Transcriptional convergence after repeated duplication of an amino acid transporter gene leads to the independent emergence of the black husk/pericarp trait in barley and rice.

The repeated emergence of the same trait (convergent evolution) in distinct species is an interesting phenomenon and manifests visibly the power of natural selection. The underlying genetic mechanisms have important implications to understand how the genome evolves under environmental challenges. In cereal crops, both rice and barley can develop black-coloured husk/pericarp due to melanin accumulation. However, it is unclear if this trait shares a common origin. Here, we fine-mapped the barley HvBlp gene controlling the black husk/pericarp trait and confirmed its function by gene silencing. The result was further supported by a yellow husk/pericarp mutant with deletion of the HvBlp gene, derived from gamma ray radiation of the wild-type W1. HvBlp encodes a putative tyrosine transporter homologous to the black husk gene OsBh4 in rice. Surprisingly, synteny and phylogenetic analyses showed that HvBlp and OsBh4 belonged to different lineages resulted from dispersed and tandem duplications, respectively, suggesting that the black husk/pericarp trait has emerged independently. The dispersed duplication (dated at 21.23 MYA) yielding HvBlp occurred exclusively in the common ancestor of Triticeae. HvBlp and OsBh4 displayed converged transcription in husk/pericarp tissues, contributing to the black husk/pericarp trait. Further transcriptome and metabolome data identified critical candidate genes and metabolites related to melanin production in barley. Taken together, our study described a compelling case of convergent evolution resulted from transcriptional convergence after repeated gene duplication, providing valuable genetic insights into phenotypic evolution. The identification of the black husk/pericarp genes in barley also has great potential in breeding for stress-resilient varieties with higher nutritional values.

Optimization of the chromium (Cr+6) reduction from waterways using chemically and bacterially treated agro-waste.

Heavy metals, a major source of pollution in the environment, pose a substantial threat due to their non-biodegradability and ability to accumulate in living organisms, causing health problems. Recently, researchers have been searching for cost-effective and safe ways to remove heavy metals from polluted waterways using agricultural waste substitutes. The present study focused on the low-cost treatments for the reduction of chromium Cr+6 metal from the effluent, wherein it has been found that chemically and bacterially treated agro-waste had increased heavy metal ion adsorption capabilities. A sequential optimization of the process parameters was attempted using Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and central composite design of response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) for the maximum reduction of the chromium metal from the effluent. A total of eight parameters were screened out using a 12-run PBD experiment. Out of the eight parameters, time, HCl, NaOH, and bacterial treatments were found to be significantly affecting the maximum reduction of Cr+6 from the effluent. To investigate the interactions' effects of the chosen parameters, they were evaluated using CCD-RSM. Maximum 74% Cr+6 reduction was achieved under the optimum treatment to rice husk of HCl 4.52 N, NaOH 3.53 N, bacterial suspension 7.41%, and with an interaction time 14.32 min using 30 run CCD-RSM experiment. A scanning electron microscope was used to confirm the effects of selected variables on the agro-waste for the Cr+6 reductions, as well as a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.

Preparation and Characterization of Durian Husk-Based Biocomposite Films Reinforced With Nanocellulose From Corn Husk and Pineapple Leaf.

This research explores the integration of corn husk nanocellulose (CHNc) and pineapple leaf nanocellulose (PLNc) as reinforcing agents in a carboxymethyl cellulose-based film derived from durian husk (CMCDH). Through a solvent-casting method, composite films were fabricated with varying nanocellulose contents (15, 30, and 45 wt%). Analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction confirmed the effectiveness of alkaline and bleaching treatments in eliminating noncellulosic components. Transmission electron microscopy image revealed the rod-like morphology of CHNc and PLNc, with dimensions approximately 206.5 × 7.2 nm and 150.7 × 6.5 nm, respectively. The inclusion of nanocellulose decreased the transparency of CMCDH films while enhancing their tensile strength, thermal stability, and water vapor transmission rate. Notably, CMCDH/PLNc(30%) exhibited the highest tensile strength at 5.06 ± 0.83 MPa, representing a remarkable 220% increase compared to CMCDH biofilm. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimeter results indicated that nanocellulose incorporation delayed the film's decomposition temperature by approximately 10°C. Moreover, CMCDH/PLNc(30%) demonstrated the lowest water vapor transmission rate, marking a 20% improvement. However, the film's properties were compromised at the highest nanocellulose content (45 wt%) due to observed fiber aggregation, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Synthesis of X@DRHC (X=Co, Ni, Mn) catalyst from comprehensive utilization of waste rice husk and spent lithium-ion batteries for efficient peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation.

