Search

Abstract This study explored the drought resistance mechanisms of different populations of Sporobolus ioclados (Poaceae), locally known as “Sawri,” “Drabhri” and “Dhrbholi” native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. These populations were grown in conventional nursery practices at Khawaja Fareed Government College in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, and subsequently subjected to four distinct levels of drought within carefully monitored experimental settings. The experiment was conducted in a two-factorial design involving populations and drought treatments and was repeated three times. The physiological and morphological responses of S. ioclados, including plant height, number of roots, root length, flag leaf area, stomatal features, proline concentration and nitrogen content, displayed significant variability in response to the imposed drought stress. Drought resulted in increases in proline concentration and nitrogen content. The number of roots decreased, while the length and width of the stomata increased in various populations. A combination of advanced statistical techniques, such as ANOVA, PCA, HCA, and DFA, provided a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of plant adaptation and the extent of population diversity within the species. The Yazman and Nwab Wala populations exhibited the highest rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, while S. ioclados demonstrated notable drought tolerance at the T4 level of drought stress. A negative correlation was found between proline levels, nitrogen contents, and photosynthesis, suggesting that proline has a protective role in drought. The diverse adaptation strategies indicated by S. ioclados populations have revealed the potential of this species for afforestation and climate change mitigation in dry environments.

The green synthesis of nanoiron particles as a source of nutrition for crops has gained greater importance due to its multifunctional applications and easy and eco-friendly process. Deficiency of iron is a serious nutritional problem in aerobic rice production, and this problem can be solved by using green synthesised nanoiron fertiliser as a nutritional source. The aim of the present study is to prepare green leaf extracts, synthesise and characterise iron nanoparticles, and evaluate seed priming effects on germination and yield of aerobic rice. In the present study, nanoiron particles have been synthesised using leaf extract of Bidens pilosa and characterised using various instruments, viz. UV-visible spectroscopy, particle size analyzers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDS, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Further synthesised nanoiron was used as a seed priming and folair application for boosting the germination of aerobic rice.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium (RHZ) are key bio-inoculants in sustainable agriculture, known for their symbiotic relationships with plants. However, their effects on soil functions under different proportions of inorganic fertilizers are not well understood. This study, conducted during the Rabi seasons from 2019 to 2021 in alluvial soils of Punjab, India, investigates the impact of AMF and RHZ inoculation on root morphology and rhizospheric soil chemical properties in field pea (Pisum sativum L.). The findings indicate that dual inoculation with AMF and RHZ (RHZ + AMF + N50%+P50%+K100%) significantly enhances root growth and improves soil chemical properties. Despite an initial increase in pH that negatively affected micronutrient availability at 60 days after sowing (DAS), a stabilizing trend at 90 DAS was observed, leading to better availability of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn, along with higher Cation Exchange Capacity and macronutrient availability. This dual inoculation strategy is found to maximize profitability in terms of root morphology and soil chemical properties. Notably, lower root Cation Exchange Capacity compared to soil Cation Exchange Capacity may be due to factors like soil structure and root interactions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of soil parameters effectively distinguishes between treatments, showing that RHZ and AMF respond differently to various NPK proportions. For instance, treatments T3 (RHZ + N50% + P100% + K100%), T4 (RHZ + N75% + P100% + K100%), and T6 (AMF + N100% + P75% + K100%) are grouped together, while treatments T5 (AMF + N100% + P50% + K100%) and T7 (RHZ + AMF + N50% + P50% + K100%) cluster separately. This suggests that dual inoculation, especially as seen in Treatment T7, is recommended for sustained soil health and enhanced productivity.

AbstractThis field study aimed to investigate the potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to enhance various aspects of bitter gourd plant germination, growth, phytochemical composition and yield. Bitter gourd seeds were subjected to soaking in aerated solutions of ZnONPs at concentrations of 50 and 100 ppm for 24 and 48 hours, with hydro-primed seeds serving as the control group. Priming bitter gourd seeds with 100 ppm ZnONPs for 48 hours significantly improved germination, increased the number of fruits per plant, enhanced fruit density, and showed improvements in elevating the plant’s phytochemical profile. Notably, seed priming with 100 ppm ZnONPs for 48 hours resulted in a 29% increase in germination percentage. Furthermore, treatment with 100 ppm ZnONPs for 48 hours exhibited significant enhancements in key parameters such as the number of fruits per plant, fruit density, fruit length and fruit diameter, demonstrating increases of 41%, 29%, 29%, and 42.3%, respectively, compared to the control group. The application of ZnONPs at concentrations of 100 ppm for both 24 and 48 hours to bitter gourd seeds also led to substantial elevations in the plant’s phytochemical profile. Specifically, total phenolic content saw increments of 12% and 27%, total flavonoid content saw increments of 16% and 30%, and total charantin content saw increments of 12% and 29%, respectively, compared to the hydro-priming treatment. The study underscores the operational benefits of employing ZnONPs for seed priming, which positively influences germination, growth, phytochemical composition, and ultimately the yield of bitter gourd plants.

The critical period of crop-weed competition (CPCWC) varies by cultivars, management strategies, cropping seasons, soil, and climate. Hence, a study was done to assess CPCWC in green gram under different cropping seasons and its impact on nutrient mining, agro-physiological characteristics, and productivity of green gram during the summer and rainy seasons. The experiment comprised of 12 treatments (weed interference until 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 days after sowing (DAS) and crop maturity, weed-free until 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 DAS and crop maturity). The treatments were placed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results revealed that, summer green gram outperformed rainy green gram by boosting nutrient uptake, growth and productivity. Weed interference up to crop harvest lowered the green gram dry matter accumulation by 34.11 %, seed index by 8.98 %, grain yield by 76.21 % and biological yield by 31.06 %. However, weed-free until crop harvest boosted nitrogen content by 50.4 %, phosphorus by 87.7 % and potassium by 42.9 %. Similarly, weed-free environment until harvest of the crop raised chlorophyll-a content by 2.9–6.6 fold and 2.7–7.0 fold, chlorophyll-b by 3.8–5.8 fold and 3.8–6.5 fold over season-long weedy plots during summer and rainy season, respectively. This study suggested that the critical duration for crop-weed competition under 5 % relative yield loss (RYL) was 11–43 DAS in summer and 4 to 36 DAS in rainy. Whereas, critical duration for the crop-weed competition at 10 % RYL was 21–36 DAS in summer and 8 to 27 DAS in rainy seasons.

Seasonal variations directly impact the biochemical and microbial properties of the soil, influence carbon and nutrient cycling within the soil system. Soils under tree plantation (TP) are rich in organic matter and microbial population, making them more susceptible to seasonal variation. We studied the effect of seasonal variations in soil chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio etc) and microclimate (moisture and temperature) on microbial respiration (SR), biomass, and carbon (C) utilization efficiency under 13 years old Kadamb (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.), Simaraubha (Simarouba glauca DC), and Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) based TPs in middle Gangetic region. In contrast to higher SR and metabolic quotient (qCO2) in winter, the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) in fall > summer > spring > winter, irrespective of TPs. The positive relationship between qCO2 and C/N ratios strongly supports the dependence of microbes on soil carbon for respiration. qCO2 had a significantly positive relationship with soil moisture (MC) and Electrical conductivity (EC), but a significantly negative relationship with temperature and pH. Higher MBN/TN and MBC/TOC ratios fall under simaraubha, and litchi-based TPs indicated more nitrogen (N) and carbon accumulation into microbial biomass. The seasonal variation of MBC/MBN ratios signifies the changes in microbial communities and fungi dominate over bacteria during winter, as bacteria have a lower C/N ratio than fungi. Stepwise regression analysis suggested that soil properties and micro-climate regulated microbial biomass and SR differ with TPs. Thus, the study indicates that microbial activities and biomass production can significantly influence by soil properties and seasonal variations under TPs.

