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Tomato is an economically important vegetable crop and a model for development and stress response studies. Although studied extensively for understanding fruit ripening and pathogen responses, its role as a model for root development remains less explored. In this study, an Illumina-based comparative differential transcriptomic analysis of tomato root with different aerial tissues was carried out to identify genes that are predominantly expressed during root growth. Sequential comparisons revealed ~ 15,000 commonly expressed genes and ~ 3000 genes of several classes that were mainly expressed or regulated in roots. These included 1069 transcription factors (TFs) of which 100 were differentially regulated. Prominent amongst these were members of families encoding Zn finger, MYB, ARM, bHLH, AP2/ERF, WRKY and NAC proteins. A large number of kinases, phosphatases and F-box proteins were also expressed in the root transcriptome. The major hormones regulating root growth were represented by the auxin, ethylene, JA, ABA and GA pathways with root-specific expression of certain components. Genes encoding carbon metabolism and photosynthetic components showed reduced expression while several protease inhibitors were amongst the most highly expressed. Overall, the study sheds light on genes governing root growth in tomato and provides a resource for manipulation of root growth for plant improvement. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01015-0.

This study included the preparation and tribo-characterization of Calotropis gigantea (CG) fiber reinforced CNT modified phenolic resin composites. Composites were prepared with varying contents (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 wt%) of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in phenolic resin, which was reinforced with CG fiber. The prepared composites were tested for their adhesive wear and frictional behavior at different applied loads (up to 100 N) against EN-31 steel disk on a standard pin-on-disk tribometer. The results revealed that addition of MWCNT enhanced the pressure–velocity (PV) limit significantly and reduced the value of friction coefficient of CG-fiber-reinforced phenolic resin composite. The friction coefficient decreases with increasing applied load. The wear rate significantly depends on MWCNT contents. The contact temperature of sliding surfaces increased with increasing applied load. The worn surfaces were analyzed and discussed to understand the wear mechanism involved with the help of SEM micrographs.

Prairie cordgrass (PCG) (Spartina pectinata Link) has a high tolerance to soil salinity and waterlogging, therefore, it can thrive on marginal lands. Optimizing the nitrogen (N) input is crucial to achieving desirable biomass production of PCG without negatively impacting the environment. Thus, this study was based on the hypothesis that the use of legumes such as kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) (KC) as an intercrop with PCG can provide extra N to the crop reducing the additional N fertilizer and mitigating soil surface greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Specific objective of the study was to assess the impact of PCG managed with different N rates [0 kg N ha−1 (PCG-0N), 75 kg N ha−1 (PCG-75N), 150 kg N ha−1 (PCG-150N), and 225 kg N ha−1 (PCG-255N)], and PCG intercropped with KC (PCG-KC) on GHG fluxes and biomass yield. The experimental site was established in 2010 in South Dakota under a marginally yielding cropland. The GHG fluxes were measured from 2014 through 2018 growing seasons using the static chamber. Net global warming potential (GWP) was calculated. Data showed that cumulative CH4 and CO2 fluxes were similar for all the treatments over the study period. However, the PCG-KC, PCG-0N, and PCG-75N recorded lower cumulative N2O fluxes (384, 402, and 499 g N ha−1, respectively) than the PCG-150N (644 g N ha−1) and PCG-255N (697 g N ha−1). The PCG-KC produced 85% and 39% higher yield than the PCG-0N in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and similar yield to the other treatments (PCG-75N, PCG-150N, and PCG-255N) in these years. Net GWP was 52% lower for the PCG-KC (112.38 kg CO2-eq ha−1) compared to the PCG-225N (227.78 kg CO2-eq ha−1), but similar to other treatments. Soil total N was 15%% and 13% higher under PCG-KC (3.7 g kg−1) than that under PCG-0N (3.2 g kg−1) and PCG-75N (3.3 g kg−1), respectively. This study concludes that intercropping prairie cordgrass with kura clover can enhance biomass yield and reduce fertilizer-derived N2O emissions and net global warming potential.

Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) is an alternative that can help in intensifying food production while benefiting the environment. However, the assessments of the impacts of ICLS on the soil and economic benefits relative to specific environments in South Dakota are still lacking. This study was to assess the effects of ICLS on soil health and economic benefits under a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.)-rye (Secale cereale L.) rotation in South Dakota. Cover crops blends were planted after the rye crop, and grazing treatments (with and without) were applied after the cover crops establishment in 2015-2016. Data from this study indicate that most soil properties are not negatively impacted by grazing. However, the grazing increased soil bulk density (BD) and decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil water retention (SWR) compared with the ungrazing. The effect of grazing on corn yield was not significant. The cover crops did not impact the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), β-glucosidase, acid hydrolysis carbon fraction, microbial biomass carbon, and SWR, but impacted the SOC, hot/cold water carbon fraction, BD, infiltration rate (qs) in some phases and depths. The effects of different cover crop blends on corn yield were not as strong. The economic analysis showed that implementing ICLS increased the profit of the farm by $17.23 ac−1 in the first year and $43.61 ac−1 in the second year. These findings indicate that ICLS practices with proper management benefit soil health and producer income.

The application of a mixture of pesticides to the agricultural field may adversely affect the health of non-target organisms besides the target ones. In the present study, the antagonistic effect o...

