Studies of the morphology and the 45S nuc rDNA phylogeny of three potentially undescribed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (phylum Glomeromycota) grown in cultures showed that one of these fungi is a new species of the genus Diversispora in the family Diversisporaceae; the other two fungi are new Scutellospora species in Scutellosporaceae. Diversispora vistulana sp. nov. came from maritime sand dunes of the Vistula Spit in northern Poland, and S. graeca sp. nov. and S. intraundulata sp. nov. originally inhabited the Mediterranean dunes of the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece. In addition, the morphological description of spores of Acaulospora gedanensis, originally described in 1988, was emended based on newly found specimens, and the so far unknown phylogeny of this species was determined. The phylogenetic analyses of 45S sequences placed this species among Acaulospora species with atypical phenotypic and histochemical features of components of the two inner germinal walls.

Oil cakes are agro-industrial wastes produced in large quantities, with still untapped potential in plant production. Basil is one of the most economical essential oil crops cultivated worldwide, requiring sustainable production methods. This greenhouse experiments evaluated the effects of flaxseed oil cake (FOC) added to peat substrate at the rates of 5, 10, and 20 g dm(-3) on herbal yield, content of bioactive compounds and mineral elements, antioxidant activity, and essential oil composition of basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal'), grown under well-watered and drought stressed conditions. Two-way ANOVA, principal components analysis (PCA), and correlation networks were applied to associate the data. PCA analysis indicated variability in basil responses to the different treatments, with each treatment forming distinct clusters. The study revealed the beneficial effect of FOC on basil herb yield under water stress. Applying 10 g dm(-3) FOC was the most effective in mitigating drought stress in basil. Under drought stress conditions, FOC at the rate of 10 g dm(-3) increased fresh weight by 63.9% and herb dry weight by 59.9% compared with the peat-only substrate plants. As FOC rates increased, the nitrogen level of plant tissues and substrates increased while reducing sugars, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids content decreased. GC-MS analysis of basil essential oil showed that the main compounds were tau-cadinol (10.79-12.54 %), linalool (4.93-10.01 %), methyl eugenol (4.11-6.71 %), alpha-bergamotene (3.11-5.48 %) and eugenol (2.10-5.05 %). Drought stress lowed the linalool, methyl eugenol and alpha-bergamotene concentrations compared with the well-watered plants. However, adding FOC increased the accumulation of linalool and methyl eugenol in all of the FOC treatments under drought stress. Analysis of the differential network showed that the fresh and dry weight and the methyl-eugenol content as "hub" parameters correlated with most traits of basil grown under well-watered and drought stress conditions. In conclusion, using FOC at appropriate levels can effectively reduce plant herb yield loss caused by water stress.

This research presents the characteristics and inferred evolution of post-bog soils developed in the Last Glacial Maximum area of northwestern Poland near the southern Baltic coast. The study involved a total of five sites near existing lakes in NW Poland. In total, 21 soil pits were described and sampled and 17 piezometers were installed. In soil samples chemical and physical properties were determined. During the hydrological year the water level was checked and chemical properties of water were determined, the floristic composition at each location was also carried out. Mineralisation of post-bog soils initiated by dehydration leads to the decomposition of organic surface layers and an increase in CaCO3 content as well as mineral non-lime components at the expense of organic matter. A sequence of five soil types occurs in this landscape: Sapric Histosols (Limnic), Drainic Histosols (Calcaric, Limnic), Histic Gleysols (Murshic), Umbric Gleysols (Hyperhumic), Gleyic Phaeozems (Hyperhumic) that represent individual stages of soil genesis. Differences between the chemical properties of soils are apparent between organic vs organic-mineral and mineral layers. Man-induced drainage of post-bog soils changes their physical parameters. Bulk density increase and water retention decrease. The fluctuation of groundwater determines the moisture content of post-bog soils and affects the species composition of vegetation. Chemistry of groundwater is shaped mainly by the construction of catchment and the nature of its use, however, it is modified as a result of the inflow of macronutrients released during organic matter mineralisation processes and leaching of exchangeable forms from the sorption complex.

