Synergistic interplay between melatonin and hydrogen sulfide enhances cadmium-induced oxidative stress resistance in stock (Matthiola incana L.).

Ornamental crops particularly cut flowers are considered sensitive to heavy metals (HMs) induced oxidative stress condition. Melatonin (MLT) is a versatile phytohormone with the ability to mitigate abiotic stresses induced oxidative stress in plants. Similarly, signaling molecules such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have emerged as potential options for resolving HMs related problems in plants. The mechanisms underlying the combined application of MLT and H2S are not yet explored. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of individual and combined applications of MLT (100 µM) and H2S in the form of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of H2S, (1.5 mM) to alleviate cadmium (Cd) stress (50 mg L-1) in stock (Matthiola incana L.) plants by measuring various morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics. The results depicted that Cd-stress inhibited growth, photosynthesis and induced Cd-associated oxidative stress as depicted by excessive ROS accumulation. Combined application of MLT and H2S efficiently recovered all these attributes. Furthermore, Cd stress-induced oxidative stress markers including electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide are partially reversed in Cd-stressed plants by MLT and H2S application. This might be attributed to MLT or H2S induced antioxidant plant defense activities, which effectively reduce the severity of oxidative stress indicators. Overall, MLT and H2S supplementation, favorably regulated Cd tolerance in stock; yet, the combined use had a greater effect on Cd tolerance than the independent application.

Exogenous ascorbic acid as a potent regulator of antioxidants, osmo-protectants, and lipid peroxidation in pea under salt stress.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.), a globally cultivated leguminous crop valued for its nutritional and economic significance, faces a critical challenge of soil salinity, which significantly hampers crop growth and production worldwide. A pot experiment was carried out in the Botanical Garden, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur to alleviate the negative impacts of sodium chloride (NaCl) on pea through foliar application of ascorbic acid (AsA). Two pea varieties Meteor (V1) and Sarsabz (V2) were tested against salinity, i.e. 0 mM NaCl (Control) and 100 mM NaCl. Three levels of ascorbic acid 0 (Control), 5 and 10 mM were applied through foliar spray. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) with three replicates. Salt stress resulted in the suppression of growth, photosynthetic activity, and yield attributes in pea plants. However, the application of AsA treatments effectively alleviated these inhibitory effects. Under stress conditions, the application of AsA treatment led to a substantial increase in chlorophyll a (41.1%), chl. b (56.1%), total chl. contents (44.6%) and carotenoids (58.4%). Under salt stress, there was an increase in Na+ accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the application of AsA increased the contents of proline (26.9%), endogenous AsA (23.1%), total soluble sugars (17.1%), total phenolics (29.7%), and enzymatic antioxidants i.e. SOD (22.3%), POD (34.1%) and CAT (39%) in both varieties under stress. Salinity reduced the yield attributes while foliarly applied AsA increased the pod length (38.7%), number of pods per plant (40%) and 100 seed weight (45.2%). To sum up, the application of AsA alleviated salt-induced damage in pea plants by enhancing photosynthetic pigments, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities, maintaining ion homeostasis, and reducing excessive ROS accumulation through the limitation of lipid peroxidation. Overall, V2 (Sarsabz) performed better as compared to the V1 (Meteor).

Mitigation of cadmium-induced stress in maize via synergistic application of biochar and gibberellic acid to enhance morpho-physiological and biochemical traits.

