Improvement of morphophysiological and anatomical attributes of plants under abiotic stress conditions using plant growth-promoting bacteria and safety treatments.

Drought and salinity are the major abiotic stress factors negatively affecting the morphophysiological, biochemical, and anatomical characteristics of numerous plant species worldwide. The detrimental effects of these environmental factors can be seen in leaf and stem anatomical structures including the decrease in thickness of cell walls, palisade and spongy tissue, phloem and xylem tissue. Also, the disintegration of grana staking, and an increase in the size of mitochondria were observed under salinity and drought conditions. Drought and salt stresses can significantly decrease plant height, number of leaves and branches, leaf area, fresh and dry weight, or plant relative water content (RWC%) and concentration of photosynthetic pigments. On the other hand, stress-induced lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, electrolyte leakage (EL%), and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can increase under salinity and drought conditions. Antioxidant defense systems such as catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase, ascorbic acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid are essential components under drought and salt stresses to protect the plant organelles from oxidative damage caused by ROS. The application of safe and eco-friendly treatments is a very important strategy to overcome the adverse effects of drought and salinity on the growth characteristics and yield of plants. It is shown that treatments with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can improve morphoanatomical characteristics under salinity and drought stress. It is also shown that yeast extract, mannitol, proline, melatonin, silicon, chitosan, α-Tocopherols (vitamin E), and biochar alleviate the negative effects of drought and salinity stresses through the ROS scavenging resulting in the improvement of plant attributes and yield of the stressed plants. This review discusses the role of safety and eco-friendly treatments in alleviating the harmful effects of salinity and drought associated with the improvement of the anatomical, morphophysiological, and biochemical features in plants.

Physio-Biochemical, Anatomical, and Molecular Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars Infected with TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK Novel Puccinia graminis Races.

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, is one of the most dangerous rust diseases on wheat. Through physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis, the relationship between the change in resistance of 15 wheat cultivars to stem rust disease and the response of 41 stem rust resistance genes (Sr,s) as well as TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK races was explained. Some cultivars and Sr genes, such as Gemmeiza-9, Gemmeiza-11, Sids-13, Sakha-94, Misr-1, Misr-2, Sr31, and Sr38, became susceptible to infection. Other new cultivars include Mir-3 and Sakha-95, and Sr genes 13, 37, 40, GT, and FR*2/SRTT3-SRTT3-SR10 remain resistant. Some resistance genes have been identified in these resistant cultivars: Sr2, Sr13, Sr24, Sr36, and Sr40. Sr31 was not detected in any cultivars. Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, enzymes activities (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase), and electrolyte leakage were increased in the highly susceptible cultivars, while they decreased in the resistant ones. Anatomical characteristics such as the thickness of the epidermis, ground tissue, phloem tissue and vascular bundle diameter in the midrib were decreased in susceptible cultivars compared with resistant cultivars. Our results indicated that some races (TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK) appeared for the first time in Egypt and many other countries, which broke the resistant cultivars. The wheat rust breeding program must rely on land races and pyramiding genes in order to develop new resistance genes that will survive for a very long time.

Assessing the toxicity of pesticides exposure on hepatic miRNA-target gene alterations in rat liver tissues via molecular and integrated network bioinformatics analysis.

The prevalent use of pesticides, including pirimiphos-methyl (PPM) and bifenthrin (BF), poses a serious health risk, particularly to workers who encounter these chemicals daily. Despite the recognized hepatotoxic effects, the specific molecular mechanisms, especially those involving miRNAs in liver damage caused by PPM and BF, are not fully elucidated. Prior studies have not exhaustively analyzed the hepatic miRNA-target gene dynamics following exposure to these pesticides; thus, this research aims to fill that gap through an extensive miRNA analysis to discern their regulation in PPM or BF-induced hepatic toxicity. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to BF or PPM for 28 days through oral gavage, simulating the chronic exposure faced by humans. We conducted a thorough assessment of the hepatotoxicity induced by PPM and BF, employing multiple evaluation levels, including histological analysis, liver enzyme measurements, and real-time PCR to detect changes in hepatic miRNA-target gene expressions. Additionally, we utilized DIANA-miRPath prediction tools to delineate the functional implications of these hepatic miRNA target genes. Our findings reveal a significant modulation in the expression of rno-miR-155-5p and rno-miR-122-5p, along with their target genes, following PPM and BF treatment. In contrast, rno-miR-21-5p levels remained unaltered. These observations suggest potential utility of these specific hepatic miRNAs as biomarkers for liver injury resulting from pesticide exposure. Subsequent GO enrichment analysis linked target genes to functions like molecular activity, protein binding, and cellular processes. Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis showed these genes, influenced by varied miRNA expressions, play significant roles in metabolic and signaling pathways In conclusion, this study enhances our comprehension of the biological roles of miRNAs in hepatic toxicity induced by PPM and BF. The insights gained here not only shed light on molecular mechanisms but also open avenues for considering these miRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers in conditions of pesticide-induced hepatotoxicity, thereby guiding future therapeutic strategies.

