Search Results (3,638)

Chaenomeles speciosa, a plant species with high ornamental value, exhibited significant darkening of its petal coloration under drought conditions. This chromatic alteration primarily stems from anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport. Through integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, we identified CsABCG6, a transporter of the ABCG subfamily, as a key regulator. The molecular docking analysis preliminarily demonstrated that CsABCG6 bound to anthocyanin monomers. Functional characterization revealed a dual role of CsABCG6 in regard to anthocyanin metabolism; it displayed anthocyanin transport activity in yeast systems, whereas transient transformation assays confirmed its capacity to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis. Stable transformation experiments in tobacco further validated the anthocyanin-promoting function of the previously identified transcription factor CsMYB6. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase assays (LUC) established that CsMYB6 transcriptionally activates the CsABCG6 promoter, thus collectively defining the CsMYB6-CsABCG6 signaling module as a critical mechanism for the precise dynamic regulation of anthocyanin metabolism under drought stress. Full article

Phalaenopsis orchids are globally significant high-value ornamental flowers due to their strange flower shape, gorgeous color, and long flowering period. The successful implementation of reflowering technology is expected to double the economic value of the Phalaenopsis industry. This study selected the cultivated variety Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’ as the material to investigate the effects of exogenous gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) application (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/L) on its reflowering. Growth phenotype analysis indicates that exogenous GA₃ significantly promotes the occurrence of reflowering in Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’ after the first flowering, specifically manifested in elongated leaves, flower bud differentiation, flower stalk growth, and an earlier onset of flowering. The application of exogenous GA₃ significantly enhances the accumulation of starch, soluble sugars, and proteins in Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’, while inhibiting the synthesis of free fatty acids. Gibberellins (GA₃, gibberellin A₁ (GA₁), and gibberellin A₈ (GA₈)), cytokinins (6-Benzyladenosine (BAPR) and Kinetin (K)), and indole-3-acetic acids (IAAs) (tryptamine (TRA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)) are the core endogenous hormones responding to exogenous GA₃ spraying treatment. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 3891 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the most significantly enriched KEGG pathways included ‘Plant hormone signal transduction’. Key genes involved in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway (AUX, IAA, SAUR, DELLA, MYC2) were validated through qRT-PCR, suggesting that these genes may be crucial for the exogenous GA₃ application that promotes the reflowering of Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’. Additionally, this study highlights 202 core DEGs responsive to exogenous GA₃. Combined with the analysis of hormone signaling pathways, it provides a new perspective for uncovering the key molecular modules involved in GA₃-regulated reflowering of Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that exogenous GA₃ application can promote the re-flowering of Phalaenopsis ‘Hatuyuki’. Full article

The utilization of post-production and post-processing by-products aligns with current trends in sustainable fruit industry practices. Recovering valuable nutrients from such materials holds significant potential for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Among these, cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) seeds represent a promising source of functional ingredients, particularly due to their oil’s rich nutritional and phytochemical profile. The seeds, accounting for approximately 9–10% of the fruit mass, yield an oil characterized by high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids—mainly linoleic acid (≈67.5%) and oleic acid (≈20%)—alongside palmitic (≈5.8%) and stearic acids (≈2.1%). Linolenic acid content, however, shows notable variability (1.4–14.7%), influencing the oil’s omega-6/omega-3 ratio, which generally remains below 5:1. Cornelian cherry seed oil stands out among other stone fruit oils (e.g., rosehip, apricot, peach, cherry, plum) for its favorable fatty acid composition and absence of cyanogenic glycosides, making it safe for human consumption. Beyond its nutritional value, this oil exhibits biological activity and health-promoting potential, suggesting wide applicability in functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Despite progress in characterizing seed composition—including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and tannins—knowledge gaps persist regarding the transfer of these compounds into the oil, particularly under cold-pressing conditions. Future studies should focus on optimizing extraction processes, assessing thermal treatment effects, and clarifying the variability of linolenic acid. Such research will support the sustainable exploitation of cornelian cherry by-products and the industrial-scale development of this high-value oil. Full article

