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Application of manure and compost can result in the accumulation of veterinary antibiotics in soil, subsequently posing ecological risks. The occurrence and potential ecological risk assessment of nine antibiotics (4 tetracyclines, 3 sulfonamides, and 2 macrolides) residues in soil, manure, and compost samples collected from Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia are reported in this study. A total of 36 samples (20 soil, 8 manure, and 8 compost) were collected and their physiochemical characteristics were analyzed. Large variabilities were observed in organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient status. In the soil samples obtained, three textural groups were identified: sandy loam, loamy sand, and loam. Overall, the mean concentrations of all detected antibiotics measured were lower (

Biochar possesses more profound effects on the availability of soil P in acidic soil than in alkaline and/or calcareous soil, mainly due to P fixation. Therefore, biochar derived from Conocarpus waste (BC) was acidified with sulfuric acid to produce acidified biochar (ABC) and incorporated into a calcareous soil planted with alfalfa in order to investigate P availability and fractionation. Additionally, the changes in some other soil chemical properties were investigated. Both BC and ABC were applied at three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5%) along with P fertilizer application at four rates (0, 75, 150 and 300 ppm). The results showed that acidification remarkably reduced the pH of ABC by 6.84 units. The application of ABC considerably lowered the soil pH; however, it did not significantly increase P availability in the studied soil. Furthermore, BC, especially at a higher application rate, increased the extractable soil K. Similarly, the amendments increased the soil cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) and soil organic matter (OM), where a profound increase was observed at a higher application rate in the case of soil OM. Similarly, soil-available micronutrients were increased over the control, where a more profound increase was observed in soils treated with ABC. The NaHCO3−P (exchangeable) fraction increased with increasing fertilizer application rate while the residual–P decreased. Therefore, BC and ABC could be used to improve soil quality and enhance soil nutrient availability. However, further studies are required on how to significantly improve soil available P in calcareous soil.

The novel Aerva javanica absorbent was applied for the removal of thirteen selected metal ions from a distilled water solution of each metal by the batch adsorption method. The optimization remediation parameters of the metal ions for the batch adsorption approach were developed, which were the initial concentrations (60 ppm), contact time (60 min) and pH (7). The basic properties of metal ion affected the adsorption results; therefore, 21 properties of metal ions were selected, which are called “descriptors”. The most significant descriptors were selected that were vital for the adsorption results, such as covalent index, polarizability and ion charge. The developed model equation by the descriptors provided more than 80% accuracy in the predicted results. Furthermore, Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were also applied on the results. Constants of the Freundlich and Langmuir models were also used for model generation, and the results revealed the importance of a covalent index for the removal phenomenon of metal ions. The current study provided a suitable Ion Character Property Relationship (IC-PR) for the removal of metal ions, and future predictions can be achieved on the proposed adsorbent with significant accuracy. The ecofriendly and cost effective Aerva javanica absorbent in the batch experimental model of the current study predicted that this novel absorbent can be used for the removal of a wide spectrum of heavy metal ions from different sources of waste waters.

Photocatalytic degradation has been suggested to be a cheap and efficient way to dispose of organic pollutants, such as dyes. Therefore, our research team strives to produce nanophotocatalysts in a simple and inexpensive way. In this work, the Pechini sol–gel technique was employed for the facile synthesis of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/Fe2O3 and Fe0.5Mn0.5Co2O4/Fe2O3 as mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B and Congo Red dyes. XRD, FT-IR, a N2 adsorption/desorption analyzer, EDS, FE-SEM, and an UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer were used to characterize the produced samples. The XRD patterns revealed that the average crystallite size of the Fe0.5Mn0.5Co2O4/Fe2O3 and Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/Fe2O3 samples is 90.25 and 80.62 nm, respectively. The FE-SEM images revealed that the Fe0.5Mn0.5Co2O4/Fe2O3 sample consists of cubic and irregular shapes with an average diameter of 1.71 µm. Additionally, the Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/Fe2O3 sample consists of spherical shapes with an average diameter of 0.26 µm. The energy gaps of the Fe0.5Mn0.5Co2O4/Fe2O3 and Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/Fe2O3 samples are 3.50 and 4.3 eV and 3.52 and 4.20 eV, respectively. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the complete degradation of 100 mL of 20 mg/L of Rhodamine B and Congo Red dyes occurred at pH = 8 and 3, respectively, within 50 min, using 0.1 g of the synthesized samples.