Morphological analyses of three glomoid spore-producing fungi suggested that two of them were undescribed species of Glomeraceae (phylum Glomeromycota), and the third differed slightly from Dominikia glomerocarpica and Epigeocarpum crypticum, recently described in Glomeraceae. The first two fungi originated from the Mediterranean Sea sand dunes of the Peloponnese, Greece, and the third was originally found in a tree plantation in Yokohama City, Japan. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 45S nuc rDNA region and the RPB1 gene showed that (i) the three fungi belonged to Glomeraceae; (ii) the first two represented a new genus, here described as Complexispora gen. nov. with C. multistratosa sp. nov. and C. mediterranea sp. nov. and (iii) the third enlarged the monospecific genus Epigeocarpum, as E. japonicum sp. nov.

The use of a soil fertiliser results in high, good quality yields. The most widely used fertilisers are mineral or organic, but there is increasing attention on organomineral fertilisers produced from sewage sludge. These contain beneficial components which may improve soil fertility and thus plant productivity, but there are some concerns associated with their application due to their composition. Using a short-term pot experiment the effect of such a soil conditioner called FS, produced from sewage sludge after stabilisation with lime, on the qualitative−quantitative composition and activity of soil microorganisms and selected physiological parameters of the maize was analysed. The study was carried out in a completely randomised design, including a control (soil + lime + NPK). The application of the FS had a positive effect on the soil pH, equivalent to the application of lime. Organomineral fertiliser, as a source of organic carbon and macroelements, had a positive effect on the number of soil microorganisms and their activity, and this influence was stable during maize vegetation. FS did not influence the gas exchange activity of maize, the content of assimilation pigments in leaves or and the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus determined by chlorophyll “a” fluorescence analysis, but it increased the light absorption efficiency of the PSII photosystem. Differences in biomass yield from organomineral and mineral fertilisation were statistically insignificant.

Three new species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the genus Diversispora (phylum Glomeromycota) were described based on their morphology and molecular phylogeny. The phylogeny was inferred from the analyses of the partial 45S rDNA sequences (18S-ITS-28S) and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1) gene. These species were associated in the field with plants colonizing maritime sand dunes of the Baltic Sea in Poland and formed mycorrhiza in single-species cultures.

Organic wood waste (sawdust, shavings, pieces of wood and bark), is widely used as a secondary raw material and, after composting, for soil fertilisation and substrate production in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, urban landscaping and rehabilitation of degraded land. However, problematic to process is wood waste that is very dirty with soil. They have limited calorific value and cannot be used in the R10 recovery process of land treatment benefiting agriculture or improving the environment. However, the morphological composition of these wastes indicates that they have good properties and can be used for agricultural use and for the reclamation of degraded land. The research involved wood waste with the code 03 01 99 (other unspecified waste from wood processing and the production of panels and furniture) generated during the preparation of deciduous tree logs for the veneer production process, and ashes from the burning of wood waste generated in the veneer production factory. The aim of the study was to assess the chemical composition of these wastes and the possibility of their agricultural use. In the samples of wood waste and ashes there was determined: pH; chlorines content; conductivity; hydrolytic acidity; content of micro and macroelements and heavy metals. The morphological composition of the waste is dominated by sawdust, with a smaller share of shavings, bark and earth parts, and a small addition of pieces of wood of various sizes. It is rich in easily bioavailble as well as total macroelements and is not contaminated with heavy metals. Analyzed wood waste has deacidifying properties, high sorption and buffering capacity. Studies have shown that the wood waste produced at the veneer factory, can be used as an organic fertiliser, a component of other organic fertilisers, for soil mulching, horticultural substrate and soil and land reclamation.The ash obtained from burning wood is strongly alkaline and rich in alkaline cations, mainly Ca, Mg and K. It is not contaminated with heavy metals. The ash can be used for soil deacidification and fertilization, especially for soil reclamation. The waste from the heap can be used as an organic fertilizer, a component of other organic fertilizers, for mulching soils and as a gardening substrate. However, the possibilities for non-agricultural (e.g.: for the production of pallet, particle board) use are limited due to the high proportion of earthy parts.

