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The anatomical variations of two plants from the Nyctaginaceae family, Bougainvillea spectabilis and Bougainvillea glabra, were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy methods in this work. Bougainvillea is a dicotyledonous with defensive traits that can withstand extreme (hot and dry) settings; according to the findings, crystal inclusions in cells, woody spines, and an abnormal development pattern are all features that help them survive against predators and are unique to this species. The Bougainvillea plant's leaves are arranged in simple pattern, alternate to each other along stem having an undulate leaves edge and an oval form. The xylem and phloem, palisade, parenchyma midrib, spongy mesophyll, raphide crystal bundles, and trichomes were all visible when bracts and leaves were transversally sectioned and dyed with toluidine blue O (TBO). The presence of crystals was confirmed by a detailed examination of the transverse leaves by using bright-field and cross-polarizing microscopy. Dissecting microscopic examination showed that all the leaves revealed leaves venation pattern that had midvein, lateral veins areoles, and trichomes. Although trichomes have been identified on both sides, a closer look at a cleaned leaf dyed with TBO showed multicellular abundant trichomes on adaxial surface. Stomata complexes were typically found on the abaxial surface of the leaf according to epidermal peels. Present studies also showed that on adaxial side, stomata were lesser in number or were absent and also showed that the morphologies of the pavement cells on the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaf differed.

Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV), a member of genus Mastrevirus (family Geminiviridae) is an important viral pathogen of chickpea and other legume crops in Middle East, North Africa, India and Pakistan. Among sixteen known strains of CpCDV three are known to infect legume crops in Punjab province of Pakistan. In this study diversity of CpCDV was explored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. In year 2016, during a survey in the chickpea growing areas of district Dera Ismail Khan, CpCDV infected plants were identified. Leaf samples were collected, and a diagnostic PCR confirmed mastreivrus infection in 4 out of 100 samples. From these samples full-length genome of CpCDV was amplified using specific back-to-back primers. Virus molecules were sequenced to their entirety and sequence analysis of a molecule KRF4 (GenBank accession # KY952837) showed the highest pair wise sequence identity of 97% with a CpCDV molecule (KM229787) isolated from chickpea plant. An SDT analysis revealed it to be the D strain of CpCDV and a recombination detection program (RDP) showed it to be a recombinant between C (KM229780) and L (KT634301) strains of CpCDV. Thus, further supporting the intra-species recombination for CpCDV and presence of the same strain in chickpea growing areas of Pakistan other than Punjab province. This is the first identification of CpCDV (genus Mastrevirus family Geminiviridae) from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) plants in District Dera Ismail Khan, KP province, Pakistan.

Adulteration in traded medicinal plants is a significant issue nowadays and use of these adulterated medicinal plants can impose harmful impact to end user. However, this problem can be overcome by ensuring the identification of traded medicinal plants which are used in making different herbal medicines. In this regard, palynological markers are considered to be an important taxonomic tool in the identification of original medicinal plant from its adulterant. Hence this study attempted to provide particular reliable palynological markers for distinguishing selected medicinal plants from their adulterants, that is, Cinnamomum verum versus Canella winterana, Cinnamomum tamala versus Cinnamomum obtusifolium, Gymnema sylvestre versus Gymnema lactiferum, Artemisia maritima versus Artemisia absinthium, Achillea millefolium versus Adhatoda vasaka, Sphaeranthus indicus versus Sphaeranthus africanus, Averrhoa carambola versus Butea monosperma, and Morus nigra versus Morus alba. Results demonstrated great variations in multiple palynological characters between original medicinal plant and its adulterant such as in pollen size, shape, colpi length, exine, intine thickness, and fertility. In equatorial view, circular to spheroidal shape of pollen was found in A. millefolium while oblate shape was observed in A. vasaka. Similarly B. monosperma pollen was 34 μm, whereas pollen of its adulterant A. carambola was 21 μm. Moreover, colpi length of A. maritima was 11.8 μm, whereas 4.5 μm in A. absinthium. Hence it can be concluded that palynological characters are commendably helpful in identification of genuine medicinal plant from its adulterant.

In Pakistan, 55% of textile exports are contributed by textile-units of Faisalabad. The effluents of these textile units, being discharged without any treatment, contain the contamination of a huge amount of synthetic azo dyes. The objective of the current research was to evaluate the contribution of an azoreductase-encoding gene (azrS) from a pre-characterized azo dye decolorizing bacterial strain Bacillus sp. MR-1/2 in a high copy number host system (pUC19-T7-Top-T) of Escherichia coli strain DH5α followed by in-silico prediction of azoreductase enzyme (AzrS) function. The recombinant cells that contained azrS had a significantly higher rate of color removal in congo red and reactive black-5 dyes when compared to wild-type MR-1/2 and E. coli DH5α after 72 h of incubation. Moreover, we were able to show that the recombinant strain significantly reduced the values of all tested parameters (pH, EC, turbidity, TSS, and COD) in actual wastewater. In support of our results, it was also predicted through bioinformatics analysis that the deduced azoreductase protein of strain MR-1/2 is linked with the dye decolorization ability of the strain through NAD(P)H-ubiquinone: oxidoreductase activity. Furthermore, we also found that the deduced protein resembled closely related proteins of protein databank in many features, yet some unique features were predicted in the enzyme activity of strain MR-1/2. It was concluded that the recombinant strain could be examined in pilot-scale experiments for textile wastewater treatment.

