Search Results (6)

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an understudied, highly polyploid (22×) species that is widely used as an ornamental shrub and as a fruit-bearing plant in Türkiye. We analyzed 43 accessions—33 ornamental cultivars and 10 fruit-bearing selections—by examining size variations in 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the first intron region of the self-incompatibility ribonuclease (S-RNase) gene. A total of 498 alleles were detected across 11 loci, with the highest number of alleles observed at the S-locus. The SSR loci amplified between 4 (ASSR63) and 17 (BPPCT039) alleles per accession, with eight of the 11 primers generating more than 12 alleles per accession. Two markers, BPPCT040 and CPSCT021, uniquely distinguished all tested accessions. Of the alleles, only 178 (36%) were shared between the ornamental and fruit-bearing groups, reflecting significant genetic differentiation. A dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis revealed three distinct groups. Group 1 included most Hungarian and some European cultivars. Groups 2 (Western European cultivars) and 3 (Turkish selections) exhibited higher average allele numbers, suggesting greater genetic diversity in these groups. Our results indicate that cultivated cherry laurels originate from a broad genetic base and show clear genetic divergence between ornamental and fruit-bearing selections, likely due to differing long-term selection pressures. The observed genetic variability is consistent with the polyploid nature of the species and supports the presumed self-incompatible phenotype. This is the first study to report SSR fingerprints for ornamental cultivars and fruit-bearing selections, providing a potential tool for use in breeding programs. Full article

With increasing emphasis on sustainable horticulture, optimizing substrate composition is essential to reduce peat usage in container production. This study evaluated the effects of biochar and compost amendments on the growth and nutrient status of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) in two separate experiments conducted over five months. Experiment I assessed growth in pure peat and in peat–compost blends at volume ratios of 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70 and 0:100. Experiment II investigated the effect of adding biochar to a pure peat substrate at rates of 3 g·dm⁻³ and 5 g·dm⁻³. Key parameters were monitored, including the above and below-ground biomass, leaf and shoot counts, chlorophyll content, and the chemical composition of plant tissue and substrate. Compost addition increased the substrate pH from ~4.6 to ~6.4, while electrical conductivity increased with a higher compost content, reaching values approximately 2–3 times greater than in pure peat. Nutrient levels (Ca, K, Mg, P, NO₃⁻) also rose consistently with an increasing compost share. While a higher compost content generally reduced the biomass, leaf and shoot number, the greatest plant height and relatively favorable biomass were observed at 30% and 50% compost mixtures. Biochar addition slightly increased plant height, while the total biomass, root mass, and shoot number tended to decrease compared to pure peat, particularly at the lower biochar dose (3 g·dm⁻³). The substrate pH remained relatively stable, whereas electrical conductivity (EC) showed a slight upward trend with increasing biochar levels. Biochar also slightly increased the substrate nutrient content (Ca, K, Mg, P, NO₃⁻). Full article

Sediments remediated with a nature-based solution approach (NBS-sediments) can represent a suitable and affordable alternative to peat as a constituent of growing media for ornamental plant production based on the combination of advanced production efficiency and rational green use of resources, including peat and water. In a greenhouse experiment, the effect of different growing media containing NBS-remediated sediments on two-year-old container grown cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus cv. ‘Novìta’) under standard and induced restrictive irrigation was evaluated. Six ternary mixes with different proportion (45:30:25 and 30:20:50 v/v) of peat:pumice:sediment (PE:TS25, PE:TS50), coconut fiber:pumice:sediment (CF:TS25, CF:TS50) and wood fiber:pumice:sediment (WF:TS25, WF:TS50) were tested in comparison to the standard peat:pumice blend (60:40 v/v), commonly used for pot ornamental crops ad used as control (PE, control). Pots were drip irrigated with 200 and 250 cc daily water volume (DWV). Cherry laurels grown in the control showed the lowest sign of stress, maintaining the highest net CO₂ assimilation and transpiration rates, however stomatal conductance was reduced compared to PE:TS mixes. On the other hand, photosynthetic performance was strongly depressed by WF:TS25 and WF:TS50 under reduced DWV compared to the control, due to the combined effect of physical properties of the used matrices and reduced water availability. Nevertheless, final biomass production of plants grown on sediment-based growing media was similar to that of control, indicating that photosynthetic performance of plants fully recovered during the cultivation period. Differences in final plant development were negligible when compared to quality standards of marketing categories. Thus, appropriately blended NBS-sediment-based growing media can be used on a larger scale to produce rustic outdoor ornamentals. Full article

