Expression Effects of CHI and CHS Genes and Colchicine Treatment in Yellow Flowered Cyclamen: a Review

Nowadays, the field of entirely artificial hybrids raises ethical problems in the animal world and to a lesser amount in plants. Throughout the years, yellow Cyclamen has been particularly important for both breeders and passionate growers as being a peculiar color for this species. The possibility to artificially induce hybrids between species that can never normally cross it’s now achievable. This paper describes the possibility of obtaining high ornamental yellow flowered cyclamen, through chromosome doubling. The pollen and seed sterility can be overcome by doubling the chromosomes. In this sense, there are two full sets from each parent, resulting in a fertile hybrid, by introducing the in vitro culture into colchicine supplemented medium

Exogenously Applied GA3 Enhances Morphological Parameters of Tolerant and Sensitive Cyclamen persicum Genotypes under Ambient Temperature and Heat Stress Conditions

Cyclamen genus is part of the Primulaceae family consisting of 24 species widely cultivated as ornamental and medicinal plants. They also possess high plasticity in terms of adaptability to alternating environmental conditions. In this regard, the present study investigates the germination and morphological parameters of heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive Cyclamen persicum accessions in the presence of different GA3 solutions (0, 30, 70 and 90 mg/L) under ambient temperature and heat stress conditions. Heat-tolerant genotypes, mainly C3-Smartiz Victoria (6.42%), C15-Merengue magenta (6.47%) and C16-Metis silverleaf (5.12%) had the highest germination rate with 90 mg/L GA3 treatment compared with control. Regarding heat-sensitive genotypes, C11-Verano (5.11%) and C13-Metis Origami (4.28%) had the lowest values in mean germination time, along with the Petticoat genotypes C1 (73.3%) and C2 (80.0%) with a high germination percentage. Heat-tolerant genotypes positively responded to GA3 (70 and 90 mg/L) even under heat stress conditions, by their higher values in plant height, an ascending trend also seen in heat-sensitive genotypes under GA3 treatment (70 and 90 mg/L). According to the hierarchical clustering, several heat-tolerant genotypes showed peculiar behavior under heat stress conditions, namely C3 (Smartiz Victoria), C7 (Halios falbala) and C8 (Latinia pipoca) which proved to be susceptible to heat stress even under GA3 application, compared with the other genotypes which showed tolerance to higher temperatures. In the case of heat-sensitive genotypes, C4 (Smartiz violet fonce), C6 (Metis blank pur), C11 (Verano) and C13 (Metis origami) possessed higher positive or negative values compared with the other heat-sensitive genotypes with increased doses of GA3. These genotypes were shown to be less affected by heat stress, suggesting their positive response to hormone treatment. In conclusion, the above-mentioned genotypes, particularly heat-tolerant C15 and heat-sensitive C2 with the highest germination capacity and development can be selected as heat-resistant genotypes to be deposited in gene banks and used in further amelioration programs under biotic and/or abiotic stresses to develop resistant genotypes

Morphological Responses of <i>Viola</i> Accessions to Nutrient Solution Application and Electrical Conductivity

Growing of ornamental flowering plants represents an important sector of horticulture. Viola × wittrockiana (garden pansy) is used in garden beds and borders due to their colorful blooming, which occurs in early spring and late autumn. Nowadays, breeders focus on applying different nutrient solutions to improve the quality, flowering, and ornamental properties of plants, yet electrical conductivity (EC) level is an important fact to know. It is known that higher EC levels can inhibit plants’ growth. In the present study, pansy seedlings were subjected to different EC nutrient solutions 1 (control), 2, 3.5, 5, and 6.5 mS cm−1 EC to assess the positive or negative effects regarding the plant’s growth and development. The results indicated that an appropriate EC level of nutrient solution can have a positive effect on growth parameters, as well as on the flowering of plants. According to the hierarchical clustering, the used EC nutrient solutions significantly influenced the growth, number of shoots and leaves and the inflorescences number. From the present study results, it can be concluded that even though all EC levels increased growth parameters compared with control, the greatest results were obtained in plants under the effect of the 5 mS cm−1 of EC

