Preparation and characterization of a novel far-red phosphor powder SrBaGdNbO6: Mn4+ for indoor plant cultivation lighting

Introduction . The question of the territories and temporal reference of the origin of ethnic groups that are part of the Indo-European (IE) community remains open up to nowadays. This is due to the difficulties in localizing the area of the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language, from which the origin of the IE languages is assumed. The article proposes the derivation of IE languages from the archaic dialect continuum, bypassing the stage of the simultaneous existence of a hypothetical PIE language. The relevance of the article lies in the reduction of uncertainty in the ideas about the ethnogenesis of the IE peoples. Methodology and sources . The time of the beginning of the emergence of ethnic groups from the ancient dialect continuum is determined by paleogenetic data. To determine the areas of emergence of ancient ethnic groups, data on the original names of copper ore/copper, livestock and cultivated plants, etc., were used in conjunction with data on copper deposits, areas of cattle domestication, plant cultivation, etc., the ancient areas of the carriers of which are considered to be quite well known. Results and discussion . The emergence of IE ethnic groups began in the 9th-7th millennia BC in the Fertile Crescent zone and was associated with the transition of mobile huntersgatherers to the sedentary lifestyle of farmers. The ancestors of the Slavs, Balts, Latins and Germans emerged earlier from the Middle Eastern dialect continuum in the vicinity of the Semitic, Hurrian-Urartian and Kartvelian tribes and ancestors of the Turks. Conclusion . The complex application of linguistic, archaeological, and paleogenetic data makes it possible to clarify the history of the emergence of a number of IE ethnic groups without using the hypothesis of a common PIE ancestral homeland. The separation of particular histories of ethnogenesis in space and time makes it possible to exclude some inconsistencies such as “Wanderwörter”.

This study investigates the influence of agronomic management on the accumulation of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of Achillea millefolium L., a medicinal species of increasing relevance for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Different cultivation strategies were applied, including controlled drought stress, foliar fertilization, and inoculation with plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in order to evaluate their impact on tissue-specific metabolic responses. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of flowers and roots was determined using FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS spectrophotometric assays, while metabolite profiling was performed by UHPLC–MS/MS analysis. Clear differences in antioxidant activity were observed among plant organs and cultivation treatments. Flower extracts showed intermediate antioxidant capacity, with FRAP values ranging from 55.86 to 66.55 mg TE g−1 extract and the highest activity consistently recorded for treatment F_010 (addition of K, P fertilizers under water stress conditions and PGPR absence) across all assays. Root extracts exhibited substantially lower antioxidant values (FRAP 19.40–33.69 mg TE g−1), although samples R_000 (no foliar fertilization, under water stress conditions and PGPR absence) and R_100 (no foliar fertilization, under water stress conditions and presence of PGPR) displayed comparatively higher radical scavenging activity. Metabolic profiling revealed a shared presence of caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids, including mono- and di-caffeoylquinic acids and apigenin-related compounds, with marked quantitative differences among tissues. Overall, the results demonstrate that agronomic practices significantly influence the accumulation and distribution of antioxidant metabolites in A. millefolium L., highlighting the importance of cultivation strategies for optimizing the production of bioactive phytochemicals.

In the context of planned manned missions and colonization of Mars, one of the key challenges is to ensure local cultivation of plants, which play an important role in sustaining life. They are a source of food, produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, regulate humidity, and have a positive effect on people’s mental health. Due to the logistical and economic limitations of transporting resources from Earth, increasing attention is being paid to the concept of in situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves the use of local materials, including Martian regolith, as a potential substrate for cultivation. This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge in the field of Martian regolith-based agriculture. The physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of regolith are discussed, highlighting the shortcomings of regolith as a plant growth substrate. The role of organic matter, nitrogen, and soil microorganisms in improving growth conditions is determined. The results of the most important experiments are also presented, in which the growth of various plant species was studied on regolith simulants using fertilizers, compost and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The collected data indicate that although raw Martian regolith is not a suitable substrate, its appropriate modification may enable the creation of optimal conditions for plant cultivation.

