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Stevia rebaudina Bertoni and Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Asteraceae) are valuable plants, largely applied in traditional and formal medicine. Six variants of Murashige and Skoog media containing creatine or creatine lysinate at different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 mg/l) were used. The application of creatine lysinate in the MS nutrient media influenced positively the apical growth and elongation of stevia and edelweiss in vitro plants. The higher activities of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX and GPX), as well as the higher content of flavonoids and phenols, were detected in stevia compared to edelweiss. The activity of CAT was much more pronounced in edelweiss. The activities of CAT, APX and GPX were found to decrease with the addition of creatine or creatine lysinate to the culture medium while the activity of SOD increased as this tendency is better expressed in L. alpinum. The selected concentrations of creatine and creatine lysinate did not show statistically significant differences in either of thе treatments compared to control in both the species measured by free radical scavenging capacity (DPPH method).

Since water scarcity is one of the main risks for the future of agriculture, studying the ability of different wheat genotypes to tolerate a water deficit is fundamental. This study examined the responses of two hybrid wheat varieties (Gizda and Fermer) with different drought resistance to moderate (3 days) and severe (7 days) drought stress, as well as their post-stress recovery to understand their underlying defense strategies and adaptive mechanisms in more detail. To this end, the dehydration-induced alterations in the electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic pigment content, membrane fluidity, energy interaction between pigment–protein complexes, primary photosynthetic reactions, photosynthetic and stress-induced proteins, and antioxidant responses were analyzed in order to unravel the different physiological and biochemical strategies of both wheat varieties. The results demonstrated that Gizda plants are more tolerant to severe dehydration compared to Fermer, as evidenced by the lower decrease in leaf water and pigment content, lower inhibition of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and dissipation of thermal energy, as well as lower dehydrins’ content. Some of defense mechanisms by which Gizda variety can tolerate drought stress involve the maintenance of decreased chlorophyll content in leaves, increased fluidity of the thylakoid membranes causing structural alterations in the photosynthetic apparatus, as well as dehydration-induced accumulation of early light-induced proteins (ELIPs), an increased capacity for PSI cyclic electron transport and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD and APX), thus alleviating oxidative damage. Furthermore, the leaf content of total phenols, flavonoids, and lipid-soluble antioxidant metabolites was higher in Gizda than in Fermer.

Extreme environmental conditions are among the factors most frequently responsible for serious reduction in crop yield. Various abiotic stresses threaten wheat production worldwide and drought in particular is especially harmful when occurring at early vegetation phases. Four wheat varieties were compared with respect to their drought tolerance by withholding water in soil pot experiments and their ability to recover after re-watering was assessed based on changes in physiological and biochemical parameters. Drought caused significant decrease in leaf water content, increased the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, free proline, and enhanced electrolyte leakage from cellular membranes. Water deprivation provoked oxidative stress which activated plants’ antioxidant defense system. The intensity of stress perception differed among the four wheat genotypes and they displayed diverse strategies for overcoming the imposed stress. While drought-resistant varieties responded to the stress via enhanced activity of ROS detoxifying enzymes, drought-sensitive genotypes employed coping mechanism involving accumulation of non-enzymatic components of the antioxidant defense system which were useful during the recovery process.

The food industry is interested in replacing artificial sweeteners with natural sugars that possess zero calories and carbohydrates and do not cause spikes in blood sugar levels. The steviosides leaves, synthesized at

