Although lime trees have numerous beneficial qualities, the release of allergenic pollen during their flowering period can cause problems for allergy sufferers. This paper presents the results from three years of aerobiological research (2020-2022), conducted using the volumetric method in Lublin and Szczecin. Pollen counts across both cities, Lublin and Szczecin, illustrated a considerably higher amount of lime pollen present in Lublin's air than in Szczecin's. Lublin's pollen concentrations during the individual years of the study demonstrated a maximum level roughly three times higher compared to Szczecin's, and the yearly pollen sums were roughly double or triple those of Szczecin. A considerable surge in lime pollen was recorded in both cities in 2020, possibly correlated with a 17-25°C increase in the average April temperature compared to the preceding two years. The maximum lime pollen levels, documented in both Lublin and Szczecin, occurred either during the last ten days of June or at the start of July. A peak in pollen allergy risk for susceptible individuals coincided with this period. The heightened lime pollen production observed in 2020, coupled with the rising average temperatures recorded during April of 2018 and 2019, as detailed in our prior research, could signify a reaction of lime trees to global warming. Predicting the start of the Tilia pollen season is facilitated by cumulative temperature data.
Four treatment scenarios were developed to investigate the interactive effect of water management (irrigation) and silicon (Si) foliar spray on the uptake and translocation of cadmium (Cd) in rice plants: conventional intermittent flooding without Si spray, continuous flooding without Si spray, conventional flooding with Si spray, and continuous flooding with Si spray. find more Treatment of rice with WSi caused a decrease in cadmium absorption and translocation within the plant, which in turn significantly lowered the cadmium concentration in brown rice without affecting the yield of the rice crop. The Si treatment, in comparison to CK, led to a 65-94%, 100-166%, and 21-168% rise, respectively, in rice's net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr). Application of the W treatment caused a reduction in these parameters of 205-279%, 86-268%, and 133-233%, respectively; the WSi treatment produced decreases of 131-212%, 37-223%, and 22-137%, respectively. The W treatment was associated with a reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 67-206%, and a corresponding decrease in peroxidase (POD) activity by 65-95%. Treatment with Si resulted in a 102-411% increase in SOD and a 93-251% increase in POD activity. In comparison, WSi treatment led to a 65-181% increase in SOD and a 26-224% increase in POD activity. Photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activity, negatively impacted by continuous flooding during the growth stage, were improved by foliar spraying. A synergistic strategy involving continual flooding during the growth stage, complemented by silicon foliar sprays, successfully impedes cadmium absorption and movement, resulting in a decrease in cadmium accumulation in brown rice.
This study aimed to elucidate the chemical makeup of the essential oil from Lavandula stoechas collected from Aknol (LSEOA), Khenifra (LSEOK), and Beni Mellal (LSEOB), and to conduct in vitro assessments of its antibacterial, anticandidal, and antioxidant activities, and in silico analysis for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential. GC-MS-MS analysis determined the chemical profile of LSEO, showcasing varying levels of volatile compounds such as L-fenchone, cubebol, camphor, bornyl acetate, and -muurolol. This observation supports the hypothesis that the biosynthesis of Lavandula stoechas essential oils (LSEO) is dependent on the geographical site of origin. The ABTS and FRAP methods were employed to assess the antioxidant activity of the tested oil. Our findings indicate an ABTS inhibitory effect and a substantial reducing power, ranging from 482.152 to 1573.326 mg EAA per gram of extract. Antibacterial testing of LSEOA, LSEOK, and LSEOB on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria demonstrated remarkable sensitivity in B. subtilis (2066 115-25 435 mm), P. mirabilis (1866 115-1866 115 mm), and P. aeruginosa (1333 115-19 100 mm). Specifically, LSEOB displayed a bactericidal effect against P. mirabilis. Furthermore, the LSEO displayed a range of anticandidal activity, with inhibition zones of 25.33 ± 0.05 mm, 22.66 ± 0.25 mm, and 19.1 mm for LSEOK, LSEOB, and LSEOA, respectively. find more Subsequently, the in silico molecular docking process, performed with Chimera Vina and Surflex-Dock tools, suggested LSEO's capability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2. find more LSEO's significant biological properties make it a compelling source of naturally occurring bioactive compounds with medicinal potential.
