Raised Beds Research Articles

Does the Use of Perennials in Flower Beds Necessarily Imply Sustainability?

Green spaces are becoming increasingly important for cities due to the growing pressures of urbanization and climate change. Along with trees, shrubs, and lawns, flower beds are an important part of urban green spaces. The majority of flower beds in public spaces consist of annual and biennial flower species. Such seasonal flower beds feature eye-catching colors but require significant effort to maintain and manage. Compared to these conventional flower beds, those with herbaceous perennials are more ecologically effective and less costly to maintain, and therefore more sustainable. The aim of this research was to analyze flower beds with perennials in the public green spaces of the city of Zagreb and to develop a tool based on predefined criteria and indicators to evaluate the sustainability of flower beds. In the context of the research, sustainability meant appropriate selection of flower species based on environmental conditions (temperature, light, precipitation), species diversity, greater ground cover and extensiveness of maintenance. The research results showed that there were 327 flower beds with perennials planted in the ground. The constructed Flower Bed Sustainability Index (FBSI) showed that the majority of these perennial beds (56.3%) had a conventional character, as only 28.1% of the beds had a completely correct species selection. This result indicates that the use of perennials does not necessarily guarantee the sustainability of flower beds, since, as in the case of flower beds with seasonal flowers, it depends, among other things, on the correct selection of species adapted to local environmental conditions. The FBSI is shown to be a suitable tool for assessing the degree of sustainability of a flower bed and could be a useful tool in landscape design and management of such types of green spaces.

Vertical greening systems serve as effective means to promote pollinators: Experimental comparison of vertical and horizontal plantings

To counteract the ongoing decline of pollinators, we need innovative and effective promotion strategies. Urban areas often function as pollinator refugia, but lack of open spaces can limit promotion measures. This scarcity in open surfaces requires rethinking the conventional flower bed. Can green walls, planted with pollinator-friendly plants, provide an alternative and attractive food source for wild and managed pollinators?We compared pollinator-friendly vertical greening systems covering approximately 6 m2 with identically planted, adjacent horizontal beds consisting of wild perennials and cultivated plant varieties at two different test sites in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a total of 92 planting observations and more than 2,800 single plant genera observations, we documented 12,963 pollinators and their individual plant preferences over a two-year period.While our results show no differences in the total attractiveness across all pollinators between vertical systems and horizontal plantings, honey bees had a highly significant preference for the horizontal plantings, while wild bees preferred the vertical systems. Pollinator visits increased with the height of the vertical systems, indicating that pollinators will find such vertical sources and that there are advantages to higher plantings above foot traffic. These results suggest that vertical systems are highly attractive spaces for flower visitors, especially for bumble bees and other wild bees, when planted with appropriate blooming plants and thus an innovative means to promote pollinators where horizontal open spaces are limited.

TWO-YEAR FLOWER CULTURES IN THE COLLECTION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF BILA TSERKVA NATIONAL AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY

The article presents the results of the analysis of the collection of two-year-old flowering ornamental plants in the Botanical garden of Bila Tserkva national agrarian university. It was established that the biennial collection includes 17 species belonging to 15 genera and 10 families. The largest number of species is represented by the family Brassicaceae Burnett. – Brassica oleracea L. var. Acephala DC., Erysimum perovskianum Fisch.hort., Hesperis matronalis L., Lunaria biennis L. The collection presents species that have not only decorative, but also medicinal, fodder, and tanning properties. Diditalis grandiflora contains poisonous glycosides. Alcea rosea has ethnographic significance and belongs to amulet plants.
 The morphometric indicators of biennials by height and their flowering periods were analyzed. It was established that 41,2% of the collection of biennials of the Botanical Garden of the Bila Tserkva NAU belongs to low-growing species, medium-sized and tall plants are represented by the same number of species, which is 29,4% each. The largest number of species in the collection is represented by the group of summer-flowering biennials, 47,1%, late-spring-flowering ones make up 29,4%, and early-flowering ones – 23,5% of species. 
 Most biennials are cultivated in open ground to decorate flower beds, only a few to create seasonal bouquets and phytocompositions. Thanks to the plasticity of biennials, which is manifested in non-standard sowing dates, relative frost resistance and early spring and early summer flowering periods, biennials reduce the costs of growing seedlings and care for them after planting in a permanent place, provide an annual change in the design of flower beds and fill the flowerless periods of early spring and early summer. Biennials are suitable for creating borders, flower beds, rabatoks, lawns, carpets, ribbons, for decorating flowerbed groups and balconies, container culture. Tall species can be used as a background for the entire composition. Varietal diversity of Bellis perennis L., Brassica oleracea L. var. Acephala DC, Dianthus caryophyllus L. var. Grenadine hort, Dianthus barbatus L., Viola wittrockiana Gams. allows you to create monoculture flower beds with a wide color palette.

