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Temporary immersion system (TIS) cultures are reported to be superior when compared to semi-solid (SS) and liquid (LQ) cultures for the in vitro plant regeneration of many plant species. In the present study, we used a TIS for plant regeneration of Gerbera jemesonii "Shy Pink" and compared the results with that of SS and LQ cultures. The number of shoots regenerated in the SS, LQ, and TIS cultures was 6.93, 3.13, and 3.03, respectively. The shoots regenerated with the SS and LQ cultures demonstrated 3.33 and 4.22% hyperhydricity, whereas the shoots regenerated with the TIS were healthy even though the number of shoots regenerated was less. The plantlets regenerated with the TIS demonstrated higher values for the number of roots, root length, biomass of the plantlets, leaf length/width, and area compared to the SS and LQ cultures. When the G. jemesonii "Shy Pink" plants were regenerated using the TIS, their levels of photosynthetic pigments were highest. The number of stomata on the abaxial surface of their leaves was 11.40, and the frequency of closed stomata was 59% for the plants regenerated with the TIS. The number of stomata was 21.4 and 14.5 for the plants regenerated with the SS and LQ cultures, respectively. Meanwhile, the frequency of closed stomata was 13% and 15% for the plants regenerated with SS and LQ cultures. Furthermore, G. jemesonii "Shy Pink" showed the highest survival of plants when regenerated in the TIS compared to SS and LQ cultures. The TIS was found to be the most suitable culture system for plant regeneration of G. jemesonii "Shy Pink" compared to SS and LQ cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The situation of discharging a large amount of dyes from the textile industries has caused many adverse effects on human health and the ecosystems. Emerging bio-nanomaterials represent a new trend in efficient dye removal in aqueous media. Herein, we mention that MgFe2O4 bioprepared using gerbera extract has been successfully used to adsorb malachite green (MG) in water. A comparison was made to determine the dye removal efficiency between biogenic MgFe2O4 (MFOB) and chemical MgFe2O4 (MFOC). The spherical MFOB material exhibited a large surface area of 85.0 m2 g–1 and high crystallinity. The obtained outcomes showed that the highest adsorption capacity of MG dye was 584.49 mg g–1 at a MFOB dose of 0.05 g L–1 and MG concentration of 10 mg L–1. Higher correlation coefficients in the Langmuir isotherm suggested monolayer adsorption of MG. The Box–Behnken design and response surface method were established to optimize MG removal percentage under the conditions, i.e., initial MG concentration (10–30 mg L–1), adsorbent dose (0.02–0.08 g L–1), and pH of dye solution (6–8). MFOB had good reusability with high removal efficiencies after three continuous cycles. Post reuse, this adsorbent still showed excellent stability through the verification of their structural properties in comparison with fresh MFOB, showing potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera represents one of the top five most important traditional cut flowers. A major factor influencing the success of the cut flower industry is vase life which in turn has a significant influence on consumer preference. Therefore, the present study considered the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) supplied in temporary immersion bioreactors (TIBs) on the growth and subsequent shelf life of gerbera flowers. The results showed an initial lag in the growth of plantlets produced from tissue culture, but this effect was reversed by the end of the study, particularly for plants exposed to AgNPs. Although AgNPs did not shorten the time to flowering (67 d in control plants compared with 73 d in AgNPs-treated plants), flower characteristics were not adversely affected by this delay. A significant finding from this study was the observation of improved vase life of flowers grown from plants treated with AgNPs (9.8 d) relative to control plants (8.2 d). This indicated the potential of AgNPs to sustain the longevity of cut flowers after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of coumarin-based polycyclic meroterpenoid enantiomers (+)/(−)-gerbeloid A [(+)- 1a and (−)- 1b ] were isolated from the medicinal plant Gerbera piloselloides , which have a unique caged oxatricyclo [4.2.2.03,8] decene scaffold. Their planar and three-dimensional structures were exhaustively characterized by comprehensive spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction analysis. Guided by the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway, the biomimetic synthesis of racemic 1 was achieved using 4-hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin and citral as the starting material via oxa-6 π electrocyclization and intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition. Subsequently, the results of the biological activity assay demonstrated that both (+)- 1a and (−)- 1b exhibited potent lipid-lowering effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the high-fat diet zebrafish model. Notably, the lipid-lowering activity of (+)- 1a is better than that of (−)- 1b at the same concentration, and molecular mechanism study has shown that (+)- 1a and (−)- 1b impairs adipocyte differentiation and stimulate lipolysis by regulating C/EBP α /PPAR γ signaling and Perilipin signaling in vitro and in vivo. Our findings provide a promising drug model molecule for the treatment of obesity. A pair of unique caged coumarin-meroterpenoid enantiomers (+)/(−)-gerbeloid A were discovered from Gerbera piloselloides and synthesized biomimetically. (+)- 1a and (−)- 1b showed potent lipid-lowering activities in vitro and in vivo. