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The aim of the work was to obtain advanced oxide materials, obtained through technologies compatible with sustainable development materials. These materials are used in special operating conditions, such as in the case of continuous steel casting, where there is a temperature difference of over 10000C between the mold wall and the steel crust. These are the lubricating powders for the crystallizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornamental horticulture is a significant contributor to the introduction of invasive plant species, such as Impatiens glandulifera. Native to the temperate and humid regions of Asia, particularly the Himalaya Mountains, the species was first reported in Europe in 1839, introduced for ornamental and nectar-producing purposes. Its presence in Romania dates since 1882. Over the past few decades, the species' invasive nature has led to its inclusion in the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. The existing studies have systematically examined the plant's morphology, habitat requirements, ecology, life cycle, and genetic aspects, emphasizing the traits associated with its high invasive potential. The species exhibits a preference for moist to wet and nutrient-rich soils, commonly found in river valleys and associated riparian habitats. Our research, based on samples collected from Romania, aims to identify and detail the structural features of the vegetative body of Impatiens glandulifera that contribute to its adaptive ability to specific environmental conditions. The anatomical investigations revealed a secondary root and stem structure, enhancing this annual species' robustness and resistance in plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a synthesis of research on the history and current state of knowledge regarding the biological, ornamental and utilitarian characteristics of some species of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae). The analysis aimed to identify the literature from the Romanian and international academic literature, in which the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) is treated, paying particular attention to the species Salvia officinalis, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia splendens, Salvia mellifera. During the activity carried out, historical milestones were determined and highlighted from the perspective of the scientific treatment of the genus Salvia, and a deeper dive into the already existing knowledge has been attempted, focusing on analyzing and capitalizing on the identified specialized works in which the biological, utilitarian and ornamental peculiarities are addressed. The results of the research highlight the importance of the species studied, as they may have an important practical use, both for lovers of sage flowers, as a garden plant, and for researchers and professional growers, as a medicinal and/or honey plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants of the Dahlia genus are particularly valued for their wide variety of shapes and colors both as cultivated plants and as cut flowers thus increasing the interest for the introduction in the culture of cultivars with great decorative value and great resistance as cut flowers. The work presents anatomical aspects, but also particularities regarding the life span of cut flowers in preservation solutions for the cultivars 'Topmix Red', 'Hy Pimento', 'Babylon Red', 'Marble Ball' and 'Thomas Edison'. The objective of this study was to analyze dahlia varieties both from the anatomical point of view and the preservation of cut flowers in vases using different preservation solutions to establish a correlation between the diameter of xylem vessels and cut flower life. The diameter of the xylem vessels does not seem to influence the life span of the cut flowers, regardless of the solution used in the conditions of this experiment. The Quick dip and eZDose conservation solution increased the lifespan of the varieties studied compared to the other conservation solutions used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healing with herbs is as old as mankind. The connection between man and his search for remedies in nature dates back to the distant past, of which there is ample evidence. One of the plants often used for this purpose is the basil (Ocimum spp), a plant with multiple values: biblical, medicinal, ornamental, culinary and social. In this regard, research has been conducted on the optimal method of seed germination in this species. The tests were performed at the Vegetable Research and Development Station (SCDL) Buzau. The experiment involved the establishment of eight study variants, with three repetitions each. The results are statistically assured. Following the research on the germination faculty, it was found that in the variant where aghiasma (Holy water) was used for wetting the seeds, there was the highest number of germs of the species under observation. In conclusion, by establishing the optimal method of twinning basil seeds, producers will benefit from the economic efficiency of the crop, and the finished product will reach the final consumer at a low price and high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe, for the first time, fourteen of the most spectacular intra- and inter-generic orchid hybrids, new to Romanian flora. As crosses between species of the same or different genera, their occurrence is exceptionally rare in the wild, both in Romania and throughout temperate Europe. Discovering and having the chance to study them in detail in the wild, represents a remarkable privilege. During our three-year study (2020-2023), we encountered several hybrids belonging to the following genera, Anacamptis (A.