Two high quality chromosome-scale genome assemblies of female and male silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus).

Pampus argenteus is a highly commercial marine fish whose population is declining sharply. Here, we generated a female P. argenteus genome, spanning 536.33 Mb with contig N50 of 1.79 Mb; 24070 genes (99.50% of 24,182) were functionally annotated. To improve quality of it, we assembled a 553.79 Mb genome of male fish with contig N50 of 24.75 Mb through HiFi and ultra-long ONT sequence technologies; 550.82 Mb were anchored onto 24 gap-free chromosomes; 22,892 genes (98.1% of 23,346) were functionally annotated; the QV value was 51.55 with 98.9% of BUSCO and 99.39% coverage of Illumina reads. Finally, we compared this genome with previous published one, revealing 37,301 SVs. 52.82 Mb and 18.05 Mb SDs were characterized in our and published assemblies, respectively, and 48.96 Mb PURs were constructed. Thus, this genome assembly exhibits excellent completeness, continuity and accuracy comparing to the published one, which can be current preferred reference genome. Overall, these works help aquaculture and wild resources recovery of P. argenteus and provide a valuable genetic resource for study.

Assessing the combined impacts of microplastics and nickel oxide nanomaterials on soybean growth and nitrogen fixation potential.

The excessive presence of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MPx) and nickel oxide nanomaterials (NiO-NPs) in agriculture ecosystem have gained serious attention about their effect on the legume root-nodule symbiosis and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, the impact of these contaminants on the root-nodule symbiosis and biological N2-fixation have been largely overlooked. The current findings highlighted that NiO-NMs at 50 mg kg-1 improved nodule formation and N2-fixation potential, leading to enhanced N2 uptake by both roots and shoots, resulting in increased plant growth and development. While single exposure of PS-MPx (500 mg kg-1) significantly reduced the photosynthetic pigment (8-14 %), phytohormones (9-25 %), nodules biomass (24 %), N2-related enzymes (12-17 %) that ultimately affected the N2-fixation potential. Besides, co-exposure of MPx and NiO at 100 mg kg-1 altered the nodule morphology. Additionally, single and co-exposure of MPx and NiO-NMs at 100 mg kg-1 reduced the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadota, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes is associated with N2-cycling and N2-fixation potential. The findings of this study will contribute to understanding the potential risks posed by MPx and NiO-NMs to leguminous crops in the soil environment and provide scientific insights into the soybean N2-fixation potential.

Enhancing the Efficacy of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Medicinal Plants through Nanoformulations: A Promising Field.

This article explores the emerging field of nanomedicine as a drug delivery system, aimed at enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicinal plants. The traditional methods of applying medicinal plants present several limitations, such as low bioavailability, poor solubility, challenges in accurately controlling drug dosage, and inadequate targeting. Nanoformulations represent an innovative approach in drug preparation that employs nanotechnology to produce nanoscale particles or carriers, which are designed to overcome these limitations. Nanoformulations offer distinct advantages, significantly enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of drugs, particularly for the poorly soluble components of medicinal plants. These formulations effectively enhance solubility, thereby facilitating better absorption and utilization by the human body, which in turn improves drug efficacy. Furthermore, nanomedicine enables targeted drug delivery, ensuring precise administration to the lesion site and minimizing side effects on healthy tissues. Additionally, nanoformulations can regulate drug release rates, extend the duration of therapeutic action, and enhance the stability of treatment effects. However, nanoformulations present certain limitations and potential risks; their stability and safety require further investigation, particularly regarding the potential toxicity with long-term use. Nevertheless, nanomaterials demonstrate substantial potential in augmenting the efficacy of active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicinal plants, offering novel approaches and methodologies for their development and application.

Recycled lithium battery nanomaterials as a sustainable nanofertilizer: Reduced peanut allergenicity and improved seed quality.