Given their rich content of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds, agro-industrial wastes demand global attention and valorization efforts to improve both human health and the environment. This study demonstrated the valorization of olive leaf waste by silver nitrate to yield silver nanoparticles (OLAgNPs). These nanoparticles showed diverse biological activity, including antioxidant, anticancer activity against three cancer cell lines, and antimicrobial activity against multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and fungi. Using FTIR spectroscopy, the obtained OLAgNPs displayed spherical morphology with an average size of 28 nm. The particles exhibited a negative charge of -21 mV, and possessed a greater concentration of active groups than the parent extract. Olive leaf waste extract (OLWE) exhibited an improvement in total phenolic and flavonoid content, which increased by 42% and 50% respectively, when incorporated into OLAgNPs. This corresponded with a 12% rise in antioxidant activity, as indicated by an SC50 of 5 g/mL for OLAgNPs compared to the 30 g/mL for the OLWE. Phenolic compound profiling by HPLC showed gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, naringenin, catechin, and propyl gallate to be the main constituents in both OLAgNPs and OLWE; the concentration of these compounds was determined to be 16 times higher in OLAgNPs than in OLWE. Phenolic compounds in OLAgNPs are more abundant, leading to a considerable improvement in biological activity compared to OLWE. The efficacy of OLAgNPs in inhibiting the proliferation of three cancer cell lines, MCF-7, HeLa, and HT-29, was significantly greater than that of OLWE (55-67%) and doxorubicin (75-79%), achieving 79-82% inhibition. The problem of multi-drug resistant microorganisms (MDR) is a worldwide concern, directly attributable to the random application of antibiotics. This study potentially points to a solution in OLAgNPs, in a concentration range of 20-25 g/mL, demonstrating a substantial inhibition of six multidrug-resistant bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, and Escherichia coli, measured by inhibition zones from 25 to 37 mm, and six pathogenic fungi, with inhibition zone diameters between 26 and 35 mm, in comparison to antibiotic efficacy. The safe implementation of OLAgNPs in novel medical treatments, as seen in this study, may help reduce the impact of free radicals, cancer, and multidrug-resistant pathogens.
A critical crop in arid areas, pearl millet demonstrates exceptional tolerance to environmental stresses, making it a fundamental dietary staple. Yet, the internal workings that support its capacity for stress resistance are not fully comprehended. To ensure plant survival, the plant must be able to perceive a stress signal and initiate the appropriate physiological changes in response. Applying weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and clustering of physiological characteristics, such as chlorophyll content (CC) and relative water content (RWC), we examined the underlying genes responsible for physiological adaptations to abiotic stresses. We particularly explored the connection between gene expression and changes in CC and RWC. Modules defined genes' correlations with traits, with unique color names designating each module. Groups of genes, sharing comparable expression profiles, often display functional interconnectedness and coordinated regulation. The WGCNA analysis revealed a significant positive association between the dark-green module (comprising 7082 genes) and the characteristic CC. Ribosome synthesis and plant hormone signaling pathways were identified as the most crucial elements in the module analysis, which positively correlated with CC. Potassium transporter 8 and monothiol glutaredoxin were reported as the most central hubs in the dark green gene network. In the realm of cluster analysis, 2987 genes exhibited a correlation with the escalating values of CC and RWC. The pathway analysis of these clusters further indicated that the ribosome positively influences RWC, whereas thermogenesis positively influences CC. Our pearl millet research offers novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms for CC and RWC.
In plants, small RNAs (sRNAs), the defining markers of RNA silencing, are involved in a multitude of essential biological processes, including controlling gene expression, fighting off viral attacks, and safeguarding genomic stability. Given sRNAs' amplification, mobility, and rapid generation, they emerge as potentially pivotal modulators of intercellular and interspecies communication in plant-pathogen-pest systems. Endogenous plant small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) can regulate plant innate immune systems (cis) or, by moving throughout the plant (trans), they can silence pathogens' messenger RNAs (mRNAs) thereby limiting pathogen virulence. Similarly, small regulatory RNAs from pathogens can influence their own gene expression (cis) and increase their damaging potential to the plant, or they can silence plant messenger RNA (trans) and impair plant defense responses. Virus invasion in plants causes a shift in the number and types of small RNAs (sRNAs) in the plant cells; this occurs not just by triggering and interrupting the RNA silencing defense mechanism of the plant against viruses, resulting in a buildup of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs), but also by affecting the plant's naturally existing small RNAs.