Mass Of Heads Research Articles

About the compliance of white cabbage varieties and hybrids with the real demand of population

Relevance. The actual demand for cabbage is based on the demographic composition of the Russian population. Based on this provision, the weight size of marketable, in particular, midripening cabbage, in the range from 1 to 3 kg, is justified. However, until now, domestic breeding firms are focused on the creation of hybrids with increased yields, not taking into account the real demand of the population.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on mid-season hybrids of white cabbage of the fifth maturation group SB-3 F1 and Kuizor F1 in vegetable-growing farms of the NonChernozem zone of the Russian Federation typical for that time: "Bykovo" and "Agrofirma" Podmoskovnoe".Results. Studies on the mid-season hybrid SB-3 F1 showed that the share of commercial heads of cabbage ranged from 32.9-44.1%, reaching 73.3% in only one technological variant. The share of commercial heads in hybrids of foreign selection Kuizor F1 was 97%. A radical way to meet the requirements of the population is the creation of mid-season hybrids with different dynamics of growth of the marketable mass of heads of cabbage and, accordingly, with different lengths of the growing season. This is necessary to ensure the receipt and sale of marketable products – biologically ripe heads of cabbage weighing 1-3 kg within 2-3 months of the summer-autumn period. At the same time, obtaining such heads of cabbage should be ensured by the genetic potential of hybrids.

The microorganisms natural consortia effectiveness in the white cabbage crop cultivation

The research on effectiveness of microbial consortia with growth-regulating and anti-pathogenic functions on the yield and quality of white cabbage had been carried out in the field conditions for 2 years. It was obtained that under N90P120K150, the use of the experimental biofungicide Tridem promoted an increase in nitrogen-fixing activity in the soil and a decrease in the infectious conditions in the rhizosphere under cabbage hybrids. The use of the experimental microbial complex BIS provided an increase in the mass of heads of cabbage, the accumulation of biologically active substances in them, and contributed to an increase in the biodiversity of soil microbiota. The combined use of the biofungicide Tridem and the microbial complex BIS stimulated an increase in yield, had a positive effect on the quality of cabbage and contributed to a decrease in the number of pathogenic fungi and bacteria in the soil under cabbage.

Significant Accumulation of Iodine and Selenium in Chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi) Leaves after Foliar Spraying.

The interactions between the uptake of selenium (as selenite and selenate) and iodine (as iodate and iodide) by red chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi) and their effects on selected morphological and physiological characteristics were investigated. Seedlings were transplanted to the field, and at the onset of head formation, the plants were foliar-sprayed with the following solutions: Milli-Q water (control), Se (IV), Se (VI), I (−I), I (V), Se (IV) + I (−I), Se (IV) + I (V), Se (VI) + I (−I) and Se (VI) + I (V). The different treatments had no significant effects on the yield (39.8–51.5 t ha−1) and mass (970–1200 g) of the chicory heads. The selenium content in Se-treated plants was up to 5.5-times greater than the control plants. The iodine content in the chicory leaves enriched with I was 3.5-times greater than the control plants. Iodide or iodate, applied together with selenite in the spray solution, increased the uptake of Se by chicory plants, while both forms of iodine, applied together with selenate, reduced the uptake of Se. Plants treated with I (V) had lower amounts of chlorophyll a and carotenoids than the control, while respiratory potential was higher than the control, which indicated the possible presence of stress in I (V)-treated plants. However, the potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was similar and close to the theoretical maximum (0.83) in the control and treated groups, which indicated that all of the plants were in good condition. Furthermore, the plant mass and yield were comparable in the control and treated groups. Molecular studies, like gene expression analysis, would represent a major upgrade of the present study by defining the mechanisms of Se and I uptake and their interactions and by enhancing the knowledge of the Se and I transporters.