The rapidly increasing amount of end-of-life lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries has raised significant environmental concerns. This study offers a strategy for a paradigm shift by transforming this growing waste into a valuable resource by recycling discarded LiFePO4 batteries and safely integrating the materials into sustainable agriculture. We used five types of LiFePO4 (10, 50 mg kg-1) applied to soil planted with peanuts in a full-culture experiment. Our results show that addition of <50 mg kg-1 of recycled nano-LiFePO4 (rn-LiFePO4) has a multifaceted positive impact on peanut because of sustainable release of nutrients and nano-specific effects, not only enhancing photosynthesis and root growth but also increasing yield by 22 %-34 % while simultaneously elevating seed nutritional quality. Moreover, a remarkable reduction (up to 99.78 % at 10 mg kg-1 rn-LiFePO4) in the expression of allergen genes was evident following exposure to LiFePO4, which showed a significant negative correlation with Fe content in the seeds. The decreased peanut allergen gene expression was mediated by a downregulation of metabolites associated with protein digestion and absorption. Furthermore, rhizosphere soil immune system enhancement may indirectly enhance immune responses to peanut allergy. This study suggests the significant potential of nanoscale LiFePO4 recycled from Li battery, including enhancing crop yield quality and mitigating peanut allergy concerns while simultaneously addressing a growing waste stream of concern.

Copper-Driven Formation of Prothioconazole Nanocomplex: An Innovative Strategy to Prepare Nanopesticide with Improved Bioactivity and Reduced Environmental Impacts.

Developing cost-effective, energy-saving, and eco-friendly methods to construct nanopesticides fulfill the requirement of modern agriculture. Benefiting from the versatility of metal-based complexes, a facile copper-driven method is discovered for the formation of a fungicide prothioconazole nanocomplex (Cu-Pro) with the particle size of ≈300 ± 85 nm. Interestingly, adding 0.5-1% of anionic surfactants could generate nanocomplexes within 60 ± 12 nm and form stable dispersed nanosuspensions. Both nanocomplexes exhibit remarkable control efficacy against six plant pathogenic fungi, and the EC50 values are 1.4-4.8 times lower than that of prothioconazole technical concentrate (Pro TC). In addition, the novel nanocomplexes demonstrate better resistance against UV irradiation and the half-lives are 3.27- and 1.56-times longer than that of Pro TC, respectively. The acute toxicity of prothioconazole nanocomplexes against non-target organism zebrafish is decreased. Due to the small size and chelation with metals, the uptake and accumulation of prothioconazole in wheat plant is promoted, and the metabolites prothioconazole-desthio is significantly decreased by 42-48% than that of Pro TC. This metal coordination-based strategy seeks to open a new avenue for the high-throughput preparation of nanopesticides, providing an innovative toolbox for reducing the input of agrochemicals in sustainable plant protection.

Immune Response of Silver Pomfret (Pampus argenteus) CC Chemokine Ligand Gene Family to Photobacterium damselae Subsp. Damselae and Nocardia seriolae Infections.

Chemokines play a crucial role in immune responses by facilitating the migration of cells expressing corresponding chemokine receptors along concentration gradients. Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae (PDD) and Nocardia seriolae (NS) are known to induce substantial mortality in silver pomfret populations, yet there exists a dearth of research regarding the immune response of CCLs in PDD- or NS-infected silver pomfret. In our investigation, we identified 10 PaCCLs, which include one fish-specific CCL (PaCCL44). Phylogenetic analysis revealed considerable diversity in CCL types and copy numbers among various teleost fishes. Notably, silver pomfret lacks specific CCL genes, with most PaCCLs exhibiting heightened expression levels in immune-related organs such as the spleen and kidney, and some being expressed in mucosal immune-related organs like the skin and gills. Transcriptome analysis conducted on silver pomfret infected with NS and PDD elucidated that the expression changes of PaCCLs primarily manifested in the spleen during the initial stages of NS infection, shifting to the kidney in later stages. Conversely, the expression changes of PaCCLs following PDD infection predominantly occurred in the kidney. In vitro studies using silver pomfret spleen cell lines demonstrated an early peak in PaCCLs expression during infection, followed by gradual decline with NS treatment and rapid diminishment with PDD treatment. These findings suggest that PaCCLs primarily support the innate immunity of silver pomfret, potentially exhibiting chemotactic effects in the early infection stages, such as the synergistic action of PaCCL4 and PaCCL25, and later serving as direct antibacterial agents. NS invasion is characterised by a chronic infection affecting multiple organs, whereas PDD primarily inflicts severe damage to the kidney. PaCCL19a and PaCCL19b are specific to PDD, and their expression levels may decrease in the later stages of infection due to PDD immune escape. These data offer initial insights into understanding the mechanism underlying the innate immune response of the CCL gene family in silver pomfret and provide theoretical underpinnings for fish culture practices.

