Search

Abstract Pathogenic fungi employ numerous strategies to colonize plants, infect them, reduce crop yield and quality, and cause significant losses in agricultural production. The increasing use of chemical pesticides has led to various ecological and environmental issues, including the emergence of resistant weeds, soil compaction, and water pollution, all negatively impacting agricultural sustainability. Additionally, the extensive development of synthetic fungicides has adverse effects on animal and human health, prompting the exploration of alternative approaches and green strategies for phytopathogen control. Microorganisms living in sponges represent a promising source of novel bioactive secondary metabolites, potentially useful in developing new nematicidal and antimicrobial agents. This study focuses on extracting bioactive compounds from endosymbiotic bacteria associated with the marine sponge Hyrtios erect sp. (collected from NIOF Station, Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt) using various organic solvents. Bacillus sp. was isolated and identified through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The biocidal activity of Bacillus gotheilii MSB1 extracts was screened against plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. The n-butanol extract showed significant potential as a biological fungicide against Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum. Both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited negative impacts against the plant pathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and Ralstonia solanacearum, whereas the n-butanol extract had a positive effect. Regarding nematicidal activity, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts demonstrated in-vitro activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, which causes serious vegetable crop diseases, but the n-hexane extract showed no positive effects. The findings suggest that bioactive compounds from endosymbiotic bacteria associated with marine sponges, particularly B. gotheilii MSB1, hold significant potential as alternative biological control agents against plant pathogens. The n-butanol extract, in particular, displayed promising biocidal activities against various plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. These results support further exploration and development of such bioactive compounds as sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fungicides in agricultural practices.

Abstract The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), is a significant pest threatening crops like maize across Africa, necessitating sustainable pest management alternatives. This study evaluates the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens as a biological control agent against FAW egg masses in Egypt under laboratory and semi-field conditions. FAW larvae were initially collected from infested maize fields and reared on castor-oil plant leaves. Meanwhile, T. evanescens was propagated using Sitotroga cerealella eggs as hosts. The host eggs, aged 18 to 24 h, were sterilized with UV light to prevent host development while maintaining suitability for parasitism. Using custom-designed parasitoid incubators and hemisphere clip-cages, experiments focused on various egg mass configurations, assessing the effects of scales and layering. Laboratory conditions were controlled at 25 ± 2ºC and 55 ± 5% relative humidity, while semi-field trials used large cages in maize fields to approximate natural conditions. The results showed that in laboratory settings, parasitism rates averaged 5.96%, 2.00%, and 1.56% for non-, average-, and dense-scale egg masses, respectively. For egg masses with varying layers, parasitism rates were 5.24% for single-layer, 3.09% for double-layer, and 1.18% for ple-layer, regardless of scale presence. In semi-field conditions, parasitism rates were 1.01% for single-layer, 1.13% for double-layer, and 0.59% for triple-layer egg masses. Correspondingly, parasitism rates for non-, average-, and dense-scale eggs were 1.85%, 0.60% and 0.27%. The study concludes that T. evanescens shows promise for integrated pest management programs; however, its effectiveness is constrained by physical and environmental variables. Optimizing the timing of parasitoid releases and selecting robust strains could enhance the effectiveness of biological control, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides in Egypt.

