Essential Plants Research Articles

Mycotoxin production by Fusarium species and a recent deep insight into management through biocontrol approaches

Fusarium infection has become a significant and widespread concern in modern agriculture, posing a substantial threat to numerous essential crop plants. The pernicious fungal pathogen has been causing widespread destruction in diverse areas, resulting in severe consequences for both food security and economic stability. Mycotoxins, which are secondary metabolites produced by a wide variety of fungi, present serious risks to the health of both humans and animals and have the potential to result in considerable financial losses for the agricultural and food industries. The genus Fusarium is particularly infamous for its capacity to produce a diverse range of mycotoxins. The present summarized study highlights the recent progression of fusarium infection towards various pivotal agricultural crop plants with their life cycle, morphological and microscopic characteristics, and pathogenicity factors. Fusarium species are well-known for their ability to produce mycotoxins, such as zearalenones, fumonisins, Trichothecenes, Deoxynivalenol, Nivalenol, and T-2 toxins which are detrimental secondary metabolites that contaminate a wide range of agricultural products, with a particular emphasis on grains and cereals. The new emerging mycotoxins are producing new challenges for their control and serious risks to human health. The identification of Fusarium mycotoxins and the implementation of efficient biocontrol strategies to detoxify the mycotoxins through Trichoderma, Plant Secondary Metabolites, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Edible Mushrooms, and various Enzymes are essential measures for guaranteeing food safety and protecting public health. The mentioned biocontrol approaches to detoxify the mycotoxins are also discussed and addressed. Keywords: Fusarium mycotoxins, pathogenicity factors, trichothecenes, biocontrol agents, enzymatic detoxification.

Comparative content analysis of biologically active substances in citrus peel

The analysis of the documents of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation shows that in 2021, there were 38.44 million cases of acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified localization, which accounted for 75.8% of all infectious and parasitic diseases. Researchers are interested in the creation of drugs for the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections using extracts and essential oils of plants with antiviral activity. Among the significant number of essential oil plants with potential antibacterial and antiviral effects, plants of the citrus family are of particular interest. The citrus fruits are widely used by the food industry, and the peel of the fruits is an industrial waste of food production. It is known that the peel of orange, tangerine, and lemon contains such valuable biologically active groups of substances as flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, and essential oil, which allows considering this product as a potential source of novel medicines and preventive agents. The authors conducted a qualitative analysis of aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts from citrus peel using a complex of pharmacopoeial qualitative reactions. The quantitative determination of the content of extractive substances extracted with 45% and 70% ethyl alcohol and water was carried out, and the quantitative content of essential oil, flavonoids, tannins, and ascorbic acid was established.

The use of aromatherapy in pediatric practice

Aromatherapy is a method of treatment using natural essential oils injected into the body through the respiratory tract, skin and (or) mucous membranes. Currently, about 3,000 essential oil plants have been studied, from which over 500 organic compounds have been isolated and identified, the number of which in the composition of one essential oil can vary from 120 to 500, and no essential oil has yet been fully investigated.
 Essential oils are multicomponent organic compounds of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and other hydrocarbons produced by essential oil plants. Biologically active substances of essential oils have a low molecular weight and therefore easily penetrate the skin through the bloodstream. The effect exerted on a person by essential oils is determined in two ways ― neuro-reflex and humoral. Each essential oil is multifunctional. The composition of essential oils can include up to 300 components, so they can have several medicinal properties at the same time, but there is a general trend in the action of essential oils. All of them have immunomodulatory, pronounced bactericidal and antiseptic effects, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
 In medical practice, the method of hardware aromatherapy is used, the active factor of which is a therapeutic respiratory environment that simulates the natural air background over plants. The study of the effect of essential oils in children's institutions showed their positive effect on the general condition of children, emotional tone, immunological reactivity and nonspecific protection factors, the frequency and severity of respiratory pathology, the course of the adaptation period. The beneficial effect of the complex effect of aromatherapy in the sensory room is shown.
 Thus, the high efficiency of hardware aromatherapy, good tolerability, the availability of domestic equipment allows us to recommend the method for wide use in therapeutic and preventive and sanatorium-resort institutions.