Metal-Organic Frameworks for Sustainable Crop Disease Management: Current Applications, Mechanistic Insights, and Future Challenges.

Efficient management of crop diseases and yield enhancement are essential for addressing the increasing food demands due to global population growth. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which have rapidly evolved throughout the 21st century, are notable for their vast surface area, porosity, and adaptability, establishing them as highly effective vehicles for controlled drug delivery. This review methodically categorizes common MOFs employed in crop disease management and details their effectiveness against various pathogens. Additionally, by critically evaluating existing research, it outlines strategic approaches for the design of drug-delivery MOFs and explains the mechanisms through which MOFs enhance disease resistance. Finally, this paper identifies the current challenges in MOF research for crop disease management and suggests directions for future research. Through this in-depth review, the paper seeks to enrich the understanding of MOFs applications in crop disease management and offers valuable insights for researchers and practitioners.

The fate and impact of Co3O4 nanoparticles in the soil environment: Observing the dose effect of nanoparticles on soybeans.

The widespread presence and distribution of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in soil is threatening crop growth and food security. However, little is known about the fate of Co3O4 NPs in the soil-soybean system and their phytotoxicity. The study demonstrated the effects of Co3O4 NPs on soybean growth and yield in soil after 60 days and 140 days, and compared them with the phytotoxic effects of Co2+. The results showed that Co3O4 NPs (10-500 mg/kg) had no significant toxic effect on soybeans. Soil available Co content was significantly increased under 500 mg/kg Co3O4 NPs treatment. Compared with Co2+, Co3O4 NPs mainly accumulated in roots and had limited transport to the shoots, which was related to the particle size, surface charge and chemical stability of Co3O4 NPs. The significant accumulation of Co3O4 NPs in roots further led to a significant decrease in root antioxidant enzyme activity and changes in functional gene expression. Co3O4 NPs reduced soybean yield after 140 days, but interestingly, at specific doses, it increased grain nutrients (Fe content increased by 17.38% at 100 mg/kg, soluble protein and vitamin E increased by 14.34% and 16.81% at 10 mg/kg). Target hazard quotient (THQ) assessment results showed that consuming soybean seeds exposed to Co3O4 NPs (≥100 mg/kg) and Co2+ (≥10 mg/kg) would pose potential health risks. Generally, Co3O4 NPs could exist stably in the environment and had lower environmental risks than Co2+. These results help to better understand the environmental behavior and plant effect mechanisms of Co3O4 NPs in soil-plant systems.

Peptide Drug Design Using Alchemical Free Energy Calculation: An Application and Validation on Agonists of Ghrelin Receptor.

