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Fifteen alfalfa populations were tested for resistance to the seedling damping-off disease sourced by

Elemental sulfur, an industrial by-product from petroleum industries worldwide, has drawn sufficient attention to researchers. The limited scope of application has caused a colossal surplus amount of elemental sulfur stacked in the open places. Several polysulfide synthesis processes, including condensation, free-radical process, and ionic copolymerization technique, were used but resulted in unstable products. A new polymerization technique, termed inverse vulcanization, has been introduced, which enabled different types of crosslinkers for polysulfide production and their scopes to explore numerous applications. The current paper concisely reviews the evolution and advances of using vegetable oils and plant extracts in inverse vulcanization to produce polysulfides. The alluring applications and properties have also been discussed briefly.

Saudi journal of biological sciences 29(1), 190-196 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.08.072, Published by Elsevier, Amsterdam [u.a.]

Cleaning of pollutants from contaminated soils is a public matter to prevent their access to the food chain. There are many technological methods that are used in the remediation of contaminated soils, but phytoremediation technology is the new trend in the world because it does not cause damage on soil quality and it is an environmentally friendly method. This study aims to use one of the halophytic plants [Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) S.Wats] to clean a soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Furthermore, the study aims to explore the mechanism of compost and nitrogen fertilization in the phytoremediation capacity of quail bush plants. A pot experiment was conducted for a year to evaluate the effect of compost and nitrogen fertilization on the efficiency of quail bush [Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) S.Wats] in removing Cd and Pb from the contaminated soil. The experiment contained four treatments including control without any fertilization (C), compost (COM) at a rate of 10 g kg−1 soil, nitrogen fertilization (N) at a rate of 150 mg N kg−1 soil, and combined application of compost and nitrogen (COM + N). The application of N, COM, and COM + N significantly (P N > COM > C. N, COM, and COM + N increased the Cd in shoots by 40, 33, and 60%, respectively, compared to C, and increased Pb by 17, 7, and 23%. Quail bush plants removed 6.6–14.1% of the total soil Cd and 1.0–1.7% of the total soil Pb. Quail bush removed 11, 10, and 14% of the total soil Cd when the soil was amended with N, COM, and COM + N, respectively, while it removed 1.48, 1.28, and 1.74% of the total Pb as results of the same treatments. The addition of COM and N led to an increase in the synthesis of chlorophyll and a decrease in the synthesis of proline and oxalate which are used to control the osmosis of plant cells. The single addition of N and COM led to significant improvement in alleviating the toxicity stress, while adding them together significantly outperformed the individual additions. The ability of quail bush plants in cleaning the polluted soil increased as a result of nitrogen and compost application due to the increase in the metal concentration in the shoot and the increase in the total plant biomass. The studied quail bush plants have a high ability to withstand Cd and Pb in polluted soil, but their ability to remove Pb from the contaminated soils is weak, while they remove large amounts of Cd. Quail bush plants grown on metal-contaminated soils removed 14% of the total soil Cd during a year when amended with both compost and nitrogen.

Thermostable DNA polymerases are being widely used in polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis, cloning and DNA sequencing purposes. We have cloned a gene from Pyrobaculum calidifontis encoding a thermostable DNA polymerase and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The gene product was produced in soluble and highly active form. However, the expression was low, which resulted in a poor yield of the recombinant enzyme. In order to get higher expression, we introduced a silent mutation at second codon by replacing the rare codon (AGG), for arginine, with an E. coli preferred codon (CGT). This resulted in nearly a 2-fold higher production of the recombinant protein. We further optimized the inducer concentration and time of cultivation after induction. Under optimized conditions nearly 3-fold higher production of the recombinant protein was observed. Furthermore, we changed the expression host to E. coli Rosetta DE3 cells. However, there was no increase in the expression level, rather it was slightly decreased. Such silent mutations and use of an alternate expression host can be used to enhance heterologous expression of other genes too.

Purpose Catharanthus roseus is a vital medicinal plant due to its content of alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine which are known to have a special interest in the pharmaceutical industries. Little is known about the effects of jasmonic acid (JA) on C. roseus plants grown under saline conditions. Materials Pots experiment was conducted to explore the impacts of four treatments of JA (0, 0.50, 1.0, and 1.50 mM) on the growth of C. roseus plants which were irrigated with saline (EC = 5.27 dS m−1) or tap water (EC = 0.53 dS m−1). Results The growth of C. roseus plants was reduced due to the irrigation with saline water; on the other hand, the salinity induced the accumulation of alkaloids. Salt stress induced a 41% increase in the alkaloid yield of C. roseus plants compared to the control plants irrigated with fresh water. Some defense mechanisms including: osmoregulation, ion compartmentalization, and antioxidants accumulation were activated in C. roseus plants upon salt stress. The foliar application of JA to the C. roseus plants increased the growth parameters and mitigated the salt stress; moreover, it enhanced nutrients uptake. Spraying of C. roseus plants with JA significantly enhanced the biosynthesis of compatible solutes and decreased the activity of pyrogallol peroxidase (PPX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Foliar application of JA increased the alkaloids yield of C. roseus plants. Conclusion JA reduced the negative effects of salt stress in C. roseus plants through increasing osmoregulation compounds and regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Spraying of C. roseus with JA could be used as a sustainable strategy for promotion its medicinal property by augmenting secondary metabolites production.

Potassium (K) levels are decreasing worldwide in agricultural soils, and K deficiency is becoming a major issue. Study on damask rose response to K application is scarce. Furthermore, despite its importance in the cell division, photosynthesis and protein synthesis, there is a lack of published reports on plant responses to zinc (Zn) application. Further research is required to understand the damask rose's response to both elements. This study investigated the effects of K and Zn foliar application on the vegetative growth, flower yield, and volatile oil content and composition of damask rose. K and Zn nutrition was applied either individually or combined as K2SO4 and ZnSO4 at 0.5 or 1.0%. Foliar application of K2SO4 and ZnSO4 was applied with a manual pump four times in each growing season, the first at the beginning of stem elongation and leaf formation, and then at two-weekly intervals. Results showed that K and/or Zn treatments significantly improved the growth characters, flower yield, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance, and essential oil content and composition such as linalool, nerol, citronellol, geraniol, and nonadecane. The chlorophyll content, total soluble sugars (TSS), and protein content also increased, but free amino acid content decreased, suggesting that the distribution of nitrogenous compounds (between amino acids and proteins) and their transformation were influenced by K and Zn supply. Individual applications of K or Zn increased the N, P, K, and Zn contents in damask rose leaves, relative to the control, which increased further with combined applications of K and Zn. Results suggest that foliar application of K and/or Zn could be part of the damask rose fertilization program to provide plants with the optimum level of nutrition for improving the quantity and quality of flowers and essential oil yields.

