REMEMProt: a resource of membrane-enriched proteome profiles, their disease associations, and biomarker status.

The differential expression of plasma membrane proteins is integrally analyzed for their diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic applications in diverse clinical manifestations. Necessarily, distinct membrane protein enrichment methods and mass spectrometry platforms are employed for their global and relative quantitation. First of its kind to explore, we compiled membrane-associated proteomes in human and mouse systems into a database named, Resource of Experimental Membrane-Enriched Mass spectrometry-derived Proteome (REMEMProt). It currently hosts 14,626 proteins (9,507 proteins in Homo sapiens; 5,119 proteins in Mus musculus) with information on their membrane-protein enrichment methods, experimental/physiological context of detection in cells or tissues, transmembrane domain analysis, and their current attribution as biomarkers. Based on these annotations and the transmembrane domain analysis in proteins or their binary/complex protein-protein interactors, REMEMProt facilitates the assessment of the plasma membrane localization potential of proteins through batch query. A cross-study enrichment analysis platform is enabled in REMEMProt for comparative analysis of proteomes using novel/modified membrane enrichment methods and evaluation of methods for targeted enrichment of membrane proteins. REMEMProt data are made freely accessible to explore and download at https://rememprot.ciods.in/.

Developing a simple and efficient modeling solution for predicting key phenological stages of table grapes in a non-traditional viticulture zone in south Asia.

Phenological shifts are one of the most visible signs of climatic variability and change in the biosphere. However, modeling plant phenological responses has always been a key challenge due to climatic variability and plant adaptation. Grapevine is a phenologically sensitive crop and, thus, its developmental stages are affected by the increase in temperature. The goal of this study was to develop a temperature-based grapevine phenology model (GPM) for predicting key developmental stages for different table grape cultivars for a non-traditional viticulture zone in south Asia. Experiments were conducted in two vineyards at two locations (Chakwal and Islamabad) in the Pothawar region of Pakistan during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons for four cultivars including Perlette, King's Ruby, Sugraone and NARC Black. Detailed phenological observations were obtained starting in January until harvest of the grapes. The Mitscherlich monomolecular equation was used to develop the phenology model for table grapes. There was a strong non-linear correlation between the Eichhorn and Lorenz phenological (ELP) scale and growing degree days (GDD) for all cultivars with coefficient of determinations (R2) ranging from 0.90 to 0.94. The results for model development indicated that GPM was able to predict phenological stages with high skill scores, i.e., a root mean square (RMSE) of 2.14 to 2.78 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.86 to 2.26 days. The prediction variability of the model for the onset timings of phenological stages was up to 3 days. The results also reveal that the phenology model based on GDD approach provides an efficient planning tool for viticulture industry in different grape growing regions. The proposed methodology, being a simpler one, can be easily applied to other regions and cultivars as a predictor for grapevine phenology.

Butane Tetracarboxylic Acid Grafted on Polymeric Nanofibrous Aerogels for Highly Efficient Protein Absorption and Separation.

Developing high-performance and low-cost protein purification materials is of great importance to meet the demands for highly purified proteins in biotechnological industries. Herein, a facile strategy was developed to design and construct high-efficiency protein absorption and separation media by combining aerogels' molding techniques and impregnation processes. Poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) were modified by grafting butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) over them in situ. This modification was carried out using polyphosphoric acid as a catalyst. The resulting EVOH/BTCA NFAs exhibited favorable comprehensive properties. Benefiting from the highly interconnected porous structure, good underwater compressive properties, and abundant absorption ligands, the obtained EVOH/BTCA NFAs possessed a high static absorption capacity of 1082.13 mg/g to lysozyme and a short absorption equilibrium time of about 6 h. A high saturated dynamic absorption capacity for lysozyme (716.85 mg/g) was also realized solely by gravity. Furthermore, EVOH/BTCA NFAs displayed excellent reusability, good acid and alkaline resistance, and unique absorption selectivity performance. The successful synthesis of such aerogels can provide a potential candidate for next-generation protein absorbents for bio-separation and purification engineering.