With recent large-scale applications and validations, the relative binding free energy (RBFE) calculated using alchemical free energy methods has been proven to be an accurate measure to probe the binding of small-molecule drug candidates. On the other hand, given the flexibility of peptides, it is of great interest to find out whether sufficient sampling could be achieved within the typical time scale of such calculation, and a similar level of accuracy could be reached for peptide drugs. However, the systematic evaluation of such calculations on protein-peptide systems has been less reported. Most reported studies of peptides were restricted to a limited number of data points or lacking experimental support. To demonstrate the applicability of the alchemical free energy method for protein-peptide systems in a typical real-world drug discovery project, we report an application of the thermodynamic integration (TI) method to the RBFE calculation of ghrelin receptor and its peptide agonists. Along with the calculation, the synthesis and in vitro EC50 activity of relamorelin and 17 new peptide derivatives were also reported. A cost-effective criterion to determine the data collection time was proposed for peptides in the TI simulation. The average of three TI repeats yielded a mean absolute error of 0.98 kcal/mol and Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) of 0.77 against the experimental free energy derived from the in vitro EC50 activity, showing good repeatability of the proposed method and a slightly better agreement than the results obtained from the arbitrary time frames up to 20 ns. Although it is limited by having one target and a deduced binding pose, we hope that this study can add some insights into alchemical free energy calculation of protein-peptide systems, providing theoretical assistance to the development of peptide drugs.

C-176 reduces inflammation-induced pain by blocking the cGAS-STING pathway in microglia.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory pain, is caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory tissue, is a prevalent chronic condition that profoundly impacts the quality of life. However, clinical treatment for this type of pain remains limited. Traditionally, the stimulation of microglia and subsequent inflammatory reactions are considered crucial elements to promote the worsening of inflammatory pain. Recent research has shown the crucial importance of the cGAS-STING pathway in promoting inflammation. It is still uncertain if the cGAS-STING pathway plays the role in the fundamental cause of inflammatory pain. We aim to explore the treatment of inflammatory pain by interfering with cGAS-STING signaling pathway. METHODS: In this study, we established an inflammatory pain model by CFA into the plantar of mice. Activation of microglia, various inflammatory factors and cGAS-STING protein in the spinal dorsal horn were evaluated. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the cellular localization of cGAS and STING. The cGAS-STING pathway proteins expression and mRNA expression of indicated microglial M1/M2 phenotypic markers in the BV2 microglia were detected. STING inhibitor C-176 was intrathecal injected into mice with inflammatory pain, and the pain behavior and microglia were observed. RESULTS: This research showed that injecting CFA into the left hind paw of mice caused mechanical allodynia and increased inflammation in the spine. Our research results suggested that the cGAS-STING pathway had a function in the inflammation mediated by microglia in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Blocking the cGAS-STING pathway using STING antagonists (C-176) led to reduced release of inflammatory factors and prevented M1 polarization of BV2 microglia in a laboratory setting. Additionally, intrathecal administration of C-176 reduced the allodynia in CFA treated mice. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that inhibiting microglial polarization through the cGAS-STING pathway represents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory pain.

Photoredox Catalyzed Synthesis of gem-Difluoroalkenes and Monofluorinated Cyclooctenes via 1,5-HAT Process.

gem-Difluoroalkenes and monofluorinated cycloalkenes have emerged as basic structural units in a variety of bioactive molecules and natural products. Thus, developing straightforward and efficient methods for synthesizing fluorinated alkene compounds is of considerable significance. Herein, we disclose a visible-light-induced defluorination of 2-trifluoromethyl-1-alkene via a 1,5-HAT process using N-alkoxyphtalimides as both radical precursor and potential nucleophile. The mild and stepwise reaction leads to a variety of structurally diverse gem-difluoroalkenes and monofluorinated cyclooctenes with high efficiency, respectively.

Investigation of the effects and mechanisms of manganese-based NMs on rice growth.

Manganese-based (Mn-based) nanomaterials (NMs) have great potential as alternatives to conventional Mn fertilizers. Yet, its environmental risks and effects on plant growth are not completely well understood. This study investigated the physiological effects of manganese dioxide (MnO2) and manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) NMs on inter-root exposure (0-500 mg/L) of hydroponically grown rice. The results showed that on inter-root exposure, 50 mg/L Mn-based NMs promoted the uptake of mineral elements and enhanced the enzymatic activities of antioxidant systems (CAT and SOD) in rice, whereas 500 mg/L Mn3O4 NMs disrupted the mineral element homeostasis and led to phytotoxicity. The promotion effect of MnO2 NMs was better, firstly because MnO2 NMs treatment had lower Mn content in the plant than Mn3O4 NMs. In addition, MnO2 NMs are more transported and absorbed in the plant in ionic form, while Mn3O4 NMs exist in granular form. MnO2 NMs and Mn3O4 NMs both can be used as nano-fertilizers to improve the growth of rice by inter-root application, but the doses should be carefully selected.

