UTILIZATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN HORTICULTURAL PLANTS Máthé Ákos, D.Sc.

Main areas of research 1/Introduction/domestication of medicinal plants, as an indirect method of ex situ preservation of the genetic resources of medicinal plants, 2/ Flowering phenological studies on woody fruit crops, as a tool for the characterization of biodiversity of fruit crops, 3/In vitro micropropagation of horticultural species and cultivars, as a biotechnological tool in both plant propagation and ex situ preservation.

Environment Principles in the study of the biodiversity of medicinal and aromatic plants Physical Biological Phenological Geographical Genetic Differentiation Variance Environment Dry matter Production Active substance accumulation Vegetative Organs Generative Organs Total quantity Composition Total Active Principle Production Productivity

Distribution of Adonis vernalis L. and Convallaria majalis L. populations in Hungary

Variations in the glycoside composition of Hungarian Convallaria majalis L. populations

III - I Index V = I + II + III Index of Flowering used in the phenological investigations I =II =III =

Cultivars used in the flowering phenological studies

Flowering sequence of plum cultivars ( )

Effect of light intensity and day length on the course of flowering in Capsicum annuum L. cultivars

Main applications of the Flowering Index 1.Characterization of the course of flowering of species and cultivars, 2.Comparison of the flowering of plant individuals, populations, species, cultivars, etc. =Identification of simultaneously flowering cultivars to be used as pollen donor cultivars, =To facilitate agricultural plant protection activity at the period of flowering, =Data are suitable to be included in the data- banks of plant collections, gene banks, etc. =Application in production biological studies to characterize the phenophase of flowering, etc.

In vitro micropropagation as a means of biodiversity utilization Species and cultivars of the in vitro experiments: Apple (Malus domestica L.) cv. Granny Smith, cv. Julyred, cv. Mutsu, cv. Spur Golden Delicious Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) Diploid cultivars, cv. Baladi, cv. Chilean black, cv. Crimson Sweet, cv. Szigetcsépi. Triploid cultivar: cv. Erwyn Peppermint (Mentha piperita L. ) cv. Mitcham

Some observations obtained in the in vitro studies with Malus domestica L. cultivars

In vitro shoot proliferation of apple Shoot length Shoot length (cm) Shoot number (pieces) Shoot length Shoot number

Effect of growth regulators on the in vitro proliferation of apple cultivars

Note: mean values from the subculture No. 5. Shoot length (cm) S u b c u l t u r e s Shoot growth during long term in vitro storage of apple (Malus domestica L.)

Induction of Adventitous Root Formation in Apple Solid medium: –cv. Julyred (ca. 90 %): 1/2 MS + 1 mg/L BA + 0,1 mg/l BA + 2 g/l AC, – cv. Mutsu (86 %) 1/2 MS + 2 mg/L IVS, –cv. Spur Golden Delicious (15 %): 1/2 MS + 1 mg/L IVS, –cv. Granny Smith (ca. 0 %)

Proliferation capacity of triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus cv. Erwyn)

M e d i u m New shoot/ explant. Shoot length/ explant. 1.Control = MS2.83 ± ± MS BA IBA2.90 ± ± MS BA IBA + 1 g/l AC1.60 ± ± MS BA IBA3.10 ± ± MS BA IBA + 1 g/l AC1.90 ± ± MS BA IBA8.56 ± ± MS BA IBA + 1 g/l AC2.43 ± ± MS BA IBA12.8 ± ± MS BA IBA + 1 g/l AC1.93 ± ± MS BA IBA4.97 ± ± MS + 1 BA IBA + 1 g/l AC1.56 ± ± MS BA IBA6.63 ± ± MS BA IBA + 1 g/l AC1.56 ± ± 0.41 Effect of exogenous growth regulators on the in vitro shoot proliferation of Mentha piperita L. cv. Mitcham

Biodiversity is the basis for the environmental health of our Planet and the source of economic and food security for future generations Mr. Edouard Saouma Director General of FAO Home