Ornamental Varieties Research Articles

STUDY OF THE APPLICATION OF JAVANESE ORNAMENTS TO INDONESIA RAILWAY STATION (CASE STUDY OF TAWANG SEMARANG STATION, SEMARANG PONCOL STATION, YOGYAKARTA STATION)

Station is a facility and infrastructure used to support train passengers. Development in the station area is expected to be a solution and can optimize the added value of management and can be an alternative to public transportation. Each region has its own characteristics and characteristics. Java is an area that still holds customs and culture. Javanese buildings are synonymous with ethical values and aesthetic values. Variety of Javanese building ornaments in the form of ornaments that have a philosophy as a clue to the level of degrees. But now the value of Javanese culture began to fade along with the times. The application of Javanese architectural ornaments to station buildings in Indonesia is one form of way to maintain and introduce the local culture of an area through building facilities. This research aims to examine the application of Javanese Architectural ornaments to railway station buildings in Indonesia. The method used is qualitative descriptive using a qualitative rationalistic analysis approach. With secondary data collection techniques and utilizing library study data, media analysis, and observation. The results showed that many train stations still use heritage architecture, however, elements of Javanese langgam in the form of ornaments appeared in buildings which are a form of cultural acculturation between countries.

A Study on the Development of Two Ornamental Varieties of Ipomoea batatas Cultivated in Vertical Systems in the Northeastern Region of Europe

The Ipomoea batatas ornamental variety of the edible sweet potato is a decorative sweet potato with exquisite leaves, available in different varieties. Due to its numerous characteristics related to resistance, adaptability to environmental conditions, rapid growth, and aesthetic traits, it has attracted the interest of researchers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the growth and development behaviour of two varieties of I. batatas, namely ‘Margarita’ and ‘Blackie’, cultivated in vertical systems, to provide guidelines for their usage in green façade design. The physiological growth processes throughout the growing season were analysed by monitoring three biometric parameters (diameter, height, and leaf count), transpiration (dehydration rate), and the photosynthesis process (photosynthetic pigment content) for treated and control variants and four cardinal orientations (N, E, S, and W). Compared to the control and western orientation, which proved to be less advantageous, the northern orientation and treatment appeared to be the most suitable options for both varieties analysed. Also, the content of organic substances was more intense in the Cropmax-treated ‘Blackie’, especially on the northern façade, with the highest quantities of chlorophyll a (17.1%), chlorophyll b (9.1%), and carotenoid pigments (7.5%). In addition, the leaf dehydration rate, as well as the amount of free water loss, were reduced on the northern façade of ‘Blackie’. Therefore, ‘Blackie’ can be recommended as a variety distinguished by its improved resistance to challenging environmental conditions, particularly drought.

Reproductive biology of Sphaeralcea species with ornamental interest

The genus Sphaeralcea belongs to the Malvaceae family and has native species from South America. Their attractive morphological characteristics with ornamental value have not yet been explored. The objective of this work was to know the viability of pollen, stigma receptivity, type of pollination and combining ability of four Sphaeralcea species (S. australis, S. bonariensis, S. crispa and S. mendocina), with the aim to develop new ornamental varieties. Fructification, fertility, seed germination and survival seedlings on intraspecific and reciprocal interspecific offspring were assessed. The highest values ​​of stigma receptivity and pollen viability were obtained at 2:00 pm for the four species. S. mendocina also showed high values ​​of pollen viability at 4:00 pm. The species proved to be self-incompatible and allogamous, with different degrees of reproductive compatibility. The interspecific crosses of S. mendocina and the intraspecific of S. crispa did not produce descendants. The crosses between S. australis and S. bonariensis as maternal parent presented the best combining ability with good fruit production, seed germination and survival. This research provides useful information for the formulation and implementation of breeding strategies, to improve pollination efficiency, and to breed new Sphaeralcea varieties with ornamental potential.

Chromosome-level assembly of Lindenbergia philippensis and comparative genomic analyses shed light on genome evolution in Lamiales.

