Cyperus Rotundus Research Articles

Effect of Zero Tillage and Different Weed Management Practices in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Indo Gangetic Plains: A Review

Millions of rural and urban residents depend on the rice-wheat cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) for their food security and means of subsistence. About 18 million hectares (m ha) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are rotated across Asia, of which 13.5 m ha are in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India. This agricultural system’s viability is currently in jeopardy due to static yields of both wheat and rice and a decline in total factor productivity. The North West IGP's high input crop culture has allowed weeds to dominate the weed flora, including P. minor in wheat and Echinochloa crus-galli L. in rice. Farmers in North West India have largely used zero tillage for growing wheat, and recently, farmers in the eastern IGP have done the same. Perennial weeds in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain, such Cynodon dactylon L. and Cyperus rotundus L. can occasionally be a nuisance under zero tillage. As an alternative to puddled transplanted rice, the focus is currently on dry direct-seeded rice and machine transplanting of non-puddled rice. As a result of changes in tillage, crop establishment techniques, water use, and weed control brought on by the switch from transplanted rice to direct seeded rice, weed composition and diversity frequently vary. In nations where DSR is frequently used, weedy rice has become a significant concern. Using the Zero Tillage DSR system, certified seed, cultivars that are weed-competitive, stale seedbed procedures, living mulches, and chemical and biological weed control might change weed-crop competition in the crop's favour. However, more research on emergence characteristics and mulching effects of different crop residues on key weeds under zero tillage, cover cropping, and breeding crops for weed suppression will strengthen nonchemical weed management programs. In this review, we examine the extent of weed infestation, weed flora shift and the non-chemical alternative weed management in DSR.

Comparative morpho-anatomy of two sedges (<i>Cyperus cyperoides</i>(L.) Kuntze and <i>Cyperus rotundus</i. L.)

The research investigated the comparative morpho-anatomy of two sedges (Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze and Cyperus rotundus L.), members of the family Cyperaceae. They are perennial herbs and the former commonly known as commonflat sedge and the latter nut sedge or purple nutsedge. The epidermal peels were obtained by standard methods. The samples were fixed in formaldehyde, glacial acetic acid, 70% alcohol in the ratio of 1:1:18, dehydrated in alcohol solutions of 50%, 70%, 90%, absolute and sectioned, stained in 2% aqueous solution of Safranin O, counter stained in Alcian blue, mounted in glycerine.The result on epidermal studies showcased both kidney and dumbbell-shaped guard cells, graminaceous stomata which is amphistomatic for both species. The anatomical studies revealed scattered vascular bundies in ground tissues of stems, bulliform cells at adaxial foliar organs. The pith sections have large pith and a single row of barrel shaped endodermis prominently pronounced. The research findings here would assist in improving upon already existing knowledge about C. cyperoides and C rotundus.

Alpha-cyperone mitigates renal ischemic injury via modulation of HDAC-2 expression in diabetes: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations and experimental evaluation

Chronic diabetes mellitus is reported to be associated with acute kidney injury. The enzyme histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) was found to be upregulated in diabetes-related kidney damage. Alpha-cyperone (α-CYP) is one of the active ingredients of Cyperus rotundus that possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the effect of α-CYP on improving oxidative stress and tissue inflammation following renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats. The effect of α-CYP on HDAC-2 expression in renal homogenates and in the NRK-52 E cell line was evaluated following renal I/R injury and high glucose conditions, respectively. Molecular docking was used to investigate the binding of α-CYP with the HDAC-2 active site. Both renal function and oxidative stress were shown to be impaired in diabetic rats due to renal I/R injury. Significant improvements in kidney/body weight ratio, creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid were observed in diabetic rats treated with α-CYP (50 mg/kg) two weeks prior to renal I/R injury. α-CYP treatment also improved histological alterations in renal tissue and lowered levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and hydroxyproline. Treatment with α-CYP suppressed the increased HDAC-2 expression in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and in the NRK-52 E cell line. The molecular docking reveals that α-CYP binds to HDAC-2 with good affinity, ascertained by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analysis. Overall, our data suggest that α-CYP can effectively prevent renal injury in diabetic rats by regulating oxidative stress, tissue inflammation, fibrosis and inhibiting HDAC-2 activity.

