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Soil microbiome science, rapidly evolving, predominantly focuses on field crop soils. However, understanding garden soil microbiomes is essential for enhancing food production sustainability in garden environments. This study aimed to unveil the bacteriome diversity and composition in rooftop garden soils (RGS) and surface garden soils (SGS) across urban (Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations) and peri-urban (Gazipur City Corporation) areas of Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. We analyzed 11 samples, including six RGS and five SGS samples from 11 individual gardens using 16S rRNA (V3–V4 region) gene-based amplicon sequencing. A total of 977 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), including 270 and 707 in RGS and SGS samples, respectively, were identified. The observed OTUs were represented by 21 phyla, 45 classes, 84 orders, 173 families, and 293 genera of bacteria. Alpha diversity indices revealed significantly higher bacterial diversity in SGS samples (p = 0.01), while beta diversity analyses indicated distinct bacteriome compositions between RGS and SGS samples (p = 0.028, PERMANOVA). Despite substantial taxonomic variability between sample categories, there was also a considerable presence of shared bacterial taxa. At the phylum level, Bacilliota (61.14%), Pseudomonadota (23.42%), Actinobacteria (6.33%), and Bacteroidota (3.32%) were the predominant bacterial phyla (comprising > 94.0% of the total abundances) in both types of garden soil samples. Of the identified genera, Bacillus (69.73%) and Brevibacillus (18.81%) in RGS and Bacillus (19.22%), Methylophaga (19.21%), Acinetobacter (6.27%), Corynebacterium (5.06%), Burkholderia (4.78%), Paracoccus (3.98%) and Lysobacter (2.07%) in SGS were the major bacterial genera. Importantly, we detected that 52.90% of genera were shared between RGS and SGS soil samples. Our data reveal unique and shared bacteriomes with probiotic potential in soil samples from both rooftop and surface gardens. Further studies should explore the functional roles of shared bacterial taxa in garden soils and how urban environmental factors affect microbiome composition to optimize soil health and sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topography and vegetation have a significant role in soil development in different ecosystems. Interactions between soil and landforms help to understand the pedogenic processes and soil variability. The present study assessed the impact of various landforms and vegetation on pedological variability along the toposequence of the eastern coastal plain. We characterized 46 soil profiles from five landforms, viz., foothills, upland, alluvial plains, coastal plains, and sandbars and performed factor analysis. The frequency distribution of the soil properties was significantly skewed with each other’s. Soils are classified into three orders: Alfisols, Inceptisols, and Entisols from hills to sandbars. The soils were characterized by clay (2.50–65.8%), AWC (4.0–28.0%), pH (5.40–9.40), EC (0.03–5.60 dSm−1), OC (0.01–1.13%), CEC (1.0-31.60 cmol (p+) kg−1), BS (57–95%) and ESP (0.54–27.8%). Whereas alluvial plain soils are rich in clay and organic carbon, foothill and upland soils experience severe to moderate soil erosion, leading to the leaching of basic cations. Coastal plains face regular seawater intrusion and flooding, causing excess deposition of salts, which alter the soil pedogenic process under different landforms and land use. Soil pH, EC, clay, CEC and ESP significantly influenced the paddy yield in alluvial and coastal plains landforms. Development of landform and soil relationships concerning land uses in coastal regions helps to identify factors involved in soil development, pedogenic processes and crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of textile technology and medical science has emerged into a new field known as medical textiles. Here, we formulated zinc oxide nanoparticles from B. serrata resins (BS-ZnONPs) and coated it on cotton fabrics for antibacterial and wound healing applications against the nosocomial pathogens. The synthesized BS-ZnONPs were characterized by UV-spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) analyses. The BS-ZnONPs were coated on the cotton fabrics and the same was confirmed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) studies. The antibacterial property of BS-ZnONPs-coated fabrics was examined against nosocomial pathogens, i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Staphylococcus aureus. The findings of characterization studies such as UV, TEM, FT-IR, SEM, and EDX revealed the development of BS-ZnONPs. The fabricated BS-ZnONPs treatment at various doses, i.e., 5–30 µG/mL did not show any cytotoxicity to the L929 cells. The BS-ZnONPs demonstrated the considerable wound healing activity. The synthesized BS-ZnONPs and its coated cotton fabrics remarkably inhibited the growth of nosocomial pathogens such as K.pneumoniae, A.baumanii, P.aeruginosa, E.coli, K.oxytoca, and S.aureus. Our findings from the current study proved that the B. serrata is a good source of ZnONPs. The synthesized BS-ZnONPs and its treated cotton fabrics could be a promising antibacterial agent for the prevention of nosocomial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllanthus emblica is a traditional medicinal plant that is endowed with curative properties including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and analgesic properties. Bacteria make use of cell–cell signaling system known as quorum sensing (QS) and respond to their own population. In most gram-negative bacteria, the transcriptional regulators belonging to the Lux R protein play a crucial role in the QS mechanism by detecting the presence of signaling molecules known as N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). In this present work, the anti-quorum sensing activity of Phyllanthus emblica was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Anti-quorum sensing efficacy of Phyllanthus emblica was estimated with reference