Exogenous application of nano-silicon, potassium sulfate, or proline enhances physiological parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, and agronomic traits of diverse rice genotypes under water deficit conditions.

Water deficit is a critical obstacle that devastatingly impacts rice production, particularly in arid regions under current climatic fluctuations. Accordingly, it is decisive to reinforce the drought tolerance of rice by employing sustainable approaches to enhance global food security. The present study aimed at exploring the effect of exogenous application using different biostimulants on physiological, morphological, and yield attributes of diverse rice genotypes under water deficit and well-watered conditions in 2-year field trial. Three diverse rice genotypes (IRAT-112, Giza-178, and IR-64) were evaluated under well-watered (14400 m3/ha in total for the entire season) and water deficit (9170 m3/ha) conditions and were exogenously sprayed by nano-silicon, potassium sulfate, or proline. The results showed that drought stress substantially decreased all studied photosynthetic pigments, growth traits, and yield attributes compared to well-watered conditions. In contrast, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmoprotectants were considerably increased compared with those under well-watered conditions. However, the foliar application of nano-silicon, potassium sulfate, and proline substantially mitigated the deleterious effects of drought stress and markedly enhanced photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activities, growth parameters, and yield contributing traits compared to untreated stressed control. Among the assessed treatments, foliar spray with nano-silicon or proline was more effective in promoting drought tolerance. The exogenous application of proline improved chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids by 21.4, 19.6 and 21.0% followed by nano-silicon treatment, which enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids by 21.1, 17.6 and 9.5% compared to untreated control. Besides, the application of proline demonstrated a superior improvement in the content of proline by 52.5% compared with the untreated control. Moreover, nano-silicon exhibited the maximum enhancement of catalase and peroxidase activity compared to the other treatments. The positive impacts of applied exogenously nano-silicon or proline significantly increased panicle length, number of panicles/plant, number of grains/panicle, fertility percentage, 1000-grain weight, panicle weight, and grain yield, compared to untreated plants under water deficit conditions. In addition, the physiological and agronomic performance of evaluated rice genotypes significantly contrasted under drought conditions. The genotype Giza-178 displayed the best performance under water deficit conditions compared with the other genotypes. Consequently, the integration of applied exogenously nano-silicon or proline with tolerant rice genotype as Giza-178 is an efficient approach to ameliorating drought tolerance and achieving agricultural sustainability under water-scarce conditions in arid environments.

Prelacrimal Recess Approach in Unilateral Maxillary Sinus Lesions: What Is the Impact and Efficacy?