ANALISIS KEPUTUSAN PETANI BERUSAHATANI NILAM DI KECAMATAN POLINGGONA KABUPATEN KOLAKA

Patchouli is one of the primary essential oil-producing plants in Indonesia. The oil produced by the patchouli plant is called patchouli oil (patchouli oil), which is used as a raw material in perfume, cosmetics and other industries. In Indonesia, there are several patchouli oil production centres. One is in Polinggona District, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. To start farming activity, some factors influence farmers in making the farmer's decision to carry out patchouli farming. Decision-making is a process of selecting the best alternative from various alternatives systematically to be followed up as a way to solve problems that occur. This research aims to determine what factors influence farmers' decisions to carry out value farming in Polinggona District, Kolaka Regency. This research method uses a quantitative descriptive method with the help of multiple linear regression data analysis tools. The research sample was determined using the Slovin method. The results of this research state that the land area variable has the most significant influence on farmers' decisions in patchouli farming because it has a calculated t value that is greater than the education variable and the income variable.

Clonal micropropagation of some species of the genus Thymus L.

The aim of the work was to study the influence of cultivation factors on the explants development to optimize the protocol of in vitro clonal micropropagation of four species of the genus Thymus L., valuable essential oil and medicinal plants. Conditions that ensure the production of up to 94.2 % of sterile explants were selected. It has been established that, when introduced into in vitro culture, it is advisable to use shoot tips and stem segments with a node (isolated from donor plants) and cultivate them in foil-covered test tubes. The optimal culture media for the first stage of micropropagation were determined: Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1.0 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) for Thymus serpyllum L. or MS with 1.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l gibberellic acids (GA3) for T. vulgaris L. ‘Gornyy Balzam’, T. × citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb. ‘Doone Valley’, T. caucasicus Willd. ex Ronniger. At the second stage of clonal micropropagation, it is advisable to cultivate T. caucasicus and T. serpyllum explants during 40 days, but T. vulgaris and T. × citriodorus – during 60 days. The maximum multiplication index at the recommended cultivation duration was obtained for T. × citriodorus (9.9) on MS medium without hormones, T. caucasicus (16.1) and T. vulgaris (10.0) – on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l kinetin., and T. serpyllum (6.8) on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l BAP. When comparing different culture vessels (tubes, jars and flasks), the effectiveness of jars was revealed. This type of culture vessels made it possible to increase the multiplication index up to 2.1–5.7 times. It was revealed that when microshoots of four thyme species were cultivated on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l IBA, the rooting rate reached 84.6–98.9 %. The frequency of adaptation ex vitro when using a mixture of peat and perlite (1:1) ranged from 62.8 to 89.5 %.

VETIVER (VETIVERIA ZIZANIOIDES L.) ECOTYPES ASSESSMENT FOR SALINITY TOLERANCE

Vetiver is one of the essential oil-producing plants, commonly called vetiver oil. With a deep, broad, and thick root system, the species is characteristically well-adapted to various environmental stresses, including salinity. The presented study strived to evaluate several vetiver ecotypes under diverse salinity stress conditions and identify the best with enhanced salinity tolerance. The said study continued in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement and two factors. The first factor was salinity stress comprising six varying levels, i.e., control (without salinity) and saline soils with 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 dsm-1. The second factor consisted of three vetiver ecotypes: Bogor, Bojonegoro, and Padang. The results revealed that salinity stress levels, ecotypes, and their interactions significantly affected the growth, physiological, and oil yield traits, such as plant height, leaf area, number of tillers, chlorophyll a and b, root length and volume, and oil yield. Salinity stress at 16 dsm-1 significantly impacted plant growth but enhanced chlorophyll a and b content. The ecotype Bojonegoro had better canopy growth, while the ecotype Padang had better root growth, resulting in higher oil production compared with the ecotype Bojonegoro. The ecotype Bojonegoro with 16 dsm-1 salinity stress significantly increased chlorophyll a and b content, and the ecotype Padang showed the highest oil production without salinity stress compared with salinity stress conditions.