Highly efficient resource recycling and comprehensive utilization play a crucial role in achieving the goal of reducing resource wasting, environmental protection, and achieving goal of sustainable development. In this work, the two kinds waste resources of agricultural rice husk and metal ions (Co, Ni, and Mn) from spent lithium-ion batteries have been skillfully utilized to synthesize novel Fenton-like catalysts. Desiliconized rice husk carbon (DRHC) with rich pore structure and large specific surface area from rice husk has been prepared and used as scalable carrier, and dandelion-like nanoparticles cluster could be grown in situ on the surface of the carrier by using metal ions contained waste water. The designed catalysts (X@DRHC) as well as their preparation process were characterized in detail by SEM, TEM, BET, XRD and XPS, respectively. Meanwhile, their catalytic abilities were also studied by activating potassium peroxomonosulfate (PMS) to remove methylene blue (MB). The results indicate X@DRHC displays excellent degradation efficiency on MB with wide pH range and stable reusability, which is suitable for the degradation of various dyes. This work has realized the recycling and high-value utilization of waste resources from biomass and spent lithium-ion batteries, which not only creates an efficient way to dispose waste resources, but also shows high economic benefits in large-scale water treatment.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the thermal inactivation of lipase immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated rice husk silica.

The objective of this study was to obtain sufficient information on the thermal stabilization of a food-grade lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) using the immobilization technique. To do this, a new non-porous support was prepared via the sequential extraction of SiO2 from rice husks, followed by functionalization with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane - 3-APTES (Amino-SiO2), and activation with glutaraldehyde - GA (GA-Amino-SiO2). We evaluated the influence of GA concentration, which varied from 0.25% v v-1 to 4% v v-1, on the immobilization parameters and enzyme thermal stabilization. The thermal inactivation parameters for both biocatalyst forms (soluble or immobilized TLL) were calculated by fitting a non-first-order enzyme inactivation kinetic model to the experimental data. According to the results, TLL was fully immobilized on the external support surface activated with different GA concentrations using an initial protein load of 5 mg g-1. A sharp decrease of hydrolytic activity was observed from 216.6 ± 12.4 U g-1 to 28.6 ± 0.9 U g-1 of after increasing the GA concentration from 0.25% v v-1 to 4.0% v v-1. The support that was prepared using a GA concentration at 0.5% v v-1 provided the highest stabilization of TLL - 31.6-times more stable than its soluble form at 60 °C. The estimations of the thermodynamic parameters, e.g., inactivation energy (Ed), enthalpy (ΔH#), entropy (ΔS#), and the Gibbs energy (ΔG#) values, confirmed the enzyme stabilization on the external support surface at temperatures ranging from 50 to 65 °C. These results show promising applications for this new heterogeneous biocatalyst in industrial processes given the high catalytic activity and thermal stability.

Coconut husk waste products valorization for fabrication of luminescent titanium dioxide NPs as powerful tool for photodecomposition and food born infection: A sustainable strategy.

Fabricating metal oxide nanoparticles has garnered much attention lately because creating safe chemicals, sustainable materials, economic processes, and renewable resources is becoming increasingly important. This research shows how TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) could be generated in an ecologically responsible way using waste coconut husk with the help of tender coconut. This extract functions as both a reducing agent and a sealing agent. The investigation of TiO2 NPs exploited ultraviolet (UV), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods. The germicidal properties of TiO2 NPs against food-borne pathogenic strains were studied using the agar well method. Employing Congo red pigment, the photodecomposition behavior was investigated. The TiO2 NPs produced had a crystallite size measuring 16.2 nm. The average grain size of the sample, as measured by FE-SEM inspection, falls within the range of 15 to 25 nm. Impressive anti-germ effects against food-borne germs like Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli) bacteria, and fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) have been proved by the sustainable fabrication of TiO2 NPs. The catalytic effectiveness of Congo red decreased by 88% after 90 min. The findings suggest that sustainable synthesis of TiO2 NPs is an effective tool for food-borne germicides and photodecomposition behaviors.

