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Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is a delicious and popular fruit, rich with nutritional values that benefit human health. The presented study sought to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) benzylaminopurine (BAP) in enhancing shoot proliferation and its somaclonal variation effect on fruit morphological variation in bananas. The research proceeded with simultaneous steps, including in vitro culture of horn bananas, BAP treatment, and acclimatization. The shoots treatment with three different concentrations of BAP comprised 0 mg L-1 (control), 3 and 4 mg L-1. Observations occurred on the number of shoots, the survival rate during acclimatization, and banana fruit productivity. The results revealed that BAP (4 mg L-1) considerably enhanced the number of shoots in bananas. Explants treated with BAP (4 mg L-1) were adaptive to the acclimatization stage, reaching a 100% survival rate. Bananas cultivated using BAP also exhibited morphological variations, with threefold enhanced fruit weight compared with the wild type, reaching 644.90 g. Physiological changes during in vitro culture stages revealed shoot initiation to acclimatization, resulting in morphological variations caused by somaclonal effects. These findings lead to understanding BAP as beneficial for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea mosquito bug (TMB), Helopeltis theivora is a most serious pest on cocoa worldwide that inflicts huge economic losses under epidemic situations. Laboratory colonies are necessary to perform year-round research to develop suitable management strategies for this pest. This study aimed to establish a population of TMB on suitable cocoa-feeding substrates under laboratory conditions. We used green cocoa pods and tender shoots as a food substrate and compared the biological parameters of H. theivora between them. The adult females preferred to lay more eggs on pods (32.20 ± 1.86 eggs/female) either singly or in a small group, and low fecundity was observed on shoots (20.75 ± 1.16 eggs/female). Meanwhile, egg hatching was highest on pods (92.48 ± 2.91%) than on shoots (74.08 ± 3.73%). This pest consists of five nymphal instars and the total nymphal duration was 13.53 ± 1.26 and 14.73 ± 0.85 days on pods and shoots, respectively. In addition, the per cent survival of H. theivora was highest on pods (78.66 ± 3.46) and lowest on shoots (51.85 ± 2.33). Significant differences were recorded in adult longevity and the mean life span of males and females were 13.17 ± 1.58 and 16.63 ± 1.64 days on pods; 11.10 ± 1.41 and 14.36 ± 1.53 days on shoots, respectively. Further, females lived longer than males in both substrates. Although, TMB will survive both on pods and tender shoots; rearing on pods could be more suitable and reliable to establish a sizable population of H. theivora under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The almond tree is a major global nut crop, and its production has surged dramatically in recent years. Super high-density (SHD) planting systems, designed to optimize resource efficiency and enhance precocity, have gained prominence in almond cultivation. A shift in cropping systems toward sustainable intensification (SI) pathways is imperative, and so maximizing branching density within the canopies of SHD trees is crucial to establish and maintain productive potential, especially for hedge-pruned trees. This study investigates the influence of different almond cultivars grafted onto a novel growth-controlling rootstock on tree architectural and growth parameters in a SHD orchard. This open field research provided valuable insights for the development and application of new tools and methods to increase productivity and sustainability in almond growing. Methods: Three cultivars (Lauranne® Avijour, Guara Tuono, and Filippo Cea) were evaluated in Gravina in Puglia (BA) over a two-year period. Canopy growth parameters, such as canopy volume and trunk cross-sectional area, and architectural traits, like branching density, branching angle, number and length of subterminal shoots, and number of brachyblasts, were measured through qualitative and quantitative measurements. Results and discussion: Results revealed significant differences in tree height, canopy thickness, width, volume, and vigor among the cultivars. Architectural traits, including branch parameters, brachyblast parameters, and subterminal shoots, varied among the cultivars. Lauranne displayed a more compact welldistributed canopy and exhibited the lowest vigor. Filippo Cea showed the highest vigor and the greatest canopy volume. Tuono had a higher number of buds and bud density. The best ideotype for SHD orchards is a smaller tree, with high branching density and smaller trunk diameters, i.e. the vigor. Cv. Lauranne seemed to be the best cultivar, mostly with the lowest tree vigor of all the cultivars involved. These findings provide valuable insights for almond growers and breeders seeking to optimize orchard design and management for enhanced SHD orchards productivity and sustainability. Future research will explore the relationship between canopy architecture and yield parameters, considering different scion/rootstock combinations in different environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macro-element for plants, and understanding the characteristics of the absorption and transport of P in crops is essential. The low availability of P restricts the growth, nitrogen fixation, and yield of soybean plants. In this research, the radioisotope 33P was supplied to the culture solution to trace the absorption and transport of P in nodulated soybean plants monitored using an imaging plate. The absorption rate of 33P was almost the same under the light and dark conditions. The absorption rate of 33P in the decapitated roots was near to that of the intact plants under light. These results indicate that the P absorption is not affected by evapotranspiration over a short time period. Conversely, the 33P transport from the roots to the shoot was significantly lower under dark conditions than it was under light conditions, although some 33P reached the top of the shoots under both the light and dark conditions. The transport of P to the shoots depends on the transpiration supplemented by the root pressure. The multiplication value of the 33P concentration in the xylem sap and transpiration rate was almost equivalent to the transport rate of 33P in the intact shoots. This value may be adaptable and used to estimate the transport rate of P for the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research has been carried out in the Arkhangelsk forestry of the Arkhangelsk Region in a drained shrub-sphagnum pine forest. Census trees of medium diameter and height for the stand have been selected, from which samples of needles, both living and dying yellow ones, and shoots of different ages have been taken on model branches. Soil samples have also been taken from the 3 upper horizons. It has been established that most of all nitrogen and mineral elements accumulate in the living needles – 4.4 % on average, in the dying needles and shoots there are 37–40 % less. Among all the elements, nitrogen, potassium and calcium make up the largest proportion; while the rest of the chemical elements are several time less. In descending order of the share, they are arranged in the following sequence: magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, manganese, silicon, iron and aluminum. The most important mineral elements are derived in significant quantities from the dying yellow needles. The content of sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iron decreases in them by 3.3, 2.1, 8.0, 1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively, compared to the living needles. Data on the presence of nitrogen and mineral elements in the soil horizons A0, T1 and T2 have been obtained. It has been established that some of the essential elements for the life of a tree are concentrated in the living needles in much larger quantities than in the soil: potassium, phosphorus, manganese and calcium – by 12.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 1.9, respectively. The yellow falling needles create a biological cycle of substances. The amount of nitrogen and ash constituents in these needles is proportional to their presence in the soil. In turn, the content of mineral elements in the shoots is close to their amount in the yellow falling needles, on the one hand, and on the other, depends on the age of the shoots. There is a steady trend of decreasing the content of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur with the age of the shoots.