By 2050, the UK government plans to create ‘Net zero society’. 1 To meet this ambitious target, the deployment of low carbon technologies is an urgent priority. The low carbon heat recovery technologies such as heat recovery from sewage via heat pump can play an important role. It is based on recovering heat from the sewage that is added by the consumer, used and flushed in the sewer. This technology is currently successfully operating in many cities around the world. In the UK, there is also a rising interest to explore this technology after successful sewage heat recovery demonstration project at Borders College, Galashiels, Scotland. 2 However, further experimental research is needed to build the evidence base, replicate, and de-risk the concept elsewhere in the UK. The Home Energy 4 Tomorrow (HE4T) project at London South Bank University was created to address this evidence gap. This is the fourth article in the series of outputs on sewage heat recovery and presents some results using sewage data from the UK’s capital London. These data are scarce and provide useful information on the variation of flows and temperatures encountered in the sewers of the UK’s capital. Lastly, we discuss the recoverable heat potential along with policy implications for the UK heat strategy. Practical application This work focuses and accentuate that in order to meet climate change targets, substantial improvements can come by heat recovery from the raw (influent) and treated wastewater (effluent from wastewater treatment plant) that is still unexploited in the UK. The estimation presented indicates that there is much theoretical potential in the UK with significant opportunity for future energy and revenue retrieval along with GHGs emission reduction in the longer term to fulfil the ‘net zero’ objective. This work aims to raise awareness and seek support to promote pilot scale studies to help demonstrate technical and economic feasibility in the building industry.

Heavy metals pollution has become a more serious environmental problem in the last several decades as a result of releasing toxic materials into the environment. The aim of this study is to develop an ecological method for the removal of Ni2+ ions from industrial wastewater by an electro coagulation method using aluminum plates and solar cell as a source of D.C current. In this study, different conditions of pH of 4, 6, 7, and 8, current densities of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mA/cm2, and nickel ion concentrations of 200, 300, and 500 ppm were investigated during a period of time of 120 minutes to remove nickel ions prepared waste water by electro coagulation. The total removal of nickel ions was (97.5- 99.5%), (97- 99%), and (96.67-98.8%) for pH (4-8), current density (0.5-1.5 mA/cm2) and nickel ions concentration (200-500 ppm), respectively. The results show that the optimum condition of electro coagulation process can be obtained at pH = 8 and current density 1.5 mA/cm2 when 120 minutes were elapsed.

In this study, we investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer application rates with and without phosphorus-loaded biochar (BCP) on the productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv GS) planted on a contaminated soil based on pot and incubation experiments. The release kinetic of toxic metals as affected by BCP was also investigated. BCP at rate of 2% (w/w) and nitrogen levels (250 and 500 mg N kg-1) were added to sandy loam soil polluted with Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu. The experiment consisted of five treatments including: Control (C), nitrogen a rate of 250 (N250), or 500 mg kg (N500), BCP + N250, and BCP + N500. Maximum tomato growth was achieved in the soil that was treated with BCP + N500, followed by BCP + N250, while lowest one was observed in the control. Tomato yield as affected by the BCP and N-fertilization was in the descending order: BCP + N500 > BCP + N250 > N500 = N250 > C. The addition of N250, N500, BCP + N250, and BCP + N500 increased the fruit yield by 24, 31, 35, 58% in comparison with the control. Levels of Zn, Cu, and Pb in tomato fruit was in the descending order: N500> N250 > C > BCP + N500 > BCP + N250. The combined application of BCP and N-fertilization augmented the availability and uptake of essential nutrients and effectively reduced those of toxic ones. The addition of BCP + N250 decreased Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb content in fruit of tomato by 16, 10, 54, 54, and 58%, respectively, compared to the control soil, while these decreases were 13, 16, 60, 60, and 72% in the case of BCP + N500. BCP succeeded significantly in reducing the release of toxic chemicals, which ultimately may restrict the transfer of toxic chemical to the food chain solution. Novelty statement Tomato grown on metal-contaminated soils contains high levels of toxic metals. Phosphorus-loaded biochar (BCP) reduced the negative effects of high inorganic-N rates by reducing the release of toxic metals to the soil solution. BCP enhanced the soil quality indicators and increased the soil microbe's activity.

The design of a new air filter for air-conditioning systems needs to properly manage antimicrobial activity and heat transfer performance. In this work, a hybrid nanofilter of polypropylene coated with silver nanoparticles and multiwall carbon nanotubes (Ag-MWCNTs/PP) was prepared using a modified impregnation technique under vacuum. The results demonstrated a high dispersion of AgNPs (∼18 nm) and MWCNTs on the polymer fibers. The antimicrobial activity of the nanofilters was evaluated against Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. A dramatic ability to kill all types of bacteria by 100 % was observed after adding 2 mg/mL of Ag-MWCNTs. Moreover, the pressure drop and convective heat transfer across the nanofilter were evaluated by building a special testing apparatus. The pressure drop rose with increases in the air velocity. Additionally, a high heat transfer coefficient with increases in the air velocity was achieved, with values of 52.5 and 47.3 W/m2.K for the working temperatures of 20 and 30 °C, respectively. Also, the thermal conductivity of the nanofilter was enhanced significantly by 36 %, 48 %, and 68 % at additions of 1, 2, and 3 mg/mL, respectively. The prepared nanofilter showed high efficiency, low cost, and applicability for commercial production.

The current work was undertaken to evaluate the nephrotoxic effect of Ketoprofen on adult male rats. Eighteen rats were divided into two groups. Ketoprofen- received group (I) included 10 rats were administered Ketoprofen at a therapeutic dose of 13.5 mg/kg by I/M injection daily for 4 successive weeks. Five rats were randomly selected from group I and sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks of the experiment. The control group (II) that received olive oil included 8 rats, where 4 rats were sacrificed after2 weeks and the rest of rats were sacrificed after 4 weeks. Tissue specimensfrom kidneys of all groups were collected for histopathological examination as well as the serum was obtained for the determination of biochemical parameters. The histopathological examination of group I showed glomerular changes such as expanding of glomerular matrix, glomerular sclerosis and congestion of glomerular capillary in the cortex. Renal tubular degeneration and necrosis accompanied with infiltration of inflammatory cells in interstitial tissue in both cortex and medulla were also observed. The biochemical results revealed that animals in group I showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde, creatinine, and urea compared to the control group, while total antioxidant capacity was numerically decreased. In conclusion, the therapeutic dose of Ketoprofen caused damage in kidney tissue even if was taken for a short period as well as altered biochemical parameters.

