Impact of cobalt and proline foliar application for alleviation of salinity stress in radish

Salinity stress ranks among the most prevalent stress globally, contributing to soil deterioration. Its negative impacts on crop productivity stem from mechanisms such as osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and oxidative stress, all of which impede plant growth and yield. The effect of cobalt with proline on mitigating salinity impact in radish plants is still unclear. That's why the current study was conducted with aim to explore the impact of different levels of Co and proline on radish cultivated in salt affected soils. There were four levels of cobalt, i.e., (0, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L) applied as CoSO4 and two levels of proline (0 and 0.25 mM), which were applied as foliar. The treatments were applied in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed that 20 CoSO4 with proline showed improvement in shoot length (∼ 20%), root length (∼ 23%), plant dry weight (∼ 19%), and plant fresh weight (∼ 41%) compared to control. The significant increase in chlorophyll, physiological and biochemical attributes of radish plants compared to the control confirms the efficacy of 20 CoSO4 in conjunction with 10 mg/L proline for mitigating salinity stress. In conclusion, application of cobalt with proline can help to alleviate salinity stress in radish plants. However, multiple location experiments with various levels of cobalt and proline still needs in-depth investigations to validate the current findings.

The role of strigolactone in alleviating salinity stress in chili pepper

Salinity stress can significantly delay plant growth. It can disrupt water and nutrient uptake, reducing crop yields and poor plant health. The use of strigolactone can be an effective technique to overcome this issue. Strigolactone enhances plant growth by promoting root development and improvement in physiological attributes. The current pot study used strigolactone to amend chili under no salinity and salinity stress environments. There were four treatments, i.e., 0, 10µM strigolactone, 20µM strigolactone and 30µM strigolactone. All treatments were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that 20µM strigolactone caused a significant increase in chili plant height (21.07%), dry weight (33.60%), fruit length (19.24%), fruit girth (35.37%), and fruit yield (60.74%) compared to control under salinity stress. Significant enhancement in chili chlorophyll a (18.65%), chlorophyll b (43.52%), and total chlorophyll (25.09%) under salinity stress validated the effectiveness of 20µM strigolactone application as treatment over control. Furthermore, improvement in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentration in leaves confirmed the efficient functioning of 20µM strigolactone compared to other concentrations under salinity stress. The study concluded that 20µM strigolactone is recommended for mitigating salinity stress in chili plants. Growers are advised to apply 20µM strigolactone to enhance their chili production under salinity stress.

Optimizing chili production in drought stress: combining Zn-quantum dot biochar and proline for improved growth and yield

The reduction in crop productivity due to drought stress, is a major concern in agriculture. Drought stress usually disrupts photosynthesis by triggering oxidative stress and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The use of zinc-quantum dot biochar (ZQDB) and proline (Pro) can be effective techniques to overcome this issue. Biochar has the potential to improve the water use efficiency while proline can play an imperative role in minimization of adverse impacts of ROS Proline, functioning as an osmotic protector, efficiently mitigates the adverse effects of heavy metals on plants by maintaining cellular structure, scavenging free radicals, and ensuring the stability of cellular integrity. That's why current study explored the impact of ZQDB and proline on chili growth under drought stress. Four treatments, i.e., control, 0.4%ZQDB, 0.1 mM Pro, and 0.4%ZQDB + Pro, were applied in 4 replications following the complete randomized design. Results exhibited that 0.4%ZQDB + Pro caused an increases in chili plant dry weight (29.28%), plant height (28.12%), fruit length (29.20%), fruit girth (59.81%), and fruit yield (55.78%) over control under drought stress. A significant increment in chlorophyll a (18.97%), chlorophyll b (49.02%), and total chlorophyll (26.67%), compared to control under drought stress, confirmed the effectiveness of 0.4%ZQDB + Pro. Furthermore, improvement in leaves N, P, and K concentration over control validated the efficacy of 0.4%ZQDB + Pro against drought stress. In conclusion, 0.4%ZQDB + Pro can mitigate drought stress in chili. More investigations are suggested to declare 0.4%ZQDB + Pro as promising amendment for mitigation of drought stress in other crops as well under changing climatic situations.

Effect of silicon nanoparticle-based biochar on wheat growth, antioxidants and nutrients concentration under salinity stress

Globally, salinity is an important abiotic stress in agriculture. It induced oxidative stress and nutritional imbalance in plants, resulting in poor crop productivity. Applying silicon (Si) can improve the uptake of macronutrients. On the other hand, using biochar as a soil amendment can also decrease salinity stress due to its high porosity, cation exchange capacity, and water-holding capacity. That's why the current experiment was conducted with novelty to explore the impact of silicon nanoparticle-based biochar (Si-BC) on wheat cultivated on salt-affected soil. There were 3 levels of Si-BC, i.e., control (0), 1% Si-BC1, and 2.5% Si-BC2 applied in 3 replicates under 0 and 200 mM NaCl following a completely randomized design. Results showed that treatment 2.5% Si-BC2 performed significantly better for the enhancement in shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, number of leaves, number of tillers, number of spikelets, spike length, spike fresh and dry weight compared to control under no stress and salinity stress (200 mM NaCl). A significant enhancement in chlorophyll a (~ 18%), chlorophyll b (~ 22%), total chlorophyll (~ 20%), carotenoid (~ 60%), relative water contents (~ 58%) also signified the effectiveness of treatment 2.5% Si-BC2 than control under 200 mM NaCl. In conclusion, treatment 2.5% Si-BC2 can potentially mitigate the salinity stress in wheat by regulating antioxidants and improving N, K concentration, and gas exchange attributes while decreasing Na and Cl concentration and electrolyte leakage. More investigations at the field level are recommended for the declaration of treatment 2.5% Si-BC2 as the best amendment for alleviating salinity stress in different crops under variable climatic conditions.

Nutrient retention after crop harvest in a typic hapludults amended with biochar types under no-tillage system

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 NO 3 - , NH 4 + , P and K levels. Our findings revealed that in the top 5 cm of soil, biochar doses and N application significantly affected NO 3 - , 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.

Enhancing maize resilience to drought stress: the synergistic impact of deashed biochar and carboxymethyl cellulose amendment

Drought stress poses a significant challenge to maize production, leading to substantial harm to crop growth and yield due to the induction of oxidative stress. Deashed biochar (DAB) in combination with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) presents an effective approach for addressing this problem. DAB improves soil structure by increasing porosity and water retention and enhancing plant nutrient utilization efficiency. The CMC provides advantages to plants by enhancing soil water retention, improving soil structure, and increasing moisture availability to the plant roots. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of DAB and CMC amendments on maize under field capacity (70 FC) and drought stress. Six different treatments were implemented in this study, namely 0 DAB + 0CMC, 25 CMC, 0.5 DAB, 0.5 DAB + 25 CMC, 1 DAB, and 1 DAB + 25 CMC, each with six replications, and they were arranged according to a completely randomized design. Results showed that 1 DAB + 25 CMC caused significant enhancement in maize shoot fresh weight (24.53%), shoot dry weight (38.47%), shoot length (32.23%), root fresh weight (19.03%), root dry weight (87.50%) and root length (69.80%) over control under drought stress. A substantial increase in maize chlorophyll a (40.26%), chlorophyll b (26.92%), total chlorophyll (30.56%), photosynthetic rate (21.35%), transpiration rate (32.61%), and stomatal conductance (91.57%) under drought stress showed the efficiency of 1 DAB + 25 CMC treatment compared to the control. The enhancement in N, P, and K concentrations in both the root and shoot validated the effectiveness of the performance of the 1 DAB + 25 CMC treatment when compared to the control group under drought stress. In conclusion, it is recommended that the application of 1 DAB + 25 CMC serves as a beneficial amendment for alleviating drought stress in maize.

Effect of carboxymethyl cellulose and gibberellic acid-enriched biochar on osmotic stress tolerance in cotton

The deleterious impact of osmotic stress, induced by water deficit in arid and semi-arid regions, poses a formidable challenge to cotton production. To protect cotton farming in dry areas, it's crucial to create strong plans to increase soil water and reduce stress on plants. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gibberellic acid (GA3) and biochar (BC) are individually found effective in mitigating osmotic stress. However, combine effect of CMC and GA3 with biochar on drought mitigation is still not studied in depth. The present study was carried out using a combination of GA3 and CMC with BC as amendments on cotton plants subjected to osmotic stress levels of 70 (70 OS) and 40 (40 OS). There were five treatment groups, namely: control (0% CMC-BC and 0% GA3-BC), 0.4%CMC-BC, 0.4%GA3-BC, 0.8%CMC-BC, and 0.8%GA3-BC. Each treatment was replicated five times with a completely randomized design (CRD). The results revealed that 0.8 GA3-BC led to increase in cotton shoot fresh weight (99.95%), shoot dry weight (95.70%), root fresh weight (73.13%), and root dry weight (95.74%) compared to the control group under osmotic stress. There was a significant enhancement in cotton chlorophyll a (23.77%), chlorophyll b (70.44%), and total chlorophyll (35.44%), the photosynthetic rate (90.77%), transpiration rate (174.44%), and internal CO2 concentration (57.99%) compared to the control group under the 40 OS stress. Thus 0.8GA3-BC can be potential amendment for reducing osmotic stress in cotton cultivation, enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity.

