Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance rice productivity by boosting nutrient uptake and hormone production and pathogen suppression. However, identifying efficient and multifunctional PGPR strains adapted to specific rice-growing environments remains challenging. This study aimed to isolate and assess efficient rice rhizosphere PGPR from the rice rhizosphere for their growth-promoting potential under controlled conditions. Eighteen bacterial isolates were initially screened for key PGPR traits, including phosphate (P) and zinc (Zn) solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA) production, potash (K) mobilization, and antagonistic activity. Based on superior performance, two isolates were identified as Acinetobacter junii SK13 (AJNAU-SK13) and Providencia vermicola SK16 (PVNAU-SK16). Their efficacy was evaluated under greenhouse conditions using individual (T1: AJNAU-SK13, T2: PVNAU-SK16) and combined (T3: AJNAU-SK13 + PVNAU-SK16) inoculations. All treatments significantly improved root and shoot growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, enzyme activities (protease, and amylase), and total soluble sugars (TSS) at 10 and 20 days after treatment (DAT). Notably, T2 increased root growth (150
This study reports a reproducible protocol for in vitro regeneration of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. cv. Selection1 to screen glyphosate resistant mutants. It is a perennial turfgrass species used in sports and environment management. White translucent friable type of callus was obtained on MS medium with 18.10 µM 2,4-D and 0.44 µM BAP by using node as an explant. Highest number of shoots were obtained 0.44 μM concentration of BAP in MS medium and roots were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.49 µM IBA. Stepwise selection provided four mutant lines M1, M2 M3 and M4, which exhibited resistance to 0.4 mM glyphosate in vitro. Further pot study proved the optimal resistance of M2 mutant line to the two doses of foliar spray with 0.04
Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an important commercial crop and is prone to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Among biotic stresses leaf spots and blight incited by fungi are taking heavy toll on the crop. Cashew leaf blight samples were collected from the Agriculture Experimental Station, NAU, Paria, Gujarat. Typical symptoms were observed in the form of minute to irregular necrotic spots at the margins of leaf, leaf midrib and leaf petiole. These spots enlarged, turned silvery-grey to brown, later showed blight appearance and premature defoliation. The pathogen was isolated and proved for its pathogenicity. Based on cultural, morphological characters and microscopic observations pathogen was identified as Pestalotiopsis sp. Further DNA was isolated and ITS gene was sequenced and analyzed using nucleotide BLAST in NCBI database and confirmed the species as Pestalotiopsis maculans. ITS gene sequence was submitted to NCBI with the GenBank accession No PV533754. A phylogenetic tree was generated from the ITS sequences and evolutionary relation was studied. This is the first report of cashew leaf blight disease caused by Pestalotiopsis maculans from Gujarat, India.
Food waste is a global concern, necessitating sustainable management strategies. While fermentation offers a promising approach to valorizing food waste, studies about microbial dynamics and functionality assessment of semi-controlled naturally fermented food waste are still seldom. This study employed whole-genome metagenomic sequencing to investigate the microbial succession and functional pathways during natural fermentation of food waste over 15 days. Physicochemical analysis revealed that pH decreased from 5.20 to 4.32 on day 3 and then neutralized. Protein, lipids, and carbohydrate were in the range of 4.03–4.90
This study utilized a green and efficient Biginelli multicomponent process to synthesize several types of novel discovered Dihydropyrimidinone (DHPMs), Dihydropyrimidinthione (DHPMTs) and 2-amino Dihydropyrimidines (2A-DHPMs) derivatives. DIAION SK104 acid resin served as an eco-friendly catalyst in Water to condense substituted aromatic aldehydes, (3-ketoesters and urea/thiourea/guanidine. This approach yielded impressive results (85-94%). The NMR studies of 1H and 13C confirmed the structural integrity of all produced molecules. To evaluate the potential biological relevance of the synthesized compounds, in silico molecular docking studies were performed against selected biological targets. Several derivatives exhibited significant binding affinities, with docking scores ranging from approximately (-7.4) to (-7.8) kcal/mol, suggesting strong ligand-protein interactions. Notably, certain derivatives promising binding interactions against CYP51, where compounds such as 7CC and 7AA exhibited docking scores up to (-9.24) kcal/mol, outperforming the standard antifungal drug fluconazole. Beyond docking, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations probed the electronic properties of the synthesized molecules. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap, molecular electrostatic potential and optimized geometries provided insights into the chemical reactivity and stability of the compounds. The highly reactive compound 7AA exhibited a minimal energy gap of -0.0924 Eh, while the kinetically stable compound 6AA displayed a maximum gap of -0.1651 Eh. Similarly, compound 3BB verified a minimized gap of -0.1364 Eh. These energy gap values, alongside molecular electrostatic potential and optimized geometries, provided comprehensive insights into the compounds' thermodynamic profiles. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies verified the stability of the ligand-protein complexes under physiological conditions.