Background Rhizome rot, caused primarily by Fusarium oxysporum, is one of the most destructive diseases leading to significant loss in ginger worldwide. The loss can be greatly reduced by proper disease management practices steered by accurate and early diagnosis of pathogens. Pathogen detection at an early stage of infection can also reduce the incidence of disease epidemics. Classical methods are often time consuming, relying on culturing the putative pathogens and the availability of expert taxonomic skills for accurate identification, which leads to the delayed application of control measures. The development of a simple, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic tool is thus one of the major research priorities for rhizome rot. Results The 65 kDa, immunoreactive protein band was selected as a diagnostic marker and was subjected to MS analysis followed by blastp. Based on blast result, a synthetic antigenic peptide was synthesized, and used to generate pAbs. The peptide-specific antibodies were used to develop a colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (ICA). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ICA were 92.59%, 81.25%, and 90%, respectively. The ICA has a visual detection limit of 2.122 μg mL-1 for infected rhizome samples and 5.065 μg mL-1 for leaf samples with optimal detection time within 5 min. Moreover, the ICA also detected early stage infected samples, of which 71.42% (50/70) were true positives. Conclusion Findings from this study indicated that the assay can be utilized as a tool for the investigation of rhizome rot infection in field samples. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

microRNA-29b (miR-29b) plays an important role in controlling DNA methylation in cells. We investigated its role during early embryonic development in buffalo embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). miR-29b expression was highest at the 2-cell stage, decreased (p

The acute toxicity of three formula grade pesticides namely, triazophos (an organophosphate, OP), deltamethrin (a pyrethroid) and combined pesticide (triazophos + deltamethrin) was determined in ea...

Background: Rice bean (Vigna umbellata L.) has recently been notified as a promising pulse crop. It is grown for green manure, green fodder and pulses. Potassium plays a major role in increasing the legume yield and yield components, besides provides tolerance to stress such as high-low temperature and drought. Similarly, iron is important for chlorophyll synthesis and is a key component of the nitrogenase enzyme, which is important for nitrogen fixation.Methods: A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2020 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P). India. Study the ‘‘Effect of potassium and iron levels on growth and yield of kharif Rice bean (Vigna umbellata L.)”. The present experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD).Result: The results revealed that the application of 20 kg K2O/ha + 15 kg Fe/ha recorded maximum plant height (111.17 cm), branches per plant (23.40), nodules per plant at 60 DAS (35.67), plant dry weight (41.33 g/plant), pods per plant (26.20), seeds per pod (7.93), seed yield (1.67 t/ha), stover yield (3.95 t/ha), harvest index (29.69%), net return (Rs 81,155.6/ha) and B: C ratio (2.43). It can be concluded that 20 kg K2O /ha + 15 kg Fe/ha was found more productive as well as economic for Rice bean.

Background: Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in India. It is a protein rich staple food which contains about 25 percent protein; It belongs to family leguminaceae so it has the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Soil application of nutrients is often not enough to meet the growing crop demand particularly in short duration crop like greengram. Therefore, it is hypothesized that foliar nutrition in addition to soil application in commensuration with prevailing weather particularly rainfall will go a long way in meeting crop nutrient need and thereby may help in enhancing poductivity. Foliar application of nutrients using water soluble fertilizer is on the possible ways to enhance the productivity of pulses like greengram. The importance of foliar application of micronutrients i.e., Zinc is essential for enzymes that are involved in many metabolic reactions, necessary for chlorophyll production and for starch formation aids in seed formation. Iron is essential for maintainance of chlorophyll and also an essential component of haemoglobin molecule. Manganese has a role of formation of plants naturally occurring antifungal compounds helping to fight disease infection. It is involved in the enzyme the growth may have biological reactions in plant tissue. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Zaid season 2019-2020 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, (U.P.) India. To study the “Effect of foliar applied micronutrient on growth and yield of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.)”. The present investigation was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) consisted of 9 treatments replicated thrice.Result: The results revealed that the maximum growth attributes such as plant height (42.42 cm), dry matter accumulation (113.39 g/m2) and crop growth rate (1.69 g/m2/day) was recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS, whereas maximum number of nodules/plant (11) was recorded with RDF+ Fe 0.5% at 30 DAS. However, higher yield and yield attributes i.e. Number of pods/plant (58.40), Number of grains/pod (9.73), 1000 grain weight (38.38 g), seed yield (1384.33) kg/ha, stover yield (2253.33) kg/ha and harvest index (42.44 %) was recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS. Similarly, higher Net returns (Rs 59912/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.51) was also recorded with RDF + Fe 0.5% + Zn 0.5% + Mn 0.5% at 30 DAS as compared to control (RDF + water spray).

Research on the E. coli EttA protein demonstrated that this paradigmatic ABC-F protein controls the first step in polypeptide elongation on the ribosome dependent on cellular energy status. Subsequently, biochemical and structural studies have established that ABC-F proteins generally function as translation factors that modulate the conformation of the peptidyl transferase center upon binding to the ribosomal tRNA exit site. These factors, present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes but absent in archaea, use related molecular mechanisms to modulate protein synthesis for heterogenous purposes ranging from antibiotic resistance and rescue of stalled ribosomes to modulation of the mammalian immune response. This paper reviews the canonical studies characterizing the phylogeny, regulation, ribosome interactions, and mechanisms of action of the bacterial ABC-F proteins, and it discusses the implications of these studies for the molecular function of eukaryotic ABC-F proteins, including the three human representatives of this protein family.

In the present study different doses (0.05, 2.0 and 5.0 mg per 30 ml nutrient medium) of nano-powder (Azadirachta indica leaves) were applied in Cd contaminated (6 ppm) hydroponic system to regulat...

