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Summary: The phytohormone strigolactone (SL) inhibits shoot branching, whereas the signalling metabolite trehalose 6‐phosphate (Tre6P) promotes branching. How Tre6P and SL signalling may interact and which molecular mechanisms might be involved remains largely unknown.Transcript profiling of Arabidopsis SL mutants revealed a cluster of differentially expressed genes highly enriched in the Tre6P pathway compared with wild‐type (WT) plants or brc1 mutants. Tre6P‐related genes were also differentially expressed in axillary buds of garden pea (Pisum sativum) SL mutants.Tre6P levels were elevated in the SL signalling mutant more axillary (max) growth 2 compared with other SL mutants or WT plants indicating a role of MAX2‐dependent SL signalling in regulating Tre6P levels.A transgenic approach to increase Tre6P levels demonstrated that all SL mutant lines and brc1 flowered earlier, showing all of these mutants were responsive to Tre6P. Elevated Tre6P led to increased branching in WT plants but not in max2 and max4 mutants, indicating some dependency between the SL pathway and Tre6P regulation of shoot branching. By contrast, elevated Tre6P led to an enhanced branching phenotype in brc1 mutants indicating independence between BRC1 and Tre6P. A model is proposed whereby SL signalling represses branching via Tre6P and independently of the BRC1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents new country records of five alien armoured scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae), in India, their possible spread and probable threat to crops and ornamental plants grown indoors and outdoors. The insects were mostly collected in open fields, and on indoor plants grown in residential and office areas. The following alien species are recorded from India for the first time: Duplaspidiotus claviger (Cockerell), Lepidosaphes laterochitinosa Green, Kuwanaspis howardi (Cooley), Rutherfordia malloti (Rutherford) and Aulacaspis alisiana Takagi. Each of the five species is diagnosed using a combination of unique field and slide-mounted identification characters. Ecological information on host-plants, distribution, and economic importance is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent rise in desert rose production, the expanded cultivation of this species may promote infestation by certain insects and mites. One such insect, the fungus gnats (Bradysia sp), also known as fungus flies, have been damaging numerous ornamental plant species. This study reported the incidence of fungus gnats infesting desert rose plants in the municipality of Jataí - GO, Brazil. Throughout 2022, we evaluated 48 desert rose plants for parasitic occurrences through direct observation. Sticky traps were used to record adult insects. Damage to plant organs has been documented and the presence of parasites at various stages of development with digital photographs. The incidence of fungal gnats is confirmed by observing adult insects and larvae in the plant substrate and roots. Of the 48 plants evaluated, 39 showed signs of infestation. Symptoms of a fungus gnat attack on desert rose include small necrotic lesions on new roots, progressive root rot, and a withered caudex resembling dehydration. The fungus gnats attack can cause the desert rose caudex to wilt, reducing its size and losing part of its shape, fact that can compromise the commercialization of this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Surfactants, particularly non‐ionic ones, are widely used as adjuvants in pesticide formulations due to their ability to maintain pesticide effectiveness without changing solution properties, such as pH. While non‐ionic surfactants are generally low‐toxic, stable, and excellent dispersants with high solubilization capabilities, they may be less effective than cationic surfactants, which offer superior surface activity, transport properties, and antimicrobial action. This study investigates the efficacy of new piperidinium surfactants with carbamate fragments as adjuvants in insecticide formulations containing imidacloprid. The efficacy of these formulations is being assessed against greenhouse whitefly, a pest known to harm cultivated and ornamental flowering plants. RESULTS: The aggregation behavior of piperidinium surfactants containing carbamate fragments was investigated, and their wetting effect was evaluated. Synthesized surfactants have lower CMC values compared to their methylpiperidinium analogue. The effect of piperidinium surfactants on the insecticide concentration on the surface and inside tomato leaves was assessed using spectrophotometric methods. It was found that the introduction of piperidinium surfactants with carbamate fragment at a concentration of 0.1% wt. allows for decrease in lethal concentration of imidacloprid up to 10 times, thereby testifying the marked increase in the effectiveness of imidacloprid against the greenhouse whitefly insect pest (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). It was shown that the main factors responsible for the enhanced efficacy of the insecticide were the ability of the surfactant to increase the concentration of imidacloprid on the leaf surfaces and improve their penetration into the plant. CONCLUSION: The presented work employed a comprehensive approach, which significantly increases the generalizability of the results obtained and provides the ability to predict the effect and target selection of adjuvants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusionsSwiss Cheese (Monstera adansonii) is an ornamental plant valued for its exotic leaves with openings and for the variety of colors. The technique of controlled exposure to gamma radiation was investigated to induce variegation (color change) in the leaves of this plant.Monstera adansonii cuttings were irradiated with different doses of radiation with 60Co gamma rays (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy) and evaluated for size, color, health, and growth.Cuttings irradiated with 1 and 5 Gy exhibited temporary variegation in leaf color, but did not maintain these characteristics over time. Cuttings with higher doses of radiation (10, 15, and 20 Gy) did not survive well and showed a reduction in growth, number of leaves, health, and sprouting rate.This research concludes that gamma radiation can affect the development of cuttings and shows the potential to induce variegation at lower doses, but more studies and prolonged observation are needed to determine whether this technique can produce variegation in a consistent and lasting way in M. adansonii. Therefore, although promising initial results have been observed, it is premature to state that gamma radiation is an effective method for inducing variegation in this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phalaenopsis has been widely popular ornamental plants, due to its unique appearance and excellent market prospects. The commonly used breeding for phalaenopsis is tissue culture at the same time. However, this task involves high repetition and labor intensity. It is still challenging to increase the production of butterfly orchids. This study aims to improve the yield of tissue culture for the labor-saving in phalaenopsis production. A visual servo platform was proposed with the robotic arm gripping. The picking and planting of tissue-cultured seedlings were realized on the conveyor belt. The visual robotic arm was constructed as a 6-degree-of-freedom robotic arm with eyes on the hand, according to the uncalibrated visual servo control. Firstly, the images were captured from the camera. Image detection was implemented to obtain the image coordinates of the roots, stems, and leaves of phalaenopsis tissue-cultured seedlings. Then, the image data was analyzed to determine the angle between the tissue-cultured seedlings and the end clamp of the robotic arm, as well as the gripping point. According to this angle, the end posture of the robotic arm was obtained during gripping. Afterward, the difference in picking point coordinates was calculated between the current and expected image for the tissue-cultured seedlings. The obtained data was then fed into the fuzzy as an input. The acceleration value was derived to control the speed at the end of the robotic arm from the input quantity. The end gripper of the robotic arm was used to track the tissue-cultured seedlings during planting. The acceleration control was utilized to remain relatively stationary in the planting experiment. The gripping of tissue-cultured seedlings was realized to estimate the posture of the gripper after tracking. The tracking speed was also maintained to plant in the given and fixed culture medium. The accuracy of the original YOLOv8 was improved to identify the roots, particularly for the diverse root morphology of Phalaenopsis tissue-cultured seedlings. AKConv and DSConv modules were introduced to extract the root features, resulting in an improved AKDS_YOLOv8. Compared with the original YOLOv8, the recognition accuracy of AKDS_YOLOv8 increased by 8.6 percentage point for seedling roots, the recall value increased by 10.7 percentage point, and the average accuracy increased by 7.4 percentage point, when the intersection-over-union ratio of the real box and the detection box was set to 50%. The recognition performance was improved significantly. A dual-input single-output fuzzy was utilized by the platform. The input was taken as the difference between the actual and expected pixel coordinates of the target, as well as the variation in this difference. The membership function was used to obtain the membership degrees of different fuzzy sets, corresponding to the difference and the variation in difference. The resulting data was then fed into the fuzzy control rule table. The image deblurring was employed to determine the acceleration at the end of the robotic arm in the direction of the conveyor belt. 80 repeated planting experiments were conducted to verify the success rate of planting. A success rate of 82.5% was achieved under the failure situations. The platform can effectively pick and plant phalaenopsis tissue- cultured seedlings on the conveyor belt, indicating the promising application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel) is an ornamental indoor plant with promising cut flower market, as well as antiviral, pharmacological and ecological potentials. Water deficiency can have sound effects on the growth performance and aesthetic quality of such plant. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of zeolite, biochar, and zeo-char loaded nano-nitrogen application on the growth performance and biochemical components of peace lily under water shortage conditions. An experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons (2021–2022) at the experimental nursery of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Soil amendments; zeolite, biochar, and zeo-char loaded nano-nitrogen were prepared and applied to soil before cultivation. Results: Our results revealed that the new combination treatment (zeo-char loaded nano-N) had an exceeding significant effect on most of the studied parameters. Vegetative traits such as plant height (35.7 and 35.9%), leaf number per plant (73.3 and 52.6%), leaf area (40.2 and 36.4%), stem diameter (28.7 and 27.1%), root number (100 and 43.5%) and length (105.7 and 101.9%) per plant, and fresh weight of leaves (23.2 and 21.6%) were significantly higher than control (commercially recommended dose of NPK) with the application of zeo-char loaded nano-N during the two growing seasons, respectively. Similar significant increments were obtained for some macro- (N, P, K, Mg, Ca) and micro- (Fe, Zn, Mn) elements with the same treatment relative to control. Chlorophyll (18.4%) and total carotenoids (82.9 and 32.6%), total carbohydrates (53.3 and 37.4%), phenolics (54.4 and 86.9%), flavonoids (31.7% and 41.8%) and tannins (69.2 and 50%), in addition to the phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA3) followed the same trend with the application of zeo-char loaded nano-N, increasing significantly over control. Leaf histological parameters and anatomical structure were enhanced with the new combination treatment in comparison with control. Antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase), proline and abscisic acid (ABA) exhibited significant declines with zeo-char loaded nano-N treatment relative to control. Conclusion: These findings suggest that incorporating soil amendments with nano- nutrients could provide a promising approach towards improving growth performance and quality of ornamental, medicinal and aromatic species under water deficiency conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmanthus fragrans, a native to China, is renowned as a highly popular gardening plant. However, this plant faces significant challenges from drought stress, which can adversely affect its flowering. In this study, we found that the plasma membrane-localized gene OfPIP2 exhibited a substantial upregulation during the flowering stages and in response to drought stress. GUS staining has illustrated that the OfPIP2 promoter can drive GUS activity under drought conditions. The overexpression of OfPIP2 was found to enhance petal size by modulating epidermal cell dimensions in Petunia and tobacco. Moreover, this overexpression also bolstered drought tolerance, as evidenced by a reduction in stomatal aperture in both species. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase (Dual-LUC) assays have indicated that the transcription factor OfMYB28 directly binds to the OfPIP2 promoter, thereby regulating its expression. Together, we speculated that a module of OfMYB28-OfPIP2 was not only involved in the enhancement of petal size but also conferred the improvement of drought tolerance in O. fragrans. These results contribute valuable insights into the molecular function of the OfPIP2 gene and lay a foundation for molecular breeding strategies in O. fragrans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of natural resources in bioplastics has advanced the development of bio-based materials. Utilizing the casting, chitosan (CH)-based films were manufactured with different glycerol (GLY) percentages (from 0 to 50% w/w of CH) and anthocyanin-enriched fractions (from 0 to 5% of w/w CH) of acidified ethanol extract of Callistemon citrinus flowers (CCE). Callistemon citrinus is an ornamental plant known for its bioactive compounds endowed with health benefits. The hydrocolloid films showed promising mechanical properties. The 30% GLY + 5% CCE film achieved an elongation at break of 57.4%, comparable to the 50% GLY film while possessing enhanced tensile strength and Young's modulus. The CCE, rich in antioxidants, acted as a plasticizer, improving films' flexibility and manageability. The films exhibit hydrophilic characteristics with moisture content and uptake values reflecting their water-absorbing capacity, while films with 30% GLY and 5% CCE exhibit enhanced hydrophobicity. In addition, CCE characterization reveals significant polyphenol content (734.45 mg GAE/g), highlighting its antioxidant capacity. Moreover, CCE supplies remarkable antioxidant properties to the films. These findings suggest the potential of these bioplastics for industrial applications as a sustainable solution to traditional plastics and in reducing environmental impact while preventing oxidative reactions in packaged products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, red‐fleshed apple has attracted a lot of attention due to its pleasant appearance, taste, and being a valuable source of anthocyanins. Generally, different types of this apple are known as ornamental apple plants that are rarely found in various regions around the world like New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, China, and Turkey. This study focused on the accumulation and changes of the bioactive and aroma‐related volatile components at different production stages of a red‐fleshed apple vinegar. The aim of this study is to produce an anthocyanin‐ and vitamin C‐rich vinegar (NAV) from red‐fleshed Niedzwetzky's apple for the first time. According to the results, in this vinegar, it was determined high concentrations of total phenolic content (904.8 mg‐GAE/mL), total flavonoid content (0.25 mg‐EGCE/mL), vitamin C content (3024.3 mg‐AAE/mL), and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (8.33 mmol‐TE/mL), as well as FRAP (13.57 mmol‐ISE/mL), respectively. Moreover, total anthocyanin content value was found to be 6.46 mg/g. One of the components that provide the specified functional effect in this vinegar is chlorogenic acid, which constitutes the main phenolic compound, and the other one is cyanidin‐3‐glucoside, which is the major anthocyanin in this vinegar. The main volatile components associated with the aroma of vinegar are ‐acetic acid, ‐phenylacetic acid (5067.7 µg/100 mL), ‐phenethyl alcohol (3096.1 µg/100 mL), and ‐nonanoic acid (2939.0 µg/100 mL) compounds. Consequently, it is recommended to expand the range of Niedzwetzky's apples in the production and consumption of food products such as functional vinegar. Thus, a new vinegar with high functional properties will be introduced to the worldwide food industry. Practical Application: In this study, vinegar was produced from the small and dark‐red‐flesh‐colored fruits of Niedzwetzky's apple tree, which is known in a small part of the world and is generally used as an ornamental plant due to its red‐pink flowers. It has been determined that the produced vinegar has high bioavailability due to the apples with red inner flesh and high anthocyanin content and has a desirable aromatic content. Thus, a food product with high functional quality and desirable aroma, accessible to consumers all over the world, has been produced from a little‐known fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying therapeutic mechanisms of care farming activities have not been addressed using psychophysiological data. We aimed to understand frontal cortex activation in adults during care farming activities and to explore the psychophysiological effects. Using a randomized crossover study method, 20 adults (average age, 31.3 ± 9.8 years) participated in 10 care farming activities, (four gardening activities, three animal-mediated activities, and three off-farming activities) for 3 minutes each at an actual care farm. Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed during the activity, and emotional states were assessed using subjective emotional questionnaires after each activity. The EEG results revealed that alpha activity increased during gardening activities, such as organizing garden plots and planting plants. Spectral edge frequency 50, which predicts the degree of arousal, increased during interaction with dogs. The results of the subjective emotional questionnaire revealed that participants experienced positive emotions, such as vigor, comfort, naturalness, and relaxation, when participating in care farming activities compared with those while resting. Therefore, this study suggests that care farming activities can induce changes in the frontal cortex activation and positive emotional states in participants. This study elucidates the use of such activities to address mental health-related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal collecting of wild Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) for the horticultural trade represents a persistent threat to populations of the species across their endemic range in the coastal plain of North and South Carolina (United States). Although wild collecting of Venus flytraps is not a novel threat, there has been very little research on the impacts of collecting on the species' conservation to date or why an illegal trade persists alongside a legal one. We drew on qualitative expert stakeholder elicitation to contextualize the threat of illegal collecting to the long‐term conservation of Venus flytraps in relation to other anthropogenic threats. Expert elicitation included botanical and conservation researchers, cognizant state and federal agency staff, land managers, and conservation nonprofit actors. The workshop included mapping of supply chain structures and prioritization of social and environmental harms. Expert consensus determined illegal collecting is an ongoing problem for Venus flytrap conservation, but habitat destruction, degradation, and fire suppression are the most significant threats to flytrap conservation. Supply chain analysis showed that observable social and environmental harms of the trade are focused at the supply stage and that less is known about transit and demand stages. Key research gaps identified include a lack of understanding of plant laundering practices relevant to a range of desirable plant taxa; the role of commercial nurseries in illicit horticultural supply chains; motivations for engaging in Venus flytrap collecting; and the persistent demand for illegally harvested plants when cultivated, legally obtainable plants are readily available. Our findings and methodology are relevant to a range of ornamental plants affected by illegal trade for which robust social data on illegal collecting drivers are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the procedures that helps remove pharmaceuticals (Phs) from wastewater in Constructed Wetlands (CWs) is phytoremediation. Using Ruellia simplex, the main emphasis of this study is on the function of plants and substrates in the removal mechanism independently from aqueous solution. Even in an aqueous solution containing high concentrations of antibiotics, the plant could thrive, and lighting further promoted growth. For the removal of amoxicillin (AMX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) at a concentration of 25 mg/L, six reactors are used: hydroponic planted reactors, sand rectors, chicken manure -- wood shavings (CM-WS) rectors, rhizobacterial-inoculated unplanted reactors, unplanted control reactors, and unplanted dark control reactors to study the roles of phytoremediation, adsorption, biodegradation, photodegradation and hydrolysis process in reduction of AMX and CIP. Additionally, the plant's weight is determined for each sample collected and compared to the initial weight of the experiment to monitor plant growth. The possible fates of AMX and CIP were explored using hydroponic tests, whereby 43%, 26% and 19%, respectively, of the total removal of AMX had been accounted for by plant uptake, adsorption by CM-WS and biodegradation after 21 days of exposure, also these process contributed well in CIP removal, where the proportions were 39%, 32% and 18%, respectively of the total CIP reduction at the same intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how activities in natural settings, such as gardening, improve health and well‐being is important for designing nature‐based health interventions.Our study focused on a sociodemographic‐diverse group of new gardeners (n = 34) who had participated for one season in the community gardens as part of the Denver Urban Gardens initiative in Denver, CO USA. New gardeners participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews to determine how and why gardening influenced their well‐being. Interview transcripts were analysed iteratively using grounded theory and comparative case study methodologies.Analysis revealed that new gardeners' previous gardening experience, social support systems and overcoming gardening challenges increased gardening engagement and improved outcomes. Within‐garden outcomes that were nearly universally experienced by new gardeners included food production, physical activity in the garden and a 'gardening triad': (1) caretaking, nurturance or love and sense of responsibility for garden plants; (2) feelings of accomplishment, success and pride and (3) connection to nature including appreciation, restoration and wonder.We found that the elements of the 'gardening triad' were meaningful to gardeners and connected to both continued engagement of participants and others in the garden, and social and emotional well‐being outcomes including new and/or strengthened social relationships; purpose and meaning; self‐learning, self‐worth and confidence; joy, immersion, restoration and respite; and management of mental health conditions. Gardening with others, including other gardeners, garden leaders, friends and family, amplified the well‐being effects of the 'gardening triad.'Identification of the 'gardening triad' expands understanding of the salient health‐promoting characteristics of gardening beyond simple exposure to nature, food production and physical activity. It embeds gardeners in relationship with their gardens as active participants eliciting universal emotional processes which, in turn, manifested as improved social and emotional well‐being. Gardening, as an avenue for improving well‐being, should be supported widely. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary The strangler fig is known for its hemiepiphytic growth form and conspicuous strangling behavior in the tropics worldwide. It also plays an important role in providing ecological functions in tropical urban ecosystems. This study reveals strangler figs tend to colonize large trees with suitable microsites in a large tropical botanical garden and cause some negative effects on their hosts. We advocate balanced management strategies considering ecological functions, potential risks, and overall values of stranglers and their hosts. These results provide a scientific basis for us to develop better practices for plant management in urban green spaces (especially botanical gardens with high plant biodiversity) in tropical urban ecosystems. Strangler figs colonize trees in tropical cities, which contribute to a unique urban ecology and enrich local ecological functions. Understanding ecological associations between strangler figs and their host trees can improve green space management in tropical urban ecosystems. We investigated 9282 trees growing in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and then analyzed the diversity, characteristics, and network of strangler figs and their host trees. We found 13 strangler fig species (319 individuals) widely colonized 67 host species, with palm hosts bearing 52% of all strangler individuals. Strangler figs had a high colonization rate in large trees with appropriate microsites (e.g., persistent palm petioles and the fork of mature trees with rough trunks). Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content of hosts decreased significantly after strangler figs' aerial roots had entered the ground. The strangler–host network was characterized by relatively high specialization and low nestedness, and simulated management of strangler figs on large hosts and palm hosts could simplify the strangler–host network. Strangler fig colonization can be managed. Planting trees with large diameters at breast height and rough bark can increase the colonization of stranglers, while cutting off aerial roots can inhibit their establishment. The epiphytic stage is the best time to manage strangler figs. We recommend taking into consideration the trade‐offs among ecological functioning, human safety, and the multifaceted value of strangler figs and their host trees and thereby implementing comprehensive management strategies tailored to different contexts for improving green space management in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to pesticides is one potential factor contributing to the recent loss of pollinators and pollinator diversity. Few studies have specifically focused on the relationship between pesticide management during ornamental plant production and contamination of nectar. We evaluated contamination of nectar in Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ (Salvia longispicata M. Martens & Galeotti × S. farinacea Benth.) associated with applications of the systemic insecticide thiamethoxam, and the nonsystemic fungicides boscalid and pyraclostrobin. Applications were made at the labeled rates for the commercially available products, and we compared the influence of application method (drench vs. spray), timing (relative to flowering), and rate (low vs. high) for each pesticide. Nectar was sampled using 50‐µL microcapillary tubes and analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicate that concentrations from the spray application resulted in the least contamination of nectar with the systemic thiamethoxam, with lower concentrations occurring when thiamethoxam was applied before blooming at the lowest rate. Concentrations of thiamethoxam and its metabolite clothianidin were detected in nectar in all treatments (regardless of the method, timing, or rate of application), and ranged from 3.6 ± 0.5 ng/mL (spray‐applied before blooming, low rate) to 1720.0 ± 80.9 ng/mL (drench‐applied after blooming, high rate). Residues of clothianidin in nectar ranged from below quantification limits (spray‐applied before blooming, low rate) to 81.2 ± 4.6 ng/mL (drench‐applied after blooming, high rate). Drench applications resulted in the highest levels of nectar contamination with thiamethoxam, and exceeded published median lethal concentrations (LC50s/median lethal doses for native bees and/or honeybees in all cases). Spray treatments resulted in nectar concentrations exceeding published LC50s for some bee species. In comparison, all nonsystemic treatments resulted in concentrations much lower than the published no‐observable‐effect doses and sublethal toxicity values, indicating low risks of toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;001:1–12. