Peony Research Articles

Physicochemical, antibacterial and aromatic qualities of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora pall) tea with different varieties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of five varieties on the quality of herbaceous peony tea by physicochemical analysis, sensory evaluation, antimicrobial capacity analysis and a combination of gas chromatography with quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF). Antibacterial and antioxidant analyses revealed that the ABTS free radical scavenging rate of HPT was high, ranging from 82.20% to 87.40% overall. 'Madame Claude Tain' had the strongest inhibitory ability against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibitory effect of 12.65 mm. The sensory evaluation showed that 'Angel cheeks' had the highest overall sensory score. GC-QTOF combined with orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis showed that 22 volatile components were the key aroma components of herbaceous peony tea. Different varieties of herbaceous peony tea had a unique characteristic aroma. 'Angel cheeks' imparted lily-like and chestnut fragrances, which were attributed to linalool and 3,5-octadien-2-one. 'Sea Shell', 'Mother's Choice' and 'Angel Cheek' had a medicinal aroma, which may be due to the presence of o-cymene. Overall, 'Angel cheeks' was the most suitable for developing high-quality herbaceous peony tea in five varieties. This study provided a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the development of herbaceous peony.

The analgesic effect of paeoniflorin: A focused review.

Pain has been a prominent medical concern since ancient times. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pain in contemporary medicine, there is no a therapeutic cure for chronic pain. Chinese herbaceous peony, a traditional Chinese analgesic herb has been in clinical use for millennia, with widespread application and substantial efficacy. Paeoniflorin (PF), the main active ingredient of Chinese herbaceous peony, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, and antispasmodic properties, among others. The analgesic effect of PF, involving multiple critical targets and pain regulatory pathways, has been a hot spot for current research. This article reviews the literature related to the analgesic effect of PF in the past decade and discusses the molecular mechanism of the analgesic effect of PF, including the protective effects of nerve cells, inhibition of inflammatory reactions, antioxidant effects, reduction of excitability in nociceptor, inhibition of the nociceptive excitatory neuroreceptor system, activation of the nociceptive inhibitory neuroreceptor system and regulation of other receptors involved in nociceptive sensitization. Thus, providing a theoretical basis for pain prevention and treatment research. Furthermore, the prospect of PF-based drug development is presented to propose new ideas for clinical analgesic therapy.

Analysis of exogenous lactic acid bacteria on growth and development of different herbaceous peony varieties and rhizosphere soil nutrients

There are replanting problems in the production of herbaceous peony. If ramet seedlings are replanted in the original planting hole, they weaken year-by-year until their death, which reduces the land utilisation rate and increases the production costs. In this study, exogenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB, the main component is Lactobacillus plantarum) were applied to improve the planting soil of herbaceous peony for the first time to alleviate the replanting problems, to reduce the production costs, and to provide a new way to promote the of the herbaceous peony industry. In this study, herbaceous peony main cultivars varieties ‘Dafugui’ ‘Hongxiuqiu’ and ‘Zifengyu’ were selected, and experiments were conducted using exogenous LAB. Morphological, rhizosphere soil, and root physiology indexes were measured by sampling at the end of the high-growth periods of herbaceous peony. The results showed that after LAB treatment, the plant height, flowering rate, other morphological indexes and root vitality of ‘Hongxiuqiu’ were increased, with a better promoting effect than that of ‘Dafugui’ and ‘Zifengyu’. The ‘Dafugui’ rhizosphere soil nutrient content and enzyme activity were improved, followed by ‘Hongxiuqiu’ and ‘Zifengyu’. The rhizosphere soil free salicylic acid content and root abscisic acid content decreased, whereas the soil bacterial abundance, root antioxidant enzyme activity, proline and paeoniflorin content increased in all varieties. This study found that LAB application can improve soil fertility and enzyme activity, promote the growth and development of herbaceous peony, increase the flowering rate and improve the ornamental value. However, the influence of LAB on different herbaceous peony varieties varied. Therefore, it is necessary to further expand the number of varieties, optimise the application concentration and frequency of LAB application, alleviate the replanting problems in herbaceous peony production, improve the utilisation rate of land, promote excellent varieties of herbaceous peony, and provide a new methods and references.Graphical abstract