× menosii; Anacamptis × olida nothosubsp. paparistoi), Ophrys (O. × minuticauda), Orchis (O. × loreziana nothosubsp. kisslingii), Neotinea (Neotinea × dietrichiana), Dactylorhiza (D. × ruppertii) and nothogenera × Dactylodenia (× D. lebrunii; × D. heinzeliana; × D. illyrica nothosubsp. siculorum; × D. sinaiensis) and × Pseudadenia (× P. schweinfurthii; × P. vitosana). Out of these, × Dactylodenia illyrica nothosubsp. siculorum (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. siculorum × Gymnadenia frivaldii) and × Dactylodenia sinaiensis (Dactylorhiza saccifera × Gymnadenia conopsea), are regarded as new-to-science taxons, hereby described for the first time. To give a complete overview, we included the inter-generic hybrid belonging to × Pseudorhiza nothogenus (× P. nieschalkii nothosubsp. siculorum). In addition, information regarding their distribution, habitat, ecology, phenology and IUCN conservation assessments are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although over the years, the cut flower industry has faced various challenges, it still remains an important sector of agriculture. Globally, in recent years, the production of cut flowers has increased. This can be associated on the one hand with the low impact on the environment, but also with their ecological effect. Apart from the traditional cut flowers that require large inputs of energy, there can be other ornamental species that can successfully fulfil multiple roles: improving ecosystem services as well-being through colour and attracting insects, economically easy to maintain and last but not least, bioremediation and implicitly, the valorisation of degraded land by natural or anthropogenic factors. Thus, the paper aims to present the behaviour of some ornamental species cultivated in different concentrations of salinity, as follows: S1 - 4,310, S2 - 12,330, S3 - 8,050, S4 - 5,760, S5 -18,630, S6 -24,600 mS/cm. As ornamental plant species were used Limonium sp., Celosia sp., Gypsophila sp., Amaranthus sp. During the experiment, seed germination and biometric measurements as plant height and number of leaves of the plant species were monitored. Also, before and after the experiment, for each variant of cultivation substrates, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were registered. According to the obtained results, it was demonstrated that halophytic ornamental plants like Limonium sp. can adapt to soils with extreme salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the morphological characteristics of Dahlia leaves (leaves area, the perimeter, the length of the leaves, width of leaf), physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration) and chlorophyll content determined at 5 Dahlia cultivars 'Topmix Red', 'Hy Pimento', 'Babylon Red', 'Marble Ball' and 'Thomas Edison'. The average leaf area has varied from 5.35 cm² ('Topmix Red') to 68.41 cm2 ('Babylon Red'). As for the perimeter, 'Babylon Red' had the highest value (67.49 cm) and 'Topmix Red' had the lowest value (9.72 cm). The length of the leaves was between 14.19 cm for 'Babylon Red' and 4.43 cm for 'Topmix Red'. The width of the leaves was between 10,18 cm for 'Babylon Red' variant and 2.26 cm for 'Topmix Red'.The intensity of photosynthesis varied between 12.85 μmol CO2 m-2s-1 for 'Babylon Red' and 15.24 μmol CO2 m-2s-1 for 'Topmix Red', intensity of transpiration 4.69 mmol H2O m-2s-1 for 'Hy Pimento' and 6.17 mmol H2O m-2s-1 for 'Thomas Edison', intensity respiration 7.46 μmol CO2 m-2s-1 for 'Hy Pimento' and 13.43 μmol CO2 m-2s-1 to 'Marble Ball'. The total chlorophyll content was higher in the case of 'Marble Ball', at a value of 163.90 mg/100g, and the smallest quantity was recorded for the 'Babylon Red' at the value of 102.15 mg/100g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban landscaping such as green squares, flowerbeds and green pills are the most common, most numerous and most exposed to traffic. Cities in the European community and major cities worldwide are increasingly using perennial flowering plants in urban landscaping and investing in research into the adaptability of these types of plants to harsh urban conditions. Bucharest is only at the beginning of introducing perennial flowering plants in the design of these types of green spaces, as there are no studies on species that are resistant to the level of pollution and environmental conditions of this city. This paper discusses the impact of perennial flowering plants in urban landscaping in Bucharest, in heavily trafficked road and pedestrian areas, presenting both the problems encountered and the good things about the landscaping choices made by the municipality. At the same time, the paper aims to demonstrate the need for the involvement of the municipality and the specialist community in carrying out comprehensive studies on the resilience of perennial flowering plants in the current urban space of Bucharest, as on their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corms of a mixed cultivars of Anemone coronaria ('Mr. Fokker', 'Sylphide', 'Hollandia', 'The Bride', 'Harmony White') were planted in raised beds during the fall, winter and spring. Without applying any maintenance except weed control, plants from the corms planted in November had the most flowers and managed to survive best during the two years of observations. Anemones planted in February and March were able to flower in June and July, when the air temperature was over 30°C. In conclusion, Anemone coronaria proved to be an excellent species for spring conditions in Bucharest, with an extended flowering period, much more than other species such as tulips, daffodils or hyacinths. Moreover, regardless of the planting date, anemone plants are suitable for sustainable flower plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to document and identify some possible modular hortivoltaic solutions, which efficiently combine horticultural production with the generation of photovoltaic electricity on smaller spaces than usual in agrivoltaic applications. This initiative involves the development of structures to support photovoltaic panels, under which horticultural species can be grown in containers of different sizes and whose irrigation is carried out in a significant proportion with the help of rainwater collected from the surface of photovoltaic panels. At the same time, an assessment will be made of the potential of green energy generated by the photovoltaic panel modules with the presentation of some species that can be cultivated for utilitarian and ornamental purposes. The solutions resulting from the synergy generated by the combination of photovoltaic panels - green roofs will be able to be generalized and recommended in a wide range of situations, thus responding to the current needs of resource reuse and combating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cypripedium genus is represented by 59 species and nothospecies (species of hybrid origin), mainly distributed across