Cadmium (Cd), being a heavy metal, tends to accumulate in soils primarily through industrial activities, agricultural practices, and atmospheric deposition. Maize, being a staple crop for many regions, is particularly vulnerable to Cd contamination, leading to compromised growth, reduced yields, and potential health risks for consumers. Biochar (BC), a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis of organic matter has been shown to improve soil structure, nutrient retention and microbial activity. The choice of biochar as an ameliorative agent stems from its well-documented capacity to enhance soil quality and mitigate heavy metal stress. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the efficacy of biochar in combination with GA3, a plant growth regulator known for its role in promoting various physiological processes, in mitigating the adverse effects of Cd stress. The detailed investigation into morpho-physiological attributes and biochemical responses under controlled laboratory conditions provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of these interventions. The experimental design consisted of three replicates in a complete randomized design (CRD), wherein soil, each containing 10 kg was subjected to varying concentrations of cadmium (0, 8 and 16 mg/kg) and biochar (0.75% w/w base). Twelve different treatment combinations were applied, involving the cultivation of 36 maize plants in soil contaminated with Cd (T1: Control (No Cd stress; T2: Mild Cd stress (8 mg Cd/kg soil); T3: Severe Cd stress (16 mg Cd/kg soil); T4: 10 ppm GA3 (No Cd stress); T5: 10 ppm GA3 + Mild Cd stress; T6: 10 ppm GA3 + Severe Cd stress; T7: 0.75% Biochar (No Cd stress); T8: 0.75% Biochar + Mild Cd stress; T9: 0.75% Biochar + Severe Cd stress; T10: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar (No Cd stress); T11: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar + Mild Cd stress; T12: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar + Severe Cd stress). The combined application of GA3 and BC significantly enhanced multiple parameters including germination (27.83%), root length (59.53%), shoot length (20.49%), leaf protein (121.53%), root protein (99.93%), shoot protein (33.65%), leaf phenolics (47.90%), root phenolics (25.82%), shoot phenolics (25.85%), leaf chlorophyll a (57.03%), leaf chlorophyll b (23.19%), total chlorophyll (43.77%), leaf malondialdehyde (125.07%), root malondialdehyde (78.03%) and shoot malondialdehyde (131.16%) across various Cd levels compared to the control group. The synergistic effect of GA3 and BC manifested in optimal leaf protein and malondialdehyde levels indicating induced tolerance and mitigation of Cd detrimental impact on plant growth. The enriched soils showed resistance to heavy metal toxicity emphasizing the potential of BC and GA3 as viable strategy for enhancing maize growth. The application of biochar and gibberellic acid emerges as an effective means to mitigate cadmium-induced stress in maize, presenting a promising avenue for sustainable agricultural practices.

Recent Trends and Advances in Additive-Mediated Composting Technology for Agricultural Waste Resources: A Comprehensive Review.

Agriculture waste has increased annually due to the global food demand and intensive animal production. Preventing environmental degradation requires fast and effective agricultural waste treatment. Aerobic digestion or composting uses agricultural wastes to create a stabilized and sterilized organic fertilizer and reduces chemical fertilizer input. Indeed, conventional composting technology requires a large surface area, a long fermentation period, significant malodorous emissions, inferior product quality, and little demand for poor end results. Conventional composting loses a lot of organic nitrogen and carbon. Thus, this comprehensive research examined sustainable and adaptable methods for improving agricultural waste composting efficiency. This review summarizes composting processes and examines how compost additives affect organic solid waste composting and product quality. Our findings indicate that additives have an impact on the composting process by influencing variables including temperature, pH, and moisture. Compost additive amendment could dramatically reduce gas emissions and mineral ion mobility. Composting additives can (1) improve the physicochemical composition of the compost mixture, (2) accelerate organic material disintegration and increase microbial activity, (3) reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions to reduce nitrogen (N) losses, and (4) retain compost nutrients to increase soil nutrient content, maturity, and phytotoxicity. This essay concluded with a brief summary of compost maturity, which is essential before using it as an organic fertilizer. This work will add to agricultural waste composting technology literature. To increase the sustainability of agricultural waste resource utilization, composting strategies must be locally optimized and involve the created amendments in a circular economy.

Effect of salinity on growth and biochemical responses of brinjal varieties: implications for salt tolerance and antioxidant mechanisms.

Salinity poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, impacting crops' growth, morphology and biochemical parameters. A pot experiment of three months was conducted between February to April 2023 in the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Four brinjal (eggplant) varieties: ICS-BR-1351, HBR-313-D, HBR-314-E, and HBR-334-D were selected and assessed for the effects of salinity on various growth and biochemical attributes. The experiment was completely randomized in design with three replicates each. This study revealed that increased salinity significantly reduced the shoot length, root length, and leaf number across all varieties, with maximum adverse effects observed at a 300mM NaCl concentration. Among the tested varieties, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated superior performance in most growth parameters, suggesting potential salt tolerance. Biochemically, salinity decreased chlorophyll content across all varieties, with the sharpest decline observed at the highest salt concentration. V4 (HBR-334-D) showed a 57% decrease in chlorophyll followed by V3 (HBR-314-E) at 56%, V2 (HBR-313-D) at 54%, and V1 (ICS-BR-1351) at 33% decrease at maximum salt levels as compared to control. Conversely, carotenoid content increased up to -42.11% in V3 followed by V2 at -81.48%, V4 at -94.11%, and - 233% in V1 at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to respective controls. V3 (HBR-314-E) has the maximum value for carotenoids while V1 has the lowest value for carotenoids as compared to the other three brinjal varieties. In addition to pigments, the study indicated a salinity-induced decrease in total proteins and total soluble sugar, whereas total amino acids and flavonoids increased. Total proteins showed a decrease in V2 (49.46%) followed by V3 (36.44%), V4 (53.42%), and V1 (53.79%) at maximum salt concentration as compared to plants treated with tap water only. Whereas, total soluble sugars showed a decrease of 52.07% in V3, 41.53% in V2, 19.49% in V1, and 18.99% in V4 at the highest salt level. While discussing total amino acid, plants showed a -9.64% increase in V1 as compared to V4 (-31.10%), V2 (-36.62%), and V3 (-22.61%) with high salt levels in comparison with controls. Plant flavonoid content increased in V3 (-15.61%), V2 (-19.03%), V4 (-18.27%) and V1 (-27.85%) at 300mM salt concentration. Notably, salinity elevated the content of anthocyanin, lycopene, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) across all varieties. Antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase also increased under salt stress, suggesting an adaptive response to combat oxidative damage. However, V3 (HBR-314-E) has shown an increase in anthocyanin at -80.00%, lycopene at -24.81%, MDA at -168.04%, hydrogen peroxide at -24.22%, POD at -10.71%, CAT as-36.63 and SOD as -99.14% at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to control and other varieties. The enhanced accumulation of antioxidants and other protective compounds suggests an adaptive mechanism in brinjal to combat salt-induced oxidative stress. The salt tolerance of different brinjal varieties was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA), and the order of salt tolerance was V1 (ICS-BR-1351) > V4 (HBR-334-D), > V2 (HBR-313-D) > V3 (HBR-314-E). Among the varieties studied, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated resilience against saline conditions, potentially offering a promising candidate for saline-prone agricultural areas.