Lamiales, comprising over 23,755 species across 24 families, stands as a highly diverse and prolific plant group, playing a significant role in the cultivation of horticultural, ornamental, and medicinal plant varieties. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and its subsequent post-polyploid diploidization (PPD) process represent the most drastic type of karyotype evolution, injecting significant potential for promoting the diversity of this lineage. However, polyploidization histories, as well as genome and subgenome fractionation following WGD events in Lamiales species, are still not well investigated. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly of Lindenbergia philippensis (Orobanchaceae) and conducted comparative genomic analyses with 14 other Lamiales species. L. philippensis is positioned closest to the parasitic lineage within Orobanchaceae and has a conserved karyotype. Through a combination of Ks analysis and syntenic depth analysis, we reconstructed and validated polyploidization histories of Lamiales species. Our results indicated that Primulina huaijiensis underwent three rounds of diploidization events following the γ-WGT event, rather than two rounds as reported. Besides, we reconfirmed that most Lamiales species shared a common diploidization event (L-WGD). Subsequently, we constructed the Lamiales Ancestral Karyotype (LAK), comprising 11 proto-chromosomes, and elucidated its evolutionary trajectory, highlighting the highly flexible reshuffling of the Lamiales paleogenome. We identified biased fractionation of subgenomes following the L-WGD event across eight species, and highlighted the positive impacts of non-WGD genes on gene family expansion. This study provides novel genomic resources and insights into polyploidy and karyotype remodeling of Lamiales species, essential for advancing our understanding of species diversification and genome evolution.

Establishment of an In Vitro Micropropagation Protocol for Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Berry Awesome’

Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Berry Awesome’ is a complex hybrid of the new Proven Winners Summerific series of varieties with highly ornamental characteristics. Micropropagation of highly ornamental varieties is important for mass production of planting material for commercial purposes. The traditional methods for propagating Hibiscus varieties, such as cuttings or seed propagation, however, do not guarantee high rates of production of high-quality seedlings. To solve this problem, an attempt was made to develop protocols for micropropagation of Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Berry Awesome’ in vitro on agar and liquid medium using a bioreactor system, followed by ex vitro adaptation of the regenerants. The optimal method for sterilization of nodal explants as well as the optimal composition of the initiation medium for shoot proliferation and rooting were determined. For micropropagation on a liquid medium, a rocker-type bioreactor was used, and its advantages over micropropagation on an agar medium were demonstrated. The results showed that the best sterilization method for nodal segment explants was as follows: pretreatment by rinsing with running tap water, sterile water, and distilled water for 70 min and soaking for 5 min in a mixture of solutions of ethyl alcohol (96%), hydrogen peroxide (38%), and water in a ratio of 1:1:2. In this case, live and sterile explants accounted for 62.6%. The optimal initiation medium for axillary buds in nodal segments was the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L−1 N-(2-chloro-4-pyridinyl)-N’-phenylurea (CPPU), which resulted in 73.3% of axillary buds being induced. The optimal solid proliferation medium was MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L−1 CPPU with a proliferation coefficient of 5.8. In a liquid medium, the optimal concentration of CPPU was 0.05 mg L−1 with a proliferation coefficient of 9.2. The best medium for rooting/shoots with agar and in bioreactors was MS medium with the addition of 0.1 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The highest rooting rate was 99.0% in both types of media, and the survival rate of plantlets was 88.7% in solid media and 98.7% in the bioreactor.

The effect of the gibberellic acid on the morphogenesis of Hydrangea L.