Weed species classification with UAV imagery and standard CNN models: Assessing the frontiers of training and inference phases

Accurate weed species identification is crucial for effective site-specific weed management (SSWM), enabling targeted and timely control measures for each weed in crop field. This study advanced the current approach to species-level weed identification during the early growth stage by integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) imagery with standard convolutional neural networks (CNNs) models such as VGG16, Resnet152 and Inception-Resnet-v2. For this, a robust dataset was created with 33,467 labels of weeds (Atriplex patula, Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Cyperus rotundus, Lolium rigidum, Portulaca oleracea, Salsola kali, Solanum nigrum) and crops (maize, tomato), which was subjected to different training, validation and test scenarios. Model inputs were adjusted in order to align them with the information represented by the UAV images. Initially, models were developed in balanced scenarios, gradually increasing label numbers to assess their performance. Inception-ResNet-v2 achieved over 90% accuracy with 400 labels, while ResNet152 and VGG16 required 600 and 800 labels, respectively, for similar accuracy. In a more complex and realistic scenarios with unbalanced datasets, Inception-ResNet-v2 outperformed, likely due to its deeper architecture and enhanced capability to capture intricate features and patterns within UAV images. The study emphasized the importance of the minority-to-majority species ratio in unbalanced datasets, which affects minority species classification. To prevent misclassification, it is crucial to determine the right number of labels for CNN model training and validation. Weed maps were generated after species classification using the Faster R–CNN algorithm as an object detector. This advancement in methodology facilitates the precise and efficient implementation of SSWM techniques.

Growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays) as influenced by sequential and combined application of tank mix herbicides

The experiment was conducted during 2021–22 at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand to evaluate the impact of sequential and tank mix application of pre- and post-emergence herbicide on weed dynamics and maize productivity. The study was comprised of 9 treatments viz. Weedy (T1 ); Weed free (T2 ); Pre-emergence (PE) application of Atrazine -1 kg a.i./ha fb hand weeding (T3 ); PE application of Atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha fb Post Emergence (Post E) application of Topramezone - 25.2 g a.i./ha (T4 ); PE application of Atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha fb Post E application of Tembotrione - 120 g a.i./ha (T5 ); PE application of Atrazine - 1.0 kg a.i./ha fb Post E application of Topramezone - 25.2 g a.i./ha (T6 ); PE application of Atrazine - 1.0 kg a.i./ha fb Post E application of Tembotrione - 120 g a.i./ha (T7 ); Early Post E application of Topramezone - 25.2 g a.i./ha + Atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha (T8 ) and Early Post E application of Tembotrione - 120 g a.i./ha + Atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha (T9 ). Eleusine indica, Echinochloa colona, Digitaria sanguinalis and Eragrostis japonica were dominant among grassy weeds whereas broad leaf weeds included Cucumis melo, Phyllanthus niruri, Cleome viscosa and Commelina benghalensis. Cyperus rotundus was dominant among sedges. Topramezone - 25.2 g a.i./ha + Atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha Early Post E resulted significantly lower total weed density and was similar to other herbicidal treatments. The highest grain yield (7.2 t/ha) was recorded in a weed-free crop that was similar to all herbicidetreated crops and significantly higher than the weedy crop. Tank mix application of atrazine - 0.75 kg a.i./ha with tembotrione 120 g a.i./ha or topramezone 25.2 g a.i./ha at 15 DAS can be suggested owing to higher grain yield and profits for farmers while lowering the dose and expenses involved in manual weeding and spraying atrazine separately.