The present work was aimed at studying the biosorption of two important heavy metals, viz. Pb and Cr, using defatted seed residue of Cucumis melo as biosorbent. As this study for the biosorption of the selected biosorbent is being carried out for the first time, optimization of the% sorption was carried out with the help of Taguchi method. Three most influential experimental factors were taken into account for this purpose, including the amount of sorbent, amount of sorbate and shaking time. For Pb, maximum% sorption was found to be 94.1%, using 2 g of sorbent and 5 ppm of sorbate after 2 h of shaking. Similarly, for Cr, maximum% sorption was 92.5% using 2 g of sorbent, 10 ppm of sorbate and 3 h of shaking. For Pb, the highest% contribution, which was determined by ANOVA, was given by the amount of sorbate (54.7%) followed by the amount of sorbent (38.8%) and the least contribution was given by the shaking time (6.47%). Similarly, for Cr, the highest% contribution, which was determined by ANOVA, was given by the amount of sorbate (75%) followed by the amount of sorbent (16%) and the least contribution was given by the shaking time (8.65%). Kinetic and isothermal studies were also performed to understand the nature of adsorption mechanism. For this purpose, linear and non-linear forms of three sorption isotherms were employed including Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubnin–Radushkevich isotherm. From these observations, it can be concluded that the defatted seed residue of Cucumis melo can be regarded as a novel, renewable, green and cost-effective biosorbent for removal of heavy metals from wastewater.

This study was aimed to determine total phytochemical components as well as in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and wound healing attributes of Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. leaves extract. Among different solvent extracts tested, methanolic extract revealed maximum alkaloid, flavonoids, phenolic, and tannin contents of 90.41 ± 0.15 mg atropine equivalent/g, 156.64 ± 0.97 mg quercetin equivalent/g, 155.44 ± 1.65 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, and 121.31 ± 2.34 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of extract, respectively. Antibacterial activity of methanolic extract was determined against indicator pathogens using agar well diffusion assay which exhibited potential activity against Bacillus subtilis. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and wound healing attributes of methanolic extract were analyzed using standard methodologies. The extract exhibited potential antioxidant traits by scavenging ABTS (IC50 value − 224.2 µg/mL) and DPPH (IC50 value − 76.24 µg/mL) in a concentration dependent manner. Further, the extract demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activities at varied doses with IC50 value of 55.7 µg/mL. The methanolic extract exhibited promising rates of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition with IC50 values of 49.45 and 38.72 µg/mL, respectively. Further, the extract showed no toxicity on L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines (99.66 ± 0.14% cell viability). Most importantly, the treatment of cell monolayer of L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines with methanolic extract showed high rate (100%) of wound healing trait. GC–MS analysis of methanolic extract revealed the presence of Mome inositol, 13-Docosenamide, (Z)-, Cycloheptasiloxane, tetradecamethyl-, and Octadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl ester as predominant compounds. In conclusion, the biological properties of S. auriculata leaves suggested its vast role as ideal antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and wound healing agents in future.

The Heterotrichea Stein, 1859 are a group of ciliated protists (single-celled eukaryotes) that occur in a wide variety of aquatic habitat where they play important roles in the flow of nutrients and energy within the microbial food web. Many species are model organisms for research in cytology and regenerative biology. In the present study, the morphology and phylogeny of two heterotrich ciliates, namely, Linostomella pseudovorticella n. sp. and Peritromus kahli Villeneuve-Brachon, 1940, collected from subtropical wetlands of China, were investigated using morphological and molecular methods. L. pseudovorticella n. sp. differs from its only known congener, Linostomella vorticella Ehrenberg, 1833 Aescht in Foissner et al., 1999, by having more ciliary rows (48–67, mean about 56 vs. 26–51, mean about 42) and its small-subunit (SSU) rDNA sequence, which shows a 15-bp divergence. Although P. kahli has been reported several times in recent decades, its infraciliature has yet to be described. A redescription and improved diagnosis of this species based on a combination of previous and present data are here supplied. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequences revealed that the genus Linostomella is positioned within Condylostomatidae, and Peritromidae is sister to Climacostomidae with relatively low support, and the family Spirostomidae is the root branch of the class Heterotrichea.