Understanding the relative importance of micro-level design characteristics of walking paths in parks to promote walking among older adults

Walking paths have been consistently highlighted as important for facilitating older adults’ physical activity in parks. However, little is known about the micro-level design characteristics of walking paths that are most appealing for older adults to be active during their park visits. This study aimed to examine the relative importance of selected micro-level design characteristics of walking paths preferred by older adults and to investigate if preferences varied by gender, park accompaniment, and mobility status. Older adults (n = 383, 65–93 years; 56% female) completed a series of Adaptive Choice- Based Conjoint tasks in an online survey to identify the relative importance scores and part-worth utilities of micro-level design features of walking paths using Hierarchical Bayes analyses (Sawtooth Software). The ten micro-level design features that were examined included: gradient; width; surface type; benches, shady trees, garden beds, water body and light fixtures along the path; continuous walking loop; and access from carpark. For the overall sample, the three most important features of walking paths were the gradient of the path (21.3%, 95%CI=19.6–22.9), shady trees along the path (21.2%, 95%CI=20.1–22.4), and surface type (13.3%, 95%CI=12.2–14.4). For these top three features, the part-worth utility scores showed that paths with gentle slopes; lots of shady trees; and rubber surfaces were preferred respectively. This study helps inform which micro-level design characteristics to prioritise when (re)designing walking paths to encourage and facilitate active park use by older adults.

Furrows Without Ridges: Evidence for an Agricultural Field at Angel Mounds (12Vg1), Southwestern Indiana, USA

ABSTRACT Evidence of precontact agricultural practices demonstrating how and where crops were grown is often scant because of poor preservation and modern land use practices. As a result, relatively few sites have been identified that document farm fields or garden beds. We document remnants of a ridge and furrow agricultural system found at Angel Mounds, an important regional Mississippian site, in Indiana, USA. Researchers have identified many different cultigens from Angel Mounds, but the location, type, and age of fields had not been identified previously. Our research team recovered data indicating that the third terrace of Angel Mounds supported ridge and furrow agriculture where villagers grew maize, beans, and gourds for several centuries. This study suggests that agricultural evidence is extant in buried contexts and that these features are easily overlooked using traditional geophysical and survey techniques.

Numerical study on urban hidden geological hazard detection based on the semi-airborne transient electromagnetic method

As a relatively common geological disaster, ground collapse often occurs in urban areas. In view of the complex urban environment, and to effectively identify the areas with potential ground collapse, a new detection method was researched for the demand of fine exploration for urban underground hydraulic connection channels. According to the actual situation, the source was flexibly arranged in areas with good grounding, such as flower beds on the ground. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was adopted to carry the receiver for data collection in the air. This method would less affected by the flight height, and is thus more suitable for urban environments with tall buildings. Then, geological modeling was built based on the real geological conditions of a city, four underground hydraulic connection channels were set, and the method in the paper was used for detection. The apparent resistivity results effectively present the characteristics of the hydraulic connection channel. The method also provides an effective means for the detection of urban underground hydraulic connection, as well as a basis for efficient investigation with potential ground collapse and corresponding prevention and treatment in advance.