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neck bending (NB) and capitulum wilting are the major issues that shorten the vase life (VL) of gerbera cut flower. In the present study, the influence of exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA3, 1.0 mM) or calcium chloride (CaCl2, 5.0 mM) at three different pre-harvest times (one time spraying (T1): concurrent with the emergence of more than 50% of flowering shoots (15day before harvesting), two times spraying (T2): at T1 and 7day later (15 and 8day before harvesting), and three times spraying (T3): at T1 and 5 and 10day later (15, 10, and 5day before harvesting)) on extending VL of gerbera 'Stanza' cut flowers was investigated. GA3-T3 and CaCl2-T3 treatments decreased NB and extended VL of gerbera cut flowers by increasing vase solution uptake (VSU) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme (PAL) activity, which led to increasing water content and cell wall strength (due to increasing lignin deposition). On the other hand, GA3-T3 and CaCl2-T3 treatments decreased the activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO) (the enzyme involved in browning reaction) and the oxidative damages through enhancing phenolic compounds accumulation and antioxidant enzymes activity. Pre-harvest treatments reduced H2O2 accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation in gerbera 'Stanza' cut flowers. The results of the current study clearly demonstrated that both GA3-T3 and CaCl2-T3 treatments could reduce NB and extend VL of 'Stanza' cut flowers, therefore could be recommended as pre-harvest treatments to maintain quality of gerbera cut flowers during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity in the petal morphology of chrysanthemums makes this species an excellent model for investigating the regulation mechanisms of petal size. However, our understanding of the molecular regulation of petal growth in chrysanthemums remains limited. The GASA (gibberellic acid [GA]-stimulated Arabidopsis) protein plays a significant role in various aspects of plant growth and development. Previous studies have indicated that GEG (a gerbera homolog of the gibberellin-stimulated transcript 1 [GAST1] from tomato) is involved in regulating ray petal growth by inhibiting cell expansion in gerberas. In this study, we successfully cloned the GASA family gene from chrysanthemums, naming it CmGEG, which shares 81.4% homology with GEG. Our spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that CmGEG is expressed in all tissues, with the highest expression levels observed in the ray florets, particularly during the later stages of development. Through transformation experiments, we demonstrated that CmGEG inhibits petal elongation in chrysanthemums. Further observations indicated that CmGEG restricts cell elongation in the top, middle, and basal regions of the petals. To investigate the relationship between CmGEG and GA in petal growth, we conducted a hormone treatment assay using detached chrysanthemum petals. Our results showed that GA promotes petal elongation while downregulating CmGEG expression. In conclusion, the constrained growth of chrysanthemum petals may be attributed to the inhibition of cell elongation by CmGEG, a process regulated by GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Genetics of Dominant and Recessive Blossom Traits" by Graham Goode is an article that explores the genetic concepts of dominant and recessive inheritance in African violets. The author discusses Gregor Mendel's experiments with pea plants in the 1860s to understand how traits are passed down from one generation to the next. The article explains that dominant traits are stronger than recessive traits, and provides examples of different blossom colors and their dominant or recessive nature. It also mentions the role of bees in pollinating African violets and how certain flower colors attract them. The article concludes by listing dominant and recessive traits for African violet blossoms. Additionally, the article delves into the chemical pathways and genetic factors that determine the colors and traits of African violets. It explains how certain genes and enzymes influence the production of pigments, such as anthocyanins, which give the flowers their colors. The article also explores the inheritance patterns of these traits and how they can be manipulated through hybridization. It acknowledges that there is still much to learn about the complex genetics and biochemistry of African violets. [Extracted from the article]

Cultivation of crops under protected conditions can enhance the yield and quality of agricultural produce. Gerbera is one of the high-value cut flowers which can be commercially cultivated under greenhouse conditions in tropical and subtropical regions. The choice of commercially viable cultivars is essential for obtaining its marketability. Moreover, cultivars of gerbera should be highly productive. Considering the above facts, the present study was conducted in 2020-2022 in the Protected Cultivation Unit of the Centurion University of Technology and Management where 10 cultivars were chosen as treatments. They were Intense, White house, Stanza, Dune, Dana-ellen, Artist, Sunway, Silvester, Pre-intenzz and Ankur. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The data collected on the growth parameters, quality, yield, and vase life revealed that among all the cultivars of gerbera, Dana-ellen showed its superiority over others in terms of plant height and number of leaves (49.3 cm and 31.0 at 120 days after sowing respectively), days to first flowering (84.3), flower stalk length (64.8 cm), flower stalk girth (67.2 cm), ray floret length (8.7 mm) and suckers per plant (3.4); however, it remained on par with Dune, Intense, and Silvester in expression of most of the crop parameters. Similarly, the same variety Dana-ellen registered the highest yields (27.3, 33.7 and 34.7 flowers per plant during first, second and third years of the study respectively) among all the cultivars. Moreover, the variety Dune recorded the maximum vase life of 8.4 days and 9.2 days with citric acid and sucrose solutions, respectively. The study concluded that the cultivation of Dana-ellen, Dune, Silvester, and Artist under open-ventilated saw-tooth polyhouse conditions can be commercially viable for achieving higher flower quality and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonas annua (L.) Vines & Druce (Asteraceae), commonly known as African Daisy or Yellow Ageratum is a rare therophyte native to northwestern Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) and Italy (Sicily and Sardinia). In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Lonas annua was analyzed by GC-MS. No one report has been previously published on the essential oil of this species. The results showed the presence of large quantity of two unusual metabolites 2,3-dihydrofarnesol (41.64%), and acenaphthene (36.18%). Chemotaxonomic considerations were carried out in order to confirm the phylogenetic reconstructions of Anthemideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. However, its genetic improvement is limited by the lack of genetic analysis and molecular markers for traits. In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic and genotypic variation of 140 F1 progeny from two gerbera varieties with different flower types and colors. We evaluated the flower's morphology, color, and pigment content of the F1 population and performed cluster principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis. The results showed that the main ornamental traits of the hybrid progeny varied greatly. The segregation ratios of single and double flowers and ligulate and split ray florets were both 1:1. The flower colors of the F1 progeny were mainly red and purple-red, similar to the male parent's color. Furthermore, we conducted a genetic analysis of the hybrid progeny using EST-SSR markers and performed association analysis with phenotypic traits. We identified 2, 2, 3, 1, and 2 loci to be associated with peduncle length (PL), ray floret length (RFL), and outer ray floret; the level of apex relative to the top of involucre (LAI); outer corolla lips (OCL); and the b* of ray floret color, respectively. Our results reveal the genetic patterns of important ornamental traits and provide a theoretical basis and practical tools for gerbera genetic breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the genotype and traits analysis of Gerbera varieties for vegetative traits. The study evaluated ten genotypes of Gerbera to determine genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for 15 quantitative traits. The results showed significant differences among genotypes for all the traits studied, with high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation observed for number of leaves per plant and leaf width. The study also conducted path coefficient analysis and cluster analysis to further analyze the traits. The findings provide valuable insights for breeders and researchers in the field of Gerbera cultivation and improvement. [Extracted from the article]

Response of gerbera var. Arka Nesara was studied under different soil-less production systems with the aim to improve quality, productivity and water use efficiency, in completely randomized design with eight treatments viz., deep flow technique (DFT), nutrient film technique (NFT), aggregate wick system (AWS) with pots on NFT bench, AWS with pots on ground, AWS with grow bags on ground, AWS on soil bed, aeroponics and conventional soil-based drip system, which were replicated five times. Results revealed that AWS with pots on ground recorded maximum plant height (31.66 cm), leaf length (21.31 cm), leaf breadth (9.96 cm) and stalk diameter near neck (4.75 mm), minimum stem deviation (1.27 cm) and stem deflection (2.2°), prolonged vase life (9.2 days), greater water use efficiency (92 mL/plant/day) and water saving (83.46%). Hence, cultivation of gerbera var. Arka Nesara under aggregate wick system with pots on ground could be the superior alternative for traditional soil cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera jamesonii Bolus is one of the most popular ornamental plants worldwide and its micrpropgation allows to produce a large number of true to type plants with good quality in a short time. In vitro propagation of gerbera requires culture media supplemented with specific concentrations of minerals, organic supplements and energy sources. The aim of this study was to determine suitable culture medium and evaluate different concentrations of sucrose and Naphtalic Acetic Acid (NAA) for in vitro development of gerbera explants. Micro shoots of two gerbera cultivars (Artist and Brilliance) were cultured on four different culture media and the effect of various concentrations of sucrose (20 and 30 g L-1 ) as well as MgSO4.7H2O and CaCl2.2H2O (0.5X, 1X and 1.5X) on in vitro propagation properties were examined. MS medium provided better shoot development and application of lower concentration of sucrose improved the efficiency of gerbera micropropagation. In Artist cultivar, the highest number of shoots was obtained by using 20 g L-1 of sucrose and with or without NAA application (9.08 micro shoots per explant). In contrast, Brilliance produced the highest number of shoots by using 20 g L-1 of sucrose and 0.1 mg L-1 of NAA (7.4 micro shoots per explant). In addition, the increase or decrease of MgSO4.7H2O and CaCl2.2H2O did not change propagation efficiency. The results can contribute to optimize bioreactor systems for large-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimorphoteca pluvialis (L.) Moench, usually known as weather prophet, African daisy, or Cape marigold, is an Asteraceae commonly found in gardens due to its appealing white to yellowish flowers. Recently, its use as a non-food oilseed crop has been investigated due to the high amounts of dimorphecolic acid (Δ9-hydroxy,10t,12t-octadecadienoic acid), a highly reactive C18 fatty acid with value for the manufacturing of paints, inks, lubricants, plastic, and nylon. However, information on the essential oil (EO) composition of its plant tissues is scarce. The present work focused on characterizing the glandular trichomes, the main site for secretion of natural products, of shoots and sepals, and analyzing the EO composition of shoots and flowers of D. pluvialis extracted by hydrodistillation for 15, 30, or 60 min. The shoot surface displayed sharp