3D porous conductive matrix based on phase-transited BSA and covalent coupling-stabilized transition ZnS-CNT for antifouling and on-site detection of nitrite in soil.

Nitrite plays a critical role in a variety of nitrification and denitrification processes in the nitrogen cycle. Due to the high surface energy, tendency to aggregate, and poor conductivity, current nitrite ZnS-based sensing platform could not meet the need of on-site nitrite detection in smart agriculture. In order to address these issues, the carboxylated carbon nanotube (CNT) was introduced to reduce the surface energy and prevented aggregation of ZnS, while ZnS-carboxylated CNT (ZnS-CNT) composite also provided excellent electrochemical conductivity. Furthermore, the introduction of phase transition BSA (PTB) created a three-dimensional porous conductive matrix without interfering with the mass transfer process of nitrite. The resulting sensing platform exhibited a linear detection range of 10 nM to 0.4 mM for nitrite, with a detection limit of 0.73 nM. And this sensing platform had the excellent antifouling ability to direct detection nitrite in real soil suspension. In addition, the sensing platform demonstrated remarkable resistance to interferences from pH variations, microbial presence, and organic pollutants that usually present in soil environment. Therefore, on-site detection of nitrite ions in soil environment was realized no needing complex pretreatments.

Integration and holistic analysis of multiple multidimensional soil data sets.

Complex matrices such as soil have a range of measurable characteristics, and thus data to describe them can be considered multidimensional. These characteristics can be strongly influenced by factors that introduce confounding effects that hinder analyses. Traditional statistical approaches lack the flexibility and granularity required to adequately evaluate such matrices, particularly those with large dataset of varying data types (i.e. quantitative non-compositional, quantitative compositional). We present a statistical workflow designed to effectively analyse complex, multidimensional systems, even in the presence of confounding variables. The developed methodology involves exploratory analysis to identify the presence of confounding variables, followed by data decomposition (including strategies for both compositional and non-compositional quantitative data) to minimise the influence of these confounding factors such as sampling site/location. These data processing methods then allow for common patterns to be highlighted in the data, including the identification of biomarkers and determination of non-trivial associations between variables. We demonstrate the utility of this statistical workflow by jointly analysing the chemical composition and fungal biodiversity of New Zealand vineyard soils that have been managed with either organic low-input or conventional input approaches. By applying this pipeline, we were able to identify biomarkers that distinguish viticultural soil from both approaches and also unearth links and associations between the chemical and metagenomic profiles. While soil is an example of a system that can require this type of statistical methodology, there are a range of biological and ecological systems that are challenging to analyse due to the complex interplay of global and local effects. Utilising our developed pipeline will greatly enhance the way that these systems can be studied and the quality and impact of insight gained from their analysis.

Isolation and habitat analysis of Balamuthia mandrillaris from soil.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba that causes meningoencephalitis in mammals. Over 200 cases of infection were reported worldwide, with a fatality rate of over 95%. A clear route of infection was unknown for a long time until a girl died of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) in California, USA, in 2003 due to infection with B. mandrillaris detected in a potted plant. Since then, epidemiological studies were conducted worldwide to detect B. mandrillaris in soil and other environmental samples. We previously reported the isolation of B. mandrillaris from the soil in Japan; however, the existing B. mandrillaris culture method with BM3 medium and COS-7 cells was unsuccessful. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to conduct soil analysis to determine the growth conditions of B. mandrillaris. B. mandrillaris-positive soils were defined as soils from which B. mandrillaris was isolated and environmental DNA was PCR-positive. Soils inhabited by B. mandrillaris were alkaline, with high electrical conductivity and characteristics of nutrient-rich soils of loam and clay loam. The results of this study suggest a possible reason for the high prevalence of GAE caused by B. mandrillaris among individuals employed in agriculture-related occupations.

Metallomic mapping of gut and brain in heavy metal exposed earthworms: A novel paradigm in ecotoxicology.