Comparative analysis of host immune responses to Hydatid cyst in human and ovine hepatic cystic Echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease is caused by the larval stages of the canine tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. It is one of the most critical helminthic diseases, representing worldwide public health and socio-economic concern. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the expression of apoptosis and immune response within hepatic tissues of humans and sheep infected with the Hydatid cyst. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissue was prepared from each tissue sample and used for histopathological examination by Haematoxylin- Eosin. Also, toluidine blue staining was used for mast cell detection, while an immunohistochemical study was performed to assess CD3 T lymphocytes, CD4 helper T lymphocytes, CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD20 memory B lymphocytes, CD68 macrophage, and caspase-3 antibodies. RESULTS: The histological examination revealed significant changes, including the infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes with scattered giant cells, necrotic hepatic tissue, and fibrosis. Toluidine blue stain revealed a higher number of mast cells (5 cells/field) in humans compared to sheep (3.6 cells/field). The immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the CD3 were the most predominant inflammatory cell in the hepatic tissue of humans (intensive 70%), and sheep (moderate 38.47%). Caspase-3 was observed in all samples in different grades and mostly in human liver tissue. CONCLUSION: This data could aid in recognizing immunological markers for differentiating disease progression, as well as enhance the understanding of local immune responses to cystic Echinococcosis (CE). The findings could provide preliminary data for future studies on immune responses associated with Hydatid cysts.

DFT and TDDFT exploration on electronic transitions and bonding aspect of DPA and PTDC ligated transition metal complexes.

CONTEXT: In this study, we have investigated the structure, reactivity, bonding, and electronic transitions of DPA and PDTC along with their Ni-Zn complexes using DFT/TD-DFT methods. The energy gap between the frontier orbitals was computed to understand the reactivity pattern of the ligands and metal complexes. From the energies of FMO's, the global reactivity descriptors such as electron affinity, ionization potential, hardness (η), softness (S), chemical potential (µ), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (ω) have been calculated. The complexes show a strong NLO properties due to easily polarization as indicated by the narrow HOMO-LUMO gap. The polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities of the complexes indicate that they are good candidates for NLO materials. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps identified electrophilic and nucleophilic sites on the surfaces of the complexes. TDDFT and NBO analyses provided insights into electronic transitions, bonding, and stabilizing interactions within the studied complexes. DPA and PDTC exhibited larger HOMO-LUMO gaps and more negative electrostatic potentials compared to their metal complexes suggesting the higher reactivity. Ligands (DPA and PDTC) had absorption spectra in the range of 250 nm to 285 nm while their complexes spanned 250 nm to 870 nm. These bands offer valuable information on electronic transitions, charge transfer and optical behavior. This work enhances our understanding of the electronic structure and optical properties of these complexes. METHODS: Gaussian16 program was used for the optimization of all the compounds. B3LYP functional in combination with basis sets, such as LanL2DZ for Zn, Ni and Cu while 6-311G** for other atoms like C, H, O, N, and S was used. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis is carried out to find out how the filled orbital of one sub-system interacts with the empty orbital of another sub-system. The ORCA software is used for computing spectral features along with the zeroth order regular approximation method (ZORA) to observe its relativistic effects. TD-DFT study is carried out to calculate the excitation energy by using B3LYP functional.

CSM-CROPGRO model to simulate safflower phenological development and yield.

Crop simulation models are valuable tools for decision making regarding evaluation and crop improvement under different field conditions. CSM-CROPGRO model integrates genotype, environment and crop management portfolios to simulate growth, development and yield. Modeling the safflower response to varied climate regimes are needed to strengthen its productivity dynamics. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of DSSAT-CSM-CROPGRO-Safflower (Version 4.8.2) under diverse climatic conditions. The model was calibrated using the field observations for phenology, biomass and safflower grain yield (SGY) of the year 2016-17. Estimation of genetic coefficients was performed using GLUE (Genetic Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) program. Simulated results for days to flowering, maturity, biomass at flowering and maturity and SGY were predicted reasonably with good statistical indices. Model evaluation results elucidate phenological events with low root mean square error (6.32 and 6.52) and high d-index (0.95 and 0.96) for days to flowering and maturity respectively for all genotypes and climate conditions. Fair prediction of safflower biomass at flowering and maturity showed low RMSE (887.3 and 564.3 kg ha-1) and high d-index (0.67 and 0.93) for the studied genotypes across the environments. RMSE for validated safflower grain yield (101.8 kg ha-1) and d-index (0.95) depicted that model outperformed for all genotypes and growing conditions. Longer appropriate growing conditions at NARC-Islamabad took optimal duration to assimilate photosynthetic products lead to higher grain yield. Safflower resilience to different environments showed that it can be used as an alternate crop for different agroecological regions. Furthermore, CROPGRO-Safflower model can be used as tool to further evaluate inclusion of safflower in the existing cropping systems of studied regions.

