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In this study, the polar root extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. was used for the biogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs. The results of this study show that ZnO NPs have a spherical structure with an average size of 85.4 nm. The synthesized catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic activity by degrading methyl orange and methylene blue under sunlight. Improved degradation efficiencies of 79.44% and 84.92% were achieved within 120 min. ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes (18 mm) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (20 mm) and Gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli (16 mm) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (14 mm), as shown by the inhibition zones, which were comparable to the positive control (ceftriaxone) but larger than the plant root extract. ZnO NPs showed high antioxidant activity, as a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay value of 66.29 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) and a DPPH value of 57.44 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) were obtained at a concentration of 500 µL, which was higher than those of the C. scariosus root extract. Quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid content yielded values of 57.63 µg (GAE µg·mL−1) and 70.59 µg (QCE µg·mL−1), respectively. At a concentration of 500 μL (1 mg·mL−1), the tested nanoparticles (NPs) showed a greater anti-inflammatory effect (84.12%) compared to the root extract of C. scariosus (34.39%). Overall, our findings highlight the versatile properties of green synthesized ZnO NPs and demonstrate their potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial formulations, as well as promising candidates for further investigation in biomedical fields such as drug delivery and therapy.

Datashak (Amaranthus lividus) are climate-smart, stress-resistant, C4 leafy vegetables. Fourteen datashak genotypes were evaluated in three replicates during the summer growing season at Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. The results revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes, indicating a wide range of variability. By considering the genetic parameters, selection was performed based on the total biomass per plant (TBPP), shoot weight (SW), stem weight (StW), and shoot length to improve the biological yield (BY) of the genotypes. The correlation results revealed that almost all the features showed a significant increase in the BY of datashak. The StW, root length, leaf weight, and SW demonstrated a strong direct and positive effect on and a noteworthy genotypic association with the BY, indicating that direct choice depending on these traits will be useful for enhancing the BY of datashak. The datashak accessions were divided into four clusters based on the Euclidean distance matrix using Ward's statistics method. Clusters II and III datashak might be selected for the next breeding programs based on the mean cluster values and distances within the clusters and between clusters since these two clusters had superior mean values for the majority of the characteristics. Redtower and Data (cross) could be selected as multitrait high-performance accessions based on the multitrait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI), as these datashak displayed balanced traits related to the SW, StW, TBPP, and BY without assigning weights, and were free from multicollinearity. Lalgolapi, Lolita, and BARI lalshak-1 were more promising than the others due to their strong positive contributions; therefore, choosing these datashak accessions would be better in terms of the yield, according to the principal component analysis, heatmap, and cluster dendrogram. These datashak accessions could be considered high-yielding, promising varieties for future breeding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on potato diseases had been widely reported, but a systematic review of potato diseases was lacking. Here, bibliometrics was used to systematically analyze the progress of potato disease. The publications related to "potato" and "disease" were searched in the Web of Science (WOS) from 2014 to 2023. The results showed that a total of 2095 publications on potato diseases were retrieved, with the annual publication output increasing year by year at a growth rate of 8.52%. The main countries where publications were issued were the United States, China, and India. There was relatively close cooperation observed between China, the United States, and the United Kingdom in terms of international collaboration, while international cooperation by India was less extensive. Based on citation analysis and trending topics, potential future research directions include nanoparticles, which provides highly effective carriers for biologically active substances due to their small dimensions, extensive surface area, and numerous binding sites; machine learning, which facilitates rapid identification of relevant targets in extensive datasets, thereby accelerating the process of disease diagnosis and fungicide innovation; and synthetic communities composed of various functional microorganisms, which demonstrate more stable effects in disease prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a robust chromatographic authentication methodology for herbaceous pollen, employing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high‐performance thin liquid chromatography (HPTLC) protocols. The comprehensive profiling of organic compounds not only distinguishes between different botanical sources but also establishes a reliable framework for quality control and assessment of herbaceous pollen authenticity. Traces of quercetin were detectable using HPTLC in Chaenomeles japonica, and the composition of the mobile phase led to distinct phenolic acid tracks in the extracts of free phenolic compounds. In Lonicera nummulariifolia, prominent chlorogenic acid signal and traces of 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid were identified, along with the presence of vanillic, trans‐ferulic, p‐coumaric and p‐hydroxybenzoic and sinapic as phenolic acid standards. The HPLC chromatogram identified six peaks representing bioactive phenolic compounds such as gallic acid measuring 5.89 ± 0.56 mg g−1, hydroxybenzoic acid 2.39 ± 0.78 mg g−1 and caffeic acid 2.83 ± 0.11 mg g−1. The combined use of GC–MS, HPTLC and HPLC techniques provides a powerful and reliable means of authenticating the botanical origin of herbaceous pollen, offering valuable insights for quality control and ensuring the accuracy of botanical source identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An irrigation quality assessment for rural Hyderabad was made by determining the pH, EC, TDS and TH beside major cations and anions. This study employed various parameters to determine the suitability of groundwater for irrigation and its hydrochemistry. Permissible limits of major cations and anions revealed that approximately 26% of samples exceeded acceptable levels for Electrical Conductivity (EC), 87% for Ca2+, 89% for Mg2+, and 60% for Na+, while none exceeded the limits for K+. Conversely, 47% of samples for HCO3−, 91% for Cl−, and 100% for SO42−, NO3−, and CO32− proved suitability for irrigation. Notably, irrigation indices highlighted favorable results, with 100% conformity for SAR, SSP, RSP, and PI values, and substantial percentages of 78% and 85% for MH and KR values, respectively, affirming their suitability for irrigation practices. Employing the USSL diagram, 22%, 65%, and 11% of samples fall into the C2S1, C3S1, and C4S1 categories. According to the Wilcox diagram, 25%, 43%, 30%, and 2% are classified under C1, C2, C3, and C4 categories, respectively. The Gibbs ratio shows a concentration within the evaporation dominance, and CAI values showed positive ion exchange. Overall, Hyderabad's rural areas are generally suitable for irrigation, apart from certain areas where water quality may not be acceptable for plants lacking high salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]