Modern ornamental gardening is difficult to imagine without beautifully flowering shrubs. One of these is hydrangea. In Russia, culture is one of the most popular in decorative gardening. However, there are some difficulties in obtaining a large amount of planting material of new and highly ornamental varieties. Therefore, it is important to develop effective reproduction technologies of the studied culture. It is possible to obtain high-quality planting material by clonal micropropagation in a short period of time. The resulting plants grow similar to the mother plant. Hydrangea L. representatives are effectively cultivated in vitro. There are many results of research about micropropagation of hydrangea, but there is only isolated datas about the comparative assessment of the morphogenetic potential of various species of the Hydrangea L. depending on the concentration of growth regulators. There are many growth regulators in the practice of cultivation in vitro. 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), gibberellic acid, kinetin, zeatin. Murashige (MS) and Skoog and Quoirin (QL), Lepoivre nutrient media are used to activate the growth of axillary buds at the stage of micro-reproduction proper. The effect of the use of gibberellins on the in vitro cultivation of hydrangeas is poorly studied. The research aimed to studing the effect of gibberellic acid on the regeneration of shoots of Hydrangea L. We study the effect of gibberellic acid (GA) – 0.5 and 1 mg/l of concentrations. Reproduction coefficient of the Hydrangea macrophylla Thunb. (H. macrophylla) was 12.0, when we used 1 mg / l GA. The length of the Hydrangea paniculata Siebold (H. paniculata) micro-shoots increased by 25 % when we used 1 mg/l GA. According to the research of 2020, the best results on the use of different nutrient mediums mineral bases were obtained during in vitro cultivation on a QL nutrient medium with the addition of 0.3 mg/l 6-BAP. In the future this nutrient medium was as a control. After the application of GA, regenerants were planted to adapt of phytotron conditions. The best survival rate of H. macrophylla (90 %) (var. Peppermint) was recorded after cultivation of a nutrient medium containing 1 mg/l GA. The adaptability of ‘Magical Candle’ was excellent regardless of GA concentration.

Anomalous peony (<i>Paeonia anomala</i> L.) In the Urals and contiguous landsAnomalous peony (<i>Paeonia anomala</i> L.) In the Urals and contiguous lands

Modern varieties of flowering ornamental plants have high economic and social significance. Prominent representatives of active long-term plant breeding are various varieties of peonies, which are actively used in landscaping botanical gardens, urban landscapes and smallholdings. With the development of molecular genetics, the selection of ornamental varieties of flowering plants has received a new impetus in its development. Researchers have identified markers that determine important decorative and economic qualities, such as flower shape, leaf color, corolla color, variety of double flower, aroma, which allows to intensify plant breeding, and also, which is quite important, to certify new varieties. In this article, we have given an overview of the results of longterm studies of representatives of the genus Paeonia in the Urals and contiguous lands, since the mid-twentieth century to the present, both domestic and foreign scientific schools. The article presents data on the locations of the anomalous peony along the Ural mountain range, the morphology and ecology of the growth of representatives of this species, medicinal properties, the results of molecular genetic typing of various marker systems. The points requiring more detailed study are indicated: there is no complete up-to-date information on the distribution of the anomalous peony in the Urals, there is no up-to-date data on the population size, there is no information about the molecular genetic structure of the species as a whole. The anomalous peony is a red book species that has a high level of decorativeness, as well as resistance to diseases that can be used not only in pharmacology, but also in modern plant selection. It is known that the number of populations of anomalous peony is low, in places of meetings it is noted singly, less often in small groups, which is connected with the active use of this species in folk medicine. Vegetative and root systems contain a large number of biologically active components with different properties. To develop measures for the protection and rational use of representatives of Paeonia anomala growing in the Urals, it is necessary to study the species more closely in order to preserve it in nature and further use in breeding and hybridization as a source of genes that will help significantly improve the plant breeding potential of modern varieties.

Phenological phases of <i>Weigela×wagneri</i> L. H. Bailey under conditions of humid subtropics in Russia

