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Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that severely impacts plant growth and photosynthesis and induces oxidative stress. This study investigates the modulatory effects of glutamic acid (GA) on Olea europaea (olive) seedlings subjected to cadmium stress. The experiment included control, Cd-stressed, GA-treated, and combined Cd and GA-treated groups. Cd exposure significantly reduced plant growth, as evidenced by decreased root length (3.5 cm) and shoot length (9 cm) compared to control plants (5 cm and 12 cm, respectively). Additionally, Cd stress led to a reduction in chlorophyll content (16.2 mg/g fresh weight) and elevated oxidative markers like H2O2 and MDA. The application of GA significantly improved plant growth and physiological parameters, with statistically significant increases in root length (up to 6.5 cm) and shoot length (up to 14 cm) in the combined treatment group (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, GA treatment led to a marked elevation in total chlorophyll content (up to 27.5 mg/g fresh weight), compared to 16.2 mg/g in Cd-stressed plants (p ≤ 0.05), reflecting a significant improvement in photosynthetic efficiency. GA also elevated the antioxidant enzyme activity catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), reducing oxidative stress by decreasing hydrogen peroxide and MDA levels. The findings suggest that glutamic acid effectively mitigates Cd-induced phytotoxicity, enhancing stress resistance and promoting plant growth. This research provides valuable insights into using glutamic acid as a possible approach to mitigate heavy metal stress in plants, offering implications for agriculture and environmental management in Cd-contaminated areas. Specific applications may include its use in phytoremediation practices or as a supplement in agricultural management to improve crop resilience in polluted environments. Further research could explore the molecular mechanisms underlying GA’s protective effects and its potential synergy with other biostimulants to enhance heavy metal tolerance in a broader range of crops.

Abstract Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.); an important spice crop of the region is a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants having many health benefits. Many biotic and abiotic factors contribute towards growth and yield losses of this crop. Arsenic (As) toxicity is a global issue, but it is particularly critical in developing countries. The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of selenium (Se) in mitigating the toxic effects of As in two varieties (HSP-181 A and PS09979325) of Capsicum annuum L. Different concentrations of As (0, 50, and 100 µM) and Se (0, 5, and 10 µM) were tested using 14 days old seedlings of C. annuum L. The As stress caused a significant (P ≤ 0.001) reduction in growth, uptake of nutrients, and eco-physiological attributes in both varieties however, the response was specific. While the overproduction of osmo-protectants and antioxidants intensified the symptoms of oxidative stress. The maximum reduction in shoot length (45%), fresh weight (29%), and dry weight (36%) was observed in under 100 µM As stress. The organic acids exudation from the roots of both cultivars were significantly increased with the increase in As toxicity. The Se treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.001) improved growth, nutrient uptake, gas exchange attributes, antioxidant production, while decreased oxidative stress indicators, and As uptake in the roots and shoots of all the subjects under investigation. It is concluded from the results of this study that Se application increased photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant activity while decreasing As levels, organic acid exudation, and oxidative stress indicators in plants. Overall, the var. PS09979325 performed better and may be a good candidate for future pepper breeding program.

Air pollution, a pervasive environmental threat that spans urban and rural landscapes alike, poses significant risks to human health, exacerbating respiratory conditions, triggering cardiovascular problems, and contributing to a myriad of other health complications across diverse populations worldwide. This article delves into the multifarious impacts of air pollution, utilizing cutting-edge research methodologies and big data analytics to offer a comprehensive overview. It highlights the emergence of new pollutants, their sources, and characteristics, thereby broadening our understanding of contemporary air quality challenges. The detrimental health effects of air pollution are examined thoroughly, emphasizing both short-term and long-term impacts. Particularly vulnerable populations are identified, underscoring the need for targeted health risk assessments and interventions. The article presents an in-depth analysis of the global disease burden attributable to air pollution, offering a comparative perspective that illuminates the varying impacts across different regions. Furthermore, it addresses the economic ramifications of air pollution, quantifying health and economic losses, and discusses the implications for public policy and health care systems. Innovative air pollution intervention measures are explored, including case studies demonstrating their effectiveness. The paper also brings to light recent discoveries and insights in the field, setting the stage for future research directions. It calls for international cooperation in tackling air pollution and underscores the crucial role of public awareness and education in mitigating its impacts. This comprehensive exploration serves not only as a scientific discourse but also as a clarion call for action against the invisible but insidious threat of air pollution, making it a vital read for researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

Abstract Carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) is an enzyme capable of converting carotenoids into volatile, aromatic compounds and it plays an important role in the production of two significant plant hormones, i.e., abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactone (SL). The cucumber plant genome has not been mined for genomewide identification of the CCO gene family. In the present study, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis to identify and thoroughly examine the CCO gene family within the genomic sequence of Cucumis sativus L. A Total of 10 CCO genes were identified and mostly localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplast. The CCO gene is divided into seven subfamilies i.e. 3 NCED, 3 CCD, and 1 CCD-like (CCDL) subfamily according to phylogenetic analysis. Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) analysis revealed the elements associated with growth and development as well as reactions to phytohormonal, biotic, and abiotic stress conditions. CCOs were involved in a variety of physiological and metabolic processes, according to Gene Ontology annotation. Additionally, 10 CCO genes were regulated by 84 miRNA. The CsCCO genes had substantial purifying selection acting upon them, according to the synteny block. In addition, RNAseq analysis indicated that CsCCO genes were expressed in response to phloem transportation and treatment of chitosan oligosaccharides. CsCCD7 and CsNCED2 showed the highest gene expression in response to the exogenous application of chitosan oligosaccharides to improve cold stress in cucumbers. We also found that these genes CsCCD4a and CsCCDL-a showed the highest expression in different plant organs with respect to phloem content. The cucumber CCO gene family was the subject of the first genome-wide report in this study, which may help us better understand cucumber CCO proteins and lay the groundwork for the gene family's future cloning and functional investigations.

Abstract In the current industrial scenario, cadmium (Cd) as a metal is of great importance but poses a major threat to the ecosystem. However, the role of micronutrient − amino chelates such as iron − lysine (Fe − lys) in reducing Cr toxicity in crop plants was recently introduced. In the current experiment, the exogenous applications of Fe − lys i.e., 0 and10 mg L − 1, were examined, using an in vivo approach that involved plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant response, sugar and osmolytes under the soil contaminated with varying levels of Cd i.e., 0, 50 and 100 µM using two different varieties of canola i.e., Sarbaz and Pea − 09. Results revealed that the increasing levels of Cd in the soil decreased plant growth and growth-related attributes and photosynthetic apparatus and also the soluble protein and soluble sugar. In contrast, the addition of different levels of Cd in the soil significantly increased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which induced oxidative damage in both varieties of canola i.e., Sarbaz and Pea − 09. However, canola plants increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and non-enzymatic compounds such as phenolic, flavonoid, proline, and anthocyanin, which scavenge the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cd toxicity can be overcome by the supplementation of Fe − lys, which significantly increased plant growth and biomass, improved photosynthetic machinery and sugar contents, and increased the activities of different antioxidative enzymes, even in the plants grown under different levels of Cd in the soil. Research findings, therefore, suggested that the Fe − lys application can ameliorate Cd toxicity in canola and result in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress.

