BACKGROUND: The biofortification of crops can counteract human diseases, including selenium (Se) and iodine (I) deficiencies in the diet. Little is known about the effects of combinations of Se and I on microgreens and seeds, or on their accumulation in these tissues. The present study aimed to evaluate Se (SeO 3 2− , SeO 4 2− ) and I (I − , IO 3 − ) biofortification of common buckwheat microgreens and seeds with respect to the effects of the addition of Se, I and Se + I on yield and on physiological and biochemical characteristics.RESULTS: In combination treatments, microgreens yield (600-800 g m −2 ) was 50-70% higher than for Se and I alone. The respiratory potential also increased by 60-120%. F v /F m was close to 0.8 in all samples. Se content [0.24 g g −1 dry weight (DW)] was 50% higher for combination treatments than for Se and I alone. I content was highest for IO 3 − treatment (216 g g −1 DW) and decreased in combination treatments with Se by 50%. CONCLUSION: Biofortification of buckwheat microgreens with Se and I should be performed with care because there are synergistic and antagonistic effects of these elements with respect to their accumulation. IO 3 − for the biofortification of microgreens should be kept low to prevent exceeding the recommended daily intake of I. Statistical analysisThe experiments with the common buckwheat microgreens and the field experiment with the common buckwheat plants J Sci Food Agric 2019; 99: 4353-4362

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The influence of eggplant grafting on tomato rootstock was evaluated during the two growing seasons. Yield, quality traits, and individual phenolics in fruits were assessed. Three commercial varieties and one landrace were used as scions. Grafting significantly increased eggplant yield and decreased the presence of calyx prickles. The effect of grafting on the accumulation of major phenolic constituents in eggplant fruit was inconsistent: in the year with less solar radiation and lower mean daily air temperatures, grafting decreased phenolic content in commercial variety/rootstock fruit and increased the content in landrace/rootstock fruit. An opposite effect in the latter combination was observed in the year with improved conditions for eggplant cultivation. The browning potential of fruit pulp was highly dependent on variety/landrace and partly also on grafting combination. Differences in correlations between phenolic constituents and browning potential (positive for varieties and negative for landrace) could also be ascribed to the importance of other antioxidants for diminished eggplant pulp browning.

Changes in the photosynthetic traits of plants and metabolic composition of fruits of two tomato cultivars, grafted onto two rootstocks, grown in three salinity levels were studied in two growing periods during the season. Increased salinity stress conditions lowered water potential, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of grafted tomato plants, in both growing periods. Water deficit induced stomatal closure, which resulted in stomatal limitation of photosynthesis. The proline content in tomato leaves increased and was closely correlated with salinity. Some of the quality parameters of tomato fruits were affected by rootstock. The sugar/acid ratio was the highest in fruits of 'Belle'/'Maxifort' grafts. With increasing salt stress conditions from 40 to 60 mM NaCl, the lycopene content increased and ascorbic acid content decreased in fruits of 'Gardel'/'Maxifort' grafts, indicating the ability of this scion/rootstock combination to mitigate the toxicity effect of salinity stress. A higher phenolics concentration in fruits from the first growing period may be an additional indicator of stress, caused by higher temperatures and solar radiation, compared with the later period.