Exploring the benefits of wild plants in dietary nutrition: investigating perspectives, choices, health impacts and sustainable practices.

BACKGROUND: This ethnobotanical study in Dunyapur, District Lodhran, Pakistan, focuses on traditional medicinal knowledge, exploring 41 plants across 28 families. The research involves 496 informants from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, herbalists, housewives, teachers, and shopkeepers. The prevalence of herbs (68%) aligns with their accessibility and rapid regrowth, shaping the local medicinal landscape. The study investigates socio-demographic features, emphasizing the importance of considering the community's diverse perspectives. METHODS: The research employs quantitative ethnobotanical data analysis, introducing various indices like PPV, FUV, FIV, RFC, UV, and RI. The analysis of plant growth habits underscores the dominance of herbs, and the method of preparation evaluation identifies decoction as the most common (23%). Leaves (27%) are the most utilized plant part, and Resedaceae stands out with the highest FUV (0.38). FIV highlights the ecological and cultural significance of Poaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. RESULTS: The RFC values range from 0.016 to 0.032, with Cucumis melo having the highest value (0.032), indicating its frequent citation and cultural significance. The study reveals specific plants like Melia azedarach, Peganum harmala and Salvadora oleoides with high PR values for skin issues, reflecting their widespread acceptance and effectiveness. Oligomeris linifolia emerges with the highest UV (0.38), emphasizing its greater significance in local traditional practices. Leptadenia pyrotechnica records the highest RI (9.85), underlining its exceptional importance in the community's traditional pharmacopeia. CONCLUSION: The findings offer a holistic understanding of ethnobotanical knowledge in Dunyapur, emphasizing the role of local contexts and ecological factors in shaping traditional plant uses. The study contributes valuable insights into the diverse practices within the community, laying the foundation for sustainable integration of traditional knowledge into broader healthcare frameworks.

Exogenous application of sulfur-rich thiourea (STU) to alleviate the adverse effects of cobalt stress in wheat.

Heavy metal stress affects crop growth and yields as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and development are negatively affected under heavy metal stress. The study examined the effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) stress on wheat growth and development. To alleviate this problem, a pot experiment was done to analyze the role of sulfur-rich thiourea (STU) in accelerating the defense system of wheat plants against cobalt toxicity. The experimental treatments were, i) Heavy metal stress (a) control and (b) Cobalt stress (300 µM), ii) STU foliar applications; (a) control and (b) 500 µM single dose was applied after seven days of stress, and iii) Wheat varieties (a) FSD-2008 and (b) Zincol-2016. The results revealed that cobalt stress decreased chlorophyll a by 10%, chlorophyll b by 16%, and carotenoids by 5% while foliar application of STU increased these photosynthetic pigments by 16%, 15%, and 15% respectively under stress conditions as in contrast to control. In addition, cobalt stress enhances hydrogen peroxide production by 11% and malondialdehyde (MDA) by 10%. In comparison, STU applications at 500 µM reduced the production of these reactive oxygen species by 5% and by 20% by up-regulating the activities of antioxidants. Results have revealed that the activities of SOD improved by 29%, POD by 25%, and CAT by 28% under Cobalt stress. Furthermore, the foliar application of STU significantly increased the accumulation of osmoprotectants as TSS was increased by 23% and proline was increased by 24% under cobalt stress. Among wheat varieties, FSD-2008 showed better adaptation under Cobalt stress by showing enhanced photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant activities compared to Zincol-2016. In conclusion, the foliar-applied STU can alleviate the negative impacts of Cobalt stress by improving plant physiological attributes and upregulating the antioxidant defense system in wheat.