Bactrocera zonata is fruit pest mostly attacked on peach and cause heavy destruction in production of peach fruits by sucking their juice. For their management, we start to detect them on basis of their molecular characterization. As mitochondrial genome encodes a gene COI used as biomarker for identification of eukaryotes including insects. In present study, we amplified COI gene and cloned into pTZ57R/T vector (Fermentas). Cloned gene was confirmed through restriction analysis and sequenced through its entirety on both strands from Macrogen (South Korea) by Sanger sequencing method. Different computational tools were utilized for comparative analysis of sequence with other related sequences retrieved from databases. Related species were identified through phylogenetic analysis using Mega 7 tool. Pairwise sequence alignment showed the sequence identity about 96% with Bactrocera zonata. By identifying the pests with more authentic molecular biomarker may help the research to control them more effectively in future.

A number of herbal plants sold in herbal markets of Lahore are under adulteration threat which can pose harmful health effects to end-user. This adulteration problem of medicinal plants can be resolved by the implication of some valuable taxonomic parameter such as leaf epidermal anatomical characteristics. Hence, this research was aimed to provide viable anatomical markers in order to resolve this adulteration issue persisted in some common marketed medicinal plants of district Lahore, that is, Cinnamomum verum Presl., Cinnamomum tamala (Buuch.-Ham.) T.Nees&Eberm., Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br.ex Sm., Sphaeranthus indicus Linn., Artemisia maritima Linn., Achillea millifolim L., Adhatoda vasica Nees, Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub, and Morus nigra L. Overall multiple anatomical variations (epidermal cell shape, their length and width, type of stomata, length and width of guard cells along with presence or absence of trichomes) had been reported in the study that could be worthwhile for the correct identification of medicinal plants. Irregular shapes of epidermal cells were observed in Cinnamomum verum and Achillea millifolium while pentagonal and polygonal cells were found in their adultaerants, that is, Canella winterana and Adhatoda vasica, respectively. Types of stomata were also strikingly varied among genuine plant and its adulterant, for example, anisocytic stomata were observed in Artemisia maritima while in its adulterant (Artemisia absinthium) anomocytic stomata were found. Similarly, paracytic stomata were observed in Butea monosperma, whereas its adulterant plant (Averrhoa carambola) characteristically possessed anisocytic stomata. Hence, anatomical characteristics were proved to be a valuable taxonomic tool in resolving the adulteration issue of medicinal plants.

While disobeying environmental regulations of Pakistan, several Pb-acid batteries recycling and repairing units discharge their effluents into water canals that irrigate arable fields. Resultantly, serious ecological risks, as well as human health hazards through consumption of edible crops grown on such Pb-polluted soils have been reported. In this experiment, we observed associative effects of amending a soil polluted from Pb-acid batteries effluents (SPB) with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and lignin-derived biochar (LBC) on barley grain safety to human health. The SPB was treated with AMF inoculum (a consortium of four AMF species), lignin (LN), and LBC, as sole treatments and AMF inoculum with LN and LBC. Barley parameters involving Pb distribution in grain and other parts, grain biochemistry, and nutrition were assessed. Likewise, Pb bioavailability in SPB, AMF root colonization, soil enzymes, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and AMF produced total glomalin related soil protein (TGSP) were also scoped. Additionally, human renal cells (HEK 293) cytotoxicity test was performed by opting barley grain-related Pb concentrations. Results show that LBC + AMF significantly reduced grain Pb concentrations below the critical limit [4.67 mg kg−1 (WHO/FAO standard)], AMF colonization, MBC, soil enzymology, and TGSP, compared to control. Likewise, rest barley parameters were also improved in this treatment. Contrary to other treatments, grain produced on LBC + AMF did not result in (a) cell apoptosis, (b) cell distortion and (c) cohesion loss. Immobilization of Pb in SPB was due to the dilution effect of Pb adsorption on LBC, AMF mycelium and TGSP which resulted in a significant drop of grain Pb concentrations below the critical limit and ultimately no harm to HEK 293 cells. Our findings endorse that grain produced at LBC + AMF treatment are safer for human consumption and will not pose health risks. The LBC + AMF application can remediate SPB for safer cereal production.

The present investigation was designed to throw light on the microbial status of bakery products available in bakeries and supermarkets of Lahore. Different bakery samples such as biscuits, pizza, patties were collected from different localities such as Anar Kali, Chauburji, Faisal Town, Iqbal Town, Model Town, Muslim Town were investigated for mold and yeast using serial dilution technique inoculated over malt extract agar and potato dextrose agar under sterilized conditions. Isolated fungi were namely Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Curvularia americana, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Geotrichum candidum. Results depicted maximum fungal viable count in biscuits, collected from Model Town while minimum count was in the samples of Chauburji. In the case of pizza, the maximum fungal viable count was found in the sample of Muslim Town. In the case of patties, the maximum fungal viable count was found in the sample of Muslim Town while minimum count was found in the sample of Iqbal Town. Prevalence of microorganisms may be due to the use of contaminated raw material, use of polluted waters, human handling, and the use of contaminated containers. Contaminated food intake can lead to measurable signs of liver injury, inflammation, etc. Preventive measures like washing and drying of hands before preparing food, cleaning of food preparation areas, and the use of clean equipment can avoid microbes which cause hazards to human health. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Bakery products of Lahore, Pakistan is investigated for the first time on the basis of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and found very significant to check the quality of bakery products or not.