The emergence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs) as pollutants in agricultural soils is increasingly alarming, presenting significant toxic threats to soil ecosystems. Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.), a plant of significant medicinal and culinary value, is increasingly subjected to environmental stressors that threaten its growth and productivity. This situation is particularly acute given the well-documented toxicity of chromium (Cr), which has been shown to adversely affect plant biomass and escalate risks to the productivity of such economically and therapeutically important species. The present study was conducted to investigate the individual effects of different levels of PVC−MPs (0, 2, and 4 mg L−1) and Cr (0, 150, and 300 mg kg−1) on various aspects of plant growth. Specifically, we examined growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, oxidative stress responses, antioxidant compound activity (both enzymatic and nonenzymatic), gene expression, sugar content, nutritional status, organic acid exudation, and Cr accumulation in different parts of Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) seedlings, which were also exposed to varying levels of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) (0, 25, and 50 µg mL−1). Results from the present study showed that the increasing levels of Cr and PVC−MPs in soils significantly decreased plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, sugars, and nutritional contents from the roots and shoots of the plants. Conversely, increasing levels of Cr and PVC−MPs in the soil increased oxidative stress indicators in term of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and electrolyte leakage, and also increased organic acid exudation pattern in the roots of T. ammi seedlings. Interestingly, the application of TiO2−NPs counteracted the toxicity of Cr and PVC−MPs in T. ammi seedlings, leading to greater growth and biomass. This protective effect is facilitated by the NPs' ability to sequester reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing oxidative stress and lowering Cr concentrations in both the roots and shoots of the plants. Our research findings indicated that the application of TiO2−NPs has been shown to enhance the resilience of T. ammi seedlings to Cr and PVC−MPs toxicity, leading to not only improved biomass but also a healthier physiological state of the plants. This was demonstrated by a more balanced exudation of organic acids, which is a critical response mechanism to metal stress.

Abstract Agricultural production is severely limited by an iron deficiency. Alkaline soils increase iron deficiency in rice crops, consequently leading to nutrient deficiencies in humans. Adding iron to rice enhances both its elemental composition and the nutritional value it offers humans through the food chain. The purpose of the current pot experiment was to investigate the impact of Fe treatment in alkaline (pH 7.5) and acidic (pH 5.5) soils to introduce iron-rich rice. Iron was applied to the plants in the soil in the form of an aqueous solution of FeSO4 with five different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM). The results obtained from the current study demonstrated a significant increase in Fe content in Oryza sativa with the application of iron in both alkaline and acidic pH soils. Specifically, Basmati-515, one of the rice cultivars tested, exhibited a notable 13% increase in iron total accumulation per plant and an 11% increase in root-to-shoot ratio in acidic soil. In contrast to Basmati-198, which demonstrated maximum response in alkaline soil, Basmati-515 exhibited notable increases in all parameters, including a 31% increase in dry weight, 16% increase in total chlorophyll content, an 11% increase in CAT (catalase) activity, 7% increase in APX (ascorbate peroxidase) activity, 26% increase in POD (peroxidase) activity, and a remarkable 92% increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase) in acidic soil. In alkaline soil, Basmati-198 exhibited respective decreases of 40% and 39% in MDA and H2O2 content, whereas Basmati-515 demonstrated a more significant decrease of 50% and 67% in MDA and H2O2 in acidic soil. These results emphasize the potential for targeted soil management strategies to improve iron nutrition and address iron deficiency in agricultural systems. By considering soil conditions, it is possible to enhance iron content and promote its availability in alkaline and acidic soils, ultimately contributing to improved crop nutrition and human health.

Textile-based photocatalysts are the new materials that can be utilized as an effective sustainable solution for biochemical hazards. Hence, we aimed to develop a sustainable, cost-effective, and facile approach for the fabrication of photocatalytic fabric using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and ferric-based multifunctional nanocomposite. Bulk g-C3N4 was prepared from urea by heating it at 500 °C for 2 h. The structure of ball-milled g-C3N4 was engineered by doping with various amounts of iron (III) chloride hexahydrate solution (0.006 mol/L) and sintered at 90 °C for 24 h to prepare g-C3N4–nanosheets/α-Fe2O3 composites. These nanocomposites have potential avenues towards rational designing of g-C3N4 for improved photocatalytic, antibacterial, and antiviral behavior. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized for its surface morphology, chemical composition, crystal structure, catalytic, antibacterial, and antiviral behavior. The fabrication of ferric doped g-C3N4 nanocomposites was characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analysis. The coated fabric nanocomposite was characterized for methylene blue dye degradation under visible light, antibacterial and antiviral behavior. The developed textile-based photocatalyst has been found with very good recyclability with photocatalytic degradation of dye up to 99.9 % when compared to conventional g-C3N4 powder-based photocatalyst.

Abstract Background Yellow (stripe) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an economic disease of wheat. Growth-promoting fungi (GPF) such as Trichoderma asperellum and Penicillium simplicissimum have been investigated for their potential to control yellow rust and their involvement in gene expression of four PR proteins for all-stage resistance. Results Wheat plants (cv. Sids-12) treated individually with each of the biocontrol agents, P. simplicissimum and T. asperellum, at 24 and 48 hpi showed a resistance response (infection type = 2) to yellow rust, compared to the non-treated plants, which showed highly susceptible response (infection type = 9). Both biocontrol agents induced resistance against yellow rust on wheat plants, exhibiting a moderate resistance (10 MR) and reduced the colony size of Pst (0.6 mm2). Moreover, P. simplicissimum and T. asperellum increased (P ≤ 0.05) the grain yields of wheat plants infected with Pst. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of yellow rust infected wheat leaves treated with P. simplicissimum and T. asperellum at 24 and 48 hpi showed hyperparasitism on Pst urediniospores and inhibition of the spore germination. Expressions of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein genes, PR1, PR2, PR3 and PR4 were higher in wheat plants treated with both biocontrol agents than the non-treated checks. Conclusion P. simplicissimum and T. asperellum exhibited biocontrol potential against yellow rust disease caused by P. striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) on wheat plants. It was found that wheat defence mechanism against Pst was activated by a high expression of PR protein genes induced by both biocontrol agents.

Cadmium (Cd) stress causes serious disruptions in plant metabolism, physio-biochemical processes, crop yield, and quality characters. Nitric oxide (NO) improves the quality features and nutritional contents of fruit plants. However, how NO confers Cd toxicity in fragrant rice plants, is sparse. Hence, the present study investigated the effects of 50 µM NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on physio-biochemical processes, plant growth attributes, grain yield, and quality traits of fragrant rice under Cd stress (100 mg kg−1 soil). The results revealed that Cd stress diminished rice plant growth, impaired photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant defense system, and deteriorated the grain quality traits. However, foliar application of SNP mitigated Cd stress by improving plant growth and gas exchange attributes. Higher electrolyte leakage (EL) was accompanied with elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under Cd stress; however, exogenous application of SNP reduced them. The activities and relative expression levels of enzymatic antioxidants; superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and non-enzymatic antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) contents were reduced by Cd stress, while SNP application regulated their activity and transcript abundances. SNP application improved fragrant rice grain yield and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content by 57.68 % and 75.54 % respectively, which is concomitant with higher biomass accumulation, photosynthetic efficiency, photosynthetic pigment contents, and an improved antioxidant defense system. Collectively, our results concluded that SNP application regulated the fragrant rice plant physio-biochemical processes, yield traits and grain quality characters under Cd-affected soil.

Phosphorus (P) availability is the major constrain in obtaining optimum crop yield in calcareous soils due to its precipitation as dicalcium and octacalcium phosphate by reacting with Ca+2 and Mg+2. Therefore, we explored the role of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (without and with PSB @ 2 kg ha−1) in optimizing maize yield and P availability from soluble and insoluble P sources applied @ of 100 kg P2O5 into calcareous soil. PSB inoculation significantly improved maize plant height (5.6%), 1,000 grain weight (11%), dry matter (7.5%), stover (10.8%) and grain yield (6.8%), plant P concentration (10.1%) and uptake (18.6%), extractable P (3.1%), agronomic (48%) and uptake (53%) P use efficiency over uninoculated plots. Phosphorus application significantly improved maize yield, soil health and agronomic P use efficiency (4.84 times over control); however, its impact was more pronounced when applied as 50% P each from farmyard manure (FYM) and single super phosphate (SSP). On the basis of overall performance, the sources were ranked as 50% FYM + 50% SSP >50% rock phosphate (RP) + 50% SSP > 100% SSP > 75% FYM + 25% SSP > 75% RP +25% SSP > 100% FYM > 100 RP > control. Interactively, a significant and maximum increased over absolute control in most of the soil and plant tested characteristics were observed when 100 kg P2O5 ha−1 was supplemented 50% each as FYM and SSP along with PSB inoculation which was followed by 50% P each as FYM and SSP demonstrating that PSB were effective in enhancing RP solubilization under calcareous soil. Maximum value cost ratio of 3.1 was observed for 50% P each as FYM and SSP + PSB which was similar to 100% P as FYM + PSB and 75% FYM+ 25% SSP + PSB. Therefore, in calcareous soil P shall be amended 50% each as organic and mineral sources with PSB for its efficient utilization and obtaining optimum yield of maize.

