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Scanning microscopic imaging has become a valuable research tool in micromorphology with improved techniques playing an important role in analysing the ultrastructure of leaf specimens. The foliar epidermal anatomy of 25 selected poisonous plants with special emphasis on stomata and trichomes was reported using microscopic techniques, for instance, light micrographs (LMs) and scanning micrographs (SEMs). This study aimed to investigate micromorphologies of studied species that are helpful for the identification of poisonous plants. Plants were collected, pressed, dried, identified and then analysed for microscopic study. For making microscopic slides, 1 or 2 leaves were taken in a test tube and dipped in 30% nitric acid and 70% lactic acid for few minutes, and then placed on petri plates for separating the epidermis. Numerous quantitative and qualitative foliar anatomical features of adaxial and abaxial surfaces, including epidermal cell shapes, stomata size, subsidiary cell size, the pattern of the anticlinal wall, the morphology of the stomatal complex and trichome diversity, were examined. A small number of the considered species had anomocytic and anisocytic stomata; a few species had paracytic stomata, for instance, Ricinus communis, Euphorbia royleana, Buxus pilosula and Sorghum halepense; and only Ipomoea carnea had cyclocytic stomata in the studied taxa. The epidermal cells of the analysed species were irregular, while some exhibited polygonal, wavy, tetragonal and elongated cell morphologies. Overall, this study emphasises the significance of foliar micromorphology analysis as a valuable resource for identifying potentially poisonous plants and demonstrates its contribution to maintaining public welfare, thereby benefitting public health and safety.

An informal group of scientists from multiple nations formed the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG), in which experts work together for the development of taxonomy of angiosperms. The group took into account all new information about diverse plant species using a high steering phylogenetic investigation. The APG has developed four classification systems from 1998 through 2003 and 2009 up until 2016. Since, the previously classified angiosperm species and their wild relatives were not fully based on monophyletic grouping, the classification has a lot of shortcoming and faults. According to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, the Phyllanthaceae of order Malpighiales is most important with Euphorbiaceae sensu lato as a pantropical family comprised of hundreds of genera and thousands of species. It has several physical characteristics which are the same as Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto. The most important characteristics include unisexual flowers and a syncarpous ovary. Further, the flowers have an axile-apical placentation without pistillode (rudimentary pistil). In the Middle East region, the critical taxonomic review of six important genera from 10 taxa of sub-families Phyllanthaceae and Euphorbiaceae were studied for various characteristics using the latest nomenclature, type citation, and keys for each genus and species. Euphorbia are very rich in natural plant products which have an incredible chemical composition and functional diversity. Compounds were found highly significant and have been the subject of extensive research globally. Further, the genetic composition of Euphorbia is diverse, maturing in various growth forms, cyathial features, and habitats. The molecular characterization of the family Euphorbiaceae also showed a diverse species composition. The members of the family Euphorbiaceae exhibit a palisadal exotegmen with cellular bundles in association with vascular bundles on inner integument as synapomorphies for several major clades. Within current studies on phylogeny and classification of Euphorbia subg. Esula are burning topics comprised of diverse species that make the genus most significant in the kingdom plantae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present study includes twelve species that represent the Ficus genus, namely; aspera, carica, tinctoria subsp. gibbosa, hirta, hispida, neriifolia, palmata, pumila, racemosa, septica, sur, and sycomorus, belonging to the Moraceae family. The species samples were collected from various locations in Egypt. The study focused on the anatomical and molecular characteristics of mature foliage leaves. Since the identification and classification of taxa are highly dependent on the anatomical features of leaves, the anatomical characteristics were recorded in the form of a comparison between the examined plants in the data matrix. This study aims to contribute to the identification of the studied species based on the anatomical details of the matured leaves. Anatomical characterization includes the variations in upper and lower epidermal layers that are covered by a thin or thick cuticle; the number of palisade and spongy layers; crystals; secretory elements; lithocysts; the midrib zone has parenchyma associated with mechanical tissue, vascular system, and investigation of trichomes; on the other hand, in the current study, the phylogenetic analysis was conducted by using the ITS and 5.8 S sequences. From the analysis of all the available data, it could be stated that there is an overall agreement with the anatomical character dendrogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is one of the vital and quickly developing areas and has several uses in various commercial zones. Among the various types of metal oxide-based nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are frequently used because of their effective properties. The ZnO nanocomposites are risk-free and biodegradable biopolymers, and they are widely