Abstract In the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) predominates, producing large quantity of crop residue and its management is major concern. Farmers usually burn the residue to clear the field for succeding crop, and burning damages soil microbes, resulted in loss of soil organic matter. Hence, current study was conducted to assess the impact of different Happy seeder based residue management options on changes in microbial dynamics, enzyme activities and soil organic matter content and also to know that alternative method for attaining sustainable wheat productivity in sandy loam soils of Haryana, India. Results revealed that Zero tillage wheat (ZTW) with partial and full residue retention treatments sown with Happy seeder (after using chopper and spreader), and ZTW with anchored stubbles significantly enhanced soil microbial count by 47.9–60.4%, diazotropic count by 59.0–73.1% and actinomycetes count by 47.3–55.2%, grain yield by 9.8–11.3% and biomass yield by 7.4–9.6% over conventional tilled (CT) residue burning and residue removal plots. ZTW sown with surface retention of rice crop residue increased the organic carbon by 0.36–0.42% and the soil moisture content by 13.4–23.6% over CTW without residue load. Similarly, ZTW sown with Happy seeder with full residue enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity from 95.3 µg TPF g−1 soil 24 h−1 in 2018–2019 to 98.6 µg TPF g−1 soil 24 h−1 in 2019–2020 over control plots. Likely, microbial population and enzymatic activity showed strong positive correlation under variable residue retention practices. However, increased microbial population reduced the soil pH from 7.49 to 7.27 under ZTW with residue retention plots. The wheat yield enhanced by 9.8–11.3% during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 under ZTW with Happy seeder with full residue load over residue burning and residue removal plots. ZTW sown with Happy seeder under full residue retention, achieved maximum net return 43.16–57.08 × 103 ₹ ha−1) and B-C ratio (1.52 to 1.70) over CTW without residue. Therefore, rice residue needs to be managed by planting wheat using appropriate machinery under ZT for sustaining higher productivity in RWCS and improve soil health and environment under IGP regions.

Endophytes stimulate plant growth and inhibit phytopathogens. Most of the known endophytes are host-specific and only a few strains are effective for practical field use. Thus, this study focuses on the evaluation of endophytes viz., Bacillus pseudomycoides strain HP3d, Paenibacillus polymyxa strain PGSS1, B. velezensis strain A6 and P42 isolated from diverse crop ecosystems for their potential to promote plant growth and induce systemic resistance against sheath blight disease in rice. The endophytes were studied for plant growth promoting traits in vivo conditions and were found to exhibit ammonia (light to strong), siderophore (yellow zone on the CAS agar plate), indole-3-acetic acid (15.20–22.19 μg mL−1) production and phosphorus solubilization (1.2–1.5 cm). In the glasshouse, when applied individually and in combinations through various methods like seed treatment, seedling dip, and foliar spray these endophytes significantly reduced lesion size (2.06–2.37 fold) and ShB severity (2.60–2.58 fold), enhancing growth parameters viz., shoot (1.09–1.11 fold), root (1.02–1.20 fold), number of tillers (1.2–1.6 fold), shoot (80.58–82.64 %) and root (62.01–66.66 %) dry matter over untreated control. Consequently, enzyme activity viz., polyphenol oxidase (2.20–3.00 U−1min−1g−1), peroxidase (0.31–0.35 min−1g−1), superoxide dismutase (118.50–123.00 Ug−1 FW), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (0.84–0.90 min⁻1g⁻1FW) was found to increase up to the fourth day after the pathogen challenge and subsequently decrease thereafter. Chlorophyll content post inoculation of ShB declined over time but endophyte treated plants exhibited lesser reductions over uninoculated control. Field trials corroborated the in vitro findings, demonstrating reduced ShB (1.71–1.88 fold decrease in PDI) and enhanced growth (1.1–1.2 fold increase in shoot length) over untreated controls. The combined application of seedling dip, seed treatment, and foliar spray proved to be the most optimum treatment. The findings highlight the potential of diverse crop-derived endophytes, emphasizing their non-host specificity and effectiveness as broad-spectrum bioagents in actual field conditions.

IntroductionThe utilization of fauna and fauna-based byproducts in ethnomedicinal usages has been a longstanding human activity, practiced across various cultures worldwide. This study focuses on investigating the utilization of animal-based traditional medicine by the people of Pakistan, specifically in the Gujranwala area.MethodsData collection took place from January to September 2019 through interviews with local communities. Ethnomedicinal applications of animal products were analyzed using several indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Popularity Level (RPL), Folk Use Value (FL), and Relative Occurrence Percentage (ROP).ResultsThe study identified the use of different body parts of 54 species of animals in treating various diseases and health issues. These include but are not limited to skin infections, sexual problems, pain management (e.g., in the backbone and joints), eyesight issues, immunity enhancement, cold, weakness, burns, smallpox, wounds, poisoning, muscular pain, arthritis, diabetes, fever, epilepsy, allergies, asthma, herpes, ear pain, paralysis, cough, swelling, cancer, bronchitis, girls’ maturity, and stomach-related problems. Certain species of fauna were noted by informers with high “frequency of citation” (FC), ranging from 1 to 77. For instance, the black cobra was the most frequently cited animal for eyesight issues (FC = 77), followed by the domestic rabbit for burn treatment (FC = 67), and the Indus Valley spiny-tailed ground lizard for sexual problems (FC = 66). Passer domesticus and Gallus gallus were noted to have the highest ROP value of 99.DiscussionThe findings of this study provide valuable preliminary insights for the conservation of fauna in the Gujranwala region of Punjab, Pakistan. Additionally, screening these animals for medicinally active compounds could potentially lead to the development of novel animal-based medications, contributing to both traditional medicine preservation and modern pharmaceutical advancements.

Mountainous ecosystems are experiencing rapid shifts in distribution patterns and community structure due to the impacts of climate change and vegetation dynamics. This study offers a comprehensive insight into the adaptive mechanisms of Panicum antidotale to varying elevations within the Pothohar Plateau, shedding light on its survival strategies in climate-affected regions. The findings reveal that populations at lower elevations exhibit maximum height, leaf area, shoot length, and fresh weight, whereas those at higher elevations display significant decrease in these parameters. Moreover, a significant decline in species density, frequency and cover is evident at high elevation. High-elevation populations demonstrate decreased photosynthetic traits, including chlorophyll, carotenoid, and Na and Ca content. Furthermore, there are notable variations in the antioxidant enzyme activity across elevation gradients. Populations at lower elevations exhibit higher activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. Across the gradient, there were significant reductions in root and stem radius, sclerenchyma thickness, bulliform cell size, metaxylem vessels, and phloem area. Populations at moderate elevations displayed thicker lamina and epidermis, larger cortical cells, wider xylem vessels, and increased phloem area; however, these traits declined at higher elevations. High-elevation populations showed thicker lamina and epidermis, extensive sclerenchyma, greater cortical cell area, and higher stomatal density. Photosynthetic traits and enzymatic activity were major contributors at moderate elevations while stem and leaf traits were significantly changed at high elevations. Overall, this research contributes significantly to the broader knowledge of plant adaptation in mountainous ecosystems and stresses the importance of considering elevation as a critical factor in ecological studies.

Citrobacter freundii is characterized by AmpC β-lactamases that develop resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) is substantially high in Escherichia coli, C. freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, and Serratia marcescens, but infrequently explored in C. freundii. The present investigation characterized the ESBL C. freundii and delineated the genes involved in decrease in antibiotics resistance. We used the VITEK-2 system and Analytical Profile Index (API) kit to characterize and identify the Citrobacter isolates. The mRNA level of AmpC and AmpR was determined by RT-qPCR, and gel-shift assay was performed to evaluate protein-DNA binding. Here, a total of 26 Citrobacter strains were isolated from COVID-19 patients that showed varying degrees of antibiotic resistance. We examined and characterized the multidrug resistant C. freundii that showed ESBL production. The RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the AmpC mRNA expression is significantly high followed by a high level of AmpR. We sequenced the AmpC and AmpR genes that revealed the AmpR has four novel mutations in comparison to the reference genome namely; Thr64Ile, Arg86Ser, Asp135Val, and Ile183Leu while AmpC remained intact. The ΔAmpR mutant analysis revealed that the AmpR positively regulates oxidative stress response and decreases β-lactam and aminoglycosides resistance. The AmpC and AmpR high expression was associated with resistance to tazobactam, ampicillin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, and cephalosporins whereas AmpR deletion reduced β-lactam and aminoglycosides resistance. We conclude that AmpR is a positive regulator of AmpC that stimulates β-lactamases which inactivate multiple antibiotics.