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yellow–flowered Spathoglottis aurea (tribe Collabieae; family Orchidaceae) is native to the mountainous areas of Peninsular Malaysia. The species is well known as an ornamental plant and for its role in artificial hybrid breeding. There is an interesting evolutionary relationship between S. aurea and the geographically isolated S. microchilina from Borneo that has encouraged further study of the S. aurea populations, but the genomic resource for S. aurea has not yet been reported. The present study reports the first work to characterize a chloroplast (cp) genome among the Spathoglottis genus. The complete cp genome of S. aurea was assembled from a sequence generated by the Illumina platform and analysed in comparison with other Collabieae species available in the GenBank database. The cp genome of S. aurea is 157,957 base pairs (bp) in length with guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 37.3%. The genome possessed a typical quadripartite cp genome structure with large single-copy (LSC) (86,888 bp), small single-copy (SSC) (18,125 bp) and inverted repeat (IR) (26,472 bp) sequences. A total of 134 genes were annotated, with 88 protein coding genes (PCGs), 38 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Overall, 80 simple sequence repeats (SSR) or microsatellites were identified. Comparative analysis with other Collabieae species revealed high conservation in the cp genome arrangements with minimal difference in genome lengths. However, several mutational hotspots were also detected, with high potential to be developed as genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis. Characterization of the S. aurea cp genome revealed its conserved nature without gene loss or rearrangements when compared to other species of the Collabieae tribe. Phylogenetic analysis of Collabieae species also revealed that S. aurea has a distant evolutionary relationship to other members of the Collabieae species, despite the presence of problematic genera such as Phaius and Cephalantheropsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jasminum sambac, a widely recognized ornamental plant prized for its aromatic blossoms, exhibits three flora phenotypes: single-petal ("SP"), double-petal ("DP"), and multi-petal ("MP"). The lack of detailed characterization and comparison of J. sambac mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) hinders the exploration of the genetic and structural diversity underlying the varying floral phenotypes in jasmine accessions. Results: Here, we de novo assembled three mitogenomes of typical phenotypes of J. sambac, "SP", "DP", and "MP-hutou" ("HT"), with PacBio reads and the "HT" chloroplast (cp) genome with Illumina reads, and verified them with read mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The three mitogenomes present divergent sub-genomic conformations, with two, two, and four autonomous circular chromosomes ranging in size from 35.7 kb to 405.3 kb. Each mitogenome contained 58 unique genes. Ribosome binding sites with conserved AAGAAx/AxAAAG motifs were detected upstream of uncanonical start codons TTG, CTG and GTG. The three mitogenomes were similar in genomic content but divergent in structure. The structural variations were mainly attributed to recombination mediated by a large (~ 5 kb) forward repeat pair and several short repeats. The three jasmine cp. genomes showed a well-conserved structure, apart from a 19.9 kb inversion in "HT". We identified a 14.3 kb "HT"-specific insertion on Chr7 of the "HT" nuclear genome, consisting of two 7 kb chloroplast-derived fragments with two intact ndhH and rps15 genes, further validated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The well-resolved phylogeny suggests faster mitogenome evolution in J. sambac compared to other Oleaceae species and outlines the mitogenome evolutionary trajectories within Lamiales. All evidence supports that "DP" and "HT" evolved from "SP", with "HT" being the most recent derivative of "DP". Conclusion: The comprehensive characterization of jasmine organelle genomes has added to our knowledge of the structural diversity and evolutionary trajectories behind varying jasmine traits, paving the way for in-depth exploration of mechanisms and targeted genetic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelargonium graveolens L'Hèr. (Geraniaceae) is renowned for its traditional use as a flavor, ornamental and medicinal plant. This work aimed at an in-depth study of the phytochemical profiling and in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assessment of a methanol-aqueous extract from P. graveolens leaves. A UHPLC-HRMS analysis revealed more than 110 secondary metabolites, including 8 acyltartaric and 11 acylcitric/acylisocitric acids; 8 gallotannins; 36 flavonols, flavanones and methoxylated flavonoids together with 17 phenolic and aliphatic acids; and 21 phenolic acid glycosides. For the first time, acylcitric acids along with feruloyl- and coumaroyltartaric acids are reported in the species. The leaf extract actively scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH (273.45 mg trolox equivalent (TE/g)) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) radicals (531.97 mgTE/g) and showed a high reducing power: 431.32 mg TE/g Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 292.21 mg TE/g Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). It possessed a metal chelating capacity (13.44 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid equivalent (EDTAE)/g) and contained 2.71 mmol TE/g in the phosphomolybdenum assay. The rose geranium extract exhibited high inhibition towards acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (2.80 and 2.20 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g, respectively) and tyrosinase (75.49 mg kojic acid equivalent (KAE)/g). It inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase (3.75 mmol and 0.79 acarbose equivalent (ACAE)/g, respectively) and lipase (28.91 mg orlistat equivalent (OE)/g). This study sheds light into the future potential application of the rose geranium in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forsythia koreana Nakai is an ornamental plant widely cultivated in East Asia. The essential oil of F. koreana flowers (FEO) was extracted by hydrodistillation process and the volatile components were determined with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory activity of FEO was investigated by using TPA-induced mouse ear inflammation model. The major components of FEO were identified as n-tetracosane (29.85%), n-heneicosane (17.45%), myristic acid (8.46%) and palmitaldehyde (6.22%). The TPA-induced mouse ear edema, water content, dermis thickness, epidermis thickness and nitric oxide production were decreased by FEO. Our findings suppose that the flower essential oil of F. koreana exerted anti-inflammatory activity, and may be used in the development of anti-inflammatory products in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinator diversity and abundance are under direct threat from human activities. Despite societal dependence on pollinators for crop production, humankind continues to drive pollinator declines through agricultural intensification and urbanisation. Urban environments can provide refuge to some pollinators. There is a need, however, to understand how pollinator communities can be supported in these areas while also considering human needs. Public green spaces provide a promising avenue to target plant–pollinator conservation measures in an urban setting due to their large area, high abundance and low plant–pollinator biodiversity. We used a paired design to compare the plant community, pollinator community and plant–pollinator interactions of (i) public urban green spaces enhanced with wildflower meadows and pollinator‐friendly ornamental plantings to (ii) control unenhanced urban green spaces. The planting types within enhanced sites were also separately compared. Our results show that not only was the diversity of the overall pollinator community higher in enhanced than control sites, but also the complexity of some wild Hymenoptera and the abundance of Diptera pollinator groups. The negative impact of urbanisation on some pollinator groups was reduced in enhanced sites compared with control sites. Planting both pollinator‐friendly ornamental plants and wildflower meadows significantly increased the visits from Diptera and the diversity in the plant–pollinator community compared with wildflower plantings alone. Our results suggest that enhancing public spaces for pollinators has positive effects on key groups and can help mitigate the impacts of urbanisation. Non‐native ornamental plants can also play a role in enhancing green spaces for pollinators while maintaining their recreational functions. This supports a mixed‐planting approach for improving public green spaces in urban areas for both people and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brontispa longissima is a highly destructive pest that affects coconut and ornamental palm plants. It is widely distributed across Southeast and East Asia and the Pacific region, causing production losses of up to 50–70%. While control methods and ecological phenomena have been the primary focus of research, there is a significant lack of studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying these ecological phenomena. The absence of a reference genome has also hindered the development of new molecular-targeted control technologies. In this study, we conducted a karyotype analysis of B. longissima and assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome. The