Ornamental Plants Research Articles

Study of Agroecological Features of Ligustrum vulgare L. in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Prospects for Its Use in Greening

The results of a study are presented to study the possibilities of using Ligustrum vulgare L. in urban landscaping. Information is provided on the bioecological characteristics of Ligustrum vulgare — Common Privet, Olive family. The possibilities of using this species in creating various compositions and forms as an ornamental plant are analyzed. It has been established that the use of this plant in landscaping works makes it possible to create a beautiful background in parks and gardens in cities and towns of the region. Ligustrum vulgare is mainly used to create various green compositions as a living fence.

Cotyledonary somatic embryo is one kind of intermediate material similar to callus in the process of in vitro tissue culture from Rosa hybrida ‘John F. Kennedy’

BackgroundRose is recognized as an important ornamental plant worldwide, and it is also one of the most widely used flowers in gardens. At present, the improvement of rose traits is still difficult and uncertain, and molecular breeding can provide new ideas for the improvement of modern rose varieties. Somatic embryos are quite good receptors for genetic transformation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying during the regeneration process of rose somatic embryos. To elucidate the molecular regulation mechanism of somatic embryo plantlet regeneration, the relationship between the differences in traits of the two different regenerated materials and the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to phytohormone pathways in the process of regeneration were be investigated.ResultsThese representative two regenerated samples from single-piece cotyledonary somatic embryo (SPC) culture of Rosa hybrida ‘John F. Kennedy’, were harvested for transcriptome analysis, with the SPC explants at the initial culture (Day 0) as the control. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the materials from two different types for regeneration approach (SBF type: the regeneration approach type of single bud formed from SPC explants; MBF type: the regeneration approach type of multiple buds formed from SPC explants) were be screened by means of the transcriptome sequencing technology. In this study, a total of about 396.24 million clean reads were obtained, of which 78.95–82.92% were localized to the reference genome, compared with the initial material (CK sample), there were 5594 specific genes in the material of SBF type and 6142 specific genes in the MBF type. The DEGs from the SBF type material were mainly concentrated in the biological processes of GO terms such as phytohormones, substance transport, cell differentiation, and redox reaction. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed these DEGs were more active in ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, fatty acid elongation, steroid biosynthesis, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-globo and isoglobo series. In contrast, the DEGs induced by the MBF type material were mainly associated with the biological processes such as phytohormones, phosphorylation, photosynthesis and signal transduction. According to KEGG analysis, these DEGs of MBF type were significantly enriched in the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, and peroxisome. Furthermore, the results from the phytohormone pathways analysis showed that the auxin-responsive factor SAUR and the cell wall modifying enzyme gene XTH were upregulated for expression but the protein phosphatase gene PP2C was downregulated for expression in SBF type; the higher expression of the ethylene receptor ETR, the ethylene transduction genes EBF1/2, the transcription factor EIN3, and the ethylene-responsive transcription factor ERF1/2 were induced by MBF type.ConclusionsAccording to the GO and KEGG analysis, it indicated the DEGs between two different regenerated materials from somatic embryos were significantly different which might be causing morphological differences. That was somatic embryos from Rosa hybrida ‘John F. Kennedy’ could regenerate plantlet via both classic somatic embryogenesis (seed-like germination) and organogenesis, cotyledonary somatic embryos should be considered as one kind of intermediate materials similiar to callus, rather than the indicator materials for somatic embryogenesis.

Variations in Flower Color of Mutant Chrysanthemums

The induction of variation in chrysanthemums using gamma radiation under in vitro conditions is an effective technique in ornamental plants. The purpose of this study is to obtain new mutants by isolating desirable properties from the three-colored single chrysanthemum mutant using in vitro cultures. Bud explants were cultured four times, the plantlets were acclimatized, and 520 plants were planted in outdoor conditions. Observations of the mutants were collected during flowering time, and 97 of the mutants were compared to the control group. Plants with pink, white, and chimeric flowers were obtained. Mutant plants with white flowers constituted the majority of the population followed by plants with variegated flower colors. The population is divided into six clusters, based on the plant height, plant diameter, flower number, flower diameter, number of flower colors, ray flowers’ number, leaves’ number, stem weight, and lengths and widths of leaves. The population decreased in plant height, flower number, and stem weight, while other features increased compared to the control group. Thus, a new population with similar characteristics to the parent plant was obtained from a single mutant. Chrysanthemum plants exposed to mutagens showed major changes in flower parts as well as other parts of the plant.