Abdelrahman Elsayed,1 Basant Elsayed,1 Mohamed Elmarasi,1 Ahmed Adel Elsabagh,1 Engy Elsayed,2 Ibrahim Elmakaty,1 Mohamed Yassin2,3 1Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 2College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 3Hematology Section, National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Ibrahim Elmakaty; Mohamed Yassin, Email ie1703006@qu.edu.qa; yassinmoha@gmail.comAbstract: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a well-established procedure that has become a therapeutic mainstay for various hematological conditions. Prolonged thrombocytopenia following HCT is associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, yet no universally recognized treatment protocol exists for such a complication. First-generation thrombopoietin receptor (TpoR) agonists as well as second-generation agents are known for their role in enhancing platelet production, and their use is expanding across various thrombocytopenic conditions. Therefore, we conducted this comprehensive review of the literature to provide an updated evaluation of the use of TpoR agonists and explore their efficacy and safety in the treatment of extended post-HCT thrombocytopenia. The literature search was conducted using PubMed database from 1996 through December 2023, using a predefined strategy with medical subject headings terms. We identified 64 reports on the utility of TpoR agonists, five of them were randomized controlled trials and the rest were retrospective observational studies and case series, with a total number of 1730 patients. Second-generation TpoR agonists appear more convenient than subcutaneous recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTpo) as they can be orally administered and exhibit similar efficacy in platelet recovery, as indicated by recent trial results. Among these agents, avatrombopag, unlike eltrombopag, does not require any dietary restrictions, which could be more favorable for patients. However, eltrombopag remains the most extensively studied agent. TpoR agonists had promising effects in the treatment of post-HCT thrombocytopenia with a good safety profile so far, highlighting the potential benefit of their use.Keywords: hematopoietic cell transplantation, thrombocytopenia, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, recombinant human thrombopoietin, romiplostim, eltrombopag

Abstract Background The insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and growth hormone (GH) genes have been identified as major regulators of milk yield and composition, and reproductive performance in cattle. Genetic variations/polymorphism in these genes have been found to influence milk production, yield and quality. This investigation aimed to explore the association between IGF-I and GH polymorphisms and milk yield and composition, and reproductive performance in a herd consisting of 1000 Holstein–Friesian (HF) dairy cattle from El-Alamia farm. The experimental animals were 76 ± 7.25 months in age, with an average live weight of 750 ± 50.49 kg, and raised under the same conditions of feeding and weather. The studied animals were divided into three categories; high producers (n = 280), medium producers (n = 318) and low producers (n = 402). Results The digestion of 249 bp for IGF-I-SnaBI using the Restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) technique yielded two alleles; T (0.59) and C (0.41) and three genotypes; TT (0.52), TC (0.39) and CC (0.09) and this agrees with the results of DNA/gene sequencing technique. The sequencing analysis of the IGF-I gene revealed polymorphism in position 472 (C > T). Nucleotide sequencing of the amplified fragment of the IGF-I gene of different genotypes was done and submitted to the NCBI GenBank with Accession no. MH156812.1 and MH156811.1. While the digestion of 432 bp for GH-AluI using the RFLP technique yielded two alleles; A (0.81) and G (0.19) and two genotypes; AA (0.77) and AG (0.23) and this agrees with the results of DNA/gene sequencing technique. The sequencing analysis of the GH gene revealed polymorphism in the position 1758 C > G and in turn led to changes in amino acid sequence as Alanine for (A) compared to Glycine for (G). Nucleotide sequencing of the amplified fragment of the GH gene was done and submitted to the NCBI GenBank with Accession no. MH156810.1. The results of this study demonstrate the effects of variants of the GH-IGF-I somatotrophic axis on milk production and composition traits in commercial HF cattle. The greatest values of milk yield and reproductive performance were observed on IGF-I-SnaBI-TC and GH-AluI-AG genotypes. While the greatest % fat and % protein values were observed on IGF-I-SnaBI-CC and GH-AluI-AA genotyped individuals. Conclusion The genetic variation of the studied genes can be utilized in selecting animals with superior milk yield, composition and reproductive performance in Holstein–Friesian Dairy Cattle under subtropical conditions.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) are emerging contaminants of soils due to their wide presence in agricultural and industrial products. Thus, the present study aimed to integrate morpho-physiological, ionic homeostasis, and defense- and antioxidant-related genes in the response of tomato plants to BPA or PNP stress, an area of research that has been scarcely studied. In this work, increasing the levels of BPA and PNP in the soil intensified their drastic effects on the biomass and photosynthetic pigments of tomato plants. Moreover, BPA and PNP induced osmotic stress on tomato plants by reducing soluble sugars and soluble proteins relative to control. The soil contamination with BPA and PNP treatments caused a decline in the levels of macro- and micro-elements in the foliar tissues of tomatoes while simultaneously increasing the contents of non-essential micronutrients. The Fourier transform infrared analysis of the active components in tomato leaves revealed that BPA influenced the presence of certain functional groups, resulting in the absence of some functional groups, while on PNP treatment, there was a shift observed in certain functional groups compared to the control. At the molecular level, BPA and PNP induced an increase in the gene expression of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, with the exception of POD gene expression under BPA stress. The expression of the thaumatin-like protein gene increased at the highest level of PNP and a moderate level of BPA without any significant effect of both pollutants on the expression of the tubulin (TUB) gene. The comprehensive analysis of biochemical responses in tomato plants subjected to BPA and PNP stress illustrates valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tolerance to these pollutants.

