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The extreme conditions linked with abiotic stresses have greatly affected soil and plant health. The diverse biochemical activities occurring in the soil environment have been attributed to shaping the dynamics of plant–soil microbiomes by contributing to microbial lifestyles and enhancing microbial functional properties to boost plant tolerance to abiotic-induced stresses. Soil microbiomes play crucial roles in enhancing plant nutrition and abiotic stress management through diverse mechanisms. With the current insights into the use of engineered soil microbes as single or combined inoculants, their use has contributed to plant fitness and stability under different environmental stress conditions by activating plant defense mechanisms, enzyme production (lowering free radicals resulting in plant oxidative stress), protein regulation, and the production of growth factors. The detection of certain genes involved in the growth factors can underline microbial functions in mitigating plant stress. Hence, the projections for sustainable eco-friendly agriculture with the possible exploration of beneficial rhizosphere microbes to manage the effect of abiotic stress on plant nutrition remain critical points of discussion recently, with prospects for ensuring food security. Therefore, this review focuses on the impacts of soil microbiomes in abiotic stress mitigation for enhancing plant nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidants from natural sources can be antidotes for free radical release during metabolic activities in humans. Basella spp., a commonly eaten vegetable in south-western Nigeria, may have the potential to supply antioxidants to the human diet. The study evaluated phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of species and landraces of Basella spp. The forms of Basella spp. contained phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in varied amount. Basella alba, round leaf, had the highest contents of phenol (0.22 ± 0.02%) and vitamins A and C, 21.96 ± 0.01% and 21.67 ± 0.90%, respectively. Basella rubra had the highest alkaloids and tannin contents, 7.68 ± 0.11 and 0.47 ± 0.17%, respectively. Basella cordifolia had the highest anthraquinone (12.50 ± 0.03%) content; the highest flavonoid (96.77 ± 0.03%) and saponin (0.63 ± 0.01%) contents were in B. alba round. B. alba round also had the highest DPPH (44.85 ± 2.11%). The Basella forms have the potential of use as natural antioxidants need by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]