As significant fungal pathogens of crops, Fusaria species contaminate various food and feed commodities. Some of the Fusarium spp. secondary metabolites (e.g., trichothecenes, zearalenone, and fumonisins) are widely known toxic molecules (mycotoxins) with chronic and acute effects on humans and animals. The growing demand for safer, pesticide-free food drives us to increase biological control during crop growing. Recent research suggests that lactic acid bacteria (LABs) as biocontrol are the best choice for extenuating Fusarium mycotoxins. Newly isolated LABs were tested as antifungal agents against Fusarium verticillioides, F. graminearum, and F. oxysporum. The characterized and genetically identified LABs belonged to Limosilactobacillus fermentum (SD4) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (FCW4 and CB2) species. All tested LABs and their cell-free culture supernatants showed antagonism on the MRS solid medium. The antifungal activity was also demonstrated on surface-sterilized wheat and peanuts. The germination test of corn kernels proved that the LAB strains SD4 and FCW4 significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced root and shoot development in plantlets while simultaneously suppressing the outgrowth of F. verticillioides. Small-scale corn silage fermentation revealed the significant effects of SD4 supplementation (decreased zearalenone, lower mold count, and total reduction of deoxynivalenol) within the mixed populations.

Background: D. giganteiformis subsp. pontederae and D. superbus subsp. superbus are protected or critically endangered species in several European regions; therefore, developing an efficient in vitro micropropagation protocol is essential for germplasm conservation and recultivation purposes. Results: After germination, one-nodal segments of both species were transferred onto several MS media supplemented with 3% sucrose and different types of cytokinins (at a concentration of 4.5 µM) alongside 0.54 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for the multiplication phase for 3 weeks. The shoot clusters were subsequently transferred onto elongation medium (plant growth regulator-free MS medium) for 3 weeks. Individual shoots separated from the shoot clusters were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.54 µM NAA and 2% sucrose for 3 weeks for rooting. Taking into account the effects and after-effects of cytokinins, we found that the most suitable cytokinin for D. giganteiformis subsp. pontederae was N-(2-isopentenyl)-adenine (2-iP), while for D. superbus subsp. superbus it was meta-topolin (mT). Conclusions: In vitro micropropagation methods were developed for two endangered Dianthus species (D. giganteiformis subsp. pontederae and D. superbus subsp. superbus) by determining the optimal type of cytokinin to be used during the multiplication phase. The protocols are designed to produce large quantities of propagation material for recultivation, educational, and research purposes within three months.

The production of healthy propagating material of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is based on in vitro micropropagation. In vitro conditions, however, can cause stress leading to reduced quality, growth and development of in vitro plantlets. The effects of aeration and chemical additives on the in vitro growth and development and quality of potato plantlets were investigated. Four different jar closure types were tested, i.e., an intact metal cap (control), two layers of semi-permeable plastic foil, a metal cap with a single hole, or a metal cap with three holes. Under tightly sealed conditions (intact metal cap) the effects of silver nitrate (2.0 mg L⁻¹) and 1-naphtylacetic acid (0.1 mg L⁻¹) alone or in combination with each other, meta-topoline (0.1 mg L⁻¹), ascorbic acid (10.0 mg L⁻¹), salicylic acid (0.1 mg L⁻¹), jasmonic acid (0.1 mg L⁻¹) and glutamic acid (0.3 mg L⁻¹) were studied. Morpho-physiological parameters were measured at the end of the subculture. Leaf development was a good indicator of the presumed ethylene effect. The development and quality of the plantlets were best in cultures sealed with three-holed caps. Of the chemicals applied, only the presence of silver nitrate resulted in high-quality plantlets. The combined application of silver nitrate and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid promoted root growth and development.