The morphology and phylogeny of two new sessilid species, Zoothamnium weishanicum n. sp. and Epicarchesium sinense n. sp., two insufficiently known species, Zoothamnium arbusculaEhrenberg, 1831 and Zoothamnium hentscheliKahl, 1935, and a well-known species, Carchesium polypinum (Linnaeus, 1767) Ehrenberg, 1838, collected from freshwater habitats of China, were investigated. Zoothamnium weishanicum n. sp. is characterized by its inverted bell-shaped zooids, double-layered peristomial lip, alternately branched stalk, and two different-length rows in infundibular polykinety 3 (P3). Epicarchesium sinense n. sp. is recognized by its asymmetric-pyriform zooids, single-layered peristomial lip, conspicuous cortical blisters on the pellicle, dichotomously branched stalk, and P3 containing one short inner row and two long outer rows. Based on previous and newly obtained data of the three known species, improved diagnoses and redescriptions are provided including, for the first time, data on the infraciliature of Z. arbuscula and Z. hentscheli. In addition, we analyzed the phylogeny of each species based on SSU rDNA sequence data.

During an investigation on freshwater peritrichs, a new colonial sessilid ciliate, Campanella sinica n. sp., was isolated from aquatic plants in an artificial freshwater pond in Qingdao, China. Specimen observations of this species were performed both in vivo and using silver staining. C. sinica n. sp. is characterized by the appearance of the mature colony, which is up to 2 cm high and contains more than 1,000 zooids, the asymmetric horn-shaped zooids, strongly everted and multi-layered peristomial lip, the slightly convex peristomial disc, and the well-developed haplokinety and polykinety, which make more than four circuits of the peristome before descending into the infundibulum. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), 5.8s rDNA and its flank internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8s rDNA-ITS2), and large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) are sequenced and used for phylogenetic analyses which reveal that the family Epistylididae Kahl, 1933 is non-monophyletic whereas the genus Campanella is monophyletic and nests within the basal clade of the sessilids. The integrative results support the assertion that the genus Campanella represents a separate lineage from other epistylidids, suggesting a further revision of the family Epistylididae is needed. We revise Campanella including the transfer into this genus of a taxon formerly assigned to Epistylis, which we raise to species rank, i.e., Campanella ovata (Nenninger, 1948) n. grad. & n. comb. (original combination Epistylis purneri f. ovataNenninger, 1948). In addition, we provide a key to the identification of the species of Campanella.

