Mangifera Indica Research Articles

Comparative study of the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of the seed coat vs. seed kernel extracts from the plant Mangifera indica L. in inflammatory acne treatment

Introduction: The present study was developed to investigate and compare the extraction yield, the contents of polyphenols and mangiferin, the activities against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli bacteria, and the anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts of mango seed kernels vs. seed coats. Methods: Mango seed kernels and seed coats were extracted using ethanol as the solvent and tested against microorganisms using the disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of extracts were determined by the agar dilution method. The anti-inflammatory activities were assessed both in vitro and in vivo by albumin denaturation method and carrageenan-induced paw edema test, respectively. Results: Both extracts yielded high contents of mangiferin and phenolic compounds. The antibacterial activities of both extracts showed inhibition of the tested microorganisms Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus but not Escherichia coli. Seed kernel extract (0.2 g/kg) reduced paw edema by 44.8% at 3 hours after λ-carrageenan administration. Meanwhile, 0.5 g/kg seed coat extract reduced paw edema less than the seed kernel extract (23.1% vs. 44.8%). Mango seed kernel extract, mango seed coat extract, and diclofenac sodium displayed concentration-dependent inhibition of heat-induced protein denaturation with IC50 values of 137.23 μg/mL, 292.12 μg/mL, and 6.64 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The obtained results confirmed the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential of mango seed kernel and seed coat extracts. The mango seed kernel extract was proven to be more effective than the mango seed coat extract and thus can be used in cosmetics as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

Effects of Heat Treatment on the Physicochemical Properties and Electrochemical Behavior of Biochars for Electrocatalyst Support Applications.

The present work reports the synthesis and the physicochemical characterization of biochar from the organic wastes of nopal (Opuntia Leucotricha), coffee grounds (Coffea arabica) and Ataulfo mango seeds (Mangifera indica) as alternative electrocatalyst supports to Vulcan XC-72 carbon black. The biochars were prepared using pyrolysis from organic wastes collected at three temperatures, 600, 750 and 900 °C, under two atmospheres, N2 and H2. The synthesized biochars were characterized using Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to obtain insights into their chemical structure and morphological nature, respectively, as a function of temperature and pyrolysis atmosphere. A N2 adsorption/desorption technique, two-point conductivity measurements and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were conducted to evaluate the specific surface area (SSA), electrical conductivity and double-layer capacitance, respectively, of all the biochars to estimate their physical properties as a possible alternative carbon support. The results indicated that the mango biochar demonstrated the highest properties among all the biochars, such as an electrical conductivity of 8.3 S/cm-1 at 900 °C in N2, a specific surface area of 829 m2/g at 600 °C in H2 and a capacitance of ~300 mF/g at 900 °C in N2. The nopal and coffee biochars exhibited excellent specific surface areas, up to 767 m2/g at 600 °C in N2 and 699 m2/g at 750 °C in H2, respectively; nonetheless, their electrical conductivity and capacitance were limited. Therefore, the mango biochar at 900 °C in N2 was considered a suitable alternative carbon material for electrocatalyst support. Additionally, it was possible to determine that the electrical conductivity and capacitance increased as a function of the pyrolysis temperature, while the specific surface area decreased for some biochars as the pyrolysis temperature increased. Overall, it is possible to conclude that heat treatment at a high temperature of 900 °C enhanced the biochar properties toward electrocatalyst support applications.

Product and process development of mango flakes using response surface methodology

Mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the tropical fruits which are produced in large volumes in Kenya. Transformation of the perishable fruit into shelf-stable nutritious products is one of the interventions that can be used to reduce losses while accruing better returns for farmers. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum processing parameters in the production of consumer-acceptable mango flakes. Fifteen treatments were obtained using sugar variations of 0%, 2%, and 4%, and starch at 0%, 10%, and 20%. Process variables were determined by varying pressure of steam (0.8 BAR, and 1.6 BAR) and speed of drum drying (2.2 rpm and 7.6 rpm). Sensory analysis was done using a 7-pointer hedonic scale while physicochemical, and proximate lab analysis was done using predetermined AOAC procedures. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) of Design Expert 13 software, was used to optimize mango flakes production procedures by adjusting settings of factorial variables. Results indicated that formulations that were incorporated with 20% starch, 0% sugar, and dried at 7.57 rpm for 5 minutes and 2 seconds at a constant gauge pressure of 0.8 BAR were the most preferred with a mean overall score of 5.79. Homogeneity of variances was observed between different formulations for overall acceptability (P=0.192). The predictive model of the Central Composite Design stipulated that an increase in sugar concentration reduces the sensory quality of drum-dried mango flakes. Nutritional profile of the most acceptable mango flakes was a composite of 1.9g/100g, 2.8g/100g, 0.9g/100g, and 0.5g/100g for carbohydrates, vitamin C, crude protein, and crude fat, respectively. A significant difference was observed between values for protein and vitamin C (P=0.002). In conclusion, the organoleptic acceptability and nutritional profiles of drum-dried mango flakes were affected by the time: pressure exposure of the puree as well as the product ratios of ingredients.

Highly informative simple sequences repeat (SSR) markers reveal the large genetic diversity of mango (Mangifera indica) germplasm in China

The genetic diversity of mango (Mangifera indica L.) was determined among 188 mango accessions using 40 SSR markers. A total of 303 alleles were discovered, with a mean value of 7.58 and an average PIC of 0.583, showing that the SSR markers utilized in this investigation was quite informative. High Shannon’s index (1.304) and He (0.624) reflected the high genetic diversity of Chinese mango genetic resources. PCoA analysis and phenogram analysis divided the accessions broadly into groups representing their geographical origins and suggested a clear separation between M. indica and M. persiciformis. This expanded awareness of the genetic diversity of mango germplasm would aid breeders in choosing better parents, hence accelerating the delivery of improved cultivars to industry in order to satisfy consumer demand.

First record of Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Costa Rica, a scale insect affecting mango (Mangifera indica) in Alajuela urban environments

Introduction. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is widely cultivated around the world and in Costa Rica nearly 8200 hectares are dedicated to the production of this crop. More than 400 species of phytophagous insects and mites have been reported on mango worldwide. Among them are around 73 species of armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), of which Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead is one of the most serious pests of mangos in many parts of the world. Objective. In the present work, we report for the first time the occurrence in Costa Rica of the white mango scale, A. tubercularis. Materials and methods. Mango tree samples were collected in San Rafael, a town located in the central canton of Alajuela province in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. Insects found on leaves were examined under a stereomicroscope, counted and classified according to the condition of their wax covers, which provided evidence of activity by natural enemies. Slide mounts of adult females were prepared and examined under a light microscope. Results. The armored scale was identified as A. tubercularis and the frequency of occurrence on the mango trees sampled was 90%, where 12% of adult females showed evidence of predation and 2.5% showed evidence of parasitization. Conclusion. A. tubercularis was recorded for the first time in Costa Rica. Further investigations on the population dynamics and natural enemies are needed to provide useful information in order to implement adequate control strategies.

Comprehensive in situ and ex situ β-glucosidase-assisted assessment reveals Indian mangoes as reservoirs of glycosidic aroma precursors

Mango, a valued commercial fruit in India is popular mostly because of its attractive flavour. Glycosidically bound volatiles (GBV), an underrepresented warehouse of aroma, remain completely unexplored in Indian mangoes. In this study, GBV were profiled in pulps and peels of 10 Indian mango cultivars, leading to detection of 66 GBV which were dominated by monoterpenoids and phenolics. Peels were quantitatively and qualitatively richer in GBV than pulps. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis indicated higher contribution of peel GBV to the distinctness of cultivars. Linalool, geraniol, and eugenol were the significant contributors based on the odour units. Direct β-glucosidase treatment to the juice resulted in the release of lesser number of volatiles than those released from the purified GBV extracts. Apart from providing a comprehensive catalogue of GBV in mangoes, our data suggests the need of critical assessment of the usefulness of β-glucosidases in aroma improvement of fruit juices.

