Search

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:Increasing misuse and irrational prescribing of antibiotics by physicians has led to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) posing a major global threat. Furthermore, only a few studies have been conducted to evaluate this domain in Pakistan. The objective of this study is to assess the general public's knowledge, attitude, and perception towards antibiotic use and its resistance, and to determine positive associations between the various socio-demographic variables. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to March 2023. A convenient sampling technique was employed, selecting participants = 18 years of age (n= 339). Structured questionnaires were distributed on different study sites and random participants were asked to respond immediately. RESULTS: Results showed that assessing antibiotics use among these 342 participants in the last year, it was determined that the majority of them had only used antibiotics once 108(31.6%). A closer number of individuals had used antibiotics more than thrice 101(29.5%) shows no significant association between rural and urban with a p-value=0.941>0.05. The majority were also aware of fatal allergic reactions produced by some antibiotics and agreed to stop antibiotic use if any adverse reaction were to occur 277(81.0%)p-value=0.674>0.05. No significance was observed, although some near-significant values of importance were noted and discussed. CONCLUSION:Antibiotic usage is commonly observed among all individuals; however, views contain many deviations. Constraints, including sample bias, Lahore's urban dominance, and the omission of doctor-prescribing evaluations, highlight the study's limitations and have further skewed our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of environmental remedies using ecofriendly and green technologies is attracting increasing research attention. Herein, the green synthesis of molybdenum oxide (MoO3) nanoparticles (NPs) using extract of selected Asteraceous flora species is reported for the first time along with the investigation of the degradation ability for organic pollutants and pollen morphological characteristics of wetland species of the family Asteraceae. An X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation and crystalline structure of the MoO3 NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectra of Lactuca Serriola extract indicated the presence of capping agents, reducing agents, and phytochemicals. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the almost spherical shape of the MoO3 NPs. A qualitative and quantitative palynological investigation of 21 species belonging to 12 genera of the Asteraceae from different wetlands of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is also reported. The MoO3 NPs degraded 99% of crystal violet dye within 30 minutes with a degradation rate of 0.022 min−1. The cost-efficient and green synthesis method for MoO3 NPs with high catalytic activity provides a new platform for the development of photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change‐induced concurrent drought and salinity stresses significantly threaten global crop yields, yet the physio‐biochemical responses to combined stress in quinoa remain elusive. This study evaluated quinoa responses under four growth conditions: well‐watered, drought stress, salt stress, and drought + salt stress with (15 mM) or without (0 mM) exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) application. All examined stresses (alone or in combination) reduce quinoa growth and net photosynthesis, although salt stress was found to be less destructive than drought and combined stress. Strikingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic rate (PN), K+ uptake, shoot height, shoot fresh, and dry weight were increased by 46.1%, 22.2%, 101.6%, 12.9%, 12.1%, 22.4%, 7.1%, 14%, and 16.4%, respectively, under combined stress compared to drought alone. In addition, exogenous H2O2 effectively improved gaseous exchange, osmolytes' accumulation, and antioxidant activity, resulting in reduced lipid peroxidation, which eventually led to higher plant growth under all coercive conditions. The principle component analysis (PCA) indicated a strong positive correlation between antioxidant enzymes and inorganic ions, which contributed efficiently to osmotic adjustment, particularly under conditions of salinity followed by combined stress. In short, in combination, salt stress has the potential to mitigate drought‐induced injuries by promoting the absorption of inorganic solutes for osmoregulation in quinoa plants. Furthermore, exogenous application of H2O2 could be opted to enhance quinoa performance to increase its tolerance mechanism against drought and salinity, even under combined stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity extent and severity is rising because of poor management practices on agricultural lands, possibility lies to grow salt‐tolerant crops with better management techniques. Therefore, a highly nutritive salt‐tolerant crop quinoa with immense potential to contribute for future food security was selected for this investigation. Soil drenching of paclobutrazol (PBZ; 20 mg l−1) was used to understand the ionic relations, gaseous exchange characteristics, oxidative defense system and yield under saline conditions (400 mM NaCl) including normal (0 mM NaCl) and no PBZ (0 mg l−1) as controls. The results revealed that salinity stress reduced the growth and yield of quinoa through perturbing ionic homeostasis with the consequences of overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damages and reduced photosynthesis. PBZ improved the quinoa performance through regulation of ionic homeostasis by decreasing Na+, Cl−, while improving K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration. It also enhanced the antioxidative system including ascorbic acid, phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, polyphenol oxidase and glutathione peroxidase, which scavenged the ROS (H2O2 and O2•‐) and lowered the oxidative damages (malondialdehyde level) under salinity in roots and more specifically in leaf tissues. The photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance consequently improved (16 and 21%, respectively) in salt‐stressed quinoa PBZ‐treated compared to the non‐treated ones and contributed to the improvement of panicle length (33%), 100‐grain weight (8%) and grain yield (38%). Therefore, PBZ can be opted as a shotgun approach to improve quinoa performance and other crops under high saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) have specific mode of action on insects and lower toxicity against