Commercial compost amendments inhibit the bioavailability and plant uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil-porewater-lettuce systems.

Compost is widely used in agriculture as fertilizer while providing a practical option for solid municipal waste disposal. However, compost may also contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), potentially impacting soils and leading to PFAS entry into food chains and ultimately human exposure risks via dietary intake. This study examined how compost affects the bioavailability and uptake of eight PFAS (two ethers, three fluorotelomer sulfonates, and three perfluorosulfonates) by lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in commercial organic compost-amended, PFAS spiked soils. After 50 days of greenhouse experiment, PFAS uptake by lettuce decreased (by up to 90.5 %) with the increasing compost amendment ratios (0-20 %, w/w), consistent with their decreased porewater concentrations (by 30.7-86.3 %) in compost-amended soils. Decreased bioavailability of PFAS was evidenced by the increased in-situ soil-porewater distribution coefficients (Kd) (by factors of 1.5-7.0) with increasing compost additions. Significant negative (or positive) correlations (R2 ≥ 0.55) were observed between plant bioaccumulation (or Kd) and soil organic carbon content, suggesting that compost amendment inhibited plant uptake of PFAS mainly by increasing soil organic carbon and enhancing PFAS sorption. However, short-chain PFAS alternatives (e.g., perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid (PFMOAA)) were effectively translocated to shoots with translocation factors > 2.9, increasing their risks of contamination in leafy vegetables. Our findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive risk assessment of compost-borne PFAS when using commercial compost products in agricultural lands.

From Water to Water: Insight into the Translocation of Pesticides from Plant Rhizosphere Solution to Leaf Guttation and the Associated Ecological Risks.

Plant guttation is an important source of water/nutrients for many beneficial insects, while the presence of pesticides in guttation has been considered as a new exposure route for nontarget insects. This study aimed to elucidate how 15 diverse pesticides are translocated from growth media to guttation by maize plants through a hydroponic experiment. All pesticides were effectively translocated from the growth solution to maize guttation and reached a steady state within 5 days. The strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.43-0.84) between the concentrations of pesticides in guttation and in xylem sap demonstrated that xylem sap was a major source of pesticides in guttation. The relationship between the bioaccumulation of pesticides in guttation (BCFguttation) and the chemical Kow was split into two distinct patterns: for pesticides with log Kow > 3, we identified a good negative linear correlation between log BCFguttation and log Kow (R2 = 0.71); however, for pesticides with log Kow < 3, all data fall close to a horizontal line of BCFguttation ≅ 1, indicating that hydrophilic pesticides can easily pass through the plants from rhizosphere solution to leaf guttation and reach saturation status. Besides, after feeding with pesticide-contaminated guttation, the mortality of honeybees was significantly impacted, even at very low levels (e.g., ∑600 µg/L with a mortality of 93%). Our results provide essential information for predicting the contamination of plant guttation with pesticides and associated ecological risks.

Identification and characterization of STAT family in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) involved in different exogenous stresses.