Specialized Metabolites From the Husks of Rice Oryza sativa L. and Their Biological Activities.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) husk harbors a substantial proportion of biological metabolites, as one of the most plentiful agriculture by-products in rice milling process, rice husk remains poorly utilized. As a continuing search for potential bioactive molecules from the husk of rice, a totally of twelve conponents (1-12), including six sterol ferulates (1-6), one flavonoid (7), one dipeptide (8), and four phenylpropanoid derivatives (9-12) were obtained. All the chemical structures were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic data. Wherein, compounds 1 and 2 were yield as previous undescribed metabolites, and the comprehensive NMR data for compounds 3 and 4 were first presented in its entirety. Motivated by the similarity of the structural motifs of components 1-6 to that of reported sterol ferulates, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects for compounds 1-6 were evaluated in vitro. Among them, compounds 5/6 had a significant antioxidant activity compare to that of vitamin E in both DPPH and reducing power assay up to the concentration 40 µg/ml; while compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak suppressive effect on the production of nitric oxide, with the IC50 values of 53.27 ± 1.37 µM.

Valorization of coffee bean processing waste for bioethanol production: comparison and evaluation of mass transfer effects in fermentations using free and encapsulated cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Coffee husk, an agricultural waste abundant in carbohydrates and nutrients, is typically discarded through landfills, mixed with animal fodder, or incinerated. However, in alignment with sustainable development principles, researchers worldwide are exploring innovative methods to harness the value of coffee husk, transforming it into profitable products. One such avenue is the biotechnological approach to bioethanol production from agricultural wastes, offering an eco-friendly alternative to mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuels. This study delves into the feasibility of utilizing coffee husk as a substrate for bioethanol production, employing and comparing various hydrolysis methods. The enzymatic hydrolysis method outshone thermochemical and thermal approaches, yielding 1.84 and 3.07 times more reducing sugars in the hydrolysate, respectively. In examining bioethanol production, a comparison between free and encapsulated cells in enzyme hydrolysate revealed that free-cell fermentation faced challenges due to cell viability issues. Under specific fermentation conditions, bioethanol yield (0.59 and 0.83 g of bioethanol/g of reducing sugar) and productivity (0.1 and 0.12 g/L h) were achieved for free and encapsulated cells, respectively. However, it was noted that bioethanol production by encapsulated cells was more significantly influenced by internal mass transfer effects, as indicated by the Thiele modulus and effectiveness factor. In conclusion, our findings underscore the potential of coffee husk as a valuable substrate for bioethanol production, showcasing its viability in contributing to sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

Investigating the effectiveness of rice husk-derived low-cost activated carbon in removing environmental pollutants: a study of its characterization.

The chemically activated biochar was produced through the pyrolysis of rice husk. Thermal gravimetric and elemental analysis were conducted to characterize the raw rice husk. The activated biochar product underwent evaluation through SEM, BET and, FT-IR analysis. This cost-effective activated carbon was utilized as an adsorbent for the elimination of environmental pollutants. At a temperature of 25 °C, the activated biochar product exhibited an impressive maximum CO2 adsorption capacity of 152 mg/g. This exceptional performance can be attributed to its notable surface area and porosity, measuring at 2,298 m2/g and 0.812 cm3/g, respectively. This product was also utilized to remove methyl red (MR) dye from an aqueous solution. The optimal parameters for the removal of MR were determined as follows: a pH of 6.0, a temperature of 25 °C, an initial MR concentration of 50 mg/L, and an adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g/L. At a duration of 140 min, the system attained its maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity, reaching a value of 62.06 mg/g. Furthermore, the calculated maximum MR removal efficiency stood at an impressive 99.31%. The thermodynamic studies demonstrated that the MR removal process was spontaneous, exothermic, and increased randomness. Kinetic studies suggested that the pseudo-second-order model can fit well.

Rice is the staple food for a significant portion of the world's population. Rice husk, which is released during the production and processing of rice, is one of the most important agricultural wastes worldwide. In this study, low cost activated carbon was produced by converting renewable resource such as rice husk biomass into a product with high added value. The resulting product, with its high surface area, can offer a more sustainable, cost-effective, and versatile alternative for a range of industrial, environmental, and medical applications.