Drought is a main abiotic stress that restricts plant growth and development. The increased global demand of anti-cancer alkaloids extracted from periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is mainly related to plant growth and development, which are severely affected by drought. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) have been used to boost plant growth and defense mechanism, however their impact to alleviate drought stress of C. roseus has not been investigated yet. In this study, control and stressed plants (100 and 50% of field capacity [FC], respectively) were subjected to CSNPs application at 1%. Drought stress considerably reduced plant growth, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll; however, CSNPs mitigated these effects. They enhanced proline accumulation and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) with possible mitigation of drought-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, they reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and eventually preserved membrane integrity. Drought stress increased alkaloid accumulation, and further increase was observed with the application of CSNPs. High alkaloid content was associated with induced gene expression of strictosidine synthase (STR), deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT), peroxidase 1 (PRX1) and geissoschizine synthase (GS) up to 5.6 folds under drought stress, but more accumulation was noticed with the application of CSNPs. Overall, this study is the first on using CSNPs to mitigate drought stress of C. roseus by inducing the antioxidant potential and gene expression of alkaloid biosynthesis.

Despite the fact that damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill. var. trigintipetala Dieck) is an economically important aromatic plant, its growth and development has been severely suppressed by salt stress. Reports show that moringa leaf extract (MLE) or salicylic acid (SA) are involved in salt-stress tolerance. Nevertheless, scarce information is available about MLE or SA impacts on aromatic plants, especially damask rose under salinity. This investigation was, therefore, conducted to investigate the effects of MLE and (or) SA on salt-stress mitigation in damask rose. Rose plants were treated with 200 mmol·L−1 sodium chloride, and foliar applied with MLE at 1:30 (v:v) and (or) 0.2 mmol·L−1 SA. Foliar spraying with MLE and (or) SA enhanced the growth attributes, chlorophyll content, relative water content, proline content, and membrane stability index under salinity. Less accumulation of malondialdehyde and H2O2 was also observed when MLE and (or) SA were applied. Furthermore, MLE and (or) SA applications considerably increased the radical scavenging activity, total phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and superoxide dismutase) under stress. The mitigative effect of MLE or SA was more pronounced when they were applied in combination. Collectively, MLE and (or) SA had efficient antioxidant defense system that scavenged reactive oxygen species, and thus afforded considerable protection against salt-induced oxidative damage.

Edible coatings have potential to decrease the postharvest losses of several horticultural commodities however; there is no systematic investigation focusing on fresh herbaceous aromatic plants such as basil. Herein, the effects of chitosan (CS), chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and thyme volatile oil (TVO) loaded CSNPs (TVO-CSNPs) as edible coatings on preserving the quality of sweet basil leaves were investigated. All CS coatings considerably extended the shelf life and decreased the weight loss of basil leaves relative to the control. Using TVO-CSNPs showed 2.4-fold higher shelf life than the control. The loss in photosynthetic pigments and volatile oil content were significantly retarded by CS applications more so with TVO-CSNPs treatment. Contrary, treated leaves produced lower malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 and therefore retained the membrane functions compared to the control. All CS applications particularly with TVO-CSNPs considerably motivated the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and reduced the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxyganase (LOX) activities relative to uncoated leaves. Overall, using TVO-CSNPs as an edible coating has a great potential in shelf life extension of basil leaves with satisfactory exterior and interior quality. Thus, it can be a promising approach to preserve the quality of fresh cut aromatic herbs.

The choice of phosphate fertilizer has a special concern in alkaline soils due to its direct effect on the availability and uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients, as it can affect the rate of ammonia volatilization. This study aims to increase potato productivity in alkaline soils and reducing ammonia emissions by using acid fertilizers and controlling the amount of irrigation water. Two-year field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 growing seasons to investigate the influence of irrigation levels and P fertilizers on potato yield and ammonia volatilization from Arenosols. Potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.) cv Kara Spp. plants were irrigated at 75 or 100% of the evapotranspiration (ET75 and ET100) and were fertilized with monopotassium phosphate (MPP) or urea phosphate (UP), beside a control treatment without P addition. UP minimized the soil pH to 6.95 and 7.00 in the ET75 and ET100 treatments, respectively, compared to 7.80 and 7.85 in the case of MPP. The maximum potato tubers yield was achieved from ET100 and UP. The cumulative NH3 volatilization ranged between 33 and 85 N kg ha−1 per season which was accounted for 12 to 27% of the total applied nitrogen. UP and ET100 minimized the N loss from 27 to 12%. Reducing the levels of added water increased the quality of tubers and efficiency of the added water, but it caused a significant loss in the total and marketable yield and elevated the rate of ammonia emissions from the calcareous sandy soils. The acidic P fertilizers are effective in reducing the ammonia loss and increase the availability of micronutrients.

North Indian cities have been highly polluted, especially in winters, which coincide with the Diwali festival. This year, the government imposed ban on the burning of firecrackers. This study was undertaken from 4th-21st November, 2020 to monitor the air quality variation with respect to PM10 and PM2.5 for Delhi, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Greater Noida and Bulandshahar cities during and post Diwali period, to know whether there was any impact of the warnings. The hourly variations in the AQI were very poor between 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. on Diwali day. Significant short term variation in the AQI was observed during the night. A weak positive correlation was obtained between the temperature and AQI, whereas a negative relationship was established with humidity. As compared to last year’s AQI, higher values were obtained this year. The short-term variation in air quality may prove crucial in future in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Microbial pathogens drive tumorigenesis in 20% of cancer cases, so the present study is aimed to evaluate the carcinogenic activities, sperm abnormalities and other dangerous effects of the subcutaneous injection of extracts obtained from various clinical Gram-negative bacteria derived from cancer patients using albino rats. We isolated, identified and extracted of their secondary metabolites of carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacteria derived from cancer patients. Various methods have been used to determine hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, tumorigenesis, inflammatory and sperm abnormalities in the albino rats injected with extracts. In comparison with the normal animals group, all extracts induced hepatotoxicity which was evidenced by the significant elevation in the activity of the serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase; also, nephrotoxicity that was indicated through the marked increase in the serum urea and creatinine levels; tumorigenesis was achieved from the sharp elevation in serum levels of alpha fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen and lactate dehydrogenase values as tumor markers; as well as severe inflammatory characteristics were monitored from the marked raise of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1beta. Furthermore, the proportion of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes and sperm abnormalities were statistically significant in all groups compared to control group. Various kinds of head abnormalities and coiled tail were noted. Histopathological examination of hepatic tissue came in line with the biochemical and cytological findings. It could conclude that the extracts of Serratia sp. Esraa 1, Stenotrophomonas sp. Esraa 2, Acinetobacter sp. Esraa 3, Escherichia sp. Esraa 4 and Pseudomonas sp. Esraa 5 were able to initiate cytotoxicity and tumorigenesis in rats.

