Root Samples Research Articles

Distribution characteristics of selenium and influencing factors in the plant–soil system of an arid oasis

A total of 323 topsoil samples, 63 profile soil samples, and 55 plant root samples were collected from an oasis area on the eastern margin of the Tarim Basin in China and the selenium content and other physical and chemical indicators were analyzed. The results showed that the average selenium content in the surface soil was 0.15 mg/kg, which was lower than the national background value, and only about 4% of the surveyed land area was classified as rich in selenium. The vertical distribution of selenium was characterized by surface accumulation. The organic carbon and clay content were positively correlated and the pH levels negatively correlated with the selenium content. Soil type had little effect on selenium content, though the selenium levels in Anthrosols and Gleysols were relatively high. The selenium content for cultivated land and garden soil was higher than for other land use types. The enrichment of selenium in plant roots was highest for Apocynum venetum L., followed by Pulicaria dysenterica (L.). Bernh., Populus euphratica Olive, Tamarix chinensis Lour., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud, and Pyrus bretschneideri Rehder. Correlation analysis revealed that the enrichment of selenium in the soil was mainly controlled by supergenesis in conjunction with long-distance migration and deposition. Overall, this study provides useful information for the rational development and utilization of regional land resources.

Comparative evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of nitrofurantoin, chitosan, and calcium hydroxide in combination with propylene glycol as an intracanal medicament against endodontic pathogen - An in vitro study.

The objective is to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of nitrofurantoin, chitosan, and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in combination with propylene glycol (PG) as an intracanal medicament against endodontic pathogens. Fifty-two extracted single-rooted maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth and premolars were selected. The root canals were enlarged using Protaper universal rotary files. Clinical isolates of microorganisms collected from retreatment cases were used. Bacterial isolates obtained from infected root canals were introduced into brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth. Incubation of samples for 14 days was carried out to facilitate the development of mature biofilms. Intracanal medicaments were divided into four groups: Group 1 - Nirofurantoin+20% PG, Group 2 - Chitosan+20% PG, Group 3 - Ca(OH)2 + 20% PG, and Group 4 - 20% PG. The prepared root samples were incubated for 7 days. After collecting dentin samples, they were placed in a phosphate-buffered saline solution. Serial dilutions were then performed, and each dilution was plated on BHI agar. The plates were incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The antibacterial efficacy was assessed by calculating the percentage of remaining colony-forming units. Antibacterial efficacy of chitosan paste was significantly higher followed by nitrofurantoin as compared to other groups when used as an intracanal medicament. In the root-canal biofilm model, the combination of chitosan and PG demonstrated a significant reduction in the viability of endodontic pathogens when employed as intracanal medication for 7 days. This suggests its potential as an effective intracanal medicament for endodontic retreatment.

Influence of irradiated dentin, biofilm and different artificial saliva formulations on root dentin demineralization

The aim of this study was evaluated the influence of radiation as well as of new formulations of artificial saliva on the development of root dentin lesions. Bovine root samples were divided into: irradiated (70 Gy) dentin or not; the type of biofilm (from irradiated patient-experimental or non-irradiated patient-control) and the type of artificial saliva (for the condition irradiated dentin/biofilm from irradiated patient): Control Artificial Saliva (inorganic); Control Saliva + 1 mg/ml hemoglobin; Control Saliva +0.1 mg/ml cystatin; Control Saliva + hemoglobin + cystatin; Bioextra (positive control) and deionized water (DiW, negative control) (n = 12/group). Biofilm was produced using human biofilm and McBain saliva (0.2 % of sucrose, 37o C and 5 % CO2); the treatments were done 1x/day, for 5 days. Colony-forming units (CFU) counting was performed; demineralization was quantified by transversal microradiography. Two-way ANOVA/Bonferroni or Sidak test for the comparison between biofilm x dentin and ANOVA/Tukey or Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn for comparing artificial saliva were done (p < 0.05). The type of biofilm had no influence on CFU and demineralization. Sound dentin under control biofilm presented the lowest Lactobacillus ssp. and Streptococcus mutans CFU and the lowest mean mineral loss (R) (25.6 ± 2.2; 23.7 ± 2.9 %) compared to irradiated dentin (26.1 ± 2.8; 28.1 ± 3.3, p < 0.004) for both types of biofilms (experimental and control, respectively). Bioextra was the only artificial saliva that reduced R (10.8 ± 2.5 %) and Lesion Depth (LD) (35 ± 15 μm) compared to DiW (17.3 ± 3.3 %, 81 ± 18 μm, p < 0.0001). Irradiation has impact on caries development; the experimental saliva were unable to reduce its occurrence.