Abstract The growth and productivity of crop plants are negatively affected by salinity-induced ionic and oxidative stresses. This study aimed to provide insight into the interaction of NaCl-induced salinity with Azolla aqueous extract (AAE) regarding growth, antioxidant balance, and stress-responsive genes expression in wheat seedlings. In a pot experiment, wheat kernels were primed for 21 h with either deionized water or 0.1% AAE. Water-primed seedlings received either tap water, 250 mM NaCl, AAE spray, or AAE spray + NaCl. The AAE-primed seedlings received either tap water or 250 mM NaCl. Salinity lowered growth rate, chlorophyll level, and protein and amino acids pool. However, carotenoids, stress indicators (EL, MDA, and H2O2), osmomodulators (sugars, and proline), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, APX, and PPO), and the expression of some stress-responsive genes (POD, PPO and PAL, PCS, and TLP) were significantly increased. However, administering AAE contributed to increased growth, balanced leaf pigments and assimilation efficacy, diminished stress indicators, rebalanced osmomodulators and antioxidant enzymes, and down-regulation of stress-induced genes in NaCl-stressed plants, with priming surpassing spray in most cases. In conclusion, AAE can be used as a green approach for sustaining regular growth and metabolism and remodelling the physio-chemical status of wheat seedlings thriving in salt-affected soils.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding Nano-Selenium (NSe) and Nano-clay (NC) as feed supplements on European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Two separate experiments were conducted, one with NC and the other with NSe. Each experiment consisted of four sub-groups with varying concentrations of NC or NSe. The expression levels of five immune-related genes (TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12) were measured using Real-time Quantitative PCR (Rt-PCR) Assay. The results showed an increase in the expression of interleukins (IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and TNF-β) after exposure to NC and NSe. TNF-α gene expression was significantly higher with both 1 mg and 10 mg concentrations of NC and NSe. TNF-β gene expression was highest with the 5 mg concentration of NC. The concentrations of 1 mg and 10 mg for NC, and 1 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg for NSe, led to the highest (p

ABSTRACTMalathion and chlorpyrifos are pesticides used excessively for agricultural purposes in Egypt to fight insects. The presence of such toxic compounds in watercourses exhibits harmful threats to the environment. The technology of bio-removal (or biodegradation) is nowadays the alternate method for environmental curing. The present study aimed to isolate and identify microbial strains (fungi and bacteria) with strong capabilities of biodegrading such pesticides, and to evaluate their abilities to uptake both pesticides at the same time. Agricultural drainage water samples were collected from four different drains in Egypt, named; El-Rahawi drain, Giza Governorate; Sabal drain, Minufiya Governorate; Ketshiner drain, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate and Genag drain, Gharbiya Governorate. Water quality studies were carried out for water samples including organophosphorus (OP) pesticide contamination using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Malathion and chlorpyrifos was detected in slightly high concentration in Genag drain. So, Genag drainage water was used as enrichment to isolate the microorganisms having pesticide-biodegrading abilities. A total of four fungal and two bacterial strains were isolated, all of which showed a high ability to biodegrade one or both of the pesticides. The identification of the fungal isolates was carried out by 18S rRNA sequence analysis as Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus flavus. The bacterial isolates were identified as Acinetobacter boumnnii and Pseudomonas putida using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The results of the biodegradation – capabilities experiments indicated the promising efficiency of A. niger, P. chrysogenum and P. putida where they could remove 90.5%, 95% and 64.4% of malathion and 85.8%, 85% and 88.2% of chlorpyrifos, respectively. Also, they exhibited potential abilities in biodegrading both pesticides at once, so, we recommend the use of such microorganisms as tools for bioremediation of agricultural drainage water contaminated with pesticides.

