BACKGROUND:Due to the rising population globally, and the demand for food, it is critical to significantly increase crop production by 2050. However, climate change estimates show that droughts and heatwaves will become more prevalent in many parts of the world, posing a severe danger to food output.METHODS:Selective breeding based on genetic diversity is falling short of meeting the expanding need for food and feed. However, the advent of modern plant genetic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology provides precise techniques for producing crops capable of sustaining yield under stress situations.RESULTS:As a result, crop varieties with built-in genetic tolerance to environmental challenges are desperately needed. In the recent years, small RNA (sRNA) data has progressed to become one of the most effective approaches for the improvement of crops. So many sRNAs (18-30nt) have been found with the use of hi-tech bioinformatics and sequencing techniques which are involved in the regulation of sequence specific gene noncoding RNAs (short ncRNAs) i.e., microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Such research outcomes may advance our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptability of plants to various environmental challenges and the genetic variation of plant's tolerance to a number of abiotic stresses.CONCLUSION:The review article highlights current trends and advances in sRNAs' critical role in responses of plants to drought, heat, cold, and salinity, and also the potential technology that identifies the abiotic stress-regulated sRNAs, and techniques for analyzing and validating the target genes.

This research was carried out in order to demonstrate that mulching the ground helps to conserve water, because agricultural sustainability in dryland contexts is threatened by drought, heat stress, and the injudicious use of scarce water during the cropping season by minimizing surface evaporation. Improving soil moisture conservation is an ongoing priority in crop outputs where water resources are restricted and controlled. One of the reasons for the desire to use less water in agriculture is the rising demand brought on by the world's growing population. In this study, the use of organic or biodegradable mulches was dominated by organic materials, while inorganic mulches are mostly comprised of plastic-based components. Plastic film, crop straw, gravel, volcanic ash, rock pieces, sand, concrete, paper pellets, and livestock manures are among the materials put on the soil surface. Mulching has several essential applications, including reducing soil water loss and soil erosion, enriching soil fauna, and improving soil properties and nutrient cycling in the soil. It also reduces the pH of the soil, which improves nutrient availability. Mulching reduces soil deterioration by limiting runoff and soil loss, and it increases soil water availability by reducing evaporation, managing soil temperature, or reducing crop irrigation requirements. This review paper extensively discusses the benefits of organic or synthetic mulches for crop production, as well as the uses of mulching in soil and water conservation. As a result, it is very important for farmers to choose mulching rather than synthetic applications.

Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has adopted the distress thermometer (DT) as one of the best-known distress-screening instruments. We have adopted a modified version of the NCCN distress thermometer.We questioned if this modified DT (m-DT) could be utilized for measuring the prevalence of psychological distress among COVID-19 patients.Methods: The prospective study included 2 phases; modification of the original DT and its associated problem list (PL), and evaluation of this m-DT in measuring the prevalence of psychological distress among COVID-19 patients. Egyptian adult subjects with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at 2 University Hospitals were enrolled. Binary logistic regression tests were carried out to explore the association between the m-DT cut-off scores of 4 and the clinical variables.Results: One hundred sixty-nine (60.4%) patients experienced significant distress (m-DT cut off score ≥4). Logistic regression showed that occupation, presence of special habits, length of quarantine time, worry, cough, shortness of breath, and fever, were independent factors associated with significant distress in COVID-19 patients.Conclusion: With the modified distress thermometer (m-DT), 60% of Egyptian COVID-19 patients experienced significant distress. This distress was significantly related to age, marital status, occupation, presence or absence of special habits, and length of the quarantine time. With m-DT, the current study had identified worry, being a health-care worker, shortness of breath, fever, length of quarantine time, presence of special habits, and cough as independent factors associated with significant distress in COVID-19 patients. Further studies are warranted.

Some rhizospheric fungi of Solanum lycopersicum were isolated from Cairo governorate and identified in Taxonomy Department, Ain-Shams University, Cairo City, Egypt. These isolated fungi were cultivated on soil extract medium enriched with 2% (w/v) glucose and 5% (w/v) yeast extract. The cytological effects of the metabolites of these fungi on the seeds of S. lycopersicum were examined after three different intervals (6, 12 and 24 h). These cytological effects include three parameters; chromosomal aberrations, nucleic acids content, protein banding patterns. Moreover, ochratoxin A was determined in the fungal filtrate of the most effective isolate using HPLC technique. Key words: Rhizospere, fungi, Solanum lycopersicum, mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations, nucleic acids, protein patterns.

Background: The distress thermometer (DT) is an effective tool for identifying distress among cancer patients worldwide. However, DT has not been studied in Egyptian patients. We aimed to study the prevalence of distress among Egyptian patients with different types of cancers using DT. Methods: A total of 550 patients with newly diagnosed hematological and solid cancers who were followed up at 3 Oncology Centers in Egypt were enrolled. They completed a sociodemographic and clinical status questionnaire, the DT and the Problem List (PL) scale. Results: At a DT cut-off score of ≥4, 46% of patients had significant distress, which was related to the tumor site and stage. The most frequent problems reported were treatment decision (64.4%), worry (47%), and fears (44.5%). In univariate logistic regression analysis, participants who had significant distress described 23 out of 36 problems in the practical, family, emotional, and physical areas. After adjustment to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, multivariable analysis confirmed that insurance, depression, fear, sadness, worry, loss of interest in usual activity, and sleep were independent factors associated with significant distress in cancer patients Conclusions: Almost half of Egyptian patients newly diagnosed with cancer reported significant distress. Those who had significant distress described extra problems in the practical, family, emotional, and physical areas. We recommend the routine use of DT for screening Egyptian patients with cancer, as well as the involvement of the psycho-oncology and social services, at the time of their initial diagnosis.

