In 1993–1997, 990 pupae of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) were collected from nine different varieties of Brasica oleracea L., grown on experimental farm near Kraków. Only 234 moths (23.6%) were recovered from the cocoons. The most important factor reducing the population of DBM was parasitization (65.1%). It varied between the years of observation and oscillated from 60% to 90.3%. Sixhundred and fourty four specimens of parasitic wasps belonging to 11 species from families: Ichneumonidae (5 species), Braconidae (3 species), Pteromalidae (2 species) and Eulophidae (1 species) were reared out. In each year of observations the most abundant species among DBM parasitoids was Diadegma fenestralis Holmgr. as it constituted 71.4% of all of the wasps reared. In the years 1994 and 1996 with low abundance of diamondback moth, D. fenestralis was the only species parasitizing 66.7% and 89.5% of the pest larvae.

In1993–1997 the occurrence of predatory syrphids inthe cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) colonies was observed on the nine different cabbage vegetables: savoy cabbage cv. Vertus, white cabbage cv. Amager, red cabbage cv. Langendijker, brussels sprout cv. Maczuga, cauliflower cv. Pionier, blue kohlrabi cv. Masłowa, white kohlrabi cv. Delikates, kale cv. Zielony Kędzierzawy and broccoli cv. Piast. The number of aphids as well as amount of aphidophagous Syrphidae feeding in their colonies on the different cabbage vegetables were compared. The species compositionwas also estimated. Eight species of Syrphidae were collected: Episyrphus balteatus (Deg.), Sphaerophoria scripta (L.), S. rueppelli (Wied.) S. menthastri (L.), Metasyrphus corollae (Fabr.), Scaeva pyrastri (L.), Syrphus vitripennis (Meig.), Paragus quadrifasciatus (Meig.). In the all years of observation the dominant species were E. balteatus (Deg.), S. scripta (L.) and S. rueppelli (Wied.). The highest number of syrphid larvae were collected from cabbage aphid colonies on the white and savoy cabbage.

In 1993–1997 the occurrence of cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) and predators from Cecidomyiidae, Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae was observed on the nine different late cabbage vegetables; Savoy cabbage cv. ‘Vertus’, white cabbage cv. ‘Amager’, red cabbage cv. ‘Langendijker’, brussel sprouts cv. ‘Maczuga’, cauliflower cv. ‘Pionier’, blue kohlrabi cv. ‘Masłowa’, white kohlrabi cv. ‘Delikates’, kale cv. ‘Zielony Kędzierzawy’ and broccoli cv. ‘Piast’. Among the examined predators only the cecidomyiid – Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rond. (Cecidomyiidae) played an important role in reducing the number of cabbage aphids. The cruciferous species had no impact on the density of A. aphidimyza population, and females laying eggs. The size of aphid colonies on cabbage leaves played the most important role.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV; family Bromoviridae, genus Cucumovirus) is the most cosmopolitan plant virus occurring worldwide. In the present study, leaf samples showing deformations, mosaics, and chlorotic spots symptoms were collected from naturally infected Basella alba, Telfairia occidentalis and Talinum fruticosum in a home yard garden in Ibadan, Nigeria. Total nucleic acid was extracted from leaves and used as template for cDNA synthesis. RT-PCR was carried out using CMV-specific primers targeting RNA-1 segment. Samples were also tested by RT-PCR using Potyvirus and Begomovirus genusspecific primers. DNA fragments with the expected sizes of ~500 bp were amplified by using CMV-specific primers; however, the expected amplicons were not produced using specific primers used for the detection of potyviruses and begomoviruses. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences obtained for the isolates studied contained 503–511 nt and 144 aa, respectively. The isolates shared 81.9–85.3% nucleotide and 74.3–77.8% amino acid sequence identities with each other. The results of BLASTN analyses showed the highest identities of the isolates (80–93%) with CMV strains from Japan, USA and South Korea. Alignment of deduced partial protein revealed multiple amino acid substitutions within the three isolates and high identities with CMV subgroup I. Phylogenetic analyses putatively categorized the isolates in close association with subgroup IB isolates. The three isolates clustered together into a separate subclade, indicating possible new CMV strains. The results provide the first molecular evidence for CMV infections of T. fruticosum and B. alba in Nigeria and seem to show the possible presence of new strain(s). These findings also add three new hosts to the list of natural host range of the virus in Nigeria.