Preferences of public space users towards trees and other forms of greenery in Lublin's old town

Currently, the functions of the historical parts of cities are more and more oriented towards the visitors rather than residents. The high density of cultural heritage objects attracts tourists for whom restaurants and shops are created. Therefore, the management and planning of the historic parts of cities has become an increasing challenge. At the same time, activities aimed at improving the quality of life in the city centre, including the most built-up historical parts, require the introduction of greenery (Kowarik, 2019). In order for such spaces to be effective, we require a greater understanding of user preferences. The aim was to define preferences regarding the presence and use of various forms of greenery and their acceptance in the space of the old town. We also asked a question about the functions of the greenery. The study was conducted using an online survey in Lublin, Poland. The method of virtual development of 4 public spaces presenting various forms of greenery in a built environment was used. It was found that the presence of green elements and their form are very important. Trees in particular have a strong influence on preferences, suggesting that they deserve more attention in historical spaces in cities. Flower beds, plants in pots are accepted. The results show that the current level of development is unsatisfactory, and the respondents point out the need to introduce more greenery. Respondents' preferences related to greenery forms depend mainly on gender and age. Especially women and younger age groups preferred spaces with aesthetically attractive elements, such as flowering herbaceous plants in pots. Most of the respondents declared the use of space as places of rest and recreation, and indicated the climatic, ecological and aesthetic functions as important factors in assessing historical spaces in cities. The results should be taken into account by specialists in urban design in historical spaces subject to revitalization.

Effect of irrigation with plasma‐activated wastewater on radish growth

AbstractCold atmospheric plasma technology activates water, but the effect of plasma‐activated wastewater on vegetables remains unexplored. The first garden bed was irrigated with wastewater from the Zhulebinsky collector after ultraviolet treatment, and the second bed was irrigated after plasma activation. The third garden bed was irrigated with plasma‐activated wastewater from the Kuryanovsky channel. The bacterial concentration in the water for all experiments was 106 CFU mL−1, the nitrate content in the water for the first garden bed was 6.3 mg L−1, and for the second and third garden beds, it was 10 mg L−1. The average fresh weight of radish roots from the garden bed when irrigated with plasma‐activated water from the Zhulebinsky collector was 7% higher than that when irrigated with ultraviolet‐treated water. The increase in the average fresh weight of stems with leaves was 13%. The highest total and average fresh weights of radish were observed in the garden bed when irrigated with plasma‐activated water from the Kuryanovsky channel. Compared with water irrigation from the Zhulebinsky collector, the increase in average fresh weight was 16%, and compared with irrigation with ultraviolet‐treated water, it was 29%. Reuse of plasma‐activated wastewater increases the yield of vegetables during irrigation and contributes to the saving of fresh water resources.

Группы декоративных травянистых растений многолетней культуры по степени вегетативной подвижности

The division of ornamental herbaceous plants of perennial culture into groups according to the degree of vegetative mobility is proposed. Based on the distance by which the renewal buds move away during the growing season, it is proposed to distinguish the following groups: vegetatively-stationary (the kidneys move away no more than 3 cm; vegetatively-sedentary (at a distance of 3 to 10 cm); vegetatively-mobile (from 10 to 30 cm); vegetatively aggressive (more than 30 cm). A review of the collection of ornamental herbaceous plants according to the degree of their vegetative mobility is made and examples of plants for each group are given. Recommendations on the content of such plants in flower compositions, the economic efficiency of keeping plants from different groups according to the degree of vegetative mobility in flower beds are considered.