Integration of Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms of Flower Color Formation in Prunus mume

Flower color is an important trait that affects the economic value of Prunus mume, a famous ornamental plant in the Rosaceae family. P. mume with purple–red flowers is uniquely charming and highly favored in landscape applications. However, little is known about its flower coloring mechanism, which stands as a critical obstacle on the path to innovative breeding for P. mume flower color. In this study, transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analyses of purple–red P. mume and white P. mume were performed to elucidate the mechanism of flower color formation. In addition, the expression patterns of key genes were analyzed using an RT-qPCR experiment. The results showed that the differential metabolites were significantly enriched in the flavonoid synthesis pathway. A total of 14 anthocyanins emerged as the pivotal metabolites responsible for the differences in flower color between the two P. mume cultivars, comprising seven cyanidin derivatives, five pelargonium derivatives, and two paeoniflorin derivatives. Moreover, the results clarified that the metabolic pathway determining flower color in purple–red P. mume encompasses two distinct branches: cyanidin and pelargonidin, excluding the delphinidin branch. Additionally, through the integrated analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we identified 18 key genes responsible for anthocyanin regulation, thereby constructing the gene regulatory network for P. mume anthocyanin synthesis. Among them, ten genes (PmCHI, PmGT2, PmGT5, PmGST3, PmMYB17, PmMYB22, PmMYB23, PmbHLH4, PmbHLH10, and PmbHLH20) related to anthocyanin synthesis were significantly positively correlated with anthocyanin contents, indicating that they may be the key contributors to anthocyanin accumulation. Our investigation contributes a novel perspective to understanding the mechanisms responsible for flower color formation in P. mume. The findings of this study introduce novel strategies for molecular design breeding aimed at manipulating flower color in P. mume.

First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum spaethianum on Hosta longipes in Korea.

Hosta longipes (Franch. & Sav.) Matsum. (Asparagaceae) is a perennial, herbaceous plant, native to Japan and Korea (Lee et al. 2021). In Korea, the plant is used as an edible vegetable and ornamental (Kang and Ju 2015). During 2021-2022, anthracnose symptoms were observed on leaves of H. longipes with over 70% disease incidence in Wanju-gun (35°38'47''N; 127°31'16''E) and Jangsu-gun (35°35'31''N; 127°30'03''E) in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The disease initially appeared on old leaves, gradually spreading to young ones. The symptoms were characterized as yellow to white discoloration on the upper leaf surface with black necrotic tissue in the center of the lesion. Three H. longipes samples with anthracnose symptoms were collected. From each, a monoconidial isolate was obtained and then deposited in the Korea Agricultural Culture Collection (accession Nos. KACC 410038, 410391, and 410443). The dried specimens were housed at the herbarium of Jeonbuk National University (JBNU0129, 0137) and Korea University (KUS-F33379). Conidiomata was acervular, 65 to 80 × 56 to 70 µm in diam. Setae were dark brown, 2 to 4-septate, 63 to 161 µm long, being formed on a pale brown cushion. Conidia were hyaline, smooth-walled, aseptate, slightly curved, base truncate, 3.9 to 5.1 × 17 to 23 µm. The appressoria were solitary, olivaceous-brown, ovoid or irregularly shaped. Two-week-old colonies grown on PDA at 25 ℃ were 20-25 mm in diameter, initially white, then turned gray with age, with cottony aerial mycelium. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus were consistent with those of Colletotrichum spaethianum (Allesch.) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous (Damm et al. 2012). To confirm morphology-based identification, the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), actin (actA), chitin synthase (CHS1), histone (HIS3) and tubulin (TUB2) genes were determined for KACC410443, as outlined by Cannon et al. (2012) and Damm et al. (2009). The resulting sequences were submitted into GenBank (PP000829 for ITS, PP133094 for GAPDH, PP083418 for actA, PP133091 for CHS1, PP133097 for HIS3, and PP133099 for TUB2) and compared with reference sequences in GenBank using BLASTn search tool. The results showed a 100% match with C. spaethianum (MT611068), C. incanum (MN880260) and C. truncatum (EF016303) for ITS, and 100% with C. spaethianum for GAPDH (MH370513), actA (MH045677), CHS1 (MH370520), HIS3 (MH985161), and TUB (MH456884). Pathogenicity was tested by inoculating conidial suspension (1 ×104 cfu/ml) of three-week-old fungal colonies of the isolate KACC410443 onto leaves of three healthy potted plants. Prior to inoculation, leaves were deliberately wounded by pinpricking with a sterilized needle. Two wounded but non-inoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 25 to 30 °C. Inoculated plants developed anthracnose symptoms after eight days, while the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus isolated from the inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that observed initially, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, there is no previous record of C. spaethianum on H. longipes, although C. spaethianum has been reported to infect another species, H. plantaginea (Cheon and Jeon 2016). This is the first report of this fungus on H. longipes in Korea (KSPP 2024) and globally (Farr and Rossman 2024). The anthracnose on this ornamental plant can be considered a new severe threat to planting strategies in gardens.

