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 concentrations of the bioactive compounds in potato tubers are determined by both genetic potential and environmental factors. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the influence of organic and integrated production on the expression of the genetic potential with respect to the antioxidant properties of potato tubers and to evaluate its stability under different environmental conditions. This phenotyping was performed on seven new breeding lines (tetraploid clones) and three modern cultivars: Jelly, Satina and Tajfun. The results indicated that production system and location significantly influenced the antioxidant capacity measured by FRAP method. Organic farming and the location Chwałowice were characterized by higher values. Furthermore, anitioxidative capacity measured by FRAP method was correlated with chlorogenic acid content (r = 0.590**) and glutathione fractions, especially with the reduced form (GSH, r = 0.692**). Multidimensional comparative analysis (MCA) proved a better development of antioxidant properties of potato tubers in the organic cultivation system when compared with the integrated. Especially favorable were growing conditions at Boguchwała (organic) and worst at Młochów (integrated). From all investigated varieties, the best antioxidant properties were found in ‘Satina’ and ‘Jelly’. Clones TG-97-403 and 13-VIII-45 developed the weakest health promoting traits.

Tomatoes are the most consumed vegetables worldwide and a valuable source of several antioxidants. The consumption of tomato products from appropriate cultivars after suitable processing methods may significantly improve human diet. The purpose of this study was investigating the variations in the contents of the main antioxidants present in tomato fruits, in the new Cuban breeds and yellow varieties, as well as their changes during the processing to tomato puree and ketchup. The quality evaluation comprised the detection of lycopene, ascorbic acid and total phenolics and the analysis of their contribution to antioxidant capacity in selected tomato genotypes. Heating (90–100 °C/15 min) enhanced the content of lycopene and total phenolics in puree, resulting in an increment in antioxidant capacity, despite the reduction in ascorbic acid as a result of concentration processes. The conducted experiments revealed that cultivars ‘Vyta’ and ‘Cima’ are very suitable for industrial purposes due to their high dry-matter content of more than 9% fresh mass and high biological value. With respect to serving size, the best sources of antioxidants are fresh tomatoes, followed closely by tomato puree, irrespective of cultivar. However, the differences are mainly due to the edible portion size (200 g for fresh tomatoes and 60 mL for puree, respectively).

Photosynthetic properties and tuber yield were compared in seven tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones (‘13-VIII-10’, ‘13-VIII-27’, ‘13-VIII-45’, ‘13-VIII-49’, ‘13-VIII-50’, ‘13-VIII-60’, ‘TG-97-403’) and three cultivars (‘Jelly’, ‘Satina’, ‘Tajfun’) at four localities in Poland under either integrated (Młochów, Boguchwała) or organic (Radzików, Chwałowice) fertilisation conditions applying the ‘OJIP’ analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. The yield-relevant parameters of leaf pigment content and chlorophyll fluorescence were used to rank the tested clones and cultivars applying multidimensional comparative analysis. The results indicate that the clones 13-VIII-10 and 13-VIII-45 cannot be recommended for cultivation, while cv. Taifun performed the best. The assessment of the efficiency of the light reactions of photosynthesis produced a different ranking, indicating that the efficiency is not related to yield, but characterises the balance between light harvesting and dark reactions of photosynthesis. In this respect, the light reactions of photosynthesis were least balanced in clone 13-VIII-49 and cv. Jelly while those of cv. Taifun and clone 13-VIII-60 were the best. The effect of the production system was of minor significance for tuber yield, but local factors dominated. Only in the case of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) contents of leaves did an effect of the production system became evident, favouring integrated over organic cultivation. By contrast, most of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were controlled by soil nitrogen content, including maximum quantum yield for primary photochemistry (φ_P0) and the absolute and total performance indices (PI_Abs, PI_Total). Within a production system precipitation affected the ratio Car/total Chl content.

This experiment analyzed the effect of genetic determinants, the production technology, and the location on the nitrate and nitrites content in potato tubers directly after harvest. Nitrates and nitrites are anti-nutritional compounds, which limit or prevent the use of nutrients from consumed products and have a detrimental effect on the human body. The study was conducted on seven tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones (‘13-VIII-10’, ‘13-VIII-27’, ‘13-VIII-45’, ‘13-VIII-49’, ‘13-VIII-50’, ‘13-VIII-60’, ‘TG-97–403’), and three cultivars (‘Jelly’, ‘Satina’, and ‘Tajfun’) at four locations in Poland under either an integrated (Młochów, Boguchwała) or organic (Radzików, Chwałowice) production system. The results showed that the production system, location, and year significantly affected the nitrate and nitrites content in potatoes. Potato tubers originating from organic farming exhibited a lower content of the tested compounds (NO₃⁻—124.1 mg kg⁻¹ FW; NO₂⁻—2.4 mg kg⁻¹ FW) than that in the tubers obtained from an integrated production system (NO₃⁻—203.7 mg kg⁻¹ FW, NO₂⁻—4.0 mg kg⁻¹ FW). Under conditions of moderate stress as usual in the case of organic farming, the production of nitrates and nitrites are significantly lower than in the integrated production system. In our research potatoes from an integrated production system were characterised by a nitrate content at the limit of the established standard, i.e., 200 mg kg⁻¹ FW. Tubers from the locality Chwałowice were characterised by the lowest nitrates and nitrites content, due to adequate environmental conditions, in addition to the best agricultural practice. The nitrates content depended to a greater extent on the environmental conditions than the potato on the genetic conditions. A higher content of nitrates and nitrites was found in the following potato clone 13-VIII-10 in Boguchwała from an integrated production system (NO₃⁻—269.2 mg kg⁻¹ F; NO₂⁻—6.0 mg kg⁻¹ FW), and in the ‘Tajfun’ cultivar (235.8; 5.8 mg kg⁻¹ FW, respectively). Such a relationship was not found in integrated production in Młochów, which indicates the influence of the environment.

The study aimed to assess the quality of spraying of ornamental conifer using a multi-rotor drone. We examined how the speed of drone movement and the propellers’ spin speed can affect the deposition quality of the sprayed liquid in the crown of blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). Due to the avoidance in the future of droplet drift by air movements, an air injector atomiser for liquid spraying was used, and a low altitude of 0.6 m of the drone flying above the tree was used in the study. The drone moved at two speeds: 0.57 m·s^–1 and 0.94 m·s^–1. The propellers’ spin speeds were adjusted based on the drone’s weight with the spray liquid tank filled and empty. The propellers’ zero-spin rate was also included to compare the drone to a field sprayer. The tests were conducted in a laboratory setting. Volume and uniformity of liquid volume settled on the levels of samplers positioned on a tripod within the tree canopy were assessed. The samplers were placed in two zones of the tree: near the tree trunk and at a distance of 0.21 m from the trunk. Airstream speed generated by drone propellers was also evaluated inside the tree. The findings indicated that the rotations of propellers and air speed significantly influenced the quality of liquid deposition on samplers located away from the trunk. The results also showed that using a drone instead of a field sprayer could benefit the quality of the spray application. The weight of the multi-rotor drone, determined by the spray liquid tank’s filling level, can significantly impact the quality of spray deposition in the tree. Based on the investigations, it can be recommended that low-altitude spraying drones be adopted for studies and future strategies in precision agriculture using autonomous inspection-spraying drones.