PROSPECTS OF GROWING MEDICINAL, ESSENTIAL OIL AND SPICY AROMATIC CULTURES

This work is devoted to the analysis of the most common issues faced by manufacturers of medicinal and essential oil raw materials — the market, the availability and availability of wild raw materials, agro-ecological conditions, the amount of manual labor, its cost, investments in quality seeds and equipment, post-harvest processing and the overall profitability of production. Cultivation of medicinal, essential oil and aromatic plants today is not only a promising alternative to the collection of wild raw materials, which allows preserving the natural biodiversity of plants with medicinal properties, including those species that have a protective status, but is also a powerful branch of the economy that provides high quality raw materials for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. As a rule, medicinal and essential oil plants are considered by agricultural producers as secondary crops, as their cultivation is associated with certain problems. These problems are common to both small and powerful agricultural enterprises, both in Ukraine and abroad. They are related to both technological aspects of growing and plant identification, as well as market fluctuations and product prices. Consumers of medicinal and essential oil raw materials increasingly prefer cultivated products, because under such conditions it is easier to predict yield and ensure quality compared to wild-grown raw materials. During cultivation, false identification and unintentional falsification of raw materials are almost excluded, and the use of improved methods of cultivation and the use of modern varieties allows planning the harvest and costs. The profitability of growing medicinal and essential oil crops competes with traditional field crops, which have highly specialized equipment, a significant list of zoned varieties and hybrids, standard procedures for applying fertilizers and protective means, etc. In contrast to the cultivation of traditional crops, in order to ensure the profitability of the production of medicinal and essential oil raw materials, it is necessary to use methods with low production costs in order to be competitive on the international market and with the production of raw materials from natural groups. The work uses generalized material, both from our own many years of scientific and practical experience in the cultivation of medicinal and essential oil raw materials, as well as the experience of scientists and practitioners of foreign countries. On the example of the experience of foreign countries and domestic researchers and producers, the authors sought to prove that the cultivation of agricultural crops for obtaining essential oil and medicinal raw materials is a profitable business and can be considered as a variant of niche crops, be an attractive option for small farms and family farms. Within the scope of this review, it is impossible to consider all the problematic issues of the widespread introduction of medicinal and essential oil crops into the practice of agricultural production, since many more problems need to be solved, which can be the subject of future experiments and research.

Experience in optimizing the pollination of fruit crops

Studying the dependence of the yield and quality of fruit crops on pollination by bees is necessary, among other things, from the point of view of the protection of bees and biodiversity. Perennial fruit plantations in the Rostov region occupy 30 thousand hectares. Fruit trees such as apricot, quince, plum, cherry, sweet cherry, pear, and apple are essential honey plants for bees. The study aimed to develop methods and techniques for optimising the pollination of fruit crops based on established flowering periods and varietal characteristics of plants and determining the bioresource potential of gardens in the region. Using the method of accumulating sums of effective temperatures, it was established that the flowering of gardens begins with the mass flowering of apricot in the second ten days of April and ends with the flowering of quince at the end of May. The average duration of flowering of plants was 7–14 days. Observations of yield dynamics showed an increase in the number of fruits when optimising pollination by 20–27 times in cherries and sweet cherries. Taking into account the changes in the natural and climatic conditions of the Rostov region when moving through the territory, the physiological characteristics of fruit trees, as well as the mutual pollination of different varieties, the timing of migrations of bee colonies for cross-pollination and planting patterns when planting an orchard are proposed. Monitoring of the bioresource potential of gardens showed that the total area of parks in the region is 27 thousand hectares, with a bioresource potential for honey collection of 434.1 tons. The most significant bioresource potential for honey collection is characterised by the area of gardens in the territory of the 4th honey collection district (154.1 tons). In the 1st region, this figure is 95.5 tons, slightly less in the 3rd region - 73.4 tons. Using all listed methods for regulating work with an apiary and agricultural technology for growing gardens will create conditions for increasing their productivity by 10.8 times, or by 73.3%.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ МЕТОДЫ ИЗГОТОВЛЕНИЯ БАЗИСОВ СЪЕМНЫХ ПЛАСТИНОЧНЫХ ПРОТЕЗОВ КАК ЗАЛОГ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ

The article discusses possible methods and modifications for the manufacture of bases for removable lamellar dentures based on acrylic plastic. The use of acrylic resin is still widely used today in orthopedic dentistry. Removable plate dentures made of acrylic plastic have good aesthetic properties, manufacturability, sufficient strength, and, despite the actual toxicity of the residual monomer, the current alternative has not yet been established in world practice. That is why research is ongoing aimed at testing both new alternative materials for the manufacture of prostheses, and modified technologies for the manufacture of prosthesis bases from polymethyl methacrylate. Possible reaction of the mucosa of patients to the residual monomer in the basis of a removable prosthesis justifies the need for further study of options for solving this problem. Based on the literature data, the article considered possible options for replacing plastic with polyetheretherketone, nylon, partial replacement of acrylic plastic with metal. The experience of using topcoat varnishes is analyzed. Comparisons were made between attempts to coat the surface of prostheses with components of essential oil plants, n-butyl acetic acid, and polysulfone-based insulating varnish to reduce toxicological effects. Based on the analysis, conclusions were drawn about the positive and negative results of all previously used methods, and the need for further research in this direction was justified.

Effect of Different Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Biological Soil Properties, Growth, Yield and Quality of Oregano (Origanum onites L.)

Intensive agriculture uses continuous chemical fertilizers to increase crop yields, but excessive use of fertilizers leads to environmental pollution, permanent changes in physicochemical conditions in soil ecology, deterioration of soil biological health, leaching of nutrients, surface and groundwater pollution and eutrophication. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are becoming increasingly important for ensuring crop safety, increasing nutrient uptake and output, lowering fertilizer costs, preventing environmental contamination and promoting sustainable agriculture and agricultural resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the effects of fifteen bacteria strains that were isolated from various acidic rhizospheric soils as biofertilizers on soil biological properties. Growth, yield and quality traits were analyzed, and various PGPR were identified using 16S ribosomal RNA of Turkish oregano. Fifteen bacterial inoculations with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, N2-fixing, P-solubilizing and/or IAA-producing genes were used in the experiment, which was carried out in a randomized block design with five replicates (each with three pots) and a control without inoculation. Increased biological activity in soil inoculated with bacteria with multiple traits was confirmed by high C and N content in microbial biomass, urease, dehydrogenase and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. Essential oil content, oil yield, thymol and carvacrol contents increased by 0.5–40.1%, 5.9–71.9%, 0.07–16.7% and 0.3–9.2%, respectively, as a result of bacterial inoculation. Oil content ranged from 2.02% to 2.83%; carvacrol (66.1–72.2%) was the main constituent, followed by thymol (14.5–16.9%) and linalool (1.38–3.68%). Two large PGPR groups were formed based on genetic distance analysis. Responses were variable and depended on the inoculant strain and the parameters being evaluated. The results indicate PGPR has clear potential for improving the yield of cultivated aromatic and essential oil plants, such as oregano.

A new type of laboratory microdevice for distillation of lavender and herb raw materials

Abstract. Bulgaria is known for its essential oils and medicinal plants, which occupy increasing parts in the agricultural areas. In recent years, the boom in lavender production has made our country the largest producer of lavender oil in the world. This intensified the scientific work with it and led to the creation of new lavender varieties and lines that are used in production. All research and tests on an industrial scale go through the laboratory distillation of small amounts of plant material to determine the quantity and quality of essential oil. In laboratory practice, micro-apparatus for water distillation is widely used, which does not reflect the real results for the yield and quality of the product. This necessitated the creation of a new laboratory device for determining the content of essential oil in raw materials with labile (rich in esters) oil by the application of steam distillation. The design of this apparatus mirrors industrial installations, thus the results it produces accurately simulate those of industrial production. Tests with herbal raw materials, like Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Salva sclarea L. and Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don showed that the model is effective and applicable. The oils obtained by the new apparatus retained an ester content of 40.2%, 75.0% and 4.8%, respectively; these figures represent a significant improvement over previous methods.

