The current study was carried out to monitor the dynamics of phenolic compounds and vitamin C variations in Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) under the influence of different color filters, as follows: yellow (590 nm), blue (450 nm), and violet (400 nm). The fruits were harvested at maturity from different parts of the canopy (i.e., base, middle, and top), immediately stored at −18 °C, and afterward lyophilized to reduce the loss of compounds for preparing the chemical assays that were carried out. HPLC-DAD-ESI⁺ was used to determine the phenolic compounds and vitamin C content of the fruits. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) measurements were also carried out to confirm the antioxidant character of the berries. This is the first study to examine the effect of different color filters on the accumulation of phenolic compounds and vitamin C content in the fruits of sea buckthorn. Among the three color filters used, the violet filter proved to be the most beneficial for the accumulation of total phenolic compounds (3.326 mg/g) and vitamin C (1.550 mg/g) in the berries. To reach high contents of phenolic compounds and vitamin C, the best setup included using very-high-energy emission LEDs as close as possible to blue and violet (400–450 nm). Therefore, the different light color intensities and temperatures on each level of a canopy play key roles in enhancing the phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content of sea buckthorn fruits. This knowledge will help provide insights into the accumulation of secondary metabolites and improve future production strategies in sea buckthorn.

Geraniums (pelargoniums or storksbills, officially named as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hér. Ex Aiton) are appreciated worldwide due to their ornamental potential and versatility. The research was conducted to emphasize the evolution of morpho-decorative and qualitative traits of two geranium cultivars of high aesthetic value, namely ‘Tango Salmon’ (Montevideo) and ‘Tango Dark Red’, depending on two different fertilization, conventional-chemical fertilization, and unconventional scheme, with a homeopathic solution respectively. It is excessive repetitiveness and is not the case.) cultivar, unconventional fertilization scheme tested conducted to the best results regarding most morpho-decorative characters investigated (33.40 cm height, 21.10 leaves/plant, 34.75 flowers/inflorescence, 2.35% nitrogen, and 48.34 SPAD). For cultivar ‘Tango Dark Red’, the conventional fertilization conducted to the best results in terms of height (18.90 cm), stems/plant (5.90), leaves/plant (14.95), and flowers/inflorescence (37.55), while unconventional fertilization led to higher nitrogen accumulation (2.18%) and enhanced chlorophyll synthesis (47.08 SPAD). Between nitrogen and chlorophyll contents within geranium leaves, strong positive correlations were identified in ‘Tango Salmon’, and weak to moderate in ‘Tango Dark Red’ cultivar. Higher scores were attributed to aesthetic indicators for ‘Tango Salomon’ compared to ‘Tango Dark Red’. The unconventional fertilization of geranium cultivars is an eco-friendly solution for enhancing their morpho-decorative characteristics.

This research investigated the structural and chemical modifications of Dahlia ‘Kennemerland’ across different technological conditions and throughout the vegetation period. Using FT-IR imaging, this study focused on the changes in the inulin, lignin, and suberin contents of tuberous roots. FT-IR maps were generated to visualize the distribution of these compounds across scanned areas, highlighting variations across cultivation methods and seasonal stages. The key compounds analyzed included inulin, lignin, and suberin, which were identified in different root zones. The results showed that inulin was distributed in all analyzed areas, predominantly in zone 1 (periderm), with a distribution that increased with forced cultivation, while lignin and suberin distributions varied with zone and season. Forced tuberous root lignin was detected in all four areas analyzed, in the fall accumulating mainly in area 4 and in suberin starting from summer until autumn. Based on the evaluation of the maps obtained by representing the area ratios of specific bands (inulin/lignin and inulin/suberin), we established where the inulin was present in the highest quantity and concluded that suberin was the constituent with the lowest concentration in tuberous Dahlia roots. These findings emphasize the influence of technological factors and seasonal changes on the biochemical makeup of tuberous Dahlia roots. This detailed biochemical mapping provides insights for optimizing Dahlia cultivation and storage for various industrial applications. This study concludes that FT-IR spectroscopy is an effective tool for monitoring and understanding the biochemical dynamics of Dahlia roots, aiding their agricultural and industrial utilization.

Pelargonium zonale is an important ornamental and medicinal plant. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of conventional and unconventional fertilization on variations in the physicochemical parameters of the culture substrate (temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity) in two cultivars of Pelargonium zonale (L.) L’Hér., grown in pots. This study was conducted under greenhouse conditions, using Pindstrup peat as the culture substrate. The analysis focused on how these physicochemical indicators of peat influenced plant height and development under fertilization conditions. Results revealed that in the ‘Tango Salmon’ cultivar, both fertilization regimes significantly modified substrate temperature and electrical conductivity (conventional fertilization leading to the highest electric conductivity values of 0.77 mS/cm) while in control, was observed the highest substrate temperature (21.24°C). In contrast, pH remained relatively stable across treatments. In the ‘Tango Dark Red’ cultivar, no significant differences were observed between substrate physicochemical parameters regardless of treatment. The multiple correlations coefficients values showed that substrate parameters influenced plant height with varying degrees of intensity depending on cultivar and fertilization scheme, reaching up the highest predictability of 60.6% in the ‘Tango Dark Red’ control variant. The study highlighted that physicochemical properties of the substrate (particularly electric conductivity and temperature) are for were the main contributors to optimal plant development and should be carefully managed within fertilization strategies.

This research aimed to assess the rooting ability and early growth of five fig cultivars (‘Brogiotto Bianco’, ‘Matalone’, ‘Verdino’, ‘Turca’, and ‘Lungo del Portogallo’) using three media: peat + perlite (2:1; M1), peat + coconut fiber (2:1; M2), and perlite (M3, control). A total of 450 stem cuttings were rooted under cold greenhouse conditions. Rooting percentage and seedling performance differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments. Perlite (M3) achieved the highest rooting rates, up to 88.9 %, while peat peat-based media supporting subsequent seedling growth. M1 improved root length and promoted greater shoot elongation in some cultivars. ‘Lungo del Portogallo’ showed superior vigor, reaching 49.7 cm in M1. Results indicate strong genotype and substrate interactions, highlighting perlite as most reliable for rooting as compared to other mixtures.