Abstract Phosphorus (P) deficiency is the main hurdle in achieving sustainable crop production ps especially in calcareous soils. Using bio-fertilizers like phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) could be a useful approach for sustainable P management as they improve P availability in soil via dissolution, desorption and mineralization reactions. In addition, application of organic amendments with PSB could further ameliorate soil conditions for sustainable management of immobilized nutrients in calcarious soils. Therefore, we performed pot experiment to study the role of PSB in nullifying antagonistic effects of liming (4.78, 10, 15 and 20%) on P availability from poultry manure (PM), farm yard manure (FYM), single super phosphate (SSP) and rock phosphate (RP) in alkaline soils. PSB inoculation improved wheat growth, P availability and stimulated soil acidification over control regardless of P sources and lime levels. Soil calcification adversely affected plant growth, P nutrition, induced soil salinity and alkalinity, however, PSB and manures application potentially nullified such harmful effects over mentioned traits. Individually, organic sources were superior than mineral sources however, the performance of mineral fertilizers with PSB was at par to sole application of manures. Furthermore, application of RP with PSB proved as effective as sole SSP. Therefore, using PSB as bio-fertilizer has huge potential for improving P availability in calcareous soils.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) is China’s unique environmentally friendly cash crop. To protect the environment more strictly and develop sustainably, the planting process will reduce the input of fertilizer (nitrogen fertilizer). The effect of reduced nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and quality of ramie is still under systematic investigation. Taking the fiber variety ‘H5’ as the target, 4 N application rates of 100% (N 390 kg/hm2), 85%, 70%, and 55% were set, with no N application as the control (marked as N100, N85, N70, N55, and CK), to study the effects of N reduction on ramie yield, N uptake and utilization, and soil fertility. The results showed that the total production of ramie first harvest raw fiber and nitrogen accumulation showed a trend of first rising and then falling with the decrease of nitrogen application, the output of secondary and tertiary harvest ramie decreased with the reduction of nitrogen application, and the total production of N85 treatment was the highest. Compared with N100, N70 and N85 can improve n utilization, N agronomic utilization, N partial productivity, and N harvest index. Nitrogen reduction can reduce the content of soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium in ramie, and the difference between N85 and N100 is not significant. Nitrogen fertilizer application can be reduced by 15% in ramie production.

The core objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of baking/frying times and temperatures on the formation of acrylamide in bakery, snack, and fried products such as biscuits, muffins, pizza, cakes, samosa, paratha rolls, nuggets, and potato cutlets during baking/frying at different times and temperature conditions. First of all, the raw material, especially flour, was tested for its proximate composition and rheological characteristics. The quantification of acrylamide produced during the processing of different products was carried out through the HPLC method. A sensory evaluation of these food samples was also carried out to find out the acceptability differences. The raw material was found to have good rheological properties and proximate composition. The results revealed that different times and temperature regimes influenced the formation of acrylamide in those products. Among the bakery products, the highest concentrations of acrylamide were observed in biscuits (126.52 μg/kg) followed by muffins (84.24 μg/kg), cake (71.21 μg/kg), and pizza (62.42 μg/kg). The higher contents of acrylamide were found in paratha roll (165.92 μg/kg) compared to samosa (100.43 μg/kg), whereas among snacks, potato cutlets (135.71 μg/kg) showed higher concentrations than nuggets (43.04 μg/kg). It was observed that baking or frying all the investigated products at higher temperatures produced slightly more acrylamide concentrations. The prepared products in the present study were also accepted sensorially by the panel of judges. So, it was concluded that baking or frying at higher temperatures resulted in higher concentrations of acrylamide compounds in different products in the present study.

Modern era of agriculture is concerned with the environmental influence on crop growth and development. Shading is one of the crucial factors affecting crop growth considerably, which has been neglected over the years. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of shading at flowering (S1) and pod development (S2) stages on nitrogen (N) dynamics, carbohydrates and yield of rapeseed. Two rapeseed genotypes (Chuannong and Zhongyouza) were selected to evaluate the effects of shading on 15N trace isotopes, enzymatic activities, dry matter, nitrogen and carbohydrate distribution and their relationship with yield. The results demonstrated that both shading treatments disturbed the nitrogen accumulation and transportation at the maturity stage. It was found that shading induced the downregulation of the N mobilizing enzymes (NR, NiR, GS, and GOGAT) in leaves and pods at both developmental stages. Shading at both growth stages resulted in reduced dry matter of both varieties but only S2 exhibited the decline in pod shell and seeds dry weight in both years. Besides this, carbohydrates distribution toward economic organs was declined by S2 treatment and its substantial impact was also experienced in seed weight and seeds number per pod which ultimately decreased the yield in both genotypes. We also revealed that yield is positively correlated with dry matter, nitrogen content and carbohydrates transportation. In contrast to Chuannong, the Zhongyouza genotype performed relatively better under shade stress. Overall, it was noticed that shading at pod developmental stage considerable affected the transportation of N and carbohydrates which led to reduced rapeseed yield as compared to shading at flowering stage. Our study provides basic theoretical support for the management techniques of rapeseed grown under low light regions and revealed the critical growth stage which can be negatively impacted by low light.

Zinc (Zn), which is regarded as a crucial micronutrient for plants, and is considered to be a vital micronutrient for plants. Zn has a significant role in the biochemistry and metabolism of plants owing to its significance and toxicity for biological systems at specific Zn concentrations, i.e., insufficient or harmful above the optimal range. It contributes to several cellular and physiological activities of plants and promotes plant growth, development, and yield. Zn is an important structural, enzymatic, and regulatory component of many proteins and enzymes. Consequently, it is essential to understand the interplay and chemistry of Zn in soil, its absorption, transport, and the response of plants to Zn deficiency, as well as to develop sustainable strategies for Zn deficiency in plants. Zn deficiency appears to be a widespread and prevalent issue in crops across the world, resulting in severe production losses that compromise nutritional quality. Considering this, enhancing Zn usage efficiency is the most effective strategy, which entails improving the architecture of the root system, absorption of Zn complexes by organic acids, and Zn uptake and translocation mechanisms in plants. Here, we provide an overview of various biotechnological techniques to improve Zn utilization efficiency and ensure the quality of crop. In light of the current status, an effort has been made to further dissect the absorption, transport, assimilation, function, deficiency, and toxicity symptoms caused by Zn in plants. As a result, we have described the potential information on diverse solutions, such as root structure alteration, the use of biostimulators, and nanomaterials, that may be used efficiently for Zn uptake, thereby assuring sustainable agriculture.

