Poisonous Plants Research Articles

Metabolomic analysis of swainsonine poisoning in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Locoweed is a poisonous plant widely present in grasslands around the world. Swainsonine (SW), an indole alkaloid that, is the main toxic component of the locoweed. To understand the mechanism of SW-induced toxicity and to delineate the metabolic profile of locoweed poisoning we performed the LC-MS/MS untargeted metabolomic study to analyze metabolites in SW-treated renal tubular epithelial cells (0.8 mg/mL, 12 h) and in order to identify the SW-induced metabolomic changes. The analysis identified 2,563 metabolites in positive ion mode and 1,990 metabolites in negative ion mode. Our results showed that the metabolites were mainly benzenoids, lipids and lipid-like molecules, nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogs, organic acids, and derivatives. The differential metabolites were primarily enriched in pathways involving bile secretion, primary bile acid biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, ferroptosis, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and primidine metabolism. We have screened out substances such as swainsonine, 3alpha,7alpha-Dihydroxy-5beta-cholestanate, 2-Hydroxyiminostilbene, and glycochenodeoxycholate, which may have the potential to serve as biomarkers for swainsonine poisoning. This study provides insights into the types of metabolomic alteration in renal tubular epithelial cells induced by swainsonine.

Lisosomal storage disease caused by ingestion of Astragalus spp in llamas: an emergent concern.

Lysosomal storage diseases are inherited or acquired disorders characterized by dysfunctional lysosomes that lead to intracytoplasmic accumulation of undegraded substrates, causing impaired cellular function and death. Many acquired lysosomal storage diseases are produced by toxic plants, which have indolizidine alkaloids, including swainsonine, that inhibits lysosomal α-mannosidase and Golgi α-mannosidase II. Swainsonine-induced nervous disease associated with various plants has been reported, including species of the genus Astragalus, Sida, Oxitropis, Swainsona, and Ipomoea. Two species of Astragalus (i.e. Astragalus garbancillo and Astragalus punae) have been found to cause neurologic disease in llamas. In addition, A. garbancillo was also associated with malformations in the offspring, and possibly abortions and neonatal mortality in llamas. The diagnosis of Astragalus spp. intoxication is established based on clinical signs, microscopic and ultrastructural findings, lectin histochemistry, abundance of these plants in the grazing area and determination of swainsonine in plant specimens.

Various Media used to Detoxify Abrus precatorius - A Mini Review

Abrus precatorius, sometimes referred to as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a tropical and subtropical plant species that is extensively scattered all over. It is highly dangerous because of the presence of abrin, an exceptionally toxic protein. A. precatorius is a poisonous plant with great traditional and pharmaceutical value; therefore, to safely utilize its potential benefits, detoxification techniques are required. This review methodically examines the numerous detoxification strategies used in various media to lessen A. precatorius’s toxicity. There are various methods employed to detoxify the seeds which include cow’s milk, cow’s urine, fermented rice water, lemon juice, etc. The possible applications of detoxified A. precatorius in conventional medicine, pharmaceuticals, and agro-industrial sectors are also reviewed in this paper. Additionally, the paper also emphasizes new developments and potential paths for detoxification research, highlighting the necessity of creative solutions to maximize detoxification effectiveness while protecting bioactive components

A novel approaches to 6th-order delay differential equations in toxic plant interactions and soil impact: beyond newton-raphson

This paper focuses on investigating a 6th-order delay differential equation root within the context of toxic interactions between competing plant populations and their impact on soil dynamics. The study introduces a novel approach for approximating solutions to nonlinear delay differential equations, drawing inspiration from the fundamental principles of Newton-Raphson’s method. This technique leverages the complex root theorem to ensure stability, enabling it to effectively handle widely dispersed roots within dynamic systems. Consequently, this approach holds considerable potential for a diverse array of applications. The analysis introduces time delay into a nonlinear dynamical system and explores the system’s threshold value. At this threshold, the dynamical system’s stability undergoes fluctuations, and observations of hopf bifurcation phenomena are made. The study also successfully identifies both real and complex roots of the dynamical system. Visualization of the dynamic system is accomplished using MATLAB-generated graphical representations. Moreover, this research’s implications extend to the realm of climate action and terrestrial ecosystems, underscoring its significance for promoting a sustainable environment and fostering healthy life on land.

Regulatory Mechanism through Which Old Soybean Leaves Respond to Mn Toxicity Stress.