Background: Liver cancer ranks as the 7th and 5th leading cause of cancer morbidity worldwide in men and women, respectively. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is associated with an increasing global burden of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible chemopreventive effect of etoricoxib on diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF)-induced HCC in male Wistar rats. Methods: HCC was induced by DENA (150 mg/kg/week; i.p) for 2 weeks, then 2AAF (20 mg/kg; p.o) every other day for three successive weeks. Etoricoxib (0.6 mg/kg, p.o.) was given to DENA/ 2AAF-administered rats for 20 weeks. Results: Etoricoxib significantly suppressed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19.9) as liver tumor biomarkers. It also decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin levels while increased serum albumin levels. Besides, it alleviated DENA/2AAF-induced histopathological abrasions and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, etoricoxib showed a potent antioxidant effect, supported by a significant lipid peroxide reduction and elevation in superoxide dismutase activity and GSH content. In addition, Etoricoxib significantly down-regulated the protein expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), phosphorylated nuclear Factor-kappa B (p-NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Conclusion: In conclusion, the current results proved that etoricoxib possesses an anticarcinogenic effect via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of NF-κB/COX-2/PGE2 signaling.

Potassium use efficiency (KUE) in faba bean production is often low, and the luxury of fertilization has negative environmental impacts. The current study aims to reduce the recommended dose of potassium (K) for faba bean by potassium solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and humic acid (HA). The studied treatments were 50 and 100% of K recommended dose with or without PSB and 40 kg of HA ha−1. The studied treatments were applied to faba bean ((Vicia faba L., cv. Giza 843) plants grown in sandy loam soils for two successive seasons. In this study, the maximum KUE (40%) was obtained in the soil treated with HA and PSB while the lowest one (14%) was found in the case of the full recommended dose of mineral form. Humic acid and PSB that were applied to the plants fertilized with 50% of the recommended dose gave the maximum growth and yield. Humic acid and PSB increased the soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 6% and the soil organic matter (SOM) by 12%. Chlorophyll and carbohydrates in the leaves were increased by 36 and 50%, respectively, above the control, as results of HA and PSB application. Adding half of K requirements for faba bean in a mineral form with 40 kg of HA and PSB led to 14% and 19% increases in the seed and straw yield compared to the full mineral fertilization without bacterial inoculation. Humic acid and potassium solubilizing bacteria can be used to improve soil quality and increase the availability and uptake of nutrients, and thus increase the yield of faba bean plants. The experimental results from our 2-year research on faba bean grown on sandy loam soils establish a deductive scientific basis for using bio-fertilizers and organic materials to produce cleaner food and better environment conditions.

The research, influences of different energy microwaves treated water on the antioxidant enzyme of Trigonella foenum-graecum (T. foenum ) were studied. The analysis was carried out in 2020 in the laboratories of Ecology Department, College of Science under stable variables such as temperature, humidity, sunlight. The antioxidant enzyme, The catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity in T. foenum (hypocotyl and radical) were measured after twenty days of experiments. Results showed that germination was increased with water energy, and all enzymes activity were increased in low energy treated water gradually but decreased rapidly in high energy treated water. hypocotyl showed a higher response than Radical. (CAT) and (SOD) enzymes activity rises slowly in 30w* until it reaches a peak in 50 w * 120 s then decreases rapidly in 70 w * 150 s and whenever the time of treatments increased the enzyme becomes less effective. Both (APX) and (POD) had the same response but showed an increase in activities at 30W. The results improve that microwaves treated water-induced antioxidant enzyme response in T. foenum. While the specified energy level and duration showed a better growth rate compared to regular watering water. The results of this research serve those interested in developing cultivation and water treatment methods and improving our understanding of T. foenum irrigation behaviour using microwave treated water.

Omani (Dhofari) frankincense is world famous for its high quality and fragrance. The oleo-gum resin obtained from the tree of Omani species i.e., Boswellia sacra (local name: luban) is widely used by the natives. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of phytochemicals in chloroform and ethanol extracts of B. sacra resin and to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic, antimicrobial- and antioxidant-activities. The ethanol and chloroform extracts of Hojari luban were obtained in good yield. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screenings, quantification of total phenolics (TP) and evaluation of in vitro biological activities viz. antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic potential. The bioactivities of four boswellic acids, the major constituents of the oleo-gum resin, were also predicted with the help of PASS and CLC-pred software. Both the extracts showed similar level of TP (14.67 mg/g and 14.79 mg/g in terms of gallic acid equivalent) but polar fraction was noted to be more active against E. coli. A moderate antioxidant activity was shown by the resin extracts however their cytotoxic activity was observed to be quite remarkable at 1000 μg/l which could be attributed to their high boswellic acid content. Results of in silico PASS studies showed boswellic acids to possess an array of useful biological activities including chemopreventive activity. Further, CLC-pred software revealed that only keto boswellic acid is expected to exert antineoplastic activity against pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, however all the four major boswellic acids are likely to be active against non-tumor embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC5). The study confirmed that frankincense is rich in bioactive metabolites which are of significant economic and therapeutic importance. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 19(2): 105-110, 2020 (December)

The present study demonstrates scientific procedures applied to study mural paintings in two Graeco-Roman tombs of El-Muzzawaka, Dakhla Oases, Egypt. First, a series of analytical methods was applied to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of pigment and plaster samples collected from the studied tombs. The analyses were performed by means of digitalized optical microscopy (OM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy attached with X-ray microanalysis detector (SEM−EDS), X−ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT−IR). Analyses of the pigment samples revealed Egyptian blue, Egyptian green, green earth, black magnetite, and red/yellow ochres. The paintings were applied on a coarse plaster layer made of gypsum, anhydrite, calcite, and quartz. The preparation layer was made of two phases of calcium sulphate (gypsum and anhydrite). Further, the detection of an organic binder, of gum Arabic, confirms the application of tempera technique. The results showed that the bed rock samples contain variable amounts of quartz, anhydrite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, gypsum, and sodium chloride (halite). In situ observations showed several deterioration forms on the studied mural paintings. The destructive climatic condition of the region and the defects of the rock structure have contributed seriously in the deterioration process. Based on experimental tests, multi restoration procedures were applied in form of cleaning, reattaching paint flakes, applying injection grouts to detached layers, reconstruction of missing parts in the plaster, repair of wide-open cracks, and final protective consolidation of the painted surfaces. Further, recommendations to minimize any future damage were discussed.