Sonneratia ovata is an important tree species for ornamental, economic, ecological, and medicinal value and is identified as an endangered species. There are very few studies on the reproductive traits, genetic diversity, and population structure of S. ovata. Therefore, it is urgent to accurately understand its genetic background and reproductive status in order to better conserve and manage S. ovata. S. ovata has a mixed mating system, is partially self-compatible and needs pollinators, according to the outcrossing index, pollen–ovule ratio, pollination treatment results and outcrossing rate. Natural populations maintained high outcrossing coupled with inbreeding and low genetic diversity (H_e = 0.215), and the population DC was regarded as the center of genetic diversity. The Mantel test showed that there existed a positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance among populations, which was in line with the IBD model. Molecular variance was largely confined to within-population differences (75.4%), while inter-population differences accounted for 24.6%. Structure and PCoA analysis supported the UPGMA cluster. This study is the first to investigate reproductive traits, genetic diversity, and population structure through SSR. The results provide a scientific basis for cross breeding, conservation, and management of this species. In future, it is necessary to increase relevant research (human, environment, habitat factors, etc.) to better protect and utilize this species. Full article

Bougainvillea spp. is a well-known ornamental plant that is widely applied in urban landscaping construction. The colorful bracts of Bougainvillea in full bloom become important for urban landscape during special festivals. Although flowering regulation measures of Bougainvillea attracted much attention, the underlying mechanism of flower bud differentiation and development remains poorly understood. Here, we induced flowering of Bougainvillea glabra ‘Sao Paulo’ under 6-BA treatment and conducted RNA sequencing data analysis to characterize the molecular regulatory mechanism of flower development in response to 6-BA. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a series of genes and transcription factors of cytokinin metabolism, flowering and floral development regulation, and photoperiod regulation were upregulated by the 6-BA treatment, including COL, AP2, FT, SOC1, LFY, SPL4, SPL9, and SPL13. Moreover, the expression of these important genes exhibited relatively high levels of thorns compared to apical buds, suggesting that flower bud differentiation probably starts with the thorns in Bougainvillea. This study confirms that 6-BA treatment at certain concentrations can promote flowering of Bougainvillea and provides insight into the regulatory mechanism of the growth regulator acting on early flowering of Bougainvillea. Full article

The jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don.) is a widely cultivated ornamental tree species in urban landscapes, but recent research has highlighted its additional ecological and industrial potential. However, no detailed phenological description has been available for this species. The objective of this study was to establish a standardized phenological scale for Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. based on the BBCH coding system and to determine the thermal requirements (growing degree-days, GDD). Thirty-nine secondary stages were used to describe the life cycle of jacaranda in this BBCH scale, distributed across seven principal growth stages (PGSs). Of these thirty-nine secondary stages, five stages correspond to dormancy and sprouting (PGS-0), six stages correspond to leaf development (PGS-1), three correspond to the emergence of the flowering organ (PGS-5), eight correspond to flowering (PGS-6), ten correspond to fruit formation (PGS-7), three correspond to ripening fruit (PGS-8), and four correspond to the beginning of dormancy (PGS-9). Thermal integral analysis indicated that jacaranda requires approximately 3800 accumulated degree-days (GDD) to progress from dormancy to leaf fall. This phenological framework enhances understanding of the growth cycle of Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. and provides a useful reference for improving the timing and efficiency of management and phytosanitary treatments in Mediterranean conditions. Full article

Platax teira is a marine fish species with both ornamental and economic value, but it faces challenges in aquaculture due to environmental stress and disease. Genetic research on P. teira has been limited due to the limitations of the partially incomplete reference genome and the lack of a complete transcriptome. In this study, we utilized PacBio SMRT sequencing to generate a full-length transcriptome for P. teira, obtaining 39,770 isoforms, including 32,265 known gene-related transcripts and 4730 novel transcripts from 3455 new genes. All novel genes were annotated, and enrichment analysis revealed significant associations between immune-related pathways, such as cAMP, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and Wnt. We also identified 14,398 alternative splicing events, 2754 alternative polyadenylation events, 42,250 SSRs, 1569 transcription factors, and 2067 long non-coding RNAs. Additionally, protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis of immune-related pathways predicted chemokines as key immune factors among novel genes. Domain prediction analysis highlighted the diverse functional potential of immune factors such as NLRC3, tyrosine kinase 2, and A2M in different alternative splicing events. Overall, the characterization of the full-length transcriptome dataset of P. teira lays the foundation for further studies on its genetic analysis and immune regulation. Full article