Abstract 338: Motivating Myosin: 2 deoxy-ATP Induced Structural Alterations That Increase Myosin Activity

When 2-deoxy-ATP (dATP) replaces ATP as the contractile substrate, cardiac myosin binding to actin and the rate of cross-bridge cycling is increased. To understand the structural basis of this we employed low-angle x-ray diffraction and computational modeling. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of pre-powerstroke myosin suggest dADP.Pi (vs. ADP.Pi) induces changes in contact pairs for nucleotide binding that translate to structural changes on the actin binding surface, exposing positive charge in regions that make electrostatic interactions with actin. Brownian Dynamics simulations suggest M.dADP.Pi binds more rapidly to actin at distances (angstrom) associated with weak binding. X-ray diffraction analysis of resting demembranated cardiac muscle indicated a large increase in the I 1,1 /I 1,0 intensity ratio for M.dADP.Pi, suggesting myosin moves towards thin filaments. This difference was eliminated at low ionic strength (100 vs. 170mM), where more protein surface charge is exposed, thus decreasing the electrostatic interaction advantage of M.dADP.Pi. The S M3 meridional reflection indicated spacing between myosin crowns was increased for M.dADP.Pi at rest, making it similar was to the activated position of M.ADP.Pi during contraction, with no change in axial ordering ( I M3 ).In intact soleus muscle of transgenic mice with 1% dATP (99% ATP), time-resolved x-ray structure indicates myosin dissociation from actin following tetanic contraction is slightly slower (vs WT) bu the first-order myosin layer line ( MLL1 ) intensity recovers faster, suggesting dATP increases the rate myosin heads return to an ordered resting state. At rest the radii to the center of mass of myosin heads (R m ) and I 1,1 /I 1,0 were larger, indicating myosin heads were closer to actin. MD simulations of post-powerstroke myosin showed greater dADP mobility in the binding pocket via altered interactions with key amino acids, resulting in altered conformation of residues on the actin binding surface in regions interacting with actin. Combined our results suggest that with dATP myosin moves closer to actin and S1 heads are more activated in resting muscle, staying primed for reactivation following relaxation, all via increased myosin-actin electrostatic interactions.

Potential of Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) and the Effectiveness of Some Organic Amendments in Remediation of Petroleum Oil-Vitiated Soils of an Automobile Repair Workshop in Urbanite Kampala

Aims: To determine the potential of sweet sorghum (Epuripur 1995) and the effect of organic biostimulators: NPK fertilizer, cow dung and sewage sludge in remediation of petroleum oil-adulterated soils from a garage in Kampala Metropolis, Uganda.
 Place and Duration of Study: The contaminated soils were obtained from New Katanga Boys automobile repair workshop in Wandegeya, Kampala, Uganda. Experiments were conducted between September 2018 to November 2018 at Department of Food Processing Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
 Methodology: 50 kg of petroleum oil-contaminated soils were collected from the garage and divided into 5 kg portions; four portions were potted with four sorghum grains with three subjected to 5% w/w amendment using NPK fertilizer, cow dung and sewage sludge under normal growth conditions for 72 days. Representative soil samples were collected from spots at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm from the potted soils and subjected to Soxhlet extraction. Growth parameters (leaf surface area, root mass and mass of sorghum heads) of the potted plants were measured.
 Results: The sorghum plants grew normally and survived in the petroleum-contaminated soils. Sorghum potted in contaminated soil without any amendment did not flower. Amendment of the vitiated soils with NPK fertilizer, cow dung and sewage sludge biostimulated the phytoremediation capacity of sorghum by 9.1%, 12.5% and 6.3% respectively.
 Conclusion: Addition of cow dung to spent-oil contaminated soils could make such soils fully re-established for agricultural activities. Further research should assess the chemical properties of the investigated vitiated soils and the effectiveness of other biostimulants such as vermicompost in biostimulating phytoremediation by Sorghum bicolor. The potential of other cereals such as corn, barley, rye and millet in phytoremediation of petroleum-adulterated soils should be investigated.

