The resource potential of fruit and ornamental plants of the order Lamiales in the collection of the Botanical Garden

Abstract

The multi-vector positioning of the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden (Dnipro, Ukraine) as an ecological resource, the main functions of which are aimed at preserving, studying, acclimatizing plants, researching the effective use of rare and typical species of local and world flora by creating, replenishing and preserving botanical collections, conducting scientific, educational and tutorial work is reviewed. The resource potential study of the fruit and ornamental plants which are promising for various fields of application is a component of bioeconomy. Such plants include species of the order Lamiales Bromhead. In the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden (Dnipro, Ukraine) the stock collection of Lamiales order plants on condition of sheltered ground was studied. The paradigm of the modern botanical garden positioned as an ecological resource combining research activities, environmental function, and providing society with cultural ecosystem services is highlighted. An inventory and clarification of the taxonomic composition of Lamiales order representatives was carried out for the stock plant collection. The taxa systematic position was determined according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV) classification. It was determined the geographical status of the species (origin) and its life forms. The data of species' endurance of the Lamiales order to low temperatures in the sheltered ground of the Botanical Garden is given. It is shown that the Botanical Garden has a collection of more than 3,500 species of plants, including 900 taxa in the greenhouse fund, and 63 species, 230 species and cultivars belonging to the order Lamiales. It is demonstrated that Lamiales fruit and ornamental crops, which are available in the collection of the stock greenhouse, have antioxidant properties, and extracts from their parts are characterized by antifungal, antibacterial, and antimutagenic effects. Three collection species of the family Gesneriaceae (Streptocarpus ionanthus subsp. velutinus (B. L. Burtt) Christenh., Streptocarpus intermedia (B. L. Burtt) comb. ined., and Kohleria amabilis (Planch. & Linden) Fritsch) belong to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Most members of this order can be considered well-adapted to greenhouse growing conditions (88.9 % of plants in the Lamiales collection bloom). Seven species of the family Acanthaceae are fully adapted and give viable self-seeding. Determining the resource potential of the order Lamiales in the sheltered ground of the National University Botanical Garden showed the presence of plants not only with high decorative qualities, but also species containing an increased amount of biologically active substances with a wide range of antioxidant properties.