Phytoremediation Performance with Ornamental Plants in Monocultures and Polycultures Conditions Using Constructed Wetlands Technology.

The assessment of constructed wetlands (CWs) has gained interest in the last 20 years for wastewater treatment in Latin American regions. However, the effects of culture systems with different ornamental species in CWs for phytoremediation are little known. In this study, some chemical parameters such as total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate (PO4-P), and ammonium (NH4-N) were analyzed in order to prove the removal of pollutants by phytoremediation in CWs. The environmental impact index based on eutrophication reduction (EI-E) was also calculated to estimate the cause-effect relationship using CWs in different culture conditions. C. hybrids and Dieffenbachia seguine were used in monoculture and polyculture (both species mixed) mesocosm CWs. One hundred eighty days of the study showed that CWs with plants in monoculture/polyculture conditions removed significant amounts of organic matter (TSS and COD) (p > 0.05; 40-55% TSS and 80-90% COD). Nitrogen and phosphorous compounds were significantly lower in the monoculture of D. seguine (p < 0.05) than in monocultures of C. hybrids, and polyculture systems. EI-E indicator was inversely proportional to the phosphorous removed, showing a smaller environmental impact with the polyculture systems (0.006 kg PO₄3- eq removed) than monocultures, identifying the influence of polyculture systems on the potential environmental impacts compared with the phytoremediation function in monocultures (0.011-0.014 kg PO₄3- eq removed). Future research is required to determine other types of categories of environmental impact index and compare them with other wastewater treatment systems and plants. Phytoremediation with the ornamental plants studied in CWs is a good option for wastewater treatment using a plant-based cleanup technology.

HortGenome Search Engine, a universal genomic search engine for horticultural crops

Abstract Horticultural crops comprising fruit, vegetable, ornamental, beverage, medicinal and aromatic plants play essential roles in food security and human health, as well as landscaping. With the advances of sequencing technologies, genomes for hundreds of horticultural crops have been deciphered in recent years, providing a basis for understanding gene functions and regulatory networks and for the improvement of horticultural crops. However, these valuable genomic data are scattered in warehouses with various complex searching and displaying strategies, which increases learning and usage costs and makes comparative and functional genomic analyses across different horticultural crops very challenging. To this end, we have developed a lightweight universal search engine, HortGenome Search Engine (HSE; http://hort.moilab.net), which allows querying genes, functional annotations, protein domains, homologs, and other gene-related functional information of more than 500 horticultural crops. In addition, four commonly used tools, including ‘BLAST’, ‘Batch Query’, ‘Enrichment analysis’, and ‘Synteny Viewer’, have been developed for efficient mining and analysis of these genomic data.

First report of leaf blight caused by Stemphylium lycopersici on Salvia splendens in China.