Abstract Selecting highly nutritive fodder plants in arid regions can be a key to improving the livestock productivity. This work explores the variation in nutritive value of the leaves, stem, and shoots of five potential fodder plants of the Emirates of Fujairah, Erucaria hispanica, Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Convolvulus virgatus, Teucrium stocksianum, and Cleome Ibrachycarpa. influenced by two weather conditions, winter and spring. The plant samples underwent mineral composition, proximate, phytochemical, and heavy metals and two-way ANOVA. Weather data were accessed from National Center of Meteorology (NCM). Our findings reveal significant influences of collection time and species on nutritive content. Shoots collected in March exhibited higher ash (6.167%), crude protein (11.9%), crude fiber (14.89%), dry matter (45.86%), and total digestive nutrients (TDS) (48.35%), with lower tannin (5.11%) compared to January. Conversely, January-collected shoots had greater total sugar content (1.28 g/100 g). Plant organs played a crucial role, with leaves surpassing stems in Mg, P, Ca, K, Na, Mn, Zn, and Ni. Leaves also showed higher crude protein (23.33%), dry matter (92.26%), total ash (4.8%), and TDS (87.58%) compared to stems, while stems exhibited elevated crude fiber (17.45%) and tannin (4.53%). There is a need to assess the bioactive compounds found in these fodder species for the enhancement its effective use and maximize browsing of these species.

Selecting highly nutritive fodder plants in arid regions can be a key to improving the livestock productivity. This work explores the variation in nutritive value of the leaves, stem, and shoots of five potential fodder plants of the Emirates of Fujairah, Erucaria hispanica, Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Convolvulus virgatus, Teucrium stocksianum, and Cleome Ibrachycarpa. influenced by two weather conditions, winter and spring. The plant samples underwent mineral composition, proximate, phytochemical, and heavy metals and two-way ANOVA. Weather data were accessed from National Center of Meteorology (NCM). Our findings reveal significant influences of collection time and species on nutritive content. Shoots collected in March exhibited higher ash (6.167%), crude protein (11.9%), crude fiber (14.89%), dry matter (45.86%), and total digestive nutrients (TDS) (48.35%), with lower tannin (5.11%) compared to January. Conversely, January-collected shoots had greater total sugar content (1.28 g/100 g). Plant organs played a crucial role, with leaves surpassing stems in Mg, P, Ca, K, Na, Mn, Zn, and Ni. Leaves also showed higher crude protein (23.33%), dry matter (92.26%), total ash (4.8%), and TDS (87.58%) compared to stems, while stems exhibited elevated crude fiber (17.45%) and tannin (4.53%). There is a need to assess the bioactive compounds found in these fodder species for the enhancement its effective use and maximize browsing of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from being utilized as a commercial fiber at maturity, kenaf shoots have potential as a food and feed source because of their diverse bioactivities. Previous studies have focused on mature stems because of their high biomass, whereas the antioxidant activities (AA) and the destination of AA contributors of kenaf stems and their high-yielding byproduct leaves during the growth stage have rarely been studied. Therefore, we investigated changes in AA and its relative components in kenaf leaves and stems during the four vital growth stages. Higher ABTS radical cation and DPPH radical scavenging abilities and ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total polysaccharide content were observed at all leaf stages and in the late stem stages. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) and kaempferol glycosides, especially kaempferitrin (Kfr), were identified as representative phenolic acids and flavonoids in both kenaf leaves and stems. The content of CGA in both leaves and stems increased corresponding to the plant's growth stage, whereas kaempferol glycosides were enhanced in leaves but declined in stems. The highest correlation was observed between TPC and AA in all organs. Further evaluation of CGA and Kfr verified that CGA was the predominant contributor to AA, surpassing Kfr. These findings suggest that kenaf leaves increase antioxidant levels as they grow and can be a useful source of stem harvesting byproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using conservation tillage to grow crops that enhance soil quality, such as legumes, seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable agriculture. The field study was conducted to identify the effect of soil cultivation technology and fertilization, via strip-tilling (reduced) vs. plowing (conventional), on the availability and uptake of NPK and Mg, as well as on the growth of shoots and roots and yield of green peas (Pisum sativum L.). The research was carried out in central Poland (53°05′16.8″ N, 19°06′14.4″ E) over two growing seasons of green peas in 2016 and 2017. Our study has shown that the spatial distribution of macroelements in the soil is influenced by the tillage method. The availability and nutrient uptake by green peas, their growth parameters, and yield were also influenced by the tillage system. However, the effect was observed mainly in the first year of the study, which had less precipitation and higher temperatures. In general, in our study, the strip-till has a positive impact on the nutrient uptake by plants, contributing to longer shoots and roots and higher biomass accumulation, especially in the first part of the growing season. In 2016, with less rainfall, green peas under strip-tilling produced more pods per plant and the yield was higher than under plowing (by 13.8%). In 2017, with higher precipitation, an increase in yield under strip-tilling compared to plowing was also observed (by 9.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. To sum up, strip-tillage seems to have a positive impact on the spatial distribution of macroelements, growth parameters, and yield of green peas, and can be recommended as a technology for the sustainable production of this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of synthetic chemical inputs in current agricultural practices has significantly increased crop production, but their use has caused severe negative consequences on the environment. Humalite is an organic soil amendment that is rich in humic acid and found in large deposits in southern Alberta, Canada. Humic products can enhance nutrient uptake and assimilation in plants by reducing nutrient losses and enhancing bioavailability in the soil. Aim: Here, we evaluated the effects of different humalite rates in the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) at recommended rates on soil nitrogen availability, wheat growth, grain yield, seed nutritional quality, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under controlled environmental conditions. Methods: A series of studies were conducted by applying five different rates of humalite (0, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 kg ha−1) with NPK at recommended rates. Soil nitrogen availability and shoot and root growth parameters were recorded at flowering stage. NUE was calculated based on the grain yield at maturity stage. Results: Plants grown in the presence of humalite augmented root morphological parameters (root length, volume, and surface area), plant biomass (shoot and root), and nutrient uptake (N, P, K, and S) compared to the plants supplied with recommended fertilizer alone. Furthermore, humalite application significantly increased grain yield (14%–19%), seed protein content (23%–30%), and NUE (14%–60%) compared to the fertilizer application alone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that humalite can be used as an organic soil amendment to reduce synthetic fertilizer application and improve plant growth and yield while enhancing fertilizer use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural and functional organization of the crowns of boreal species of trees and shrubs, including willows, has not yet been sufficiently studied. The article analyzes the structure of the modular elements of the crown of S. cinerea. Materials and methods. The classification of shoots and crown shoot systems is based on three features: 1) the length of the internodes that make up the shoot, 2) the age of the shoot, 3) the presence of branching. The following classification of modular elements is used in the work: metamer, uniaxial shoot, three-year shoot system, branch from the trunk, crown as a whole. At the same time, the three-year shoot system is considered as an architectural module. The study of three-year-old shoot systems was carried out separately in female and male individuals, which revealed gender differences in the structural organization of their crowns. Results and conclusions. S. cinerea in its adult state can form life forms: a geoxyl shrub in two modifications – epigeogenic-geoxyl and hypogeogenic- geoxyl shrubs, as well as a life form of a semi-aquatic long-silorizome plantain. All life forms are confined to different environmental conditions. The life forms of the geoxyl shrub have 8 main variants of vegetative shoots of three types: short, medium-length and long. In individuals of S. cinerea of the life form of the semi-aquatic longsilorizome plantain, long shoots are not found in the crown, only 6 main variants of shoots belonging to two types have been identified: short and medium length. Medium-length shoots play the greatest role in the organization of the crowns of various life forms. Along with vegetative shoots in the crown of S. cinerea, vegetative generative shoots of regular renewal are isolated, the lower part of which remains in the crown until autumn and silleptic generative shoots from the vegetative.

