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Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare potato seed tuber production of cvs. Monalisa and Agata growing in beds, pots or hydroponics, with either single or staggered harvests. All culture systems were established in plastic sheeting-covered greenhouses protected with an anti-aphid network. The beds and 3L pots were filled with Plantmax® substrate and placed in suspended beds. The hydroponic system utilized NFT (Nutrient film technique) and 4m×15cm×7cm PVC tubes with a 4% slope and the fertilizers were a commercial formula. Each experiment was 4 treatments in factorial Scheme 2×2 with 2 cultivars (Monalisa and Agata) and 2 harvest methods (single and staggered). All three experiments were carried out in randomized design with 6 replicates and 7 plants per replicate. The hydroponics system presents some advantages: as harvest easiness, mineral nutrition control of plants, efficient use of water besides reducing the costs with pesticide. This system allows many harvest during the cycles culture allowing to maximize potato seed tubers harvest. The hydropony system was better statistically for tubers/plant number in single and staggered harvest. In all systems, the non-destructive harvest provided larger amount of tubers/plant, being the length and biomass these tubers smaller than in single harvest. There were significant interaction between culture system and harvest methods for the number of tubers per plant, tuber length and tuber fresh weights. The number of tubers per plant in hydroponics was 147% higher than the bed and pot systems for a single harvest. Even, tuber production from a staggered harvest in hydroponics was 286% greater than in the bed and pot systems for Monalisa and Agata cvs. Tuber lengths from potatoes growing in beds were 17% longer than those growing in pots or hydroponics from a single harvest. It was observed that tuber fresh weights in bed system, from a single harvest, were 51% larger than pot and hydroponic systems. Numbers of sprouts per tuber ranged from 2.55 to 3.04 for the 3 culture systems and 2 harvest methods. The sprouts length ranged 0.51–0.92 for Monalisa and Agata cultivar growing in bed, pots and hydropony system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lippia rotundifolia Cham. is a medicinal species, native to Brazilian mountainous regions, with leaves rich in monoterpenes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of sucrose in MS medium with a natural ventilation system using porous membranes on the growth and contents of volatile compounds in L. rotundifolia plantlets. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 12 treatments, consisting of a factorial system of four ventilation systems and three sucrose concentrations. The treatments were a system with no porous membrane (NMS) and three natural ventilation systems (AMS) containing one, two, and four porous membranes. The sucrose concentrations were 0, 15, and 30 g L−1. The natural ventilation systems were superior to NMS. The natural ventilation system with two and four porous membranes and 15 g L−1 sucrose in MS medium led to higher in vitro growth rates in L. rotundifolia. AMS using manufactured porous membranes was found to be a more efficient in vitro cultivation method than NMS. The ventilation system with four porous membranes and a sucrose concentration of 15 g L−1 was the most efficient, since an increase in the photosynthetic rate and less evaporative water loss were observed in this ventilation system. Volatile organic content was influenced by ventilation systems and sucrose concentrations. Major compounds myrcene, limonene, myrcenone and ocimenone were identified. AMS4 and presence of sucrose (15 and 30 g L−1) increased the myrcene and ocimenone content. The myrcenone content was favored by NMS without sucrose. Overall, the alternative membrane system with 15 g L−1 of sacarose can be recommended in the in vitro culture method of L. rotundifolia. [Display omitted] • Alternative membrane systems enhancement dry weight of plantlets. • Four membrane filters without sucrose and 15 g L−1 promote an increase in leaf area. • Myrcene and ocimenone content increase using four membrane filters and sucrose. • Nonporous membrane system without sucrose have a higher myrcenone content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drip irrigation is one of the agricultural techniques mostly used to grow a wide variety of vegetable crops. Studies focused on improving this technique based on using magnetized water, as well as on investigating its effects on medicinal plant production processes, remain incipient in the literature. Some benefits of this technique are the optimization of the quality and quantity of irrigation water, economy of the water absorbed by the plants, improvement in the vegetative growth and productivity, reduction of the use of fertilizers and the greater availability of nutrients in the soil for crops compared to irrigation using conventional water. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess the effect of different magnetized and non-magnetized water irrigation levels on Melissa officinalis growth, nutritional status and essential oil compounds in plants grown in protected environment. The experimental design consisted of completely randomized design with two water types (magnetized and non-magnetized) and four irrigation levels (25%, 75%, 100% and 125% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) with four replications. Irrigation conducted with different magnetized water levels had significant effect on the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and of all micronutrients in plants' leaves, and on soluble protein contents. The study also demonstrated significant effects of magnetically treated irrigation water on major chemical compounds such as citral (neral + geranial) and citronellal on the leaves of lemon balm plants. Different water levels significantly affected plant dry weight production parameters. In this study it was shown that the plant treated with magnetized water required less amount of water applied being a promising potential in saving water resources that will be of significant importance in the future. Overall, the results need to be further tested under field conditions to assess the usefulness of magnetic irrigation water treatment.in cultivation with medicinal, aromatic and spice plants. It is hoped that this study can contribute to improving water management, reducing the environmental impact without implying great costs for the producer. [Display omitted] • Increasing irrigation levels based on crop evapotranspiration increases dry weight. • Magnetized water at levels higher than 25% ETc increases mineral nutrients' content. • Magnetized water at levels higher than 25% ETc increases protein contents in leaves. • Magnetized water favors the synthesis citral (neral + geranial). • Magnetized water favors the synthesis citronellal constituent in essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesos components are the nutrients required by intermediate concentrations and recently, it are identified as one of the most influential groups of nutrients in Murashige and Skoog medium. Dysphania ambrosioides L. is a medicinal species used mainly as anti-helminthic around the world. The aim of the present study is to assess this species’ growth and volatile constituent parameters in vitro based on mineral nutrition with different components concentrations. Different magnesium sulfate – MgSO 4 (0; 185; 370; 740; 1480 mg L −1 ), calcium chloride – CaCl 2 (0; 220; 440; 880; 1760 mg L −1 ), and monopotassium phosphate – KH 2 PO 4 (0; 85; 170; 340; 680 mg L −1 ) concentrations in the Murashige and Skoog medium were tested in the nodal segments. Overall, components influenced the growth of Dysphania ambrosioides L. nodal segments in vitro . The most adequate components intervals on MS medium for the maintenance of Dysphania ambrosioides L. nodal segments in vitro are: from 1039 to 1069 mg L −1 of MgSO 4 , from 958 to 1301 mg L −1 of CaCl 2 , and from 329 to 397 mg L −1 of KH 2 PO 4 . The content in main volatile fraction constituents was influenced by different components concentrations in vitro . For treatments with 0 and 1480 mg L −1 of MgSO 4 and 0 mg L −1 CaCl 2 had more ascaridole content. The analysis of loadings allowed observing that ascaridole had negative correlation with cymene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of different culture media, strength MS media and plant growth regulators (PGR) was assessed through the growth and production of the volatile fraction composition in Ocimum basilicum (basil). The treatments were: the use of different culture media (MS, B5 and WPM), strength MS media (2MS, MS, ½MS and ¼MS) and different PGR combinations or only IAA, NAA, IBA, BAP and TDZ. The leaf number, nodal segment, shoot number, lenght, shoot dry weight, root number, root size, root dry weight, as well as the volatile fraction analysis through Head-Space – GC/MS were assessed at the 40th culture day. The present results suggest that media type, MS concentration and the growth regulator types have qualitative and quantitatively influenced the growth and volatile composition. A higher amount of methyleugenol in the media 2MS and ¼MS, and higher content of linalool and 1,8-cineole in MS and WPM were observed. The PGR improved biomass production and induced quantitative modifications in the production of major volatile constituents in Ocimum basilicum plantlets, although the same major compounds were produced in all treatments. There was a tendency to estragole synthesis in the presence of auxin combined with cytokinin. There was a tendency to linalool synthesis in the presence of auxin isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podophyllotoxin (PTOX) is an aryltetraline lignan used to treat skin lesions, such as warts, human papilloma virus, and genital infections. Hyptis suaveolens has PTOX in its roots and the culture of its plant tissues in vitro has been increasingly used to produce rare and high-quality medicinal compounds. Adventitious roots are an attractive source of phytochemicals due to their genetic and biosynthetic stability. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate adventitious roots' induction in leaves and nodal segments under different light qualities and auxins in H. suaveolens. Adventitious roots have only emerged in H. suaveolens leaves grown in semi-solid MS medium, in the absence of light and under red light-emitting diode (LED). Root dry weight values recorded for these treatments were statistically equal to each other, i.e., 21.84 and 29.81 mg, respectively. PTOX quantification was performed in the dark (10.72 µg g−1) and under red LED (9.93 µg g−1). Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L−1) concentrations induced adventitious roots' formation in leaves of plants belonging to this species. Explant supplemented with 2.0 mg L−1 NAA led to higher root dry weight (45.53 mg) in leaves. However, the 1.0 mg L−1 IBA treatment produced more PTOX (9.96 µg g−1 root). Nodal segments of H. suaveolens , IBA and NAA concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L−1) also induced adventitious roots' formation. The treatment with 0.5 mg L−1 IBA resulted in higher root dry weight (37.62 mg) in the nodal segment. However, 1 and 2 mg L−1 IBA resulted in lower root dry weight and higher PTOX (9.97 µg g−1 and 9.95 µg g−1). In conclusion, adventitious root formation and PTOX induction in H. suaveolens leaves grown in semi-solid MS medium only happen in plants grown in the dark and under monochromatic red LED light. Growth regulator NAA was the best element to induce adventitious roots' emergence in leaves, whereas IBA was the best one for such a purpose in nodal segment. Growth regulator NAA can inhibit the synthesis of PTOX, but IBA induces this secondary compound. [Display omitted] • Adventitious roots emerged in leaves grown in the absence and under red light. • Naphthaleneacetic acid led to higher root dry weight in leaves. • Indole-3-butyric acid led to higher root dry weight in the nodal segment. • Podophyllotoxin induction occurred in the dark and under red LED conditions. • Indole-3-butyric acid produced more podophyllotoxin than naphthaleneacetic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manure can be used as an alternative to animal manure and organic compounds and can also be part of the management practices for medicinal plant production systems. The objective of this study was to use a combination of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and cattle manure in the fertilization of Thymus vulgaris L. plants to design better production strategies. The effects on vegetative growth, nutrient accumulation, essential oil production and chemical composition, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant activity were investigated. On the basis of four rates of cattle manure (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg m−2), additional four rates of green manure (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg m−2 sunn hemp) were added to each rate of cattle manure plus a positive control treatment (chemical fertilizer), totaling 17 treatments. The combination of organic manures (green and cattle manure) as well as the chemical fertilizer positively affected the dry weight of thyme leaves, stems, and roots. The combination of the highest doses of cattle and sunn hemp manure (9 kg·m−2 and 9 kg·m−2, respectively) resulted in an accumulation of total dry weight 10 times greater than that of the treatment without fertilization, which was significantly higher than that of the control treatment (0 kg m−2 cattle manure and 0 kg m−2 sunn hemp). Only application of green manure (Crotalaria juncea) has positive affected in dry weight. Significant increases in total and a and b chlorophylls and carotenoids were observed in thyme plants with the use of organic fertilizers. The essential oil production and chemical composition were improved by organic fertilization. The highest percentage of thymol (65.42%) was obtained in the group with 9 kg m−2 cattle manure and 3 kg·m−2 green manure. The application of both cattle manure and green manure increased the antioxidant activity of thyme, and this activity was correlated with high levels of carotenoids. The combined use of green and cattle manures is an inexpensive way to increase the yield of thyme and its essential oil and thymol production, and it can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and thus is ecologically sound for the cultivation of medicinal plants. [Display omitted] • Green manure improves the production and quality of thyme cultivation. • Essential oil and thymol are responsive to combined organic fertilization. • Organic fertilizer combination improves growth and antioxidant response. • Cattle manure in thyme fertilization results in better plant performance. • Nutrients