Weigela varieties of hybrid origin, known as Weigela hortensis (W. hortensis C.A. Mey) or <i>Weigela×wagneri</i> (W.wagneri L. H. Bailey) are cultivated on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Krai. A current range of this beautifully flowering shrub includes more than 150 varieties. However, only 24 grow in the region and are predominately selected in the early XX century and are rarely used in the landscaping of the resort town. Ornamental varieties of Weigela grow mostly in limited use areas (Sochi Arboretum, Subtropical Botanical Garden in Kuban region, Friendship Tree Garden Museum). The study aims at investigating the phenological phases of <i>Weigela×wagneri</i> L. H. Bailey under humid subtropical conditions of the Black Sea coast, Krasnodar Krai, to be used for the design of gardens with continuous flowering plants, as well as for breeding. The study was conducted in the period from 2013 to 2019 in the Friendship Tree Garden Museum and Subtropical Botanical Garden in Kuban region. The study involved 15 varieties of W.×wagneri. The authors established differences in phenological phases, including the start/end of growing season and flowering, duration of these periods, as well as the sums of effective temperatures required for these phases. The start of the growing season was established to vary from February 12 (Arlequin) with an accumulated sum of effective temperature of 261.2℃ to March 14 (Brictol Ruby) and a sum of temperature of 376.9℃. Differences between varieties in this phenophase account for 30 days. On the basis of the long-term average annual data, the varieties were divided into groups according to the floral initiation: early flowering (from April 14 to April 21) group included Arlequin, Gustave Malet, Mon Blanc, Newport Red, Venusta, Madame Lemoine; medium-flowering (April 22 to April 30) group included Lacepede, Ballet, Pavillon Blanc, Brictol Ruby, Madame Lemoine; Eva Ratke, Kosteriana variegata, Red Prince, Augusta were included into a late-flowering (from May 01 to May 06) group. According to the dates of the start and end of growing season, the varieties were divided into the following phenological groups: EE – Early starting (before Feb 12) and Early ending vegetation (before Dec 05); EL – Early starting (before Feb 12) and Late ending (after Dec 19); LE – Late starting (after March 4) and Early ending (before Dec 5); LL – Late starting (after March 4) and Late ending vegetation (after Dec 19).

A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose... Or Is It? Ecotypes versus Locally Sourced Plants for Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Projects

Horticulturists and agronomists have a long history of using selective breeding to take advantage of intraspecific (within-species) variation with the goal of developing novel varieties of plant species. These efforts are responsible for the availability of countless improved food, forage, and ornamental varieties that are valued by farmers, landscapers, and home gardeners. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the idea of evaluating intraspecific variation to identify plants derived from a specific ecosystem (ecotypes) of native species that could improve the success rate of habitat restoration and enhancement projects, especially in aquatic systems. These projects often specify that plant material used for restoration be collected from local donor sites to preserve the area’s gene pool, but nearby source populations may be nonexistent or may not be well-adapted to conditions at the recipient (transplant) site. This paper, which summarizes information presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science Invasive Plants Research Professional Interest Group workshop in 2022, provides evidence that unimproved, wild-type species can be useful in aquatic habitat restoration and enhancement projects, particularly when conditions at sites targeted for restoration differ from those in nearby systems, or when sites are expected to undergo shifts in conditions because of factors such as climate change.

Teaching Materials Development of Bilingual Drawing North Sumatra Ornamental Variety to Improve Tourism Souvenirs Design at Universitas Negeri Medan

The results of the analysis of the needs of students and lecturers in the archipelago ornamental design courses in the Department of Fine Arts Education were found that there was still a lack of teaching materials for the course. As a result, students are less familiar with and apply a variety of ornamental North Sumatra to other courses such as tourist souvenir designs, batik courses and others that require typical North Sumatra ornamentist. Research Objectives To develop and apply the textbook according to the needs of students so that they are with the needs of students, the textbook designed entitled Drawing North Sumatra Ornamental Variety in the form of two languages, Indonesian and English. Research and development conducted with five stages referring to the Addie model developed by Robert M. Branch. Products developed are validated by 3 experts in their fields and each concluded very well and is suitable for use. This proves that the teaching material for drawing a variety of North Sumatra has used by art students and for the public is suitable for use and effective. After conducting product trials to students, it was found that the product developed was very helpful for students and also had an impact on the level of creativity of students designing a variety of souvenirs based on local ornaments of North Sumatra. The results of the study can increase student activities and safety and contribute to improving student achievement in the design of ornamentists in tourist and other art objects.
 KEYWORDS

Designing of future ornamental crops: a biotechnological driven perspective.

With a basis in human appreciation of beauty and aesthetic values, the new era of ornamental crops is based on implementing innovative technologies and transforming symbols into tangible assets. Recent advances in plant biotechnology have attracted considerable scientific and industrial interest, particularly in terms of modifying desired plant traits and developing future ornamental crops. By utilizing omics approaches, genomic data, genetic engineering, and gene editing tools, scientists have successively explored the underlying molecular mechanism and potential gene(s) behind trait regulation such as floral induction, plant architecture, stress resistance, plasticity, adaptation, and phytoremediation in ornamental crop species. These signs of progress lay a theoretical and practical foundation for designing and enhancing the efficiency of ornamental plants for a wide range of applications. In this review, we briefly summarized the existing literature and advances in biotechnological approaches for the improvement of vital traits in ornamental plants. The future ornamental plants, such as light-emitting plants, biotic/abiotic stress detectors, and pollution abatement, and the introduction of new ornamental varieties via domestication of wild species are also discussed.