Effect of sowing management and herbicides application on weeds and yield of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 at research farm of College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh to study the impact of planting time and herbicides application on weeds and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) yield. Experiment was conducted in a split plot design with 20 treatments comprising of 4 dates of sowing, viz. October 15th, October 30th, November 15th and November 30th in main plots and these were superimposed with 5 weed control treatments i.e. Pyroxasulfone 125 g/ha as pre emergence; Pyroxasulfone 125 g/ha at 14 DAS; Oxyfluorfen 100 g/ ha + Imazethapyr 15 g/ha after first cutting; Oxyfluorfen 100 g/ha + Imazethapyr 15 g/ha after first and second cutting, replicated thrice. Berseem variety JB 05-9 was sown in the experimental field with recommended package of practices. There was predominance of dicot weeds as compared to monocot in berseem at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Among the dicot weeds, Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (37.48%) and Cichorium intybus (L.) (27.74%) were predominant. However, other weeds like Cyperus rotundus (L.) (13.79%), Anagallis arvensis (L.) (11.21%) and Chenopodium album (L.) (9.78%) were also present in good numbers. Sowing of berseem in the thermal regimes of 15th October and application of Oxyfluorfen 100 g/ha + Imazethapyr 15 g/ha after first and second cutting was most effective treatment for curbing the growth of weeds as it attained the minimum density and dry weight of weeds during both the years. However, sowing of 15th October with application of Oxyfluorfen 100 g/ha + Imazethapyr 15 g/ha after first cutting recorded the superior values of growth parameters, yield attributing traits, green fodder yield, dry matter yield and seed yield and found more remunerative as it fetched the higher NMR and B:C ratio as compared to other combinations.

Formulation, characterization, and antibacterial testing of cream supplemented with Aloe vera (Aloe vera L.) gel and Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus L.) rhizome ethanol extract

Various brands and forms offer a wide array of cream-based cosmetic products. However, only some of these products meet safety specifications. <em>Aloe vera</em> and nutgrass, two plants rich in bioactive compounds, possess anti-inflammatory, soothing, and antibacterial properties, making them ideal for health-safe cosmetic formulations. This research was conducted to develop antibacterial cream formulations incorporating these natural additives. The study focused on quality, organoleptic testing, and the formulated cream's antibacterial assessment. The research methodology encompassed several key processes: preparation of <em>Aloe vera</em> gel and nutgrass rhizome ethanol extract, formulation of the cream, quality testing by SNI 16-6069-1999 standards, organoleptic testing as per SNI 01-2346-2006, and antibacterial activity testing using <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> ATCC 25923 and <em>Escherichia coli</em> ATCC 25922 bacterial strains. Results indicated that the cream formula enriched with <em>Aloe vera</em> gel and nutgrass rhizome ethanol extract meets the standards for skin-lightening creams and exhibits significant antibacterial capabilities. Furthermore, it was observed that the antibacterial effectiveness of the cream increases with the concentration of the nutgrass rhizome ethanol extract. These findings highlight the potential for integrating natural ingredients into modern cosmetic formulations, providing therapeutic and aesthetic benefits. This approach not only ensures compliance with safety standards but also leverages the natural properties of <em>Aloe vera</em> and nutgrass to enhance the product's functionality in skin care applications

Effect of weed management options and nitrogen scheduling on weed dynamics and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2014–2015 and 2015–16 at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of weed-management options and nitrogen scheduling on weed dynamics and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Common infesting weeds which appeared in wheat field were Phalaris minor Retz. and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. among grasses, and Chenopodium album L., Anagallis arvensis L., Melilotus alba Medik. and Convolvulus arvensis L. as broad-leaf weeds. Moreover, among sedges, only 1 species, Cyperus rotundus L. was observed. Among the weed-management options, mesosulfuron-methyl + Iodosulfuron-methyl sodium (400 g/ha) with higher dose of nitrogen (150 kg N/ha) applied in 3 spilt applications [50% as basal + 25% at crown-root initation (CRI) + 25% at flowering] proved significantly superior in minimizing the density (33%) and biomass of weeds (34%) at 60 days after sowing (DAS). The former treatment increased the leaf-area index (LAI) and SPAD values that elevated the production of wheat grain yield. Among time of nitrogen application, 3 splits (50% as basal + 25% at CRI + 25% at flowering) enhanced the nutrient-uptake efficiency (27.4%) and total nutri ent uptake (40.2%) by crop than 3 equal splits at sowing (basal), CRI and flowering. Higher dose of nitrogen (150 kg N/ha) resulted in higher yield (15.7%) and nutrient uptake (13.4%) than its lower dose. Thus, application of ready-mixed post-emergence herbicides, i.e. mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (400 g/ha) with higher dose of nitrogen (150 kg N/ha) applied 50% as basal and 25% top-dressed at CRI and 25% at flowering was most effective with re spect to weed-suppression, yield and economics of wheat.

