The main focus of the study was to determine the content of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and organic acids in the flowers of Tagetes patula ‘Petite Gold’ and ‘Petite Orange’. The growth of the plants was assessed depending on the cultivation conditions. The above plants were illuminated with white light, whereas the ‘Petite Gold’ ones with white light enhanced with blue or red light. Both cultivars grew in a two-level-mineral compounds organic substrate. The research showed that the French marigold flowers were rich in phenolic compounds and organic acids. The ‘Petite Gold’ flowers had more bioactive compounds compared with the ‘Petite Orange’ flowers. Three flavonoids, 10 phenolic acids and seven organic acids were found in the ‘Petite Gold’ flowers. The artificial lighting used during the cultivation of the plants showed diversified influence on the content of organic compounds in their flowers. The measurements of the plants’ morphological traits and the number of inflorescences showed that illumination with red light resulted in a better effect. Large plants with numerous inflorescences grew in the substrate with a lower content of nutrients.

The study focused on the determination of phenolic acids, flavonoids and organic acids in five tulip cultivars ‘Barcelona’, ‘Columbus’, ‘Strong Gold’, ‘Super Parrot’ and ‘Tropicana’. The cultivars grown in field and in a greenhouse were exposed after cutting to different times of storage (0, 3 and 6 days). The phenolic profile contained 4-hydroxybenzoic, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic, gallic, vanillic, syringic, salicylic, protocatechuic, trans-cinnamic, p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic and sinapic acids, as well as quercetin, rutin, luteonin, catechin and vitexin. The mean phenolic acid content was in the following order: ‘Columbus’ and ‘Tropicana’ > ’Barcelona’ > ’Strong Gold’ > ’Super Parrot’, while the levels of flavonoids were as follows: ‘Strong Gold’ > ’Barcelona’ > ’Tropicana’ > ’Columbus’ > ’Super Parrot’. The highest content of phenolic acids was confirmed for Columbus and Tropicana, while the lowest was for Super Parrot. However total phenolic content was very similar, observed between the place of cultivation, time of storage and cultivars. Malonic, succinic, acetic and citric acids were the major organic acid components in tulip petals. More organic acids (except malonic) were accumulated in tulip petals from fields than those from the greenhouse, while changes during storage were strictly correlated with cultivars.

The study aimed to determine the content of phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and organic acids in dried flowers and water infusions of non-oxidised and oxidised flowers from four lilac cultivars. The diversity in the total phenolic and flavonoid content was in the flowers (18.35–67.14 and 2.03–2.65 mg g⁻¹ DW, respectively) and infusions (14.72–47.78 and 0.20–1.84 mg per 100 mL infusion, respectively) depending the flower colour and form (oxidised and non-oxidised). Phenolic compounds and organic acids were susceptible to oxidation. Compared to infusions, flowers had more phenolic compounds and organic acids. The highest content of most phenolic compounds was confirmed for non-oxidised purple flowers (up to 7825.9 µg g⁻¹ DW for chlorogenic acid) while in infusions for non-oxidised white flowers (up to 667.1 µg per 100 mL infusions for vanillic acid). The phenolic profile of the infusions was less diverse than that of flowers. The scavenging ability ranged from 52 to 87%. The highest organic acid content in flowers was for oxidised blue and purple flowers (2528.1 and 2479.0 µg g⁻¹ DW, respectively) while in infusions the highest organic acid content was for oxidised purple flowers (550.1 µg per 100 mL infusions).

The use of plants on balconies in the city | Agnieszka Krzymińska, Jan Bocianowski, Katarzyna Mądrachowska | Agricultural Journals

Hyacinths are used in flowerbed in cities. Plants are exposed to difficult urban conditions prevailing in winter, including notably to soil salinity resulting mainly from the use of sodium chloride. The aim of the study was analysed the response of Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ to increased concentrations of sodium chloride in the soil. Pots with bulbs were each treated with 100 cm³ of NaCl aqueous solution at a concentration of either 10 g ^.dm^-3 (dose level 1) or 20 g^. dm^-3 (dose level 2). Pots were irrigated with the NaCl aqueous solution in September or in January of the following year. After keeping the bulbs at a cool temperature for 12 weeks, the plants were grown in a greenhouse where they were assessed in terms of growth parameters and free proline content. The obtained results showed that the growth and the ornamental qualities of Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ after treatment with sodium chloride were sufficient for recommending this plant for growing in flower beds exposed to salinity of 6.1-8.6 g dm^-3. The leaf greenness index and proline content (in the second season) were greater and the length of forcing period was longer (in the second season), when the sodium chloride was applied to the soil on the day of planting bulbs.

This study aims to evaluate the flowering phenology of selected 95 Elepidote Rhododendron taxa. The flowering period was assessed, distinguishing ten developmental stages. Flowering was observed every three days. The comparative scale prepared indicates the exact succession of bloom of taxa. Flowering of 95 taxa lasted from the end of April to the second half of June. The flowering period of individual cultivars ranged from 2 to 9 weeks. The flowering time of cultivars belonging to the same species was mostly similar. The term of cultivars flowering was in the following tendency order: R. caucasicum–R. wardii–R. forestii–R. williamsianum–R. catawbiense–R. ponticum.