assembled genome is 582.24 Mb in size, with a scaffold N50 size of 63.81 Mb, consisting of 10 chromosomes and a GC content of 33.71%. The BUSCO assessment indicated a completeness estimate of 98.1%. A total of 23,051 protein-coding genes were predicted. Our study provides a valuable genomic resource for understanding the mechanisms of adaptive evolution and facilitates the development of new molecular-targeted control methods for B. longissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, phylloremediation has emerged as a highly effective method for eliminating air pollutants, particularly polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When PAHs accumulate on the phyllosphere, they significantly impact the fungal communities residing on leaf surfaces. This study aimed to investigate how pollution distribution patterns affect the diversity and PAH-degrading abilities of phyllosphere fungi, alongside identifying suitable mathematical models for PAH degradation. Leaf samples from two locations, Maradana and Sapugaskanda, were identified as having the highest PAH concentrations through principal component analysis. The fungal diversity in these highly contaminated regions was varied, with dominant species exhibiting greater PAH-degrading capabilities than those in less polluted areas. Thirty-five morphologically different epiphytic fungal strains were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium using the sample leaf wash. Two different fungal strains were selected as the best PAH degraders among those 35 different strains. These fungal strains were identified as Trichoderma harzianum P4M-16, and Fusarium solani P11M-46 based on ITS sequence data. Notably, these fungal species were more prevalent in highly polluted urban areas compared to less contaminated sites. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that these two fungal species degrade PAHs more efficiently than others. Their kinetics assays demonstrated alignment with four degradation models when breaking down phenanthrene, naphthalene, pyrene, and anthracene. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that these fungi function as endophytes, extending their mycelium into the core leaf tissue layers beyond the epidermis. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis indicated that F. solani P11M-46 produced non-toxic byproducts during the breakdown of phenanthrene and anthracene, confirming their eco-friendly nature. Overall, our findings suggest the promising potential of using phyllosphere fungi in bioremediation processes for environmental pollutants such as PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The tribe Ampelopsideae plants are important garden plants with both medicinal and ornamental values. The study of codon usage bias (CUB) facilitates a deeper comprehension of the molecular genetic evolution of species and their adaptive strategies. The joint analysis of CUB in chloroplast genomes (cpDNA) offers valuable insights for in-depth research on molecular genetic evolution, biological resource conservation, and elite breeding within this plant family. Results: The base composition and codon usage preferences of the eighteen chloroplast genomes were highly similar, with the GC content of bases at all positions of their codons being less than 50%. This indicates that they preferred A/T bases. Their effective codon numbers were all in the range of 35–61, which indicates that the codon preferences of the chloroplast genomes of the 18 Ampelopsideae plants were relatively weak. A series of analyses indicated that the codon preference of the chloroplast genomes of the 18 Ampelopsideae plants was influenced by a combination of multiple factors, with natural selection being the primary influence. The clustering tree generated based on the relative usage of synonymous codons is consistent with some of the results obtained from the phylogenetic tree of chloroplast genomes, which indicates that the clustering tree based on the relative usage of synonymous codons can be an important supplement to the results of the sequence-based phylogenetic analysis. Eventually, 10 shared best codons were screened on the basis of the chloroplast genomes of 18 species. Conclusion: The codon preferences of the chloroplast genome in Ampelopsideae plants are relatively weak and are primarily influenced by natural selection. The codon composition of the chloroplast genomes of the eighteen Ampelopsideae plants and their usage preferences were sufficiently similar to demonstrate that the chloroplast genomes of Ampelopsideae plants are highly conserved. This study provides a scientific basis for the genetic evolution of chloroplast genes in Ampelopsideae species and their suitable strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysanthemum is the most popular ornamental plant, after roses and lilies. The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter, which remains the most widely used promoter in dicotyledons, is a very strong promoter with sufficient effects in most crops. However, weak expression has often been reported in Chrysanthemum. Therefore, we searched for constitutive promoters available in Chrysanthemum. Based on the transcriptome analysis data of Chrysanthemum, nine constitutively expressed genes were selected, and each promoter region (1.0–3.0 kb) was isolated by genome walking. Only two of the nine promoters expressed GUS in tobacco and chrysanthemums. The major motif of the CmERF promoter (U41, 2060 bp) was related to the regulation of ethylene (ERELEE4) or gibberellin (PYRIMIDINEBOXOSRAMY1 and WRKY71OS). Similarly, the motif of the CmGA2 ox promoter (U47, 1060 bp) also contained gibberellin signaling factors, such as PRIMIDINEBOXHVEPB1 and WRKY71OS. Both promoters showed strong systemic expression in tobacco using GUS staining. Although weaker than in tobacco, significant expression was confirmed in the flowers and stems in chrysanthemum. The results of the GUS activity assay using chrysanthemum transformants showed that the transgenic line (#12) containing the U47 promoter had higher expression in all tissues than that containing the 35S-CaMV promoter. The U41 promoter was found to have a higher expression than the 35S-CaMV promoter in the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garden plants, trees and bushes suffer damages caused by lots of pests by 30-50 % every year, and sometimes by 80-90 % during the period when they grow massively. For this purpose, scientific bases for the use of perspective entomophages in the biological fight against harsh pests by studying the species composition, bioecological features of 6 species of insects, which damage garden and forest plants, and entomophages (parasites and predators), which regulate their number, have been developed in Azerbaijan. The research paper established that the oriental fruit moth infests fruit crops by 50-60 %. It was found that 22 types of parasites play a role in the regulation of abundance. Among them, macrocentrus infests oriental fruit moth larva up to 80 %, scambus up to 60 %, apanteles up to 40-50 %. The scoliidae parasite is of economic importance and can be used for biological control against the oriental fruit moth. Considering the prospects of some parasites, the bioecological features on the Absheron Peninsula have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant‐mycorrhizal type has been suggested as an integrator of plant functional traits, yet most of what is known about these relationships comes from studies of different plant taxa, where the effects of mycorrhizal type cannot be isolated. In addition to affecting carbon‐nutrient exchanges, plants that associate with distinct mycorrhizal types often differ in several traits, with consequences for myriad below‐ground processes.We used two common gardens planted with Populus fremontii, a tree species that can simultaneously associate with both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, to examine the degree to which mycorrhizal‐type dominance influences root traits and trait relationships across the root economic space.While P. fremontii formed AM and ECM associations simultaneously, individuals displayed a dominant mycorrhizal type driven primarily by garden location. Trees in the low‐elevation garden, regardless of provenance, were colonized primarily by AM fungi, whereas trees in the high‐elevation garden were colonized primarily by ECM fungi. In root systems at the low‐elevation garden, AM colonization rates were negatively related to specific root length indicating trade‐off with investment in foraging roots. In contrast, root systems at the high‐elevation garden, ECM colonization was negatively related to root tissue density, demonstrating a potential trade‐off between resource acquisition and root growth/defence. All other root economic traits remained similar between mycorrhizal types.While root traits varied little between AM‐ and ECM‐dominated trees (and gardens), their relationships with one another differed in each garden, suggesting unique strategies and trait trade‐offs in a single species. As global change continues to alter environments, species like P. fremontii, which experience a range of abiotic conditions, could signal how other tree species might modify root traits and strategies in response. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids (Orchidaceae) are ornamental plants known for their high aesthetic value attributed to the shapes, colours, and fragrances of their flowers. Two types of hybrid orchids with attractive flowers, namely the Phalaenopsis 'OX Queen' orchid and the Dendrobium 'Cheddi Jagan' boast attractive flowers were used in this research, because of the beauty of its flower colour. The objective of this research is to characterise the morphology of flower colour and CHS (Chalcone Synthase) gene content that induces flower colour. The method used in this research analyzing the flower’s colour by using the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) colour chart and molecular analysis by DNA genomic isolation and PCR amplification of gDNA for CHS gene specific primers. The results showed that purple colour is observed through the RHS, with P. 