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Abstract Every year, high salinity reduces agricultural yields by a substantial amount owing to osmotic and ionic impacts that prevent plants from absorbing the required water and promote the hyperaccumulation of ions, which enter the transpiration stream and injure plant cells. Several crops have been shown to benefit from the application of green or biogenic NPs of varying shapes, sizes, and concentrations, which are intended to protect crops against salt stress through enhanced growth metrics, seed germination and yield, improved root architecture, and defensive changes in biochemical/physiological indices. Although the underlying molecular basis of this phenomenon remains unclear, some studies have shown that exposing cells to NPs can alter the expression of several genes that generally respond to salt stress. As a result, biogenic NPs are considered viable alternative techniques for reducing the adverse effects of salinity stress on agricultural production. In the present review, keen emphasis has been placed on how biogenic NPs are helpful in decreasing the adverse effects of salinity stress on crops, which might be useful for the agriculture sector in the coming climate change era.

Abstract The increasing threat of multi-resistant infectious agents and environmental toxins has led to a demand for new therapeutic and catalytic materials. In this study, C-SiO₂ (crystalline silica), Ag-SiO₂ (silver-silica), and ZnO-SiO₂ (zinc oxide-silica) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized through green methods and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These silica-based nanomaterials were investigated as potential photocatalysts for the degradation of p-nitroanilines and their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. XRD analysis showed crystalline sizes of 14 nm for C-SiO₂ NPs, 18 nm for Ag-SiO₂, and 20 nm for ZnO-SiO₂ NCs. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed energy band gaps of 4.5 eV for C-SiO₂ NPs, 3.23 eV for Ag-SiO₂, and 2.84 eV for ZnO-SiO₂. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of SiO₂ in all samples through the Si–O–Si absorption peak. SEM revealed distinct morphologies: C-SiO₂ NPs as agglomerated granular particles, Ag-SiO₂ NCs as flattened rods or sheets, and ZnO-SiO₂ as roughly spherical. Antimicrobial testing showed that ZnO-SiO₂ and Ag-SiO₂ NCs exhibited 80% and 88% antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas, with Ag-SiO₂ also demonstrating strong activity against Staphylococcus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Ag-SiO₂ and ZnO-SiO₂ NCs was found to be 80%, outperforming C-SiO₂ NPs. Antioxidant activity assays showed scavenging efficiencies of 45%, 57.8%, and 71% for C-SiO₂, Ag-SiO₂, and ZnO-SiO₂ NCs, respectively, at 30 mg/ml. ZnO-SiO₂ NCs also achieved a 75% degradation rate for p-nitroanilines, while Ag-SiO₂ achieved 45%. This study demonstrates that ZnO-SiO₂ and Ag-SiO₂ NCs are effective materials for disinfection and pollutant degradation, offering an eco-friendly solution for environmental and health challenges.

Abstract Potato is cultivated all the year round in Pakistan. However, the major crop is the autumn crop which is planted in mid-October and contributes 80–85% of the total production. The abrupt climate change has affected the weather patterns all over the world, resulting in the reduction of the mean air temperature in autumn by almost 1.6 °C in Pakistan, which in turn, has adversely affected the crop performance and tuber yield. This trial, therefore, was conducted to optimize and evaluate the concentration of salicylic acid (SA) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) for inducing frost stress tolerance in an autumn-sown potato crop cv. Sutlej. The findings revealed that the foliar application of 0.5 mM SA significantly enhanced the growth, yield, fluorescent, and biochemical indices of potato plants outperforming 100 mM KNO₃ application in comparison with the control. This included increased plant height by 14% and 17.6%, leaf area index by 6.3% and 26.3%, shoot biomass by 15.4% and 46.2%, crop growth rate by 16.7% and 43.3%, average tuber weight by 8.2% and 23%, tuber diameter by 6.8% and 12.2%, tuber yield by 26.1% and 46.3%, leaf angle by 16.2% and 21.6%, quantum yield of photosystem II by 20.6% and 28.2%, photosynthetically active radiations by 20.5% and 32.4%, chlorophyll content by 6.3% and 14.6%, leaf thickness by 14% and 29%, linear electron flow by 20% and 32.7%, O–2 by 6% and 14.4%, H2O2 by 11.7% and 27.6%, enzyme activities of catalase by 20.7% and 28.5%, superoxide dismutase by 28.6% and 28.5%, peroxidase by 8.3% and 13.5%, ascorbate peroxidase by 17.2% and 37.8%, total protein by 21% and 37%, proline by 36.2% and 114%, and phenolic content by 33% and 63.3% with a reduction in non-photochemical quenching by 12.7% and 29.6%, non-regulatory energy dissipation by 169.5% and 268.5%, and leaf electrolyte leakage by 57.5% and 180%, compared to KNO3 and the control, respectively. Based on the above findings, it can be concluded and recommended that 0.5 mM foliar spray of SA can be utilized on potato crop cv. Sutlej in frost-sensitive regions. However, the application rate of KNO3 needs to be optimized in order to use its maximal frost stress tolerance potential.

Abstract Climate change has caused many challenges to soil ecosystems, including soil salinity. Consequently, many strategies are advised to mitigate this issue. In this context, biochar is acknowledged as a useful addition that can alleviate the detrimental impacts of salt stress on plants. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of different levels of salt (Control; T0 0 gl−1, T1; 1.50, and T2; 3 gl−1) and biochar addition rates (A0; 0 g kg−1, A1; 40 g kg−1, and A2; 80 g kg−1) on the agronomic, physiological, and biochemical responses of corn plants. The results of our study showed a significant increase in the biomass of corn plants when exposed to salt stress and treated with 40 g kg−1 of biochar. The result underscores the significant function of Acacia-biochar in mitigating salt toxicity. The application of A1 biochar at a specified rate mitigated the adverse effects of salt-induced oxidative stress by augmenting the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Furthermore, the utilization of biochar led to an increase in chlorophyll b concentrations in maize plants subjected to saline water treatment. Biochar is generally considered an efficient method for alleviating the adverse effects of salinity. To enhance plant growth and development while mitigating salinity-induced toxicity, the application of biochar in saline soils must be implemented appropriately.

Abstract Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier in the realm of environmental remediation, offering unprecedented precision and efficacy in addressing soil contamination and land degradation. This review paper has performed comprehensive survey of nanotechnological approaches for soil remediation and land restoration, encompassing a diverse array of nanomaterial (NM)-based strategies tailored to mitigate the impacts of various contaminants on terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, this review critically examines the ecological implications, regulatory considerations, and ethical dimensions associated with the deployment of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in environmental remediation efforts. By providing a holistic understanding of the opportunities and challenges inherent in the integration of nanotechnology with soil remediation practices, this review aims to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners alike, fostering informed decision-making and catalyzing sustainable approaches towards land stewardship and environmental conservation.

Abstract The study was designed to validate the previously reported 34 SSR markers using 78 chilli genotypes to detect significant trait specific markers as well as superior genotypes resistant to Phytophthora capsici root rot (PcRR). In this context, the identification of germplasm with higher yield per plant (YPP) leads to hype in stress tolerance index (STI) in genotypes, Chakwal3 (11.98), Greenfire (10.14), Advanta5017 (9.94) and Chakwal4 (7.8). The identified genotypes were also found as resistant and moderately resistant due to existence of below 50% of disease incidence. Moreover, biplot showed the interrelation of STI with YPP through the formation of acute angle by their respective vectors. In the current study, the markers Hpms1172 and CAMS177 was found significant for STI. However, the marker CAMS066 was found associated with relative cell injury, CA06g27450 with disease incidence and CAMS173 with relative leaf damage. The bright bands on gel pictures of significant markers showed the association of these markers with resistant genotypes i.e. Chakwal3, Advanta-5017 and Chakwal4 as well as with a single moderately resistant genotype i.e. Greenfire. The markerstudes confirmed the phenotypic data by showing association of markers i.e. Hpms1172 and CAMS177, r with stress tolerance index. The principal coordinate analysis aligned with the results obtained from marker-assisted selection. Thus, currently practiced marker assisted selection detected high yielding genotypes in PcRR disease stress condition that will be helpful in progressing breeding programs in chilli.