Silesia Park in Chorzów was established on land of poor quality and partially degraded. 60 years since that event, the research have been carried out to identify both the degree of structural preservation of the Park Stand’s structure in relation to the original design goals and also the direction of any changes – due to the effects of years of land remediation and the flora’s natural succession. It was found that vegetation of Silesia Park remains, in general, consistent with its original master plan, however, after 60 years significant changes have occurred, affecting the Park’s function, its general form and landscape values.

Changes taking place in weathered bedrock and vegetation of the ground moraine of Werenskiold glacier during about 50 years are presented. These results are based on phytosociological survey and analysis of the population structure of Saxifraga oppositifolia in 20 experimental fields and the analysis of physical and chemical features of the soils. In the process of succession, with chemical features not much changed and spongy structure just beginning, the number of vascular plants did not increase. In the process of succession the gradual increase in the density of S. oppositifolia population was observed. The size of its individuals and the share of flowering individuals also increased.

The aim of the paper is to analyze instances of vegetalization, which is the X IS A PLANT metaphor, in John Henry Newman’s collection of sermons, published as Sermons on Subjects of the Day (1843). One group of metaphors are ontological metaphors, whose source domain is an entity (Lakoff, Johnson 2003[1980]). They can be classified as reifications, vegetalizations, animalizations, personifications, and deifications, which corresponds to the hierarchy of the so-called Great Chain of Being. As claimed by Krzeszowski (1997), these metaphors play an important role in expressing the axiological dimension of language, since they can express specific values of their target domains. In Christian discourse, vegetalizations contribute to the conceptualization of such notions from the religious sphere as God, grace, the Kingdom of God, the Christian life, the Church, or evil.

The vegetation of the Chernihiv city sands (natural and technogenic origin) has rather high syntaxonomic diversity (17 associations and 5 initial communities) and the ruderal phytocoenoses prevail. Natural phytocenoses are represented to a small extent (Cyperetum flavescentis Koch 1926, Dichostylidi–Helochloetum alopecuroidis (Timar 1950) Pietsch 1973, Artemisia scoparia–Dianthus borbasii community, Kochietum arenariae Fijalk 1978). Synanthropic psammophytes species communities that are more resistant to anthropogenic influence, are formed under urban conditions. The ecological range of vegetation of sandy alluvia varies from xerophytic phytocoenoses in mineral-poor sand (Kochietum arenariae) to the communities, which indicate waterlogged areas with increased mineralization of water and saline bottom sediments (Typhetum laxmannii Nedulcu 1968). Itispossibletoobserve the adventization and apophization of sand vegetation, one of the indicators of which is the rupture of coenotic connections between the species of the community. These phenomena indicate that the process of synanthropization of the vegetation cover of the city keeps intensifying, and first of all, occurs in places of newly formed technogenic ecotopes.

Soil-plant conditions in selected valleys typical for Bellsund Region are varying from hardly favourable (Skilvika), to favourable (Calypsostranda) and medium (Lyellstranda). Plant growth and development of a soil cover are favoured by grain size composition (loamy sands and light loams), quick warming-up of a soil, relative stability of a ground, location and shape of valleys, etc. Unfavourable soil-plant conditions result from too light or too heavy grain size composition, considerable dynamics of ground mechanical features and high compactness of a soil. Varying contents of carbonates and alkaline reaction (except for almost neutral reaction in organic horizons) were typical for the studied soils. Thickness of humus horizons as well as contents of organic C vary at the three studied sites. Significant is high concentration of easily available Ca and Mg, sometimes also of Na.