Freshwater scarcity and saline groundwater are major constraints for maintaining green roofs in coastal areas. This study evaluated the response of Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula, (Sicilian silver ragwort) a drought-tolerant coastal ornamental plant, to tap water and seawater irrigation under Mediterranean summer conditions. Plants were grown in 10 cm-deep green-roof modules and subjected to six irrigation regimes: tap water, seawater, or alternating tap water and seawater, each applied at 4- or 8-day intervals, with irrigation volumes equal to 60% of cumulative reference evapotranspiration (ET_o). Growth, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll index (SPAD), and leachate electrical conductivity were monitored to assess plant performance and salinity responses. Seawater irrigation caused rapid substrate salinization, leaf dehydration, and plant death within one month, while alternating seawater with tap water also failed to sustain survival. In contrast, tap water–irrigated plants maintained high RWC, chlorophyll content, and stable visual quality throughout the experimental period, even with deficit irrigation at 60% ET_o every eight days. These findings demonstrate that J. maritima subsp. sicula is well suited for freshwater-irrigated extensive green roofs in semi-arid regions, providing reliable performance under infrequent irrigation and limited water supply. However, seawater or high-salinity irrigation should be avoided. Future research should explore mixed freshwater–seawater irrigation regimes with a higher freshwater proportion, aiming to reduce total freshwater consumption while sustaining plant survival and esthetic performance. Full article

Water stress is the main abiotic factor that limits the development and commercial quality of ornamental plants, such as Zinnia elegans. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of exogenous melatonin (MEL) to attenuate the deleterious effects of water deficit by modulating stomatal physiological, biochemical and structural parameters. Z. elegans plants were subjected to four water regimes (80% FC, 20% FC, early stress and late stress) with (1.0 mM) and without MEL application. Severe water stress (20% FC) drastically reduced the rate of CO₂ assimilation (A) by 43.81% and stomatal conductance (gs) by 68.96%. However, the application of MEL significantly mitigated this damage, resulting in an increase in A of 26.99% gs of 43.75%, and relative water content of 28% in plants under severe stress compared with those in untreated stressed plants. The mechanism of action of MEL involves the modulation of stomatal motion and, as suggested, the promotion of osmotic fit and the protection of membrane integrity and photochemical efficiency. Exogenous melatonin acts as an effective bioregulator, improving the tolerance of Z. elegans to water deficit and sustaining its physiological performance and ornamental potential under stress conditions. Full article

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) is one of the most cultivated Lamiaceae species because of its medicinal, aromatic and ornamental properties. In the late summer of 2023, symptoms of desiccation were observed in a rosemary field located in southern Italy and the isolation from necrotic roots revealed three different fungal species: Ceratobasidium sp., Fusarium falciforme and Macrophomina phaseolina. All the isolates were morphologically and molecularly identified and Koch’s postulates assays were performed to establish the pathogenicity and the effect of each fungus on the disease incidence and severity. A dual plate method was used to investigate the interaction between Ceratobasidium sp., F. falciforme and M. phaseolina, mixing them in pairs and all together. Similarly, in vivo inoculations with the pathogens in combination were used to verify the role of each isolate in the interaction with the others and the contribution in plant disease expression. The results allowed to identify M. phaseolina and F. falciforme as causal agents of desiccation and root rot of rosemary, with M. phaseolina being the most aggressive between the two. Conversely, Ceratobasidium sp. behavior was influenced by the interaction with the other pathogens and the plant. Notably, this is the first report of M. phaseolina and F. falciforme on rosemary plants worldwide. This disease, caused by multiple pathogens, highlighted the crucial role of the combination of traditional in vivo assays and the use of molecular methods to achieve an accurate diagnosis. Full article