Background and Objectives: Chronic sinusitis is a commonly encountered diagnosis for otorhinolaryngologists. The profound negative effect of rhinosinusitis on patients' quality of life is frequently overlooked, and surgical lines of treatment are numerous. The aim of the study was to assess the comparative efficacy of endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy with the endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach, combined with middle meatal antrostomy in the treatment of unilateral chronic maxillary sinus lesion. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral chronic maxillary sinus lesions enrolled in the study at Alahsa hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: 15 treated through a middle meatal antrostomy and 15 treated via a combined middle meatal antrostomy and prelacrimal recess approach. Demographic and clinical information of the patients, including the medical history, CT scan findings, diagnosis, recurrence, and complications, were gathered and analyzed. Pre- and postoperative clinical findings were graded utilizing the Lund-Kennedy Endoscopic Scoring System. Results: The enrolled patients varied in age from 18 to 56, with 60% being male and 40% being female. Antrochoanal polyp, maxillary sinus mucocele, and unilateral allergic fungal sinusitis were among the pathological diagnoses. The follow-up period averaged 14.3 months. Following surgery, two patients in Group II encountered nasal discomfort, which included synechia and epiphora. The success rate for preserving a patient's disease-free condition was 86.7%. A statistically significant difference in disease-free incidence was observed among the patients in group II. In group I, recurrence was identified in 26.7% of the patients. The postoperative symptoms diminished considerably, and the VAS score was reduced substantially. In Group II patients, however, there was no significant difference in scarring. Clinically significant differences were observed in the mean total Lund-Kennedy Endoscopic scores when compared to their preoperative values. Conclusions: Achieving endoscopic access to the sinus's anterior, lateral, inferior, and inferomedial regions is facilitated by operating via the prelacrimal recess, which is the most advantageous approach. This approach facilitates rapid mucosal healing by maintaining the integrity of the nasolacrimal duct and mucosal covering. The specific pathology, surgical objectives, surgeon expertise, and equipment accessibility influence the choice of endoscopic surgical technique.

Evaluation of Five Chrysanthemum morifolium Cultivars against Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Alternaria alternata at Rooting and Seedling Growth Stages.

During the winter of 2018, leaf blight on florist's daisy (Chrysanthemum morifolium L.) was noticed in Egypt. The disease, which was identified as caused by Alternaria alternata, was widely spread and led to serious damage for the exportation sector of this crop. Therefore, a study was conducted to better understand what can be conducted to minimize the problem in the future. Isolates were gathered and evaluated on five chrysanthemum cultivars (i.e., 'Feeling Green Dark', 'Talitha', 'Chrystal Regan', 'Arctic queen', and 'Podolsk Purple') grown in a greenhouse. The objectives were to isolate and identify the phytopathogen and detect the resistant degree of these cultivars with emphasis on the early growth stages of the crop. The results showed that 'Podolsk Purple' was the most resistant cultivar against the different isolates during the rooting and seedling growth stages. 'Chrystal Regan' was very susceptible to the different isolates. In addition, the isolate from 'Feeling Green Dark' was the strongest, which negatively affected the chlorophyll content and its fluorescence parameters besides other measured vegetative and anatomical features. The findings indicated that the best anatomical characters of the stem and leaf, like the thickness of cuticle and cortex, stem diameter, xylem vessel diameter, and thickness of epidermis as well as lamina thickness were recorded in the 'Podolsk Purple' cultivar. This study highlighted that by using the right cultivars, chrysanthemum can be cultivated during the winter season under Egyptian conditions. These results can be a part of solution to overcome the leaf blight caused by A. alternata on chrysanthemum during the early growing stages.

How to Differentiate between Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars for Leaf Rust Fungi Using Antioxidant Enzymes and Histological and Molecular Studies?

Eight wheat cultivars, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Sids-1, Sids-12, Sids-13, Shandweel-1, Misr-1, and Misr-2, were evaluated for leaf rust at the seedling and adult stages in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses were performed to determine the link between cultivars that were either sensitive or resistant to the disease. Misr-2 and Giza-171 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance to leaf rust races in 2021 (LTCGT, STSJT, and TTTST) and 2022 (MBGJT, TTTKS, and TTTTT) at the seedling stage. However, at the adult stage, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance; consequently, they had the lowest final disease severity and the lowest values of AUDPC. The correlation between the seedling reaction and adult reaction was non-significant, with values of 0.4401 and 0.4793 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Throughout the biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses, it was observed that catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities significantly increased in the resistant cultivars. The discoloration of superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) significantly decreased in resistant and moderately resistant wheat cultivars (Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2); higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-) levels were recorded for the susceptible cultivars compared to the resistant cultivars. Molecular markers proved that the Lr50 gene was detected in the resistant cultivars. Puccinia triticina infections negatively affected most histological characteristics of flag leaves, especially in susceptible cultivars. The thickness of the blade (µ), the thickness of the upper and lower epidermis (UE and LE), the thickness of mesophyll tissue (MT), and bundle length and width in the midrib were decreased in susceptible cultivars such as Sids-1, Sids-13, and Shandwel-1 compared with resistant cultivars.

