This study investigated the effects of divergent pruning methods on fruit quality and yield of organically grown cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme cv. 'Forty F1') and cluster tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. 'Climbo F1'). The pruning treatments were: T1 (control), standard pruning practices for tomatoes with pruning of axillary side shoots and old leaves plus fruit thinning (only on cluster variety); T2 involved T1 practices plus pruning all leaves below the previous cluster after the first fruit appeared on the cluster; T3 involved T1 practices plus removal of a single leaf between clusters, and T4, T5 and T6, involved pruning practices described in T1, T2 and T3, respectively, in combination with sucker pruning (sprout stage). For cherry tomatoes, the highest values were recorded for T4 for plant height and stem diameter, T1 for photosynthesis and colouration rates, T4 for number of fruits, T5 for number of clusters, T3 for SSC, T5 for vitamin C, T1 for total phenolics, FRAP and DPPH and T2 for total flavonoids and lycopene. In the cluster tomatoes, the highest values were recorded for T2 for leaf dry weight, T3 for leaf chlorophyll, T1 for stomatal conductance, T6 for firmness, and T5 for titratable acidity. T4 achieved the highest yield for cluster tomatoes (3.37 kg plant-1), while for cherry tomatoes the highest yields were obtained with T1 and T4 (1.91 and 1.89 kg plant-1, respectively). The T4 treatment combining control (T1) and sucker pruning was found to be superior in terms of yield and quality.
This study evaluated faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) legume-legume intercropping for biomass productivity and weed suppression using varieties with a wide range of plant lengths and growth habits. Three years of field experiments were performed under organic management in Sweden. Ten pea varieties and three faba bean varieties were tested in a replacement design with different variety combinations and seeding ratios. The highest total biomass production (8-10 t ha-1) and weed suppression were obtained by intercropping long and vining pea landraces with faba bean. Intercrops often showed a higher biomass productivity compared to the corresponding pure stands with average LERtot of 1.14, 1.14, and 1.05 in the years 2021-2023, respectively, and pea was the more competitive species. Pea biomass and weed biomass correlated negatively, and a substantial difference in correlation was observed between pea and weed biomass in intercrops (-0.78) and pure stands (-0.34). Negative correlations were found between weed biomass and early ground cover (-0.47) and early pea height (-0.46) in intercrops. In conclusion, faba bean-pea intercropping with phenotypes present among traditional varieties can reduce weed biomass and produce crop biomass similar to or higher than pure stands of modern varieties of either species.
There is increasing demand for healthy and organic foods, particularly for microgreens, which have strong flavour and aroma linked to their bioactive components. Microgreens are young vegetables that are harvested after the seeds have germinated but before the true leaves emerge. Studies comparing the quality and bioactive components of microgreens with those of their mature plant counterparts are limited. Therefore, in this study, the same red cabbage variety (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra cv. 'Stampa F1') was used to produce microgreens and to grow cabbage to maturity under organic conditions. Supplementary blue and red LED lights were used alongside daylight to cultivate the microgreens. The mature red cabbage had higher concentrations of vitamin C (443.8 mg 100 g-1), total phenolic compounds (318 mg GAE 100 g-1 fw), FRAP (1375.8 mmol TE 100 g-1 fw) and DPPH (1202.6 mmol TE 100 g-1 fw) than the microgreens. Notably, the total flavonoid concentration in the microgreens exceeded that in the mature cabbage. Cultivation of microgreens under blue LED lighting resulted in increased concentrations of total phenolic compounds (221 mg GAE 100 g-1 fw), total flavonoids (63.9 mg QE 100 g-1 fw), FRAP (1184.4 mmol TE 100 g-1) and DPPH (257.4 mmol TE 100 g-1), compared with those grown under red LED lighting. Cultivation of microgreens under LED lighting facilitated expeditious sprout production, and although the nutritional values were generally higher in the organic mature red cabbage, it was acknowledged that red cabbage microgreens can also make a significant contribution to human nutrition.
This study explored sustainable approaches for enhancing productivity and quality of Majorana hortensis (sweet marjoram) using biostimulants and biological pest control. Effects of two biostimulants: humic acid (HA) and effective microorganisms (EM), applied at concentrations of 5 and 10 mL L-1, on sweet marjoram were evaluated under net-house conditions in 2022 and 2023, using a randomised complete block design. In addition, the predatory insect Orius albidipennis was assessed for its efficacy in controlling whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) populations. In both years, plant growth parameters, leaf pigment content, essential oil yield and composition and insect control were monitored across three harvests (May, July, and September). Both HA and EM significantly enhanced plant height, biomass, and essential oil yield. The highest essential oil yields of 206.5 and 177 L ha-1 were recorded for the HA 10 mL L-1 treatment, in the first and second season respectively, approximately a fourfold increase compared to the control (53.5 and 43.5 L ha-1). HA treatments notably enhanced accumulation of key bioactive compounds (terpinen-4-ol and beta-phellandrene) and elevated levels of endogenous hormones gibberellic acid (GA3) and indole acetic acid (IAA) (second harvest). The predatory insect Orius albidipennis effectively controlled whitefly populations, providing a viable non-chemical pest control option. Economic analysis confirmed that HA application at 10 mL L-1 achieved the greatest net revenue of 239,862 Egyptian pounds ha-1. This integrated approach of using biostimulants with biological pest control enhanced marjoram productivity while also improving economic and environmental sustainability.
Crop protection strategies used in organic agriculture can vary considerably, which may affect natural enemy communities and pest control. Twenty organic apple (Malus domestica) orchards in south-eastern France were categorised according to their protection strategy as Alt'Carpo netting (A), biodynamic (B), or classic organic (C). Pesticide use, abundance of main predators and predation of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (CM), during the first (May), second (July) and third (August) CM generation in 2012, were analysed. The different protection strategies resulted in significant differences in the pesticide use, depending on the dates, with generally higher reliance on fungicide and insecticide under C. In August, abundance of total predators under A was not significantly different from that in B and C, but was significantly higher under B than under C. Earwig (Forficula spp.) abundance in July and August was significantly higher under B than in A and C. In August, abundance of Cheiracanthiidae spiders under B was not significantly different from that under A and C, but it was significantly higher under A than under C. Total predation rate of sentinel eggs increased from 14.1% to 45% from May to August. In May, predation rate was significantly higher under A than under B and C, and in August it was higher under B than under A and C. In general, correlation between abundance of predators and predation rate was significantly positive according to the CM generation. The findings suggested that the most efficient predators were different for each CM generation in the orchards.