Salvia splendens is a popular ornamental plant in China with extensive potentials, including value in traditional Chinese medicine and in environmental restoration function (Li et al. 2008). In September 2019, leaf blight disease was observed on road side plants of S. splendens in Bayi park, Nanchang city, Jiangxi province, China. The typical symptoms appeared as irregular necrotic spots or leaf blight, accompanied by extensive scorch necrosis or ultimately defoliation. Small segments cut from diseased leaves were surface sterilized in a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 min and rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. Then, the samples were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates incubated at 25°C in darkness. Pure cultures were obtained by the hyphal tip method. Morphologically, all 11 colonies were identical to each other on PDA. Two strains, YZU 191468 and YZU 191481, were selected for further study and deposited in the Fungal Herbarium of Yangtze University (YZU), Jingzhou, Hubei, China. The 7-day-old colonies were circular, 53 to 56 mm in diameter, and consisted of white mycelium with a buff margin, and were cinnamon colored in the center of the reverse side. To examine conidial morphology, the mycelium was transferred onto potato carrot agar (PCA) and incubated at 23°C with a period of 8 h light/16 h dark for 7 days. Conidia were normally solitary or two in a chain, ellipsoid or long ellipsoid, beakless, 10 to 23×30 to 60 µm in size (n=50). Based on morphology, the isolates were consistent with Stemphylium lycopersici (Yamamoto 1960). To confirm the identification, genomic DNA was extracted from both isolates and used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region (ITS), glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and calmodulin (CAL) genes with primer pairs ITS5/ITS4, gpd1/gpd2, and CALDF1/CALDR2, respectively (Woudenberg et al. 2017). Sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers OP564983 and OP564984 (ITS), OP892529 and OP892530 (GAPDH), OP584970 and OP584971 (CAL). A neighbor-joining tree was constructed with Mega 7.0 based on the combined dataset with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. The resulting phylogenetic tree showed that the strains from S. splendens clustered with S. lycopersici (CBS 122639 and CBS 124980) supported with 100% bootstrap values. The molecular analyses confirmed that the species causing leaf blight symptoms was S. lycopersici. To test pathogenicity, healthy leaves of S. splendens were surface sterilized and inoculated by mycelium blocks (6 mm in diameter) and spore suspension (1×106 spore/mL) of representative strains YZU 191468 and YZU 191481, respectively. Controls were inoculated with blocks of PDA and sterile water. Each strain was inoculated on three leaves of a plant. One clean plant was used as control. The test was replicated three times. After inoculation, the plants were covered with plastic bags and incubated in a greenhouse (25℃, 80 % relative humidity, 8 h light/16 h dark). After 5 days, the inoculated leaves exhibited dark brown spots with white mycelium, followed by withering of necrotic tissues. There were no symptoms observed on the controls. The fungal isolates inoculated leaves had the same morphological characteristics as the strains used for inoculation. S. lycopersici has been found on eggplant and Zinnia elegans in China (He et al. 2019; Yang et al. 2017). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. lycopersici causing leaf blight on S. splendens in China. This finding offers a new reference for the management and control of S. splendens leaf diseases in China.

Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal That the Flavonoid Metabolic Pathway Is Associated with Pigment Differential Accumulation in Two Colors of Petaloid Staminodes in Canna glauca

Canna glauca, an ornamental plant widely cultivated in aquatic habitats, is notable for its long florescence and showy flowers. The flower of this species is distinguished by its petaloid staminodes, which comprise the majority of the overall floral display. Flavonoids have been reported to be the predominant pigment groups that determine most flower colors. However, the influence of flavonoid metabolic pathways on the flower color of C. glauca remains to be investigated. In this study, comprehensive floral transcriptomes and metabolite profiles of the wild type (yellow flower) and ‘Erebus’ cultivar (pink flower) of C. glauca were analyzed. We identified 432 flavonoid metabolites, including 20 anthocyanins. ‘Erebus’ accumulated higher levels of 18 anthocyanins than the wild type, including 10 cyanidins, 4 pelargonidins, and 4 peonidins. The wild type accumulated higher levels of two malvidins. Through the joint analysis of transcriptomics and metabonomics, we observed a notable association between the expression of three DEGs and eleven anthocyanin levels. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression patterns of key genes that determine flavonoid biosynthesis, such as CHS, CHI, F3′H, and DFR. These findings provide enlightenment on the anthocyanin accumulation of Canna glauca, serving as a basis for exploring biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying flower coloration.

Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Wild and Commercial Feijoa sellowiana Accessions Using AFLPs

Feijoa sellowiana (O. Berg) is a broadly widespread fruit tree species at a very early stage of domestication. Although appreciated for its flavored berries rich in nutrients and nutraceuticals, and as an ornamental plant, feijoa is still considered an underutilized species and little information is available about its genetic background, cultivar traceability and divergence. This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the genetic diversity of feijoa through the application of AFLPs. Specifically, twenty cultivars from different countries and six wild types (WTs) from their area of origin (Misiones, Argentina) were analyzed. The AFLPs proved to be informative, revealing the values of the percentage of polymorphic loci (PPB), Nei’s genetic diversity (h), and the Shannon index (I) at 69.36%, 0.27, and 0.43, respectively, consistent with the average of long-lived perennial and outcrossing species. However, despite the limited number of WTs examined, the genetic variability (h) was higher (approximately 37%) within the six samples compared to cultivars. The population structure analysis identified three clusters, with WTs forming a separated cluster (III) as expected. Cultivars were divided into two clusters (I and II), with cluster I exhibiting a closer genetic proximity to WTs compared to cluster II. This finding was further confirmed using the UPGMA dendrogram based on Provesti distances. This work raised awareness of the genetic variability among the feijoa’s widespread cultivars and demonstrated that the limited genetic breeding programs over the last decades resulted in low diversity among them. Moreover, these results confirm the hypothesis that all varieties are derived from a single narrow ancestral population. The potential of this species is considerable and needs to be further investigated to exploit its peculiarities.