in leaves was high under cultivation at the highest organic fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monkey-pepper ( Piper aduncum L.) is an herbaceous species and essential oil producer, with biological activities such as insecticidal, antimicrobial, larvacidal and others. The cultivation of the plant is still incipient, being necessary to know the influence of some factors, among them, the light. Thus, the effects of different lighting conditions on the production and profile of the constituents of essential oils from leaves and roots of Piper aduncum L. were evaluated. Plants grown for 150 days in five light conditions: 100%, 70% and 50% of natural irradiance and nets of blue and red colors, also blocking 50% of natural light irradiance. The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves and roots and analyzed by GC/MS. Roots showed higher amount of essential oil (0.11% w/w), which had no influence on light conditions. On leaves the biggest oil content was observed in 50% brightness (0.085% w/w). The essential oil of leaves was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes and roots of phenylpropanoids. The leaves are rich in E -nerolidol, linalol (14.28–16.65%); α-humulene (8.45–10.62%); cis -cadin-4-en-7-ol (7.48–12.24%) and caryophyllene (7.93–12.24%). While the root is rich in apiol (16.27–29.51%). Most major compounds increased in the environment rich in blue light. The variation in the production and essential oil constituents of P. aduncum L. depends on the light conditions and can is related to phenotypic and genetic factors. Therefore control of the light environment in growing conditions makes it necessary for obtaining raw material quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine which elements effect the growth, essential oil content and composition of the volatile fraction of Achillea millefolium L. Acclimated scions were transferred into pots containing either complete nutrient solution or a solution of equivalent compositionbut lacking one of the elements N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B, Zn, B, Mo or Cu. The experiment was of completely randomized design, and each of the thirteen treatments was replicated four times with each replicate comprising two plants. Plants were cultured in the greenhouse under natural light for 55 days, under hydroponic conditions. Visual symptoms of element deficiency were assessed daily. Plants were harvested at the end of the culture period and growth parameters (number of leaves; stem diameter; root size; shoot, root and total dry matter), (levels of chlorophylls a; b; total chlorophyll and carotenoids), content of essential oil, and compositions of leaf headspace volatile fractions were evaluated. The results showed that the composition of the nutrient solution exerted a significant effect on all of the growth parameters, although visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency were more marked following omission of macroelements compared with microelements. With regard to total dry matter, the order of limiting nutrients was Ca = K = N > P > S > Mg for macroelements and Zn > Fe > B > Cu > Mn > Mo for microelements. Omission of P, S, B or Mn induced increases in essential oil content. The major components of the volatile fractions were identified as sabinene, 1,8-cineol, borneol, β-caryophyllene and β-cubebene, and the proportions of these compounds were affected substantially by the omission of macro-or microelements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Photon flux density and wavelength affect growth, pigments and volatile compounds. • Light intensity of 139 μmol m−2 s−1 is optimal for the growth of plantlets. • White LED and fluorescent light are effective for growth and dry weight accumulation. • Monochromatic red, blue and yellow lights inhibited growth. • White LED increased linalool, green and yellow monochromatic increased massoia lactone. Aeollanthus suaveolens Mart. ex Spreng. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant of African origin and is widely used in folk medicine due to its anticonvulsant and sedative effects. The aim of the study was to establish whether photon flux density (PFD) and wavelength, provided by light emitting diodes (LEDs), affect plantlet growth, photosynthetic pigment, and volatile organic compound (VOC) accumulation in Aeollanthus suaveolens. Nodal segments were grown under different PFDs (20, 57, 78, 102 and 139 μmol m−2 s−1) obtained with white LEDs lamps and under different LEDs light spectra as follows: white, green, yellow, blue, red, and combinations of red and blue (2.5R:1B; 1R:2.5B; 1R:1B) and cool white fluorescent lamps. The different light intensities affected the growth and production of photosynthetic pigments and volatile organic compounds. Plantlets grown under a PFD of 139 μmol m−2 s−1 showed greater dry weight accumulation and growth than those raised under other PFDs. The chlorophyll and carotenoid contents increased with