Bioactive Molecules for Discriminating Robinia and Helianthus Honey: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Electron Spray Ionization–Mass Spectrometry Polyphenolic Profile and Physicochemical Determinations

Bioactive molecules from the class of polyphenols are secondary metabolites from plants. They are present in honey from nectar and pollen of flowers from where honeybees collect the “raw material” to produce honey. Robinia pseudoacacia and Helianthus annuus are important sources of nectar for production of two monofloral honeys with specific characteristics and important biological activity. A high-performance liquid chromatography–electro spray ionization–mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS) separation method was used to determine polyphenolic profile from the two types of Romanian unifloral honeys. Robinia and Helianthus honey showed a common flavonoid profile, where pinobanksin (1.61 and 1.94 mg/kg), pinocembrin (0.97 and 1.78 mg/kg) and chrysin (0.96 and 1.08 mg/kg) were identified in both honey types; a characteristic flavonoid profile in which acacetin (1.20 mg/kg), specific only for Robinia honey, was shown; and quercetin (1.85 mg/kg), luteolin (21.03 mg/kg), kaempferol (0.96 mg/kg) and galangin (1.89 mg/kg), specific for Helianthus honey, were shown. In addition, different phenolic acids were found in Robinia and Helianthus honey, while abscisic acid was found only in Robinia honey. Abscisic acid was correlated with geographical location; the samples collected from the south part of Romania had higher amounts, due to climatic conditions. Acacetin was proposed as a biochemical marker for Romanian Robinia honey and quercetin for Helianthus honey

Annual Development Performance of Fixed Honeybee Colonies Linked with Chemical and Mineral Profile of Bee Collected Pollen

Climate change affects plant phenology and, as a result, can damage nectar and pollen sources, which are the basic needs of bees during flowering. This situation creates nutritional stress for bee colonies in the region. Changing climatic conditions, the use of agricultural lands adversely affects honeybees and beekeepers. The aim of this study is to determine the annual development performance of fixed honeybee colonies linked with the chemical and mineral profile of bee collected pollen. According to the research findings, in terms of colony development parameters, the number of bee frames (9.17) was found to be at the highest level in May, and in terms of brood area (4652.35 cm(2)) in April (P<0.05). March, April, and May are the most abundant months in terms of pollen collection of the colonies (P<0.05). The pollen samples collected are rich in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and iron. There are differences between months in terms of pollen sources and mineral levels. Especially in stationary beekeeping, additional feeding is required during critical periods. The existing flora is insufficient for the future of the honey bee. In periods when the flora is weak, important plants for the honey bee should be grown in the region.Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) [TAGEM/HAYSuD/B/20/A4/P5/1890]; TAGEM; Aegean Agricultural Research InstituteThis article is part of the project 'The Pollen Preferences of Honeybees and the Effects of Pollen Use in Winter on Colony Dynamic' (TAGEM/HAYSuD/B/20/A4/P5/1890) supported by The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), We would like to acknowledge TAGEM and Aegean Agricultural Research Institute for their support

Monofloral Honeys as a Potential Source of Natural Antioxidants, Minerals and Medicine