Morphological, cytological, physiological, and molecular evidence to explain how underground fleshy roots expand in herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)

The fleshy roots of herbaceous peonies serve as vital storage organs and are the primary source material for Chinese herbal medicine. Moreover, in certain cultivars, these roots can be propagated by root cuttings. However, the specific mechanisms governing the expansion and development of fleshy roots in herbaceous peonies currently remain unclear. To elucidate patterns of changes during the enlargement and development of herbaceous peony fleshy roots, this study assessed fleshy roots in six growth and development periods (P1–P6). By integrating environmental monitoring data, morphological, cytological, physiological and biochemical, as well as molecular characteristics across these developmental periods were compared. Both precipitation and temperature influenced the development of fleshy roots. The fastest enlargement of fleshy roots occurred under the following growth conditions: daily average precipitation = 5.6 mm; monthly average air temperature = 25.6°C; monthly average soil temperature = 26.3°C. Phloem and xylem, produced by the activity of vascular cambium, are important components of fleshy roots. Secondary xylem thickness consistently increased across the six developmental periods, resulting in the radial expansion of fleshy roots. When average monthly air and soil temperatures were about 26°C, starch accumulated gradually in fleshy roots, and carbohydrates were mostly starch-based. However, when the average monthly air and soil temperatures decreased to about 11.0°C, soluble sugar content increased. Endogenous hormones such as IAA, ZR, GA3, MeJA, and ABA played regulatory roles throughout the development of fleshy roots, and their levels and dynamic equilibrium were correlated with expansion rate. Elevated IAA and ZR content, and stabilized IAA/ABA and MeJA/ABA ratios, favored fleshy root expansion. Trends in the expression of three genes that play key roles in the expansion of fleshy roots (PlEXLB3, PlAUX1 and PlWRKY13) were consistent with morphological and physiological data, but PlHXK1 and PlIPT3 also play important roles. These findings lay a foundation for studying, in greater depth, the regulatory mechanisms governing the enlargement of herbaceous peony fleshy roots, and offer practical advice pertaining to field cultivation and management practices of this ornamental plant.

Evaluating The Potential of Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis in Floating Wetland for The Remediation of Water Bodies Polluted with Domestic Sewage

The inadequate infrastructure for wastewater treatment in many regions has led to the contamination of surface water bodies and groundwater degradation. To address this issue, floating wetland treatment systems have emerged as a viable alternative for effective wastewater remediation. This study focuses exclusively on utilizing Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, a tropical ornamental plant, within the context of floating wetland treatment techniques for the remediation of domestic wastewater. The primary objective is to assess the nutrient and pollutant removal efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in a laboratory-scale floating wetland system. Healthy Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plants were cultivated on identical floating rafts and placed in plastic tanks filled with domestic sewage for experimental investigation. Water quality analyses were conducted regularly, spanning 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days HRT. The results of this experimental investigation revealed that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, when used in floating wetland treatment, exhibited significant removal efficiencies for various parameters, including turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia, and dissolved oxygen (DO).These findings highlight the potential of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plants as a practical component of floating wetland systems for removing nutrients and pollutants from domestic wastewater. This research underscores the viability of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to address water pollution challenges, particularly in the context of floating wetland treatment.