Copper (Cu2+) toxicity can inhibit plant growth and development. It has been shown that silicon (Si) can relieve Cu2+ stress. However, it is unclear how Si-nanoparticles (SiNPs) relieve Cu2+ stress in wheat seedlings. Therefore, the current study was conducted by setting up four treatments: CK, SiNP: (2.5 mM), Cu2+: (500 µM), and SiNP+Cu2+: (2.5 mM SiNP+500 µM Cu2+) to explore whether SiNPs can alleviate Cu2+ toxicity in wheat seedlings. The results showed that Cu2+ stress hampered root and shoot growth and accumulated high Cu2+ concentrations in roots (45.35 mg/kg) and shoots (25.70 mg/kg) of wheat as compared to control treatment. Moreover, Cu2+ treatment inhibited photosynthetic traits and chlorophyll contents as well as disturbed the antioxidant defense system by accumulating malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2) contents. However, SiNPs treatment increased root length and shoot height by 15.1% and 22%, respectively, under Cu2+ toxicity. Moreover, SiNPs application decreased MDA and H2O2 contents by 31.25% and 19.25%, respectively. SiNPs increased non-enzymatic compounds such as ascorbic acid-glutathione (AsA-GSH) and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbic peroxidase (APX) activities by 77.5%, 141.7%, 68%, and 80%, respectively. Furthermore, SiNPs decreased Cu2+ concentrations in shoots by 26.2%, as compared to Cu2+ treatment alone. The results concluded that SiNPs could alleviate Cu2+ stress in wheat seedlings. The present investigation may help to increase wheat production in Cu2+ contaminated soils.

Soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) is a persistent threat to crop production worldwide. The present study examined the putative roles of nitric oxide (NO) in improving Cd-tolerance in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.). The present study was conducted using four different genotypes of B. oleracea named as FD-3, FD-4, FD-2 and Ceilo Blanco which were subjected to the Cd stress at various concentrations i.e., 0, 5, 10 and 20 µM with or without the application of NO i.e., 0.10 mM in the sand containing nutrient Hoagland’s solution. Our results illustrated that the increasing levels of Cd in the sand, significantly (P

This research was performed to evaluate the potential of carvone, cuminaldehyde, cineole, and linalool for the control of root-knot of tomato. The tested control agents were evaluated for their ability to stimulate systemic resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in tomato by monitoring the transcription levels of defense-related genes. Moreover, the ability of the tested agents to induce nematicidal activity concerning second-stage juveniles (J2) hatching and mortality was evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of the tested agents on certain tomato growth and yield parameters was assessed. The tested monoterpenes showed high nematicidal activity against M. incognita concerning J2 hatching inhibition and mortality. Carvone, cuminaldhyde, linalool, and cineole had LC50 values of 123.5, 172.2, 354.9, 466.4, and 952.3 μg/mL, respectively. Carvone was found to be the most efficient hatching inhibitor. The tested monoterpenes showed a high potential against root-knot under greenhouse and field conditions with respect to root-galling, egg masses, and the number of J2. Carvone was the most effective treatment. The growth and yield characters of treated tomato were significantly increased in monoterpenes treatments compared to untreated control. Treated tomato plants showed expression of defense-related genes (PR1 and PAL) 5-8 folds higher than the control. The results also showed that cuminaldhyde, followed by carvone, linalool, and cineole, had the greatest levels of expression in tomato plants. Taken together, the selected monoterpenes could be used as alternatives to control the root-knot of tomato.

Drought is one of the most destructive abiotic stresses that impact the growth, physiology, yield, and nutritional quality of seeds of crop plants. In modern agriculture, the use of nanoparticles can be beneficial due to their large surface area and higher potentiality to enter into the plant leaf during foliar application. This study aims to evaluate the effects of foliar spray containing varying doses (0, 100, and 200 ppm) of the nano-iron (Fe3O4) on the growth, physiology, yield, and seed nutritional quality of soybean under drought (40% of field capacity, FC) and well-watered (80% of FC) conditions. Leaf water status, chlorophyll content of leaves, the height of the plant, fresh leaf weight, fresh stem weight, fresh petiole weight, total dry weight, seed yield, and protein and oil content in soybean seeds were found to be suppressed by the applied drought stress. Under both drought (40% of FC) and controlled well-watered (80% of FC) conditions, the foliar application of nano-iron substantially improved the growth, physiology, yield, and quality of soybean seeds. The nanoparticles at 200 ppm increased soybean seed yield by 40.12 and 32.60% in drought and well-watered conditions, respectively, compared to the untreated plants. Furthermore, nano-iron increased the oil content of soybean seeds by 10.14 and 7.87% under drought and well-watered conditions, respectively, compared to the untreated control. Our results indicate that the application of nano-iron improved drought tolerance, yield, and seed quality of soybean, so exogenous foliar sprays of 200 ppm Fe3O4 were more effective than the other treatments in enhancing drought tolerance and can be utilized to reduce losses caused by drought stress in soybean-growing areas.

While of lesser prevalence than boron (B) deficient soils, B-rich soils are important to study as they can cause B toxicity in the field and subsequently decrease crop yields in different regions of the world. We have conducted the present study to examine the role of the individual or combined application of silicon (Si) and NPK fertilizer in B-stressed spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.). S. oleracea seedlings were subjected to different NPK fertilizers, namely, low NPK (30 kg ha–2) and normal NPK (60 kg ha–2)], which were also supplemented by Si (3 mmol L–1), for varying levels of B in the soil i.e., 0, 250, and 500 mg kg–1. Our results illustrated that the increasing levels of B in the soil caused a substantial decrease in the plant height, number of leaves, number of stems, leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, magnesium content in the roots, magnesium contents in the shoots, phosphorus content in the roots, phosphorus content in the leaves in the shoots, iron content in the roots, iron content in the shoots, calcium content in the roots, and calcium content in the shoots. However, B toxicity in the soil increased the concentration of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and electrolyte leakage which were also manifested by the increasing activities of enzymatic [superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)], and non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin content). B toxicity in the soil further increased the concentration of organic acids in the roots such as oxalic acid, malic acid, formic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, and fumaric acid. The addition of Si and fertilizer levels in the soil significantly alleviated B toxicity effects on S. oleracea by improving photosynthetic capacity and ultimately plant growth. The increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in Si and NPK-treated plants seems to play a role in capturing stress-induced reactive oxygen species, as was evident from the lower levels of oxidative stress indicators, organic acid exudation, and B concentration in the roots and shoots of Si and NPK-treated plants. Research findings, therefore, suggested that the Si and NPK application can ameliorate B toxicity in S. oleracea seedlings and result in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress as depicted by the balanced exudation of organic acids.

Development of an efficient and eco-friendly technique to break tuber dormancy in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is highly demanded due to the production of two or more crops annually. Several physiological and hormonal changes have been found to be related to the breaking of tuber dormancy; however, their consistency with genotypes and different protocols have not been well clarified. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of four dormancy-breaking methods, that is, plant growth regulator (PGR) dipping in 30, 60, or 90 mgL−1 benzyl amino purine (BAP) and 10, 20, or 30 mgL−1 gibberellic acids (GA3) alone and in the combination of optimized concentrations; electric current application at 20, 40, 60, or 80 Vs; cold pre-treatment at 2, 4, or 6 °C; irradiation at 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, or 3.5 kGy. In addition, changes in endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin (ZT), and gibberellin A1 (GA1) in six potato genotypes after subjecting to these methods were investigated. Overall, the highest effective method for dormancy duration was the PGR application which shortened the duration by 18 days, followed by electric current (13 days), cold pre-treatment (9 days), and then irradiation (7 days). The solution of 60 mgL−1 BAP significantly reduced the dormancy duration in all genotypes but did not have a significant effect on the sprout length. While 20 mgL−1 GA3 produced maximum sprout length with a non-significant effect on dormancy duration. The genotype × PGR interaction for dormancy duration was more pronounced in short- and medium-term dormancy genotypes than in long-term dormancy genotypes. The genotypes displayed a significant positive correlation between dormancy duration and ABA levels but exhibited a negative correlation between dormancy duration and ZT as well as GA1 levels. From the first to the third week of storage, ABA was decreased in tubers while, however, ZT and GA1 were increased. The obtained results could be useful for the postharvest storage of potato tuber and the related field of physiological investigation in future.

