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Climate change, pesticide resistance, and the need for developing new plant varieties have galvanized biotechnologists to find new solutions in order to produce transgenic plants. Over the last decade scientists are working on green metallic nanoparticles to develop DNA delivery systems for plants. In the current study, green Iron nanoparticles were synthesized using leaf extract of Camellia sinensis (green tea) and Iron Chloride (FeCl 3 ), the characterization and Confirmation was done using UV-VIS Spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. Using these nanoparticles, a novel method of gene transformation in okra plants was developed, with a combination of different Magnetofection factors. Maximum gene transformation efficiency was observed at the DNA to Iron-nanoparticles ratio of 1:20, by rotation of mixture (Plasmid DNA, Iron-nanoparticles, and seed embryo) at 800 rpm for 5 h. Using this approach, the transformation of the GFP (green fluorescent protein) gene was successfully carried out in Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra plant). The DNA transformation was confirmed by observing the expression of transgene GFP via Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) and PCR. This method is highly economical, adaptable, genotype independent, eco-friendly, and time-saving as well. We infer that this approach can be a potential solution to combat the yield and immunity challenges of plants against pathogens., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Optimization of agronomic practices for cultivation of quinoa, a super food and climate resilient crop, is critical to obtain its maximum grain yield under the current scenario of climate change. In the present experimentation, we evaluated the appropriate sowing time of ten elite lines of quinoa, already screened from USDA germplasm. Seeds of each line were sown in the experimental area at Square No. 22, Block No. 5, Directorate of Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan on 15 November, 30 November and 15 December during quinoa cultivation season of 2019-2020. Sowing time significantly affected the emergence percentage, days taken to anthesis, chlorophyll contents, sodium and potassium concentrations in leaf, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area, panicle length, grain yield and 1000-grain weight. Lines; PIA-922, PIA-924, PIA-928 and PIA-929 performed better under first sowing and produced higher grain yield as compared to other lines. Similarly, PIA-921, PIA-922, PIA-925 and PIA-932 produced maximum biomass and grain yield under second sowing date while in case of third sowing date, PIA-926, PIA-928, PIA-930 and PIA-931 were observed more responsive regarding growth and yield attributes. A diversified pattern of agronomic, growth and yield contributing attributes of quinoa lines was observed when cultivated under varying sowing dates. The collected data will be very informative for the breeders and agronomists during selection and variety development process in future.

Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the global population and it is one of the most valuable cereal crops. To fulfill the dietary requirement of the ever-growing world population, an increase in per-unit production of rice is direly required. In Pakistan, it stands as the 2nd in consumption after wheat, which is a staple food. A huge gap is observed between yield potential and actual yield of the aromatic rice cultivars at a farmer-field level. The significant limitations responsible for this gap are shortage of irrigation water, inappropriate application of fertilizers, less plant population, deficiency of micronutrients, and improper and poor plant protection measures. A field study was planned to assess the yield response and quality attributes of aromatic rice to three levels of zinc (Zn) and nitrogen (N) under three irrigation regimes (8-, 12-, and 16-acre inches) in the Sheikhupura and Sargodha districts of Pakistan. Irrigation treatments significantly influenced the growth, yield, and quality attributes; however, maximum improvement was observed by the application of irrigation at 12-acre inches. Among the Zn treatments, application of Zn at 10 kg ha -1 was observed to be more responsive to improving the growth and quality parameters of aromatic rice crops. In the case of N treatments, application of N at 140 kg ha -1 produced the maximum total tillers, as well as productive tillers per hill, spikelets per panicle, leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, total dry matter, harvest index, kernel length, kernel width, and 1,000-kernel weight. Application of N at 140 kg ha -1 not only improved the growth attributes but also increased the net assimilation rate, photosynthetically active radiation, and radiation use efficiency, with respect to total dry matter and kernel yield. The maximum percentage of normal kernels and minimum percentage of opaque, abortive, and chalky kernels were also recorded by application of N at 140 kg ha -1 . The outcomes of current experiments depicted that application of irrigational water, zinc, and nitrogen at 12-acre inches, 10, and 140 kg ha -1 , respectively, are responsible to achieve maximum resource utilization efficiency, along with increased yield and quality of rice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hasnain, Khan, Nasrullah, Mehmood, Ibrar, Bashir, Bakhsh, Aziz, Rais, Farooq, Irshad, Rashid, Alkahtani and Elshikh.)