The composition of the essential oils and the antioxidant properties of Origanum heracleoticum L. leaves and flowers collected from four different natural populations in Bulgaria (two locations in Kresna Gorge and two locations in Rhodopes Mountain) were studied and compared with those of micropropagated and field-adapted plants. Explants for micropropagation from wild-growing plants from Gorna Breznitsa (Kresna Gorge) were used. The enzyme antioxidant potential characterised by the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase as well as the non-enzyme antioxidant potential characterized by the content of phenols, flavonoids, water- and lipid-soluble antioxidant metabolites, were affected by environmental conditions and type of propagation (wild or micro). The highest enzyme antioxidant potential was observed in the flowers and leaves of the micropropagated plants, followed by the plants collected from Gorna Breznitsa. The variation in the content of metabolites with antioxidant potential in the Greek oregano collected from the two locations from each two areas of Bulgaria was detected. The higher content of phenols and flavonoids was detected in micropropagated plants as well as in wild-plants collected from two localities from Kresna Gorge, when compared with the wild-plants collected from Eastern Rhodopes. Forty-five compounds in the O. heracleoticum essential oil collected from the native populations were identified. Based on the essential oil composition, and especially on the carvacrol and thymol contents, the O. heracleoticum plants from all investigated natural populations in Bulgaria belonged to the carvacrol chemotype. Besides environmental conditions, another factor that affected the composition of O. heracleoticum essential oil was the existence of chemotypes.

In order to develop an efficient micropropagation system, it is essential to establish the appropriate concentration of growth regulators for seed germination, shoot formation and rooting. Nodal segments from in vitro obtained seedlings of Gentiana lutea L. were cultured in vitro in Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with BAP, Thidiazuron and Zeatin (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L−1). A maximum number of shoots with the highest height was recorded at 2.0 mg L−1 BAP. For further optimization of the process, we used nutrient media containing BAP and Zeatin with a combination of low concentration of Indoleacetic acid. MS medium containing 2.0 mg L−1 Zeatin and 0.2 mg L−1 IAA resulted in maximum numbers of shoots 94.3) with shoot height 2.5 cm. The multiple plants were successfully ex vitro acclimatized with 65% survival. The presence of growth regulators (2.0 mg L−1 Zeatin and 0.2 mg L−1 IAA) in the nutrient media resulted in an effective antioxidant activity in G. Lutea determined by the low molecular antioxidant metabolites such as phenols and flavonoids and activities of antioxidant enzymes – catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. The described protocol allows the establishment of numerous micropropaged plants of rare and endangered G. lutea.

The biologically active compounds present in the methanol extracts from Hyssopus officinalis that were cultivated from seeds, in vitro propagated, and from natural habitats, were compared. ...

The effect of salinity on gas exchange and fluorescence characteristics in Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense grown on nonsaline and saline soils was investigated. The distribution of Na+ between three types of substrates and different organs showed acropetal concentration gradient for Na+ accumulation only in L. barbarum grown on peat-moss-perlite and saline soil. Selective uptake of K+ over Na+ in the L. barbarum leaves was established. All plants grown on saline soil showed a slight inhibition of PSII activity as revealed by the quantum yield of the primary photochemical reaction. Intersystem electron transport, reduction of the end electron acceptors, and the performance index of photosynthesis declined to a greater extent in L. barbarum than that in L. chinense. The higher tolerance of L. chinense to salt stress was accompanied with the higher overall photosynthetic performance.

The rhizosphere microbial community is a complex of organisms interconnecting in multifold ways, acting upon each other and reacting to the surrounding environment. In the present research, we evaluated the influence of dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and microalgae (Scenedesmus incrassatulus R83 and Synechocystis sp. R10) on basil plants performance. Different modes of basil inoculation (AMF, microalgae and a combination of both) were analyzed. We characterized AMF function (colonization and glomalin-related soil proteins), acid phosphatase activity (in root and soil), plant growth, photosynthetic parameters, secondary metabolites (fluorescence indices of leaf chlorophyll content; flavonols contents; nitrogen balance index), and the activity of plant enzymes linking nitrogen and carbon metabolism (glutamate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase and NADP-malic enzyme). The highest values of biometrical data were as a result of mycorrhiza application alone and in the mixed treatments with both microalgae strains. Dual inoculation with both microalgae and AMF, stimulated mycorrhizal function (concentration of glomalin-related proteins). Indexes of secondary metabolites (flavonols and anthocyanins) increased after treatment with Scenedesmus (Al1 and AM + Al1) compared to control plants. The addition of Synechocystis alone and in combination with fungi positively influenced nitrogen balance index. Different modes of inoculation increased gas-exchange parameters in all variations of inoculations compare to control plants. The results for activities of nitrogen-carbon metabolizing enzymes demonstrated close relationships with the plant growth. The mycorrhizal root colonization of basil may bear considerable economic importance. Thus, the addition of suitable AMF to the rhizosphere would significantly improve the growth and productivity of commercial Ocimum spp. cultivation.