Feasible strategies for efficient propagation system of Paeonia lactiflora ‘Hang Baishao’: In vitro culture of embryos

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a renowned traditional Chinese flower, which has been cherished by people since ancient times. It holds significant value as both an agricultural cash crop and an ornamental and medicinal plant. However, the lack of in vitro propagation system has been long hindered the commercial production of this species and the development of new cultivars. In this study, the low chilling requirement cultivar Paeonia lactiflora ‘Hang Baishao’ that originated from low latitudes of China, was used to study the in vitro culture of embryos. The results of our experiment showed that the optimal medium for in vitro culture of embryos was a 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), 1.0 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA3) and 2.0 g/L polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). Additionally, histological observations revealed the crucial role of vascular bundle development in the survival of transplants. Plants with well-developed vascular tissue exhibited better transplanting success. This study presents, for the first time, a protocol for embryos propagation and transplanting of ‘Hang Baishao’, a cultivar with low chilling requirement (CR) during winter. This study provides an efficient method for in vitro culture of ‘Hang Baishao’, and makes it possible for large-scale production, utilization, and germplasm preservation of this species.

Improvement of Culture Conditions and Plant Growth Regulators for In Vitro Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration in Paeonia lactiflora Pall.

Owing to its high ornamental, medicinal and horticultural values, herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) has been widely used as a landscaping and economical plant around the world. However, the lack of an efficient and stable regeneration system in P. lactiflora restricts its rapid propagation and large-scale production. By testing the key factors affecting callus formation, proliferation, adventitious bud induction and rooting, here, we developed an in vitro system for callus induction and regeneration in P. lactiflora. Our results show that callus formation was affected by explant types, culture environment, basal medium and plant growth regulators. Using cotyledons as explants, we established good conditions for P. lactiflora callus induction and callus proliferation. We effectively obtained adventitious buds differentiated from callus in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing kinetin (KT) and thidiazuron (TDZ). Adventitious bud growth can be further promoted by adding gibberellin 3 (GA3), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyleaminopurine (6-BA) into the MS medium. A high percentage of rooting can be achieved by adding indolebutyric acid (IBA) and activated carbon (AC) to ½ MS medium. Overall, our system promotes callus induction and adventitious bud regeneration for P. lactiflora through improved culture conditions and plant growth regulators in the culture media, and lays a foundation for subsequent genetic engineering research.

Effects of slight shading in summer on the leaf senescence and endogenous hormone and polyamine contents in herbaceous peony

Herbaceous peony is a perennial root plant that likes light and is cold-resistant. During summer, high temperature and strong light intensity advance its entry into the leaf wilting stage, which limits the accumulation of nutrients and formation of strong buds and severely affects its growth and development the following year. In this study, the wild herbaceous peony species and two main cultivars, ‘Zifengyu’ and ‘Hongfengyu’, were subjected to slight shading and strong light environments in summer, and their effects on leaf senescence and endogenous hormone and polyamine contents were explored. Slight shading treatment significantly delayed withering, increased the leaf net photosynthetic rate, and increased the chlorophyll, soluble sugar, indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, gibberellin, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, and polyamine contents. Additionally, slight shading significantly reduced the proline and abscisic acid contents. Slight shading during summer prolonged the green period and delayed leaf senescence. The tolerance of tested materials to strong light intensity in summer was ranked as follows: ‘Zifengyu’ > ‘Hongfengyu’ > wild species. In conclusion, this study revealed that summer leaf senescence is delayed in herbaceous peony through shading and growth regulators. Additional varieties should be evaluated to provide reference for high-efficiency, high-quality, and high-yield cultivation of herbaceous peony.

The Composition and Function of the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community of Paeonia lactiflora Varies with the Cultivar.

