Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Introduction pages, NBHA-CN 53(4), 2025
No full textThe papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 4, Volume 53, 2025, represent exciting new research in different topics of life science, specifically in plant science, horticulture, agronomy, crop science, and forestry. Among the interesting articles, we invite you to find news about: Ethnomedicinal, ecological, phytochemical, nutritional and pharmacological aspects of Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae): A comprehensive review; Impact of varying water stress periods (water shortage vs. waterlogging) on Cannabis sativa growth, leaf physiology, and CBD content; Abiotic stress in quinoa: A comprehensive review on the impact of salinity and mitigation strategies; Artificial intelligence for climate-smart agriculture: Enhancing food security and plant adaptation; Selenium nanoparticles mitigate lead-induced genotoxicity and phytotoxicity in Pisum sativum by modulating LOX1 and JAR1 gene expression; Characterization and functional insights of photosynthetic genes MnPsbA, MnRbcL, and MnRCA in mulberry; Pan-genome wide identification and expression analysis of the OFP family genes in response to abiotic and biotic stresses in cucumber; Phytochemical profiling and SCOT marker analysis reveal genetic diversity in Ziziphus mauritiana genotypes; Mitigating cadmium (Cd) toxicity and enhancing growth, yield, and antioxidant defence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through silicon fertilizers; Preharvest application of biostimulants to improve growth, quality, and yield of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.); Impact of altitude on the performance and anthocyanin concentration in five varieties of purple corn in the Peruvian Amazon
Potential role of nitrogen supplementation in alleviating flooding stress
Full text linkFlooding is one of the most damaging abiotic stresses, affecting seventeen million square kilometers of land surface per year, and it is expected to increase in severity in many parts of the world with climate change. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which plants cope with flooding stress is important for the development of new flood-tolerant cultivars. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different nitrogen doses [no-nitrogen(N0), 100 kg ha-1 (N10), and 200 kg ha-1 (N20)], on the physiological responses of plants under flooding stress. In this context, spinach plants were subjected to flooding stress, and several physiological, biochemical, and nutritional parameters were investigated. The results showed that flooding stress caused a decrease in aboveground fresh and dry weight of spinach, while chlorophyll a (Cl a), b (Cl b), and total chlorophyll (TCl), as well as carotenoid, protein, and proline contents, increased. In addition, the uptake of the macronutrients N, P, K, and Mg increased during flooding stress. N application under flooding stress alleviated its negative effects and suppressed the induction of H2O2 through increased proline biosynthesis. Similarly, Cl a, Cl b, and TCl levels minimized the negative effects of flooding stress. In conclusion, different N doses improved spinach plant parameters and alleviated the effects of flooding stress, with N10 application in particular N10 improved biomass by 22% under flooding producing significant results in suppressing the detrimental effects of stress
Functional properties and bioactive compounds of Opuntia mucilage under different irrigation regimes and its use as an additive in an edible coating
Full text linkNopal (Opuntia) varieties ‘Amarilla Olorosa’ ‘Cristalina’, ‘Dalia Roja’ and ‘Roja Lisa’ were subjected to three irrigation treatments: without irrigation (WI), supplementary irrigation (SI) (field capacity 0.28 m3 m-3 and 0.14 m3 m-3 permanent wilt point), and complete irrigation (CI) (100 % of crop evapotranspiration) for ~4 months. Mucilage was extracted from harvested cladodes for evaluation of swelling, water retention capacity (WRC), solubility, oil retention capacity (ORC), total polyphenol content (TPC), polyphenol profile, and antioxidant capacity. The highest swelling rates were found in the mucilage of ‘Roja Lisa’ and ‘Crystalline’ WI. The mucilage of ‘Roja Lisa’ WI presented the highest WRC and solubility. The highest ORC values were exhibited by the mucilage from ‘Amarillo Olorosa’ and ‘Dalia Roja’ CI. Likewise, the mucilage of 'Cristalina’ SI showed the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity. Phloretin, pterostilbene, and sinensetin were identified in the mucilage of the four varieties of nopal. Also, edible films of sodium alginate, fortified with Cristalina WI mucilage, were made. To improve the mechanical properties and nutritional composition of the coatings, edible films of sodium alginate were produced and enriched with Cristalina WI mucilage. The coatings presented low opacity and permeability to water vapor. Thus, limiting water to cactus plants could be a viable strategy to produce functional and bioactive mucilage that can be used as edible coating material for fruits and vegetables
The influence of Rhizophagus irregularis arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on Echinacea purpurea root biomass and bioactive compounds
Full text linkEchinacea purpurea is a widely used medicinal plant valued for its bioactive constituents; however, cultivation presents several challenges (poor and imbalanced germination, slow initial development). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), especially Rhizophagus irregularis, are known to influence plant growth and metabolite accumulation, yet limited multi-year field data exist. This is the first study that evaluates the effect of R. irregularis inoculation on root biomass, phenolic acid content, essential oil yield and its composition in two-year-old E. purpurea under greenhouse (four substrate types) and open-field conditions. Chicoric acid was the predominant phenolic in all samples. Significant substrate- and environment-dependent effects were found for other compounds: AMF-treated plants showed increased caftaric (2.87-fold) and caffeic (2.15-fold) acid levels on sterile peat and elevated cynarin (2.13-fold) under field conditions, but decreased caffeic acid (3.39-fold) and echinacoside (1.98-fold) on gleyic calcaric Fluvisol. On stagnic Luvisol and gleyic calcaric Fluvisol, treated plants showed a higher proportion of oxygenated sesquiterpenes in oil composition, while controls contained fatty acids along with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. A negative correlation was found between AMF colonization rate and both phenolic content and essential oil yield under open-field conditions. The results suggest that the effects of R. irregularis are strongly influenced by substrate type and environmental conditions, indicating the need for further research