'OX Queen' coded as Deep Purple Pink (N73A) and D. 'Cheddi Jagan' coded as Strong Reddish Purple (N72C). The CHS gene can be amplified in P. ’OX Queen’ 1,287 bp and D. ’Cheddi jagan’ 3,731 bp. In both orchids, the results of amplification showed CHS motifs with conserved domains PLN03172 and PLN03170. The research results show that there is a significant difference in the morphology of the flowers of orchids. Purple colour is observed through the RHS, with P. 'OX Queen' coded as N73A and D. 'Cheddi Jagan' coded as N73C. The results showed that gDNA can be isolated by using CTAB method according to Murray and Thomson, and the CHS gene can be amplified by using CHS primers, resulting 1200 bp of P. 'OX Queen' and 2500 bp for D. 'Cheddi Jagan'. Through this study, preliminary data is expected to be obtained for future research, which is the formation of variegated flowers through editing the CRISPR/Cas9 genome in the CHS gene. This research is intended to support further studies on the formation of variegated flower patterns in P. 'OX Queen' and D. 'Cheddi Jagan’, focusing on the CHS gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids are one of the largest and globally distributed plant families. Indonesia has the most types of orchids, estimated around 20% from the total species across the world. Mainly orchids used as an ornamental plant. This research aimed to elucidate another potential of orchids as possibly for herbal medicine plant. The potential of orchids as herbal medicine has been known for a long time, but there is lack of well-documented research. The research method used in this research is exploration on predetermined research sites that were conducted in Mount Tilu, West Java on 2022. Observation data of orchids were collected on the sites and the analysis was carried out in a qualitative descriptive approach by describing the data from the research results and comparisons were made through a literature review. Based on the research results, we found about 31 species from 28 genera consisting of 24 epiphytic orchids and 7 terrestrial orchids in the Mount Tilu Kuningan area, West Java. There are 4 endemic species categorised in Java; Chilochista javanica, Crepidium koordesii, Crepidium junghuhnii, and Taeniophyllum biocellatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elaeagnus angustifolia L. is a highly adaptable urban ornamental plant, playing a key role in dry land and saline-alkali protective forests. The diverse geographical and climatic conditions in Gansu Province have resulted in variations in its distribution and growth. This study assesses the phenotypic diversity of fruits and seeds, and the seed germination characteristics of 82 E. angustifolia plants from nine populations in Gansu Province, exploring their relationship with geographical and climatic factors. We measured 12 phenotypic traits and five germination indices. This study included germination tests under standard conditions, statistical analysis of phenotypic differences, and Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses to examine relationships between traits and geo-climatic factors. Principal component and cluster analyses were also performed to identify key traits and classify populations. The findings were as follows: (1) Significant differences were observed in phenotypic traits and germination characteristics among populations. Single fruit weight showed the highest variation (27.56%), while seed transverse diameter had the lowest (8.76%). The Lanzhou population exhibited the greatest variability (14.27%), while Linze had the lowest (6.29%). (2) A gradient change pattern in traits was observed, primarily influenced by longitude and a combination of geographical and climatic factors. Seed germination was positively correlated with altitude, annual precipitation, and relative humidity, but negatively affected by latitude and traits such as fruit weight. (3) Principal component analysis identified germination rate, germination index, seed shape index, and fruit shape index as primary factors, contributing 27.4%, 20.6%, and 19.9% to the variation, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the 82 plants into four clusters, not strictly based on geographical distance, suggesting influence from factors such as genotype or environmental conditions. In conclusion, this study lays a foundation for understanding the genetic mechanisms behind the phenotypic diversity and germination characteristics of E. angustifolia. It offers insights into how geo-climatic factors influence these traits, providing valuable information for the species' conservation, cultivation, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cactaceae are a significant group of ornamental plants in the horticultural market. In the present study, X-rays were used for the first time to induce mutational changes in the cactus Copiapoa tenuissima. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic variability in seedlings exposed to in vitro X-ray irradiation at doses of 0, 15, 20, 25, and 50 Gy (radiation time from 5 min 13 s to 17 min 22 s) by morphological analysis, a spectrophotometric evaluation of plant pigment content, and the confirmation of changes at the genetic level using SCoT (start codon targeted) markers. The results showed that the percentage of colorful seedlings increased with the radiation dose and was the highest for the 50 Gy dose (4.89%). The radiation doses of 25 and 50 Gy generated seedlings with a new color (orange-brown), which had not yet been observed in C. tenuissima. With the increase in the radiation dose, as compared to control seedlings, brown seedlings showed an increase in the concentrations of carotenoids, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b, while green seedlings showed an increase in the concentrations of anthocyanins and chlorophyll b and a decrease in the concentrations of carotenoids and chlorophyll a. The unweighted pair group method analysis showed a very large genetic distance among the tested genotypes exposed to X-rays. The results of the present study provide a novel direction for using X-rays to breed new cultivars of C. tenuissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we assessed the effects of increasing ozone (O3) on four petunia varieties with different floral pigmentation (pink, red, rose-red, and white). Plants were exposed, in open-top chambers located in China, to three O3 concentrations, i.e., (i) ambient air (AA), (ii) AA + 60 ppb O3 (AA + 60), and (iii) AA + 120 ppb O3 (AA + 120), for 85 days (9 h day−1). Flower diameter and duration were assessed, together with leaf chlorophyll and flavonoid contents. White petunia showed a reduced flower diameter and longevity under AA + 60 (−7 and −6%, respectively, in comparison to AA), whereas pink and red petunias only showed this under AA + 120 (−8 and −7%, on average, respectively). Chlorophyll loss occurred in all varieties under AA + 60 (−30%, on average), and at AA + 120 in white and red petunias (−54%, on average). The total flavonoid content in the pink and white varieties increased only under AA + 120 (around +85%), while it grew at both AA + 60 and AA + 120 (+92% and two-fold higher, respectively) in the red variety. Increasing O3 concentrations did not affect particularly the red-rose variety. The white variety showed the strongest correlations among flower and leaf properties, confirming a variety-related O3 response, as well as demonstrating that it had the highest O3 sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The preservation of biological diversity is one of the main tasks of modern ecology. A decrease in the bee population for various reasons can negatively affect plant diversity and human economic activity. One of the most critical factors in maintaining the health of bee populations is the availability of food supplies. We compared the food preferences of bees in different ecological areas: an intensive farming area, a reserved area, and an urbanized area. The botanical composition of the honey was determined by the traditional method of melissopalynology, as well as using genetic analysis. It was found that, in the intensive farming area, the leading food for bees was monoculture plants, but proper apiary management made the diversification of the bees' diets possible. In the reserved area, the bee diet was supplemented mostly with sown plants. In urban areas, both garden and agricultural plants served as the primary food sources for bees. Bee foraging depends on the climatic and geographical conditions of the environment, as well as landscape and apiary management. Studying bee foraging is essential to understanding their use of food resources and plant preferences. This information can be used for effective measure management in order to preserve the number of bees and regulate plant pollination. The environment significantly impacts the lives of bees and their feeding. This study aimed to investigate bee foraging using melissopalynological analysis and DNA metabarcoding in intensive farming, reserved, and urbanized areas. The highest alpha diversity was observed in the reserved and intensive farming areas. The urbanized area had less diversity. In the intensive farming area, Sinapis, Helianthus, and Fagopyrum predominated; in the reserved area, Melilotus, Helianthus, and Brassica predominated. In the urbanized area, garden plants, namely radish (Raphanus sativus) and cucumber (Cucumis hystrix), and agricultural