Molecular Characterization of Fasciola hepatica in Sheep Based on DNA Sequences of Ribosomal ITS-1.

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) considers Fascioliasis as a neglected tropical disease that requires global efforts for disease control. Data from the genetic characterization of Fasciola population shed light on the spread of infections among animals which could help in the development of effective parasite control. The aim of the present work was to genetically characterize Fasciola adult worms isolated from sheep in Saudi Arabia by sequence analysis of ITS-1 region. Methods: A total of 12,653 slaughtered sheep in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia were examined for the presence of Fasciola spp. adult worms. The ITS-1 region of all parasites was amplified and sequenced. Results: Overall, 12 variants DNA sequences were obtained. The variance of isolates ranged from 0.00771 to 0.34405. BLAST search showed that all obtained sequences were Fasciola hepatica and had >99.3% similarity with F. hepatica isolates from Spain and USA (from different hosts other than sheep). Phylogenetic analysis showed that Fasciola isolates were closely related to isolates from different countries. Discussion: The current study showed that F. hepatica was the only spp. isolated from sheep in Jeddah. Further studies from different localities in Saudi Arabia are needed to help in the development of disease control.

Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women and the impact of clinical pharmacist counseling on their awareness level: A cross sectional study.

Anemia during pregnancy is a worldwide problem that affects females worldwide. There is not enough data on the magnitude of this health problem in Al-Madinah city in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors related to anemia during pregnancy in Al-Madinah city. In addition, assessed the impact of counseling by clinical pharmacist on anemic pregnant females. 300 pregnant females were assessed for anemia based on their hemoglobin level in a descriptive cross-sectional study. Those females were further interviewed to identify associating factors related to presence of anemia during pregnancy. Anemic females were randomized to receive either counseling by the clinical pharmacist in addition to the standard of care (interventional group) or standard of care without counseling (control group). Our result showed that 44% of pregnant women were anemic upon recruitment. Pregnant females of low socioeconomic status, those during the first trimester, multipara females, and those who did not receive nutritional education during pregnancy showed significantly higher odds of developing anemia. Clinical pharmacist-led counseling program significantly improved adherence with iron regimen (p-value < 0.01) and significantly increased patients' hemoglobin level 30-days after the intervention (p-value < 0.001).

Alterations in Inflammatory Markers and Cognitive Ability after Treatment of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background and Objectives: Determination of the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the cognitive function (CF), and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and 1ß levels and the effect of OSA management on these variables in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 224 patients were evaluated using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, the NEPSY score for CF, and polysomnography (PSG) to grade OSA severity according to the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI). Adentonsillectomy (AT) was performed for patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy grade > 2. Patients with overweight or obesity with mild or moderate OSAS underwent a 6-month protocol of lifestyle intervention (LSI). Blood samples were obtained for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) estimation of cytokine levels. All variables were re-evaluated at the end of the 6-month follow-up period. Results: A total of 181 patients had surgical interference and 43 patients underwent a LSI trial; 15 patients failed to respond and underwent surgery. At the end of the follow-up, 33 patients had residual OSAS with a significantly higher incidence among patients with severe OSAS, the mean score of the pediatric sleep questionnaire was significantly decreased in all patients, 181 patients showed an improved NESPY score, and cytokine levels were decreased. The baseline NESPY score, AHI index and sleep questionnaire score were negatively correlated. The percentage of change in the NESPY score and serum cytokine levels showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: OSAS is associated with cognitive dysfunction that significantly improves after adenotonsillectomy. LSI as a therapeutic line is satisfactory for children with mild OSAS and minimal cognitive dysfunction and is of value preoperatively to improve the surgical outcomes of AT.