This study aimed to determine the impact of tetrabutylphosphonium bromide [TBP][Br] on the soil environment through an experiment on loamy sand samples. The tested salt was added to soil samples at doses of 0 (control), 1, 10, 100, and 1000 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM). During the experiment, the activity of selected enzymes involved in carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycles, characteristics of organic matter with Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and toxicity of soil samples in relation to Aliivibrio fischeri were determined at weekly intervals. The results showed that low doses of [TBP][Br] (1 and 10 mg kg−1 DM) did not have much influence on the analyzed parameters. However, the addition of higher doses of the salt into the soil samples (100 and 1000 mg kg−1 DM) resulted in a decrease in the activity of enzymes participating in the carbon and phosphorus cycle and affected the activation of those enzymes involved in the nitrogen cycle. This may be due to changes in aerobic conditions and in the qualitative and quantitative composition of soil microorganisms. It was also observed that the hydrophobicity of soil organic matter was increased. Moreover, the findings suggested that the soil samples containing the highest dose of [TBP][Br] (1000 mg kg−1 DM) can be characterized as acute environmental hazard based on their toxicity to Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria. The increased hydrophobicity and ecotoxicity of the soil samples exposed to the tested salt were also positively correlated with the activity of dehydrogenases, proteases, and nitrate reductase. Observed changes may indicate a disturbance of the soil ecochemical state caused by the presence of [TBP][Br].

Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the nuc rDNA small subunit (18S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), and large subunit (28S) region (= 18S-ITS-28S), as well as sequences of this region concatenated with sequences of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II ( RPB1 ) gene, proved that the species originally described as Acaulospora polonica (phylum Glomeromycota ) represents a new genus and a new family of the ancient order Archaeosporales, here introduced into the Glomeromycota under the names Polonospora and Polonosporaceae , respectively. The phylogenetic analyses and BLASTn queries also indicated that the Polonosporaceae with P. polonica comb. nov. still contains several morphologically undescribed taxa at the ranks of genus and species, which have a worldwide distribution.

Examination of fungal specimens collected in the Atlantic rain forest ecosystems of Northeast Brazil revealed many potentially new epigeous and semihypogeous glomerocarp-producing species of the phylum Glomeromycota. Among them were two fungi that formed unorganized epigeous glomerocarps with glomoid spores of almost identical morphology. The sole structure that distinguished the two fungi was the laminate layer 2 of their three-layered spore wall, which in spores of the second fungus crushed in PVLG-based mountants contracted and, consequently, transferred into a crown-like structure. Surprisingly, phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 18S-ITS-28S nuc rDNA and the rpb1 gene indicated that these glomerocarps represent two strongly divergent undescribed species in the family Glomeraceae. The analyses placed the first in the genus Dominikia, and the second in a sister clade to the monospecific generic clade Kamienskia with Kamienskia bistrata. The first species was described here as Dominikia glomerocarpica sp. nov. Because D. glomerocarpica is the first glomerocarp-forming species in Dominikia, the generic description of this genus was emended. The very large phylogenetic distance and the fundamental morphological differences between the second species and K. bistrata suggested us to introduce a new genus, here named as Epigeocarpum gen. nov., and name the new species Epigeocarpum crypticum sp. nov. In addition, our analyses also focused on an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus originally described as Rhizophagus neocaledonicus, later transferred to the genus Rhizoglomus. The analyses indicated that this species does not belong to any of these two genera but represents a new clade at the rank of genus in the Glomeraceae, here described as Silvaspora gen. nov.