Optimizing fertilizer management is essential for reducing salinity-related risks and improving nutrient efficiency in ornamental plant production. Fertilization enhances plant performance; however, excessive nutrient inputs can disrupt substrate chemistry, elevate salinity, and promote nitrogen leaching—particularly in containerized systems with limited rooting volume. This study evaluated the growth, physiological performance, and soil–plant nutrient dynamics of Sabal palmetto (cabbage palm) cultivated under six fertilization regimes over 180 days in a subtropical shade-house environment. Treatments ranged from a single baseline application of 15 g per plant (T0) to a cumulative 75 g (T5) using granular slow-release fertilizer. Morphological traits (plant height: 26–70 cm; leaf number: 4–18) and physiological indices (atLEAF⁺: 34.3–66.4; NDVI: 0.26–0.77) were monitored every 30 days. Substrate nitrogen and carbon concentrations increased from 0.57% and 41.78% at baseline to 1.24% and 42.94% at 180 days, while foliar nitrogen ranged from 1.46% to 2.57%. Fertilization significantly influenced all parameters (p < 0.05). Higher fertilization levels elevated electrical conductivity, salinity, and nitrogen leaching, with principal component analysis revealing strong positive associations among total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, and salinity. Moderate fertilization (T2 = 45 g) maintained favorable substrate chemistry, high foliar nitrogen, and balanced canopy growth with minimal nutrient losses. Sensor-based chlorophyll indices (atLEAF⁺ and NDVI) correlated strongly (r = 0.71, p < 0.001), confirming their reliability as non-destructive diagnostics for nitrogen management. These findings demonstrate that integrating optical monitoring with adaptive fertilization mitigates substrate salinization, sustains ornamental quality, and promotes the sustainable cultivation of Sabal palmetto in urban horticultural systems. Full article

Curcuma subgenus Hitcheniopsis (Zingiberaceae) comprises species valued for ornamental and medicinal uses in Southeast Asia, yet no comprehensive assessment has been conducted in Vietnam. This study provides the first integrative evaluation of Hitcheniopsis in Vietnam, combining species distribution modeling, field verification, herbarium examination, and Ornamental Value Index (OVI) analysis. Ten species were confirmed, including a new national record, C. rhabdota, with voucher specimens establishing its verified presence and extending the known range. Predicted habitat maps highlighted southern Vietnam and adjacent regions as suitable areas, guiding targeted surveys and conservation planning. Flowering occurred from April to September, with species occupying habitats from deciduous dipterocarp to dry evergreen forests. OVI analysis identified C. rhabdota, C. alismatifolia, and C. thorelii as species of high ornamental potential, supporting their use in horticultural breeding and potted ornamental production. Conservation assessments revealed that the endemic C. leonidii and C. pygmaea are Critically Endangered, C. rhabdota is Vulnerable, and C. sparganiifolia is Endangered, emphasizing the urgency of habitat protection and sustainable management. By linking verified diversity, phenology, ornamental value, and habitat modeling, this study establishes a novel, distribution-based framework for research, conservation, and sustainable use of Curcuma subgenus Hitcheniopsis in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Full article