A novel, water-soluble, luminescent anthracene-bridged AA-type bi-arm poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (ATC-PNVP) was synthesized using a click reaction between alkyne-terminated PNVP and 9,10-bis(azidomethyl)anthracene. The resultant anthracene-bridged PNVP (ATC-PNVP) was characterized using 1H NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods and GPC analysis. ATC-PNVP showed effective fluorescence properties in an aqueous medium. It showed highly selective "turn off" sensing behaviour towards picric acid, a common nitro-aromatic explosive, with a wide linear range of detection of 0.01-0.3 mM and LOD value of 0.006 mM in water. ATC-PNVP-based paper sensors also showed very effective detection of picric acid in the concentration range 0.001-1.0 mM. Its binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied using steady-state, synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy and this study showed effective quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and occurrence of a FRET-type interaction. Furthermore, this luminescent ATC-PNVP was efficiently used as a fluorescence microscopy labelling agent in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells, and showed greater uptake and hence better fluorescent labelling in the cytosols of the tested cells than free 9,10-bis(azidomethyl) anthracene. The cell viability study also showed a very good biocompatible and non-toxic nature of ATC-PNVP at lower working concentrations towards each of the types of cells tested.

Recurrent application of chemical pesticides in the agricultural fields have adverse impact on flora and fauna of soil ecosystem. Earthworms immensely contribute in increasing the fertility of soil. They may act as a bioindicator for the ecotoxicological analysis of pesticide induced soil pollution. Earthworms, Eudrilus eugeniae were exposed to different concentrations of pesticides chlorpyrifos (OP), cypermethrin (a pyrethroid) and their combination for 48 h by paper contact toxicity method. The LC50 for commercial grade of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and combined pesticides were determined as 0.165, 0.066 and 0.020 μg/cm2, respectively. To assess the sub-lethal effect of these pesticides, E. eugeniae were exposed to 5% and 10% of LC50 of the pesticides for 48 h. Variation in morpho-behavioural changes such as coiling, clitellar swelling, mucus release, bleeding and body fragmentation in earthworms were observed after exposure of both pesticides and their combination. Various biochemical estimations such as specific activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione -S-transferase (GST); levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were carried out in different body segments. Significant changes in these stress markers were observed at low and high sub-acute concentration of pesticides exposed earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. Such changes indicate potential health risk to E. eugeniae if exposed to the high concentrations of these pesticides accumulated in soil. Keywords: AChE activity, Stress markers, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos + Cypermethrin, Eudrilus eugeniae

The anticancerous and immunomodulatory activities of Alpinia nigra essential oils and extracts were evaluated in the present study. Besides, volatile constituents of essential oils were also analys...

Polyclonal antibodies against Pythium aphanidermatum and Fusarium oxysporum proteins were developed for the detection of rhizome rot in ginger using serological assays. Under optimal experimental conditions, the detection limit of P. aphanidermatum by indirect ELISA was 10 µg/ml with a linear working range from 5 to 100 µg/ml (R2 = 0.994). In case of F. oxysporum, the linear working range was 5–100 µg/ml (R2 = 0.991) and the limit of detection was 25 µg/ml. The developed antibodies showed the highest titer in ELISA at 1:2000 dilutions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis identified proteins ranging from molecular weights 15–97 kDa and 14–116 kDa of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum isolates, respectively. In Western blot analysis, the developed antisera gave positive reactions against the isolated antigens of the fungi. The antibodies revealed immune-reactive bands of molecular weights 59 and 65 kDa in P. aphanidermatum and 44 and 75 kDa in F. oxysporum. The results suggest that the developed antibodies could be successfully applied for the specific immunodetection of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum at an early stage of rhizome rot disease.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The pesticides have adverse effect on the health of aquatic biota including fishes. • Comparative acute toxicity of both pesticides was determined in the present study. • Both pesticides have affected the behavioural activities of C. punctatus. • Alteration of behavioural patterns may be due to strong inhibition of AChE activity. • Triazophos (organophosphate) is more neurotoxic than deltamethrin (pyrethroid)., Pesticides are applied to control the pests indoor and outdoor; however, their remarkable amount reaches to the aquatic system through various routes like run-off, leaching, spray-drift, effluent from factories. These are reported to have negative metabolic impact on different non-target aquatic organisms like fishes. Thus, present study is aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of two groups of pesticides, organophosphate and pyrethroid, namely triazophos and deltamethrin, respectively. The test was conducted for 96 h period in a freshwater teleost, Channa punctatus. The LC50 values for triazophos and deltamethrin after 96 h treatment was found to be 0.069 mg/L and 7.33 μg/L. The deltamethrin was found to be about ten times more toxic than triazophos to the fish. In treated fish, alterations in various behavioural patterns were observed with increasing concentrations of both the pesticides as compared to control. Further, tissue specific as well as dose dependent inhibition in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) activity was found in brain, muscle and gills in Channa punctatus exposed to both the insecticides. However, the effect was more pronounced in triazophos treated fishes than the deltamethrin. A futuristic approach on biochemical and molecular studies may throw light on the mechanism of action of these pesticides.

Edible medicinal plants Curcuma longa, Kaempferia galanga and Zingiber officinale are considered to be suitable for pregnant mother and neonates. Their essential oils are claimed to have therapeutic effects, yet its immunomodulatory activities need to be investigated. To validate the immunomodulatory effect, cord blood monocyte cells (CBMCs) treated with different concentrations of essential oils ranging from 0 to 40 µg/ml. K. galanga oil at 40 µg/ml concentrations upregulated IFN-γ at 49.23 pg/ml, while C. longa oil downregulated the IL-10 at 10.45 pg/ml showing immunostimulant activity on CBMCs. However, Z. officinale oil showed no significant result at any concentration. K. galanga and C. longa oils also showed an increase in lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The present study was aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory potentialities of essential oils which will attract the interest of researchers and pharmaceutical industries for clinical studies and other applications in the therapy of diseases related to neonatal infections.