Champignon stalks are organic waste material widely underrated as a source of nutrients and substances with bio-stimulatory properties. French marigold (Tagetes patula L., Asteraceae) is an important crop plant that can be used in variety of different industries. This study assessed the usefulness of waste mushroom biomass - WMB (obtained in the production of champignon Agaricus bisporus), in the pot cultivation of two T. patula cultivars ('Mikrus' and 'Petit Yellow'). It examined growth, plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments content, leaves and petals color and their antioxidant potential as well as the essential oil content and composition of plants grown in 100 % peat (control) and peat supplemented with WMB (5 % by volume). Postharvest physicochemical properties and nutrient status of the media were also investigated. The addition of WMB enriched the medium in nitrogen, potassium and sulfur (by 14-28 %, 106-160 % and 33-100 %, respectively), and reduced its C:N ratio without affecting its electrical conductivity and pH. The plants growing in peat supplemented with WMB had greater fresh weight (by 32-54 %) and number of flowers (by 35-46 %), higher total chlorophyll content in the leaves (by 73-117 %) and more intense color of leaves and petals than those growing in peat alone. Moreover, the leaves and petals had greater content of total polyphenols and higher antioxidant activity (determined by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of essential oils revealed that the oils of leaves contained higher amounts of spathulenol (2.3-2.9 %), isopropyl myristate (2.6-13.3 %) and palmitic acid (20.7 %-22.7 %). Whereas, the oils of the petals showed higher concentration of caryophyllene (1.5-4.6 %), myristic acid (11.0-19.1 %) and 2,2':5'2 ''-terthiophene (7.7-12.8 %). Interestingly, dodecanoic acid (2.7-3.8 %) was found only in the oils obtained from T. patula petals. Moreover, the slightly higher content of this compound was found in the plants growing in peat supplemented with WMB (3.8 % and 2.9 % for 'Mikrus' and 'Petite Yellow' cultivars, respectively). In conclusion, the present study suggests a new, environmental-friendly strategy to increase plant productivity and bioactive compounds content by using champignon stalks as a medium supplement.

Examination of morphological characters of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; phylum Glomeromycota), which produced clusters with glomoid spores in single-species cultures, suggested that they were undescribed species, one belonging to the genera Dominikia, Microdominikia or Kamienskia, and one to the genus Glomus. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuc rDNA small subunit (18S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and large subunit (28S) (= 18S-ITS-28S) region, of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) gene, as well as of concatenated sequences of these two loci (18S-ITS-28S + RPB1) confirmed our hypotheses and proved that both fungi were new species, here described as Dominikia bonfanteae sp. nov. and Glomus atlanticum sp. nov., respectively. In nature, D. bonfanteae was found in a plant community on the shore of Kokotek pond II (Lubliniec in the Silesian Upland, Poland). Glomus atlanticum originated from the Dunes of Aguda Park (Northern Portugal). The phylogenetic position of these new species and their close family relatives within the Glomeraceae were compared and discussed depending on the sequence alignment analysed. This paper for the first time shows the phylogeny of AMF reconstructed from analyses of two concatenated unlinked loci: 18S-ITS-28S plus RPB1. The partial RPB1 gene of D. bonfanteae was amplified using newly designed primers.

Therefore the carried out study aimed at determination of the effect of high-calcium brown coal ash and compost being produced from municipal sewage sludge on the content and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in potato tubers, wheat grains and rapeseeds during a three-year period. Rapeseeds contained most Cd whereas wheat rains less. Potato tubers, wheat grains and rapeseeds contained more Mn, Ni and Zn in the fertilization objects with municipal sewage sludge with or without coal ash and compared to those where calcium carbonate or coal ash had been introduced into the soil at a dose corresponding to 1.5 Mg CaO · ha–1 at the beginning of this study. Differences in the Mn, Ni and Zn contents in test plants between the fertilization objects with sewage sludge of with and without addition of ash were not significant.

We investigated the effects of salicylic acid (0.5 and 1.0 mM SA) and salinity (100 mM NaCl) on chemical composition of Salvia coccinea leaves. It is a little known species of sage grown as an medicinal and ornamental plant. We used standard chemical analyses to determine the content of micro- and macronutrients and advanced instrumental methods (FTIR and Raman spectroscopy) to assess the quantity and quality of biogenic compounds. Salt and SA treatment changed the levels of the investigated minerals, except for Zn and Cu. SA in salt-exposed plants enhanced the leaf content of P, K and K/Na ratio, as compared with salt-exposed plants not treated with the acid. Molecular spectroscopic analyses confirmed that SA affected protein, lipid, lignin and pectin content in S. coccinea leaves. We confirmed usefulness of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for examining biochemical changes caused by SA and salinity stress within the plant tissues.