This study explored the uptake of lead in the epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena veneta exposed to 0, 1000, and 2500 µg Pb/g soil. The soil metal content was extracted using strong acid digestion and water leaching, and analysed by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to estimate absolute and bioavailable concentrations of metals in the soil. The guts and heads of lead-exposed earthworms were processed into formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections for high-resolution multi-element metallomic imaging via Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS). Metallomic maps of phosphorus, zinc, and lead were produced at 15-µm resolution in the head and gut of D. veneta. Additional 4-µm resolution metallomic maps of the earthworm brains were taken, revealing the detailed localisation of metals in the brain. The Pb bioaccumulated in the chloragogenous tissues of the earthworm in a dose-dependent manner, making it possible to track the extent of soil contamination. The bioaccumulation of P and Zn in earthworm tissues was independent of Pb exposure concentration. This approach demonstrates the utility of LA-ICP-MS as a powerful approach for ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessments.

Evaluation of morphological traits, biochemical parameters and seeding availability pattern among Citrus limon 'Assam lemon' accessions across Assam.

The Assam lemon is a highly valued Citrus cultivar known for its unique aroma, flavor, and appearance. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, seeding pattern and biochemical variations within 132 populations of Assam lemon from across 22 districts of Assam along with the control samples, with the objective to offer comprehensive understanding that could facilitate the improvement of breeding programs and further improvement of this important cultivar. Clustering based on UPGMA algorithm for morphological and seeding pattern data were analysed at population level, revealed two major clusters, where all the populations of Upper Assam districts were in the same cluster with the original stock (control population). The populations from Tinsukia and Dhemaji districts displayed more close similarities with the control population in comparison to populations of Upper Assam districts. Another interesting observation was regarding flowering patterns, while populations from Upper Assam districts excluding Golaghat district displayed both bisexual and unisexual flowers with less concentration of unisexual flowers, other remaining districts had bisexual and unisexual flowers of almost equal concentration. Unisexual flowers contained only the male reproductive organs with 40 anthers, while bisexual flowers had 36 anthers. Seeding patterns were examined across the districts, and it was found that populations from Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and the control population exhibited seedless characteristic while populations from other selected districts displayed a combination of seedless and seeded traits. Interestingly, Golaghat district appears as the linking district and showed availability of both seeded and seedless Assam lemon fruit, connecting the regions of Barak valley, Central, Lower, North and Upper Assam. Biochemical analysis showed significant variations across districts, however, the populations from Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, and Jorhat districts displayed similarity with the control population. The study also investigated variability in soil nutrient content revealing substantial variation among the populations studied. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into the morphological, seeding pattern, and biochemical diversity within the Assam lemon cultivar. These findings can be instrumental in breeding programs to enhance the cultivar, particularly in producing high-quality seedless fruits to meet consumer demands.

Salt Tolerance of Sea Flax (Linum maritimum L.), a Rare Species with Conservation Interest in Eastern Spain.

Seldom found in saltmarshes, Linum maritimum is a halophyte of great conservation interest in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Although the species has been reported in different plant communities, there is no information on its range of salinity tolerance or mechanisms of response to environmental stress factors. In this study, L. maritimum plants were subjected to increasing salt concentrations in controlled conditions in a greenhouse. After six months of watering with salt solutions, only plants from the control, 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl treatment groups survived, but seeds were produced only in the first two. Significant differences were found between the plants from the various treatment groups in terms of their growth parameters, such as plant height, fresh weight, and the quantity of flowers and fruits. The main mechanism of salt tolerance is probably related to the species' ability to activate K+ uptake and transport to shoots to partly counteract the accumulation of toxic Na+ ions. A biochemical analysis showed significant increases in glycine betaine, flavonoids and total phenolic compounds, highlighting the importance of osmotic regulation and antioxidant compounds in the salt tolerance of Linum maritimum. These findings have implications for the conservation of the species, especially under changing climatic conditions that may lead to increased soil salinity in its Mediterranean distribution area.