We used SDS-PAGE to evaluate and characterize the protein patterns of seed storage proteins in 12 lettuce cultivars. Total protein content of lettuce seeds in all cultivars did not show any significant difference. Results of SDSPAGE pattern of a few protein bands were up regulated whereas some other bands showed down regulation. The identified protein patterns may be used protein marker for lettuce cultivars. The seed storage protein analyses helps in characterization and identification of diversity in lettuce crop varieties, cultivars and their wild varieties and also provides information on phylogenetic relationship of the accessions. It is also known that variation in protein bands provide information on the relationship among the used seeds. SDS-PAGE of seed protein using Tris-glycine buffer was performed to study the relationships within 12 cultivars of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce). In the present study, SDS-PAGE was used to investigate and characterize the protein patterns of seed storage proteins in order to find protein bands as markers for cultivar characterization. Data were analyzed by clustering method and similarity coefficients using NTSYSpc version 2.02i. Thevalidity of cluster analysis of SDS-PAGE seed proteins profile data was discussed.

A systematic revision of 13 species of the genus Caralluma (Apocynaceae - Asclepiadoideae - Ceropegieae) from the flora of Saudi Arabia based on the evaluation of karyological and molecular data was carried out. Karyotype criteria and polyploid variations were discussed. Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) techniques were also used in this study to distinguish these species. Karyotype features of the studied species and molecular data were used to reassess the relationships of the 13 species of Caralluma in the light of the current systems of classification.

14 strains of Penicillium species were isolated from different localities and habitats from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and cultivated on two different media: Czapek Dox’s medium, in which NaNO3 is the source of inorganic nitrogen, and Waksman’s medium, in which pepton is the source of organic nitrogen. Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) technique was used in this study to distinguish these isolates. The Penicillium isolates examined in this study consisted of six Penicillium species: Penicillium corylophilum (three isolates), P. rubrum (one isolate), P. citrinum (two isolates), P. crustosum (one isolate), P. canesens (six isolates) and Penicillium sp. (one isolate). The electrophoretic protein patterns from Penicillium isolates grown on Czapek Dox's medium revealed the presence of 17 different bands (out of 14 polymorphic bands, there were three monomorphic bands and two unique bands). The electrophoretic protein pattern of the same isolates grown on Waksman's medium revealed the presence of 12 different bands (out of eight polymorphic bands, there were four monomorphic bands and one unique band). Data were analysed by a clustering method and similarity coefficients using NTSYSpc version 2.02i. Two different phenograms were produced for the studied Penicillium species based on the analysis of the protein banding patterns. Data from the protein banding patterns produced from both media were combined and analysed to produce third phenogram, and the relationships between the species and isolates are discussed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10949Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(3): 283-290

In this study, karyotype criteria of 27 accessions (17 taxa) of the two tribes Asclepiadeae (20 accessions) and Ceropegieae (7 accessions) from Egypt and Saudi Arabia belonging to subfamily Asclepiadoideae are described and polyploid variations are also discussed. Detailed karyotype features, i.e. total chromosome length (TCL), mean chromosome length (MCL) and karyotype asymmetry expressed as arm ratio (MAR), total form percent (TF %), intrachromosomal asymmetry (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry (A2), are also described. Karyotype features of the studied accessions were used to assess the tribal relationships within the subfamily Asclepiadoideae to differentiate between taxa that belonging to the tribes Asclepiadeae and Ceropegieae in the light of the current systems of classification. In addition, new chromosome counts of 16 taxa or accessions are reported here for the first time.

In the present work, olive plant (Olea europaea L.) was used as a biological indicator for pollution in which, molecular and physiological parameters were studied. Olive plants were collected from polluted and non-polluted areas in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia, traffic area as an air polluted area, sewage treatment station as water polluted area, industrial area as solid waste polluted, costal area as marine polluted area and an area without a direct source of pollution far away from the city center, which was used as control. These changes conducted with nucleic acid content, minerals content, pigments and some growth parameters. Results showed significant reductions in DNA and RNA contents under all polluted sites. Mineral contents were varied widely depending on the different pollutants and locations of olive plant. Generally, micro-elements varied (increase/decrease) significantly within collected samples and the source of pollution. All growth parameters were decreased significantly within the studied samples of all pollutant areas except the relative water content was increased. The content of chlorophyll a has decreased highly significantly in all polluted leaves. While the content of chlorophyll b has increased significantly in all polluted leaves especially in air polluted leaves. The total content of carotenoid pigments has decreased highly significantly in all polluted leaves. It was concluded that olive plant can be used as a biological indicator to the environmental pollutants.