Members of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) family function pivotally as transcriptional activators integral to the modulation of inflammatory responses. The aquaculture of silver pomfret is frequently compromised by the imposition of exogenous stressors, which include thermal fluctuations, notably low-temperatures, diminished oxygen levels, and the onslaught of bacterial pathogens. Notwithstanding the critical impact of these stressors, the scientific literature presents a notable gap in our understanding of the STAT pathway's role in the silver pomfret's adaptive response mechanisms. To address this lacuna, we identified stat genes in the silver pomfret-denominated as Pastat1, Pastat2, Pastat3, Pastat4, and Pastat5-through a thorough and systematic bioinformatics analysis. Further scrutiny of the gene configurations and constituent motifs has elucidated that STAT proteins possess analogous structural frameworks and exhibit significant evolutionary preservation. Subsequently, the expression patterns of five stat genes were verified by RT-qPCR in twelve different tissues and four growth periods in healthy fish, showing that the expression of Pastat genes was temporally and spatially specific, with most of the stat genes expressed at higher levels in the spleen, following muscle, gill, and liver. Transcriptomic analysis of exposure to exogenous stressors, specifically formaldehyde and low-temperature conditions, elucidated that Pastat1 and Pastat2 genes exhibited a heightened sensitivity to these environmental challenges. RT-qPCR assays demonstrated a marked alteration in the expression profiles of jak1 and Pastat gene suites in PaS upon prolonged bacterial infection subsequent to these exogenous insults. Moreover, the gene expression of the downstream effectors involved in innate immunity and apoptosis displayed marked deviations. This study additionally elucidated the Pastat gene family's role in modulating the innate immune response and apoptotic regulation within the silver pomfret during exogenous stressors and subsequent pathogenic incursions.

Co-exposure to tire wear particles and nickel inhibits mung bean yield by reducing nutrient uptake.

Soil and terrestrial contamination with microplastics and nanoplastics has been discussed extensively, while tire wear particles (TWPs) have been largely overlooked. We investigated the root-surface interactions and growth response of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) plants exposed to tire wear particles (TWPs) (0.05, 0.1, and 0.25% w/w) and nickel sulfate (50 and 100 mg kg-1 NiSO4) alone and in co-exposure scenarios for the full life cycle (105 days) under soil conditions. The results show that TWPs adhered to the root surface and reduced the water and nutrient uptake by the plant, particularly at higher concentrations of TWPs (0.25% w/w), without any observed organic contaminant accumulation in the root tissue. TWPs alone at 0.01, 0.1, and 0.25% (w/w) decreased mung bean yield by 11, 28, and 52%, respectively. Co-exposure to TWPs at 0.01, 0.1 and 0.25% w/w with 100 mg kg-1 NiSO4 decreased yield by 73, 79 and 88%, respectively. However, co-exposure to TWPs at 0.01 and 0.1% w/w with 50 mg kg-1 NiSO4 enhanced the yield by 32% and 7%, respectively. These changes in yield and nutritional aspects appear to be linked to Ni's regulatory influence on mineral homeostasis. Moreover, exposure to NiSO4 at 100 mg kg-1 increased Ni uptake in the root, shoot, and grain by 9, 26, and 20-fold, respectively as compared to the unamended control; this corresponded to increased antioxidant enzyme activity (10-127%) as compared to the control. TWPs caused blockages, significantly reducing plant yield and altering nutrient dynamics, highlighting emerging risks to plant health.

Complement C1q is involved in the activation of membrane attack complexes, regulation of bacterial infectious inflammation, and apoptosis through overexpression in primary cells of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) in vitro.

The complement system is pivotal in innate immune defense, with Complement 1qb (C1qb) playing a key role in recognizing immune complexes and initiating the classical pathway. In this research, we cloned the full-length cDNA of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) c1qb and demonstrated its role in mediating defense responses against Nocardia seriolae (N. seriolae) infection, which notably causes significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. Our investigation revealed that N. seriolae infection led to tissue damage in fish bodies, as observed in tissue sections. Subsequent analysis of differential genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome highlighted genes linked to apoptosis and inflammation. Through experiments involving overexpression and interference of c1qb in vitro, we confirmed that c1qb could suppress N. seriolae-induced apoptosis and inflammation. Moreover, overexpression of c1qb hindered N. seriolae invasion, and the purified and replicated C1qb protein displayed antimicrobial properties. Additionally, our study unveiled that overexpression of c1qb might stimulate the expression of membrane attack complexes (MAC), potentially enhancing opsonization and antibacterial effects. In conclusion, our findings offer valuable insights into the immune antibacterial mechanisms of c1qb and contribute to the development of strategies for controlling N. seriolae.