Sustainable remediation of chromium-contaminated soils: boosting radish growth with deashed biochar and strigolactone

Chromium (Cr) stress significantly hinders crop production by disrupting nutrient uptake, impairing plant growth, and contaminating soil, posing a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability. The use of deashed biochar (DAB) and strigolactone can be an effective solution to mitigate this issue. Deashed biochar enhances crop production by improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability while mitigating the bioavailability of toxic substances. Strigolactone boosts plant growth by stimulating root growth, branching, shoot formation, and overall plant physiology. Nevertheless, the scientific rationale behind their collective use as an amendment to counter Cr stress remains to be substantiated. Therefore, in this study, a blend of DAB and strigolactone was employed as additives in radish cultivation, both in the absence of Cr stress and under the influence of 200Cr stress. Four treatments, i.e., 0, 20µM Strigolactone, DAB, and 20µM Strigolactone + DAB, were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that 20µM Strigolactone + DAB produced significant improvement in radish shoot length (27.29%), root length (45.60%), plant fresh weight (33.25%), and plant dry weight (78.91%), compared to the control under Cr stress. Significant enrichment in radish chlorophyll a (20.41%), chlorophyll b (58.53%), and total chlorophyll (31.54%) over the control under Cr stress, prove the efficacy of 20µM Strigolactone + DAB treatment. In conclusion, 20µM Strigolactone + DAB is the recommended amendment for mitigating Cr stress in radish. Farmers should consider using Strigolactone + DAB amendments to combat Cr stress and enhance radish growth, contributing to a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) through Ammonia volatilization mitigation and nitrogen management approaches

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.

Alleviation of salinity stress by EDTA chelated-biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on maize via modulation of antioxidants activity and biochemical attributes

Salinity stress adversely affects agricultural productivity by disrupting water uptake, causing nutrient imbalances, and leading to ion toxicity. Excessive salts in the soil hinder crops root growth and damage cellular functions, reducing photosynthetic capacity and inducing oxidative stress. Stomatal closure further limits carbon dioxide uptake that negatively impact plant growth. To ensure sustainable agriculture in salt-affected regions, it is essential to implement strategies like using biofertilizers (e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi = AMF) and activated carbon biochar. Both amendments can potentially mitigate the salinity stress by regulating antioxidants, gas exchange attributes and chlorophyll contents. The current study aims to explore the effect of EDTA-chelated biochar (ECB) with and without AMF on maize growth under salinity stress. Five levels of ECB (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8%) were applied, with and without AMF. Results showed that 0.8ECB + AMF caused significant enhancement in shoot length (~ 22%), shoot fresh weight (~ 15%), shoot dry weight (~ 51%), root length (~ 46%), root fresh weight (~ 26%), root dry weight (~ 27%) over the control (NoAMF + 0ECB). A significant enhancement in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance was also observed in the condition 0.8ECB + AMF relative to control (NoAMF + 0ECB), further supporting the efficacy of such a combined treatment. Our results suggest that adding 0.8% ECB in soil with AMF inoculation on maize seeds can enhance maize production in saline soils, possibly via improvement in antioxidant activity, chlorophyll contents, gas exchange and morphological attributes.

Enhancing maize growth through the synergistic impact of potassium enrich biochar and spermidine

Maize cultivated for dry grain covers approximately 197 million hectares globally, securing its position as the second most widely grown crop worldwide after wheat. Although spermidine and biochar individually showed positive impacts on maize production in existing literature, their combined effects on maize growth, physiology, nutrient uptake remain unclear and require further in-depth investigation. That's why a pot experiment was conducted on maize with spermidine and potassium enriched biochar (KBC) as treatments in Multan, Pakistan, during the year 2022. Four levels of spermidine (0, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.45mM) and two levels of potassium KBC (0 and 0.50%) were applied in completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that 0.45 mM spermidine under 0.50% KBC caused significant enhancement in maize shoot length (11.30%), shoot fresh weight (25.78%), shoot dry weight (17.45%), root length (27.95%), root fresh weight (26.80%), and root dry weight (20.86%) over control. A significant increase in maize chlorophyll a (50.00%), chlorophyll b (40.40%), total chlorophyll (47.00%), photosynthetic rate (34.91%), transpiration rate (6.51%), and stomatal conductance (15.99%) compared to control under 0.50%KBC validate the potential of 0.45 mM spermidine. An increase in N, P, and K concentration in the root and shoot while decrease in electrolyte leakage and antioxidants also confirmed that the 0.45 mM spermidine performed more effectively with 0.50%KBC. In conclusion, 0.45 mM spermidine with 0.50%KBC is recommended for enhancing maize growth.

Modulations of wheat growth by selenium nanoparticles under salinity stress

Salinity stress is a prominent environmental factor that presents obstacles to the growth and development of plants. When the soil contains high salt concentrations, the roots face difficulties in absorbing water, resulting in water deficits within the plant tissues. Consequently, plants may experience inhibited growth, decreased development, and a decline in biomass accumulation. The use of nanoparticles has become a popular amendment in recent times for the alleviation of salinity stress. The study investigated the biological approach for the preparation of Se nanoparticles (NP) and their effect on the growth of wheat plants under saline conditions. The leaf extract of lemon (Citrus limon L.) was used for the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs). The synthesized NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and were applied foliar in the range of 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1% on wheat plants. Results showed that 0.1% SeNP alone exhibited a significantly higher yield per plant, biomass per plant, 1000 grains weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll over the SS (salt stress) control. A significant decline in MDA and H2O2 also validated the effectiveness of 0.1% SeNP over the SS control.

Differential responses of chili varieties grown under cadmium stress

Heavy metal cadmium (Cd) naturally occurs in soil and is a hazardous trace contaminant for humans, animals, and plants. The main sources of Cd pollution in soil include overuse of phosphatic fertilizers, manure, sewage sludge, and aerial deposition. That's why an experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of Cd toxicity in Capsicum annuum L. by selecting its seven varieties: Hybrid, Desi, Sathra, G-916, BR-763, BG-912, and F1-9226. Cadmium was spiked in soil with four levels, i.e., (0, 3, 4, and 5 mg Cd kg- 1 of soil) for a week for homogeneous dispersion of heavy metal. Chili seeds were sown in compost-filled loamy soil, and 25-day-old seedlings were transplanted into Cd-spiked soil. Cadmium increasing concentration in soil decreased chili growth characteristics, total soluble sugars, total proteins, and amino acids. On the other hand, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were increased with the increasing concentration of Cd in almost all the varieties. Treatment 5 mg Cd/kg application caused - 197.39%, -138.78%, -60.77%, -17.84%, -16.34%, -11.82% and - 10.37% decrease of carotenoids level in chili V2 (Desi) followed by V4 (G-916), V1 (Hy7brid), V7 (F1-9226), V6 (BG-912), V5 (BR-763) and V3 (Sathra) as compared to their controls. The maximum flavonoids among varieties were in V5 (BR-763), followed by V6 (BG-912), V7 (F1-9226), V3 (Sathra) and V1 (Hybrid). Flavonoids content was decreased with - 37.63% (Sathra), -34.78% (Hybrid), -33.85% (G-916), -31.96% (F1-9226), -31.44% (Desi), -30.58% (BR-763), -22.88% (BG-912) as compared to their control at 5 mg Cd/kg soil stress. The maximum decrease in POD, SOD, and CAT was - 31.81%, -25.98%, -16.39% in chili variety V7 (F1-9226) at 5 mg Cd/kg stress compared to its control. At the same time, maximum APX content decrease was - 82.91%, followed by -80.16%, -65.19%, -40.31%, -30.14%, -10.34% and - 6.45% in V4 (G-916), V2 (Desi), V3 (Sathra), V6 (BG-912), V1 (Hybrid), V7 (F1-9226) and V5 (BR-763) at 5 mg Cd/kg treatment as compared to control chili plants. The highest CAT was found in 5 chili varieties except Desi and G-916. Desi and G-916 varieties. V5 (BR-763) and V6 (BG-912) were susceptible, while V1 (Hybrid), V3 (Sathra), and V7 (F1-9226) were with intermediate growth attributes against Cd stress. Our results suggest that Desi and G-916 chili varieties are Cd tolerant and can be grown on a large scale to mitigate Cd stress naturally.

Evaluating the hidden potential of deashed biochar in mitigating salinity stress for cultivation of fenugreek

Soil salinity, the second most prominent cause of land degradation after soil erosion, has posed a persistent challenge to agriculture. Currently, approximately 1 billion hectares of Earth's land surface, equivalent to 7%, are affected by salinity. While biochar has proven effective in mitigating salinity stress, the specific role of deashed biochar in salinity mitigation has not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of four levels of deashed biochar (0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.2%) on the growth and physiological attributes of Fenugreek under both non-saline conditions (2.54 dS/m EC) and salinity stress conditions (5.46 dS/m EC). The results revealed a notable enhancement in various parameters under salinity stress. Compared to the control, the application of 1.20% deashed biochar led to a significant increase in shoot fresh weight (30.82%), root fresh weight (13.06%), shoot dry weight (17.43%), root dry weight (33.44%), shoot length (23.09%), and root length (52.39%) under salinity stress. Furthermore, improvements in internal CO2 concentration (9.91%), stomatal conductance (15.49%), photosynthetic rate (25.50%), and transpiration rate (10.46%) were observed, validating the efficacy of 1.20% deashed biochar in alleviating salinity stress. The study also demonstrated a significant decrease in the activities of oxidative stress markers such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Simultaneously, there was an increase in the concentrations of essential nutrients, namely nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), in both shoot and root tissues. These findings collectively suggest that deashed biochar, particularly at a concentration of 1.20%, is recommended for achieving enhanced crop production under conditions of salinity stress.