Revealing the Eco-aesthetics of the Pangium Edule Tree: A Natural Sources of Spices in a Time of Dendrophobia

Pangium edule is a spice-producing tree with many benefits; ironically, while these benefits are acknowledged, this tree has become critically endangered. Some parts of the Pangium are traditionally used as spices and have recently become valuable for reasons of both personal health and human economics. This species needs to be preserved by any means including art. In fact, art has the potential to become a strategic medium in a campaign of preservation. This paper introduces the idea of the eco-aesthetics of the Pangium as an agent in its preservation, indeed very survival. The problems are: 1). The limitation of batik motif variations in developing traditional Indonesian art as inspired by rare plants; 2) The challenge of making batik a medium to enhance awareness of the importance of conserving these same species. The aims of this paper are: 1). The creation of a novelty variety of batik ornaments sourced from kluwak plants; 2). Implementation of novelty illustrations to batik media as a media mobile message; and 3). Batik visuals as a narrative medium. This research employs qualitative research examining the community utilization of the produce of the Pangium. It begins by searching for the very presence of this now elusive species, carefully observing the tree as a whole and empirically deconstructing and interrogating each component. Various objective facts are then derived from these new insights and cross-referenced through a literature study. Informed observation consequently forms the basis for experimenting with various creative visual compositions that represent the beauty, uniqueness, and rarity of this species. In turn, this forms potential for the basis of Pangium edule-specific ‘eco-aesthetic designs’. This study shows the scarcity of the Pangium has resulted from a broad knowledge deficit combined with personal indifference. This study also shows that when socialized as eco-aesthetic design, the Pangium becomes better known, deeply appreciated, and as a direct result–preserved.

Asexual Propagation of Greek Salvia officinalis L. Populations Selected for Ornamental Use

Salvia officinalis, commonly known as sage, is highly valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties. In the present work, 12 native sage populations of north-west Greece were evaluated for eight ornamental traits. Populations from the locations of Aristi, Kefalovryso and Igoumenitsa were selected as the best performing and for their preservation and availability in the market, their asexual propagation was investigated by (a) shoot cutting and (b) in vitro techniques. Propagation by cuttings was investigated during the four seasons. Aristi exhibited the highest rooting (65%) in spring with a well-developed root system (4.7 root number and 5.0 cm length) by applying 0.5 g·L−1 Indole-3-butyric acid, potassium salt (K-IBA), established on perlite under a fog system. However, the rooting performance of Aristi spring cuttings was not affected by different substrates of peat:perlite (0:1, 1:1, 1:2 v/v) or rooting systems (mist, fog) tested. Furthermore, the in vitro propagation of the selected sage populations was investigated using shoot tips as explants. After successful disinfection, the effect of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in ten different combinations of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Thidiazuron (TDZ) were tested on shoot multiplication. Aristi presented the highest number of newly formed shoots on MS9 (0.1 mg·L−1 IAA and 0.8 mg·L−1 TDZ) and MS5 (0.1 mg·L−1 IAA and 0.8 mg·L−1 BAP) (3.35 and 3.21 new shoots/explant, respectively) with the highest shoot length (2.23 cm and 3.2 cm) and unexpected spontaneous root formation (64%) at MS5. The rooting ability of Aristi microshoots was further investigated in order to enhance their response. Of the three rooting variants tested, optimal rooting formation (100%) was observed on 0.9 mg·L−1 IAA (R3) combined with successful acclimatization (100%). Aristi exceeded the other populations in both the tested propagation systems, thus holding a strong potential for its introduction in the market as a competitive ornamental variety.