and elongated non-glandular protection trichomes, while the sepals additionally showed shorter and wider non-glandular trichomes. A capitate trichome with a biseriate peduncle and a multiseriate head was the only type of glandular trichome identified. A histochemical analysis of the glandular head revealed the presence of acid lipids and terpenic and phenolic compounds. The extracted EOs showed high amounts of trans-2-hexenal, a C6 aldehyde that protects plants against harmful substances but is considered toxic for humans. This study described, for the first time, the composition of EOs of D. pluvialis plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Salt stress resulted in reduction of growth, chlorophyll contents. • MT treatment alleviated the oxidative damage of gerbera. • MT regulates ion homeostasis and antioxidant strategy in response to salt stress. • MT pretreatment improves growth and biomass of gerbera under salt stress. Salt stress is a major abiotic stress factor that is increasing at a continuos pace and pressurizing global food security in view of climate change. Therefore, plant scientists are developing strategies to ameliorate the negative effects of salt stress on crop production. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine; MT) is a vital biological hormone in plants that modulates growth, development, and tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. Its exogenous application is used to improve resistance to various stressors. Gerbera (Gerbera jamosonii L. cv. Yunnanhong) is a vital ornamental flower crop moderately sensitive against salt stress. A series of experiments were conducted on gerbera plants grown under NaCl stress (150 mM) with or in the absence of MT at 0.1 and 0.2 mM. It was shown that salt stress reduced growth and physiological traits but also caused oxidative stress, as recorded by the induction of oxidative stress markers in cell tissues. Foliar application of MT, especially at the concentration of 0.2 mM, boosted plant growth, biomass production, photosynthetic pigments, and ameliorated oxidative stress. The decrease in oxidative stress was associated with improved antioxidant activity linked to the production of the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD). Exogenous MT also improved potassium (K+) uptake and restricted sodium (Na+) uptake in the leaves of gerbera. In conclusion, optimal MT application may serve as a potential ameliorator of salt-induced oxidative stress and help in the regulation of salinity for gerbera production under the threat of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of pretreatment with gibberellin A3 (GA3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) on the vase life of cut gerbera 'Minou' was investigated. Cut gerbera flowers were treated with GA3 and/or CaCl2 for 24 h and then transferred to an antimicrobial solution. Pretreatment with GA3 at 0, 29, 72, 144, and 289 µM delayed the opening of the tubular florets and promoted stem bending due to elongation of the flower stems, which shortened vase life. When cut gerbera was pretreated with 144 µM GA3 in combination with CaCl2 at 90, 180, 270, and 360 mM, stem elongation was suppressed with the increasing concentration of CaCl2. Next, the effect of pretreatment with 144 µM GA3, 270 mM CaCl2, and their combination on the vase life of the cut gerbera was investigated. Combined treatment with GA3 and CaCl2 significantly extended vase life more than GA3 alone and CaCl2 alone. The vase life of the cut gerbera 'Banana', 'Kimsey', 'Pinta', 'Tim', and 'Vivid' was significantly extended by pretreatment with 144 µM GA3 and 270 mM CaCl2. It was concluded that combined treatment with GA3 and CaCl2 was effective in extending the vase life of the cut gerbera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basil thrives in warm tropical climates and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Various parts of sweet basil, including its leaves and seeds, contain a diverse array of aromatic compounds that contribute to its distinctive flavor and fragrance. The field experiment was conducted at the Medicinal Plants Research and Development Centre, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) during the Kharif season of 2019. The experiment comprised eight treatments:viz; T1 [RDF (N120:P60:K40) kg ha-1], T2 (FYM 15 t ha-1), T3 (Kunapajala @ 500 L ha-1), T4 (Kunapajala @ 1000 L ha-1), T5 (Kunapajala @ 500 L ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1), T6 (Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha-1), T7 (Jeevamrit @ 1000 L ha-1) and T8 (Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1). Among them the result found significantly higher growth parameter recorded under RDF (N120:P60:K40) kg ha-1 followed by Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1. Similar results also observed for NPK content and uptake, whereas Net returns and B:C ratio observed under RDF (N120:P60:K40) kg ha-1that is similar to Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to determine the effect of foliar application of different concentrations of nano scale zinc oxide and iron oxide on biochemical parameters of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hooker). The results revealed that foliar application of T9-ZnO @ 200 ppm + FeO @ 300 ppm recorded maximum chlorophyll-a (1.17 mg g-1 and 1.28 mg g-1), chlorophyll-b (0.39 mg g-1 FW and 0.42 mg g-1 FW) and total chlorophyll content in leaves (1.56 mg g-1 FW and 1.69 mg g-1 FW) at 180 and 360 DAP respectively. Similar trend was observed with respect to carotenoid content in flower petals. Maximum carotenoid content in flower petals was recorded in T9-ZnO @ 200 ppm + FeO @ 300 ppm (6.73 mg 100 g-1 and 8.84 mg 100 g-1) at 180 and 360 DAP respectively. The catalase and peroxidise activity was found to be highest in T12-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently being used as a light source for in vitro regeneration or the growth of plants in a controlled environment. However, it is crucial to define the target system's sensitivity to light quality before LEDs may be employed as the exclusive source of light. The objective of the present work was to investigate the influence of red (R), blue (B), white (W), and a combination of red plus blue (1:1) and red, blue, and green (1:1:1) LEDs on Gerbera jamesonii cv. 