The susceptibility of seven species of chestnuts to the horse chestnut leaf miner was studied in the arboretum of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS), taking into account their interspecific characteristics. Using pheromone delta traps, the highest number of Cameraria ohridella moths was shown for Aesculus hippocastanum and the lowest for Aesculus chinensis. A number of anatomical parameters of leaves were investigated, such as the thickness of the epidermal cell wall and the thickness of the palisade and spongy parenchyma layers. As a result, it was shown that the most infected chestnut species had a greater thickness of the nutritious parenchyma tissue. No dependence was found between the degree of susceptibility to the horse chestnut leaf miner and such indicators as the content of chlorophyll a + b and carotenoids in the leaves of seven species of chestnuts. Nevertheless, resistance of different species of the genus Aesculus to Cameraria ohridella under increased tannin content in leaves has been shown. Evaluation of phenolic compounds and flavonoids has not established their reliable role as repellents. The high levels of carbohydrates found during the study contributed to increased susceptibility to the horse chestnut leaf miner.

В статье исследована возможность применения гиперспектральной и RGB-съемки в качестве быстрого и надежного метода определения содержания хлорофиллов для оценки показателей состояния фотосинтетического аппарата. Приведены результаты исследования связей между спектральными характеристиками отражательной способности флаговых листьев пшеницы, характеристиками их цвета и содержанием хлорофилла в условиях наличия и отсутствия затопления. Установлено, что наиболее точная оценка состояния растений может быть построена на основе вегетационного индекса NDVI705, полученного путем обработки гиперспектральных данных.

В статье исследована возможность регуляции биомассы и продуктивности Mentha piperita L. при выращивании в условиях закрытой системы Синерготрон. Приведены результаты модуляции световых параметров культивирования и использование обработок низкими концентрациями пептида за счет изменения интенсивности роста и формирования вегетативной массы. Установлено, что закрытая система позволяет выявлять тонкие механизмы изменения растений и их морфологии и метаболизма при применении вегетационных индексов GLI, EXG, VARI и традиционных критериев продуктивности, открывая новые возможности в разработке современных подходов в биотехнологии эфиромасличных растений.

В статье обсуждаются вопросы оценки перспективности выявления скрытой вирусной инфекции для мониторинга вирусных патогенов с использованием цифровой обработки изображений, полученных при использовании оптической цифровой камеры и гиперспектральных изображений. Приведены сведения о 13 видах вирусов на культуре Syringa L. Представлены данные о видовом составе вирусов Syringa в экосистемах ГБС и Московского региона и симптоматика их проявления. На основании вирусологической экспертизы на сирени были диагностированы специализированные патогены Lilac ring mottle ilarvirus (LRMV), Lilac leaf chlorosis ilarvirus (LLCV), а также впервые несвойственные для сирени Carnation mottle carmovirus, Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus и Potato Y potyvirus. В результате системного мониторинга определена частота встречаемости для 7 вирусов.

The identification of reliable physiological and biochemical indicators for assessing tomato salt tolerance can increase the efficiency of plant breeding to create new varieties and lines. The purpose of our study was to identify available physiological and biochemical relevant characteristics for assessing the sensitivity to sodium chloride salinity of different tomato genotypes at the seedling stage. A complex analysis was carried out based on indicators such as biomass growth, water content of plant tissues, content of readily soluble salts, sodium and chlorine ions, photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Additionally, the stomata area of the upper and lower epidermis was taken into account. The comprehensive assessment carried out made it possible to reliably divide the eight studied tomato varieties into two groups: sensitive (Belyij Naliv, Geya, YaLF, Paradigma) and tolerant (Recordsmen, Yuryevskij, Bych’e Serdce, Astrakhanskij). Tomato genotypes that can be classified as sensitive (in order of increasing sensitivity to high concentrations of NaCl (150 mM)) were Belyij Naliv > Geya > YaLF ≥ Paradigma. Tomato genotypes that can be classified as resistant to salt stress (in order of increasing tolerance to high concentrations of NaCl (150 mM)) were Recordsmen < Yuryevskij < Bych’e Serdce < Astrakhanskij. The advisability of only using complex physiological and biochemical indicators to obtain relevant assessments for salinity tolerance at the early stages of tomato plant development has been demonstrated.

Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the choline oxidase gene from A. globiformis showed an increase in resistance at the level of primary and secondary biosynthesis of metabolites, removing the damage characteristic of salinity and stabilizing the condition of plants. We used 200 mM NaCl, which inhibits the growth of tobacco plants at all stages of development. Leaves of transgenic and wild-type (WT) plants Nicotiána tabácum were used for biochemical, cytological and molecular biological analysis. However, for transgenic lines cultivated under normal conditions (without salinity), we noted juvenile characteristics, delay in flowering, and slowing down of development, including the photosynthetic apparatus. This caused changes in the amount of chlorophyll, a delay in the plastid grana development with the preservation of prolamellar bodies. It also caused changes in the amount of sugars and indirectly downstream processes. A significant change in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and a change in metabolism is probably compensated by the regulation of a number of genes, the expression level of which was also changed. Thus, the tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants to salinity, which manifested itself as a result of the constitutive expression of codA, demonstrates an advantage over WT plants, but in the absence of salinity, transgenic plants did not have such advantages due to juvenilization.

Lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown under salinity stress conditions. Amino acids (histidine (His), lysine (Lys), phenylalanine (Phe), and threonine (Thr)) were individually applied to the seedlings to study their impact on the status of the photosynthetic pigments, ion absorption, proteinogenic metabolism, and peroxidase activity. Investigating the effect of exogenous amino acids on the metabolism processes showed their potential role in inducing salt stress tolerance in lettuce plants. Generally, a destructive impact on lettuce plant morphology was observed when the plants were exposed to salt stress. In contrast, the significant (p < 0.05) mitigation of salt stress was registered when EAAs were applied to the stressed seedlings while using Threonine and lysine enhanced the status of the plants under salinity stress. For the salt treatment, the maximum electric conductivity (580.2 μS/g) was reported while applying EAAs to stressed plants’ decreased EC, and the data ranged from 522 to 554 μS/g. EAAs decreased the chloride ions in the leaves by 23–30% compared to in the stressed plants. Additionally, the sodium contents were mitigated when the stressed plants were sprayed with EAAs. In contrast, applying EAAs enhanced the potassium uptake, and Thr gave the highest K+ contents (3022 μg/g). EAAs increased the chlorophyll content compared to the control except when histidine was applied, while the carotene contents significantly increased when histidine and phenylalanine were used. Endogenous amino acids are highly expressed in non-stressed lettuce plants compared to the stressed ones. Under salt stress conditions, the threonine usage increased the expression of proteinogenic amino acids except methionine and tyrosine. Compared to the salt-stressed plants, the peroxidase activity significantly decreased in the other treatments, which fell by over 32% when His, Lys, and Phe were applied.

Studying the biostimulation effect of amino acids indicated their possible role in salt stress mitigation. In this investigation, six exogenous amino acids (alanine (Ala), arginine (Arg), glutamine (Glu), glycine (Gly), methionine (Met), and proline (Pro)) at 0.5 g/L were sprayed to evaluate their impact on lettuce plants cultivated under simulated salt stress conditions. Photosynthetic pigments, ion absorption, endogenous amino acids contents, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activities were determined. A significant alleviation of salt stress was noticed when EAAs were used in the stress-induced plants, and applying Gly, Met, and Pro improved the plant status under salt stress conditions. The highest electric conductivity (568 μS/g) was testified from the control treatment (50 mM NaCl), while applying exogenous amino acids reduced electrical conductivity (EC), and the result was located between 469 and 558 μS/g. AAs alleviated Cl- anions in the lettuce leaves by 25% in comparison to control plants. Na+ cations were alleviated when the stress-induced plants were sprayed with amino acids. In contrast, applying amino acids promoted K+ uptake, and Arg presented the highest contents (3226 μg/g). AAs promoted chlorophyll (chl a and chl b) concentrations compared to the control treatment, and Met produced the maximum chl a content, while the carotene (car) contents significantly augmented when Gly, Met, and Pro were applied. AAs were highly generated in non-stressed treatment (Std) compared to the control. Under simulated salinity stress, Met and Pro application enhanced proteinogenic amino acids expression. Compared to Ctl treatment, peroxidase enzyme activities significantly diminished in the other treatments, which fell by over 40% when Gly, Met, and Pro were sprayed.