In this study, heavy metals pollutions in waters, soils and vegetables were investigated from farms, near oil refinery in south of Tehran city, Iran (Shahre Ray). The most important heavy metals in Iranian oil are vanadium, cobalt, nickel, arsenic and mercury (V, Co, Ni, As, Hg). In this region, the concentration of heavy metals in soils, well waters and leafy edible vegetables were evaluated in ten different points of farms. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to estimate the levels of heavy metals concentration at unmeasured locations. After sample preparation, concentrations of heavy metals in vegetables, soils and waters were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Five different leafy edible vegetables from farms, i.e., Persian leek, dill, parsley, spinach and radish were sampled in spring, summer and autumn 2012. In vegetables and well water samples, the concentrations of V, Ni and Co were above the permissible limit of heavy metals as compared to WHO guidelines and the concentrations of these metals in agricultural soils were found to be lower in accordance to soil references. The industrial waste waters had high concentration of heavy metals in this area. In consequence, the results of this study indicate that industrial waste water can cause pollution in well waters and edible vegetables. So, this region is not suitable for cultivation and growing vegetables.

In 1993–1997 the occurrence of Lepidoptera pests: Pieris rapae L., Pieris brassicae L., Mamestra brassicae L., and Plusia gamma L. were observed on the nine different late cabbage vegetables; Savoy cabbage cv. Vertus, white cabbage cv. Amager, red cabbage cv. Langendijker, brussel sprouts cv. Maczuga, cauliflower cv. Pionier, blue kohlrabi cv. Masłowa, white kohlrabi cv. Delikates, kale cv. Zielony Kędzierzawy and broccoli cv. Piast. The field observations showed that butterflies differentiated among host-species for oviposition. The butterfly females of all species preferred for oviposition the brussel sprouts and deposited a substantially larger number of eggs on leav es of them. Plant species with green leaves were more preferred than the red leaf ones.

Vegetables in addition to arable crops and ornamentals are also at high risk from slug and snail attack at all growth stages. The no-choice tests were conducted under laboratory conditions to assess the harmfulness of the slug Arion rufus (Linnaeus) and the snail Cepaea hortensis (Müller) to young vegetable plants. Ten species representing leaf and root vegetables, allium, brassica, cucurbit and edible pulse plants were chosen to compare their susceptibilities to feeding of these pests (agrotechnical classification – Polish National List of Varieties of Agricultural and Vegetable Plants 2005). The evaluation of the growth of the tested vegetables included a percentage of the damaged plant area and changes in aboveground plant mass. The trend toward increase of mass was defined by the means of regression analysis. Losses of aboveground plant mass resulting from pest feeding and plant growth restraint caused by the slug or the snail damage were assessed. Variance analysis of the general linear model and orthogonal contrasts were calculated to compare the vegetable groups included in the research. The highest losses of aboveground plant mass, by both pest species A. rufus and C. hortensis, were on common bean plants and the smallest on plants of leaf vegetables (lettuce, dill), brassica plants (cauliflower, white cabbage) and allium plants (garden onion).

The aim of the paper is to provide climatic data from the basic elements and characteristics of the energy balance in terms of the current state and in terms of trends and assumptions of their future changes in Slovakia. Climate change affect agriculture and its procedures. Changes in vegetation period in Slovakia of selected vegetables are presented in this study. We used for agro-climatic analysis one hundred climatological stations, which were selected to cover all agricultural re-gions up to 800 m a.s.l. Actual data and predictions were compared with time period 1961–2010. Due to homogeneity in data measurements, was chosen this period. We obtained climate trends and assumed map outputs of future climate chang-es by mathematical-statistical methods for horizons of years 2011–2020, 2041–2050, 2071–2080 and 2091–2100. We ana-lysed vegetation period changes of selected fruit vegetables, Brassica vegetables and root vegetable in field conditions with prediction to year 2100. In our results is shown the earlier beginning of vegetation period in a spring and later end in an autumn in last 30 years. The vegetation period is getting longer about 15–20 days for Capsicum annuum; 15–20 days for Brassica oleracea var. capitate; 10–15 days for Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris with comparation of nowadays situation and period 2091–2100.