Microspore developmental evaluation at the booting stage and androgenic callus induction in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] via anther culture
Full text linkAndrogenesis is a key method for producing doubled haploid (DH) lines, typically achieved through in vitro techniques such as anther culture and isolated microspore culture. This study aimed to determine the microspore developmental stages associated with specific spikelet positions during the booting stage (BS), evaluate the response of several sorghum genotypes to androgenic callus induction, and examine the effect of putrescine on callus formation success in sorghum anther culture. Spikelet and anther length were measured, and microspore developmental stages were determined under a microscope on the anthers of apical, middle, and basal spikelets at different sampling times during the BS. Anthers containing early uninucleate (EU) microspores were inoculated on callus induction media based on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l-1 NAA + 0.5 mg l-1 kinetin, with and without 10-3 M putrescine. The results showed that spikelet and anther length in specific panicle positions were positively correlated with microspore developmental stage. This provides practical morphological indicators to identify the EU microspores stage in sorghum without microscopy by observing morphological changes in the size, shape, and color of spikelets and anthers during the booting stage. In this research, microspores at the EU stage were predominantly (> 80%) present in anthers from spikelets collected from the apical part of the panicle on day 2 of the BS. The success of androgenic callus induction via anther culture is still influenced by genotype dependency, with ‘Bioguma 1’ showed the greatest response among the evaluated genotypes at 9.69%. Additionally, an induction medium without putrescine was more effective at producing androgenic calli in sorghum anther culture
Effects of LED light combinations on the growth and postharvest stability of barley grass (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivated in a plant factory system
Full text linkThis study examined the effects of various LED light combinations on the germination, growth, and photosynthetic efficiency of barley grass (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivated in a plant factory system, and evaluated how different postharvest packaging methods influence microbial dynamics and quality attributes. Treatment with monochromatic red LED (R10) resulted in the highest germination rate (95.3%) and superior growth characteristics, including plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) also peaked under R10 (0.81), indicating enhanced photosynthetic performance. In contrast, blue-enriched treatments (R3B7 and B10) produced lower Fv/Fm values (0.79), reflecting reduced photosynthetic efficiency. During storage, packaging type exerted a stronger influence on microbial status and weight loss than the LED treatments, with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) effectively minimizing both moisture loss and microbial proliferation. These findings provide important academic insights by demonstrating the role of LED spectral quality in regulating early growth and photosynthetic responses of barley grass, identifying R10 as an optimal light regime for uniform seedling establishment and biomass enhancement in plant factory environments. Moreover, the MAP system (OTR 40,000) presents strong industrial applicability by improving postharvest quality retention and microbial safety during distribution and storage. Taken together, this study suggests that integrating red-centered LED lighting (R10) during production with optimized MAP conditions can support year-round, stable production and extended shelf life of barley grass in commercial plant factory operations
Impact of non-thermal plasma seed priming and early development stages of two local Thai Cruciferous plants mustard green and rat-tailed radish on glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, minerals, antioxidant and anticancer activities
Full text linkOver the past decade, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology has emerged as a promising tool in the food sector. Cruciferous microgreens are known for their anticancer properties, yet the potential of certain varieties at early developmental stages remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of NTP treatment on seed priming and plant development at 14, 21, and 28 days in mustard green (MG) (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern) and rat-tailed radish (RTR) (Raphanus sativus var. caudatus), focusing on their bioactive compounds and bioactivities. NTP treatment significantly affects stem length, fresh weight, or dry weight compared to untreated seeds. It also enhanced the production of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates (ITCs), specific minerals, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and biological activities in both plants. MG was found to contain sinigrin, gluconapin, allyl ITC, and 3-butenyl ITC, while RTR contained glucoraphasatin and raphasatin. MG exhibited IC50 values ranging from 16–78 µg/mL in cytotoxicity tests against four cancer cell lines HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and HT-29 with enhanced activity from NTP. RTR demonstrated greater effectiveness with IC50 values of 12–60 µg/mL with higher activity from NTP. Both plant extracts especially NTP-treated samples reduced cancer cell survival and proliferation by upregulating pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, and p21) and proteins while downregulating anti-apoptotic and metastatic markers (Bcl-2, MMP-9, MMP-2, and cyclin D1). NTP can enhance the therapeutic bioactivity of young plants, with both MG and RTR at 14 and 21 days of growth, showing the higher potential for anticancer applications