'Shy Pink' during in vitro regeneration. It was observed that LED lighting had a substantial impact on the process of shoot regeneration, shoot growth, and rooting of the shoots. When compared to other light treatments, red plus blue (1:1) LED had the greatest impact on the regeneration of shoots, growth of shoots, and root regeneration from shoot and root growth. Length of shoots, height of plantlets, and petiole length were affected by a red LED, and leaf length, width, and area were affected by a blue LED. The content of photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids) was higher with acclimatized plants upon transplantation, which were regenerated under blue LEDs. In acclimatized plants, photosynthetic efficiency was calculated. Higher internal CO2 concentrations (Ci), photosynthetic rates (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rates (Tr) were seen in plants that were grown under red plus blue (1:1) LED. However, the plants that were grown under white LEDs had higher chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm). Collectively, the current results suggest that red and blue LED is suitable for in vitro regeneration of Gerbera jamesonii cv. 'Shy Pink' plants compared to red, blue, and white LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]Based on the method of SSR molecular markers, this study conducted phylogenetic analysis on 12 germplasms and identified true and false hybrids from F1 hybrid progenies of some germplasms in Gerbera hybrida, in order to offer a technological support for the evaluation and innovative utilization of germplasm resources in G. hybrida. [Method] Twelve Gerbera hybrida germplasm resources were collected and their genomic DNA was extracted. PCR amplification was performed using 50 pairs of SSR primers. Cluster analysis and fingerprint construction were conducted by detecting the results of related polymorphisms, as well as identification of hybrid F1 offspring of some varieties.[Result]A total of 74 polymorphic alleles were amplified by 18 pairs of primers in 12 varieties of G. hybrida, with an average of 4.1 polymorphic alleles amplified by each pair of primers. A phylogenetic tree of 12 germplasm resources was constructed using 74 alleles in G. hybrida. UPGMA clustering analysis results showed that when the genetic coefficient was 0.75, the tested 12 germplasm resources could be divided into 5 groups, with Group I including ‘Yunnanhong’, ‘Da088’, and ‘Qingren’. Group II including ‘Fenjiaren’, ‘Fenqiu’, ‘Zhenai’, and ‘Fuwa’. Group III including ‘Xiuse’, ‘Shunv’, and ‘Huangqiu’, both Group IV and Group V containing only one variety, namely ‘Zishuijing’ and ‘Shenzhen 5’, respectively. Four pairs of primers were screened, including GHSSR-1, GHSSR-18, GHSSR-20, and GHSSR-21, which can completely distinguish the 12 germplasms with each other. Among them, the last three pairs of primers identified lines with parental specific heterotopies as Gh-5, Gh-4, and Gh-1, respectively. The identification rate of a single pair of primers was 33%. All three tested individual plants are true hybrids, with a true hybrid rate of 100%.[Conclusion]Twelve fingerprint maps of G.hybrida varieties were successfully constructed. At the same time, 3 hybrid F1 offspring seedlings were identified as true hybrids, providing dependable SSR marker primers for the evaluation and innovative utilization of resources in G. hybrida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cut flower industry is economically important across the world. Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) is one of the most popular cut flowers in Iran and worldwide and the improvement of its postharvest life is very important. Stem bending during the early stage of vase life is a critical problem in many cultivars of this flower. In this research, silicon as an antioxidant compound was used at 500 and 1000 micromolar concentrations, and the effects on some oxidative characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase activity in three colors (Rosalin, Stanza, and Apollo) of cut gerbera flower were investigated. Histological studies also were performed by hand sections and light microscopy. Silicon application prolonged the vase life in all three cultivars of gerbera. The lowest vase life (6 days) was measured in the control treatment and the highest vase life (17.33 days) was gained in Rosalin using 1000 µM silicon. Meanwhile, a significant increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and PAL was detected, while polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased. It seems that silicon improved the quality of gerbera cut flowers by scavenging free radical oxygen, preserving cell membrane integrity, decreasing PPO activity, and increasing the vascular and supporting tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petal size is a critical factor in plant reproduction and horticulture, and is largely determined by cell expansion. Gerbera hybrida is an important horticultural plant and serves as a model for studying petal organogenesis. We have previously characterized GhWIP2, a Trp-Ile-Pro (WIP)-type zinc protein, that constrains petal size by suppressing cell expansion. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation, we identified a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family transcription factor, GhTCP7, that interacts with GhWIP2 both in vitro and in vivo. Using reverse genetic approaches, we elucidated the function of the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex in controlling petal expansion. GhTCP7 overexpression severely reduced cell expansion and petal size, whereas GhTCP7 silencing resulted in increased cell expansion and petal size. GhTCP7 showed similar expression patterns to GhWIP2 in various types of G. hybrida petals. We further identified GhIAA26 , which encodes an auxin signalling regulator, that is activated by the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex, leading to the suppression of petal expansion. Our findings reveal a previously unknown transcriptional regulatory mechanism that involves protein-protein interactions between two different transcription factor families to activate a negative regulator of petal organogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera represents a valuable commodity in the global cut flower industry. However, commercial production is hampered by low propagation rates using conventional methods. Hence, the current contribution investigated the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs: Argovit™) in temporary immersion bioreactors to promote plant growth. The results showed that AgNPs at the tested concentrations displayed minimal promotive effects in terms of biomass accumulation (with the highest biomass recorded in control plants and those exposed to 25.0 mg L−1 AgNP) and resulted in a reduction in the levels of iron and molybdenum in treated plants. Interesting results testing 50.0 mg L−1 AgNPs yielded plants with elevated levels of chlorophylls a and b and total chlorophyll compared with control plants. This effect was similarly observed in the levels of free and cell wall bound phenolics which were present at more than a two-fold higher concentration in AgNP-treated plants (329.00 to 482.10 Trolox equivalents (TE) g−1 DW) than in control plants (154.02 TE g−1 DW). The trends observed indicated a hormetic response in terms of the biochemical indicators assessed where elicitation occurred between 50 and 75 mg L−1 AgNP and inhibition at 100.0 mg L−1. This hormetic effect of AgNPs was also observed in the antioxidant capacity of phenolics. It is proposed that the accumulation of the abovementioned biochemical compounds is indicative of a stress response elicited by the AgNPs that is mediated through the secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathway. It was further shown that this response displayed a classic hormetic effect. Future work will further investigate this interesting outcome which will be valuable in the context of biotic and abiotic stress research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of three different bacterial isolates added to the vase solution on the vase life were investigated. All three bacterial isolates significantly increased the vase life of gerbera cut flowers. While the vase life of the flowers in the control solution was 3 days, this period reached up to 11 days in the flowers kept in the vase containing bacteria. Daily water uptake decreased with increasing time in vase in all treatments. Although there were some differences between treatments in terms of daily water uptake, it has been determined that bacteria application does not have a significant effect on water uptake. The relative fresh weight decreased with increasing time in the vase. For example, in the solution containing Z7 bacteria, which allows the flowers to live the longest, the flower weight, which was 89 g on August 11, decreased day by day and decreased to 68 g on August 23. Bacteria applications slowed the rate of decrease in fresh weight. Bacillus cereus found to be more effective than other bacterial isolates in slowing fresh weight decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera is an important commercial flower crop in the world. Augmenting the genetic diversity is desirable for further improvement in Gerbera breeding programme. Thirty-seven (37) Gerbera accessions were evaluated and analysed for genetic variability, heritability, correlation and path coefficient analysis using yield and quality traits. Results showed that phenotypic coefficients were higher than genotypic coefficients of variation for all the characters. All the traits, except stalk and flower diameter, had high heritability (>60%) and genetic advance (>20%). Based on cluster analysis, the 37 accessions were grouped into seven clusters. Cluster I consists of the maximum number of genotypes (22), while clusters IV–VII are monogenotypic with unique traits. Cluster analysis (D2) showed wider genetic diversity within and between the clusters. The first four principal components (Eigenvalue >1) contributed 72.3% of the total variation. The number of leaves, number of flowers and flower stalk length contributed the most to genetic divergence. Flower yield showed a significant positive genotypic correlation with the number of leaves and suckers. The path analysis (genotypic) revealed that number of suckers, flower stalk diameter and flower stalk length contribute major positive direct effects on number of flowers. Therefore, the wide genetic variability existing in the germplasm may facilitate improvement in gerbera crops. Superior lines (RCGH-12, -22, -114, -117) with higher yield (>23 flowers/plant) and vase life (>5 days) could be promoted for commercial production under open field conditions. While RCGH 28 has a dwarf flower stalk that can be promoted for pots and decoration purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Gerbera jamesonii Bolus (Rionegro) was subjected to dynamic high temperature (32°C/22°C, 35°C/25°C, 38°C/28°C and 41°C/31°C) and duration (4d, 6d, 8d and 10d) treatments in an artificial control experiment with day/night temperatures of 28°C/18°C as control (CK). The physiological indicators related to the photosynthetic, fluorescence, and senescence characteristics of gerbera leaves were measured under different treatments. Based on the results of the correlation analysis and principal component analysis, authors constructed risk indexes for high temperature and heat damage (HT & HD) in Gerbera applicable to the greenhouse in southern China. Combining meteorological data from 366 stations and greenhouse microclimate data from 1990−2019, BP neural network was used to simulate the maximum daily temperature in greenhouses in the southern region as a way to carry out the risk zoning of HT & HD in greenhouse cultivation in the southern gerbera