Parasitological contamination of arable soil in selected regions of Poland - preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The hygienic status of arable soils in most developed countries has been unknown. In the presented study, a preliminary investigation was undertaken to determine the contamination with eggs of parasitic nematodes in the soil of arable fields in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine whether such contamination is common enough to constitute a significant problem and what factors may influence it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 5 Polish provinces from autumn 2021 to spring 2022. The provinces differed significantly in terms of the area of agricultural land, agricultural suitability, type of soil, scale of cattle and pig breeding, production of manure and slurry, and the use of manures and organic fertilizers for fertilization. A total of 133 soil samples were collected. Parasitological examination of soil samples was carried out using the PN-Z-19006 method [1], with confirmed high sensitivity. RESULTS: Parasite eggs were found in a total of 67 samples, of which 56 samples contained eggs of roundworms of the genus Ascaris (an average of 3.29 eggs/100 g of soil), 23 contained eggs of whipworms (an average of 1.22 eggs/100 g), and 3 contained eggs of Toxocara (1 egg/100 g). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the percentage of positive samples were found depending on the period in which the samples were taken. The percentage of positive samples collected in autumn (53.57%) was higher than the percentage of positive samples collected in spring (48.05%). Similarly, the average number of eggs of in positive samples collected in autumn (3.43 eggs/100 g) was higher than the average number of eggs in samples collected in spring (2.90 eggs/100 g). Differences in the percentage of positive samples were also found depending on the region of origin of the samples.

Dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction of triazole fungicides based on polybenzidine/magnetic nanoparticles in environmental samples.

A polybenzidine-modified Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized through a chemical oxidation method and employed as a novel sorbent in dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction (DMSPE) for the preconcentration and determination of three triazole fungicides (TFs), namely diniconazole, tebuconazole, and triticonazole in river water, rice paddy soil, and grape samples. The synthesis method involved a polybenzidine self-assembly coating on Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic composite. Characterization techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, EDX, and VSM were used to confirm the correctness of the synthesized nano-sorbent. The target TFs were determined in actual samples using the synthesized nanocomposite sorbent in combination with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (FID). Several variables were carefully optimized , including the sample pH, sorbent dosage, extraction time, ionic strength, and desorption condition (solvent type, volume, and time). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the method exhibited linearity in the concentration range 5-1000 ng mL-1 for triticonazole and 2-1000 ng mL-1 for diniconazole and tebuconazole. The limits of detection (LOD) for the three TFs were in the range 0.6-1.5 ng mL-1. The method demonstrated acceptable precision with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSD) values of less than 6.5%. The enrichment factors ranged from 248 to 254. Finally, the method applicability was evaluated by determining TFs in river water, rice paddy soil, and grape samples with recoveries in the range 90.5-106, indicating that the matrix effect was negligible in the proposed DMSPE procedure.

IoT-Based Agro-Toolbox for Soil Analysis and Environmental Monitoring.

The agricultural sector faces numerous challenges in ensuring optimal soil health and environmental conditions for sustainable crop production. Traditional soil analysis methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, and provide limited real-time data, making it challenging for farmers to make informed decisions. In recent years, Internet of Things (IoT) technology has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges by enabling efficient and automated soil analysis and environmental monitoring. This paper presents a 3D-printed IoT-based Agro-toolbox, designed for comprehensive soil analysis and environmental monitoring in the agricultural domain. The toolbox integrates various sensors for both soil and environmental measurements. By deploying this tool across fields, farmers can continuously monitor key soil parameters, including pH levels, moisture content, and temperature. Additionally, environmental factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, intensity of visible light, and barometric pressure can be monitored to assess the overall health of agricultural ecosystems. To evaluate the effectiveness of the Agro-toolbox, a case study was conducted in an aquaponics floating system with rocket, and benchmarking was performed using commercial tools that integrate sensors for soil temperature, moisture, and pH levels, as well as for air temperature, humidity, and intensity of visible light. The results showed that the Agro-toolbox had an acceptable error percentage, and it can be useful for agricultural applications.