An Insight into Biochemical Characterization and Explorations of Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, and Antidiabetic Activities by Trachyspermum ammi Nanosuspensions

BACKGROUND

Trachyspermum ammi is a frequently utilized traditional medicinal plant renowned for its pharmacological attributes, particularly in the realm of treating infectious diseases. This current study aims to comprehensively assess the in vitro properties of freshly prepared nanosuspensions derived from Trachyspermum ammi extracts, with a focus on their cost-effective potential in various areas, including antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic activities.

METHODS

Biochemical characterization of T. ammi nanosuspensions by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses.

RESULTS

HPLC analysis revealed the presence of kaempferol and sinapic acid in various amounts at 11.5 ppm and 12.3 ppm, respectively. FTIR analysis of T. ammi powder revealed the presence of alcohols and amines. The assessment of antioxidant activity was conducted using a DPPH scavenging assay, indicating that the nanosuspensions exhibited their highest free radical scavenging activity, reaching 14.9%. Nanosuspensions showed 3.75 ± 3.529.5% biofilm inhibition activity against Escherichia coli. The antidiabetic activity was accessed through antiglycation and α- amylase inhibition assays, while nanosuspension showed the maximum inhibition activity at 25.35 ± 0.912133% and 34.6 ± 1.3675%. Hemolytic activity was also evaluated, and T. ammi nanosuspension showed 22.73 ± 1.539% hemolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This nanotechnology approach has established a foundation to produce plant-based nanosuspensions, offering a promising avenue for the biopharmaceutical production of herbal nanomedicines. These nanosuspensions have the potential to enhance bioavailability and can serve as a viable alternative to synthetic formulations.

Genomic exploration of Sesuvium sesuvioides: comparative study and phylogenetic analysis within the order Caryophyllales from Cholistan desert, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

The Aizoaceae family's Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc is a medicinal species of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to determine the genomic features and phylogenetic position of the Sesuvium genus in the Aizoaceae family. We used the Illumina HiSeq2500 and paired-end sequencing to publish the complete chloroplast sequence of S. sesuvioides.

RESULTS

The 155,849 bp length cp genome sequence of S. sesuvioides has a 36.8% GC content. The Leucine codon has the greatest codon use (10.6%), 81 simple sequence repetitions of 19 kinds, and 79 oligonucleotide repeats. We investigated the phylogeny of the order Caryophyllales' 27 species from 23 families and 25 distinct genera. The maximum likelihood tree indicated Sesuvium as a monophyletic genus, and sister to Tetragonia. A comparison of S. sesuvioides, with Sesuvium portulacastrum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, and Tetragonia tetragonoides was performed using the NCBI platform. In the comparative investigation of genomes, all five genera revealed comparable cp genome structure, gene number and composition. All five species lacked the rps15 gene and the rpl2 intron. In most comparisons with S. sesuvioides, transition substitutions (Ts) were more frequent than transversion substitutions (Tv), producing Ts/Tv ratios larger than one, and the Ka/Ks ratio was lower than one. We determined ten highly polymorphic regions, comprising rpl22, rpl32-trnL-UAG, trnD-GUC-trnY-GUA, trnE-UUC-trnT-GGU, trnK-UUU-rps16, trnM-CAU-atpE, trnH-GUG-psbA, psaJ-rpl33, rps4-trnT-UGU, and trnF-GAA-ndhJ.

CONCLUSION

The whole S. sesuvioides chloroplast will be examined as a resource for in-depth taxonomic research of the genus when more Sesuvium and Aizoaceae species are sequenced in the future. The chloroplast genomes of the Aizoaceae family are well preserved, with little alterations, indicating the family's monophyletic origin. This study's highly polymorphic regions could be utilized to build realistic and low-cost molecular markers for resolving taxonomic discrepancies, new species identification, and finding evolutionary links among Aizoaceae species. To properly comprehend the evolution of the Aizoaceae family, further species need to be sequenced.

Acidified manure and nitrogen-enriched biochar showed short-term agronomic benefits on cotton-wheat cropping systems under alkaline arid field conditions

Application of organic residues such as farm manure and biochar in various agricultural environments have shown positive effects on soil carbon sequestration. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the agronomical benefits of a single and small dose of biochar and farm manure in arid alkaline soils. Therefore, a field experiment with the given treatments (1) control (no amendment), (2) acidified manure (AM) at 300 kg ha-1, (3) nitrogen (N) enriched biochar (NeB) at 3 Mg ha-1, and (4) an equal combination of AM + NeB (150 kg ha-1 AM + 1.5 Mg ha-1 NeB)) was conducted in a typical cotton-wheat cropping system. A parallel laboratory incubation study with the same amendments was carried out to account for soil carbon dioxide emission (CO2). The N enrichment of biochar and its co-application with acidified manure increased soil mineral N (NO3- and NH4+) in the topsoil (0-15 cm), and increased total N uptake (25.92% to 69.91%) in cotton over control, thus reducing N losses and increased uptake over control. Compared to the control, co-application of AM + NeB significantly improved soil N and P bioavailability, leading to increased plant biomass N, P, and K (32%, 40%, 6%, respectively) uptake over control. The plant's physiological and growth improvements [chlorophyll (+ 28.2%), height (+ 47%), leaf area (+ 17%), number of bolls (+ 7%), and average boll weight (+ 8%)] increased the agronomic yield in the first-season crop cotton by 25%. However, no positive response was observed in the second season wheat crop. This field study improved our understanding that co-application of acidified manure and N-enriched biochar in small dose can be a strategy to achieve short-term agronomic benefits and carbon sequestration in the long run.

Modulation of sunflower growth via regulation of antioxidants, oil content and gas exchange by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and quantum dot biochar under chromium stress

Chromium (Cr) toxicity significantly threatens sunflower growth and productivity by interfering with enzymatic activity and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Zinc quantum dot biochar (ZQDB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have become popular to resolve this issue. AMF can facilitate root growth, while biochar tends to minimize Cr mobility in soil. The current study aimed to explore AMF and ZQDB combined effects on sunflower plants in response to Cr toxicity. Four treatments were applied, i.e. NoAMF + NoZQDB, AMF + 0.40%ZQDB, AMF + 0.80%ZQDB, and AMF + 1.20%ZQDB, under different stress levels of Cr, i.e. no Cr (control), 150 and 200 mg Cr/kg soil. Results showed that AMF + 1.20%ZQDB was the treatment that caused the greatest improvement in plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves per plant, achenes per head, 1000 achenes weight, achene yield, biological yield, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content and oleic acid, relative to the condition NoAMF + No ZQDB at 200 mg Cr/kg soil. A significant decline in peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) while improvement in ascorbate peroxidase (APx), oil content, and protein content further supported the effectiveness of AMF + 1.20%ZQDB against Cr toxicity. Our results suggest that the treatment AMF + 1.20%ZQDB can efficiently alleviate Cr stress in sunflowers.

Evaluation of potassium-enriched biochar and GA3 effectiveness for Improving wheat growth under drought stress

Osmotic stress is a significant concern in agricultural crop production as it can harm crop growth, development, and productivity. Agriculture crops are particularly vulnerable to osmotic stress due to their reliance on water availability for various physiological processes. Organic amendments like activated carbon biochar and growth hormone gibberellic acid (GA3) can play a vital role. However, the time needed is to modify the established amendment to achieve better results. That's why the current study used potassium-enriched biochar (KBC = 0.75%) with and without GA3 (15 mg/L) as amendments under no osmotic stress and osmotic stress in wheat. Results showed that GA3 + KBC caused significant enhancement in germination (9.44%), shoot length (29.30%), root length (21.85%), shoot fresh weight (13.56%), shoot dry weight (68.38), root fresh weight (32.68%) and root dry weight (28.79%) of wheat over control under osmotic stress (OS). A significant enhancement in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, while the decline in electrolyte leakage of wheat, also validated the effectiveness of GA3 + KBC over control in OS. In conclusion, GA3 + KBC is the most effective among all applied treatments for improving wheat growth attributes under no osmotic and osmotic stress. Further research is needed at the field level, focusing on various cereal crops, to establish GA3 + KBC as the optimal treatment for effectively mitigating the impacts of osmotic stress.