GreenhousesProvide Electronics and Communication Engineering a controlled environment for plant cultivation, but traditionalgreenhouse management often depends on manual monitoring of environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and light intensity. This manual approach is time-consuming and may lead to inaccurate regulation of plant growth conditions. To address these challenges, this paper presents an IoT-based greenhouse monitoring and controlling systems that enables automatic observationand management of environmental parameters inside the greenhouse. The proposed system integrates multiple sensors including the DHT11 sensor for temperature and humidity measurement, a soil moisture sensor for detecting water content in soil, and an LDR sensor for measuring light intensity. These sensors are connected to an Arduino microcontroller, which acts as the central processing unit and continuously collects environmental data from the greenhouse. The sensed data is transmitted to the cloud through the NodeMCU ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, enabling real-time monitoring using a smartphone or desktop device. The system also includes an automated control mechanism in which actuators such as fans, water pumps, and artificial lighting systems are activated whenever the environmental parameters exceed predefined threshold levels. This automated process helps maintain optimal conditions for plant growth without continuous human intervention. The implementation of this system reduces manual effort, improves monitoring accuracy, and ensures efficient environments. By integrating IoT

Abstract Excessive nitrogen fertilizer utilization and improper manure management cause severe NH3 losses. Given high cost and complexity of existing ammonia inhibition technologies, this study utilized the dual properties of plasma activated water (PAW) mixed with ammonia source, which has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit NH3 volatilization and enhance nitrogen content. To evaluate its feasibility as a novel nutrient solution and its effects on plant growth, hydroponic experiments were conducted using PAW-ammonia mixtures (PAW+NH) and PAW at various dilutions, with deionized water as a control. Results showed that 10-fold diluted PAW+NH best promoted wheat, buckwheat, and mung bean heights (34%, 46%, 23% higher), while single PAW inhibited growth. PAW+NH and its dilutions outperformed PAW and its dilutions at the same ratio. Physiologically, protein content and SOD activity increased with growth, while MDA content was negatively correlated. The optimal effect of 10-fold diluted PAW+NH was due to suitable pH and adequate, properly concentrated nitrogen, avoiding adverse nitrogen excess damage.

Shade-induced metabolic reprogramming improves phytochemical profiles and antioxidant potential in Polygonatum cyrtonema.

Microbial purification of perchlorate in a simulated Martian water to ensure its plant cultivation for Martian BLSS

Spectral engineering of Mn4+/Ba2+ Co-doped perovskite phosphors for high-performance plant cultivation LED

Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been a big part of human civilisation and are still an important part of both traditional and modern healthcare systems. The current paper, entitled “An Analytical Study of Medicinal Plants and Their Importance in Sustainable Environmental Health,” investigates the botanical, ecological, therapeutic, and environmental significance of medicinal plants within the framework of sustainable development. Medicinal plants are rich in bioactive compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, glycosides, and essential oils. These compounds help them heal and make them useful for preventing and treating many diseases. These plants are good for more than just medicine; they also help protect biodiversity, keep ecosystems healthy, improve soil health, store carbon, and keep ecosystems natural. This study examines the dual function of medicinal plants as healthcare resources and ecological assets. It emphasises that the cultivation, conservation, and sustainable use of medicinal plants can enhance environmental health by diminishing reliance on synthetic pharmaceuticals and chemical treatments, many of which may have detrimental effects on human health and the ecosystem. The paper also talks about how important medicinal plants are in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and folk medicine. It also talks about how more and more people around the world are interested in herbal remedies and plant-based medicines. It also stresses the importance of scientific validation, sustainable harvesting methods, habitat protection, and public awareness for protecting the wealth of medicinal plants. The study finds that medicinal plants are not only necessary for human health, but they are also necessary for long-term environmental health and for bringing people and nature together.