Manganese (Mn) is a heavy metal that can cause excessive Mn poisoning in plants, disrupting microstructural homeostasis and impairing growth and development. However, the specific response mechanisms of leaves to Mn poisoning have not been fully elucidated. This study revealed that Mn poisoning of soybean plants resulted in yellowing of old leaves. Physiological assessments of these old leaves revealed significant increases in the antioxidant enzymes activities (peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT)) and elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, indoleacetic acid (IAA), and salicylic acid (SA), under 100 μM Mn toxicity. Conversely, the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin 3 (GA3), and jasmonic acid (JA) significantly decreased. The Mn content in the affected leaves significantly increased, while the levels of Ca, Na, K, and Cu decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed 2258 differentially expressed genes in the Mn-stressed leaves, 744 of which were upregulated and 1514 were downregulated; these genes included genes associated with ion transporters, hormone synthesis, and various enzymes. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) verification of fifteen genes confirmed altered gene expression in the Mn-stressed leaves. These findings suggest a complex gene regulatory mechanism under Mn toxicity and stress, providing a foundation for further exploration of Mn tolerance-related gene regulatory mechanisms in soybean leaves. Using the methods described above, this study will investigate the molecular mechanism of old soybean leaves' response to Mn poisoning, identify key genes that play regulatory roles in Mn toxicity stress, and lay the groundwork for cultivating high-quality soybean varieties with Mn toxicity tolerance traits.

Unveiling the potential of A. fabrum and γ-aminobutyric acid for mitigation of nickel toxicity in fenugreek

Nickel (Ni) is a heavy metal that adversely affects the growth of different crops by inducing oxidative stress and nutrient imbalance. The role of rhizobacteria (RB) is vital to resolve this issue. They can promote root growth and facilitate the uptake of water and nutrients, resulting in better crop growth. On the other hand, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can maintain the osmotic balance and scavenge the reactive oxygen species under stress conditions. However, the combined effect of GABA and RB has not been thoroughly explored to alleviate Ni toxicity, especially in fenugreek plants. Therefore, in the current pot study, four treatments, i.e., control, A. fabrum (RB), 0.40 mM GABA, and 0.40 mM GABA + RB, were applied under 0Ni and 80 mg Ni/kg soil (80Ni) stress. Results showed that RB + 0.40 mM GABA caused significant improvements in shoot length (~ 13%), shoot fresh weight (~ 47%), shoot dry weight (~ 47%), root length (~ 13%), root fresh weight (~ 60%), and root dry weight (~ 15%) over control under 80 Ni toxicity. A significant enhancement in total chlorophyll (~ 14%), photosynthetic rate (~ 17%), stomatal CO2 concentration (~ 19%), leaves and roots N (~ 10 and ~ 37%), P (~ 18 and ~ 7%) and K (~ 11 and ~ 30%) concentrations, while a decrease in Ni (~ 83 and ~ 49%) concentration also confirmed the effectiveness of RB + 0.40 mM GABA than control under 80Ni. In conclusion, fabrum + 0.40 mM GABA can potentially alleviate the Ni toxicity in fenugreek plants. The implications of these findings extend to agricultural practices, environmental remediation efforts, nutritional security, and ecological impact. Further research is recommended to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, assess long-term effects, and determine the practical feasibility of using A. fabrum + 0.40GABA to improve growth in different crops under Ni toxicity.

24-epibrassinolide mitigates cadmium toxicity in rice plants by activating the plant detoxification system and regulating genes expression involved in Cd/Fe uptake and translocation

Brassinosteroids (BRs) have received much research attention for their ability to mediate response to biotic and abiotic stress, with potential to counter the cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. Decreases in plant height and biomass in Cd-treated seedlings were alleviated by brassinosteroid analog 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) application, which has a negative effect on root growth. The Cd concentration significantly decreased in the roots and shoots under 24-EBL application, and high 24-EBL (0.1 µM) treatment was optimal for alleviating the deleterious effect of Cd stress. Fe and Mn accumulation in the 24-EBL-applied conditions resulted in an increase and decrease in rice varieties under Cd exposure, respectively. Additionally, 24-EBL improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes to reduce oxidative stress, decreased the nicotianamine (NA) content in shoots, and increased root NA accumulation. In molecular regulation, 24-EBL could directly alter the expression of Cd uptake/transport-related genes in the roots, including up-regulation of OsNRAMP1 and down-regulation of OsNRAMP5 and OsHMA2. The expression of genes involved in Fe homeostasis, including OsIRT1, OsNAS3, OsNAAT1, OsYSL2, OsYSL15, and OsTOM1, was up-regulated following 24-EBL application under Cd stress due to Fe accumulation and Cd-Fe antagonism. In addition, 24-EBL decreased the expression of OsHMA2, OsYSL2, and OsYSL15 in leaves, suggesting that BRs might inhibit Cd and Fe transport from roots to shoots. These novel findings highlight the critical role of BRs in mediating response of rice varieties to Cd exposure through their direct regulatory effects on Cd translocation and indirect effects on Fe metabolism.