Brown manuring in maize (Zea mays): Effects on weed interference and crop productivity

A field experiment was undertaken during rainy (kharif) season 2017 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effects of brown manuring on weeds and maize (Zea mays L.) productivity. Season-long weed infestation (~unweeded control) resulted in the highest reduction (~41%) in grain yield of maize. Among the brown manuring (BM) treatments, growing of 1:1 mixture of Sesbania bispinosa (12.5 kg seed/ha) + Crotalaria juncea L. (12.5 kg seed/ha) supplemented with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha applied at 35 DAS, resulted in the highest reduction in weed density (~93%) and dry matter (~94.4%). This BM, in these regards, was comparable with the atrazine + hand weeding (HW) at 35 days after sowing (DAS) and weed-free control treatments. All BM treatments suppressed noxious weed Cyperus rotundus, which was poorly or not controlled by the recommended tank-mixture of atrazine and pendimethalin. Weed-free control resulted in the highest values of maize plant dry-matter (~210.6 g/plant), cob weight (~155.9 g/cob), and grain yield (~6.0 t/ha). The atrazine + HW, Sesbania + Crotalaria (12.5 + 12.5 kg/ha) mixture applied with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha at 25 DAS, Sesbania 25 kg/ha with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha at 25 DAS, and pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha + atrazine 0.75 kg/ha treatments were comparable with weed-free control on maize grain yield.

Effects of Aquatic Extracts of Cyperus Rotundus Tubers on the Level of Blood Sugar in Healthy and Diabetic Rats

In this investigation, the effectiveness of aquatic extracts of Cyperus rotundus tubers was examined. The aerial parts of the curly plant (Teucrium polium) and the fruits of the carob plant (Prosopis farcta) help reduce levels of glucose, cholesterol, and blood triglyceride levels of healthy male rats and those with induced diabetes. With alloxan and compared with the effect of insulin. It has been shown that aqueous extracts of saad, jaada, and carob caused the levels of the blood sugar decreasing significantly. In healthy plus rats with diabetes. The results of this study show that the aqueous extract of Saad tubers caused a significant decrease in the lipid and cholesterol content of all but the aquatic extract of carob fruits prompted a notable drop in the quantity of triglycerides only, while the aqueous extract did not change the aerial parts of the increase in the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in rats with diabetes.

Uji Sifat Campuran Bahan Aktif Atrazin, Nikosulfuron, Mesotrion pada Beberapa Jenis Gulma

The aim of this research was to know effectiveness and characteristic of mixing herbicide active ingredients atrazine, mesotrion, and nikosulfuron on several weed specieses. The trial conducted in the green house at South Lampung from December 2021 until February 2022. This Research arranged in a Randomized Completely Design. Treatment consists of four types of herbicides with six level of dosage active ingredient, namely of single herbicides is atrazin 200 g/l (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 g ha-1), nikosulfuron 20 g/l (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20, and 40 g ha-1), mesotrion 40 g/l (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 g ha-1), and herbicides combination of atrazine, nikosulfuron, and mesotrion 200/20/40 OD (0, 32.5, 65, 130, 260, and 520 g ha-1). The target weed were 3 type of broadleaves weeds (Ageratum conyzoides, Euphorbia hirta, and Richardia brasiliensis), 3 type of grasses weeds (Digitaria ciliaris, Eleusine indica, and Rottboellia cochinchinensis), and sedges weed (Cyperus rotundus). Multiplicative Survival Model method used in this research because atrazin, nikosulfuron, and mesotrion have different mode of action. Results showed that an active ingredient mixture of atrazin 200 g/l, nikosulfuron 20 g/l, and mesotrion 40 g/l has LD50 expectation value of 155.96 g ha-1 and LD50 treatment of 74.27 g ha-1 with the co-toxicity value was 2.10 (co-toxicity >1), it means that the characteristic oh the herbiscides mixture is synergist or not antagonist. Keywords: herbicide mixture, atrazine, mesotrion, nikosulfuron, LD50, Multiplicative Survival Model

The Impact of Artificial Restoration of Alpine Grasslands in the Qilian Mountains on Vegetation, Soil Bacteria, and Soil Fungal Community Diversity.