The misidentification between edible and poisonous plants is an increasing problem because of the new trend to collect wild plants, especially by amateur collectors who do not have the botanical skills to distinguish between edible and toxic species. Moreover, morphologically similar species are sometimes responsible for accidental contamination or used in the intentional adulteration of products for human and animal consumption. Laurus nobilis L. (laurel) and Prunus laurocerasus L. (cherry laurel) are typical ornamental shrubs of the Mediterranean region. Laurel is considered a non-toxic plant, widely used as flavorings. Conversely, cherry laurel leaves, morphologically similar to those of laurel, contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides. Considering this, the aim of this study was to carry out an in-depth evaluation of laurel and cherry laurel leaves by using light and scanning electron microscopy coupled with three step phytochemical analyses (qualitative and quantitative colorimetric assays and liquid chromatography). This allowed to highlight the distinguishing features of plant species investigated features such as the venation pattern, presence/absence of nectaries, calcium oxalate crystals, secretory idioblasts, and cyanogenic glycosides. Concluding, this multidisciplinary approach can be useful for the identification of plants but also fragments or pruning residues containing cyanogenic glycosides, in quality control tests, intoxications, and criminal cases. Full article

Diverse communities of bacterial endophytes inhabit plant tissues, and these bacteria play important roles for plant growth and health. Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is widely grown in temperate zones for its ornamental and medicinal properties, however virtually nothing is known about its associated bacterial community. In this study, we analysed the matured one-year-old leaves of this plant using Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to reveal the community structure of endophytic bacteria and understand its shifts during the seasonal transition from winter dormancy to a spring vegetative state. The overall community was composed of four dominant phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes). Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Chryseobacterium genera were the most prevalent bacteria, comprising 13.3%, 6.9%, and 6.8% of the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), respectively. The ASV richness and diversity increased significantly in May as compared to other sampling months (February, March, and April). We observed high variation in the overall community structure of endophytic bacteria among collection dates. The variation was only reflected by a few core community members, suggesting that the changes of the endophytic community during winter/spring seasonal transition are mostly associated with the less abundant community members. We identified biomarker taxa for late winter, mid spring, and late spring collection dates. This study is the first one to report on the diversity and composition of bacterial endophytes in the leaves of cherry laurel and its shifts across the dormancy-to-vegetative seasonal transition. Full article

Natural habitats increasingly face the introduction and spread of non-native species. Under the right conditions, non-native species can become invasive over time. This issue is now being addressed by many experts and researchers who are using and developing various approaches and methods to limit and eliminate or suppress problematic plant species. Many invasive plants are already spreading uncontrollably in urban and forestry areas, causing health hazards, environmental and economic damage and negatively impacting natural ecosystems. The use of chemical agents is generally limited, so our only option to control and suppress the problematic species is mechanical removal. In this research suppression by tree stem wounding, i.e., incomplete girdling, was used. This type of injury causes the plant to lose its vitality, become weaker after first year and then die within a few years. Using a research approach, we chronologically monitored the response of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) stem tissue to mechanical wounding of the incomplete girdling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and light microscopy were used for monitoring moisture content and anatomical changes in different periods after injury. The results of the study showed that cherry laurel, with an intense wound tissue response and other changes, is a species with good compartmentalization potential. The rapid and intense tissue response to injury requires high energy and nutrient consumption and consequently leads to a loss of vigour and mechanical stability, which may result in plant destruction. Results revealed that mechanical wounding by incomplete girdling is a successful method for suppression of non-native and invasive cherry laurel. Full article