Cultivation of plants in vitro is currently one of the most common methods of vegetative propagation of plants. It makes it possible to obtain homogeneous planting material in large quantities within a short time, on small areas, and at relatively low cost; to preserve particularly valuable pheno- and genotypes, or to obtain biologically active substances of plant origin. The use of microclonal plant propagation is an excellent complement to the conservation of critical species that are endangered in their natural habitats or have difficult generative reproduction. The main goal of our research сlarification the peculiarities of tissue culture of three rare and endangered species of the Hungarian flora, viz. Dianthus plumarius ssp. praecox (Willd. ex Spreng.) Domin, Dianthus giganteiformis Borbás ssp. pontederae (Borbás) Soó, and Dianthus superbus L. Healthy and viable seeds were used as initial explants. The sterilising reagents used were different concentrations of mercuric hippochloride (HgCl2), sodium chloride (NaClO) and commercial chloramine B (NH2Cl). Subsequently, the plants were grown on Murashige and Skoog agarified hormone-free medium. It was established that for the seeds of the three researched carnation taxa, sterilization with 2,5% chloramine B for 15 minutes is the most optimal, this ensures obtaining aseptic planting material capable of intensive germination and formation of viable explants. For the induction of rhizogenesis, the most optimal is a modified MS medium with the addition of indolylacetic acid at a concentration of 0,1 mg/l. Plants grown under such conditions are easily and with a high probability acclimatized to aseptic growth conditions. Культивування рослин in vitro на сьогодні є одним із поширених методів вегетативного розмноження рослин. Це дає змогу в короткі строки на невеликих площах і відносно недорого отримувати у великих кількостях однорідний посадковий матеріал, зберігати особливо цінні фено- й генотипи чи отримувати біологічно активні речовини рослинного походження. Використання методу мікроклонального розмноження рослин є чудовим доповненням для збереження критичних видів, які перебувають під загрозою зникнення в природних локалітетах або ж мають ускладнене генеративне відтворення. Головною метою наших досліджень було з’ясувати особливості введення в культуру тканин трьох рідкісних і зникаючих видів флори Угорщини, а саме Dianthus plumarius ssp. praecox (Willd. ex Spreng.) Domin, Dianthus giganteiformis Borbás ssp. pontederae (Borbás) Soó та Dianthus superbus L. Як вихідні експланти використовували здорове й життєздатне насіння. Стерилізаційними реагентами були різні концентрації хлориду ртуті (HgCl2), гіпохлориду натрію (NaClO) та господарського хлораміну В (NH2Cl). Надалі рослини вирощували на агаризованому безгормональному середовищі Мурасіге і Скуга. Встановлено, що для насіння трьох досліджених таксонів гвоздик найбільш оптимальною є стерилізація 2,5%-м хлораміном В протягом 15 хв, це забезпечує отримання асептичного посадкового матеріалу, здатного інтенсивно проростати й утворювати життєздатні експланти. Для індукції ризогенезу найбільш оптимальним є модифіковане середовище МС з додаванням індолілоцтової кислоти в концентрації 0,1 мг/л, вирощені за таких умов рослини легко і з високою імовірністю акліматизовуються до асептичних умов зростання.

Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen is an herbaceous plant cultivated globally as an annual ornamental species. While conventional propagation methods exist, the lack of a standardized in vitro protocol limits research and industrial applications that require genetically and morphologically uniform plant material. In this study, in vitro cultures of A. oleracea were established via seed germination. Well-developed in vitro shoots were dissected into individual nodal segments to serve as explants. Multiple media were evaluated for regeneration and growth, including full-, half, and quarter-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, as well as full- and half-strength McCown Woody Plant media. Two carbohydrate sources, saccharose and glucose, were tested at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/v) in the multiplication medium. Subsequently, the effects of different cytokinins were assessed at concentrations of 4.4 µM and 13.2 µM. The findings demonstrated that 13.2 µM meta-Topolin with 3% saccharose, or 13.2 µM Benzyladenine with 2% glucose was most beneficial for shoot multiplication of A. oleracea. The multiplied shoots were rooted in vitro within 13 days, then potted and acclimatized within 8 days. This protocol facilitates future industrial applications of A. oleracea, particularly in the cosmetics sector, where the use of standardized biomass is essential.