Novel divalent chelates of Co (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Ni (II) were prepared and described of the form [M (NTM)(CH3COO)2] where NTM = [1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methanol ligand. Elemental analyses, infrared red, 1H and 13CNMR, electronic, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity measurements and X‐ray diffraction studies were used to assess our divalent metal complexes. Moreover, the stability and stoichiometry of the novel metal chelates were examined through the job's method in solutions. Correlation of all spectroscopic techniques states that NTM acts as a bi‐dentate NO ligand to afford octahedral complex geometry for all the investigated metal chelates. Thermodynamic and kinetics factors for various thermal degradation phases were calculated. Moreover, B3LYP/LANL2DZ/6‐311 g(d,p) theoretical study has been applied for estimating the MEP and quantum chemical reactivity descriptors of studied molecules. Moreover, the UV–Vis absorption spectra for the investigated molecules are predicted via the time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations. In addition, MOE‐ docking was tested on two different proteins, the receptor of (3HB5) breast cancer mutant oxidoreductase as well as the receptor of Glucosamine‐6‐phosphate synthase in complex with glucosamine‐6‐ phosphate of (2VF5) E.coli and COVID‐19 protease. The results recommended that the (NTMCo), (NTMNi), (NTMCu) and (NTMZn) complexes showed the highest inhibitory activity compared to the other NTM ligands as antimicrobial and breast cancer candidates. Furthermore, in‐vitro anti‐bacterial, anti‐fungal, cytotoxic and anti‐oxidant performances for the selected ligand as well as its chelates were studied. All metal chelates presented superiority, proceeding free organic ligand ineffective management, definitely NTMCu complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batch and transport experiments were used to investigate the remediation of loamy sand soil contaminated with Cr(VI) using zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) stabilized by carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-nZVI). The effect of pH, ionic strength (IS), and flow rate on the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) were investigated under equilibrium (uniform transport) and non-equilibrium (two-site sorption) transport using the Hydrus-1D model. The overall removal efficiency ranged from 70 to over 90% based on the chemical characteristics of the CMC-nZVI suspension and the transport conditions. The concentration and pH of the CMC-nZVI suspension had the most significant effect on the removal efficiency and transport of Cr(VI) in the soil. The average removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was increased from 24.1 to 75.5% when the concentration of CMC-nZVI nanoparticles was increased from 10 to 250 mg L−1, mainly because of the increased total surface area at a larger particle concentration. Batch experiments showed that the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was much larger under acidic conditions. The average removal efficiency of Cr(VI) reached 90.1 and 60.5% at pH 5 and 7, respectively. The two-site sorption model described (r2 = 0.96–0.98) the transport of Cr(VI) in soil quite well as compared to the uniform transport model (r2 = 0.81–0.98). The average retardation of Cr(VI) was 3.51 and 1.61 at pH 5 and 7, respectively, indicating earlier arrival for the breakthrough curves and a shorter time to reach maximum relative concentration at lower pH. The methodology presented in this study, combining column experiment and modeling transport using the Hydrus-1D model, successfully assessed the removal of Cr(VI) from polluted soils, offering innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly remediation methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the present study was to produce metal complexes of H4DAP ligand (N,N'-((pyridine-2,6-diylbis(azanediyl))bis(carbonothioyl))dibenzamide) derived from 2,6-diaminopyridine and benzoyl isothiocyanate with either ML or M2L stoichiometry. There are three distinct coordination complexes obtained with the formulas [Co(H2DAP)]·H2O, [Ni2(H2DAP)Cl2(H2O)2]·H2O, and [Cu(H4DAP)Cl2]·3H2O. The confirmation of the structures of all derivatives was achieved through the utilization of several analytical techniques, including FT-IR, UV–Vis, NMR, GC–MS, PXRD, SEM, TEM analysis, and QM calculations. Aiming to analyze various noncovalent interactions, topological methods such as QTAIM, NCI, ELF, and LOL were performed. Furthermore, the capacity of metal–ligand binding was examined by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. An in vitro investigation showed that the viability of MDA-MB-231 and HepG-2 cells was lower when exposed to the manufactured Cu2+ complex, in comparison to the normal cis-platin medication. The compounds were further evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity. The Ni2+ complex has shown promising activity against all tested pathogens, comparable to the reference drugs Gentamycin and Ketoconazole. Furthermore, a computational docking investigation was conducted to further examine the orientation, interaction, and conformation of the recently created compounds on the active site of the Bcl-2 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific impact and novelty of the present work come from comparing the properties of analcime nanoparticles synthesized in the absence of polyethylene glycol 400 (abbreviated as AF) and in the presence of different volumes (3 mL (abbreviated as A3), 6 mL (abbreviated as A6), and 9 mL (abbreviated as A9)) of polyethylene glycol 400 as an organic structure template. The average crystallite size of the AF, A3, A6, and A9 samples is 150.83, 75.22, 47.64, and 87.58 nm, respectively. The BET surface area of the AF, A3, A6, and A9 samples is 17.61, 28.13, 58.24, and 23.77 m2/g, respectively. The FE-SEM images displayed that the A3 and A6 samples display a combination of spherical and polyhedral forms with mean diameters of 13.46 and 8.79 μm, respectively. The AF and A9 samples exhibit polyhedral forms with mean diameters of 20.36 and 19.03 μm, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AF, A3, A6, and A9 samples towards Zn(II) ions is 83.68, 115.61, 151.52, and 105.71 mg/g, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AF, A3, A6, and A9 samples towards Cd(II) ions is 59.95, 105.59, 134.23, and 93.19 mg/g, respectively. The removal of Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions by the AF, A3, A6, and A9 samples is chemical, spontaneous, and follows the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The synthesized adsorbents were regenerated using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt dihydrate solution and have the ability to be used several times without significantly affecting their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead poses significant health risks to humans, including neurological and developmental impairments, particularly in children. Additionally, lead pollution in the environment can contaminate soil, water, and air, endangering wildlife and ecosystems. Therefore, this study reports the straightforward fabrication of Na2Ca2Si3O9/Ca8Si5O18 nanostructures (NaCaSilicate) utilizing a sol-gel technique. Additionally, the produced nanostructures underwent further modification with chitosan (CS@NaCaSilicate) and chitosan crosslinked with terephthalaldehyde (CCS@NaCaSilicate), resulting in new nanocomposite materials. These samples were developed to efficiently extract Pb(II) ions from aqueous media through complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity for Pb(II) ions by the NaCaSilicate, CS@NaCaSilicate, and CCS@NaCaSilicate samples is 185.53, 245.70, and 359.71 mg/g, respectively. The uptake of Pb(II) ions was characterized as spontaneous, exothermic, and chemical, with the best description provided by the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, a 9 M hydrochloric acid solution effectively eliminated Pb(II) ions from the synthesized samples, attaining a desorption efficacy surpassing 99%. Additionally, the fabricated samples exhibited efficient reusability across five successive cycles of adsorption and desorption for capturing Pb(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostomatean ciliates inhabit a wide range of aquatic environments and serve as a trophic link in food webs. However, the biodiversity and molecular phylogeny of the Prostomatea, especially the order Prostomatida, is poorly known owing to undersampling and the paucity of molecular data. Here, three prostomatid ciliates, Platina marina gen. nov. sp. nov. Parametacystis pulchra gen. nov. sp. nov. and Apsiktrata gracilis , were studied based on morphological data and small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene sequences. The two new genera show a close relationship with the class Plagiopylea but a distant relationship with Metacystis , which bears a strong morphological similarity to the two new genera. The simplified oral ciliature can be regarded as a synapomorphy of the two new genera. The SSU rRNA gene of a representative of the family Apsiktratidae was sequenced for the first time. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses suggest that Apsiktratidae might be more closely related to Prorodontida than to Prostomatida, and the oral basket might be more phylogenetically informative than the brosse in distinguishing Prorodontida and Prostomatida. Supplementation with rare taxa reveals a close association between the Prostomatida and Trimyemidae. The putative secondary structure of the SSU rRNA V9 region suggests a sister relationship between the order Prostomatida and the class Plagiopylea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostomatean ciliates play important roles in the flow of material and energy in aquatic microbial food webs, and thus have attracted wide attention for over a century. Their taxonomy and systematics are, however, still poorly understood because of their relatively few taxonomically informative morphological characters. In this study, two new prostomateans, Lagynus binucleatus sp. n. and Foissnerophrys alveolata gen. n., sp. n., collected from a freshwater pool and the intertidal zone of a sandy beach, respectively, in Qingdao, China, are investigated using living observation, protargol staining, and SSU rRNA gene sequencing methods. The genus Lagynus is redefined, and the new species L. binucleatus sp. n. is established based on significant morphological differences with similar forms. Furthermore, a new genus, Foissnerophrys gen. n., is established based on a combination of morphological and molecular data with F. alveaolata sp. n. the type species by monotypy. The identities of intracellular prokaryotes of these two new species are discussed based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data and newly obtained 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Objective: Bacterial mediated tannin acyl-hydrolase production was investigated Bacillus subtilis KMS2-2 in this study. Tannin acyl-hydrolase used as catalysts in the production of glucose and gallic acid. Also, it has potential application in beverage and food processing. Methods: This bacterial TAH enzyme was purified by a single methods approach consisting of size exclusion chromatography (sephadex G-100) and characterization of purified enzyme using different methods followed. Result: The molecular mass of purified TAH was determined as (~43 kDa) on 12% (PAGE) and it was confirmed by (MALDI-TOF/MS). Characterization of purified tannin acyl-hydrolase by (HPLC) confirmed that gallic acid was formed as a by-product during hydrolysis of tannic acid as a substrate and (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed the functional groups such as O–H, C-O and C–C. The purified tannin acyl-hydrolase retained the enzyme activity upto 80% under the conditions at 50 °C and pH 6.0 after 60 min incubation. The TAH comprises a typical secondary structure at pH 6.0 and contains α-(16.8%), β-(45.1%), and Turns (38.4%). Also, thermodynamics parameters and different additives like inhibitors, chelators, and metal ions were studied on the tannin acyl hydrolase. Further, the purified TAH enzyme has no cytotoxicity on the vero cell line as well as rat model study. Conclusion: From this experiment, the B. subtilis KMS2-2 would provide a possible resource for more efficient tannin-acyl hydrolase production and can be used for various industrial purposes, in particular food, feed, pharmaceutical industry.