CFD study of self-cleaning system of multi-stage tangential roller threshing unit for precise buckwheat breeding.

Buckwheat is a globally recognized, nutritionally rich crop with robust adaptability, serving as a multi-purpose plant for its health benefits. Achieving precise and mechanized plot seed harvesting is a critical step in obtaining accurate results in breeding experiments. However, plot breeding requires no seed retention, no mixing, and ensures no accumulation of seed in the threshing unit. A self-cleaning technology was developed to prevent seed retention, mixing, and accumulation in the multistage tangential cylinder threshing unit. The newly designed cleaning system has five air inlets and a centrifugal fan for pneumatic cleaning. CFD simulations were conducted for each inlet position, coupled with four varying inlet velocities and the rotation speed of the main threshing cylinder. During the post-processing stage of the CFD modeling, a line consisting of fifty points was drawn beneath the threshing drums, and the air velocity at these points was recorded. The optimal configuration of inlet position, inlet air velocity, and main threshing drum rotation speed for efficient cleaning was identified based on the ratio of points beneath the drums where the airflow speed surpassed the suspension speed of buckwheat to the points where the airflow speed was lower than the suspension speed of buckwheat. The optimal configuration for "inlet_1" was identified based on the suspension velocity of buckwheat grain, with an inlet velocity of 4 m/s and a main threshing drum speed of 450 rpm.

An exponentiated XLindley distribution with properties, inference and applications.

In this paper, we propose exponentiated XLindley (EXL) distribution. The novel model is adaptable due to the mixt shapes of its density and failure rate functions. The following key statistical properties of EXL distribution are derived: quantile function, moments, hazard function, mean residual life, and Rényi entropy. The parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood, Anderson Darling, Cramer von Misses, maximum product spacing, ordinary and weighted least square estimation procedures. To examine the behavior of the estimate, Monte Carlo simulation is used. Further Bayesian technique is also utilized to estimate the EXL parameters. The traceplot and Geweke diagnostics are used to track the convergence of simulated processes. The applicability of the EXL distribution is demonstrated by three datasets from different domains such as mortality rate due to COVID-19, precipitation in inches, and failure time for repairable items. The proposed distribution provides efficient results as compared to renowned competitive distributions.

Green construction practices and economic performance: The mediating role of social performance and environmental performance.

Currently, there is a surge in the adoption of green construction practices (GCP) to address and attempt to alleviate the adverse effects of construction activities on the natural environment. The current research surrounding sustainability in the industry has witnessed a notable surge in efforts, primarily driven by a growing consciousness of environmental concerns. In this context, it is worth noting that the focus of assessment schemes in developed countries has predominantly gravitated toward economic and environmental factors, with relatively less emphasis placed on social performance (SP). Many researchers have underscored this disparity, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach encompassing all three sustainability dimensions. Hence, the present research examines the effects of green construction practices on economic performance (ECP) while considering the mediating role of environmental performance (EP) and SP. The results showed no direct impact of GCP on ECP. However, the mediating role of SP and EP in the association between GCP and ECP was found to be statistically significant. The present study provides several implications. This study presents empirical evidence that implementing GCP yields several benefits for contractors, including cost reduction in waste management, legal expenses, and energy consumption. These cost savings effectively offset the initial investment required to implement GCP, enabling construction projects to attain ECP thresholds. This study provides a significant contribution to the expanding corpus of knowledge concerning green building site practices and construction management. It offers novel insights into the influence of a project's EP and SP on its economic feasibility. Furthermore, this research study has effectively showcased the positive impact of GCP on construction projects' environmental construction performance, particularly concerning environmental and social considerations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 SETAC.

Evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized with Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extracts.

Background: Due to their simplicity, eco-friendliness, availability and non-toxicity, the greener fabrication of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has been a highly attractive research area over the last decade. Aim: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Ziziphus spina-christi. Method: The antioxidant property of ZnO-NPs was analyzed by the α, α-diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Additionally, the diffusion agar method assessed the antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi. Results: ZnO-NPs synthesized by Z. spina-christi had shown promising H2O2 and DPPH free radical scavenging actions compared to vitamin C. The ZnO-NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria with various susceptibility as a concentration-dependent effect. The largest zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was observed (36 ± 2 mm) compared to Escherichia coli (E. coli) (15 ± 2 mm) by the same concentration of ZnO-NPs. The ZnO-NPs showed remarkable antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, ZnO-NP have been imposed as suitable antimicrobial agent being able to combat both S. aureus and E. coli in vitro.

