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Paper mulberry is a high-quality woody feed resource plant with high crude protein content. It is widely distributed in China and has excellent characteristics of salt and alkali tolerance. Paper mulberry has ecological and economic importance. Salt stress has become a critical factor with the increasing degree of soil salinity that restricts plant growth. In the saline-alkali environments, transcriptome expression is altered leading to phenotypic defects in most plants. However, the regulatory mechanism related to paper mulberry's salt-stress (SS) response is not clearly understood. In the present study de novo transcriptomic assembly was performed, and gene expression levels were measured between different SS and natural conditions (25°C) as a control for paper mulberry plants. According to the results of our study, under NaCl stress conditions, the differential gene expression was observed in the leaves of paper mulberry compared with the control. A total of 2126 differentially expressed unigenes were observed. Among these unigenes the expression of 812 DEGs was up-regulated and the expression of 1,314 DEGs was down-regulated. Additionally, The GO and KEGG analyses regarding differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) revealed that the observed critical transcriptomic alterations under salt stress (SS) conditions were associated with primary and secondary metabolism, photosynthesis, and plant hormone signaling pathways. Further investigations such as gene function studies regarding the unigenes depicting altered expression under salt stress conditions in paper mulberry will help understand the mechanism of salt tolerance, and this information can be utilized in paper mulberry breeding and improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper industry utilized an enormous volume of fresh water in every step of manufacturing process and generates significant amount of untreated sludge and wastewater to nearby vicinity. Due to zero discharge policy, the development of an ecofriendly, economical and integrated treatment was the main objectives of current study. The economical and integrated mechanism is being developed through treatment of pulp and paper effluent with activated carbon produced from Paper and pulp sludge (PPS) and fungal culture under optimized conditions in Activated sludge treatment process to meet NEQS. Furthermore, effects of treated effluent were studied on physical parameter of ladyfinger to ascertain ecofriendly nature of the proposed mechanism. The activated carbon (AC) was produced from PPS by ZnCl2 and CaCl2 activating agents at 400,600 and 750◦C for the treatment of effluent. AC produced by ZnCl2 at 750◦C reduced effluent BOD, COD and color 32.17%, 30.46%, 31.09% respectively more as compared to CaCl2 due to large surface area and porosity. Moreover, fungal culture also reduced the pH (5.3%) TDS (17.64%), TN (42.19%) NH3-N (47%) and lignin (34.14%) concentration with reference to AC . Response surface methodology (RSM) exercised to optimize the conditions pH (4-6), DO (2-4 mg/l) and run 15 trials for earlier treated AC and fungal culture effluent to meet NEQS. Model results showed that F-value and P-value were quadratic and significant. The results indicated that the optimal solution for maximum pollutant removal was achieved in trial 2, with 3 mg/L oxygen, a pH of 5, and 1 mg/L fungal microbes in Activated Sludge process. Moreover, the adjusted coefficient R2 (98.56%) and determination coefficient R2 (99.24%) for COD removal exhibited that the experimental and predicted values had strong significant correlation. Subsequently, the impacts of treated (T) and untreated wastewater (UWW) on physical parameters of ladyfinger were studied and found that number of fruits, weight of fresh fruits, height of the plant, dry weight of roots, were 40 % 61.7% 32.6% and 52% were enhanced respectively by treated water compared with the UWW which augment novelty of this research for development of sustainable and economically viable treatment solution for Paper and sludge industrial effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of soil modifiers on seed germination and soil quality. Mixtures of paper mill sludge (PMS) with camellia oilseed cake (CO) and peat moss (P), as well as with oilseed cake of toothache tree (TO) and peat moss (P), showed promising results as biostimulants for seed germination. The addition of PMS increased the germination index, indicating its beneficial effects on seed performance. The pH levels remained optimal, and the electrical conductivity values stayed within acceptable ranges, suggesting minimal hindrance to plant growth. The cation exchange capacity increased with PMS, enhancing nutrient availability. Composted mixtures exhibited increased phosphorus levels, contributing to soil fertility. While the organic matter content decreased after composting, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio remained balanced. The bulk density increased after composting, potentially improving soil drainage. Overall, the TO-containing mixture demonstrated superior growth rates compared to the P. These findings support the use of PMS-based soil modifiers for enhancing seed germination and improving soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a very poisonous and non-essential heavy metal which is easily absorbed by plants. The metal makes living organisms susceptible to its acute and chronic toxicity through plant food. Similarly, Cd hinders the growth of plants by causing the loss of chlorophyll, which in turn negatively impacts the activities of photosynthesis. Therefore, this current study aims to evaluate the effects of Cd on the germination behaviour, morphology, growth and development of Pak Choi plants. The sterilized Pak Choi seeds were germinated on a soaked filter paper of a petri dish. The petri dish included seven different treatments of Cd chloride with concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mM. Each treatment was replicated five times. The germination and growth of the seeds were observed for 15 days. Pak Choi seedlings were also planted under hydroponic conditions to investigate their morphological characteristics, growth and development. After two weeks of growth, the application of CdCl2 was made with four treatments consisting of nutrient solution without CdCl2 (control) and 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mM CdCl2 -nutrient solution. Two weeks of plant growth were allowed before the experiment was terminated. At the end of the experiment, the chlorophyll content (SPAD), root and shoot length (cm), and fresh and dry weight (g) of plants were quantified accordingly. The increase in CdCl2 concentration led to a significant decrease in the length of root and shoot of germinated seedlings significantly. The seedling's growth of Pak Choi was inhibited