The composition and diversity of the rhizosphere microbial community maintain the stability of the root microclimate, and several studies have focused on this aspect of rhizosphere microorganisms. However, how these communities vary with cultivars of a species is not completely understood. Paeonia lactiflora-a perennial herb species of the family Paeoniaceae-includes a wide variety of cultivars, with rich rhizosphere microbial resources. Hence, we studied the differences in rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with eight P. lactiflora cultivars. We noted that Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes and Chloroflexi were the dominant phyla associated with the cultivars. The composition of rhizosphere bacterial community of different cultivars was highly similar at taxonomic levels, but there were slightly differences in the relative abundance. LEfSe analysis showed that the cultivars "Sheng Tao Hua" and "Zi Lou Xian Jin" exhibited the most biomarkers. Differential ASV analysis revealed the maximum difference in ASV abundance between "Lian Tai" and "Zi Hong Zheng Hui", as well as between "Sheng Tao Hua" and "Tao Hua Fei Xue", and the maximum similarity between "Duo Ye Zi" and "Xue Feng". Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that rhizosphere bacteria in most cultivars maintain homeostasis by cooperation, wherein Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria played a vital role. In addition, microbial resources related to cultivars like bioremediation, organic degradation and resistance to diseases are found. This study revealed the structures of the rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with different cultivars of P. lactiflora and explored their stress resistance potential, which can be used to guide future agricultural practices.

Physiological and Gene Expression Analysis of Herbaceous Peony Resistance to Alternaria tenuissima Infection

Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria pathogens seriously threatens peony production. The physiological mechanism of peony resistance to the pathogen is little reported. This study aimed to reveal the defensive mechanism of peonies in response to the pathogen Alternaria tenuissima. The disease-resistant (R) variety ‘Zi Fengyu’ and susceptible (S) variety ‘Heihai Botao’ were employed, and some parameters in the leaves were analyzed after inoculation with A. tenuissima, mainly including the hypersensitive response (HR), activity of defensive enzymes, and expression of disease-resistance genes. The results showed that compared with the responses in the S genotype, HR occurred more rapidly in the R genotype. Meanwhile, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and other two defense enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) increased more significantly, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PlPR1, PlPR2, PlPR4B, PlPR5, and PlPR10) and two WRKY genes (PlWRKY13 and PlWRKY65) was more strongly induced. These responses collectively contributed to the disease resistance of the R genotype. These findings provided a theoretical basis for understanding the intrinsic mechanism of peony resistance to Alternaria leaf spot disease and breeding the disease-resistant peony varieties using a molecular approach.

Micromorphology of wild-collected seeds from Paeonia L. in Serbia—Use of taxonomic markers in species determination

Seed traits have proven to be an effective taxonomic tool in a variety of plant groups and at different levels of classification. The main objective of this study was to describe and compare the characteristics of seeds from all wild-growing herbaceous peonies in Serbia and to evaluate and test their potential taxonomic significance. Seed samples of Paeonia officinalis subsp. banatica (Rochel) Soó, P. tenuifolia L., P. peregrina Miller, and P. daurica Andrews (15 populations) were collected across the Republic of Serbia and analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy; 17 seed characters in total were identified, 14 of which were qualitative. The collected data was analyzed using both basic and multivariate statistical methods, focusing on both quantitative and qualitative traits. The outcomes revealed a distinct separation between the species based on both quantitative and qualitative parameters. The characters that contribute most to discrimination between species are seed length, color, and shape, sutura and hilum shape, and seed surface type. Based on these characters, a determination key was created, which enables easier identification of species. The results greatly contribute to the taxonomy of the genus Paeonia, and these characteristics enable a more accurate diagnosis of each of the examined species.

Selection and verification of reliable internal reference genes in stem development of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01325-5.

Protective effects of paeoniflorin on cardiovascular diseases: A pharmacological and mechanistic overview.

Background and ethnopharmacological relevance: The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the highest of all diseases, necessitating the search for effective drugs and the improvement of prognosis for CVD patients. Paeoniflorin (5beta-[(Benzoyloxy)methyl] tetrahydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2,5-methano-1H-3,4-dioxacyclobuta [cd] pentalen-1alpha (2H)-yl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, C23H28O11) is mostly derived from the plants of the family Paeoniaceae (a single genus family) and is known to possess multiple pharmacological properties in the treatment of CVDs, making it a promising agent for the protection of the cardiovascular system. Aim of the study: This review evaluates the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of paeoniflorin in the treatment of CVDs, with the aim of advancing its further development and application. Methods: Various relevant literatures were searched in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Web of Science. All eligible studies were analyzed and summarized in this review. Results: Paeoniflorin is a natural drug with great potential for development, which can protect the cardiovascular system by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-arteriosclerotic activities, improving cardiac function, and inhibiting cardiac remodeling. However, paeoniflorin was found to have low bioavailability, and its toxicology and safety must be further studied and analyzed, and clinical studies related to it must be carried out. Conclusion: Before paeoniflorin can be used as an effective therapeutic drug for CVDs, further in-depth experimental research, clinical trials, and structural modifications or development of new preparations are required.