Unlocking the potential of nanoscale sulfur in sustainable agriculture.

The global population is growing rapidly, which poses a significant challenge to food security. Innovation in agricultural technologies is necessary to achieve sustainable development in agriculture and combat food insecurity. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in agriculture; compared to conventional agricultural chemicals, demonstrated benefits include increased efficiency of delivery and utilization of both nutrients and pesticides, as well as nanoscale-specific stimulation of stress tolerance pathways. Among the many studied nanomaterials, nano-sulfur has demonstrated superior effects at enhancing plant resilience to pathogens and abiotic stresses, as well as improving plant growth and nutritional quality of edible tissues. A number of published studies have investigated the physiological effects (growth promotion, disease resistance) of single or several sulfur and sulfide compounds on crop species. However, there is no systematic analysis of this literature, including the effects and specific mechanisms of various sulfur forms in agricultural applications. In this review, we will discuss the effects of sulfur (including nano-sulfur) on crop species, the underlying mechanisms of action for their transport and transformation in the soil-plant system, and evaluate their suitability in sustainable agricultural development. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges and knowledge gaps for nanoscale sulfur use in agriculture, and describe future research directions to advance our understanding of the sustainable use of this material at the scale of individual fields.

Comparative uptake, translocation and metabolism of phenamacril in crops under hydroponic and soil cultivation conditions.

Many studies investigate the plant uptake and metabolism of xenobiotics by hydroponic experiments, however, plants grown in different conditions (hydroponic vs. soil) may result in different behaviors. To explore the potential differences, a comparative study on the uptake, translocation and metabolism of the fungicide phenamacril in crops (wheat/rice) under hydroponic and soil cultivation conditions was conducted. During 7-14 days of exposure, the translocation factors (TFs) of phenamacril were greatly overestimated in hydroponic-wheat (3.6-5.2) than those in soil-wheat systems (1.1-2.0), with up to 3.3 times of difference between the two cultivation systems, implying it should be cautious to extrapolate the results obtained from hydroponic to field conditions. M-144 was formed in soil pore water (19.1-29.9 µg/L) in soil-wheat systems but not in the hydroponic solution in hydroponics; M-232 was only formed in wheat shoots (89.7-103.0 µg/kg) under soil cultivation conditions, however, it was detected in hydroponic solution (20.1-21.2 µg/L), wheat roots (146.8-166.0 µg/kg), and shoots (239.2-348.1 µg/kg) under hydroponic conditions. The root concentration factors (RCFs) and TFs of phenamacril in rice were up to 2.4 and 3.6 times higher than that in wheat for 28 days of the hydroponic exposure, respectively. These results highlighted that cultivation conditions and plant species could influence the fate of pesticides in crops, which should be considered to better assess the potential accumulation and transformation of pesticides in crops.

Cryptic footprint of thallium in soil-plant systems; A review.

The current review highlights the complex behavior of thallium (Tl) in soil and plant systems, offering insight into its hazardous characteristics and far-reaching implications. The research investigates the many sources of Tl, from its natural existence in the earth crust to its increased release through anthropogenic activities such as industrial operations and mining. Soil emerges as a significant reservoir of Tl, with diverse physicochemical variables influencing bioavailability and entrance into the food chain, notably in Brassicaceae family members. Additionally, the study highlights a critical knowledge gap concerning Tl influence on legumes (e.g., soybean), underlining the pressing demand for additional studies in this crucial sector. Despite the importance of leguminous crops in the world food supply and soil fertility, the possible impacts of Tl on these crops have received little attention. As we traverse the ecological complexity of Tl, this review advocates the collaborative research efforts to eliminate crucial gaps and provide solutions for reducing Tl detrimental impacts on soil and plant systems. This effort intends to pave the path for sustainable agricultural practices by emphasizing the creation of Tl-tolerant legume varieties and revealing the complicated dynamics of Tl-plant interactions, assuring the long-term durability of our food systems against the danger of Tl toxicity.