North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia, but absent from Madagascar and Australia. The most important characteristic of this genus is their showy and large labellum, which transformed into the specific slipper-shaped, vividly coloured, inflated pouch. In Romania, the genus is represented by one species only, Cypripedium calceolus. The article contains the first description of a newly discovered population in Prahova County, as well as a complete illustration of a Cypripedium calceolus flower pollinated by a female bee of the Lasioglossum genus. The flowers are passive traps pollinated by bees of particular type and size. The article describes in detail different mimicry (deceit) pollination strategies employed by the orchid in order to exploit its insect pollinators (generalized food deception mimicry, shelter mimicry, nest/brood-site mimicry, rendezvous attraction). Using advanced techniques of ultra-macro photography, details of floral organs are illustrated in order to describe in great detail the intriguing deceptive pollination mechanisms and mimicry strategies employed by the Slipper Orchids to attract their highly specific and rather scarce pollinating insects. Along with the detailed description and illustration of the common single-flowered plants, we also describe rare Cypripedium calceolus f. biflorum plants in Prahova County and present for the first time in Romania, a unique Cypripedium calceolus var. citrina individual, found in 2019, in Suceava County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durations of the light phase and that of the dark phase (photoperiod) varies with the season, so their succession as well as their development time influences the plant response. Therefore, physiological parameters such as: height of main stems, number of leaves after planting, leaf area (cm2), time to flowering, flowering time and the number of flowers, and diameter of buds and flowers (mm), may be studied in order to optimize the cut flower production for chrysanthemums grown in protected areas. Depending on the necessary environmental conditions, the floral induction and flowering of Chrysanthemum morifolium may be adjusted using camouflage (artificially shortening the length of the day by covering the plants). The purpose of this paper is to review the evolution of research on the behaviour of chrysanthemum plants exposed to a certain photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the bulbs are produced in many countries, the Netherlands is the center of the world flower bulb industry. Bulbs are specialized underground organs that undergo a series of physiological and biochemical changes during the cold season. The main purpose of this paper was to to compare the correlations between physiological parameters and biochemical changes. The storage conditions for hyacinth bulbs were: T:1°C and RH: 90%, and the five cultivars of hyacinths chosen for analysis (Gipsy Queen, Jan Boss, Miss Saigon, Pink Pearl, White Pearl), these being analyzed at two different moments (before and after the storage period), and the analyzes performed were: respiration and transpiration rates, mass loss, glucose, fructose and soluble solids contents. From obtained results it was observed decreases of the mass loss between 6% (for Jan Boss and Pink Pearl cultivars) and 10% (for White Pearl cultivar), between the initial and the final moment of analyses. For respiration rate were observed increases between 4 times (for Jan Boss cv.) up to 6 times (for Pink Pearl cv), between the initial and final moments. The soluble solids content recorded an increase between 10% for Miss Saigon cv. up to 20% for Gipsy Queen cv., between the initial and final moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out in the doctoral thesis entitled, Research on the production of seedlings and flowers cut by gerbera in various variants of hydroponic cultivation, and refers to the identification of the best way to obtain as many flowers per plant as well as recommendation of the best type of substrate for obtaining cut flowers. In the study we used three varieties of gerbera, 'Dune', 'Balance' and 'Blind Date". The substrate variants used in the experiments were: V1 - peat with a pH of 4; V2 - Perlite; V3 - 50% Perlite + 50% peat with pH-4; V4 - 50% Perlite + 50% peat with pH 5.5; and V5 - Peat with pH 5.5 (Control Variant). We followed the response of plants grown in different types of substrate on the growth, development and yield of gerbera flowers in the unconventional system. Analyzes and correlations were performed with environmental factors to determine their influence on the number of flowers and their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination by sexual deception is thought to be the most remarkable mechanism of pollination, mainly characteristic to Orchidaceae, which has independently evolved throughout Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa and Central- and South-America. Sexual deceptive mimicry is a complex deceptive mechanism in which the orchid flowers went through remarkable evolutionary morphological changes in their structure and function, especially that of the labellum, in order to achieve visual (shape and colour), tactile (texture and pilosity) and olfactory (sex-hormones or pheromones) mimicry of the signals used by various insect female species in breeding condition. Because insect mating signals are usually very specific, pollinator attraction by sexual deception is also very specific, each orchid only attracting one or two insect species. In Romania, Ophrys genus is represented by four species only: Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys sphegodes and Ophrys oestrifera (all cross-pollinated by insects) and Ophrys apifera (self-pollinated). This article describes and illustrates for the first time in Romania, the phenomenon of pollination by pseudocopulation of Ophrys insectifera and its unique pollinator, the solitary male wasp Argogorytes mystaceus, and Ophrys oestrifera and its male bee pollinator Eucera longicornis. In the same time, it is described in detail the self-pollination mechanism employed by Ophrys apifera. Using advanced techniques of ultra-macro photography, details of floral organs are illustrated in order to show the spectacular morphological modifications of the bee-like flower labellum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]