Abstract Gladiolus, a widely cultivated cut flower known for its aesthetically pleasing multicoloured spikes, has earned significant commercial popularity. A comprehensive understanding of the rhizosphere bacterial community associated with gladiolus is imperative for revealing its potential benefits. Molecular characterization is considered an effective method to gain insights into the structural and functional aspects of microbial populations. The soil characteristics and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere are typically influenced by quorum sensing (QS) and quorum quenching (QQ) mechanisms. This study aims to explore the niceties and diversity of rhizospheric bacterial populations linked with gladiolus corms, with a specific focus on understanding the dynamics of QS and QQ mechanisms in their complex interactions. The isolation of bacterial strains was achieved through the serial dilution method on nutrient agar (NA) media. The identification of the isolates was accomplished by amplifying 16 S rRNA gene sequences via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) via the use of universal primers. Sequence analysis was conducted via BLAST on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The characteristics of the isolated bacteria were elucidated via biosensors. This study identified three QS strains and five QQ strains. A consortium of quenchers was formulated utilizing five strains that demonstrated efficacy in mitigating the impact of disease on gladiolus and fostering growth. Among the three treatments—Scale, Descale, and Descale and Cut Half (DSC)—the DSC treatment emerged as the most effective. This treatment exhibited a broader range of variation in biological parameters over time, aligning with prevailing trends in the local market.

Abstract The Asteraceae family is a prominent group of flowering plants found across the globe, with the exception of Antarctica. The Asteraceae family is a largest flowering family pivotal group in plant evolution and diversification. Despite its importance, the genetic diversity within this family remains understudied. We focused on the rps-11 gene, a chloroplast marker previously utilized in phylogenetic studies, to investigate its potential in resolving Asteraceae relationships. The focus was on examining genetic diversity within sixteen specifically chosen species from the Asteraceae family. This assessment was based on an analysis of a chloroplast gene responsible for encoding the ribosomal protein of the smaller subunit 11 (rps 11). Nearly 417 bp of rps 11 gene was amplified, sequenced, computationally translated into amino acid sequence and the data was used for phylogenetic analysis as well as for rps 11 protein structure predictions. Based on nucleotide and amino acid sequences phylograms were drawn with the help of Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA 6), which exhibited clear genetic relationship among species under investigation. The observed genetic distance was 0.02 for Maximum likelihood tree based on nucleotide sequences whereas it was 0.05 for phylogram based on amino acid sequences. These values revealed that amino acid-based tree has demonstrated greater diversity among selected species in comparison to nucleotides-based tree. On the basis of pair wise distance calculations, genetic divergence values were found within the range of 0.015–0.309. Moreover, 3D protein modeling for rps 11 protein of sixteen selected species was also carried out by iterative threading assembly refinement (I-Tasser) software. The models exhibiting the highest C-score were picked with satisfactory plot statistics (> 90%) and structurally validated by PROCHECK. Furthermore, Ramachandran plots displayed that the rps 11 protein structures of Tagetes minuta, Xanthium strumarium, Lactuca sativa and Chrysanthemum indicum have best feature models with > 90% of residues in the allowed region and ≤ 2% in the disallowed region. The research is not enough to stand alone to validate the viability of the rps11 gene as a prospective contender for phylogenetic analysis. İn future we will focus on the maximum genetic diversity theory for phylogenetic analysis of this family.

Abstract Synthetic dyes, such as Alizarin Red S, contribute significantly to environmental pollution. This study investigates the biosorption potential of Alhagi maurorum biosorbent for the removal of Alizarin Red S (ARS) from aqueous solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the biosorbent’s adsorption sites. Various parameters were optimized to maximize dye adsorption. An optimal removal efficiency of 82.26% was attained by employing 0.9 g of biosorbent with a 25 ppm dye concentration at pH 6 and 60 °C over 30 min. The data were modeled using various isothermal and kinetic models to understand the adsorption behavior. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the data, indicating chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. The data matched best to the Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption occurs as a monolayer on uniform surfaces with a finite number of binding sites. The model showed a strong correlation (R² = 0.991) and a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 8.203 mg/g. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified temperature as the dominant factor, with the primary component, PC1 capturing 100% of its effect. The mechanisms involved in ARS biosorption on A. maurorum include electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, dipole-dipole interactions, and π-π stacking. Alhagi maurorum showed promising potential for biosorbing toxic dyes from contaminated water, suggesting further investigation for practical applications.

Food waste is an excellent source of various bioactive secondary metabolites. In addition, food waste is a global issue, and more research is being focused on the conversion of value-adding products from food waste, especially fruits. In this study, bioactive polyphenols were extracted from orange peels. The parameters that affect the extraction of polyphenols from orange peels were optimized using response surface methodology. Ethanol was used to extract bioactive polyphenols, and the extraction time (min), extraction temperature, and ethanol concentration (%) were analyzed. Orange peels are an excellent source of polyphenols, and the yield was increased under optimized extraction conditions (p

Lead (Pb), a toxic metal, causes severe health hazards to both humans and plants due to environmental pollution. Biochar addition has been efficiently utilized to enhance growth of plants as well as yield in the presence of Pb-induced stress. The present research introduces a novel use of biochar obtained from the weed Achyranthes japonica to enhance the growth of plants in Pb-contaminated soil. An experiment was performed with 7 treatments: Control, Pb2+ (10 mg kg−1) only, biochar (4 %) only, allantoin (4 g kg−1) only, biochar combined with Pb2+, allantoin combined with biochar, as well as a combination of allantoin and biochar with Pb2+. Lead toxicity alone markedly diminished plant growth metrics, including root and shoot length, biomass (wet and dry), chlorophyll concentration, and grain production. The application of biochar, allantoin, or their joint administration markedly enhanced the length of shoots (by 50.3 %, 29 %, and 70 %), length of roots (by 69 %, 50 %, and 69 %), and fresh biomass of shoots (by 5 %, 29 %, and 5 %), respectively. This enhancement is ascribed to improved soil characteristics and more efficient absorption of nutrients. The application of biochar, allantoin and their combination improved the tolerance against Pb2+ by increasing the total chlorophyll level by 12 %, 16 %, and 17 %, respectively, vs. the control. Likewise, these amendments significantly (p

Abstract Wheat is an important staple crop not only in Pakistan but all over the globe. Although the area dedicated to wheat cultivation expands annually, the quantity of wheat harvested is declining due to various biotic and abiotic factors. Global wheat production and output have suffered as a result of the drought, which is largely driven by a lack of water and environmental factors. Organic fertilizers have been shown to reduce the severity of drought. The current research was conducted in semi-arid climates to mitigate the negative effects of drought on wheat during its critical tillering (DTS), flowering (DFS), and grain filling (DGFS) stages through the application of three different abscisic acid treatments: ABA0 (0 mgL−1) control, ABA1 (100 mgL−1) and ABA2 (200 mgL−1). Wheat growth and yield characteristics were severely harmed by drought stress across all critical development stages, with the DGFS stage being particularly vulnerable and leading to a considerable loss in yield. Plant height was increased by 24.25%, the number of fertile tillers by 25.66%, spike length by 17.24%, the number of spikelets per spike by 16.68%, grain count per spike by 11.98%, thousand-grain weight by 14.34%, grain yield by 26.93% and biological yield by 14.55% when abscisic acid (ABA) was applied instead of the control treatment. Moreover, ABA2 increased the more physiological indices (water use efficiency (36.12%), stomatal conductance (44.23%), chlorophyll a (24.5%), chlorophyll b (29.8%), transpiration rate (23.03%), photosynthetic rate (24.84%), electrolyte leakage (− 38.76%) hydrogen peroxide (− 18.09%) superoxide dismutase (15.3%), catalase (20.8%), peroxidase (− 18.09%), and malondialdehyde (− 13.7%)) of drought-stressed wheat as compared to other treatments. In the case of N, P, and K contents in grain were maximally improved with the application of ABA2. Through the use of principal component analysis, we were able to correlate our results across scales and provide an explanation for the observed effects of ABA on wheat growth and production under arid conditions. Overall, ABA application at a rate of 200 mgL−1 is an effective technique to boost wheat grain output by mitigating the negative effects of drought stress.