Assessing genetic diversity and population structure in Tulipa species from Türkiye and Kazakhstan
Full text linkOver the past two decades, genetic diversity within the Tulipa genus has been extensively studied using various morphological and molecular methods. However, the natural diversity of the Tulipa genus in Türkiye remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to reveal the diversity of novel Tulipa species sampled from Türkiye and Kazakhstan, both of which have unique cultural histories and genetic diversity. In this study, iPBS (inter-primer binding site) markers were used for the first time in tulips grown naturally in Türkiye and Kazakhstan. The ability of iPBS markers to assess the genetic relationship between the preferred tulip varieties was revealed. According to the results of our study, it became clear that methods for determining iPBS markers can be easily used in studies of the genetic diversity of Tulipa species. To achieve the aforementioned aim, this study applied the iPBS method, which provides the theoretical novelty of this research. In addition, a total of 47 genotypes belonging to 14 Tulipa species that were selected based on their natural distribution in Türkiye and Kazakhstan were characterized morphologically and molecularly using 12 iPBS primers. The findings revealed significant variability in morphological traits among the Tulipa species. Notably, high variations were observed in flower size, leaf and stem characteristics, and bulb growth traits. Similarly, iPBS revealed high diversity with similarity indices ranging from 0.35 to 0.87 among genotypes. Principal component analysis (PCA) plots, both two- and three-dimensional, grouped the species into four distinct clusters, according to their origin. Structure analysis further confirmed the population structure, identifying four subpopulations. This study highlights the importance of species/genotypes with notable morphological and genetic traits within a highly variable population, providing insights into tulip breeding programs and utilization of natural genetic resources in sustainable agricultural production
Exogenous selenium application enhances the photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant defense of mash bean (Vigna mungo) to confer tolerance to salt stress
Full text linkMash bean is an important crop enriched with proteins and highly praised in Pakistan due to its nutritional values. However, due to abiotic stresses like salinity, its production is decreased. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium on mash bean to produce salt tolerance. Mash bean seeds were sown in plastic pots filled with sand. Three levels of NaCl (0 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM) and five levels of selenium (0 ppm, 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, 120 ppm) were applied with Hoagland solution. Salinity reduced plant height (28%), leaf area (33%), chlorophyll a (14%), chlorophyll b (9%), carotenoids (20%), potassium ions, calcium ions, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index and increased sodium ions (21%), H2O2 content as well as secondary metabolites. However, selenium application in low concentration enhanced plant height (31%), leaf area, chlorophyll a (17%), chlorophyll b (12%), carotenoids (40%), potassium, calcium, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index, proline, flavonoids, total phenol, while decreased sodium ions (25%) and hydrogen peroxide content under salt stress. Findings showed important function of selenium in improving physical characteristics, absorption of ions, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant defense in plants under salinity. Applying selenium at 40 ppm concentrations showed greatest efficacy in alleviating negative impacts of salt stress (100 mM) on plant growth and biochemical attributes. Maximum positive results of selenium application (40 ppm) were obtained at 0 mM of salinity
Role of molecular breeding in understanding salinity tolerance in cotton: limitations and perspectives
Full text linkCotton is a significant fiber crop globally and has a considerable share in many countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). It is the most critical contributor to the textile industry and provides income to millions of farmers. Salt stress is abiotic stress, decreasing the cotton yield on a large area. Salt stress is a polygenic trait, and cotton’s response to salt stress involves a complex gene pathway. Breeders have been breeding novel salt-tolerant cotton genotypes for decades to sustain their growth on salt-affected soils. In recent years, cotton breeders have employed several breeding tools like hybridization, backcrossing, and mass selection to develop tolerant genotypes. Still, due to several limitations, these techniques are being replaced by novel molecular breeding tools. With the advancement in molecular breeding, the speed to improve crop tolerance to salt stress has been increased. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), transcription factors (TFs) analysis, and transcriptome have identified several genomic regions for salinity tolerance in cotton. At the same time, genetic engineering and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) led to the development of salt-tolerant cotton cultivars. Genetic engineering is key in breeding transgenic cotton cultivars resistant to multiple abiotic stresses. CRISPR/Cas9, a new gene manipulation technique, is used to edit the genes for salt tolerance in cotton without any biological barrier. CRISPR/Cas9 could be a more powerful tool to manipulate the desired cotton genome against salinity tolerance. These research and breeding tools have been successfully used in genetic research and breeding for drought tolerance in cotton. This unique review presents a full overview of the use of different molecular tools and their role in enhancing salt tolerance in cotton. Using this information, cotton breeders can understand the salinity tolerance mechanism in cotton by choosing the most reliable genetic breeding tool