This research pursued the effect of various calcination temperatures (300–1000 °C) on developing structural phases and the optical, dielectric, and photodegradation characteristics of cobalt-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). The prepared NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, ultraviolet–visible light (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, and photodegradation of methylene blue in the presence of visible light. XRD analysis revealed the formation of a tetragonal anatase phase for the samples calcined at 300–600 °C, while the Co-doped samples calcined at 800 °C and 1000 °C displayed a tetragonal rutile phase. The optical band gap analysis indicated that doping in the host matrix produced lower band gap energy for all the prepared samples. Dielectric measurements showed that the rutile phase heated at 800 °C had a larger dielectric constant and dielectric loss than the un-doped TiO2 and the other cobalt-doped samples. Finally, the anatase Co-doped TiO2 exhibited a maximum MB degradation of 93 % in 90 min compared to un-doped TiO2, which only degraded 14 % and rutile-TiO2 NPs (62 % degradation). The underlying mechanism responsible for the diverse photodegradation performance displayed by the anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 NPs is discussed. Overall, these results demonstrate that cobalt doping and the crystalline phase of TiO2 NPs are vital parameters involved in optimizing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2.

IntroductionScientific documentation of the qualitative forest vegetation parameters of a biogeographical area provides baseline information to guide conservation strategies and design policies for biodiversity management regulations.MethodsWe present one of the most comprehensive qualitative vegetation analyses to evaluate the entire structure and function of an ecosystem in the remote northern part of the Kashmir Himalaya, India. Several multivariate ecological community analyses were conducted after determining the presence of plant species in the various habitats using a random sampling technique.ResultsIn total, 155 plant species belonging to 120 genera and 49 families occurred in the area. Asteraceae was the largest family (12% of plant species) followed by Rosaceae (11%). The patterns of species distribution across families were uneven, with 50% of the species belonging to only 7 families, and 23 families being monotypic. In terms of functional groups, the herbaceous growth form dominated. Therophytes were the dominant life form, indicating that the vegetation was disturbed. According to the phytogeographical research, 65% of the species documented in the study area were native, 15% were invasive, 14% naturalized, and 5% being casual. The majority (30%) of exotic species were reported along roadsides. Of all the species found, 39% grew in their natural habitats, such as forests, and 11% were scattered along roadsides. Plant species were grouped in five different clusters based on their floristic similarity. According to the estimated diversity indices, natural forest has the greatest values for Shannon’s and Simpson’s index. We found that the study area serves as the natural habitat for several significant, endangered medicinal plants, including Arnebia benthamii, Bergenia ciliata, Delphinium roylei, Gentiana kurroo, Phytolacca acinosa, Saussurea costus, and Trillium govanianum. Therefore, we recommend that human intervention in natural regeneration efforts be prioritized in these habitats to increase the population of these species.ConclusionExamining species features from the perspective of functional groups contributes to our understanding of the ecological aspects of the flora. It may also be useful in developing management plans to ensure long-term management of forest landscapes in this remote Himalayan region.

Abstract Rice is a globally important crop and highly vulnerable to rice blast disease (RBD). We studied the spatial distribution of RBD by considering the 2-year exploratory data from 120 sampling sites over varied rice ecosystems of Karnataka, India. Point pattern and surface interpolation analyses were performed to identify the spatial distribution of RBD. The spatial clusters of RBD were generated by spatial autocorrelation and Ripley’s K function. Further, inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), and indicator kriging (IK) approaches were utilized to generate spatial maps by predicting the values at unvisited locations using neighboring observations. Hierarchical cluster analysis using the average linkage method identified two main clusters of RBD severity. From the Local Moran’s I, most of the districts were clustered together (at I > 0), except the coastal and interior districts (at I 0.05), while Tungabhadra and Kaveri ecosystem districts were clustered together at p

The chickpea (Cicer arieitnum L.) is an important food legume crop of the family Fabaceae with high protein levels that is widely grown in rainfed areas prone to drought stress. It is a self-pollinated cool season crop with a true diploid (2n = 16) nature. It is relatively cheap and a high source of protein. About 90% of the chickpea crop is grown by the use of residual moisture in the soil without depending on irrigation. In the present study, two varieties of chickpea, namely ICC 4958 and HC-6, were grown under three field capacities (FC) (100% FC, 50% FC and 25% FC). Samples were taken three times, i.e., 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS). Parameters such as morphological, physiological, biochemical, metabolite and protein profiling of the two varieties were completed. Morphological parameters such as shoot length (14.2%), number of branches (20.7%), number of leaves (17.5%) and yield (56%) declined as the drought level increased and other characteristics such as root length (9.7%), number of flowers (24.5%) and number of pods (34.4%) increased as drought stress progressed. Physiological parameters such as relative water content (RWC) (13.5%), cell membrane stability (CMS) (29.6%) and chlorophyll content decreased, whereas electrolyte conductivity (EC) (38%) increased in both the varieties as field capacity decreased. Biochemical parameters such as proline (54.75%), sugar (15.2%), glycine betaine (32.25%), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (49.5%), catalase (CAT) (50.5%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (44.9%) and glutathione reductase (GR) (49%) increased as drought stress increased. Metabolite analyses of, for example, MDA (malondialdehyde) content (30.5%), total anthocyanin (36.3%), flavonoid content (26%) and phenolic content (29.5%) increased as drought progressed. We also performed protein profiling of the two varieties using SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) to differentiate the expression analysis of the two varieties.

Butternut squash is common fruit world-wide, considered as a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compound and has promising food industrial application. Local organic butternut squash is pyriform in shape, with a semi-grooved shell, copper skin, and yellowish-orange flesh. The fruits weigh an average of 884.11 g and have a pulp yield of 82.98% and a peel yield of 12.36%.This study aims to manufacture three types of organic butternut squash flour (peel, unpeeled pulp, and peeled pulp) and utilize them as a substitute for oat flour at various ratios (5, 10, and 15%) to prepare gluten-free muffins, cookies, and waffles. A sensory evaluation of prepared products was carried out. The nutritional value, color, mineral content, phytochemicals, microstructure, functional, and physicochemical properties of butternut squash flours and top rated oatmeal products were determined. According to the findings, organic butternut squash flours were low-calorie flours with high protein, fiber, minerals, beta-carotene, and antioxidant content. For all sensory assessment parameters, muffins with a replacement ratio of 15%, cookies with 10%, and waffles with 5% pulp flour were considered the most acceptable. The protein, fiber, beta-carotene, and mineral contents of optimised gluten-free products increased significantly compared with control samples. The current study will help flour suppliers and food scientists better understand and promote the use of butternut squash flour. Gluten-free prepared products can meet the nutritional needs of celiac disease patients.

High-throughput sequencing technologies (HSTs) have revolutionized crop breeding. The advent of these technologies has enabled the identification of beneficial quantitative trait loci (QTL), genes, and alleles for crop improvement. Climate change have made a significant effect on the global maize yield. To date, the well-known omic approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are being incorporated in maize breeding studies. These approaches have identified novel biological markers that are being utilized for maize improvement against various abiotic stresses. This review discusses the current information on the morpho-physiological and molecular mechanism of abiotic stress tolerance in maize. The utilization of omics approaches to improve abiotic stress tolerance in maize is highlighted. As compared to single approach, the integration of multi-omics offers a great potential in addressing the challenges of abiotic stresses of maize productivity.

Plant diseases are a significant threat to global food security, impacting crop yields and economic growth. Accurate identification of plant diseases is crucial to minimize crop loses and optimize plant health. Traditionally, plant classification is performed manually, relying on the expertise of the classifier. However, recent advancements in deep learning techniques have enabled the creation of efficient crop classification systems using computer technology. In this context, this paper proposes an automatic plant identification process based on a synthetic neural network with the ability to detect images of plant leaves. The trained model EfficientNet-B3 was used to achieve a high success rate of 98.80% in identifying the corresponding combination of plant and disease. To make the system user-friendly, an Android application and website were developed, which allowed farmers and users to easily detect diseases from the leaves. In addition, the paper discusses the transfer method for studying various plant diseases, and images were captured using a drone or a smartphone camera. The ultimate goal is to create a user-friendly leaf disease product that can work with mobile and drone cameras. The proposed system provides a powerful tool for rapid and efficient plant disease identification, which can aid farmers of all levels of experience in making informed decisions about the use of chemical pesticides and optimizing plant health.

