Abstract
<p>The aim of a two-year study was to characterise selected <em>Allium cepa </em>L. genotypes with regard to their ability to accumulate nitrates in bulbs as well as to search for a possible relation between NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> concentration and dry matter content. Fifteen cultivars of edible onion, mostly of long-day genotype with different growing periods, bulb size and skin colour, were taken for the experiment. Seeds of particular cultivars were obtained from the following seed companies: Spójnia Nochowo (‘Labrador’, ‘Takstar F<sub>1</sub>’,‘Tęcza’, ‘Warna’, ‘Zorza’), Polan (‘Polanowska’, ‘Topolska’), PlantiCo Gołębiew (‘Alibaba’, ‘Efekt’, ‘Kristine’, ‘Niagara F<sub>1</sub>’),and PlantiCo Zielonki (‘Bila’, ‘Irka’, ‘Wenta’, ‘Zeta’). Plants produced from seedlings were grown in the experimental field of the University of Agriculture in Kraków. After crop harvesting and additional drying, nitrate and dry matter content in bulbs of all cultivars were measured.</p><p>The following cultivars: ‘Efekt’, ‘Labrador’ and red-skinned ‘Wenta’, were characterized by the lowest ability to accumulate NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> in bulbs. The highest nitrate content was noted in bulbs of ‘Takstar F<sub>1</sub>’ (a very early-season cultivar), followed by ‘Bila’ and ‘Tęcza’. A weak, yet statistically significant negative correlation between nitrate and dry matter content was observed. The highest dry matter content was determined in bulbs of white-skinned ‘Alibaba’, while the lowest – in brown-skinned ‘Labrador’.</p>
Highlights
Studies on nitrate content in plants have been of great interest to numerous researchers for many years
Seeds of individual cultivars were obtained from various seed companies in Poland, including: Spójnia Nochowo (‘Labrador’, ‘Takstar F1’, ‘Tęcza’, ‘Warna’, ‘Zorza’), Polan (‘Polanowska’, ‘Topolska’), PlantiCo Gołębiew (‘Alibaba’, ‘Efekt’, ‘Kristine’, ‘Niagara F1’) and PlantiCo Zielonki (‘Bila’, ‘Irka’, ‘Wenta’, ‘Zeta’)
Bulb weight was related to the onion variety (Fig. 1)
Summary
Studies on nitrate content in plants have been of great interest to numerous researchers for many years. Some authors focus on factors affecting nitrate bioaccumulation in edible parts of crop plants, vegetables being of great value to the health of consumers [1,2]. It is commonly known that an excessive level of nitrates in food can be harmful [3]. This fact is reflected in EU regulations for maximum levels of nitrate content, in leafy vegetables, which are issued regularly [4]. In the studies conducted by Cardenas - Navarro et al [7], a highly significant positive correlation between nitrate and water content in tomato plants was noted
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