In the present study, the acute toxicity of chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate, OP) and cypermethrin (a pyrethroid) pesticides was estimated for 96 h in Heteropneustes fossilis. The LC50 for ...

Introduction : Most colonoscopies are completed in the left lateral (LL) position but in cases of suboptimal caecal preparation, changing the patient’s position to supine (S) and, if needed, to right lateral (RL) improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection. Aim : To determine if position change during colonoscopy facilitates optimal visualisation of the caecum. Material and methods : A total of 359 patients were grouped into three categories based on the initial caecal intubation position. After caecal intubation, caecal visibility was scored on a four-point scale depending on the number of imaginary quadrants of the caecum completely visualized – Arya Caecal Prep Score. A score of 1 or 2 was unsatisfactory, while 3 or 4 was considered satisfactory. In patients with unsatisfactory score, position was changed from LL to S and then RL and visibility was scored again. Results : The initial caecal intubation in the LL position was achieved in 66.8% of patients, S in 28.5%, and RL in 4.8% of patients. 84.5% (300/355) of patients had an acceptable visualisation score at the initial caecal intubation position. Of the 55 patients with unsatisfactory caecum visualisation scores in the initial intubation position, 30 (8.5%) had satisfactory scores after the first position change (95% CI: 5.77–11.84). Twenty-five (7.04%) subjects required two position changes (95% CI: 4.61–10.22%). An additional 9.3% (11/118) of adenomas were detected in caecum and ascending colon following position change. Conclusions : Changing patient position improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection.

Recently we have reported the peroxidase mimicking ability of metal free brominated graphene (GBR) (Analytical Chemistry, 89, 783–791, 2017) at a pH less than 7.2. Here we report the novel catalase mimicking ability of GBR via electrochemical (electro-oxidation) detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at pH ≥ 7.2. We have fabricated successfully a low cost electrochemical sensor using GBR coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) [(GBR-GCE)-working electrode] and showed its excellent cyclic voltametry (CV) response towards electro-oxidation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is so far shown by electrodes made of platinum-group metals like Pt, Ir, Ru etc. Thus, GBR has exhibited the dual mimicking ability as peroxidase and also as catalase under different conditions. A plausible mechanism of sensing of hydrogen peroxide has been proposed involving the formation of perhydroxyl radical (HO2˙) facilitated by GBR-GCE as the electrode. Calibration curves for H2O2 detection using both CV and differential pulse voltametry (DPV) techniques have been constructed over 0.1–10 mM linearity range with the limits of detection of 0.048 and 0.063 mM, respectively. This fabricated electrochemical sensor is highly selective, specific and its response current is least affected by the presence of interfering analytes. The results are found highly reproducible and the use of GBR has also minimized the problem and specificity associated with natural enzymes, as it can easily be stored at room temperature. Real samples have also been successfully analyzed using our fabricated sensor.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a worldwide renowned progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common cause of dementia. There are several studies on the important role of cholesterol metabolism in AD pathogenesis, which indicated that the high concentrations of serum cholesterol increase the risk of AD. Biosynthesis of the plasma cholesterol and other isoprenoids is catalyzed by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) through the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid in mevalonate pathway. Normally, the high level of plasma cholesterol is downregulated by HGMCR inhibition as the result of degradation of LDL, but in abnormal conditions, for example, high blood glucose, the HMGCR over activated resulting in uncontrolled blood cholesterol. Selective HMGCR inhibitor drugs such as statins, which increase the catabolism of plasma LDL and reduce the plasma concentration of cholesterol, have been investigated as a possible treatment for AD. In the present study, we have identified the binding modes of 22 various derivatives of 3-sulfamoylpyrroles 16, prepared via a [3 + 2] cycloaddition of a münchnone with a sulfonamide-substituted alkyne, by using efficient biocomputational tools. Out of 22, 5 ligands, with code numbers 5b, 5c, 5d, 5i, and 5j, possessed most absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and toxicity profiles in acceptable ranges. Among ligands, 5j (sodium (3R,5R)-7-(3-(N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3,5-dihydroxyheptanoate) could inhibit HMGCR enzyme in inhibitory binding site with affinity value -12.17 kcal/mol and binding energy -94.10 kcal/mol through 5 hydrogen bonds. It showed the best ADME and toxicity profiling and higher affinity values than other potent candidate and market drugs such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Therefore, it is suggested for further in vivo investigation, the druggability of 5j and its cholesterol regulatory impact on AD.

Peroxidases have wide applications in different areas including chemical synthesis, medicine, food industry, bioremediation of wastewater, biosensing, and biotechnology. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (elephant foot yam) is an attractive source of enzymes; however, no effort has been made to assess peroxidase enzyme from this source. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare peroxidases from corms of elephant foot yam and roots of Dacus carota (carrot) and Aramoracia rusticana (horseradish). Elephant foot yam corm peroxidase (ECP) demonstrated 4.5 times higher specific activity compared with carrot root peroxidase (CRP). ECP showed retention of high activity over a broad pH range and had higher temperature optima and thermal stability compared with CRP and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The calculated KM values of ECP, CRP, and HRP for the substrates guaiacol and hydrogen peroxide were 4.5 mM and 307.8 µM, 4.6 mM and 55.5 µM, and 3.5 mM and 413.0 µM, respectively. Peroxidas...