Although zinc deficiency increases the risk of oxidative DNA damage, data regarding the association between zinc and oxidative DNA damage in diabetes are controversial. In this article, we focus on serum zinc levels and its relation to an established biomarker of oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine) in patients with type 2 diabetes, and to ascertain the beneficial effects of zinc supplementation on the level of oxidative DNA damage. The study consisted of 2 interrelated parts: The first part was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 297) and healthy individuals (n = 188). The second part was an interventional study that enrolled 38 diabetic patients with low zinc status and high DNA damage. The demographic parameters including age, gender, and body mass index were recorded, and DNA damage marker through 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels, and zinc status of serum zinc, was measured. Significantly higher 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels (P

Postharvest senescence is a critical problem of carnation cut flowers, limiting their transportation and subsequent marketing chain. This study was designed to assess whether the application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and nitric oxide (NO) released from donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) could prolong the vase life of cut carnations through an influence on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in aging process. 1-MCP was used in the concentrations of 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg·m−3; AgNPs in the concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg·dm−3; and SNP in the concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mM. All treatments significantly extended the cut flower life compared with untreated flowers, more so with 300 mg·m−3 of 1-MCP, 100 mg·dm−3 of AgNPs, or 0.3 mM of SNP. All these chemical compounds were able to considerably improve the relative water content (RWC), reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increase the membrane stability index (MSI) in petals and, therefore, maintain the membrane integrity. In addition, they decreased the activities of acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and, hence, depressed the production of ethylene in carnation cut flowers through downregulating the ethylene production, what prolonged the vase life. Altogether, the application of exogenous 1-MCP, AgNPs, or SNP may provide a promising avenue to improve the postharvest performance of carnation cut flowers.

The response of Damask rose to drought and the underlying mechanisms involved are not known. In this study, vegetative, propagated rose plants were grown under control and water-deficit conditions in a greenhouse at Taif University, south-west of Saudi Arabia. Control plants were irrigated to field capacity (FC), while water-stressed plants were irrigated to either 50% FC (mild stress) or 25% FC (severe stress). After 60 days, leaf, stem and root fresh and dry weights (g plant−1), photosynthetic activity, leaf water potential (Ψw), leaf water content (WC), apoplastic water fraction (AWF), osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψs100) and turgor loss point (Ψs0), cell wall elasticity, osmotic adjustment (OA), and some solutes (K+, Ca2+, Cl−, proline and soluble carbohydrates) were evaluated. Water stress significantly decreased fresh and dry weights of R. damascena and all photosynthetic parameters, apart from leaf temperature, which increased. Severe water stress (25% FC) resulted in more negative Ψs100 and Ψs0 values than the mild water stress and control. The AWF did not significantly change in response to water stress. The leaf bulk modulus of elasticity (e) increased from 2.5 MPa under well-watered conditions to 2.82 and 3.5 MPa under mild and severe water stress, respectively. R. damascena experienced OA in response to water stress, which was due to the active accumulation of soluble carbohydrates and, to a lesser degree, proline under mild stress, along with tissue dehydration (passive OA) under severe stress. Overall, we identified two important mechanisms of drought tolerance in R. damascena—osmotic and elastic adjustment—but they could not offer resistance to water stress beyond 25% FC.

This research was conducted during the two consecutive seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the effect of Filter mud as organic manure and biofertilizers application, as well as, their interaction on growth and some chemical constituents of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) seedlings. Filter mud was applied at 0, 24, 48, and 72 g/bag. Biofertilizers were control, Active Yeast (AY), Minia Azotein (M.A.), Arbescular mycorrhizea fungi (AM), AY+ M.A., AY+AM, M.A.+AM and AY+M.A.+AM. The most obtained results were as follows: The addition of filter mud at all levels led to a significant increase in plant growth traits (stem length, stem diameter, leaves fresh and dry weights /plant and stem fresh and dry weights /plant, as well as, the elements of N, P and K % in the leaves), as compared to the check treatment. Utilizing the high level of filter mud (72 g/bag) registered the highest values of these parameters. In relation to biofertilizers treatments, all of them either separately or in combination, except for active yeast, in some cases, led to a significant augment in these previous traits. The application of triple inoculants (AY+ M.A. +AM) proved to be more effective in increasing these above mentioned parameters. In addition, for the interaction, it was significant effect on all examined characters, except for stem diameter. Clearly, most of combined treatments significantly increased all studied traits comparing to untreated ones. The most effective treatments were detected by using filter mud at the high level with the triple inoculants (AY+ M.A. +AM) in comparison with those obtained by other combination treatments.

In this study, marine sediment (MS) was successfully used as a source of methanogenic bacteria for the anaerobic digestion (AD) of chicken manure (CM). Using MS showed high production in liquid and semi-solid conditions. Even in solid conditions, 169.3 mL/g volatile solids of chicken manure (VS-CM) was produced, despite the accumulation of ammonia (4.2 g NH3-N/kg CM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest methane production from CM alone, without pretreatment, in solid conditions (20%). Comparing MS to Ozouh sludge (excess activated sewage sludge) (OS), using OS under semi-solid conditions resulted in higher methane production, while using MS resulted in more ammonia tolerance (301 mL/gVS-CM at 8.58 g NH3-N/kg). Production optimization was carried out via a response surface methodology (RDM) model involving four independent variables (inoculum ratio, total solid content, NaCl concentration, and incubation time). Optimized methane production (324.36 mL/gVS-CM) was at a CM:MS ratio of 1:2.5 with no NaCl supplementation, 10% total solid content, and an incubation time of 45 days.

Exposure of banana plants, one of the most important tropical and subtropical plants, to low temperatures causes a severe drop in productivity, as they are sensitive to cold and do not have a strong defense system against chilling. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the growth and resistance to cold stress of banana plants using foliar treatments of chitosan nanoparticles (CH-NPs). CH-NPs produced by nanotechnology have been used to enhance tolerance and plant growth under different abiotic stresses, e.g., salinity and drought, however, there is little information available about their effects on banana plants under cold stress. In this study, banana plants were sprayed with four concentrations of CH-NPs—i.e., 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L−1 of deionized water—and a group that had not been cold stressed or undergone CH-NP treatment was used as control. Banana plants (Musa acuminata var. Baxi) were grown in a growth chamber and exposed to cold stress (5 °C for 72 h). Foliar application of CH-NPs caused significant increases (p &lt, 0.05) in most of the growth parameters and in the nutrient content of the banana plants. Spraying banana plants with CH-NPs (400 mg L−1) increased the fresh and dry weights by 14 and 41%, respectively, compared to the control. A positive correlation was found between the foliar application of CH-NPs, on the one hand, and photosynthesis pigments and antioxidant enzyme activities on the other. Spraying banana plants with CH-NPs decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and superoxide anions (O2•−). CH-NPs (400 mg L−1) decreased MDA, H2O2, •OH, and O2•− by 33, 33, 40, and 48%, respectively, compared to the unsprayed plants. We hypothesize that CH-NPs increase the efficiency of banana plants in the face of cold stress by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and, in consequence, the degree of oxidative stress. The accumulation of osmoprotectants (soluble carbohydrates, proline, and amino acids) contributed to enhancing the cold stress tolerance in the banana plants. Foliar application of CH-NPs can be used as a sustainable and economically feasible approach to achieving cold stress tolerance.

