Nano zinc oxide mediated resuscitation of aged Cajanus cajan via modulating aquaporin, cell cycle regulatory genes and hormonal responses.

KEY MESSAGE: Nanoparticle pretreatment improved the health of aged Cajanus cajan seeds viz., regulation of redox status, gene expression, and restoration of hormonal homeostasis. Ageing deteriorates the quality of seeds by lowering their vigor and viability, and terminating with loss of germination. These days, nanotechnology has been seen to revolutionize the agricultural sectors, and particularly nano zinc oxide (nZnO) has gained considerable interests due to its distinctive properties. The aim of the present work was to decipher the possibilities of using nZnO to rejuvenate accelerated aged (AA) seeds of Cajanus cajan. Both chemically (CnZnO) and green (GnZnO; synthesized using Moringa oleifera) fabricated nZnOs were characterized via standard techniques to interpret their purity, size, and shape. Experimental results revealed erratic germination with a decline in viability and membrane stability as outcomes of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) buildup in AA seeds. Application of nZnO substantially rebated the accrual of ROI, along with enhanced production of antioxidants, α-amylase activity, total sugar, protein and DNA content. Higher level of zinc was assessed qualitatively/ histologically and quantitatively in nZnO pulsed AA seeds, supporting germination without inducing toxicity. Meantime, augmentation in the gibberellic acid with a simultaneous reduction in the abscisic acid level were noted in nZnO invigorated seeds than that determined in the AA seeds, suggesting possible involvement of ROI in hormonal signalling. Furthermore, nZnO-subjected AA seeds unveiled differential expression of aquaporins and cell cycle regulatory genes. Summarizing, among CnZnO and GnZnO, later one holds better potential for a revival of AA seeds of Cajanus cajan by providing considerable tolerance against ageing-associated deterioration via recouping the cellular redox homeostasis, hormonal signaling, and alteration in expression patterns of aquaporin and cell cycle regulatory genes.

Allantoin: A Potential Compound for the Mitigation of Adverse Effects of Abiotic Stresses in Plants.

Stress-induced alterations vary with the species of plants, the intensity and duration of the exposure, and stressors availability in nature or soil. Purine catabolism acts as an inherent defensive mechanism against various abiotic stresses and plays a pivotal role in the stress acclimatisation of plants. The intermediate metabolite of purine catabolism, allantoin, compensates for soil nitrogen deficiency due to the low carbon/nitrogen ratio, thereby maintaining nitrogen homeostasis and supporting plant growth and development. Allantoin accounts for 90% of the total nitrogenous compound in legumes, while it contributes only 15% in non-leguminous plants. Moreover, studies on a variety of plant species have reported the differential accumulation of allantoin in response to abiotic stresses, endowing allantoin as a stress modulator. Allantoin functions as signalling molecule to stimulate stress-responsive genes (P5CS; pyrroline-5-carboxylase synthase) and ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging enzymes (antioxidant). Moreover, it regulates cross-talk between the abscisic acid and jasmonic acid pathway, and maintains ion homeostasis by increasing the accumulation of putrescine and/or spermine, consequently enhancing the tolerance against stress conditions. Further, key enzymes of purine catabolism (xanthine dehydrogenase and allantoinase) have also been explored by constructing various knockdown/knockout mutant lines to decipher their impact on ROS-mediated oxidative injury in plants. Thus, it is established that allantoin serves as a regulatory signalling metabolite in stress protection, and therefore a lower accumulation of allantoin also reduces plant stress tolerance mechanisms. This review gives an account of metabolic regulation and the possible contribution of allantoin as a photo protectant, osmoprotectant, and nitrogen recycler to reduce abiotic-stress-induced impacts on plants.

Impact of Hyoid Position, Mandible Body Length and Anthropometric Measurements on Sleep Indices in Patients with Snoring in North Indian Population.

Introduction: In Indian population, the estimated prevalence of OSA is 7.5% to 13.5%. Craniofacial anatomical variations and obesity are the major risk factors for OSA. Among the craniofacial anatomy, the neck circumference and abnormal craniofacial morphology play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSA. Obesity is the major risk factor for which waist and hip circumference and BMI are considered. Aim: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of hyoid position, mandible body length (MBL) and anthropometric measurements on sleep indices in patients with snoring in North Indian population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the position of the hyoid, mandible body length and anthropometric measurements, of 104 patients attending ENT OPD with the complaint of snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. All subjects underwent a full overnight polysomnography. The position of the hyoid, MBL and the anthropometric measurements were compared with the sleep architecture of the subjects, and a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A strong positive correlation is seen between the position of the hyoid, MBL and anthropometric measurements on the sleep indices in this study. Pearson 2-tailed correlation was evaluated, and upon analysis, it was found that at significance level of 0.01, obesity (BMI) is strongly correlated with overall AHI with correlation coefficient of 0.926, whereas AHI in supine position was having coefficient of 0.837 and AHI on right side and left side was almost same 0.597 and 0.575, respectively. Similarly WC is strongly correlated with AHI and RDI, having coefficient of 0.930 with both. NC and HC also showed strong positive correlation with overall AHI and RDI having correlation coefficient of 0.893, 0.926 with AHI and 0.893, 0.926 with RDI, respectively. The MBL also showed a strong positive correlation with AHI and RDI with correlation coefficient of 0.994 in both. The position of the hyoid also showed a strong positive correlation with AHI and RDI. Conclusion: Results indicated that significant positive correlation was found between position of the hyoid, MBL and anthropometric measurements on the sleep indices in patients with snoring in North Indian population.

Nanotechnology: an efficient approach for rejuvenation of aged seeds.

Modern agricultural efforts are now in search of an efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable approach for enhanced crop production. Nearly 50-60% of seeds lost occurs due to improper technical handling. Seed deterioration manifests itself as reduction in the rate of germination and growth with increased susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, seed ageing is another economic and scientific issue that is associated with an array of internal (structural, physiological and genetic) and external (storage temperature and relative humidity) factors. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to be a key player in ageing phenomenon. However, hydrated storage, or ROS blockers are a few of the conventionally used methods to minimize the ageing process. Recently, exogenous applications of different inorganic nanoparticles (metal and metal oxide) are suggested to revitalize and revive aged seeds. Owing to their special properties of nano-size with high surface area they easily penetrate the seed coat. Exposure of nanoparticles has been suggested to neutralize the excess of ROS to a level that initiates hormonal signaling to support early emergence of radicles from the seeds. Nanotechnology has been well explored to enhance the crops nutritional quality, livestock productivity, plant protection from various stressors and in enhancement of seed quality via nanopesticides and nanofertilizers. Aiming at sustainable agriculture practices with fewer inputs, maximum benefits, ecologically safe and compatible technique the nanotechnology is an efficient approach to counteract problems of seed ageing incurring during storage, which is relatively less explored and unresolved conventionally, in general.