Twenty isolates of Aspergillus species were collected from five different substrate sources and different ecosystems in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which included agricultural soil, Wheat grain, Sewage dump, soil around car oil dump and Marine fauna. The isolates were cultivated on two different media (Czapek Dox and Waksman) for protein banding patterns determination. The total fungal proteins were analyzed using discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method (SDS-PAGE). The relationships among the studied isolates of Aspergillus species expressed by similarity coefficient have been demonstrated as phonogram, based on the analysis of the recorded attributes using NTSYS-pc version 2.02i. The study revealed that a wide variation in the protein patterns was observed between isolates grown on Czapek Dox's medium and those grown on Waksman's medium. Also, there is a remarkable correlation between sources of isolates and protein profiles of the studied isolates.

In the present study, the isolation and purification of a set of Cyanobacteria strains belonging to genus Oscillatoria was undertaken, followed by the analyses of phylogenetic relationships using different biochemical and molecular genetic techniques (SDS-PAGE and RAPD-PCR). A total of 45 protein bands were observed within the studied Oscillatoria isolates by SDS-PAGE (only three unique bands, eight monomorphic bands and 37 polymorphic bands). On the other hand, extracted DNA from isolates was used to identify the molecular fingerprints. A sum of 94 polymorphic bands was generated by these primers in the Ocsillatoria genotypes under study. A total of 20 unique bands were identified out of the polymorphic ones. These unique bands were used to discriminate among the studied Ocsillatoria isolates. Most isolates of Ocsillatoria genotypes were discriminated by one or more unique bands. Numerical taxonomic using 45 protein attributes of 19 isolates and RAPD markers on five isolates. Two methods - Clustering (UPGMA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used for these analyses. The similarities and clusters produced between the studied isolates were discussed.

In this study, karyotype criteria of 14 genotypes of Triticum aestivum L. in addition to one genotype of Triticum durum Desf. are described and polyploid variations are discussed. Detailed karyotype features, i.e. total chromosome length (TCL), mean chromosome length (MCL) and karyotype asymmetry expressed as arm ratio (MAR), total form percent (TF %), intrachromosomal asymmetry (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry (A2), are also described.

I n the present study the seed coat micromorphology of 51 accessions of the Campanulaceae s. l. were investigated via SEM, the selected OTU ' s include accessions representing 11 genera and 35 species of the subfamilies: Campanuloideae and Lobelioideae.This study is an attempt to investigate variation between the species and the taxonomic relationships between them.Variations in seed coat micro-sculpture supported the monophyly of the family, favored the retention of Lobelia in the Campanulaceae, showed a relatively isolated nature of Edraianthus serbicus and suggested that the genus Campanula as is currently constituted may be polyphyletic and needs further studies.The study also recorded a relatively high degree of polymorphism within the seed shape and seed coats of the different accessions of the same species, thus suggesting more future studies for their re-evaluation.

The therapeutic use of corticosteroids has long been associated with ocular side effects such as the development of cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal and choroidal emboli. This study was conducted to assess ocular disorders, which may occur in workers engaged in manufacturing corticosteroids in the pharmaceutical industry. The study population included 58 workers involved in the manufacturing of corticosteroid preparations. They were subdivided according to duration of exposure into 2 groups: Gr. I of < 15 years duration of employment and Gr. II of 15 + years duration of employment. Methods included answering a structured questionnaire enquiring about occupational and medical histories, full ocular and clinical examination, and measurement of certain biochemical parameters, such as plasma cortisol, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, fasting blood sugar and serum calcium. Results showed that 25 cataracts were diagnosed in the studied group with a rate of 21.55 per one hundred eyes. Of Gr. II, 43.75% of eyes had cataracts compared to 5.88% of Gr. I. Odds ratio to develop cataracts was 12.44 for Gr. II. compared to Gr. I. Ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma were present in 25.00% of the eyes of the studied groups with odds of 5.83 times more when being employed for 15 or more years. Significant +ve correlation was found between intraocular pressure and relevant biochemical parameters. In the present study, a clear relationship was detected between the length of the period of exposure to corticosteroids as environmental pollutants and the development of ocular medical disorders such as cataracts, ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Further research work is needed to study the effects of exposure to corticosteroids as pollutants in the work environment, gaining access into body via unusual routes of entry, and for periods of time not reported in the therapeutic literature.

The influence of gibberellic acid, two heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and their interactions on mitotic activity and biochemical constituents of Vicia faba yielded seeds was studied. The results showed that different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) induced marked inhibition in the contents of soluble carbohydrate, proteins and ribonucleic acid. Heavy metals also induced marked increases of the total percentage of abnormalities. Moreover, different types of chromosomal aberrations were observed in response to heavy metals. On the contrary, gibberellic acid (GA3) stimulated mitotic activity and biochemical constituents of the yielded seeds of Vicia faba. Gibberellic acid could be also counteracted the adverse effects of heavy metals on mitotic index and some metabolic mechanisms of broad bean plants. In addition, electrophoretic profiles of broad bean seeds proteins showed quantitative differences between major bands obtained in control and treated plants.