The Biotechnological “Provence” of the Future Provided by Antisense Oligoilators and Olinscides for Horticulturae

Successful management of the synthesis of secondary metabolites of essential oil plants is the basis for the economic growth of the essential oil industry. Against the backdrop of a growing global population and a decrease in land available for cultivation, simple and effective ways to increase the content of certain components in essential oils are becoming increasingly important. Selection is no longer keeping pace with market needs, which stimulates the search for faster methods to control the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In this article, using the genera Lavandula and Mentha as examples, we consider the prospects for use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), oligoilators, to rapidly increase the concentration of valuable components in essential oil and its yield. This article discusses the use of unmodified ASOs as regulators of a plant’s secondary metabolism to increase the synthesis of individual valuable components, presenting a completely new way to increase the yield of valuable substances based on unique nucleotide sequences. The proposed approach is effective, affordable, safe, and significantly reduces the time needed to obtain plants that synthesize the required concentrations of target substances. Oligoilators can be used with oligonucleotide insecticides (olinscides) in complex formulations used for green agriculture. Further investigation is needed to determine maximum economic efficiency for this approach.

An Introduction to the Local Plants as Source of Essential Oils for The Sepang Village Community, Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan

Essential oils are chemical components obtained from plants, are volatile, and give off a distinctive aroma. Essential oils are various products from the perfume industry, soaps, medicines, and cleaning products. Various types of plants produce essential oils. Sepang Village, Mempawah sub-district, West Kalimantan, is one of the villages with the potential for essential oil-producing plants. This community service activity aims to explore the types of essential oil-producing plants planted by the people of Sepang village and increase public knowledge about essential oils and their use. Service activities are carried out through two stages: exploration of essential oil-producing plants and conveying this information to the village community. Based on the exploration results, it was found that the community planted 16 species of plants producing essential oils for cooking spices and medicinal plants. The Sepang village community was very enthusiastic about receiving information, and their knowledge about essential plants and their utilization increased through this activity.

Taxonomic studies based on leaf epidermal microanatomy using high-resolution microscopy in Lamiaceous species and their antimicrobial effects.

The knowledge of essential oil antimicrobial activity of Lamiaceous species is assessed to describe its effects. The comprehensive foliar trichomes and stomatal morphology of the leaves of essential oil-bearing plants from the family Lamiaceae revealed diverse antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the foliar anatomical traits of 19 Lamiaceous taxa belonging to different tribes using light and scanning electron microscopy to correctly diagnose the species. The microanatomy of the foliar epidermis, trichomes diversity, and the stomatal apertural complex was visualized. Quantitative measurements were noted to describe the variations and the qualitative aspects for example, polygonal shape epidermal cells were examined. The stomatal aperture of four types and trichomes appendages both non-glandular and glandular was identified. Significant variation was found in both quantitative and qualitative traits, including unique ornamentation on the trichomes. The taxonomic key was constructed for accurate identification using qualitative morpho-structural traits. The outcomes of this research explored taxonomically to accurately identify the Lamiaceous species using anatomical characters. This study will provide provides the ecological adaptation linked to evolutionary traits of leaf surfaces that evolve with time to adapt the harsh environmental conditions. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Investigated foliar anatomical traits of 19 Lamiaceous species The anatomy and antimicrobial activity of essential oil yielding Lamiaceae species. SEM revealed diverse aspects including peculiar sculptured trichomes Microscopic identification of different stomatal complex.