A novel transactive integration system for solar renewable energy into smart homes and landscape design: A digital twin simulation case study

The use of solar renewable energy in landscape design is becoming increasingly popular as the world strives to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. With the cost of solar energy falling, more and more people are turning to solar as a way to power their homes and businesses. In this article, we will explore the integration of solar renewable energy into landscape design through a case study. Using local photovoltaics along with suitable power storage systems, a household power management system is proposed to optimize the scheduling of demand-responsive appliances. The beta likelihood distribution function for sun irradiance is used to model the unpredictable behavior of photovoltaic energy production in residential power management systems. The PV system was integrated into the building’s existing landscape design by incorporating the system’s components into the existing landscape elements. This included the installation of a large solar array on the roof of the building, as well as the integration of solar panels into the existing garden beds and pathways. The solar array was also connected to the building’s existing electrical system, allowing the building to draw power from the solar array when needed. Among the major contributions of the study would be to optimize the planning of demand-responsive devices within a domestic power management system by using the improved leader particle swarm optimization method (ILPSO). The purpose would be to reduce peak-to-average ratios (PARs) and energy usage costs in the smart home. A number of scenarios are designed and simulated in a digital twin structure for a household user with various initial loads, uninterruptible deferrable, and interruptible deferrable devices using a real-time power cost program to demonstrate the performance of the suggested optimization method. Based on comparisons with various metaheuristics previously documented, the new ILPSO algorithm efficiently optimizes energy usage costs and PARs.

Re-centring and recovering knowledge about climate-friendly agriculture: Learning from a woman African indigenous knowledge holder

abstract Patriarchal capitalist colonisation has bestowed on the world civilisational crises, including climate change and the spread of virulent pandemics. The agri-food model, which has been moulded by the contours of the modern capitalist enterprise, is a key source of chemical pollution from artificial fertilisers, and air pollution from greenhouse gases. The consequent killing of soil and water biomes, and the warming of the planet from these pollutants, increases vulnerability of those who bear the brunt of socio-economic, gender and cultural inequity. We departed from the focus on vulnerable populations in climate change disasters, and adopted a feminist critical approach, by casting our gaze towards geo-epistemic Southern regions. In our qualitative research project, we sought intersectional solutions to climate change in the form of educational interventions. We tapped into the knowledge repository of one purposively selected woman African indigenous knowledge holder, who taught fifteen practising science teachers who were enrolled in an Honours degree about climate friendly agriculture. Bringing the voice of a woman African indigenous knowledge holder to the centre repositioned the locus of enunciation and generated a fertile Southern feminist context for collaboration. Teachers experienced hands-on learning under the guidance of the indigenous knowledge holder. Among other practices they used animal waste, which they worked into the soil, and hoes to manually turn soil, thereby limiting disturbance to the soil ecosystem. Teachers documented their learning in portfolios of evidence, and written reflections, which were subjected to content analysis. The careful use of manure from animals and limiting the use of fossil fuels in creating food gardens, were insights gained by the teachers. Hegemonic rules about who qualifies as a legitimate teacher in higher education and what can be admitted as legitimate scientific knowledge, were blurred. The woman who taught about how African indigenous knowledge can inform sustainable food production, contributed towards the building of epistemic justice within the broader social justice context. Through this intercultural dialogue teachers learned to teach about African medicinal plants, the advantages of crop rotation, as well as preparing soil for garden beds. Teachers embraced knowledge from the South and transcended curriculum boundaries.

First Report of New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria burnsii - A. tomato species complex in Taiwan.