Effect of Different Covering Material on Ripening and Physiochemical Properties of Dasheri Mango (Mangifera indica)

The present experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during the session 2021-2022. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications, and the study consists of Nine treatments combinations including control by using different covering materials on ripening and physiochemical properties of Dasheri Mango (Mangifera indica)”. The best treatment was T2 (Banana Leaves) & T6 (Rice Straw) which shows highest values in all the parameters viz. Fruit weight (g) (163 & 155.41),Fruit diameter (mm) (59.16 & 58.41), Days of ripening (11.50 & 10.83), Total soluble solids (0Brix) (13.21 & 12.83), Ascorbic acid (mg/100g) (28.21 & 28.25), Total sugar(%) (12.21 & 11.95 ), Reducing sugar(%) (4.87 & 4.88), Non-reducing sugar(%) (7.34 & 7.05) and also found superior in organoleptic score of colour and appearance, texture, flavour and overall acceptability of Mango fruit. In terms of benefit cost ratio, the highest net return was found in the same treatment T2 (Banana Leaves).

Mangiferin is a new potential antimalarial and anticancer drug for targeting serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Mangiferin, a polyphenolic xanthone glycoside found in various botanical sources, including mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves, can exhibit a variety of bioactivities. Although mangiferin has been reported to inhibit many targets, none of the studies have investigated the inhibition of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), an attractive target for antimalarial and anticancer drugs. SHMT, one of the key enzymes in the deoxythymidylate synthesis cycle, catalyzes the reversible conversion of l-serine and (6S)-tetrahydrofolate (THF) into glycine and 5,10-methylene THF. Here, in vitro and in silico studies were used to probe how mangiferin isolated from mango leaves inhibits Plasmodium falciparum and human cytosolic SHMTs. The inhibition kinetics at pH 7.5 revealed that mangiferin is a competitive inhibitor against THF for enzymes from both organisms. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations demonstrated the inhibitory effects of the deprotonated forms of mangiferin, specifically the C6–O- species and its resonance C9–O- species appearing at pH 7.5, combined with two docked poses, either a xanthone or glucose moiety, placed inside the THF-binding pocket. The MD analysis revealed that both C6–O- and its resonance-stabilized C9–O- species can favorably bind to SHMT in a similar fashion to THF, supporting the THF competitive inhibition of mangiferin. In addition, characterization of the proton dissociation equilibria of isolated mangiferin revealed that only three hydroxy groups of the xanthone moiety, C6–OH, C3–OH, and C7–OH, underwent varying degrees of deprotonation with pKa values of 6.38 ± 0.11, 8.21 ± 0.35, and 12.37 ± 0.30, respectively, while C1–OH remained protonated. Altogether, our findings demonstrate a new bioactivity of mangiferin and provide the basis for the future development of mangiferin as a potent antimalarial and anticancer drug.

