Eleni Maloupa

Hellenic Agricultural Organization - Demeter | ELGO · Institute of Plant Breeding and genetic Resources

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is an aromatic herb widely used in the food industry, with several commercial cultivars available with different qualitative characteristics. Commercial cultivars are usually preferred over landraces due to their higher yield and also the lack of improved landraces than can be commercialized. In Greece, however, traditi...

Sideritis euboea is a perennial medicinal, local endemic species to mountainous areas of Central and Southern Evia Island (Greece) with isolated populations threatened with extinction. In this context, a genetic and phytochemical survey has been performed to evaluate the present status of S. euboea inter- and intra-population diversity in three mou...

Dogroses belong to a taxonomically difficult genus and family and represent important phytogenetic resources associated with high ornamental, pharmaceutical-cosmetic and nutritional values, thus suggesting a potentially high exploitation merit. Triggered by these prospects, wild-growing Rosa canina populations of Greece were selected for investigat...

Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ) aromatic, edible leaves are used fresh or dried as a herb, but also for their pharmaceutical properties. Given the profound concern to high nutritious and pharmaceutical value of superior plant’s germplasm, a survey is presented in this study on the phenotypic, genetic and phytochemical characterization of fifteen G...

Salvia sclarea L. is valuable for its essential oils and other perfumery products used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid micropropagation protocol and cultivate S. sclarea in northern Greece for essential oil and sclareol production. The initial plant material used was S. sclarea seeds (biotype...

Worldwide, many medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are still collected from the wild and only a small fraction of them are exclusively sourced from cultivation. This practice when performed non-sustainably threatens species and populations. Micropropagation of MAPs is a powerful tool to conserve rare, threatened, and valuable MAPs, and to massive...

A BST R AC T The design and creation of the Ionian Islands Unique Rock Garden (IIURG), an innovative plant display in Thessaloniki, Greece, is described. This includes seven naturalistic rock gardens hosting twenty-two plant taxa of conservation priority. The unique nature of the IIURG is based on two features: the emulation of the natural geograph...

In this study we present eight example-cases of horticulture and landscape design with Greek native plants which have been performed under the supervision and scientific guidance of the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia in urban areas of mainland Greece (Thessaloniki, Epanomi, Porto Heli) and insular Greece (Aegean: islands of Chios, Amorgos, Syros...

This book (www.aromagardenbook.gr) presents an original venture that aims to improve our well-being: Far from being simply extras, aromatic-medicinal plants should become the stars in our everyday diet and our domestic environment. Historical information and basic biological data for 15 aromatic-medicinal plants of the Greek land and the Mediterran...

For over two thousand years, the botanical gardens evolved parallel to botany, philosophy and other sciences. Botanic gardens are more than ever committed to the community by focusing on applied research, education and raise awareness. Throughout the 14 years of its existence, the Balkan Botanic Garden Kroussia (BBGK) and the Environmental Educati...

A new culinary concept has been developed to praise ancient and modern use of exclusive Mediterranean ingredients, focusing the world's attention in a region: Crete, Greece. We reviewed the vernacular names, medicinal properties and traditional uses of the Dittany of Crete (local endemic of the island of Crete, Greece) and we explored the possibili...

In order to develop conservation protocols for Campanula incurva, the geographical information systems (GIS) were used to unveil its ecological requirements; this facilitated the selection of substrates and of appropriate temperatures for cultivation and guided propagation experiments and acclimatization. Seed germination was tested under (i) dark,...

In vitro vegetative multiplication of Weigela was carried out via the culture of floral apices excised at a specific floral initiation stage. Floral induction was produced by an arrest of growth induced by a stay of 3 weeks in short days with night interrupted by 3 far red night breaks was the best floral induction pattern. The maximal floral diffé...

Le Weigela florida «Bristol Ruby» se présente comme une plante de jour long dont la floraison n'est possible en jour long que si l'éclaircirement est suffisamment intense. La photopériode critique est comprise entre 12 et 13 heures. Un éclairement rouge clair donné en interruption de la nuit longue permet également la floraison du Weigela.

