Annali di Botanica

Germination and physiological maturity of Rubus fraxinifolius seed

Aminatun Nisa, Surya Muhammad Imam, Qadir Abdul, Widajati Eny — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Seed quality reaches maximum at physiological maturity, characterized by seed vigor. The information on the first and final counts for germination test are necessary to determine physiological maturity of R. fraxinifolius. The information is important for developing and improving seed production and wild raspberry conservation, especially in Indonesia. This study was conducted at Cibodas Botanical Garden and Seed Physiology and Health Laboratory of IPB University from January to July 2023. Two experiments were conducted, with seed treatment and germination methods as factors in the first experiment and fruit harvest age as the factor in the second experiment. From the result can be determined the first and final counts of seed germination test at 39 and 65 days after the plant, respectively. The highest germination percentage, vigor index, and speed of germination were achieved with seeds treated with 1000 ppm KNO₃ using pleated paper, with a germination percentage of 82.5%, vigor index of 27.5%, and speed of germination of 1.94%/day. Physiological maturity was reached at 39-40 days after anthesis, from a fully ripe fruits with a red color and easily falling from the pedicle, have maximum seed dry weight of 0.194 g, germination percentage of 95.8%, and vigor index of 71.6%.

On the time trend of aerobiotic and anthropic biomass: an approach to the unknown

Corrado Battisti, Longino Contoli, Giuliano Fanelli — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Biodiversity changes in the aerobic biomass have been estimated (including the “anthrobiome”). These changes seem to be strongly affected by the anthropic impact along a long time span (starting from from 2,060 AD to 12,060 BC). The aerobic biomass exclunding Homo sapiens shows a progressive and, perhaps, unstoppable decline, after the advent of Western industrial civilization. This preliminary work aims to highlight how biodiversity should perhaps be studied, understood and used critically adopting innovative approaches (e.g., using biomass) and without preconceptions. Although our work is based on assumptions regarding some parameters that have been widely approximated, we believe it is necessary to proceed with this exploratory analysis considering the dramatic decline in biodiversity worldwide.

Stress responses and phytoremediation potential of ornamental Kale seedlings exposed to nickel

Veli Çeliktas, Sara Yasemin, Hande Otu Borlu — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Phytoremediation is an environmental friendly and cost-effective approach that uses plants to remove hazardous chemicals from contaminated soil, air, and water. The effects of nickel (Ni) concentration on Kamome Red, Kamome White and Kamome Pink cultivars of ornamental kale were evaluated in this study. For this purpose, seeds of cultivars were irrigated with 0 (control), 25, 50, 100 ppm Ni solution including Hoagland nutrient solution for 40 days. Results showed that the germination percentage was more than 70% in all cultivars and applications. At a Ni concentration of 25 ppm, it had positive effects on seedling growth parameters with 76.1 mm root length, 73.1 mm shoot length, 6.7 g shoot fresh weight, 0.97 g shoot dry weight. However, high Ni concentrations negatively impacted shoot and root lengths, seedling fresh and dry weights. Seedling water content decreased as Ni concentration increased. Proline content increased significantly in response to high Ni concentrations in Kamome Red and Kamome White cultivars. The Ni concentrations of the cultivars were also affected, with the highest Ni content being obtained from 100 ppm Kamome White (89.32 mg/kg). These findings indicate that Ni concentration has an important effect on the growth of ornamental kale cultivars and K.White showed significant Ni accumulation at 100 ppm. Because of Ni accumulation and growth rate, ornamental kale cultivars has the potential to be used as a phytoremediation tool in Ni polluted areas.

Evaluation of sunflower cultivars to drought stress in different stages of phenology

Mehdi Zohdi Aghdam — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In order to evaluate sunflower cultivars under the effect of drought stress, an experiment was conducted on four cultivars in the form of a split plot in the form of a basic randomized complete block design in 3 replications at the khoy research station in 2024. Drought stress treatment was applied at four levels in the main plots, including: no water stress, stress during tillering, stress in the flowering stage, stress in the seed filling stage, and Master, Lacomka, and Euroflor and Azergol hybrids were arranged in the sub-plots. The results showed that the highest weight of 1000 seeds is from stress-free conditions (63.08 gr) and Lakomka cultivar (64.19 gr) and the lowest weight is related to stress conditions at the stage of head formation (51.22 gr) and Euroflor cultivar (51.52 gr). The highest seed yield of 3084 kg ha^-1 was related to no stress and the lowest yield was 1215 kg related to the treatment of stress in the head formation stage. Among the cultivars, Azargol yielded the highest yield of 2061kg and Master yielded the lowest yield with 1867 kg. Also, comparisons of the average mutual effects between cultivars and different levels of stress show that Azargol variety without applying stress with a yield of 3732 kg had the highest value and Master variety with applying stress in the forming stage obtained the lowest yield.

Botanical and archeological heritage in Cuba: the Cayo Blanco-Guasabacoa case study

Giovanni Salerno, Fabio Attorre, Eldis R. Bécquer — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Archeo-Cuba project, Archaeology and Environmental Sustainability, is an international cooperation initiative funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation under the program for the Promotion of Territorial Partnerships and Implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The project adopts a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to addressing climate change in Cuba, aligning with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, through a peer-to-peer training model involving both Italian and Cuban experts. This paper presents the analytical methods applied to the project's target sites, focusing on the interpretation of natural and botanical stratification alongside historical and archaeological layers. It also outlines key findings from both the botanical research and the planning activities carried out at one of the target sites: the Cayo Blanco area, located in Havana Bay. Furthermore, recognizing the value of botanical, natural, and historical-archaeological heritage as a driver of sustainable territorial development, the study proposes environmental conservation strategies based on Nature-Based Solutions to address both ecological and social challenges. All activities are aimed at the future enhancement and sustainable use of the site.