Enhancing maize productivity by mitigating alkaline soil challenges through acidified biochar and wastewater irrigation

In alkaline soil conditions, the availability of essential nutrients for plant growth becomes limited, posing a significant challenge for achieving optimal maize growth and yield. Exploring the impact of biochar and waste irrigation on soil alkalinity and maize production in arid regions has received limited attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three levels of acidified biochar (0, 5, and 10 Mg ha-1) in two growing seasons of maize-spring and autumn. The treatments were applied following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Biochar was applied only in the autumn season, and its residual effects were evaluated in the spring season. The study found that using acidifying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha-1 significantly increased maize yield by 35.8% compared to no application and by 16.4% compared to a rate of 5 Mg ha-1. In the autumn, applying acidified biochar at 10 Mg ha-1 reduced soil pH by 3.65% and 6.41% compared to 0 and 5 Mg ha-1. In the spring, the same application led to a decrease in soil pH by 5.84% and 7.37% compared to the lower rates. Additionally, using 10 Mg ha-1 of acidifying biochar increased soil phosphorus concentration by 87.6% and soil potassium concentration by 38.0% compared to not using biochar, and by 46.2% and 35.0% compared to the 5 Mg ha-1 application. These findings suggest that the reduction of soil pH by applying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha-1 facilitated an increase in nutrient availability in the soil, consequently leading to higher maize yield. Notably, no significant differences were observed in maize productivity and soil properties between the spring and autumn seasons. Therefore, this study paves the way for further exploration into the long-term effects of acidifying biochar on maize productivity and soil properties in similar agroecological contexts.

Alleviation of cadmium and drought stress in wheat by improving growth and chlorophyll contents amended with GA3 enriched deashed biochar

Drought and cadmium (Cd) stress are both major issues that significantly affect the growth and development of wheat plants. Both drought stress and Cd toxicity disrupt physiological processes i.e., nutrient uptake, cell expansion, and enzymatic reactions resulting in poor crop growth. To overcome these issues, the use of activated carbon and gibberellic acid (GA3) are considered valuable amendments. However, the current study aimed to add value using GA3-enriched biochar (GA3-BC). That's why, a lab experiment was conducted on wheat to assess the effectiveness of GA3-BC against Cd and drought stress. For GA3 enrichment in biochar, 10 µg GA3/g biochar was mixed. There were 3 levels of GA3-BC i.e., 0, 0.6 (GA3-BC1), and 0.9% (GA3-BC). All levels were applied in 3 replicates under no stress (0Cd + no drought), drought stress (DS), and 6 mg Cd/ kg soil (6Cd). Results showed that GA3-BC2 caused a significant improvement in shoot length (44.99%), root length (99.73%), seedling length (60.13%) and shoot fresh weight (63.59%) over control at 6Cd + drought stress. A significant improvement in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll while a decrease in electrolyte leakage and regulation of antioxidants i.e., lipid peroxidation, SOD, CAT, APx, GR, GPx, GST, and DPHH also signified the effectiveness of GA3-BC2 compared to control at 6Cd + drought stress. In conclusion, GA3-BC2 is an efficacious amendment for simultaneously alleviating drought and Cd stress in wheat. More investigations are recommended at the field level on different cereal crops cultivated in different soil textures to declare GA3-BC2 as the best treatment for mitigation of drought stress and Cd toxicity.

The enhanced cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells by Tanshinone I-induced photodynamic effect

Recently, natural photosensitizers, such as berberine, curcumin, riboflavin, and emodin, have received more and more attention in photodynamic therapy. Tanshinone I (TanI) is extracted from a traditional Chinese herb Danshen, and exhibits many physiological functions including antitumor. TanI is a photoactive phytocompounds, but no work was tried to investigate its potential photodynamic effect. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity induced by the photodynamic effect of TanI. The photochemical reactions of TanI were firstly investigated by laser flash photolysis. Then breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was chosen as a model and the photodynamic effect of TanI on cancer cell was evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The results showed that TanI could be photoexcited by its UV-Vis absorption light to produce 3TanI* which was quickly quenched by O2. MTT assay showed that the photodynamic effect of TanI resulted in more obvious inhibitive effect on cell survival and cell migration. Besides, the photodynamic effect of TanI could induce cell apoptosis and necrosis, lead to cell cycle arrest in G2, increase intracellular ROS, and decrease the cellular Δψm. It can be concluded that the photodynamic effect of TanI can obviously enhance the cytotoxicity of TanI on MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro, which indicated that TanI might serve as a natural photosensitizer.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and ectoine (ECT) impacts with and without AMF on antioxidants, gas exchange attributes and nutrients of cotton cultivated in salt affected soil

Salinity stress is one of the major hurdles in agriculture which adversely affects crop production. It can cause osmotic imbalance, ion toxicity that disrupts essential nutrient balance, impaired nutrient uptake, stunted growth, increased oxidative stress, altered metabolism, and diminished crop yield and quality. However, foliar application of osmoprotectant is becoming popular to resolve this issue in crops. These osmoprotectants regulate the cellular osmotic balance and protect plants from the detrimental effects of high salt concentrations. Furthermore, the role of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMF) is also established in this regard. These AMF effectively reduce the salinity negative effects by improving the essential nutrient balance via the promotion of root growth. That's why keeping in mind the effectiveness of osmoprotectants current study was conducted on cotton. Total of six levels of γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA = 0 mM, 0. 5 mM, and 1 mM) and ectoine (ECT = 0 mM, 0.25 mM, and 0.5 mM) were applied as treatments in 3 replications. Results showed that 0.5 mM γ-Aminobutyric acid and ectoine performed significantly best for the improvement in cotton growth attributes. It also caused significant enhancement in K and Ca contents of the leaf, stem, bur, and seeds compared to the control. Furthermore, 0.5 mM γ-Aminobutyric acid and ectoine also caused a significant decline in Cl and Na contents of leaf, stem, bur, and seeds of cotton compared to control under salinity stress. A significant enhancement in chlorophyll contents, gas exchange attributes, and decline in electrolyte leakage validated the effectiveness of 0.5 mM γ-Aminobutyric acid and ectoine over control. In conclusion, 0.5 mM γ-Aminobutyric acid and ectoine have the potential to mitigate the salinity stress in cotton.

Zinc Foliar Application Mitigates Cadmium-Induced Growth Inhibition and Enhances Wheat Growth, Chlorophyll Contents, and Yield

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that significantly threatens plants and the environment. Its toxicity in plants can result in various adverse effects, including reduced growth, altered metabolism, and cell damage. Cadmium can also interfere with nutrient uptake, particularly zinc (Zn), leading to Zn deficiency and further exacerbating Cd toxicity. On the other hand, foliar application of zinc might be a useful strategy to mitigate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. Hence, a pot experiment was conducted with three replications. The wheat plants were treated with various concentrations of Zn as a foliar spray (control, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5%) in Cd-spiked soil in pots. The results showed that foliar use of Zn at 0.4 or 0.5% resulted in higher plant height, grain yield, and dry matter yield than the control group. Using Zn as foliar spray enriched shoot and grain Zn content while reducing Cd content in the shoot and grain. The leaf's electrolyte leakage (EL) decreased by 15.4, 29.8, 40.7, and 45.9% in the Zn 0.1%, Zn 0.2%, Zn 0.4%, and Zn 0.5% treatments, respectively, compared to the control treatment. Regarding superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Zn 0.5% treatment showed a decrease of 42.9% over control. Specifically, the Zn 0.1% showed a 27.2%, Zn 0.2% showed a 56.8%, Zn 0.4% showed a 91.1%, and Zn 0.5% showed a 133.7% increase in total chlorophyll content than control. Based on the results, it is recommended that 0.4% Zn solution may be used for foliar application for enhancing crop productivity and Zn concentration in plants under high Cd stress. Additionally, continued research on the mechanisms of cadmium uptake, transport, and detoxification in plants may lead to the identification of new targets for intervention.

Comparing the Positive Impacts and Stress Induction by Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 6000) Variable Levels on Canola (Brassica napus L.) Growth, Yield, and Oil Contents

Seed quality (i.e., emergence energy, viability, physical purity, size, weight) is a critical factor that influences the yield of crops. Poor seed quality can lead to reduced germination rates, lower plant populations, and, ultimately, lower crop yields. On the other hand, seed priming is suggested to be an effective technique for improving seeds germination and plant population. In this study, we investigated the effect of seed priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the germination, growth, and yield of two varieties of canola, super canola, and sandal canola. The treatment plan includes five concentrations of PEG (i.e., 5, 10, 15, 20%), distilled water priming, and control (no priming). All of the treatments were applied in 3 replications following a completely randomized design. Our results showed that seed priming with 5%PEG (T2) significantly improved radicle length (50 and 36%), plant height (43 and 34%), chlorophyll a (44 and 43%), chlorophyll b (120 and 208%), and total chlorophyll (83 and 111%) compared to control in super canola and sandal canola, respectively. In particular, seed priming with 5%PEG resulted in the highest increase in protein contents (25 and 1.40%), oleic acid (26 and 40%), and linolenic acid (6 and 6%) compared to control in super canola and sandal canola, respectively. It is concluded that seed priming with 5%PEG is an effective treatment to improve the performance of canola crops in terms of seedling growth, yield, chlorophyll, protein, and oil content. More investigations are recommended as future perspectives using other canola varieties to declare 5% PEG as an effective treatment for canola for improvement in growth, oil, protein, and chlorophyll contents.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Activated Carbon in Minimizing the Risk of Heavy Metals Contamination in Spinach for Safe Consumption

