We investigated the influence of different conditions (light composition and plant growth regulators (PGRs) in culture media) on the morphophysiological parameters of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni in vitro and in vivo. Both PGRs and the light spectra applied were found to significantly affect plant morphogenesis. During the micropropagation stage of S. rebaudiana, optimal growth, with a multiplication coefficient of 15, was obtained in an MS culture medium containing 2,4-epibrassinolide (Epin) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mg L⁻¹, respectively. During the rooting stage, we found that the addition of 0.5 mg L⁻¹ hydroxycinnamic acid (Zircon) to the MS medium led to an optimal root formation frequency of 85% and resulted in the formation of strong plants with well-developed leaf blades. Cultivation on media containing 0.1 mg L⁻¹ Epin and 0.5 mg L⁻¹ IAA and receiving coherent light irradiation on a weekly basis resulted in a 100% increase in the multiplication coefficient, better adventitious shoot growth, and a 33% increase in the number of leaves. S. rebaudiana microshoots, cultured on MS media containing 1.0 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg L⁻¹ IAA with red monochrome light treatments, increased the multiplication coefficient by 30% compared with controls (white light, media without PGRs).

Hoa Binh province is one of the best places for orchids in Vietnam. The climate and environment of Hoa Binh province are favorable for the development of orchids, especially rare indigenous ones. Dendrobium anosmum Lindl., which stands out because of the unique fragrance and colors, is one of the most popular varieties in Hoa Binh province. To meet the increasing demands of the industrial market as well as to contribute to the preservation and development of genetic resources of Dendrobium sp. in Hoa Binh province, propagating D. anosmum Lindl. is a crucial step. Plant tissue culture, which has been applied to improve reproducibility of orchids for many years, is still an effective method, especially for large-scale propagation. Studies on in vitro propagation of D. anosmum Lindl. from Hoa Binh province showed that growth regulators (BA, kinetin, α-NAA) did not have a significant effect on protocorm initiation because D. anosmum Lind. from Hoa Binh province already has a high rate of regeneration. However, MS medium + 1.0 mg/L kinetin + 0.5 mg/L α-NAA + 30 g sucrose + 8.0 g agar per liter, pH 5.7–5.8 was the optimal medium to increase shoot length. The MS medium + 1.0 g activated charcoal + 30 g sucrose + 8.0 g agar per liter, pH 5.7–5.8 was the most suitable medium for shoot growth—after 6 weeks of culture, the average shoot length was 1.09 cm, the average number of leaves was 6.13, the average number of roots was 3.17, and the average root length was 1.11 cm—about 3.3, 4.17, 3.41, and 1.67 times higher, respectively, than in the control (without activated charcoal).

The paper presents the results of a 50-year research of the genepool of the winter wheat from the world’s largest wheat collection of N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) to investigate its resistance to the abiotic stress factors of the Moscow region and see how closely it matches the attributes of a wheat ideotype as postulated by N.I. Vavilov in 1935. The critical years in studying the wheat’s winter resistance were 10 years out of 50: excessive water saturation during the year 2013; soil drought in 1988; and atmospheric drought in 1972 and 2010. During the investigation, the following gene pool features were analyzed: frost characterized by the cultivar Sojuz 50 (Russia), rapid temperature change, thawing, ice, and rotting resistance characterized by the cultivars Zarya 2 (Russia), Sv 75268, (Sweden), Caristerm and Tukan (Germany), PP 114-74 and Liwilla (Poland), Maris Ploughman and Granta (Great Britain), Titan (USA), Zdar (Czech), and Zenta (Switzerland); regeneration capacity in spring after poor wintering expressed by the cultivars Pamyati Fedina (Russia), TAW 3668.71 (Germany) and Rmo (Poland); resistance to excessive soil and air saturation exhibited by the cultivars Moskovskaya 39 (Russia), Tukan, Compal, Obelisk, Orestis, and Bussard (Germany); solid standing culm that is resistant to lodging characterized by the cultivars Tukan, Kronjuwel, Compal (Germany), Zenta (Switzerland), Moskovskaya 56 (Russia), and Hvede Sarah (Denmark); resistance to enzyme-mycotic depletion of seeds characterized by the cultivars Tukan, Compal, Obelisk, Orestis, Bussard (Germany), Sv 75268, Helge, VG 73394, Salut, Sv 75355 (Sweden), Zenta (Switzerland), Moskovskaya 39, and Ferrugineum 737.76 (Russia); and resistance to soil and atmospheric drought demonstrated by the cultivars Liessau, Heine Stamm, Severin, Neuzucht 14/4, Haynes, Rus 991, Halle 1020 (Germany), Gama (Poland), Sv 71536 (Sweden), and Moskovskaya 39 (Russia). Moreover, the cultivar Mironovskaya 808 (Ukraine) showed resistance to almost all abiotic stress factors studied. The performed study contributes towards the provision of potential sources of resistance to abiotic stress factors prevalent in the Moscow region that can be incorporated in advanced breeding programs.