In silico structural-functional characterization of three differentially expressed resistance gene analogs identified in Dalbergia sissoo against dieback disease reveals their role in immune response regulation.

Plant immunity includes enemy recognition, signal transduction, and defensive response against pathogens. We experimented to identify the genes that contribute resistance against dieback disease to Dalbergia sissoo, an economically important timber tree. In this study, we investigated the role of three differentially expressed genes identified in the dieback-induced transcriptome in Dalbergia sissoo. The transcriptome was probed using DOP-rtPCR analysis. The identified RGAs were characterized in silico as the contributors of disease resistance that switch on under dieback stress. Their predicted fingerprints revealed involvement in stress response. Ds-DbRCaG-02-Rga.a, Ds-DbRCaG-04-Rga.b, and Ds-DbRCaG-06-Rga.c showed structural homology with the Transthyretin-52 domain, EAL associated YkuI_C domain, and Src homology-3 domain respectively, which are the attributes of signaling proteins possessing a role in regulating immune responses in plants. Based on in-silico structural and functional characterization, they were predicted to have a role in immune response regulation in D. sissoo.

Potential of Trichoderma virens HZA14 in Controlling Verticillium Wilt Disease of Eggplant and Analysis of Its Genes Responsible for Microsclerotial Degradation.

Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt diseases in a wide range of economically important crops, including eggplant. Trichoderma spp. are effective biological control agents that suppress a wide range of plant pathogens through a variety of mechanisms, including mycoparasitism. However, the molecular mechanisms of mycoparasitism of Trichoderma spp. in the degradation of microsclerotia of V. dahliae are not yet fully understood. In this study, the ability of 15 isolates of Trichoderma to degrade microsclerotia of V. dahliae was evaluated using a dual culture method. After 15 days, isolate HZA14 showed the greatest potential for microsclerotial degradation. The culture filtrate of isolate HZA14 also significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and conidia germination of V. dahliae at different dilutions. Moreover, this study showed that T. virens produced siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In disease control tests, T. virens HZA14 reduced disease severity in eggplant seedlings by up to 2.77%, resulting in a control efficacy of 96.59% at 30 days after inoculation. Additionally, inoculation with an HZA14 isolate increased stem and root length and fresh and dry weight, demonstrating plant growth promotion efficacy. To further investigate the mycoparasitism mechanism of T. virens HZA14, transcriptomics sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of T. virens HZA14 at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days of the interaction with microsclerotia of V. dahliae. In contrast to the control group, the mycoparasitic process of T. virens HZA14 exhibited differential gene expression, with 1197, 1758, 1936, and 1914 genes being up-regulated and 1191, 1963, 2050, and 2114 genes being down-regulated, respectively. Among these genes, enzymes associated with the degradation of microsclerotia, such as endochitinase A1, endochitinase 3, endo-1,3-beta-glucanase, alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase, laccase-1, and peroxidase were predicted based on bioinformatics analysis. The RT-qPCR results confirmed the RNA-sequencing data, showing that the expression trend of the genes was consistent. These results provide important information for understanding molecular mechanisms of microsclerotial degradation and integrated management of Verticillium wilt in eggplant and other crops.

Boron seed coating combined with seed inoculation with boron tolerant bacteria (Bacillus sp. MN-54) and maize stalk biochar improved growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) on saline soil.

Salinity exerts significant negative impacts on growth and productivity of crop plants and numerous management practices are used to improve crop performance under saline environments. Micronutrients, plant growth promoting bacteria and biochar are known to improve crop productivity under stressful environments. Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop and its productivity is adversely impacted by salinity. Although boron (B) application, seed inoculation with boron-tolerant bacteria (BTB) and biochar are known to improve maize growth under stressful environments, there is less information on their combined impact in enhancing maize productivity on saline soils. This study investigated the impact of B seed coating combined with seed inoculation with BTB + biochar on maize productivity under saline soil. Four B seed coating levels [0.0 (no seed coating), 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 g B kg-1 seed], and individual or combined application of 5 % (w/w) maize stalk biochar, and seed inoculation with Bacillus sp. MN-54 BTB were included in the study. Different growth and yield attributes and grain quality were significantly improved by seed coating with 1.5 B kg-1 seed coupled with biochar + BTB. Seed coating with 1.5 B kg-1 seed combined with biochar + BTB improved stomatal conductance by 32 %, photosynthetic rate by 15 %, and transpiration ratio by 52 % compared to seed coating (0 B kg-1 seed) combined with biochar only. Similarly, the highest plant height (189 cm), number of grain rows cob-1 (15.5), grain yield (54.9 g plant-1), biological yield (95.5 g plant-1), and harvest index (57.6 %) were noted for B seed coating (1.5 g B kg-1 seed) combined with biochar + BTB inoculation. The same treatment resulted in the highest grain protein and B contents. It is concluded that B seed coating at 1.5 g B kg-1 seed combined with biochar + BTB inoculation could significantly improve yield and quality of maize crop on saline soils. However, further field experiments investigating the underlying mechanisms are needed to reach concrete conclusions and large-scale recommendations.