Objectives: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a member of the Arecaceae family is grown on large areas in the world with varying climatic and soil conditions. However, date palm productivity is severely being affected by ongoing climate changes. Identifying suitable production areas for date palm under changing climatic conditions could help to sustain its production. The objective of the current study was to predict the range expansion/contraction in the production areas of date palm in a semi-arid region. Methods: CLIMEX model was used to estimate the expected expansion/contraction in the potential distribution areas of date palm under current and future climatic conditions. Two climate change scenarios [(CCSs) i.e., A1B and A2] were used and production suitability was predicted for three timespans [i.e., 2030 (early-century), 2050 (mid-century) and 2100 (late century)]. Results: The model estimated significant suitable area (71.21%) for date palm cultivation under current climatic conditions. Climate change seemed to have no impact on production areas until early-century. However, range contraction (8 and 10% decline under A1B and A2 scenarios, respectively) in the suitable areas was predicted for mid-century. Nonetheless, severe range contraction (27.98 and 33% decline under A1B and A2 scenarios, respectively) was predicted in the production areas for late-century. Most of the climatically suitable areas during early-century became unsuitable during late-century. Moreover, the model predicted northward shift in the production areas for date palm. The range contraction was higher under A2 climate change scenario due to higher warming trend compared to A1B scenario. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that plenty of areas are suitable for date palm cultivation. Thus, date palm cultivation could be increased in these areas for augmenting the production. Climate warming will result in the range shifts; thus, cultivation of future orchards should be planned in the most suitable areas in order to avoid the negative consequences of climate change on date palm production in the country.