New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is a common ornamental crop usually planted in pots and planters, flower beds, home gardens, or parks in Taiwan. In June 2021, leaf spots on 87.1% (27/31) of potted I. hawkeri plants on National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) campus were observed. Initially, tiny chlorotic leaf spots were found, which aged into brown to grayish white necrotic spots with reddish-purple margins. The necrotic spots enlarged, coalesced, and formed concentric rings. To isolate the pathogen, diseased leaves were surface-disinfected with 70% ethanol for 15 seconds and blotted dry with a paper towel. Small pieces (~2×6 mm2) of tissues were excised from the junction of the lesions and healthy areas, placed onto 2% water agar, and incubated at 25°C with 12-h photoperiod for three days. Individual hyphal tips growing out of diseased tissues were transferred onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Three isolates, OM10, OM43, and OM45, were obtained and grown on half-strength PDA at 28°C in the dark for at least two weeks. Conidia of each isolate produced on the half-strength PDA were washed off in sterile water with 0.01% of Tween 20. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying leaves of 2- to 3-month-old potted healthy I. hawkeri plants with 5 ml of conidial suspension (1 × 105 conidia/ml) of the three isolates, respectively. Control plants were sprayed with sterile water. There were four plants per treatment and the experiments were conducted twice. Inoculated plants were covered with plastic bags for two days and incubated in a greenhouse with a temperature range of 19 to 31°C. Leaf spots similar to those observed in the field were observed at 7 to 14 days after inoculation in both trials. The same fungus was isolated from inoculated plants, whereas control plants showed no symptoms. Thereafter, the three isolates were subjected to morphological and molecular identification. Colonies were brown to gray in the center and white in the border with abundant aerial mycelia. Conidia were brown, obclavate to ovoid, produced in single or branched chains, one to seven transverse and zero to three longitudinal septa. Conidial size of the three isolates ranged between 11.2 to 43.1 × 6.0 to 12.7 μm (n = 50 for each isolate). Conidiophores of the three isolates were dark-brown, septate, branched or unbranched, and measured 27.0 to 147.65 × 2.71 to 4.54 μm (n = 50 for each isolate). Based on the morphological characteristics, the three isolates were identified as Alternaria spp. (Simmons 2007). For molecular identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and major allergen Alt-a-1 gene (Alt-a-1) were amplified using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), RPB2-5F2/RPB2-7cR (Sung et al. 2007), gpd1/gpd2 (Berbee et al. 1999), and Alt-for/Alt-rev (Hong et al. 2005), respectively. Sequence analyses of isolates OM10 (ITS: GenBank Accession no. OP358436; RPB2: OP377483; GAPDH: OP377468; Alt-a-1: OP377471), OM43 (ITS: OP358437; RPB2: OP377484; GAPDH: OP377469; Alt-a-1: OP377472), and OM45 (ITS: OP358438; RPB2: OP377485; GAPDH: OP377470; Alt-a-1: OP377473) showed 100%, 99.61 to 100%, 99.65%, and 100% identities with a reference strain CBS 107.38 of A. burnsii for ITS (KP124420), RPB2 (KP124889), GAPDH (JQ646305), and Alt-a-1 (KP123967), respectively. They also showed 100%, 99.61 to 100%, 99.65%, and 99.58% identities with an A. tomato strain CBS 103.30 for ITS (KP124445), RPB2 (KP124915), GAPDH (KP124294), and Alt-a-1 (KP123991), respectively. Based on the morphological and sequence characteristics, the pathogen causing New Guinea impatiens leaf spot was identified as a member of the Alternaria burnsii - A. tomato species complex. The diseased plants on NCHU campus were destroyed. There have been no reports of the disease in other landscape areas or nurseries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. burnsii - A. tomato species complex causing New Guinea impatiens leaf spot in Taiwan. Since the pathogens in the species complex have been documented causing diseases on several important economic crops and the New Guinea impatiens is widely planted in nurseries and landscapes, the host range and the significance of the pathogen in agro-ecosystem may warrant further investigations.

Improving Morpho-Physiological Indicators, Yield, and Water Productivity of Wheat through an Optimal Combination of Mulching and Planting Patterns in Arid Farming Systems