DFT and TDDFT exploration on the role of pyridyl ligands with copper toward bonding aspects and light harvesting.

CONTEXT: Schiff base-containing metal complexes have been the subject of extensive research. In this work, a coordination polymer-derived complex called [Cu(L)] that is solution-stable (L = 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene-amino)phenol) has been explored theoretically with five different pyridyl-based ligands using DFT/TDDFT in order to understand the structural-functional and electronic transitions of these five complexes. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis was carried out to assess the reactivity behavior of all five complexes. For the purpose of studying the charge energy distribution over complexes, electrostatic potential maps were also drawn. Furthermore, in order to identify any stabilizing interactions that may be present in the given complexes, an NBO analysis was studied. To learn more about any potential correlations between the properties of these five complexes, a comparative analysis was explored. Our calculations demonstrate that complex 3 having pyridine-4-carboxamide as a ligand has a lower energy gap and a higher negative electrostatic potential which may indicate its higher reactivity and this may be due to the electron withdrawing group (carboxamide). TDDFT results show that the highest light harvesting efficiency (LHE) of all the studied complexes is found in the range of 440-448 nm. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 show the higher light harvesting efficiency as compared to complexes 3 and 5. Our findings are in good accordance with the available experimental data. METHODS: All DFT computations were performed using the Gaussian16 with unrestricted B3LYP-D2 functional with the basis sets 6-31G(d,p) for O, N, C, and H while LanL2DZ for Cu. The polarized continuum model (PCM) was used for the solvation. The software GaussView6.1 was utilized for the modeling of initial geometries and the plotting of MEP maps. The NBO6.0 program which is incorporated in Gaussian16 was utilized to investigate the bonding nature and stabilization energies of the complexes. The ORCA program was used to simulate the absorption spectra.

Sulfonylpyrazole- and pyrazole-directed ortho-selective C-H functionalization/alkenylation and desulfenylative olefination of aryl(sulfonyl)pyrazoles.

ortho-Selective C-H alkenylation of arenes was achieved using sulfonylpyrazoles and pyrazoles as directing groups, favored by a combination of a Pd(OAc)2 catalyst, Boc-Sar-OH and silver acetate. A wide variety of mono-alkenylated products of aryl-sulfonylpyrazoles and pyrazoles were synthesized with complete site-selectivity under mild reaction conditions. This transformation tolerated several electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on the aryl ring and the yields ranged from 52% to 70%, producing highly decorated/valuable alkenylated sulfonylpyrazole and pyrazole derivatives. Amazingly, switching of the oxidant, with the use of AgBF4 in place of AgOAc, offered cinnamic acid derivatives through de-sulfonylation followed by alkenylation at the same position with good yields in the case of aryl-sulfonylpyrazoles. These kinds of molecules have great biological importance and target predictions indicate that they may serve as potential antifungal and anti-tumor agents.

The efficiency of fabricated Ag/ZnO nanocomposite using Ruta chalepensis L. leaf extract as a potent protoscolicidal and anti-hydatid cysts agent.

BACKGROUND: As a consequence of their eco-friendliness, simplicity and non-toxicity, the fabrication of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles using greener chemistry has been a highly attractive research area over the last decade. AIM: In this study focused on the fabrication of silver-Zinc oxide nanocomposite (Ag-ZnO NCs) using Ruta chalepensis leaf extract and evaluating its potential biological activities, against Echinococcus granulosus in an in vitro and in vivo model using BALB/c mice. METHODS: In this study, the synthesis of Ag-ZnO NCs was accomplished using local R. chalepensis leaf extracts. The synthesized nanocomposites were identified using UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, XRD, and FTIR. For a short-term assessment of acute toxicity, BALB/c mice were given the prepared NCs orally. Dual sets of mice were also intraperitoneally injected with protoscoleces for secondary echinococcosis infection. Furthermore, a blood compatibility test was carried out on the nanocomposites. RESULTS: The synthesized Ag-ZnO NCs presented a surface plasmon peak at 329 and 422 nm. The XRD, SEM, and EDX confirmed the purity of the Ag-ZnO NCs. The FTIR spectra indicated the formation of Ag-ZnO NCs. Compared to the untreated infected mice, the treated-infected animals displayed an alteration in the appearance of the hepatic hydatid cysts from hyaline to whitish cloudy with a rough surface appearance. Lysis of RBCs at various doses of Ag-ZnONCs was significantly less than the positive contro,. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that the Ag-ZnO NCs didn't cause any adverse symptoms and no mortality was observed in all administered groups of mice. The obtained outcomes confirmed that concentrations of up to 40 µg/mL of the bio-fabricated Ag-ZnONCs induced no notable harm to the red blood cells.