Advance in genomics and genetic research in eucalypts is increasing and becomes valuable in resolving problems related to the identification of Eucalyptus taxa, their genetic diversity, phylogeny and phylogeography. Numerous molecular studies have been proved extremely useful in DNA barcoding many Eucalyptus species and hybrids, aiming to determine...

Seed germination of two local Greek endemics was studied (Erysimum naxense, Erysimum krendlii). Seed viability was determined by using the tetrazolium method and germination was studied in synchronized cycles of five and four alternating temperatures [10/5 (for E. naxense only) and 15/10, 20/15, 25/20, and 30/25°C for both species, in cycles of 16...

In vitro mass propagation was achieved for four diverse genotypes of the wild carnation Dianthus petraeus, originating from four different geographical areas in Greece. Adventitious shoot proliferation was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5, 1, and 2 mg l-1 of TDZ in combination with 0, 0.1 and 0.5 mg l-1 of NAA, using...

A Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-facilitated approach for the in vitro propagation and ex situ conservation of the conservation priority species Achillea occulta is presented. To realize the species’ ecological requirements, the coordinates of the original habitat were linked with thematic layers derived from digital databases in a GIS envi...

Since 2007, the European Commission AGRI GEN RES 018 “CROCUSBANK” action has permitted the creation of the alleged World Saffron and Crocus Collection (WSCC), a unique collection which contains a representation of the genetic variability present in saffron crop and wild relatives at global scale. At present the germplasm collection, housed at the B...

The Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK) is dedicated to the ex situ conservation of native plants of Greece and the Balkans. The BBGK has formulated a conservation strategy for the collection of wild plant material for propagation, prioritizing mainly the endemic, rare, endangered, threatened and vulnerable plants of Europe found in different...

The paper shows the objectives and main achievements of a research project: “CrocusBank: genetic resources of saffron and allies” (website: www.crocusbank.org) funded by EU under the Community Programme on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture (AGRI GEN RES 018). Among the main objectives...

Melissa officinalis in experimental field cultivation: Seasonal variation of essential oil content, biomass and morphometric characteristics Papoulakis C. (1), Kolovou C. (1), Lanaras T. (2), Maloupa E. (3), Cook C.M. (3) (1) Postgraduate Studies Programme «Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Exploitation of Native Plants», School of Biolo...

Attempts to establish DNA barcodes for plants constitute worldwide attention and significance for species identification or origin and for resolution of classification problems. In this paper, a preliminary phylogenetic analysis is presented for representative Lamiaceae taxa (species and subspecies) belonging to Satureja sensu lato (S. horvatii sub...

New Flower Crop Development procedures require innovation as the engine of growth for every organization. In order to approach innovation for the development of new products, a new theory - model for NFC Development is presented. An inductive driven methodology was used to evaluate the NPD methods and practices, which already exist worldwide. The o...

Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae), a perennial halophyte native in Greece, could be used as an alternative culture at problematic soils. It presents significant economical potentials as its essential oils are in high demand from the medicinal and cosmetic industry. The response of the species on invitro conditions was studied. MS proved to be the most...

Plant material originating in wild populations, collected from various areas of Greece, has been maintained at the Laboratory of Conservation and Evaluation of Native and Floricultural Species. In the frame of the conservation program of the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK) the original collections count more than 1700 accession numbers of...

In this paper the profile of the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK) is outlined and basic illustrations are provided. Τhe location, establishment, facilities, organization and staff of BBGK, as well as the topography, soils and climate of its grounds, are presented. The plant conservation targets and policies formulated by BBGK in order to fu...

This study outlines a pioneer initiative concerning the native plant conservation that is considered as one of the most important plant refuges in Europe. The Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia has designed a system built on people, infrastructure and a strategy of seven hierarchical and complementary policies. To formulate and implement this strate...

The composition of the inforescence (I), leaf (L) and stem (S) essential oils of wild Mentha pulegium plants from three populations (1–3) on the island of Zakynthos were examined. Pulegone (32.8 %, S1 to 75.8 %, I3) was the major constituent of all of the oils. The other main constituents were piperitenone (5.1 %, L3 to 35 %, I2), isomenthone (4.3...