Toxicity induced by heavy metals is a major concern in agriculture as it decreases crops' growth and yield and leads to the deterioration of food quality. Recently, activated carbon has been identified as a possible solution. It can potentially improve crop nutrition and immobilize heavy metals in soil. That is why a glasshouse trial was conducted to investigate the effects of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on spinach growth and the availability of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) in artificially contaminated soil. The soil was placed in pots and contaminated with Cd and Cr at a rate of 10 mg kg^-1. Biochar was added to the soil at concentrations of 0 (control), 0 (contaminated control), 100, 150, and 200 g, and 10-day-old nursery spinach plants were transplanted to the pots. The results showed that applying 200 g of biochar significantly increased shoot weight (235 g), soil pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter. The highest levels of Cd (27.71 mg kg^-1) and Cr (20.44 mg kg^-1) were observed in the contaminated control pots, while the lowest levels of Cd (16.80 mg kg^-1) and Cr (9.80 mg kg^-1) were found in pots treated with 200 g of biochar (2%). Similarly, the highest levels of Cd (35.80 mg kg^-1) and Cr (40.24 mg kg^-1) in the roots were found in the contaminated control pots, while the lowest levels of Cd (19.26 mg kg^-1) and Cr (21.34 mg kg^-1) were observed in pots treated with 200 g of biochar. Biochar application at a rate of 2% can immobilize Cd and Cr in the soil and improve chlorophyll contents, carotenoids, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance in spinach in Cd- and Cr-contaminated soils. Further long-term field studies will be necessary to determine the feasibility of applying biochar as an organic amendment for enhancing spinach growth and reducing Cd and Cr bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Mitigation of heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) via regulation of physiological attributes using sodium nitroprusside and gibberellic acid

Heat stress poses a threat to plants in arid and semiarid regions, leading to soil salinization and plant mortality. Researchers are exploring remedies to alleviate these effects, including using gibberellic acid (GA3) to regulate plant enzymes and antioxidants. Additionally, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is gaining attention, but its combined effect with GA3 requires further research. To address this gap, we investigated the effects of GA3 and SNP on plants under heat stress conditions. For that, wheat plants were cultivated under 40 °C for 6 h per day (15 days). Sodium nitroprusside (donor of NO and SNP) and gibberellic acid (GA3), respectively, with 100 µM and 5 µg/ml concentrations, were applied as foliar sprays at 10 days after sowing (DAS). Results showed that SNP + GA3 treatment had the highest plant height (4.48% increase), plant fresh weight (29.7%), plant dry weight (87%), photosynthetic rate (39.76%) and stomatal conductance (38.10%), and Rubisco (54.2%) compared to the control. Our findings indicate a significant increase in NO, H₂O₂, TBARS, SOD, POD, APX, proline, GR, and GB that greatly scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) for decreasing the adverse effect of stress. Such findings confirmed the efficacy of the combined treatment of SNP + GA3 under high-temperature stress compared to the solitary application of GA3, SNP, and control. In conclusion, using SNP + GA3 is a better strategy for mitigating heat stress in wheat than individual applications. Further research is recommended to validate the effectiveness of SNP + GA3 in other cereal crops.

Acidified biochar improves lead tolerance and enhances morphological and biochemical attributes of mint in saline soil

Lead (Pb) toxicity is a significant environmental issue, especially in areas with a past of industrial activities and mining. The existence of Pb in the soil can have negative impacts on plant growth and development, and it can also pose a risk to human health through the food chain. Acidified carbon has shown promise as an effective management technology for mitigating Pb toxicity. This study provides important insights into the potential of acidified biochar as a low-cost and eco-friendly method for managing Pb-contaminated soils. The current study explores the effectiveness of acidified biochar (AB) in alleviating Pb stress in mint. The study involved two levels of Pb (0 = control and 200 mg/kg Pb) and four levels of AB as treatments (0, 0.45, 0.90, and 1.20%). Results indicate that 1.20% AB was the most effective treatment, significantly decreasing root and shoot Pb concentration while enhancing shoot and root fresh and dry weight, shoot and root length, and shoot and root N, P, and K concentration. Moreover, a significant decrease in MDA (0.45AB, 0.90AB, and 1.20AB caused a decline in MDA content by 14.3%, 27.8%, and 40.2%, respectively) and an increase in ascorbic acid (0.45AB, 0.90AB, and 1.20AB led to an increase in ascorbic acid content of 1.9%, 24.8%, and 28.4%, respectively) validated the effectiveness of 1.20% AB compared to the control. Adding 0.45AB, 0.90AB, and 1.20AB led to an increase in soluble sugar content of 15.6%, 27.5%, and 32.1%, respectively, compared to the treatment without AB. Further investigations at the field level are suggested to confirm the efficacy of 1.20% AB as the best treatment against Pb toxicity in saline soil conditions.

Uncovering the impact of AM fungi on wheat nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense under salinity stress

The growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) is constrained by soil salinity, although some fungal species have been shown to enhance production in saline environments. The yield of grain crops is affected by salt stress, and this study aimed to investigate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) mitigates salt stress. An experiment was conducted to assess the impact of AMF on wheat growth and yield in conditions of 200 mM salt stress. Wheat seeds were coated with AMF at a rate of 0.1 g (10⁸ spores) during sowing. The results of the experiment demonstrated that AMF inoculation led to a significant improvement in the growth attributes of wheat, including root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot. Furthermore, a significant increase in chlorophyll a, b, total, and carotenoids was observed in the S2 AMF treatment, validating the effectiveness of AMF in enhancing wheat growth under salt stress conditions. Additionally, AMF application reduced the negative effects of salinity stress by increasing the uptake of micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn while regulating the uptake of Na (decrease) and K (increase) under salinity stress. In conclusion, this study confirms that AMF is a successful strategy for reducing the negative effects of salt stress on wheat growth and yield. However, further investigations are recommended at the field level under different cereal crops to establish AMF as a more effective amendment for the alleviation of salinity stress in wheat.

Metal-tolerant and siderophore producing Pseudomonas fluorescence and Trichoderma spp. improved the growth, biochemical features and yield attributes of chickpea by lowering Cd uptake

Industrialization and human urbanization have led to an increase in heavy metal (HM) pollution which often cause negative/toxic effect on agricultural crops. The soil-HMs cannot be degraded biologically however, microbe-mediated detoxification of toxic HMs into lesser toxic forms are reported. Considering the potentiality of HMs-tolerant soil microbes in metal detoxification, Pseudomonas fluorescence PGPR-7 and Trichoderma sp. T-4 were recovered from HM-affected areas. Under both normal and cadmium stress, the ability of both microorganisms to produce different plant hormones and biologically active enzymes was examined. Strains PGPR-7 and T-4 tolerated cadmium (Cd) an up-to 1800 and 2000 µg mL^-1, respectively, and produced various plant growth regulating substances (IAA, siderophore, ACC deaminase ammonia and HCN) in Cd-stressed condition. The growth promoting and metal detoxifying ability of both strains were evaluated (either singly/combined) by applying them in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants endogenously contaminated with different Cd levels (0-400 µg kg^-1 soils). The higher Cd concentration (400 µg kg^-1 soils) negatively influenced the plant parameters which, however, improved following single/combined inoculation of P. fluorescence PGPR-7 and Trichoderma sp. T-4. Both microbial strains increased the growth of Cd-treated chickpeas however, their combined inoculation (PGPR-7 + T-4) caused the most positive effect. For instance, 25 µg Cd Kg^-1 + PGPR-7 + T4 treatment caused maximum increase in germination percentage (10%), root dry biomass (71.4%) and vigour index (33%), chl-a (38%), chl-b (41%) and carotenoid content (52%). Furthermore, combined inoculation of P. fluorescence PGPR-7 and Trichoderma sp. T-4 maximally decreased the proline, MDA content, POD and CAT activities by 50%, 43% and 62%, respectively following their application in 25 µg Cd kg^-1 soils-treated chickpea. Additionally, microbial strains lowered the plant uptake of Cd. For example, Cd-uptake in root tissues was decreased by 42 and 34% when 25 µg Cd Kg^-1- treated chickpea plants were inoculated with P. fluorescence PGPR-7, Trichoderma sp. T-4 and co-inoculation (PGPR-7 + T4) of both strains, respectively. Therefore, from the current observation, it is suggested that dual inoculation of metal tolerant P. fluorescence and Trichoderma sp. may potentially be used in detoxification and reclamation of metal-contaminated soils.

Effect of Nitrogen in Combination with Different Levels of Sulfur on Wheat Growth and Yield

As macronutrients, management of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) is prime in importance when wheat is cultivated. Both have a significant impact on the improvement of growth and yield attributes. In addition, S and N also play an imperative role in the enhancement of seed protein contents. However, the need of the time is the selection of their optimum application rate for the achievement of maximum wheat productivity. That is why the current study was planned to examine the impact of variable application rates of S and N on wheat. There are 12 treatments, i.e., control (no nitrogen (0N) + no sulfur (0S)), 40 kg/ha N (40N + 0S), 80 kg/ha N (80N + 0S), 120 kg/ha N (120N + 0S), 30 kg/ha sulfur (30S), 40N + 30S, 80N + 30S, 120N + 30S, 60 kg/ha sulfur (60S), 40N + 60S, 80N + 60S, and 120N + 60S, applied in three replications. The results showed that plant height, grains/spike, spike/m², and 1000 grain weight were significantly improved by the addition of 120N + 60S. A significant enhancement of grain N contents, N uptake, and protein contents of wheat validated the efficient role of 120N + 60S over 0N and 0S. In conclusion, 120N + 60S is a better treatment for the achievement of maximum wheat yield. More investigations under variable soil textures and climatic conditions are suggested under different climates to declare 120N + 60S as the best amendment for wheat growth and yield improvement.