Prediction of saccharides concentration in intact and ground Codonopsis root using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Codonopsis root, a traditional Chinese medicine, produces saccharides that serve as key indicators for assessing its quality. In this study, we employ near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict total polysaccharide concentration as well as the major individual saccharides of intact (surface and cross-section) and ground samples of Codonopsis roots. We developed regression relationships between the spectra and the concentration of fructose, glucose and polysaccharides for the ground spectra set (Rp2 > 0.8, RPD>2.0) based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) model. However, for the intact cross-section spectra set, only the dominant component of the fructose, could be quantitatively detected (Rp2 > 0.8, RPD>2.0). All models based on the intact surface spectra set were of unacceptable performance. This discrepancy could be attributed to the low concentration levels of different saccharides and the distinct chemical profiles reflected by the spectra sets from samples with varying homogeneity. The findings provide an approach for efficient and sustainable analysis for the purposes of quality control and standardization of Codonopsis roots.

A Transcriptomic Analysis of Bottle Gourd-Type Rootstock Roots Identifies Novel Transcription Factors Responsive to Low Root Zone Temperature Stress.

The bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] is often utilized as a rootstock for watermelon grafting. This practice effectively mitigates the challenges associated with continuous cropping obstacles in watermelon cultivation. The lower ground temperature has a direct impact on the rootstocks' root development and nutrient absorption, ultimately leading to slower growth and even the onset of yellowing. However, the mechanisms underlying the bottle gourd's regulation of root growth in response to low root zone temperature (LRT) remain elusive. Understanding the dynamic response of bottle gourd roots to LRT stress is crucial for advancing research regarding its tolerance to low temperatures. In this study, we compared the physiological traits of bottle gourd roots under control and LRT treatments; root sample transcriptomic profiles were monitored after 0 h, 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment. LRT stress increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte permeability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, especially H2O2 and O2-. Concurrently, LRT treatment enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). RNA-Seq analysis revealed the presence of 2507 and 1326 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment, respectively. Notably, 174 and 271 transcription factors (TFs) were identified as DEGs compared to the 0 h control. We utilized quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm the expression patterns of DEGs belonging to the WRKY, NAC, bHLH, AP2/ERF and MYB families. Collectively, our study provides a robust foundation for the functional characterization of LRT-responsive TFs in bottle gourd roots. Furthermore, these insights may contribute to the enhancement in cold tolerance in bottle gourd-type rootstocks, thereby advancing molecular breeding efforts.

The Biotechnological Potential of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Isolated from Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivations in the San Martin Region, Peru.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential commodity for global food security and the agricultural economy, particularly in regions such as San Martin, Peru. This study investigated the plant growth-promoting characteristics of native rhizobacteria isolated from maize crops in the San Martin region of Peru with the aim of identifying microorganisms with biotechnological potential. Soil and root samples were collected from maize plants in four productive zones in the region: Lamas, El Dorado, Picota, and Bellavista. The potential of twelve bacterial isolates was evaluated through traits, such as biological nitrogen fixation, indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production, and a completely randomized design was used for these assays. A completely randomized block design was employed to assess the effects of bacterial strains and nitrogen doses on maize seedlings. The B3, B5, and NSM3 strains, as well as maize seeds of the yellow hard 'Advanta 9139' variety, were used in this experiment. Two of these isolates, B5 and NSM3, exhibited outstanding characteristics as plant growth promoters; these strains were capable of nitrogen fixation, IAA production (35.65 and 26.94 µg mL-1, respectively), phosphate solubilization (233.91 and 193.31 µg mL-1, respectively), and siderophore production (34.05 and 89.19%, respectively). Furthermore, molecular sequencing identified the NSM3 isolate as belonging to Sporosarcina sp. NSM3 OP861656, while the B5 isolate was identified as Peribacillus sp. B5 OP861655. These strains show promising potential for future use as biofertilizers, which could promote more sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Heavy Metal Uptake and Hyperaccumulation in Some Wild Plant Species Köyceğiz Special Environmental Protection Area Located Around Old Chrome Mineral Deposits