Abstract Drought poses a significant ecological threat that limits the production of crops worldwide. The objective of this study to examine the impact of soil applied biochar (BC) and peatmoss (PM) on the morpho-biochemical and quality traits of tobacco plants under drought conditions. In the present experiment work, a pot trial was conducted with two levels of drought severity (~ well-watered 75 ± 5% field capacity) and severe drought stress (~ 35 ± 5% field capacity), two levels of peatmoss (PM) @ 5% [PM+ (with peatmoss) and PM- (without peatmoss)] and three levels of rice straw biochar (BC0 = no biochar; BC1 = 150 mg kg− 1; and BC2 = 300 mg kg− 1 of soil) in tobacco plants. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly impacted the performance of tobacco plants. However, the combined approach of BC and PM significantly improved the growth, biomass, and total chlorophyll content (27.94%) and carotenoids (32.00%) of tobacco. This study further revealed that the drought conditions decreased the production of lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation. But the synergistic approach of BC and PM application increased soluble sugars (17.63 and 12.20%), soluble protein (31.16 and 15.88%), decreased the proline accumulation (13.92 and 9.03%), and MDA content (16.40 and 8.62%) under control and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined approach of BC and PM also improved the leaf potassium content (19.02%) by limiting the chloride ions (33.33%) under drought stressed conditions. Altogether, the balanced application of PM and BC has significant potential as an effective approach and sustainable method to increase the tolerance of tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions. This research uniquely highlights the combined potential of PM and BC as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance plant resilience under drought conditions, offering new insights into sustainable agricultural practices.

Abstract Zinc oxide nanoparticles have wide range biological, biomedical and environmental applications. However, traditional nanofabrication of ZnONPs uses various toxic chemicals and organic solvents which limit their bio-applications. To overcome this hurdle, Bauhinia variegata derived buds extract was utilized to fabricate ZnONPs. The greenly generated ZnONPs were successfully prepared and extensively characterized using different analytical tools and the average crystalline size was calculated as 25.47 nm. Further, bioengineered ZnONPs were explored for multiple biological activities that revealed excellent therapeutic potentials. The antibacterial potential was determined using different bacterial strains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 137.5 µg/mL) was reported to be the most resistant variant while Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 34.38 µg/mL) was observed to be most susceptible bacterial strain. DPPH radical scavenging potential was measured to determine the antioxidant capacity of ZnONPs and the highest scavenging potential was observed as 82% at highest of 300 µg/mL. The fungicidal effect of green ZnONPs in comparison with Amphotericin B was assessed against five selected pathogenic fungal strains. The results revealed, Fusarium solani (MIC: 46.875 µg/mL) was least resistant and Aspergillus flavus (MIC: 187.5 µg/mL) was most resistant in fungicidal examination. Cytotoxicity potential of B.V@ZnONPs was analyzed against newly hatched nauplii of brine shrimps. The results for greenly produced ZnONPs was recorded as 39.78 µg/mL while 3.006 µg/mL was reported for positive control vincristine sulphate. The results confirmed the category of general cytotoxic for greenly synthesized nano sized B.V@ZnONPs.

Agro-residues, including banana peel, pineapple peel, mango peel, apple peel, and coconut husk, were utilized to produce extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) via solid state fermentation(SSF) by the fungus, Trichoderma hamatum. EPS production was highest in pineapple peel (84.2 ± 0.4 mg/g), followed by mango peel (70.3 ± 0.41 mg/g) (p

The objective was investigated the effects of CdO and nano-CdO as potential toxic pollutants on growth and redox response of barley. CdO and nano-CdO have been found to cause significant phytotoxicity in barley seedlings, with nano-CdO increasing plant tissue cadmium accumulation. This accumulation is linked to growth retardation and oxidative stress. Low molecular weight antioxidants like restored glutathione and ascorbate have been found to increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GSTs), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in green tissues. Catalase (CAT) activity increased from 50 % with 100 mg/l CdO to 70 % with 1000 mg/l and nano-CdO. The observed disturbance in redox balance signals the upregulation of corresponding genes. Antioxidant enzyme isoform gene transcripts increased for SODB, CAT2, and APX. Cadmium buildup in root cells causes oxidative stress, leading to upregulation of SOD, CAT, GR, and GSTs isoform genes as well as protein carbonylation, sulfhydryl group degradation, and MDA accumulation. CdO and nano-CdO have similar phytotoxic effects, but bioavailability affects biochemical and molecular responses.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of physico-chemical factors on soil organic matter by comparing two types of soil improver: one produced from olive mill waste cake residues (CRPM) and the other from manure (CF). This was achieved using Full Factorial Design, the main objective of which is to measure precisely the impact of each factor on a given response, to analyze the interactions between the various factors and to identify the optimum conditions for achieving a specific objective or improving the performance of a process. Methods: Four independent factors were studied: pH, electrical conductivity, humidity and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Using design, based on their significance, coefficient of determination, analysis of variance and Pareto charts, the interactions between these variables were assessed to identify those with the most positive impact on soil fertility. Results: The results show that, for CRPM compost, the most positive interaction is between pH and ratio C/N. For manure, the interaction between pH and moisture has the greatest beneficial effect. These findings underline the importance of controlling all three factors − pH, moisture and ratio C/N to optimize soil fertility. Conclusions: The analysis confirmed the reliability of the models used, with p-values below 0.05 and coefficients of determination (R2 and adjusted R2) close to 1, indicating the robustness of the models. Pareto diagrams were used to precisely identify the most relevant interactions for improving soil amendment management.

Abstract Drought stress (DS) is a significant abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. In semi-arid climates, one potential solution to alleviate the deleterious effects of drought is the use of soil amendments such as nanoparticles. The current research was conducted out to probe the sway of drought at critical growth stages (CGS) of wheat crop (D0: Control, D1: Drought at tillering stage, and D2: Drought at anthesis stage) and the application of Cu-nanoparticles (T0: 0 mg L−1, T1: 300 mg L−1, T2: 700 mg L−1, and T3: 950 mg L−1) in order to improve drought resilience. Results of the study revealed that DS considerably decreased the wheat growth and yield during CGS. However, Cu-nanoparticles application alleviated the detrimental backlash of DS and led to improvements in various aspects of wheat growth and yield, including plant height, spike length, 1000 grain weight, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, leaf turgor potential, relative water content, and ultimately the grain yield. The use of principal component analysis allowed us to integrate and interpret the diverse findings of our study, elucidating the impact of Cu-nanoparticle treatment on wheat growth and yield under drought. Overall, the study concluded that DS during the anthesis stage had the most significant negative impact on crop yield. However, applying Cu-nanoparticles at the rate of 300 mg L−1 proved to be an effective strategy for improving crop productivity by reducing the harmful effects of drought.

Abstract The use of saline water under drought conditions is critical for sustainable agricultural development in arid regions. Biochar is used as a soil amendment to enhance soil properties such as water-holding capacity and the source of nutrition elements of plants. Thus, the research was carried out to assess the impact of biochar treatment on the morphological and physiological characteristics and production of Solanum lycopersicum in greenhouses exposed to drought and saline stresses. The study was structured as a three-factorial in split-split-plot design. There were 16 treatments across three variables: (i) water quality, with freshwater and saline water, with electrical conductivities of 0.9 and 2.4 dS m− 1, respectively; (ii) irrigation level, with 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of total evapotranspiration (ETC); (iii) and biochar application, with the addition of biochar at a 3% dosage by (w/w) (BC3%), and a control (BC0%). The findings demonstrated that salt and water deficiency hurt physiological, morphological, and yield characteristics. Conversely, the biochar addition enhanced all characteristics. Growth-related parameters, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and dry and wet weight, and leaf gas exchange attributes, such rate of transpiration and photosynthesis, conductivity, as well as leaf relative water content were decreased by drought and salt stresses, especially when the irrigation was 60% ETc or 40% ETc. The biochar addition resulted in a substantial enhancement in vegetative growth-related parameters, physiological characteristics, efficiency of water use, yield, as well as reduced proline levels. Tomato yield enhanced by 4%, 16%, 8%, and 3% when irrigation with freshwater at different levels of water deficit (100% ETc, 80% ETc, 60% ETc, and 40% ETc) than control (BC0%). Overall, the use of biochar (3%) combined with freshwater shows the potential to enhance morpho-physiological characteristics, support the development of tomato plants, and improve yield with higher WUE in semi-arid and arid areas.