The soil pH and heavy metals revealed their impact on soil microbial community

Soil microbial community is the main indicator having a crucial role in the remediation of polluted soils. These microbes can alter soil pH, organic matter in soils (SOM), soil physic-chemical properties, and potential soil respiration rate via their enzymatic activities. Similarly, heavy metals also have a crucial role in soil enzymatic activities. For this purpose, a number of methods are studied to evaluate the impact of soil pH (a key factor in the formation of biogeographic microbial patterns in bacteria) on bacterial diversity. The effects of pH on microbial activity are glamorous but still unclear. Whereas, some studies also indicate that soil pH alone is not the single key player in the diversity of soil bacteria. Ecological stability is achieved in a pollution-free environment and pH value. The pH factor has a significant impact on the dynamics of microbes' communities. Here, we try to discuss factors that directly or indirectly affect soil pH and the impact of pH on microbial activity. It is also discussed the environmental factors that contribute to establishing a specific bacterial community structure that must be determined. From this, it can be concluded that the environmental impact on soil pH, reducing soil pH and interaction with this factor, and reducing the effect of soil pH on soil microbial community.

Spatial responses of soil carbon stocks, total nitrogen, and microbial indices to post-wildfire in the Mediterranean red pine forest

Wildfire is a key ecological event that alters vegetation and soil quality attributes including biochemical attributes at spatial scale. This knowledge can provide insights into the development of better rehabilitation or restoration strategies that depend on the ecological dynamics of vegetation, fungi, and animals. The present study aimed to understand the causes and consequences of spatial variability of soil organic carbon, microbial biomass C concentrations, and soil quality indices as impacted by wildfire in a red pine forest. This study was conducted using kriging and inverse distance neighborhood similarity (IDW) interpolations methods. The carbon stocks were significantly (P = 0.002) higher in burned areas compared to those of unburned areas by 255% whereas microbial biomass carbon and microbial respiration were significantly (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.02) lower in burned areas by 66% and 90%, The Pearson's correlation analysis showed that carbon stocks were positively correlated with pH (0.61), total nitrogen (0.60) and ash quantity (0.41), but negatively correlated with microbial biomass carbon (-0.46) and nitrogen (-0.61), and microbial respiration (-0.48). The IDW interpolation method better-predicted pH, bulk density, and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen compared to kriging interpolation, whereas the kriging interpolation method was better than IDW interpolation for the other studied soil properties. We concluded that pH, EC, SOC, C/N, MR, MBC/SOC, and MBC/MBN can be reliable indicators to monitor the effect of wildfire on forest soils. The wildfire event increased soil carbon stocks, TN, pH, and _qCO₂, but decreased MBC and MBN.

Dual Inoculation of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacillus endophyticus and Funneliformis mosseae Improves Plant Growth and Soil Properties in Ginger

Co-inoculation with beneficial microbes has been suggested as a useful practice for the enhancement of plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil nutrients. For the first time in Uzbekistan the role of plant-growth-promoting Bacillus endophyticus IGPEB 33 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth, the physiological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale), and soil enzymatic activities was studied. Moreover, the coinoculation of B. endophyticus IGPEB 33 and AMF treatment significantly increased the plant height by 81%, leaf number by 70%, leaf length by 82%, and leaf width by 40% compared to the control. B. endophyticus IGPEB 33 individually increased plant height significantly by 51%, leaf number by 56%, leaf length by 67%, and leaf width by 27% as compared to the control treatment. Compared to the control, B. endophyticus IGPEB 33 and AMF individually significantly increased chlorophyll a by 81-58%, chlorophyll b by 68-37%, total chlorophyll by 74-53%, and carotenoid content by 67-55%. However, combination of B. endophyticus IGPEB 33 and AMF significantly increased chlorophyll a by 86%, chlorophyll b by 72%, total chlorophyll by 82%, and carotenoid content by 83% compared to the control. Additionally, plant-growth-promoting B. endophyticus IGPEB 33 and AMF inoculation improved soil nutrients and soil enzyme activities compared to the all treatments. Co-inoculation with plant-growth-promoting B. endophyticus and AMF could be an alternative for the production of ginger that is more beneficial to soil nutrient deficiencies. We suggest that a combination of plant-growth-promoting B. endophyticus and AMF inoculation could be a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach in a nutrient-deficient soil.

Nano-pesticidal potential of Cassia fistula (L.) leaf synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag@CfL-NPs): Deciphering the phytopathogenic inhibition and growth augmentation in Solanum lycopersicum (L.)

Plant-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional chemical synthesis methods. In this context, the aim of the present study was to synthesize Ag-NPs from Cassia fistula (L.) leaf extract and to evaluate their nano-pesticidal potential against major phyto-pathogens of tomato. From the data, it was found that particle size of spherical C. fistula leaf synthesized (Ag@CfL-NPs) varied from 10 to 20 nm, with the average diameter of 16 nm. Ag@CfL-NPs were validated and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (surface resonance peak λ_max = 430 nm), energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and electron microscopy; scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The FTIR spectra verified the participation of various living molecules (aromatic/aliphatic moieties and proteins) in synthesized Ag@CfL-NPs. The anti-phytopathogenic potential of Ag@CfL-NPs was assessed under in vitro conditions. Increasing doses of Ag@CfL-NPs exhibited an inhibitory effect against bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml^–1 caused a reduction in cellular viability, altered bacterial morphology, and caused cellular death Furthermore, Ag@CfL-NPs reduced exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and biofilm formation by P. syringae Additionally, Ag@CfL-NPs showed pronounced antifungal activity against major fungal pathogens. At 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml^–1, sensitivity of tested fungi followed the order: Fusarium oxysporum (76%) > R. solani (65%) > Sarocladium (39%). Furthermore, 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml^–1 inhibited the egg-hatching and increased larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita by 82 and 65%, respectively, over control. Moreover, pot studies were performed to assess the efficacy of Ag@CfL-NPs to phyto-pathogens using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a model crop. The applied phyto-pathogens suppressed the biological, physiological, and oxidative-stress responsiveness of tomatoes. However, 100 mg Ag@CfL-NPs kg^–1 improved overall performance and dramatically increased the root length, dry biomass, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity over pathogens-challenged tomatoes. This study is anticipated to serve as an essential indication for synthesis of efficient nano-control agents, which would aid in the management of fatal phyto-pathogens causing significant losses to agricultural productivity. Overall, our findings imply that Ag@CfL-NPs as nano-pesticides might be used in green agriculture to manage the diseases and promote plant health in a sustainable way.

The chloroplast genome of Farsetia hamiltonii Royle, phylogenetic analysis, and comparative study with other members of Clade C of Brassicaceae

BACKGROUND

Farsetia hamiltonii Royle is a medicinally important annual plant from the Cholistan desert that belongs to the tribe Anastaticeae and clade C of the Brassicaceae family. We provide the entire chloroplast sequence of F.hamiltonii, obtained using the Illumina HiSeq2500 and paired-end sequencing. We compared F. hamiltonii to nine other clade C species, including Farsetia occidentalis, Lobularia libyca, Notoceras bicorne, Parolinia ornata, Morettia canescens, Cochlearia borzaeana, Megacarpaea polyandra, Biscutella laevigata, and Iberis amara. We conducted phylogenetic research on the 22 Brassicaceae species, which included members from 17 tribes and six clades.

RESULTS

The chloroplast genome sequence of F.hamiltonii of 154,802 bp sizes with 36.30% GC content and have a typical structure comprised of a Large Single Copy (LSC) of 83,906 bp, a Small Single Copy (SSC) of 17,988 bp, and two copies of Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,454 bp. The genomes of F. hamiltonii and F. occidentalis show shared amino acid frequencies and codon use, RNA editing sites, simple sequence repeats, and oligonucleotide repeats. The maximum likelihood tree revealed Farsetia as a monophyletic genus, closely linked to Morettia, with a bootstrap score of 100. The rate of transversion substitutions (Tv) was higher than the rate of transition substitutions (Ts), resulting in Ts/Tv less than one in all comparisons with F. hamiltonii, indicating that the species are closely related. The rate of synonymous substitutions (Ks) was greater than non-synonymous substitutions (Ka) in all comparisons with F. hamiltonii, with a Ka/Ks ratio smaller than one, indicating that genes underwent purifying selection. Low nucleotide diversity values range from 0.00085 to 0.08516, and IR regions comprise comparable genes on junctions with minimal change, supporting the conserved status of the selected chloroplast genomes of the clade C of the Brassicaceae family. We identified ten polymorphic regions, including rps8-rpl14, rps15-ycf1, ndhG-ndhI, psbK-psbI, ccsA-ndhD, rpl36-rps8, petA-psbJ, ndhF-rpl32, psaJ-rpl3, and ycf1 that might be exploited to construct genuine and inexpensive to solve taxonomic discrepancy and understand phylogenetic relationship amongst Brassicaceae species.