An ample quantity of water and sufficient nutrients are required for economical rice production to meet the challenges of ever-increasing food demand. Currently, slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers for efficient inputs utilization and maximum economic yield of field crops are in the limelight for researchers and farmers. In this study, we evaluated the comparative efficacy of conventional urea and coated urea (zinc and neem) on rice grown under aerobic and anaerobic regimes in greenhouse conditions. For the aerobic regime, field capacity was maintained at 80-100% to keep the soil aerated. On the other hand, for the anaerobic regime, pots were covered with a polythene sheet throughout the experimentation to create flooded conditions. All forms of urea, conventional and coated (zinc and neem), improved plant growth, gas exchange, yield, yield contributing parameters, and quality characteristics of rice crop. However, better performance in all attributes was found in the case of zinc-coated urea. Gas exchange attributes (photosynthetic rate, 30%, and stomatal conductance 24%), yield parameters like plant height (29%), tillers per plant (38%), spikelets per spike (31%), grains per panicle (42%), total biomass (53%), and grain yield (45%) were recorded to be maximum in rice plants treated with zinc-coated urea. The highest grain and straw nitrogen contents, grain protein contents, and grain water absorption ratio were also found in plants with zinc-coated urea applications. In irrigation practices, the anaerobic regime was found to be more responsive compared to the aerobic regime regarding rice growth, productivity, and quality traits. Thus, to enhance the productivity and quality of rice grown in anaerobic conditions, zinc-coated urea is best suited as it is more responsive when compared to other forms of urea., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wahid, Irshad, Irshad, Khan, Hasnain, Ibrar, Khan, Saleem, Bashir, Alotaibi, Matloob, Farooq, Ismail and Cheema.)

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental contaminant due to its widespread industrial use. Cd contamination of soil and water is rather classical but has emerged as a recent problem. Cd toxicity causes a range of damages to plants ranging from germination to yield suppression. Plant physiological functions, i.e., water interactions, essential mineral uptake, and photosynthesis, are also harmed by Cd. Plants have also shown metabolic changes because of Cd exposure either as direct impact on enzymes or other metabolites, or because of its propensity to produce reactive oxygen species, which can induce oxidative stress. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the potential of plants with ability to accumulate or stabilize Cd compounds for bioremediation of Cd pollution. Here, we critically review the chemistry of Cd and its dynamics in soil and the rhizosphere, toxic effects on plant growth, and yield formation. To conserve the environment and resources, chemical/biological remediation processes for Cd and their efficacy have been summarized in this review. Modulation of plant growth regulators such as cytokinins, ethylene, gibberellins, auxins, abscisic acid, polyamines, jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids, and nitric oxide has been highlighted. Development of plant genotypes with restricted Cd uptake and reduced accumulation in edible portions by conventional and marker-assisted breeding are also presented. In this regard, use of molecular techniques including identification of QTLs, CRISPR/Cas9, and functional genomics to enhance the adverse impacts of Cd in plants may be quite helpful. The review's results should aid in the development of novel and suitable solutions for limiting Cd bioavailability and toxicity, as well as the long-term management of Cd-polluted soils, therefore reducing environmental and human health hazards., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Zulfiqar, Jiang, Xiukang, Hussain, Ahmad, Maqsood, Ali, Ishfaq, Kaleem, Haider, Farooq, Naveed, Kucerik, Brtnicky and Mustafa.)

Seed nutrients reserves have direct relationship with seed functional traits and influence offspring performance. Effects of plant density, foliage boron (B) nutrition and mepiquat chloride (MC) growth regulation on seed nutrients reserves, seed mass and production, and emergence and offspring growth traits of cotton were studied in two years field experiment. Seed nutrients reserves and seed mass were decreased at higher maternal plant density relative to lower plant density with concomitant decrease in emergence and offspring seedling growth. However, maternal foliage B nutrition and MC growth regulation enhanced seed nutrients reserves, seed mass, emergence and offspring seedling growth performance. There was a significant positive relationship between seed mass and seed nutrients reserves indicating that changes in nutrient availability/uptake in response to maternal ecological factors determine variation in seed functional traits. Nonetheless, seed mass was positively correlated with emergence percentage and negatively with emergence timing. Furthermore, variation in offspring seedling growth traits with seed mass indicated the significance of initial seed nutrients reserves for early seedling vigour and establishment. In conclusion, lower maternal plant density, B nutrition and MC growth regulation ensued in higher emergence and offspring seedling growth of cotton because of higher seed nutrient reserves and seed mass.