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal that contaminates soil and water resources after its discharge from different industries. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of single and/or combined application of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (250 μM) and sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) (1 mM) on growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant machinery (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants), ion uptake, organic acid exudation, and Cr uptake of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) exposed to severe Cr stress [Cr: 0 (no Cr), 150, and 300 μM]. Our results depicted that Cr addition to the soil significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plant growth and biomass, gas exchange attributes, and mineral uptake by S. oleracea when compared to the plants grown without the addition of Cr. However, Cr toxicity boosted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), which is the indication of oxidative stress in S. oleracea, and was also manifested by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and electrolyte leakage to the membrane-bound organelles. The results showed that the activities of various antioxidative enzymes, such as superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin, initially increased with an increase in the Cr concentration in the soil. The results also revealed that the levels of soluble sugar, reducing sugar, and non-reducing sugar were decreased in plants grown under elevating Cr levels, but the accumulation of the metal in the roots and shoots of S. oleracea, was found to be increased, and the values of bioaccumulation factor were

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals [such as lead (Pb)] is becoming a serious global problem due to the rapid development of the social economy. However, accumulation of Pb in plant parts is very toxic for plant growth and decreases crop yield and productivity. In the present study, we have investigated the different concentrations of Pb in the soil i.e., [0 (no Pb), 50, and 100 mg kg–1] to study plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange characteristics, oxidative stress indicators and the response of various antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic), nutritional status of the plant, organic acid exudation pattern and also Pb accumulation in the roots and shoots of the plants of two varieties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) i.e., Roma and Cchuas, grown under different levels of synergic acid [no spray (NS), water spray (WS), 0.3-0.5°μM]. Results from the present study showed that the increasing levels of Pb in the soil decreased non-significantly (P < 0.05) shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, soluble sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar contents, calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), iron (Fe2+), and phosphorus (P) contents in the roots and shoots of the plants. However, Pb toxicity also induced oxidative stress in the roots and shoots of the plants by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and electrolyte leakage (EL) which also induced increased the compounds of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and also organic acids exudation pattern in the roots such as fumaric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid contents and increased the concentration of Pb in different parts of the plants. Results also show that the Cchuas showed better growth and development compared to Roma, under the same levels of Pb in the soil. The alleviation of Pb toxicity was induced by the application of synergic acid, and results showed that the application of synergic acid increased plant growth and biomass and also increased the gas exchange characteristics and antioxidant capacity in the roots and shoots of the plants. Research findings, therefore, suggested that synergic acid application can ameliorate Pb toxicity in S. lycopersicum varieties and result in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress as depicted by balanced exudation of organic acids.

Salinity has become a major environmental concern of agricultural lands, impairing crop production. The current study aimed to examine the role of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in reducing the oxidative stress induced by salinity and the overall improvement in phytochemical properties in barley. A total of nine different barley genotypes were first subjected to salt (NaCl) stress in hydroponic conditions to determine the tolerance among the genotypes. The genotype Annora was found as most sensitive, and the most tolerant genotype was Awaran 02 under salinity stress. In another study, the most sensitive (Annora) and tolerant (Awaran 02) barley genotypes were grown in pots under salinity stress (100 mM). At the same time, half of the pots were provided with the soil application of ZnO NPs (100 mg kg–1), and the other half pots were foliar sprayed with ZnO NPs (100 mg L–1). Salinity stress reduced barley growth in both genotypes compared to control plants. However, greater reduction in barley growth was found in Annora (sensitive genotype) than in Awaran 02 (tolerant genotype). The exogenous application of ZnO NPs ameliorated salt stress and improved barley biomass, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activities by reducing oxidative damage caused by salt stress. However, this positive effect by ZnO NPs was observed more in Awaran 02 than in Annora genotype. Furthermore, the foliar application of ZnO NPs was more effective than the soil application of ZnO NPs. Findings of the present study revealed that exogenous application of ZnO NPs could be a promising approach to alleviate salt stress in barley genotypes with different levels of salinity tolerance.

Different industrial and agricultural practices release a variety of dyes and pesticides in soil and water. Degradation of these pollutants is very important to avoid health and environmental issues. In this study, the photocatalysis technique has been optimized and adopted to degrade organic and inorganic pollutants. First of all, biochar with distinctive physicochemical properties, like high specific surface, highly carbonaceous property, and the electron-conductive nature was prepared in a vacuum furnace from maize straw. These properties depicted the effective absorbance ability of prepared biochar. Using a solvent-free ball-milling method, ZnO loaded maize biochar nanocomposite (MB-ZnO) was synthesized from this biochar and used as a photocatalyst to degrade aqueous pollutants, under different light sources. The adsorption and photocatalytic activity of MB-ZnO was assessed against Safranin O (Saf) and Mancozeb (MC) within a closed system using different light conditions including dark, UV and visible light. To understand the mechanism of Saf and MC removal from aqueous solution, reaction kinetics was calculated according to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. MB-ZnOcomposite exhibited variable photocatalytic performances to degrade Saf under visible light (83.5%), UV radiations (81.0%) and dark conditions (78%) in 60 min. Similarly, maximum MC degradation by MB-ZnO nanocomposite was exhibited in visible light (56.5%), followed by UV radiations (27.5 %) and dark conditions (25.2%). The findings of this study concluded that MB-ZnO nanocomposite can be used as an excellent catalyst to remove aqueous pollutants, under both light and dark conditions.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As), polluting the environment, pose a significant risk and cause a wide array of adverse changes in plant physiology. Above threshold accumulation of PTEs is alarming which makes them prone to ascend along the food chain, making their environmental prevention a critical intervention. On a global scale, current initiatives to remove the PTEs are costly and might lead to more pollution. An emerging technology that may help in the removal of PTEs is phytoremediation. Compared to traditional methods, phytoremediation is eco-friendly and less expensive. While many studies have reported several plants with high PTEs tolerance, uptake, and then storage capacity in their roots, stem, and leaves. However, the wide application of such a promising strategy still needs to be achieved, partly due to a poor understanding of the molecular mechanism at the proteome level controlling the phytoremediation process to optimize the plant’s performance. The present study aims to discuss the detailed mechanism and proteomic response, which play pivotal roles in the uptake of PTEs from the environment into the plant’s body, then scavenge/detoxify, and finally bioaccumulate the PTEs in different plant organs. In this review, the following aspects are highlighted as: (i) PTE’s stress and phytoremediation strategies adopted by plants and (ii) PTEs induced expressional changes in the plant proteome more specifically with arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, mercury, and lead with models describing the metal uptake and plant proteome response. Recently, interest in the comparative proteomics study of plants exposed to PTEs toxicity results in appreciable progress in this area. This article overviews the proteomics approach to elucidate the mechanisms underlying plant’s PTEs tolerance and bioaccumulation for optimized phytoremediation of polluted environments.

Crop quality and nutrient uptake are considerably influenced by fertilizers inputs and their application rate. Biochar (BC) improves nitrogen uptake and crop productivity. However, its interaction with synthetic and organic fertilizers in calcareous soil is not fully recognized. Therefore, we inspected the role of biochar (0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha–1) in improving N uptake and quality of wheat in a calcareous soil under integrated N management (90, 120, and 150 kg N ha–1) applied each from urea, farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM) along with control) in 2 years field experiments. Application of 20 t BC along with 150 kg N ha–1 as poultry manure considerably improved wheat grain protein content (14.57%), grain (62.9%), straw (28.7%), and biological (38.4%) yield, grain, straw, and total N concentration by 14.6, 19.2, and 15.6% and their uptake by 84.6, 48.8, and 72.1%, respectively, over absolute control when averaged across the years. However, their impact was more pronounced in the 2nd year (2016–2017) after application compared to the 1st year (2015–2016). Therefore, for immediate crop benefits, it is recommended to use 20 t BC ha–1 once in 50 years for enhancing the nitrogen use efficiency of fertilizers and crop yield.