Occurrence of Postharvest Fruit Rot of Mango Caused by Fusarium pernambucanum in China.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most important tropical fruits in the world, thanks to its pleasant taste, aroma and high nutritional value (Ibarra et al. 2015). In June 2021, Surveys were conducted in three agricultural markets (113°36'E, 23°11'N) of the Yuancun district in Guangzhou, China. Postharvest fruit rot was observed on mango (about 25% of the fruits showed disease symptoms). Black rot symptomatic lesions were observed on the fruit surface and eventually penetrated the mesocarp of mango fruits. To isolate and identify the pathogen, fruits (n=35) were surface disinfected with 1% NaOCl (1 min), 70% ethanol (30 s) and then washed twice with sterile distilled water. Thirty small pieces (3-5 mm2) were excised from the lesion margins. The excised tissue pieces were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Pure cultures were obtained by transferring hyphal tips onto fresh PDA. Fungal isolates XTM-5 and XTM-8 were isolated from diseased fruits. All isolates grown on PDA had abundant, fluffy, whitish to yellowish aerial mycelia, and the colony reverse was pale brown. Macroconidia were falcate, slightly curved with 5-7 septa, 29.5-42.2 × 4.3-6.2 μm. Spindle-shaped mesoconidia were abundantly produced, straight to slightly curved with 3-4 septa, 20.3-24.5 × 4.6-4.8 μm. Microconidia were pyriform to obovate with 0-2 septa, 7.3-11.7 × 2.4-3.2 μm. Chlamydospores were globose or irregular, in chains and, hyaline to light brown. Based on the morphological characteristics, the fungus was tentatively identified as Fusarium pernambucanum (Santos et al. 2019). The molecular identity of the isolates was confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF1) and RNA polymerase subunit II gene region (RPB2) genes (White et al. 1990; O'Donnell et al. 2022). Sequences of isolate XTM-8 were deposited in GenBank (ITS: ON413679.1, TEF1:ON420221.2, RPB2: ON420222.2). A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree based on the concatenated sequences confirmed the isolates as F. pernambucanum (Xia et al. 2019). A pathogenicity test was conducted on mango. Six healthy fruits were inoculated with F. pernambucanum mycelial discs (5 mm in diameter) after being wounded with a needle or unwounded, six control fruits were inoculated with PDA agar. All inoculated fruits were incubated in the dark at 26°C and 95% relative humidity for 7 days post inoculation. Control fruits remained asymptomatic, whereas inoculated fruit developed symptoms on the fruit surface at the point of inoculation. The pathogenicity test was performed three times. The original isolates were confirmed morphologically and molecularly after they were reisolated from the symptomatic fruit, thus confirming Koch's postulates. F. pernambucanum is a widespread pathogen that causes diseases across a wide range of plant hosts in China, such as muskmelon fruit rot (Zhang et al. 2022); mango leaf spots (Guo et al. 2021) and plum leaf blight (Lu et al. 2022). To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. pernambucanum causing fruit rot of mango in China. As mango contamination with Fusarium mycotoxins poses a health risk for consumers, the occurrence of this disease needs to be carefully monitored to ensure effective disease management strategies are implemented in mango production.

Timely estimation of leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under varying light regimes by coupling light drivers to leaf traits.

Unveiling informative chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) parameters and leaf morphological/biochemical traits under varying light conditions is important in ecological studies but has less been investigated. In this study, the trait-ChlF relationship and regressive estimation of ChlF parameters from leaf traits under varying light conditions were investigated using a dataset of synchronous measurements of ChlF parameters and leaf morphological/biochemical traits in Mangifera indica L. The results showed that the relationships between ChlF parameters and leaf traits varied across light intensities, as indicated by different slopes and intercepts, highlighting the limitations of using leaf traits alone to capture the dynamics of ChlF parameters. Light drivers, on the other hand, showed a better predictive ability for light-dependent ChlF parameters compared to leaf traits, with light intensity having a large effect on light-dependent ChlF parameters. Furthermore, the responses of ФF and NPQ to light drivers differed between leaf types, with light intensity having an effect on ФF in shaded leaves, whereas it had a primary effect on NPQ in sunlit leaves. These results facilitate and deepen our understanding of how the light environment affects leaf structure and function and, therefore, provide the theoretical basis for understanding plant ecological strategies in response to the light environment.

Sensory and Chemical Characteristics of Solid Brem with The Addition of Gedong Gincu Mango Juice (Mangifera Indica L. Var. Gedong Gincu)

