Silicon and nitric oxide interplay alleviates copper induced toxicity in mung bean seedlings.

The present study was aimed to investigate copper (Cu) toxicity alleviatory potential of silicon in Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) seedlings. Moreover, attention has also been paid to find out whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) has any role in Si-governed alleviation of Cu stress. The length of root and shoot, fresh weight, and biochemical attributes were adversely affected by Cu exposure. However, application of Si rescued negative effects of Cu. Cu exposure decreased cell viability, and enhanced cell death and levels of oxidative stress markers (O2•‾, H2O2 and MDA), but Si significantly mitigated these effects of Cu. Application of Cu substantially stimulated the activities of superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase while inhibited activity of catalase. However, Si addition reversed this effect of Cu. Ascorbate and glutathione contents in roots and shoots were declined by Cu but stimulated by Si. Moreover, we noticed that addition of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) and sodium tungstate (Tung) further augmented Cu toxicity but addition of sodium nitroprusside rescued adverse effects of L-NAME and Tung. Altogether, data suggest that though Si was able in alleviating Cu toxicity in mung bean seedlings but it requires endogenous nitric oxide.

Fascinating impact of silicon and silicon transporters in plants: A review.

Silicon (Si) is a metalloid which is gaining worldwide attention of plant scientists due to its ameliorating impact on plants' growth and development. The beneficial response of Si is observed predominantly under numerous abiotic and biotic stress conditions. However, under favorable conditions, most of the plant can grow without it. Therefore, Si has yet not been fully accepted as essential element rather it is being considered as quasi-essential for plants' growth. Si is also known to enhance resilience in plants by reducing the plant's stress. Besides its second most abundance on the earth crust, most of the soils lack plant available form of Si i.e. silicic acid. In this regard, understanding the role of Si in plant metabolism, its uptake from roots and transport to aerial tissues along with its ionomics and proteomics under different circumstances is of great concern. Plants have evolved a well-optimized Si-transport system including various transporter proteins like Low silicon1 (Lsi1), Low silicon2 (Lsi2), Low silicon3 (Lsi3) and Low silicon6 (Lsi6) at specific sub-cellular locations along with the expression profiling that creates precisely coordinated network among these transporters, which also facilitate uptake and accumulation of Si. Though, an ample amount of information is available pertinent to the solute specificity, active sites, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of these transporter genes. Similarly, the information regarding transporters involved in Si accumulation in different organelles is also available particularly in silica cells occurred in poales. But in this review, we have attempted to compile studies related to plants vis à vis Si, its role in abiotic and biotic stress, its uptake in various parts of plants via different types of Si-transporters, expression pattern, localization and the solute specificity. Besides these, this review will also provide the compiled knowledge about the genetic variation among crop plants vis à vis enhanced Si uptake and related benefits.

An unusual case of self-inflicted multiple needles injuries to eye.

Self-inflicted eye injuries among psychiatric patients are rare but important group of ophthalmic conditions that require close cooperation between different medical specialties to ensure optimum care of the severely disturbed patient. They have been associated with a variety of disorders, including paranoid schizophrenia, drug-induced psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, mental retardation, and ritualistic behavior. It has been described in both adults and children, but occurs most commonly in young adults with acute or chronic psychoses.