Mineral Solubilizing Rhizobacterial Strains Mediated Biostimulation of Rhodes Grass Seedlings.

Minerals play a dynamic role in plant growth and development. However, most of these mineral nutrients are unavailable to plants due to their presence in fixed forms, which causes significant losses in crop production. An effective strategy to overcome this challenge is using mineral solubilizing bacteria, which can convert insoluble forms of minerals into soluble ones that plants can quickly assimilate, thus enhancing their availability in nutrient-depleted soils. The main objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize mineral solubilizing rhizobacteria and to assess their plant growth-promoting potential for Rhodes grass. Twenty-five rhizobacterial strains were isolated on a nutrient agar medium. They were characterized for solubilization of insoluble minerals (phosphate, potassium, zinc, and manganese), indole acetic acid production, enzymatic activities, and various morphological traits. The selected strains were also evaluated for their potential to promote the growth of Rhodes grass seedlings. Among tested strains, eight strains demonstrated strong qualitative and quantitative solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Strain MS2 reported the highest phosphate solubilization index, phosphate solubilization efficiency, available phosphorus concentration, and reduction in medium pH. Among tested strains, 75% were positive for zinc and manganese solubilization, and 37.5% were positive for potassium solubilization. Strain MS2 demonstrated the highest quantitative manganese solubilization, while strains MS7 and SM4 reported the highest solubilization of zinc and potassium through acidifying their respective media. The strain SM4 demonstrated the most increased IAA production in the presence and absence of L-tryptophan. The majority of strains were positive for various enzymes, including urease, catalase protease, and amylase activities. However, these strains were negative for coagulase activity except strains SM7 and MS7. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, six strains, namely, SM2, SM4, SM5, MS1, MS2, and MS4, were identified as Bacillus cereus, while strains SM7 and MS7 were identified as Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. These strains significantly improved growth attributes of Rhodes grass, such as root length, shoot length, and root and shoot fresh and dry biomasses compared to the uninoculated control group. The present study highlights the significance of mineral solubilizing and enzyme-producing rhizobacterial strains as potential bioinoculants to enhance Rhodes grass growth under mineral-deficient conditions sustainably.

Fertilization of Microbial Composts: A Technology for Improving Stress Resilience in Plants.

Microbial compost plays a crucial role in improving soil health, soil fertility, and plant biomass. These biofertilizers, based on microorganisms, offer numerous benefits such as enhanced nutrient acquisition (N, P, and K), production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and control of pathogens through induced systematic resistance. Additionally, they promote the production of phytohormones, siderophore, vitamins, protective enzymes, and antibiotics, further contributing to soil sustainability and optimal agricultural productivity. The escalating generation of organic waste from farm operations poses significant threats to the environment and soil fertility. Simultaneously, the excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers to achieve high crop yields results in detrimental impacts on soil structure and fertility. To address these challenges, a sustainable agriculture system that ensures enhanced soil fertility and minimal ecological impact is imperative. Microbial composts, developed by incorporating characterized plant-growth-promoting bacteria or fungal strains into compost derived from agricultural waste, offer a promising solution. These biofertilizers, with selected microbial strains capable of thriving in compost, offer an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for agricultural practices. In this review article, we explore the potential of microbial composts as a viable strategy for improving plant growth and environmental safety. By harnessing the benefits of microorganisms in compost, we can pave the way for sustainable agriculture and foster a healthier relationship between soil, plants, and the environment.

Precision drug design against Acidovorax oryzae: leveraging bioinformatics to combat rice brown stripe disease.