Successful health promotion involves messages that are quickly captured and held long enough to permit eligibility, credibility, and calls to action to be coded. This research develops an exploratory eye-tracking atlas of breast cancer screening ads viewed by midlife women and a replicable pipeline that distinguishes early capture from long-term processing. Areas of Interest are divided into design-influential categories and graphed with two complementary measures: first hit and time to first fixation for entry and a tie-aware pairwise dominance model for dwell that produces rankings and an “early-vs.-sticky” quadrant visualization. Across creatives, pictorial and symbolic features were more likely to capture the first glance when they were perceptually dominant, while layouts containing centralized headlines or institutional cues deflected entry to the message and source. Prolonged attention was consistently focused on blocks of text, locations, and badges of authoring over ornamental pictures, demarcating the functional difference between capture and processing. Subgroup differences indicated audience-sensitive shifts: Older and household families shifted earlier toward source cues, more educated audiences shifted toward copy and locations, and younger or single viewers shifted toward symbols and images. Internal diagnostics verified that pairwise matrices were consistent with standard dwell summaries, verifying the comparative approach. The atlas converts the patterns into design-ready heuristics: defend sticky and early pieces, encourage sticky but late pieces by pushing them toward probable entry channels, de-clutter early but not sticky pieces to convert to processing, and re-think pieces that are neither. In practice, the diagnostics can be incorporated into procurement, pretesting, and briefs by agencies, educators, and campaign managers in order to enhance actionability without sacrificing segmentation of audiences. As an exploratory investigation, this study invites replication with larger and more diverse samples, generalizations to dynamic media, and associations with downstream measures such as recall and uptake of services. Full article

The expected population rise will require a maximum exploitation of agricultural lands with a consequent increase in the demand for freshwater for irrigation uses. Future trends predict increasing periods of drought stress, which may impact on crop performance and limit the future production. Pepper is one of the most economically important crops and globally consumed vegetables. This crop is highly demanding in terms of water supply, and so far, developing tolerant cultivars is one of the main targets for breeding. The aim of this study is to accurately determine how pepper plants react to water stress at the vegetative stage in order to select genotypes that better cope with drought. We implemented the PhenoHort Plant Eye phenotyping platform to precisely assess changes in plant architecture and morpho-physiological parameters on 25 cultivated pepper genotypes (Capsicum annuum) under drought stress conditions. Three different irrigation supply levels were considered, including the control, intense, and severe water stress, by irrigating every 24, 72, and 96 h, respectively. Daily monitoring of 20 traits allowed ~190,000 multispectral and tridimensional data points through scans over 6 weeks of cultivation, thus shedding light on changes in plant architecture and vegetation indices’ values during stress. The dissection of genotype (G) and treatment (T) interactions revealed that digital biomass and plant height traits were strongly affected by the T factor (more than 50% of total variance), whereas color and multispectral parameters were under greater genotypic control, accounting for 58.27% and 64.97% of the total variance for HUE and NPCI, respectively. The comparison of each accession with respect to the control and the application of multivariate models allowed us to select four drought-tolerant lines (G1, G2, G22, and G25) able to reduce the effects of drought on the morphological parameters and architecture of the plant with positive effects on vegetative indices. This work represents the first attempt to dissect the response of pepper under drought stress at the vegetative stage using a high-throughput and non-invasive phenotyping system, offering new insights for selecting resilient genotypes. Full article

Leaf color, as a key ornamental and quality trait in leafy vegetable sweet potato, is controlled by the coordinated regulation of multiple pigment metabolic pathways. To dissect the mechanisms underlying leaf color variation, the integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed on three contrasting phenotypes: green (G), yellow (Y), and purple-red (R). The results showed that purplish-red leaves accumulated the highest levels of anthocyanins (16.36 mg·g⁻¹) and total chlorophyll (2.54 mg·g⁻¹), indicating that the synergistic accumulation of anthocyanins and chlorophyll contributes to their dark pigmentation. In contrast, yellow leaves contained the lowest carotenoid content yet displayed the highest carotenoid-to-chlorophyll ratio (6.44), suggesting that reduced chlorophyll levels coupled with a relatively higher carotenoid proportion underlie the yellow phenotype. Green leaves exhibited a more balanced pigment profile, with a total chlorophyll content of 1.94 mg·g⁻¹. Transcriptomic profiling revealed elevated expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes CHS, CHI, F3H, and chlorophyll metabolism-related genes CHLG and CAO in purplish-red leaves, whereas carotenoid biosynthesis genes LCY and CYP97A3 showed specific regulation in yellow leaves. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that leaf color formation in leafy vegetable sweet potato is determined by the relative accumulation of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, together with differential regulation of their biosynthetic pathways. This work provides novel insights into the molecular basis of leaf color variation and offers a theoretical foundation for genetic improvement of leafy vegetable sweet potato. Full article