non-target organisms and are potential alternative to control insect populations which are resistant to traditional insecticides. Therefore, to assess the safe alternatives to commonly used organophosphate and pyrethroid, against which insects are resistant already, in stored grain insect management, three commercially available (CSIs): Flufenoxuron (0.0015, 0.003 and 0.006ppm), Triflufenuron (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08ppm) and Lufenuron (0.01, 0.02 and 0.04ppm) were applied to evaluate their potential side effects (mortality and transgenerational effects) on Trogoderma granarium, one of the world's most destructive pests of grain products and seeds, in wheat grains at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 days interval during 2008-2010 at storage management cell of department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The tested larval instars of T. granarium were released in pesticides mixed flour in vials. As a result, the highest concentration of each CSI at the longest exposure interval showed greater effectiveness than lower concentrations and shorter exposures. Triflumuron at 0.08 ppm gave rise to 42% larval mortality after 18 days of exposure, 44% reduction in adult emergence, and 60% fewer F1 progeny. The effectiveness of these CSIs was found to be positively correlated with treatment concentration and duration. These findings provide coherence understanding in storage pest management in Pakistan where wheat in mills and goodowns damaged annually due to T. granarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of relationships between the plants and environmental variables is important for ecological restoration. The objective of this research was to investigate the controlling soil factor in plant growth and salt tolerance of leguminous plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. (A. sparsifolia) in a saline desert ecosystem of western China. Results showed that coverage of A. sparsifolia was positively linked to soil total K. A. sparsifolia accumulated the toxic Na+ in either roots or stems and thus reduced their allocation in the leaves to adapt the salt stress. The most important factor that determined Na+ uptake of A. sparsifolia was soil total K content, which suggests that total K can alleviate toxic Na+ accumulation in A. sparsifolia. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation among toxic Cl- concentration in A. sparsifolia, soil total K and pH. Overall, soil total K accounted for 18.2% of plant growth and salt tolerance of A. sparsifolia, followed by soil pH 13.1%, and soil total P 11.6%. In order to restore A. sparsifolia in the degraded desert ecosystems on salinized soil, first we need to consider the effects of soil total K, and then synergistically consider the soil pH and total P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced concurrent drought and salinity stresses significantly threaten global crop yields, yet the physio-biochemical responses to combined stress in quinoa remain elusive. This study evaluated quinoa responses under four growth conditions: well-watered, drought stress, salt stress, and drought + salt stress with (15 mM) or without (0 mM) exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) application. All examined stresses (alone or in combination) reduce quinoa growth and net photosynthesis, although salt stress was found to be less destructive than drought and combined stress. Strikingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), stomatal conductance (g s ), photosynthetic rate (P N ), K + uptake, shoot height, shoot fresh, and dry weight were increased by 46.1%, 22.2%, 101.6%, 12.9%, 12.1%, 22.4%, 7.1%, 14%, and 16.4%, respectively, under combined stress compared to drought alone. In addition, exogenous H 2 O 2 effectively improved gaseous exchange, osmolytes' accumulation, and antioxidant activity, resulting in reduced lipid peroxidation, which eventually led to higher plant growth under all coercive conditions. The principle component analysis (PCA) indicated a strong positive correlation between antioxidant enzymes and inorganic ions, which contributed efficiently to osmotic adjustment, particularly under conditions of salinity followed by combined stress. In short, in combination, salt stress has the potential to mitigate drought-induced injuries by promoting the absorption of inorganic solutes for osmoregulation in quinoa plants. Furthermore, exogenous application of H 2 O 2 could be opted to enhance quinoa performance to increase its tolerance mechanism against drought and salinity, even under combined stress., (© 2023 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a highly nutritious grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, and cold) and offers an alternate crop to endure harsh environmental conditions under the face of climate change. Naturally, quinoa genome displays a wide degree of variabilities in drought tolerance strategies. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate drought tolerance variations and stress tolerance enhancement in four quinoa genotypes (Pichaman, Colorado-407D, IESP and 2-Want) thorough foliage-applied H 2 O 2 with the purpose of identifying suitable genotype for water limited environments. The plants were exposed to two watering regimes (75% and 30% pot WHC) and foliage-applied H 2 O 2 treatments (15 mM). The drought stress significantly reduced plant growth, relative water contents, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents and increased ROS production (H 2 O 2 and O 2 •- ) resulting in higher oxidative damage in all quinoa genotypes. Besides, drought stress significantly enhanced the antioxidants (SOD, PPO, and PAL) activity, total soluble sugars, proline, AsA contents and increased the total accumulation of measured inorganic ions in all quinoa genotypes. The PCA analysis indicated that parameters related to osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity were more pronounced in 2-Want and IESP genotypes, while parameters depicting oxidative damage were higher in Colorado-407D and more specifically in Pichaman. However, foliage-applied H 2 O 2 effectively improved the osmolytes accumulation, antioxidants activity and K + /Na + ratio which increased water relations, reduced lipid peroxidation and ultimately resulted in higher plant growth. Overall, 2-Want and IESP genotypes were found relatively more drought resistant, while exogenous application of H 2 O 2 can be opted for more improvement in osmotic adjustment and antioxidant system, which may further enhance drought tolerance, even in sensitive genotypes of quinoa, such as Pichaman., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)