IntroductionThe almond tree is a major global nut crop, and its production has surged dramatically in recent years. Super high-density (SHD) planting systems, designed to optimize resource efficiency and enhance precocity, have gained prominence in almond cultivation. A shift in cropping systems toward sustainable intensification (SI) pathways is imperative, and so maximizing branching density within the canopies of SHD trees is crucial to establish and maintain productive potential, especially for hedge-pruned trees. This study investigates the influence of different almond cultivars grafted onto a novel growth-controlling rootstock on tree architectural and growth parameters in a SHD orchard. This open field research provided valuable insights for the development and application of new tools and methods to increase productivity and sustainability in almond growing.MethodsThree cultivars (Lauranne® Avijour, Guara Tuono, and Filippo Cea) were evaluated in Gravina in Puglia (BA) over a two-year period. Canopy growth parameters, such as canopy volume and trunk cross-sectional area, and architectural traits, like branching density, branching angle, number and length of subterminal shoots, and number of brachyblasts, were measured through qualitative and quantitative measurements.Results and discussionResults revealed significant differences in tree height, canopy thickness, width, volume, and vigor among the cultivars. Architectural traits, including branch parameters, brachyblast parameters, and subterminal shoots, varied among the cultivars. Lauranne displayed a more compact well-distributed canopy and exhibited the lowest vigor. Filippo Cea showed the highest vigor and the greatest canopy volume. Tuono had a higher number of buds and bud density. The best ideotype for SHD orchards is a smaller tree, with high branching density and smaller trunk diameters, i.e. the vigor. Cv. Lauranne seemed to be the best cultivar, mostly with the lowest tree vigor of all the cultivars involved. These findings provide valuable insights for almond growers and breeders seeking to optimize orchard design and management for enhanced SHD orchards productivity and sustainability. Future research will explore the relationship between canopy architecture and yield parameters, considering different scion/rootstock combinations in different environmental conditions.

Abstract In cultivation, E. ventricosum is propagated clonally with adventitious buds sprouting from callus formed on the cut surfaces of the corm. The present study was conducted to enhance the efficiency of this indigenous enset propagation technique by identifying the optimum age of parent plants and corm types for maximum shoot production. This study was conducted using corms in the range of 12–18, 20–28, 29–38, and 40–50 cm diameter, corresponding to four age classes (1, 2, 3 & 4 years old) and three corm treatments (whole, half and quarter) were arranged in 3 × 4 factorial combination and layout in randomized complete block design with three replications. The statistical program SAS Version 9.3 was used to examine the data. The result of the study showed that all of the parameters considered were significantly affected by the treatments or their interaction effects. The number of shoots produced per corm was significantly (p

Aphids affect citrus by causing leaf deformations and reducing fruit production. Additionally, aphids are a great concern due to their ability to transmit Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), the cause of tristeza, one of the main citrus diseases. In the last four years, citrus orchards in the south of Portugal (Algarve region) were sampled for aphid species identification and counting. Aphis spiraecola was the most abundant species, representing more than 80% of all identified aphids, and the damage (leaf deformation) it causes was directly proportional to its density. A. gossypii was the second most common species, followed by A. aurantii and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. The number of aphids in nymph stages was predominant over the adult stages (both wingless and winged) in all species. A. citricidus, the most efficient CTV vector, was not detected. The largest populations of A. spiraecola were observed in lemon and orange trees during spring (>100 individuals per shoot), with great damage observed in orange, lemon, and mandarin trees. A. gossypii was observed mainly in mandarin and tangor trees. There was a low activity of natural biological control agents, with the parasitism of A. spiraecola by Lysiphlebus spp. and Binodoxys spp. ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. The numerical ratio ranged from 150 to 440 aphids per predator, and among these, syrphids were the most abundant, followed by lacewings and coccinellids (Scymnus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective rolling is a technique applied for the control of woody plants in semi-arid ecosystems in order to improve the condition of the pasture and reduce the risk of fires. There are studies on the effect of rolling on the soil and herbaceous and shrubby vegetation in La Pampa, but there are no scientific studies on the growth of tree vegetation in the face of successive applications of the practice. The objective of the study was to evaluate the regrowth capacity of Neltuma flexuosa (algarrobo) shoots in the Caldenal-Monte Occidental ecotone region, La Pampa. It was developed in the Campo Anexo INTA Chacharramendi in two sites with different frequencies of selective rolling, site 1 with a single intervention and site 2 with four interventions. Both sites were affected by a fire in 2016. The regrowth capacity was evaluated by measuring the length, diameter and number of regrowth measured in 39 carob trees per site. No significant differences were found between the variables of each treatment. These results could be due to the low intensity of the disturbance that failed to affect the levels of reserves, allowing the regeneration of the species. The information generated in this study provides greater knowledge about the effectiveness of the rolling practice as a woody control strategy in arid-semiarid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allium plants (especially garlic and onions) are useful condiments in most kitchens for the preparation of delicacies and in the preparation of decoctions in traditional medicine for the treatment of some emanating ailments, have its shoots sprouted for vegetables while the bulbs are usually discarded. The commonly discarded bulbs may have improved the antioxidant potentials. These improved properties could be utilized to treat or manage some degenerative and non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sprouting on the antioxidant potentials of garlic (Allium sativum) and onions (Allium cepa). The samples of garlic and bulbs were sprouted for 0 to 10 days. The phytochemicals, phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid; and the antioxidant activities such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity were investigated on the garlic and bulbs using standard methods. A significantly (P<0.05) higher total flavonoid content was observed in methanol extract of onions sprouted for eight days (7.84 mg/g RE) and in methanol extract of garlic sprouted for 10 days (20.16 mg/g RE). The onions extracts expressed higher phenolic content on day eight of sprouting, while that of garlic revealed a significant (P<0.05) increase till day 10. The DPPH scavenging activity of sprouted garlic and onions recorded the minimum activity on day eight. Garlic highest ascorbic acid content of 8.820 mg/g was recorded on the 10th day, while that of onions was 6.29 mg/g on the 6th day. The results from this study revealed that sprouting of onions and garlic vegetables may be an effective means of improving the antioxidant potential of some Allium plants. The results from this study revealed that sprouting of onions and garlic vegetables might be an excellent means of improving the antioxidant potential of Allium plants. This study conclude that sprouting should be between four to six days for onions and up to 10 days for garlic before processing for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a retrograde, ER-to-nucleus, signalling pathway which is conserved across kingdoms. In plants, it contributes to development, reproduction, immunity and tolerance to abiotic stress. This RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset was produced from 14-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings challenged by tunicamycin (Tm), an antibiotic inhibiting Asn-linked glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), causing an ER stress and eventually activating the UPR. Wild-type (WT) and a double mutant deficient for two main actors of the UPR (INOSITOL-REQUIRING ENZYME 1A and INOSITOL-REQUIRING ENZYME 1B) were used as genetic backgrounds in our experimental setup, allowing to distinguish among differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) which ones are dependent on or independent on IRE1s. Also, shoots and roots were harvested separately to determine organ-specific transcriptomic responses to Tm. Library and sequencing were performed using DNBseq™ technology by the Beijing Genomics Institute. Reads were mapped and quantified against the Arabidopsis genome. Differentially-expressed genes were identified using Rflomics upon filtering and normalization by the Trimmed Mean of M-value (TMM) method. While the genotype effect was weak under mock conditions (with a total of 182 DEGs in shoots and 195 DEGs in roots), the tunicamycin effect on each genotype was characterized by several hundred of DEGs in both shoots and roots. Among these genes, 872 and 563 genes were statistically up- and down-regulated in the shoot tissues of the double mutant when compared to those of WT, respectively. In roots of Tm-challenged seedlings, 425 and 439 genes were significantly up- and down-regulated in mutants with respect to WT. We believe that our dataset could be reused for investigating any biological questions linked to ER homeostasis and its role in plant physiology.