Abstract Background Potato serves as a major non-cereal food crop and income source for small-scale growers in Punjab, Pakistan. Unfortunately, improper fertilization practices have led to low crop yields, worsened by challenging environmental conditions and poor groundwater quality in the Cholistan region. To address this, we conducted an experiment to assess the impact of two fertilizer application approaches on potato cv. Barna using plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) coated biofertilizers. The first approach, termed conventional fertilizer application (CFA), involved four split applications of PGPB-coated fertilizers at a rate of 100:75 kg acre–1 (N and P). The second, modified fertilizer application (MFA), employed nine split applications at a rate of 80:40 kg acre–1. Results The MFA approach significantly improved various plant attributes compared to the CFA. This included increased plant height (28%), stem number (45%), leaf count (46%), leaf area index (36%), leaf thickness (three-folds), chlorophyll content (53%), quantum yield of photosystem II (45%), photosynthetically active radiations (56%), electrochromic shift (5.6%), proton flux (24.6%), proton conductivity (71%), linear electron flow (72%), photosynthetic rate (35%), water use efficiency (76%), and substomatal CO2 (two-folds), and lowered non-photochemical quenching (56%), non-regulatory energy dissipation (33%), transpiration rate (59%), and stomatal conductance (70%). Additionally, the MFA approach resulted in higher tuber production per plant (21%), average tuber weight (21.9%), tuber diameter (24.5%), total tuber yield (29.1%), marketable yield (22.7%), seed-grade yield (9%), specific gravity (9.6%), and soluble solids (7.1%). It also reduced undesirable factors like goli and downgrade yields by 57.6% and 98.8%, respectively. Furthermore, plants under the MFA approach exhibited enhanced nitrogen (27.8%) and phosphorus uptake (40.6%), with improved N (26.1%) and P uptake efficiency (43.7%) compared to the CFA approach. Conclusion The use of PGPB-coated N and P fertilizers with a higher number of splits at a lower rate significantly boosts potato production in the alkaline sandy soils of Cholistan.

Abstract Fertilizers application are widely used to get a higher yield in agricultural fields. Nutrient management can be improved by cultivating leguminous species in order to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms that increase the amount of available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) through fertilizer treatments. A pot experiment was conducted to identify the leguminous species (i.e., chickpea and pea) under various fertilizer treatments. Experimental design is as follows: T0 (control: no fertilizer was applied), T1: P applied at the level of (90 kg ha−1), T2: (K applied at the level of 90 kg ha−1), and T3: (PK applied both at 90 kg ha−1). All fertilizer treatments significantly (p

Abstract Background Acacia nilotica Linn. is a widely distributed tree known for its applications in post-harvest and medicinal horticulture. However, its seed-based growth is relatively slow. Seed is a vital component for the propagation of A. nilotica due to its cost-effectiveness, genetic diversity, and ease of handling. Colchicine, commonly used for polyploidy induction in plants, may act as a pollutant at elevated levels. Its optimal concentration for Acacia nilotica's improved growth and development has not yet been determined, and the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been established. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of optimized colchicine (0.07%) seed treatment on A. nilotica's morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical attributes under controlled conditions, comparing it with a control. Results Colchicine seed treatment significantly improved various plant attributes compared to control. This included increased shoot length (84.6%), root length (53.5%), shoot fresh weight (59.1%), root fresh weight (42.8%), shoot dry weight (51.5%), root dry weight (40%), fresh biomass (23.6%), stomatal size (35.9%), stomatal density (41.7%), stomatal index (51.2%), leaf thickness (11 times), leaf angle (2.4 times), photosynthetic rate (40%), water use efficiency (2.2 times), substomatal CO2 (36.6%), quantum yield of photosystem II (13.1%), proton flux (3.1 times), proton conductivity (2.3 times), linear electron flow (46.7%), enzymatic activities of catalase (25%), superoxide dismutase (33%), peroxidase (13.5%), and ascorbate peroxidase (28%), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activities(23%), total antioxidant capacity (59%), total phenolic (23%), and flavonoid content (37%) with less number of days to 80% germination (57.1%), transpiration rate (53.9%), stomatal conductance (67.1%), non-photochemical quenching (82.8%), non-regulatory energy dissipation (24.3%), and H2O2 (25%) and O−2 levels (30%). Conclusion These findings elucidate the intricate mechanism behind the morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical transformative effects of colchicine seed treatment on Acacia nilotica Linn. and offer valuable insights for quick production of A. nilotica’s plants with modification and enhancement from seeds through an eco-friendly approach.

Abstract High temperature stress influences plant growth, seed yield, and fatty acid contents by causing oxidative damage. This study investigated the potential of thiourea (TU) to mitigate oxidative stress and restoring seed oil content and quality in canola. The study thoroughly examined three main factors: (i) growth conditions—control and high temperature stress (35 °C); (ii) TU supplementation (1000 mg/L)—including variations like having no TU, water application at the seedling stage, TU application at seedling stage (BBCH Scale-39), water spray at anthesis stage, and TU application at anthesis stage (BBCH Scale-60); (iii) and two canola genotypes, 45S42 and Hiola-401, were studied separately. High temperature stress reduced growth and tissue water content, as plant height and relative water contents were decreased by 26 and 36% in 45S42 and 27 and 42% Hiola-401, respectively, resulting in a substantial decrease in seed yield per plant by 36 and 38% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. Seed oil content and quality parameters were also negatively affected by high temperature stress as seed oil content was reduced by 32 and 35% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. High-temperature stress increased the plant stress indicators like malondialdehyde, H2O2 content, and electrolyte leakage; these indicators were increased in both canola genotypes as compared to control. Interestingly, TU supplementation restored plant performance, enhancing height, relative water content, foliar chlorophyll (SPAD value), and seed yield per plant by 21, 15, 30, and 28% in 45S42; 19, 13, 26, and 21% in Hiola-401, respectively, under high temperature stress as compared to control. In addition, seed quality, seed oil content, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid were improved by 16, 14, and 22% in 45S42, and 16, 11, and 23% in Hiola-401, as compared to control. The most significant improvements in canola seed yield per plant were observed when TU was applied at the anthesis stage. Additionally, the research highlighted that canola genotype 45S42 responded better to TU applications and exhibited greater resilience against high temperature stress compared to genotype Hiola-401. This interesting study revealed that TU supplementation, particularly at the anthesis stage, improved high temperature stress tolerance, seed oil content, and fatty acid profile in two canola genotypes.

In many underdeveloped countries, textile industries discharge their effluents without any treatment. The untreated textile wastewater consists of both azo dyes and heavy metals which not only change the physicochemical and biological properties of soil and water but also affect human health. In recent years, copper-based nanomaterials have attained worldwide attention because of their unique properties and potential for decolorization of azo dyes and wastewater treatment. The present study demonstrates the bacterial synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) using Bacillus flexus strain isolated from a textile wastewater followed by their application for photocatalytic degradation of various azo dyes and treatment of actual wastewater. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of various functional groups including proteins on Cu-NPs which improved their stability. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the spherical shape of Cu-NPs with a size of range between 17–34 nm. Similarly, the XRD analysis of biosynthesized Cu-NPs showed various diffraction peaks at 44.5°, 51.5°, 74.75 which confirmed the crystalline nature of nanoparticles. While studying the photocatalytic decolorization of azo dyes by Cu-NPs, it was observed that 88.164 ± 0.19 %, 88.452 ± 1.89 %, 90.433 ± 1.81 %, 64.770 ± 1.02 %, 46.774 ± 1.61 %, and 67.274 ± 2.89 % of reactive black-5, congo red, malachite green, methylene blue, reactive red-2 and blue direct, respectively, were decolorized after 4 h of solar irradiation at 50 ppm concentration. Additionally, the biosynthesized nanoparticles also resulted in reduction of various parameters like EC, pH, TDS, COD, color intensity, sulphates, and phosphates in the textiles wastewater. The reduction of COD, sulfates, and phosphates was about 39.659 %, 43.157 %, and 49.493 %. The results of current work suggest that biosynthesized copper nanoparticles might serve as a potential green solution for the decolorization of various dyes including wastewater treatment.

This study examines the adaptation of an undocumented halophyte, Dandur, to salt stress in different soil mediums. The Dandur plant physiological, morphological, and biochemical analyses show that it can withstand salinity stress. Dandur plants grown in clay and clay loam soil experienced significant decreases in height and stem diameter under extreme salinity conditions compared to non-saline soil. The fresh weight of root and shoot decreased by 70.4% and 84.8%, respectively, and dry weight by 48.5% and 79.7%. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining saline soil conditions for plant growth. Dandur unique ability to avoid dehydration and maintain growth traits, particularly in clay soil, holds promise for further exploration in agricultural research and food security-related issues caused by climate change in saline areas of Armenia and other European countries.

