Correction to "Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09495.].

Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract.

The increased concentration of lead (Pb) in soils is a serious threat to human beings and plants all over the world. Salinity stress is also a major issue across the globe, which limits crop productivity. The use of allelochemicals has become an effective strategy to mitigate the toxic effects of abiotic stresses. Sorghum is an important crop grown across the globe, and it also possesses an appreciably allelopathic potential. Therefore, this study was planned to determine the impacts of the sorghum water extract (SWE) on improving maize growth under Pb and salinity stress. The experiment included different treatments; control, SWE (3%), and different levels of Pb and salinity stress; T1: control, T2: 50 mM NaCl, T3: 100 mM NaCl, T4: 250 µM Pb, and T5: 500 µM Pb. Lead and salinity stress reduced the maize growth by the genesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as evidenced by higher production of malondialdehyde (MDA: 39.1 and 32.28%) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 20.62 and 17.81%). Spraying plants with SWE improved the maize growth by increasing antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidase: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD and superoxide dismutase: SOD), photosynthetic pigments, relative water contents (RWC), osmolyte accumulation (proline, total soluble proteins: TSP, free amino acids: FAA), potassium accumulation, and decreasing MDA, H2O2, sodium, chloride, and Pb accumulation. In conclusion, the application of SWE mitigates adverse impacts of Pb and salinity stresses by improving chlorophyll synthesis and osmolyte accumulation, activating the antioxidant defense system, and preventing the entry of toxic ions.

Soil acidification and salinity: the importance of biochar application to agricultural soils.

Soil acidity is a serious problem in agricultural lands as it directly affects the soil, crop production, and human health. Soil acidification in agricultural lands occurs due to the release of protons (H+) from the transforming reactions of various carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur-containing compounds. The use of biochar (BC) has emerged as an excellent tool to manage soil acidity owing to its alkaline nature and its appreciable ability to improve the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. The application of BC to acidic soils improves soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient uptake, microbial activity and diversity, and enzyme activities which mitigate the adverse impacts of acidity on plants. Further, BC application also reduce the concentration of H+ and Al3+ ions and other toxic metals which mitigate the soil acidity and supports plant growth. Similarly, soil salinity (SS) is also a serious concern across the globe and it has a direct impact on global production and food security. Due to its appreciable liming potential BC is also an important amendment to mitigate the adverse impacts of SS. The addition of BC to saline soils improves nutrient homeostasis, nutrient uptake, SOM, CEC, soil microbial activity, enzymatic activity, and water uptake and reduces the accumulation of toxic ions sodium (Na+ and chloride (Cl-). All these BC-mediated changes support plant growth by improving antioxidant activity, photosynthesis efficiency, stomata working, and decrease oxidative damage in plants. Thus, in the present review, we discussed the various mechanisms through which BC improves the soil properties and microbial and enzymatic activities to counter acidity and salinity problems. The present review will increase the existing knowledge about the role of BC to mitigate soil acidity and salinity problems. This will also provide new suggestions to readers on how this knowledge can be used to ameliorate acidic and saline soils.

Proximate composition and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of phytochemicals in Agave sisalana Perrine (sisal) adapted in different agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan.

Exploring extractable phytochemicals from locally adapted sisal plant vegetation vary seasonally at different locations. This study elaborated proximate composition and phytochemical heterogeneity in sisal due to varying environmental conditions analyzed from five districts, i.e., Chakwal, Khushab, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Layyah in Punjab, Pakistan. Extensive surveying and plant sampling across 2 years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, during mid-spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons were carried out for understanding the seasonal impact on sisal. The present study was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and analyzed considering seasonal, yearly, and locational impact. The spatial differences in phytochemicals concentration were strongly associated with environmental conditions prevailing in different seasons. Autumn season reflected saponins, tannins, and flavonoids in higher concentrations during 2018-2019 while steroids and terpenoids were higher during spring 2018-2019. Spatio-temporal variations in the proximate analysis were more apparent in different samples collected from different districts. Data recorded for the Khushab district and autumn season reflected the higher composition of a proximate analysis and phytochemical contents as compared to other seasons. Overall, the spatial differences in phytochemicals concentration were strongly associated with soils and environmental conditions prevailing in different seasons in selected districts.

The myth of oral hygiene using synthetic mouthwash products.

The synthetic oral cleansing and teeth whitening products like mouthwashes exert adverse effects on teeth, gums and mucous membrane of oral cavity and their extensive use is being criticized. Determining the effect of frequent use of mouthwashes, human cheek cells and their DNA have been studied. Five mouthwash brands were tested and their effects were examined on membrane and DNA of human cheek cells which were found to be very expressive and severe. The DNA, also, received severe damage and breaks developed in its double stranded structure resulting in detachment of small fragments from DNA. The statistical analysis, also, showed significant difference P < 0.005 between the values obtained for DNA double strand breaks for different mouthwashes (and standard mutagen) as compared to untreated control. The study revealed that damage to DNA increases many folds when different mouthwashes are combined. Essential oils of six spice plants (black pepper, clove, black seasam, cinamon, carom seeds and cumin) were evaluated for possessing anti-mutagenic property. These essential oils were found effectively protective against the DNA damaging effect of mouthwashes but could not inhibit it completely. Black pepper, clove, black seasam, cinamon, and cumin were stronger protective as compared to carom seeds.