CONCLUSION

The entire chloroplast sequencing of F. hamiltonii sheds light on the divergence of genic chloroplast sequences among members of the clade C. When other Farsetia species are sequenced in the future, the full F. hamiltonii chloroplast will be used as a source for comprehensive taxonomical investigations of the genus. The comparison of F. hamiltonii and other clade C species adds new information to the phylogenetic data and evolutionary processes of the clade. The results of this study will also provide further molecular uses of clade C chloroplasts for possible plant genetic modifications and will help recognise more Brassicaceae family species.

Quorum Sensing Inhibitory and Quenching Activity of Bacillus cereus RC1 Extracts on Soft Rot-Causing Bacteria Lelliottia amnigena

The quorum sensing (QS) system of bacteria helps them to communicate with each other in a density-dependent manner and regulates pathogenicity. The concentrations of autoinducers, peptides, and signaling factors are required for determining the expression of virulence factors in many pathogens. The QS signals of the pathogen are regulated by the signal transduction pathway. The binding of signal molecules to its cognate receptor brings changes in the structure of the receptor, makes it more accessible to the DNA, and thus regulates diverse expression patterns, including virulence factors. Degrading the autoinducer molecules or disturbing the quorum sensing network could be exploited to control the virulence of the pathogen while avoiding multidrug-resistant phenotypes. The rhizosphere is a tremendous source of beneficial microbes that has not yet been explored properly for its anti-quorum sensing potential. Lelliottia amnigena causes soft rot diseases in onion, potato, and other species. The present investigation was carried out with the aim of isolating the anti-quorum sensing metabolites and elucidating their role in controlling the virulence factors of the pathogen by performing a maceration assay. The ethyl acetate extracts of various bacteria are promising for violacein inhibition assay using Chromobacterium violaceum MTCC2656 and pyocyanin inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC2297. Therefore, the extract was used to deduce its role in attenuation of soft rot in potato, carrot, and cucumber. The maximum reduction of macerated tissue in carrot, potato, and cucumber was given by Bacillus cereus RC1 at 91.22, 97.59, and 88.78%, respectively. The concentration-dependent inhibition of virulence traits was observed during the entire experiment. The quorum quenching potential of the bacterial extract was used to understand the regulatory metabolites. The data of the diffusible zone and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that diketopiperazines, viz. Cyclo(d-phenylalanyl-l-prolyl), Cyclo Phe-Val, Cyclo(Pro-Ala), Cyclo(l-prolyl-l-valine), Cyclo (Leu-Leu), and Cyclo(-Leu-Pro), are prominent metabolites that could modulate the pathogenicity in L. amnigena RCE. The interaction of bacterial extracts regulates various metabolites of the pathogens during their growth in liquid culture compared to their control counterparts. This study might help in exploiting the metabolites from bacteria to control the pathogens, with concurrent reduction in the pathogenicity of the pathogens without developing antibiotic resistance.

Mulching impact of Jatropha curcas L. leaves on soil fertility and yield of wheat under water stress

In present studies we have evaluated mulching impact of Jatropha curcas leaves on soil health and yield of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties Wadan-2017 (rainfed) and Pirsabak-2013 (irrigated) under imposed water stress. Mulch of Jatropha leaves was spread on the soil surface at the rate of 0, 1, 3 and 5 Mg ha^-1 after seed germination of wheat. Water stress was imposed by skipping irrigations for one month at anthesis stage of wheat maintaining 40% soil field capacity. We found a significant decline in soil microbial biomass carbon (30.27%), total nitrogen (22.28%) and organic matter content (21.73%) due to imposed water stress in non-mulch plots. However, mulch application at 5 Mg ha^-1 significantly improved soil organic matter (38.18%), total nitrogen (37.75%), phenolics content (16.95 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and soil microbial biomass carbon (26.66%) as compared to non-mulch control. Soil health indicators like soil carbonates, bicarbonates, electrical conductivity, chloride ions and total dissolved salts were decreased by 5 Mg ha^-1 mulch application. We noted a decline in yield indicators like spike weight (14.74%), grain spike^-1 (7.02%), grain length (3.79%), grain width (3.16%), 1000 grains weight (6.10%), Awn length (9.21%), straw weight (23.53%) and total grain yield (5.98%) of wheat due to imposed water stress. Reduction in yield traits of wheat due to water stress was higher in Pirsabak-2013 than Wadan-2017. Jatropha leaves mulch application at 5 Mg ha^-1 significantly minimized the loss in yield traits of wheat crop caused by water stress. Jatropha curcas leaves mulch application at 5 Mg ha^-1 is recommended for the successful establishment of wheat crop under water deficit conditions.

Maize productivity and soil nutrients variations by the application of vermicompost and biochar

Poor soil organic matter is one of the major causes of the deterioration of soil health. Most soils fertility is also decreased when enough organic carbon is not present in the soil. Maize is most susceptible to this poor soil fertility status. A significant amount of maize growth and yield is lost when it is cultivated in low organic matter and poor fertility soil. To overcome this issue organic amendments can play an imperative role. Biochar and vermicompost are organic amendments that can not only improve organic residues but also increase soil nutrient concentration. The current experiment was conducted to explore the sole and combined application of both organic amendments with recommended NPK fertilizer. Four treatments were tested i.e., control, biochar (BC1), vermicompost (VC1) and VC1+BC1 with and without nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the experiment. Results showed that VC1+BC1+NPK performed significantly best for improvement in maize plant height (6.25 and 3.00%), 1000 grains weight (30.48 and 29.40%), biological yield (18.86 and 43.12%) and grains yield (30.58 and 39.59%) compared to BC0+VC0+NPK and control respectively. A significant improvement in soil N, P and K also validated the efficacious role of VC1+BC1+NPK over BC0+VC0+NPK and control. Treatment VC1+BC1+NPK is recommended for the achievement of better maize growth and yield in poor organic matter soils. More investigations are suggested in variable climatic conditions to declare VC1+BC1+NPK as the best amendment compared to control for enhancing soil N, P and K status as well as maize productivity.

Proteomic changes in various plant tissues associated with chromium stress in sunflower

Heavy metal stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that cause environmental pollution in recent decades. An elevated concentration of these heavy metals is highly toxic to plant. Chromium (Cr) is one of the heavy metals whose concentration in the environment is still increasing alarmingly. It is harmful for plant growth and achene yield. To check out the growth and protein alternation towards pollutants, two sunflower varieties (RA-713 and AHO-33) were subjected to different chromium concentrations (control, 200 ppm, 400 ppm) by soil application. This study has elaborated that 400 ppm Cr resulted in a reduction of various growth parameters. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to enhance the understanding of plant proteomic modulation under Cr stress. Different protein bands like 48 and 49, 26 kDa have newly appeared, and three 60, 47, and 42 kDa, and two protein bands 49 and 13 kDa were up-regulated in seeds of RA-713 and AHO-33, respectively. Some proteins (52, 16 kDa) are down-regulated in leaf tissues of both varieties. Only 6 and 81 kDa protein showed up-regulation and 154 kDa down-regulation behavior in the shoot in response to stress. The finding s of study might support the selection of tolerant genotype under Cr contamination and the discovery of new protein biomarkers that can use as monitoring tools in heavy metal stress biology.

Mitigation of lead (Pb) toxicity in rice cultivated with either ground water or wastewater by application of acidified carbon

Toxicity induced by a high concentration of lead (Pb) can significantly decrease plant's growth, gas exchange, and yield attributes. It can also causes cancer in humans. The use of organic amendments, especially biochar, can alleviate Pb toxicity in different crops. The application of biochar can decrease the uptake of Pb by plant roots. However, the high pH of thermo-pyrolyzed biochar makes it an unfit amendment for high pH soils. As Pb is an acute toxin and its uptake in rice is a major issue, the current experiment was conducted to explore the efficacy of chemically produced acidified carbon (AC) to mitigate Pb toxicity in rice. Lead was introduced in concentrations of 0, 15, and 30 mg kg^-1 soil in combination with 0, 0.5, and 1% AC, underground water (GW) and wastewater (WW) in rice plants. The addition of 1% AC significantly improved the plant height (52 and 7%), spike length (66 and 50%), 1000 grains weight (144 and 71%) compared to 0% AC under GW and WW irrigation, respectively at 30 mg Pb kg^-1 soil (30 Pb) toxicity. Similar improvements in the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance also validated the effectiveness of 1% AC over 0% AC. A significant decrease in electrolyte leakage and plant Pb concentration by application of 0.5 and 1% AC validates the effectiveness of these treatments for mitigating 30 Pb toxicity in rice compared to 0% AC under GW or WW irrigation. In conclusion, 1% AC is an effective amendment in alleviating Pb toxicity in rice irrigated with GW or WW at 30 Pb.

