The effects of shade netting on the morphological and chemical composition (organic acids, sugars, total polyphenols, total and certain anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins) and in vitro antioxidant activity of raspberries and blackberries was conducted in the southeastern region of the Republic of North Macedonia. HPLC analysis confirmed a significant effect of shading nets on the amount of the most dominant anthocyanin in blackberries and raspberries. The amount of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in blackberries covered with shading nets was significantly higher in comparison to the amount of the same anthocyanins in uncovered blackberries. The same tendency was observed for cyanidin-3-O-sophoroside for covered and uncovered raspberries from 2023. However, an opposite relationship was noticed for total anthocyanin content in favor of uncovered blackberry and raspberry from 2023. From all examined organic acids, the amount of acetic acid was the most affected in covered raspberries. The shade netting had a significant influence on polyphenolic content (such as high molecular proanthocyanidins, total and particular anthocyanins), the amounts of sugars (glucose and fructose), and organic acids as well as the intensity of color in blackberry and raspberry. Although net shading significantly influenced particular phenolic compounds presented in examined berry fruits, antioxidant activity was weakly correlated to this environmental change.

The determination of the organoleptic characteristics in tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. is a significant part in the basic needs and requirements of the market, but also in increasing the export potential. The aim of the research is the selection of new red tomato hybrids Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. According to their organoleptic, morphological and sensory characteristics, for possible commercialization. In the research, 23 coded new indeterminate hybrids of red tomato were analyzed and compared with 5 already present commercial hybrids (Brave F1, Adriatik F1, Matissimo F1, Alamina RZ F1, Signora F1). The tomato was produced from seedlings by a registered nursery grower Agro Koni, and it was planted in sheltered areas at a grower in Tirana, R. Albania. The properties that were examined: type of tomato (1 late / 5 early), plant strength (1 weak / 5 strong), length of internodes (1 long / 5 short), fruit quality (1 bad / 5 excellent), size of fruit (1 small/ 5 large), as well as fruit color, fertility potential (yield), as well as overall evaluation of the plants in a rank from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent). The relationships between analyzed properties, descriptive and the variance's analysis provided an insight into those hybrids that satisfy the methodological requirements. Based on the results and determination of new hybrids with improved properties from the existing ones, the needs of the market and consumers are influenced. According to the genetic potential and phenotypic characteristics, 3 new hybrids (TME221276, TME220244 and TME220245) were determined, which satisfied the examined criteria, thus giving the opportunity to be included in the cluster of commercial hybrids on the market.

Although rоutinе pesticide analysеs are mostly performed using GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and/or LC-MS/MS, some pesticides especially those with relatively high MRLs and good detector response could also be precisely quantified with less sensitive equipment which gives the opportunity to some laboratories to expand their scope of work. The study focuses on HPLC-DAD method development for detection of folpet in barley grain. QuEChERS method was performed for extraction after which, additional clean-up was performed using PSA and polypropylene filtration. Pesticide separation was achieved using mobile phase of acidified CAN (pH 2.5) and water. The initial mobile phase was 60:40% (v/v), the elution gradient starts from 80:20% (v/v) to 100:0% (v/v) in 7 min and holds 100:0% (v/v) up to 8.5 min at a flow rate of 1 ml/min after which in the next 6.5 min the column was re-equilibrated to 40% phase-B. Calibration was performed using matrix-matched calibration standards. The obtained limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.18 and 0.55 mg/kg, respectively, and the linear regression coefficient was 0.9973. Recovery, repeatability and reproducibility were investigated at three fortification levels (0.1 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg, and 1.6 mg/kg) and were found acceptable with relative standard deviation less than 10%. The method was applied for the analysis of three barley grain samples obtained from different producers and showed that folpet was present in one sample below the LOQ. Overall, the developed method is suitable for the determination of folpet in barley grains at levels below the established MRL of 1 mg/kg.