Mulching practices (M), which conserve soil water and improve water productivity (WP), are receiving increasing attention worldwide However, so far, little attention has been given to investigating the effects of the integrations of mulching and planting patterns (IMPPs) on spring wheat performance under arid regions conditions. A two-year field study was conducted to compare the effects of eight IMPPs on growth parameters at 80 and 100 days after sowing (DAS), growth indicators, physiological attributes, grain yield (GY), and WP of wheat under adequate (1.00 ET) and limited (0.50 ET) irrigation conditions. The IMPPs included three planting patterns (PPs), that is, flat (F), raised-bed (RB), and ridge–furrow (RF), in combination with three M, that is, no-mulch (NM), plastic film mulch (PFM), and crop residues mulch (CRM). The results indicated that PPs mulched with PFM and CRM significantly increased growth indicators, different growth parameters, physiological attributes, GY, and WP by 6.9–39.3%, 8.2–29.2%, 5.2–24.9%, 9.9, and 11.2%, respectively, compared to non-mulched PPs. The F and RB patterns mulched with CRM were more effective in improving growth parameters at 100 DAS (2.7–13.6%), physiological attributes (0.2–20.0%), GY, and WP (9.7%) than were the F and RB patterns mulched with PFM under 1.00 ET, while the opposite was true under 0.50 ET conditions. Although the RFPFM failed to compete with other IMPPs under 1.00 ET, the values of different parameters in this PP were comparable to those in F and RB patterns mulched with PFM, and were 1.3–24.5% higher than those in F and RB patterns mulched with CRM under 0.50 ET conditions. Although the RFNM did not use mulch, the values of different parameters for this PP were significantly higher than those of F and RB patterns without mulch. Irrespective of irrigation treatments, the heatmap analysis based on different stress tolerance indices identified the different PPs mulched with PFM as the best IMPPs for the optimal performance of wheat under arid conditions, followed by PPs mulched with CRM. The different growth indicators exhibited second-order and strong relationships with GY (R2 = 0.78 to 0.85) and moderate relationships with WP (R2 = 0.59 to 0.79). Collectively, we concluded that using PPs mulched with CRM is the recommended practice for achieving good performance and production for wheat under adequate irrigation, whereas using PPS mulched with PFM is recommended as a viable management option for sustainable production of wheat and improving WP under limited irrigation in arid countries.

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RHODOCOCCUS EQUI ISOLATED IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Rhodococcus equi is characterized by pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, ulcerative enterocolitis, mesenteric lymphadenopathy, neonatal diarrhea, and sudden death of young animals. The development of a clinical disease is associated with the immunocompetence of the body of foals. As a worldwide soil infection, it is responsible for approximately 3% of all foal deaths, with a mortality rate of approximately 50%. The aim of our research was to study the morphological and biochemical properties of the putative R. equi strain isolated by us on the territories of our republic. At about 3-4 months of age, foals are capable of mounting an immune response against R. equi, which is why vaccination is given at an early age. The horse industry worldwide urgently needs an effective vaccine to prevent R. equi disease in foals, and current scientific research is focused on developing a vaccine using a local strain. We collected 27 pools manure and 27 pools soil samples from the Almaty, Zhambyl, Turkestan, and East Kazakhstan regions for bacteriological research. The samples were taken from exercise pens, areas within 100 meters of stables, passages, ditches, roads, and flower beds. We isolated a characteristic strain of R. equi and studied its cultural, morphological, tinctorial, and biochemical properties. Out of all the isolates, only the one from the Almaty region was a typical representative of the species Rhodococcus equi.

Building sustainable, resilient, and nutritionally enhanced local food systems through home gardens in developing countries

ABSTRACT Home gardens have been a part of local and global food systems since humans first began domesticating crops and have endured the test of time. They are commonly referred to as kitchen gardens, backyard gardens, garden patches, and garden beds and often have a local or cultural context. Home gardens vary from location to location in terms of organization, structure, size, and composition and are generally influenced by household resources and attributes, socioeconomic aspects, and cultural factors. International organizations and national, regional, and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and grassroots groups have been adopting and utilizing home gardening to reduce hunger and food insecurity and mitigate food risks from various crises and disasters. Drawing on case studies from various regions of the world, this article highlights experiences with home gardening through case studies and their impacts on targeted communities in various areas of the world. The case studies show that low resource use, adaptability to diverse conditions and situations, and resilience are key factors contributing to the widespread adoption of home gardens. Furthermore, they have been a particularly useful development strategy in crisis and post-crisis situations and in improving marginalized and vulnerable communities’ food and nutritional security. This review article summarizes the important contributions of home gardening projects from various countries and identifies major constraints and opportunities. It concludes with recommendations to policy-makers, researchers, development practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to address those challenges.

