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Abstract Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a major health concern in developing countries due to dependency on cereal based diet. Cereals are inherently low in Zn and inevitable use of stressed land has further elevated the problem. The aim of current research was to improve wheat and rice grains grain Zn concentration grown in saline soils through zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) due to their perspective high availability. The ZnO-NPs were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Two separate pot experiments for wheat and rice were conducted to check the relative effectiveness of ZnO-NPs compared to other bulk Zn sources i.e., zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O) and ZnO. Results showed that salt stress negatively impacted the tested parameters. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvement in growth, salt tolerance, plant Zn uptake and grain Zn concentrations by Zn application through Zn sources. The ZnO-NPs showed maximum improvement in crops parameters as compared to other sources due to their higher uptake and translocation in plants under both normal and stressed soil conditions. Thus, ZnO nanoparticles proved to be more effective for grain Zn fortification in both tested wheat and rice crops under normal and saline conditions.

Abstract The present study encompasses the application of cost effective, organo-modified bentonite material for efficient desulfurization of model oil and real fuel. For the adsorptive desulfurization of oil, dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as model compound. Various experimental parameters (time, temperature, adsorbent-amount and DBT concentration) were thoroughly investigated. The synthesized material was characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The modification exhibits the increase in interlayer spacing of clay as confirmed from XRD and modified material shows interesting morphology as compared to unmodified bentonite. The results showed that > 90% of DBT removal was achieved under optimized conditions for B-BTC, B-BTB and B-DSS and > 80% for B-BEHA, for model fuel oil which are greater than unmodified clay (

The hydrology of arid to semi-arid regions is substantially different from that in humid regions due to scarce hydrological data distributions with dry climates and strong evapo-transpirative conditions. In the perspective of global water shortage, food security for all of the living beings has become a matter of great concern. Efficient use of water resources both in urban and rural environments and application of non-conventional water resources for irrigation are becoming increasingly important. In order to sustain crop production, the re-use of treated wastewater for irrigation of crops could be a good option. A pot experiment was set up to evaluate effects of different doses of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer on lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) phyto-availability by two cultivars of rice irrigated with city effluent. Experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) each with three replications. The results showed effective immobilization of Pb with applied phosphatic fertilizer. Among all of the tested treatments, the most effective treatment to reduce phyto-availability of Pb was T4 (248 kg P ha−1) due to antagonistic interaction. While Ni showed inconsistent behavior with both synergistic and antagonistic interaction (biphasic) to applied phosphorus (P) rates. Data regarding various growth parameters such as plant height, number of tillers, shoot and root dry weights, straw and grain yields, and physiological attributes such as total chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic and transpiration rates showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) responses to P application. An increasing trend was revealed in determined parameters with increased P application rates, with the exception of decreased plant height. The conclusion of the present remedial approach indicated that addition of P can significantly reduce the risks of rice grown under city effluent irrigation containing high Pb and Ni contents.

Cultivation of crops in salt-affected soils is a major challenge for growers. Despite the use of multiple amendments, salinity stresses adversely affect the crops to some extent. On the other hand, imbalance in the use of boron (B) as a nutrient also creates toxicity. Mismanagement of B fertilizer application decreases the growth and yield of crops. It is necessary to study in depth the adverse effects of salinity and B toxicity. This is why the current research work was conducted in a glass house at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. The aim of study was to investigate the influence of salinity and B toxicity on carbohydrate partitioning, growth, and ionic composition of two Australian wheat varieties. There were four treatments, i.e., control, high B (15 kg ha−1), salinity (15 dS m−1), and B + salinity. The results showed that the salt-tolerant Halberd (HB) variety accumulated more Na+, B, and Cl− in their leaf sheath and kept the leaf blades free of these toxic ions as compared to the sensitive variety Westonia (WS). Water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC; i.e., glucose, sucrose, fructose, and fructans) concentration increased in response to individual as well as combined constrains of soil salinity and toxic B in the leaf blade of both tolerant and sensitive wheat varieties, but the increase was higher in the tolerant variety as compared to the sensitive one. The concentration of WSCs in leaf sheath of the salt-tolerant wheat variety was increased in response to stress conditions, but those remained low in salt-sensitive ones. Therefore, the salt-tolerant HB genotype was found to be a good source for future wheat breeding programs or to be grown by farmers in B toxic, saline, and B toxic–saline conditions.