The growth and productivity of plants are enhanced by the use of thiourea (TU) under stressful conditions. When TU is applied as a rooting medium, it improves plant growth characteristics and other physiological parameters in stressed environment. A pot experiment was conducted in the botanical garden of the Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan to examine the TU-mediated fluctuations in some crucial physio-biochemical parameters and the oxidative defense of potatoes under a restricted water supply. For this purpose, two potato cultivars (potato-SH-5 and potato-FD-73) were sown in pots containing 10 kg of soil. Water was regularly applied to the pots until germination. After 2 weeks of germination, drought stress with 65% field capacity was imposed, while the control was subjected to 100% field capacity. TU, as a rooting medium, was applied at the vegetative stage (0 (no application), 0.5, 0.75 mM). A substantial reduction in the total number of leaves, leaf area, tuber biomass (fresh and dry weight), photosynthetic pigments, membrane permeability, and leaf relative water content (RWC) was recorded in plants under drought stress conditions as compared to control plants. The damaging effects of water stress were more critical for cv. potato-FD-73 as compared to cv. potato-SH-5. In contrast, drought stress enhanced the malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content while also increased antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)) and triggered the accumulation of soluble proteins, soluble sugars, proline, and phenolic and anthocyanin contents. However, TU applied as rooting medium at 0.5 and 0.75 mM was effective in reducing the detrimental effects of water stress in both cultivars. Furthermore, increasing levels of TU enhanced chlorophyll pigments, dissolved proteins, complete dissolved sugars, and enzymatic capabilities of POD, SOD, and CAT, while reducing the MDA and H2O2 in both cultivars under stress conditions. In conclusion, TU improved the yield and chlorophyll pigments of potato plants by mitigating the adverse effects of drought stress through reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2 contents and improved activities of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and osmoprotectants.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is a widely grown citrus and its fruit is affected by a variety of biotic and abiotic stress. Keeping in view the hazardous effects of synthetic fungicides, the recent trend is shifting towards safer and eco-friendly control of fruit diseases. The present study was aimed to diagnose the fruit rot disease of grapefruit and its control by using zinc oxide green nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Fruit rot symptoms were observed in various grapefruit growing sites of Pakistan. Diseased samples were collected, and the disease-causing pathogen was isolated. Following Koch’s postulates, the isolated pathogen was identified as Rhizoctonia solani. For eco-friendly control of this disease, ZnO NPs were prepared in the seed extract of Trachyspermum ammi and characterized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of these NPs described the presence of stabilizing and reducing compounds such as phenols, aldehyde and vinyl ether, especially thymol (phenol). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed their crystalline nature and size (48.52 nm). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis elaborated the presence of major elements in the samples, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the morphology of bio fabricated NPs. ZnO NPs exhibited very good anti-fungal activity and the most significant fungal growth inhibition was observed at 1.0 mg/ml concentration of green NPs, in vitro and in vivo. These findings described that the bioactive constituents of T. ammi seed extract can effectively reduce and stabilize ZnO NPs. It is a cost-effective method to successfully control the fruit rot disease of grapefruit.

H5N1 virus (H5N1V) is highly contagious among birds and it was first detected in humans in 1997 during a poultry outbreak in Hong Kong. As the mechanism of its pathogenesis inside the host is still lacking, in this in-silico study we hypothesized that H5N1V might create miRNAs, which could target the genes associated with host cellular regulatory pathways, thus provide persistent refuge to the virus. Using bioinformatics approaches, several H5N1V produced putative miRNAs as well as the host genes targeted by these miRNAs were found. Functional enrichment analysis of targeted genes revealed their involvement in many biological pathways that facilitate their host pathogenesis. Eventually, the microarray dataset (GSE28166) was analyzed to validate the altered expression level of target genes and found the genes involved in protein binding and adaptive immune responses. This study presents novel miRNAs and their targeted genes, which upon experimental validation could facilitate in developing new therapeutics against H5N1V infection.

Environmental contamination of chromium (Cr) has gained substantial consideration worldwide because of its high levels in the water and soil. A pot experiment using oil seed crop (rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)) grown under different levels of tannery wastewater (0, 33, 66 and 100%) in the soil using the foliar application of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe)-lysine (lys) has been conducted. Results revealed that a considerable decline in the plant growth and biomass elevates with the addition of concentrations of tannery wastewater. Maximum decline in plant height, number of leaves, root length, fresh and dry biomass of root and leaves were recorded at the maximum level of tannery wastewater application (100%) compared to the plants grown without the addition of tannery wastewater (0%) in the soil. Similarly, contents of carotenoid and chlorophyll, gas exchange parameters and activities of various antioxidants (superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) were also reduced significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing concentration of tannery wastewater (33, 66 and 100%) in the soil. In addition, a combined application of Zn and Fe-lys reduced the accumulation and uptake of toxic Cr, while boosting the uptake of essential micronutrients such as Zn and Fe in different tissues of the plants. Results concluded that exogenous application of micronutrients chelated with amino acid successfully mitigate Cr stress in B. napus. Under field conditions, supplementation with these micronutrient-chelated amino acids may be an effective method for alleviating metal stress in other essential seed crops.

Boron (B) deficiency is a widespread problem in alkaline soils which affects yield and quality of potato but is often ignored by the growers. That's why, we compared the impact of different methods of boron application (foliar spray, fertigation and soil dressing) along with control on boron use efficiency (BUE), quality and yield of potato in alkaline soils. Boron (0.5 kg ha-1) applied as a foliar spray had significantly increased plant height, tuber per plant, tuber volume and enhanced the quality in terms of vitamin C, starch and B content of potato compared to other methods. Moreover, foliar applied B significantly improved B uptake and it use efficiency over other application methods. B concentration in tubers were strongly correlated with vitamin C and starch contents. The application methods were ranked as foliar spray>fertigation>soil dressing in term of their effectiveness towards potato yield and quality improvement. Thus, for optimum production of good quality potato, B should be applied as foliar spray at the rate of 0.5 kg B ha-1 in existing agro-climatic conditions.

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal that contaminates soil and water resources after its discharge from different industries. It can act as carcinogen and mutagen for biological systems. Microbe-assisted phytoremediation is one of the most emergent and environment friendly technique used for detoxification of Cr from Cr-contaminated soils. In this study, wheat as a test crop was grown under varying stress levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of Cr in a pot experiment under a complete randomized design. Alleviative role of Staphylococcus aureus strain K1 was assessed by applying as a treatment in different combinations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (0, 50, 100 mg/L). Growth and yield attributes data presented nurturing impact of bacterial inoculation and ZnO NPs in improvement of wheat defense system by decreasing Cr toxicity. Increase in chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, APX, CAT) activities and nutrient uptake also confirmed the mitigative potential of bacterial inoculation when applied solely or in combination with ZnO NPs. The Cr accumulation in different parts of plant was significantly reduced with the application of NPs and S. aureus strain K1. Taken together, the results showed that combined application of Staphylococcus aureus strain K1 and ZnO NPs detoxifies the effects of Cr on wheat plants and boosts its growth, physiology and defense system.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench) plays a significant role in humans nutrition because its fresh leaves, stems, flowers, pods and seeds, are used for multiple purposes. The present study attempted to determine the spatial variations in biochemical attributes of osmoprotectants and the oxidative defense system of okra plants. Samples of soil and okra plants (leaves and fruits) were collected from three different locations: Faisalabad region-1 (7 JB-I), Faisalabad region-2 (7 JB-II) and Pindi Bhattian. Chlorophyll contents, glycine betaine (GB), ascorbic acid (AsA), total phenolics, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were analyzed in the leaves and fruits of okra plants. Soil analyses showed that pH, electrical conductivity (EC), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), and saturation of soil were higher in Faisalabad region 2, while organic matter, sand, Zn, and Cu were higher in the Pindi Bhattian region. The results from okra leaves showed that Pindi Bhattian had higher chlorophyll a, GB and H2O2 contents, while Faisalabad region 1 had a higher ratio of chlorophyll a/b compared to the other regions. However, Faisalabad regions 2 and 1 had higher leaf phenolic contents, Faisalabad regions 1 and 2 showed higher leaf proline contents, and Faisalabad region 2 possessed higher AsA and MDA contents. Analyses of okra fruits showed that Faisalabad region 2 had higher chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents, while Faisalabad region 1 had higher chlorophyll b contents. Faisalabad region 2 and Pindi Bhattian had higher ratios of chlorophyll a/b, and Faisalabad region 1 showed higher phenolic, AsA, H2O2, and MDA contents of okra fruit, whereas the Faisalabad regions exhibited higher proline and GB contents than the Pindi Bhattian region. Overall, okra leaves and fruits showed better responses in the Faisalabad regions, and these results may be used to screen for okra cultivars with better tolerance under different environmental conditions.

