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Ginger is used as one of the important ingredients in traditional as well as modern medicine besides as a spice. It boosts immunity and is a rich source of many biologically active substances and minerals. Although it is a medicinally important crop, its productivity is, however, affected due to poor nutrient management and therefore it requires an adequate supply of nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilizers or organic manuring, or a mixture of both. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of mineral elements in the ginger rhizome, on soil enzyme activity, and soil properties. Lysimeter experiments were conducted at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Kibray, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The experiment comprised of four treatments T1 – Control, T2 - N75P50K50 kg/ha, T3 - and T4 - N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha. The results showed that the application of N125P100K100 kg/ha increased rhizome K content by 49%, P content by 20%, and Na content by 58% as compared to control without fertilizer. While the application of N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha showed a significant enhancement in rhizome K, Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mo, and Si contents over the control. This treatment also improved active P content by 29%, total P content by 80%, total K content 16%, and N content by 33% content, and the activities of urease, invertase, and catalase activities as compared to control of without mineral fertilizer and control respectively. Thus the application of NPK + BZnFe at the rate of 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha helps in improving macroelements and microelements in the ginger rhizome and activities of soil enzymes that helps in mineral nutrition of the rhizome.

Green nanotechnology has acquired immense demand due to its cost-effective, eco-friendly and benevolent approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Among the biological methods, plants aid as a significant green resource for synthesizing nanoparticles that are safe and non-toxic for human use. In the present investigation, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using bulbs extract of Allium ampeloprasum under the influence of sunlight irradiation and characterized using different techniques. Distinct in-vitro assays were performed to test the antioxidant and anticandida potential of the synthesized AgNPs. Results suggested the efficient and rapid sunlight-driven synthesis of AgNPs using A. ampeloprasum extract. UV–Vis spectrum showed absorption peak at 446 nm which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. FTIR analysis suggested the presence of functional groups associated with flavonoids and sulfur compounds in A. ampeloprasum extract. The synthesized AgNPs showed Face Centred Cubic (FCC) structure with an average size of 35 nm. Spherical, quasi spherical, triangular and ellipsoidal morphology of the NPs were observed from the TEM micrograph. The synthesized AgNPs showed pronounced free radical scavenging potential for DPPH, ABTS∙+ and H2O2 radicals. The anticandida potency of the synthesized AgNPs was observed as follows: C. albicans ≥ C. tropicalis ≥ C. glabrata ≥ C. parapsilosis ≥ C. krusei. Results showed that sunlight driven nanoparticle synthesis of AgNPs is rapid, facile and exhibit enhanced antioxidant and antifungal activity.

Bacillus anthracis is a gram positive, deadly spore forming bacteria causing anthrax and these bacteria having the complex mechanism in the cell wall envelope, which can adopt the changes in environmental conditions. In this, the membrane bound cell wall proteins are said to progressive drug target for the inhibition of Bacillus anthracis. Among the cell wall proteins, the SrtA is one of the important mechanistic protein, which mediate the ligation with LPXTG motif by forming the amide bonds. The SrtA plays the vital role in cell signalling, cell wall formation, and biofilm formations. Inhibition of SrtA leads to rupture of the cell wall and biofilm formation, and that leads to inhibition of Bacillus anthracis and thus, SrtA is core important enzyme to study the inhibition mechanism. In this study, we have examined 28 compounds, which have the inhibitory activity against the Bacillus anthracis SrtA for developing the 3D-QSAR and also, compounds binding selectivity with both open and closed SrtA conformations, obtained from 100 ns of MD simulations. The binding site loop deviate in forming the open and closed gate mechanism is investigated to understand the inhibitory profile of reported compounds, and results show the closed state active site conformations are required for ligand binding specificity. Overall, the present study may offer an opportunity for better understanding of the mechanism of action and can be aided to further designing of a novel and highly potent SrtA inhibitors.

Climate change (CC) scenarios are predicted to have significant effects on the security of staple commodities. A key component of this impact is the infection of such crops by mycotoxigenic moulds and contamination with mycotoxins. The impacts of CC on mycotoxigenic fungi requires examination of the impacts of the three-way interactions between elevated CO2 (350–400 vs 650–1200 ppm), temperature increases (+2–5 °C) and drought stress on growth/mycotoxin production by key spoilage fungi in cereals and nuts. This review examines the available evidence on the impacts of interacting CC factors on growth and mycotoxin production by key mycotoxigenic fungi including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium species. Aspergillus flavus responsible for producing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a class 1A carcinogen and its growth appears to be unaffected by CC factors. However, there is a significant stimulation of AFB1 production both in vitro and in vivo in maize. In contrast, studies on Aspergillus section Circumdati and Nigri species responsible for ochratoxin A contamination of a range of commodities and F. verticillioides and fumonisins suggest that some species are more resilient than others, especially in terms of mycotoxin production. Acclimatisation of mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens to CC factors may result in increased disease and perhaps mycotoxin contamination of staple cereals. Predictive modelling approaches to help identify regions where maximum impact may occur in terms of infection by mycotoxigenic fungi and toxin contamination of staple crops is hindered by the lack of reliable inputs on effects of the interacting CC factors. The present available knowledge is discussed in the context of the resilience of staple food chains and the impact that interacting CC factors may have on the availability of food in the future.