To understand how the soil microbial community structure responds to vegetation restoration in alpine mining areas, this study specifically examines the grassland ecosystem in the Qianmalong mining area of the Qilian Mountains after five years of artificial restoration. High-throughput sequencing methods were employed to analyze soil bacteria and fungi microbial characteristics in diverse grassland communities. Combined with modifications in vegetation diversity as well as soil physicochemical properties, the impact of vegetation restoration on soil microbiome diversity in this alpine mining area was investigated. The findings indicated that the dominant plants were Cyperus rotundus, Carex spp., and Elymus nutans. As the extent of the grassland's restoration increased, the number of plant species, importance values, and plant community diversity showed an increasing trend. The plant functional groups were mainly dominated by Cyperaceae, followed by Poaceae. Plant height, density, plant cover, frequency, and aboveground biomass showed an increasing trend, and soil water content (SWC) increased. While soil pH and soil electrical conductivity (EC) exhibited a declining trend, available phosphorus (AP), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil water content (SWC) showed an increasing trend. The dominant bacterial communities were Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, and Gemmatimonadota, while the dominant fungal communities were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, unclassified_k_Fungi, and Glomeromycota. Significant differences were detected within soil microbial community composition among different degrees of restoration grasslands, with bacteria generally dominating over fungi. SWC, TP, and TN were found to be the main soil physicochemical factors affecting the distribution of soil bacterial communities' structure; however, SOC, TN, and NO3-N were the primary factors influencing the soil distribution of fungal communities. The results of this study indicate that different degrees of vegetation restoration in alpine mining areas can significantly affect soil bacterial and fungal communities, and the degree of restoration has varying effects on the soil bacteria and fungi community structure in alpine mining areas.

Vegetation communities and soil properties along the restoration process of the Jinqianghe mine site in the Qilian Mountains, China.

The study explores the impact of mine grassland restoration on plant communities and soil properties in alpine grasslands, a subject of significant interest due to the observed relationship between grassland changes, plant communities, and soil properties. While prior research has mainly focused on the consequences of grassland degradation on plant diversity and soil characteristics, the specific effects of varying restoration degrees in alpine mining grasslands at the regional scale remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we established 15 sampling plots (0.5m×0.5m) across five different restoration degrees within alpine mining grasslands in the Qilian Mountains, China. Our objective was to assess the variations in plant diversity and soil properties along these restoration gradients. We conducted comprehensive analyses, encompassing soil properties [soil water content (SWC), available nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrate nitrogen, soil pH, and electrical conductivity (EC)], plant characteristics (height, density, frequency, coverage, and aboveground biomass), and plant diversity indices (Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, Margalef, Dominance, and Evenness indexes). Our findings included the identification and collection of 18 plant species from 11 families and 16 genera across the five restoration degrees: Very Low Restoration Degree (VLRD), Low Restoration Degree (LRD), Moderate Restoration Degree (MRD), High Restoration Degree (HRD), and Natural Grassland (NGL). Notably, species like Carex duriuscula, Cyperus rotundus, and Polygonum viviparum showed signs of recovery. Principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis revealed that soil pH, SWC, SOC, NO3-N, and AN were the primary environmental factors influencing plant communities. Specifically, soil pH and EC decreased as restoration levels increased, while SWC, AN, TP, NH4-N, TN, AP, SOC, and NO3-N exhibited a gradual increase with greater restoration efforts. Furthermore, the HRD plant community demonstrated similarities to the NGL, indicating the most effective natural recovery. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into the responses of plant community characteristics, plant diversity, and soil properties across varying restoration degrees to environmental factors. It also elucidates the characteristics of plant communities along recovery gradients in alpine grasslands.