STUDY OF MASS LOSSES OF CAULIFLOWER AT STORAGE DEPENDING ON A PACKING WAY

Tissues of fresh vegetables are characterized by the high quantity of moisture (80…96 %), active metabolism, low resistance to mechanical lesions, are spoiled fast. Metabolism in cells of tissues, so mass losses, depends on the content of water and dry substances. It is impossible to manage abiotic factors under conditions of open soil. So, there appears a necessity to study the influence of abiotic factors on the process of mass decrease at cauliflower storage that gives a possibility to prognosticate its mass losses and aptitude to storage. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of weather conditions of the vegetation period of cauliflower, volume, specific mass and porosity of heads and packing methods on the intensity of natural mass losses of cauliflower at storage. The research gives a possibility to decrease natural losses of cauliflower heads and to prolong the storage duration of it. Cauliflower mass losses at the expanse of water evaporation depend on weather conditions of the vegetation period of the plant. It has been established, that there is a middle force reverse connection with the coefficient correlation r=–0,465 between the intensity of water evaporation at cauliflower heads storage and GTC, middle force connection with the coefficient correlation r=0,437 – with the average day temperature, and strong reverse connection r=–0,776 with the relative air humidity. There was elaborated the regression equation that gives an understanding about mass losses of cauliflower heads, packed in PF, at the expanse of water evaporation. The intensity of water evaporation of cauliflower at storage depends on package method. At packing in a stretch-film (SF), the intensity of moisture decrease, % a day, was the least, equal to 0,30–0,31. The ratio between moisture losses to ones of dry substances was 0,45–0,68. At packing in a performed stretch-film (PSF), the intensity of moisture decrease, % a day, was higher a little – 0,37–0,43. The more storage duration of cauliflower of late ripeness was provided by individual packing of heads in a polyethylene stretch-film. This packing type provided less total natural losses of products: in Skywoker F1– 6,0 %, in Kasper F1 and Santamaria F1 – 6,3 %. Natural losses for a day in variants with using a stretch-film were within 0,05–0,06 % depending on hybrid.

Variation of mineral nutrient contents of modern and heirloom cultivars of cabbage in different regimes of soil fertility

ABSTRACTAn improvement in the mineral nutrient contents of fruits and vegetables is needed to offset reported declines in concentrations of these elements in fruits and vegetables. The declines have been associated with the high productivity of modern cultivars and to depleted soil fertility. This research addressed differences in mineral nutrient concentrations between modern F1 hybrids and heirloom cultivars of cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata L.)and among fertilization practices with conventional chemical or organic fertilizers and compost. Crop production was greater with the chemical or organic fertilizers than with the compost. Mineral nutrient composition did not vary between modern or heirloom cultivars or among fertilization regimes but varied among cultivars, suggesting that cultivar selection could lead to production of nutrient-rich cabbage. Neither mass of heads nor days to maturation of crops affected nutrient composition.

Enrichment of mineral nutrient content of cabbage through selection of cultivars and soil fertility regimes

ABSTRACTTo improve nutrition intake of humans, it is recommended that fruits and vegetables constitute a major portion of diets. An improvement in the mineral nutrient contents of fruits and vegetables is needed to offset apparent declines in the elements in these foods. This research addressed the enrichment of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) through the selection of nutrient-rich cultivars and soil fertility practices. Conventional fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and compost were evaluated with modern F1 hybrids in field experiments. Crop production was greater with the chemical or organic fertilizers than with the compost. Mineral nutrient composition varied among cultivars but not with fertility practices, suggesting that cultivar selection could lead to production of nutrient-rich cabbage. Neither the mass of heads or days to maturation of crops affected nutrient composition.

A histomorphometric study of necrotic femoral head in rabbits treated with extracorporeal shock waves.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and mechanisms of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis. [Subjects and Methods] Histomorphometric analysis of necrotic femoral head in rabbits treated with shock waves was performed. Bilateral osteonecrosis of femoral heads was induced with methylprednisolone and lipopolysaccharide in eight rabbits. The left limb (study side) received shock waves to the femoral head. The right limb (control side) received no shock waves. Biopsies of the femoral heads were performed at 12 weeks after shock wave therapy. [Results] Necrotic femoral heads treated with shock waves, compared with controls, had higher bone volume per tissue volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, osteoblast surface/bone surface, osteoid surface/bone surface, osteoid thickness, mineralizing surface/bone surface, mineralizing apposition rate, and bone formation rate. However, trabecular separation was lower in shock wave-treated femoral heads than in controls. Eroded surface/bone surface and osteoclast surface/bone surface did not differ significantly between groups. [Conclusion] The bone mass of necrotic femoral heads treated with shock waves increases. Extracorporeal shock wave may promote bone repair in necrotic femoral heads through the proliferation and activation of osteoblasts.

