This study examines the retraction patterns in Saudi Arabian research from 2014 to 2023. A bibliometric analysis of 343,588 Scopus-indexed publications reveals a sharp rise in retractions starting in 2020, reaching a peak of 7.5 retractions per thousand publications (7.5‰) in 2022. This rate is 2 to 3 times greater than the contemporaneous rates observed in China (3.9‰) and India (2.3‰). Notably, 78
A novel bacterial symbiont, strain Bradyrhizobium sp. RDT46T, was previously isolated from root nodules of Retama dasycarpa, a Moroccan endemic legume shrub. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain within the Bradyrhizobium japonicum supergroup, and Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) of four concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII, gyrB and recA) revealed that strain RDT46T is 93.91% closely related to B. frederickii CNPSo 3426T. Phylogenomic analysis of 81 single copy-core gene sequences further confirmed that the type strain B. frederickii is its closest relative. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were below the species delineation thresholds when compared to the closest type strain, with values of 93.8 and 52.2%, respectively. Genomic analysis revealed the absence of the canonical nod genes, the presence of nitrogen-fixation genes and few type III secretion system related genes. These findings combined with morphophysiological and fatty acid content analyses, as well as the ability of strain RDT46T to renodulate R. dasycarpa, support the designation of strain RDT46T as a novel species within the genus Bradyrhizobium, for which we propose the name Bradyrhizobium dasycarpae sp. nov. RDT46T (=CCMM B1347T=DSM 120572T) as type strain.
Mediterranean viticulture is increasingly affected by salinity since decades and it was necessary to develop new salt-tolerant varieties and rootstocks to ensure its productivity and sustainability. Among these alternatives, wild grapevine species, revealed to possess untapped genetic diversity and valuable traits that can be effectively utilized for grapevine varieties improvement. Until now, no work focused on the proteomic modifications in wild grapevine plants in response to salt stress. Here, we report a comparative physiological and proteomic analysis carried out on a salt-tolerant Tunisian wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris), named "Tebaba", exposed to salt stress for more than two weeks. Physiological analyses demonstrated the ability of “Tebaba” accession to maintain its growth and photosynthetic activity along the salt stress period. The proteomic analysis revealed changes in many proteins associated with various molecular processes, including carbohydrate and energy metabolism, photosynthesis, stress response and defense, protein synthesis/processing/degradation, amino acids and nitrogen metabolism, signal transduction and secondary metabolites. The Tunisian wild grapevine accession "Tebaba" was able to preserve its physiological levels of growth and photosynthesis. It was able to stimulate its antioxidant activities and its Calvin cycle. Its salt tolerance was mainly expressed by a remobilization of energy, an up-regulation of the elongation factor, ubiquitin, and chaperone proteins, as well as an increase in amino acids. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic study on the mechanisms of salt tolerance in wild grapevine (Vitis sylvestris L. ssp. sylvestris).
Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress that impairs plant growth and damages the photosynthetic apparatus. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to enhance plant tolerance to salinity, despite their mechanistic effects on photosynthesis remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of Bacillus subtilis inoculation on the photosynthetic activity of Sulla carnosa under salt stress, with a focus on the functional performance of photosystems I and II. Seeds were either inoculated or not and grown in sterilized soil for one month, before exposure to 0 or 200 mM NaCl salinity for an additional month. Salinity severely reduced shoot and root dry weights by 32
Objective. This study examines the scholarly output of researchers from the Gaza Strip. Method. Data from the Scopus database was analyzed, revealing 4,076 documents authored by Gaza-based researchers by february 2024. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using SciVal and VOSviewer. Results. Gaza's research output has grown significantly, surpassing 400 publications annually in 2022 and 2023. Citation analysis indicates increased global visibility. Key research fields include Medicine, Engineering, Materials Science, and Physics. Institutions like the Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Azhar University of Gaza have made substantial contributions despite the siege imposed by Israel. Prolific authors and international collaborations have contributed to Gaza's growing research impact. However, local academic network limitations due to external constraints are evident in lower FWCI scores for national collaborations. Conclusions. This study highlights the resilience of Gaza's academic community and underscores the importance of supporting and recognizing the region's scholarly contributions.