planted region. The results showed that: (1) to create the heat stress index (HSI) of gerbera in the greenhouse, Pn, Pmax, PItotal, Fv/Fm, and POD were extracted as key indicators by principal component analysis. They were classified into three levels: mild (0.2＜HSI≤0.4), moderate (0.4＜HSI≤0.6), and severe (HSI＞0.6), which were then used to determine its heat stress meteorological indicators. (2) The southern China gerbera planting area experienced mild HT & HD on average every 0.19 to 0.90 years between 1990 and 2019, with the majority of these outbreaks occurring in Sichuan and Yunnan's eastern and western regions. In contrast to the mild, moderate HT & HD on average decreased in frequency throughout the south, with a maximum frequency of 0.54 occurring mostly in Guangxi and Guangdong areas. Severe HT & HD occurred 0 to 0.58 times less frequently than mild disasters. (3) In the southern China, the HT & HD to gerbera in the greenhouse from 1990 to 2019 revealed a general trend of high in the south and low in the north. Among these, the Sichuan basin and the eastern and western areas of Yunnan are at low risk, whereas Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang are, to a great extent, high-risk regions. Other areas are at medium risk of HT & HD to the gerbera in the greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bent neck or stem bending is the most essential problem of some cultivars of rose and gerbera cut flowers in the postharvest stage, as it decreases vase life as well as its commercial value. This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) at 9 mg/l, 0.2 ml/l thyme oil and 200 mg/l 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) as holding solutions and 20 mg/l silver nanoparticles as a pulsing solution compared to distilled water (control) in delaying bent neck in Rosa hybrida cv. Avalanche and stem bending in Gerbera jamesonii cv. Julia cut flowers (these are more cultivars sensitive to bending). Our results indicated a positive effect of SNPs and thyme oil on delaying the bent neck and decreasing bacterial counts. The flowers placed in 9 mg/l SNPs significantly delayed the bending, reduced the number of bacteria, improved water relations, maintained a higher lignin percentage, and extended longevity in both flowers compared to control and other treatments. The results of scanning microscopy pictures of the bending area indicated that 9 mg/l SNPs prevented vessel blockage and maintain anatomical structures such as epidermis cells, parenchyma cells, and vascular bundles in both cut rose and gerbera flowers. The results indicated that SNPs are superior to thyme oil in improving the quality, prolonging vase life, and delaying the bending of rose and gerbera cut flowers

Candidate genes (CG) for Botrytis cinerea resistance described in literature were mapped on gerbera linkage maps for which several QTL for Botrytis resistance had been found previously using a rapid, low-cost platform for SNP genotyping. In total, 29 CGs were mapped in either of two mapping populations. Four CGs were mapped within the previous identified QTL intervals and three co-localized with QTL. Two of these CGs for resistance against B. cinerea, PG1 (polygalacturonase gene) and sit (sitiens, ABA-aldehyde oxidase gene) that mapped in QTL regions for the ray floret disease resistance test were studied in detail. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used for gene function analysis to determine the CGs' role in gerbera resistance to Botrytis. Ray florets, of which the CGs were silenced, showed a significantly delayed growth of lesions upon Botrytis infection compared to controls. Combining QTL analysis, candidate gene mapping and VIGS showed to be an useful combination to identify possible causal genes and for understanding the molecular mechanisms of Botrytis resistance in gerbera. The two genes seem to act as partial S-genes and are likely among the determining genes leading to the variation observed for B. cinerea resistance in gerbera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient in vitro protocol for high-frequency polyploidization for the first time in gerbera hybrid (BGC-2019-01) was developed in the present study. Two-week-old in vitro-developed shoots (tips) were treated individually with 0.1%, 0.25% and 0.5% (w/v) colchicine solutions for 4, 6, 8, and 12 h. The colchicine-treated shoot tips were then inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 1.5 mg/l meta-Topolin for multiple shoot proliferation and later transferred into 1.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid-fortified MS medium for rooting of shoots. The ploidy levels of the colchicine-treated and regenerated plantlets along with the non-treated ones were confirmed via flow cytometry analysis and metaphasic chromosome count. The highest frequency of tetraploid plantlets (50%) were obtained when shoot tips were treated with 0.1% colchicine for 4 h. Morphological observations revealed that induced tetraploid plantlets exhibited delayed fresh shoot initiation, fewer but longer shoots, as well as fewer but broader leaves. Likewise, the study of stomata revealed that in comparison to their diploid counterparts, the tetraploid plantlets exhibited less frequent yet significantly larger stomata, and higher number of chloroplasts. The tetraploids were recorded with significantly higher chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin content during the photosynthetic pigment analyses. During ex vitro acclimatization and field growth, the tetraploid plants exhibited delayed proliferation but with higher vigor and thickened broad leaves. The genetic uniformity among the diploid and the tetraploid plants was confirmed using conserved DNA-derived polymorphism (CDDP), directed amplification of minisatellite-region DNA (DAMD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism marker systems. The tetraploids developed in the present study would be of immense importance for the genetic improvement of gerbera as far as its ornamental values are concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Present