Chemical Management Strategies of Pimelea trichostachya Lindl. Using Pre- and Post-Emergence Herbicides.

Pimelea trichostachya Lindl. is a native Australian forb responsible for livestock poisoning and reducing the productivity and sustainability of grazing enterprises. This study was conducted as a pot trial under controlled conditions to investigate an effective chemical management strategy for P. trichostachya, a method that did not leave standing dead plant material, as such material can also be toxic to grazing cattle. Three herbicides, including one pre-emergence (tebuthiuron) and two post-emergence herbicides (2,4-D and metsulfuron-methyl), were tested in pot trials for their efficacy on P. trichostachya. Results showed that tebuthiuron applied as either a granular (10% active ingredient, a.i.) or pelleted (20% a.i.) form efficiently reduced the emergence of P. trichostachya seedlings. Although some seedlings emerged, they perished within 7 days post treatment, leaving no residual plant matter. Testing now needs to be undertaken under field conditions to validate the findings within vegetation communities where potential non-target impacts need to be accounted for as well. The post-emergence application of 2,4-D and metsulfuron-methyl demonstrated that the highest efficacy and reduced application rates were achieved by treating earlier growth stages (i.e., seedlings) of P. trichostachya plants. In addition, the amount of toxic dead plant material was minimized due to the faster degradation of these small plants. These findings offer practical, cost-effective solutions for sustaining grazing lands from P. trichostachya challenges.

Wild plants with toxic properties and with insecticidal potential organic against pests agricultural

In this work, 15 plants are listed, which are considered to have toxic effects in different areas of Durango. In addition, their main characteristics, distribution, properties and uses are described. Most toxic plants cause problems to human health such as: irritations, burns, vomiting, diarrhea and in some extreme cases these can cause death if we exceed the dose. On the other hand, these qualities can be used to benefit the environment, by extracting toxic secondary metabolites and using them to control pests, whether for forestry or agricultural insects, and thus reduce damage to the entomofauna of the area. Therefore, the objective of this review is to inform and identify the location of toxic plants in the state of Durango, uses and distribution. Furthermore, since the plants listed here do not have any harmful effects on the environment, their possible use in the production of biorational insecticides against insects is considered, which can be part of integrated pest management.

Effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum Fungus on the Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants under Boron Toxicity and Salt Stress

Soil salinity is an emerging phenomenon threatening arid and semiarid areas due to changing climatic events. Salinity, in combination with other elemental contaminants, can often harm crop performance and productivity. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the mitigating effect of Claroideoglomus etunicatum, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), on combined boron (B) toxicity and salt stress symptoms in maize plants. After the stress and AMF treatments, plants were subjected to a wide range of analyses, such as AMF colonization rates, ion leakage, plant biomass, and concentration of B, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese in root and shoot tissues. The results showed that the combined stress did not affect the AMF colonization rate. AMF inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, the K+/Na+ ratio, and shoot B, sodium, and copper concentrations, but reduced root B concentrations and ion leakage. AMF inoculation slightly increased root dry weight and the sodium, potassium, zinc, copper and Mn contents in shoots under combined B and salinity stress, while AMF reduced the electrolyte leakage in leaves. It is inferred that AMF can ameliorate B toxicity in maize by improving biomass and reducing B concentration in plant tissues. Our research implies that C. etunicatum could be a valuable candidate for assisting in the remediation of boron-contaminated and saline soils.