The crystallization of (E)-1-(5-chloro­thio­phen-2-yl)-3-(3-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one furnished a superimposed co-crystal consisting of the expected chalcone and a minor component identified as (Z)-1-(5-chloro­thio­phen-2-yl)-3-(3-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)prop-1-en-1-ol tautomer, The title crystal structure is assembled from the superposition of two mol­ecular structures, (E)-1-(5-chloro­thio­phen-2-yl)-3-(3-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one, C12H9ClOS2 (93%), and (Z)-1-(5-chloro­thio­phen-2-yl)-3-(3-methyl­thio­phen-2-yl)prop-1-en-1-ol, C12H11ClOS2 (7%), 0.93C12H9ClOS2·0.07C12H11ClOS2. Both were obtained from the reaction of 3-methyl­thio­phene-2-carbaldehyde and 1-(5-chloro­thio­phen-2-yl)ethanone. In the extended structure of the major chalcone component, mol­ecules are linked by a combination of C—H⋯O/S, Cl⋯Cl, Cl⋯π and π–π inter­actions, leading to a compact three-dimensional supra­molecular assembly.

Background and objective Cyanobacteria grown under abiotic stress affect on some metabolites that used as promising for foods and feeds biotechnology. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the 3 local cyanobacteria isolates for production of foods and feeds under various concentration of phosphorus. Material and methods Cyanobacteria namely; Anabaena sp., Merismopedia tenuissima and Spirulina platensis were grown photoautotrophically in modified medium. The growth pattern in the medium containing various phosphorus concentrations were followed and harvested around 14 days. Results A decrease in phosphorus concentrations by 50% led to an increase in chlorophyll-a of M. tenuissima and S. platensis. The application of high concentration of phosphorus (+100%) to the culture of Anabaena sp. led to an increase in dry weight and growth rate by 0.382 mg mL-1 and 0.013 h-1, respectively. The deficiency of phosphorus concentrations led to a decrease in carbohydrate contents of Anabaena, Merismopedia and Spirulina with compared to the control culture. In general, the total lipid contents of Anabaena sp. and M. tenuissima were stimulated by phosphorus deficiency. The phosphorus-free media and increase in phosphorus concentration by 100% resulted in an increase in protein fractions such as soluble, insoluble, globulins, prolamines, glutelins and total protein content of Anabaena sp. The application of high concentration of phosphorus (+100%) to the culture of S. platensis led to an increase in total lipid contents in comparison to control. The highest phycobiliprotein contents of S. platensis were recorded at 50% phosphorus deficiency. Conclusion Cyanobacteria has a soft cell wall that makes it especially easy to digest and is additionally full of live active enzymes which further enhances metabolism and the efficient intake of nutrients.

Modular allosteric aptamers with discrete recognition and signaling regions provide a facile method of carrying out label-free detection by forgoing complex target labeling requirements. Herein, we describe the design and function of an aptamer scaffold capable of forming a hairpin loop in the presence of FAD (the signaling trigger). The aptamer includes a recognition region for the microRNA (miR) Let-7i. Upon selective miR hybridization, the aptamer undergoes a conformational shift to release FAD and thus produce a measurable response. As a result, the described method can sensitively and selectively detect miR Let-7i with a wide linear range of 0.1 pM to 1 μM and a detection limit of 150 fM. Additionally, this strategy was able to selectively discriminate between sequences with 1- and 2-nucleotide (nt) differences.

The synthesis, crystal structure and structural motif of two thiophene-based cyanoacrylate derivatives, namely, ethyl (E)-2-cyano-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)acrylate (1), C11H11NO2S, and ethyl (E)-2-cyano-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylate (2), C10H9NO2S, are reported. Derivative 1 crystallized with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, and derivative 2 represents a new monoclinic (C2/m) polymorph. The molecular conformations of 1 and the two polymorphs of 2 are very similar, as all non-H atoms are planar except for the methyl of the ethyl groups. The intermolecular interactions and crystal packing of 1 and 2 are described and compared with that of the reported monoclinic (C2/m) polymorph of derivative 2 [Castro Agudelo et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. E73, 1287–1289].

The amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by binding with the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Previously, we demonstrated that the Aβ fraction 25–35 (Aβ25–35) increases RAGE expression in the rat hippocampus, likely contributing to its neurotoxic effects. However, it is still debated if the interaction of Aβ with RAGE compromises the BBB function in Alzheimer’ disease (AD). Here, we evaluated the effects of Aβ25–35 in an established in vitro model of the BBB. Rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMVECs) were treated with 20 μM active Aβ25–35 or the inactive Aβ35–25 (control), for 24 h. Exposure to Aβ25–35 significantly decreased cell viability, increased cellular necrosis, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which triggered a decrease in the enzyme glutathione peroxidase when compared to the control condition. Aβ25–35 also increased BBB permeability by altering the expression of tight junction proteins (decreasing zonula occludens-1 and increasing occludin). Aβ25–35 induced monolayer disruption and cellular disarrangement of the BBB, with RAGE being highly expressed in the zones of disarrangement. Together, these data suggest that Aβ25–35-induces toxicity by compromising the functionality and integrity of the BBB in vitro.

The unfinished obelisk quarry in Aswan is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt. This site contains very important rock art panels (paintings and inscriptions) which give the site further importance and are concerned with the activities of the quarry. Rock art panels at this site are subject to different kinds of physical, chemical and biological deterioration as a consequence of their exposure to the direct action of aggressive atmospheric agents (extreme temperature, wind, chemical weathering ,salts pressure and the rising water table from the canal at the site) and anthropogenic deterioration factors so; they suffer from different deterioration phenomena such as exfoliation, granular disintegration, detachment, salt crystallization, aesthetic disfigurement and chemical alterations. For this purpose, the chemical, physical and structural characterization were performed by means of Polarizing Microscope (PM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) attached with EDX, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared analysis (I.R) and microbiological study. The results have shown that these panels suffer from many crystallized salts such as sodium chloride and calcium sulphate (anhydrite or gypsum) and alteration of feldspars to clay minerals.

Background The inflammatory basis of diabetes mellitus directed the researchers' attention to the immune system for better management and prevention of complications. Metoclopramide (MCA; the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved for gastroparesis) has the ability to restore immune function through increasing prolactin secretion. This study aimed to test the effect of BSA/MCA nanoparticles (NPs) on modulating immune response. Methods BSA/MCA NPs were fabricated by desolvation and evaluated in vitro via measuring loading efficiency, particle size, and surface charge. The selected formula was further evaluated via differential scanning calorimetry and release behavior. Then, NPs were injected into rats (25 mg MCA/kg/week) for 3 weeks to be evaluated histopathologically and immunologically via measuring proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL1β, IL6, and TNFα, in addition to measuring regulatory T-cell frequency. Results MCA was successfully loaded on BSA, achieving high encapsulation efficiency reaching 63±2%, particles size of 120-130 nm with good polydispersity, and a negative surface charge indicating that entire positively charged drug was encapsulated inside NPs. Differential scanning calorimetry thermography of selected NPs showed an obvious interaction between components and cross-linking of BSA molecules using glutaraldehyde, resulting in sustained release of MCA (around 50% within 3 days). MCA NPs significantly restored the immune response via decreasing proinflammatory cytokines and increasing regulatory T-cell frequency when compared to control and free MCA (drug not loaded in NPs)-treated groups. Histopathological examination of this MCA NPs-treated group did not show the characteristic lesions of diabetes, and apoptosis nearly disappeared. Conclusion BSA/MCA NPs could be considered a new modality for treatment of gastro-paresis, in addition to management of diabetes itself and preventing its complications via an MCA-immunomodulatory effect.

