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 peculiarities of Zn and Cu accumulation by the red clover Trifolium pratense L., condition of the pigment system of the red clover leaves in the presence of environmental pollution caused by these metals are specified in this work. Amount of chlorophyll а+b in the leaves has been evaluated. It has been established that when the accepatable level of HM had been exceeded tenfold, chlorophyll content in comparison with the control decreased by 60 - 80%. An experiment showed that when different concentrations of the studied metals were brought into the soil, chlorophyll content pollution to 1 MAC level was almost identical to or even exceeded the control points. Only when MAC was exceeded five-fold and tenfold, the pigment count level in the cells decreased sharply. When the metal concentration on the soil increased, Trifolium pratense lamina area decreased. It has been established that the maximum level of chlorophyll а+b can be observed during flower-bud formation, and the lowest consolidated figures are reached during flowering.

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.

The paper is devoted to studies of the migration of heavy metals (HM) in the soil–plant system on the model object Lotus corniculatus L. The main way of transfer of HM to plants is absorption by their roots. Experimental plots were established in the botanical garden of the Uzhhorod National University. The interdependence of the content of HM in the aerial parts of the plant with the content of mobile forms of HM in the soil was established. It was found that the concentration of all investigated HM in the soil increases more strongly than in the plant, which can be explained by the presence of mechanisms for regulating the entry of toxic substances into the body. The authors established the dependence of the content of copper, zinc and lead in the above-ground parts of the hornwort on the gross content in the soil. The behavior of several elements with similar properties in the soil-plant system was studied simultaneously. Робота присвячена дослідженням міграції важких металів (ВМ) у системі ґрунт–рослина на модельному об’єкті лядвенець рогатий (Lotus corniculatus L.). Головним шляхом надходження ВМ у рослини є вбирання їх коренями. Дослідні ділянки були закладені у ботанічному саду Ужгородського національного університету. Встановлена взаємозалежність вмісту ВМ у надземних частинах рослини від вмісту рухомих форм ВМ у ґрунті. Виявлено, що концентрація всіх досліджених ВМ у ґрунті наростає більше, ніж у рослині, що можна пояснити наявністю механізмів регулювання постачання токсичних речовин в організм. Авторами встановлена залежність вмісту міді, цинку та свинцю в надземних частинах лядвенцю рогатого від валового вмісту в ґрунті. Досліджено поведінку у системі ґрунт–рослина одночасно декількох елементів, що мають аналогічні властивості.

In the context of the current socio-economic and technological transformations, plant-based diets have gained an increasing importance. The present comparative study, conducted on a sample of 70 participants (35 vegans and 35 omnivores), investigated the influence of education level and socio-economic conditions on the adoption of a plant-based diet in Romania. Statistical analysis, based on the Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression, did not reveal significant associations between the studied variables, highlighting the need for further exploration of cultural and ideological factors. Limitations of the study, including the small sample size, are acknowledged and this preliminary analysis opens directions for future research. Soon, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will provide new tools for analyzing nutritional behaviours and personalizing dietary recommendations.