The study has the intent of exploring the dynamics of biologically active substance (BAS) extractions from red raspberry (R. idaeus) shoots in order to determine the appropriate extraction frequency. A secondary objective is to assess the relationship between extract antioxidant activity and BAS content.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macro-element for plants, and understanding the characteristics of the absorption and transport of P in crops is essential. The low availability of P restricts the growth, nitrogen fixation, and yield of soybean plants. In this research, the radioisotope 33P was supplied to the culture solution to trace the absorption and transport of P in nodulated soybean plants monitored using an imaging plate. The absorption rate of 33P was almost the same under the light and dark conditions. The absorption rate of 33P in the decapitated roots was near to that of the intact plants under light. These results indicate that the P absorption is not affected by evapotranspiration over a short time period. Conversely, the 33P transport from the roots to the shoot was significantly lower under dark conditions than it was under light conditions, although some 33P reached the top of the shoots under both the light and dark conditions. The transport of P to the shoots depends on the transpiration supplemented by the root pressure. The multiplication value of the 33P concentration in the xylem sap and transpiration rate was almost equivalent to the transport rate of 33P in the intact shoots. This value may be adaptable and used to estimate the transport rate of P for the diagnosis.

Pollution of environmental components with heavy metals is currently an acute environmental problem, which is most clearly manifested in urban ecosystems. For analysis, a coniferous species, common in the landscaping of the streets of Yoshkar-Ola, was chosen – Picea pungens Engelm. The research goal is to analyze the content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe) in the soil and vegetative organs of the P. pungens growing in the conditions of Yoshkar-Ola. In three functional zones of the city of Yoshkar-Ola (the Republic of Mari El), which differ in the degree of anthropogenic load, the total content of heavy metals was determined in soil samples, in shoots of the second order and in needles of the second year of life of P. pungens. Also, the ash content of the vegetative organs of prickly spruce was analyzed. The biological absorption coefficients and biogeochemical activity coefficients were calculated for P. pungens. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using Microsoft Excel and Statistica 6. In the soils of the studied functional zones, there were no excesses of hygienic standards for lead, copper and iron, but the content of cadmium was somewhat higher (1.1 APC) in the industrial zone. The ash content and heavy metals content both in shoots and needles of plants growing in the industrial zone were the highest. The coefficient of biological absorption of Pb, Cd, Fe in P. pungens in all areas of Yoshkar-Ola was less than 1.0, which indicates a low intensity of their absorption. According to the series of biological absorption, Pb and Cd in the organs of P. pungens belonged to the elements of weak accumulation and medium capture, and Fe, to the elements of weak accumulation and medium capture, as well as to the elements of weak capture. The biological absorption coefficient of copper was above 1.0, indicating that it was a highly accumulative element. The biogeochemical activity of P. pungens was the highest in the recreational area of the city.

Introduction: Today, soil pollution is one of the important environmental issues that must be taken into consideration. Industrial activities cause pollution and accumulation of heavy metals in the soil. The rate of absorption of pollutants, especially heavy metals, by different plants is different. If resistant plants can be found that are able to reduce some of the pollution in water or soil, they can be used to remove pollution from polluted sources. Heavy metals are considered as an important environmental problem due to their toxicity, cumulative effects, long persistence time in the environment, carcinogenicity and non-degradability. Chemical phytoremediation is a method in which different chelating agents are used to increase the absorption of metals by the plant. The purpose of this research is to investigate the ability of morale as a weed with a wide geographical spread in the country, to absorb cadmium metal pollution. Material and Methods: This research was carried out in the agricultural year of 2018-2019 in the greenhouse of agricultural Research Institute of Zabul University, located in Zahak city, with a geographic location of 61˚ 41' east longitude and 30˚ and 54' north latitude and an altitude of 483 meters above sea level. The research was carried out as a factorial experiment in the form of a completely randomized design with three replications. The experimental treatments include EDTA and PIOA chelate at four levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/kg of soil) as the first and second factors, respectively, and cadmium at three levels (0, 15 and 30 mg/kg of soil) from the source of cadmium nitrate as the third factor. This research aims to investigate the phytoremediation ability of Morale in the presence of EDTA and PIOA chelating agents in a selected soil from the drainage area of zabol in the form of a pot test on a soil contaminated with cadmium, in the greenhouse of the agricultural research institute was done of the zabol university. In each pot, 4 morale seedlings prepared from the treasury of Zabol University Agricultural Research Institute were planted at a depth of 10 cm. Analysis of data was done using SAS software version 9.1. The mean comparison of the treatments was analyzed using Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% level. Results and Discussion: The application of chelating agent increased chlorophyll a in all treatments affected by cadmium, so that the highest amount of chlorophyll a (878.33 mg/g) was in the treatment of 1.5 mg/kg EDTA and soil without cadmium, which ratio It showed an increase of about 3.75% compared to the control (without chelating agent and without cadmium). The highest amount of cadmium in aerial parts (8.57 mg/kg) corresponds to the treatment containing 1.5 mg/kg of EDTA chelated and soil with 30 mg/kg of cadmium and the lowest amount of cadmium in aerial parts (0.427 mg/kg) was related to the control treatment (without chelating agent and without cadmium). The application of chelating agent increased root cadmium in all treatments under the influence of cadmium, in a way that showed an increase of about 94.42% compared to the control (without chelating agent and without cadmium). Conclusion: In sum, the results of this research show that the Morale plant is a plant resistant to soil pollution and can tolerate the levels of pollution to a certain extent. Refinement and separation of cadmium metal from the soil was done better by the plant. Due to the high tendency of EDTA to bind to metals, when EDTA is used in high concentrations. It has a potential effect on the release of metals from the solid phase by forming soluble complexes, and the formation of EDTA complexes with metals in the soil solution may advance the balance of precipitation and absorption towards the dissolution of metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A grapevine shoot extract (GSE) was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction and characterized. The main phenolic constituents were identified as stilbenoids. Among them, trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin stood out. The GSE was administered to an isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury animal model. The extract alleviated the associated symptoms of the administration of the drug, i.e., the plasma lipid profile was improved, while the disturbed plasma ion concentration, the cardiac dysfunction markers, the DNA laddering, and the necrosis of myocardial tissue were diminished. This effect could be related to the anti-oxidative potential of GSE associated with its