Many vegetable crop plants, including tomato, have high water needs and one of the options to overcome the negative effects of water reduction on yield is the use of deficit irrigation methods. Detailed knowledge on the effects of different irrigation methods on fruit developmental processes could be a critical factor in the analysis of the effect on final yield. It is well known that water reduction limits the fruit growth rate and final fruit size in tomato, as a consequence of impact on cell division and expansion processes. This paper reviews roles of cellular traits in the responses of tomato fruit growth to deficit irrigation (DI) which were assessed using the wild-type (WT) and its flacca mutant deficient in plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). We specifically addressed how the cell number, cell size and setup of pericarp cell layers were affected by water deficit during development. Fruits of flacca in optimal irrigation are smaller as a consequence of smaller-sized cells in the pericarp. DI induced a stronger negative effect on cell division and expansion in flacca than in WT at an early stage. However, the effects of DI were similar in flacca and WT in ripe fruits. The main difference between flacca and WT responses to water restriction was a stronger negative impact during the early cell division in flacca, which is consistent with the involvement of ABA in the cell division process and water stress-induced ABA synthesis in WT.

Traditional crop varieties are useful sources of desirable characteristics for developing new cultivars with improved nutritive and sensory attributes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit-quality parameters in three traditional tomato genotypes: pink, yellow and dark colors. The results showed that yellow-colored tomatoes had the highest TSS/TTA ratio and antioxidative activity, but the lowest content of lycopene and β-carotene. The genotypic differences in the carotenoid components were also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The advantage of the yellow-tomato genotype related to fruit-quality compounds compared to the other genotypes indicated its potential in a breeding program.

Years which are encompassed by the research, according to the mean daily air temperatures and precipitation, were characterized by the frequent occurrence of extremely warm and dry vegetation periods. The aim of the research is to estimate the economic viability of the production of maize, potatoes and tomatoes in terms of FI (full irrigation). The assessment of the economic viability of the application of the irrigation system when it comes to maize and potato production is done on the basis of a comparative analysis of the realized profit in the natural water regime and FI, whereas in the case of greenhouse tomato production it is done on the basis of comparative analysis of profit achieved in terms of RDI (regulated deficit irrigation) and FI. The research results indicate a positive economic effect of the irrigation system implementation because in our climate the water needs of a culture cannot be satisfied solely by precipitation, and thus water deficit occurs. This lack of rainfall causes yield reduction because it is the main parameter which increases the production profitability. Therefore, increasing the area under irrigation is very important.

The reaction of leaf growth to drought stress is controlled by various hormones, among which ABA is one of the most important. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ABA deficiency on tomato leaf response under severe drought stress. Therefore, ABA-mutant (flacca) and wild type (Ailsa Craig) were selected for research and in the stage of second flower truss anthesis plants were exposed to severe water deficit. The effects of severe drought on wild-type leaves and flacca mutant showed that, as a result of reduced ABA concentrations, flacca plants were exposed to a higher degree of stress than wild-type leaves, which had a negative impact on the examined physiological and biochemical parameters. Severe drought caused stomatal closure, decreased water potential, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll concentrations in the leaves in both genotypes, but this was more pronounced in the mutant. Wild-type plants have accumulated more vitamin C and ABA and have a higher total antioxidant capacity in the leaves in dry conditions than flacca mutants, which contribute to their better adaptive response to stress. Based on this, it can be assumed that the ABA mutation has led to a decrease in the capacity for oxidative stress products caused by severe drought stress.

This research focuses on assessing the general profitability of organically produced spelt. Spelt is an ancient grain that has experienced a resurgence in Serbia in the late seventies of the previous century, due to its exceptional nutritional value and high compatibility with organic farming. Field experiments were conducted in northern Serbia over four years, applying further financial analysis. The main goal of the research is to identify and quantify the costs, benefits, and general profitability of organic production of spelt in the climatic conditions of Serbia. Results indicate that organically produced spelt is economically profitable, primarily due to its significantly higher market price compared to conventionally produced spelt. Given climate change concerns, promoting the cultivation of climateresilient crops, like spelt, becomes crucial. Organic spelt cultivation could play a significant role in adapting crops to climate change, emphasizing the need for activities that mitigate negative environmental impacts.

Tomato, one of the most produced vegetables in the world, is experiencing continuous global increase in both production and consumption. Fruit quality traits are important for fresh market tomatoes as well as for the processing industry. Despite the growing demand for both fresh and processed tomatoes, consumers are not satisfied with the quality of available fruits. The main objectives of the present work were to determine the physicochemical characteristics [pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acids (TTA), TSS/TTA ratio, DMC, lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, and total phenolic content], as well as the antioxidant activity of 13 different tomato lines, and to identify the most promising ones in terms of fruit taste and quality. Antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS and DPPH methods with Trolox used as the standard compound. PCA analysis was conducted to identify group patterns. The results of PCA analysis indicated a specific genotypic response in all investigated physicochemical traits. Genotypes 2, 10, and 13 were identified as the best for fresh consumption, as they exhibited the highest levels of compounds crucial for good taste, nutrition, and human health benefits. The most promising genotype related to fruit quality attributes was genotype 10 with the best TSS and TAA content and TSS/TAA ratio, which is important for overall taste perception. On the other hand, genotype 9 showed promise for industrial purposes due to its ideal pH value in the juice and good soluble solid content. High antioxidant activity was characteristic of genotypes 1 and 2, and their consumption as fresh tomatoes can be beneficial to human health. They also should be considered for further evaluation as potentially interesting genotypes for abiotic stress research and selection programs which can lead to the development of both superior fruit quality and stress tolerant genotypes.