Tea plant calli (Camellia sinensis L.) are characterized by the accumulation of various phenolic compounds (PC)—substances with high antioxidant activity. However, there is still no clarity on the response of tea cells to light exposure of varying intensity. The purpose of the research was to study tea callus cultures grown under the influence of primary exposure to different light intensities (50, 75, and 100 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹). The cultures’ growth, morphology, content of malondialdehyde and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b), accumulation of various PC, including phenylpropanoids and flavanols, and the composition of catechins were analyzed. Primary exposure to different light intensities led to the formation of chloroplasts in tea calli, which was more pronounced at 100 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Significant similarity in the growth dynamics of cultures, accumulation of pigments, and content of malondialdehyde and various phenolics in tea calli grown at light intensities of 50 and 75 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ has been established, which is not typical for calli grown at 100 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. According to data collected using high-performance liquid chromatography, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, epigallocatechin, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate were the main components of the tea callus culture’s phenolic complex. Its content changed under the influence of primary exposure to light, reaching the greatest accumulation in the final stages of growth, and depended on the light intensity. The data obtained indicate changes in the morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of tea callus cultures, including the accumulation of PC and their individual representatives under primary exposure to light exposure of varying intensity, which is most pronounced at its highest values (100 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

The Magarach Institute has been addressing the issue of developing technologies for obtaining functional food products from grapes saturated with grape polyphenols; and of determining main properties and modes of grape polyphenol extraction from potential raw materials (pomace, seeds, crests) for the production of experimental samples of functional products. The aim of the present research was not only to experimentally determine the total stock of polyphenols in pomace, seeds, crests of red and white grape varieties, but also to assess empirically the qualitative and quantitative composition of total polyphenols in pomace, seeds, stems, vines, leaves of red and white grape varieties as functional components of a healthy nutrition. The research has dwelled upon the empiric assessment of the characteristics of grape raw materials (grape must, pomace, seeds, crests) in terms of their technological stock, quantitative and qualitative composition of polyphenols (by HPLC), and the main functional ingredients of the biological activity of grape products. An analysis of the data obtained shows that the aqueous-alcoholic extracts of grape raw materials possess the whole spectrum of polyphenols typical for red grape wines (anthocyanins, flavones, flavan-3-ols, hydroxycinnamic, hydroxybenzoic acids, stilbenes, oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins), however their concentration quantitatively exceeds that found in wines. It has been shown that the total content of water-soluble antioxidants experimentally determined by the amperometric method depends on the content of oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins in the extracts of grape raw materials. Thus, the content of oligomeric procyanidins in the extracts of grape raw materials from the sum of phenolic substances averaged 5.7%; while the content of polymer procyanides went up to 94%. The technological availability of polyphenols of pomace, stalks and grape seeds during water-alcohol extraction in the piled layer without mixing was shown, the equilibrium concentrations of polyphenols transferred into the extract and the potential amounts of polyphenols extracted during single-stage extraction (technological stock) were assessed. The maximum values of technological stock of polyphenols of 29.2–76.02 g/kg dry weight in the stalks of white and red grape varieties were determined.

As a result of the treatment of “Vikros” spring canola with the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), a high-protein mutant form without glaucous bloom (wax bloom) on leaves, shoots, and siliques was isolated. Segregation into glossy and glaucous forms was always observed in the progeny of glossy plants from self-pollination, and the proportion of glaucous plants could reach up to 25%. The progeny of glaucous plants were homogeneous and did not segregate. If during the period of seed germination and seedling development the soil did not dry out and remained moist, and the average daily temperature did not exceed 16 °C, then the amount of glossy plants could reach 99%. Glossy plants possessed qualities valuable for breeding forage varieties, such as the increased content of protein in seeds (more than 30%), and change phenol metabolism, чтo прoявляется a reduced amount of lignin and sinapine in comparison with the original cultivar. In addition, plants without wax coating showed weakened shoot growth, decreased pollen fertility and seed production, and reduced lignin content in the shoots. Glossy mutants are of interest for the obtaining of fodder low-sinapine and low-lignin varieties of spring rapeseed.

The results of an experimental assessment of the potential of green and lignified leafless shoots of grapes (vines) – waste from viticulture as a source of obtaining grape polyphenols, biologically active functional ingredients of nutrition, are discussed, debris and pruning of grape plants resulting from agricultural practices. Water-ethanol extracts of white and red technical grape varieties Aligote, Rhine Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Hamburg Muscat were identified by their qualitative and quantitative composition. It was established that the composition of the studied extracts includes polyphenols of both monomeric series and oligomeric and polymeric proanthocyanidins, constituting about 90% of the total amount of polyphenols. The monomeric fraction is represented by flavonoids (+)-D-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide). The monomeric fraction of grape shoot polyphenols is distinguished by the presence of hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbene compounds were found in the monomeric fraction of aqueous-ethanol extracts of grape vines. The technological availability of polyphenols from grape shoots and vines is shown during water-ethanol extraction in a bulk layer without mixing, the equilibrium concentrations of polyphenols passing into the extract and the potential amounts of polyphenols extracted during single-stage extraction (technological stock) are estimated.

Background. Ornamental peaches are flowering trees with petals ranging in color from white and pale pink to purplered. Because peach suffers from fungal infections, Prunus mira Koehne is often used in breeding programs as a donor of resistance. It also impacts on other traits, including flower color. The aim of this work was to study the composition of flavonoid pigments in the flowers of parent plants and new ornamental peach cultivars originated from P. mira.Objects and methods. Four new cultivars developed at the Nikita Botanical Gardens and their parental forms – P. mira and 4 cultivars with the P. persica morphotype – were included in the study. Pigments were extracted with acidified ethyl alcohol from fresh petals and identified by HPLC analysis.Results. Twelve glycosides of cyanidin and peonidin in different combinations and 8 glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin were found in the petal samples. Among colored plants, the highest amount of flavonols (114 mg g-1) and the lowest amount of anthocyanins (0.46 mg g-1) were found in P. mira petals. Anthocyanins predominate in cultivars with purple-red petals (16 mg g-1). Much more flavonols (55– 88 mg g-1) and little anthocyanins (1.2–3.4 mg g-1) were accumulated in the purple-pink flowers of hybrid cultivars. This trend persisted in the cultivars from crosses with a white-flowered parent. Conclusion. The ratio of anthocyanins and flavonols in the peach flowers depends on the plant species and determines the petals’ intermediate colors and half-tones. Using P. mira in breeding programs provides opportunities for the development of cultivars with new shades of flower color.