The challenges in the production of metabolites of medicinal potential from wild plants include low yields, slow growth rates, seasonal variations, genetic variability and regulatory as well as ethical constraints. Overcoming these challenges is of paramount significance and interdisciplinary approaches and innovative strategies are prevalently applied to optimize phytoconstituents’ production, enhance yield, biomass, ensure sustainable consistency and scalability. In this study, we investigated the effects of elicitation with yeast extract and calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaONPs) on in vitro cultures of Swertia chirata (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten. Specifically, we examined the effects of different concentrations of CaONPs in combination with different concentrations of yeast extract on various parameters related to callus growth, antioxidant activity, biomass and phytochemical contents. Our results showed that elicitation with yeast extract and CaONPs had significant effects on the growth and characteristics of callus cultures of S. chirata. The treatments involving yeast extract and CaONPs were found to be the most effective in increasing the contents of total flavonoid contents (TFC), total phenolic contents (TPC), amarogentin and mangiferin. These treatments also led to an improvement in the contents of total anthocyanin and alpha tocopherols. Additionally, the DPPH scavenging activity was significantly increased in the treated samples. Furthermore, the treatments involving elicitation with yeast extract and CaONPs also led to significant improvements in callus growth and characteristics. These treatments promoted callus response from an average to an excellent level and improved the color and nature of the callus from yellow to yellow-brown and greenish and from fragile to compact, respectively. The best response was observed in treatments involving 0.20 g/L yeast extract and 90 ug/L CaONPs. Overall, our findings suggest that elicitation with yeast extract and CaONPs can be a useful strategy for promoting the growth, biomass, phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of callus cultures of S. chirata in comparison to wild plant herbal drug samples.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted substantial interest due to their superparamagnetic features, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity. The latest progress in the biological production of Fe3O4 NPs by green methods has improved their quality and biological applications significantly. In this study, the fabrication of iron oxide NPs from Spirogyra hyalina and Ajuga bracteosa was conducted via an easy, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective process. The fabricated Fe3O4 NPs were characterized using various analytical methods to study their unique properties. UV-Vis absorption peaks were observed in algal and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs at 289 nm and 306 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyzed diverse bioactive phytochemicals present in algal and plant extracts that functioned as stabilizing and capping agents in the fabrication of algal and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs. X-ray diffraction of NPs revealed the crystalline nature of both biofabricated Fe3O4 NPs and their small size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that algae and plant-based Fe3O4 NPs are spherical and rod-shaped, averaging 52 nm and 75 nm in size. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the green-synthesized Fe3O4 NPs require a high mass percentage of iron and oxygen to ensure their synthesis. The fabricated plant-based Fe3O4 NPs exhibited stronger antioxidant properties than algal-based Fe3O4 NPs. The algal-based NPs showed efficient antibacterial potential against E. coli, while the plant-based Fe3O4 NPs displayed a higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus. Moreover, plant-based Fe3O4 NPs exhibited superior scavenging and antibacterial potential compared to the algal-based Fe3O4 NPs. This might be due to the greater number of phytochemicals in plants that surround the NPs during their green fabrication. Hence, the capping of bioactive agents over iron oxide NPs improves antibacterial applications.

Dermatological ailments are a major health problem, especially when related to human immune deficiency syndrome and acquired immune deficiency. The goal of this study was to identify the medicinal plants used by the indigenous peoples of the Northwestern Himalayas to treat dermatological diseases. Several field trips were conducted in the spring and summer seasons of 2020–2021 to collect the plants of dermatological value and information about their use through open-ended semi-structured interviews (n = 53) and group discussions (n = 33). The current investigation found 64 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 34 families commonly used to treat a variety of dermatological ailments. The main growth form was herbs (80%), followed by trees (8%) and ferns (6%). It was found that leaves (51%) were the most commonly used plant part, followed by roots and the whole plant. Wound healing was the most dominant application, with 18 plant species used, followed by skin burns cured by 11 plant species and skin boils by eight plant species. Out of the total (18%) of medicinal plants with cosmetic uses, i.e., roots of Jurinea dolomiaea, Rheum webbianum, and Rheum spiciforme were crushed into powder and mixed with turmeric, and the paste is applied topically for glowing skin. Among the various preparation methods, paste (38%) was the most common way of preparation, followed by poultice (29%) and infusion (9%). Between ethnic groups, the maximum homogeneity was between Gujjar and Bakarwal ethnic groups (23 species, 36%), followed by Gujjars and Kashmiri (14 species, 22%). Bakarwals and Gujjar people live in the same geographical location, and they graze their animals in pastures, practice extensive transhumance pastoralism, and pass through different ecological landscapes, thus having sufficient experiences with certain plants and retaining more knowledge. The species identified with the highest utilization based on the number of citations and use value included Ficus carica, Cichorium intybus, Euphorbia wallichii, Pinus wallichiana, Plantago major, Jurinea dolomiaea, and Artemisia absinthium. The findings of this study demonstrate that people who reside in the Northwestern Himalayas region still rely on medicinal plants.

Seaweeds are being used as food items in Asian countries from ancient times. Seaweeds mainly grow in intertidal zone and survive extreme environmental conditions and thus have developed metabolites, which help them survive in such conditions. Red seaweeds have proven to be rich in compounds, which are antioxidant and having many other health benefits. In this study, seven most abundantly grown red seaweeds, Gracilaria corticata (GC), Grateloupia indica (GI), Kappaphycus alvarezii (KA), Solieria robusta (SR), Amphiroa anceps (AA), Halymenia porphyriformis (HP), and Sarconema scinaioides (SS) were collected from Saurashtra coast of Arabian Sea. Harvested seaweeds were subjected to metabolite profiling, flavonoid and phenolic content analysis, different biological activities including radical scavenging, antioxidant, reducing and proliferation inhibition. Overall, GI was found to contain high contents (flavonoid and phenolic), biological activities and proliferation inhibition. Study confirms nutraceutical potential of red seaweed Grateloupia indica to be explored further for the bioactive compound or to be used as functional food.

Plants often face incompatible growing environments like drought, salinity, cold, frost, and elevated temperatures that affect plant growth and development leading to low yield and, in worse circumstances, plant death. The arsenal of versatile compounds for plant consumption and structure is called metabolites, which allows them to develop strategies to stop enemies, fight pathogens, replace their competitors and go beyond environmental restraints. These elements are formed under particular abiotic stresses like flooding, heat, drought, cold, etc., and biotic stress such as a pathogenic attack, thus associated with survival strategy of plants. Stress responses of plants are vigorous and include multifaceted crosstalk between different levels of regulation, including regulation of metabolism and expression of genes for morphological and physiological adaptation. To date, many of these compounds and their biosynthetic pathways have been found in the plant kingdom. Metabolites like amino acids, phenolics, hormones, polyamines, compatible solutes, antioxidants, pathogen related proteins (PR proteins), etc. are crucial for growth, stress tolerance, and plant defense. This review focuses on promising metabolites involved in stress tolerance under severe conditions and events signaling the mediation of stress-induced metabolic changes are presented.