Exogenously applied gibberellic acid and benzylamine modulate growth and chemical constituents of dwarf schefflera: a stepwise regression analysis

Ornamental foliage plants that have a dense appearance are highly valued. One way to achieve this is by using plant growth regulators as a tool for plant growth management. In a greenhouse with a mist irrigation system, a study was conducted on dwarf schefflera, an ornamental foliage plant, which was exposed to foliar application of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine hormones. The hormones were sprayed on dwarf schefflera leaves at 0, 100, and 200 mg/l concentrations, at 15-day intervals in three stages. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design, with four replicates. The combination of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine at 200 mg/l concentration had a significant effect on leaf number, leaf area, and plant height. The treatment also resulted in the highest content of photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, the highest soluble carbohydrate to reducing sugars ratio was observed in treatments of 100 and 200 mg/l benzyladenine, and 200 mg/l gibberellic acid + benzyladenine. Stepwise regression analysis showed that root volume was the first variable to enter the model, explaining 44% of variations. The next variable was root fresh weight, and the two-variable model explained 63% of variations in leaf number. The greatest positive effect on leaf number was related to root fresh weight (0.43), which had a positive correlation with leaf number (0.47). The results showed that 200 mg/l concentration of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine significantly improved morphological growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis, and reducing sugar and soluble carbohydrate contents in dwarf schefflera.

Dampak Efektivitas Pemberian Ekoenzim Sebagai Agen Pertumbuhan dan Penambah Nutrisi Tanaman pada Berbagai Jenis Tanaman Budidaya di Indonesia

Sustainable agriculture is one of the latest innovations in the agricultural sector. This should consider the importance of environmental sustainability in its application in agriculture to prevent and minimize land damage and environmental pollution. One of the main pollution cases on agricultural land is the excessive use of chemical fertilizers to promote and maintain plant growth. Besides, providing plant nutrition can be done with the presence of ecoenzymes. Ecoenzymes are the result of complex fermentation of organic waste which can be used as plant growth and nutrient enhancers. This review study aimed to examine the effectiveness impact of providing ecoenzymes on various cultivated plants in Indonesia. Based on the results of the review, the ecoenzymes can help the growth of horticultural, ornamental, food, and annual plants which are also influenced by various characteristic factors, plant type, and concentration dose. Dosing ecoenzymes also depends on the use of additional fertilizer during the planting period.  

Transcriptome analysis reveals critical genes and pathways of regulating the branching architecture of Lagerstroemia Indica in response to gravity signal

The branching architecture, as the main category of plant architecture, has a profound impact on creating natural beauty and plant production. Also, the gravitropic responses are involved in directional growth of all plants on earth. The crape myrtle as a kind of important ornamental plants is widely applied to urban landscaping. However, the regulatory mechanism controlling the branching architecture in response of gravity signal is poorly understood in crape myrtle. To identify the putative molecular mechanism, the transcriptome sequencing of crape myrtle in gravitropic growth was performed. Paraffin section analysis displayed dominant difference in the horizontal and erect branches. Also, large numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between normal condition and gravitropic growth. Based on the KEGG analysis, the DEGs were mainly enriched in GA biosynthesis and signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant MAPK signaling pathway. This research enhanced our molecular comprehension of branching architecture in response to gravity signal while also enabling the practical application of these insights to improved crape myrtle as a significant ornamental species.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the initial complete mitochondrial genome of Primulina hunanensis (Gesneriaceae): a cave-dwelling endangered plant

BackgroundPrimulina hunanensis, a troglobitic plant within the Primulina genus of Gesneriaceae family, exhibits robust resilience to arid conditions and holds great horticultural potential as an ornamental plant. The work of chloroplast genome (cpDNA) has been recently accomplished, however, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) that is crucial for plant evolution has not been reported.ResultsIn this study, we sequenced and assembled the P. hunanensis complete mtDNA, and elucidated its evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships. The assembled mtDNA spans 575,242 bp with 43.54% GC content, encompassing 60 genes, including 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 20 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. Notably, high number of repetitive sequences in the mtDNA and substantial sequence translocation from chloroplasts to mitochondria were observed. To determine the evolutionary and taxonomic positioning of P. hunanensis, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using mitochondrial PCGs from P. hunanensis and 32 other taxa. Furthermore, an exploration of PCGs relative synonymous codon usage, identification of RNA editing events, and an investigation of collinearity with closely related species were conducted.ConclusionsThis study reports the initial assembly and annotation of P. hunanensis mtDNA, contributing to the limited mtDNA repository for Gesneriaceae plants and advancing our understanding of their evolution for improved utilization and conservation.