Volatile Composition and Classification of Paeonia lactiflora Flower Aroma Types and Identification of the Fragrance-Related Genes.

Flower scent is one of the main ornamental characteristics of herbaceous peony, and the improvement of flower fragrance is a vital objective of herbaceous peony breeding. In this study, 87 herbaceous peony cultivars were divided into three groups (no/light fragrance, medium fragrance, and strong fragrance) based on their sensory evaluation scores, and 16 strong fragrance cultivars and one no fragrance cultivar were selected for subsequent analysis. Sixty-eight volatile components were detected in these 17 cultivars based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and 26 types were identified as important scent components. They were composed of terpenoids, benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, and fatty acid derivatives. According to the content and odor threshold of these main aroma components, the characteristic aroma substances of herbaceous peony were identified, including linalool, geraniol, citronellol, and phenylethyl alcohol (2-PE). The cultivars of strong scented herbaceous peony were divided into three types: rose scent, lily scent, and mixed scent. We explored the possible key genes of characteristic aroma substances in herbaceous peony petals with different odors through the qRT-PCR. The key genes encoding monoterpene biosynthesis were found to be PlDXS2, PlDXR1, PlMDS1, PlHDR1, PlGPPS3, and PlGPPS4. In addition, the linalool synthase (LIS) gene and the geraniol synthase (GES) gene were also found. PlAADC1, PlPAR1, and PlMAO1, related to the biosynthesis of 2-PE were detected, and the synthetic pathway of 2-PE was speculated. In conclusion, these findings revealed that the difference in gene expression of monoterpene and 2-PE synthesis pathway was related to the difference in the fragrance of herbaceous peony. This study explored the releasing pathway of herbaceous peony characteristic aroma substances and provided key genetic resources for fragrance improvement.

Accumulation and health risk of major and trace elements in a soil–medicinal plant system: a case study of the Chinese herbaceous peony ( Paeonia Lactiflora Pall.) grown in Bozhou, China

To investigate the interrelationships between metal elements in soil–medicinal plant systems, 51 pairs of soil and Chinese herbaceous peony samples were collected from Bozhou City, China. Our results revealed that the major and trace elements in soils and Chinese herbaceous peony samples were in descent order as: Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > As > Cd for soil samples, and Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > As > Cd for peony samples. The pollution indices of enrichment factor and Nemerow integrated pollution index both indicated that Cr was the priority pollutant in soils and the other elements (Mn, As, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were slightly elevated. In general, the pollution load index indicated that the studied soils were slightly contaminated by the nine elements. Furthermore, there existed a significant relationship between the Cr content in peony samples and that in soils, and soil pH ( P < 0.01), indicating that the main source of Cr in Chinese herbaceous peony was probably from soils. Additionally, the Cr content in peony samples displayed the highest hazard quotient value, followed by As, Cu, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cd and Pb. Although the hazard quotient for all elements and hazard index were lower than 1, which indicated no adverse health effects for adults, it was necessary to strengthen the control of soil Cr content in the process of peony planting. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Geochemical processes related to mined, milled, or natural metal deposits collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/geochemical-processes-related-to-mined-milled-or-natural-metal-deposits

Analysis of Growth and Rhizosphere Soil Changes of Herbaceous Peony Treated with a Compound Microbial Agent under Contrasted Soil Conditions