Ganoderma, a well-known genus in the Ganodermataceae family, has caused the extinction of several tree species due to its pathogenicity. This study explored the pathogenic effect of a newly identified Ganoderma species on trees and its competitive efficiency against Trichoderma species. Ganoderma camelum sp. nov. is characterized by small sessile basidiomata and a velvety, soft, camel-brown pileus. Phylogenetic analysis and ITS rDNA sequences indicated that the species were Trichoderma and Ganoderma camelum. Both fungal species competed antagonistically by secreting laccase. The laccase activity of G. camelum, with a value of 8.3 ± 4.0 U/mL, demonstrated the highest competitive activity against Trichoderma species. The laccase produced by T. atroviride (2.62 U/mL) was most effective in countering the pathogenic action of the novel G. camelum. The molecular weights of laccase were determined using SDS-PAGE (62.0 kDa for G. camelum and 57.0 kDa for T. atroviride). Due to the white rot induced by this Ganoderma species in the host tree, G. camelum showed the highest percentage inhibition of radial growth (76.3%) compared to T. atroviride (28.7%). This study aimed to evaluate the competitive antagonistic activity of Ganoderma and Trichoderma on malt extract agar media in the context of white rot disease in the host tree. This study concluded that the laccase from G. camelum caused weight loss in rubber wood blocks through laccase action, indicating tissue injury in the host species. Therefore, it was also concluded that G. camelum was more effective in pathogenic action of the host and resisted the biological action of T. atroviride. In principal components analysis (PCA), all the species associated with laccase exhibited a very strong influence on the variability of the system. The PIRG rate (percentage inhibition of radial growth) was strongly and positively correlated with laccase activity.

Abstract The utilization of biochar’s as soil amendments for enhancing nutrient retention in subsoils present potential limitations. To address this issue, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to assess the effects of various biochar’s derived from animal manures (swine manure, poultry litter, cattle manure) and plant residues (rice straw, soybean straw, corn straw) when applied to surface of an acidic soil. Our study focused on wheat crops under a no-tillage system, with a subsequent evaluation of the residual impacts on soybeans. The experimental design involved the application of biochar’s at different rates i.e. 10 and 20 Mg ha−1, followed by the assessment of their influence on NPK levels, pH, and exchangeable Al in stratified soil layers (0–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–25 cm). Furthermore, we investigated the interplay between biochar doses and the application of nitrogen (N) in the top 5 cm of soil, specifically examining $${\text{NO}}_{{3}}^{ - }$$ NO 3 - , $${\text{NH}}_{{4}}^{ + }$$ NH 4 + , P and K levels. Our findings revealed that in the top 5 cm of soil, biochar doses and N application significantly affected $${\text{NO}}_{{3}}^{ - }$$ NO 3 - , $${\text{NH}}_{{4}}^{ + }$$ NH 4 + , P and K concentrations. However, in deeper soil layers, no significant differences were observed among biochar doses with or without N application. Interestingly, K levels were impacted throughout all soil depths, regardless of the presence or absence of N application. Moreover, biochar application up to a 5 cm depth induced favorable changes in soil pH and reduced exchangeable Al. In contrast, deeper layers experienced a decrease in soil pH and an increase in exchangeable Al following biochar treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that biochar’s can effectively retain NPK nutrients, enhance soil pH, and decrease exchangeable Al, independent of the type and dosage of application under a no-tillage system. Nonetheless, the efficacy of biochar amendments may vary with soil depth and type of nutrient, warranting careful consideration for maximizing their benefits in sustainable agricultural practices.

Abstract Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vital insights, shaping interventions and policies to reduce health risks from radon exposure. There is a formidable threat to human well-being posed by the naturally occurring carcinogenic radon (222Rn) gas due to high solubility in water. Under the current scenario, it is crucial to assess the extent of 222Rn pollution in our drinking water sources across various regions and thoroughly investigate the potential health hazards it poses. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the concentration of 222Rn in groundwater samples collected from handpumps and wells and to estimate health risks associated with the consumption of 222Rn-contaminated water. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 30) were collected from handpumps, and wells located in the Mulazai area, District Peshawar. The RAD7 radon detector was used as per international standards to assess the concentration of 222Rn in the collected water samples. The results unveiled that the levels of 222Rn in the collected samples exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) of 11.1 Bq L−1. Nevertheless, it was determined that the average annual dose was below the recommended limit of 0.1 mSv per year, as advised by both the European Union Council and the World Health Organization. In order to avoid the harmful effects of such excessive 222Rn concentrations on human health, proper ventilation and storage of water in storage reservoirs for a long time before use is recommended to lower the 222Rn concentration.

Abstract The current decline in freshwater resources presents a significant global challenge to crop production, a situation expected to intensify with ongoing climate change. This underscores the need for extensive research to enhance crop yields under drought conditions, a priority for scientists given its vital role in global food security. Our study explores the effects of using humic and chitosan treatments to alleviate drought stress during critical growth phases and their impact on crop yield and water efficiency. We employed four different irrigation strategies: full irrigation, 70% irrigation at the early vine development stage, 70% irrigation during the storage root bulking stage, and 85% irrigation across both stages, complemented by full irrigation in other periods. The plants received either humic treatments through foliar spray or soil application, or chitosan foliar applications, with tap water serving as a control. Our findings highlight that the early vine development stage is particularly vulnerable to drought, with a 42.0% decrease in yield observed under such conditions. In normal growth scenarios, foliar application of humic substances significantly improved growth parameters, resulting in a substantial increase in yield and water efficiency by 66.9% and 68.4%, respectively, compared to the control treatment under full irrigation. For sweet potatoes irrigated with 70% water at the storage root bulking stage, ground application of humic substances outperformed both foliar applications of chitosan and humic in terms of yield results. The highest tuber yield and water efficiency were attained by combining chitosan and humic ground applications, regardless of whether 70% irrigation was used at the storage root bulking stage or 85% irrigation during both the early vine development and storage root bulking stages.

Abstract Wheat is a staple food crop that provides a significant portion of the world's daily caloric intake, serving as a vital source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber for billions of people. Seed shape studies of wheat typically involve the use of digital image analysis software to quantify various seed shape parameters such as length, width, area, aspect ratio, roundness, and symmetry. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the water-absorbing capacity of seeds from 120 distinct wheat lines, leveraging digital image analysis techniques facilitated by SmartGrain software. Water absorption is a pivotal process in the early stages of seed germination, directly influencing plant growth and crop yield. SmartGrain, a powerful image analysis tool, was employed to extract precise quantitative data from digital images of wheat seeds, enabling the assessment of various seed traits in relation to their water-absorbing capacity. The analysis revealed significant transformations in seed characteristics as they absorbed water, including changes in size, weight, shape, and more. Through statistical analysis and correlation assessments, we identified robust relationships between these seed traits, both before and after water treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) were employed to categorize genotypes with similar trait patterns, providing insights valuable for crop breeding and genetic research. Multiple linear regression analysis further elucidated the influence of specific seed traits, such as weight, width, and distance, on water-absorbing capacity. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of seed development, imbibition, and the crucial role of water absorption in wheat. These insights have practical implications in agriculture, offering opportunities to optimize breeding programs for improved water absorption in wheat genotypes. The integration of SmartGrain software with advanced statistical methods enhances the reliability and significance of our findings, paving the way for more efficient and resilient wheat crop production. Significant changes in wheat seed shape parameters were observed after imbibition, with notable increases in area, perimeter, length, width, and weight. The length-to-width ratio (LWR) and circularity displayed opposite trends, with higher values before imbibition and lower values after imbibition.

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of Pistia stratiotes for treatment of domestic wastewater in a free surface water flow constructed wetland. The objective of the study was to evaluate contaminants removal efficiency of the constructed wetland vegetated with P. stratiotes in treatment of domestic wastewater against Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10, 20 and 30 days was investigated. This asks for newer and efficient low-cost nature-based water treatment system which along with cost takes into consideration the sustainability of the ecosystem. Five constructed wetland setups improved the wastewater quality and purify it significantly by reducing the TDS by 83%, TSS by 82%, BOD by 82%, COD by 81%, Chloride by 80%, Sulfate by 77%, NH3 by 84% and Total Oil and Grease by 74%. There was an increase in pH of about 11.9%. Color and odor of wastewater was also improved significantly and effectively. It was observed that 30 days’ HRT was optimum for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The final effluent was found to be suitable as per national environmental quality standards and recycled for watering plants and crop irrigation but not for drinking purposes. The treatment in constructed wetland system was found to be economical, as the cost of construction only was involved and operational and maintenance cost very minimal. Even this research was conducted on the sole purpose of commuting the efficiency of pollutant removal in short span time.