Plant‐based feed additives in Cyprinus carpio aquaculture

AbstractSpecies feeding lower at the food web like cyprinids (carp) are often advocated for sustainable aquaculture. However, their gastrointestinal biology (lack of stomach) has limited their acid‐peptic digestion, acid lysis of plants and invertebrate tissues, and phosphorus uptake. This review presents data from 118 articles on the use of plant‐based feed additives (PFAs) in Cyprinus carpio (common carp). Our review shows that most PFA research in carp is focused on improving feed and nutrient utilization efficiency along various levels (in vivo digestibility, metabolizability to in situ nutrient loading), while other half is focused on ensuring animal welfare standards (biomass, immunity, welfare). Several reviewed plant‐based additives however tend to do both. The PFAs include essential oils (EOs), plant‐part extracts (PPEs), medicinal plants (herbs) and spices. The effective inclusion rate of EOs is lower (0.5%–0.75%). Whereas PPEs, herbs and spices work at a generic inclusion rate of 2%–5% in carp feeds. Even at an optimum inclusion rate, there are factors controlling PFAs efficacy such as methods of preparation (reviewed). PFAs like lemon beebrush, geranium, dill, Rosemary pepper and common mallow with/without certain pre‐conditions are better to avoid in cyprinid diets. Although certain PFAs may potentially alter organoleptic qualities of carp flesh or might assist in training carp immunity, information on these aspects is limited. The review also provides a quick guide to researchers and feed companies interested in exploring the potential of PFAs in C. carpio aquaculture. Potential PFAs that could be valuable for cyprinids, but not yet explored are also listed.

Back to Linnaeus: Proper Botanical Naming of the Tetraploid Indian Acorus (Acoraceae), an Important Medicinal Plant

The basal monocot genus Acorus comprises essential oil-producing plants widely used in traditional medicine in various countries, including India. Acorus calamus sensu lato is a polyploid complex where the essential oil composition, to some extent, depends on the ploidy level. The literature recognizes diploids (in temperate Asia and North America), triploids (Asian in origin, naturalized elsewhere) and tetraploids (temperate to tropical Asia) at the rank of varieties of A. calamus. We show that the current use of the name A. calamus var. angustatus for the tetraploids is not properly justified. The earliest name based on the Asian material is A. calamus var. verus published in 1753 by Linnaeus. We justify the use of the Linnaean variety for tetraploids by selecting an epitype based on the material cultivated in Peninsular India, for which direct chromosome counts are provided. The name A. verus is available if the tetraploid cytotype is recognized at the species rank. We support earlier data on the importance of leaf anatomy for cytotype diagnostics in Acorus, but also show the limitations of the use of this approach. The growth pattern of the tropical Indian tetraploid material is discussed, and the evergreen nature of the accession studied here is documented. The exact chromosome number of the tetraploid Acorus requires further clarification. All metaphase plates examined here showed at least 44 chromosomes, but plates apparently showing more than 44 chromosomes were found as well. They may be explained by technical difficulties in counting chromosomes in Acorus. Alternatively, our data may indicate the occurrence of aneuploid mixoploidy.

Economic Analysis of Variable Speed Drive Control Through Profinet Technology on Distributed Control System: A Case Study in Essential Oil Processing Factories

Electrical equipment in essential oil processing plants is generally dominated by electric motor loads. In today's digital era, global competition and technological advances encourage factories to increase the efficiency and reliability of their production equipment. One way of efficiency is to use a variable speed drive (VSD). The existence of Profinet technology as a network protocol between the control equipment and the VSD allows users to increase system reliability while increasing energy use efficiency. Even so, there are still many factories that are hesitant to use this technology in their automation systems. Many low to medium-sized factories still use traditional control methods such as hardwired. This method is considered more reliable, and inexpensive compared to using Profinet technology. Cost-benefit analysis is carried out to prove this paradigm. At the same time provides certainty that the investment costs incurred in building the system provide added value for production equipment. From this research, it is proven that the use of Profinet technology in addition to providing savings on investment costs also provides benefits from a technical perspective. This technology also allows the implementation of condition-based monitoring systems for electric motors in production equipment. Which in turn can increase the performance and service life of the machine.