Bacterial brown stripe disease caused by Acidovorax oryzae is a major threat to crop yields, and the current reliance on pesticides for control is unsustainable due to environmental pollution and resistance. To address this, bacterial-based ligands have been explored as a potential treatment solution. In this study, we developed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for A. oryzae by utilizing shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the STRING database. Using a maximal clique centrality (MCC) approach through CytoHubba and Network Analyzer, we identified hub genes within the PPI network. We then analyzed the genomic data of the top 10 proteins, and further narrowed them down to 2 proteins by utilizing betweenness, closeness, degree, and eigenvector studies. Finally, we used molecular docking to screen 100 compounds against the final two proteins (guaA and metG), and Enfumafungin was selected as a potential treatment for bacterial resistance caused by A. oryzae based on their binding affinity and interaction energy. Our approach demonstrates the potential of utilizing bioinformatics and molecular docking to identify novel drug candidates for precision treatment of bacterial brown stripe disease caused by A. oryzae, paving the way for more targeted and sustainable control strategies. The efficacy of Enfumafungin in inhibiting the growth of A. oryzae strain RS-1 was investigated through both computational and wet lab methods. The models of the protein were built using the Swiss model, and their accuracy was confirmed via a Ramachandran plot. Additionally, Enfumafungin demonstrated potent inhibitory action against the bacterial strain, with an MIC of 100 µg/mL, reducing OD600 values by up to 91%. The effectiveness of Enfumafungin was further evidenced through agar well diffusion assays, which exhibited the highest zone of inhibition at 1.42 cm when the concentration of Enfumafungin was at 100 µg/mL. Moreover, Enfumafungin was also able to effectively reduce the biofilm of A. oryzae RS-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. The swarming motility of A. oryzae RS-1 was also found to be significantly inhibited by Enfumafungin. Further validation through TEM observation revealed that bacterial cells exposed to Enfumafungin displayed mostly red fluorescence, indicating destruction of the bacterial cell membrane.

Salicylic acid-mitigates abiotic stress tolerance via altering defense mechanisms in Brassica napus (L.).

Under the changing climate due to global warming, various abiotic stresses including drought (D) and salinity (S) are expected to further trigger their devastating effects on the already vulnerable crop production systems. This experiment was designed to unravel and quantify the potential role of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating both D and S stresses and their combination (D+S), with three replications using CRD (Completely Randomized Design). The obtained results of the current study demonstrated significant effects of all three types of stresses (D, S, and D+S) on various parameters in Brassica napus plants. Quantifying these parameters provides a more informative and precise understanding of the findings. Current results revealed that all three stress types (D, S, and D+S) resulted in a reduction in leaf area (13.65 to 21.87%), chlorophyll levels (30 to 50%), gaseous exchange rate (30 to 54%) and the concentration of mineral ions compared to non-stressed plants. However, application of SA helped in mitigating these stresses by ameliorating the negative effects of these stresses. Moreover, Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, an indicator of lipid per-oxidation and oxidative stress, the levels of antioxidants, proline content, an osmolyte associated with stress tolerance, and sugar content in the leaves were elevated in response to all stress conditions. In addition, the ultra-structures within the leaves were negatively affected by the stresses, while an application of SA considerably minimized the deterioration of these structures thus providing protection to the brassica plants against the stresses. In a nutshell, the findings of this study suggest that SA application in S, D and S+ D stresses provides evasion to the plants by improving different physiological and growth indices. The application of Salicylic Acid (SA) mitigated the negative effects of the stresses on all the above parameters, reducing MDA contents (47%), antioxidants (11 to 20%), proline (28%), sugar contents (20.50%), and minimizing the deterioration of ultra-structures. The findings emphasize the potential mitigatory role of SA in mitigating D and S stresses and highlight the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms in detail and explore its practical application in farming practices.

The completed genome sequence of Pestalotiopsis versicolor, a pathogenic ascomycete fungus with implications for bayberry production.

The pathogenic fungus Pestalotiopsis versicolor is a major etiological agent of fungal twig blight disease affecting bayberry trees. However, the lack of complete genome sequence information for this crucial pathogenic fungus hinders the molecular and genetic investigation of its pathogenic mechanism. To address this knowledge gap, we have generated the complete genome sequence of P. versicolor strain XJ27, employing a combination of Illumina, PacBio, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. This comprehensive genome sequence, comprising 7 chromosomes with an N50 contig size of 7,275,017 bp, a GC content ratio of 50.16%, and a total size of 50.80 Mb, encompasses 13,971 predicted coding genes. By performing comparative genomic analysis between P. versicolor and the genomes of eleven plant-pathogenic fungi, as well as three closely related fungi within the same group, we have gained initial insights into its evolutionary trajectory, particularly through gene family analysis. These findings shed light on the distinctive characteristics and evolutionary history of P. versicolor. Importantly, the availability of this high-quality genetic resource will serve as a foundational tool for investigating the biology, molecular pathogenesis, and virulence of P. versicolor. Furthermore, it will facilitate the development of more potent antifungal medications by uncovering potential vulnerabilities in its genetic makeup.

Weed infestation and productivity of wheat crop sown in various cropping systems under conventional and conservation tillage.