Temperature variability during the growing season affects the quality attributes of table grapes in Pothwar-insight from a new emerging viticulture region in South Asia.

Rising air temperature due to climate change has posed a mammoth challenge to global viticulture and key berry quality traits are compromised. Exploring the effects of seasonal temperature variability on berry ripening and quality attributes in different viticulture regions may help in sustainable viticulture industry. The present research was designed to explore the effect of temperature variables on key quality attributes of table grape cultivars in Pothwar region of Pakistan. Key berry quality traits such as total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), maturity indices (MI), ascorbic acid, sugars, total polyphenol contents (TPC) and total anthocyanin contents (TAC) were unlocked for four important table grape cultivars under varying environmental conditions at Chakwal and Islamabad districts for two consecutive vintages of 2019 and 2020. The district Chakwal has up to 0.92 °C, 1.35 °C, 1.12°C and 0.81°C higher Tmin, Tmax, Tmean and diurnal temperature variation (DTV) respectively, compared to Islamabad particularly for the 2019 vintage. The results of the present study revealed that the warmer site (Chakwal) has significantly (P ≤0.05) higher juice pH, TSS (°brix) and maturity indices (MI) particularly for the relatively hotter vintage of 2019. Interestingly, MI was 33% higher for the relatively warmer vintage of 2019 compared to 2020 with relatively lower acidity (up to 38%). Moreover, higher titratable acidity (11.2%), ascorbic acid (28.5%), polyphenols (20.3%) and anthocyanins (10.6%) were noticed for the colder Islamabad compared to Chakwal. Although elevated temperature for warmer location and vintage favoured berry ripening, however key biochemical attributes such as titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, polyphenols and anthocyanins were negatively affected. The findings of the present research provide useful insight into the impact of growing season temperature on key berry attributes and may help devise adaptation strategies to improve berry quality.

Role of Actin Dynamics and GhACTIN1 Gene in Cotton Fiber Development: A Prototypical Cell for Study.

Cotton crop is considered valuable for its fiber and seed oil. Cotton fiber is a single-celled outgrowth from the ovule epidermis, and it is a very dynamic cell for study. It has four distinct but overlapping developmental stages: initiation, elongation, secondary cell wall synthesis, and maturation. Among the various qualitative characteristics of cotton fiber, the important ones are the cotton fiber staple length, tensile strength, micronaire values, and fiber maturity. Actin dynamics are known to play an important role in fiber elongation and maturation. The current review gives an insight into the cotton fiber developmental stages, the qualitative traits associated with cotton fiber, and the set of genes involved in regulating these developmental stages and fiber traits. This review also highlights some prospects for how biotechnological approaches can improve cotton fiber quality.

Lignite Scaffolding as Slow-Release N-Fertilizer Extended the SN Retention and Inhibited N Losses in Alkaline Calcareous Soils.

Conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizers particularly urea mineralized quickly in soil. Without sufficient plant uptake, this rapid mineralization favors the heavy N losses. Lignite is a naturally abundant and cost-effective adsorbent capable of extending multiple benefits as a soil amendment. Therefore, it was hypothesized that lignite as an N carrier for the synthesis of lignite-based slow-release N fertilizer (LSRNF) could offer an eco-friendly and affordable option to resolve the limitations of existing N fertilizer formulations. The LSRNF was developed by impregnating urea on deashed lignite and pelletized by a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and starch as a binder. The results indicated that LSRNF significantly delayed the N mineralization and extended its release to >70 days. The surface morphology and physicochemical properties of LSRNF confirmed the sorption of urea on lignite. The study demonstrated that LSRNF also significantly decreased the NH3-volatilization up to 44.55%, NO3-leaching up to 57.01%, and N2O-emission up to 52.18% compared to conventional urea. So, this study proved that lignite is a suitable material to formulate new slow-release fertilizers, suiting to alkaline calcareous soils favorably where N losses are further higher compared to non-calcareous soils.

Live Biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus: A Sustainable Method for Decoloration and Detoxification of Dyes in Water.