a PFD of 20 μmol m−2 s−1. Light quality also affected plantlet growth. White LEDs light and fluorescent light were equally effective for growth and dry weight accumulation. Monochromatic red, blue, and yellow lights inhibited growth in Aeollanthus suaveolens. The concentrations of photosynthetic pigments from A. suaveolens plantlets were significantly affected by different wavelengths. Yellow wavelengths favored the production of photosynthetic pigments. The accumulation of VOCs was influenced by PFD and spectral quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) provided significant dry weight gain for plants. • Cattle manure source influenced the growth of Melissa officinalis. • AMFs and organic manure influenced essential oil content. • AMFs and in the presence of cattle manure contributed to the accumulation of citral. • AMFs led to the accumulation of total phenols. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) during cultivation is a promising possibility to increase biomass and essential oil yield of medicinal plants. The objective of the present study is to observe the influence of AMFs and fertilization with organic manure (OM) on Melissa officinalis growth, phenols, flavonoids, and on the chemical composition of its essential oil. The treatments were: (+)AMF(-)OM (with fungi and without organic manure), (+)AMF(+)OM (with fungi and with organic manure), (-)AMF(+)OM (without fungi and with organic manure), and (-)AMF(-)OM (without fungi and without organic manure)-control. Leaf (LDW), stem (SDW), root (RDW), shoot (ShDW), and total dry weight (TDW), shoot/root ratio (S/R) and total leaf area (TLA) were calculated 90 days after spore density counting and root colonization. Infection rates recorded for treatments inoculated with AMFs ranged from 47.95 to 53.55 %. The treatment inoculated with this fungus, without organic fertilizer, presented longer plant length (19.0 cm) than the control (16.6 cm). Inoculation with AMFs was significant for dry weight gain in comparison to the control. Organic fertilization also affected plant's dry weight gain. The highest essential oil content means were observed in treatments with AMFs and manure (0.27 %); this outcome was statistically different from that without AMFs and manure (0.16 %). Based on the PCA analysis, inoculation with AMFs - without/with organic fertilizer - had positive influence on the content of citral (geranial + neral), phenols, and flavonoids in the current study. Accordingly, the use of AMFs and cattle manure has influenced dry weight production, content, and yield, as well as the chemical constituents of the essential oil. According to these findings, the combination of these practices can enhance production in the cultivation of this species, and allow greater dry weight, yield, and active ingredient content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organic manure sources influenced the growth of Dysphania ambrosioides L. • Poultry manure increased growth gain compared with cattle manure. • Best growth was observed with quail or chicken manure. • Quail manure increased the ascaridole content in the leaves. • Chicken manure increased the ascaridole in the inflorescences. Dysphania ambrosioides L. is a medicinal species used worldwide, mainly as an anthelmintic. In Brazil, this species is listed on the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the National Health System. Studies on management, cultivation, and nutrition are incipient for this species. The present study tested the effect of different doses (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 kg m−2) of three organic manures (cattle, chicken, and quail manure) on plant biomass production and the content, yield, and chemical composition of the essential oil from D. ambrosioides L. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for 60 days. The doses of cattle, chicken, and quail manure influenced the plants' dry weight production and the content, yield, and chemical composition of the D. ambrosioides L. essential oil. Fertilization with poultry manure (quail or chicken) increased the plant growth more than did the cattle manure. Higher dry weights were obtained after incorporating 6 to 9 kg m−2 of quail manure or 9 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure. Higher essential oil content was extracted from the inflorescences than the leaves. The highest contents of essential oil in the leaves were obtained when using 3 to 6 kg m−2 of cattle manure or 3 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure. The 12 kg m−2 dose of cattle manure increased the oil content extracted from the inflorescences. The highest oil yields were obtained using 12 kg m−2 of cattle manure, 6 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure or 9 kg m−2 of quail manure. Using quail manure increased the ascaridole content in the leaves, while using chicken manure increased the ascaridole content in the inflorescences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]