being applied in the biomedical and therapeutics fields. In the current study, the biochar-zinc oxide (MB-ZnO) nanocomposites were prepared using a solvent-free ball-milling technique. The prepared MB-ZnO nanocomposites were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet–visible (UV) spectroscopy. The MB-ZnO particles were measured as 43 nm via the X-ray line broadening technique by applying the Scherrer equation at the highest peak of 36.36°. The FTIR spectroscope results confirmed MB-ZnO's formation. The band gap energy gap values of the MB-ZnO nanocomposites were calculated as 2.77 eV by using UV–Vis spectra. The MB-ZnO nanocomposites were tested in various in vitro biological assays, including biocompatibility assays against the macrophages and RBCs and the enzymes' inhibition potential assay against the protein kinase, alpha-amylase, cytotoxicity assays of the leishmanial parasites, anti-inflammatory activity, antifungal activity, and antioxidant activities. The maximum TAC (30.09%), TRP (36.29%), and DPPH radicals' scavenging potential (49.19%) were determined at the maximum dose of 200 µg/mL. Similarly, the maximum activity at the highest dose for the anti-inflammatory (76%), at 1000 μg/mL, alpha-amylase inhibition potential (45%), at 1000 μg/mL, antileishmanial activity (68%), at 100 μg/mL, and antifungal activity (73 ± 2.1%), at 19 mg/mL, was perceived, respectively. It did not cause any potential harm during the biocompatibility and cytotoxic assay and performed better during the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant assay. MB-ZnO caused moderate enzyme inhibition and was more effective against pathogenic fungus. The results of the current study indicated that MB-ZnO nanocomposites could be applied as effective catalysts in various processes. Moreover, this research provides valuable and the latest information to the readers and researchers working on biopolymers and nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the main pulse crops of Pakistan. The yield of chickpea is affected by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. Due to their environmentally friendly nature, different nanoparticles are being synthesized and applied to economically important crops. In the present study, Trichoderma harzianum has been used as a stabilizing and reducing agent for the mycosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Before their application to control Fusarium wilt of chickpea, synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the average size (13 nm) of ZnO NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated their spherical structure, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) confirmed the oxide formation of ZnO NPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) described the size and shape of nanoparticles, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy displayed the presence of reducing and stabilizing chemical compounds (alcohol, carboxylic acid, amines, and alkyl halide). Successfully characterized ZnO NPs exhibited significant mycelial growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum, in vitro. In a greenhouse pot experiment, the priming of chickpea seeds with ZnO NPs significantly increased the antioxidant activity of germinated plants and they displayed 90% less disease incidence than the control. Seed priming with ZnO NPs helped plants to accumulate higher quantities of sugars, phenol, total proteins, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to create resistance against wilt pathogen. These nanofungicides were produced in powder form and they can easily be transferred and used in the field to control Fusarium wilt of chickpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Petiole bio imaging technique useful in the recognition of Deserted Amaranthaceous taxa. • Petiole sectioning helpful in the taxonomic identification and their evolutionary implications. • Statistical tools via UPGMA and PCA Clustering using micromorphological petiole traits. This paper described the microstructural features of the histological vasculature of family Amaranthaceae. The petiole anatomy of 14 Amaranthaceous species categorized into nine genera, including Amaranthus and Chenopodium (3 species each), Alternanthera (2 species), and Aerva, Achyranthes, Atriplex, Bassia, Digera, and Gomphrena (one species each). Amaranthaceous species were collected from different localities of the Thal desert were examined using a microscopic imaging technique. Petiole transverse segments were cut with a Shandon Microtome to prepare slides. The distinguishing features of taxonomic significance include petiole outline, vascular bundle shape, variation in the number of vascular bundles, petiole length and width, trichomes, layers of collenchyma, and the shape of parenchyma. Petiole shapes were observed as cordate, slender, spherical, and ovoid. Quantitative measurements were taken to analyze the data statistically through SPSS software. Amaranthus retroflexus had a petiole of a maximum length of 760 µm and a minimum in Amaranthus viridis 170 µm. The highest number of vascular bundles, 11 were observed in Alternanthera sessilis. The polygonal-shaped parenchyma and the annular type of collenchymatous cells were prominent. A maximum of 18 collenchyma layers were present in Achyranthes aspera and a minimum of 9 layers in Amaranthus graecizans. Trichomes were examined in six species with bulged pointed ends, and broad glandular bases. Epidermis cells also show great variation, with an irregular shape being dominant. Statistic UPGMA dendrogram and PCA clustering of petiole traits show that histological sections can be utilized to botanical identify Amaranthaceous species and play an important role in future taxonomic and phylogenic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]