Stress-responsive gene regulation conferring salinity tolerance in wheat inoculated with ACC deaminase producing facultative methylotrophic actinobacterium.

Microbes enhance crop resilience to abiotic stresses, aiding agricultural sustainability amid rising global land salinity. While microbes have proven effective via seed priming, soil amendments, and foliar sprays in diverse crops, their mechanisms remain less explored. This study explores the utilization of ACC deaminase-producing Nocardioides sp. to enhance wheat growth in saline environments and the molecular mechanisms underlying Nocardioides sp.-mediated salinity tolerance in wheat. The Nocardioides sp. inoculated seeds were grown under four salinity regimes viz., 0 dS m-1, 5 dS m-1, 10 dS m-1, and 15 dS m-1, and vegetative growth parameters including shoot-root length, germination percentage, seedling vigor index, total biomass, and shoot-root ratio were recorded. The Nocardioides inoculated wheat plants performed well under saline conditions compared to uninoculated plants and exhibited lower shoot:root (S:R) ratio (1.52 ± 0.14 for treated plants against 1.84 ± 0.08 for untreated plants) at salinity level of 15 dS m-1 and also showed improved biomass at 5 dS m-1 and 10 dS m-1. Furthermore, the inoculated plants also exhibited higher protein content viz., 22.13 mg g-1, 22.10 mg g-1, 22.63 mg g-1, and 23.62 mg g-1 fresh weight, respectively, at 0 dS m-1, 5 dS m-1, 10 dS m-1, and 15 dS m-1. The mechanisms were studied in terms of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase activity, free radical scavenging potential, in-situ localization of H2O2 and superoxide ions, and DNA damage. The inoculated seedlings maintained higher enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant potential, which corroborated with reduced H2O2 and superoxide localization within the tissue. The gene expression profiles of 18 stress-related genes involving abscisic acid signaling, salt overly sensitive (SOS response), ion transporters, stress-related transcription factors, and antioxidant enzymes were also analyzed. Higher levels of stress-responsive gene transcripts, for instance, TaABARE (~+7- and +10-fold at 10 dS m-1 and 15 dS m-1); TaHAk1 and hkt1 (~+4- and +8-fold at 15 dS m-1); antioxidant enzymes CAT, MnSOD, POD, APX, GPX, and GR (~+4, +3, +5, +4, +9, and +8 folds and), indicated actively elevated combat mechanisms in inoculated seedlings. Our findings emphasize Nocardioides sp.-mediated wheat salinity tolerance via ABA-dependent cascade and salt-responsive ion transport system. This urges additional study of methylotrophic microbes to enhance crop abiotic stress resilience.

Management of Patellar Tendon Rupture after Total Knee Arthroplasty using Hamstring graft: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: The disruption of extensor mechanism during or after total knee arthroplasty is a rare but disabling complication for the patients. The results of various methods of managing patellar ligament rupture are not predictable and favorable. CASE REPORT: We report a case of patellar ligament rupture which occurred 6 months after the primary total knee replacement. It was managed satisfactorily using hamstring graft and minimal implant. CONCLUSION: Simple and easily reproducible technique for patellar tendon reconstruction that can be performed by surgeons not routinely performing ligament reconstruction gives favorable outcome.

Can an exostosis be free floating without any continuity to the underlying bone: A diagnostic dilemma.

Osteochondroma or exostosis is the most common primary bone tumor containing both bone and cartilage. Soft tissue osteochondromas have been described at various locations, however, to the best of our knowledge, there is only a single case report of a soft tissue osteochondroma around the femoral neck. We, hereby report second such case. CASE REPORT: A forty year old female presented with swelling on medial aspect of left thigh since four years. Radiographs showed a large mass at the inferior surface of the left femoral neck. CT scan revealed a well defined lobulated mass lesion involving muscles of adductor compartment of thigh. MRI showed lobulated periarticular, intramuscular, non enhancing lesion isointense to the bone, but without any continuity to the adjacent femur. Histopathology of the excised lesion turned out to be osteochondroma with origin from soft tissue. This case highlights an important differential diagnosis to be considered whenever an ossified mass is located in soft tissue.