The growing market demand for plant raw materials with improved biological value promotes the extensive search for new elicitors and biostimulants. Gellan gum derivatives may enhance plant growth and development, but have never been used under stress conditions. Perilla (Perilla frutescens, Lamiaceae) is a source of valuable bioproducts for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. However, there is not much information on the use of biostimulators in perilla cultivation. In this work we investigated the effects of oligo-gellan and salt (100 mM NaCl) on the yield and quality of red perilla (P. frutescens var. crispa f. purpurea) leaves. Plants grown under stress showed inhibited growth, smaller biomass, their leaves contained less nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total polyphenol and total anthocyanins, and accumulated considerably more sodium than control plants. Treatment with oligo-gellan under non-saline conditions stimulated plant growth and the fresh weight content of the above-ground parts, enhanced the accumulation of nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and total polyphenols, and increased antioxidant activity as assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays. Oligo-gellan applied under saline conditions clearly alleviated the stress effects by limiting the loss of biomass, macronutrients, and total polyphenols. Additionally, plants pretreated with oligo-gellan and then exposed to 100 mM NaCl accumulated less sodium, produced greater amounts of photosynthetic pigments, and had greater antioxidant activity than NaCl-stressed plants. Irrespective of the experimental treatment, 50% extract effectively inhibited growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Both microorganisms were the least affected by 25% extract obtained from plants untreated with either NaCl or oligo-gellan. In conclusion, oligo-gellan promoted plant growth and enhanced the quality of red perilla leaves and efficiently alleviated the negative effects of salt stress.

The study covered 6 sites located in the Vistula glaciation area in north-western Poland, where the Holocene calcareous (gyttja) deposits occur. Three types of such calcareous deposits were isolated: marly (groundwater calcretes) (CaCO3 > 80%, loss of ignition < 20%, non-carbonate fractions < 20%), calcareous gyttja (CaCO3 50-80%, loss of ignition < 40%, non-carbonate fractions < 40%), and clay calcareous gyttja (CaCO3 20-50%, loss of ignition < 30%, non-carbonate fractions < 60%). The content of major and trace elements was determined in different horizons. Several parameters of Holocene calcareous deposits were determined, namely carbonate status, total organic carbon, non-carbonate mineral fractions and several major and minor components. Close correlations between CaCO3 and Ca, Mg contents, between non-carbonate fraction and K, Zn and Cu contents, as well as between ignition loss and Zn and Cu contents were observed in the sediments. The sediments exhibit vertical variability which relates to the genesis of sediments and soils. The highest content of macroelements was recorded in the uppermost layers for Ca, Mg, Na, and Mn and for microelements (trace elements) in bottom layers for S, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ni.

Biopolymers have become increasingly popular as biostimulators of plant growth. One of them, oligo-alginate, is a molecule that regulates plant biological processes and may be used in horticultural practice as a plant growth regulator. Biostimulators are mainly used to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, including salinity. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of salinity and oligo-alginate of various molecular masses on the growth and physiological activity of Eucomis autumnalis. The species is an ornamental and medicinal plant that has been used for a long time in the traditional medicine of South Africa. The bulbs of E. autumnalis were coated using depolymerized sodium alginate of molecular mass 32,000; 42,000, and 64,000 g mol−1. All of these oligo-alginates fractions stimulated plant growth, and the effect was the strongest for the fraction of 32,000 g mol−1. This fraction was then selected for the second stage of the study, when plants were exposed to salt stress evoked by the presence of 100 mM NaCl. We found that the oligo-alginate coating mitigated the negative effects of salinity. Plants treated with the oligomer and watered with NaCl showed smaller reduction in the weight of the above-ground parts and bulbs, pigment content and antioxidant activity as compared with those not treated with the oligo-alginate. The study demonstrated for the first time that low molecular mass oligo-alginate may be used as plant biostimulator that limits negative effects of salinity in E. autumnalis.

Holocene limnic deposits characteristic of the average latitudes have partially outcropped as a result of young glacial sculpture aging. The change of the environment from limnic to telmatic and often the interference of a man associated with the regulation of water relations led to the emergence of limnic deposits that underwent the process of pedogenesis. In this work, 137 samples of carbonate deposits from 6 sites in NW Poland were analyzed in terms of their physical properties. Carbonate sediments were subject to determination of specific and bulk densities, total porosity and air porosity, current and capillary water capacity. On the basis of CaCO3 content, combustion loss, and non-lime mineral content, the studied sediments were classified into three groups: lacustrine chalk, calcareous gyttja, and clay-calcareous gyttja. Studies have shown that the sediments subject to pedogenesis in the top levels have characteristic morphological features in the form of cracks and numerous channels and iron fills in the form of spotted, streaked or marbled mosaic. The top levels of sediments, as a result of dehydration, clearly increase their bulk density. Properties of the lake chalk were formed mainly by the proportion of organic matter and CaCO3, while in the case of carbonate gyttja, the influence of mineral parts of the non-lime substances is also highlighted. In the top of carbonate sediments, there is a decrease in general and capillary porosity and an increase in the share of macropores.

Flowers are grown not only for their ornamental values but also for the nutritive, medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and aromatic properties. They are a rich source of many chemical compounds which play an important role in various metabolic processes in the human body. Among them are minerals. The aim of the study, conducted in 2014-2015, was to determine and compare the content of macro- (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, S), microelements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Co, Cd) in flowers of different species and cultivars of ornamental plants. The experimental material consisted of dried flowers of Mimulus x hybridus L. (Magic Yellow, Magic Red). Antirrhinum majus L. (Cavalier), Dianthus chinensis L. (Chianti), Hemerocallis x hybrida Hort., Paeonia officinalis L. (Sarah Bernardt, Dr Aleksander Fleming, Karl Rosenfield). Monarda didyma L., Monarda fistulosa L. and Monarda citriodora subsp. austromontana Cerv. ex Lag. (Bees Favourite). The content of nitrogen was assessed by the Kjeldahls method, phosphorus - by the colorimetric method, potassium, sodium - by the flame photometry method, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, cobalt and cadmium - by the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results of the chemical analyses showed that Monarda and Mimulus x hybridus L. flowers were characterised by a significantly higher content of macro- and microelements in comparison with the other species. Among the macroelements, the highest amounts were noted for potassium (on average 30.03 g kg(-1) d.m.), and from microelements - for iron (on average 154.93 mg kg(-1 )d.m.). Moreover, the edible flower species were characterised by a relatively low concentration of heavy metals: 2.297 mg Ni, 1.298 mg Pb, 0.723 mg Co and 0.342 mg Cd per kg of dry matter on average. The lowest amounts of heavy metals were found in flowers of Paeonia officinalis L. cultivars.

Salvia coccinea (Lamiaceae) is a promising source of potential antioxidants, and its extracts can be used in pharmaceutical industry, as well as in food products and cosmetics. Salicylic acid (SA) affects many physiological and metabolic processes in vascular plants under salinity stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of S. coccinea to either SA, or sodium chloride (NaCl), or a combination of both. The plants were sprayed with a solution of 0.5 or 1.0 mM SA and watered with 0, 100, 200, or 300 mM NaCl. Exogenous application of SA increased the number of branches, fresh herbal weight, and total chlorophyll content vs control plants. Salinity-exposed plants showed reduced growth, content of photosynthetic pigments total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity. However, foliar application of SA relieved the adverse effects of 100 mM NaCl, as demonstrated by increased number of branches, greater fresh herbal weight, higher content of total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, and total polyphenols, as well as antioxidant potential, detected using ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2.2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), compared with untreated plants.