Unveiling the Dark Side of Datura in Pediatric Poisoning With Insights From Jordanian Experience : A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Datura stramonium , jimsonweed, is a toxic plant with hallucinogenic properties. Although there are many studies on Datura poisoning, none reported cases in Jordan. This study offers a comprehensive review on D. stramonium ingestion, covering its epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment. We aimed to provide better understanding of the factors for Datura ingestion, identify prevention and management strategies, and address research challenges. This study adopted a retrospective review design to evaluate the cases of Datura poisoning in Al Karak, province of Jordan during the spring of 2022. Data collected from medical records, toxicology databases, and consultation records were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The common symptoms of Datura poisoning included agitation, mydriasis, and tachycardia. The management approaches comprised supportive care, administration of Diazepam for agitation, and, in some cases, neostigmine to counteract anticholinergic effects. Understanding the risks associated with D. stramonium poisoning and implementing effective prevention and management strategies are crucial. This study highlights the importance of recognizing Datura poisoning as a potential diagnosis in children presenting with unexplained anticholinergic symptoms or agitation to the emergency room.

Effect of cytochrome P450 3A4 on tissue distribution of humantenmine, koumine, and gelsemine, three alkaloids from the toxic plant Gelsemium

Humantenmine, koumine, and gelsemine are three indole alkaloids found in the highly toxic plant Gelsemium. Humantenmine was the most toxic, followed by gelsemine and koumine. The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the effects of these three substances on tissue distribution and toxicity in mice pretreated with the Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducer ketoconazole and the inhibitor rifampicin. The in vivo test results showed that the three alkaloids were absorbed rapidly and had the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. At 5 min after intraperitoneal injection, the three alkaloids were widely distributed in various tissues and organs, the spleen and pancreas were the most distributed, and the content of all tissues decreased significantly at 20 min. Induction or inhibition of CYP3A4 in vivo can regulate the distribution and elimination effects of the three alkaloids in various tissues and organs. Additionally, induction of CYP3A4 can reduce the toxicity of humantenmine, and vice versa. Changes in CYP3A4 levels may account for the difference in toxicity of humantenmine. These findings provide a reliable and detailed dataset for drug interactions, tissue distribution, and toxicity studies of Gelsemium alkaloids.

Modulation of rhizosphere microbial community and metabolites by bio-functionalized nanoscale silicon oxide alleviates cadmium-induced phytotoxicity in bayberry plants

Cadmium (Cd) is an extremely toxic heavy metal that can originate from industrial activities and accumulate in agricultural soils. This study investigates the potential of biologically synthesized silicon oxide nanoparticles (Bio-SiNPs) in alleviating Cd toxicity in bayberry plants. Bio-SiNPs were synthesized using the bacterial strain Chryseobacterium sp. RTN3 and thoroughly characterized using advanced techniques. A pot experiment results demonstrated that Cd stress substantially reduced leaves biomass, photosynthesis efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity, and induced oxidative damage in bayberry (Myrica rubra) plants. However, Bio-SiNPs application at 200 mg kg−1 significantly enhanced plant biomass, chlorophyll content (26.4 %), net photosynthetic rate (8.6 %), antioxidant enzyme levels, and mitigated reactive oxygen species production under Cd stress. Bio-SiNPs modulated key stress-related phytohormones by increasing salicylic acid (13.2 %) and abscisic acid (13.7 %) contents in plants. Bio-SiNPs augmented Si deposition on root surfaces, preserving normal ultrastructure in leaf cells. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that Bio-SiNPs treatment favorably reshaped structure and abundance of specific bacterial groups (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota) in the rhizosphere. Notably, Bio-SiNPs application significantly modulated the key metabolites (phenylacetaldehyde, glycitein, maslinic acid and methylmalonic acid) under both normal and Cd stress conditions. Overall, this study highlights that bio-nanoremediation using Bio-SiNPs enhances tolerance to Cd stress in bayberry plants by beneficially modulating biochemical, microbial, and metabolic attributes.

Sensitivity of microbial bioindicators in assessing metal immobilization success in smelter-impacted soils

While plant toxicity reduction remains the primary metric for judging the success of metal immobilization in soil, the suitability of microorganisms as universal indicators of its effectiveness in various contaminated soils remains a point of contention. This study assessed the sensitivity of microbial bioindicators in monitoring metal immobilization success in smelter-impacted soils. It compared plants and microorganisms as indicators of the efficiency of natural Fe–Mn nodules from the Gulf of Finland in immobilizing metals in soils contaminated by a Ni/Cu smelter, on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region, Russia. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was grown on nodule-amended and control soils. Plant responses in the smelter-impacted soils proved to be sensitive and robust indicators of successful metal immobilization. However, microbial responses exhibited a more complex story. Despite the observed reductions in soluble metal concentrations, shoot metal contents in ryegrass, and significant improvements in plant growth, certain microbial bioindicators were unresponsive to metal immobilization success brought about by the addition of Fe–Mn nodules. Among microbial bioindicators studied, community-level physiological profiling, microbial biomass carbon, and basal respiration were sensitive indicators of metal immobilization success, whereas the number of saprotrophic, oligotrophic, and Fe-oxidizing bacteria and fungi, the biomass of bacteria and fungi, and enzymatic activity were less robust indicators. Interestingly, the correlations between different microbial responses measured were weak or even negative. Some microbial responses also exhibited negative correlations with plant biomass. These findings underscore the need for further research on comparative evaluations of plants and microorganisms as reliable indicators of metal immobilization efficacy in polluted environments.