antioxidant properties, the increased levels of endogenous antioxidants (glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants), and the diminished lipid peroxidative markers in the heart. The results also revealed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity, which indicated the potential of GSE to deal with cardiovascular disease events. This work suggests that not only trans-resveratrol has a protective role in heart function but also GSE containing this biomolecule and derivatives. Therefore, GSE has the potential to be utilized in the creation of innovative functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine the component composition and quantitative content of flavonoids, including catechins, in the leaves, shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.) for further standardization of raw materials and establishing antioxidant activity of their water-ethanol extracts. Materials and methods. The leaves, shoots of Parthenocissus quinquefolia were collected during the phase of mass flowering in July 2020 and fruits were collected during full ripeness (September-October 2020) in Lisnyky village of Obukhiv district of Kyiv Oblast (Ukraine). Determination of the component composition and quantitative content of flavonoids, including catechins, was carried out by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an Agilent Technologies 1200 liquid chromatograph. Identification and quantitative analysis were carried out using standard solutions of flavonoids (rutin, quercetin-3-β-glycoside, naringin, neohesperidin, quercetin, naringenin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin) and catechins (pyrocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate and halocatechin). Antioxidant activity was determined by the spectrophotometric method at 347 nm by the ability to inhibit the autooxidation of adrenaline in vitro. Results. As a result of the study, 9 phenolic compounds were identified: rutin, quercetin, quercetin-3-β-glycoside, naringin, epicatechin, catechin, gallocatechin, epicatechin gallate. It was determined that rutin, quercetin, epicatechin, and catechin predominate in the leaves, shoots, and fruits of Virginia creeper. It was established that the extracts of leaves with shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper show a pronounced antioxidant activity due to their ability to inhibit autooxidation of adrenaline in vitro. Conclusions. The high content of rutin, quercetin, epicatechin and catechin in the leaves, shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper has scientific interest, due to discovered compounds have a valuable pharmacological effect. The obtained results can be used for the standardization of raw materials of Virginia creeper, and differences in the quantitative content of halocatechin in different types of raw materials, as well as the presence of naringin in leaves and shoots and luteolin in the fruits of Virginia creeper as diagnostic features of this species raw material. The results of the study of antioxidant activity confirm the prospects of using this raw material for the creation of new drugs with antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science is the property of PC TECHNOLOGY CENTER and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: According to literature, free radicals cause many diseases. A great interest in antioxidants is observed, especially their nature and origin. The use of synthetic ones must be limited due to their side effects. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant activity of red raspberry shoots liquid extracts. Methods: Using spectrophotometric and alkalimetric methods of analysis, the main biologically active substances (BAS) in the six obtained red raspberry shoots liquid extracts, were quantified. The potentiometric method was applied to assess antioxidant effect. Results: Results demonstrate a high amount of phenolic compounds and catechins in aqueous extract. They were 23.20±0.46 and 20.00±0.40 mg/ml, respectively. The flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids dominated in 80% extract (1.00±0.40 and 3.94 mg/ml, respectively). The greatest level of organic acids was found in 20% extract (3.15±0.06 mg/ml). The aqueous extract of red raspberry shoots possessed the highest antioxidant properties. Thus, water is the most appropriate solvent for extracting biologically active compounds. Conclusions: The aqueous extract possessed the highest value of antioxidant activity. The greatest content of polyphenols and catechins has been found in the aqueous extract. The correlation was observed between the highest amount of antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and the lowest in organic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from being utilized as a commercial fiber at maturity, kenaf shoots have potential as a food and feed source because of their diverse bioactivities. Previous studies have focused on mature stems because of their high biomass, whereas the antioxidant activities (AA) and the destination of AA contributors of kenaf stems and their high-yielding byproduct leaves during the growth stage have rarely been studied. Therefore, we investigated changes in AA and its relative components in kenaf leaves and stems during the four vital growth stages. Higher ABTS radical cation and DPPH radical scavenging abilities and ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total polysaccharide content were observed at all leaf stages and in the late stem stages. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) and kaempferol glycosides, especially kaempferitrin (Kfr), were identified as representative phenolic acids and flavonoids in both kenaf leaves and stems. The content of CGA in both leaves and stems increased corresponding to the plant’s growth stage, whereas kaempferol glycosides were enhanced in leaves but declined in stems. The highest correlation was observed between TPC and AA in all organs. Further evaluation of CGA and Kfr verified that CGA was the predominant contributor to AA, surpassing Kfr. These findings suggest that kenaf leaves increase antioxidant levels as they grow and can be a useful source of stem harvesting byproducts.

Boreal species of willows have not yet been sufficiently investigated from the standpoint of the structural and functional organization of the crowns of adult individuals. The article deals with the structure of modular elements of the S. euxina crown. Three traits are used in the basis of the classification of shoots and shoot systems of the crown. They are: the length of the internodes that make up the shoot, the age of the shoot, the presence of branching. The following classification of modular elements was used in the present article: metamer, monaxonic shoot, three-year shoot system (TSS), branch from the trunk, a crown in general. In this case TSS is considered as an architectural module. The study of three-year shoot systems was carried out separately in female and male individuals. It allowed identifying gender differences in the structural organization of their crowns. Individuals of S. euxina of various life forms develop in the crowns vegetative shoots of three types: short, medium and long. Moreover, shoots with medium-length play the greatest role in the organization of crowns. Individuals of life forms of single, small and multi-trunk trees distinguish 8 main variants of vegetative shoots and individuals of life forms such as facultative elfin wood distinguish 5 variants. As part of the annual vegetative shoot, 8 variants of metamers are distinguished. They differ structurally and functionally. As the main structural unit of the shoot system, a three-year shoot system (TSS) is identified, and on its basis an architectural module with 3 traits is singled out. In the composition of all model branches of S. euxina, TSS type 1:1 prevails in males, and TSS type 1:2 prevails in females. There are 1.4 times more assimilating shoots in the crown of female individuals of S. euxina than in males. This indicates that females are more branched compared to males and their crowns are denser. Assimilating annual shoots sometimes develop from inactive buds (3.9 %) in S. euxina.

