Search

Seed germination is one of the complex traits in the plant life cycle, which is accomplished by the interaction of various complex processes including seed reserve mobilization and utilization under various environmental conditions. Since seed reserves can influence seed germination, the quantitative and qualitative differences in seed reserves may relate to the germination characteristics of rapeseed seeds. Therefore, we hypothesized the positive relationship between seed germination and mobilization process of seed reserves during the seed imbibition of two rapeseed cultivars with high and low oil contents under normal and drought stress conditions. Herein, we measured the initial absorption of water and seed microstructure during seed imbibition, besides, we also determined seed germination parameters, osmolytes, enzymatic activity, lipid peroxidation, and fatty acid composition in both rapeseed cultivars. Our results displayed that the high oil content cultivar (QY1) showed a higher germination percentage with higher water absorption during the seed imbibition under drought stress conditions. Moreover, seed microstructural analysis indicated that oil bodies (OBs) were surrounding the protein storage vacuoles (PBs) compartment and cell periphery, the gap between OBs was increased to some extent, and boundaries became blurred in QY1 under drought stress conditions. Besides, the number of oil bodies was higher, while their area was lower, which might provide more energy for the germination process. Furthermore, the active metabolism of protein, sugar, and proline in QY1 was higher than ZYZ108 under normal and drought stress conditions, which might be closely related to the accretion of osmoregulatory substances that improved water uptake, thereby improving seed germination. Additionally, unsaturated fatty acids were higher in QY1 than ZYZ108, which provide greater protection against drought stress damages. Besides, QY1 exhibited high efficiency of defense system, which reduced malonaldehyde (MDA) content, hence ameliorating the oxidative damage due to drought stress. Taken together, this investigation provides new insight into the role of seed reserves as energy resources in the germination process in high oil content seeds of rapeseed cultivars, especially under drought stress conditions.

Current practices of planning and designing of buildings in Nigeria do not consider the thermal comfort, the building energy and exergy demand. There is a need for better understanding of exergy analysis to improve the quality match between building energy demand and supply. The aim of this study is to estimate the exergy consumption value for a hollow sandcrete and a burnt brick-walled structure in a tropical sub-region. The properties of the building were assessed, eQuest software was used to estimate the energy demand of the respective buildings and the exergy analysis was conducted using the exergetic factor of electricity. The cumulative exergy consumptions of the existing sandcrete-walled building, the modelled sandcrete and the burnt brick-walled building were found to be 246,074.4 MJ/year, 128,646 MJ/year, and 128,595.6 MJ/year respectively. The modelled sandcrete-walled building, as well as the burnt brick-walled building, were found to be 48% more energy efficient than the existing building as a result of improving the airtightness of the building, reducing the solar heat gain, and utilizing extremely efficient systems. However, the exergy analysis suggested that the hollow burnt brick-walled building perform better than the hollow sandcrete-walled building.

Resveratrol (RL), a natural polyphenol, is known for its diverse biological effects against various human cancer cell lines. But low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and stability limit its efficacy against prostate cancer. In this study polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating resveratrol (RLPLGA) were designed and their cytotoxic and mode of apoptotic cells death against prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) was determined. Nanoparticles were prepared by solvent displacement method and characterized for particle size, TEM, entrapment efficiency, DSC and drug release study. RLPLGA exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability with 50% and 90% inhibitory concentration (IC50 and IC90) of 15.6 ± 1.49 and 41.1 ± 2.19 μM respectively against the LNCaP cells. This effect was mediated by apoptosis as confirmed by cell cycle arrest at G1-S transition phase, externalization of phosphatidylserine, DNA nicking, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species generation in LNCaP cells. Furthermore, significantly greater cytotoxicity to LNCaP cells was observed with nanoparticles as compared to that of free RL at all tested concentrations. RLPLGA nanoparticles presented no adverse cytotoxic effects on murine macrophages even at 200 μM. Our findings support the potential use of developed resveratrol loaded nanoparticle for the prostate cancer chemoprevention/ chemotherapy with no adverse effect on normal cells. Keywords: Resveratrol, PLGA nanoparticles, Prostate cancer, LNCaP cells, Apoptosis, Drug delivery

field experiment was conducted in newly reclaimed sand soil to find out the most efficient combination between irrigation system and deficit irrigation management can be used for date palm trees “Zaghlol cultivar”. Results revealed that the average water requirements of date palm trees gradually increased from 1504, 1279, 1128 and 978 for drip to 2522, 2143, 1891, and 1639 m3/fedSeason for bubbler irrigation system in combination with 100, 85, 75 and 65% deficit irrigation treatments respectively. Data indicated that EC1:5 in dS/m gradually increased with decreasing deficit irrigation levels from 100 to 65% and with increasing soil layer depth to 60-90 cm either in parallel or perpendicular direction of drip or bubbler irrigation lines. While opposite result was observed for soil moisture distribution. Results showed an evident decrease in crop yield as affected by water stress associated with decreasing deficit irrigation treatments from 100 to 85, 75 and 65 % by about 167, 155, 153, 151 for drip and 181.5, 168, 172 and 169 kg/Tree for bubbler irrigation systems. Data revealed that water use efficiency increased from 0.10 for 100 % DI to 0.93, 0.83 and 0.64 m3/kg for 85, 75 and 65 % deficit irrigation under drip and slightly decreased from 0.16 for 100 % DI to 0.14, 0.12 and 0.11 m3/kg for bubbler irrigation systems respectively. It could be concluded that the best method for managing irrigation of date palm trees "Zaghloul cultivar" in the study area is the irrigation using bubbler system with 75% deficit irrigation treatment. This combination treatment gave acceptable yield of about 172 kg/tree with saving a substantial amount of Irrigation water reached to about 25% (1891 m3/fed or 22 m3/tree) with WUE of about 8.09 kg/m3.