Abstract Early blight (EB), caused by Alternaria solani, is a serious problem in tomato production. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria promote plant growth and inhibit plant disease. The present study explored the bio-efficacy of synergistic effect of rhizobacterial isolates and ginger powder extract (GPE) against tomato EB disease, singly and in combination. Six fungal isolates from symptomatic tomato plants were identified as A. solani on the basis of morphological features i.e., horizontal septation (6.96 to 7.93 µm), vertical septation (1.50 to 2.22 µm), conidia length (174.2 to 187.6 µm), conidial width (14.09 to 16.52 µm), beak length (93.06 to 102.26 µm), and sporulation. Five of the twenty-three bacterial isolates recovered from tomato rhizosphere soil were nonpathogenic to tomato seedlings and were compatible with each other and with GPE. Out of five isolates tested individually, three isolates (St-149D, Hyd-13Z, and Gb-T23) showed maximum inhibition (56.3%, 48.3%, and 42.0% respectively) against mycelial growth of A. solani. Among combinations, St-149D + GPE had the highest mycelial growth inhibition (76.9%) over the untreated control. Bacterial strains molecularly characterized as Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus and were further tested in pot trials through seed bacterization for disease control. Seeds treated with bacterial consortia + GPE had the highest disease suppression percentage (78.1%), followed by St-149D + GPE (72.2%) and Hyd-13Z + GPE (67.5%). Maximum seed germination was obtained in the bacterial consortia + GPE (95.0 ± 2.04) followed by St-149D + GPE (92.5 ± 1.44) and Hyd-13Z + GPE (90.0 ± 2.04) over control (73.8 ± 2.39) and chemical control as standard treatment (90.0 ± 2). Ginger powder extracts also induce the activation of defence-related enzymes (TPC, PO, PPO, PAL, and CAT) activity in tomato plants. These were highly significant in the testing bacterial inoculants against A. solani infection in tomato crops.

Abstract Terminal irrigation drought stress is one of the most drastic abiotic stress to diminish the wheat crop development and grains yield in arid regions of the world. The use of moringa leaf extract (MLE30) via seed priming technique is investigated as an organic and sustainable approach for the mitigation of drought stress along with curtailed seed rate in wheat crop. The study investigated the interaction of organic seed priming: control (dry seeds), hydro-priming, MLE30-priming, seed rate: recommended @ 125 kg ha−1, curtailed @ 25 kg ha−1, and terminal irrigation drought (TID): normal irrigation, mild-TID, severe-TID in wheat crop at agronomic research station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during the wheat winter season of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. The application of organic MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity especially total soluble proteins by 15%, superoxide dismutase by 68%, peroxidase by 16%, catalase by 70%, ascorbic acid by 17% and total protein contents by 91% under severe-TID. Yield and yield-related morphological attributes performed better in MLE30-priming as compared to hydro-priming. An effective trend was observed in the plant's chlorophyll contents, K+, and water use efficiency after being treated with MLE30-priming followed by hydro-priming under curtailed seed rate. The higher benefit–cost ratio and net income return were observed with the application of MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate under mild-TID and severe-TID. So, it is suggested to adopt the MLE30-priming technique along with a curtailed seed rate for improving the crop establishment, stress regulation, and economic return under limited availability of irrigation water. The project findings recommended that the application of exogenous application of organic MLE30-seed priming favored and compensated the maximum wheat grains production under curtailed seed rate @ 25 kg ha−1 and induced terminal drought stress at flowering and milking conditions.

Abstract Meteorological factors play a crucial role in affecting air quality in the urban environment. Peshawar is the capital city of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan and is a pollution hotspot. Sources of PM10 and the influence of meteorological factors on PM10 in this megacity have yet to be studied. The current study aims to investigate PM10 mass concentration levels and composition, identify PM10 sources, and quantify links between PM10 and various meteorological parameters like temperature, relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), and rainfall (RF) during the winter months from December 2017 to February 2018. PM10 mass concentrations vary from 180 – 1071 µg m−3, with a mean value of 586 ± 217 µg m−3. The highest concentration is observed in December, followed by January and February. The average values of the mass concentration of carbonaceous species (i.e., total carbon, organic carbon, and elemental carbon) are 102.41, 91.56, and 6.72 μgm−3, respectively. Water-soluble ions adhere to the following concentration order: Ca2+ > Na+ > K+ > NH4 + > Mg2+. Twenty-four elements (Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Co, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Kr, Ag, Pb, Cu, and Cd) are detected in the current study by PIXE analysis. Five sources based on Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling include industrial emissions, soil and re-suspended dust, household combustion, metallurgic industries, and vehicular emission. A positive relationship of PM10 with temperature and relative humidity is observed (r = 0.46 and r = 0.56, respectively). A negative correlation of PM10 is recorded with WS (r = − 0.27) and RF (r = − 0.46). This study’s results motivate routine air quality monitoring owing to the high levels of pollution in this region. For this purpose, the establishment of air monitoring stations is highly suggested for both PM and meteorology. Air quality standards and legislation need to be revised and implemented. Moreover, the development of effective control strategies for air pollution is highly suggested.

Abstract Urban atmospheric pollution is global problem and and have become increasingly critical in big cities around the world. Issue of toxic emissions has gained significant attention in the scientific community as the release of pollutants into the atmosphere rising continuously. Although, the Pakistani government has started the Pakistan Clean Air Program to control ambient air quality however, the desired air quality levels are yet to be reached. Since the process of mapping the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants in urban areas is intricate due to its dependence on multiple factors, such as urban vegetation and weather conditions. Therefore, present research focuses on two essential items: (1) the relationship between urban vegetation and atmospheric variables (temperature, relative humidity (RH), sound intensity (SI), CO, CO2, and particulate matter (PM0.5, PM1.0, and PM2.5) and (2) the effect of seasonal change on concentration and magnitude of atmospheric variables. A geographic Information System (GIS) was utilized to map urban atmospheric variables dispersion in the residential areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Pearson correlation and principal component analyses were performed to establish the relationship between urban atmospheric pollutants, urban vegetation, and seasonal variation. The results showed a positive correlation between urban vegetation, metrological factors, and most of the atmospheric pollutants. Furthermore, PM concentration showed a significant correlation with temperature and urban vegetation cover. GIS distribution maps for PM0.5, PM1.0, PM2.5, and CO2 pollutants showed the highest concentration of pollutants in poorly to the moderated vegetated areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that urban vegetation requires a rigorous design, planning, and cost–benefit analysis to maximize its positive environmental effects.

Abstract Drought stress is a worldwide threat to the productivity of crops, especially in arid and semi-arid zones of the world. In the present study, the effect of selenium (Se) seed priming on the yield of quinoa under normal and drought conditions was investigated. A pot trial was executed to enhance the drought tolerance in quinoa by Se seed priming (0, 3, 6, and 9 mg Se L−1). The plants were exposed to water stress at three different growth stages of quinoa, viz. multiple leaf, flowering, and seed filling. It was noticed that drought significantly affected the yield components of quinoa, however, Se priming improved the drought tolerance potential and yield of quinoa by maintaining the plant water status. Se priming significantly increased main panicle length (20.29%), main panicle weight (26.43%), and thousand grain weight (15.41%) as well as the gas exchange parameters (transpiration rate (29.74%), stomatal conductance (35.29%), and photosynthetic rate (28.79%), total phenolics (29.36%), leaf chlorophyll contents (35.97%), water relations (leaf relative water contents (14.55%), osmotic potential (10.32%), water potential (38.35%), and turgor potential (31.37%), and economic yield (35.99%) under drought stress. Moreover, Se priming markedly improved grain quality parameters i.e., phosphorus, potassium, and protein contents by 21.28%, 18.92%, and 15.04%, respectively. The principal component analysis connected the various study scales and showed the ability of physio-biochemical factors to describe yield fluctuations in response to Se seed priming under drought conditions. In conclusion, a drought at the seed-filling stage has a far more deleterious impact among other critical growth stages and seed priming with Se (6 mg L−1) was found more effective in alleviating the detrimental effects of drought on the grain yield of quinoa.