New Varieties of Ornamental Plants

The article elucidates the retrospective of the breeding of flowering plants in the Laboratory of Ornamental Plants of the National Botanical Garden (Institute) for about six decades, and also the recent results obtained in the field. The mobilization and introduction into culture of thousands of intraspecifi c taxa generated unique collections of ornamental flowering plants, which served as a basis for obtaining new varieties. More than 300 cultivars have been obtained by: the method of induction of mutations, directed hybridization, selection of spontaneous mutations and natural pollination. Approximately 150 varieties have been certified, homologated, and some patented with the support of the State Agency on Intellectual Property, and also abroad. Currently, 56 ornamental varieties are registered and maintained in the Catalog of Plant Varieties of the Republic of Moldova. In the last decade, more than 60 cultivars were selected, of which 12 were patented. The work of the breeders was appreciated with gold and silver medals, diplomas for participation in national and international inventions exhibitions.

Сорт декоративного подсолнечника Астория селекции ВНИИМК

In 2022, the ornamental variety Astoria was submitted into the State variety testing. The variety Astoria was obtained as a result of crossing the ornamental variety Plyushevy mishka and ornamental samples with lemon and apricot ray flowers, followed by the production of a synthetic, its multiple self-pollination and individual selection according to the characteristics of the morphotype, culminating in the transfer of the fertile line to CMS RIG. The main ornamental features of the variety Astoria are: the original inflorescence at the stage of budding and flowering, light yellow color of ray flowers, yellow-purple color of tubular flowers; involucre leaves with a very long tip; large, blistered, serrated leaves along the edges; predominantly apical branching, stiff long lateral shoots, compact habitus, long growing season. The variety Astoria belongs to the middle maturing group, intended for cutting and landscaping. The originator of the ornamental sunflower variety Astoria is the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK).

Combined Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Provides Insights into Petaloidy in Pomegranate.

Petaloidy leads to a plump floral pattern and increases the landscape value of ornamental pomegranates; however, research on the mechanism of petaloidy in ornamental pomegranates is limited. In this study, we aimed to screen candidate genes related to petaloidy. We performed transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing of the stamens and petals of single-petal and double-petal flowers of ornamental pomegranates. Briefly, 24,567 genes and 5865 proteins were identified, of which 5721 genes were quantified at both transcriptional and translational levels. In the petal and stamen comparison groups, the association between differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was higher than that between all genes and all proteins, indicating that petaloidy impacts the correlation between genes and proteins. The enrichment results of transcriptome, proteome, and correlation analyses showed that cell wall metabolism, jasmonic acid signal transduction, redox balance, and transmembrane transport affected petaloidy. Nine hormone-related DEGs/DAPs were selected, among which ARF, ILR1, LAX2, and JAR1 may promote petal doubling. Sixteen transcription factor DEGs/DAPs were selected, among which EREBP, LOB, MEF2, MYB, C3H, and trihelix may promote petal doubling. Our results provide transcriptomic and proteomic data on the formation mechanism of petaloidy and a theoretical basis for breeding new ornamental pomegranate varieties.

Histological and Physiological Effects of Treatment of Rudbeckia hirta with Gamma Radiation.

The breeding of resistant, high-yield, decorative ornamental plant varieties may be impacted by climate change in the future. The use of radiation induces mutations in plants, thereby increasing the genetic variability of plant species. Rudbeckia hirta has long been a very popular species in urban green space management. The goal is to examine whether gamma mutation breeding can be applied to the breeding stock. Specifically, differences were measured between the M1 and M2 generations, as well as the effect of different radiation doses belonging to the same generation. Morphological measurements showed that gamma radiation has an effect on the measured parameters in several cases (larger crop size, faster development, larger number of trichomes). Physiological measurements (examination of chlorophyll and carotenoid content, POD activity, and APTI) also showed a beneficial effect of radiation, especially at higher doses (30 Gy), for both tested generations. The treatment was also effective in the case of 45 Gy, but this radiation dose resulted in lower physiological data. The measurements show that gamma radiation has an effect on the Rudbeckia hirta strain and may play a role in breeding in the future.

