Thymol is a natural antioxidant compound that has the potential to stimulate plant development. Therefore, the present work aimed to evaluate the influence of thymol—via seed soaking, foliar spraying or their combination—on the germinability, growth, and antioxidant metabolism of the medicinal plant Passiflora incarnata L. To this end, germination and vigor of seeds, biometry of seedlings, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and content of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds were evaluated. Seed soaking in thymol-containing solution did not improve germination percentage and speed index. However, it increased the concentration of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the seedling leaves (34.65 and 29.93
Genus Taxus is one of the important genera of family Taxaceae, recognized for its medicinal properties. Its wide-spread applicability in production of anti-cancerous drug paclitaxel has become prevalent in past decade which led to overexploitation of this species. Besides, the natural populations of most Taxus species have become scattered over a few pockets and declined by over 90
Petroleum-produced water (PW) represents a harsh environment under strong selective pressures, yet fungal diversity in these fluids remains poorly documented. This study investigated the culturable fungal diversity of PW and examined how well-specific environmental conditions and culture media may influence fungal recovery. The objectives were to determine culturable fungal diversity using saline and non-saline media, identify isolates using molecular methods, and screen for extracellular enzymatic activities (amylase, cellulase, lipase, and gelatinase). PW samples were collected from four oil wells in Adıyaman, Türkiye. Fungal growth was detected in all wells, with MK and SMT yielding the highest recovery (9 isolates each). Overall, 9 isolates were obtained from saline and 15 from non-saline media, with Czapek dox agar (8 isolates) and dichloran glycerol 18 agar (6 isolates) yielding the highest recovery. Aspergillus chevalieri, Aspergillus proliferans, Cladosporium funiculosum, Penicillium goetzii, and Steccherinum ochraceum are reported here for the first time from PW. The isolates were predominantly affiliated with Aspergillus and Penicillium, with Penicillium chrysogenum being the most frequently recovered species. All isolates exhibited at least one extracellular enzyme activity; notably, only P. chrysogenum P6, recovered from saline Czapek dox agar, exhibited all four activities. The observed differences in isolate recovery among wells and culture media may reflect the influence of local physicochemical conditions and cultivation conditions on the recovery of culturable fungi. However, these patterns should be interpreted cautiously given the limited number of sampling sites and the inherent biases of culture-dependent approaches. The detected enzymatic activities provide preliminary evidence of the metabolic potential of PW-associated fungi and identify these isolates as potential sources of enzymes of ecological and biotechnological interest.
The authors compared Cydonia oblonga fruits from two regions of Transylvania with regard to their polyphenol content, total acidity, and vitamin C levels. The polyphenol content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, which is based on a redox reaction involving electron transfer from phenolic compounds to the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The results ranged from 365.96 ± 1.7 to 422.93 ± 2.3 mg GAE/100 g dry weight in aqueous extracts and from 397.50 ± 1.9 to 998.78 ± 4.5 mg GAE/100 g dry weight in methanolic extracts. These values are in agreement with those previously reported in the literature. No significant differences in polyphenol content were observed either between the harvested samples or between the solvents used. However, the analytical method and storage duration of the fruits may influence the measured polyphenol content. The flavonoid content of the fruits was determined using the method described in the 10th edition of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia. The results ranged from 30.9 ± 1.02 to 34.0 ± 1.05 mg QE/100 g dry weight for aqueous extracts and from 19.2 ± 0.98 to 20.7 ± 0.87 mg QE/100 g dry weight for methanolic extracts. The total acidity of the fruit extracts was measured by acid–base titration with potentiometric endpoint detection. The samples showed slight differences depending on the harvesting location and the extraction solvent (methanol or water). The vitamin C content was determined by bromatometric titration using p-ethoxychrysoidine as the endpoint indicator. The ascorbic acid content was found to depend on both the geographical origin of the samples and the nature of the extraction solvent.
In the current context of energy-resource shortages and increasing environmental pressures, the cultivation of phytoenergy crops is becoming particularly relevant, especially in regions with limited moisture, such as the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal species and varieties of energy crops, assess the effectiveness of biopreparations for increasing yield, and analyse the energy output of raw materials depending on cultivation technology. The methodology was based on field experiments using different crop species (Sorghum, Jerusalem artichoke, and cup plant), as well as biopreparations based on Bacillus megaterium, Trichoderma spp. and Azotobacter chroococcum. The results obtained showed that the highest yields were recorded in sorghum: Sudan grass (48.6 ± 1.2 t/ha) and sweet sorghum (46.8 ± 1.4 t/ha), whereas Jerusalem artichoke (38.4 ± 0.9 t/ha) and cup plant (32.6 ± 0.8 t/ha) lagged behind due to slower development in the first years. Combined treatment with biopreparations (Groundfix + Ekostern Trichoderma) provided a yield increase of up to 25.18