Infrared spectroscopy is widely used in viticulture. Spectroscopy correlates spectral properties with reference data to obtain calibrations later used to predict the analyte content in new samples with a single spectral measurement. However, the main limitation lies in generating the reference data required to build robust prediction calibrations. This study proposes a data generation strategy to obtain reference data for larger spectral datasets. A reduced sample set was used to develop initial calibrations. These initial calibrations were subsequently applied to predict the reference data in larger spectral datasets. Calibrations for nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen content were then attempted using the larger generated datasets. The initial nitrogen calibrations per organ showed coefficients of determination in validation (R2val) between 80.08 and 89.93%. The root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) ranged from 0.10 to 0.18% dry matter, and the residual predictive deviations in validation (RPD) were between 2.27 and 3.19. The larger predicted datasets showed improved prediction accuracy with coefficients of determination in validation values above 91.79%, root mean square errors of prediction below 0.14% dry matter, and residual predictive deviations in validation above 3.49. The carbon calibrations showed, on average, a 20% increase in the coefficient of determination in validation decreased root mean square errors of prediction and increased residual predictive deviations in validation. The hydrogen calibrations showed a similar increase in prediction accuracy. The results showed the suitability of using reduced sample sets to generate the reference data of larger datasets capable of yielding more accurate prediction calibrations. • Accurate calibrations with near infrared spectra were obtained from reduced datasets. • Nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen content was accurately predicted from grapevine organs. • The accuracy of the carbon calibrations improved by 20% on average. • The validity of our upgrading approach to optimise prediction calibrations was proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) deficiency in human and animal nutrition is primarily due to low levels of Se in soils. It can be prevented by enriching crops, such as wheat, with Se through agronomic biofortification. Although Se is not essential for plants, it shows a dual effect on their metabolism depending on its concentration. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of five different concentrations (0.4, 4, 20, 40, and 400 mg/kg) of selenate and selenite on the oxidative status and antioxidative response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Kraljica) shoots and roots. According to morpho-physiological analyses, selenite was found to have a lower toxicity threshold than selenate. The measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers showed that Se did not cause oxidative damage to wheat seedlings due to the activation of detoxification mechanisms at the biochemical level, which depended on the type of tissue, concentration, and form of applied Se. Treatment with 20 mg/kg of selenate can be recommended for wheat seedling biofortification due to a sufficient increase in Se accumulation in shoots without signs of toxicity. These results contribute to a better understanding of wheat seedlings' physiological and biochemical responses to Se and the development of more effective biofortification strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents aspects recorded in the area of influence of the Research Station for Fruit Growing Iasi during 2020-2022 on five Hungarian sour cherry cultivars, able to capitalize on the Romanian agroclimatic conditions. Analysing from a water stress point of view, the April-July time interval when the intensive growth of shoots took place, during the studied years there was a deficit of -54.2 mm in 2020, -11.2 mm in 2021 and -113.8 mm in 2022 compared to the multiannual amount for this period. Analysing the trunk section area in terms of the average of the three years of study, the values were between 10.5 cm² ('Erdi Ipari') and 24.9 cm² ('Erdi Bibor'). The highest values for the crown volume were recorded in the cultivars 'Erdi Kordi' (4.53 m³/tree) and 'Dukat' (4.15 m³/tree) and the lowest crown volume was recorded in the cultivars 'Erdi Bibor' (3.78 m³/tree), 'Erdi Kedves' (3.27 m³/tree) and 'Erdi Ipari' (2.20 m³/tree). The density of the tree crown recorded values between 4.45 cm²/m³ ('Erdi Ipari') and 9.28 cm²/m³ ('Erdi Bibor'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponics is a promising method for growing agricultural plants and is especially relevant in the context of global climate change. Microscopic algae, including Chlorella vulgaris, have great potential for use in hydroponic systems as natural growth stimulators. The effect of the suspension of an authentic strain of Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck on the length of cucumber shoots and roots, as well as its dry biomass, was studied. During cultivation in a Knop medium with the addition of Chlorella suspension, the length of the shoots was shortened from 11.30 to 8.15 cm, while the length of the roots also decreased from 16.41 to 10.59 cm. At the same time, the biomass of the roots increased from 0.04 to 0.05 g. The data obtained indicate the positive effect of the suspension of the Chlorella vulgaris authentic strain on the dry biomass of cucumber plants in hydroponic conditions and make it possible to recommend this strain for use when growing plants in hydroponic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using conservation tillage to grow crops that enhance soil quality, such as legumes, seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable agriculture. The field study was conducted to identify the effect of soil cultivation technology and fertilization, via strip-tilling (reduced) vs. plowing (conventional), on the availability and uptake of NPK and Mg, as well as on the growth of shoots and roots and yield of green peas (Pisum sativum L.). The research was carried out in central Poland (53°05′16.8″ N, 19°06′14.4″ E) over two growing seasons of green peas in 2016 and 2017. Our study has shown that the spatial distribution of macroelements in the soil is influenced by the tillage method. The availability and nutrient uptake by green peas, their growth parameters, and yield were also influenced by the tillage system. However, the effect was observed mainly in the first year of the study, which had less precipitation and higher temperatures. In general, in our study, the strip-till has a positive impact on the nutrient uptake by plants, contributing to longer shoots and roots and higher biomass accumulation, especially in the first part of the growing season. In 2016, with less rainfall, green peas under strip-tilling produced more pods per plant and the yield was higher than under plowing (by 13.8%). In 2017, with higher precipitation, an increase in yield under strip-tilling compared to plowing was also observed (by 9.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. To sum up, strip-tillage seems to have a positive impact on the spatial distribution of macroelements, growth parameters, and yield of green peas, and can be recommended as a technology for the sustainable production of this crop.