Biochemical composition was studied in the leaf litter of alien woody species included in the 100 most aggressive invasive species of Europe: Ailanthus altissima, Quercus rubra, Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Elaeagnus angustifolia. Using GC-MS, we detected 187 metabolites in the leaf litter, which are phenolic acids and their derivatives, carbohydrates and their derivatives, polyphenolic compounds, cyclic esters, glycosides, and amino acids and their derivatives. Species-specific metabolites were identified for each species. The main allelochemicals in the leaf litter extract of Q. rubra are determined mainly by the relative abundance of phenolic and fatty acids and their esters, whereas those in the leaf litter extract of R. pseudoacacia are determined by carbohydrates and their derivatives and ester of fatty acid, and those in the leaf litter extract of A. altissima are determined by glycosides. Profiles of macro- and microelements were characterized. It was found that aqueous extracts of leaf litter from all the invasive woody plants under study have a negative effect on the seed germination and initial growth of Vicia cracca and Avena strigosa used for the reclamation of disturbed urban and industrial lands. At the same time, V. cracca is potentially more sensitive.

The study of the leafmining moth of the chestnut miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dymić, 1986) was carried out through the planting of the common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The effect of various degrees of insolation of horse chestnut plants on leaf morphology and the composition of secondary metabolites, as well as the relationship of these parameters with the number and density of C. ohridella populations during the growing season, was studied. The solar influence, it was noted, had a significant impact. Thus, the largest number of the pests was recorded on the leaves of the sunlit side of the tree crown, and the smallest on the leaves of the shady part of the crown. The low content of polyphenols in the pool of secondary metabolites in the tissues of the A. hippocastanum leaves did not deter C. ohridella and poorly protected the plants from this miner, while the significant content of carbohydrates in the leaves reduced the resistance of chestnut plants to damage by the Ohrid leaf miner.

A weed plant of the species Lupinus polyphyllus was found in settlements located on the territory of the natural park “Vepssky forest” of the Leningrad region. The plant is known as a transforming species in the southern regions of Russia. The distribution of L. polyphyllus within the Vepsian forest occurs not due to the migration of the species to the north along transport routes, as one might assume, but due to flight from gardens and the formation of spontaneous invasive populations. The goal of the study was to identify the molecular and biochemical characteristics of garden lupine at the northern borders of its secondary range. To interpret the obtained data, the task of the study also included a comparison of intraspecific variability between the “old” invasive populations (in Finland and Central Russia, studied by us earlier) and the “new” naturalizing population of L. polyphyllus in the Vepsian forest. The search for L. polyphyllus localities in the territory of the Vepssky Les natural park was carried out by the route method with geobotanical descriptions of experimental sites (5 m × 5 m). DNA was isolated from eight herbarium specimens of L. polyphyllus (MHA, LE) and fifteen specimens collected in the territory of the natural park “Vepssky Les”. To reveal the internal structure and phylogenetic relationships in lupine populations, networks of nuclear and chloroplast haplotypes and cluster analysis (UPGMA) with the SplitsTree program were used. The total content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the leaves was determined spectrophotometrically. The low inter-locality variability of ITS indicates that the populations of L. polyphyllus in Central Russia and in the North of Russia (St. Petersburg and Vepsskaya Pushcha) have the same origin. Analysis of the chloroplast intergenic spacer (rpl32–trnL) indicates intrapopulation diversity and suggests the presence of microevolutionary processes near the northern limits of the secondary distribution range of L. polyphyllus. The high content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the leaves reveals the adaptive capabilities of lupine in the studied area. Evidence suggests that a neglected species may soon become invasive, as has already happened in other regions.

