Sulfate-reducing bacteria unearthed: ecological functions of the diverse prokaryotic group in terrestrial environments.

Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRPs) are essential microorganisms that play crucial roles in various ecological processes. Even though SRPs have been studied for over a century, there are still gaps in our understanding of their biology. In the past two decades, a significant amount of data on SRP ecology has been accumulated. This review aims to consolidate that information, focusing on SRPs in soils, their relation to the rare biosphere, uncultured sulfate reducers, and their interactions with other organisms in terrestrial ecosystems. SRPs in soils form part of the rare biosphere and contribute to various processes as a low-density population. The data reveal a diverse range of sulfate-reducing taxa intricately involved in terrestrial carbon and sulfur cycles. While some taxa like Desulfitobacterium and Desulfosporosinus are well studied, others are more enigmatic. For example, members of the Acidobacteriota phylum appear to hold significant importance for the terrestrial sulfur cycle. Many aspects of SRP ecology remain mysterious, including sulfate reduction in different bacterial phyla, interactions with bacteria and fungi in soils, and the existence of soil sulfate-reducing archaea. Utilizing metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and culture-dependent approaches will help uncover the diversity, functional potential, and adaptations of SRPs in the global environment.

Synthesis and properties of nano-cadmium oxide and its size-dependent responses by barley plant.

Present study included technological methods that made it possible to synthesize CdO nanoparticles and carry out their qualitative and quantitative diagnostics, confirming the as-prepared CdO nanoparticles (NPs) were spherical and had a size of 25 nm. Then, under the conditions of the model experiment the effect of CdO in macro and nanosized particles on absorption, transformation, and structural and functional changes occurring in cells and tissues of Hordeum vulgare L. (spring barley) during its ontogenesis was analyzed. Different analytical techniques were used to detect the transformation of CdO forms: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDXMA and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption fine structure, consists of XANES - X-ray absorption near edge structure, and EXAFS - Extended X-ray absorption fine structure. Quantitative differences in the elemental chemical composition of barley root and leaf samples were observed. The predominant root uptake of Cd was revealed. CdO-NPs were found to penetrate deeply into barley plant tissues, where they accumulated and formed new mineral phases such as Cd5(PO4)3Cl and CdSO4 according to XRD analysis. The molecular-structural state of the local Cd environment in plant samples corresponding to Cd-O and Cd-Cd. The toxicity of CdO-NPs was found to significantly affect the morphology of intracellular structures are the main organelles of photosynthesis therefore, destructive changes in them obviously reduce the level of metabolic processes ensuring the growth of plants. This study is an attempt to show results how it is possible to combine some instrumental techniques to characterize and behavior of NPs in complex matrices of living organisms.

Exploring sustainable management by using green nano-silver to combat three post-harvest pathogenic fungi in crops.

Global crop protection and food security have become critical issues to achieve the 'Zero Hunger' goal in recent years, as significant crop damage is primarily caused by biotic factors. Applying nanoparticles in agriculture could enhance crop yield. Nano-silver, or AgNPs, have colossal importance in many fields like biomedical, agriculture, and the environment due to their antimicrobial potential. In this context, nano-silver was fabricated by Citrus medica L. (Cm) fruit juice, detected visually and by UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis. Further, AgNPs were characterized by advanced techniques. UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis revealed absorbance spectra at around 487 nm. The zeta potential measurement value was noted as -23.7 mV. Spectral analysis by FT-IR proved the capping of the acidic groups. In contrast, the XRD analysis showed the Miller indices like the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure. NTA revealed a mean size of 35 nm for nano-silver with a 2.4 × 108 particles mL-1 concentration. TEM analysis demonstrated spherical Cm-AgNPs with 20-30 nm sizes. The focus of this research was to evaluate the antifungal activity of biogenic AgNPs against post-harvest pathogenic fungi, including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Alternaria alternata. The Cm-AgNPs showed significant antifungal activity in the order of A. niger > A. flavus > A. alternata. The biogenic Cm-AgNPs can be used for the inhibition of toxigenic fungi.