Recent reports on the depletion of ozone layer over Antarctica have reinforced us to ponder over the issue of uncontrolled anthropogenic activities which has increased the amount of radiation in the biosphere. Since the plants are continuously exposed to different types of radiation, they are at higher risk of damage caused by these radiations. It disturbs normal growth of the plant, affects the photosynthetic pigment content, thereby producing a huge amount of reactive oxygen species, and disturbs the overall cellular homeostasis of the plant. Apart from that, it also negatively controls the programming of the genetic machinery. These altogether result in the decline in the yield of major cash crops. Despite the negative effects imposed by the radiation, it has also shaped the life on earth over the years in the form of various adaptive measures incorporated in the plant and cyanobacterial system, such as photoreactivation, synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids in the epidermis, synthesis of scytonemins and mycosporine amino acids (MAAs). Therefore various exogenous mitigating strategies employed to combat the inevitable crop loss due to these radiations have been summarized in this chapter and are to be incorporated in the agricultural system in the coming years.

Due to anthropogenic activities, agricultural land tends to face several abiotic stress conditions, including heat, ultraviolet, and metal. Different problems are being faced today, including crop loss, which is a serious concern worldwide in the increasing population era. To minimize these problems, plants adapt several endogenous strategies, including phytohormone action. Recent studies have shown that phytohormones, including auxin, cytokinins, gibberellin, and several groups of brassinosteroids, jasmonic acid (JA), etc., may prove to be important for plants to cope with stress conditions. Under stress conditions, plant physiology is also disturbed and their defense mechanism lowers, which leads to weak, stress-tolerant plants. Several strategies have been adopted by people to minimize the crop loss which has not been very effective till now. Phytohormones are known to regulate the plant growth and development under different stress conditions. In this regard, phytohormone engineering could be a way to minimize the loss and improve the crops which would be environment friendly. Therefore in this study we will discuss about the prevailing role of phytohormones and their signaling mechanism under abiotic stress condition which ultimately leads to increased tolerance capacity and decrease in crop productivity loss.

A natural question arose when scientists and engineers began formulating and using nanoparticles (NPs): “Why are they so interesting? Why are studies of these extremely small entities are so fascinating, and why are they so challenging to handle as well as to synthesize?” The unique property possessed by all nanoparticles is where the answer lies. The term nano is adapted from the Greek word ‘dwarf’ and denotes 10−9 when used as a prefix. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) extends their potential into agricultural soils and indeed the formulations of NPs may be developed to improve nutrient and quality of crops. The rapid development of synthesized nanoparticles combined with their potential risks to public health and the environment has raised considerable concerns. A significant aspect regarding risk assessment of NPs is understanding the interaction between plants and NPs. Plants, which are fundamental components of all ecosystems, play an important role in fate and transport of NPs in the environment through uptake and bioaccumulation. The degree of accumulation of nanoparticles by plants depends on physicochemical characteristics such as shape, size, agglomeration state, chemical composition and others. Since, copper is an essential micronutrient for plants and play important role in the activation of several enzymes such as cytochrome c oxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate oxidase, amine oxidase etc. and as electron transport carriers in plants i.e. plastocyanin (Sekine R, Marzouk ER, Khaksar M, Scheckel KG, Stegemeier JP, Lowry GV, Donner E, Lombi E, J Environ Qual, 46(6):1198–1205, 2017). This chapter discusses the nature of copperoxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), their uptake and translocation mechanisms, and their toxic effects on different plant species at both physiological and cellular levels. This chapter also addresses tolerance mechanisms generated by plants and a critical assessment of the necessity for further research.

Background Ethylene signal transduction in plants is conducted by the two-component system (TCS) which consists of histidine kinase (HK), histidine phosphotransferase (HPT) and response regulators (RRs). This system plays an important role in signal transduction during various cellular processes, including fruit ripening and response to multiple environmental cues. Though members of TCS have been identified in a few plants, no detailed analysis has been carried out in banana. Results Through genome-wide analysis, we identified a total of 80 (25 HK, 10 HPT and 45 RR) and 72 (25 HK, 5 HPT and 42 RR) TCS genes in Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana respectively. The analysis of identified genes revealed that most of the genes are highly conserved however; there are subtle divergences among various members. Comparative expression analysis revealed an involvement of a set of TCS members during banana fruit ripening. Co-expression network analysis identified a working TCS module with direct interactions of HK-HPT and RR members. The molecular dynamics analysis of TCS module showed a significant change in structural trajectories of TCS proteins in the presence of ethylene. Analysis suggests possible interactions between the HK-HPTs and RRs as well as other members leading to banana fruit ripening. Conclusions In this study, we identified and compared the members of TCS gene family in two banana species and showed their diversity, within groups on the basis of whole-genome duplication events. Our analysis showed that during banana fruit ripening TCS module plays a crucial role. We also demonstrated a possible interaction mechanism of TCS proteins in the presence and absence of ethylene by molecular dynamics simulations. These findings will help in understanding the functional mechanism of TCS proteins in plants in different conditions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-6050-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Enzymes today play a predominant role in the pharmaceutical industries due to their ability to efficiently and selectively catalyze biochemical reactions in living systems. Since the enzymes have such a considerable impact on human health, the enzyme-based drugs are progressively becoming a research focus, in recent times. Most of these therapeutic enzymes are produced industrially by employing the various types of fermentation techniques, using a suitable expression system which includes a microbial strain (bacteria, yeast, fungi, etc), plant or animal cell culture, and genetically engineered organisms. The advancements in the fields of recombinant DNA technology, protein engineering, material science, enzyme immobilization, and nanotechnology has provided an astounding platform for the development of enzymatic drugs that have varied applications in the treatment of a range of diseases. These enzymes may be broadly classified into four categories which are: enzymes involved in fibrinolysis, cancer treatment, enzyme replacement therapies, and treatment of other rare and common diseases. Several approaches like rational designing, PEGylation, and glycoengineering have made it possible to increase the half-life, stability, and solubility of these enzymes, making them suitable for administration. The discoveries and furtherance with which the therapeutic enzymes are being produced, possessing enhanced stability and biocatalytic activity, have led to new opportunities and prompted new open doors in the field of medication for both therapeutic and analytical purposes. In this review, we have highlighted the function, application, production and purification techniques, enzyme formulations, and stability and activity advancements of different therapeutic enzymes with special emphasis on l -asparaginase, streptokinase, collagenase, and uricase. It is an attempt to evaluate the current discoveries and advancements in therapeutic enzymes to provide a scope of improvement for the existing enzymes and help overcome the challenges to further develop new ones.