The present study discusses physiological and biochemical nature of relationships between below- and aboveground processes affected by three different lights spectra. Our objective was to characterize the effect of light quality on Solanum lycopersicum L. by determination of the mycorrhizal function, soil enzyme activities and plant performance (growth, photosynthesis, secondary metabolites and the enzymes linking nitrogen and carbon metabolism). A growth chamber experiment was conducted with young tomato plants and the light was provided by fluorescent tubes (white light, WL) and computer controlled light system that combines four lamps with 4 cm2 arrays of red, green, blue, amber LEDs. The combinations were RB (Red 66%, Blue 33%) and RG (Red 66%, Green 33%). Under WL mycorrhizal fungi promoted soil fertility increasing enzyme activities and this was linked to the higher plant biomass accumulation. Also, we found the same upward trend between the values of root and soil alkaline phosphatase together with acid root phosphatase activity and accumulation of flavonoids in leaves. RB light stimulated shoot biomass production and gas-exchange parameters in inoculated tomatoes. The enhancement of soil urease activity, mycorrhizal development and nitrogen content in the leaves in parallel with nitrate reductase activity were as a consequence of RG lightening. Plant responses to the light quality and quantity precise manipulation and inoculation with beneficial soil microorganisms could be perspective in extending the production economic efficiency and nutrition potential of vegetables grown in controlled environments.

Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is an important aromatic herb used for its medicinal values including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in natural antioxidants after inoculation of in vitro propagated garden thyme plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). An efficient and low-cost protocol for large-scale multiplication of this aromatic plant was developed. The explants were cultured on full and half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The maximum number of shoots and roots was obtained on ½ MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L−1 IBA after 4 weeks of culture. The successfully adapted in vitro plants (survival rate 95%) were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Claroideoglomus claroideum, ref. EEZ 54). Plants were then transferred into field conditions. Mycorrhizal fungi enhanced the activity of some soil enzymes, acid and alkaline phosphatase, urease as well as the levels of extractable glomalin-related proteins in plant rhizosphere. Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations with higher plants promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites such as phenols and flavonoids and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The results from the present study suggest enhanced antioxidant capacity of the inoculated T. vulgaris plants which was due mainly to increased accumulation of phenolic compounds (total phenols and flavonoids) together with stimulation of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPO).

The interaction between legumes, rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) partners benefits plant nutrition and improves plant tolerance to water stress. The present research evaluated the effecti...

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of salinity on growth, leaf anatomy and gas exchange characteristics in two Paulownia hybrid lines (Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei-TF and Paulownia elongata × elongata-T4). The distribution of Mg, Ca, Na, K and Fe between water available fractions from non-saline, saline soils, and different organs showed acropetal concentration gradient for metal accumulation, excepting Ca. Selective uptake of K over Na was enhanced slightly with increasing salinity, where K/Na ratio was reduced in Paulownia elongata × elongata-T4 and rose in Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei-TF. The reduction in the total plant leaf area and in the values of the intrinsic components of photosynthesis-maximal Rubisco catalyzed carboxylation velocity, maximal electron transport rate and triose phosphate utilization rate was observed only in Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei-TF. The CO2 compensation point rose to Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei-TF and declined in Paulownia elongata × elongata-T4, while the stomatal factor values were enhanced in both hybrid lines. Under saline conditions, the stomatal component was more limiting to photosynthesis than its biochemical components. It was concluded that Paulownia elongata × elongata-T4 was more resistant to salinity because its growth and gas exchange characteristics were less affected in comparison with Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei-TF.