Introduction: Climate change, pest infestation, and soil degradation are significantly reducing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Wheat is cultivated in rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems and escalating global population is exerting substantial pressure on the efficiency of these systems. Conservation tillage and crop rotation could help in lowering soil degradation and pest infestation, and improving wheat yield. Methods: This three-year study evaluated soil properties, weed infestation and wheat yield under various tillage and cropping systems. Six different cropping systems, i.e., cotton-wheat, sorghum-wheat, mungbean-wheat, rice-wheat, sunflower-wheat, and fallow-wheat (control) and three tillage systems, i.e., conventional tillage (CT), zero-tillage (ZT) and minimum tillage (MT) were included in the study. Results: The individual and interactive effects of tillage and cropping systems significantly affected soil properties, weed infestation and yield of wheat crop. Overall, CT resulted in lower soil bulk density and higher porosity, while ZT behaved oppositely at all locations in this regard. Similarly, mungbean-wheat cropping system resulted in lower bulk density and higher porosity and nitrogen (N) contents, while fallow-wheat cropping system resulted in higher bulk density, and lower soil porosity and N contents. Similarly, ZT and CT resulted in higher and lower weed infestation, respectively. Likewise, lower and higher weed density and biomass were recorded in wheat-sorghum and wheat-fallow cropping systems, respectively at all locations. In the same way higher number of productive tillers, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and economic returns of wheat crop were recorded for CT, whereas ZT resulted in lower values of these traits. Regarding interactions, wheat-mungbean cropping system with CT resulted in lower bulk density and higher porosity and N contents, whereas wheat-fallow system with ZT behaved oppositely at all locations in this regard. Similarly, higher and lower values for yield-related traits and economic returns of wheat crop were noted for mungbean-wheat cropping system under CT and fallow-wheat and sorghum-wheat cropping systems under ZT, respectively. It is concluded that the mungbean-wheat cropping system improved wheat productivity and soil health and sorghum-wheat cropping system could lower weed infestation. Therefore, these cropping systems can be practiced to lower weed infestation and improve wheat yield and economic returns.

Tillage, green manuring and crop residue management impacts on crop productivity, potassium use efficiency and potassium fractions under rice-wheat system.

The conventional crop production practices including intensive tillage and open field crop residue burning in world' largest rice-wheat system (RWS) are adversely affecting crop productivity besides deteriorating natural resources and ecosystems' sustainability. In order to improve system productivity, potassium (K) use efficiency and apparent K balance, adoption of conservation tillage in a RWS with residue management is considered highly effective. We therefore, studied the effect of wheat straw retention and green manure (GM) in rice (main plot treatment), and tillage and rice residue management in subsequent wheat (sub-plot treatments) on crop productivity, K use efficiency and its transformation amongst different fractions of variable solubility. These results revealed that rice straw retention along with GM significantly (p < 0.05) increased the rice yields by ∼5.3-6.7% and wheat yields by ∼10.2-16.9%, compared to the conventional tillage (CT) without GM. Green manuring during the intervening period (CTRW0+GM) significantly increased the rice grain K uptake by ∼36.2% than in plots with no-GM (CTRW0). However, it increased by ∼29.8% under CTRW25+GM, compared with CTRW25-GM treatment. As compared with CTRW0, CTRW0+GM significantly increased the reciprocal internal use efficiency of K of rice by 3.8 kg Mg-1 grain yield (∼29.5%). However, CTRW25+GM increased the RIUEK of rice by 3.3 kg Mg-1 grain yield (∼22.4%), compared with no-GM (CTRW25). Although, apparent K balance was net negative for CTRW25, ZTWR100 treatments, yet there was decreased K mining of 56-262 kg K ha-1 (∼11.9-61.2%) for CTRW25 and ZTWR100 over CTRW0 and ZTWR0. The increased crop yield, K uptake and K use efficiency were significantly related to K enrichment in water soluble K, exchangeable K, non-exchangeable-K, hydrochloric acid extractable-K, lattice-K and total K fractions by ∼1.3, 3.4, 18.6, 11.0 and 34.1%, respectively due to residue retention, compared with no residue. Therefore, conventional tillage with puddled transplanted rice (CTR) with wheat residue and green manure during intervening period (CTRW25+GM), and zero tillage wheat with rice residue retention (ZTWR100) were emerged as highly valuable technological options for mitigating soil degradation effects under intensive RWS for food grains in north-western India.

SNAC3 Transcription Factor Enhances Arsenic Stress Tolerance and Grain Yield in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) through Regulating Physio-Biochemical Mechanisms, Stress-Responsive Genes, and Cryptochrome 1b.