The mango is one of the most valuable and appealing tropical fruits due to its color, aroma, tasteful remarkable flavor, and nutritive value, however, improving the yield and quality of mango is an urgent goal in order to combat global population growth. The application of amino acids and a micronutrient mixture might improve the yield and quality features but further research is still required in arid regions. To study the combined effect of a micronutrient mixture (MM) and amino acids (AA) at different rates, twenty-seven Fagri Kalan mango trees (15 years old) were carefully selected. The foliar application effect of MM and AA on vegetative growth, total chlorophyll, leaf chemical constituents, productivity, and the fruit quality of mango trees (cv. Fagri Kalan) was investigated. The findings revealed that the investigated growth measurements and leaf chemical contents, as well as the fruiting aspects and the fruit quality improved significantly due to the application of MM and AA. A higher application rate of the micronutrient mixture (2 g L−1) in combination with the highest amino acid concentration (2 mg L−1) was the most effective combination that increased the yield, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars (TS), and total carbohydrates by 28.0%, 3.0%, 5.8% and 15.0%, respectively, relative to untreated plants. The relationship between such characteristics revealed a strong positive correlation (0.80–0.95), confirming the importance of these materials in increasing the yield and quality of mangoes. Thus, using doses of MM and AA as a foliar spray four times during each growing season is recommended under similar environmental conditions and horticulture practices used in the current experiment.

Among the essential micronutrients, zinc (Zn) affects vital functions in crop plants. The influences of foliar nourishing with certain Zn-containing forms on the growth, productivity, and physiology of carrot plants (cv. Fire wedge F1) and their nutritional contents when grown in Zn-deficient soil were examined in both 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 field trials. Two doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs(1) = 20 and ZnO-NPs(2) = 40 mg L−1), zinc–EDTA (Zn–EDTA(1) = 1 and Zn–EDTA(2) = 2 g L−1), or bulk zinc oxide (ZnO-B(1) = 200 and ZnO-B(2) = 400 mg L−1) were applied three times. The data outputted indicated, in general, that ZnO-NPs(2) were the best treatment that conferred more acceptable plant growth (measured as shoot length and fresh and dry weights), physiology (measured as cell membrane stability index, SPAD readings, and nutrient uptake), and nutritional homeostasis (e.g., P, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents). All these positive attributes were reflected in the highest yield, which was measured as fresh weight, dry matter, length, diameter, volume, and total yield of carrot roots. However, there were some exceptions, including the highest membrane stability index in both seasons, the highest Cu uptake and Mn content in the first season, and root fresh weight in both seasons obtained with ZnO-NPs(1). Moreover, the maximum P uptake and root dry matter were obtained with ZnO-B(1) and the highest content of root P was obtained by ZnO-B(2). Based on the above data, foliar nourishing with ZnO-NPs(2) can be recommended for the sustainability of carrot cultivation in Zn-deficient soils.

Tagetes genus of Composite family consider one of the most favorite floriculture plant. Therefore, of particular interest examine the salt tolerance of this bedding and coloring agent plant. In this research, was report the role of glycinebetaine (GB) in attenuating the adverse impacts of salt stress in African marigold plant, along with their anti-oxidative capacities and biochemical attributes. The salt stressed African marigold (100 and 150 mM NaCl) was treated with GB at 200 mM, beside untreated control plants. According to the obtained results, the growth characters were negatively in salt stressed plants but a mitigate impact of GB were observed in this respect. Obviously, the morphological as well as some physiological characters were reduced with salinity treatments while GB treatment reverses these effects. Overall, the alleviate impact of GB on the negative impact of salt stress was enhanced through improving total phenolic and antioxidant enzyme activity. Further, it is concluded that GB concentration induces the activities of antioxidative enzymes which scavenged ROS increased under saline conditions.

During the 2019 and 2020 seasons, nutrient-deficient virgin sandy soil was examined along with the investigation of the response of Phaseolus vulgaris plants to soil application with biocompost in integration with chemical fertilizers applied to soil and plants. Four treatments (100% of the recommended NPK fertilizer dose (control), 75% NPK applied to soil + 25% foliar spray, 75% NPK applied to soil + 25% foliar spray + leguminous compost (CL), and 75% NPK applied to soil + 25% foliar spray + CL containing Bacillus subtilis (biocompost, CLB)) were applied in a randomized complete block design. The 75% NPK applied to soil + 25% foliar spray + CLB was the best treatment, which exceeded other treatments in improving soil fertility and plant performance. It noticeably improved soil physicochemical properties, including available nutrients, activities of various soil enzymes (cellulase, invertase, urease, and catalase), soil cation exchange capacity, organic carbon content, and pH, as well as plant growth and productivity, and plant physiobiochemistry, including nutrients and water contents, and various antioxidant activities. The results of the 2020 season significantly outperformed those of the 2019 season, indicating the positive effects of biofertilizers as a strategy to combine soil supplementation with NPK fertilizers and allocate a portion of NPK fertilizers for foliar spraying of plants in nutrient-deficient sandy soils.

Oxidized-fibers, cellulose, and oxidized-nanocellulose were isolated from sponge-gourd fibers (Luffa cylindrica) and used as natural, non-toxic, and low-cost adsorbents. The effect of three luffa forms with or without hydroxyapatite (HAp) on the removal efficiency of lead ions (Pb2+) and methylene blue (MB) was investigated. HAp was successfully synthesized on the surface of Luffa with an average length of 40–56 nm and a width of 14–19 nm. Prepared materials showed differences in morphology (shape and size), chemical structure, and crystalline properties. The effect of sorbent type, contact time, and initial MB and Pb2+ concentrations were studied. The results showed that luffa/HAp composites were more effective in removal of Pb2+ ions than MB compared to Luffa without HAp, and vice versa. Kinetic and adsorption studies of MB and Pb2+ ions were well fitted with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb2+ was 625 mg/g, 714 mg/g, and 714.5 mg/g for oxidized-fibers/HAp, oxidized-nanocellulose/HAp, and cellulose/HAp, respectively, at dose 4 g/L, pH 5.3, 25 °C. While the maximum adsorption capacity of MB was 25.2 mg/g, 30.8 mg/g, and 36.2 mg/g for oxidized-fibers/HAp, oxidized-fibers, and cellulose, respectively, at dose 4 g/L, pH 7.3, 25 °C. Also, more than 95% of lead (500 mg/L) and 85% of MB (25 mg/L) were removed within the first 5 min. Separately, cellulose sample was the most effective in removing MB while cellulose/HAp for removal of Pb2+. However, oxidized-fibers/HAp composite was the easiest to prepare and the most effective in removing both MB and Pb2+.