Sorbus L. Genus Representatives in the Landscape Design of Kyiv: Dendrological Characteristics and Prospects for Use

The purpose of the study is to summarise information on the systematic position of the genus Sorbus L. and historical aspects of its selection in the context of plant ornamentation; to assess the prerequisites for the introduction of representatives of the genus Sorbus L. into the landscape design of Kyiv based on the analysis of the foreign experience of their use, ornamentation and biological and ecological sustainability throughout the growing season. Research methods. The key role in the study is played by the methods of field survey, monitoring, typological, descriptive and factual, comparative and historical, formal and compositional, and art historical. The methods of observation, analysis, forecasting, generalisation and explanation contributed to the research results and the generalisation of the findings. The scientific novelty lies in the analysis of the prerequisites for the introduction of the genus Sorbus L. representatives into the landscape design of Kyiv, based on the generalisation of foreign experience of their distribution and cultivation; morphological features clarification that determines decorative effect; biological and ecological sustainability assessment throughout the growing season, taking into account current environmental factors and the level of the urban environment urbanisation. The practical significance of the conducted research is confirmed by the list of the genus Sorbus L. representatives recommended for the enrichment of the ornamental plants’ taxonomic composition and implementation in the landscape design of Kyiv. Conclusions. Today, biodiversity conservation and the improvement of the green space system are becoming increasingly important due to changes in environmental factors and an increased anthropogenic load as a result of urban expansion and building densification. The conducted studies of the Sorbus L. genus allow us to state their suitability and prospects for use in the landscape design of Kyiv, which is justified by their high decorative effect (general and seasonal) and biological and ecological sustainability.

Paclobutrazol Residues in Recirculated Water in Commercial Greenhouses

Reusing irrigation water has technical, environmental, and financial benefits. However, risks are also associated with the accumulation of agrochemicals, in addition to ions, plant and food safety pathogens, and biofilm organisms. In this project, we measured the concentration of paclobutrazol (a persistent and widely used plant growth regulator) in recirculated water in greenhouses producing ornamental plants in containers. Solutions were collected from catchment tanks at nine commercial greenhouses across seven states in the United States in Spring and Fall 2014. Paclobutrazol was detected in all samples, with differences observed by season, greenhouse operation, paclobutrazol application method, and irrigation method. Across operations, the residual concentration of paclobutrazol was higher in spring for most greenhouses (ranging from 0 to 1100 µg·L−1) compared with the fall (ranging from 0 to 8 µg·L−1). The spray-drench application method resulted in the highest residual concentrations (up to 35 µg·L−1), followed by substrate drench (up to 26 µg·L−1) and foliage spray (concentrations under 3 µg·L−1). Residual concentrations were higher with overhead irrigation (up to 35 µg·L−1) compared with subirrigation systems (up to 15 µg·L−1). Our results indicate that paclobutrazol is likely to be a growth retardant risk in greenhouse operations recirculating water. A clear understanding of the risks associated with recirculated water intends to support the development and implementation of risk management strategies to ensure and promote safe use of recirculated water in greenhouses. Overall, the most effective preventative strategy is to ensure the use of the minimum amount of the a.i. necessary per unit of space and time.

ОЦЕНКА СОРТИМЕНТА КАЛЕНДУЛЫ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОЙ КАК КУЛЬТУРЫ ДЛЯ ОЗЕЛЕНЕНИЯ

Calendula officinalis L. is one of the most common pharmaceutical crops cultivated not only in the Krasnodar region, but also in the south of the Russian Federation as a whole. In addition to its medicinal qualities, a high content of essential oils, as well as phenols and flavonoids, the crop is an excellent alternative to annual floral and ornamental plants in landscaping. In this regard, the purpose of the research was to evaluate seven varieties of Calendula officinalis L. in terms of duration,intensity and timing of the beginning of flowering, the activity of growth processes, size, color, inflorescence structure and the identification of the most adapted to growing conditions varieties that have high decorative qualities. Proposals were made on the directions of using the studied varieties in ornamental gardening and landscaping of the territory. The studies were carried out in 2022-2023 at the experimental site of private household plots in the central zone of the Krasnodar region. As a result of the research, it was found that the studied varieties of calendula had significant differences in a number of morpho-biometric indicators, but turned out to be highly adapted to the growing conditions in the south of the Russian Federation. According to the combination of ornamental qualities, three varieties of calendula officinalis were identified for cultivation in the central zone of the Krasnodar region. The Tutti-Frutti yellow variety is recommended for planting in flower beds due to the bright flowers of the inflorescence and the low growth of the plants. It is advisable to use the Geisha variety for the design of plots in landscape design and for cutting flowers. In garden and park landscaping, attention should be paid to the King's Cup variety, which stands out for a complex of decorative qualities and a long flowering period. Key words: CALENDULA, LANDSCAPING, ASSORTMENT, PHENOLOGY, GROWTH, FLOWERING, ORNAMENTAL TRAITS

First report of a new Carlavirus provisionally named rose virus B and apple mosaic virus in mixed infections of Rosa sp. in Mexico.