The high salinity of soil salts limits plant growth. Wheat is sensitive to toxic levels of mineral salts. Salinity leads to the accumulation of toxic ions in all organs of wheat. Depending on the level of ion accumulation, wheat is defined as salt stress-tolerant or -sensitive. The wheat variety Zolotaya accumulated Cl− and Na+ ions to a greater extent than the Orenburgskaya 22 variety. The accumulation of toxic ions was accompanied by an increase in ROS and an increase in damage to root tissues up to 80% in the Zolotaya variety. The formation of autophagosomes is considered a defense mechanism against abiotic stresses in plants. At a concentration of 150 mM NaCl, an increase in the expression level of TOR, which is a negative regulator of the formation of autophagosomes, occurred. The level of TOR expression in the Zolotaya variety was 2.8 times higher in the roots and 3.8 times higher in the leaves than in the Orenburgskaya 22 variety. Under the action of salinity, homeostasis was disturbed in the root cells and ROS production accumulated. In the unstable variety Zolotaya, ROS was found in the cap zone and the root meristem in contrast to the resistant variety Orenburgskaya 22 in which ROS production was found only in the cap zone. Accumulation of ROS production triggered autophagy and PCD. PCD markers revealed DNA breaks in the nuclei and metaphase chromosomes, cells with a surface location of phosphatidylserine, and the release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, which indicates a mitochondrial pathway for the death of part of the root cells during salinity. Based on electron microscopy data, mitophagy induction was revealed in wheat root and leaf cells under saline conditions.

Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum L. belongs to the mint family and grows wild in tropical and subtropical climates. Basil is an important culinary and essential oil crop grown and used throughout the world. In areas with insufficient natural light for optimal plant growth and productivity, high pressure sodium light sources are widely used. However, these lamps are considered energy-intensive, and they also generate a large amount of thermal radiation. Therefore, there is great interest in replacing sodium lamps with new, more efficient light sources in the form of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this work, the influence of two light sources (white LED light and red-blue together with white LED light) on the growth, development and physiological parameters of two varieties of sweet basil was studied - green basil of the “Anisoviy aromat” variety and red basil of the “Opal” variety. Illumination with red-blue light in combination with white LED light had a clear advantage in almost all growth and development parameters measured for both varieties of basil. Plants of green basil cultivar “Anisoviy aromat” and red basil cultivar “Opal” at both stages of crop accounting were taller, had larger mass and larger leaves. with white light in red basil plants allowed to surpass the control plants by about one and a half times. At the same time, white LEDs initiated a more effective photoprotective mechanism during long-term cultivation of green basil plants.

The results of the study of Adenocaulon adhaerescens Maxim., the only species which "escaped " from the Main Botanical Garden (MBG RAS, Moscow) and invaded the anthropogenically disturbed territories of the Moscow region, are summarized. The history of intentional introduction of the species and stages of formation of spontaneous invasive population are described. The characteristics of the plant communities and habitats of the species are given. Data on the population size, seed productivity in the native and the secondary ranges, and vegetative propagation of plants are given. The morphological characters at different stages of plant ontogenesis are described. A comparative analysis of morphometric characters of seeds, leaves, and inflorescences in the native and secondary ranges of the species has been performed. Molecular genetic analysis of A. adhaerescens samples from the native and secondary ranges and closely related species of the genus Adenocaulon has been performed. The analysis has confirmed the validity of recognition of A. adhaerescens as a separate species. Diagnostic features of A. adhaerescens are described. The results of management invasive population in MBG RAS are presented and recommendations on control measures of A. adhaerescens dispersal are given.

Secondary metabolites of aromatic plants are used in many health applications as drugs, pheromones, insecticides, fragrances, and antioxidants. Due to the huge commercial demand for these secondary metabolites, the need to overcome the insufficient productivity of aromatic plants has become a significant challenge. Plant breeding is a traditional, labor-intensive, and limited method to improve the ability of aromatic plants to produce secondary metabolites. Modern methods of biotechnology, including genetic engineering and genome editing, can be useful and cost-effective in improving aromatic plants, as they can increase the efficiency of obtaining plants with high productivity and the creation of resistant forms and breeding lines. This review illustrates the importance of developing methods for the modification of aromatic plants belonging to different families, with a predictable quality, resistance to adverse factors and pests, and intensive growth and high yields and productivity of valuable essential oils. Particular attention is paid to successful examples of the modification of aromatic plants, applied methods, and principal approaches