Weeds are a major threat to agriculture and horticulture cropping systems that reduce yield. Weeds have a better ability to compete for resources compared to the main crops of various agro-ecosystems and act as a major impediment in reducing overall yield. They often act as energy drains in the managed agroecosystems. We studied weed infestation for five different agro-ecosystems in the part of Indian Western Himalayas represented by paddy, maize, mustard, apple and vegetable orchards. Systematic random sampling was done to record flowering phenology and diversity of weeds during the assessment period 2015–2020. We recorded 59 weed species, taxonomically distributed among 50 genera in 24 families. The Asteraceae family has the most species (15% species), followed by Poaceae (14% species), and Brassicaceae (12% species). The Therophytes were the dominant life form followed by Hemicryptophytes. The majority of the weeds were shown to be at their most blooming in the summer (predominantly from June to July). The Shannon index based diversity of weeds ranged from 2.307–3.325 for the different agro-ecosystems. The highest number of weeds was in the horticulture systems (apple > vegetable) followed by agriculture fields (maize > paddy > mustard). Agriculture and horticulture cropping systems were distinguished using indicator species analysis, which was supported by high and significant indicator values for a number of species. Persicaria hydropiper, Cynodon dactylon, Poa annua, Stellaria media, and Rorippa palustris had the highest indicator value in agriculture cropping systems, while Trifolium repens, Phleum pratense, and Trifolium pratense had the highest indicator value in horticulture cropping systems. We found that eleven weed species were unique to apple gardens followed by nine in maize, four in vegetables, two in mustard and one in paddy fields. Spatial turnover (βsim) and nestedness-resultant components (βsne) of species dissimilarity revealed dissimilarity lower than 50% among the five cropping systems. The study is expected to assist in formulating an appropriate management strategy for the control of weed infestation in the study region.

The peri-urban landscape is a highly dynamic area between the urban zone and the rural belt. The heterogeneous natural landscape around the cities provides several ecosystem services, but progressive urbanization affects it and results in the loss of biodiversity, greenery, and related benefits. This study attempts to quantify the social amenities associated with ecosystem services in the peri-urban landscape of the Gujrat district, in Pakistan, by using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) The results show that the peri-urban landscape provides amenities for the well-being of the community. Such amenities and the related recreational opportunities represent ecosystem services that are highly regarded by the residents, so much so that a significant willingness to pay can be associated with them. Therefore, this study highlights that natural areas and green areas’ landscapes must be taken into account when facing the social and economic necessity to provide for city expansion in developing countries, especially when aiming to achieve development in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The ecosystem services and their evaluation are confirmed as indispensable tools for conservation and fortification of landscape development.

Drought is a key abiotic stress that confines agriculture development worldwide. Silicon (Si) is commonly considered to be a valuable element for resistance against drought and for sustainable agriculture. To investigate the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of Gerbera jamesonii plants, a pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions and exposed to water stress (60% FC) and well-watered (100% FC) conditions. Foliar application of Si was carried out after ten days (48 days after sowing) of drought treatment and was repeated weekly, while well-water was regarded as control. Water deficiency significantly abridged the morphological attributes, pigments, and stress-related metabolites and negatively affected the photosynthetic apparatus in drought-stressed gerbera plants. However, Si supplementation by 40 mg L−1 produced increased leaf area (31%), stem length (25%), flower diameter (22%), plant fresh biomass (17%), total chlorophyll (48%), and concentration of carotenoids (54%) in water-stressed plants. Similarly, the accretion of a total free amino acid (41%) and the activities of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glycinebetaine, total soluble proteins, total free proline, and malondialdehyde were enhanced by 44%, 31%, 53%, 33%, 330%, 61%, 51%, and 66%, respectively, under drought stress in comparison with control conditions. Meanwhile, the photosynthetic rate (89%), the transpiration rate (12%), and stomatal conductance (55%) were significantly enhanced in water-deficit gerbera leaves with Si supplementation. This study proposes that the foliar application of Si is a viable and convenient method of improving the performance of elegant gerbera flower plants in regions of the world that are facing severe water deficiency.

Wild edible food plants (WFPs) are valuable resources in the traditional food systems of many local cultures worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Understanding patterns of food preferences requires conducting cross-cultural food studies among various ethnic groups in a specific area. In this context, the current study aimed to record WFP use among five ethnic groups in Punjab, Pakistan, by interviewing 175 informants selected through snowball sampling. The indicator food species for different ethnic groups were calculated using indicator analysis based on the percentage of citations. A total of 71 wild food plants (WFPs) belonging to 57 genera and 27 families were observed in the study area. A high proportion of these wild food plants (WFPs) belonged to Fabaceae with eleven species (15%), followed by Moraceae with seven species (9%). Fruits were most widely used (43%), followed by leaves (19%), and shoots (16%). The majority (35 species, 49%) of plants of WFPs were eaten as cooked vegetables. A cross-cultural comparison revealed that four species overlapped among five ethnic groups (Arain, Jutt, Rajpot, Mewati, and Dogar). The Arain ethnic group gathered and consumed a remarkable number of wild plants (35 species), possibly due to a special connection with the general abundance of the local flora, and being close to nature by adopting professions more allied to WFPs in the study area. The analysis of indicator species revealed distinct significant indicator values (p ≤ 0.05) between the main food species among the various ethnic groups. Amaranthus viridis was a common indicator of food in all five ethnic groups, while Ziziphus nammularia was a common indicator food plant of the Mewati, Rajpot, and Jutt ethnic groups; these plants are important in local diets, especially during times of food scarcity brought on by disease or drought. In addition, the current study reports 20 WFPs that have been rarely documented as human food in Pakistan’s ethnobotanical literature. Future development plans should consider biocultural heritage and pay appropriate attention to local ecological knowledge, dynamics, and historical exchanges of traditional food systems.

Appropriate water management practices are essential for the successful cultivation of chia in water-scarce situations of semiarid regions. This is highly essential when new crops such as chia are introduced for ensuring diversity and water saving. Therefore, field trials (2020–21 and 2021–22) were conducted to understand the impact of deficit irrigation and bioregulators (BRs) on the seed yield, water productivity, and oil quality of chia. The effect of foliar application of BRs such as thiourea (TU; 400 ppm), salicylic acid (SA; 1.0 mM), potassium nitrate (KN; 0.15%), potassium silicate (KS; 100 ppm), kaolin (KO; 5%), and sodium benzoate (SB; 200 ppm) were monitored at different levels of irrigation: 100 (I100), 75 (I75), 50 (I50), and 25 (I25) percent of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE). Deficit irrigation at I25, I50, and I75 led to 55.3, 20.1, and 3.3% reductions in seed yield; 42.5, 22.5, and 4.2% in oil yield; and 58.9, 24.5, and 5.7% in omega–3 yield, respectively, relative to I100. Bioregulators could reduce the adverse impact of water deficit stress on seed, oil, and omega–3 yield. However, their beneficial effect was more conspicuous under mild water stress (I75), as revealed by higher seed yield (4.3–6.9%), oil yield (4.4–7.1%), and omega–3 yield (4.7–8.5%) over control (I100 + no BRs). Further, BRs (KN, TU, and SA) maintained oil quality in terms of linolenic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, even under mild stress (I75). Foliar application of KN, TU, and SA could save water to an extent of 36–40%. Therefore, the adverse impact of deficit irrigation on seed, oil, and omega–3 yields of chia could be minimized using BRs such as KN, TU, and SA, which can also contribute to improved water productivity.

Husk cherry (Physalis pruinosa; L) is a tropical fruit commonly grown in the Mediterranean region, and widely consumed fresh in most countries of the world. To enhance our knowledge about this promising fruit, the technological, therapeutic, and nutritional quality attributes of the raw fruits were investigated. The fruit had an orange yellowish color and a mild sweetness, with a pulp yield of 93.40 % (w/w) and a juice yield of 64.45 % (v/w). It contains high ratios of total sugar (41.65%), protein (14.56%), crude fibers (11.59 %), ascorbic acid (40.17 mg/100 g), ß-carotene (64.78 μg/g), total phenols (178.53 mg gallic acid 100 g−1), anthocyanin (7.01 μg cyaniding-3-glucoside equivalents 100 g−1), flavonoids (6.69 mg quercetin g−1), and chlorophylls (19.03 μg g−1). These fruit showed high antioxidant activities, which were found using DPPH and ABTS assays, and could be considered as a good source of antioxidants. The fruit contained several minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium. The major amino acids in the fruit pulp were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, phenylalanine, proline, valine and alanine. The main polyphenols detected in the fruits were gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, catechol, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin. Several flavonoids can be obtained in high concentrations, such as naringenin, luteolin, and rutin. Six functional food products (juice, jelly, jam, candied fruits, chocolate--coated dried fruits, and fruit leather) were manufactured using husk cherry fruits. The quality attributes of prepared products were determined. The highest crude fiber, ascorbic acid, β carotene, and total sugar compositions were found in chocolate-coated dry fruit products. All the manufactured products were well palatable amongst 25 trained panelists. The findings of this study confirmed the nutritional and technological potential of husk cherry fruits, which might be used effectively within the development of some functional products for food industries.

Epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, when meiotically inherited across generations, can act as a stable evolutionary force that is independent of any accompanying DNA mutations. Certain histone deacetylase (HDAC)-inhibiting chemicals such as Trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate are known to regulate the total acetylated histones in the genome, which is important for regulating the expression of various traits in all organisms. This study investigated all morphological variations in traits of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (okra) induced by different doses of Trichostatin A in a popular okra variety, Arka Abhay. Two sets of seeds were treated with two doses (0.4 µM and 1.2 µM) of TSA and were incubated in the chemical for three and five days, respectively, to record the effects of dose and incubation periods on various agronomic characters of okra. The treatment of TSA had a negative impact on the majority of the characters under evaluation. Total seedlings emerged, and mean shoot and root length were retarded following the TSA treatment. Extremely dwarfed plants with malformed leaves and flowers were a common observation. Pollen sterility combined with distortion of the reproductive whorls of the flowers were particularly pronounced at high doses with a prolonged incubation period. Treated plants had a significantly delayed first flowering and produced short fruits with altered morphology. Variations in seeds with respect to the number, colour and size were also recorded. Total reduction with respect to seedling parameters, total pollen production, the number of fertile pollens, plant height and other damaging effects on leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds increased as the dose and incubation period increased. Statistical analysis revealed the significant negative effect of TSA treatments on plant height, the number of ridges and locules per fruit, number of seeds per fruit and test weight. The treatment, 1.2 µM Trichostatin A incubated for three days, showed a remarkable difference as traits such as total field emergence, seedling parameters and days to first flowering plant height, number of seeds per fruit and test weight deviated from the expected trend of decreasing growth parameters as the dose and incubation period increased. The study further revealed that the treatment (1.2 µM TSA incubated for three days) can be suggested for use in okra to induce epigenetic variations without significantly compromising the growth and vigour parameters of okra.

The present study describes the green biofunctional synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using the aqueous Tarenna asiatica fruit extract. The characterization of Tarenna asiatica fruit extract MgO nanoparticles (TAFEMgO NPs) was achieved by X-ray powder diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, SEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction. TAFEMgO NPs scavenged the DPPH free radicals with an IC50 value of 55.95 μg/μL, and it was highly significant compared to the standard. To authenticate the observed antioxidant potential of TAFEMgO NPs, oxidative stress was induced in red blood cells (RBC) using sodium nitrite (NaNO2). Interestingly, TAFEMgO NPs ameliorated the RBC damage from oxidative stress by significantly restoring the stress parameters, such as the protein carbonyl content (PCC), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total thiol (TT), super-oxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, oxidative stress was induced in-vivo in Sprague Dawley female rats using diclofenac (DFC). TAFEMgO NPs normalized the stress parameters in-vivo and minimized the oxidative damage in tissues. Most importantly, TAFEMgO NPs restored the function and architecture of the damaged livers, kidneys, and small intestines by regulating biochemical parameters. TAFEMgO NPs exhibited an anticoagulant effect by increasing the clotting time from 193 s in the control to 885 s in the platelet rich plasma. TAFEMgO NPs prolonged the formation of the clot process in the activated partial thromboplastin time and the prothrombin time, suggest the effective involvement in both intrinsic and extrinsic clotting pathways of the blood coagulation cascade. TAFEMgO NPs inhibited adenosine di-phosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. TAFEMgO NPs did not show hemolytic, hemorrhagic, and edema-inducing properties at the tested concentration of 100 mg/kgbody weight, suggesting its non-toxic property. In conclusion, TAFEMgO NPs mitigates the sodium nitrite (NaNO2)- and diclofenac (DFC)-induced stress due to oxidative damage in both in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Aconitum violaceum Jacq. ex Stapf is a threatened medicinal plant with restricted global distribution. The highest frequency of seed germination was recorded on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium, supplemented with 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin with a germination rate of 77.32% and mean germination time of 27 days. Among the various plant growth regulators examined, 0.1 mg L−1 kinetin (Kn) + 0.5 mg L−1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) proved to be effective for maximum embryogenic callus production (51.0%) within 31 days of inoculation. The conversion rate of somatic embryos into complete plantlets was highest in the MS medium augmented with 0.1 mg L−1 Kn + 0.5 mg L−1 IAA (68.00%), with an average root initiation time of 25 days. The rooted plantlets were subsequently hardened into jiffy pots with a combination of loamy soil, coco-peat, and vermicompost (1:1:1 v/v), and then transplanted into a greenhouse with a 60% survival rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study on direct in vitro propagation and embryogenic callus induction from seeds. The established regeneration protocol could be employed to propagate A. violaceum on a large scale in a short time. This would contribute significantly to its rapid propagation and germplasm conservation, and establish a framework for the domestication of this highly valued threatened medicinal plant.

Powdery mildew is an omnipresent disease that reduces the yield and quality of pea crops (Pisum sativum L.). To examine the powdery mildew pathogen’s morphological, molecular, and genetic diversity, we collected samples of powdery mildew-affected pea crops from ten distinct locations in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. The pathogen Erysiphe pisi was identified morphologically based on anamorphic characters. Molecular identification of E. pisi isolates was befitted by targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and specific primers of powdery mildew fungi. The genetic variation between ten different E. pisi isolates collected from topographically distinct mountainous areas was studied using random amplified polymorphic (RAPD). Based on its morphological characteristics, the powdery mildew fungus presented high similarities to E. pisi. Molecular characterization of the ITS rDNA of E. pisi produced 650 bp nucleotides, PMITS (powdery mildew-internal transcribed region) primers produced 700 bp nucleotides, and an Erysiphe specific ITS primer pair amplified and synthesized 560 bp nucleotides. According to the findings, the collected E. pisi strains exhibited a low level of genetic diversity and only a slight differential in virulence on the host. In the study, E. pisi isolates from Anumapuram, Emerald Valley, Indira Nagar, and Thuneri showed a greater disease incidence in the natural field conditions and shared the same genetic lineage with other isolates in UPGMA hierarchical cluster analysis based on RAPD markers. There was no evidence of a link between the occurrence of the disease and these grouped populations.

Human Group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA) enzyme plays a crucial role in several chronic inflammatory diseases such asasthma, atherosclerosis, gout, bronchitis, etc. Several studies showed that the antioxidants exert an anti-inflammatory function by inhibiting the sPLA2-IIA enzyme. Hence, the present study evaluated an antioxidant molecule, sinapic acid, for sPLA2-IIA inhibition as an anti-inflammatory function. Initially, the antioxidant efficacy of sinapic acid was evaluated, and it showed greater antioxidant potency. Further, sinapic acid inhibited 94.4 ± 4.83% of sPLA2-IIA activity with an IC50 value of 4.16 ± 0.13 µM. The mode of sPLA2-IIA inhibition was examined by increasing the substrate concentration from 30 to 120nM and the calcium concentration from 2.5 to 15 mM, which did not change the level of inhibition. Further, sinapic acid altered the intrinsic fluorescence and distorted the far UltraViolet Circular Dichroism (UV-CD) spectra of the sPLA2-IIA, indicating the direct enzyme-inhibitor interaction. Sinapic acid reduced the sPLA2-IIA mediated hemolytic activity from 94 ± 2.19% to 12.35 ± 2.57% and mouse paw edema from 171.75 ± 2.2% to 114.8 ± 1.98%, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory efficiency of sinapic acid by in situ and in vivo methods, respectively. Finally, sinapic acid reduced the hemorrhagic effect of Vipera russelli venom hemorrhagic complex-I (VR-HC-I) as an anti-hemorrhagic function. Thus, the above experimental results revealed the sinapic acid potency to be an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic molecule, and therefore, it appears to be a promising therapeutic agent.

Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf ex Holmes, an essential and critically endangered medicinal plant from Kashmir Himalayas, was studied for its antioxidant and antifungal properties. The shade-dried powdered rhizome was extracted sequentially with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. These subsequent fractions were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC); total flavonoid content (TFC); antioxidant assays, such as 1,1-diphenyl 1-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH); ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP); superoxide radical scavenging (SOR); hydroxyl radical scavenging (OH) and antifungal activity using the poisoned food technique. Highest TPC (5.26 ± 0.01 mg/g) and TFC (2.92 ± 0.04 mg/g) were reported from methanolic extracts. The highest values of radical scavenging activities were also observed in methanolic extracts with IC50 values of 163.71 ± 2.69 μg/mL in DPPH, 173.69 ± 4.91 μg/mL in SOR and 159.64 ± 2.43 μg/mL in OH. The chemical profile of ethyl acetate extract was tested using HR-LCMS. Methanolic extracts also showed a promising inhibition against Aspergillus niger (66.18 ± 1.03), Aspergillus flavus (78.91 ± 1.19) and Penicillium notatum (83.14 ± 0.97) at a 15% culture filtrate concentration with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 230 μg/mL, 200 μg/mL and 190 μg/mL, respectively. Overall, the methanolic fractions showed significant biological potential, and its pure isolates might be used to construct a potential new medicinal source.

At present, the majority of APIs synthesized today remain challenging tasks for formulation development. Many technologies are being utilized or explored for enhancing solubility, such as chemical modification, novel drug delivery systems (microemulsions, nanoparticles, liposomes, etc.), salt formation, and many more. One promising avenue attaining attention presently is supersaturated drug delivery systems. When exposed to gastrointestinal fluids, drug concentration exceeds equilibrium solubility and a supersaturation state is maintained long enough to be absorbed, enhancing bioavailability. In this review, the latest developments in supersaturated drug delivery systems are addressed in depth.

Water scarcity has critically augmented the need for the exploration of alternative irrigation sources mainly in water-scarce regions. This water scarcity has put tremendous pressure on the agri-based economy of countries such as Pakistan. The reuse of sewage wastewater has been appearing as the only alternative water source, which can lessen our dependence upon freshwater (FW). The current study aimed to scrutinize the influence of treated wastewater (TWW) and untreated wastewater (UTWW) irrigation on the nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Na) concentration in different plant parts, i.e., roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, of four scented Rosa species (R. bourboniana, R. centifolia, R. Gruss-an-telpitz, and R. damascena) during the first week of 2018 to the last week of 2019. The experiment was arranged according to the two-factor factorial arrangement i.e., factor I was the irrigation source, while factor II was the Rosa species. The experimental water analysis showed that mineral and chemical concentrations in FW and TWW were within permissible limits of national environmental quality standards (NEQSs) for wastewater. The UTWW of this study possessed a higher electrical conductivity (EC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), and metals (Cd, Co, and Pb) than recommended levels. The results revealed that P, K, Ca, and Na contents significantly increased in all studied plant parts of Rosa species as the duration of irrigation with TWW and UTWW increased and vice versa in the case of N contents, while the ratio of N content elevation by applying TWW and UTWW were also not increased compared to other studied nutrients. The nutrients (except Ca) were found as maximum in all plant parts with UTWW compared to FW and TWW irrigation in roses. These stimulations were accredited to the presence of higher essential nutrients and some metals in UTWW. This experiment confirmed the disparities in nutrient contents of scented Rosa species due to the different absorbability of each element in every plant part. Regarding the nutrient accumulation in rose plant tissues, the results of the present study confirm that untreated wastewater must be treated to some extent to grow scented roses where water is scarce.

Different types of microshoot cultures (agar, stationary liquid, agitated, and bioreactors) of Verbena officinalis were optimized for biomass growth and the production of phenylpropanoid glycosides and phenolic acids. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the presence of verbascoside, isoverbascoside, leucoseptoside A/isomers, and cistanoside D/isomer was confirmed in the methanolic extracts obtained from all types of in vitro cultures. The compound’s content was determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. The main metabolites in biomass extracts were verbascoside and isoverbascoside (maximum 4881.61 and 451.80 mg/100 g dry weight (DW)). In the soil-grown plant extract, verbascoside was also dominated (1728.97 mg/100 g DW). The content of phenolic acids in the analyzed extracts was below 24 mg/100 g DW. The highest radical scavenging activity was found in the biomass extract from agitated cultures, the most effective reducing power in agar culture extract, and the highest chelating activity in extract from bioreactor cultures. The extracts showed significantly stronger bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.3–2.2 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.6–9 mg/mL) than against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC 0.6–9 mg/mL, MBC of 0.6–18 mg/mL). The biomass extract from liquid stationary culture showed the strongest antibacterial activity, while the extract from soil-grown herb had the lowest.

Dietary food components have the ability to affect immune function; following absorption, specifically orally ingested dietary food containing lectins can systemically modulate the immune cells and affect the response to self- and co-administered food antigens. The mannose-binding lectins from garlic (Allium sativum agglutinins; ASAs) were identified as immunodulatory proteins in vitro. The objective of the present study was to assess the immunogenicity and adjuvanticity of garlic agglutinins and to evaluate whether they have adjuvant properties in vivo for a weak antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Garlic lectins (ASA I and ASA II) were administered by intranasal (50 days duration) and intradermal (14 days duration) routes, and the anti-lectin and anti-OVA immune (IgG) responses in the control and test groups of the BALB/c mice were assessed for humoral immunogenicity. Lectins, co-administered with OVA, were examined for lectin-induced anti-OVA IgG response to assess their adjuvant properties. The splenic and thymic indices were evaluated as a measure of immunomodulatory functions. Intradermal administration of ASA I and ASA II had showed a four-fold and two-fold increase in anti-lectin IgG response, respectively, vs. the control on day 14. In the intranasal route, the increases were 3-fold and 2.4-fold for ASA I and ASA II, respectively, on day 50. No decrease in the body weights of animals was noticed; the increases in the spleen and thymus weights, as well as their indices, were significant in the lectin groups. In the adjuvanticity study by intranasal administration, ASA I co-administered with ovalbumin (OVA) induced a remarkable increase in anti-OVA IgG response (~six-fold; p < 0.001) compared to the control, and ASA II induced a four-fold increase vs. the control on day 50. The results indicated that ASA was a potent immunogen which induced mucosal immunogenicity to the antigens that were administered intranasally in BALB/c mice. The observations made of the in vivo study indicate that ASA I has the potential use as an oral and mucosal adjuvant to deliver candidate weak antigens. Further clinical studies in humans are required to confirm its applicability.

Euphorbia nivulia-Ham (EN) is a neglected medicinal plant traditionally used for a number of pathologies, but it has not been explored scientifically. In the current study, its various fractions were assessed for their phenolic and flavonoid content, radical scavenging, as well as its enzyme inhibitory potential. The hydro-alcoholic crude extract (ENCr) was subjected to a fractionation scheme to obtain different fractions, namely n-hexane (ENHF), chloroform (ENCF), n-butanol (ENBF), and aqueous fraction (ENAF). The obtained results revealed that the highest phenolic and flavonoid content, maximum radical scavenging potential (91 ± 0.55%), urease inhibition (54.36 ± 1.47%), and α-glucosidase inhibition (97.84 ± 1.87%) were exhibited by ENCr, while the ENBF fraction exhibited the highest acetylcholinestrase inhibition (57.32 ± 0.43%). Contrary to these, hydro-alcoholic crude as well as the other fractions showed no significant butyrylcholinestrases (BChE) and carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity. Conclusively, it was found that EN possesses a significant radical scavenging and enzyme inhibitory potential. Thus, the study may be regarded a step forward towards evidence-based phyto-medicine.