In this study, the possible presence of heavy metals in the soil and wild plant species around the old Cr deposits of Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area (Sandras Mountain) was investigated. Possible anthropogenic risk factors to which wild plant biodiversity is exposed are also the subject of this research. Fe, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb contents of soil, shoot and root samples of five wild plant species growing naturally in the region in question were investigated. These five species are: Alyssum masmenaeum (AM), Cytisopsis pseudocytisus (CP), Centaurea ensiformis (CE), Fumana aciphylla (FA), Phlomis angustissima (PA). The data obtained showed that heavy metals other than Ni, Cr and Co were found within normal limits in the soil samples. Particularly, soil Ni content is extremely high. Heavy metals except Ni, Cr and Fe were found within normal limits in shoot and root samples. One species (AM) for Ni and three species (FA, PA and CE) for Fe showed distinct hyperaccumulator properties. Ni hyperaccumulation detected in the Alyssum masmenaeum species is a particularly striking but well-known phenomenon. Since the research area has special environmental protection status, the soil structure and endemism of the region must be absolutely protected.

Transcriptome-wide m6A methylation and metabolomic analysis reveal regulatory networks in rice roots under manganese stress

Rice (Oryza sativa) has a higher tolerance to manganese (Mn) stress than other cereals. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing Mn tolerance in rice remain poorly understood. In this work, seedlings of the rice cultivar Nipponbare were treated with 1.0 mM MnCl2 for 10 days before root samples were collected for transcriptome-wide N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation and metabolome profiling. In the presence of extra Mn, we identified 2050 significantly modified m6A peaks and 2549 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were linked to key signaling pathways such as MAPK signaling, calcium signaling, and peroxides. Among these, 282 DEGs showed differential m6A methylation peaks, including 29 transcription factors, indicating they might be key upstream regulators of the Mn toxicity response. Furthermore, metabolomic research indicated considerable metabolic alterations in rice roots under Mn stress, notably in purine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways. Almost half of the metabolites were lipids or lipid-like compounds, indicating a potential function in signal transduction and membrane biogenesis. The findings lead to a better understanding of regulatory networks in rice roots that aid in Mn stress tolerance.

Comparative Analysis of Hulless Barley Transcriptomes to Regulatory Effects of Phosphorous Deficiency.

Hulless barley is a cold-resistant crop widely planted in the northwest plateau of China. It is also the main food crop in this region. Phosphorus (P), as one of the important essential nutrient elements, regulates plant growth and defense. This study aimed to analyze the development and related molecular mechanisms of hulless barley under P deficiency and explore the regulatory genes so as to provide a basis for subsequent molecular breeding research. Transcriptome analysis was performed on the root and leaf samples of hulless barley cultured with different concentrations of KH2PO4 (1 mM and 10 μM) Hoagland solution. A total of 46,439 genes were finally obtained by the combined analysis of leaf and root samples. Among them, 325 and 453 genes had more than twofold differences in expression. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly participated in the abiotic stress biosynthetic process through Gene Ontology prediction. Moreover, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed that DEGs were mainly involved in photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, glycolysis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and synthesis of metabolites. These pathways also appeared in other abiotic stresses. Plants initiated multiple hormone synergistic regulatory mechanisms to maintain growth under P-deficient conditions. Transcription factors (TFs) also proved these predictions. The enrichment of ARR-B TFs, which positively regulated the phosphorelay-mediated cytokinin signal transduction, and some other TFs (AP2, GRAS, and ARF) was related to plant hormone regulation. Some DEGs showed different values in their FPKM (fragment per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads), but the expression trends of genes responding to stress and phosphorylation remained highly consistent. Therefore, in the case of P deficiency, the first response of plants was the expression of stress-related genes. The effects of this stress on plant metabolites need to be further studied to improve the relevant regulatory mechanisms so as to further understand the importance of P in the development and stress resistance of hulless barley.