The new variety of perennial flax (<i>Línum perénne </i> L.) Blues of the selection of the FSBSI FSVC

Relevance and research material. Flax is a perennial herbaceous plant with a high decorative value, with a long flowering, blooms in the first year of vegetation. The plant is undemanding to the growing conditions. As a result of multiple selection selections from a foreign variety, the long-term flax variety No. L-22 "Blues" recommended for use for decorative purposes was derived. The leaves and the bright color of the flowers provide a contrast to the perennial borders and flower beds. It looks good both in single and group plantings, as well as in cutting.Results. The study was carried out in the open ground of the Moscow Region (2015-2022) on experimental plots of the flower crops sector of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. The most aligned form according to decorative features is L–22 with high seed productivity of inflorescences, decorative and winter hardiness. Variety testing and preliminary propagation of a promising long-term flax variety was carried out. Signs such as "plant height"

PROSPECTS OF THE USE OF NARROW-LEAFED LAVENDER IN LANDSCAPING OF THE PODILLIA REGION

The article presents scientific and experimental studies on the study of the prospects for the use of narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) in the conditions of Podillia. The ecological and decorative value of lavender for modern landscaping has been proven. A systematic literary analysis of sources was carried out and information on the distribution, morpho-biological features of narrow-leaved lavender in Ukraine and the world was summarized. On the basis of the obtained data, the scientific foundations of the introduction of promising taxa into culture and the peculiarities of reproduction were developed, their productive potential was established, and ways of practical use in modern green construction were proposed. It has been proven that for the creation of modern garden compositions in the conditions of Podillia, the most expedient to use are narrow-leaved lavender cultivars (Gem, Alba, Munstead, Rosea), which adapted well to growing conditions, were practically not damaged by pests and were not affected by diseases, and were sufficiently resistant to unfavorable environmental factors. Recommendations for their cultivation have been developed, features of flowering biology and prospects for use in landscaping have been established. Their high evaluation according to a set of criteria indicates the perspective and suitability for cultivation in the conditions of Podillia, as well as the value for various options for the use of narrow-leaved lavender: flower beds, borders, mix borders, landscape-type compositions and their reduced versions imitating natural groupings. In the conditions of Podillia, for the first time, the biological and ecological bases of growing narrow-leaved lavender were developed, as a result of which the species diversity of cultural phytocenoses was enriched and the assortment of new flowering plants was expanded due to their introduction into crops.

First report of 'Candidatus phytoplasma asteris' (16SrI) from Cassia fistula showing symptoms of flat stem and witches'-broom in India.

Cassia fistula commonly known as 'golden shower tree' is a deciduous tree with a greenish-gray bark and complex leaves with lovely clusters of yellow blossoms that is also utilized for several purposes in traditional medicine offer therapeutic characteristics (Pawar et al., 2017). Random spotting of flat stem symptoms along with unopened flower beds was observed in C. fistula plant during March 2022 in IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India and during May 2022 in SKUAST (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology), Jammu, which were suggestive of phytoplasma infection (Fig. 1 a-e). Surge of leaf hoppers was also observed in and around the tree. The leaf samples were collected from 3 individual C. fistula trees showing suspected symptoms of phytoplasma and one sample from asymptomatic plant of both the states. Leafhopper (LH) species were collected using sweep net method from both the locations. DNA was extracted using CTAB (Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) method and nested universal PCR primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 for the 16S rRNA gene (Deng and Hiruki 1991; Gundersen and Lee 1996) and secAfor1/secArev3 and SecAfor2/ SecArev3 for SecA gene (Hodgetts et al. 2008) were employed for the analysis of the phytoplasma strain association. The symptomatic plants and leaf hopper species showed positive bands of 1.2kb and 480bp for 16S rRNA and SecA gene respectively along with. Purified PCR products of both the genes (16Sr RNA and sec A) were ligated into pGEM ®T vector and cloned in Escherichia coli (DH5-α) were sequenced at Agri Genome labs, Kerala, India. The comparative sequence analysis using the BLASTn tool results showed 16S rRNA sequences acquired from plant samples (GenBank Acc. No. OP950857, OP950858) and the leafhoppers Hishimonus phycitis (OP538583) and Orosius albicinctus (OP538584) of Kerala had the minimum of 99.84% of similarity with Bitter gourd little leaf phytoplasma from Myanmar and maximum sequence identity (100%) with the Rapeseed phyllody phytoplasma strain from Taiwan. The sequences of phytoplasma strains from Jammu trees (Genbank Acc. No. OP801671 & OP801672) and H. phycitis (OP801673) shared 100% similarity with each other as well as with North American grapevine yellows and a minimum of 97.65% with Beta vulgaris phytoplasma from Poland. The pairwise comparison results were completely supported by the corresponding phylogenetic sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and SecA gene sequences of all the isolates in the study which clustered with 16SrI-B subgroup related strains. Virtual RFLP analysis through iPhyClassifer results that were derived from in silico digestions of R16F2n/R2 region of 16S rRNA gene using 17 restriction endonucleases enzymes indicated that all the samples produced similar virtual RFLP profiles identical to the reference strain of 16SrI-B phytoplasma subgroup (aster yellows: Acc. No. M30790) with a similarity coefficient value of 1.0. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the phytoplasma association of 'Ca. P. asteris' (16SrI-B) subgroup with Cassia fistula in the world.