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a widely used food ingredient, although excessive concentrations can pose potential health risks. In the present study, we evaluated the deterioration effects of NaNO2 additives on hematology, metabolic profile, liver function, and kidney function of male Wistar rats. We further explored the therapeutic potential of supplementation with S. costus root ethanolic extract (SCREE) to improve NaNO2-induced hepatorenal toxicity. In this regard, 65 adult male rats were divided into eight groups; Group 1: control, Groups 2, 3, and 4 received SCREE in 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively, Group 5: NaNO2 (6.5 mg/kg body weight), Groups 6, 7 and 8 received NaNO2 (6.5 mg/kg body weight) in combination with SCREE (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight), respectively. Our results revealed that the NaNO2-treated group shows a significant change in deterioration in body and organ weights, hematological parameters, lipid profile, and hepatorenal dysfunction, as well as immunohistochemical and histopathological alterations. Furthermore, the NaNO2-treated group demonstrated a considerable increase in the expression of TNF-α cytokine and tumor suppressor gene P53 in the kidney and liver, while a significant reduction was detected in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and the apoptosis suppressor gene BCL-2, compared to the control group. Interestingly, SCREE administration demonstrated the ability to significantly alleviate the toxic effects of NaNO2 and improve liver function in a dose-dependent manner, including hematological parameters, lipid profile, and modulation of histopathological architecture. Additionally, SCREE exhibited the ability to modulate the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic genes in the liver and kidney. The phytochemical analysis revealed a wide set of primary metabolites in SCREE, including phenolics, flavonoids, vitamins, alkaloids, saponins and tannins, while the untargeted UPLC/T-TOF–MS/MS analysis identified 183 metabolites in both positive and negative ionization modes. Together, our findings establish the potential of SCREE in mitigating the toxic effects of NaNO2 by modulating metabolic, inflammatory, and apoptosis. Together, this study underscores the promise of SCREE as a potential natural food detoxifying additive to counteract the harmful impacts of sodium nitrite.

Among the range of severe plant diseases, bacterial soft rot caused by Erwinia carotovora is a significant threat to crops. This study aimed to examine the varying response patterns of distinct potato cultivars to the influence of E. carotovora. Furthermore, it seeks to highlight the potential role of salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in stimulating the antioxidant defence system. We collected eight bacterial isolates from diseased and rotted tubers which were morphologically and physiologically identified as E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to analyse the antioxidant responses of three different potato cultivars (Diamont, Kara, and Karros) at various time intervals (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h) after bacterial infection (hpi). We assessed the extent of disease damage by applying a foliar spray of 0.9 mM salicylic acid (SA) and 70 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Inoculating with Ecc led to an increase in total phenolic levels, as well as the activities and gene expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POX) as time progressed. Additionally, the application of SA and MeJA resulted in a further increase relative to the diseased treatments. The Karros cultivar, unlike the Diamont and Kara cultivars, demonstrated the highest expression levels of PAL, PPO and POX through inoculation, reflecting its higher levels of activity and resistance. Furthermore, the genetic response of potato cultivars to infection at 0 hpi varied depending on their susceptibility. The examination of the rate of PAL activity upregulation following SA or MeJA stimulation clarifies the cultivars' susceptibility over time. In conclusion, the study identified E. carotovora subsp. carotovora as the most virulent isolate causing soft rot disease in potato tubers. It further revealed that the Karros cultivar displayed superior resistance with high activities and gene expression of PAL, PPO and POX, while the cv. Diamont exhibited sensitivity. Additionally, foliar exposure to SA and MeJA induced antioxidant responses, enhancing the potato plants' resistance against Ecc pathogenesis and overall plant defence.