Arsenic (As) is one of the toxic heavy metal pollutants found in the environment. An excess of As poses serious threats to plants and diminishes their growth and productivity. NAC transcription factors revealed a pivotal role in enhancing crops tolerance to different environmental stresses. The present study investigated, for the first time, the functional role of SNAC3 in boosting As stress tolerance and grain productivity in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Two SNAC3-overexpressing (SNAC3-OX) and two SNAC3-RNAi transgenic lines were created and validated. The wild-type and transgenic rice plants were exposed to different As stress levels (0, 25, and 50 µM). The results revealed that SNAC3 overexpression significantly improved rice tolerance to As stress and boosted grain yield traits. Under both levels of As stress (25 and 50 µM), SNAC3-OX rice lines exhibited significantly lower levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and OsCRY1b (cryptochrome 1b) expression, but they revealed increased levels of gas exchange characters, chlorophyll, osmolytes (soluble sugars, proteins, proline, phenols, and flavonoids), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD), and stress-tolerant genes expression (OsSOD-Cu/Zn, OsCATA, OsCATB, OsAPX2, OsLEA3, OsDREB2B, OsDREB2A, OsSNAC2, and OsSNAC1) in comparison to wild-type plants. By contrast, SNAC3 suppression (RNAi) reduced grain yield components and reversed the aforementioned measured physio-biochemical and molecular traits. Taken together, this study is the first to demonstrate that SNAC3 plays a vital role in boosting As stress resistance and grain productivity in rice through modulating antioxidants, photosynthesis, osmolyte accumulation, and stress-related genes expression, and may be a useful candidate for further genetic enhancement of stress resistance in many crops.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, DFT Calculations, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis and In Silico Drug-Target Profiling of (R)-2-(2-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanamido)benzoic Acid Methyl Ester.

The work here reflects synthesis, DFT studies, Hirshfeld charge analysis and crystal data exploration of pharmacologically important (R)-2-(2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanamido)benzoic acid methyl ester (5) to understand its properties for further chemical transformations. The methyl anthranilate (2) was produced by the esterification of anthranilic acid in an acidic medium. The phthaloyl-protected alanine (4) was rendered by the fusion of alanine with phthalic anhydride at 150 °C, followed by coupling with (2) furnished isoindole (5). The characterization of products was performed using IR, UV-Vis, NMR and MS. Single-crystal XRD also verified the structure of (5) in which N-H⋯O bonding stabilizes the molecular configuration of (5), resulting in the formation of S(6) hydrogen-bonded loop. The molecules of isoindole (5) are connected in the form of dimers, and the π⋯π stacking interaction between aromatic rings further stabilizes the crystal packing. DFT studies suggest that HOMO is over the substituted aromatic ring, the LUMO is present mainly over the indole side, and nucleophilic and electrophilic corners point out the reactivity of the product (5). In vitro and in silico analysis of (5) shows its potential as an antibacterial agent targeting DNA gyrase and Dihydroorotase from E. coli and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and DNA gyrase from Staphylococcus aureus.

Metal-Resistant PGPR Strain Azospirillum brasilense EMCC1454 Enhances Growth and Chromium Stress Tolerance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by Modulating Redox Potential, Osmolytes, Antioxidants, and Stress-Related Gene Expression.

Heavy metal stress, including from chromium, has detrimental effects on crop growth and yields worldwide. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have demonstrated great efficiency in mitigating these adverse effects. The present study investigated the potential of the PGPR strain Azospirillum brasilense EMCC1454 as a useful bio-inoculant for boosting the growth, performance and chromium stress tolerance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants exposed to varying levels of chromium stress (0, 130 and 260 µM K2Cr2O7). The results revealed that A. brasilense EMCC1454 could tolerate chromium stress up to 260 µM and exhibited various plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and generation of siderophore, trehalose, exopolysaccharide, ACC deaminase, indole acetic acid, and hydrolytic enzymes. Chromium stress doses induced the formation of PGP substances and antioxidants in A. brasilense EMCC1454. In addition, plant growth experiments showed that chromium stress significantly inhibited the growth, minerals acquisition, leaf relative water content, biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange traits, and levels of phenolics and flavonoids of chickpea plants. Contrarily, it increased the concentrations of proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars, proteins, oxidative stress markers, and enzymatic (CAT, APX, SOD, and POD) and non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid and glutathione) antioxidants in plants. On the other hand, A. brasilense EMCC1454 application alleviated oxidative stress markers and significantly boosted the growth traits, gas exchange characteristics, nutrient acquisition, osmolyte formation, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in chromium-stressed plants. Moreover, this bacterial inoculation upregulated the expression of genes related to stress tolerance (CAT, SOD, APX, CHS, DREB2A, CHI, and PAL). Overall, the current study demonstrated the effectiveness of A. brasilense EMCC1454 in enhancing plant growth and mitigating chromium toxicity impacts on chickpea plants grown under chromium stress circumstances by modulating the antioxidant machinery, photosynthesis, osmolyte production, and stress-related gene expression.