The present study addressed the combination of nutritional and sensory quality assessment of radish and garden cress as microgreens cultivated in different amounts of mineral nutrients under conditions that can be realized in a private household. The content of value adding compounds was determined by means of chemical analyses. Total flavor impression and visual appearance were rated by untrained consumer tests. In cotyledons of radish cress (Raphanus sativus L.), carotenoid, total phenols, nitrate contents, and antioxidant capacity decreased significantly with decreasing mineral content in the nutrient solution, whereas, in stems, total phenols and anthocyanin contents rose and nitrate content decreased significantly with decreasing mineral content. In garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.), carotenoid and nitrate contents decreased and anthocyanin content increased significantly with decreasing mineral content, indicating that the response of value adding compounds to changing amounts of minerals in the nutrient solution depends on the compound of interest, plant species, and even the plant organ of a species. The sensory quality of the studied microgreens was generally rated highest when mineral content in the nutrient solution was highest, indicating that sensory quality is not necessarily identical with nutritional quality. Considering the common practice in private households, cultivation with tap water represents an attractive compromise for nutritional and sensory quality in case of garden cress, whereas, for radish cress, the application of 25% modified Hoagland solution is recommended.

The aim of the research has been to assay the contents of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Pb in soil and in the organs of wild Thymus serpyllum L. acquired from three natural habitats from the Kuyavia-Pomerania Province (Poland) not exposed to contamination with metals. As compared with the contents of the geochemical background of the soils in the region and the value of enrichment factor (EF), there was noted a considerable content of Pb in the soil from two locations. The Pb content in plant tissues in one of the three locations was higher than the admissible content specified by the World Health Organization WHO (above 10 mg kg⁻¹ d.w.). As for the Zn content, only the plants from the locations with the relatively youngest phytocenosis met the conditions for herbs to be used for phytotherapy. The Zn content in the dry weight of the plants collected from the other two locations exceeded 50 mg kg⁻¹. The risk of an elevated content of Zn and Pb in the plants makes it necessary to monitor the soil environment and to limit the collection of the plants from natural habitats, as well as to encourage the collection from controlled habitats.

There is a growing demand for high quality and sustainable food in the world and this need falls within the context of the European Green Deal’s strategy “From Farm to Fork”. In order to achieve these outcomes, the use of modern and innovative technologies of plant production and protection is required. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture and horticulture is an example of such technology. However, research on the effect of length of exposure to metal nanoparticles on seeds germination and seedlings development are limited in the literature. In our study, the effect of silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the seedling growth and biochemical response of rapeseed after 7, 14 and 21 days was analyzed. In the experiments, 0, 50 and 100 ppm concentrations of NPs were used in vitro. The level of photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanins as well as other stress parameters, such as free phenolic compounds, free sugars or H₂O₂, decreased due to the application of both AgNPs and AuNPs at the initial culture period; however, the differences were observed in the successive weeks of exposure. The parameters were increasing, irrespective of the kind of nanoparticles; however, as for the content of free sugars and free radicals, higher values were recorded due to the effect of AuNPs. Our results showed that length of plants exposure to NPs is very important factor modifying growth and final response of seedlings. Better understanding of its influence could speed up use of NPs in agriculture and horticulture for production of high-quality plant material (e.g., to seed priming, stimulation of seedlings’ growth and their protection), not contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers and mycotoxins.

Introduction:Allium ursinum L. has a commercial value due to its high contents of bio-active compounds and mild, garlic-like taste. In vitro culture played an important role in obtaining Allium species with the desired characteristics and in the production of healthy reproductive material

Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is a tall, reaching up to 2.5 m, perennial plant that represents the Asteraceae family. Silphium perfoliatum L. can be applied in medicine, animal feeding, and as a decorative, honey-producing and energy production plant which proves its multi-functional features. Sowing material currently available in Poland is insufficient, which justifies the present attempts at propagating these plants in in vitro cultures. Therefore, Silphium perfoliatum L. seed sterilization and micropropagation processes were studied under controlled conditions in in vitro cultures. Among the tested methods, ACE proved to be the most effective for sterilization. The apical parts of seedlings were used as explants; they were placed onto MS media with growth regulators added. 4 growth regulator concentration variants were applied. The highest percentage of explants with lateral shoots (41.7%) and callus (90.3%) was obtained on MS medium with 5 mg x dm-3 BAP + 1 mg × dm-3 NAA added. Shoots were isolated and transferred onto MS rooting medium without growth regulators. The rooted plants were transferred to the greenhouse and acclimatised to ex vitro conditions.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are now often utilized in agriculture and horticulture. One of the common applications is to use AgNPs as antimicrobial agents in tissue cultures instead of using standard sterilization procedures. However, in addition to beneficial effects they have also cyto- and genotoxic ones, inducing DNA damage and changing cell cycle dynamics. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of AgNPs at different concentrations (50–100 ppm) on endoreduplication, DNA content, and growth of seedlings of five crops: rapeseed, white mustard, sugar beet, red clover, and alfalfa, cultivated in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to establish genome size and DNA synthesis patterns in the roots, hypocotyls, and leaves of first-leaf-pair seedlings. AgNP-treatment did not influence germination or genome size, but increased root length and endoreduplication intensity. The increases were especially pronounced in species/organs with high polysomaty. We suggest that enhanced endopolyploidization is a defense mechanism against the stress induced by AgNPs causing mitotic division disruption.