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 in banana plantations in Türkiye

important disease for banana production. Presence and prevalence of FocTR4 in banana plantations on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye were assessed during 2018 to 2020 in a total of 117 banana plantations in open fields and protected plastic greenhouses. Rhizome, pseudostem, and root samples were taken from plants showing typical symptoms associated to the disease and from suspected affected plants. Fungi were isolated from the plant internal tissues, and Fusarium oxysporum-like colonies were sub-cultured for further analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of 36 isolates showed that they belonged to four different Fusarium species: F. musae, F. oxysporum, F. sacchari, and F. solani. Eight representative F. oxysporum isolates were identified as FocTR4 by specific PCR and qPCR tests. Pathogenicity tests were carried out on tissue-cultured ‘Cavendish’ type banana seedlings (‘Grand Naine’) for 36 Fusarium isolates, and their virulence was assessed based on the internal necrosis observed in the rhizomes. Approx. 40 to 65 d after inoculations, FocTR4, F. oxysporum, and F. sacchari isolates caused severe to mild necroses in the seedling rhizomes. This is the first report of F. sacchari associated with root and collar rot of bananas in Türkiye. This study showed that Fusarium wilt caused by FocTR4 is present, but at low incidence (6.8%) in Turkish banana plantations.

Phytoremediation Characterization of Heavy Metals by Some Native Plants at Anthropogenic Polluted Sites in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Many anthropogenic activities have lately resulted in soil adulteration by heavy metals (HMs). The assessment of native plant species that grow in the polluted environments is of great importance for using these plants in phytoremediation techniques. This study was conducted in three industrial regions in Jeddah city, Wadi Marik, Bahra, and Khumrah, to assess the HM contamination level in them. This study also evaluated the phytoremediation ability of nine plant species collected from the studied regions. Soil physicochemical properties of the studied sites were investigated. Nine HMs, aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and barium (Ba), have been evaluated in the collected soil, plant shoots, and root samples. Total thiol concentration in the plant shoots and roots was determined. The phytoremediation indexes, such as bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), were estimated. The results show that the soil of all the explored sites was sandy and slightly alkaline. It was found that Ni, Pb, and Cr were above the international permissible limit in all soil samples. The Wadi Marik region recorded the highest HM concentration compared to the other sites. In the Bahra region, Fe, Zn, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below internationally permissible levels. In Khumrah, the highest concentration of Zn was found in the soil sample collected around F. indica plants, while Fe, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below the international permissible limit. Depending on the BCF calculations, most of the investigated species showed phytostabilization ability for most of the studied HMs. Of them, E. indica, T. nubica, and P. divisum recorded the highest BCF values that ranged from 16.1 to 3.4. The BCF values of the studied HMs reduced in the order of Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Mn &gt; Co &gt; Ba &gt; Fe &gt; Al &gt; Pb. Phytoextration of Co and Cr could be achieved by P. oleracea and F. indica, which showed TF values that reached 6.7 and 6.1, respectively. These plants showed high potential for phytoremediation and can be suggested as protective belts close to the contaminated regions of Jeddah.

Insights into bioactive constituents of onion (Allium cepa L.) waste: a comparative metabolomics study enhanced by chemometric tools