Abstract Management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is a critical factor that can improve maize (Zea mays L.) production. On the other hand, high volatilization losses of N also pollute the air. A field experiment was established using a silt clay soil to examine the effect of sulfur-coated urea and sulfur from gypsum on ammonia (NH3) emission, N use efficiency (NUE), and the productivity of maize crop under alkaline calcareous soil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD) with seven treatments in three replicates: control with no N, urea150 alone (150 kg N ha−1), urea200 alone (200 kg N ha−1), urea150 + S (60 kg ha−1 S from gypsum), urea200 + S, SCU150 (sulfur-coated urea) and SCU200. The results showed that the urea150 + S and urea200 + S significantly reduced the total NH3 by (58 and 42%) as compared with the sole application urea200. The NH3 emission reduced further in the treatment with SCU150 and SCU200 by 74 and 65%, respectively, compared to the treatment with urea200. The maize plant biomass, grain yield, and total N uptake enhanced by 5–14%, 4–17%, and 7–13, respectively, in the treatments with urea150 + s and urea200 + S, relative to the treatment with urea200 alone. Biomass, grain yield, and total N uptake further increased significantly by 22–30%, 25–28%, and 26–31%, respectively, in the treatments with SCU150 and SCU200, relative to the treatment with urea200 alone. The applications of SCU150 enhanced the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by (72%) and SCU200 by (62%) respectively, compared with the sole application of urea200 alone. In conclusion, applying S-coated urea at a lower rate of 150 kg N ha−1 compared with a higher rate of 200 kg N ha−1 may be an effective way to reduce N fertilizer application rate and mitigate NH3 emission, improve NUE, and increase maize yield. More investigations are suggested under different soil textures and climatic conditions to declare S-coated urea at 150 kg N ha−1 as the best application rate for maize to enhance maize growth and yield.

Abstract Nickel (Ni) is known as a plant micronutrient and serves as a component of many significant enzymes, however, it can be extremely toxic to plants when present in excess concentration. Scientists are looking for natural compounds that can influence the development processes of plants. Therefore, it was decided to use proline as a protective agent against Ni toxicity. Proline (Pro) is a popularly known osmoprotectant to regulate the biomass and developmental processes of plants under a variety of environmental stresses, but its role in the modulation of Ni-induced toxicity in wheat is very little explored. This investigation indicated the role of exogenously applied proline (10 mM) on two wheat varieties (V1 = Punjab-11, V2 = Ghazi-11) exposed to Ni (100 mg/kg) stress. Proline mediated a positive rejoinder on morphological, photosynthetic indices, antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress markers, ion uptake were analyzed with and without Ni stress. Proline alone and in combination with Ni improved the growth, photosynthetic performance, and antioxidant capacity of wheat plants. However, Ni application alone exhibited strong oxidative damage through increased H2O2 (V1 = 28.96, V2 = 55.20) accumulation, lipid peroxidation (V1 = 26.09, V2 = 38.26%), and reduced translocation of macronutrients from root to shoot. Application of Pro to Ni-stressed wheat plants enhanced actions of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total soluble protein (TSP) contents by 45.70, 44.06, 43.40, and 25.11% in V1, and 39.32, 46.46, 42.22, 55.29% in V2, compared to control plants. The upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, proline accumulation, and uptake of essential mineral ions has maintained the equilibrium of Ni in both wheat cultivars, indicating Ni detoxification. This trial insight into an awareness that foliar application of proline can be utilized as a potent biochemical method in mitigating Ni-induced stress and might serve as a strong remedial technique for the decontamination of polluted soil particularly with metals.

Abstract Maize (Zea mays) is an influential crop in its production across the world. However, the invasion of many phytopathogens greatly affects the maize crop yield at various hotspot areas. Of many diseases, bacterial stalk rot of maize caused by Dickeya zeae results in severe yield reduction, thus the need for efficient management is important. Further, to produce epidemiological information for control of disease outbreaks in the hot spot regions of Sialkot District, Punjab Pakistan, extensive field surveys during 2021 showed that out of 266 visited areas, the highest disease incidence ranging from 66.5 to 78.5% while the lowest incidence was ranging from 9 to 20%. The Maxent modeling revealed that among 19 environmental variables, four variables including temperature seasonality (bio-4), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio-8), annual precipitation (bio-12), and precipitation of driest month (bio-14) were significantly contributing to disease distribution in current and coming years. The study outcomes revealed that disease spread will likely increase across four tehsils of Sialkot over the years 2050 and 2070. Our findings will be helpful to policymakers and researchers in devising effective disease management strategies against bacterial stalk rot of maize outbreaks in Sialkot, Pakistan.

Abstract Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is the most consumed vegetable worldwide with the potential for diverse ecological adaptation. However, increasing salinization and changing climatic conditions are posing serious threats to the growth, yield, and quality of okra. Therefore, to mitigate increasing soil salinization and ensure sustainable okra production under rapidly changing climatic conditions, evaluation of new okra germplasm to develop salt tolerant cultivars is direly needed. The present study was designed to evaluate the genetic resources of okra genotypes for salt tolerance at growth and reproductive phases. Based on mophological and physio-biochemical responses of plants under stress condition, genotypes were divided into salt tolerant and succeptible groups. The experiment was comprised of 100 okra genotypes and each genotype was grown under control conditions and 6.5 dS m−1 NaCl concentration in a pot having 10 kg capacity. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. The results showed vast genetic variability among the evaluated okra germplasm traits like days to emergence, pod length, pod diameter, plant height, stem girth, and other yield-related parameters. Correlation analysis showed a highly significant positive association among the number of leaves at first flower and plant height at first flower.Likewise, pod weight also revealed a highly significant positive relationship for pod weight plant-1, pod length, and K+: Na+. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that out of 16 principal components (PCs), five components showed more than one eigenvalue and the first six PCs contributed 67.2% of the variation. Bi-plot analysis illustrated that genotypes 95, 111, 133, 99, and 128, under salt stress conditions, exhibited both high yield per plant and salt-tolerant behavior in other yield-related traits. On the basis of all studied traits, a salt susceptible group and a salt-tolerant group were formed. The salt tolerant group comprised of 97, 68, 95, 114, 64, 99, 111, 133, 128, and 109 genotypes, whereas, the salt susceptible group contained 137, 139, 130, 94, and 125 genotypes. Salt-tolerant okra genotypes were suggested to be used in further breeding programs aimed to develop salt tolerance in okra. These insights will empower precision breeding, underscore the importance of genetic diversity, and bear the potential to address the challenges of salt-affected soils while promoting broader agricultural resilience, economic prosperity, and food security.

Abstract Color chemicals contaminate pure water constantly discharged from different points and non-point sources. Physical and chemical techniques have certain limitations and complexities for bioenergy production, which motivated the search for a novel sustainable production approaches during dye wastewater treatment. The emerging environmental problem of dye decolorization has attracted scientist's attention to a new, cheap, and economical way to treat dye wastewater and power production via fungal fuel cells. Ganoderma gibbosum was fitted in the cathodic region with laccase secretion in the fuel cell. At the same time, dye water was placed in the anodic region to move electrons and produce power. This study treated wastewater using the oxidoreductase enzymes released extracellularly from Ganoderma gibbosum for dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) degradation via fungal-based fuel cell. The maximum power density of 14.18 mW/m2 and the maximum current density of 35 mA/m2 were shown by the concentration of 5 ppm during maximum laccase activity and decolorization of RBBR. The laccase catalysts have gained considerable attention because of eco-friendly and alternative easy handling approaches to chemical methods. Fungal Fuel Cells (FFCs) are efficiently used in dye treatment and electricity production. This article also highlighted the construction of fungal catalytic cells and the enzymatic performance of fungal species in energy production during dye water treatment.