This study was conducted in a rice-based cropping scheme to investigate the impact of green manuring on soil health, considering soil physicochemical properties and sustainable crop production. A field experiment was started on 2 November 2015 and completed on 15 April 2018 under a rice–berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) cropping system in calcareous soil. Two green manuring patterns, rice–berseem and rice–wheat–sesbania (rostrata), were compared with a commonly practiced rice–wheat (Oryza sativa-Triticumaestivum) cropping pattern. Green manuring of the berseem crop (last cutting) along with 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended fertilizer doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) were compared with recommended NPK fertilization along with control (no fertilizer). The plant growth parameters of rice, including plant height, tillers per plant at maturity, and yield data, were recorded at harvest. The pre-sowing soil analysis revealed that the experimental soil was low in salts, and the nutrient (NPK) status was very low. The results indicated that green manuring substantially enhanced the grain and straw yield of rice crops. Green manuring combined with 75% of recommended NPK produced the highest grain yield (5.83 t ha−1 in year III) compared to the other treatments. The soil analysis showed that the bulk density was reduced while soil porosity, organic carbon, and N, K, and P contents were significantly improved. From the results of this study, it is recommended that under calcareous soil conditions, the regular use of green manuring can significantly improve crop growth, yield, and physicochemical properties of soil and, therefore, should be adopted by farmers.

Objective: About half-century ago, human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) was observed in infants and children under age of five years. As the mechanism of its pathogenesis inside the host is still lacking, in this in-silico study we hypothesized that RSV might create miRNAs, which could target the genes associated with host cellular regulatory pathways, thus provide persistent refuge to virus. Methodology: Pre-miRNAs in RSV genome (accession no. NC_001803.1) were extracted through VMir software, and the identification of putative pre-miRNAs and mature miRNAs was accessed using iMiRNA-SSF and FOMmiR tool, respectively. Later, prediction of host specific target gene was accompanied by RNAhybrid tool. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis was done for the validation of target genes using microarray dataset (GSE80179). Lastly, Drug-gene interaction database was used to explore the small drug like candidate against RSV infection. Results: Searching RSV genome for their pre-miRNAs yielded 15 pre-miRNAs like sequence with length vary for each pre-miRNA sequences. FOMmiR tool revealed a total of 7 mature miRNAs from 6 real pre-miRNA hairpins. Functional enrichment analysis of targeted genes, revealed their involvement in many biological pathways which facilitate their pathogenesis in host. The microarray dataset (GSE80179) was analyzed to validate altered expression level of target genes and found genes linked with pathways such as T-cell activation, apoptosis, NF-kappa B signaling, cell differentiation and autophagy. CYCS, CTLA4, and BTK were chosen as possible targets of 21 drugs. A total of 21 drugs were explored using DGIdb that might have potential to treat RSV patient. Conclusion: This study updates the information and yield a new perspective in context of understanding the pathogenesis of RSV. Our study presents novel miRNAs and their targeted hub genes, which upon experimental validation could facilitate in developing new therapeutics against RSV infection. In vivo and in vitro investigation of miRNAs and pathway interaction is essential to delineate the specific roles of the novel miRNAs, which may help to reveal the mechanisms behind the pathogenesis. Based on the hub genes and miRNAs, experimental models may be designed in terms of the detection of pathogenesis, evaluation of risk, and determining the targeted therapies of RSV infections.

Mango sudden death (MSD) or quick decline (QD) is the most destructive disease found in mango orchards of Pakistan and is characterized by collapse of the vascular system by Ceratocystis fimbriata and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Cultural practices, chemicals, and biological control are the most valuable tools for the management of MSD, but the role of micronutrient deficiencies has remained an area that is heavily ignored by the farming community. To study the impact of micronutrients, four mango orchards were selected at different locations where different combinations of micronutrients, i.e., Zinc (Zn), Boran (B), and Copper (Cu) in the form of Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), Borax/Boric acid (H3BO3), and Copper Sulphate (CuSO4), were applied both foliar and in drench along with the recommended doses of Nitrogen: Phosphorous: Potassium (NPK), and Farmyard manure (FYM), respectively. The quantities of micronutrients were determined from the soil and leaves before and after application of the treatments. The impact of micronutrients was measured in terms of reduction in disease severity and increase in fruit yield. The results revealed that the application of all three micronutrients both in soil drench and in foliar form significantly decreased the disease severity at three locations and increased the yield in all four mango orchards. Application of ZnSO4 (0.8%), +H3BO3 (0.8%), +CuSO4 (0.5%) and as soil drench ZnSO4 (400 g) + Borax (200 g) + CuSO4 200 g plant−1 proved to be the best treatments, with an average of 12.88 and 14.03% reduction in disease severity and with an average yield of 128 and 119 kg, respectively. The application of micronutrients would be a promising solution in an integrated disease management program used to tackle MSD.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a new tool to combat phytopathogens in agricultural crops. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) mainly infects Solanaceae crops and causes significant crop losses. Nanomaterials (NMs) may have efficacy against plant viruses, but the mechanisms underlying complex nanomaterials-plant-virus interactions remain elusive. We challenged Nicotiana benthamiana plants with GFP-tagged CCYV and observed morphological, physiological, and molecular changes in response to 21-d foliar exposure to nanoscale Fe and Zn and C60 fullerenes at 100 mg/L concentration for 21 days. We observed that in response to C60 (100 mg/L) treatment, plants displayed a normal phenotype while the viral infection was not seen until 5 days post-inoculation. On the contrary, Fe and Zn were unable to suppress viral progression. The mRNA transcriptional analysis for GFP and viral coat protein revealed that the transcripts of both genes were 5-fold reduced in response to C60 treatment. Evaluation of the chloroplast ultrastructure showed that NMs treatment maintained the normal chloroplast structure in the plants as compared to untreated plants. C60 upregulated the defense-related phytohormones (abscisic acid and salicylic acid) by 42–43%. Our results demonstrate the protective function of carbon-based NMs, with suppression of CCYV symptoms via inhibition of viral replication and systemic movement.

Potato Virus Y (PVY) is a serious potato disease that may significantly decrease potato production. To suppress potato virus infection, several measures have been undertaken. The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria is one of these methods. Biochar soil treatment is believed to provide plants with a number of advantages, including increased plant growth and the development of systemic resistance to a variety of plant diseases. The goal of this research was to see whether adding biochar and Klebsiella oxytoca to the soil might cause PVY resistance and enhance the involved mechanisms in PVY resistance. Potato and tobacco seedlings treated with Klebsiella oxytoca and biochar exhibited the same impact of significant symptom reduction, with complete negative ELISA findings, supporting the antiviral activity of K. oxytoca and biochar. Furthermore, owing to the connection between the ISR implicated substrates, significant amounts of polyphenol oxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were observed in treated plants, with the same behavior as defense genes expression levels. It may be a step forward in the development of biochar and K. oxytoca as potential environmentally friendly disease control strategies against PVY.