История, состояние и пути развития саратовской селекции подсолнечника (обзор)

The article presents information on the results of long-term effective work in the Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region on sunflower breeding in the Saratov region. The main task facing breeders was to develop productive, precocious sunflower varieties resistant to local races of broomrape and sunflower moth. An invaluable contribution to the development of sunflower breeding was made by outstanding Russian breeders Plachek E.M., Zhdanov L.A., Morozov V.K., Pustovoit V.S., Pimakhin V.F., and others. They bred new highly productive sunflower varieties, being the main source for the production of edible oil that are widely distributed in the Volga region, Central Black Earth regions, Siberia and the Urals. For the first time, Saratov scientists conducted research in the field of heterosis breeding. They formed a large working collection of sunflowers, a genetic collection of marker traits, identified promising forms for subsequent stages of the breeding process, and developed a variety of initial material in the conditions of Saratov. The main focus is on developing almost isogenic lines, studying the genetic control of marker traits, determining the effects of the influence of genes on economically useful traits. Studies on the private genetics of sunflower have been carried out. Based on experimental data, ornamental sunflower varieties with flowers of various colors – Oreol, Raduga, and Solnechny salut were developed. For 2022, the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation includes the following varieties bred in the Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region: Saratov 82, Saratov 85, Skoropely, Skoropely 87, Stepnoy 81, Lyubim-chik, Saratov 20, Slastena and hybrids: Agrotex, Continent, Yubileyny 75, Everest, YuVS 2, YuVS 3, YuVS 4, YuVS 5, YuVS 7.

Evaluation of Chili Nazla IPB as An Ornamental Chilli for Releasing Variety

Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) exhibits a wide range of variations in terms of crown shape, fruit shape, fruit color, leaf color, leaf shape, and taste. While chili is commonly known as a food plant, it also serves as an attractive ornamental plant. Specifically, ornamental chili plants are desired to possess specific traits, such as compact growth, high fruit yield, and a variety of fruit colors within a single plant. This study aims to comprehensively describe the quantitative and qualitative superiority of the Nazla IPB variety in terms of its characteristics. The research was conducted in the Leuwikopo Darmaga experimental garden's greenhouse, located in Bogor, utilizing a randomized complete block design with four replications. The Nazla IPB variety, which is an open-pollinated (OP) cultivar, stands out due to its short plant height, ranging from 17.83 to 26.42 cm, making it highly suitable for ornamental purposes. Furthermore, the chili plants of the Nazla IPB variety possess a compact crown shape, enhancing their visual appeal, coupled with their short stature (ranging from 21.83 to 26.69 cm). The primary distinguishing features of the ornamental chili variety Nazla IPB include: 1) the color of the leaves, which transition from green (Green 137 C) to purple (Purple N186 A); 2) the black color of the young chili fruit (Black 203 A); 3) the fruit shape of Nazla IPB, which can be described as moderately triangular; and 4) the fruit undergoes a color transformation from black to dark green and finally to red. Nazla IPB has potential to serve as an attractive decorative plant option.

Comprehensive Microbiome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal the Medicinal Components of Paeonia lactiflora.

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is not only a traditional ornamental plant, but also an important medicinal plant. Currently, some P. lactiflora cultivars are used for ornamental purposes, but their potential medicinal value is ignored. To explore the medicinal potential of the ornamental varieties, the medicinal cultivar 'Hangbaishao' (HS) and the ornamental cultivar 'Zifengyu' (ZFY) were selected, and microbiome and metabolome analyses were performed to compare the composition of the endophytes and metabolites in the roots. The diversity and abundance of bacteria were not significantly different between HS and ZFY; however, the diversity and abundance of endophytic fungi in the ornamental cultivar ZFY were much higher than those in the medicinal cultivar HS. The flavonoids and phenolic acid contents of the ornamental cultivar ZFY were significantly higher than those of the medicinal cultivar HS, indicating that ZFY has medicinal value. The differences in root endophytes between HS and ZFY may lead to differences in phenolic acids and flavonoids. To explore the relationship between endophytes and the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids, a joint analyses of the microbiome and metabolome were performed. The key bacterium, Ruminococcaceae bacterium GD7, led to the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the ZFY. This study contributes to future research on the potential medicinal value of ornamental P. lactiflora and provides a new approach for realizing the 'dual use of medicine and appreciation' of P. lactiflora.