Selectivity of Herbicides to Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

ABSTRACT The presence of weeds in commercial fields of cabbage may interfere directly and indirectly on yield and on the quality of the commercial product. Therefore, the satisfactory production depends on a successful control of weeds. Because of the limited availability of herbicides registered in Brazil for cabbage crop in addition to the lack of information in the literature, the objective of this work was to evaluate the selectivity of herbicides to cabbage. The herbicides S-metolachlor (1,740 and 768 g ha-1), oxyfluorfen (240 and 96 g ha-1), flumioxazin (40 and 40 g ha-1) clomazone (720 and 360 g ha-1) and oxyfluorfen + flumioxazin (240 + 20 and 96 + 20 g ha-1) were applied before and after transplant of seedlings, besides the S-metolachlor + flumioxazin (768 + 20 g ha-1) mixture applied after transplant. The experiment was developed in the field, in a randomized block design with four replications. Weed control and cabbage crop injury were evaluated as well as the number of productive and suppressed cabbage plants, the average fresh mass of heads and yield. All herbicide treatments controlled weeds in the area satisfactorily; however, most of them caused high toxicity in plants with the exception of oxyfluorfen, applied before transplant, and flumioxazin and S-metolachlor, applied after transplant, which caused little leaf injury in plants. Oxyfluorfen applied before and after transplant and S-metolachlor, applied after transplant did not affect the number of productive and suppressed plants nor yield, being selective in cabbage.

Plant characters of broccoli determinants of head production

ABSTRACT: The increasing consumption of single-head broccoli is due to several factors, among them there are food production in minimally processing form and the existence of hybrids that adapt to various climates, in addition to the simple harvesting of this typical architecture.This study aimed to identify the most relevant plant characters of broccoli, represented by growth characters, which are determinant in the production and canopy area. The study was conducted in an experimental area in Pato Branco city, PR. The 11 characters were evaluated for 365 plants, spaced with 0.8x0.5m, on a blank experiment. The characters of group 1 (height, number of leaves, stem height, stem diameter) were evaluated on the 21 and 58 day after transplanting (DAT), and the leaf area was evaluated on the 17 and 32 DAT. The characters of group 2 were quantity of fresh head mass and canopy area. At the initial stage of cultivation, on the 17 and 21 DAT, variations in the plants characters did not lead toany variation in production. The higher number of leaves and the larger stem diameter on the 58 DAT determined the greater mass of the broccoli heads.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ЗАСОРЕННОСТИ ПОСЕВОВ ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ ВЬЮНКОМ ПОЛЕВЫМ (CONVOLVULUSARVENSIS) НА ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ В ЛЕСОСТЕПИ САМАРСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The obgect of research is the wheat grain yield improving by reducing the infestation of spring wheat. The research was carried out in 2013-2014 in the experimental fields of the Volga PRSISSP of P. N. Konstantinov in crops of spring wheat varieties Kinelskaya 59. Assessment of the abundance of field bindweed was carried out according to the method of Drude. Then the selected sheaves are dried and dealt into crop and weed components. In harmfulness field bindweed affects weather conditions of the growing season. Under the influence of field bindweed yield of spring wheat in arid 2013 decreased by 20% and more humid in 2014 by 44%. Dry weight stalks field bindweed in 2013 was 1.1 g, and in 2014 – 2.8 g, which determined its harmfulness higher in 2014. The loss of productivity of wheat grain under the influence of bindweed field in droughty 2013 happened, first of all, due to reduction of above-ground mass of wheat. This reduces the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and the mass of heads. In more favorable to the development of culture and the weeds 2014, the biological yield of wheat decreased, primarily due to the decrease of productive tillering, the number of productive stems and grain weight per ear. Correlation between dry mass of field bindweed and the elements of productivity were authentic. The dispersive analysis showed reliability of the provided data.

Tamanho ótimo de parcela para avaliação da massa e diâmetro de cabeças de brócolis

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o tamanho ótimo de parcela (Xo), por amostragem na área total e nas frações de áreas, a fim de avaliar a massa e o diâmetro de cabeças de brócolis. Em campo, foram demarcadas 27 filas do híbrido BRO 68(r). Cada planta foi considerada como sendo uma unidade experimental básica (UEB). Para fins de análise, cada fila foi considerada como sendo um ensaio em branco com 100 UEB. Para os resultados das 27 filas, obtiveram-se os valores: mínimo, máximo, média, desvio padrão, CV, intervalo de confiança, o tamanho de amostra (número de filas) para estimar o Xo e para estimar a média. O tamanho ótimo de parcela para avaliar a massa e diâmetro de cabeças de brócolis é igual a cinco unidades experimentais básicas (plantas).

