Christina Stoycheva¹, Eva S. Savova², Rosen S. Sokolov², Ekaterina Kozuharova^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087714 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Paeonia peregrina Mill. is a medicinal plant of conservation concern in Bulgaria, where its petals and roots are harvested from wild populations for pharmaceutical use. Developing effective propagation methods is therefore essential for its conservation and potential cultivation. This preliminary study investigated selected aspects of the reproductive biology of P. peregrina, including pollination, seed formation, seedling development, and vegetative propagation. Field observations and experiments were conducted during 2024–2025 in a natural population near the town of Boboshevo, southwestern Bulgaria, while propagation trials were performed under ex situ conditions. To assess the role of pollinators, flowers were isolated from… More >

Yuxuan Zhang, Hongmiao Bao, Yuting Luan, Jun Tao, Daqiu Zhao^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087532 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a traditional Chinese flower with high ornamental value. However, the antioxidant value of P. lactiflora petals has not been fully utilized, and the petals are often discarded as waste after flowering. Plant petals are typically rich in polyphenolic compounds with potent antioxidant properties, but research on the antioxidant properties of P. lactiflora petals remains insufficient. To investigate the antioxidant effects of P. lactiflora petal polyphenol extract (PPP), this study first determined and compared the PPP content of seven P. lactiflora cultivars, and then evaluated their antioxidant effects through in vitro and in vivo assays. Among the… More >

Shuting Zhao, Yuzhuo Yan, Feisal Mohamed Osman, Qiang Zhang, Zexin Qi, Zhian Zhang, Fenglou Ling^*, Xiao Han^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087517 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application increases production costs and environmental burdens in rice cultivation, highlighting the need to identify low-nitrogen-tolerant germplasm. In this study, 266 rice accessions were evaluated in hydroponic culture for 35 d under normal-nitrogen conditions (NN: 1.6 mM NO₃⁻ and 1.6 mM NH₄⁺) and low-nitrogen conditions (LN: 0.4 mM NO₃⁻ and 0.4 mM NH₄⁺). Fifteen seedling traits related to growth, chlorophyll status, nitrogen accumulation, and nitrogen utilization were measured, and the corresponding low-nitrogen tolerance indices were evaluated using correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), membership-function analysis, and cluster analysis. All measured traits had coefficients of… More >

Aiman Ammari^*, Ramzi Amran, Ahmad Alhimaidi

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087258 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Medicinal plants are valuable sources of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological properties. However, the phytochemical composition and biological activities of Horwoodia dicksoniae remain insufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, physicochemical characteristics, and in vitro cytotoxic potential of the ethanolic extract of H. dicksoniae collected from the Thumamah area, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The extract was subjected to phytochemical characterization, chemical profiling, physicochemical analysis, antioxidant activity assessment, and cytotoxicity evaluation. Qualitative screening confirmed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and glycosides, while quantitative analysis revealed high levels of phenolic and tannin constituents. The extract… More > Graphic Abstract

Radosław Kowalski^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087213 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Essential oils (EOs) are most commonly characterized by GC–MS profiles and the relative abundance of dominant constituents. This approach is essential for chemical description and quality control, but it does not fully explain why EO composition differs among species, populations, organs, developmental stages, and growth conditions. Here, EO variability is examined from a focused, plant-centered perspective, with emphasis on terpenoid-rich systems in which glandular trichomes or other secretory structures are documented sites of volatile-metabolite biosynthesis, accumulation, or profile variation. The analysis centers on glandular trichomes as metabolic units, MEP/MVA precursor supply, prenyl diphosphate nodes, terpene… More >

José G. Joya Dávila^1,*, Federico A. Gutiérrez Miceli², Leslie A. Serrano Gómez¹, Olivia Tzintzun Camacho¹, Dagoberto Durán Hernández¹, Alexis Salazar Navarro¹, David Cervantes-García¹, Ulin Antobelli Basilio Cortes¹, Anayancy Lam Gutiérrez³, Daniel González Mendoza¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.087160 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Water deficit is one of the major constraints to the establishment and early growth of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), particularly under increasingly frequent and intense drought conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and physiological responses of cacao seedlings subjected to progressive water deficit under nursery conditions. Plants were evaluated over a 45-day period without irrigation and compared with well-watered plants maintained at 60% of substrate field capacity. Growth variables, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and proline accumulation in leaves, stems, and roots were evaluated. Stem length showed no significant differences between treatments, whereas… More >

Nuttabodee Viriyawattana, Surachat Sinworn^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.086514 - 28 August 2026

Abstract High solar radiation during the Thai summer raises greenhouse temperatures to 33–41°C, exceeding the optimal range for tomato cultivation (15–25°C) and reducing yield and fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining daytime shading with evening supplemental light-emitting diode (LED) lighting to improve the growth, yield, and fruit quality of cherry tomato grown under heat-stress conditions. To alleviate excessive heat accumulation, a semi-enclosed greenhouse equipped with an 80% shade net was applied from 11:00 to 14:00, while supplemental LED lighting was provided from 18:00 to 22:00. Plants were exposed to red, blue,… More >

Nadira Mokarroma¹, Imrul Mosaddek Ahmed¹, Md. Romij Uddin², Md. Shihab Uddine Khan^3,*, Zakaria Alam^4,*, Nahid Afridi⁵, Sadia Afroz Ritu⁶, Md. Motiar Rohman⁷, Suman Biswas⁸, Abul Fazal Mohammad Shamim Ahsan¹, A. A. M. Mohammad Mustakim¹, Hela Znazen⁹, Ahmed Gaber¹⁰, Akbar Hossain^11,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.086460 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Heat stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) productivity in regions experiencing rising temperatures. This study evaluated the genetic variability and morphophysiological as well as yield responses of 50 barley genotypes under control and heat-stressed conditions to identify superior lines for thermotolerance breeding. A completely randomized design (CRD) with replications was used, and data was collected for ten morpho-physiological and yield traits. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated highly significant (p ≤ 0.001) effects of genotype, treatment, and their interaction on most of the measured traits. Wide phenotypic variation was observed for grain yield… More >

Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá^1,*, Geovani Soares de Lima^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.086459 - 28 August 2026

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Xiaoyu Che^1,2,#, Yanlong Wang^1,2,#, Junling Wang^1,2, Linru Liang^1,2, Yuxin Li^1,2, Guoku Liu^3,*, Yanhui Li^1,2,4,5,*, Ping Li^1,2,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.086214 - 28 August 2026

Abstract Shading stress significantly compromises the ornamental quality and ecological adaptability of Hesperis sibirica. To investigate the potential mitigating effects of plant growth regulators, this study systematically analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of foliar-applied prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) at different concentrations (0, 100, 300, 600, and 900 mg·L⁻¹) under both full sunlight and heavy shading (70% light reduction, retaining 30% of full sunlight intensity) conditions. Through comprehensive evaluation of plant morphological traits, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, combined with structural observations using scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, 600 mg·L⁻¹ Pro-Ca was identified as the More >