Carbon Dots as Solubilizing Agent for Insoluble Phosphates in Enhancing Soil Fertility

AbstractPhosphorous (P) is one of the most essential macronutrients plants need for their growth. One of the ways of increasing the availability of P in the soil is by devising methods of solubilizing insoluble phosphates. Glucose is an important carbohydrate component of fulvic acids which has demonstrated its utility in solubilizing insoluble phosphates. In this work, we explored the applicability of carbon dots from glucose (GL‐CD) and N‐doped GL‐CD in solubilizing water‐insoluble inorganic phosphates viz. tricalcium phosphate and copper phosphate. The carbon dots were directly applied to the soil, and the concentration of phosphates available in the soil was estimated by a UV‐visible spectrophotometer. It was observed that tricalcium phosphate, on treatment with GL CD after 30 days, the available phosphate in soil increased by 106.5 %, and mixture of GL CD and N‐GL CD resulted in an increase of 88.7 %. Similarly, for copper phosphate, the available phosphate in soil increased by 186.5 %, 189.1 %, and 164 % after 30 days of treatment with N‐GL CD, GL CD, and mixture of N‐GL CD and GL CD, respectively. Herein, carbon dots derived from glucose has been demonstrated as agents for solubilizing insoluble phosphates, which might be insightful for the application of nanomaterials in agriculture.

Identification of Structural Differentiation and Differentially Expressed Genes between Sulcus and Culm of Phyllostachys violascens cv. Viridisulcata

Bamboo is one of the essential ornamental plants that is widely used as a decorative landscape element in gardens. Phyllostachys violascens cv. Viridisulcata has a unique internode color phenotype with yellow culm and green sulcus, but their structural and development differences remain unknown. In the current study, we analyzed the histological analysis of internode cross-sections through SEM and microscopy. These results revealed that the vascular bundles distributed in the culm were organized in oblique rows and multiple lines. In contrast, the vascular bundles’ distribution in the sulcus was much more random. The distribution density, maximum length, and maximum width of vascular bundles were also differentiated between the sulcus and the culm. Further, the cell wall thickness of fiber cells in the culm was more than 30% thicker than the sulcus. The FT-IR analysis identified that the culm and sulcus had similar structural properties. The total lignin content measurement revealed that lignin accumulated more in the sulcus than in the culm. Additionally, we identified the lignin biosynthesis pathway genes, Pv4CL and PvC4H, which were differentially expressed between the culm and sulcus through transcriptomic data and qPCR analyses. In conclusion, our results identified that the vascular bundles’ structure differed between the culm and sulcus, and Pv4CL and PvC4H genes might play an essential role in their development.

A Review on Pharmacological activities of Colocasia esculenta

Mother Nature has always given us essential medicinal plants for long decades. Today modern world has started its dependability on medicinal agents obtained from traditionally used plants. Colocasia esculenta is a magnificent source of fiber and starch, which is responsible for number of health benefits, such as for improved blood sugar levels, for better skin care, helps to reduce obesity. Colocasia esculenta also contains a variety of antioxidants and polyphenols. Leaves are caloriedeficient, rich in proteins, micronutrients, dietary fiber and good carbohydrates which enhance the metabolism of our digestive system and it helps to provide healthy weight loss, even they have abundant presence of anti-nutrients such as tannins, oxalates. It consists of high levels of Vit.E, Vit.C, and Vit. B6 also contributes to maintain a better immune system and may eradicate free radicals. All parts of Colocasia esculenta have essential properties including some levels of toxicity which are overcome by cooking and steamed boiling. It has several health benefits like anti-hepatotoxic and hepatoprotective activity, anti-inflammatory activity, neuropharmacological activity, anti-fungal activity and anti-metastatic activity. In India major Colocasia esculenta production occurs in states like Uttar-Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal-Pradesh, Gujarat, etc. The present review includes detail study of pharmacological activity of plant- Colocasia esculenta [Taro].