Search Results (11)

The biological role of the fluorescence of flowers is a matter of debate. Anthocyanins are a group of compounds that are weakly fluorescent; their fluorescence in flowers has been rarely studied. This study aimed to compare the absorption and fluorescence spectra of anthocyanins extracted from several anthocyanin-containing autumn flowers and examine changes in these spectra during the storage of petals at cold-room and room temperatures and during the storage of dried petals. Petals of red clover Trifolium pratense, pink petunia Petunia × hybrida, Pelargonium horatum, Pelargonium. zonale, Pelargonium. peltatum, red and pink Begonia semperflorens, Buddleja japonica, and purple Chrysanthemum were studied. The results demonstrate that it is possible to distinguish between petals of various flowers based on the absorption spectra of petal extracts and the fluorescence spectra of petal extracts and intact petals. Spectral changes during storage were not always unidirectional and progressive; the most common one was the increase in the intensity of the fluorescence band at 500–560 nm at the excitation wavelength of 460 nm. These results point to the possibility of using fluorescence measurements to identify and estimate the freshness of petal-based material in herbalism, forensic analysis, and the food industry. The measurement of the spectra of whole petals or their fragments by front-face fluorimetry, including common plate readers, may be especially useful due to its simplicity and rapidity. Full article

Cold storage of pelargonium cuttings addresses the issue of nonoverlapping production seasons in Central Europe, where cuttings are harvested from stock plants in December, but rooting begins in mid-February/March. Here, we show an innovative system for cuttings storage using nature-based solutions. We compared post-delivery storage of unrooted cuttings in paperpots maintained in greenhouses (8/6 °C day/night) to standard rooting immediately after delivery. Key factors included genotype (Pelargonium zonale, P. peltatum, and hybrids), four delivery weeks (48–51), two growing seasons (2021 and 2022), and storage duration (up to 4 weeks). Genotype strongly influenced cold storage tolerance, with P. peltatum enduring storage for up to 4 weeks without significant loss of rooting efficiency, unlike P. zonale. The success of storage depended on stock plants’ quality and nutritional status: higher nitrogen content in 2022 cuttings compared to 2021 was associated with reduced rooting in P. zonale and hybrids. Neither delivery timing nor residual ethephon affected rooting outcomes after storage. This study demonstrates that storing pelargonium cuttings for up to two weeks using this method preserves quality while optimizing production efficiency by reducing nursery space, water, fertilizer, and pesticide use. This shift in production practices reduces per-unit costs and enhances the economic viability of bedding young plant producers. Full article

Understanding photosynthetic mechanisms in different plant species is crucial for advancing agricultural productivity and ecological restoration. This study presents a detailed physiological and ultrastructural comparison of photosynthetic mechanisms between Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) and Pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale (L.) L’Hér. Ex Aiton) plants. The data collection encompassed daily photosynthetic profiles, responses to light and CO₂, leaf optical properties, fluorescence data (OJIP transients), biochemical analyses, and anatomical observations. The findings reveal distinct morphological, optical, and biochemical adaptations between the two species. These adaptations were associated with differences in photochemical (A_MAX, E, C_i, iWUE, and α) and carboxylative parameters (VC_MAX, ΓCO₂, g_s, g_m, Cc, and AJ_MAX), along with variations in fluorescence and concentrations of chlorophylls and carotenoids. Such factors modulate the efficiency of photosynthesis. Energy dissipation mechanisms, including thermal and fluorescence pathways (ΦPSII, ETR, NPQ), and JIP test-derived metrics highlighted differences in electron transport, particularly between PSII and PSI. At the ultrastructural level, Hibiscus exhibited optimised cellular and chloroplast architecture, characterised by increased chloroplast density and robust grana structures. In contrast, Pelargonium displayed suboptimal photosynthetic parameters, possibly due to reduced thylakoid counts and a higher proportion of mitochondria. In conclusion, while Hibiscus appears primed for efficient photosynthesis and energy storage, Pelargonium may prioritise alternative cellular functions, engaging in a metabolic trade-off. Full article