Comparison of the effectiveness of various parasitological methods in detecting nematode eggs in different types of soil.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Natural fertilizers, sewage sludge, digestates, as well as organic fertilizers produced on their basis, can become a source of parasitological contamination of cultivated land. High concentration of invasive forms of parasites in the soil may pose a threat to human and animal health. Therefore, it is necessary to control the hygienic condition of fertilizers and fertilized soils with particular emphasis on parasites. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of methods commonly used for parasitological examination of soil with own methods which were used to develop the standards. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out using samples of sandy soil (SS), horticultural mix soil (HS) and peat-based substrate (PS). Each sample was spiked with 100 dyed Ascaris suum eggs and examined with the use of 6 methods: Vasilkova, Dada, Quinn, and 3 methods according to the Polish Standards (PN-19000, PN- 19005, PN-19006). For each variant, 8 repetitions were made. RESULTS: The largest number of A. suum eggs were found with PN-19006 (mean number of detected eggs was 21.25, 46.50, 23.00 for HS, SS, PS, respectively. Slightly lower results were obtained using PN-19005 - the mean number eggs was 21.25, 36.00, 16.75, respectively. On the other hand, the mean number of A. suum eggs found with the Dada method was about 2-3 times lower than with the PN-19006 - 15.75, 22.50, 6.50 for HS, SS, PS soil, respectively. Other methods were much less effective. CONCLUSIONS: PN-19006 method turned out to be the most effective in detecting A. suum eggs. This method can be used for parasitological examination of soils and can be the basis for developing a system of methods dedicated to testing different types of soils for the presence of nematode eggs.

Multivariate Exploratory Analysis of the Bulgarian Soil Quality Monitoring Network.

The goal of the present study is to assess the soil quality in Bulgaria using (i) an appropriate set of soil quality indicators, namely primary nutrients (C, N, P), acidity (pH), physical clay content and potentially toxic elements (PTEs: Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, As, Hg) and (ii) respective data mining and modeling using chemometrical and geostatistical methods. It has been shown that five latent factors are responsible for the explanation of nearly 70% of the total variance of the data set available (principal components analysis) and each factor is identified in terms of its contribution to the formation of the overall soil quality-the mountain soil factor, the geogenic factor, the ore deposit factor, the low nutrition factor, and the mercury-specific factor. The obtained soil quality patterns were additionally confirmed via hierarchical cluster analysis. The spatial distribution of the patterns throughout the whole Bulgarian territory was visualized via the mapping of the factor scores for all identified latent factors. The mapping of identified soil quality patterns was used to outline regions where additional measures for the monitoring of the phytoavailability of PTEs were required. The suggested regions are located near to thermoelectric power plants and mining and metal production facilities and are characterized by intensive agricultural activity.

Quantitative assessment of microplastic contamination in muddy shores of Gulf of Khambhat, India.

Microplastics (MPs) have become a global concern due to their widespread distribution in marine ecosystems. The present study was aimed to assess MPs contamination in 21 muddy shores sites situated in the Gulf of Khambhat. From each site, five samples (1 kg each) were collected. In the laboratory, the replicates were homogenated, out of which a 100 g sample was used for analysis. The total number of MPs, shape, colour, size and polymer composition of MPs were assessed. The MPs abundance ranged from 0.32 ± 0.18 particles/g (Jampore) to 2.81 ± 0.50 particles/g (Uncha Kotda) among different study sites. Moreover, threads were recorded maximum followed by films, foams and fragments. In case of MPs colour, black and blue coloured MPs occurred dominantly, with sizes ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm. FTIR analysis identified seven different types of plastic polymers, out of which polypropylene was the dominant plastic polymer (32.46 %) followed by polyurethane (32.16 %), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (14.93 %), polystyrene (9.62 %), polyethylene terephthalate (4.61 %), polyethylene (3.71 %) and polyvinyl chloride (2.51 %). Based on the results of the Contamination factor (CF) value, Alang, Mahua, Ghogha and Uncha Kotda were identified as very high contaminated sites (CF ≥ 6). Pollution Load Index (PLI) value of entire study area revealed the Gulf of Khambhat as a polluted area with MPs contamination (PLI > 1). While value of Hazardous Index (H) identified 12 study sites as class-V risk category (H value > 10,000). Moreover, Pollution Risk Index (PRI) value revealed fifteen sites as very high contaminated sites (PRI > 1200). Pollution indices can be useful in predicting the level of MPs contamination at the study site. Overall, the present study provides the information on MPs contamination in the coastal region of the Gulf of Khambhat that can be used as a baseline data for future studies on the ecotoxicity of MPs on marine biota.