The mycorrhizal fungi community is a significant soil rhizosphere component that benefits plant nutrition and improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. The present research compared the influence of three mycorrhizal strains over pot marigold ( Calendula officinalis L.) development and their contribution to promoting the valuable secondary metabolites accumulation in the condition of heavy metal (Cd and Pb) pollution. Two Claroideoglomus claroideum isolates (from industrially and naturally enriched metal-contaminated sites) and Funneliformis mosseae (derived from a soil with a high concentration of various metals) were studied. The mycorrhizal status and acid phosphatase activity were best exposed in the roots associated with C. claroideum (from native metalliferous sites) and corresponded with the highest total phenols and flavonoids concentrations. Neither Pb nor Cd was detected in the marigold flowers ( Calendula flos drug) following targeted mycorrhizal treatment. The higher Cd and Pb levels in non-mycorrhizal plants lead to the lowest flower weight, but in the aerial plant parts, we found a slight distinction. The tested strains stimulated the accumulation of important secondary metabolites (total phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids) in pot marigold flowers and, therefore, enhanced the antioxidant capacity. The carotenoid profile of mycorrhizal plants performed notable differences between the primarily defined constituents (lutein, lycopene, β-carotene). The highest β-carotene values (respectively vitamin A) and lycopene were found in pot marigold— F. mosseae association. The findings are essential to obtain the optimum benefits of mycorrhizal association in unfavorable conditions concerning pot marigold bioactive compounds synthesis.

Background Tayberry is a hybrid between Rubus fruticosus L. and Rubus idaeus L. These fruits contain valuable vitamins and antioxidants. An effective protocol for micropropagation of tayberry plants is here described. Different concentrations of cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, zeatin, and 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine) were added in Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) medium to micropropagation using stem tip and nodal explants. Results The highest propagation rate was recorded on MS medium containing 2 mg L(-1) zeatin, where the shoot formation resulted in 3.4 shoots per stem tip explant after 4 weeks of culture. It was found that half-strength MS medium with 0.1 mg L(-1) indole-3-butyric acid was the best for plant rooting. For ex vitro acclimatization of plants, the mixture of peat, soil, and perlite (1:1:1 v/v/v) was the most suitable planting substrate for hardening. The micropropagation protocol described in this study might be useful for the production of healthy plant materials. Tayberry fruits from in vitro propagated plants and adapted to the field conditions possessed higher antioxidant capacity in comparison to traditionally cultivated plants. Conclusion Fruit extracts of micropropagated tayberry plants and adapted to field conditions can be used as a rich source of natural antioxidants. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mycorrhizal fungi, algae and cyanobacteria are some of the most important soil microorganisms and major components of a sustainable soil-plant system. This study presents for the first time evidence of the impact of green alga and cyanobacterium solely and in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant-antioxidant capacity. In order to provide a better understanding of the impact of AMF and soil microalgae on Ocimum basilicum L. performance, changes in the pattern and activity of the main antioxidant enzymes (AOEs), esterases and non-enzymatic antioxidants including phenols, flavonoids, ascorbate, and α-tocopherols were evaluated. The targeted inoculation of O. basilicum with AMF or algae (alone and in combination) enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the plants and the degree of stimulation varied depending on the treatment. Plants in symbiosis with AMF exhibited the highest antioxidant potential as was indicated by the enhanced functions of all studied leaf AOEs: 1.5-, 2- and more than 10-fold rises of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR), respectively. The greatest increase in the total esterase activity and concentration of phenols, flavonoids and ascorbate was marked in the plants with simultaneous inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and the green algae. 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycril-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay proved the increased plant antioxidant capacity after co-colonization of green algae and mycorrhizae.