Salt stress poses a significant threat to global crop yield, prompting the need for understanding stress responses in crops like barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). This study investigated four barley genotypes - Giza129, Giza135, Line 1 and Line 2 - under 12 and 16 dS/m salt concentrations over a 30-day period. Results revealed a salinity-induced decrease in plant growth, particularly pronounced in Giza 129 and Giza 135. Ion analyses demonstrated distinct responses, with Giza genotypes accumulating more Na+ and less K+, leading to an increased Na+/K+ ratio, while both lines maintained K+, reducing the Na+/K+ ratio. Proline accumulation emerged as a crucial protective mechanism, evident in Line 1 and Line 2 exhibiting significantly higher proline content under salt stress compared to both Giza genotypes. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase, are markedly elevated in both lines, indicating superior salt tolerance mechanisms. This research contributes insights into barley salt tolerance, emphasizing the potential for genetic enhancement programs. Conclusively, the current study elucidated variations in salinity tolerance among new barley lines and their signaling mechanisms under salt stress. Given the global impact of salinity on crop yield, these findings hold promise for enhancing salt tolerance in barley and other crops through genetic advancements.

This research envisages a system composed of three subsystems connected in series. Each subsystem comprises three units connected in parallel. For the system to function, at least one unit per subsystem must remain operational. Unit failure is governed by an exponential distribution, while unit repair is governed by either a general distribution or a Gumbel–Hougaard family copula distribution. The primary goal of this research is to compare the overall performance of our system under these two different regimes for performing repairs. Laplace transforms and supplementary variable methods are employed in solving the system. Our metrics for evaluating system performance are the availability, reliability, mean time to failure, and cost. The second goal of this research is to showcase a strategy for reduction that enhances the overall efficiency and availability of our system.

Abstract Background Tilapia is one of the most essential farmed fishes in the world. It is a tropical and subtropical freshwater fish well adapted to warm water but sensitive to cold weather. Extreme cold weather could cause severe stress and mass mortalities in tilapia. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of cold stress on the up-regulation of antifreeze protein (AFP) genes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two treatment groups of fish were investigated (5 replicates of 15 fish for each group in fibreglass tanks/70 L each): 1) a control group; the fish were acclimated to lab conditions for two weeks and the water temperature was maintained at 25 °C during the whole experimental period with feeding on a commercial diet (30% crude protein). 2) Cold stress group; the same conditions as the control group except for the temperature. Initially, the temperature was decreased by one degree every 12 h. The fish started showing death symptoms when the water temperature reached 6–8 °C. In this stage the tissue (muscle) samples were taken from both groups. The immune response of fish exposed to cold stress was detected and characterized using Differential Display-PCR (DD-PCR). Results The results indicated that nine different up-regulation genes were detected in the cold-stressed fish compared to the control group. These genes are Integrin-alpha-2 (ITGA-2), Gap junction gamma-1 protein-like (GJC1), WD repeat-containing protein 59 isoform X2 (WDRP59), NUAK family SNF1-like kinase, G-protein coupled receptor-176 (GPR-176), Actin cytoskeleton-regulatory complex protein pan1-like (PAN-1), Whirlin protein (WHRN), Suppressor of tumorigenicity 7 protein isoform X2 (ST7P) and ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 1-like isoform X2 (ABCA1). The antifreeze gene type-II amplification using a specific PCR product of 600 bp, followed by cloning and sequencing analysis revealed that the identified gene is antifreeze type-II, with similarity ranging from 70 to 95%. The in-vitro transcribed gene induced an antifreeze protein with a molecular size of 22 kDa. The antifreeze gene, ITGA-2 and the WD repeat protein belong to the lectin family (sugar–protein). Conclusions In conclusion, under cold stress, Nile tilapia express many defence genes, an antifreeze gene consisting of one open reading frame of approximately 0.6 kbp.