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity causes severe perturbations in nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation, and thereby interrupts normal plant growth. Molybdenum (Mo), a necessary trace element, plays important roles in N metabolism through regulating N assimilatory enzymes activities and expressions in higher plants. Taking this into account, a pot experiment was performed to explore the role of Mo in alleviating Cd-induced inhibitory effects on physio-biochemical processes, N metabolism, yield attributes and grain quality characters of two fragrant rice cultivars; Guixiangzhan and Meixiangzhan-2. Both the fragrant rice cultivars were treated with two levels of each Cd concentrations (0 and 100 mg/kg) and Mo treatments (0 and 0.15 mg/kg). The results revealed that Cd toxicity significantly reduced (p

This study was conducted to evaluate eco-friendly control agents (carvone, cuminaldehyde, and linalool) against Rhizoctonia solani, which causes root rot disease either by induction of defense response or direct antifungal activity. The induction of resistance was examined by detecting the transcription of defense genes and the effect of the tested control agents on the growth and the yield of common bean plants. The growth of R. solani was significantly inhibited after treatment with the tested compounds compared to the untreated control under laboratory conditions. The disease severity of root rot was decreased in common bean plants treated with the tested compounds compared to untreated control plants under greenhouse conditions. Common bean plants treated with the tested control agents expressed defense genes (Phenylalanine ammonia lyase and β-1,3-Glucanase) involved in jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathways with 2–5 fold higher than the control. Treatment of common beans with the tested control agents and fungicide significantly improved the growth and yield characteristics of common bean. Therefore, the use of monoterpenes could be a novel strategy to control this pathogen and consider the first report.

Water, a necessary component of cell protoplasm, plays an essential role in supporting life on Earth; nevertheless, extreme changes in climatic conditions limit water availability, causing numerous issues, such as the current water-scarce regimes in many regions of the biome. This review aims to collect data from various published studies in the literature to understand and critically analyze plants’ morphological, growth, yield, and physio-biochemical responses to drought stress and their potential to modulate and nullify the damaging effects of drought stress via activating natural physiological and biochemical mechanisms. In addition, the review described current breakthroughs in understanding how plant hormones influence drought stress responses and phytohormonal interaction through signaling under water stress regimes. The information for this review was systematically gathered from different global search engines and the scientific literature databases Science Direct, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, related studies, published books, and articles. Drought stress is a significant obstacle to meeting food demand for the world’s constantly growing population. Plants cope with stress regimes through changes to cellular osmotic potential, water potential, and activation of natural defense systems in the form of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of osmolytes including proteins, proline, glycine betaine, phenolic compounds, and soluble sugars. Phytohormones modulate developmental processes and signaling networks, which aid in acclimating plants to biotic and abiotic challenges and, consequently, their survival. Significant progress has been made for jasmonates, salicylic acid, and ethylene in identifying important components and understanding their roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. Other plant hormones, such as abscisic acid, auxin, gibberellic acid, brassinosteroids, and peptide hormones, have been linked to plant defense signaling pathways in various ways.

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is an intra-epidermal adenocarcinoma. Till now, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of scrotal EMPD is poorly known. This present study aims to explore the knowledge of molecular mechanism of scrotal EMPD by identifying the hub genes and candidate drugs using integrated bioinformatics approaches. Firstly, the microarray datasets (GSE117285) were downloaded from the GEO database and then analyzed using GEO2R in order to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Moreover, hub genes were identified on the basis of their degree of connectivity using Cytohubba plugin of cytoscape tool. Finally, GEPIA and DGIdb were used for the survival analysis and selection of therapeutic candidates, respectively. A total of 786 DEGs were identified, of which 10 genes were considered as hub genes on the basis of the highest degree of connectivity. After the survival analysis of ten hub genes, a total of 5 genes were found to be altered in EMPD patients. Furthermore, 14 drugs of CHEK1, CCNA2, and CDK1 were found to have therapeutic potential against EMPD. This study updates the information and yields a new perspective in the context of understanding the pathogenesis of EMPD. In future, hub genes and candidate drugs might be capable of improving the personalized detection and therapies for EMPD.

Background Untreated wastewater carries substantial amount of heavy metals and causes potential ecological risks to the environment, food quality, soil health and sustainable agriculture. Methodology In order to reduce the incidence of nickel (Ni2+) contamination in soils, two separate experiments (incubation and greenhouse) were conducted to investigate the potentials of rice straw biochar and elemental sulfur in remediating Ni2+ polluted soil due to the irrigation with wastewater. Five incubation periods (1, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days), three biochar doses (0, 10 and 20 g kg−1 of soil) and two doses of sulfur (0 and 5 g kg−1 of soil) were used in the incubation experiment then the Ni2+ was extracted from the soil and analyzed, while ryegrass seeds Lolium perenne L. (Poales: Poaceae) and the same doses of biochar and sulfur were used in the greenhouse experiment then the plants Ni2+-uptake was determined. Results The results of the incubation experiment revealed a dose-dependent reduction of DTPA-extractable Ni2+ in soils treated with biochar. Increasing the biochar dose from 0 g kg−1 (control) to 10 or 20 g kg−1 (treatments) decreased the DTPA-extractable Ni2+ from the soil by 24.6% and 39.4%, respectively. The application of sulfur increased the Ni2+-uptake by ryegrass plant which was used as hyper-accumulator of heavy metals in the green house experiment. However, the biochar decreased the Ni2+-uptake by the plant therefore it can be used as animal feed. Conclusions These results indicate that the biochar and sulfur could be applied separately to remediate the Ni2+-contaminated soils either through adsorbing the Ni2+ by biochar or increasing the Ni2+ availability by sulfur to be easily uptaken by the hyper-accumulator plant, and hence promote a sustainable agriculture.

The excessive use of nickel (Ni) in manufacturing and various industries has made Ni a serious pollutant in the past few decades. As a micronutrient, Ni is crucial for plant growth at low concentrations, but at higher concentrations, it can hamper growth. We evaluated the effects of Ni concentrations on nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity in rice seedlings grown in hydroponic systems, using different Ni concentrations. A Ni concentration of 200 μM significantly decreased the NO3− concentration in rice leaves, as well as the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate synthetase (GOGAT), respectively, when compared to the control. By contrast, the NH4+ concentration and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity both increased markedly by 48% and 46%, respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, the activity of most active aminotransferases, including glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), was inhibited by 48% and 36%, respectively, in comparison with the control. The results indicate that Ni toxicity causes the enzymes involved in N assimilation to desynchronize, ultimately negatively impacting the overall plant growth.

Pepper is vulnerable to soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum. The potential of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms to control R. solani and F. oxysporum f.sp. capsici was evaluated in pepper plants. Paenibacillus polymyxa and Trichoderma longibrachiatum were isolated from rhizospheric soil samples of healthy pepper plants. In vitro, both isolates caused clear reductions in the radial growth of root rot and wilt pathogens. Scanning electron microscopy displayed lysis and abnormal shape of the pathogens in dual cultures with P. polymyxa and T. longibrachiatum. The incidence and severity of root rot and wilt diseases were significantly reduced in pepper plants treated with the growth-promoting fungi (PGPF isolates; Fusarium equiseti GF19-1, Fusarium equiseti GF18-3, and Phoma sp. GS8-3), P. polymyxa, or T. longibrachiatum in comparison to the control. Moreover, the induction treatments led to increased pepper growth compared with their control. The defense related gene (CaPR4) expression was shown to be significantly higher in the treated plants than in the control plants. In conclusion, the antagonistic isolates (P. polymyxa and T. longibrachiatum) and PGPF isolates have a clear impact on the prevention of root rot and wilt diseases in pepper plants incited by R. solani and F. oxysporum f.sp. capsici. The expression of the CaPR4 gene added to the evidence that PGPF isolates generate systemic resistance to pathogen infections.