When used for ornamental purposes, the herbaceous peony is usually propagated by root ramets, but the replanting of divided seedlings in the original planting area results in poor growth and development. No research has reported on a compound microbial agent used for herbaceous peony. The purpose of this experiment is to provide a reference for low–cost soil improvement in production, promote the growth and development of herbaceous peony, and solve the problem of planting back obstacles. In this study, 3–year–old seedlings of herbaceous peony ‘Zifengyu’ were selected and planted into an ordinary garden and replanted soils. Four root irrigation treatments were conducted using the compound microbial agent ‘Junzhongjun’ to determine the physicochemical properties of rhizosphere soil, root physiology, and growth and development of ‘Zifengyu’ under different soil conditions. The growth and development of the aboveground parts of herbaceous peony were promoted by the treatment of the compound microbial agent in the following order: garden soil > sieved–root soil > unsieved–root soil. Root vigour was enhanced in the following sequence: sieved–root soil > unsieved–root soil > garden soil. The organic matter and available potassium in the rhizosphere soil of herbaceous peony increased, and the promotional effect in the sieved–root soil was significantly better than that in the other two soils. The results show that the compound microbial agent is low in cost and has a stimulating effect on the growth and development of herbaceous peony. In the process of production, the residual broken roots in the soil can be sieved and combined with the application of the compound microbial agent to further alleviate the barriers of replanting. The concentration and frequency of agent application should be further optimized at a later stage.

The plastome reveals new insights into the evolutionary and domestication history of peonies in East Asia

BackgroudPaeonia holds considerable value in medicinal, ornamental horticultural, and edible oil industries, but the incomplete state of phylogenetic research in this genus poses a challenge to the effective conservation and development of wild germplasm, and also impedes the practical utilization of existing cultivars. Due to its uniparental inheritance and lack of recombination, the plastome (i.e., plastid genome), which is a valuable molecular marker for phylogenetic analyses, is characterized by an appropriate rate of nucleotide evolution.MethodsIn this study, 10 newly assembled data and available reported data were combined to perform a comparative genomics and phylogenetics analysis of 63 plastomes of 16 Paeonia species, primarily from East Asia, which is the origin and diversity center of Paeonia.ResultsRanging between 152,153 and 154,405 bp, most plastomes displayed a conserved structure and relatively low nucleotide diversity, except for six plastomes, which showed obvious IR construction or expansion. A total of 111 genes were annotated in the Paeonia plastomes. Four genes (rpl22, rps3, rps19 and ycf1) showed different copy numbers among accessions while five genes (rpl36, petN, psbI, rpl33 and psbJ) showed strong codon usage biases (ENC < 35). Additional selection analysis revealed that no genes were under positive selection during the domestication of tree peony cultivars whereas four core photosynthesis-related genes (petA, psaA, psaB and rbcL) were under positive selection in herbaceous peony cultivars. This discovery might contribute to the wide adaption of these cultivars. Two types of molecular markers (SSR and SNP) were generated from the 63 plastomes. Even though SSR was more diverse than SNP, it had a weaker ability to delimit Paeonia species than SNP. The reconstruction of a phylogenetic backbone of Paeonia in East Asia revealed significant genetic divergence within the P. ostii groups. Evidence also indicated that the majority of P. suffruticosa cultivars had a maternal origin, from P. ostii. The results of this research also suggest that P. delavayi var. lutea, which likely resulted from hybridization with P. ludlowii, should be classified as a lineage within the broader P. delavayi group.ConclusionsOverall, this study’s research findings suggest that the Paeonia plastome is highly informative for phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses, and could be useful in future research related to taxonomy, evolution, and domestication.

Analysis of Physiological and Biochemical Factors Affecting Flower Color of Herbaceous Peony in Different Flowering Periods

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a famous ornamental plant, and the study of its flower color is of great significance for cultivating new flower varieties. To explore the factors driving the formation and change of herbaceous peony flower color, we selected five herbaceous peony varieties at four flowering stages to determine the change in flower color, petal area, and microstructure. We also examined the composition and content of petal pigments, soluble sugar and soluble protein content, pH value of cell fluid, and water content. Finally, we analyzed the correlations between each factor. We found that Pn3G5G, Pg3G5G, and Cy3G5G were the main anthocyanin components in red and purple petals. Qu3G, Qu7G, Is3G, and lutein play important roles in yellow petal formation. The change in herbaceous peony flower color during the flowering process is directly caused by changes in the anthocyanin and carotenoid content in petals. In addition, changes in other physiological indices also influence the change in flower color. This study explored the physiological and biochemical factors affecting the color of herbaceous peony petals, which has an important practical significance for studying the physiological mechanism of herbaceous peony flower color formation and color breeding of new flowers.