Physiological Studies and Ultrastructure of Vigna sinensis L. and Helianthus annuus L. under Varying Levels of Nitrogen Supply.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizers (potassium nitrate and/or urea) on shoot parameters, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, and nitrogen fractions, as well as to conduct transmission electron microscopy, of Vigna sinensis L. (cowpea) and Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower) leaves. A general improvement was recorded in the shoot parameters of the two plants, except for a decrease in the net assimilation rate by treatment of the two plants with 100% potassium nitrate plus 100% urea. The total nitrogen, insoluble protein, and total soluble nitrogen generally decreased in cowpea shoots from the treatments but increased in case of cowpea roots and sunflower shoots and roots. The examination of the ultrastructure changes in cowpea leaves confirmed the presence of two starch granules (in response to 100% potassium nitrate, 100% potassium nitrate plus 100% urea, and the control) and three granules (in response to 50% potassium nitrate plus 50% urea) and the disappearance of the starch granules (in response to 100% urea). Despite the starch granules not being detected in the leaves of the untreated sunflower, the treated plant showed the appearance of the highest number after treatment with 50% potassium nitrate plus 50% urea (2) and the most cell size with the 100% potassium nitrate treatment. Generally, our findings demonstrated that fertilization with 50% potassium nitrate plus 50% urea has the best influence on the growth parameters and nitrogen content in the two plants, but the magnitude of response was more pronounced in case of cowpea plants.

Variations in Polysomnographic Indices of Obstructive Sleep Apnea following Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy Excision: Is the Difference Significant?

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related respiratory disorder that affects between 5% and 20% of the population. In obstructive sleep apnea, lingual tonsillar hypertrophy (LTH) has been suggested as a contributing factor to airway blockage. Objectives: The aim of this work is to demonstrate the polysomnographic indices and their values in OSA patients with LTH before and after the surgical intervention. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on eighteen patients endoscopically diagnosed as having LTH, with the main complaints being snoring, sleep apnea, and/or sleep disturbance. Clinical examination, grading of LTH, body mass index (BMI), endoscopic assessment using Muller's maneuver, and sleep endoscopy were recorded for all patients. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and overnight sleep polysomnography (PSG) were conducted before and after the surgical removal of LTH. All data were submitted for statistical analysis. Results: The mean ± SD of the AHI decreased from 33.89 ± 26.8 to 20.9 ± 19.14 postoperatively, and this decrease was of insignificant statistical value. The average SpO2 (%) mean ± SD was 91.14 ± 5.96, while the mean ± SD of the desaturation index was 34.64 ± 34.2. Following surgery, these indices changed to 96.5 ± 1.47 and 9.36 ± 7.58, respectively. The mean ± SD of the ESS was changed after the surgery, from 17.27 ± 6.48 to 7.16 ± 3.56. The mean ± SD of sleep efficacy was 71.2 ± 16.8 and the snoring index mean ± SD was 277.6 ± 192.37, and both improved postoperatively, to become 88.17 ± 9.1 and 62.167 ± 40.01, respectively. Conclusions: The AHI after lingual tonsillectomy showed no statistically significant change. The changes in the average SpO2 (%), desaturation index, sleep efficiency, snoring index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale following the surgery were statistically significant.

Publics' Perceptions of Community Pharmacists and Satisfaction with Pharmacy Services in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Pharmacists play a major role in serving patients and delivering pharmaceutical services to the community. It is unclear whether the public fully appreciates what pharmacists can do as key health care providers. This study aims to examine public perceptions of community pharmacists and levels of satisfaction with pharmacy services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a randomly selected sample population (n = 1000) in Saudi Arabia over a period of six months from January through June 2019. A 40-item, structured, self-administered questionnaire was used, comprised of questions on the demographics characteristics of the respondents and their satisfaction with pharmacy services. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The response rate of the survey was 76.92%. Public opinions were influenced by pharmacists' availability and knowledge, service promptness, and counseling services. Overall, 80.5% of respondents agreed that community pharmacists treat them with respect. Doctors were identified as the preferred source of drug therapy consultation by 58.7% and pharmacists by 41.29%. About 72.8% of respondents agreed that pharmacists provided them with clear instructions about medication use, and 70.2% trusted pharmacists' opinions about medications. About 62.5% of respondents expressed satisfaction with pharmacists, and 64.8% with pharmacy services. Conclusions: Customers' opinions were influenced by pharmacists' availability and knowledge, pharmacy service promptness, pharmacy location, waiting area, medication knowledge, and counseling. However, the public was greatly satisfied with community pharmacists' professionalism and pharmaceutical services. This positive perception provides an opportunity for pharmacists to extend their roles as healthcare professionals.