In this study, white-rot fungus, Rigidoporus vinctus, collected from an unidentified fallen twig from Pathankot, Punjab, India, was used for biosorption of anionic Congo red and cationic Methylene blue dyes from an aqueous medium. The biosorption efficiency of the live biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus was investigated to optimize biosorbent dosage, process time, concentrations of dyes, and pH of solutions. The results indicated that Rigidoporus vinctus is more efficient than other reported bio-adsorbents for Congo red and Methylene blue dyes. The maximum biosorption activity of Rigidoporus vinctus for Congo red was found at pH 2, and that for Methylene blue was at pH 10, after 24 h of the reaction period. The process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, which indicated that the interaction of both dyes to the adsorption sites on the surface of Rigidoporus vinctus was responsive to biosorption. The biosorption process could be well explained by the Langmuir isotherm for both dyes. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacity of Rigidoporus vinctus for Congo red and Methylene blue was observed to be 54.0 mg/g and 80.6 mg/g, respectively. The seed germination test was carried out, and it was assessed that the toxicity of dyes was reduced up to significant levels. Based on the present experimental findings, it can be concluded that biosorption using the live biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus can effectively decolorize dye-containing wastewater, thus reducing the hazardous effects of dyes on human beings.

Seasonal variability in the effect of temperature on key phenological stages of four table grapes cultivars.

Progressive warming of the grape growing regions has reduced the land capability for sustainable grapevine production and the geographical distribution of grapes. Bud burst, blooming, berry set, veraison, and harvest are the key phenological stages of grapevine, and are crucial for managing vineyard activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seasonal temperature variability on the timing of key phenological stages of table grape cultivars in a new emerging viticulture region, i.e., the Pothwar region of Pakistan. Phenological stages of four table grape cultivars were recorded during two consecutive growing seasons at two locations. All phenological stages were attained earlier for the relatively warmer location, i.e., Chakwal. Similarly, the length of the growing season from bud burst to harvest was 15 to 21 days longer for the 2020 growing season than for the 2019 growing season, which corresponds to the inter-annual temperature variability. Moreover, the grapevine cultivars showed a distinct response for each growth phase; cv. Perlette matured earlier while cv. NARC Black was the last to ripen. Despite the large variability in the length of the active growing period from bud burst to harvest, accumulated growing degree days (GDD) varied only in a narrow range, i.e., 1510-1557 for cv. Perlette, 1641-1683 for cv. King's Ruby, 1744-1770 for cv. Sugraone, and 1869-1906 for cv. NARC Black. This implies that seasonal temperature variability using GDD is a better indicator for the phenology of table grape cultivars compared to regular time. It is clear from the results from this study that the variation in phenological responses of table grape cultivars due to temperature differences necessitates genotype and site-specific vineyard management.

Photosystems and antioxidative system of rye, wheat and triticale under Pb stress.

Lead (Pb2+) pollution in the soil sub-ecosystem has been a continuously growing problem due to economic development and ever-increasing anthropogenic activities across the world. In this study, the photosynthetic performance and antioxidant capacity of Triticeae cereals (rye, wheat and triticale) were compared to assess the activities of antioxidants, the degree of oxidative damage, photochemical efficiency and the levels of photosynthetic proteins under Pb stress (0.5 mM, 1 mM and 2 mM Pb (NO3)2). Compared with triticale, Pb treatments imposed severe oxidative damage in rye and wheat. In addition, the highest activity of major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, and GPX) was also found to be elevated. Triticale accumulated the highest Pb contents in roots. The concentration of mineral ions (Mg, Ca, and K) was also high in its leaves, compared with rye and wheat. Consistently, triticale showed higher photosynthetic activity under Pb stress. Immunoblotting of proteins revealed that rye and wheat have significantly lower levels of D1 (photosystem II subunit A, PsbA) and D2 (photosystem II subunit D, PsbD) proteins, while no obvious decrease was noticed in triticale. The amount of light-harvesting complex II b6 (Lhcb6; CP24) and light-harvesting complex II b5 (Lhcb5; CP26) was significantly increased in rye and wheat. However, the increase in PsbS (photosystem II subunit S) protein only occurred in wheat and triticale exposed to Pb treatment. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that triticale shows higher antioxidant capacity and photosynthetic efficiency than wheat and rye under Pb stress, suggesting that triticale has high tolerance to Pb and could be used as a heavy metal-tolerant plant.