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Wetlands, refer to the confluence with regards to land and water having a rich biological diversity with multiple purpose. As per the Ramsar Convention, framed in August 2002, East Kolkata Wetlands have been considered to be of global significance. Although inappropriate supervision of these wetlands, has led to the gradual deterioration of this wetland. In this present study, the soil sample was collected from these reclaimed agricultural wetlands of Chowbaga area, of East Kolkata areas with coordinates of 22.5296°N, 88.4207°E. The predominant or lingering bacterial flora was isolated from the soil surrounding the rhizospheric region of Cucurbita sp. and Zea mays and their plant growth promotion properties of the lingering bacterial flora were analyzed. These plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) included some species of Bacillus sp. that could augment plant growth by different methodologies like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, and siderophore production. One of the bacterial isolates DPP(C) showed highest ability of siderophore production of 37.89% at 48 hours, whereas DCP(A) showed better capability in IAA production of 56.785 μg/mL than rest of the bacterial isolates. These reclaimed agricultural lands were found to have very high quantities of heavy metals, especially lead. All the bacterial isolates, were found to have great potential in lead mitigation, whereby they could adsorb up to 8.28% of lead. Some studies have shown the capability of microbial degradation for bioremediation of organic forms of lead and thereby can be removed from agricultural field for longer period of time. The prospective potential use of PGPR has gradually escalated, since it is one of the best substitutes against the constant usage of chemical fertilizers as well as pesticides. The use of these PGPR is one of the most reliable methods for ensuring sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, in future, the PGPR population will be correlated with the nutrient availability and productivity of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The global population is increasing at an elevated speed leading to the expansion of urbanization at the cost of environmental degradation, especially aquatic ecosystem pollution due to the enhanced discharge of wastewater. These aquatic ecosystems are primarily polluted by potentially toxic elements, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dyes, plastics, pesticides, organic compounds, and molecules present in fertilizers, household wastes, industrial effluents, and sewage discharge. The enhanced deterioration of water bodies has led to the search for natural solutions for a sustainable ecosystem. The utilization of the natural microbial flora of the aquatic ecosystem for remediation, more popularly known as bioremediation, is of global interest because of its cost‐effectiveness and eco‐friendly approach. Bioremediation can be broadly categorized into bacterial remediation, mycoremediation, and phytoremediation and is more commonly studied for soil pollution. However, in this review, we discuss bioremediation techniques and mechanisms with respect to water pollution. Aquatic microbes utilize the toxic components present in wastewater as a substrate for their own metabolism by acting as a biologically active methylator or by chemical alteration of the toxicants into less harmful products, thus degrading the toxic environmental pollutants into nontoxic products thereby eliminating their detrimental effects. Microalgae used in phytoremediation also help to elevate the dissolved oxygen level in the aquatic ecosystem thereby reducing the probability of eutrophication. This review represents the study of diverse pollutants remediation and a method involving microbial consortia in a bioreactor for optimum efficacy at minimum cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background and Aims: Cancer has grabbed the attention of scientists and medical professionals all over the world much more than any other disease. In the past few decades, the medical field has improved quite a lot but progress in the path to find a solution for cancer is very less. As the popularity of invasive technologies is diminishing in cancer treatment, scientists have come up withminimally invasive or non‐invasive alternatives, among which liquid biopsy, by far is the most suitable. Methods: Liquid biopsy is used to analyse nucleic acids, subcellular components and circulating tumour cells in various biological fluids for diagnosis of cancer. It can also be used to know the efficacy of cancer drugs in a patient by analysing multiple samples. Outcomes: Liquid biopsy is becoming standard of care as it allows biopsy of those samples in which solid tumour biopsies are not possible. The diversity of sampling procedures, such as collection of urine for urothelial carcinoma or bladder or prostate cancer and phlebotomy for other types of cancer, make liquid biopsy one of the best methods for diagnosis of cancer. Conclusion: This review aims in discussing the several techniques used for the detection of cancer biomarkers and some clinical manifestations due to the changes in the biomarkers which are analysed by liquid biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Mangroves, despite thriving at the fringes of habitat tolerance in coastal regions, stand out as one of the world's most highly productive ecosystems. This study delves into the remarkable symbiotic relationship between mangroves and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Specifically, it assesses seasonal diversity in six true mangrove species and four associated species, situated in Henry's Island, Bakkhali, India. Spore density and root colonization were examined across different seasons. The highest spore density was observed in Heritiera fomes (a timber-producing mangrove) during the post-monsoon season, followed by pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. Root colonization was notably prominent in Ceriops tagal (Indian mangrove), Bruguira gymnorrhiza (Oriental mangrove), and Sonneratia alba (flowering evergreen mangrove) during both pre- and postmonsoon seasons. This study unveiled a rich fungal diversity, with a total of 60 AMF species belonging to 13 genera. Among these, the genus Glomus emerged as the dominant group, with species such as G. deserticola along with another genus Rhizophagus intraradics displaying widespread distribution. Notably, Glomus consistently ranked as the most prevalent genus throughout the year, indicating its remarkable adaptability and strong dispersal capacity in both true and associate mangrove plant species. This research sheds light on the seasonal dynamics of AMF associations in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing the significance of Glomus as a key player in this symbiotic relationship. These findings contribute to our understanding of the ecological intricacies within mangrove habitats and highlight the adaptability of certain AMF genera to varying environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The sub‐mountainous tea gardens of the Dooars region of West Bengal, which contribute approximately 25% of the national tea yield, are constantly fighting with diminishing soil fertility. Inorganic alternatives like chemical fertilizers can provide easier yet short‐term solutions, as their prolonged and indiscriminate usage leaches the soil, devouring its productivity, increasing the soil's heavy metal contents, and subsequently accumulating those heavy metals in leaves. A plausible substitution in this scenario could be the use of organic alternatives like composting or biofertilizer. Although references to such alternative means are found in the literature, a holistic approach targeting plant growth promotion along with mitigating soil metal toxicity is lacking. Keeping this background in mind, this pilot study was designed to optimize the dosage of novel biofertilizers (using resident and alien flora) that can reduce heavy metal loads and residual toxicity in soil, thereby improving overall soil health and tea production. Two potential metallophilic plant growth‐promoting strains of Bacillus sp. (previously reported) were selected and applied to potted tea plants of two different varieties of tea: TV9 and TV25. Among the two modes of treatment tested: solid treatment (compost amended with bacterial culture) and liquid treatment (cell pellets mixed in water suspension), the water suspension‐based direct application of resident soil bacteria showed the highest physiological growth with reduced metal toxicity. Based on physiological data and physico‐chemical data collected, it was observed that direct application of bacteria showed better results in both plant and soil health improvement in comparison to regular compost amended with beneficial microflora. Therefore, this small‐scale pilot study aimed to optimize the dosage and mode of application of novel biofertilizers for improved soil and plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...