Enhancing agricultural output: Investigating the impact of advanced organic formulations on crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and profitability in a multi-crop system.

The significance of integrating agricultural by-products such as paddy husk ash (PHA) and potato peels with organic fertilizers lies in enhancing soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and reducing reliance on traditional organic fertilizers like farmyard manure (FYM) or compost alone. Grounded in sustainable agriculture and nutrient management frameworks, this study examines the impact of diverse formulations derived from agricultural waste on productivity, nutrient efficiency, and profitability in a pigeon pea-vegetable mustard-okra cropping system. A two-year field experiment (2020-2022) at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi tested seven nutrient sources viz., (T1) control, (T2) 100% RDN through FYM, (T3) 100% RDN through improved RRC, (T4) 100% RDN through PHA based formulation, (T5) 75% RDN through PHA based formulation, (T6) 100% RDN through PPC based formulation and (T7) 75% RDN through PPC based formulation that were tested in RBD and replicated thrice. Treatment T4 had significant effect on seed yield of pigeon pea (1.89 ± 0.09 and 1.97 ± 0.12 t ha-1), leaf yield of vegetable mustard (81.57 ± 4.59 and 82.97 ± 4.17 t ha-1), and fruit yield of okra (13.54 ± 0.82 and 13.78 ± 0.81 t ha-1) grown in rotation, followed by treatment T6 and T2 during both the years respectively over control. Enhanced system uptake of N, P and K along with system gross and net returns in T4, showed increases of 78.9%, 83.8%, 72.4%, 54.4% and 56.8% in the first year and 77.5%, 80.8%, 77.7%, 54.8% and 57.4% in the second year, respectively, over control. Treatment T4 significantly improved apparent recovery by 66.3% and 69.2% in pigeon pea, 64.7% and 47.9% in vegetable mustard, and 72.7% and 79.4% in okra over T3, averaged across two years. Based on the above findings, (T4) 100% RDN through PHA-based formulation, and (T6) 100% RDN through PPC-based formulation can be recommended for areas with a shortage of FYM but availability of rice husk ash/potato peels for sustainable agricultural wastes and improved sustainability.

Soil-mustard revitalization via rice husk ash, a promising soil amendment material for sustainable management of heavy metal contamination in tropical ecosystem.

Prolonged wastewater irrigation in agriculture has led to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, endangering both the soil quality and food safety, thereby posing a potential threat to human health through the consumption of contaminated crops. The present study aimed to enhance the yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Varuna and NRCHB 101) plants and stabilize heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in wastewater-irrigated soil using rice husk ash (RHA), rice mill by-product, collected from Chandauli region of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Results demonstrated significant improvements in growth, biomass, physiology, and yield of mustard plant with increasing RHA application in wastewater irrigated soil (p ≤ 0.05). Heavy metal accumulation in different parts of mustard plants decreased as RHA application rate increased. Applying RHA at 2% in soil proved to be most effective in reducing Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn accumulation in seeds by 29%, 29.6%, 23.1%, 21.3% and 20.1%, respectively in Varuna and 30.1%, 21.4%, 11.1%, 12.1%, and 28.5%, respectively in NRCHB 101cultivars. The present findings showed that RHA amendment in wastewater irrigated soil had reduced bioaccumulation of Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn and consequently their toxicity in cultivated mustard plants. A novel application of RHA is unveiled in this research, offering a promising solution to promote sustainable agriculture and to reduce heavy metal associated health risks within the soil-mustard system.

An efficient eco-friendly adsorbent material based on waste copper slag-biomass ash geopolymer: dye sorption capacity and sustainable properties.

