The objective of this study was to design a protocol of the successful establishment of plants of Begonia fischeri var. palustris obtained in the in vitro seeds culture, to evaluate flavonoid content and antimicrobial properties of in vitro plantlets. The significant increase of percentage of seed germination (92.5%) was recorded in the half strength MS medium and 1% agar medium (83.3%) in comparison with 50-60% in greenhouse conditions. Flavonoid composition of the leaves of in vitro plantlets and greenhouse stock plants had no substantial differences. Significant differences (p<0.05) were not found between flavonoid contents of the leaves (13.6 and 15.5 mg•g −1 of Dry Weight (DW), respectively). Aqueous ethanol extracts of plants showed antimicrobial effects against reference strains of Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Concentration of flavonoids in acetone and ethanol extracts of exudative compounds of the leaves of in vitro plantlets was 0.02 and 2.0 mg•g −1 DW, respectively. Our results indicated that this protocol can be used for the production of a large number of plants of B. fischeri var. palustris with rich flavonoid composition and high quantities of flavonoids, including exudative compounds, with healing and air cleaning properties.
The possibilities of adaptation of Begonia grandis Dry., the most cold-resistant representative of the genus, to conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia, more severe than in areas of natural growth in China, are studied. The experiment carried out outdoors in spring-summer-autumn period in comparison with a year-round greenhouse cultivation. It was established that the development of plants placed outside the greenhouses accelerates: the flowering time was reduced by 1.5 times and fruiting began two months earlier. The productivity indicators increased such as the number of simultaneously blooming inflorescences, the number of female flowers in separate inflorescence and the number of ripened fruits. The coefficient of vegetative propagation also increased. The number of bulbils was almost 2.5 times more, with significant increase in their size. It was shown that plants of B. grandis grown in the open air were adapted to the conditions of the forest-steppe of Western Siberia. By the time of autumn frosts, they are completing flowering, form ripen seeds and bulbils. Thus, reproduction is provided both by seed and vegetative means. However, to undergo the full life cycle of B. grandis it is necessary to keep dormant tubers in greenhouse or shelter during the frosty period.
Abstract.The results of the experiments on optimization of library room air with the help of the biological method are presented. Living tropical plants, volatile biologically active substances of which possess distinct antimicrobic properties are used for air sanitation. Their influence on change of the qualitative and quantitative microorganism composition in the air is shown. After plant placement the total number of colonies forming units (CFU) decreases by 3 times, that of staphylococcus -by 4.5 times. Air humidity increases insignificantly reaching the low limit of the comfort range for a person.
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