Iron nanoparticles in combination with other conventional Fe sources remediate mercury toxicity-affected plants and soils by nutrient accumulation in bamboo species

The issue of mercury (Hg) toxicity has recently been identified as a significant environmental concern, with the potential to impede plant growth in forested and agricultural areas. Conversely, recent reports have indicated that Fe, may play a role in alleviating HM toxicity in plants. Therefore, this study's objective is to examine the potential of iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) and various sources of Fe, particularly iron sulfate (Fe SO4 or Fe S) and iron-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (Fe - EDTA or Fe C), either individually or in combination, to mitigate the toxic effects of Hg on Pleioblastus pygmaeus. Involved mechanisms in the reduction of Hg toxicity in one-year bamboo species by Fe NPs, and by various Fe sources were introduced by a controlled greenhouse experiment. While 80 mg/L Hg significantly reduced plant growth and biomass (shoot dry weight (36%), root dry weight (31%), and shoot length (31%) and plant tolerance (34%) in comparison with control treatments, 60 mg/L Fe NPs and conventional sources of Fe increased proline accumulation (32%), antioxidant metabolism (21%), polyamines (114%), photosynthetic pigments (59%), as well as root dry weight (25%), and shoot dry weight (22%), and shoot length (22%). Fe NPs, Fe S, and Fe C in plant systems substantially enhanced tolerance to Hg toxicity (23%). This improvement was attributed to increased leaf-relative water content (39%), enhanced nutrient availability (50%), improved antioxidant capacity (34%), and reduced Hg translocation (6%) and accumulation (31%) in plant organs. Applying Fe NPs alone or in conjunction with a mixture of Fe C and Fe S can most efficiently improve bamboo plants' tolerance to Hg toxicity. The highest efficiency in increasing biochemical and physiological indexes under Hg, was related to the treatments of Fe NPs as well as Fe NPs + FeS + FeC. Thus, Fe NPs and other Fe sources might be effective options to remove toxicity from plants and soil. The future perspective may help establish mechanisms to regulate environmental toxicity and human health progressions.

The role and transcriptomic mechanism of cell wall in the mutual antagonized effects between selenium nanoparticles and cadmium in wheat

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) has been reported as a beneficial role in alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plant. However, underlying molecular mechanisms about SeNPs reducing Cd accumulation and alleviating Cd toxicity in wheat are not well understood. A hydroponic culture was performed to evaluate Cd and Se accumulation, cell wall components, oxidative stress and antioxidative system, and transcriptomic response of wheat seedlings after SeNPs addition under Cd stress. Results showed that SeNPs application notably reduced Cd concentration in root and in shoot by 56.9% and 37.3%, respectively. Additionally, SeNPs prompted Cd distribution in root cell wall by 54.7%, and increased lignin, pectin and hemicellulose contents by regulating cell wall biosynthesis and metabolism–related genes. Further, SeNPs alleviated oxidative stress caused by Cd in wheat through signal transduction pathways. We also observed that Cd addition reduced Se accumulation by downregulating the expression level of aquaporin 7. These results indicated that SeNPs alleviated Cd toxicity and reduced Cd accumulation in wheat, which were associated with the synergetic regulation of cell wall biosynthesis pathway, uptake transporters, and antioxidative system via signaling pathways.

