6 dSm-1). The height (19.7 cm) and leaves number (6.7 leaves) were lower in non-grafted transplants compared to grafted ones. Transplants treated with EC 3 dSm-1 had significantly larger stem diameter than transplant treated with EC 6 NaCl dSm-1. Non-grafted transplant had significantly smaller stem diameter than grafted ones. The highest chlorophyll content index was recorded by transplant treated with EC 6 dSm-1 (36.4). The transplants leaf area was influenced by both factors. Transplants B/H had a larger leaf area than B transplants regardless of which NS were applied. The leaves thickest were recorded on the transplants treated with EC 6 NaCl (365 cm2g-1). Grafted transplants better alleviate salts stress than non-grafted transplants, while tolerance to the salt type depends on the used rootstock.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect two commercial seaweed extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum on yield and selected quality parameters of cucumber cv. Lisboa F1. Results indicate that the use of seaweed extracts decrease cucumber yield compared to control for approx. 3 kg per plant. Moreover, no significant effect of seaweed extracts has been detected on colour raits, soluble solids content, firmness, dry matter, the diameter of placenta and the thickness of mesocarp. Based on the reports of previous studies, detailed experiments should be conducted on cucumber, specifically regarding the composition of primary and secondary metabolites to further evaluate potential bio- stimulating effects of brown algae extracts.

Figure S4. Multiple Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the DFRs of Euphorbia pulcherrima cvs. Harvest Orange (EpHO_DFR, KY273438), Premium Red (EpPR_DFR, KY499617), Christmas Beauty (EpCB_DFR, KY273436), and Christmas Feelings (EpCF_DFR, KY273437). Grey frames highlight the VDV region in position 132 to 134. Grey shades highlight differences in the amino acid sequence. (DOCX 21 kb)

Table S1. Gradient elution time-table program in the RP-HPLC system using mobile phase A (water with 5% HCO2H) and mobile phase B (MeOH). (DOCX 17 kb)

Figure S2. Multiple alignment of the open reading frames of the F3′H cDNA clones of Euphorbia pulcherrima cvs. Harvest Orange (EpHO_F3′H, KY273441), Premium Red (EpPR_F3′H, KY489667), Christmas Beauty (EpCB_F3′H, KY273439), and Christmas Feelings (EpCF_F3′H, KY273440). (DOCX 23 kb)

Table S4. Activities of 3 key enzymes of the anthocyanin pathway in Euphorbia pulcherrima. (DOCX 16 kb)

Figure S1. High performance liquid chromatographic profile of anthocyanins in (a) cv. Christmas Beauty and (b) cv. Harvest Orange. The anthocyanins in order of increasing retention time were cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (A1), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (A2), pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (A3), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (A4) and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (A5). (DOCX 109 kb)

Table S2. Identification of anthocyanins in poinsettia flowers by using their HPLC–DAD, LC–MS and LC–MS/MS data in the positive ion mode. (DOCX 16 kb)