Two oxytrichid ciliates collected from China, Oxytricha lithofera Foissner, 2016 and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma (Blatterer and Foissner, 1990) Berger, 1999 were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The Chinese population of O. lithofera shares highly distinctive features with the type population, e.g., lithosomes, abutting macronuclear nodules, straight undulating membranes, and long dorsal bristles. The morphology and morphogenesis of our new isolate of R. haematoplasma corresponds well with the type population. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of both species were obtained, and the molecular phylogeny of the genera Oxytricha Bory de Saint-Vincent in Lamouroux et al., 1824 and Rubrioxytricha Berger, 1999 was analyzed. In addition, we found that the Guangzhou population of R. haematoplasma described by Chen et al. (2015) can be distinguished from the type population and our isolate by the reddish-brown cortical granules (vs. lemon yellowish to greenish) and mitochondria-like granules present (vs. absent), as well as the slightly red cytoplasm (vs. slightly orange) and the marine or brackish water habitat (vs. freshwater). In addition, a 20-bp divergence in their 18S rRNA gene sequences indicates that they are not conspecific. Thus, we establish a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, for R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015).

Salinity is a major threat to agricultural productivity worldwide. The selection and evaluation of crop varieties that can tolerate salt stress are the main components for the rehabilitation of salt-degraded marginal soils. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate salinity tolerance potential, growth performance, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N), intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), harvest index, and yield stability attributes in six barley genotypes (113/1B, 59/3A, N1-10, N1-29, Barjouj, Alanda01) at three salinity levels (0, 7, and 14 dS m−1). The number of spikes m−2 was highest in Alanda01 (620.8) while the lowest (556.2) was exhibited by Barjouj. Alanda01 produced the highest grain yield (3.96 t ha−1), while the lowest yield was obtained in 59/3A (2.31 t ha−1). Genotypes 113/1B, Barjouj, and Alanda01 demonstrate the highest negative δ13C values (−27.10‰, −26.49‰, −26.45‰), while the lowest values were obtained in N1-29 (−21.63‰) under salt stress. The δ15N was increased (4.93‰ and 4.59‰) after 7 and 14 dS m−1 as compared to control (3.12‰). The iWUE was higher in N1-29 (144.5) and N1-10 (131.8), while lowest in Barjouj (81.4). Grain protein contents were higher in 113/1B and Barjouj than other genotypes. We concluded that salt tolerant barley genotypes can be cultivated in saline marginal soils for food and nutrition security and can help in the rehabilitation of marginal lands.