Biochar and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers improved growth, nitrogen use, yield, and fiber quality of cotton under arid climatic conditions

The efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in South Asia is on a declining trajectory due to increased losses. Biochar (BC) and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) have been found to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in certain cases. However, field-scale studies to explore the potential of BC and SRNF in south Asian arid climate are lacking. Here we conducted a field experiment in the arid environment to demonstrate the response of BC and SRNF on cotton growth and yield quality. The treatments were comprised of two factors, (A) nitrogen sources, (i) simple urea, (ii)neem-coated urea, (iii)sulfur-coated urea, (iv) bacterial coated urea, and cotton stalks biochar impregnated with simple urea, and (B) nitrogen application rates, N₁=160 kg ha^-1, N₂ = 120 kg ha^-1, and N₃ = 80 kg ha^-1. Different SRNF differentially affected cotton growth, morphological and physiological attributes, and seed cotton yield (SCY). The bacterial coated urea at the highest rate of N application (160 kg ha^-1) resulted in a higher net leaf photosynthetic rate (32.8 μmol m^-2 s^-1), leaf transpiration rate (8.10 mmol s^-1), and stomatal conductance (0.502 mol m^-2 s^-1), while leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and seed cotton yield (4513 kg ha^-1) were increased by bacterial coated urea at 120 kg ha^-1 than simple urea. However, low rate N application (80 kg ha^-1) of bacterial coated urea showed higher nitrogen use efficiency (39.6 kg SCY kg^-1 N). The fiber quality (fiber length, fiber strength, ginning outturn, fiber index, and seed index) was also increased with the high N application rates than N2 and N3 application. To summarize, the bacterial coated urea with recommended N (160 kg ha^-1) and 75% of recommended N application (120 kg ha^-1) may be recommended for farmers in the arid climatic conditions of Punjab to enhance the seed cotton yield, thereby reducing nitrogen losses.

Toxicity of Cadmium and nickel in the context of applied activated carbon biochar for improvement in soil fertility

Toxicity induced by heavy metals deteriorates soil fertility status. It also adversely affects the growth and yield of crops. These heavy metals become part of the food chain when crops are cultivated in areas where heavy metals are beyond threshold limits. Cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) are considered the most notorious ones among different heavy metals. The high water solubility of Cd made it a potential toxin for plants and their consumers. Accumulation of Ni in plants, leaves, and fruits also deteriorates their quality and causes cancer in humans when such a Ni-contaminated diet is used regularly. Both Cd and Ni also compete with essential nutrients of plants, making the fertility status of soil poor. To overcome this problem, the use of activated carbon biochar can play a milestone role. In the recent past application of activated carbon biochar is gaining more and more attention. Biochar sorb the Cd and Ni and releases essential micronutrients that are part of its structure. Many micropores and high cation exchange capacity make it the most acceptable organic amendment to improve soil fertility and immobilize Cd and Ni. In addition to improving water and nutrients, soil better microbial proliferation enhances the soil rhizosphere ecosystem and nutrient cycling. This review has covered Cd and Ni harmful effects on crop yield and their immobilization by activated carbon biochar. The focus was made to elaborate on the positive effects of biochar on crop yield and soil health.

Improvement in growth and yield attributes of cluster bean through optimization of sowing time and plant spacing under climate change scenario

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) yield has plateaued due to reduction in rainfall and rise in temperature. Therefore, its production cycle could not get appropriate water and temperature. It becomes important to standardize the sowing time and plant spacing of cluster beans in changing climate scenarios to get higher productivity. Therefore, a field study was conducted in 2019 at the Research area of MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan to evaluate the effect of four sowing times (15th May, 1st June, 15th June, and 1st July) and three plant spacings (10, 12 and 15 cm) on crop growth, yield, and physiological functions of cluster bean genotype BR-2017 under split plot arrangement under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The sowing times (15th May, 1st June, 15th June, and 1st July) were placed in the main plot, while plant spacing (10, 12 and 15 cm) was maintained in subplots. The significant effect of sowing time and plant spacing was observed on pod plant⁻¹, pod length, grain yield, and 1000-grain weight. Results showed that 1st June sowing performed better over 15th May, 15th June, and 1st July, while plant spacing 15 cm about in all sowing times showed higher results on growth and yield parameters of cluster bean over plant spacing 10, 12, and 15 cm. The 1st June sowing time at 15 cm plant spacing showed 8.0, 22.7, and 28.5% higher grains pod^-1 than 15th May, 15th June, and 1st July sowing, respectively. Maximum grain yield was observed on 1st June in all three spacings (10, 12, and 15 cm). The chord diagram indicates that the crop has received optimum environmental conditions when sown 1st June over other sowing times. In conclusion, 1st June sowing with 15 cm plant spacing could be a good option to achieve maximum productivity of cluster bean under changing climate scenario.

Soil organic carbon and labile and recalcitrant carbon fractions attributed by contrasting tillage and cropping systems in old and recent alluvial soils of subtropical eastern India

Conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification (CASI) technologies comprising zero-tillage with crop residue retention (>30%) on the soil surface, diversified cropping systems, and balanced nutrient management are recognized as operative and efficacious strategies to ensure food security in the parts of South Asia. The present investigation was a component of CASI technologies undertaken in the farmers’ field of Malda (old alluvial Inceptisol) Coochbehar (recent alluvial Entisol) district, West Bengal (subtropical eastern India). This study was conducted to evaluate the short-term impact of contrasting tillage (zero and conventional) and cropping systems (rice–wheat and rice–maize) on total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions, viz., labile pool-1 (LP1), labile pool-2 (LP2) and recalcitrant carbon (RC) fractions after 4-year trial of conservation agriculture (CA) in the old and recent alluvial soils. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm), and thus, our study was focused on two factors, viz., cropping system and tillage. Results pointed that TOC along with LP1, LP2, and RC fractions under rice–maize (RM) cropping system were significantly (p<0.05) greater (15–35%) over rice–wheat (RW) system as a result of higher residue biomass addition. Zero-tillage (ZT) improved the C fractions by 10–20% over conventional tillage (CT) in all aspects. TOC and its fractions were observed to be greater under the ZT system in the topmost soil depths (0–5 and 5–10 cm), but the same system failed to improve these at 10–20 cm. Interestingly, the CT increased all the fractions at 10–20 cm depth due to the incorporation of crop residues. The concentration of TOC along with its fractions decreased with increasing soil depth was evident. Comparatively, all the C fractions, including TOC were maximum in soils from Malda sites as compared to Coochbehar sites because of a higher amount of residue biomass application, higher clay content, and greater background content of C in these soils. All the studied C fractions showed a significant correlation (r = >0.635; p<0.01) with TOC among all the soil depths in both the districts but the relationship with soil texture showed some interesting results. TOC fractions were significantly correlated (p<0.01) with clay particles indicating that its higher stabilization with clay in old alluvial Inceptisol (Malda); while in recent alluvial Entisol (Coochbehar), sand particle showed its strong relation with TOC fractions. Higher stratification ratio (SR) in the ZT system suggested that the concentration of TOC and its fractions are confined to the upper soil layers whereas in the case of CT, by and large, the distribution of these was comparatively high in subsequent soil depths due to residue incorporation effect. The concentration of C fractions in soils followed the order: TOC > RC > LP2 > LP1. The present investigation concluded that ZT under the RM system increases the turnover rates of C in both soil types but the amount of clay influences the stabilization/storage of C.

A critical review of the possible adverse effects of biochar in the soil environment

Biochar has received extensive attention because of its multi-functionality for agricultural and environmental applications. Despite its many benefits, there are concerns related to the long-term safety and implications of its application, mainly because the mechanisms affecting soil and organism health are poorly quantified and understood. This work reviews 259 sources and summarises existing knowledge on biochar's adverse effects on soil from a multiangle perspective, including the physicochemical changes in soil, reduced efficiency of agrochemicals, potentially toxic substances in biochar, and effects on soil biota. Suggestions are made for mitigation measures. Mixed findings are often reported; however, the results suggest that high doses of biochar in clay soils are likely to decrease available water content, and surface application of biochar to sandy soils likely increases erosion and particulate matter emissions. Furthermore, biochar may increase the likelihood of excessive soil salinity and decreased soil fertility because of an increase in the pH of alkaline soils causing nutrient precipitation. Regarding the impact of biochar on (agro)chemicals and the role of biochar-borne toxic substances, these factors cannot be neglected because of their apparent undesirable effects on target and non-target organisms, respectively. Concerning non-target biota, adverse effects on reproduction, growth, and DNA integrity of earthworms have been reported along with effects on soil microbiome such as a shift in the fungi-to-bacteria ratio. Given the diversity of effects that biochar may induce in soil, guidelines for future biochar use should adopt a structured and holistic approach that considers all positive and negative effects of biochar.

Zinc nutrition and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis effects on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and productivity

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient required to enhance crop growth and yield. In the arid – semiarid region, Zn deficiency is expected due to alkaline calcareous soil. Contrarily, Zn toxicity is also becoming an environmental concern due to increasing anthropogenic activities (metal smelting, copper industry, etc.). Therefore, balanced Zn application is necessary to save resources and achieve optimum crop growth and yield. Most scientists suggest biological approaches to overcome the problem of Zn toxicity and deficiency. These biological approaches are mostly environment-friendly and cost-effective. In these biological approaches, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) symbiosis is becoming popular. It can provide tolerance to the host plant against Zn-induced stress. Inoculation of AMF helps in balance uptake of Zn and enhances the growth and yield of crops. On the other hand, maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop due to its multifarious uses. As maize is an effective host for mycorrhizae symbiosis, that’s why this review was written to elaborate on the beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The review aimed to glance at the recent advances in the use of AMF to enhance nutrient uptake, especially Zn. It was also aimed to discuss the mechanism of AMF to overcome the toxic effect of Zn. We have also discussed the detailed mechanism and physiological improvement in the maize plant. In conclusion, AMF can play an imperative role in improving maize growth, yield, and balance uptake of Zn by alleviating Zn stress and mitigating its toxicity.