Variability in the Chemical Composition of a New Aromatic Plant Artemisia balchanorum in Southern Russia

Lemon wormwood Artemisia balchanorum was recently introduced to southern Russia as a new aromatic plant. Based on biological and chemical characteristics, several populations with dominant citral, linalool, and geraniol production were selected for further development and maintained by seed propagation. Chemical analysis of five outstanding populations at three stages of annual development: vegetative, flower buds, and full flowering, confirmed that the seed populations retain the distinct dynamics of the dominant and minor components during the annual cycle and can be used for the commercial production of citral, linalool, and geraniol. Micropropagation in vitro allows for efficient clonal micropropagation and mass reproduction of elite cultivars and promising forms of A. balchanorum on a commercial scale but cannot serve as a source of direct and efficient production of secondary metabolites.

Cryptochrome 2 from Lilium × formolongi Regulates Photoperiodic Flowering in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

The photoperiodic flowering pathway is essential for plant reproduction. As blue and ultraviolet-A light receptors, cryptochromes play an important role in the photoperiodic regulation of flowering. Lilium × formolongi is an important cut flower that flowers within a year after seed propagation. Floral induction is highly sensitive to photoperiod. In this study, we isolated the CRYPTOCHROME2 gene (LfCRY2) from L. × formolongi. The predicted LfCRY2 protein was highly homologous to other CRY2 proteins. The transcription of LfCRY2 was induced by blue light. LfCRY2 exhibits its highest diurnal expression during the floral induction stage under both long-day and short-day photoperiods. Overexpression of LfCRY2 in Arabidopsis thaliana promoted flowering under long days but not short days, and inhibited hypocotyl elongation under blue light. Furthermore, LfCRY2 was located in the nucleus and could interact with L. × formolongi CONSTANS-like 9 (LfCOL9) and A. thaliana CRY-interacting basic-helix-loop-helix 1 (AtCIB1) in both yeast and onion cells, which supports the hypothesis that LfCRY2 hastens the floral transition via the CIB1-CO pathway in a manner similar to AtCRY2. These results provide evidence that LfCRY2 plays a vital role in promoting flowering under long days in L. × formolongi.

Fruiting estimation of the potentially invasive species Amorpha fruticosa L. in the south of the Russian Far East

In the south of Russian Far East Amorpha fruticosa (Fabaceae Lindl.) is used as ornamental plant. It actively blooms and fruits here and successfully spreads by suckers, rarely by seeds. There are another ways of Amorpha fruticosa application in Primorsky Krai – as melliferous and technical plant for reclamation of disturbed lands and formation of protective field belts. These activities requires a great amount of quality seeds and, in turn, investigation of Amorpha fruticosa seed propagation. The study of the morphological characteristics of fruits from 12 different places in the Primorsky Krai showed that the linear characteristics of the fruits have minor differences but length of racemes and seed germination vary greatly. The longest racemes are detected in the city of Bolshoy Kamen (17.8 cm), the shortest ones – in Nekruglovo settlement (12.7 cm). The largest fruit number has racemes from Partizansk city (152). The weight of 100 fruits varies from 1.16 g (Kraskino settlement) to 0.94 g (city of Bolshoy Kamen). Highest germination capacity is observed in plants at Lake Soldatskoe (91%), the smallest in plants from Strugovka settlement and the city of Bolshoy Kamen (43%). Absence of germination of seeds from Vadimovka settlement is probably caused by pest – American seed beetle, Acanthoscelides pallidipennis.

The research of seed reproduction peculiarities of wild-growing Paeonia L. genus and perspectives of using peony seeds in food-processing industry

Vegetable oil is essential in everyday life of people. Lately, peonies are being widely used in food-processing industry of China – the seeds are processed for oil which is actively used as a food product, containing more than 90% unsaturated fatty acids. The problem of healthy eating is becoming more and more urgent. The task of Russian Federation science and all branches of AIC (agro-industrial complex) is to satisfy the physiological requirements of population in high-quality, biologically complete and safe food products. Production of peony oil in Russia would be of great importance for the economy of our country, as it is ecologically pure and safe food product for human health. In the article we researched the peculiarities of seed propagation and possible reasons for seed dormancy in some Paeonia L. genus. We carried out some bio-chemical tests in order to define the content of peroxidase enzyme, lignin and cellulose in seed peel. We also examined the intensity of photosynthesis and transpiration in 5 species of Paeonia L. genus: P. tenuifolia L., P. suffruticosa Andrews, P. lactiflora Pall., P. anomala L., P. mlokosewitschii Lomak. It was defined that the highest photosynthesis intensity can be observed in P. tenuifolia L. (86.1 mg/dm2h). Then P. mlokosevitschii Lomak. (65.1 mg/dm2h), P. suffruticosa Andrews. (59.3 mg/dm2h), P. anomala L. (32.8 mg/dm2h), P. lactiflora Pall. (2.15 mg/dm2h) follow. The examined species of Paeonia L. genus have high indices of photosynthesis intensity, and are able to adapt to changes in environment. The photosynthesis intensity is known to be one of the most important indices of high seed productivity and yielding capacity. We recommend using peony seeds in food industry for production of quality peony oil.