Diverse effects of a Cyperus rotundus extract on glucose uptake in myotubes and adipocytes and its suppression on adipocyte maturation

Cyperus rotundus rhizomes have been used in longevity remedies in Thailand for nourishing good health, which led us to investigate the effect on energy homeostasis, especially glucose utilization in myotubes and adipocytes, and on inhibition of lipogenesis in adipocytes. The results showed that an ethyl acetate extract of C. rotundus rhizomes (ECR) containing 1.61%w/w piceatannol, with a half-maximal concentration of 17.76 ± 0.03 μg/mL in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, caused upregulation and cell-membrane translocation of glucose transporters GLUT4 and 1 in L6 myotubes but downregulation and cytoplasmic localization of GLUT4 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and was related to the p-Akt/Akt ratio in both cells, especially at 100 μg/mL. Moreover, ECR (25–100 μg/mL) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation via Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACC), and Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK) pathways. Its immunoblot showed increased expression of p-AMPKα/AMPKα and p-ACC/ACC but decreased expression of p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK3β/GSK3β in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, the decreased expression of the adipogenic effectors, perilipin1 and lipoprotein lipase, in ECR-incubated adipocytes (50 and 100 μg/mL) indicated reduced de novo lipogenesis. Our study elucidated mechanisms of C. rotundus that help attenuate glucose tolerance in skeletal muscle and inhibit lipid droplet accumulation in adipose tissue.

Actividad antifúngica in vitro de Ricinus communis y Cyperus rotundus sobre cepas de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Background: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes anthracnose in various agricultural crops. Objective: To evaluate the antifungal activity of Ricinus communis and Cyperus rotundus against WSFT and Tainung strains of C. gloeosporioides, comparing them with commercial products containing Bacillus subtilis (Serenade®) and Streptomyces spp. (Blite Free®). Methods: Inhibition percentages were determined through a dose-response bioassay with Serenade® and Blite Free® and the ethanolic extracts of R. communis and C. rotundus on the strains of C. gloeosporioides isolated from Carica papaya. Results and conclusions: R. communis induced higher mycelial inhibition (62.7 %) in the Tainung strain compared to Serenade® (54.2 %) and Blite Free® (0 %). The EC50 values obtained in the WSFT strain were similar between R. communis (0.80 %) and Serenade® (0.79 %). The antifungal activity of the plant extracts proved comparable to that of commercial products, suggesting their potential for controlling C. gloeosporioides.

From desert flora to cancer therapy: systematic exploration of multi-pathway mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular modeling approaches.

Ovarian cancer, often labeled a "silent killer," remains one of the most compelling and challenging areas of cancer research. In 2019 alone, a staggering 222,240 new cases of ovarian cancer were reported, with nearly 14,170 lives tragically lost to this relentless disease. The absence of effective diagnostic methods, increased resistance to chemotherapy, and the heterogeneous nature of ovarian cancer collectively contribute to the unfavorable prognosis observed in the majority of cases. Thus, there is a pressing need to explore therapeutic interventions that offer superior efficacy and safety, thereby enhancing the survival prospects for ovarian cancer patients. Recognizing this potential, our research synergizes bioinformatics with a network pharmacology approach to investigate the underlying molecular interactions of Saudi Arabian flora (Onopordum heteracanthum, Acacia ehrenbergiana, Osteospermum vaillantii, Cyperus rotundus, Carissa carandas, Carissa spinarum, and Camellia sinensis) in ovarian cancer treatment. At first, phytoconstituents of indigenous flora and their associated gene targets, particularly those pertinent to ovarian cancer, were obtained from open-access databases. Later, the shared targets of plants and diseases were compared to identify common targets. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of predicted targets was then constructed for the identification of key genes having the highest degree of connectivity among networks. Following that, a compound-target protein-pathway network was constructed, which uncovered that, namely, hispidulin, stigmasterol, ascorbic acid, octopamine, cyperene, kaempferol, pungenin, citric acid, d-tartaric acid, beta-sitosterol, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and (+)-catechin demonstrably influence cell proliferation and growth by impacting the AKT1 and VEGFA proteins. Molecular docking, complemented by a 20-ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, was used, and the binding affinity of the compound was further validated. Molecular docking, complemented by a 20-ns MD simulation, confirmed the binding affinity of these compounds. Specifically, for AKT1, ascorbic acid showed a docking score of -11.1227kcal/mol, interacting with residues Ser A:240, Leu A:239, Arg A:243, Arg C:2, and Glu A:341. For VEGFA, hispidulin exhibited a docking score of -17.3714kcal/mol, interacting with Asn A:158, Val A:190, Gln B:160, Ser A:179, and Ser B:176. To sum up, both a theoretical and empirical framework were established by this study, directing more comprehensive research and laying out a roadmap for the potential utilization of active compounds in the formulation of anti-cancer treatments.

