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The current investigation was carried out to study the effect of different doses of gamma irradiation on in vitro shoot cultures of carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.) and characterization of mutants using ISSR markers. The trial was undertaken at the experimental farm and laboratory of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). The experiment on ten carnation genotypes i.e. 7 mutants, 3 parents viz.; ‘Dark Rendezvous’, ‘Madras’ and ‘Tempo’ was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) under polyhouse conditions. All the mutants developed after the irradiation with gamma rays showed variation in color. In this study, different morphological parameters of the mutants and their parents were recorded. Among different mutants, maximum plant height was recorded in mutant of ‘Dark Rendezvous’ i.e. ‘Rendez-Vous A 2 ’ (67.70 cm) and maximum flower size in ‘Rendez-Vous C 2 ’ (8.40 cm). Duration of flowering was recorded maximum in ‘Tempo A 1 ’ (67.67 days) and vase life in ‘Rendez-Vous C 1 ’ (14.79 days). For the majority of the characters analyzed, all mutants performed better in comparison to parents. Moreover, for the characterization of mutants at the molecular level, ten ISSR primers were used and DNA polymorphism was observed with four primers. A total of fifteen polymorphic bands were produced by these four primers. No monomorphic band was observed with any primer resulting in 100% polymorphism. Variations in the plant material can be explained through genetic polymorphism. These results directly strengthen the significance of mutation breeding in developing improved carnation cultivars and substantiate the use of molecular characterization for validating genetic variation. Furthermore, they emphasize the scope for the commercial expansion of carnation cultivation through the selection of promising mutants.

Improving marketability and extension of vase life of cut flowers has practical significance for the development of the cut flower industry. Although considerable efforts have been made over many years to improve the vase life of cut flowers through controlling the immediate environment and through post-harvest use of floral preservatives, the impact of lighting environment on vase life has been largely overlooked. In the current study, the effect of three LED light spectra [white (400–730 nm), blue (peak at 460 nm), and red (peak at 660 nm)] at 150 μmol m–2 s–1 on vase life and on physiological and biochemical characteristics of carnation cut flowers was investigated. Exposure to blue light (BL) considerably delayed senescence and improved vase life over that of flowers exposed to red light (RL) and white light (WL). H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in petals gradually increased during vase life; the increase was lowest in BL-exposed flowers. As a consequence, BL-exposed flowers maintained a higher membrane stability index (MSI) compared to RL- and WL-exposed flowers. A higher activity of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] was detected in petals of BL-exposed flowers, compared to their activities in RL- and WL-exposed flowers. In BL-exposed flowers, the decline in petal carotenoid contents was delayed in comparison to RL- and WL-exposed flowers. Maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and a higher percentage of open stomata were observed in leaves of BL-exposed flowers. Sucrose and glucose contents accumulated in petals during vase life; sugar concentrations were higher in BL-exposed flowers than in RL- and WL-exposed flowers. It is concluded that BL exposure improves the vase life of carnation cut flowers through its effect on the antioxidant defense system in petals and on photosynthetic performance in the leaves.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a severe form of brain tumor that has a high fatality rate. It grows aggressively and most of the time results in resistance to traditional treatments like chemo- and radiotherapy and surgery. Biodiversity, beyond representing a big resource for human well-being, provides several natural compounds that have shown great potential as anticancer drugs. Many of them are being extensively researched and significantly slow GBM progression by reducing the proliferation rate, migration, and inflammation and also by modulating oxidative stress. Here, the use of some natural compounds, such as Allium lusitanicum, Succisa pratensis, and Dianthus superbus, was explored to tackle GBM; they showed their impact on cell number reduction, which was partially given by cell cycle quiescence. Furthermore, a reduced cell migration ability was reported, accomplished by morphological cytoskeleton changes, which even highlighted a mesenchymal–epithelial transition. Furthermore, metabolic studies showed an induced cell oxidative stress modulation and a massive metabolic rearrangement. Therefore, a new therapeutic option was suggested to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments and thereby improve patient outcomes.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) has become an issue of concern for a great many people and is an active area of research. Phytoplasmas, also known as mycoplasma-like organisms, are wall-less prokaryotes that are pathogens of many plant species throughout the world. Effects of electromagnetic fields on the changes of lipid peroxidation, content of H2O2, proline, protein, and carbohydrates were investigated in leaves of two-year-old trees of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) infected by the Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifoliae. The healthy and infected plants were discontinuously exposed to a 10 KHz quadratic EMF with maximum power of 9 W for 5 days, each 5 h, at 25°C. Fresh and dry weight of leaves, content of MDA, proline, and protein increased in both healthy and infected plants under electromagnetic fields, compared with those of the control plants. Electromagnetic fields decreased hydrogen peroxide and carbohydrates content in both healthy and infected plants compared to those of the controls.

The addition of potassium bicarbonate to the electrode cuvette immediately stimulated the rate of dark O2 uptake of photomixotrophic and heterotrophic carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) callus, of Elodea canadensis (Michx) leaves, and of other plant tissues. This phenomenon occurred at pH values lower than 7.2 to 7.8, and the stimulation depended on the concentration of gaseous CO2 in the solution. These stimulatory responses lasted several minutes and then decreased, but additional bicarbonate or gaseous CO2 again stimulated respiration, suggesting a reversible effect. Carbonic anhydrase in the solution increased the stimulatory effect of potassium bicarbonate. The CO2/bicarbonate dependent stimulation of respiration did not occur in animal tissues such as rat diaphragm and isolated hepatocytes, and was inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid in carnation callus cells and E. canadensis leaves. This suggested that the alternative oxidase was engaged during the stimulation in plant tissues. The cytochrome pathway was severely inhibited by CO2/bicarbonate either in the absence or in the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. The activity of cytochrome c oxidase of callus tissue homogenates was also inhibited by CO2/bicarbonate. The results suggested that high carbon dioxide levels (mainly free CO2) partially inhibited the cytochrome pathway (apparently at the oxidase level), and this block in electron transport elicited a large transient engagement of the alternative oxidase when present uninhibited.