Non-Deep Simple Morphophysiological Dormancy and Germination Characteristics of Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Kusn.) H. Hara (Gentianaceae), a Rare Perennial Herb in Korea

This study investigated the kind of seed dormancy and seed germination of Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Kusn.) H. Hara for developing a seed propagation method. The seeds were collected in October 2020 from plants at Mt. Sobaeksan, Korea. In a water imbibition experiment, seed weights increased by > 101.9% of their initial masses over 12 h. Effects of incubation temperature (5, 15, 20, 25, 15/6, or 25/15 °C), cold stratification period (5 °C; 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks), and gibberellic acid (GA3; 0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg∙L−1) and potassium nitrate treatment (KNO3; 0, 1000, 2000, or 4000 mg∙L−1) on seed germination were investigated to characterize seed dormancy. These seeds exhibited underdeveloped embryos during seed dispersal. The seeds failed to reach the final germination of 15.0% after treatment at 5, 15, 20, 25, 15/6, or 25/15 °C. After cold stratification for 8 weeks, the germination increased dramatically by > 90.0% compared to that at 0 weeks. After the GA3 treatment, the germination reached > 80.0% within 5 days. The final germination was 90.0% in the 100 mg∙L−1 GA3 treatment group. However, the KNO3 treatment had no effect on seed germination. Therefore, the G. triflora var. japonica seeds exhibited non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy.

Vrikshayurved Plantation Techniques: A Review

Use of chemicals for plant growth and its management has led to soil and water pollution. It has ultimately affected the quality of medicinal plants. In the other hand Vrikshayurved (science of plant life) have fully organic and time tested methods to deal with entire plant life. It mostly emphasizes on the selection of land, seed collection, seed treatment, different plant propagation methods, irrigation, manure, plant protection, plant disease management, crop harvesting and storage of produce. Thus, Vrikshayurved encompasses both agriculture and forestry. Materials and method- Collection and compilation of useful information has been done from concerned articles and texts of Ayurved and Vrikshayurved texts such as Surpala’s Vrikshayurved, Upavan Vinod, Varahamihir’s Brihat Samhita, Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Discussion and Conclusion- This article represents concise information of Vrikshayurved plantation techniques for seed propagation, grafting, stem propagation, tuber propagation and plant transplantation. All these methods are affordable, natural, and chemical free. All substances used by Vrikshayurved methodology have its Ayurvedic significance. Thus, Vrikshayurved and Manushya Ayurved are interdependent. Use of Vrikshayurved in modern agriculture and forestry can result in better agriculture system and sustainable forestry. Hence formation of standard guidelines for Vrikshayurved methodologies through research work is mandatory for better tomorrow.

Can the Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) Still Be Considered a Difficult-to-Propagate Crop?

As a perennial xerophytic shrub, characterized by plesiomorphic features, the caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is naturally spread throughout the Mediterranean basin and occupies an important ecological role, as well as an economic one, in traditional and specialized systems for commercial production. This species, in spite of its wide diffusion, is currently considered at risk of genetic erosion, mainly due to overgrazing and overharvesting for domestic uses and for trade. This situation is made more serious because of the lack of efficient propagation techniques, determining the caper as a “difficult-to-propagate species”. In this review, we report the main available sexual and vegetative propagation techniques with the aim of assessing whether, and to what extent, this criticality is still true for caper as a horticultural crop. In terms of seed propagation, germination rates have generally been considered quite low or unsatisfactory, and are also affected by hybridization phenomena that are likely to occur among both the wild and cultivated forms. The seeds show a physiological dormancy that can be lowered by adopting hormonal treatments, but in situ germination remains a critical phase. Vegetative propagation appears quite effective, mostly as related to in vitro techniques that allow caper cultivation that is no longer affected by propagation for an economic dissemination of the species in more intensive orchards. The research needs for Caper spinosa L. as a horticultural crop, especially in the field of genetic improvement and breeding, are also underlined.

Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-Gallate in Amyloid Aggregation and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The accumulation of protein aggregates in human tissues is a hallmark of more than 40 diseases called amyloidoses. In seven of these disorders, the aggregation is associated with neurodegenerative processes in the central nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). The aggregation occurs when certain soluble proteins lose their physiological function and become toxic amyloid species. The amyloid assembly consists of protein filament interactions, which can form fibrillar structures rich in β-sheets. Despite the frequent incidence of these diseases among the elderly, the available treatments are limited and at best palliative, and new therapeutic approaches are needed. Among the many natural compounds that have been evaluated for their ability to prevent or delay the amyloidogenic process is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an abundant and potent polyphenolic molecule present in green tea that has extensive biological activity. There is evidence for EGCG’s ability to inhibit the aggregation of α-synuclein, amyloid-β, and huntingtin proteins, respectively associated with PD, AD, and HD. It prevents fibrillogenesis (in vitro and in vivo), reduces amyloid cytotoxicity, and remodels fibrils to form non-toxic amorphous species that lack seed propagation. Although it is an antioxidant, EGCG in an oxidized state can promote fibrils’ remodeling through formation of Schiff bases and crosslinking the fibrils. Moreover, microparticles to drug delivery were synthesized from oxidized EGCG and loaded with a second anti-amyloidogenic molecule, obtaining a synergistic therapeutic effect. Here, we describe several pre-clinical and clinical studies involving EGCG and neurodegenerative diseases and their related mechanisms.

Experimental Examination of Vegetative Propagation Methods of Nothofagus antarctica (G. Forst.) Oerst. for Restoration of Fire-Damaged Forest in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Nothofagus antarctica (Antarctic beech) is one of the main woody plants in the temperate deciduous forests and anti-boreal forests of the southern hemisphere. Since colonization of the Andean-Patagonian region by European settlers, however, stands of this species have been severely affected by fires caused by human activities, considerably reducing their area. To restore these forests to their area occupied before the fires, it is necessary to use artificial regeneration, relying on production of transplants in forest nurseries. Due to the low capacity for seed propagation, we focus on possibilities of producing seedlings by vegetative propagation. In a trial, we collected cuttings during three sets of dates, and attempted to root them using three combinations of substrate and ten combinations of stimulators. Using the most favorable combination of collection period, substrate and stimulator tested resulted in rooting of 23% of the cuttings, which exceeds the documented germination rates for this species.