BackgroundOnion waste was reported to be a valuable source of bioactive constituents with potential health-promoting benefits. This sparked a surge of interest among scientists for its valorization. This study aims to investigate the chemical profiles of peel and root extracts of four onion cultivars (red, copper-yellow, golden yellow and white onions) and evaluate their erectogenic and anti-inflammatory potentials.MethodsUPLC-QqQ-MS/MS analysis and chemometric tools were utilized to determine the chemical profiles of onion peel and root extracts. The erectogenic potential of the extracts was evaluated using the PDE-5 inhibitory assay, while their anti-inflammatory activity was determined by identifying their downregulating effect on the gene expression of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated WBCs.ResultsA total of 103 metabolites of diverse chemical classes were identified, with the most abundant being flavonoids. The organ’s influence on the chemical profiles of the samples outweighed the influence of the cultivar, as evidenced by the close clustering of samples from the same organ compared to the distinct separation of root and peel samples from the same cultivar. Furthermore, the tested extracts demonstrated promising PDE-5 and anti-inflammatory potentials and effectively suppressed the upregulation of pro-inflammatory markers in LPS-stimulated WBCs. The anti-inflammatory activities exerted by peel samples surpassed those of root samples, highlighting the importance of selecting the appropriate organ to maximize activity. The main metabolites correlated with PDE-5 inhibition were cyanidin 3-O-(malonyl-acetyl)-glucoside and quercetin dimer hexoside, while those correlated with IL-1β inhibition were γ-glutamyl-methionine sulfoxide, γ-glutamyl glutamine, sativanone, and stearic acid. Taxifolin, 3’-hydroxymelanettin, and oleic acid were highly correlated with IL-6 downregulation, while quercetin 4’-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin 4’-O-glucoside, and p-coumaroyl glycolic acid showed the highest correlation to IFN-γ and TNF-α inhibition.ConclusionThis study provides a fresh perspective on onion waste as a valuable source of bioactive constituents that could serve as the cornerstone for developing new, effective anti-PDE-5 and anti-inflammatory drug candidates.

Diversity in the population of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ricini causing castor wilt disease in India

A major constraint on castor crop productivity is wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ricini (For). In this study, morphological, pathogenic and molecular features of F. oxysporum f. sp. ricini isolates collected from different castor-growing agro-climatic zones of India were analyzed. Eighty-nine F. oxysporum f. sp. ricini isolates were obtained from wilt-infected root samples of castor plants from different states of India viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Morphology assessment in terms of variability in radial growth, size of micro and macroconidia and number of septa, grouped the isolates into 5 clusters in biplot analysis. A genotype-by-isolates bi-plot analysis ranked genotypes for pathogen susceptibility, with JI-35 being closest to the ideal and most susceptible, and DCS-9, and Kranthi being less susceptible. In contrast, 48–1 and JI-258 showed resistance, while Haritha and VP-1 exhibited intermediate susceptibility levels. K-means cluster analysis found 5 groups for pathogenic variability studies of isolates. The six isolates viz., For-12-5 (61.8 %), For-12-10 (50.5 %), For-13-47 (51.4 %), For-113 (86.1 %), For-13-33 (77.9 %) and For-53 (62.2 %) recorded as highly virulent isolates against wilt disease which showed >50 % average wilt incidence mean value across cultivars. Out of 40 ISSR primers tested, 11 primers gave polymorphic bands and analysis of genetic variability among 36 F. oxysporum f. sp. ricini isolates showed polymorphism with PIC, heterogygosity index, effective multiplex ratio, Marker index, and Shannon Diversity Index which ranged (in %) between 0.22 and 0.69, 0.19–0.44, 11.09–27.9, 6.14–8.98, and 0.78–3.04 respectively. The dendrogram analysis revealed 53 % similarity among the isolates studied and these isolates grouped broadly into 6 clusters. Variability among isolates was significant in morphological, pathogenic and molecular characters of F. oxysporum f. sp. ricini.

First Report of Phialocephala bamuru Causing Root Rot on Hard Fescue (Festuca brevipila) in the United States.