Before entering the cell, the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. Hence, this RBD is a critical target for the development of antiviral agents. Recent studies have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in the RBD have spread globally. The purpose of this in silico study was to determine the potential of a fruit bromelain-derived peptide. DYGAVNEVK. to inhibit the entry of various SARS-CoV-2 variants into human cells by targeting the hACE binding site within the RBD. Molecular docking analysis revealed that DYGAVNEVK interacts with several critical RBD binding residues responsible for the adhesion of the RBD to hACE2. Moreover, 100 ns MD simulations revealed stable interactions between DYGAVNEVK and RBD variants derived from the trajectory of root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), radius of gyration (Rg), and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis, as well as free binding energy calculations. Overall, our computational results indicate that DYGAVNEVK warrants further investigation as a candidate for preventing SARS-CoV-2 due to its interaction with the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Rice–wheat (RW) rotation is the largest agriculture production system in South Asia with a multifaceted role in maintaining the livelihood of people. The customary practices and indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers have culminated in the decline of its productivity and profitability during the past two decades, thus affecting the sustainability of wheat. Safe Rock® Minerals (SRM) is a multi-nutrient rich natural rock mineral with great potential to manage soil degradation, reducing the input of fertilizers, improving soil fertility, and plant health. Thus, a field trial was conducted at the research farm of ICAR—Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi from 2016 to 2018 to evaluate the impact of Safe Rock® Minerals (SRM) on biometric parameters, productivity, quality, and nutrient uptake by conventional wheat and System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) in the wheat–rice cropping system. The results indicate that SWI performed better in terms of growth, yield, and quality parameters than conventional wheat. Among nutrient management practices; the highest growth, yield, and yield attributes of wheat were achieved with the use of SRM application 250 kg ha−1 + 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF). SRM application also increased grain protein content significantly. In conclusion, the integrated use of SRM with organic manures can serve as an eco-friendly approach for sustainable wheat production.

Abstract Background Identifying ornamental plants as new natural antioxidant and antimicrobial sources is always of great importance for the ornamental and horticultural industries. Methods The antimicrobial activities of leaves and fruits peel essential oils of twelve ornamental and horticultural crops were determined by screening against wide spectrum of fungi and bacteria, and their respective in vitro antioxidant capacity was evaluated. Furthermore, the anticancer activities against several cancer cells, and one normal human cell line (HEK-293) were examined. Results Origanum vulgare L. essential oil showed the best antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities compared to screened crops by means of the DPPH and linoleic acid assays for antioxidants, MIC and MBC values for antibacterial activities and IC50 for antiproliferative activities. Such important activities in O. vulgare was attributed to high pulegone ratio (77.45%) as revealed by the GC/MS assay. Rosmarinus officinallis L. essential oil showed the highest antifungal activities by means of lowest MIC and MFC values which might be attributed to 1, 8-cineole (19.60%), camphor (17.01%) and α-pinene (15.12%). Conclusion We suggest that oxygenated monoterpenes (i.e. linalool, terpinen-4-ol and pulegone) and monoterpene hydrocarbons play an important role in the essential oil antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities of diverse Egyptian ornamental and horticultural crops. Some species showed bioactivities similar to standards compounds and might be suitable for pharmaceutical and food industries.

The present study aimed to analyze the phytoconstituents of Neptunia triquetra (Vahl) Benth. Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of ethanol (EE), chloroform (CE) and dichloromethane (DCME) of stem extracts were evaluated using in vivo experimental models. The extracts were analyzed for phytoconstituents using GC-HRMS. Anti-inflammatory activity of CE, EE and DCME was accessed using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and the carrageenan-induced air-pouch model in Wistar albino rats. The hepatotoxicity-induced animal models were investigated for the biochemical markers in serum (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total lipids and total protein) and liver (total protein, total lipids, GSH and wet liver weight). In the in vivo study, animals were divided into different groups (six in each group) for accessing the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity, respectively. GC-HRMS analysis revealed the presence of 102 compounds, among which 24 were active secondary metabolites. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of stem extracts was found in the order: indomethacin > chloroform extract (CE) > dichloromethane extract (DCME) > ethanolic extract (EE), and hepatoprotective activity of stem extracts in the order: CE > silymarin > EE > DCME. The results indicate that N. triquetra stem has a higher hepatoprotective effect than silymarin, however the anti-inflammatory response was in accordance with or lower than indomethacin.

Plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are a significant threat to global commercial crop production resulting in increased cost of production, reduced crop establishment and productivity. An effort was made to study the antimicrobial activity of silver hydrogen peroxide (SHP) against selected plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria under in vitro conditions. Higher antibacterial activity of SHP was observed against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac; 39.67 mm), Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae (Xap; 39.00 mm), and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs; 36.67 mm) at 500 ppm concentration. SHP was superior to streptocycline (500 ppm) against Xac (25.33 mm) and Xcp (22.67 mm) at 100 ppm. The soil-borne fungi viz., Pythium aphanidermatum and Fusarium solani failed to initiate mycelium growth on PDA at the concentration of 5000 ppm and above. The average size of SHP particles was 462 nm in diameter, and 73.40% of particles had the size of 378 nm, which reflects the particles present in SHP solution in the form of colloids. The effective doses (100–5000 ppm) did not show any phytotoxicity symptoms in plants, while leaf necrosis was noticed at 10,000 ppm after four days of application. SHP (≤5000 ppm) can be used to effectively manage both fungal and bacterial plant pathogens by a single application. Further field studies need to be conducted for validation and commercial use of SHP.

Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf ex Holmes, a highly valued medicinal plant, is a critically endangered plant species with restricted global distribution. Because there is no published report on the in vitro micropropagation of A. chasmanthum, the present study was undertaken to contribute to the development of an efficient micropropagation protocol for its conservation. Seeds collected from the wild showed enhanced germination after being given a chilling treatment (−4 °C and −20 °C) for different durations (10, 20, 30 and 40 days). Seeds given a chilling treatment of −4 °C for 10 days showed enhanced germination rates of 47.59 ± 0.53% with a mean germination time of 10.78 ± 0.21 days compared to seeds kept at room temperature when grown in an MS basal medium. Nodes, leaves and stems, taken from 20–40-day-old seedlings, were used as an explant for micropropagation. An MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins (BAP, Kn), auxins (2,4-D, NAA), and an additive adenine sulphate were tested for callusing, direct shoot regeneration and rooting. Only nodal explants responded and showed direct multiple shoot regeneration with 7 ± 0.36 shoots with an elongation of 5.51 ± 0.26 cm in the MS medium supplemented with BAP 0.5 mg/L, and with a response time (RT) of 10.41 ± 0.51 days and a percentage culture response of 77.77 ± 2.77%. Rhizome formation was observed after 8 weeks, with the highest culture response of 36.66 ± 3.33% in the MS basal media with an RT of 43.75 ± 0.50 days. These rhizomes showed a 60% germination rate within 2 weeks and developed into plantlets. The present in vitro regeneration protocol could be used for the large-scale propagation and conservation of A. chasmanthum.

Brown seaweeds have shown high potential of bioactivity and provide health benefits as an important functional food ingredient. Therefore, four abundantly growing tropical brown seaweeds—Iyengaria stellata, Spatoglossum asperum, Sargassum linearifolium, and Stoechospermum polypodioides—were collected from the Saurashtra Coast of the Arabian Sea. They were analyzed for metabolite profiling, biochemical activities (including total antioxidant, reducing, scavenging, and anti-proliferative characteristics), and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. A concentration-dependent antioxidant, reducing, and scavenging activities were observed for all four brown seaweeds. The S. asperum and I. stellata extracts showed maximum total antioxidant activity. S. asperum also showed high scavenging and reducing activities compared to other studied brown seaweeds. Further, S. asperum contained high total phenolic and flavonoid content compared to other brown seaweeds collected from the same coast. A multivariate correlation study confirmed a positive correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and biochemical activities (total antioxidant, scavenging and reducing) for all brown seaweeds. About 35% anti-proliferative activity was observed with S. asperum extract on Huh7 cells; in contrast S. polypodioide showed about 44% proliferation inhibition of Huh7 cells. Similarly, 26% proliferation inhibition of HeLa cells was observed with S. asperum extract. Overall, S. asperum possesses high total flavonoid and phenolic amounts, and showed potential antioxidant, scavenging and reducing characteristics. The study confirmed the nutraceutical potential of S. asperum and that it could be a promising functional food ingredient.