Abstract Background Water deficit is one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting rice and agricultural production worldwide. In hybrid rice, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an important technique for creating high-yielding crop based on heterosis. The phytohormone kinetin (Kin) regulates cell division in plant during the early stages of grain formation, as well as flow assimilation and osmotic regulation under water stress. The present study performed to estimate the effects of irrigation intervals (irrigation each six days (I6), nine days (I9), twelve days (I12) and fifteen days (I15) against continuous flooding (CF, each three days)) and kinetin exogenously application (control, 15 mg L−1 and 30 mg L−1) on hybrid rice (L1, IR69625A; L2, G46A and R, Giza 178 R) seed production. Results Leaves traits (Chlorophyll content (CHC), relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (SC), Leaf temperature (LT) and transpiration rate (TR)), floral traits such as style length (SL) and total stigma length (TSL), in addition to root traits (i.e., root length (RL), root volume (RV), root: shoot ratio (RSR), root thickness (RT), root xylem vessels number (RXVN) and root xylem vessel area (RXVA) were evaluated and a significant enhancement in most traits was observed. Applying 30 mg L−1 kinetin significantly and positively enhanced all growth, floral and roots traits (RV and RXVA recorded the most increased values by 14.8% and 23.9%, respectively) under prolonging irrigation intervals, in comparison to non-treated plants. Conclusions Subsequently, spraying kinetin exogenously on foliar could be an alternative method to reduce the harmful influences of water deficiency during seed production in hybrid rice.

Abstract Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) are promising polymeric nanoparticles with exceptional physicochemical, antimicrobial and biological characteristics. The CNPs are preferred for a wide range of applications in the food industry, cosmetics, agriculture, medical, and pharmaceutical fields due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, eco-friendliness, and non-toxicity. In the current study, a biologically based approach was used to biofabricate CNPs using an aqueous extract of Lavendula angustifolia leaves as a reducing agent. The TEM images show that the CNPs were spherical in shape and ranged in size from 7.24 to 9.77 nm. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of several functional groups, including C–H, C−O, CONH2, NH2, C–OH and C–O–C. The crystalline nature of CNPs is demonstrated by X-ray diffraction. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that CNPs are thermally stable. The CNPs' surface is positively charged and has a Zeta potential of 10 mV. For optimising CNPs biofabrication, a face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) with 50 experiments was used. The artificial intelligence-based approach was used to analyse, validate, and predict CNPs biofabrication. The optimal conditions for maximum CNPs biofabrication were theoretically determined using the desirability function and experimentally verified. The optimal conditions that maximize CNPs biofabrication (10.11 mg/mL) were determined to be chitosan concentration 0.5%, leaves extract 75%, and initial pH 4.24. The antibiofilm activity of CNPs was evaluated in‑vitro. The results show that 1500 μg/mL of CNPs suppressed P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans biofilm formation by 91.83 ± 1.71%, 55.47 ± 2.12% and 66.4 ± 1.76%; respectively. The promising results of the current study in biofilm inhibition by necrotizing biofilm architecture, reducing its significant constituents and inhibiting microbial cell proliferation encourage their use as natural biosafe and biocompatible anti-adherent coating in antibiofouling membranes, medical bandage/tissues and food packaging materials.