plants, namely soybean (Glycine max) and melon (Cucumis melo), were often found. The most significant agreement was between the rbcL and the melissopalynological analysis. The ITS2 revealed equal matches with both rbcL and melissopalynology, but this marker missed or underestimated some genera. Trifolium pretense and Brassica nigra were identified simultaneously by the melissopalinology method and two genetic markers in DNA metabarcoding. The species Convolvulus arvensis, Melilotus officinalis, Echium vulgare, Brassica rapa, Helianthus divaricatus, and Onobrychis viciifolia were found in all ecological areas. Imperfect databases impose some limits in the identification of some taxa using metabarcoding. The further research and expansion of plant databases is needed. Studying the food preferences of bees in different environmental conditions and landscapes is necessary to develop measures to preserve their populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants enhance a space's aesthetics and benefit numerous human health and well-being. Indoor plants improve air quality around residential areas by reducing pollutants, increasing humidity levels, and regulating temperature. These plants also reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and boost work productivity. Hydroponics, a soilless technique for indoor gardening, can further enhance the transpiration and photosynthesis rates, improving air temperature and humidity. These plants serve as organic air filters that efficiently remove contaminants, including those that can spread viruses like SARS-CoV-2. The presence of indoor plants in indoor environments is linked to improved mental and physical health, making it cost-effective for improving indoor environmental quality. The present review discusses the benefits of incorporating indoor and gardening plants in available indoor or residential spaces, which have been discussed for human well-being and environmental sustainability using previous supporting studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerium oleander is a popular shrub because of its drought-tolerant capacity and least susceptibility to pests and diseases. Despite its widespread cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions, there has been a lack of information on the performance of different genotypes regarding growth and yield parameters. The present study aimed to assess the performance of ten different Nerium genotypes for growth and yield traits. Genotypes were procured from various nurseries in the suburbs of Bengaluru. The collection of genotypes was based on flower morphology, flower colour, the stature of plants, and leaf variegation. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used and 1.2 m × 1.2 m spacing was followed throughout January 2018 to April 2019. The observations were made every 60 days up to 300 DAP (Days After Planting), and there were notable variations in the growth and yield metrics of the genotypes. Five tagged plants in each replication were used to record all observations. Genotype BNC-1 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 1) recorded the highest value for plant height (107.33 cm), plant spread (1770.66 cm2), chlorophyll (1.16 mg/g) as well as yield of flower per plant and per hectare (1.85 kg and 12.73 t respectively) while genotype BNC-6 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 6) recorded the highest number of branches (45.00). The lowest flower yield per plant and hectare was observed in BNC-6 (0.32 kg and 2.26 t, respectively). In conclusion, genotype BNC-1 exhibits characteristics warranting its consideration for cultivation and inclusion in breeding programs aimed at varietal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pests and diseases can have a major impact on the operation of botanic gardens and the conservation of plants more broadly. Botanic Gardens of Sydney have a wide range of strategic initiatives to manage biosecurity to ensure existing problems are managed, new incursions prevented, and that pests and diseases do not spread from our gardens. Action on the conservation of plant species threatened by exotic pests and diseases also requires integrated inter-disciplinary science to manage these threats that includes conservation horticulture, seed banking and cryopreservation, genomics and disease detection and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lilium is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental bulbous plants in the world. Although research has shown that variable temperature treatments can accelerate the development process from vegetative to reproductive growth in Lilium, the molecular regulation mechanisms of this development are not clear. In this study, Lbr-miR171b and its target gene, LbrSCL6, were selected and validated using transgenic functional verification, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activation. This study also investigated the differential expression of Lbr-miR171b and LbrSCL6 in two temperature treatment groups (25 °C and 15 °C). Lbr-miR171b expression significantly increased after the temperature change, whereas that of LbrSCL6 exhibited the opposite trend. Through in situ hybridization experiments facilitated by the design of hybridization probes targeting LbrSCL6, a reduction in LbrSCL6 expression was detected following variable temperature treatment at 15 °C. The transgenic overexpression of Lbr-miR171b in plants promoted the phase transition, while LbrSCL6 overexpression induced a delay in the phase transition. In addition, LbrWOX4 interacted with LbrSCL6 in yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. In conclusion, these results explain the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing the phase transition in Lilium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping of ornamental flowering plants like Lycoris radiata Herb. and Cuphea hookeriana Walp. with tea trees can enhance the visibility and esthetic appeal of tea gardens. However, there has been limited research of the impact of intercropping ornamental flowering plants with tea trees on the soil in tea gardens. During this study, our objective was to analyze the effects of intercropping systems on tea garden soil by examining the physicochemical properties of rhizosphere soil samples from tea gardens intercropped with L. radiata and C. hookeriana. We also performed rhizosphere microbial metagenomic sequencing to assess the microbial community structure. The results revealed significant improvements in soil physicochemical indicators, particularly pH. Although intercropping systems had minor impacts on bacterial diversity and abundance, they had more pronounced effects on the community structure of microorganisms at the phylum and genus levels. Furthermore, an analysis of microbial functions using Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) revealed enrichment of carbon and nitrogen cycling pathways in the tea garden soil. Our findings indicated that intercropping practices have the potential to enhance the visual appeal of tea gardens while improving soil fertility and modulating the microbial community structure. These results contribute to our understanding of intercropping strategies and the implications of intercropping for tea tree growth and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical signals have an important role in the survival of many animals and are essential for the exploration of the resources available in their habitat. All phytophagous insects, including dipterans, use diverse chemical compounds released by plants as olfactory signals to locate their hosts. Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a generalist fly that uses numerous plants as hosts. In this study, we evaluated the attractiveness of extracts from six plants commonly used as ornamental and medicinal plants in the southern region of Mexico. When the flies were exposed to Piper auritum Kunth (Piperaceae) extract, we observed a stimulating‐attracting effect, especially on females, whereas the other five extracts showed no significant differences from their respective controls. In addition, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis of the P. auritum extract revealed 11 compounds, where safrole and methyl eugenol (ME) showed the highest concentrations of all the compounds found. ME has been shown to attract flies, mainly males of the genus Bactrocera. In this case, we found a stronger effect on female D. suzukii, indicating a potential effect of ME as a kairomone that mainly stimulates the attraction behavior of females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paphiopedilum spp. is known as lady slipper orchid. • Embryogenesis in Paphiopedilum spp. can be induced with plant growth regulator. • Development of somatic embryos in Paphiopedilum spp. is the same as zygotic embryos. • The homologous embryo gene RKD4 is present and functional in Paphiopedilum spp. Paphiopedilum spp. is one of the terrestrial orchids that is interesting as an ornamental plant. This orchid flower has a distinctive characteristic, namely its labellum resembles a sac, so it is sought after by ornamental flower collectors because of its uniqueness. This orchid is included in the Appendix I group according to CITES, namely a critical species that is threatened with extinction, so it needs to be conserved both in situ and ex situ. Ex situ conservation can be done by propagating orchids using in vitro culture techniques. The objective of this research is to carry out mass propagation of 3 species of Paphiopedilum spp orchids: P. supardii, P. primulinum, P. glaucophyllum through somatic embryogenesis and to characterize the existence of embryo gene RKD4 homolog in Paphiopedilum orchids. The method is to culture the nodes slices in dark conditions for 2 weeks, and then changed to photoperiod mode 16:8 hours (dark:light) on ½ MS media plus a combination of 2,4-D or NAA with TDZ. The somatic embryo were analyzed anatomically. This method is an improvement over previously reported methods for Paphiopedilum spp. due to its efficiency and reproducibility for conservation. We concluded that ½ MS media with a combination of NAA or 2,4D with TDZ were able to induce somatic embryogenesis. The result show that 3 mg L−1 NAA was the best PGRs for PLBs induction in P. supardii (50 %), 1 mg L−1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg L−1 TDZ was the best PGRs for callus embryogenic induction in P. primulinum (20 %), and 1 mg L−1 NAA was the best PGRs for PLBs induction in P. glaucophyllum (33 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callistemon citrinus is an ornamental plant. The plant is commonly originated in subtropical and tropical region. C.citrinus, commonly referred to as bottlebrush, is a member of myrtaceae family. Active ingreadients such as 1, 8-cineole, triterpenoids, α-pinenes, eucalyptol, tannis, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterol etc. are mostly found in the various plant sections. It is generally use in traditional, folk and herbal medicine as a water accent, anticough, antibronchtits, insecticide and treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and rheumatism. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the pharmacological aspects and recent novel approaches of callistemon citrinus highlight methodologies, applications, and potential contributions of this natural extract in enhancing drug delivery, offering insights into its pharmacological potential and future prospects in the field. The primary objective to collect updated information about effectiveness of the plant extract in addressing specific health issues and its potential as a therapeutic effect using novel drug delivery systems. Innovative methods explored in delivering the plant extract, such as Nano formulations in various diseases i.e. Antifungal properties, acute toxicity, brine shrimp cytotoxicity and relaxant activity, antimicrobial Activity etc. The methods improve therapeutic efficacy and reduces side effects by optimizing the delivery of bioactive compounds from callistemon citrinus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ornamental plant breeding enables the selection of cultivars with desired features from numerous genotypes; however, this process is time-consuming and resource-demanding. Aiming to establish a pre-selection protocol that can facilitate the selection of dwarf rose varieties, the connection between anatomical and histological characteristics and the vegetative growth of rose cultivars was examined. To assess the adaptive potential of the studied cultivars, intra-annual cambial dynamics were explored relative to the observed meteorological fluctuations during the growing season. The investigation included six garden rose cultivars from the 'Reka' and 'Pixie' collections, bred under semi-arid open-field conditions in Serbia. Plant height ranged from 20 to 68 cm, with differing growth habits and types. Vegetative growth was significantly correlated with the xylem/phloem ratio, the proportion of total vessel area relative to cross-sectional and xylem areas, vessel-related features, and porosity (correlation coefficients up to 0.78). Regeneration via cambial activity and the formation of false rings were observed in five of the six cultivars studied, with meteorological analysis suggesting that precipitation and temperature triggered cambial reactivation. This approach effectively targets key parameters in the selection of dwarf and climate-resilient rose cultivars, facilitating the development of reliable pre-selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering cherry is a renowned ornamental woody plant valued for its landscape applications and economic benefits in gardens. However, waterlogging during the rainy season in some areas causes death and heavy losses. Fortunately, we have found that the flowering cherry 'Gotenba zakura' (Prunus incisa Thunberg) is capable of generating aerial roots when subjected to heavy rains and prolonged floods. In this study, we conducted an associated analysis to explore the core regulating network of the aerial root growth mechanism in flowering cherry 'Gotenba zakura' by combining phenotypic observations, physiological assays, and transcriptome comparisons across five distinct stages. Through the analysis of the heatmap of DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) and the gene co-expression network (GCN), we identified genes that may play critical roles under waterlogging stress. The gene network indicates that aerial roots enhance waterlogging tolerance through ROS degradation, endogenous hormone induction, and energy production. This discovery provides a solid foundation for understanding the waterlogging tolerance of flowering cherry and offers molecular evidence for selecting promising rootstocks for breeding, aimed at improving waterlogging tolerance through grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of treated wastewater can enhance the crops' irrigation efficacy by offering an extra source of water and nutrients for agricultural purposes. This methodology helps alleviate the pressure on conventional water resources and can be a sustainable strategy to address the challenges of water scarcity. However, it is essential to ensure that wastewater is properly treated to meet quality and safety standards before its application to agricultural crops. This study focuses on exploring the reuse of wastewater from microalgae production and its impact on Pelargonium × hortorum growth during two seasons (autumn and spring). The established treatments were as follows: tap water (control 1); 100% IW—inlet wastewater (control 2); 100% OW—outlet from the reactor; 75% OW + 25% W—75% outlet from the reactor and 25% tap water; and 50% OW + 50%W—50% outlet from the reactor and 50% tap water. Irrigation with wastewater in autumn did not have a significant negative effect (p > 0.05) on plant height, plant diameter, leaf dry weight, roots, or total dry weight, and it was comparable to the control in all applied percentages. On the other hand, wastewater irrigation during spring had a meaningful positive (p < 0.05) impact on plant growth compared to the control. These wastewater resources have a high concentration of nutrients, making them a valuable source of essential and/or beneficial elements. The levels of nutrients such as NO3− range from 144.08 ppm to 82.10 ppm, PO43− ranges from 14.14 ppm to 7.11 ppm, and K+ ranges from 36.83 ppm to 29.71 ppm. Therefore, the obtained results support the viability and effectiveness of using wastewater after microalgae production in agriculture to reduce water demand, mitigate water pollution, and substitute chemical fertilizer input, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. These results, with more detailed evaluations, would be applicable to other related plant species and are even applicable to the commercial production sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petunia hybrida is an economically important ornamental plant species. Branching in ornamental plants is closely associated with their ornamental traits, and branching is a significant agronomic trait in petunia, which shapes plant architecture and production cost. Although there are few studies regarding the involvement of the SPEAR genes in lateral branch development, they are known to regulate the development of plant organs. The PhSPEAR1 gene in petunia, an ortholog of Arabidopsis SPEAR1, was isolated for study. According to the results of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), PhSPEAR1 was primarily expressed in the roots. The fluorescence signal indicated that PhSPEAR1 was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. An increase in PhSPEAR1 expression was induced by cytokinin or decapitation. Overexpression of PhSPEAR1 increased lateral branches in Arabidopsis. Based on our findings, PhSPEAR1 participates significantly in the regulation of branch number in petunia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of sewage sludge as fertilizer can be beneficial for sustainable agriculture as it could largely account for nitrogen and phosphorus demand for crops and has lower costs compared to other disposal routes, e.g., incineration, and sanitary landfills. This study evaluates the feasibility of pilot-scale pelletization of sewage sludge for non-food crops (e.g., ornamental plants). The co-pelletization method was designed by mixing sewage sludge and binder (tapioca starch) at a 9:1 sludge-to-starch weight ratio. The amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the resultant pellets were determined at 5.7%, 4.9%, and 0.2%, respectively. Following Malaysian and US Standards, non-essential elements and pathogenicity of the pelletized sewage sludge were measured below the predetermined limits and hence safe for agricultural application. The planting trial using 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% sewage sludge pellets exhibited a promising result on the growth of the flowering plant Celosia plumosa, with having better dimension and color, 20% higher in height, 4% more chlorophyll content, 54% more leaf, 43% greater stem growth, and 27% more flowers compared to control. Likewise, the planting trial on Tagetes erecta resulted in 10.5% wider leaf, 10.6% heavier leaf dry weight, and 12.5% more chlorophyll content compared to control with full usage of inorganic fertilizer. By considering liquidities to operate the production facility, the economic analysis estimated that the production cost per ton of pelletized sewage sludge produced was USD 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]