Correction: Alnusairi et al. Exogenous Nitric Oxide Reinforces Photosynthetic Efficiency, Osmolyte, Mineral Uptake, Antioxidant, Expression of Stress-Responsive Genes and Ameliorates the Effects of Salinity Stress in Wheat. Plants 2021, 10, 1693.

In the original publication [...].

Seed Priming Boost Adaptation in Pea Plants under Drought Stress.

In the present investigation, we study the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis MH161336 (106-8 CFU/cm3), silicon (25 mL L-1), and carrot extract (75 mL L-1) as seed primers, individually or in combination, on morphological, physio-biochemical and yield components of drought-stressed pea plants (Master B) during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Our results indicated that drought causes a remarkable reduction in plant height, leaf area, number of leaves per plant, and number of flowers per plant in stressed pea plants during two seasons. Likewise, number of pods, pod length, seeds weight of 10 dried plants, and dry weight of 100 seeds were decreased significantly in drought-stressed pea plants. Nevertheless, seed priming with the individual treatments or in combination boosted the morphological, physio-biochemical, and yield characters of pea plants. The best results were obtained with the Bacillus thuringiensis + carrot extract treatment, which led to a remarkable increase in the number of leaves per plant, leaf area, plant height, and number of flowers per plant in stressed pea plants in both seasons. Moreover, pod length, number of seeds per pod, seeds weight of 10 dried plants, and dry weight of 100 seeds were significantly increased as well. Bacillus thuringiensis + carrot extract treatment led to improved biochemical and physiological characters, such as relative water content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, regulated the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes, increased seed yield, and decreased lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species, mainly superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, in drought-stressed pea plants.

Anticryptosporidium Efficacy of Olea europaea and Ficus carica Leaves Extract in Immunocompromised Mice Associated with Biochemical Characters and Antioxidative System.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite (Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis) known as a parasite of humans, especially children and immunocompromised patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a mixture of fig and olive leaf extracts as an alternative medicinal plant. Parasitological examination for oocysts in the stool and histopathological alterations in the small intestines were examined. Additionally, biochemical analyses of liver and kidney functions in addition to antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH) and catalase (CAT) in the plasma were evaluated. Our results showed that marked reduction in oocysts shedding and amelioration in intestinal histopathological changes and hepatic or renal functions were detected in all treated groups compared to the control infected group. Additionally, the treated groups with tested extracts at ratios 1:3 and 1:5 showed a significant decrease in the number of oocysts compared to the other treated groups. Results exhibited a significant increase in the plasma SOD, CAT and GSH levels in treated groups compared to the infected control one. This study suggested that a mixture of fig and olive leaf extracts is a convenient promising therapeutic agent for Cryptosporidiosis.

Exogenous Nitric Oxide Reinforces Photosynthetic Efficiency, Osmolyte, Mineral Uptake, Antioxidant, Expression of Stress-Responsive Genes and Ameliorates the Effects of Salinity Stress in Wheat.

Salinity stress is one of the major environmental constraints responsible for a reduction in agricultural productivity. This study investigated the effect of exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO) (50 µM and 100 µM) in protecting wheat plants from NaCl-induced oxidative damage by modulating protective mechanisms, including osmolyte accumulation and the antioxidant system. Exogenously sourced NO proved effective in ameliorating the deleterious effects of salinity on the growth parameters studied. NO was beneficial in improving the photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content in normal and NaCl-treated wheat plants. Moreover, NO-treated plants maintained a greater accumulation of proline and soluble sugars, leading to higher relative water content maintenance. Exogenous-sourced NO at both concentrations up-regulated the antioxidant system for averting the NaCl-mediated oxidative damage on membranes. The activity of antioxidant enzymes increased the protection of membrane structural and functional integrity and photosynthetic efficiency. NO application imparted a marked effect on uptake of key mineral elements such as nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) with a concomitant reduction in the deleterious ions such as Na+. Greater K and reduced Na uptake in NO-treated plants lead to a considerable decline in the Na/K ratio. Enhancing of salt tolerance by NO was concomitant with an obvious down-regulation in the relative expression of SOS1, NHX1, AQP, and OSM-34, while D2-protein was up-regulated.