Biotic and abiotic stress factors drastically limit plant growth and productivity through changing the physiological, biochemical, and cellular processes. In this study, 100 mM of lead (Pb) was used as an abiotic stress source, while Fusarium graminearum represented a biotic one on wheat plant. Compared to the control, Pb treatment and F. graminearum inoculation led to remarkable reductions in the wheat seedlings leaf area that reached 21 %, and 12.5 %, respectively. Moreover, the current results showed an enhanced activity of Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) that reached 173 % in the stressed wheat grains and seedlings, decreased mineral contents in N-3, P+3, K+, and Ca+2 in the shoot of wheat seedlings by 25, 42, 23 and 44 %; respectively, substantial increase (79 %) in the total soluble carbohydrates (TSC) and a highly significant reduction (28 %) in the total soluble proteins (TSP), compared with the non-treated control plants. On the other hand, wheat seed priming with weed extracts [i.e., Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) and Beta vulgaris L. (chard)], or chemical solutions; mainly Calcium (Ca+2) and Salicylic acid (SA) applied exogenously, resulted in a noteworthy increase in the leaf area, compared with the stress treatments. Furthermore, seed priming ameliorated the toxic effects induced by Pb and F. graminearum treatments on the photosynthetic pigments; where it significantly increased the pigments content, while the chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratio was reduced. Furthermore, priming treatments significantly increased the mineral contents (i.e., N, P, K, and Ca) and counteracted the imposed effects of stress treatments on TSC and TSP. The differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) technique was performed to identify the variations in gene expression between the different treatments of wheat plants at three intervals of 7, 14, and 21 d old. This study aimed to investigate the use of plant extracts as potentially effective and environmentally safe green bio-control agents to control the infection of wheat plant by F. graminearum, ameliorate the biotic and abiotic stresses, and compete with the currently used deleterious chemical fungicides in the wheat farms.

Although there is a growing research base on Arabic literacy development to inform our understanding of the factors that account for variability in word reading skill, the current body of research is limited by two major constraints. First, although several studies examine one or more early literacy constructs, we were able to locate only two studies that included phonological, orthographic and morphological factors together. Second, all of the studies conducted to date rely on the use of researcher-developed measures that include tasks associated with the construct(s) of interest, but that are not based on a comprehensive conceptual framework of these constructs. In this study, 188 students in grades 1-2 completed measures of phonological processing, orthographic knowledge, morphological awareness, and word reading. Results of multiple regression analyses indicate that phonological awareness, and, in particular, elision, accounted for significant variance in word reading, regardless of how word reading was measured. Morphological awareness and orthographic knowledge measures also accounted for significant variance in some word reading measures. RAN and Phonological Memory measures only contributed to some measures of word reading ability. Results are discussed in the context of the existing literature on Arabic. Implications and next steps for research are discussed.

Abstract Background Montmorillonite clay modified by organosulfur surfactants possesses high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and adsorption capacity than their unmodified form (UM), therefore they may elevate the adverse impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis. Chemical and mechanical modifications were used to innovate the organically modified nano montmorillonite (MNM). The UM was modified using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and grounded to obtain the nanoscale particle size form. The dose-response effects of the MNM supplementation to a basal diet contaminated or not with AFB1 (20 ppb) were evaluated in vitro using the gas production (GP) system. The following treatments were tested: control (basal diet without supplementations), UM diet [UM supplemented at 5000 mg /kg dry matter (DM)], and MNM diets at low (500 mg/ kg DM) and high doses (1000 mg/ kg DM). Results Results of the Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy analysis showed shifts of bands of the OH-group occurred from lower frequencies to higher frequencies in MNM, also an extra band at the lower frequency range only appeared in MNM compared to UM. Increasing the dose of the MNM resulted in linear and quadratic decreasing effects (P