Turfgrasses are susceptible to a wide variety of ectotrophic root-infecting (ERI) fungi that cause root rot (Tredway et al., 2023). Among the root rot diseases, fairway patch, caused by Phialocephala bamuru P.T.W. Wong & C. Dong sp. nov., was recently identified and characterized in Australia infecting bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass (Wong et al., 2015). Symptoms begin as small, 5-10 cm diameter patches of yellowed turf that may coalesce into larger areas of diseased grass. A characteristic sign of fairway patch is roots colonized by dark brown to black, ectotrophic mycelium. In June 2020, many tan colored, irregular-shaped patches ranging from 10-30 cm in diameter developed on a hard fescue (Festuca brevipila) cultivar 'Beacon' turfgrass field in North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. The centers of these patches later died and became sunken or filled in partially by recovering hard fescue. The patches grew into tan irregular-shaped rings with diameters up to 3 m by Aug 2023. Symptoms were indicative of a root disease. Five 'Beacon' hard fescue soil cores at the interface of the symptomatic and non-symptomatic area were sampled in Aug 2023. Root and crown samples were observed under a dissecting microscope and dark ectotrophic hyphae were observed on both. Roots with visible ectotrophic mycelium were removed, rinsed in sterile water three times, cut into 5 mm pieces, and plated onto 10% potato dextrose agar amended with streptomycin and gentamicin at 100 mg/L (PDA+). The plates were incubated at 25°C in the dark for 5 days. The most abundant colonies being characteristic long, septate hyphae that were hyaline at the edge and dark brown to black in the center and resembled the fungus described in Wong et al., 2015. These colonies were subcultured onto PDA+ medium and selected for molecular identification. Other less abundant colonies could be identified using morphology after subcultured and had no record being pathogenic to turfgrass. To confirm the isolate's identity, its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified in PCR using the ITS1F/ITS4 primers (Bellemain et al., 2010). The amplicon was then sequenced with both ITS1 and ITS4 primers by Sanger sequencing. Sequences were assembled (GenBank #PP000819). The consensus sequence was then BLASTn analyzed with default settings, and the result showed 99.64% sequence identity with P. bamuru (GenBank #MG195534.1). Koch's postulate was conducted in an environmentally controlled growth chamber. Six healthy 'Beacon' hard fescue plugs were sampled from the field. Three of the six plugs (treatment) were each inoculated with P. bamuru by placing 20 g of P. bamuru colonized millets beneath and around the plug before filling the pots with sand. The other three plugs (control) received the same treatment except the P. bamuru colonized millets were autoclaved. The pots were incubated in the growth chamber with a 16 h light period and 25/20°C day/night temperatures. Symptoms resembling those observed in the field appeared on the treatment pots after 21 days of incubation while the control pots remained healthy. The roots from the treatment pots were examined under the dissecting microscope to confirm the colonization of P. bamuru on the roots, and P. bamuru was reisolated and confirmed using the aforementioned morphological traits and molecular assays (GenBank #PP000820). This is the first report of a turfgrass root rot disease caused by P. bamuru in the United States. Further epidemiological, disease ecological, and pathogen biological studies are required to clarify the importance of this disease in the United States and establish proper disease containment or control measures.

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) B. Zepernick & Timler alkaloidal extract exerts hepatoprotective effects in rats with a CCl4/olive oil-induced hepatocellular carcinoma-like phenotype

ObjectiveThis study assessed the prophylactic anti-HCC effects of a combined stem and root alkaloidal extract of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Z. zanthoxyloides) (SRAEZZ) in rats with a CCl4/olive oil-induced HCC-like phenotype. MethodsSRAEZZ was prepared from dried stems and roots of Z. zanthoxyloides in a 1:1 proportion and chemically characterized. A total of 30 healthy male Wistar rats (weighing 210–280 g) were randomly assigned to six groups (control, model, capecitabine, and SRAEZZ [50, 100, or 200 mg/kg]). All groups except the control received CCl4/olive oil (3 mL/kg, po) in the morning, whereas in the afternoon of the same dosing day, the model group received normal saline (5 mL/kg, po), the capecitabine group received capecitabine (50 mg/kg, po), and the SRAEZZ groups received SRAEZZ (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, po, respectively) once per week for 36 days. Survival rate, serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were monitored. Gross liver anatomy, liver histology, liver enzymes (ALP, AST, and ALT), bilirubin, creatinine, urea, albumin, globulins, and hematological parameters were assessed. ResultsSRAEZZ yield was 0.58% from the initial stem and root sample (520 g). Quaternary phenanthridin alkaloids were detected in SRAEZZ. Control rats had a 100% survival rate compared with rats in the model group. SRAEZZ treatment improved the survival rate with respect to that in the model group. Serum AFP, CRP, and bilirubin levels were greater in the model group than the control group. SRAEZZ decreased serum AFP, CRP, and bilirubin below the levels observed in the model group. ALP, AST, and AST were higher in the model group, but lower in SRAEZZ-treated group, than the control group. ConclusionSRAEZZ demonstrated prophylactic anti-HCC effects against CCl4/olive oil-induced HCC-like phenotypes in rats. These findings highlight the potential of crude alkaloids from Z. zanthoxyloides as natural templates for semi-synthesis of anti-HCC pharmacotherapeutics.