The current study reveals the effects of mycorrhization on heavy metal uptake and accumulation, antioxidant potential, and essential oil composition of Origanum majorana L., grown on soil polluted with industrial Cd and Pb. Two strains of Claroideoglomus claroideum (EEZ 54 and EEZ 55) were isolated from soil that is naturally rich in metals. EEZ 35 (Funneliformis mosseae) was isolated from a place with industrial contamination. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization with the EEZ 54 strain was higher than those of the other strains; there was no significant difference between EEZ 55 and EEZ 35. The highest value of the total identified essential oils was observed in plants inoculated with EEZ 35, where Pb accumulated in the roots. Mycorrhizal colonization led to a change in the content of the main compounds of marjoram essential oil. The EEZ 54 and EEZ 55 strains, isolated from areas with naturally high levels of metals, significantly reduced Pb accumulation in marjoram shoots and roots as compared with nonmycorrhizal plants. Antioxidant activity in marjoram aerial parts increased as a result of inoculation with EEZ 54 and EEZ 35 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strains due to the elevated levels of phenolic compounds.

Essential oil quality, quantity, and antioxidant capacity of foliar fertilized Matricaria recutita L., grown on industrially polluted with cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil were studied. The polluted field is near the waste depository of ferrous metallurgical combine “Kremikovci”. Content of Cd and Pb in the soil exceeded permissible concentrations 4.6 and 2.0 times, respectively. The presence of high levels of heavy metals in the soil resulted in retained plant growth. In M. recutita grown on industrially polluted soil, a decrease of root and shoot dry biomass and reduction of number of lateral steams was observed. Otherwise, the number and biomass of flowers per plant increased. Antioxidant defense in the foliar fertilized plants grown on industrially polluted soil could due mainly to increased levels of peroxidases with substrates ascorbate, glutathione, guaiacol, and hydrogen peroxide. Enhanced levels of Cd and Pb in soil did not influence essential oil yield and quality of chamomile.

The effects of Cd, Pb, and Zn uptake on plant morphology, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant potential, and essential oil yield and quality in Ocimum basilicum L. and Origanum vulgare L. plants were evaluated. The plants were grown as a pot experiment in soil heavily polluted with Cd and Pb and on unpolluted soil. Both plants accumulated Cd, mainly in the roots, while Pb occurred in the oregano shoots only. The leaf blade thickness of both plants increased when grown in polluted soil. Basil plants responded to the action of heavy metals with increases in gas exchange, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration, but water-use efficiency declined. Gas exchange and transpiration were reduced in treated oregano plants, but stomatal conductivity and water-use efficiency increased significantly. In basil, the increased levels of low molecular weight antioxidants such as phenols and flavonoids were observed, while in oregano, ascorbate, glutathione, and phenols were enhanced. Enzymatic antioxidant defense was observed in both plants when grown in contaminated soil, mainly with glutathione peroxidase, quaiacol peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione reductase. Accumulated levels of Cd, Pb, and Zn in plant organs resulted in a reduction in essential oil yield in basil only.

The effects of EDTA application to heavy metal-polluted soil on phytoextraction of heavy metals, leaf anatomy, gas exchange parameters, enzyme activities of C4 carbon cycle, antioxidant defense, and active compounds of Tribulus terrestris L. were evaluated. The addition of EDTA to the soil polluted with Cd and Pb markedly increased dry weight and Pb, Zn, and Cd contents in shoots. Plants responded to the action of EDTA by an increased stomatal conductance, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, water use efficiency, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. The activities of C4 carbon cycle enzymes simultaneously increased, thus concentrating CO2 for enhanced CO2 assimilation and providing NADPH for the antioxidant system. Antioxidants, such as ascorbate, reduced glutathione, and flavonoids, increased more in the shoots of T. terrestris after the addition of EDTA. The activities of guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, and the enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle enhanced significantly in the presence of EDTA. Increased activities of antioxidant enzymes suggest that they have some additive functions in the mechanism of metal tolerance. EDTA application lowered the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the content of total phenols, MDA, hydrogen peroxide, dehydroascorbate, and lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity expressed as α-tocopherol. Increased levels of total radical-scavenging activity are in correspondence with the activity of water-soluble antioxidant compounds in T. terrestris tissues. The content of furostanol saponins protodioscin, prototribestin, and rutin increased as a result of EDTA addition. The results obtained allowed us to assume that applied EDTA reduced a negative heavy metal impact on puncture vine photosynthesis and antioxidant potential.