three days after germination, and the seedling's height (root and shoot) in higher concentrations of CdCl2 was lower than lower doses of Cd. Chlorosis symptoms in the leaf were visible in hydroponic Pak Choi containing Cd. The growth of Cd-treated hydroponic Pak Choi was adversely affected by Cd treatment. The Cd treatment also reduced SPAD, biomass content (fresh and dry), and length of root and leaves number significantly. It can be concluded that exogenous Cd inhibits the Pak Choi germination and growth under hydroponic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bioplastics and paper straws have been introduced as alternatives to single-use plastic straws, their potential environmental, economic, and social impacts have not been analyzed. This study addresses this gap by designing a polylactic acid layer interface adhesion on cellulose paper-based (PLA-P) composite straws by a dip molding process. This process is simple, efficient, and scalable for massive production. Optimizing key manufacturing parameters, including ice bath ultrasonic, overlapping paper strips (2 strips), winding angle (60°), soaking time (5 min), and drying temperature (50 °C), were systematically evaluated to improve straw quality and manufacturing efficiency. PLA chains were found to deposit onto the cellulose network through intermolecular interactions to form a consistent "sandwich" structure, which can improve adhesion, water resistance, and mechanical properties. Interestingly, PLA-P straws effectively decomposed in soil and compost environments, with a 35–40 % degradation rate within 4 months. Besides, PLA-P straw residues affected seed germination and plant growth, but no significant toxic effects were detected. Further, microplastics were observed in soil and plant tissues (roots, stems, and leaves), and their possible diffusion mechanisms were explored. The results of a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis showed that the process improvements reduced the ecological footprint of PLA-P straws and showed good prospects for commercial application. The study's findings contribute to the understanding of bioplastics and paper straws in effectively reducing environmental impact and fostering sustainable development. [Display omitted] • Mass-producible, simple, and efficient PLA-P composite straws are developed. • PLA-P straws degrade 35-40 % in soil and compost environments within 4 months. • Microplastics were detected in soil and plant tissues (roots, stems, and leaves). • No significant toxic effects on plants are observed. • Adjusting LCA setup to minimize the environmental impact of straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadcast weeding of naturally regenerating paper birch (Betula papyrifera) to improve performance of conifer crop trees is common in forest plantations in British Columbia, Canada, but such treatments are costly, reduce biodiversity and may increase disease. To investigate whether alternative treatments can enhance conifer performance with minimal loss of other ecosystem services, we examined effects of selective removal of paper birch in two interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesiivar.glauca) plantations on Douglas-fir growth and survival, and cover and height of residual birch and the understorey plant community. Douglas-fir-centred birch-free patches of varying radius (0–2.5 m) were created by single and repeated manual cutting and Triclopyr® application. The “threshold brushing radius,” defined as the birch removal radius at which Douglas-fir performance was optimized was 2.0 m at the more productive site and 1.5 m at the less productive one. Armillaria root disease, the major Douglas-fir mortality agent, spiked in the 1.0 m radius manual cutting treatment at one location. The greatest reductions in birch and understory plant abundance occurred following the most intensive treatments. Selective brushing treatments are an effective alternative to broadcast removal of paper birch for increasing conifer performance, and have less impact on the plant community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on a study which examined the impact of using paper mill sludge (PMS) for surface-mine reclamation on runoff water quality and plant growth. The PMS sample was analyzed for solids content, total nitrogen (N), total carbon (C) inorganic C, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, and major elements. The chemical properties of the runoff were described. It was observed that the application of PMS at both rates greatly reduced runoff and erosion from the plots, particularly during the 2.5-mo Pre-Plant period when the control plots were bare.

Little is known about the effect of seed source and nursery culture on the growth and performance of artificially regenerated paper birch planted in the field. In the summer of 2000, trees were vertically uprooted in Prince George, BC using a tripod and winch device to determine if seed source and nursery culture significantly affected the root strength of 5-year-old paper birch. Trees from a seed source in the Skeena region had the greatest uprooting resistance, and the most root biomass, but the least root strength compared to the other three seed sources tested. The Skeena trees may be exhibiting an adaptive strategy which provides maximum root reinforcement across a wide range of environments. Uprooting resistance was similar for the 415D stocktypes grown at Red Rock and Kalamalka nurseries. However, trees grown in 515A styroblock at Kalamalka had the least uprooting resistance and root biomass of all treatments. In addition, the relationship between uprooting resistance and ground line diameter was different between nurseries. The results of this study suggest that regardless of height and diameter leaving the nursery, seed source root resistance and growth continued to be impacted by nursery culture 5 years after planting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of vermicompost generated from the paper waste spiked with cow dung slurry on the germination, plant growth and fruition of cluster bean. Two kinds of treatments were studied: (i) vermicast was applied to the soil at the rates of 5, 7.5,10 t ha-1 and (ii) amounts of essential nutrients equivalent to those present in the vermicast treatments in inorganic form was amended to the soil. There was a control with only soil without any nutrient supplement. The finding is in contrast to the reports on the benefi cial impacts of vermicast on plant growth. In the present study, the inorganic fertilizer treatment exhibited better seed germination and plant growth than the equivalent vermicast treatments. The results indicate that the dose of vermicompost used in the present study was not sufficient to satisfy the nutrient demand of plant species studied. Additional fertilization would have improved the crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]