Far-red phosphors featuring high quantum efficiency and emission bands that strongly overlap with the absorption spectra of plant pigments are crucial for advancing plant cultivation lighting technology. Restricted by the large Stokes shift, far-red phosphors typically exhibit low energy efficiency. Moreover, many far-red phosphors suffer from low quantum efficiency, which has emerged as a critical issue in the research of these materials. To address the issue, conventional strategies-including crystal field engineering, defect engineering, and sensitizer doping-have been widely adopted to enhance their emission intensity. In this work, we propose a novel and effective strategy to improve the emission performance of far-red phosphors: low-melting-point magnesium chloride has been introduced as a flux to regulate the reaction pathway of the composite oxide phosphor Ca14Mg5.94Li0.03In0.03Ga9.95O35:0.05Mn4+ (CMLIGO:0.05Mn4+). The cubic intermediate product with a structure analogous to the target product has been designed to form a compact lattice structure and reduce crystal defects, thereby enhancing the luminescence intensity and quantum efficiency of the phosphor. The Ca14Mg5.94Li0.03In0.03Ga9.95O35:0.05Mn4+@3 wt% MgCl2 (CMLIGO:0.05Mn4+@3 wt% MgCl2) shows a broad excitation band (250-600 nm) and far-red emission centered at 720 nm (650-800 nm). Under 365 nm excitation, the CMLIGO:0.05Mn4+@3 wt% MgCl2 exhibits an internal quantum efficiency of 91.4%. Benefiting from its high internal quantum efficiency and the emission band that matches well with the absorption spectrum of phytochrome in the far-red absorbing form (phytochrome Pfr), CMLIGO:0.05Mn4+@3 wt% MgCl2 demonstrates promising potential for applications in plant cultivation lighting. This work offers a new direction for synthesizing and modification of composite oxide phosphors.

Far-red-emitting Eu3+-activated Ca2SrWO6 double perovskite phosphors, crystallized in a monoclinic phase, were prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction. Thorough investigation included structural refinement, surface morphology insights, and detailed photoluminescence (PL) characterization. The materials, when exposed to n-UV light of 396 nm, emit standard Eu3+ emissions in the red (616 nm) and far-red (699 nm) spectral region, following 5D0-7Fj (j = 1-4) transitions of the activators. These emissions closely match the absorption window of plant phytochromes, demonstrating the suitability of Ca2SrWO6:Eu3+ as a far-red component for n-UV-pumped phosphor-converted LEDs in horticultural lighting. Emission in the far-red spectral region fulfils the requirements of plant photoreceptors, which then utilize it in photosynthesis. The optimal Eu3+ concentration is determined to be 3 mol%. The time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) studies were incorporated to examine the PL decay characteristics of the phosphors under study. Additionally, insights into radiative properties were investigated using the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory. Determination of J-O intensity parameters, Ω2 and Ω4, of Eu3+ shows favourable radiative properties of the Ca2SrWO6:Eu3+ phosphors. Furthermore, the robustness of the PL emission at elevated temperatures was discovered via temperature-dependent photoluminescence (TDPL). The CIE color coordinates (0.646, 0.353), with a very high color purity of 92%, show a strong far-red emission response. Hence, the collective results reveal strong potential of the phosphor under study in phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) for plant-growth lighting applications.

Wheat is a major cereal crop grown globally. Pratylenchus thornei causes significant yield losses in wheat production areas. The study investigated the relationship between plant parasitic nematodes and nitrogen based fertilisers commonly used in plant cultivation. It aimed to evaluate the suppressive effects of these fertilisers on plant-parasitic nematodes. The effects of seven different concentrations of five sort of nitrogen fertilisers on P. thornei were examined in three bread wheat varieties (Adana 99, Kate A1, Beyazhan). The results of direct effect trials on P. thornei showed that all concentrations of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium sulphate fertilisers resulted in 100% mortality after 72 h. However, urea and calcium nitrate fertilisers did not have a statistically significant mortality effect at any concentration. In the pot experiment, UAN fertiliser showed the highest suppressive effect with about 75% at 25 ppm and 100% at 100–1600 ppm concentrations. Ammonium sulphate and nitric acid also showed significant suppressive activity at concentrations of 200 ppm and above with approximately %60. Urea and calcium nitrate fertilisers showed a suppressive effect on P. thornei only at concentrations of 100 ppm and above, 800 ppm, and 1600 ppm, respectively. The efficacy of the fertilisers was similar in all three wheat cultivars used in the experiment. The study suggests that nitrogen fertilisation, besides improving plant nutrition, may help suppress P. thornei populations within an integrated management framework.

This community engagement program aimed to strengthen household food security and improve the technical capacity of the Nuhairun Women Farmers Group (WFG), locally known as Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Nuhairun, in Patalangan Village, West Sumatra, through integrated dairy goat and stingless bee farming based on dual-purpose forage plants. The group consisted of 10 active female members who had prior experience in small-scale livestock and stingless bee cultivation, but their management practices remained traditional and less productive. The program focused on improving dairy goat management, stingless bee colony maintenance, hygienic honey harvesting, and the cultivation of dual-purpose forage plants, particularly Calliandra calothyrsus and Clitoria ternatea, which function as both goat feed and nectar sources for the bees. Infrastructure support included improved goat housing, additional hives, and forage planting. Training on farm management and the Business Model Canvas (BMC) was also provided to support product development and household agribusinesses. The program improved members’ technical skills, enhanced production consistency, and improved access to nutritious food at the household level. This integrated farming model has strong potential to support sustainable rural food systems and strengthen women’s participation in community-based agribusinesses.