The assay of soil carbon with naturally occurring cosmic ray neutrons.

The detection of gamma rays induced in soil by naturally occurring cosmic ray neutrons is explored with the Geant4 Simulation Toolkit to monitor carbon sequestration in soil. The simulated soil is a uniform mixture of minerals, air, water, and soil organic carbon. As the soil organic carbon increases from 0% to 15% by volume, the mineral matter decreases, and gamma ray counts from mineral-related isotopes decrease. Characteristic gamma ray energies from a variety of elements are collected near the surface with a germanium detector. Of these, the 2.224 MeV gamma ray from hydrogen is sensitive to changes in soil organic carbon as low as 0.12% after counting for the equivalent of 3.45 days. Counting longer is recommended to reduce the sensitivity of the primary 4.438 MeV gamma ray from carbon below its current value of 2.81% in the simulation.

Reuse of treated urban wastewater on the growth and physiology of Medicago sativa L. cv. Gea and Petroselinum crispum L. cv. Commun: correlation with oxydative stress and DNA damage.

The freshwater scarcity is one of the major environmental problems, which is why the water reuse has become a possible remedy to cope with the shortage of water needed for agriculture irrigation. This study focuses on the evaluation of the irrigation effect with treated effluent from wastewater treatment plant in Tunisia on parsley (Petroselinum crispum L. cv. Commun) used as human food and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Gea) as animal food. In vitro germination test was conducted at different dilution levels of wastewater as rejected into the environment (25, 50, and 100%) and wastewater with further treatment (TWW). Results have shown that wastewater with dilution of 25% as well as TWW positively affected the physiological parameters in comparison with the dilutions 50 and 100%. However, the tap water (TW) applied as control treatment has shown the best effects. Oxidative stress evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) content was in agreement with the physiological results and showed that the most stressed seeds were those treated with the dilutions 50 and 100%. A pot trial was also conducted to evaluate the suitability of WW and TWW in comparison to TW. Results have shown that TWW is more adapted than WW for irrigation as an improvement of growth and physiological parameters was recorded. Oxidative stress assessed with MDA and proline content has shown that plants irrigated with WW significantly accumulate MDA and proline compared to TWW. The TW has shown the lowest values. DNA damage was evaluated by extraction and agarose gel electrophoresis. It has revealed degradation of DNA for plants irrigated with WW. According to these results, it can be concluded that TWW can be used for irrigation of plants destined for human or animal foods. So, it can be a hydric alternative to resolve the problem of water deficit in semi-arid countries.

Micro-matrix cartridge extraction followed by online micro-solid phase extraction based on polystyrene@hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin nanofibers for selective determination of fipronil and its metabolites in soil.

Micro-matrix cartridge extraction coupled on-line to micro-solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (µ-MCE-online-µ-SPE-HPLC-MS) is presented. Micro-matrix cartridge extraction (µ-MCE) was applied to highly efficient desorption of adsorbed pesticides from contaminated soil with favorable extraction efficiency (100%). Novel polystyrene@hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (PS@HPCD) electrospun nanofibers with 3D network structure were prepared to selectively capture fipronil and its metabolites. High selectivity was obtained with adsorption efficiency ≥ 86.64% via complexation, hydrophobic affinity, and π-π interactions. PS@HPCD nanofibers exhibited remarkable advantages such as excellent enrichment factors (24-55), superior permeability, and long service life (> 65 times). Under the optimum conditions, wide linear range (0.1-1000 ng g-1), low detection limits (0.0032-0.0067 ng g-1), high recoveries (84-124.5%), favorable repeatability (RSD ≤ 10.4%, n = 5), and reproducibility (RSD ≤ 7.2%, n = 3) were acquired for fipronil and three metabolites. The developed method was applied to the pesticide determination in actual soils and the ISO-certified soil with satisfactory recoveries (96.5%). The method developed provides a green, efficient, and miniaturized method for the determination of trace pesticide residues in soil.