Rice production under salinity stress is a critical challenge facing many countries, particularly those in arid and semi-arid regions. This challenge could be handled by applying novel approaches to overcome yield limiting factors and improve resource use efficiency. The usage of nanoparticles (NPs) could be a beneficial approach to managing the growing problem of soil salinity. The aim of our study was to investigate the advantageous effects of soaking and foliar application of silicon (Si) and selenium (Se), (NPs-Si at 12.5 mg L−1 and NPs-Se at 6.25 mg L−1) on root characteristics, moropho-physiological traits, and yields of two rice varieties (i.e., Giza 177 as a salt sensitive and Giza 178 as a salt tolerant) grown in saline soil compared to untreated plants (control treatment). Results showed that soaking NPs-Se resulted in the highest value of root thickness for Giza 178 (0.90 mm, 0.95 mm) and root volume (153.30 cm3, 154.30 cm3), while Giza 177 recorded 0.83 mm, 0.81 mm for root thickness and 143.30 cm3, 141.30 cm3 for root volume in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively. Soaking NPs-Se, NPs-Si and foliar application of NPs-Se at BT resulted in the highest relative water content and dry matter, while foliar application of NPs-Si at BT gave the highest leaf area index of rice plants compared to the other treatments. Giza 178 (i.e., salt tolerant variety) significantly surpassed Giza 177 (i.e., salt sensitive variety) in the main yield components such as panicle number and filled grains/ panicle, while Giza 177 significantly exceeded Giza 178 in the panicle weight, 1000-grain weight, and unfilled grains number/ panicle. Soaking NPs-Se and foliar application of NPs-Si at BT resulted in the highest grain yield of 5.41 and 5.34 t ha−1 during 2018 and 5.00 and 4.91 t ha−1 during 2019, respectively. The salt sensitive variety (Giza 177) had the highest Na+ leaf content and Na+/K+ ratio as well as the lowest K+ leaf content during both seasons. Applying nano nutrients such as NPs-Si and NPs-Se improved the yield components of the salt sensitive variety (Giza 177) by enhancing its ion selectivity. Both NPs-Si and NPs-Se had almost the same mode of action to mitigate the harmful salinity and enhance plant growth, and subsequently improved the grain yield. In summary, the application of NPs-Si and NPs-Se is recommended as a result of their positive influence on rice growth and yield as well as minimizing the negative effects of salt stress.

There has been an increased interest in oilseed crops for agro-industry research and development breeding programs to secure sustainable food and agriculture. The introgression of exotic genotypes of oilseed Brassica into cultivated relatives is inevitable in the genetic improvement of oilseed crops. This experimental attempt aimed to characterize the morphological and molecular basis for the identification and characterization of some Brassica genotypes. Fatty acid profile, yield, and morphology are under genetic control and can be used to identify genotypes. Characterization and identification were fulfilled for five accessions from Brassica spp. Plant height, height of first branch, number of branches and pods per plant, seed yield per plant, average pod length, number of seeds per pod, protein and oil contents (%), and fatty acid profile were examined. Besides, the relationship between seed yield and seed yield-contributing characteristics was estimated, as well as the phylogenetic relationship of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The genotypes varied significantly for all examined traits, taking into account the most important traits: seed yield per plant and oil content. For example, oil content in the samples ranged between 41.1 and 49.3%. Path analysis results showed a high and positive direct effect between each number of primary branches and the number of pods per plant with seed yield per plant (0.48). The morphological and molecular observations suggest that the Fay1, Fay3, Fay4, and Fay6 accessions belong to Brassica rapa, while Fay2 belongs to Brassica carinata. It can be concluded based on the present findings that the Fay3 genotype with the highest oil content and the lowest erucic acid content compared to the other genotypes can be proposed as a potential donor for future breeding programs for oil production and quality, while Fay1 can be utilized as donor to increase the seed yield per plant.

The use of nano-fertilizers and antioxidants for specific crops to minimize the negative effect of abiotic stresses is imperative. Two field experiments were fulfilled during two summer seasons (2019 and 2020) to study the response of sweet potato (Beauregard cv.) plants grown in calcareous soil (CaCO3 = 10.8–11.3%) to foliar nourishment with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and ascorbic acid (ASA) applied individually or in a mixture. Both ZnONPs and ASA were applied in three doses: 0, 1000, or 1500 mg L−1 for ZnONPs, and 0, 250 and 500 mg L−1 for ASA. The highest values of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) contents were recorded in both seasons, while those of phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu) were recorded in the 2020 season with ZnONPs applied at 1500 mg L−1. Furthermore, in both seasons, the maximum values of nutrient contents, excluding Mn content, were obtained with ASA applied at 500 mg L−1. However, applying both ZnONPs and ASA in a mixture bypassed each applied alone, with the highest overall nutrient contents being recorded, with few exceptions, with the highest dose of the mixture. The trend of the tuber root nutrient contents was correlated with the corresponding values in the leaves. Maximum tuber root yield was obtained with foliar feeding with 1000 mg ZnONP and 250 mg ASA L−1 in both seasons. The resulting data recommend the use of foliar nourishment with fertilizer nanoparticles and antioxidants to enable stressed plants to collect appropriate nutrient contents from the defective soils.

Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive ascomycete pathogens affecting crops worldwide and causing severe yield losses. Broad-spectrum fungicides are used to control fungal pathogenic diseases, but pathogens develop resistance toward these fungicides through point mutations. In this study, we isolated and observed resistance mechanisms in B. cinerea. All five isolates considered in this study belonged to this pathogen species, which affects tomato fruits. The phenotypic resistance profile was analyzed in terms of specific resistance to multiple succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) and benzimidazole-based fungicides (boscalid, BosR, flypyram, FluR, carbendazim, CarMR), (BosRFluMRCarMR), (BosMRFluRCarR), (BosMRFluMRCarMR) (BosSFluSCarS). The Half maximal effective concentration (EC50) (µg/mL) value ranges were 1.10–3.51 forboscalid-resistant isolates, 1.05–2.25 for fluopyram-resistant isolates, and 0.89–3.82 for carbendazim-resistant isolates. To investigate the molecular mechanism of resistance, the Sdh-B and β-tubulin genes of the respective SDHI-resistant and carbendazim-resistant isolates were amplified, and their amino acid sequences were compared with those of sensitive strains. The SDHI-resistant isolate of B. cinerea showed mutations G282A and G372V, while the carbendazim-resistant one presented mutation E947A. Integrated disease management and the application of new fungicides with low resistance risk should be implemented in order to reduce the risk of resistance development in B. cinerea.