Cultivation of roses in various soil-less media was studied with the aim to identify the optimum soil condition for rose production. Madelon roses grafted on rootstock of Rosa indica var. major were transplanted to polyethylene bags containing zeolite and perlite (at ratios of 25z:75p, 50z:50p, 75z:25p and 100z:0p, v/v) in a climate-controlled gree...

Among the activities of the laboratory of Floriculture of the National Agriculture Research Foundation (NAGREF) are the collection, conservation and study of native Mediterranean and Balkan species. These are materialized through the newly established Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK), situated in the area of central Macedonia, Greece. In th...

Στο πλαίσιο διαμόρφωσης της εκπαιδευτικής δράσης του Βαλκανικού Βοτανικού Κήπου Κρουσσίων (ΒΒΚΚ), υλοποιήθηκε ο σχεδιασμός δραστηριοτήτων Περιβαλλοντικής Εκπαίδευσης (ΠΕ) στο «Μονοπάτι της Βιοποικιλότητας» για μαθητές πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης που αποτελούν μέχρι σήμερα την πλειονότητα των οργανωμένων επισκέψεων στο ΒΒΚΚ. Το Μονοπάτι της Βιοποικιλότ...

Περιγράφεται η βασική υποδομή και οργάνωση του Κήπου των Αισθήσεων, τμήμα του ευρύτερου Βαλκανικού Βοτανικού Κήπου Κρουσσίων στην Ποντοκερασιά του Νομού Κιλκίς, 70 Χμ. από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. Στον Κήπο των Αισθήσεων περισσότερα από 300 φυτικά είδη και υποείδη παρουσιάζονται σε 16 θεματικές ενότητες που εστιάζουν στη μακροχρόνια σχέση του ανθρώπου με τα...

The Balkan Botanic Garden situated at Kroussia mountains and the Balkan Horticultural Research Institute in Thermi/Thessaloniki aspire to become a major scientific and educational center for the Mediterranean and Balkan Flora. Until now, the Garden's physical infrastructure has been established, the national living plant collection has been initiat...

Growth retardants allowed production of more uniform, compact, flowering plants for commercial use of lavender (Lavandula stoechas). Paclobutrazol at 200, 400 and 600 mg·L-1 (ppm) was sprayed in a single or double application. Chlormequat was applied at 4000, 6000 and 8000 mg·L-1 in single, double or triple spray applications repeated every 13 days...

Two experiments were carried out to estimate investigate the possibility of using Greek pumice for cucumber and tomato production. The effect of addition of different proportions in various particle sizes of pumice stone was used to study the effect on airspace and easily available water as well as total porosity and water-buffering capacity. The a...

The performance and suitability of slow release fertilizers (SRF) for the soilless culture of tomato plants were studied. Plants of a long shelf life tomato cultivar (Garnet) were cultivated in plastic bags containing perlite, perlite+zeolite (1:1), cocopeat and perlite+cocopeat (1:1) and fed using two nutrient sources: a) a SRF mixture of short, m...

To investigate the effects of temperature and light on germination of Lavandula stoechas seeds, were incubation at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and dark and light (12hr) conditions for 25 days was implemented. Seeds incubated 5, 30 and 35°C, under light or dark failed to germinate. Increased seed germination was observed at 10, 15 and 20°C under...

To explore the possibility of introducing Vitex-agnus castus, a native Mediterranean ornamental plant, as a compact flowering pot plant for commercial use, paclobutrazol (at 0, 1000 an 2000 mg.L-1) and pinching was applied on 25 days old plants. Visual quality characteristics such as plant dimensions, node and leaf number and flowering were measure...

To efficiently, overcome seed coat dormancy and propagate C. creticus creticus, seeds were pre-treated with air at 80, 100, 120, and 150 °C, for 5-30 min or with boiling water for 35 sec or 1 min followed by incubation in plastic Petri dishes at 10, 15, or 20 °C, without light, for 7 weeks. resulted in 79 % (30 min pre-treatment at 80 °C, incubatio...

