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Enhancing crop drought tolerance is crucial for food security amid climate change. This study examines how 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can improve drought resilience in tomato plants, which are essential for sustainable food production. Drought stress was induced using 12% PEG‐6000. Plants were pre‐treated with 25 mg L−1 ALA and 0.1 mg L−1 hypotaurine (HT), followed by 0.2 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) treatment to assess the effects on plant physiological effects over 10 days. Drought stress reduced plant dry weight, chlorophylls (a and b), Fv/Fm, leaf water potential, and relative water content, while increasing glycine betaine (GB) and proline levels. Additionally, drought stress elevated NADPH oxidase (NOX) and glycolate oxidase (GOX) activities, inducing oxidative stress and membrane damage. ALA and NaHS enhanced plant growth, photosynthesis, proline, GB, ALA content, ATP synthase, and ATPase activities, while mitigating NOX and GOX activities, thereby reducing O2·−$$ {\mathrm{O}}_2^{\cdotp -} $$ and H2O2 radicals. ALA alone boosted L‐DES activity, promoting H2S accumulation. However, ALA + HT reduced H2S levels, compromising ALA's efficacy. NaHS with ALA + HT reinstated positive effects by restoring H2S levels. Biochemical assays confirmed ALA and NaHS promoted H2S accumulation, bolstering antioxidants, mitigating lipid peroxidation, suggesting their drought resilience potential in tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought significantly challenges global food security, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of plant molecular responses for effective mitigation strategies. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, are key in regulating genes and hormones essential for drought response. While microRNAs (miRNAs) primarily regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, they can also interact with epigenetic pathways as potential effectors that influence chromatin remodeling. Although the role of miRNAs in epigenetic memory is still being explored, understanding their contribution to drought response requires examining these indirect effects on epigenetic modifications. A key aspect of this exploration is epigenetic memory in drought-adapted plants, offering insights into the transgenerational inheritance of adaptive traits. Understanding the mechanisms that govern the maintenance and erasure of these epigenetic imprints provides nuanced insights into how plants balance stability and flexibility in their epigenomes. A major focus is on the dynamic interaction between hormonal pathways—such as those for abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, jasmonates, and salicylic acid (SA)—and epigenetic mechanisms. This interplay is crucial for fine-tuning gene expression during drought stress, leading to physiological and morphological adaptations that enhance plant drought resilience. This review also highlights the transformative potential of advanced technologies, such as bisulfite sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9, in providing comprehensive insights into plant responses to water deficit conditions. These technologies pave the way for developing drought-tolerant crops, which is vital for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study evaluates the analgesic effects of intrathecal morphine (ITM) and ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in managing postoperative pain following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods: This retrospective observational study examined hospital records and anesthesia documents of 40 patients who underwent VATS at a university hospital between January 2021 and January 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: ITM and ESPB. The comparative analysis included cumulative morphine consumption within the initial 12/24 h after VATS, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) resting/activity scores, rescue analgesic requirements, and the side effect profile. Results: During the first 12 h postoperatively, the ITM group exhibited lower median morphine consumption than the ESPB group (ITM: 1.9 mg [0.85–3] vs. ESPB: 3.65 mg [3–4.23], p=0.003). Further, within the initial 24 h postoperatively, the ITM group also exhibited lower median morphine consumption compared to ESPB (ITM: 4 mg [1.54–5.38] vs. ESPB: 10 mg [10–10], p<0.001). The NRS resting/activity scores were consistently lower in the ITM group than in the ESPB group at all measurement times (p<0.001). The number of patients receiving rescue analgesic medication was lower in the ITM group than in the ESPB group (ITM, n=6 [30%] vs. ESPB, n=20 [100%]; p<0.001). The side effect profiles of both groups were comparable. Conclusion: ITM reduced morphine consumption, pain scores, and the requirement for rescue analgesia compared with ESPB, with a comparable side effect profile after VATS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is a significant abiotic stressor that inhibits agricultural productivity globally. Researchers have been trying for a long to apply fertilizers to crops growing on salt affected soils so as to achieve improved crop growth. Although a variety of techniques are in vogue to apply fertilizers, foliar fertilization, which may provide plants with necessary nutrients directly through their leaves, is a potential technique for improving plant salt tolerance. This review outlines recent developments in the field of foliar fertilization for increased salt tolerance. We particularly examine the processes that increase plant salt tolerance by foliar fertilization, as well as the problems and possibilities connected with this technique. We also discuss the commercial foliar fertilizers that have been evaluated for salt tolerance improvement and up to what extent they are receptive by the farming community for the widespread use of this approach of nutrient supplementation. A range of fertilization strategies, including foliar supplementation, and soil-based methods, with a particular emphasis on essential nutrients applied through foliage, is discussed at length. Moreover, we also underline the necessity for more studies to enhance nutrient composition, absorption efficiency, and administration strategies. Thus, foliar fertilization has the potential to become a commonly used strategy for boosting crop productivity in salty conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]