Light spectral composition plays a central role in regulating plant growth, morphology, nutrient uptake, and pigment biosynthesis, particularly in controlled-environment agriculture. This study investigated the effects of targeted LED spectral modulation, focusing on green light deprivation and different red-to-blue (R:B) ratios at constant photon flux density, on morphological traits, mineral composition, and photosynthetic pigments in Salvia officinalis L. and Cannabis sativa L. grown under controlled conditions. Plants were cultivated under three LED treatments providing equal light intensity but differing in spectral composition. Morphological parameters, mineral nutrients, inorganic anions, and photosynthetic pigments were assessed at harvest. Total biomass production was not significantly affected by the light treatments in either species; however, clear species-specific responses were observed. In S. officinalis, higher R:B ratios promoted stem elongation without affecting leaf number or fresh weight, whereas in C. sativa, the higher R:B ratio significantly increased leaf number. Green light deprivation and red-blue enrichment generally enhanced mineral accumulation and nitrogen content, although the magnitude and direction of these effects varied between species. Photosynthetic pigment responses were more pronounced in hemp, with increased chlorophylls and carotenoids under green light deprivation, while salvia showed a selective increase in carotenoids under higher R:B ratios. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of species-specific LED spectral optimization to improve physiological performance and nutritional quality in indoor cultivation of medicinal plants.

Aquaponic systems are among the sustainable approaches for combining fish farming and plant cultivation and have been proposed as potentially economically viable food production technologies. Their performance depends on the balanced environmental conditions shared by fish, nitrifying bacteria, and plants. This study assessed the performance of a trout-based (Oncorhynchus mykiss) decoupled aquaponic system for basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) growth and essential oil composition. Two cultivation strategies were compared over 60 days: a non-supplemented system relying exclusively on trout rearing water, and a system supplemented with mineral nutrients formulated according to the recommendations of the Hoagland nutrient solution. Basil grown without mineral supplementation maintained a healthy appearance and stable physiological status, with satisfactory growth, although it remained lower than in supplemented plants. The mineral profile of the plants showed similar nitrate and phosphorus concentrations between non-supplemented and supplemented plants, with nitrate levels of 5.40 ± 0.29 mg g-1 and 5.52 ± 0.29 mg g-1, respectively, and phosphorus levels of 5.46 ± 0.23 mg g-1 and 6.14 ± 0.91 mg g-1, respectively. In contrast, potassium concentration was lower in non-supplemented plants (36.89 ± 3.31 mg g-1) compared to supplemented plants (55.56 ± 7.16 mg g-1). Essential oil yield expressed per cultivated surface area remained comparable between systems, reaching 2.96 and 3.09 mL m-2 in the supplemented and non-supplemented systems, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that linalool (≈24%) was the predominant compound in both systems. Notably, estragole content was higher in non-supplemented plants (21.35 ± 1.46%) compared to supplemented plants (5.24 ± 0.68%). Overall, trout-based aquaponic systems not only support satisfactory basil growth but also enhance the production of essential oils with desirable aromatic characteristics, representing a sustainable and efficient strategy for aromatic plant cultivation.

Botanic gardens have long served as centers for plant collection, research, conservation, and public education. This article reviews the historical development of botanic gardens with particular emphasis on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Early forms of managed plant landscapes in Sri Lanka, including royal, monastic, and home gardens, are recorded in ancient chronicles and archaeological evidence from the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. These early gardens combined aesthetic, cultural, and utilitarian functions and reflected advanced knowledge of plant cultivation and landscape design. The introduction of European botanical traditions during the colonial period led to the establishment and expansion of formal botanic gardens, with Peradeniya emerging as the principal botanical institution in the country. Over time, the garden has played a significant role in plant introduction, economic botany, scientific research, conservation, education, and tourism. This historical perspective highlights the transformation of botanic gardens in Sri Lanka from cultural landscapes to modern scientific institutions contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable plant use.

