Hippeastrum is among the most widely cultivated geophytes, utilized for both cut flowers and potted plants. The range of cultivars is expanding, with an average of 33 new cultivars registered annually in the international register maintained by the Royal General Bulb Growers’ Association in the Netherlands. This study focused on the morphological and genetic diversity of 15 Polish breeding clones derived from H. × chmielii and H. hybridum. The study encompassed phenotypic evaluation, assessment of the number and length of stomata, and the use of RAPD and ISSR markers across all genotypes examined. Phenotypic analysis, conducted in accordance with the descriptors of The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the RHS Colour Charts, facilitated the identification of three promising breeding clones. These clones (0037-13 with flowers of the greyed-purple colour group, 185A; 0021-10 with orange-red flowers, 34A; and 0023-11 with orange-red, 35B) produced a greater number of larger flowers than the maternal forms of H. × chmielii. The population exhibited significant variation in the number and length of stomata, with an inverse correlation between stomatal length and number. The use of RAPD and ISSR markers showed high genetic similarity between the initial forms and breeding clones in the range of 74–85
As biostimulants have become a strategic tool for sustainable crop production in the face of changing environmental conditions, there is a continual demand for the development of innovative and more effective formulations. A novel approach that utilizes plasma treatment to enhance the extraction process in biostimulant production has recently emerged. This study investigated the plant-based biostimulant (prepared from horsetail, dog rose, and soapwort) and the potential of using gliding arc cold plasma (GA) and low-pressure microwave (MW) discharges to improve its efficacy. The experiment evaluated the effects of untreated versus plasma-treated biostimulants on soybean plant growth and vitality while elucidating their mechanisms. The results revealed that biostimulant application had a positive effect (p < 0.05) on different microbial groups in the soil. The treated plants presented greater root length and biomass (p < 0.05) as well as increased shoot height (p < 0.05). Generally, treatment with biostimulants increased lignification, as reflected by higher acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) fractions, as well as elevated peroxide levels, total isoflavone content, and antioxidant potential of plants measured by DPPH and ABTS assays. All biostimulants strongly upregulated the pathogenesis-related protein genes CHIA1 (encoding chitinase A1) and GLU (encoding β-1,3-glucanase) in the leaves of soybean plants. Elevated expression of selected genes related to jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling, cellular detoxification, and redox homeostasis was also observed. Overall, all the tested biostimulant variants improved the growth parameters of the soybean plants. Biostimulant application triggered complex defence responses involving changes in gene expression, antioxidant potential, secondary metabolite levels, and cell wall composition. The formulation generated by GA outperformed the other tested variants (MW discharge and untreated biostimulants), highlighting the potential of this technology to enhance biostimulant efficacy.
Acrylamide is a neurotoxic compound formed during thermal food processing that can cross the placental barrier and potentially affect fetal brain development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal acrylamide exposure on parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-IR) neurons in the pyramidal layer of the subiculum (Sub) and hippocampus of weaning rats. Pregnant Wistar rats received 3 mg/kg b.w. of acrylamide orally for 5 or 10 days during the prenatal period. After weaning, offspring brains were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, morphometry, and quantitative assessment of PV-IR neuron density and staining intensity in the pyramidal layers of the Sub, Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1), and Cornu Ammonis 3 (CA3). The results demonstrated a significant increase in PV-IR neuron density in the Sub and CA1 after prolonged maternal exposure, accompanied by a predominance of weakly stained cells and decreased mean immunostaining intensity. Morphometric analyses revealed region-specific changes: enlarged cell area and perimeter with reduced nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio in the Sub, whereas CA1 and CA3 showed smaller cell dimensions and altered shapes. In conclusion, maternal acrylamide exposure is associated with region-dependent alterations in the morphology and immunoreactivity of PV-IR neurons within the offspring hippocampus.
Edaphic predatory mites serve as effective biocontrol agents of acarid mites infesting flower bulbs. This study aimed to evaluate whether the predatory mite Blattisocius mali could control the mould mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae infesting lily and tulip bulbs. The experiment was conducted using plastic containers, each containing three tulip or lily bulbs. Motiles of T. putrescentiae were released onto each bulb, and after seven days B. mali adults were introduced at predator-to-prey ratios of 1:20 or 1:40. The containers were kept in darkness at 26 °C, an optimal temperature for both predator and prey. The trials with lilies were conducted in combination with or without peat, at a predator-to-prey ratio of 1:40. In contrast, the trials with tulips were conducted without peat, but in two combinations of 1:20 or 1:40 predator-to-prey ratios. At predator-to-prey ratios of 1:40, almost complete eradication of the prey occurred after 25 days on both tulip and lily bulbs, whereas at a higher ratio, such as 1:20 in tulips, a similar effect was observed after 15 days. The effectiveness values of B. mali in controlling T. putrescentiae were 93.75
Semi-natural earthen ponds used for fish culture potentially offer habitats for aquatic macroinvertebrates. However, only a few macroinvertebrate taxa have been documented to be able to coexist with fish. Macroinvertebrate interactions with farmed fish are complicated by the ecological heterogeneity brought about by culture practices. We investigated water mite abundance and assemblage composition in cyprinid ponds in which age/size classes of fish with different biomass density and size structure are reared separately. These differences in fish status (standing biomass and individual body size) result in contrasting levels of fish trophic impact on pond communities. We sampled water mites in two layers of the water column: the benthic zone and near the water surface. The relative densities, species richness and Shannon diversity of water mites in the bottom catches were greater in ponds with high standing biomass of large-sized fish than in ponds with low biomass of young fish, but not in the near-surface catches. Redundancy analysis revealed that fish status, total phosphorus concentration and water conductivity were the most important factors shaping water mite assemblages. Non-metric multidimensional scaling also indicated differences in species composition with respect to the fish status of ponds. Our results suggest that some water mites benefit from the trophic dominance of fish and find suitable habitats in culture ponds. Divergences in water mite assemblages driven by fish indicate that ponds differing in fish stocks may complement one another to support high beta diversity of fish farms.