Rapid industrialization and increasing population are continuously adding contaminants to our environment. Among those, heavy metals are considered to be one of the serious threats to the ecosystem due to their persistent nature. Microbe assisted phytoremediation is an effective tool for metal remediation as microbes enhance the metal availability and uptake to the host plants or reduce it by binding them intracellularly or extracellularly. An endophytic fungus, Trametes hirsuta, was isolated from Chenopodium album L. plant growing in the lead (Pb) contaminated soil of an industrial area. This is the first study citing Trametes hirsuta, as a root endophyte of Chenopodium album L. This endophytic fungus was found to be tolerant to high concentration of Pb i.e., 1500 mg L−1, when tested in-vitro. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were infected by Trametes hirsuta and Pb tolerance was observed. With the fungal inoculation plants cumulative growth and total chlorophyll content increased by 24% and 18%, respectively as compared to their respective non-inoculated controls at 1000 mg kg−1 Pb. Similary, 50% more Pb accumulation was measured in the shoots of fungal inoculated plants at 1500 mg kg−1 Pb as compared to control. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that mutualism with endophytic fungi can improve the survival of host plants in metal contaminated soils, additionally it can also assist the phytoextraction of heavy metals from polluted sites by increasing their uptake by the host plants.

Agronomic biofortification is the purposeful utilization of mineral fertilizers to increase the concentration of desired minerals in edible plant parts for enhancing their dietary intake. It is becoming crucial to enhance the dietary intake of K for addressing hidden hunger and related health issues such as cardiac diseases and hypertension. This study was designed to enhance the potassium concentration in edible parts of spinach through its foliar application under saline environment. The salinity levels of electrical conductivity (EC) = 4, 6, and 8 dS m−1 were applied using sodium chloride (NaCl) along with control. The levels of K for foliar sprays were 5 and 10 mM, along with control. The present experiment was performed under two factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design (CRD). After 60 days of sowing, the crop was harvested. Data regarding growth, ionic, physiological, and biochemical parameters, i.e., shoot dry weight, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll content, tissue sodium (Na) and K concentration, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were recorded and those were found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by foliar application of K on spinach under saline conditions. The highest growth, physiological and biochemical responses of spinach were observed in response to foliar-applied K at 10 mM. It is concluded that agronomic bio-fortification by foliar use of K can be a useful strategy to increase tissue K intakes and minimize Na toxicity in the vegetables studied under saline conditions.

The current study aimed to develop poloxamer 407 (P407) gel for transungual delivery of antifungal hydrophobic drugs with sufficient gel strength and drug loading. Gel strength and drug loading of P407 gel was improved by use of functional additives. Hydration enhancement effect was used to select optimum nail penetration enhancer. Face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) was used to observe the effect of the selected penetration enhancer (thioglycolic acid (TGA)) and cosolvent (ethanol) on gelation behavior to develop formulation with enough loading of hydrophobic drug, i.e., terbinafine HCl (TBN), and its permeation across the nail plate without compromising on gel strength. It was observed that increasing concentration of P407 and TGA significantly reduced gelation temperature and enhanced the gel strength of P407 gel and can be used to improve P407 gel strength. Under the scanning electron microscope, the significant effect of TGA as an ungual penetration enhancer was observed on the morphology of the nail plate. Optimized P407 gel prepared with modified cold method showed a gelation temperature of 8.7 ± 0.16 °C, gel strength of 122 ± 7.5 s and drug loading of 1.2% w/w, which was four times more than the drug loading in the gels prepared with conventional cold method. Rheological behavior was pseudoplastic with 47.75 ± 3.48% of gel erosion after 12 washings and 67.21 ± 2.16% of drug release after 12 h. A cumulative amount of TBN permeated from P407 gel with and without PE after 24 h was 27.30 ± 4.18 and 16.69 ± 2.31 µg/cm2, respectively. Thioglycolic acid can be used as a nail penetration enhancer without the chemical modification or addition of extra additives while retaining the gel strength. Water miscible cosolvents with moderate evaporability such as ethanol, can be incorporated to P407 gel by minor modification in method of preparation to load the required dose of hydrophobic drugs. Developed P407 gel formulation with sufficient gel strength and drug loading will be a promising carrier for transungual delivery of hydrophobic antifungal agents.