Effect of iodine species on biofortification of iodine in cabbage plants cultivated in hydroponic cultures

Iodine is an essential trace element in the human diet because it is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency affects over 2.2 billion people worldwide, making it a significant challenge to find plant-based sources of iodine that meet the recommended daily intake of this trace element. In this study, cabbage plants were cultivated in a hydroponic system containing iodine at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L in the form of potassium iodide or potassium iodate. During the experiments, plant physiological parameters, biomass production, and concentration changes of iodine and selected microelements in different plant parts were investigated. In addition, the oxidation state of the accumulated iodine in root samples was determined. Results showed that iodine addition had no effect on photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content. Iodide treatment did not considerably stimulate biomass production but iodate treatment increased it at concentrations less than 0.5 mg/L. Increasing iodine concentrations in the nutrient solutions increased iodine content in all plant parts; however, the iodide treatment was 2–7 times more efficient than the iodate treatment. It was concluded, that iodide addition was more favourable on the target element accumulation, however, it should be highlighted that application of this chemical form in nutrient solution decreased the concetrations of selected micoelement concentration comparing with the control plants. It was established that iodate was reduced to iodide during its uptake in cabbage roots, which means that independently from the oxidation number of iodine (+ 5, − 1) applied in the nutrient solutions, the reduced form of target element was transported to the aerial and edible tissues.

Species pool and soil properties in mangrove habitats influence the species-immigration process of diazotrophic communities across southern China.

Microbial immigration is an ecological process in natural environments; however, the ecological trade-off mechanisms that govern the balance between species extinction and migration are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the migration of diazotrophic communities from soil to leaves across six natural mangrove habitats in southern China. The results showed that the diazotrophic alpha and beta diversity exhibited significant regional and locational variations. The diazotrophic species pool gradually increased from the leaves to nonrhizosphere soil at each site, exhibiting a vertical distribution pattern. Mantel test analyses suggested that climate factors, particularly mean annual temperature, significantly influenced the structure of the diazotrophic community. The diazotrophic community assembly was mainly governed by dispersal limitation in soil and root samples, whereas dispersal limitation and ecological drift were dominant in leaves. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that the species pool and soil properties, particularly the oxidation-reduction potential and pH, were closely linked to the species-immigration ratio of diazotrophic communities. Our study provides novel insights for understanding the ecological trait diversity patterns and spread pathways of functional microbial communities between below- and aboveground habitats in natural ecosystems.IMPORTANCEEnvironmental selection plays key roles in microbial transmission. In this study, we have provided a comprehensive framework to elucidate the driving patterns of the ecological trade-offs in diazotrophic communities across large-scale mangrove habitats. Our research revealed that Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Marinobacterium lutimaris, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens were more abundant in root-associated soil than in leaves by internal and external pathways. The nonrhizospheric and rhizospheric soil samples harbored the most core amplicon sequence variants, indicating that these dominant diazotrophs could adapt to broader ecological niches. Correlation analysis indicated that the diversities of the diazotrophic community were regulated by biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, this study found a lower species immigration ratio in the soil than in the leaves. Both species pool and soil properties regulate the species-immigration mechanisms of the diazotrophic community. These results suggest that substantial species immigration is a widespread ecological process, leading to alterations in local community diversity across diverse host environments.

Plant-parasitic nematodes associated with maize, and their relationship with soil properties in southern and southwestern Ethiopia

Summary Maize is an important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Plant-parasitic nematodes significantly impact maize production. However, research on maize nematodes in SSA is limited. The current study aimed to assess the occurrences and densities of nematodes associated with maize and to assess the correlation of some soil physicochemical properties with nematodes in southern and southwestern Ethiopia. One hundred and eighty-six soil and root samples were collected from 62 maize fields (31 from Hawassa Zuria and 31 from Mana districts). Eleven plant-parasitic nematode genera were identified. The most important genera of plant-parasitic nematodes identified were Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus, followed by Helicotylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus. The nematodes Pratylenchus and Criconemoides were significantly and positively associated with pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil organic matter (SOM). Additionally, Tylenchorhynchus, Pratylenchus and Rotylenchulus were significantly positively correlated with soil available phosphorus (SAP). However, Criconemoides and Meloidogyne had a strong negative correlation with soil bulk density (SBD). This study provides useful baseline information on maize-associated nematodes, and will be useful for agricultural policy makers, private farmers, non-governmental organisations and agricultural extension workers enabling them to establish sustainable maize nematode management strategies.