Heavy metal accumulation due to environmental pollution, especially in agricultural ecosystem can cause serious deterioration of crop yield and quality. In present study we assessed the effect of exogenous 28-homobrassinoloid (HBL; 10−8 M) on growth, photosynthesis, indices of chlorophyll a fluorescence and nitrogen metabolism in Solanum lycopersicum seedlings grown under two doses (Cd1: 3 mg kg−1 sand and Cd2: 9 mg kg−1 sand) of cadmium. Accumulation of Cd in root tissues was considerably higher than shoot hence, Cd declined the growth, pigment contents, and photosynthetic O2 yield in its concentration dependent manner. Chlorophyll a fluorescence due to Cd stress was negatively affected as shown by decreased QA − reoxidation kinetics: φP0, ψ0, φE0 and PI_ABS and increased energy flux parameters: ABS/RC, TR0/RC, ET0/RC and DI0/RC. HBL application under Cd stress improved the photochemistry of photosystem II (PS II) by affecting these parameters positively. Treatment of Cd in test seedlings resulted into significant decrease in nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities, and induced enhancing effect on ammonium content and glutamate dehydrogenase activity. Exogenous HBL treatment alleviated the negative effect of Cd on growth, photosynthesis, contents of protein, carbohydrate and inorganic nitrogen and nitrogen assimilating enzymes. The data indicate that exogenous HBL protects the test seedlings during the early growth phase against Cd phytotoxicity by regulating Cd accumulation in tissues and two key metabolic processes; photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism.

Very recently, we have reported a novel peroxidase mimetic material, brominated graphene (GBR) having ∼3% bromine content, which, in combination with H2O2 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), has shown the property of S2− ion recognition (Anal. Chem., 2017, 89, 783–791). In the present work, we further have investigated the kinetic assay and colorimetric sensing ability of GBR towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glucose. The Michaelis–Menten constants (Km) and maximum initial velocities (Vmax) of GBR have been found to be 10.98 mM and 3.60 × 10−8 M s−1, respectively, for H2O2 and 0.83 mM and 0.68 × 10−8 M s−1, respectively, for TMB. A sensor combining TMB and GBR has been fabricated, which, upon addition to H2O2 or glucose with glucose oxidase solution at pH 4.48, showed colorimetrically a significant increase in the oxidation of TMB. The fabricated sensor system has displayed linearity for H2O2 and glucose estimation in the range 0.50–5.00 mM and 40–100 mM, respectively, and the corresponding limits of detection are found to be 0.417 and 28.41 mM, respectively. The present sensor system is also highly reproducible and selective. The results of real samples using this colorimetric method have been found to be comparable with the conventional auto-analyser method.

Brominated graphene (GBR) with ∼3% bromine content has shown novel peroxidase mimetic activity toward 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2. Optimum activity has been observed at pH 4.48 and after a minimum ∼30 min of equilibration time. Among the different analytes studied using the sensor combining TMB, H2O2, and GBR in phosphate buffer of pH 4.48, the S2– ion has effectively shown a short duration of sensing (∼2 min) within the detection range of 0.04–1 mM. A calibration curve for S2– ion estimation has been constructed with the experimental linearity in 0.04–0.4 mM range and having the limit of detection (LOD) value of 25.3 μM. A standard addition experiment has validated the method. A paper strip sensor has been fabricated for successful detection of S2– ion.

In this study we have explored the fluorescence based applications of luminescent pyrene-tagged PNVP (PyPNVP) reported in our previous work (Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater. 2016, 65, 269−276). PyPNVP has successfully acted as “turn off” chemosensor for metal ions Cu2+, Hg2+, and Pb2+. It has also successfully acted as a fluorescent probe for critical micellar concentration (CMC) determination of amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(d,l-lactide) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PDLLA42-b-PNVP120) (Mn = 19 400 g/mol and PD = 1.52). It has also successfully shown an interaction with both plasmid and calf thymus (CT) deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) as evidenced by its fluorescence quenching. A different magnitude and type of quenching has been observed for both the cases which may be useful in distinguishing different kinds of DNAs. In order to further understand the potential of PyPNVP in various biotechnological processes, its binding property with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has also been studied. The effi...

