Effects of crop system and genotype on yield, quality, antioxidants and chemical composition of organically grown leek

Research was carried out in order to assess the effects of nine cultivars in factorial combination with open field or greenhouse growing on yield, quality indicators, antioxidants and elemental composition of leek in Moscow region. Greenhouse management resulted in higher yield compared to open field cultivation, due to higher mean pseudo-stem weight, and cultivar Giraffe gave the highest production. Pseudo-stem dry matter was better affected by greenhouse cultivation, whereas the content of monosaccharides, total sugars, nitrates, ascorbic acid and polyphenols were enhanced by open field growing. The cultivars Vesta and Summer breeze showed the highest dry matter and total sugar content, whereas Goliath had the highest antioxidant, selenium and potassium concentration. Among the mineral elements, K and Mg in pseudo-stems were better affected by greenhouse conditions, whereas Ca attained a higher concentration under open field growing. The antioxidant system of Allium porrum was characterized by significant positive correlations between Se, polyphenols, ascorbic acid and potassium.