Vineyard Management and Physicochemical Parameters of Soil Affect Native Trichoderma Populations, Sources of Biocontrol Agents against Phaeoacremonium minimum.

Native strains of Trichoderma in vineyard soil represent an opportunity for reducing the incidence of grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) in vineyards. Moreover, its relationship with the environment (physicochemical soil characteristics and farming management practices) remains unclear. In the current study, a survey was carried out on farming management used by viticulturists, and soil samples were studied to analyze their physicochemical properties and to isolate Trichoderma strains. Later, statistical analyses were performed to identify possible correlations between Trichoderma populations, soil management and soil characteristics. In addition, in vitro tests, including antibiosis and mycoparasitism, were performed to select those Trichoderma strains able to antagonize Phaeoacremonium minimum. In this study a positive correlation was found between the iron content and pH in the soil, and a lower pH increases Trichoderma populations in soils. Vineyard management also affects Trichoderma populations in the soil, negatively in the case of fertilization and tillage and positively in the case of herbicide spraying. Two Trichoderma native strains were selected as potential biocontrol agents (Trichoderma gamsii T065 and Trichoderma harzianum T087) using antibiosis and mycoparasitism as mechanisms of action. These results led to the conclusion that native Trichoderma strains hold great potential as biological control agents and as producers of secondary metabolites.

Habitat Characteristics and Mineral Nutrition Status of Rubus chamaemorus L. in Latvia.

In Latvia, cloudberries are considered a valuable delicacy and have aroused interest in the possibility of commercial cultivation, as currently, they are collected only in the wild. A complex study was carried out to provide insight into the growth conditions of wild cloudberry in Latvia. The knowledge gained would provide a basis for the development of cloudberry cultivation technologies in the hemiboreal zone. Habitat characteristics, composition of surrounding vegetation, and plant mineral nutrition status were investigated in 18 study sites. Overall, the species composition of cloudberry study sites corresponded to two plant community classes: Cl. Vaccinio-Piceetea and Cl. Oxycocco-Sphagnetea. The most common species were Sphagnum magellanicum, Vaccinium myrtillus, and Oxycoccus palustris. The results clearly indicated acidic peat soils with high organic matter content and low degree of decomposition as being most suitable for cloudberry cultivation. High nutrient uptake capacity was found for wild cloudberry growing in nutrient-poor environments, as most of the leaf nutrients corresponded to the optimal levels determined for different cultivated berries. However, balanced fertilization to ensure successful plant vegetative and root growth would be recommended. The first results on wild cloudberry in Latvia indicated that optimization of P, S, B, and Mo should be the main focus.

Soil structure influences proteins, phenols, and flavonoids of varied medicinal plants in Al Jubail, KSA.

In Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, 29 medicinal plants have been collected from 15 diverse sites. The goal of this study was to determine how soil texture affected the protein, phenol, and flavonoid contents, and their relationship with the degree of genetic similarity. Most soil samples were loamy sand, except for sites 6 and 10, which were sandy loams. A total of 13 protein bands were shown where four were polymorphic and nine were monomorphic, with hereditary similarities ranging from 1 to 0.86. The results indicated that the protein content ranged from (9.32 µg/gm) in Anabasis setifera to (0.92 µg/gm) in Juncus rigidus. The highest phenol content was found in Halopeplis perfoliata (21.45 mg/gm), whereas the lowest was found in Zygophyllum qatarense 7 (2.133 mg/gm). Salsola imbricate 2 showed the highest flavonoid content (74.97 mg/gm), whereas Juncus rigidus had the lowest (1.43 mg/gm). The concentration varied based on the accession and species. In comparison to the other soils tested, the soil at site 7 had the highest concentrations of calcium (132.5 mEq/L), magnesium (47.5 mEq/L), sodium (52.83 mEq/L), potassium (26.96 mEq/L), chloride (63.00 mEq/L), and electric conductivity (25.9 ds/m). The surveyed accessions were classified into two groups using cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and multivariate heatmap. These findings imply that variations in active compounds that are important for plant tolerance to wild habitats are associated with different soil structures, allowing plants to be used in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries, as well as selective breeding of accessions with high antioxidant properties.

Positional Isomeric Symmetric Dipodal Receptors Dangled with Rotatable Binding Scaffolds: Fluorescent Sensing of Silver Ions and Sequential Detection of l-Histidine and Their Multifarious Applications.

Three simple dipodal artificial acyclic symmetric receptors, SDO, SDM, and SDP, driven by positional isomerism based on xylelene scaffolds were designed, synthesized, and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopy techniques. Probes SDO, SDM, and SDP demonstrated selective detection of Ag+ metal ions and amino acid l-histidine in a DMSO-H2O solution (1:1 v/v, HEPES 50 mM, pH = 7.4). The detection of Ag+ metal ions occurred in three ways: (i) inhibition of the photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) process, (ii) blueshifted fluorescence enhancement via the intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) process, and (iii) restricted rotation of the dangling benzylic scaffold following coordination with a Ag+ metal ion. Job's plot analysis and quantum yields confirm the binding of probes to Ag+ in 1:1, 1:2, and 1:2 ratios with LODs and LOQs found to be 1.3 µM and 3.19 × 10-7 M, 6.40 × 10-7 and 2.44 × 10 -6 M, and 9.76 × 10-7 and 21.01 × 10-7 M, respectively. 1H NMR titration, HRMS, ESI-TOF, IR analysis, and theoretical DFT investigations were also used to establish the binding stoichiometry. Furthermore, the probes were utilized for the detection of Ag+ ions in water samples, food samples, soil analysis, and bacterial imaging in Escherichia coli cells and a molecular logic gate was constructed.

Multivariate analysis of chemical and genetic diversity of wild Humulus lupulus L. (hop) collected in situ in northern France.

The hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) has been exploited for a long time for both its brewing and medicinal uses, due in particular to its specific chemical composition. These last years, hop cultivation that was in decline has been experiencing a renewal for several reasons, such as a craze for strongly hopped aromatic beers. In this context, the present work aims at investigating the genetic and chemical diversity of fifty wild hops collected from different locations in Northern France. These wild hops were compared to ten commercial varieties and three heirloom varieties cultivated in the same sampled geographical area. Genetic analysis relying on genome fingerprinting using 11 microsatellite markers showed a high level of diversity. A total of 56 alleles were determined with an average of 10.9 alleles per locus and assessed a significant population structure (mean pairwise FST = 0.29). Phytochemical characterization of hops was based on volatile compound analysis by HS-SPME GC-MS, quantification of the main prenylated phenolic compounds by UHPLC-UV as well as untargeted metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS and revealed a high level of chemical diversity among the assessed wild accessions. In particular, analysis of volatile compounds revealed the presence of some minor but original compounds, such as aromadendrene, allo-aromadendrene, isoledene, ß-guaiene, α-ylangene and ß-pinene in some wild accessions; while analysis of phenolic compounds showed high content of ß-acids in these wild accessions, up to 2.37% of colupulone. Genetic diversity of wild hops previously observed was hence supported by their chemical diversity. Sample soil analysis was also performed to get a pedological classification of these different collection sites. Results of the multivariate statistical analysis suggest that wild hops constitute a huge pool of chemical and genetic diversity of this species.