Chloroplast movement rapidly ameliorates the effects of suboptimal light intensity by accumulating along the periclinal cell walls, as well as the effects of excess light by shifting to the anticlinal cell walls. These acclimation responses are triggered by phototropins located at the plasma membrane and chloroplast envelope. Here, we used a recently developed non-invasive system sensitive to very small changes in red light leaf transmittance to perform long-term continuous measurements of dark–light transitions. As a model system, we used variegated Pelargonium zonale leaves containing green sectors (GS) with fully developed chloroplasts and achlorophyllous, white sectors (WS) with undifferentiated plastids, and higher phototropin expression levels. We observed biphasic changes in the red-light transmittance and oscillations triggered by medium intensities of white light, described by a transient peak preceded by a constant decrease in transmittance level. A slight change in red-light transmittance was recorded even in WS. Furthermore, the chloroplast position at lower light intensities affected the rapid light curves, while high light intensity decreased saturated electron transport, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and increased non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and epidermal flavonoids. Our results extend the knowledge of light-dependent chloroplast movements and thus contribute to a better understanding of their role in regulating photosynthesis under fluctuating light conditions. Full article

The photosynthetically active green leaf (GL) and non-active white leaf (WL) tissues of variegated Pelargonium zonale provide an excellent model system for studying processes associated with photosynthesis and sink-source interactions, enabling the same microenvironmental conditions. By combining differential transcriptomics and metabolomics, we identified the main differences between these two metabolically contrasting tissues. Genes related to photosynthesis and associated pigments, the Calvin–Benson cycle, fermentation, and glycolysis were strongly repressed in WL. On the other hand, genes related to nitrogen and protein metabolism, defence, cytoskeletal components (motor proteins), cell division, DNA replication, repair and recombination, chromatin remodelling, and histone modifications were upregulated in WL. A content of soluble sugars, TCA intermediates, ascorbate, and hydroxybenzoic acids was lower, while the concentration of free amino acids (AAs), hydroxycinnamic acids, and several quercetin and kaempferol glycosides was higher in WL than in GL. Therefore, WL presents a carbon sink and depends on photosynthetic and energy-generating processes in GL. Furthermore, the upregulated nitrogen metabolism in WL compensates for the insufficient energy from carbon metabolism by providing alternative respiratory substrates. At the same time, WL serves as nitrogen storage. Overall, our study provides a new genetic data resource for the use of this excellent model system and for ornamental pelargonium breeding and contributes to uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying variegation and its adaptive ecological value. Full article

Plants are inevitably exposed to extreme climatic conditions that lead to a disturbed balance between the amount of absorbed energy and their ability to process it. Variegated leaves with photosynthetically active green leaf tissue (GL) and photosynthetically inactive white leaf tissue (WL) are an excellent model system to study source–sink interactions within the same leaf under the same microenvironmental conditions. We demonstrated that under excess excitation energy (EEE) conditions (high irradiance and lower temperature), regulated metabolic reprogramming in both leaf tissues allowed an increased consumption of reducing equivalents, as evidenced by preserved maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Ф_PSII) at the end of the experiment. GL of the EEE-treated plants employed two strategies: (i) the accumulation of flavonoid glycosides, especially cyanidin glycosides, as an alternative electron sink, and (ii) cell wall stiffening by cellulose, pectin, and lignin accumulation. On the other hand, WL increased the amount of free amino acids, mainly arginine, asparagine, branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, as well as kaempferol and quercetin glycosides. Thus, WL acts as an important energy escape valve that is required in order to maintain the successful performance of the GL sectors under EEE conditions. Finally, this role could be an adaptive value of variegation, as no consistent conclusions about its ecological benefits have been proposed so far. Full article

Almost one-third of all infectious diseases are caused by viruses, and these diseases account for nearly 20% of all deaths globally. It is becoming increasingly clear that highly contagious viral infections pose a significant threat to global health and economy around the world. The need for innovative, affordable, and safe antiviral therapies is a must. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are novel materials of low toxicity and low cost and are known for their antiviral activity. The genus Pelargonium was previously reported for its antiviral and antimicrobial activity. In this work, Pelargonium zonale leaf extract chemical profile was studied via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was used for the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of the combination of P. zonale extract and the biosynthesized nanoparticles of ZnO against the human corona 229E virus was investigated. Results revealed that ZnONPs had been biosynthesized with an average particle size of about 5.5 nm and characterized with UV, FTIR, TEM, XRD, and SEM. The antiviral activity showed significant activity and differences among the tested samples in favor of the combination of P. zonale extract and ZnONPs (ZnONPs/Ex). The lowest IC_50, 2.028 µg/mL, and the highest SI, 68.4 of ZnONPs/Ex, assert the highest antiviral activity of the combination against human coronavirus (229E). Full article

