Government Sadiq College Women University

Research on sustainable energy storage and conversion techniques is advancing due to rising energy use. Supercapacitors, high-power-density capacitors, are in high demand due to their quick energy release and absorption capabilities. In this study, NiO/Co3O4/BaO/Al2O3 (NCBA) and NiO/Co3O4/BaO/Al2O3@g-C3N4 (NCBACN) nanocomposites were synthesized, characterized, and their electrochemical performance was checked as a supercapacitor and for photodegradation of dyes. The NCBA and NCBACN nanocomposites were prepared using co-precipitation and ultra-sonication methods. The NCBACN electrode had a higher specific capacitance (2190 F/g) than the NCBA electrode (476 F/g). NCBACN demonstrated superior efficiency in reducing Rhodamine-B and Congo red dyes, with 97

Environmental and health hazards due to organic pollutants in wastewater worldwide necessitate their removal. Methylene blue (MB), a toxic and carcinogenic dye used in textiles and plastic manufacturing, is one of the organic pollutants that need to be removed efficiently from wastewater. Metal oxide semiconductors have shown potential in degrading organic pollutants. In this study, Mo and Zn co-doped TiO₂ nanomaterials were prepared by a hydrothermal method to enhance their photocatalytic efficiency. The influence of Mo and Zn concentration on the structural, morphological, electrical, optical, and photocatalytic properties was investigated. The structural and elemental analyses confirmed the presence of a single-phase anatase TiO₂ with a tetragonal crystal structure and crystallite size ranging from 17 to 26 nm. The morphology showed spherical nanoparticles. The optical bandgap was narrowed by co-doping with Mo and Zn as indicated by UV-vis and PL analyses. The photocatalytic efficiency showed that all Mo and Zn co-doped samples performed better than pure TiO₂ under visible light irradiation in degrading MB. A direct relationship was observed between the recombination rate and photocatalytic activity of the samples. The optimized photocatalyst with 7.5 wt

Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is an emerging and unexplored solanaceous fruit crop with potential for nutritional and breeding advancements. These genotypes were collected from different locations across Pakistan. The current investigation assessed genetic diversity among ten pepino genotypes on the basis of morphological, biochemical, and ISSR markers to identify a superior genotype. Results revealed that there is significant variation exhibited among genotypes in morphological traits, as plant height ranged from 67.9 to 88.1 cm in G9 and G7 correspondingly, and fruit weight ranged from 139.5 to 178.3 g in G9 and G7, respectively. From the results, it was observed that the G7 was the morphologically batter genotype. Findings of biochemical analysis revealed that maximum TSS (11.0°Brix), total phenolics (66.5 mg GAE g⁻1 FW), and total carotenoids (2.4 mg/100 g FW) were estimated in G7, while vitamin C content was highest (36.0 mg 100 g⁻1 FW) in G9. Conclusively, G7 was the batter genotype as it gained higher values for biochemical traits like highest sweetness, phenolic content, and carotenoids among the genotypes, whereas G9 was leading in terms of elevated ascorbic acid content but lower overall fruit quality. Around 3–6 loci were amplified for each ISSR primer, and polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.116 to 0.399. A significant polymorphism (65.85

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) cv. Rio is a high-sugar cultivar with considerable potential for bioenergy production and climate-resilient agriculture. Understanding the genetic architecture of key regulatory gene families is essential for effective utilization and improvement of sorghum germplasm. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors represent a conserved regulatory family involved in plant development and stress adaptation; however, their diversity and evolutionary dynamics in high-sugar sorghum cultivars remain poorly explored. In this study, a genome-wide identification and characterization of bZIP genes was conducted in S. bicolor cv. Rio. A total of 40 SbZIP genes were identified and classified into four clades based on phylogenetic relationships. Gene structure, conserved motifs, and domain organization showed strong conservation within clades, indicating functional divergence shaped by evolutionary constraints. Duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplication, followed by purifying selection (Ka/Ks < 1), has been a major driver of SbZIP family expansion. Promoter analysis uncovered diverse cis-regulatory elements associated with phytohormone signaling and abiotic stress responses, highlighting their potential roles in environmental adaptability. Comparative synteny analysis demonstrated closer evolutionary conservation with Oryza sativa than with Arabidopsis thaliana, reflecting monocot-specific evolutionary trajectories. Network analysis further identified key hub genes (SbZIP-21, SbZIP-14, SbZIP-24, and SbZIP-34) that may play central roles in transcriptional regulation. Overall, this study provides insights into the evolutionary diversification and functional potential of bZIP transcription factors in sweet sorghum. These findings contribute to the genetic resource base of sorghum and offer candidate genes for future breeding programs aimed at improving stress tolerance and bioenergy-related traits.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop that is essential for global food security and nutrition. However, cadmium (Cd) stress significantly impairs plant growth and development by disrupting biological processes. This study investigated the potential of the use of CuO nanoparticles synthesized from Melia azedarach (MA-CuONPs) as a strategy to mitigate the lethal effects of CdCl2 and enhance the resilience of T. aestivum L. cv. Arooj-22. The experiment utilized a completely randomized design with a two-factor factorial arrangement and three replications. The green synthesis of MA-CuONPs was achieved via the use of M. azedarach leaves, where copper ions are reduced by plant extracts. The NPs were analyzed via a UV spectrophotometer, which showed a maximum absorbance at 218 nm, confirming the successful formation of green-synthesized MA-CuONPs. The CdCl2 concentrations used were 0, 10, 20, and 30 ppm, whereas MA-CuONPs were applied at concentrations of 0, 10, 15, and 20 ppm. CdCl2 was administered 15 days postgermination, and MA-CuONPs were foliar sprayed during three growth stages, namely, tillering, jointing, and heading, with Tween 80 as a surfactant. The morphological, physiological, and anatomical parameters of the stem and root and yield parameters were recorded and analyzed via Statisticin 8.1 (two-way ANOVA). The results indicated that at the highest Cd concentration (30 ppm), all the measured parameters significantly decreased, reflecting the adverse effects of Cd stress. Conversely, the application of 20 ppm MA-CuONPs significantly increased all the parameters, demonstrating their ability to mitigate Cd-induced stress. As the Cd concentration increased, a corresponding decline in plant performance was observed, while increasing the CuNP concentration led to improved growth and resilience. This study highlights the potential of CuNPs to increase wheat performance under heavy metal stress, positioning them as a promising approach for improving wheat resilience and productivity in contaminated environments.