Intergeneric cross was made between the cultivated sunflower inbred line HA89 and an accession of wild Verbesina encelioides tolerant to drought and high temperature. The line was a BC2F5 progeny. The most remarkable feature of the plants was their compact architecture due to short petiole length and also, rather specific bright-yellow inflorescences. Similar plant architecture did not exist in either the wild or the cultivated parent. For sunflower, it is considered as a favourable and potentially useful adaptive trait. The line was multi-branched of medium type branching and possessed good agronomic characteristics. The overall characteristics of HA-VERBENC line make it a useful plant material for research on wide hybridization.

An effective in vitro protocol for rapid clonal propagation of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench through tissue culture was described. The in vitro propagation procedure consisted of four stages: 1) an initial stage - obtaining seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium with 0.1 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.1 mg L−1 α-naphthalene acetic acid and 0.2 mg L−1 gibberellic acid; 2) a propagation stage — shoot formation on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine alone resulted in 9.8 shoots per explant and in combination with 0.1 mg L−1 α-naphthalene acetic acid resulted in 16.2 shoots per explant; 3) rooting stage — shoot rooting on half strength MS medium with 0.1 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid resulted in 90% rooted microplants; 4) ex vitro acclimatization of plants. The mix of peat and perlite was the most suitable planting substrate for hardening and ensured high survival frequency of propagated plants. Significant higher levels were observed regarding water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidant capacities (expressed as equivalents of ascorbate and α-tocopherol) and total pnenols content in extracts of Echinaceae flowers derived from in vitro propagated plants and adapted to field conditions in comparison with traditionally cultivated plants.

Oxidative stress response and essential oil composition of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), grown on industrially polluted soil were studied. Sage plants were grown on the soil polluted with Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and non-polluted control soil. One-year-old sage possessed a high potential for heavy metal accumulation mainly in the roots. Heavy metal pollution resulted in root and shoot dry biomass inhibition. The increased levels of hydrogen peroxide and MDA showed that the heavy metal uptake caused oxidative stress. The increase towards the control was observed in the levels of glutathione, ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, catalase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. Weak activities of the most enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle allowed to suppose that H2O2 neutralization is rather non-enzymatic than enzymatic process. Observed decline in α- and β-thujones and elevated camphor content in the sage leaves did not indicate a deterioration of the essential oil quality. Sage grown on heavy metal-polluted soil successfully accumulated cadmium, lead, and zinc, which is resulted in plant biomass inhibition, but essential oil yield and quality was not declined.

The effects of foliar fertilization and a growth regulator 5-tert-butyl-N-m-tolylpyrazine-2-carboxamide (MD148/II) on the growth, seed yield, and silymarin content of milk thistle (Silybum marianum Gaertn.) plants were evaluated. The study was conducted over two years at an experimental field on a slightly acid-leached cinnamonic meadow soil. The MD148/II was applied in the beginning of milk thistle flowering stage. Foliar fertilizer was applied at different plant developmental stages with different proportions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Treatments with foliar fertilizer and MD148/II resulted in improvement of plant biomass, number of plant lateral shoots, flowering rate, and seed yield and the content of some active substances in milk thistle seeds. A reduction of high molecular fatty acids was observed. The increase of seed yield was a result of the flower head setting enhancement. Therefore the combined treatment of foliar fertilizer and MD148/II was efficient in elicitation mi...