Brem is a type of advanced processed food from fermented white glutinous rice. This study aims to determine the characteristics of solid brem with the addition of Gedong Gincu mango juice. This research uses a one-factor, completely randomized design (CRD) with three levels of treatment with a comparison of white sticky tape juice and Gedong Gincu mango juice, namely A1 (85%:15%), A2 (75%:25%), and A3 (65%:35%). As well as testing paired T-tests for selected products and control. The data analysis used is ANOVA with Duncan advanced test (α=0,05). Based on the results of research solid brem addition of Gedong Gincu mango juice affects the sensory quality (color (3,53-8,44), flavor (5,61-6,79), and appearance (5,44-7,85)), hedonic (color (4,97-7,29), aroma (6,04-7,30), texture (6,34-7,79), and overall (6,41-7,53)), and chemical (water content (18,31%-20,71%), carbohydrates as starch (2,63%-9,17%), acidity (9,51%-17,85%), and vitamin C (2,25 mg/100g-3,02 mg/100g)). However, the addition of Gedong Gincu mango juice did not affect the sensory quality (aroma (5,92-6,45), taste (6,77-7,60), and texture (7,41-7,75)), hedonic (taste (6,34-7,16)), and chemical (ash content (1,45%-4,06%), and water-insoluble part (3,61%-4,15%)). Further test results T-test sample A1 and control showed parameters of color, aroma, and appearance (sensory quality); color, aroma, and taste (hedonic); and the value of water content, ash content, carbohydrates, acid degrees, and vitamin C has no significant effect with the addition of Gedong Gincu mango juice. In contrast, the parameters of taste, flavor, texture (sensory quality), texture and overall (hedonic), and water-insoluble part significantly affect the addition of Gedong Gincu mango juice

Performance of Anticorrosive Measures of Steel in Concrete Infrastructure by Plant‐Based Extracts

AbstractCompetence to combat corrosion of steel‐reinforced concrete (SRC) infrastructures for long periods has become a fascinating topic for corrosion scientists. The longevity of such infrastructures is limited mainly by the corrosion process. Hence, urgent demands for developing effective and practical methods are necessary to minimize the corrosion of such concrete structures. The anti‐corrosive components can be designed from the green plants' parts to mitigate the SRC corrosion in recent years. The ongoing research aims to substantiate the success of the leaf extract of Psidium guajava (LEPG) and its 50% blend (BnD) with the leaf extract of Mangifera indica (LEMI) for assessing the steel corrosion condition in a concrete slab. For this purpose, a fast corrosion potential monitoring (CPM) method is applied per the ASTM procedure. Outcomes of the work summarized that the additions of 500–4000 ppm LEPG and its 50% BnD blend have significant corrosion‐inhibiting action. The corrosion potential (ϕcorr) shifts toward a less corrosion‐risk area of the steel bar for 6 months at ambient conditions.

Development of a high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the quantification of mangiferin in different extracts of Mangifera indica L. and its antioxidant activity

Development of a high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the quantification of mangiferin in different extracts of Mangifera indica L. and its antioxidant activity

“From the city of mango trees to the city of concrete”: study on urban public green leisure areas in Belém (Pará, Brazil)

The Urban Public Green Areas (UPGA) in the Amazon represents a small environmental and cultural sample of different spaces and ways of traditional populations life’s and cities in the region. Although, such areas have been under pressure from urban expansion, and in some cases, they do not meet the citizens needs and use of these spaces for leisure. Thus, this research aimed to analyze the distribution, access and reduction of urban public green areas for leisure in Belém. The qualitative-quantitative methodology uses bibliographic and documental research, based on official data on demography and geolocation. The data were submitted to three indicators calculation, namely: Territorial Proportion of Vegetation Coverage Indicator, Vegetation Coverage per Inhabitant Indicator and, within UPGA scope, the Territorial Distribution of Leisure Spaces Indicator. As a result, it was possible to verify that Belém has been progressively losing green areas. In the reduction in UPGA, a significant difference in distribution was also identified, either due to the absence of quality spaces or due to inadequate infrastructure and access. In this way, the leisure practices and sociability in these spaces have been made impracticable, and the population has started to resort to other leisure experiences, which are often nature disconnected.

Phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles@graphene oxide using Mangifera indica leaves extract at room temperature: The simultaneous effects of synthesis conditions on controlled particle size and colorimetric sensing of H2O2

In this study, the silver nanoparticles@graphene oxide (AgNPs@GO) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated using Mangifera indica leaves extract as a reducing agent and stabilizer. The simultaneous effects of different synthesis parameters, including the extract concentration, the concentration of AgNO3, and the mass ratio between GO and AgNO3 (GO/AgNO3 ratio) were investigated via response surface methodology according to the Box-Behnken model, in which the particle size was calculated via scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The results indicated the high compatibility of the model with the experimental data with the correlation coefficient R2 of 0.9948. Additionally, the optimal conditions for the fabrication of the AgNPs@GO were determined to be 1.476 mg/mL of extract, 0.111 mg/mL of AgNO3, and the GO/AgNO3 ratio of 0.307 with an estimated particle size of 22.002 nm. Besides, the calculated particle size from SEM images was also compared with the values determined using Mie theory, which indicated relative compatibility between the two calculation approaches. The H2O2 colorimetric detection of the material was also evaluated. The result also showed that while the detection of H2O2 showed a significant variation within different synthesis conditions, the limit of detection value calculated from all samples showed the lowest value of the limit of detection <60 μg/L, indicating the great potential of the material in practical applications.

Analysis of tree quality on the green line using google earth in Tanjung Morawa District, Deli Serdang Regency

City development with unfriendly development causes the quality and quantity of open green space to decrease. Google Earth is an interactive mapping application released by google, which displays a digital visualization of the geographical shape of the earth. This study aims to determine the type and quality of trees on the urban forest in the Tanjung-Morawa sub-district and to map the quality of trees on the urban forest in the Tanjung-Morawa sub-district. This study uses a modified method of tree quality assessment with two criteria: tree health and technically criteria. From the observation result, there are 18 trees, Glodokan (Polyalthia longifolia) with the highest number, as many as 842 trees, and Dadap Merah (Erythrina crista goly) as the tree with the least amount. The quality of the trees in the urban forest shows a moderate good quality, where the highest health is in the medium category and for the technical in the low category. Trees that are recommended to be cut have a cumulative ≥ 2,5 Angsana trees with a total of 129 trees, and the highest cumulative percentage is the Banyan tree at 66,67%. The Mango tree has the lowest rate at 8,70%. Google Earth can’t be used optimally because of the low-resolution image quality. Image capture data in google earth has not been updated; the unstable internet connection and the time of the retrieval and processing of field data are not the same as the time retrieval and processing.

Design and Spray Performance Evaluation of an Air–Ground Cooperation Stereoscopic Plant Protection System for Mango Orchards

With the aim of solving the problems of high labor intensity, low operational efficiency, and poor deposition distribution uniformity in the mango canopy associated with traditional plant protection devices, an air-ground co-operation stereoscopic plant protection system consisting of an orchard caterpillar mist sprayer and a six-rotor plant protection UAV was designed to jointly undertake plant protection operations in mango orchards. We tested the spraying performance of the system on mango trees, compared with the single-machine operation, the air–ground co-operation system could significantly increase the droplet coverage on the upperside of mango leaves in each part of the canopy (a 14.7% increase for the mist sprayer and 12.9% for the UAV). This increased the active component deposition distribution uniformity in the mango canopy but could not significantly improve the deposition and coverage of droplets on the underside of leaves compared with the mist sprayer and plant protection UAV. Due to the characteristics of the mango canopy such as large leaf length and thickness and complex leaf inclination distribution, this led to poor deposition distribution uniformity of the two spray units, and the overall CV was over 150%. The pesticide active ingredients were almost uniformly distributed in the vertical direction when the application ratios (ground implements/plant protection drones) were 8/2 and 7/3, offering a promising protocol for reduced pesticide application in mango orchards. This study presents promising data that support the innovative integration of drones into crop protection programs for large canopy crops (e.g., mango) and provides guidance for the ACSPPS system in reduction and precision application research.

Using A Protoplast Transformation System to Enable Functional Studies in Mangifera indica L.

Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) are an important kind of perennial fruit tree, but their biochemical testing method and transformation technology were insufficient and had not been rigorously explored. The protoplast technology is an excellent method for creating a rapid and effective tool for transient expression and transformation assays, particularly in plants that lack an Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation system. This study optimized the conditions of the protoplast isolation and transformation system, which can provide a lot of help in the gene expression regulation study of mango. The most beneficial protoplast isolation conditions were 150 mg/mL of cellulase R-10 and 180 mg/mL of macerozyme R-10 in the digestion solution at pH 5.6 and 12 h of digestion time. The 0.16 M and 0.08 M mannitol in wash solution (WI) and suspension for counting (MMG), respectively, were optimal for the protoplast isolation yield. The isolated leaf protoplasts (~5.4 × 105 cells/10 mL) were transfected for 30 min mediated by 40% calcium-chloride-based polyethylene glycol (PEG)-4000-CaCl2, from which 84.38% of the protoplasts were transformed. About 0.08 M and 0.12 M of mannitol concentration in MMG and transfection solutions, respectively, were optimal for protoplast viability. Under the florescence signal, GFP was seen in the transformed protoplasts. This showed that the target gene was successfully induced into the protoplast and that it can be transcribed and translated. Experimental results in this paper show that our high-efficiency protoplast isolation and PEG-mediated transformation protocols can provide excellent new methods for creating a rapid and effective tool for the molecular mechanism study of mangoes.

Air mapping during COVID-19 and association between air pollutants and physiochemical parameters of the plants using structural equal modeling: a case study.

In urban areas around the world, air pollution introduced by vehicular movement is a key concern. However, restricting vehicular traffic during the COVID-19 shutdown improved air quality to some extent. This study was conducted out in the smart city of Bhubaneswar, which is also the state capital of Odisha, India. The study has tried to map Bhubaneswar by collecting the air quality data before, during, and after the COVID lockdown of six air quality monitoring stations present in Bhubaneswar established under "National Ambient Air Monitoring Program" (NAMP). Furthermore, plants, which are the most vulnerable to air pollution, can show a variety of visible changes depending on their level of sensitivity. Moreover, leaves of Mangifera indica, Monoon longifolium, Azadirachta indica, Millettia pinnata, Aegle marmelos were collected from nearby of six air monitoring stations to assess the "Air Pollution Tolerance Index." M. indica was found to be intermediately tolerant, and all of the other species were found to be sensitive. The structural equation modeling results also revealed a significant relationship between total chlorophyll content, relative water content, ascorbic acid content, leaf extract pH, APTI with species, air quality index, and PM10.

Direct and indirect effects of urbanization, pesticides and wild insect pollinators on mango yield

Abstract Expanding cities increasingly encroach fertile farmlands, questioning the viability of maintaining agriculture within and around them. Yet, our knowledge on how urbanization influences pollinator communities and the provision of pollination services to crops is limited, especially for the urbanization hotspots of the Global South. Mango Mangifera indica is one of the most important fruit crops in tropical countries. To analyse the dependency of mango on its main insect pollinators, and the direct and indirect effects of urbanization and insecticides on pollinator abundance and mango yield, we conducted a pollinator exclusion experiment and sampled flower visitors on 16 mango farms spread across rural–urban landscapes in Bengaluru, a South Indian megacity. We found that allowing flowers access to ants and flying visitors (bees, hoverflies, nonsyrphid flies), dramatically increased mango yield by 350%, highlighting the importance of wild insects for mango pollination. We detected a trend between wild bee abundance and the final fruit set, with an increase of 20% when the number of bees increased from 25 to 125. Urbanization did not directly affect pollinator abundance or mango yield. However, the amount of insecticide applications had strong negative effects on wild bee abundance at low and intermediate levels of urbanization, while it had no effect in highly urbanized areas, presumably because of higher availability of flowering resources. Moreover, the amount of insecticides decreased the weight of harvested mango fruits by almost 30%. This may indicate trade‐offs between conventional pest control and enhanced crop yields through pollination by wild insects in rural areas. Synthesis and applications: Our results indicate that mango production can be maintained at a profitable level in urbanized landscapes with insect pollinators more than tripling final yield. However, increasing use of insecticides, besides raising farmers' expenses, can have negative effects on wild insect pollinators and mango yield, especially in rural areas. To safeguard crucial pollination services, it is therefore critical to conserve and promote wild insect pollinators by minimizing the negative effects of insecticide applications in these areas.