Abstract Background Green chili is the predominant vegetable in tropical and subtropical regions with high economic value. However, after harvest, it exhibits vigorous metabolic activities due to the high moisture level, leading to a reduction in bioactive compounds and hence reduced shelf life and nutritional quality. Low temperature storage results in the onset of chilling injury symptoms. Therefore, developing techniques to increase the shelf life of green chilies and safeguard their nutritional value has become a serious concern for researchers. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of the alone or combined application of hot water treatment (HWT) (45 °C for 15 min) and eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) (30%) on 'Golden Hot' chilies in comparison to the control. After treatment, chilies were stored at 20 ± 1.5 °C for 20 days. Results HWT + ELE-treated chilies had a significant reduction in fruit weight loss (14.6%), fungal decay index (35%), red chili percentage (41.2%), soluble solid content (42.9%), ripening index (48.9%), and reactive oxygen species production like H2O2 (55.1%) and O−2 (46.5%) during shelf in comparison to control, followed by the alone application of HWT and ELE. Furthermore, the combined use of HWT and ELE effectively improved the antioxidative properties of stored chilies including DPPH radical scavenging activities (54.6%), ascorbic acid content (28.4%), phenolic content (31.8%), as well as the enzyme activities of POD (103%), CAT (128%), SOD (26.5%), and APX (43.8%) in comparison to the control. Additionally, the green chilies underwent HWT + ELE treatment also exhibited higher chlorophyll levels (100%) and general appearance (79.6%) with reduced anthocyanin content (40.8%) and wrinkling (43%), leading to a higher marketable fruit (41.3%) than the control. Conclusion The pre-storage application of HWT and ELE could be used as an antimicrobial, non-chemical, non-toxic, and eco-friendly treatment for preserving the postharvest quality of green chilies at ambient temperature (20 ± 1.5 °C).

Abstract Satellite remote sensing is widely being used by the researchers and geospatial scientists due to its free data access for land observation and agricultural activities monitoring. The world is suffering from food shortages due to the dramatic increase in population and climate change. Various crop genotypes can survive in harsh climatic conditions and give more production with less disease infection. Remote sensing can play an essential role in crop genotype identification using computer vision. In many studies, different objects, crops, and land cover classification is done successfully, while crop genotypes classification is still a gray area. Despite the importance of genotype identification for production planning, a significant method has yet to be developed to detect the genotypes varieties of crop yield using multispectral radiometer data. In this study, three genotypes of wheat crop (Aas-‘2011’, ‘Miraj-‘08’, and ‘Punjnad-1) fields are prepared for the investigation of multispectral radio meter band properties. Temporal data (every 15 days from the height of 10 feet covering 5 feet in the circle in one scan) is collected using an efficient multispectral Radio Meter (MSR5 five bands). Two hundred yield samples of each wheat genotype are acquired and manually labeled accordingly for the training of supervised machine learning models. To find the strength of features (five bands), Principle Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Nonlinear Discernment Analysis (NDA) are performed besides the machine learning models of the Extra Tree Classifier (ETC), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Logistic Regression (LR), k Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with detailed of configuration settings. ANN and random forest algorithm have achieved approximately maximum accuracy of 97% and 96% on the test dataset. It is recommended that digital policymakers from the agriculture department can use ANN and RF to identify the different genotypes at farmer's fields and research centers. These findings can be used for precision identification and management of the crop specific genotypes for optimized resource use efficiency.

Abstract Worldwide, salinity severely affects agricultural production of crops such as mung bean in arid and semi-arid regions. In saline conditions, various species of Rhizobium can be used to enhance nodulation and induce salinity tolerance in maize. The present study conducted a pot experiment to determine the efficiency of three rhizobial isolates under different salinity conditions, such as 1.41, 4 and 6 dS m−1, on mung bean growth parameters, antioxidant status and yield. Results revealed that salt stress imparted adverse effects on the growth, antioxidants, yield and nodulation of mung bean. Under high salt stress conditions, fresh weights were reduced for roots (78.24%), shoots (64.52%), pods (58.26%) and height (32.33%) as compared to un-inoculated control plants. However, an increase in proline content (46.14%) was observed in high salt stressed plants. Three Rhizobium isolates (Mg1, Mg2, and Mg3), on the other hand, mitigated the negative effects of salt stress after inoculation. However, effects of Mg3 inoculation were prominent at 6 dS m−1 and it enhanced the plant height (45.10%), fresh weight of shoot (58.68%), root (63.64%), pods fresh weight (34.10%), pods number per plant (92.04%), and grain nitrogen concentration (21%) than un-inoculated control. Rhizobium strains Mg1, and Mg2 expressed splendid results at 1.41 and 4 dS m−1 salinity stress. The growth promotion effects might be due to improvement in mineral uptake and ionic balance that minimized the inhibitory effects caused by salinity stress. Thus, inoculating with these strains may boost mung bean growth and yield under salinity stress.

Palynology, a prominent field in plant systematics and biodiversity studies, plays a vital role in identifying and determining the plant species present in a specific region. The current study was performed to evaluate the micromorphological traits of pollen from flora of Lesser Himalaya. Pollen microstructural variations aid in the identification of species belonging to specific botanical families and various geographic habitats. Flowers of 24 selected species categorized into 16 families were collected, preserved and then acetolysis protocol followed. Pollen was examined under a light and scanning microscopy (LM and SEM) for palynomorph description. The palynomorphs characteristics such as size, shape, exine surface, and aperture orientation, were examined. Status of these plants show that herbs are being dominant (11 species), while shrubs (7 species), climbers (3 species), bulbous plants (2 species), small tree, sedge, weed (1 species each). Pollen shape determined in equatorial view were; spheroidal, sub-prolate, oblate-spheroidal, prolate, spherical and sub-oblate. The variations were seen among pollen types; tricolpate, tricolporate and polyporate in most of the species. Exine stratification was observed mostly scabrate while echinate, cristate-reticulate, granulate, punctate, rugulate-perforate, striate-rugulate, verrucate, cristate-foveolate was visualized in each different species. Palynomorph apertural patterns were observed sunken, furrowed, slightly bulged, scabrate, granulate, slit like, and perforate. The largest polar diameter was measured in Hymenocallis littoralis (138.6 µm) whereas smallest in Parthenium hysterophorus (14.70 µm). Equatorial distance was calculated maximum for Cascabela thevetia (110.1 µm) and minimum for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (1.7 µm). P/E ratio was calculated largest in Hymenocallis littoralis (1.8) and lowest in Duranta erecta (0.89). The palynomorphs taxonomic characters investigated can be helpful in species level identification and provide a baseline to conduct more systematic research with respect to specific plant families and genera.

Nitrate leaching from soil is a major environmental issue in modern agriculture as it can contaminate groundwater and degrade soil quality. Both nitrogen fertilization practices and irrigation methods contribute greatly to increased nitrate leaching. Researchers have developed quantitative models to predict nitrate leaching based on these farming techniques. This article examines new literature focusing on such models, particularly regarding salty soils used for maize cultivation. The study investigated the effects of nitrogen application rates and irrigation intervals on soil and groundwater properties in clay soils in Egypt. Results showed that nitrogen fertilization and irrigation frequency significantly impacted the water table depth, groundwater salt content, soil moisture levels, soil nitrogen availability, and groundwater nitrate levels. Correlations were discovered between nitrogen application, irrigation schedules, and various soil and groundwater parameters. The research emphasizes managing nitrogen rates and irrigation timings to maximize soil moisture while minimizing nitrate leaching during maize production. Proper agricultural management techniques are needed to reduce groundwater nitrate pollution risks. The review contributes to more sustainable farming practices.

Abstract Drought stress as a result of rapidly changing climatic conditions has a direct negative impact on crop production especially wheat which is the 2nd staple food crop. To fulfill the nutritional demand under rapidly declining water resources, there is a dire need to adopt a precise, and efficient approach in the form of different amendments. In this regard, the present study investigated the impact of nano-biochar (NBC) and brassinosteroids (BR) in enhancing the growth and productivity of wheat under different drought stress conditions. The field study comprised different combinations of amendments (control, NBC, BR, and NBC + BR) under three irrigation levels (D0, D1 and D2). Among different treatments, the synergistic approach (NBC + BR) resulted in the maximum increase in different growth and yield parameters under normal as well as drought stress conditions. With synergistic approach (NBC + BR), the maximum plant height (71.7 cm), spike length (17.1), number of fertile tillers m–2 (410), no. of spikelets spike–1 (19.1), no. of grains spike–1 (37.9), 1000 grain weight (37 g), grain yield (4079 kg ha–1), biological yield (10,502 kg ha–1), harvest index (43.5). In the case of physiological parameters such as leaf area index, relative water contents, chlorophyll contents, and stomatal conductance were maximally improved with the combined application of NBC and BR. The same treatment caused an increase of 54, 10, and 7% in N, P, and K contents in grains, respectively compared to the control treatment. Similarly, the antioxidant response was enhanced in wheat plants under drought stress with the combined application of NBC and BR. In conclusion, the combined application of NBC and BR caused a significant increase in the growth, physiological and yield attributes of wheat under drought stress.