The results of the introduction of Pyracantha М. Roem. representatives in the conditions of the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka” of the NAS of Ukraine

Based on the analysis of long-term data, it was revealed that the weather and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank forest-steppe of Ukraine are pretty favourable for the course of seasonal rhythms of plant development studied species. P. coccinea (total points 83), P. crenatoserrata (total points 76), and P. crenulata (total score 81) are pretty promising species according to the scale for assessing the prospects of introduction of woody plants. Such species as P. × ‘Orange Charmer’ (sum of points 83) is quite promising among the varieties, and P. × ‘Red Column’ (sum of points 61), and P. × ‘Orange Glow’ (sum of points 66) are less promising. The least promising plant is P. × ‘Red Cushion’ (sum of points 42), and P. × ‘Soleil d’Оr’ (sum of points 37) is unpromising.

‘Dances with Daffodils’: Life as a Flower-picker in Southwest England

Physically demanding and low-paid, work in the agri-food sector has been described in the literature as equal measures precarious and exploitative. In order to investigate the everyday realities of a flower-picker’s job, we trace Ivan’s journey from a Bulgarian university to the daffodil fields of Cornwall, UK. Following two rounds of successful promotions, Ivan’s work is no longer governed by the seasonal rhythms of the flower-picking industry. However, as a welfare manager, he now faces hidden and open resistance from other migrant pickers whose work he oversees. Speaking to us at the height of the picking season and having worked seven days a week for months, Ivan is struggling. He has no time to complete his application to remain in the UK and is becoming mindful of the gap between the expectations placed on him by his employer, and the recompense offered in return.

Features of seasonal rhythms of growth and development of species of the genus Rebutia K. Schum. (Cactaceae Juss. family) in a greenhouse

The article presents the results of studying the growth and development of 17 representatives of the genus Rebutia K. Schum. of Cactaceae Juss. Family (R. albipilosa F. Ritter., R. arenaceae (Cardenas) F. Ritter, R. cajasensis F. Ritter, R. donaldiana A.B. Lau & G.D. Rowley, R. flavistyla F. Ritter, R fiebrigii (Gurke) Britton & Rose ex L.H. Bailey, R. fulviseta Rausch, R. krainziana Kesselring, R. knizei (Rausch) Sida, R. kieslingii Rausch, R. marsoneri Werdermann, R. minuscula K. Schum., R. neocumingii (Backeb.) D.R. Hunt, R. pygmaea var. pectinata (Backeb.) Sida, R. senilis Backeb., R. tiraquensis Cardenas, R. xanthocarpa Backeb.) in the conditions of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens’ greenhouse, and the influence of the microclimate on the seasonal rhythms of plant growth and development is evaluated. It is established that the studied representatives of the genus Rebutia go through all phases of seasonal development. The key values of the biological minimum of air temperatures for early - (+7,0–+8,0 °C), average (+13,0–+15,0 °C) and for late-growing (+20,0–+25,0 °C) of the species required for the onset of vegetation. The amounts of active air temperatures accumulated by the beginning of the phases of "vegetation" (from 335,2 to 1593,5 °C), "budding" (from 558,3 to 2285,0 °C), "flowering" (from 1067,8 to 2271,8 °C), "fruiting" (from 2374,8 to 3099,0 °C) are established. The following features of plant growth and development are revealed: for the transition of Rebutia species from the phenological phase "vegetation" occurring in the spring-summer period, to a state of physiological rest, which continues in the autumn-winter period, it is necessary to reduce the air temperature from +17,0–+28,0 °C to +6,0–+13,0 °C; humidity from 35,0-90,0 % to 32,0-65,0 %. Taking these measures will ensure a long and abundant flowering of Rebutia species at an air temperature from +15,0 to +40,0 °C, humidity from 43,0 to 95,0 % in a greenhouse.

Sex Differences and the Neuroendocrine Regulation of Seasonal Reproduction by Supplementary Environmental Cues

Synopsis Seasonal rhythms in reproduction are conserved across nature and optimize the timing of breeding to environmental conditions favorable for offspring and parent survival. The primary predictive cue for timing seasonal breeding is photoperiod. Supplementary cues, such as food availability, social signals, and temperature, fine-tune the timing of reproduction. Male and female animals show differences in the sensory detection, neural integration, and physiological responses to the same supplementary cue. The neuroendocrine regulation of sex-specific integration of predictive and supplementary cues is not well characterized. Recent findings indicate that epigenetic modifications underlie the organization of sex differences in the brain. It has also become apparent that deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and chromatin modifications play an important role in the regulation and timing of seasonal rhythms. This article will highlight evidence for sex-specific responses to supplementary cues using data collected from birds and mammals. We will then emphasize that supplementary cues are integrated in a sex-dependent manner due to the neuroendocrine differences established and maintained by the organizational and activational effects of reproductive sex hormones. We will then discuss how epigenetic processes involved in reproduction provide a novel link between early-life organizational effects in the brain and sex differences in the response to supplementary cues.