Permanent make-up (PMU) has become a very popular application over the last few years. The ingredients of PMU inks, used over the face area, are organic and inorganic substances very close to the chemical composition of tattoo inks. As the application rates increase, the demand for PMU removal rises. The aim of this study is to assess the decolorization of PMU inks using preparations originating from different plant sources. The leaves of Pelargonium zonale (PE) were extracted with water for 48 h. The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of the extract was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu technique reaching 201.34 ± 4.57 μg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/mL of extract. The antioxidant activity of the extract was 20.87 ± 0.36 μg of Trolox equivalents (TE)/mL and 3.56 ± 0.43 mg FeSO₄×7H₂O mL of extract when assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) or ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay respectively. The decolorization potential of PE leaf extract on five commercially available PMU inks of different hues was assessed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry in comparison to polyphenol oxidases enzyme (PPO). The results demonstrated higher absorption reduction that indicates decolorization potential for the inks that have mainly ferrous oxides as colorants. Full article

The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of using compost made from post-consumer wood in zonal pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale) cv. ‘Tex Mex’ cultivation. The influence of compost on the plant’s development and nutritional state, as well as the microbiological and enzymatic activity of the substrate was examined. Two variants of compost marked with the following letters: OPA and OPB were used. Both variants consisted of post-consumer wood waste (OP) (70% of weight) mixed with powdery waste from processing MDF boards (6%), mature compost from fiberboard waste (19%), high peat (4%), water and a biological inoculum “Activit Las”. Thirty kilograms of urea in two portions per prism were added to the OPA variant while ammonium nitrate (1.5 kg per prism), magnesium sulphate (0.4 kg per prism), potassium phosphate (0.8kg per prism) and calcium phosphate (0.9 kg per prism) were added to the OPB variant. The plants were cultivated into pots 12 cm in diameter and a capacity of 659 dm³ in the substrates consisting of peat with the addition of compost at different volume ratios. It was found that the medium type had a significant influence on the growth and flowering of the zonal pelargonium. The type of compost used was the determinant for microbiological total counts and activity. The chemical composition of the substrates significantly modified the plants’ nutritional state in terms of macro- and microelements. In summary, the study demonstrated that good quality ornamental plants can be successfully grown in peat substrate containing 25% or 50% of post-consumer wood compost. Full article

Italian floriculture is facing structural changes. Possible options to maintain competitiveness of the involved companies include promotion of added values, from local production to environmental sustainability. To quantify value and benefits of cleaner production processes and choices, a holistic view is necessary and could be provided by life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Previous studies on ornamental products generally focused on data from one company or a small sample. The aim of this study was a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment of two ornamental species, cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) and zonal geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum Bailey), using data from a sample of 20 companies belonging to a floriculture district in the Treviso, Veneto region. We also assessed the potential benefits of the environmental impact of alternative management choices regarding plant protection and reuse of composted waste biomass. Life cycle impact assessment showed higher impact scores for the zonal geranium, mainly as a consequence of greenhouse heating with fossil fuels. This factor, along with higher uniformity of production practices and technological levels of equipment, translated to a lower variability in comparison with cyclamen production, which showed a wider results range, in particular for eutrophication, acidification and human toxicity potential. The application of integrated pest management with cyclamen had significant benefits by reducing acidification and human toxicity, while reducing use of mineral nutrients through amending growing media with compost resulted in a reduction in eutrophication potential. Similar achievable benefits for zonal geranium were not observed because of the dominant contribution of energy inputs. Full article

The study evaluated the feasibility of simplified hydroponics for the growth of rooted cuttings of geranium (Pelargonium zonale) for commercial purposes in local farms in Northern Italy. Tested systems included a control where soilless system on substrate (peat) (T-1), usually adopted by local farmers, was compared against an open-cycle drip system on substrate (peat) (T-2), and a Nutrient Film Technique system (T-3). For commercial features, assessed parameters included flowering degree (flowering timing, numbers of inflorescences plant⁻¹, and number of flowers inflorescence⁻¹), numbers of leaves plant⁻¹, number of branches plant⁻¹, final height of plant, and the aesthetic-commercial assessment index. Assessed parameters also included fresh and dry weight, SPAD Index, the water consumption, and the water use efficiency (WUE). The soilless systems typology significantly affected rooted cuttings growth, commercial features, and WUE. The adoption of an open-cycle drip system (T-2) resulted in a significant improvement of all the crop commercial characteristics as compared with other treatments, making plants more attractive for the market. The water consumption was higher in T-2 as compared with T-1 and T-3, but it allowed for the highest fresh weight, and therefore also the highest WUE. The results indicate that the typology of soilless system significantly enhances the commercial characteristics of geranium. Full article