This work focuses on developing light environments for the effective regulation of morphogenesis and ex vitro conditions adaptation in micropropagated raspberry plants on the basis of photomorphogenetic control of physiological processes using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In experiments with cloned plants growing ex vitro in stressful conditions during acclimation, the effects of optical radiation of various spectral combinations from different photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectral regions were studied. The data on the plant development and state of the photosynthetic apparatus, features of photosynthetic gas exchange and transpiration, accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, light curves of photosynthesis, and data on growth processes in light modes using combined quasimonochromatic radiation (either mixture of red, green, and blue light or red, far-red, and blue light) with various ratio of the distinct spectral regions were obtained. Photosynthetic apparatus functional activity under different light conditions was studied with chlorophyll fluorescence determination, and plant stress responses to growing under artificial spectral light conditions were characterized. The experiments were accompanied by detailed plant phenotyping at the structural and functional levels. Plant acclimation and photosynthetic improvements in response to added far-red and green light wavelengths to the main red-blue spectrum have been elucidated.

Black cardamom (Amomum tsao-ko Crevost & Lemarié) is a spice plant of great commercial value in Vietnam, but with limited propagation ability. Its seeds are characterized by a thick and hard seed coat, a small endosperm, and a small embryo, which are the causes of the physical dormancy of the seeds and low germination. Attempts in this study to improve the germination rate and achieve uniform germination included mechanical scarification, immersion in hot or cold water, acid scarification, and the application of plant growth regulators. Although immersion of seeds in cold water and application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) (gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 1-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA)) showed positive effects on seed germination and subsequent seedling growth, mechanical scarification provided the highest germination rate of black cardamom seeds (68.0%) and significantly shortened germination time (53.7 days) compared to control (16.0% and 74.7 days). On the other hand, an efficient micropropagation protocol has been established using shoot tip explants derived from in-vitro-grown seedlings. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.5 mg/L NAA proved to be most suitable for rapid multiplication and rooting, providing a mean of 5.4 shoots per explant, 6.8 cm shoot length, and 16.2 roots per explant after 7 weeks of culture. Well-rooted black cardamom plantlets have been successfully adapted to ex vitro conditions. “Fasco” bio-soil was more suitable for acclimatization, with a 48.9% survival rate, 23.3 cm plant length, and 5.7 leaves per plant after 3 months of planting. Improved germination and multiplication protocols can be used to improve propagation performances and to develop elite of black cardamom planting material.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam), a member of the bindweed family (Convolvulaceae Juss.), is well known for its food, medicinal, and industrial values. It is estimated that more than 7000 sweet potato cultivars have been bred to date. Jewel sweet potato (I. batatas Lam cv. Jewel) is one of the most popular cultivars of sweet potato grown today because of its high nutritional value, delicious taste, and is suitable for all processing methods. However, little is known about the micropropagation of jewel sweet potato. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of three important factors, including culture medium, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and artificial light sources, on the induction, proliferation, and growth of in vitro I. batatas ‘Jewel’ shoots obtained from the axillary bud and shoot tip explants. The different Murashige and Skoog (MS) salt levels (33%, 50%, 100%, and 150%) were used to study the influence of mineral treatment. To assess the influence of PGRs, we used 0.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) combined with various cytokinins, including 0.5–2.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.5–2.0 mg/L kinetin (Kn), and 0.1–1.0 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ). On the other hand, the in vitro shoots were cultivated in a light room with different lighting conditions. Three lighting treatments (differences in the ratio between the red (R) and blue (B) spectra) were used. Research results have shown that the medium containing 50% MS salt concentration supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP or 0.5 mg/L Kn combined with 0.5 mg/L IAA was the most suitable for induction, proliferation, and growth of in vitro jewel sweet potato shoots. On the other hand, stem pieces bearing the axillary buds’ explants were determined to be suitable for the shoot induction. Using artificial light with different blue/red ratios also had a significant effect on the growth of explants and stimulates shoot or root formation.