Plant fibers are sustainable sources of materials for many industries, and can be obtained from a variety of plants. Cellulose is the main constituent of plant-based fibers, and its properties give the characteristics of the fibers obtained. Detailed characterization of cellulosic fibers is often performed after lengthy extraction procedures, while fast screening might bring the benefit of quick qualitative assessment of unprocessed stems. The aim of this research was to define some marker spectral regions that could serve for fast, preliminary qualitative characterization of unprocessed stems from some textile plants through a practical and minimally invasive method without lengthy extraction procedures. This could serve as a screening method for sorting raw materials by providing an accurate overall fingerprint of chemical composition. For this purpose, we conducted comparative Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) prospecting for quality markers in stems of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and jute (Corchorus olitorius L.). Analysis confirmed the presence of major components in the stems of the studied plants. Fingerprint regions for cellulose signals were attributed to bands at 1420–1428 cm⁻¹ assigned to the crystalline region and 896–898 cm⁻¹ assigned to the amorphous region of cellulose. The optimization of characterization methods for raw materials is important and can find immediate practical applications.

Lavender is in the research spotlight due to its increasing economic importance, while market demand is expected to continue to grow. Among the hundreds of essential-oil-bearing plants, Lavandula angustifolia Mill. remains one of the most valuable. This paper explores the lavender chain timeline from crop to products, examining the expanding knowledge on the characteristics, phytochemical profile and functional potential of lavender that could lead to new products and uses. Lavender crops can be expanded without competing for productive land, instead using marginal, contaminated or unproductive land. A novel cultivation trend proposes leveraging agri-background biodiversity, arbuscular mycorrhiza and the natural enemies of pests for healthy crops. Together with breeding efforts targeting highly performant genotypes with complex volatile profiles coupled with resistance to specific biotic (particularly Phytoplasma) and abiotic (salt, heavy metals) stressors, industry could have a steady supply of high-quality raw material. Besides the expansion of the uses of essential oil in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and environmental and agri-applications, novel channels have appeared for the use of the solid by-product, which is rich in polyphenols and polysaccharides; these channels have the potential to create additional streams of value. The stabilization and optimization of techno-functional delivery systems through the encapsulation of essential oil can extend shelf-life and enhance biological activity efficiency.

Increasing interest in medicinal plants encourages the growers to consider extending their range of cultivated species. Acclimatization and adaptation of species introduced for cultivation in new areas remain a challenge of modern agriculture. One of the first steps for optimizing the cultivation technology is determining the plant phenology in the local conditions. Therefore, the aim of this research was to provide a standardized phenology scale for Agastache sp. and to apply it in assessing the suitability for cultivation in a local environment of some valuable Agastache species: Agastache scrophulariifolia, Agastache rugosa, Agastache mexicana, Agastache foeniculum and Agastache rugosa ‘After Eight’. During the vegetation period, nine growth stages were identified: germination/emergence, leaf development, formation of side shoots, stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, fruit maturity, senescence and beginning of resting. Observations conducted over two years revealed that the vegetation period increased from 168.8 ± 3.51 days in the first year to 199.0 ± 1.82 days in the second year. In both vegetation periods, the flowering phenophase predominated, but the abundance of precipitations shortened the flowering duration in the second year. The duration of phenophases was highly influenced by growing degree days. Phenological assessment based on a standardized scale can be a useful tool for evaluating cultivation potential and the planning of technological resources.

Oregano and tarragon are widely cultivated culinary herbs used for food seasoning, having familiar characteristic aromas appreciated by the wide public. The aim of this research was to characterize essential oils (EOs) from locally sourced organic oregano and tarragon (Cluj, Romania) and study their bioactivity potential. Results showed that oregano EO had a sesquiterpene dominant profile responsible for strong bands between 2800 and 3000 cm⁻¹ on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum and a composition consistent with reports from similar climatic regions. The tarragon EO profile was defined by phenylpropanoids responsible for the strong sharp peaks between 1000 and 1600 cm⁻¹ on the FT-IR spectrum. In oregano EO, 22 compounds were identified with β-caryophyllene as a major constituent. In tarragon EO, 20 compounds were identified with eugenol as a major constituent. Oregano EO had a stronger antibacterial effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains, while tarragon EO had a slightly stronger cytotoxic effect on three types of cancer cell lines tested (skin melanoma, prostate carcinoma, and colorectal adenocarcinoma). It was concluded that, given the fact that a sufficient supply of high-quality plant material can be available for EO extraction, culinary herbs can become reliable candidates for many industries without the risk of discontinued supply. Therefore, research aiming to widen their potential applications is welcome and worth pursuing.

Researches carrying evidence for various uses and bioactive principles of Agastache spp. are justifying the upscaling into cultivation of these medicinal species. But, hindrances in their cultivation exist due to the insufficient documentation of their biology under field conditions. Because productivity of these medicinal species (herba) is ensured by the combined contribution of plant agronomic traits, these are related to the feasibility of the crop and therefore, can be used as predictors for successful cultivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate comparatively four valuable Agastache species (A. mexicana, A. scrophulariifolia, A. foeniculum) and one cultivar (A. rugosa ‘After Eight’), in order to identify the favourability for cultivation in local conditions (Romania). Based on the structural indicators of plant morphology (plant height, shoot number, leaf number, leaf length and width, inflorescence length, verticillaster number and flower number), registered over the span of two years, were explored relationships and similarities as well as their implications in previsioning the phenotypic potential. The results showed that studied species acclimatized successfully and all agronomic parameters studied increased in values in the second year. The average plant height in second year (2020) was 109.8 cm and average inflorescences length 9.6 cm. Stable positive correlations between inflorescence length with plant height and shoot number were observed, while differences among species became pronounced as plants become established, evidenced by clearer distinction in the second year. Phenotypic potential in the absence of inputs enables the feasibility assessment for medicinal plants introduced for cultivation in new regions.

Hemp is a multipurpose crop. Due to the revived interest in sustainable crops, hemp cultivation has increased in recent years. Both dioecious and monoecious hemp varieties are cultivated, yet few studies provide a comparative characterization. Monoecious cannabis plants are more uniform and economically efficient, being a whole-plant harvesting type. The aim of this research was to provide a comparative characterization of monoecious versus dioecious hemp bast fibers. There was conducted a microscopic analysis that showed their localization, the FTIR characterization of raw lignocellulosic fibers and extract bioactivity assays (antioxidant and microbiologic). Results indicated that FTIR absorbance ratios of peaks 1427/897 cm^-1, 1373-1375/667 cm^-1, and1373/2905-2910 cm^-1 are relevant for hemp fibers parameters. A significant positive correlation was found between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (r = 0.69*, r = 0.56*). Analysis of raw bast fibers extract indicated that the monoecious cultivar in the senescence phenophases had highest total phenolic content, and was more effective against all tested pathogenic bacterial strains. Both monoecious cultivar and male plants of the dioecious cultivar had higher total phenolic content than female plants of the dioecious cultivar, although at different phenophases. The male plants in the technological maturity phenophases presented the highest total phenolic content. Lower antioxidant activity was registered by female plants of the dioecious cultivar, which also showed lower total phenolic content, and the extract had no effect against Listeria monocytogenes, regardless of harvest time. The findings thus point to monoecious cultivars as having potential relevance in applications requiring enhanced bioactive properties, besides being advantageous for large-scale cultivation for fibers and seeds due to the economic efficiency.