A closed system for plant production with artificial light is an innovative method of plant cultivation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of light colour on rooting cuttings and subsequent growth of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum Ramat./Kitam.) During the experiments, the following conditions were maintained: photoperiod 16 h or 10 h, temperature 22 °C, relative humidity of 65–70%. LED lamps emitted the following light colours: white, blue, white + blue (50:50), and red + blue (75:25). For all light spectra, the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The effectiveness of exposure to different light colours was measured with parameters: cutting weight (g), cutting length (cm), length of roots, and index of leaf greenness (SPAD). The measurements referred to plant features determining plant quality, i.e., the number of flower buds and flower head, the diameter of the flower head, height of plants, index of leaf greenness (SPAD), the number of leaves, and the fresh and dry weights of aboveground parts of plants. The rooting of cuttings and subsequent growth are integral processes in the cultivation of potted chrysanthemums. Both were differently affected by the colour of light from LED lamps. The exposure to red + blue light resulted in the highest leaf greenness index (SPAD) value and the shortest cuttings with the longest roots. White + blue light significantly influenced most of the growth parameters, except the height of the plants and the number of leaves.

The lowland hay meadows conservation status is increasingly at risk due to improper management and climate change, threatening plant communities, including Arrhenatherion alliance. As a result, species enrichment is required. However, natural plant self-establishment remains challenging due to the high variability in germination, largely caused by climate factors. Thus, a germination test is suggested before directly sowing local seeds in the field. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how germination characteristics of five local species are affected by the interplay between species and weather factors, specifically mean temperature and total rainfall during seed filling and ripening. During warm, dry periods, the seed mass of Campanula patula L. and Centaurea jacea L. was higher (0.04 g and 1.87 g, respectively), whereas in wet periods, the seed mass of Achillea millefolium L. (0.10 g), Plantago lanceolata L. (1.24 g), and Tragopogon pratensis L. (7.41 g) was higher. The germination capacity was significantly affected by species-specific factors. Seeds of A. millefolium and T. pratensis during wetter years showed higher germination rates than other species, which exhibited the opposite trend. Additionally, a wetter collection period shortened t50 (time required for 50% germination) in all species except A. millefolium and T. pratensis, while C. patula remained unaffected in both years. A positive correlation was observed between seed mass, germination capacity, and speed, while a negative correlation with t50. Hence, an increase in seed mass leads to a reduced t50 duration. According to our findings, seed mass may serve as a reliable predictor of plant establishment in the field.

Restoration of Arrhenatherion meadows is limited both by the lack of local seed availability in natural habitats for self-restoration purposes and the lack of information on the germination of target species in these meadows. Understanding ger...

Weather fluctuations can influence germination dynamics and pose a threat to the conservation of perennial lowland hay meadow species (Natura 2000 habitat code 6510). This study aims to assess the effects of temperature and precipitation changes on the germination performance of 23 plant species, divided into two harvest periods (July and late September/early October) of a two-year collection (2022–2023). The study classifies these species based on shared germination characteristics and identifies key parameters influencing germination performance. Germination tests were conducted in Petri dishes at 20 °C for 16 hours (dark) and 30 °C for 8 hours (light), with a light intensity of 1000 lux. Quantitative (GC - germination capacity, FUS - fresh ungerminated seeds, and DS - dead seeds) and qualitative ( t ₅₀ – the half of germination time, T. Index - Timson index) aspects were analysed using a two-way ANOVA test. Results revealed significant interactions between species and weather conditions across both collection periods. Wetter conditions increased GC and shortened t ₅₀ associated with rising germination velocity in most species, while warmer and drier conditions prolonged t ₅₀ and increased DS share. Heatmap clustering revealed that several species, including Tragopogon pratensis , Dianthus deltoides , and Centaurea jacea , demonstrated stable germination performance, making these species promising candidates for restoration. The decision tree identified Timson index as the most influential parameter explaining GC. These findings demonstrate that understanding germination dynamics caused by climate change may aid conservation-oriented restoration efforts for native species, enabling the implementation of seed mixtures of introduced species and informed decisions on the optimal time for seed recruitment.

Weather fluctuations can influence germination dynamics and pose a threat to the conservation of lowland hay meadow species. This study aims to assess the effects of temperature and precipitation changes on the germination performance of 23 studied species, divided into two harvest periods (July and late September/early October) of a two-year collection (2022-2023). The study classifies these species based on shared germination characteristics and identifies key parameters influencing germination performance. Germination tests were conducted in Petri dishes at 20 °C for 16 hours (dark) and 30 °C for 8 hours (light), with a light intensity of 1000 lux. Quantitative (GC - germination capacity, FUS - fresh ungerminated seeds, and DS - dead seeds) and qualitative (t50 – the half of germination time, T. Index - Timson index) aspects were analysed using two-way ANOVA. Results revealed significant interactions between species and weather conditions across both collection periods. Wetter conditions increased GC and shortened t50 associated with reduced germination velocity in most species, while warmer and drier conditions prolonged t50 and increased DS share. Heatmap clustering revealed that several species, including Tragopogon pratensis, Dianthus deltoides, and Centaurea jacea, demonstrated stable germination performance, making these species promising candidates for restoration. The decision tree analysis identified the Timson index as the most influential parameter explaining GC. These findings demonstrate that understanding germination dynamics altered by climate change may aid conservation-oriented restoration efforts for local species, enabling the implementation of seed mixtures of introduced species and informed decisions on the optimal time for seed recruitment.