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Syzygium cumini, is a medicinally important plant and exhibits a wide range of cytomorphological diversity. The present attempt was made to study the detailed meiotic course in five different populations from North India. The meiotic analysis depicts the presence of three cytotypes with 2n = 22, 44, and 66. These cytotypes were further subjected to the chemical analysis of the content and composition of leaf essential oil by GC-MS. All three-leaf samples (SLS-1, SLS-2, and SLS-3) collected from the same study area (Patiala, Punjab) were reported to be different in the content and composition of their essential oil components. The extraction yields of oils from leaves were 0.37 % (SLS-1), 0.42 % (SLS-2), and 0.39 % (SLS-3), respectively. The essential oil constituents identified were 38, 39, and 39 out of total 40 constituents for each oil sample representing 99.08 %, 99.52 %, and 99.39 % of the compositions, respectively. The major constituents of leaf essential oil of sample SLS-1 were: Iso-dihydrocarveol (14.61 %); (Z)-β-ocimene (12.02 %). From sample SLS-2 were (Z)-β-ocimene (19.45 %); α-pinene (14.80 %). From the sample, SLS-3 was: (Z)-β-ocimene (13.75 %); α-pinene (9.08 %), respectively. The present study identifies the best cytotype which can be preferably cultivated commercially for their use in the preparation of medicines and other formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and elevated CO2 (eCO2) have been effectively integrated to the agricultural procedures as an ecofriendly approach to support the production and quality of plants. However, less attention has been given to the synchronous application of AMF and eCO2 and how that could affect the global plant metabolism. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of AMF and eCO2, individually or in combination, on growth, photosynthesis, metabolism and the functional food value of Thymus vulgare. Results revealed that both AMF and eCO2 treatments improved the photosynthesis and biomass production, however much more positive impact was obtained by their synchronous application. Moreover, the levels of the majority of the detected sugars, organic acids, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, volatile compounds, phenolic acids and flavonoids were further improved as a result of the synergistic action of AMF and eCO2, as compared to the individual treatments. Overall, this study clearly shows that co-application of AMF and eCO2 induces a synergistic biofertilization impact and enhances the functional food value of T. vulgare by affecting its global metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, the phytotoxic hazards of nano-sized mercuric oxide (HgO-NPs) are not investigated. Herein, the phytotoxicity of fully characterized HgO-NPs (100 mg/kg soil), prepared by coprecipitation method, on maize grown under ambient (aCO 2 , 410 ppm) and elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 , 620 ppm) was investigated. Regardless of CO 2 concentration, HgO-NPs treatment increased Hg levels in maize organs. HgO-NPs induced severe oxidative stress in aCO 2 grown plants as indicated by reduced growth and photosynthesis and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through photorespiration and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activities, and lipid and protein oxidation products. Although HgO-NPs increased molecular (polyphenols, flavonoids, tocopherols) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase) antioxidants in shoots of aCO 2 plants, but this failed to fight the eruption of increased ROS. On contrary, eCO 2 treatment mitigated the HgO-NPs impact by promoting photosynthesis and reducing the Hg-induced ROS production. Moreover, eCO 2 promoted ROS detoxification via molecular antioxidants overproduction, enhanced superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidases activities, and modulation of reduced ascorbate/oxidized ascorbate and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione homeostasis. The combined HgO-NPs + eCO 2 treatment also enhanced the glutathione-S-transferase activity. This study suggests that HgO-NPs cause severe phytotoxic hazards and this effect will be less detrimental under future CO 2 climate., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 ) have been effectively integrated to the agricultural procedures as an ecofriendly approach to support the production and quality of plants. However, less attention has been given to the synchronous application of AMF and eCO 2 and how that could affect the global plant metabolism. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of AMF and eCO 2 , individually or in combination, on growth, photosynthesis, metabolism and the functional food value of Thymus vulgare . Results revealed that both AMF and eCO 2 treatments improved the photosynthesis and biomass production, however much more positive impact was obtained by their synchronous application. Moreover, the levels of the majority of the detected sugars, organic acids, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, volatile compounds, phenolic acids and flavonoids were further improved as a result of the synergistic action of AMF and eCO 2 , as compared to the individual treatments. Overall, this study clearly shows that co-application of AMF and eCO 2 induces a synergistic biofertilization impact and enhances the functional food value of T. vulgare by affecting its global metabolism.

A high level of serum cholesterol is a major cause of atherosclerosis. Fenugreek is a well-known hypocholesterolaemic agent with amazing phytochemical composition. Due to its impact on plant metabolism, CO 2 enrichment was tested as a strategy to support functional values in fenugreek seeds. Phytochemical composition and biological activities of three fenugreek cultivars (G2, G6 and G30) grown under ambient (aCO 2 , 400 μmol mol -1 ) and elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 , 620 μmol mol -1 ) were assessed. Applying eCO 2 improved physical parameters of fenugreek seeds, and enhanced their biological activities. A significant increase in hypocholesterolaemic potential, as indicated by inhibition of cholesterol micellar solubility and pancreatic lipase activity, was recorded. In addition, antioxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation and antibacterial activities were improved. These enhanced biological activities were accompanied by improved seed chemical composition at the primary and secondary metabolic levels. Therefore, eCO 2 treatment represents an efficient strategy to increase the hypocholesterolaemic, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of fenugreek seeds., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)