Background and Aims:  A 3‐year study was carried out in order to evaluate the ecophysiology, yield and quality characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Kékfrankos (syn. Limberger) at Eger‐Nagyeged hill (steep slope) and at Eger‐Kőlyuktető (flat) vineyard sites located in the Eger wine region, Hungary. The aim of this paper was to analyse the effect of ‘vintage’ and ‘terroir’ on the seasonal changes of Kékfrankos ecophysiology and its possible relationship with yield and wine composition. Methods and Results:  Grapevine physiological responses (midday‐ and pre‐dawn water potential, pressure–volume analysis and gas‐exchange), growing stages, yield and wine composition of each vineyard were studied. Lower grapevine water supply was detected at Eger‐Nagyeged hill in each season due to its steep slope and soil characteristics. Pressure‐volume curves indicated that there was no osmotic adjustment in the leaves of this variety. Higher osmotic concentration was measured at turgor loss and full turgor in the leaves of the unstressed vineyard (Eger‐Kőlyuktető) presumably due to higher photosynthetic activity. Differences in soil water content of the vineyards resulted in a slightly altered cell wall elasticity. Stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic production per unit leaf area were affected by water availability. Lower yield in Eger‐Nagyeged hill was partly associated with decreased photosynthetic production of the canopy. Improved wine quality of Eger‐Nagyeged hill was due to moderate water stress which induced higher concentration of anthocyanins and phenolics in the berries. The duration of the phenological stages was dependent on vintage temperature characteristics rather than on vineyard site. Conclusion:  There was a close relationship between environmental conditions, Kékfrankos gas‐exchange, water relations, yield and wine composition. Water deficit plays an important role in creating a terroir effect, resulting in decreased yield, better sun exposure of leaves and clusters and thus higher concentration of phenolics and anthocyanins. Although quality is mainly influenced by vintage differences, vineyard characteristics are able to buffer unfavourable vintage effects even within a small wine region. Significance of the Study:  Stomatal conductance, pre‐dawn water potential and climatic data may be reliable parameters for terroir classification, although variety–terroir interactions must always be considered.

High frequency somatic embryogenesis can be obtained over a 7-8 month culture period when using current routing coffee tree micropropagation protocols. To reduce this response time and improve the embryo formation yield, eight different media were tested for primary culture. These media differed from the classically used ones by their mineral nitrogen and plant growth regulator concentrations. An increase from 0.66 to 0.75 in the NO 3 / NO 3 +NH 4 ratio and a 2-fold lower plant growth regulator concentration in the primary culture medium led to substantial improvements in terms of rapidity and embryo/plantlet regeneration frequencies. Embryo development time was reduced by up to 3 months with a 5-fold increase in the number of formed embryos. These results were obtained for the two cultivated coffee tree species, Coffea canephora and C. arabica, and for a wild one, C. heterocalyx, but not for a second wild species, C. sp. Moloundou showing a species-specific response. The new conditions described in this paper led to a substantial enhancement that should be particularly helpful for clonal propagation and genetic engineering of cultivated coffee plants.

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The positive physiological effects of the bioactive compounds of red wines have been known for a long time. Besides that, the polyphenolic compounds of red wines represent one of the most important factors for oenology. With a special chemical analysis, we discover the relationship between chemical and sensory compounds. In this way, we explore which compounds influence sensory properties. The phenolic compounds are the quality attributes of the wine. The analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out in two red wines: Cabernet Franc and Blaufränkisch. The aim of this study was to analyse the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of these two wines and evaluate the connection between the two parameters. In addition, we also examined the influence of the polyphenolic content on sensory perception. The experiment was carried out in a cool climate wine region in Eger, Hungary, in vintage of 2008. We investigated the profile of phenolic contents in new and aged wines. Total polyphenolic content, anthocyanin, leucoanthocyanin and catechin were evaluated by spectrophotometer. Stilbenes were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Almádi László a keszthelyi Georgikon Kar tanáraként eltöltött több évtizedes munkássága során napjainkban is korszerűnek tekinthető agrobotanikai ismeretekkel és a gyakorlatban jól alkalmazható fajismerettel rendelkező agrármérnök hallgatók sokasága mellett természetvédő botanikusokat is jelentős számban indított el pályájukon, vagy döntő befolyást gyakorolt rájuk. A növények iránti szeretete mellett precizitása, ismereteinek megalapozottsága és széleskörű tájékozottsága szolgál leginkább példaként számunkra. Tanár Úr gazdag életútját az ő történetei, elmesélései és írott publikációi alapján mutatjuk be, kiegészítve saját tapasztalatainkkal, élményeinkkel. Szeretettel köszöntjük Almádi Tanár Urat e kerek évforduló alkalmából!