Background: vegetative diversity is based on different climate and geographical origins. In terms of beekeeping, herbal diversity is strongly correlated to the production of a wide variety of honey. Therefore, based on the existing plant diversity in each country, multiple honey varieties are produced with different health characteristics. While beekeeping potential and consumption preferences are reflected in products' variety, this leads to an increase in the region's economy and extensive export. In the last years, monofloral honey has gained interest from consumers and especially in the medicinal field due to the presence of phytochemicals which are directly linked to health benefits, wound healing, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Scope and approach: this review aims to highlight the physicochemical properties, mineral profiles and antioxidant activities of selected monofloral honeys based on their botanical and geographical origin. Moreover, this review focuses on the intercorrelation between monofloral honey's antioxidant compounds and in vitro and in vivo activities, focusing on the apoptosis and cell proliferation inhibition in various cell lines, with a final usage of honey as a potential therapeutic product in the fight towards reducing tumor growth. Key findings and conclusions: multiple studies have demonstrated that monofloral honeys have different physicochemical structures and bioactive compounds. Useful chemical markers to distinguish between monofloral honeys were evidenced, such as: 2-methoxybenzoic acid and trimethoxybenzoic acid are distinctive to Manuka honey while 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid is characteristic to Kanuka honey. Furthermore, resveratrol, epigallocatechin and pinostrobin are markers distinct to Sage honey, whereas carvacrol and thymol are found in Ziziphus honey. Due to their polyphenolic profile, monofloral honeys have significant antioxidant activity, as well as antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. It was demonstrated that Pine honey decreased the MDA and TBARS levels in liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues, whereas Malicia honey reduced the low-density lipoprotein level. Consumption of Clover, Acacia and Gelam honeys reduced the weight and adiposity, as well as trygliceride levels. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect of chrysin, a natural flavone in Acacia honey, was demonstrated in human (A375) and murine (B16-F1) melanoma cell lines, whereas caffeic acid, a phenolic compound found in Kelulut honey, proves to be significant candidate in the chemoprevention of colon cancer. Based on these features, the use of hiney in the medicinal field (apitherapy), and the widespread usage of natural product consumption, is gaining interest by each year.[PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0056-2PCCDI]The publication was funded by PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0056-2PCCDI

Anthocyanins and Carotenoids Characterization in Flowers and Leaves of Cyclamen Genotypes Linked with Bioactivities Using Multivariate Analysis Techniques

The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare in vitro antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and the individual carotenoids and anthocyanins content of methanol extracts of the Cyclamen genotypes: Persian cyclamen accessions (Cyclamen persicum Mill.), sowbread (C. mirabile Hildebr.), and ivy-leaved cyclamen (C. hederifolium Mill.) aerial parts. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the presence of five individual carotenoids (i.e., neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and cis-β-carotene) as the main compounds in Cyclamen leaves, and the presence of seven individual anthocycanins (i.e., cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin-rutinoside, peonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, and malvidin-rutinoside) in Cyclamen flowers reported, hereby, for the first time. The highest phenolic content was found in the leaves of LC6, C. mirabile (46.32 ± 0.14 mg/g gallic acid equivalents [GAE]), and in the flowers of C. persicum Merengue Magenta (FC15) (58.63 ± 0.17 mg/g GAE), whereas the highest flavonoid content was reported in C. persicum Halios Falbala leaves, namely LC9 (54.90 ± 0.27 mg/g quercetin equivalents [QE]) and in flowers of C. persicum Victora (FC2) (77.87 ± 0.25 mg/g QE). The highest antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays was reported in C. persicum Dark Violet (LC1) and Victoria (LC2), whereas C. mirabile (LC6) had the highest activity in the TEAC assay. In flowers, high antioxidant activities in DPPH and TEAC were noticed in C. persicum Superserie Red (FC7) and Dark Violet (FC1), respectively, and Halios Falbala (FC9) exhibited the highest activity in the TEAC assay. Additionally, FC9 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in almost all tested bacteria compared with the leaves extracts. Furthermore, the highest in vitro citotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells was noticed in C. hederifolium LC18 (56.71–69.35%) and FC18 (40.07–41.43%), with a lower effect against BJ cells demonstrating selective toxicity. The above findings, highlight the potential use of the Cyclamen flower and leaf extracts as significant anticancer agents along with their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties

A REVIEW ON CYCLAMEN SPECIES: TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS VS. PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS

The mechanism of floral mutation including double flowers in plant species can be explained by the ABCDE model which represents the relationship between MADS-box transcription factor genes and floral morphogenesis. The ornamental importance of Cyclamen led to the creation of double-flowered cultivars caused by the repression of AG-like gene expression in whorl 3. Modifications in these genes also influence the accumulation of different bioactive compounds depending on species and/or variety. In antiquity, cyclamen plants were recognized for their therapeutic qualities and later gained importance due to their content in saponins, which have been reported to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and also to alleviate symptoms in acute rhinosinusitis patients. Furthermore, the extracts and isolated compounds are used as treatments in a wide range of diseases. In this review, we describe the transcription factors and their role in the development and ABCDE model formation of organs which led to the development of double-petal and fragrant varieties. Additionally, we describe the potential mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic effects of saponin extracts against cancers and inflammatory disorders and their potential as a pharmacological agent in clinical studies