The primary intent of the research is to comprehensively assess the environmental benefits and cost dynamics associated with the adsorption process of CS-RHA (Copper Slag and Rice Husk Ash) to produce a novel geopolymer adsorbent material for application in wastewater treatment. The geopolymer forms a polyiron sialate network under alkali activation by dissolving fayalite, and aluminium silicate to ferro-ferri silicate hydrate gel. The mechanical strength, leaching characteristics, and microstructure of the geopolymer were determined using XRD and FTIR, and magnetic properties by VSM as well surface properties were derived from BET surface area and zeta potential. Recognizing the critical role of sodium iron silicate hydrate (NFS) in the sorption of methylene blue (MB) dyestuff, batch experiments were carried out using different adsorbents. The results indicated that the dye removal efficiency increased from 60% in control samples (FS) to 98% for the blend (FS1) under different pH values. The data was found to fit with the nonlinear form of Freundlich isotherm and follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. The active adsorption sites were deduced as -O-Fe-O-Si-O-Na and Si-OH groups. The addition of RHA increases the adsorption capacity of the geopolymer in a short time through chemical adsorption. The significant negative surface charge promotes MB adsorption via improved electrostatic attraction. The spent adsorbents were recovered through magnetic separation with a retrieval rate of 80-85% and active sites were rejuvenated by calcination. Consequently, waste copper slag emerges as a promising adsorbent with minimum potential ecological risk and high effective recycling capacity.

Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye pollutants by Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell magnetic nanocomposite functionalized with TiO2.

Significant efforts have been dedicated to creating recyclable and efficient methods for treating waste dyes, including rhodamine B (RhB). Nevertheless, challenges such as complex operational techniques, high costs, energy consumption, and inefficacy in dye removal persist. Here, the synthesis and application of TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye pollutants have been explored. This research was initiated with magnetite (Fe3O4) synthesis using the coprecipitation method, followed by silica (SiO2) extraction from rice husk waste using the sol-gel process, and a hydrothermal method for synthesizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) and TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposite. The crystalline structure of TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 was obtained with Fe3O4 as the core, while TiO2 and SiO2 as the shell. The particle size analysis showed the nanosize of TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 (1.04 ± 0.46 nm). TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposite boasts a high surface area of 48.025 m2/g, 2.2 times higher than unmodified TiO2. This nanocomposite also displayed paramagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization of 9.117 emu/g, facilitating easy separation in photocatalytic applications. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/Fe3O4/SiO2 exhibited effectively degraded RhB, achieving a degradation rate of 53.58% and an excellent rate constant of 0.7303 min-1. The RhB photodegradation in this study requires a moderate irradiation time (60 min), uses only a tiny amount of photocatalyst (100 mg), and does not need additional chemicals. Moreover, this study has another advantage of utilizing rice husk as a silica source, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable approach.

Removal of Rhodamine-B dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Alkaline-Modified Activated Carbon from Cocoa Pod Husk.

Rhodamine-B (RhB) dye in wastewater poses health and environmental risks due to respiratory and eye infections, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, necessitating proper disposal for risk mitigation. This study investigates RhB removal from water using NaOH-modified activated carbon derived from cocoa pod husk (CPHAC). Employing a face-centered central composite design, operational variables were optimized to achieve maximum RhB dye removal efficiency. The study reveals a removal efficiency of 98.87 ± 0.84% under optimized conditions: adsorbent dose of 1.34 g, contact time of 71.59 min, and an initial RhB concentration of 6.61 ppm. The Freundlich isotherm model demonstrated a good fit, suggesting that RhB removal is governed by heterogeneity and multilayer adsorption. Kinetic experiments revealed that adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order model, indicating likely irreversible adsorption with dye molecules forming chemical bonds on CPHAC's surface. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of CPHAC as an efficient adsorbent for RhB removal from water.

The ethanol extract of cocoa pod husk minimizes hyperalgesia and blood glucose levels in diabetic neuropathy model through transient receptor protein vanilloid (TRPV)-1.

Oxidative stress accumulation becomes a pathophysiological factor in diabetic neuropathy (DN), activating TRPV-1. Resveratrol in cocoa pod husk exhibits antioxidant activity that could be beneficial in DN. This study examined how the ethanol extract of cocoa pod husk (EECPH) affects DN in mice by targeting TRPV-1. Cocoa pod husk was extracted using 96 % ethanol with remaceration. The antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH. Mice were induced using alloxan 210 mg/kg BW i.p. At day 14, mice were randomized into seven groups: normal, diabetic, gabapentin 100 mg/kg BW, metformin 250 mg/kg BW, and EECPH (doses 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg BW). Treatments were administered orally, once daily for 14 days. The latency time and blood glucose levels were measured on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. On day 29, mice were sacrificed, and the blood, pancreas, and spinal cord were removed. Malondialdehyde, cholesterol, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic/pyruvic transaminase (SGOT/PT) were examined. Morphology of the spinal cord and pancreas was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of TRPV-1 was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The EECPH dose of 750 mg/kg BW showed the greatest effect in lowering hyperalgesia and blood glucose as well as cholesterol and SGOT/PT in mice. That dose also improved the histology of the pancreas and spinal cord by altering the expression of TRPV-1. It can be concluded that EECPH may lower the expression of TRPV-1 in the pancreas and spinal cord of mice. This activity was responsible of reducing hyperalgesia in DN mice.