Echinocystis lobata (Mich.) Torr. et Gray extracts were investigated for their bioactive compounds and their potential for natural antioxidant properties. In vitro antioxidant activity of methanol, ethanol, and water extracts were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of fruits and seeds were determined. TPC is a fairly constant value and varies weakly both among the different organs of Echinocystis lobata and among the geographical locations of the populations studied. Like other invasive species, Echinocystis lobata is superior to many other plants in terms of the total amount of flavonoids contained in its fruits and seeds. The dried fruits contain more flavonoids than the seeds. Seeds from Slovak populations have higher flavonoid content than those from Russian populations. The results demonstrated that Echinocystis lobata can be a good source of natural antioxidants and have a great potential for commercialization, especially in the pharmaceutical industry.

In Europe, two invasive North American species of Solidago L. have been detected: S. canadensis L. and S. gigantea Ait. Both species provide a stable late harvest and are valued by beekeepers for their ability to produce pollen and nectar in late fall. There is a significant correlation between the chemical components of flowers and goldenrod honey, so the study of the phytochemical composition of inflorescences (heads) seems to be very actual. The work aims to determine the total content of saccharides, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids in the heads of S. canadensis and S. gigantea for comparative evaluation of bee production quality, and also to specify morphometric differences in the heads of both species and to reveal the amplitude of their variability. The material was collected in the Moscow and Pskov Regions (Russia). The total content of the saccharides in S. canadensis heads was 27.33 ±0.54 %, with monosaccharides ~44–46 %. In S. gigantea’s heads total content of the saccharides was 1.5 times lower – 18.07 ±0.73 %, the content of monosaccharides was 7.39 ±0.15 %. The total content of phenolic compounds in the heads of S. canadensis was 105.36 ±1.45 mg GAE/100 g and in S. gigantea’s heads was 98.41 ±1.71 mg GAE/100 g. The total flavonoid content as quercetin equivalents was 58.23 ±0.17 mg QE/100 g in the heads of S. canadensis and 41.97 ±0.34 mg QE/100 g in S. gigantea’s heads. Thus, in S. canadensis heads the content of the total content of saccharides is 1.5 times higher, the content of phenolic compounds is 1.3 times higher, and the content of flavonoids is 1.4 times higher than in S. gigantea. A feature allowing the diagnosis of these species is the size of the heads: S. canadensis has smaller heads than S. gigantea (4.4×1.8 vs. 6.4×2.3 mm).

Pseudocydonia sinensis (Thouin) C. K. Schneid. less known plant species in the Ukraine conditions, but the fruits were widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of asthma, colds, sore throat, mastitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tuberculosis. The content of protein, ash, and lipids in the seeds was found to be greater than in the pulp and peel. Monosaccharide analysis of neutral carbohydrate part showed the presence of two main sugars fructose and sucrose in the seeds, pulp, and peel. There is a higher beta-carotene content in the rind of the fruit than in the seeds and pulp. The total amount of fatty acids varied from sample to sample and contained mainly oleic acid, palmitic acid, linolenic acid, and linoleic acid. Linoleic acid in the seeds was 48.02% of total fatty acids, slightly less in the rind 42.70%. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid in the pulp samples were 45.38, 21.32, and 14.93%, respectively. The total amount of amino acids found in the seeds was 105.0 g.kg-1 DM, including total essential amino acids (32.70 g.kg-1 DM). Glutamic acid was found in seeds to be the dominant free amino acid followed by aspartic acid and arginine in the seed. In our study, the antioxidant activity carried out by the DPPH method and measured by molybdenum reducing antioxidant power of peel, pulp and seeds were 9.41, 7.08, 6.21, and 158.81, 92.83, 78.58 mg TEAC.g-1 DM, respectively. Micro and macronutrients and amino acids predominated in the seeds, total fatty acids predominated in the pulp. The highest content of bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, flavonoid, and phenolic acid) and antioxidant activity was found in the peel. P. sinensis can be considered as a nourishing fruit with a copious potential with health-promoting roles and medicinal properties.