The purpose of this study was to assess the oxidative biomarkers responses, antioxidant potential and metal accumulation tendency of weed plants collected from the control and metal-contaminated site. The metal contamination was found to be higher in soil and plant parts collected from contaminated site and the most serious problem seemed to be metal elevations above than the safe limit for Cd, Pb and Ni in the aerial parts of weed plants. There were variations in metal accumulation in different weed plants that was justified by principal component analysis. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were found to be higher in plant parts collected from contaminated site. Based upon metal accumulation tendency, weed plants showed a translocation ratio (>1) that reflect their potential for metal remediation. The values of metal pollution index also showed higher tendency of metal accumulation in weed plants, particularly in Solanum nigrum, Euphorbia hirta, Amaranthus hybridus and Xanthium strumar...

Among all non-essential heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) is perhaps the metal that has attracted the most attention in soil science and plant nutrition due to its potential toxicity to humans, and also its relative mobility in the soil–plant system. In plant system, Cd influences entire metabolism. It interferes with physiological activities of plants such as photosynthesis, gaseous exchange, nutrients absorption, and causes reduction in plant growth, dry matter accumulation and yield. It also results alteration in antioxidant production, cell cycle and division that leads to chromosomal aberrations and modification in gene expression. In order to cope with such situation plants have to develop several strategies. Among them phytohormones played an important role, but in presence of high level of Cd in the environment, plants are not able to carry out their normal functions. In such condition, exogenous application of phytohormones improves the plant metabolism. These phytohormones (plant growth regulators) act as active members of signal transduction cascade that involve in metal detoxification. Thus, this review describes mechanism behind application of phytohormones for metal remediation particularly Cd including its impact on morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization of the plants.

Eight parental lines of diverse origin of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were crossed in 8 × 8 diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. The 28 F1 hybrids along with their parents and one standard check (H-86) were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during seasons of rabi 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. In the present study, revealed that heterosis over better parent, mid parent, standard check and inbreeding depression was observed for all the traits under studies. Highly significant heterosis was observed for days to first flowering (-13.49, -13.52 and -12.28%), number of flowers per cluster (17.90, 22.11 and 24.27%), days to first harvest (-8.01, -11.04 and -9.76%), number of fruit per cluster (39.17, 42.71 and 20.71%), fruit diameter (19.93, 31.43 and 13.27%), fruit length (19.29, 22.34 and 13.35%), Average fruit weight (18.88, 19.41 and 7.80%), number of fruits per plant (25.86, 46.69 and 41.87%) and yield per plant (58.61, 75.61 and 56.33%) over the better, mid and standard parents, respectively along with considerable inbreeding depression. Most promising cross Pant T-3 × H-24 showed highly significant positive heterosis over better parent for yield per plant.

Early and precise diagnosis of diseases in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) permits early treatment which can enhance yield and quality of Indian spices. In the present study, polyclonal antibody (pAb) raised against the protein extract from Pythium aphanidermatum was established for the detection of rhizome rot using serological assays. The fungal proteins were recognized by ELISA with high sensitivity (50 ng) and the proteins ranging from 15 to 95 kDa showed immuno-reactivity in Western blot using the developed pAb. Correlation coefficient between infected samples at various stages from different agroclimatic zones with antibody titres was taken as the primary endpoint for standardization of the protocol. Highest positive correlation (r = 0.999) was observed in stage I and II infected samples of North-western zone, whereas low negative correlation (r = −0.284) was found in stage III infected samples of Western zone with developed pAb. Linear positive correlations (R2) exist between antigenic proteins at all the stages of infection and the developed pAb titres. Hence, the developed pAbs could be used to detect the presence of the fungal pathogen at an early stage. These serological approaches allow us to develop a rapid, sensitive, specific and accurate diagnostic kit for early detection of rhizome rot in turmeric.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of root extract of Terminalia arjuna on blood glucose level of normal and diabetic rats was evaluated in this study. Physicochemical investigations were performed on the acetone extract of Terminalia arjuna (roots). 15-day treatment of extracts associated with reduced the elevated levels of TC, TG as compared to negative control in diabetic animals. The data obtained from this study showed that the treatment of extracts and glibenclamide protects the diabetic rats from massive body weight loss, when given orally, daily for 15 days. Evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of terminalia arjuna showed that the root extract of Terminalia arjuna have potent antidiabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Keywords: Terminalia arjuna, root extract, glibenclamide, alloxan

Breastmilk is a dynamic, multi-faceted, and complex fluid containing a plethora of biochemical and cellular components that execute developmental effects or differentiation program, providing nourishment and immunity to newborns. Recently, it was reported that breastmilk contains a heterogeneous population of naive cells, including pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, immune cells, and non-immune cells. The stem cells derived from breastmilk possess immune privilege and non-tumorigenic properties. Thus, breastmilk may represent an ideal source of stem cells collected by non-perceive procedure than other available sources. Thus, this "maternally originating natural regenerative medicine" may have innumerable applications in clinical biology, cosmetics, and pharmacokinetics. This review describes the efficient integrated cellular system of mammary glands, the impressive stem cell hierarchy of breastmilk, and their possible implications in translational research and therapeutics.

