Despite the existence of more than 37,000 different varieties of roses worldwide, there remains a significant interest and high relevance in rose breeding. The rose is the most beloved flower in the world, commonly named the “queen of flowers”. In addition to its remarkable ornamental significance, the rose possesses various ecological, environmental, landscaping, food, pharmaceutical and medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial attributes, among others, thereby contributing to its overall socio-economic value. The current study investigated the results of rose breeding in a horticulture research center in the northwest of Romania with over 70 years of experience. The main method used to generate variability for the selection of new genotypes was artificial hybridization. After 1970, an average of 15-20 crossings per year were carried out, in different parental formulas or types of crosses, with approximately 1000-2000 flowers per pollinated per parental combination. Thousands of F1 hybrids were obtained annually (approximately 10,000-12,000 hybrids per year per hybrid combination), and dozens of elites were selected, grafted, and promoted as clonal selections in comparative trials. The success rate in obtaining new varieties through hybridization was 5.1% from total hybrid combinations, 0.72% from total hybrids, and 1.6% from total clonal selections. Of the total new varieties, hybrid teas represent 11.9%, floribundas 64.2%, shrubs 16.6%, and others 7.1%. 38 new cultivars suitable for open field cultivation were obtained, showing different habits, decorative value, flowering behavior, flower color, fragrance, resistance to frost or major diseases, and intended use. The exploration of new research directions aimed at harnessing the potential of roses, the region, and the socio-economic requirements was undertaken to enhance and beauty degraded, or landslide-prone lands, as well as to introduce damascene roses for the oil perfume and cosmetics industry.

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.

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.

The accurate identification and codification of phenological growth stages are essential for optimizing management practices in apple orchards. This study presents a detailed phenological characterization of the 'Kanzi' apple cultivar (Malus domestica Borkh.), using the BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical industry) scale. Observations were conducted over two annual growing seasons (2022-2023) in a temperate-climate orchard, monitoring the cultivar’s development from bud dormancy through fruit maturity and post-harvest senescence. Each principal and secondary growth stage was recorded and described with photographic and morphological references, emphasizing cultivar-specific traits such as delayed bud break, condensed flowering period, and firm fruit development. Results showed that 'Kanzi' exhibits unique timing and morphological markers within certain BBCH stages, particularly in flowering (stage 60–69) and fruit development (stage 70–89), when compared to standard cultivars. This codification provides a standardized framework to support research, crop modeling, and precision horticulture practices applied to 'Kanzi' apples.