Methods and Protocols in Floriculture and Landscapes

Daniela Romano¹Antonio Ferrante^2*Francesco Ferrini³

• ¹Universita degli Studi di Catania Dipartimento di Agricoltura Alimentazione e Ambiente, Catania, Italy
• ²Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
• ³Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy

Innovative technologies and methodologies should be utilized to mitigate errors in the floriculture and 11 landscape sectors. The planning and design of urban and peri-urban green spaces necessitate careful 12 consideration of various factors, including climatic and agronomic conditions, the botanical and eco-13 physiological characteristics of ornamental plants, and the interactions between infrastructure and 14 green elements. These green areas, due to their plant composition, play a crucial role in providing 15 essential ecosystem services within urban environments. 16The process of designing and planning green spaces is a complex, multidisciplinary endeavor that 18 involves professionals such as landscape architects, planners, agronomists, botanists, hydrologists, and 19 civil engineers (Burlando et al., 2025). The initial steps include evaluating the area and its location 20 while prioritizing environmental and municipal constraints in the analysis. The selection of plants is 21 significantly influenced by soil and climate parameters. Where the area is already green, a thorough 22 assessment of each existing plant is essential to determine whether its preservation or replacement is 23 more appropriate. Upon completing the site analysis, the design of the future green space must consider 24 its environmental and social functions, potential ecosystem services, its role within the broader context, 25 compositional aspects, and the careful selection of plant species and materials. The study by Burlando 26 et al. (2025) proposes a working method that is both multidisciplinary and multiscale, aiming to create 27 sustainable and effective green spaces that thrive even in challenging conditions associated with human 28 impact and climate change. 29The quality of ornamental plants in urban areas is determined in nurseries. Stem-cutting propagation 30 and inadequate rooting efficiency continue to pose economic challenges for the ornamental nursery 31 industry. Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) are auxins that induce 32 adventitious root formation when applied exogenously. In urban or peri-urban environments, the use 33 of chemical inputs-including not only pesticides, which are generally prohibited except for limited 34 exemptions, but also all other synthetic products-should be replaced with natural, eco-friendly 35alternatives. Biostimulants present a potential solution to mitigate the risks associated with agrochemical use, as they are generally regarded as non-toxic, non-polluting, biodegradable, and non-37 hazardous (Toscano et al., 2018) The reduction of agrochemicals in urban areas can be achieved by utilizing appropriate plant species. 81Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), a popular ornamental plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely 82 cultivated in many countries for its decorative flowers. These plants thrive in a variety of soil and 83 climatic conditions and have been shown to reduce soil nematode populations while indirectly 84 controlling harmful microbes. High-performance thin-layer chromatography has been used to identify 85 several important biologically active compounds in the flowers and leaves of two marigold cultivars, 86Pusa Narangi Gainda' and 'Pusa Basanti Gainda.' The compounds identified included gallic acid, 87 caffeic acid, quercetin, p-coumaric acid, and kaempferol. Results indicated a higher concentration of 88 compounds in the leaves compared to the flowers, with 'Pusa Narangi Gainda' accumulating a greater 89 variety of compounds than 'Pusa Basanti Gainda.' Gallic acid was present in both the leaves and 90 flowers of both cultivars, with the highest concentration found in the flowers of 'Pusa Basanti Gainda.' 91 Caffeic acid and quercetin were detected in leaves of both cultivars, while p-coumaric acid was found 92 exclusively in the leaves and kaempferol only in the flowers of 'Pusa Narangi Gainda.' These findings 93 presented in this report may be effectively utilized to advance research on marigolds as a natural source 94 of antioxidants and biological control agents for practical applications (Mir et al., 2023). 95In conclusion, by adopting thoughtful, science-based methods and well-structured management 96 protocols, we have the opportunity not only to enhance the ecological and social quality of green 97 spaces, but also to significantly reduce long-term maintenance costs-demonstrating that sustainability 98 and efficiency can go hand in hand in shaping healthier, more resilient urban landscapes. 99