Two experiments (in Petri dishes and in soil) were conducted to investigate the effects of osmopriming on seed germination and the early seedling characteristics of caraway (Carum carvi L. var. annua). The priming treatments in the Petri dish experiment were: polyethylene glycol (5%, 10% and 20%), KNO₃ (0.5%, 1% and 2%) and KCL (1%, 2% and 4%) with three different soaking times (12, 24 and 36 h) along with control (non-primed seeds). Only polyethylene glycol and H₂O were applied in the cell tray experiment, which were then compared with the non-primed seeds. In the Petri dish experiment, all three priming reagents significantly enhanced seedling length, with the most effective treatments being 5% PEG, 2% KNO₃ and 1% KCL for 12 h. The plumule dry weights were also increased significantly after PEG (20% for 36 h), KNO₃ (2% for 24 and 36 h) and KCL (1% for 12 h) treatments in comparison with the control. In the soil experiment, osmopriming with PEG significantly improved the germination rate (GR) and percentage, the plumule dry and fresh weights and the plumule length of caraway seedlings when compared with the control. A 23% higher germination percentage was recorded for the seeds treated with 5% PEG for 24 h as compared with the non-primed seeds. The PEG-primed seeds produced significantly longer seedlings when treated with 5% PEG for 24 h. All of the applied PEG treatments significantly enhanced the plumule fresh and dry weights, with the best outcomes being after 5% PEG (24 h) and 10% PEG (36 h) treatments, respectively. The 12-h hydro-priming also significantly enhanced all of the studied germination parameters when compared to the control. The results of the presented experiments show the significant positive effects of seed priming on caraway germination and how early seedling performance can easily be adopted by producers.

Probiotic L. acidophilus La-14 cells were co-encapsulated with Ganoderma lingzhi extract to prolong the viability of the cells under simulated gastrointestinal (SGI) condition and to protect the active ingredients of Reishi mushroom during the storage period. Combinations of distinctive reagents (sodium alginate, chitosan, maltose, Hydroxyethyl-cellulose (HEC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and calcium lactate) were tested. Optimal double layer Ca-alginate hydrogel beads were fabricated with significantly improved characteristics. The incorporation of maltose significantly decreases the release rate of mushrooms' phenolics, antioxidants, and β-glucan during the storage time. Significant improvement in probiotic cells viability under SGI condition has been found and confirmed by confocal laser microscopy in maltose containing double layer coated calcium alginate beads variants. The encapsulation of newly formulated prebiotic Reishi extract and probiotic L. acidophilus is creating a new potential food application for such medicinal mushrooms and natural products with unpleasant taste upon oral consumption.

Metal(loid) pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, threatening all living organisms. Metal(loid) stress adversely impacts plant growth, physiology, and overall productivity. Numerous physicochemical approaches have been developed and employed to counteract and reduce the detrimental effects of metal(loid)s. However, these methods have raised environmental concerns, leading to questions about their appropriateness and efficacy. Consequently, alternative and eco-friendly solutions, such as the application of biochar, have gained prominence. Biochar is a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis and hydrothermal processes of various organic materials. Due to its exceptional physicochemical properties, biochar is believed to enhance soil quality and fertility. Several global studies have underscored the positive role of biochar in reducing the uptake of metal(loid)s by plants in polluted soils. In this article, we explore various facets of plant reactions to metal(loid)s toxicity and attempt to draw links between biochar use and improvements in plant physiology and performance. We also review the effectiveness of biochar in phytoremediation, its influence on nutrient adsorption mechanisms, and its role in assisting plant growth and defense systems.

This study presents the effects of exogenous melatonin application at different concentrations (50, 100, and 200 μM) on the morphological, physiological, and antioxidant defense systems of the buttercup plant under salinity stress (4.5 and 5.5 dS·m⁻¹ EC). Expectedly, the salinity stress negatively affected the plant growth parameters, cell membrane stability, and POX enzyme activity of R. asiaticus compared to non-stressed plants. However, in a dose-dependent manner, exogenous melatonin foliar application decreased the salt stress-induced symptoms of retarded vegetative growth, physiological characteristics, and oxidative stress level. The results obtained, revealed the significant effectiveness of exogenous melatonin treatment at 200 μM concentration under salt stress conditions by enhancing the plant growth traits such as chlorophyll and carotenoids content, relative water content, proline content, peroxidase enzyme activity (POD), and by the decreased electrolyte leakage rate, and Na⁺ content, as well as delaying the emergence of flower buds under salinity stress. The salt tolerance index percentages (STI%) for all estimated characters are also calculated for all studied parameters. This study uncovered the beneficial effect of melatonin in reducing salt stress symptoms that can be used to reduce the salinity effect in ranunculus plant production.

Plants are rich sources of specialized metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, and volatile oils, which provide various health benefits including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, skin-altering, and anti-diabetic properties. However, challenges such as low and inconsistent yields, environment and geographic factors, and species-specific production of some specialized metabolites limit the supply of raw plant material for the food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, biotechnological approaches using plant in vitro systems offer an appealing alternative for the production of biologically active metabolites. Among these, hairy root cultures induced by Rhizobium rhizogenes have firmed up their position as “green cell factories” due to their genotypic and biosynthetic stability. Hairy roots are valuable platforms for producing high-value phytomolecules at a low cost, are amenable to pathway engineering, and can be scaled up in bioreactors, making them attractive for commercialization. This review explores the potential of hairy roots for specialized metabolites biosynthesis focusing on biotechnology tools to enhance their production. Aspects of morphological peculiarities of hairy roots, the diversity of bioreactors design, and process intensification technologies for maximizing biosynthetic capacity, as well as examples of patented plant-derived (green-labeled) products produced through hairy root cultivation at lab and industrial scales, are addressed and discussed.