Effect of the pectin contents and nanostructure on the stem straightness of two Paeonia lactiflora cultivars.

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is an ancient ornamental crop and, in recent decades, an emerging popular cut flower. Straight stems are a vital criterion for cut herbaceous peony selection, while many cultivars bend as the plant develops. Pectin helps maintain the mechanical strength of the cell wall. However, little is known about its role in the stem bending of herbaceous peony. Two herbaceous peony cultivars with contrasting stem morphologies ('Dong Fang Shao Nv', upright; 'Lan Tian Piao Xiang', bending gradually) at five developmental stages were used as materials to investigate the effects of pectin content and nanostructure on straightness using the carbazole colorimetric method and atomic force microscopy observations. The contents of water-soluble pectin (WSP), CDTA-soluble pectin (CSP), and sodium carbonate-soluble pectin (SSP) differed significantly between the two cultivars, and the contents and angle of the flower and branch showed correlations. For the pectin nanostructure, WSP showed agglomerates and long chains, with a higher proportion of broad agglomerates at the later stages of the bending cultivar than the upright cultivar. CSP showed branched chains, and the proportion of broad chains was higher in the upright cultivar at later stages, while CSP shape changed from agglomerates to chains in the bending cultivar. SSP mainly consisted of short linear main chains, and side chains in the upright stem were stacked, and the bent cultivar had more broad and short chains. It can be concluded that the contents, nanometric shape, and size of the three kinds of pectin are highly likely to affect herbaceous peony stem straightness. This study provides a theoretical basis for the role of pectin in the production and breeding of herbaceous peony cut flowers.

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 Pae&amp;#243;nia), hosta (Latin H&amp;#243;sta), lily (Latin L&amp;#237;lium) and spring flowering ephemeroids.

Ploidy and Karyotype Analysis of Different Populations of &lt;i&gt;Paeonia mairei&lt;/i&gt;, an Endemic Species to China

Paeonia (Paeoniaceae) has an ancient origin, unique genetic evolution, and an isolated taxonomic status. China is the genetic origin of the genus Paeonia and an area rich in wild Paeonia resources. However, since herbaceous peony is not as well studied as woody peony, especially some species that are currently endemic to China. One such species that is endemic to China is Paeonia mairei, which is valuable germplasm for evolution research and cultivar improvement. Despite this, the karyotype of P. mairei remains inconclusive. In this study, root tips of plants from eight populations of P. mairei were used to examine their ploidy and to assess karyotype diversity. The results indicate that all eight P. mairei populations were tetraploid (2n=4x=20=12m+4sm+4st) with a 2A karyotype. Karyotype asymmetry ranged from 60.61% for P6 (Liangfengya, Foping County) to 63.12% for P4 (Ningqiang County). The chromosome length ratio ranged from 1.7398 (Dongchuan District) to 1.9660 (Dayi County) while the AI ranged from 4.4535 (Ningqiang County) to 5.6085 (Foping County). These findings indicate that the population in Foping County is relatively evolved whereas that in Ningqiang County is relatively primitive. Cluster analysis of karyotypic parameters showed that P3 (Dayi County) and P7 (Miaogou, Foping County) populations differed greatly from the other six populations, which could be clustered into two geographic branches. Our findings provide a scientific basis for exploring origin and evolutionary characteristics of P. mairei.

Global experience in the commercial cultivation of peony flowers: 30 years of research and development

Herbaceous peony is an ancient ornamental and medicinal crop, cultivated for thousands of years in China and Japan. Numerous varieties are popular garden plants in different continents and countries, and recently peony has gained a new reputation as cut flowers. Only in Europe, in last 30 years, trade in cut peony has increased 50-fold. This demand has led to biological research and the development of production technologies. Today, more than 25 countries produce cut peony flowers, with primary markets in Europe, Asia and the USA. However, several factors still restrict peony production - challenges in mass propagation, a complicated flowering physiology, and postharvest handling. Here we summarize the contribution of research in plant physiology to the development of new technologies of peony production and flowering. Further research of molecular and biochemical mechanisms, breeding of new cultivars will contribute to the further development of peony industry. Biotechnological applications and long-term postharvest technologies will facilitate creation of Global Peony Chain for successful marketing of this flower.