to QS bio-monitoring strain Chromobacterium violaceum. The binding efficacy of the phytochemicals of Phyllanthus emblica against CviR protein from Chromobacterium violaceum and LasR protein from Phyllanthus emblica were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of open field experiments, we studied the effects of two lepidopteran pests (Plutella xylostella and Crocidolomia pavonana) at equal population density on cabbage yield. Completely randomised plots were assigned to four treatments, replicated four times. Treatments were P. xylostella only, C. pavonana only, or P. xylostella and C. pavonana at 1:1 ratio at different phenological stages of cabbages and a control (without any caterpillars). The growth stages and applied densities were pre-heading, cupping and heading, with densities of 2, 4 and 6 larvae/plant, compared with control. The effects of the two species differed significantly in terms of both yield (P < 0.0001) and injury score (P < 0.0001) compared to the control, which produced 67.4 ± 5.79 t/ha of clean, marketable cabbage. Crocidolomia pavonana reduced yield by 68% (21.8 ± 0.82 t/ha) with no market value at a cumulative injury score of 5, while P. xylostella reduced the yield by 40% (40.4 ± 2.38 t/ha at a cumulative injury score of 3.5). The sequential infestation of cabbage by P. xylostella and C. pavonana reduced yield by 41%, with 39.4 ± 3.48 t/ha of marketable yield at a cumulative injury score of 4.4. Thus, C. pavonana is more damaging than P. xylostella under the same growing conditions. Hence, zero infestation is recommended during the seedling and transplanting stages of the cabbages. The findings can serve as a basis to establish an economic threshold for C. pavonana and modify a two-decade-old economic threshold for P. xylostella in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the new spread and potential damage of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Asia, it has become imperative to understand the development biology of this invasive species on selected vegetable crops in newer geographical regions. In this study, we investigated the ovipositional preference of FAW females on different host plants, under choice- and non-choice tests. In addition, using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, we assessed the performance of immature FAW individuals fed and reared on selected vegetable crops to get information related to development time, survival, reproduction and longevity. Fall armyworm females had an oviposition preference on maize compared to other vegetable crops, including cabbage and soybean, and reluctance for tomato, which was confirmed during the choice and non-choice tests. In contrast to the oviposition preference, our results also suggest that despite low preference for cabbage, soybean, and tomato, these crops seemed to provide a high benefit for an appropriate offspring performance, exceeding in some cases the benefits from a maize-based diet. Information from this study was discussed in terms of FAW ecology and how female's decision affects their reproductive fitness, and the survival and performance of its offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruption to food systems and impacts on livelihoods and diets have been brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate effects of this multi-layered shock on production, sales, prices, incomes and diets for vegetable farmers in India as both producers and consumers of nutrient-dense foods. We undertook a rapid telephone survey with 448 farmers in 4 states, in one of the first studies to document the early impacts of the pandemic and policy responses on farming households. We find that a majority of farmers report negative impacts on production, sales, prices and incomes. Over 80% of farms reported some decline in sales, and over 20% of farms reported devastating declines (sold almost nothing). Price reductions were reported by over 80% of farmers, and reductions by more than half for 50% of farmers. Similarly, farm income reportedly dropped for 90% of farms, and by more than half for 60%. Of surveyed households, 62% reported disruptions to their diets. A majority of farm households reported reduced ability to access the most nutrient-dense foods. Around 80% of households reported ability to protect their staple food consumption, and the largest falls in consumption were in fruit and animal source foods other than dairy, in around half of households. Reported vegetable consumption fell in almost 30% of households, but vegetables were also the only food group where consumption increased for some, in around 15% of households. Our data suggest higher vulnerability of female farmers in terms of both livelihoods and diet, and differential effects on smaller and larger farms, meaning different farms may require different types of support in order to continue to function. Farms reported diverse coping strategies to maintain sales, though often with negative implications for reported incomes. The ability to consume one's own produce may be somewhat protective of diets when other routes to food access fail. The impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent policy responses on both livelihoods and diets in horticultural households risk rolling back the impressive economic and nutrition gains India has seen over the past decade. Food systems, and particularly those making available the most nutrient-dense foods, must be considered in ongoing and future government responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato wild relatives are important sources of resistance to many pests of cultivated tomato [ Solanum lycopersicum L. (syn. Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)]. Eleven wild tomato accessions previously identified at AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center as resistant to Bemisia tabaci were evaluated for resistance to the two-spotted spider mite [ Tetranychus urticae (Koch.)] based on egg numbers using the leaf disc and Tanglefoot no-choice bioassays, and damage scores in choice bioassays. Highest resistance based on choice and no-choice bioassays was identified in AVRDC S. galapagense accessions VI057400, VI045262, VI037869 and VI037239, and S. cheesmaniae accession VI037240, all of which are new sources of T. urticae resistance. In addition, S. pimpinellifolium accession VI030462 exhibited resistance only in the no-choice bioassay based on egg numbers. Resistance to T. urticae based on the number of eggs from the no-choice bioassays was positively correlated with density of type IV glandular trichomes and negatively correlated with densities of type V trichomes. All resistant accessions accumulated high levels of total acylsugars, which were positively associated with type IV trichomes. There was a significant negative relationship between acylsugar content and T. urticae egg numbers from the no-choice bioassays. There was high correlation between the results from the leaf disc test and the Tanglefoot no-choice bioassay. These findings support the possible presence of broad-based insect and mite resistance in accessions closely related to cultivated tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Genn., is a major pest of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum) and other crops throughout the tropics and subtropics. The objectives of this study were to characterize 255 accessions of S. galapagense, S. cheesmaniae and S. pimpinellifolium for trichome types, and to evaluate selected accessions with high densities of glandular trichomes for resistance to whitefly. Twenty-two accessions classified as either sparse or abundant for type IV trichomes were selected and evaluated for numbers of adults, eggs, nymphs, and puparium of whitefly in choice bioassays, for adult mortality and egg numbers in no-choice bioassays, and for densities of type I, IV, V, and VI trichomes. The highest whitefly resistance was detected in S. galapagense accessions VI063177 and VI037239 based on choice and no-choice bioassays. In addition, we found high levels of whitefly resistance in S. cheesmaniae accession VI037240 based on the choice bioassay and in S. pimpinellifolium accession VI030462 based on the no-choice bioassay. Whitefly resistance in VI037240 and VI030462 is noteworthy because these species are closely related to cultivated tomato and introgression of whitefly resistance should be relatively straightforward. High densities of type IV trichomes and low densities of type V trichomes were associated with reduced numbers of whitefly adults, nymphs, puparium, and eggs in the choice bioassay and with high adult whitefly mortality in the no-choice bioassay. Preliminary trichome analysis followed by choice and no-choice assays facilitated rapid identification of whitefly-resistant accessions from a large pool of candidates of different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maruca vitrata Fabricius is a pantropical lepidopteran pest of legumes. Phylogenetic analysis of a mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase-I gene ( cox1) fragment indicates that three Maruca sp. mitochondrial lineages have unique geographic distributions [lineages 1 and 2: Australia, Taiwan, and West Africa (Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso), and lineage 3: Puerto Rico]. The haplotype (T30, T114) is specific to lineages 1&2 and was assayed by NsiI and SacI polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) within population samples; it was not observed in the Puerto Rican samples, but was nearly fixed among samples from West Africa, Australia and Taiwan (85.5-100%). Re-sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of PCR-RFLP defined cox1 haplotypes indicate that nucleotide diversity is highest among samples from West Africa. Phylogenetic reconstruction based upon ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) sequences provided additional evidence for three Maruca sp. clades. These data suggest that multiple unique Maruca species or subspecies are present worldwide, which has implications for the management of this pest species-complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whiteflies and spider mites are amongst the most harmful eggplant (Solanum melongena) pests. Considering the need for reduction of chemical applications for whitefly and spider mite control, the exploitation of wild relatives of eggplant as sources of pest resistances represents an important strategy in order to improve cultivated eggplant. The objectives of this study were to evaluate 15 accessions from 11 species of eggplant wild relatives together with seven S. melongena accessions for resistance to sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and to two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Resistance to whitefly was evaluated based on number of eggs, nymph, puparium and whitefly adults in a choice bioassay, while for two-spotted spider mite it was based on leaf damage scores in the choice and no-choice bioassays. The results revealed significantly (P < 0.05) different levels of resistance to the two pests among the accessions evaluated. Considering all screening parameters in the whitefly choice bioassay, the highest levels of resistance in wild eggplant relatives were detected in Solanum dasyphyllum (DAS1) and S. pyracanthos (PYR1), although one of the cultivated S. melongena (MEL2) accessions also displayed similar resistance levels. In addition, S. campylacanthum (CAM8) and S. tomentosum TOM1 were also resistant to whitefly based on numbers of puparium and adult whiteflies. Two accessions of S. sisymbriifolium (SIS1 and SIS2) exhibited strong resistance to two-spotted spider mite based on the choice and no-choice bioassays. High levels of spider mite resistance were also detected in the no-choice assay in S. dasyphyllum (DAS1) and S. torvum (TOR2) accessions. These resistant accessions can be used in pre-breeding program aiming to breed pest-resistant cultivars in cultivated eggplant. Moreover, to our knowledge, this study represents the first report on potential sources of resistance to whitefly and two-spotted spider mite in wild relatives of eggplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]