BACKGROUND: The effect of foliar fertilization and Glomus intraradices inoculation on the growth, qualitative and quantitative pattern of essential oil in Salvia officinalis was determined. Sage plants were grown in a glass house on a soil/sand mixture (w/w = 3:1). Agroleaf® total, N:P:K = 20:20:20 + microelements, was used at the whole vegetative growth stage as a 0.3% solution. Inoculation with Glomus intraradices was done at the sowing stage. RESULTS: Application of foliar fertilization and/or mycorrhizal colonization improved dry biomass accumulation and increased the content of antioxidant metabolites (ascorbate and reduced glutathione). Applied treatments lowered the activities of the antioxidants enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, while guaiacol peroxidase increased. The relative quantity of essential oil pattern was also altered as a result of the applied treatments. Combined application (FF + Gi) significantly promoted 1,8-cineole and α-thujone, mycorrhizal colonization enhanced bornyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, α- and β-thujones, while foliar fertilization increased bornyl acetate and camphor. The favorable effect of root colonization by Glomus intraradices was determined both on quantitative and qualitative pattern of sage essential oil. CONCLUSION: We conclude that inoculation with Glomus intraradices resulted in improved essential oil yield and quality, while combined application of foliar fertilizer and mycorrhizal fungi predominantly enhanced shoot biomass accumulation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

The essential oil yield and chemical composition of Salvia officinalis L. (Dalmatica origin) have been analyzed. Leaf samples for essential oil analysis were harvested at different developmental stages after treatment with foliar fertilizer Agroleaf® and foliar fertilizer + thidiazuron. In total, 10 constituents were identified and quantified. The main compounds in the essential oil that increased during the vegetative to the fruiting‐set stage are α‐thujon and camphor, whereas borneol, viridoflorol, and manool decreased. The effect of thidiazuron applied together with foliar fertilizer was established mainly at the flowering stage, increased essential oil yield by 16% over the control, and positively affected the percentage of β‐caryiophylene, α‐humulene, viridoflorol, and manool. Application of foliar fertilizer resulted in a greater increase of essential oil yield at the flowering stage in the combined foliar and thidiazuron application over the control. Both treatments decreased camphor at flowering a...

The influence of the EDTA and citrate addition to the industrially polluted soil on phytoextraction of heavy metals, leaf anatomy, and gas exchange parameters of two Paulownia hybrid lines (Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei - TF 01 and Paulownia elongata x fortunei - EF 02) was evaluated. Both lines were accumulators of Cu, Zn and Cd because bioaccumulation factor values were higher than 1.00. The levels of heavy metal accumulation in shoots allowed supposing that both hybrids may be used for phytoremediation since transfer factors for Pb and Zn in hybrid - TF 01 were higher than 1.00, while in hybrid - EF 02 - for Zn only. Application of EDTA produced heavy metal accumulation in hybrid lines higher than those obtained with citrate. Treatment with 1 mM EDTA displayed a protective effect on leaf development in both lines and overcame damages in its morphological structure caused by heavy metal stress.

An efficient method for the micro propagation of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) has been developed. The plants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 6-benzyl-aminopurine, thidiazuron, zeatin and indole-3butyric acid after four weeks of culture. Maximum numbers of shoots, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight were established at 1.0 mg/L 6-benzyl-aminopurine and 0.1 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid. For induction of root, uniform micro shoots were excised and transferred to the rooting medium (half strength Murashige and Skoog medium macro and microelements) supplemented with 0.1 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid and 20 g/L sucrose. Indole-3-butyric acid increased culture rooting, number of roots and root length more efficiently at 0.1 mg/L after four weeks of culture. The multiple plants were successfully ex vitro adapted with 90% survival. The described protocol allows the establishment of numerous micro propagated plants of H. officinalis. The used growth regulators for hyssop micro propagation influenced plant antioxidant system. Antioxidant defence of micropropagated H. officinalis determined by the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase) resulted in higher shoot formation and increasing of shoot number per explant.