Low temperature is a significant environmental constraint, impeding the extensive cultivation of tropical plants. Here, we identify the transcription factor SlMYB17 as an important negative regulator of tomato chilling tolerance. Overexpression of SlMYB17 significantly reduced chilling tolerance, whereas slmyb17 mutants exhibited enhanced tolerance. ChIP-seq analysis revealed that SlMYB17 targets genes involved in diverse biological processes and stress responses, suggesting its role in coordinating plant development and stress adaptation. SlMYB17 directly binds to the promoters of cold-regulated (COR) genes, such as SlCOR27b and WCOR413, thereby inhibiting their expression. Crucially, protein-protein interaction studies and Dual-LUC assays demonstrated that SlMYB17 interacts with SlCBF1, SlCBF2, and SlCBF3 in the nucleus to inhibit SlCBF-mediated activation of COR genes. Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) targeting SlCBF1-3 in wild-type and slmyb17 mutants, we demonstrate genetically that SlMYB17's function in chilling tolerance is dependent on SlCBFs. Collectively, SlMYB17 antagonises the SlCBF pathway at both transcriptional and protein activity levels, ultimately suppressing tomato chilling tolerance. Our work establishes slmyb17 mutants as valuable genetic resources for developing chilling-tolerant tomato varieties, and the ChIP-seq data provide important insights for studying MYB transcription factors in stress responses and development.

With a limited range of alpine and sub-alpine vegetation in the Himalayas, Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) is an endangered species. Due to its limited range of distribution, small population size, and high value, it is one of the most sought-after medicinal plants in the world and was listed as one of the 37 species with the highest priority for conservation and cultivation in the Western Himalayas. Due to its growing demand in the herbal medicine sector, growing kutki can be a lucrative endeavor for farmers and business owners. The Uttarakhand government is encouraging the state to grow medicinal plants. In Uttarakhand, the government has also developed several policies to support the conservation and cultivation of significant medicinal plants. The Herbal Research and Development Institute (HRDI) in Mandal, Gopeshwar (Chamoli), is the state's nodal agency for the medicinal plant industry. It is also developing cutting-edge initiatives to support the cultivation of different species of medicinal plants, which is raising public awareness and encouraging an increasing number of people to adopt the practice. From 2022 to 2025, the kutki crop was studied in seven blocks of the Chamoli district: Dewal, Nanda Nagar (Ghat), Joshimath, Gairsain, Tharali, and Dasholi. The average yield of kutki in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, was 865.24 kg/ha. The blocks of District Chamoli, viz., Dewal (349.60 qt.), Nanda Nagar (77.01 qt.), Gairsain (12.40 qt.), Joshimath (10.70 qt.), Dasholi (8.9 qt.), and Tharali (8.45 qt.), had the highest kutki production in the Chamoli district in 2022–2025. Currently, the average yield of kutki (865.24 kg/ha) is higher than previously reported. The work done by organizations such as HRDI is commendable, but to ensure the crop's sustainability, more organizations should step up and provide funding for medicinal plant projects.

Thallium (Tl) contamination of soils in lead-zinc mining areas poses potential ecological risks, and the impact of microplastics on Tl accumulation by hyperaccumulator plants remains unclear. This study examined soils collected from the Daliangzi lead-zinc mining area to investigate the characteristics of Tl contamination. These soil samples were used in plant cultivation experiments. The thallium contents in both the soil and plant samples were determined using acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The contamination level, plant enrichment capacity, and ecological risk were then comprehensively evaluated through the Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Bioconcentration factor (BCF), and potential ecological risk index. The results indicated that the Igeo of Tl in the soil was 2.413, corresponding to a moderately to heavily polluted level, which necessitates focused attention. Polyethylene exhibited markedly opposing effects on Pteris vittata and Solanum nigrum: it significantly promoted Tl accumulation in the former, while distinctly inhibiting it in the latter. Microplastics could modify the pH value of soil, as well as the contents of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Risk assessment indices indicated that Tl pollution in this region reaches a very high contamination level with moderate potential ecological risk. Polyethylene and polypropylene demonstrated a species-specific promoting effect on Tl adsorption by the two hyperaccumulator plants, with polyethylene significantly enhancing the Tl accumulation capacity of P. vittata and polypropylene distinctly promoting Tl adsorption in S. nigrum.