Rose (Rosa sp.) is an important ornamental plant in the cut flower industry around the world. This species is prone to hosting several viruses since it is propagated vegetatively, mainly by grafting (Mollov et al., 2013). In 2021, rose plants of unidentified variety with mosaic, vein yellowing, chlorotic line patterns, and interveinal chlorosis were observed in a rose plantation established in open field in Temixco, Morelos (Supplementary Figure 1). To determine the cause of symptoms was due to viral infection, nucleic acids were extracted from leaves by in-house CTAB procedure and DNase treated. A pooled RNA sample extracted from 4 symptomatic plants was sent to BGI Genomics (China) for high-throughput sequencing (HTS). A stranded mRNA library was prepared and sequenced on the DNBSEQ platform (BGI). A total number of 13,646,715 paired 150-bp clean reads were generated. The reads were assembled de novo into 79,309 contigs ranging from 78 to 15,817 nucleotides (nt) using SPAdes (Prjibelskiet et al., 2020). The contigs were subjected to BLASTx and BLASTn for annotation. A contig with a length of 8,842 nt (208x average coverage per nt) showed 90.6% identity to rose virus B (RVB) (MT473961), and was deposited in GenBank under accession number ON165234. Additionally, three contigs (ON165235-ON165237) corresponding to RNA1 (3,443 nt; 154x coverage), RNA2 (2,938 nt; 231x coverage), and RNA3 (1,897 nt; 232x coverage) of apple mosaic virus (ApMV) were identified. These contigs showed up to 98.4%, 89.7%, and 98.6% identity, respectively, to each corresponding RNA sequences of ApMV. No other viral sequence was identified from the constructed contigs. Subsequently, the presence of RVB was confirmed by RT-PCR performed with an aliquot of the pooled RNAspan style="font-family:'Times New Roman'; font-size:11pt"> with specific primers targeting the replicase and CP (Diaz-Lara et al., 2021). For ApMV, a new set of primers were designed: ApMV_RNA1F (5'-AAATCTCCCGAAAGGGCCTG-3')/ApMV_RNA1R (5'-TCACTCGTCGCATGGATGGATAGC-3'), ApMV_RNA2F (5'-TTGGTACGAGTCGTGGTTGGTTGG-3')/ApMV_RNA2R (5'-GGAAAACTGACCGCAAACCC-3'), and ApMV_RNA3F (5'-GGAGGTTAGAGGCCCGAATG-3')/ApMV_RNA3R (5'-CGCACAGGTGGTAACTCACT-3') which amplify segments of 444 bp, 546 bp, and 434 bp, respectively. The amplicons obtained for both viruses were subjected to Sanger sequencing, confirming the identity of RVB and ApMV. The sequences from the RVB replicase (ON165241) and CP (ON165240) showed 93.9% and 97.0% nt identity with an RVB isolate reported in the USA (MT473961). On the other hand, sequences from RNA1 (ON165238), RNA2, (OP413436), and RNA3 (ON165239) of ApMV had 99.2%, 89.2%, and 99% nt identity, respectively. Finally, the four symptomatic plants were individually tested by RT-PCR to identify RVB and ApMV. Interestingly, both viruses were detected in all the plants analyzed. ApMV (genus Ilarvirus) is associated with mosaic and mottling symptoms in rose (Thomas, 1984). It has been accepted that ApMV is present in rose plants in Mexico (Cardenas-Alonso, 1994), with no evidence to confirm it. RVB was identified in rose in USA, and this virus was classified as a new species of the genus Carlavirus (Diaz-Lara et al., 2021). In addition to RVB, rose virus A and rose virus C have also been reported in rose; however, the symptomatology linked to these viruses is unknown (Xing et al. 2021; Diaz-Lara et al., 2020). Recently, RVB and ApMV were reported in rose plants in Taiwan (Chen et al., 2022). To our knowledge, this is the first report of RVB and ApMV in a mixed infection in rose in Mexico.