Mapping the Continuous Cover of Invasive Noxious Weed Species Using Sentinel-2 Imagery and a Novel Convolutional Neural Regression Network

Invasive noxious weed species (INWS) are typical poisonous plants and forbs that are considered an increasing threat to the native alpine grassland ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Accurate knowledge of the continuous cover of INWS across complex alpine grassland ecosystems over a large scale is required for their control and management. However, the cooccurrence of INWS and native grass species results in highly heterogeneous grass communities and generates mixed pixels detected by remote sensors, which causes uncertainty in classification. The continuous coverage of INWS at the pixel level has not yet been achieved. In this study, objective 1 was to test the capability of Senginel-2 imagery at estimating continuous INWS cover across complex alpine grasslands over a large scale and objective 2 was to assess the performance of the state-of-the-art convolutional neural network-based regression (CNNR) model in estimating continuous INWS cover. Therefore, a novel CNNR model and a random forest regression (RFR) model were evaluated for estimating INWS continuous cover using Sentinel-2 imagery. INWS continuous cover was estimated directly from Sentinel-2 imagery with an R2 ranging from 0.88 to 0.93 using the CNNR model. The RFR model combined with multiple features had a comparable accuracy, which was slightly lower than that of the CNNR model, with an R2 of approximately 0.85. Twelve green band-, red-edge band-, and near-infrared band-related features had important contributions to the RFR model. Our results demonstrate that the CNNR model performs well when estimating INWS continuous cover directly from Sentinel-2 imagery, and the RFR model combined with multiple features derived from the Sentinel-2 imager can also be used for INWS continuous cover mapping. Sentinel-2 imagery is suitable for mapping continuous INWS cover across complex alpine grasslands over a large scale. Our research provides information for the advanced mapping of the continuous cover of invasive species across complex grassland ecosystems or, more widely, terrestrial ecosystems over large spatial areas using remote sensors such as Sentinel-2.

Sulfonamide modified chitosan oligosaccharide with high nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) modification is a feasible way to develop novel green nematicides. This study involved the synthesis of various COS sulfonamide derivatives via hydroxylated protection and deprotection, which were then characterized using NMR, FTIR, MS, elemental analysis, XRD, and TG/DTG. In vitro experiments found that COS-alkyl sulfonamide derivatives (S6 and S11–S13) exhibited high mortality (>98 % at 1 mg/mL) against Meloidogyne incognita second-instar larvaes (J2s) among the derivatives. S6 can cause vacuole-like structures in the middle and tail regions of the nematode body and effectively inhibit egg hatching. In vivo tests have found that S6 has well control effects and low plant toxicity. Additionally, the structure-activity studies revealed that S6 with a high degree of substitution, a low molecular weight, and a sulfonyl bond on the amino group of the COS backbone exhibited increased nematicidal activity. The sulfonamide group is a potential active group for developing COS-based nematicides.

Combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and selenium fertilizer increased wheat biomass under cadmium stress and shapes rhizosphere soil microbial communities

BackgroundSelenium (Se) fertilizer and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to modulate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. However, the effects of their co-application on wheat growth and soil microbial communities in Cd-contaminated soil are unclear.ResultsA pot experiment inoculation with two types of AMF and the application of Se fertilizer under Cd stress in wheat showed that inoculation AMF alone or combined with Se fertilizer significantly increased wheat biomass. Se and AMF alone or in combination significantly reduced available Cd concentration in wheat and soil, especially in the Se combined with Ri treatment. High throughput sequencing of soil samples indicated that Se and AMF application had stronger influence on bacterial community compared to fungal community and the bacterial network seemed to have more complex interconnections than the fungal network, and finally shaped the formation of specific microflora to affect Cd availability.ConclusionThese results indicate that the application of Se and AMF, particularly in combination, could successfully decrease soil Cd availability and relieve the harm of Cd in wheat by modifying rhizosphere soil microbial communities.

Iron oxide nanoparticle (Fe3O4 NPs) synthesized from B. subtilis reduced arsenic (as) toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant

Arsenic (As) is one of the most important water pollutant of global concern due to its extreme hazard. In the present study, B. subtilis synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) were used for mitigation of harmful metalloid As from the aqueous solution. Initially, the arsenic removal efficiency was tested in a batch culture experiment across various concentrations (5, 10 and 15 ppm) of B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs at different pH, time interval and agitation speed. Optimal removal efficiency of As by using B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs was observed at pH 7, after 80 min, and with agitation at 200 rpm. Additionally, hydroponic culture experiment was designed to assess B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs efficiency in removal of As from As-contaminated water used to irrigate rice plants. Results revealed that B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs effectively removed As from the contiminated water and reduced its uptake by the different parts of rice plants (root, shoot and leaf). Furthermore, these B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs also reduced the bioaccumulation and enhanced plant tolerance to As, suggesting their potential in mitigating heavy metal toxicity, especially As and promoting plant growth. Thus, this study proposes B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs as nano-adsorbents in reducing arsenic toxicity in rice plants.