Majid Shokrpour

Thymus daenensis is a valuable medicinal plant known for its potent therapeutic properties. This study aimed to identify genetic loci (markers) as

Lilium is one of the most valuable cut flowers in the world. Today, due to the global water crisis, the agricultural challenge is to modify cultivation patterns to reduce water requirements by plants. This research was conducted to optimize soilless cultivation systems and nutritional demands to improve morpho-physiological parameters of Oriental × Trumpet (Orienpet; OT) hybrid lily. Four soilless cultivation systems (aeroponic, ultrasonic, hydroponic in pots, and hydroponic in containers) were evaluated using three nutrient solutions (NS1, NS2, NS3), considering two variables: the ratio of ammonium to total nitrogen (0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) and the ratio of calcium to total cations (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7). A factorial experiment was used, arranged as a randomized complete block design. Plants grown in the hydroponic (pot) system treated with nutrient solution NS1 showed favorable and consistent results. Additionally, results revealed that the amount of malondialdehyde and, accordingly, the aging process were lower in the bulbs treated by NS3. Therefore, in addition to NS1, NS3 is also recommended for lily cultivation in the hydroponic (pot) system. Considering that photosynthetic performance improved with increasing ammonium in the nutrient solution of the ultrasonic system, it seems that the lily is an ammonium-feeding plant. However, this issue requires further evaluation.

The production of valuable bioactive compounds in the medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (G. glabra) would benefit from biotechnological approaches for the cultivation and induction of metabolite-producing hairy roots. Germination trials were tested to overcome seed dormancy, achieving high germination rates with sulfuric acid treatment. Hairy root cultures of cotyledons using Rhizobium rhizogenes strain 1724 showed the highest transformation efficiency. A fast-growing line, line S, was subsequently exposed to light treatments (red, blue, and blue and red combined) to evaluate their effects on growth, phenolic content, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). Hairy root cultures grown in blue light and in blue and red light combined had higher growth rates than those grown in red light only or in control conditions (dark). FRAP increased over time under all light treatments, including the control, and those cultures exposed to blue and red light combined had higher FRAP than the control. These findings provide valuable insights into conditions for optimal seed germination and hairy root transformation. Treatment of the line S with different qualities of light induced changes in antioxidant capacity and phenolic content, indicating promise for its use in upregulating secondary metabolite production in G. glabra for future biotechnological applications.

Background: Thyme is a famous medicinal plant from the Lamiaceae family, which is grown in the wild throughout Iran and has one of the world's top ten essential oils. Objective: In this study, four species of the Thymus genus including T. lancifolius, T. daenensis, T. vulgaris, T. kotschyanus were crossed. Out ...