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The oil content and fatty acids, unsaponifiable composition and antioxidant activities of the seed oil from three Malvaceae species (Malva sylvestris L., Malva sylvestris L. var. mauritiana and Althaea officinalis L.) from Serbia were determined. The oil yields from the seeds varied from 7.18 to 9.60%. The main fatty acids of the seed oils were linoleic acid (44.14-54.49%), oleic acid (13.00-16.99%) and palmitic acid (11.45-24.29%). A small amount of cyclopropenoid acids, up to 1.85% was also established. The predominant sterol in all seed oils was β-sitosterol (11.51-17.34 mg/g of oil). The antioxidant potential of all the investigated seed oils was evaluated by radical scavenging activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay

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The article draws attention to the development of science and technology in 19th and 20th century, biology and chemistry in particular, and its relation with the green revolution of the middle of 20 th century and the gene revolution of the end of 20 th century. These two revolutions have resulted in significant changes in food production and integrated agriculture into high technology-based economy.

The present paper shows results obtained on effects of priming of sunflower seeds, subjected to accelerated ageing and the cold test, on seed vigour. Seeds were primed with distilled water, the potassium nitrate solution (0.2%) and the gibberellic acid solution (0.04%). The following parameters were tested: energy of germination, germination, proportion of abnormal seedlings, lengths of roots and shoots of normal seedlings. Accelerated ageing in the course of 3 and 5 days resulted in a statistically significant reduction in energy of germination and germination; it adversely affected the length of roots and shoots and it increased the proportion of abnormal seedlings. Seed priming with all three solutions mitigated adverse effects of 3-day accelerated ageing on energy of germination. Furthermore, seed priming with gibberellic acid prior to 3-day accelerated ageing positively affected seed germination and neutralized a negative effect of accelerated ageing on the number of abnormal seedlings, as well as on lengths of shoots and roots of normal seedlings. The cold test (at 5°C for 7 days) negatively affected energy of germination and the root length, increased the proportion of abnormal seedlings and did not affect seed germination. Priming of seeds with distilled water prior to the cold test completely neutralized the adverse effect of low temperatures on energy of germination. Finally, priming of seeds with all three solutions completely neutralized the adverse effect of cold test on the root length.