The aim of the work was to determine the main groups of polyphenolic compounds in Quercus rubra L. raw materials. Materials and methods. The leaves and annual shoots of Northern Red Oak used for research were collected in August in Lisnyky village of Obuhiv district of Kyiv Oblast (Ukraine). Determination of the component composition and quantitative content of flavonoids (including separately catechins), hydroxycinnamic acids, and phenolic acids were carried out in the samples of air-shade-dried crushed raw material to a particle size of 3 mm by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Agilent Technologies 1200 liquid chromatograph was used for liquid chromatography. Results. Using the HPLC method, 18 polyphenolic compounds were identified in leaves and annual shoots of Northern Red Oak, in particular, flavonoids: rutin, quercetin-3-β-glucoside, luteolin, neohesperidin; catechins: catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin; hydroxycinnamic acids: chlorogenic, caffeic, trans-ferulic, trans-cinnamic, p-coumaric, hydroxyphenylacetic, benzoic, syringic, sinapic acids; phenolic acid is gallic acid. The dominant component among flavonoids is rutin (323.43 mg/100 g) (in the composition of catechins, epicatechin gallate (25.45 mg/100 g) prevails); among hydroxycinnamic acids in Northern Red Oak raw materials, chlorogenic acid (139.62 mg/100 g) and sinapic acid (74.64 mg/100 g) prevail. Conclusions. The obtained results point to the prospects of further phytochemical and pharmacological studies of Quercus rubra raw materials, with the aim of creating new plant substances based on it with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brassica napus is one of the most important oil crops in the world, and B. napus shoots are nutrient-rich fresh vegetables. The crude fiber (CF) component is one of the most important factors affecting the taste quality of B. napus shoots, but the factors underlying the desirable low-CF trait remain poorly understood. Methods: In this study, a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) map was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for five CF-related traits in a recombinant inbred population. Results: A total of 49 QTLs were obtained in four environments, including eleven, twelve, eight, twelve and six QTLs for content of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose, respectively. The phenotypic variation explained by single QTL ranged from 4.62% to 14.76%. Eight of these QTLs were further integrated into four unique QTLs, which controlled two different traits simultaneously. Five CF-component-related candidate genes were identified, among which BnaC03g07110D and BnaC07g21271D were considered to be the most likely candidate genes. In addition, five lines with low CF content were selected, which can be used as excellent germplasm resources in breeding. Conclusions: The QTLs identified in this study will contribute to our understanding of the genetic mechanism of CF and can be used as targets for reducing CF content in B. napus shoots. In addition, this study also provided excellent germplasm resources for low CF content breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, shoots of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. 'Huping Zao' were used to identify an in vitro propagation protocol. Murashige and Skoog medium was used for this purpose. In the initiation and establishment stage, the best variant in terms of explant growth proved to be the one to which 2 mg L-1 IBA + 0.1 mg L-1 GA3 + 1.5 mg L-1 NAA were added. Regarding the explant multiplication stage, the best results were obtained using 2 mg L-1 IBA, respectively 2 mg L-1 IBA + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA. The obtained results confirm the role and importance of different concentrations of hormones on the growth and development of explants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin (Czech Republic) is suggested as a source of significant pollution in the surrounding environment with various pollutants, including risk elements. A total of 53 sampling points were selected within the North Bohemian region. The selected sampling points represented either the basin areas (affected by the coal mining and related activities) or the mountain areas (an area unaffected by the coal mining but characterized by the geogenic sources of the risk elements). At each of the sampling points, soils and respective dominant indigenous plant samples were collected. A suite of ecological indices, namely, individual pollution index (Ii), Nemerow index (PN), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), translocation factor (TF), and hazard quotient (HQ), were applied to estimate the environmental risk of As, Be, Cd, and Zn levels in soils, potential soil–plant transfer, and soil–plant-animal transport of these stated elements. The results from Ii showed that the maximum values of As, Be, Cd, and Zn in the investigated soils exceeded the preventive values, where the Ii value was up to 58 for As in the mountain areas, indicating severe pollution. At the same time, mild pollution was recorded in the case of Cd. For Be in the researched soils, its Ii assessment result was a wide range, varying between a clean environment and severe pollution. Whereas As and Be uptake by plants was limited and these elements were retained in the plant's roots, relatively high mobility and soil to plant shoots transport ability of Cd were recorded and documented by the TF values. The HQs calculated for selected herbivorous mammals in the area showed that the potential health risk of As and Be was limited to only plant roots in the hotspots with extreme As and Be contents. In comparison, substantial health risk of Cd was observed in the aboveground biomass of plants. Therefore, the potential remediation of the coal mining areas should be focused on (i) identification of the As and Be hotspots and (ii) to reduce the mobility and plant availability of Cd in the whole investigated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vision is essential for most organisms, and it is highly variable across kingdoms and domains of life. The most known and understood form is animal and human vision based on eyes. Besides the wide diversity of animal eyes, some animals such as cuttlefish and cephalopods enjoy so-called dermal or skin vision. The most simple and ancient organ of vision is the cell itself and this rudimentary vision evolved in cyanobacteria. More complex are so-called ocelloids of dinoflagellates which are composed of endocellular organelles, acting as lens- and cornea/retina-like components. Although plants have almost never been included into the recent discussions on organismal vision, their plant-specific ocelli had already been proposed by Gottlieb Haberlandt already in 1905. Here, we discuss plant ocelli and their roles in plant-specific vision, both in the shoots and roots of plants. In contrast to leaf epidermis ocelli, which are distributed throughout leaf surface, the root apex ocelli are located at the root apex transition zone and serve the light-guided root navigation. We propose that the plant ocelli evolved from the algal ocelloids, are part of complex plant sensory systems and guide cognition-based plant behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Argentinian Horticulture / Horticultura Argentina is the property of Revista Horticultura Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aromatic plants contain essential oils, potent extracts renowned for therapeutic benefits. Essential oils are commonly utilized due to their diverse range of phytochemicals that possess therapeutic properties. The present study analyses the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from shoots and roots of Blumea mollis (Family: Asteraceae), using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. A total of 49 and 46 compounds were identified from shoots and roots accounting for 95.6 % and 88.4 % respectively. β-caryophyllene is reported as major compound 36.2 ± 0.50 % in essential oil of the shoots and 33.8 ± 0.55 % in essential oil of the roots. Both essential oils of shoots and roots were dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (59.2–76.4%), followed by oxygenated sesquiterpene (14.9–20.3%). The in vitro antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH radical scavenging activity, H 2 O 2 radical scavenging activity, and Iron(II) complexing activity. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in root essential oil of B. mollis. The oils also inhibited the activity of α-amylase with IC 50 of 3.53 ± 0.04 μg/ml (shoot), 3.45 ± 0.04 μg/ml (root). Root oil also showed good activity for protein denaturation with IC 50 of 3.02 ± 0.03 g/ml as compared to shoot essential oil. This is first time that essential oil constituent and biological activity of B. mollis roots and shoots have been characterized from India. [Display omitted] • This is the first report about chemical composition analysis of shoots and roots essential oil of Blumea mollis. • The roots of B. mollis show high essential oil yield than aerial part. • Chemical composition analysis of essential oil was done by using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. • Biological activity analysis confirms potent in-vitro antioxidant, inhibition of α-amylase, and inhibition of protein denaturation activities in essential oil. • This study provides an overview about both shoot and root essential oil composition of B. mollis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A grapevine shoot extract (GSE) was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction and characterized. The main phenolic constituents were identified as stilbenoids. Among them, trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin stood out. The GSE was administered to an isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury animal model. The extract alleviated the associated symptoms of the administration of the drug, i.e., the plasma lipid profile was improved, while the disturbed plasma ion concentration, the cardiac dysfunction markers, the DNA laddering, and the necrosis of myocardial tissue were diminished. This effect could be related to the anti-oxidative potential of GSE associated with its antioxidant properties, the increased levels of endogenous antioxidants (glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants), and the diminished lipid peroxidative markers in the heart. The results also revealed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity, which indicated the potential of GSE to deal with cardiovascular disease events. This work suggests that not only trans-resveratrol has a protective role in heart function but also GSE containing this biomolecule and derivatives. Therefore, GSE has the potential to be utilized in the creation of innovative functional ingredients.