Development of a new graphical technique for dissolved gas analysis in power transformers based on the five combustible gases

Several methods have been proposed for dissolved gas analysis (DGA) of mineral oil in power transformers. One of the simple and most widely used methods is Duval triangle. However, Duval triangle does not consider the concentrations of two combustible gases, namely ethane (C2H6) and hydrogen (H2). As a result, Duval triangle exhibits a lower accuracy in diagnosing certain fault types, for which these gases are the key gases, such as low overheating and corona discharge. Accordingly, this paper proposes a novel graphical technique for DGA based on all the five combustible gases. The proposed graphical technique is developed in the form of a pentagon shape. The pentagon heads represents the percentage concentration of each individual gas to the total combustible gases. The corresponding point for a certain faulty case is determined by the center of mass of all pentagon heads. The knowledge extracted from previous DGA methods and field experiences are used to estimate the preliminary fault regions within the pentagon. The exact boundaries between fault regions are then specified using actual DGA data with corresponding fault types collected from the Egyptian Electricity Network and published cases. The overall performance of the proposed pentagon has been evaluated using a set of fault cases and it is revealed that the proposed pentagon has higher diagnostic accuracy compared to other methods including Duval triangles and IEC standard 60599.

Soil Water Availability on Growth and Development of Safflower Plants

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a promising culture to be widespread in Brazil. However, the lack of basic knowledge about cultivation techniques, such as water demand by the culture, is still obstacle to the expansion of safflower in that country. The objective was, then, to evaluate the effect of the soil water availability on growth and development of safflower in the Cerrado soil of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design with five water availabilities (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% of the maximum water holding capacity in the soil) and four replications. Maintenance soil moisture was performed by gravimetric method with daily weighing of experimental units. The variables analyzed were: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of heads, heads diameter, dry mass of shoots, heads, and roots. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and regression test at 5% probability by SISVAR program. All variables set to the quadratic regression model, showing the best results in the water availability between 64% and 76%. Safflower is shown to be more sensitive to water stress with increased tolerance to water deficit in the soil than to flooding.

Spent Mushroom Compost as a Substrate for the Production of Lettuce Seedlings

The successful production of marketable lettuce heads with full exploitation of the genetic potential of a particular cultivar depends on the availability of seedlings of the highest quality. The aims of the present study were (i) to evaluate the effects of substrates containing different proportions of spent mushroom compost on the growth of lettuce seedlings, and (ii) to determine the enduring effects of substrates containing spent mushroom substrate on the vigor of mature lettuce plants derived from such seedlings. The substrates employed in the germination and development of lettuce seedlings were obtained by mixing spent compost from the cultivation of Agaricus subrufescens and commercial vegetable substrate in different proportions. Seedlings were evaluated with respect to the number of leaves and the height, fresh mass and dry mass of the aerial parts, while mature plants were appraised according to stem height and circumference, fresh mass and dry mass of the lettuce head. Substrate containing between 42 to 48% spent mushroom substrate provided the most adequate conditions for the growth and development of crisphead lettuce seedlings and, consequently, of vigorous marketable plants. Under such conditions, the fresh mass of the aerial parts of seedlings attained a level of 0.89 g plant-1, while the fresh mass of the marketable heads achieved a maximum of 233.45 g plant-1. The data presented herein verify that top quality lettuce seedlings yield high quality marketable heads, and that quality improvement can be brought about by the addition of spent mushroom substrate.

The Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Broccoli Leaves on Sugar and Lipids in Serum of Diabetic Rats

Nowadays, no-drug treatments (medicinal plants) are novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of diabetes. Broccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable. The mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves. Broccoli was derived from cultivated leafy cole crops in the Northern Mediterranean in about the 6th century. This study aimed at assessing the effect of Broccoli leaves extract on the blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic rats. Thirty male adult rats were randomly selected and divided into three groups as nondiabetic control; diabetic control; diabetic rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Broccoli leaves. In diabetic groups alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to develop diabetes. Then the Test group received intraperitoneal injection of hydro-alcoholic extract of Broccoli leaves (100 mg/kg). At last, glucose cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, VLDL, LDL and insulin contents of the rats' serum sample were determined Diabetic rats treated with extract showed a significant decrease in blood glucose level (p<0.05). Furthermore compared diabetic group, in the extract-treated rats, there was a significant decrease in serum contents of total cholesterol (TC) ,LDL,VLDL and TG, but a significant increase in insulin level and HDL (p<0.05). These results show that the hydroalcoholic extract of Broccoli leaves may be effective in the treatment of diabetes. This effect can be due to the presence of flavonoides and their antioxidant features.