Constructing Biomass-Based Ultrahigh-Rate Performance SnOy @C/SiOx Anode for LIBs via Disproportionation Effect.

To break the stereotype that silica can only be reduced via a magnesiothermic and aluminothermic method at low-temperature condition, the novel strategy for converting silica to SiOx using disproportionation effect of SnO generated via low-temperature pyrolysis coreduction reaction between SnO2 and rice husk is proposed, without any raw materials waste and environmental hazards. After the low-temperature pyrolysis reaction, SnOy @C/SiOx composites with unique structure (Sn/SnO2 dispersed on the surface and within pores of biochar as well as SiOx residing in the interior) are obtained due to the exclusive biological properties of rice husk. Such unique structural features render SnOy @C/SiOx composites with an excellent talent for repairing the damaged structure and the highly electrochemical storage ability (530.8 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 after 7500 cycles). Furthermore, assembled LiFePO4 ||SnOy -50@C/SiOx full cell displays a high discharge capacity of 463.7 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g-1 . The Li+ transport mechanism is revealed by density functional theory calculations. This work provides references and ideas for green, efficient, and high-value to reduce SiO2 , especially in biomass, which also avoids the waste of raw materials in the production process, and becomes an essential step in sustainable development.

The RHW1-ZCN4 regulatory pathway confers natural variation of husk leaf width in maize.

Maize husk leaf - the outer leafy layers covering the ear - modulates kernel yield and quality. Despite its importance, however, the genetic controls underlying husk leaf development remain elusive. Our previous genome-wide association study identified a single nucleotide polymorphism located in the gene RHW1 (Regulator of Husk leaf Width) that is significantly associated with husk leaf-width diversity in maize. Here, we further demonstrate that a polymorphic 18-bp InDel (insertion/deletion) variant in the 3' untranslated region of RHW1 alters its protein abundance and accounts for husk leaf width variation. RHW1 encodes a putative MYB-like transcriptional repressor. Disruption of RHW1 altered cell proliferation and resulted in a narrower husk leaf, whereas RHW1 overexpression yielded a wider husk leaf. RHW1 positively regulated the expression of ZCN4, a well-known TFL1-like protein involved in maize ear development. Dysfunction of ZCN4 reduced husk leaf width even in the context of RHW1 overexpression. The InDel variant in RHW1 is subject to selection and is associated with maize husk leaf adaption from tropical to temperate regions. Overall, our results identify that RHW1-ZCN4 regulates a pathway conferring husk leaf width variation at a very early stage of husk leaf development in maize.

Spirosoma oryzicola sp. nov., isolated from dried rice husk.

Strain RHs26T is an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated and rod- or filamentous-shaped (1.0-1.1×2.3-50 µm) bacterium that was isolated from dried rice husk. It was positive for oxidase and catalase, hydrolysed starch and Tween 80, and weakly hydrolysed CM-cellulose. The strain grew at temperatures between 10 and 37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), in 0-1 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %) and at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0). The predominant membrane fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 1 ω5c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant quinone was menaquinone MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain RHs26T belongs to the genus Spirosoma, presenting the highest sequence similarity to Spirosoma agri S7-3-3T (95.8 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain RHs26T was 49.5 %. Strain RHs26T showed the highest orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of 76.4 % and 20.0 % with S. agri KCTC 52727T while sharing OrthoANI and dDDH values of 74.6 % and 19.2 % with Spirosoma terrae KCTC 52035T, the closest relative in the phylogenomic tree. Based on the results of a polyphasic taxonomic study, strain RHs26T represents a novel species in the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma oryzicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RHs26T (=JCM 35224T=KACC 17318T).

