Metabolomics profiling reveals the detoxification and tolerance behavior of two bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties under arsenate stress.

The present study conducted metabolomics profiling (targeted and untargeted) in the roots of two wheat varieties (BARANI-70 and NARC-09) under arsenate stress in a hydroponic experiment. The findings indicated a better growth response of BARANI-70 compared to the NARC-09. From amino acid profiling, a total of 26 amino acids (AAs) were quantified in roots. BARANI-70 showed higher induction of stress-responsive AAs compared to the NARC-09. From untargeted metabolomics, a total of 136 metabolites were identified: AAs, fatty acids, purines, carnitines, LysoPCs, and others. The KEGG pathway identified pathways such as linoleic acid metabolism, TCA cycle, glutathione metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis that were regulated to improve the defense of tolerant variety. BARANI-70 emerged as a tolerant variety based on the psychological response, As accumulation, and behavior of stress-responsive metabolites. This study should facilitate the breeding of low-As accumulating wheat varieties for future application to ensure sustainable production and food safety.

Arsenic uptake and toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): A review of multi-omics approaches to identify tolerance mechanisms.

Arsenic (As) due to its widespread has become a primary concern for sustainable food production, especially in Southeast Asian countries. In that context, the present review presented a comprehensive detail of the available literature marking an assortment of As-induced impacts on wheat. The conclusive findings of past research suggest that As tends to grossly affect the germination, elongation, biomass, grain yield, and induce oxidative stress. Several human studies are suggestive of higher cancer risks (>1 × 10-6) due to the ingestion of wheat grains. However, the body of proof is limited and the scarcity of information limited understanding about tolerance mechanism in wheat against As. Therefore, the paper provided a reference from tolerance mechanism based studies in other crops like rice and maize. The generated knowledge of arsenomics would pave the way for plant breeders to develop resistant varieties for As to ensure sustainable food production.

Carbon footprint as an environmental sustainability indicator for the particleboard produced in Pakistan.

This study quantified the carbon footprint of particleboard production in Pakistan using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment approach. The system boundary comprised raw materials acquisition, transport, particleboard manufacture and finished product distribution. Primary data were collected through surveys and meetings with particleboard manufacturers. Secondary data were taken from the literature. Greenhouse gas emissions from off-site industrial operations of the particleboard industry represented 52% of the total emissions from the production of 1.0m3 of particleboard in Pakistan. The on-site industrial operations cause direct greenhouse gas emissions and accounted for 48% of the total emissions. These operations included energy consumption in stationary sources, the company-owned vehicle fleet, and the distribution and marketing of the finished product. The use of natural gas combustion in the stationary and mobile sources, raw material transport and urea-formaldehyde resin production chain accounted for the highest emissions from the particleboard production chain in Pakistan. The identification of the major hotspots in the particleboard production chain can assist the wood panel industry to improve their environmental profile. More efforts are needed to investigate the urea-formaldehyde resin production chain and substitution of roundwood with wood and agri-residues to assess the potential improvements. In addition, renewable energy sources should be encouraged to avoid greenhouse gas emissions by substituting fossil energy. This study also provides a benchmark for future research work to formulate comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans, because no previous research work is available on the carbon footprint of particleboard production in Pakistan.

Screening of atmospheric short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in India and Pakistan using polyurethane foam based passive air sampler.

Production and use of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been increasing in India. Distribution of CPs in the area and vicinity have become a great concern due to their persistency and toxicity. Polyurethane foam based passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) was deployed in order to screen the presence of short- and medium- chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in the outdoor atmosphere at many sites in India (in winter 2006) and Pakistan (in winter 2011). Concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs ranged from not detected (ND) to 47.4 and 0 to 38.2 ng m(-3) with means of 8.11 and 4.83 ng m(-3), respectively. Indian concentrations showed higher average levels of both SCCPs and MCCPs India (10.2 ng m(-3) and 3.62 ng m(-3)than the samples from Pakistan (5.13 ng m(-3) and 4.21 ng m(-3)). Relative abundance patterns of carbon number are C10 > C11 > C12 ∼ C13 for SCCPs and C14 > C15 > C16 C17 for MCCP with similarity to the profiles of samples from China, the biggest CPs producer in the world. Principal Component Analysis suggested that detected SCCPs and MCCPs in this study originated from the same emission source.

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Kotli Sattian, Rawalpindi district, Pakistan.

AIM OF STUDY: The present study aimed to report the ethnomedicinal information from Kotli Sattian, district Rawalpindi for detailed medicinal uses and to inform the community about conservation of medicinal plant diversity and ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethnomedicinal data were collected via Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA) along with interview, group meetings with local people having awareness about medicinal knowledge of plants and individual meetings with local healers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: This study reported eighty seven (87) indigenous medicinal plants, distributed among fifty five (55) families and seventy nine (79) genera. Among these, herbs contributed 43%, trees 28%, shrubs 21% and climbing plants 8%. About 34% of herbal preparations were made from whole plants followed by the leaves (27%), fruits (08%), bark (06%), seeds (05%), root (05%), rhizome (04%), stem, flower, gum, pod and tubers (02%) and milky latex (01%). Justicia adhatoda showed the maximum use value (0.91) while Cuscuta reflexa showed the least use value (0.11). CONCLUSION: Elder people in the study area still rely on herbal remedies although the modern heath care facilities are present in the study area; thus, the indigenous plants remain important medicines in solving health problems.