Biochar and jasmonic acid application attenuates antioxidative systems and improves growth, physiology, nutrient uptake and productivity of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) irrigated with saline water.

The effect of foliar treatment with jasmonic acid at 0.5 mM (JA) and biochar (15 ton ha-1) as a soil amendment for the faba bean (Vicia faba L. Sakha 4) was studied under salinity conditions. Salt stress led to a significant decrease in leaf numbers, leaf areas and plants, chlorophyll content, relative water content, and yield parameters. In contrast, reactive oxygen species, the proline concentration, level of malondialdehyde, and amount of electrolyte leakage were noticeably increased during both seasons under salt levels of 1500 and 3000 ppm sodium chloride (NaCl). Also, enzyme activities (i.e., of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) were increased, especially under a high level of salinity stress (3000 ppm). Application of biochar, jasmonic acid, or biochar + jasmonic acid significantly reduced the catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase activities in salt-stressed plants to values approaching those of the control (unstressed) plants, especially under 1500 ppm of NaCl stress. Biochar and jasmonic acid treatments mitigated the damaging effects of salinity and improved the plant status as indicated by the plant height, leaf area, relative water content, and chlorophyll a and b concentrations. Moreover, biochar and jasmonic acid treatments of the salt-stressed plants enhanced plant productivity, number of flowers, number of seeds per plant, and weight of 100 seeds during two successive seasons. Overall, this study suggests that biochar or jasmonic acid treatments might be promising for mitigating the detrimental impact of salt stress on faba beans.

The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Alleviating the Adverse Effects of Drought on Plants.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria play an essential role in enhancing the physical, chemical and biological characters of soils by facilitating nutrient uptake and water flow, especially under abiotic stress conditions, which are major constrains to agricultural development and production. Drought is one of the most harmful abiotic stress and perhaps the most severe problem facing agricultural sustainability, leading to a severe shortage in crop productivity. Drought affects plant growth by causing hormonal and membrane stability perturbations, nutrient imbalance and physiological disorders. Furthermore, drought causes a remarkable decrease in leaf numbers, relative water content, sugar yield, root yield, chlorophyll a and b and ascorbic acid concentrations. However, the concentrations of total phenolic compounds, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, amounts of proline, and reactive oxygen species are considerably increased because of drought stress. This negative impact of drought can be eliminated by using plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Under drought conditions, application of PGPB can improve plant growth by adjusting hormonal balance, maintaining nutrient status and producing plant growth regulators. This role of PGPB positively affects physiological and biochemical characteristics, resulting in increased leaf numbers, sugar yield, relative water content, amounts of photosynthetic pigments and ascorbic acid. Conversely, lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and amounts of proline, total phenolic compounds and reactive oxygen species are decreased under drought in the presence of PGPB. The current review gives an overview on the impact of drought on plants and the pivotal role of PGPB in mitigating the negative effects of drought by enhancing antioxidant defense systems and increasing plant growth and yield to improve sustainable agriculture.

Bacillus thuringiensis and Silicon Modulate Antioxidant Metabolism and Improve the Physiological Traits to Confer Salt Tolerance in Lettuce.

We investigated the impact of Bacillus thuringiensis as seed treatment and application with silicon on lettuce plants exposed to salinity levels (4 dS m-1 and 8 dS m-1). Results revealed that leaves number, head weight, total yield, relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll a and b declined considerably due to two salinity levels. Oxidative stress markers, i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2-), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) dramatically augmented in stressed plants. On the other hand, leaves number, total yield, RWC, and chlorophyll a, b in stressed lettuce plants were considerably enhanced because of the application of Si or B. thuringiensis. In contrast, EL%, MDA, and H2O2 were considerably reduced in treated lettuce plants with Si and B. thuringiensis. In addition, the treatment with Si and B. thuringiensis increased head weight (g) and total yield (ton hectare-1), and caused up-regulation of proline and catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activity in lettuce leaves under salinity conditions.