Using a promising biomass-based biochar in photocatalytic degradation: highly impressive performance of RHB/SnO2/Fe3O4 for elimination of AO7.

The release of industrial dyes into the environment has recently increased, resulting in harmful effects on people and ecosystems. In recent years, the use of adsorbents in photocatalytic nanocomposites has attracted significant interest due to their low cost, efficiency, and eco-friendly physical and chemical characteristics. Herein, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) removal was investigated by photocatalytic degradation using Rice Rusk Biochar (RHB), Tin (IV) Oxide (SnO2), and Iron Oxide (Fe3O4) as heterogeneous nanocomposite. After the preparation of RHB, the nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). To optimize the elimination of AO7 by the One-Factor-At-a-Time (OFAT) method, effective parameters including mixing ratio (RHB:SnO2:Fe3O4), dye concentration, solution pH, and nanocomposite dose were studied. The results showed that the removal efficiency of AO7 after 120 min under the optimal mixing ratio of 1:1.5:0.6, dye concentration of 75 mg/l, solution pH of 4, and nanocomposite dose of 0.7 g/l was 92.37%. Moreover, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal rates were obtained at 82.22 and 72.22%, respectively. The Average Oxidation State (AOS) and Carbon Oxidation State (COS) of the AO7 solution were increased after the process, indicating biodegradability improvement. Various scavenger effects were studied under optimal conditions, and the results revealed that O2- and H+ reactive species play a crucial role in the photocatalytic degradation of AO7. The reusability and stability of nanocomposite were tested in several consecutive experiments, and the degradation efficiency was reduced from 92 to 79% after five consecutive cycles. It is expected that this research contributes significantly to the utilization of agricultural waste in photocatalytic nanocomposites for the degradation of environmental pollutants.

Effectiveness of various cacao pod husk extraction byproducts in promoting growth and immunocompetence in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Extracts from plant products can promote growth, can act as immunostimulants, and have antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. These extracts can be used as alternatives to the chemical treatments commonly used to prevent and control disease in aquatic species. Research on the subject has focused on identifying invasive plants or agricultural waste products that can be used as immunostimulants. The present study further identified an optimal means of extracting pectin from cacao pod husks to promote growth performance and immunocompetence in Litopenaeus vannamei that would both reduce production costs and enable waste recycling. The byproducts of pectin extraction from cacao pod husks, that is, dried cacao pod husk powder (DCP), steamed DCP (sDCP), hot water-treated cacao pod husk powder (HCP), hot water-treated cacao pod husk supernatant (HCS), and cacao pod husk pectin (CPH pectin), were used to create five experimental diets, which were administered to five groups. The control group was fed a basal diet. The growth and immunocompetence of the shrimp were determined after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of feeding. To identify the most cost-effective means of obtaining dried cacao pod husks, this study firstly determined the costs and effectiveness of the sun-drying, dehumidification, and heated-wind drying techniques. According to the results of growth performance, the CPH pectin group had higher survival but lower weight gain than the DCP, sDCP, HCP, and HCS groups did. At 30, 60, and 90 days, the clearance efficiency of the experimental groups was higher than that of the control group. At 60 days, the experimental groups had significantly higher phagocytic activity than the control group did. However, at 30 and 90 days the HCP, HCS and CPH pectin group had higher phagocytic activity. The total hemocyte count, differential hemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, and respiratory bursts of the CPH pectin group were higher at 30 days but the same as those of the control group at 60 and 90 days. After 120 days of feeding trial, the resistance of L. vannamei fed with diets containing byproducts of pectin extraction from cacao pod husks significantly enhanced compared to that in BD group when they were infected with Vibrio aliginolyticus for 168 h, and the related higher survival rate can be observed in HCP, HCS and CPH pectin groups. The study findings suggest that diet-administered HCP and HCS have long-term immunostimulant potential and that CPH pectin has potential in the early stages of feeding. In addition, when heated air drying was employed, a moisture level of below 10% was obtained within 12 h. The results of this study indicate that adding HCP obtained from heated air-dried cacao pod husks to the feed of L. vannamei is the most cost-effective and sustainable means of promoting long-term growth performance and immunocompetence in the species.