The importance of the earthworms in the agricultural practices is well known. The increasing applications of pesticides and chemicals in the agricultural farms have adversely influenced the flora and fauna of the soil. Earthworms which immensely contribute in increasing the quality and fertility of agricultural soil are reported be worst hit organisms under such conditions. Recent reports have indicated growing interests among researchers to explore biochemical and molecular markers as indicators of accumulation of pollutants in the soil in general and pesticides in particular. The varying levels of several biomolecules in different parts of the earthworm have been reported which are indicative of sensitivity of the organisms to different xenobiotics. However, the existing information lacks the literature displaying stock of information regarding the impact of pesticides on the levels of some key enzymes regulating many crucial functions in the earthworm at one place. Keeping in view this issue, it was envisaged to bring out a mini review which illustrates updated information available on the impact of pesticides on the activities of certain key enzymes reported to be responsible for catalysing metabolic pathways concerning the neurotransmission system, energy metabolism, oxidative stress and amino acids metabolism in different body parts of the earthworms, a prospective bioindicators of pesticides contamination in the soil.

The present study aimed to assess not only the efficacy of sap from two seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii (K-sap) and Gracilaria edulis (G-sap) on productivity and quality of Zea mays under rain-fed condition, but also to quantify whether sap application is beneficial in terms of lowering the carbon and phosphate footprint of mineral fertilizers per unit of produce. Field experiment was carried out to test 18 treatments, viz., 5 concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10 and 15 %) each of K-sap and G-sap applied along with recommended rate of fertilizers (RRF); 3 concentrations (7.5, 10 and 15 %) of each of the two types of sap applied along with 50 % RRF; alongside 2 control treatments T1 (water spray along with 100 % RRF) and T18 (water spray along with 50 % RRF). The optimal treatments that enhanced the grain productivity of maize were 5 % G-sap or 7.5 % K-sap applied in conjunction with 100 % RRF and the grain yield enhancements ranged from 21.4 to 29.8 % as compared to T1. Significant increase in P (35.5 %) and K (14.4 %) content in grains was observed through G-sap application, suggesting bio-stimulation in absorption of these elements. Notably, stover yield production at reduced RRF in certain combinations with sap was at par with T1 suggesting a possible saving on fertilizer requirement for fodder production under rain-fed conditions. Compared to T1, there was marked reduction of 17.5 and 23.1 % in global warming potential per unit of produce when 7.5 % K-sap and 5 % G-sap were used respectively in conjunction with 100 % RRF.

Introduction The present study was undertaken to assess the caries activity by comparing the pH, buffering capacity, calcium, phosphorous, amylase along with the association of mutans in saliva for caries-free and caries-active children and to find out the interrelationship amongst the two groups. Methodology The study sample of 80 children, aged between 4 and 8 years were included in the study. Caries status of each child was recorded using DMFS. They were divided into two groups: (i) caries-free group (40) and (ii) caries-active group (40). After collecting the salivary samples, mutans were determined using Saliva-Check mutans kit and buffering capacity by Saliva-Check Buffer kit. The remaining samples were sent to laboratory for analyzing pH by electrode pH meter, calcium by OCPC(o-cresolphthalein complexone) photometric method, phosphorous by phosphomolybdate/UV method, amylase by CNP-G3(2chloro-4-nitrophenyl-alpha-maltotrioside) method using semi-autoanalyzer. Results The results obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. The pH, buffering capacity, calcium and phosphorous level were found to be increased with the decrease in the caries activity of the children whereas amylase activity was increased with the increase in caries activity. It was observed that 77.5% children were tested positive and 22.5% were tested negative for mutans in caries-active group whereas 100% children were tested negative for mutans in caries-free group. Conclusion The physicochemical properties of saliva, such as pH, buffering capacity, calcium, phosphorous, amylase and Streptococcus mutans has a definite relationship with caries activity.

Plant growth regulator IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), besides its role in growth and development, is gaining increased attention because of its involvement in regulation of abiotic stresses. To ascertain this hypothesis, sand culture experiments were conducted to investigate the implication of IAA in regulation of Cd (cadmium) toxicity in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings. Cd at tested doses (Cd1: 3 mg Cd kg−1 sand and Cd2: 9 mg Cd kg−1 sand) declined growth, pigment contents and photosynthesis, and increased the rate of dark respiratory oxygen uptake, and these effects were accompanied with Cd accumulation in tissues. Photochemistry of photosystem II (PS II) was analyzed by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics-JIP test. Cd declined the efficiency of PS II in its concentration dependent manner which is evident from the decreased values of Fv/F0, Fv/Fm (ϕP0), Ψ0, ϕE0 and PIABS and increased values of F0/Fv and energy fluxes per reaction centre: ABS/RC, ET0/RC, TR0/RC and DI0/RC. Enhanced level of oxidants: superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide under Cd stress stimulated the rate of lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, despite of appreciable rise in activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase and contents of non protein thiol and proline. Exogenous IAA application alleviated Cd induced toxicity on growth performance by improving the structural and functional attributes of photosynthetic apparatus i.e. pigment contents and photosynthetic activity. The ameliorating effect of exogenous IAA was due to (1) significant reduction in Cd uptake in roots and its translocation to leaves and (2) further rise in level/activity of antioxidants which brought the level of oxidants under control hence, minimized the oxidative damage in eggplant seedlings.

In this paper a non-linear model is proposed and analyzed to study the effect of global warming temperature on the spread of carrier dependent infectious diseases in the habitat. In the modeling process, five dependent variables are considered, namely, the density of susceptible population, the density of infective population, the density of carrier population, the concentration of CO2 emitted from both natural as well as human population related activities and the global warming temperature. The non-linear model is analyzed by using the stability theory of differential equations and numerical simulation. The analysis shows that as the global warming temperature increases, not only the carrier population density increases but also the number of infectives in the population increases, leading to fast spread of the infectious diseases. The numerical simulation confirms the analytical results.