Sugar beet is one of the greatest sources for producing sugar worldwide. However, a group of bacteria grows on beets during the storage process, leading to a reduction in sucrose yield. Our study focused on identifying common bacterial species that grow on beets during manufacturing and contribute to sucrose loss. The ultimate goal was to find a potential antibacterial agent from various plant extracts and oils to inhibit the growth of these harmful bacteria and reduce sucrose losses. The screening of bacterial species that grow on beet revealed that a large group of mesophilic bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus xylosus, Enterobacter amnigenus, and Aeromonas species, in addition to a dominant thermophilic species called Bacillus thermophilus, were found to be present during the manufacturing of beets. The application of 20 plant extracts and 13 different oils indicated that the extracts of Geranium gruinum, Datura stramonium, and Mentha spicata were the best antibacterials to reduce the growth of B. thermophilus with inhibition zones equal to 40, 39, and 35 mm, respectively. In contrast, the best active oils for inhibiting the growth of B. thermophilus were Mentha spicata and Ocimum bacilicum, with an inhibitory effect of 50 and 45 mm, respectively. RAPD-PCR with different primers indicated that treating sugar juice with the most effective oils against bacteria resulted in new recombinant microorganisms, confirming their roles as strong antibacterial products. The characterization of Mentha spicata and Ocimum bacilicum oils using GC/MS analysis identified cis-iso pulegone and hexadecanoic acid as the two main bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial activity. An analysis of five genes using DD-PCR that have been affected due to antibacterial activity from the highly effective oil from Mentha spicata concluded that all belonged to the family of protein defense. Our findings indicate that the application of these pure antibacterial plant extracts and oils would minimize the reduction of sucrose during sugar production.

Efficient and accurate word reading ability is critical for later reading success. As such, it is important to understand the component skills that underlie strong word reading ability. Although a growing research base points to the importance of phonological processing, morphological processing and orthographic processing for accurate and fluent word reading in Arabic, there are few studies that examine all three areas at one time to better understand their role in word reading. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the contribution of the various processes might differ across the early years when children are learning to read. 1,098 pupils in grades 1–3 participated in this study and took tests for phonological processing, morphological processing, orthographic processing, and word reading accuracy and fluency. According to the findings of regression analyses, the relative contribution of these underlying processes differed according to the method used to test word reading and the student’s grade level. Regarding accuracy, several subscales of phonological processing and two measures of orthographic processing accounted for significant differences in word reading accuracy for first graders. For second grade students, nonword repetition, elision, and all three measures of orthographic processing accounted for variance. In third grade, elision and memory for digits, word creation and morpheme identification, and letter/sound identification and orthographic fluency were significant predictors of word reading accuracy. In terms of fluency, two subscales of phonological processing, two measures of orthographic processing, and two measures of morphological processing explained significant differences in word reading fluency for first graders. For second grade students, nonword repetition, elision, RAN-digits, isolation, segmenting and all the measures of orthographic processing and word creation explained unique variance in word reading fluency. In third grade, elision, RAN-letters, RAN-digits and phoneme isolation, all measures of orthographic processing and morphological processing, explained variance in word reading fluency. Implications and future directions in research are discussed.

In recent years, stronger literacy development has emerged as a critically important issue in Arabic speaking nations. Results of international assessments indicate that most of the participating Arab countries are near the bottom of achievement levels. Additionally, recent studies indicate the prevalence rate of reading disability ranges from between 5-18%, which means that approximately one in six students may be at risk for poor reading outcomes. A necessary first step toward improving instructional programming that increases reading achievement is the development of standardized assessments that: (1) align with the construct of reading, (2) inform instructional planning, and (3) identify students potentially at-risk for poor reading outcomes. This manuscript presents the theoretical framework and a synthesis of the research that is guiding the development of the Test of Early Arabic Literacy Skills (TEALS), the first standardized measure of early literacy skills for students in grades 1 through 3. The TEALS will assess students' reading ability across four areas: (1) word reading, (2) phonological processing, (3) orthographic processing, and (4) morphological processing. There are currently no standardized measures of Arabic reading available, and this constrains our ability to better understand reading development, and to improve reading instruction.