Comparison of Straw Mulching and Herbicide Levels for Control of Various Weed Species in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Weed management in maize is one of biggest concerns for growers. To reduce dependence on chemicals and chances of herbicide resistant weeds, and to improve soil status, thus straw mulching was added as cultural component with chemicals for improving weed management in maize. Field experiments were conducted at two locations (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur) during kharif season to find out the influence of different paddy straw mulch and herbicides for control of various weeds species in maize. The results showed that application of paddy straw mulch 6.25 t/ha effectively controlled Eleusine indica, Cynodon dactylon, Commelina benghalensis, Eragrostis tenella, Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa colona, Trianthema portulacastrum, Portulaca oleracea, Phyllanthus niruri, Euphorbia hirta, Conyza stricta and Cyperus compressus over no mulching. In addition to above weed species, paddy straw mulch 9.0 t/ha also effectively reduced density of Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Acrachne racemosa, Digera arvensis, Mollugo nudicaulis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus viridis and Veronica agrestis and Cyperus rotundus as compared to 6.25 t/ha and no mulch treatment. Atrazine pre emergence at 1.0 kg/ha controlled Eleusine indica, Echinochloa crusgalli, Eragrostis tenella, Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa colona, Trianthema portulacastrum, Mollugo nudicaulis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Digera arvensis, Amaranthus viridis and Cyperus compressus compared to its lower dose (0.8 kg/ha) and control at all stages. Post emergence application of tembotrione reduced the density of all weed species compared to atrazine and unweeded control.

Potential Repellency and Toxicity of Hexane Extracts from <i>Cyperus rotundus</i> to <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> Koch. (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acaricidal and repellency effect of Cyperus rotundus extract, an important weed plant, on Tetranychus urticae adults. Randomized complete block with 4 replicates was adopted. The hexane C. rotundus extract was obtained from tubers using the Soxhlet apparatus, then diluted to 5 concentrations (C1-100%, C2-50%, C3-25%, C4-10% and C5-1%), and a control (distillate water). Results showed that five concentrations caused significant mortality of T. urticae adults 24, 48 and 72 hr after treatment. The higher mortality was observed with C1 concentration of C. rotundus extract 72 hr after treatment (97%). Three concentrations C1, C2 and C3 showed a repellent effect on T. urticae adults. The repellence index ranged from 25 to 55% for C3 and C1, respectively. The present study demonstrated that the C. rotundus extracts could be an effective acaricide on T. urticae adults since the LC50 obtained was 30.95%.

Metal and nutrient uptake by natural wetland plants in a tropical man-made wetland of Sri Lanka

Phytoremediation of contaminated soil is an environmentally-friendly approach to minimize the impacts of nutrients and heavy metals on an ecosystem. Hence, selecting appropriate plants with phytoextraction potential is paramount to remediatie contaminated soils. This study aimed to investigate the nutrient and metal contents of four natural aquatic plants, including Cyperus rotundus, Eleocharis dulcis, Typha angustifolia, and Schoenoplectus grossus. They were grown in the meadow of a small reservoir in Sri Lanka to assess their phytoextraction ability using plant and soil samples collected at 32 sampling points in the meadow. Their biological concentration (roots/soil), accumulation (shoots/soil), and translocation (shoots/roots) factors were determined to assess element mobility and phytoextraction ability. Total K, Na, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, As, Pb, and Cd contents of plants and soil samples were measured using an Inductivity Couple Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer. ANCOVA was used as a statistical test to assess the best plant type in terms of nutrient and metal absorption. Plant shoots exhibited significantly greater values for P, Na, Mg, Zn, Cd, and Fe than their roots. Their biological concentration, accumulation and translocation factors were not different among the four plant species. However, these values were >1 for all the species, indicating their potential to be used as hyperaccumulators. T. angustifolia, with its high potential for nutrient and metal accumulation and the highest aesthetic appeal, was selected as the best overall wetland species for phytoremediation purposes.

Allelopathic potential of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) on germination and initial seedling vigour of Bt cotton hybrid

Allelopathic potential of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) on germination and initial seedling vigour of Bt cotton hybrid