«GREEN FLOORS” – THE FUTURE OF ECOLOGICAL CITIES

In this work the project of a multi-story ecological residential building with «green floors» is developed and original ideas are proposed that will reduce the negative impact of construction on the environment and improve people’s quality of life. «Green floors» are floors, the area of ​​which is decorated with flower beds and vertical gardens, as well as recreation areas. «Green floors» play the role of an oxygen station (having a positive effect on the environment), inter-floor sound insulation, reduce wind load and increase fire safety, allow developers to build more densely by reducing the area of ​​adjacent park areas. The increase in environmental trends in construction is due to several factors. One of the most important factors is the growing awareness of people about the impact of construction on the environment and human health. The threat of climate change and environmental crises has caused increased interest in ecological construction. In the proposed project, the roof of the house can be profitably used, receiving electricity not only with the help of solar panels, but also wind generators and hydro generators. By combining these three alternative energy systems, maximum energy accumulation can be achieved. «Green floors» are the future of high-tech ecological cities, which will not only add aesthetic charm to the urban landscape, but also bring tangible benefits. The construction of ecological residential buildings will solve environmental problems, improve the psycho-emotional state of people, and also save on electronic media. Today’s «green houses» are built quickly with relatively low cost, combining cost-effective solutions for energy carriers, and therefore have great potential for developers. The results obtained in the work can be used by specialists in the field of construction.

On the Restoration of the Northern Stalls of the Ostankino Estate Amusement Park

The authors discusses the issues that arose when making adjustments to the project documentation with the performance of the function of a technical customer for carrying out repair and restoration work with an adaptation for modern use of windows of federal significance "Ostankino Manor, the end of the XVIII century". The possible ways of solving the problems of creating an image of the garden of its heyday - the end of the XVIII century - the first quarter of the XIX century are presented and analyzed. The arguments justifying design decisions when choosing planting material are demonstrated. The authors focus their attention on this aspect, as one of the numerous markers of the representation of local historical phenomena - in this case, the development of a certain park object. The scientific novelty of the work is connected with the identification of all factors and combinations of planning elements of the estate, which determined the achievement of that aesthetic expressiveness, which determines the status of the object as a cultural heritage and national treasure. We believe that when carrying out new restoration work, it is necessary to raise the question of restoring "flower beds" in historical outlines. In modern conditions, when the scale of the Ostankino park has changed, its functional purpose has changed, it would be wrong to suggest restoring "flowerbeds", while using tree and shrub vegetation. Six "klomps" are formed in accordance with and on the basis of these iconographic materials. The proposed floral assortment is similar to the solutions of the front yard – herbaceous peony (Latin Paeónia), hosta (Latin Hósta), lily (Latin Lílium) and spring flowering ephemeroids.