Purpose: This research evaluated initial treatment of deep dental caries with caries control (CC) procedure and the effect of other factors on the success of indirect pulp therapy (IPT) and formocresol pulpotomy (FP)., Methods: Retrospective chart audits were performed on 226 primary molars with deep caries approaching the pulp that were treated using IPT and FP. Mean follow-up was 3.4 years. CC with glass ionomer cement (GIC) was performed on 50 of the 226 teeth 1 to 3 months before pulp therapy., Results: IPT therapy was successful 94% of the time, whereas FP was successful 70% of the time. The initial use of CC increased the IPT/FP success rate to 92% vs a 79% success rate in teeth without CC. Primary molar FP success on primary first molars was 61% vs 83% in second molars. IPT therapy was successful 92% of the time for first molars vs 98% of the time for second molars. Thirty-six percent of the FP-treated teeth exfoliated early vs 2% of the IPT-treated teeth. Primary first molars with reversible pulpitis had a higher success with IPT (85%) vs FP (53%). The type of final restoration did not affect IPT or FP success, except that FPs restored with an immediate IRM (Dentsply/Caulk, Milford, Del) restoration decreased success to 39%., Conclusions: IPT for the treatment of deep dental caries lesions produced greater long-term success than FP. FP success in primary first molars was lower compared to IPT success, especially in teeth with reversible pulpitis. Also FP-treated teeth showed significantly earlier exfoliation patterns. The prior treatment of deep dental caries lesions with CC procedures improved the subsequent IPT or FP success.

Several studies suggest that females exhibit greater sensitivity to experimentally induced thermal pain than males. These investigations have focused mainly on the sensory-discriminative rather than the affective aspect of pain. Moreover, potential gender differences for the affective components of innocuous thermal sensations have yet to be examined. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate gender differences in the sensory and the affective dimensions of the entire thermosensory system, including warmth, coolness, heat pain and cold pain. The secondary aim was to evaluate laterality differences in these same perceptual dimensions and ranges. Twenty healthy females and 20 healthy males immersed their hands in water baths maintained at temperatures ranging from 10 to 47 degrees C, and rated their perceived thermal intensity, (un)pleasantness, and pain intensity. There was a progressive growth in the thermal intensity ratings as bath temperatures either increased or decreased from the adapting temperature of 33 degrees C. No gender differences emerged for these thermal intensity ratings. However, a significant sex effect emerged for the pain intensity ratings (P<0.01), and a significant sex x temperature interaction for the affective ratings (P<0.01). Females provided higher unpleasantness and pain intensity ratings for the more extreme temperatures (10, 15 and 47 degrees C), compared to males. Moreover, women perceived the milder temperature baths as more pleasant than men did. For a given painful temperature, unpleasantness ratings were higher than pain intensity ratings. This relationship between unpleasantness ratings and pain ratings was not significantly different between the sexes. No laterality differences emerged for the thermal intensity ratings. However, perceived pain intensity was significantly higher for the left as compared to the right hand (P<0.01). Ratings of unpleasantness also tended to be higher for the left vs. right hand, but this difference fell just short of statistical significance (P=0.06). These findings indicate that sex differences in thermosensory perception are not general, but occur only for the painful and affective components. Of particular note is the sex difference for affective but not intensive ratings of innocuous temperatures, revealing sex differences in thermal perception outside the nociceptive system.

The thermosensory system was evaluated psychophysically in 12 healthy volunteers, spanning the full range of tolerable temperatures. Subjects provided ratings of (1) perceived thermal intensity, (2) perceived pleasantness or unpleasantness, and (3) perceived pain intensity after placing either one hand or foot in a temperature controlled water bath. Of particular interest were the interrelationships among the three perceptual measures, and differences between heat and cold. The relationship between perceived intensity and (un)pleasantness was different for hot vs cold stimuli. Specifically, for a given perceived thermal intensity, cold stimuli were rated as less pleasant or more unpleasant than hot stimuli. Similarly, for a given pain intensity, cold stimuli were rated as more unpleasant than hot stimuli. As warm temperatures increased and as cold temperatures decreased, stimuli were perceived as being unpleasant before they were perceived as being painful. The difference in transition temperatures for unpleasantness vs pain for heat averaged 1.4 degrees C, while the same difference for cold averaged 5.6 degrees C. Thus, there was a fourfold difference in the range of unpleasant but non-painful cold vs hot temperatures. Pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings were significantly higher for heat stimuli applied to the foot vs hand. In contrast, there was no significant body site difference for pain intensity or unpleasantness ratings of cold stimuli. All of these results reveal important differences in the processing of cold vs hot stimuli. These differences could be exploited to differentiate processing relevant to discriminative vs affective components of somesthetic perception, in both the innocuous and noxious ranges.