The effect of two auxins (NAA and 2,4-D) and BAP (at 0.89μM) on in vitro adventitious root induction and callus induction from shoot tips and lateral buds of Cistus creticus creticus explants 0, 1.136, 2.272, and 4.545 mg.L -1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) combined with 0 or 0.175 mg.L -1 of IAA or 0.188 mg.L-1 NAA was studied. Cultures were initiated...

Growth and development of Thymus mastichina, Lotus cytisoides, Lavandula stoechas, Centranthus ruber, Limonium sinense, and Limonium pectinatum has been studied in order these species to be used as pot plants for ornamental use. Three different environments was used: a non heated simple plastic greenhouse, a shading frame and open air. Measurements...

In this work an attempt is made to compare the net returns among three different flower cultivations (Roses, Gerbera, Gypsophila) in greenhouses. Data from greenhouses in Thessaloniki were used to analyze the economics of the cultivation and to assess the longrun benefits to Greek growers. Through the financial analysis Roses were proved as the mos...

The financial effectiveness of the soilless culture system (SCS) of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bol. ex Adlam.) production was compared with that of the soil culture system in heated greenhouses in northern Greece. Evaluation was based on budgeting procedures that assumed a project life of 9 years. The decision to accept or to reject the investment...

To evaluate the performance (production and quality) of gerbera plants, cvs 'Fame', 'Party', 'Regina' and 'Ximena' were planted, in a heated plastic greenhouse; perlite, zeolite, sand or rockwool were used as substrates. Yield and cut flower quality (stem length and width) of the gerbera plants were measured for a 17 month period. Plants grown on t...

To evaluate the performance of perlite-zeolite mixtures in a heated plastic greenhouse, 'Madelon' roses were installed on a soilless bag system containing zeolite and perlite, at 100:0, 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25 (v/v) ratios. Yield (number of flowers), cut flower quality, C02 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration rate of the r...

Treated wastewater was compared to standard nutrient solutions, in three different substrates (perlite, a 1:1 mixture of perlite and zeolite, and soil) using gerbera and tomato as test species. Treated wastewater and nutrient solution were applied by surface and subsurface drippers. Fertigation of gerbera, grown in soil and soilless media, with tre...

To investigate the germination ability of Vitex agnus castus L. seeds, pre-treatments with sulfuric acid (for 60-120 min), chilling (for 2 weeks at 5°C) and soaking in water or 400 ppm GA3 (for 6-10 hrs) were applied, followed by incubation at 20°C (for 2 weeks) and transfer to 30°C (for 1 week), 90% RH and natural light cycling. Seeds incubated at...

The effect of intermittent low temperatures (3 °C, 7 °C or 10 °C) for different time periods (1, 2 or 3 h) on growth of Lavandula stoechas was tested. Short time exposure to 10 °C accelerated shoot elongation by 22.51 % (3.4 cm) on average, whereas exposure to 3 or 7 °C accelerated shoot elongation by 4.6 % or 9.9 % (0.7 or 1.5 cm), respectively. I...

To evaluate the performance of gerbera plants cv. Fame, grown in bags containing perlite, peat:perlite and pumice with two irrigation frequencies, plant growth, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf transpiration (E), leaf water potential Ψ, evapotranspiration, and yield were measured over a 4-6 month period from planting. Peat:...

Growing gerbera flower buds were treated twice with 6 ppm ethephon (3 ppm ethylene) at 10 cm and 15 cm length. Flowers were harvested, assessed for quality, stored until senescence (at 20°C, 70% RH, 1500 lux for 12 hrs) and then analysed for lignin and content. Control and ethephon-sprayed flower scapes had similar growth rate, however ethephon-tre...

Shoot regeneration was achieved from in vitro-produced leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Half-leaf explants from the terminal part of the shoot produced more shoots than explants from the basal part of the in vitro-derived shoots on agar-solidified WPM medium supplemented with 1 M benzyladenine (BA). In liquid medium of the same formulation, comp...

Weigela florida variety ‘Bristol Ruby’ has long day requirements for its growth and, in general, for its flowering. Vegetative development, floral initiation and floral organogenesis are described using scanning electron microscopy during photoperiodic treatment in long days, under controlled conditions. Flowering of axillary buds of cuttings has...