Background. Boreal species of willows have not yet been sufficiently studied from the standpoint of ontogeny and the structural and functional organization of the crowns of adult individuals. The formation of the structural and functional organization of S. starkeana individuals of various life forms is analyzed from the standpoint of the concept of modular plant organization, architectural models, and the concept of the crown organization plan. Materials and methods. To identify ontogenetic states, a generally recognized classification was used. The classification of shoots and shoot systems of the crown is based on three features: the length of the internodes that make up the shoot; shoot age; the presence of branching. Architectural module is highlighted in accordance with the previously developed methodology. Results and conclusions. In a detailed study of the ontogenesis of the prairie willow, it was found that it is characterized by morphological polyvariance of development, as a result of which four life forms are formed in the adult state: epigeogenic-geoxyl and hypogeogenic-geoxyl shrub, tree, low long-xylorizome hypogeogenic-geoxyl shrub. They grow in different ecological conditions and differ in different qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Modules were identified in the crown of the prairie willow: 1 – metamer, 2 – uniaxial shoot, 3 – three-year shoot system (architectural module), 4 – branch from the trunk, 5 – crown as a whole. As part of the crown, seven main variants of vegetative shoots and two-stage-falling vegetative- generative shoots were studied.As part of the one-year vegetative shoot, seven variants of metamers were identified, differing structurally and functionally. As the main structural unit of the shoot system, a three-year shoot system was singled out, and on its basis, taking into account three features, an architectural module was selected. When singling out the types of three-year shoot systems, a correlation was made between the hierarchical and polyarchic constructive plans for the organization of the crown. In the course of the work, it was revealed that the architectural modules have gender differences, manifested in a greater degree of branching and a greater number of one-year assimilating shoots in females, which is due to the predominance of their polyarchic organization plan.

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is an aromatic and medicinal plant of high economic value. Much research has focused on the phytochemistry and biological activities of Gardenia fruit extracts; however, the potential of the Gardenia plant in vitro cultures used as mass production systems of valuable secondary metabolites has been understudied. This paper presents data on metabolite profiling (GC/MS and HPLC), antioxidant activities (DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, and CUPRAC), and SSR profiles of G. jasminoides plant leaves and in vitro cultures with different levels of differentiation (shoots, callus, and cell suspension). The data show strong correlations (r = 0.9777 to r = 0.9908) between antioxidant activity and the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, rutin, and hesperidin. Eleven co-dominant microsatellite simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers were used to evaluate genetic variations (average PIC = 0.738 ± 0.153). All of the investigated Gardenia in vitro cultures showed high genetic variabilities (average Na = 5.636 ± 2.157, average Ne = 3.0 ± 1.095). This is the first report on a study on metabolite profiles, antioxidant activities, and genetic variations of G. jasminoides in vitro cultures with different levels of differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syngonium podophyllum Schott. cv. 'White Butterfly' is recognized as a valuable ornamental plant, and today it is also an important plant species of medicinal interest due to its high contents of phenolic compounds. The purpose of this article is to review the main scientific publications from our laboratory with regard to new scientific achievements dealing with Syngonium species or topics of interest, such as callus formation and further de novo shoot regeneration. The principles and stages necessary to start an industrial-level micropropagation protocol are discussed based on our experience. Different media compositions induced different morphogenetic responses inside the callus—particularly those related to the development of xylematic elements in the organogenetic areas, such as those for rooting, protocorms, and de novo shoot formation. The re-evaluation of old histological images revealed for the first time that xylematic elements are constantly closely positioned to all organogenetic centers, and that their development is closely dependent on the composition of the culture medium. Separate protocorms can be identified only when xylematic tracheary elements are well developed and closely connected to them. The formation of protocorms is strongly dependent on the mineral composition of the culture medium and the balance of plant growth regulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to investigate the micropropagation of viburnum opulus (Roseum) by using single nodes with axillary buds excised from soft cuttings using full strength MS salts, 30g.l-1 sucrose, 7g.l-1 Agar and different concentrations of plant growth regulators in culture medium. Results of the experiment at initiation stage revealed that the culture of single nodes of viburnum on a medium containing 4 mg.l-1 BA gave the highest number of shoots (2.21 shoots/explant). Concerning the interaction, a nutrient medium containing (2 mg.l-1 BA+ 0.4 mg.l-1 IAA) gave the highest values of mean number of shoots, leaves and length of new shoots (1.61 shoots/explant, 2.01 leaves/explant, 1.61 cm respectively). At shoot multiplication stage, the addition of 2.0 mg.l-1 from both BA and kinetin gave the highest number of shoots per explant estimated at 2.65 and 3.31 shoots/explant respectively at root formation stage; the interaction treatment of full MS salt strength with the use of 0 .5 mg.l-1 NAA gave the highest rooting percentage reaching 85.5 %. The highest number of roots (18 roots/ explant) was recorded as well from the combined treatment of full MS salt strength with the use of 0.5 mg.l-1 NAA. While the longest roots (6.65 cm) were recorded from the interaction treatment of half salt strength and 0.50 mg.l-1 IBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze the process of Lycium ruthenicum Murr.（L. ruthenicum）shoots in anthocyanin biosynthesis response to salt stress，L. ruthenicum seedlings were treated with 300 mmol/L NaCl，and the shoots were collected at 3 d after treatment，and the anthocyanin content and transcriptome were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and RNA-seq. Combined with the analysis of species and contents of anthocyanin and differential expressed genes（DEGs）in GO and KEGG pathway，DEGs related to anthocyanin biosynthesis induced by salt stress were mined，and the results of transcriptome data were verified by RT-qPCR. The results showed delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside in L. ruthenicum shoots was the highest upregulated anthocyanin（11.9 times），and the content of petunia-3-O-rutinoside was the highest anthocyanin（5.313±0.286）μg/g. Total 1 416 DEGs（P<0.01）were screened，including 867 up-regulated and 549 down-regulated DEGs， which were classified into GO terms，such as catalytic activity，photosystem and single-organism metabolic process. DEGs were significantly enriched in 14 KEGG pathways. Meanwhile，there were 7 DEGs involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis and all of them were up-regulated，and 27 DEGs were involved in phytohormone signal transduction，in which 15 DEGs were related to ABA signal transduction pathway. The expressions of 11 MYB and 7 bHLH transcription factors were significantly changed. Sum up，the results of this study suggested that DEGs related to ABA pathway，MYB，bHLH transcription factor and anthocyanin biosynthesis play important role in anthocyanin biosynthesis in L.ruthenicum shoot responses to NaCl stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant- and soil-associated microbial communities are critical to plant health and their resilience to stressors, such as drought, pathogens, and pest outbreaks. A better understanding of the structure of microbial communities and how they are affected by different environmental factors is needed to predict and manage ecosystem responses to climate change. In this study, we carried out a country-wide analysis of fungal communities associated with Pinus sylvestris growing under different environmental conditions. Needle, shoot, root, mineral, and organic soil samples were collected at 30 sites. By interconnecting the high-throughput sequencing data, environmental variables, and soil chemical properties, we were able to identify key factors that drive the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with P. sylvestris. The fungal species richness and community composition were also found to be highly dependent on the site and the substrate they colonize. The results demonstrated that different functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of P. sylvestris are associated with diverse fungal communities, which are driven by a combination of climatic (temperature and precipitation) and edaphic factors (soil pH), and stand characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]