study report exclusive influence of meta -Topolin (m T) on in vitro regeneration of gerbera. • 100% regenerated plantlets were acclimatized in sand, soil, cow urine and tea leaves extract followed by sand-soil substrata. • Micromorphological studies on shoot, root and leaf revealed systematic plant growth. • Leaf gas exchange analysis revealed photosynthetic and transpiration activities accompanied by significant levels of photosynthetic pigments. • Clonal fidelity was ensured via cytology, flow cytometry, ISSR and SCoT markers. Present study reports meta -Topolin (m T)-induced in vitro mass propagation of Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker f. (a cut-flower with high demand in the floriculture industry), subsequent acclimatization, and cyto-genetic fidelity assessment of the plantlets. Different cytokinins (and cytokinin-like plant growth regulators) i.e., 6-benzyladenine, kinetin, m T, thidiazuron and zeatin in variable doses (0.5–1.5 mg L−1) were supplemented in the basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and comparative growth performance of the inoculated shoot tip explants were studied. Maximum number of de novo shoots (∼14) and leaves (∼40) were obtained in 1.5 mg L−1 m T. Earliest (∼9 days) root induction from shoot with maximum number (∼8) and length (∼6 cm) of roots were recorded in MS medium fortified with 1.5 mg L−1 indole-3-acetic acid. All the micropropagated plantlets (100%) were acclimatized in sand, soil, cow urine and tea leaves extract (1:1:1:1; v v −1) followed by sand-soil (1:1; v v −1) mixture. Histological studies on shoots, roots, and leaves along with leaf gas exchange analysis revealed a stimulated growth, cellular development, photosynthetic and transpiration activities accompanied by significant levels of photosynthetic pigments in plantlets during acclimatization. The flow cytometry-, cytology-, as well as Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Polymorphism and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) marker-assisted fidelity assessments of the micropropagated plantlets exhibited ploidy as well as chromosomal stability, and monomorphic banding patterns confirmed no polymorphism within the plantlets and with their mother plant. The developed protocol should be of immense commercial importance to facilitate large-scale production of true-to-type planting materials of gerbera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on cut flowers have occurred, for improving their quality is the main priority. One of the top 10 cut flowers in the world, the gerbera, or Transvaal daisy (Gerbera jamesonii Hook), is a flowering plant. The presented study aimed to investigate the effect of genotypes, storage duration, and their interactions on the quality of cut flower - Transvaal daisy. Two cultivars of Gerbera (sweet smile and sweet surprise) and their four storage durations underwent examination on the various parameters of vase life and carbohydrates. The results exhibited that the cultivar 'Sweet smile' had exceptional values of the studied parameters compared with the cultivar 'Sweet surprise.' The treatment of seven days with dry-cool storage proved superior upon 14- and 21-day treatments (11.71, 11.05, and 5.94, respectively) and had the highest positive effects on vase life and flower carbohydrate content compared with the other two storage treatments. The treatment of zero days (non-stored flowers) was significantly superior to seven-day storage. The interactions of cultivars and storage durations gave the highest effect in reducing the depletion of the carbohydrates content in cultivars with zero days, increasing the flower's vase life. Therefore, the highest values recorded for the cultivar Sweet smile are zero days, followed by seven days of storage, compared with the rest of the treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. However, its genetic improvement is limited by the lack of genetic analysis and molecular markers for traits. In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic and genotypic variation of 140 F1 progeny from two gerbera varieties with different flower types and colors. We evaluated the flower’s morphology, color, and pigment content of the F1 population and performed cluster principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis. The results showed that the main ornamental traits of the hybrid progeny varied greatly. The segregation ratios of single and double flowers and ligulate and split ray florets were both 1:1. The flower colors of the F1 progeny were mainly red and purple-red, similar to the male parent’s color. Furthermore, we conducted a genetic analysis of the hybrid progeny using EST-SSR markers and performed association analysis with phenotypic traits. We identified 2, 2, 3, 1, and 2 loci to be associated with peduncle length (PL), ray floret length (RFL), and outer ray floret; the level of apex relative to the top of involucre (LAI); outer corolla lips (OCL); and the b* of ray floret color, respectively. Our results reveal the genetic patterns of important ornamental traits and provide a theoretical basis and practical tools for gerbera genetic breeding.

The color of horticultural shade nets is known to influence crop growth and quality because of variations in the amount and quality of light. Four ornamental plant species (celosia, begonia, gerbera, and fountain grass) were grown under aluminet, pearl, and red shade nets plus black as the control at 50% shade intensity for 8 weeks. Black had the least transmittance (∼10% to 30% of ambient) within the red spectrum (620–750 nm), whereas red had the greatest at ∼70% to 80%. Aluminet and pearl resulted in a similar reduction in photosynthetic photon flux at ∼50% to 55% and ∼55% to 65% of ambient, respectively. Aluminet increased the shoot dry weight for begonia and celosia, whereas no differences among shade nets were seen for gerbera or fountain grass. The chlorophyll concentration was greatest under aluminet for each species except begonia. Shade net color did not affect flower number.