Nanoparticle Uptake and Bioaccumulation in Pisum sativum L. (Green Pea) Analyzed via Dark-Field Microscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, and Principal Component Analysis Combined with Machine Learning

The green pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an economically, nutritionally, and culturally important legume. It is a crop that is subject to various investigations due to its popularity with the development of various protocols in different topics, except for nano-biotechnological studies. This work was carried out to evaluate the uptake, distribution, translocation, and bioaccumulation of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within the economically important plant Pisum sativum morphologically and anatomically with a dark-field microscopy system. Data were analyzed for morphological parameters such as stem, tendril, root length, number, shape, width-length of the stipules, and root-stem-stipule. Our results proved the stimulation for growth and anatomical parameters such as CNTs aggregates and AuNPs particles at paranchyma, cortex, spongia cells, starch formation and accumulation in lenticels, stoma cells, and stomatal pores. In this study, we compared the utilization of the entire available Attenuated Total Reflectance—Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectral range (525–4000 cm−1) for conducting principal component analysis (PCA) without excluding any specific spectral wavenumbers with the spectral range chosen based on larger PCA loadings. The results demonstrate that for both chosen spectral ranges of the PCA score plots, utilizing only the first three principal components (PCs), we effectively visually separated three groups: (1) plants treated with Au NPs, (2) plants treated with CNTs, and (3) control plants without nanoparticle treatment using ATR-FTIR spectral data from combined samples of root, stem, and leaves from the Pisum sativum plant. Our investigation shows that green pea, a species of the Fabaceae family, is low-cost, fast, and non-toxic and requires an environmentally safe process in the area of nanotechnology in bio-application regarding the green synthesis of nanoparticles; it is a step for green mining, phytoremediation, delivering drugs, and biomolecules. Our findings show that green pea and the Fabaceae family have more advantages for the biological synthesis of C-Au nanoparticles and guide soil health, agricultural development, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery science, and other types of medicinal investigations with a new approach, while a lot of economic plants in the Fabaceae family will be available for the green synthesis of more NPs with single and rapid protocols and will be a popular family in nano-biotechnological studies in the next few decades.

Method development and validation for quantification of Yohimbine in root of Rauwolfia serpentina by HPTLC

Plants are a priceless and vital resource that give us medicine, food, fibre, and all other necessities. The evergreen shrub, Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz., also known as Indian snakeroot, sarpagandha is a member of the Apocynaceae family. Rauwolfia serpentina has fewer negative effects and an abundance of phytochemicals in the roots and leaves of the plant, it shows a wide range of therapeutic activity. With the goal of developing a densitometric high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method, in order to quantify Yohimbine hydrochloride in Rauwolfia roots, it will help to insure the collection and harvesting time. The five distinct brands of market Rauwolfia root samples are compared with in-house samples prepared in the laboratory. The silica gel 60 F254 high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates were used with toluene, Toluene : Ethyl acetate : Diethylamine (7:1.5:1.5 v/v/v) as a mobile phase. The validation parameters for the developed method were carried out as per the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guideline Q2 (R1). The calibration curve was found to be linear over a range of 1-7 μg/spot for yohimbine. The method involves densitometric detection at 280 nm. The relative standard deviations (RSD) for precision were found to be lower than 2% for both analytes. Percent recoveries for accuracy were performed and found to be 98.5-99.98% for yohimbine, The LOD and LOQ for Yohimbine were 0.08 μg/ml and 0.24 μg/ml, respectively. Validation parameters were carried out as per International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guideline Q2 (R1). The Rf value of 0.64 have been observed for Yohimbine. This HPTLC densitometric method is highly suitable for the analysis of Yohimbine present in the dosage of marketed herbal products of sarpagandha root without any interference.