PProdução da mandioquinha-salsa consorciada com alface e beterraba

Estudaram-se os monocultivos da mandioquinha-salsa cv. Amarela de Carandaí, Arracacia xanthorrhiza (Umbelliferae), da beterraba cv. Tall Top Early Wonder, Beta vulgaris L. (Chenopodiaceae) e da alface cv. Grand Rapids, Lactuca sativa L. (Asteraceae), além dos consórcios mandioquinha-beterraba e mandioquinha-alface. Os cinco tratamentos foram arranjados no delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com três blocos e duas repetições internas em cada bloco. Foram avaliadas as massas frescas e secas das cabeças da alface, da parte aérea e das raízes da beterraba e das partes aéreas, rebentos, coroas e raízes da mandioquinha-salsa. Também foram avaliados os diâmetros das cabeças da alface e das raízes da beterraba. Os consórcios foram avaliados em função da razão de área equivalente (RAE) e da renda bruta. As três espécies apresentaram produção superior em monocultivo, em todas as características avaliadas. Considerando-se as produtividades de raízes totais e de raízes comercializáveis, respectivamente, a RAE para o consórcio mandioquinha-beterraba foi de 1,07 e 0,87 e para mandioquinha-alface foi 1,3 e 1,1. O consórcio mandioquinha-alface propiciou renda bruta de R$ 40.970,00. Concluiu-se que o consórcio da mandioquinha-salsa com a alface é viável.

Crop management systems and endomycorrhiza effects on endive (Cichorium endivia L.) growth

The goal of this research was to determine the influence of crop management systems, (organic, sustainable and conventional) and endomycorrhiza on vegetative growth of endive (Cichorium endivia L.) grown on fields in order to use PE mulch after lettuce crop. During 2002 and 2003 a two-factor trial with three repetitions and split-plot design was set up in Pula (Croatia). Main factor “crop management” had three levels (organic, sustainable and conventional); while the sub factor “mycorrhiza” had two levels (endive seedlings inoculated with endomycorrhizal fungus and non-inoculated seedlings). Endive was planted after lettuce harvesting on the set PE mulch in conventional and integrated management, while in organic management it was planted after tilling lettuce rests and plant mulch (fodder pea and common vetch). Fertilization (by fertirigation) and crop protection were performed according to basic principles of organic, sustainable and conventional crop management system. Neither mycorrhiza nor production systems had no significant influence on plant density, diameter and mass of heads, and marketable yields. The biggest endive head diameter had non-inoculated endive plants in first year of research, while in the second year this feature was not significant. Production system had no significant influence on head diameter. The sustainable production system had the most marketable endive heads, while the organic system had most non-marketable heads in the first research year, while in the second this feature was not significant. Mycorrhiza had no influence on this feature.

Crop management systems and endomycorrhiza effects on endive (Cichorium endivia L.) growth

The goal of this research was to determine the influence of crop management systems, (organic, sustainable and conventional) and endomycorrhiza on vegetative growth of endive (Cichorium endivia L.) grown on fields in order to use PE mulch after lettuce crop. During 2002 and 2003 a two-factor trial with three repetitions and split-plot design was set up in Pula (Croatia). Main factor “crop management” had three levels (organic, sustainable and conventional); while the sub factor “mycorrhiza” had two levels (endive seedlings inoculated with endomycorrhizal fungus and non-inoculated seedlings). Endive was planted after lettuce harvesting on the set PE mulch in conventional and integrated management, while in organic management it was planted after tilling lettuce rests and plant mulch (fodder pea and common vetch). Fertilization (by fertirigation) and crop protection were performed according to basic principles of organic, sustainable and conventional crop management system. Neither mycorrhiza nor production systems had no significant influence on plant density, diameter and mass of heads, and marketable yields. The biggest endive head diameter had non-inoculated endive plants in first year of research, while in the second year this feature was not significant. Production system had no significant influence on head diameter. The sustainable production system had the most marketable endive heads, while the organic system had most non-marketable heads in the first research year, while in the second this feature was not significant. Mycorrhiza had no influence on this feature.