Changes in Vitellogenin (Vg) and Stress Protein (HSP 70) in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) Groups under Different Diets Linked with Physico-Chemical, Antioxidant and Fatty and Amino Acid Profiles

Honey bee colonies are often subjected to diseases, nutrition quality, temperature and other stresses depending on environmental and climatic conditions. As a result of malnutrition, the level of Vg protein decreases, leading to overwintering losses. The Vg values must be high for a successful wintering, especially before wintering. If good nutrition is not reached, the long winter period may cause an increase in colony losses. Supplementary feeding is essential for colony sustainability when floral resources are insufficient, as in recent years with the emerging climate changes. Furthermore, quality food sources or nutrients are significant for maintaining honey bee health and longevity. This study examined the changes in HSP 70 and Vg proteins in 6 groups of 48 colonies fed with five different nutrients. The fatty acids that are present in the highest amount in Cistus creticus (Pink rock-rose), Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy) and mixed pollen samples were linoleic, palmitic and cis-9-oleic acids. The highest values in proline, lysine and glutamic acid were determined in C. creticus pollen. Regarding the P. somniferum pollen, the highest values were observed in lysine, proline, glutamic and aspartic acids. The highest values in lysine, proline, leucine and aspartic acid were noticed in mixed pollen. The effect of different feeding on Vg protein in nurse and forager bee samples was higher in the mixed pollen group in the fall period. In nurse bees, the mixed pollen group was followed by Cistus creticus pollen &gt; Papaver somniferum pollen &gt; sugar syrup &gt; commercial bee cake &gt; control group, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). In forager bees, the order was mixed pollen, P. somniferum pollen, C. creticus pollen, commercial bee cake, sugar syrup and control. In the early spring period, the Vg levels were high in the mixed pollen group in the nurse bees and the commercial bee cake group in the forager bees. In the fall period, the HSP 70 value of the forager and nurse bees was the lowest in the C. creticus group (p &lt; 0.05). In early spring, the active period of flora, a statistical difference was found between the treatment groups

Bee Collected Pollen and Bee Bread: Bioactive Constituents and Health Benefits

Cornea-Cipcigan, Mihaiela/0000-0003-3313-2416; da Graca Ribeiro Campos, Maria/0000-0003-1012-6240; Topal, Erkan/0000-0002-1398-4390; Vodnar, Dan C./0000-0001-5407-8071WOS: 000506633000001PubMed: 31756937Bee products were historically used as a therapheutic approach and in food consumption, while more recent data include important details that could validate them as food supplements due to their bioproperties, which support their future use as medicines. in this review data, data collected from bee pollen (BP) and bee bread (BB) essays will be discussed and detailed for their nutritional and health protective properties as functional foods. Dietary antioxidants intake derived from BP and BB have been associated with the prevention and clinical treatment of multiple diseases. the beneficial effects of BP and BB on health result from the presence of multiple polyphenols which possess anti-inflammatory properties, phytosterols and fatty acids, which play anticancerogenic roles, as well as polysaccharides, which stimulate immunological activity. From the main bioactivity studies with BP and BB, in vitro studies and animal experiments, the stimulation of apoptosis and the inhibition of cell proliferation in multiple cell lines could be one of the major therapeutic adjuvant effects to be explored in reducing tumor growth. Tables summarizing the main data available in this field and information about other bio-effects of BP and BB, which support the conclusions, are provided. Additionally, a discussion about the research gaps will be presented to help further experiments that complete the tree main World Health Organization (WHO) Directives of Efficiency, Safety and Quality Control for these products.National Research, Development and Innovations Programme for 2015-2020-PNII; UEFISCDI [PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0473, 8 PCCDI]; National Research Development Projects by the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation [(PFE)-37/2018-2020]This work was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovations Programme for 2015-2020-PNII, developed with the support of UEFISCDI (Project No.PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0473; 8 PCCDI, and the publication was supported by funds from the National Research Development Projects to finance excellence (PFE)-37/2018-2020 granted by the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation