Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production is seriously constrained by Pseudomonas syringae, a pathogen for which conventional copper- and antibiotic-based controls have become increasingly problematic due to resistance development, residue concerns, and inconsistent field performance. Chitosan nanocarriers have emerged as attractive crop-protection platforms because they combine biodegradability, biocompatibility, intrinsic antimicrobial activity, and the ability to stimulate plant defense responses. This review proposes a novel concept of dual-loading chitosan nanocarriers with esculetin and salicylic acid for bacterial speck management, while synthesizing current evidence into a cohesive mechanistic framework. Given the heterogeneity and indirectness of the available evidence, the article is presented as a critical narrative review and conceptual synthesis rather than as a formal systematic review of a directly established formulation. The reviewed literature suggests a temporally coordinated defense model in which chitosan and esculetin contribute to rapid pathogen suppression through membrane-disruptive and anti-virulence effects, while salicylic acid sustains systemic acquired resistance through NPR1-associated signaling and pathogenesis-related (PR) gene activation. At the same time, the evidence base remains uneven. Direct studies of the exact esculetin–salicylic acid dual-loaded system remain limited; many reports remain confined to laboratory or greenhouse settings, and the links among release kinetics, in planta fate, and biological efficacy are still insufficiently resolved. Compared with alternative carrier systems, chitosan offers a distinctive combination of biological functionality and environmental compatibility, yet successful translation will depend on reproducible manufacturing, formulation stability, rigorous safety assessment, regulatory clarity, and multi-season field validation. Overall, dual-loaded chitosan nanocarriers represent a promising yet developing nano-bio strategy for the sustainable management of tomato bacterial speck. Accordingly, this article should be regarded as a critical narrative review and concept-driven synthesis intended to guide future experimental research rather than as evidence of a fully validated crop-protection technology.

Fusarium graminearum is an economically important pathogen of cereal crops. It causes Fusarium root rot (FRR) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, posing a significant threat to food security by reducing wheat yields. The cropping pattern under intensive farming has led to the emergence of new pathotypes. This study aims to assess the pathogenic potential of F. graminearum strains isolated from different hosts on wheat. Twenty isolates (presumptively Fusarium spp.) were obtained from symptomatic plants of various crops, including wheat, maize, and grass. Four out of 20 isolates were identified as F. graminearum based on Trichodiene synthase (TRI5) primer and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene analysis. All these strains (n=4) caused Fusarium root rot and Fusarium head blight diseases in wheat susceptible varieties. The F. graminearum strain F1 was found to be highly virulent on both varieties, with a root rot disease score, i.e., Seher (2.9), Galaxy (2.1), and head blight disease score on Seher (5.5) and Galaxy (3.3). None of the strains caused disease on the resistant variety Akbar (disease score 0.6). The virulent strains caused a reduction in photosynthetic pigments, i.e., chlorophyll a, (24-68%), chlorophyll b (26-55%), and carotenoids (17-63%) over control in Seher (susceptible) and Galaxy (moderate susceptible). An enhanced activity of the malondialdehyde (MDA) (6-82%) and antioxidant enzymes was observed in plants inoculated with F. graminearum strains. A significant correlation was observed between the disease score and stress-related markers. These findings highlight the cross-host pathogenicity of F. graminearum on wheat prevailing in different field crops.

Chromium contamination and drought can co-occur in agricultural soils and jointly impair wheat establishment, nutrient balance and cellular integrity. This study evaluated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), the chromium-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas sp. GM5, and their co-application under control, Cr(VI), drought and combined Cr(VI)+drought conditions. Preliminary germination-stage screening identified 500 mg L−1 Cr(VI) as a severe but measurable exposure and 20 mg L−1 TiO2 NPs as the concentration producing the most favourable seedling response. In the pot experiment, TiO2 NPs were applied once as a 50 mL soil drench (1 mg pot-1) at stress initiation, whereas GM5 was applied by seed inoculation. Potassium dichromate supplied a nominal 500 mg Cr(VI) kg−1 dry soil; acid digestion followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry quantified total Cr in tissues and aqua-regia-extractable soil total Cr at harvest. Complete treatment-matched pot growth records and matched shoot and root dry masses were not retained; therefore, biomass responses and organ-specific or whole-plant Cr contents could not be reported, and elemental interpretation was restricted to tissue concentrations and concentration ratios. Relative to untreated combined stress, co-application was associated with 84.2% and 89.2% lower shoot and root total Cr concentrations, respectively, and 57.2–164.4% higher tissue micronutrient concentrations. It also produced more favourable pigment, protein, osmolyte, membrane-injury and antioxidant-enzyme profiles. Root bioconcentration factor declined, whereas translocation factor was interpreted together with absolute tissue concentrations. Overall, co-application produced the most favourable measured concentration and physiological profile under controlled pot conditions. The underlying rhizosphere, transport, nanoparticle–microbe and Cr-speciation mechanisms require direct validation.

This study assessed ginger-derived iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO-NPs) and five plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains against adult Tribolium castaneum. The material was characterised by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ATR–FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Mortality was evaluated using diet-incorporation bioassays, whereas repellency was assessed using a half-filter-paper area-preference assay; each treatment comprised three independent Petri plates containing ten adults. FeO-NPs and Pseudomonas sp. HY13KR were tested individually and in combination, and protein-normalised acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catalase (CAT) activities were quantified. Mortality increased with FeO-NP dose and exposure time: 25 mg g−1 diet caused 83.3 ± 5.8% mortality by Day 3 and 100% by Day 4, whereas 12.5 mg g−1 required nine days to reach 100%. HY8N and HY13KR caused 100% mortality by Day 3. The combined treatment reached 100% mortality by Day 2 and produced a greater time-integrated mortality response than HY13KR alone (Tukey-adjusted p = 0.0187). Maximum repellency was 93.3 ± 11.5% at 0.15 mg mL−1 after 7 h and declined thereafter. The combined treatment produced the lowest AChE (0.0796 ± 0.0094 μmol min−1 mg−1 protein) and CAT (3.3946 ± 0.0755 μmol H2O2 min−1 mg−1 protein) activities; treatment effects on both enzymes were significant (p < 0.0001). Characterisation showed an agglomerated Fe- and O-containing material. Overall, the FeO-NP and PGPR treatments elicited substantial mortality, repellency, and biochemical responses under laboratory conditions.

Heavy metals affect the normal physiological, molecular and biochemical functions of plants by generating oxidative stress, osmotic and ionic imbalance, membrane disorganization and metabolic homeostasis. The exogenous application of biostimulants can be an effective and eco-friendly approach for amelioration of heavy metals from the soil. Therefore, the present study was conducted to ameliorate the adverse effects of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and stress resilience responses by exogenous application of melatonin and Bacillus halotolerans in Brassica carinata. Initially, screening was conducted to select the most suitable concentration of melatonin, Pb and Cd for Brassica carinata. In addition to this, heavy metal resistance for PGPR was also evaluated. The 0.7 mM Pb, 0.5 mM Cd and 0.03 mM melatonin concentrations were selected for the present study. The petri plate experiment was conducted to closely observe the effect of melatonin and PGPR on seed germination, roots and seedling biomass in Brassica carinata plants under cadmium and lead stress. The germination rate was the same for melatonin, PGPR and untreated control as B. carinata itself possesses an excellent sprouting rate. The maximum increase in the number of lateral roots was observed in PGPR (35

Contamination and bioaccumulation of arsenic (As) pose a significant threat globally. Prolonged exposure to As can lead to toxicity, negatively impacting agriculture and reducing crop yields. In the present study, among the four best arsenic-tolerant strains, Providencia vermicola was selected for its better germination and growth induction of maize. Results of the Petri plate screening assay showed titanium nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) (20 ppm) and cerium nanoparticles (CeO NPs) (10 ppm) were most effective in increasing biomass and germination of maize plants. In the pot experiment, the efficacy of separate and combined treatments of NPs in combination with P. vermicola was evaluated in the presence of As stress (150 ppm). Stressed plants depicted marked reduction in plant biomass (30–60

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are ubiquitous probiotics which provide health benefits to the host when consumed in optimal concentrations. Lactobacillus spp., an essential member of the Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), are widely recognized as safe. An indigenous probiotic of the same ecological niche can be more effective due to its environmental compatibility and high adaptability. This study aims to assess the probiotic potential and genetic diversity of an indigenous strain CF-7, isolated from a domestically reared Sahiwal calf by phenotypic and whole genome analysis. Strain CF-7 exhibited desirable probiotic traits, including gastrointestinal tolerance (85.6–95.1

Green nanotechnology has led the development of novel materials to address the growing concerns of antimicrobial resistance and effective cancer therapies. The goal of this study was to biosynthesize and evaluate zinc oxide CV-ZnO and titanium dioxide CV-TiO2 nanoparticles for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities using a green synthesis approach. Cinnamomum verum bark extract was employed as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Their biological efficacy was assessed through disc diffusion (antibacterial and antifungal), DPPH assay (antioxidant), and MTT assay (cytotoxicity against Huh7 liver cancer cells. Their antibacterial and antifungal properties were assessed against a panel of pathogenic bacteria including Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and fungi including Alternaria solan, Microphobia phacelia, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans using the disc diffusion method. The antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory potential was examined against the Huh-7 liver cancer cell line. The biogenic spherical-shaped CV-ZnO and CV-TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited sizes ranging from 40 to 80 nm with absorption peaks at 300–320 nm and 300–400 nm, respectively. FTIR and XRD patterns indicated the presence of hydroxyl and organic groups, confirming high crystallinity, stabilization, and phase purity. Both types of NPs exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activities, with larger zones of inhibition at higher concentrations. The CV-TiO2 nanoparticles showed superior antioxidant activity and induced higher levels of superoxide dismutase in Huh-7 cells compared to CV-ZnO nanoparticles. Furthermore, these nanoparticles, especially CV-TiO2, exhibited potent cytotoxicity (67.67

Brucella spp. is a zoonotic pathogen that affects both livestock and humans, causing reproductive issues in animals and severe health complications in humans, including undulant fever, hepatomegaly, and arthritis. Contaminated raw milk and feces serve as potential transmission sources, despite its public health significance, limited studies have assessed the prevalence of Brucella spp. in raw milk and feces, particularly in endemic regions like Pakistan. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Brucella spp. in raw milk and feces of livestock in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, and evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolated strains. The raw milk and fecal samples were collected randomly from the different livestock farms of Punjab, Pakistan. The areas were selected based on the different sociodemographic attributes like climate, land usage, number of animals, husbandry practices and operational convenience, which may influence the spatial and temporal distribution of livestock diseases. Brucella spp. was isolated using Brucella agar, a highly specific medium, and confirmed at the molecular level through IS711 gene analysis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed to determine the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index and identify multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. A total of 100 samples, including 60 raw milk samples (cows = 25, buffalo = 25, goats = 10) and 40 fecal samples (cows = 16, buffalo = 15, goats = 9), were collected from various livestock farms. The incidence of Brucella spp. was found higher (7.5

In the original publication [...].

Nucleoredoxin 1 (NRX1), a member of the redoxin superfamily, plays a critical role in maintaining redox homeostasis and enhancing stress tolerance in plants. We employed integrated in silico analyses and CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing to functionally characterize NRX1 in Triticum aestivum (wheat) responding to salinity and infection by Puccinia striiformis. We identified five NRX1 proteins coded by three homeologs, with each containing conserved thioredoxin-like domains and a Cys-rich C-terminal region. Sequence analysis predicted cytosolic and chloroplast localization, and promoter analysis predicted interaction with numerous cis-regulatory elements responsive to stress and hormones, including ABRE, MeJARE, and LTRE motifs. Expression profiling revealed significant upregulation of NRX1 in response to both salinity and P. striiformis infection. Protein-protein interaction analysis via STRING predicted strong co-expression of NRX1 with 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR) and thioredoxins, implicating NRX1 in regulating the methylerythritol phosphate pathway-crucial for isoprenoid biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species detoxification. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout lines nrx1-b and nrx1-bd showed increased susceptibility of mutant plants to salinity and stripe rust infection. The total chlorophyll content was significantly reduced, and higher accumulation of malondialdehyde and decreased activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase were recorded compared to wild type (BW208) wheat. These results indicate NRX1 is an important regulator of redox signaling and stress adaptation in wheat, likely functioning through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and isoprenoid pathway intermediates. This study provides mechanistic insights into wheat stress biology and highlights NRX1 as a valuable molecular target for developing stress-resilient wheat cultivars under climate change scenarios.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a globally significant crop, is highly susceptible to bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). In this paper, we studied the effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Bacillus subtilis MGMM36 and Bacillus velezensis MGMM30 on tomato resistance to Pst DC3000 under greenhouse conditions. Seed pre-treatment with either B. subtilis or B. velezensis improved plant viability (60% and 50% survival, respectively, compared to 25% in plants infected with Pst DC3000 alone) and mitigated pathogen-induced damage. B. subtilis provided stronger protection compared to B. velezensis: plants treated with B. subtilis showed a 20% reduction in shoot length (SL), a 10% reduction in root length (RL) and a 15% reduction in leaf area (LA) compared to the control. However, plants treated with B. velezensis exhibited a 30% decrease in SL, a 25% decrease in RL and a 22% decrease in LA. Furthermore, in infected plants grown from seeds previously treated with PGPB, no increase in CAT (SICAT), SOD (SISOD) and PTO gene expression was observed, in contrast to untreated plants. Both B. subtilis and B. velezensis increased the expression of the PR1 gene, restoring it to levels found in uninfected control plants. These findings underscore the potential of two strains of Bacillus spp. as sustainable biological agents to enhance disease resistance and promote tomato growth, with the aim of practical application for pesticide reduction and environmental protection.

Nutrients lacking diet is responsible for major health problems like obesity, heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and inflammation. Microbial nutraceuticals can be the best alternative to resolve the drawbacks related to the phytochemical-based production of nutraceuticals. In vivo study was designed using mice to assess the anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Lactobacillus agilis (L. agilis). Mice were put in control, toxic, standard and L. agilis dose-treated groups. The diabetics, oxidative stress and inflammation (in paw) were induced in mice. In alloxan-treated mice, the blood sugar level was elevated to 600 mg/dL and then it was decreased to 190 mg/dL after the L. agilis dose. Weight gain was increased from 51.48% to 68.56% in groups of diabetic and oxidatively stressed mice respectively as compared to the probiotic (L. agilis dose) group (25.99%) and standard drug-treated mice group (29.35%). The effect of L. agilis dose treatment on the alloxan-induced liver injury presented normal histology of hepatic cells with a well-preserved nucleus, cytoplasm, and hepatocytes in L. agilis dose group of mice. Antioxidant enzymes in L. agilis treated mice group were significantly improved as compared to alloxan treated mice with values 22.1 ± 0.18 μg/mg (super oxide dismutase), 8.9 ± 0.12 μg/mg (catalase), 4.1 ± 0.12 μg/mg (glutathione) and 20.8 ± 0.4 μg/mg (SOD), 7.2 ± 0.1 μg/mg (CAT), 3.7 ± 0.14 μg/mg (GSH) respectively. Paw size (thickness) of the treated mice was significantly reduced at T4 in mice group (L. agilis 1 mL dose) with value 2.1 ± 0.12 cm. Current in vivo study presented probiotic potential of L. agilis that can be used as nutraceutical.

“Iqbal Ahmad Alvi” and “Muhammad Ikram” were not included as authors in the original publication [...]

Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a significant and economically detrimental pest that infests stored grains, particularly wheat, which serves as a staple food for a substantial portion of the Asian population. Environmental and health hazards of available chemical control options coupled with development of resistance against them warrants discovery of more sustainable and environment friendly pest control materials. This study aimed to investigate the physical properties and insecticidal efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), fabricated with Anagallis arvensis extracts, against T. castaneum. The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques. The UV–Visible spectrograph exhibited a characteristic peak at 320 nm at room temperature, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to determine the organic constituents in NPs. Following that, the Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analyses were conducted to assess the shape, size, and weight of the nanoparticles. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis provided information on their surface charge and hydrodynamic diameter. The mortality bioassay demonstrated that ZnO NPs exhibited a significant toxic effect against T. castaneum (p < 0.05), with mortality showing a direct correlation with the concentration and exposure time. The highest dose resulted in a mortality rate of 75 % at the end of the experiment, and the LC50 calculated through Probit-mortality analysis was 105.47 mg/L. Our findings suggest that ZnO NPs loaded with plant extracts hold exciting potential as effective grain protectants.

Drought stress imposes a serious challenge to cultivate wheat, restricting its growth. Drought reduces the capability of plant to uptake essential nutrients. This causes stunted growth, development and yield. Traditional ways to increase wheat growth under drought stress have shortcomings. Using plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has proved feasible and eco-friendly way to enhance wheat growth even under the drought stress. Combining PGPR in consortiums further boosts up their effects. In this study, we have checked the efficacy of drought-tolerant Bacillus halotolerans, Pseudomonas sihuiensis and Bacillus atrophaeus in combination. These strains were allowed to grow on PEG 6000 with concentrations (-0.15, -0.49, -0.73 and − 1.2) Mega Pascal (MPa) alone and in combination. Furthermore, Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. Their biochemical traits such as solubilization of K, P and Zn and the synthesis of siderophore, indole acetic acid (IAA), protease, amylase, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase were done. In addition to this, we investigated the optimum folic acid concentration i.e 150 ppm for wheat against drought stress. We conducted a pot experiment to check the growth-enhancing and drought-mitigating effects of consortium and folic acid alone and in combination. As a result, we found a significantly increased wheat biomass, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, antioxidants including glutathione reductase and total soluble sugars and protein content under all treatments. However, the combined treatment of bacterial consortium and folic acid showed maximum potential to boost wheat growth and survival even under drought. We also investigated the minerals uptake by wheat after the treatments and found maximum nutrient uptake under the co-effect of folic acid and bacterial consortium We believe this is the first study that has investigated the optimal dose of folic acid for wheat. Our research is also novel in that we seek to investigate the effects of folic acid along with a bacterial consortium comprising Bacillus halotolerans, Pseudomonas sihuiensis and Bacillus atrophaeus on wheat grown under the drought stress. Bacillus halotolerans, Pseudomonas sihuiensis and Bacillus atrophaeus are drought tolerant strains. Their consortium significantly improves wheat growth under drought stress. 150 ppm of folic acid is the optimum concentration for wheat growth. Synergistic application of bacterial consortium and folic acid has shown promising wheat growth abilities.

Introduction and Aim: Amid the rapid advancements in contemporary medicine, the resurgence of phytomedicine as a therapeutic avenue has garnered substantial attention. Nearly 30% of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals trace their origins to botanical sources. Phytomedicine has been shown to hold promising applications to attenuate bacterial virulence and source new of bioactive compounds to battle multidrug resistant pathogens. In this context, the current investigation delves into the antimicrobial potential of four indigenous plant species Methodology: This study is primed to unveil the antibacterial and antifungal potential of n-hexane and methanolic extracts of Bismarckia nobilis, Choysia ternata, Chamaedora cataractarum, and Beaucarnea recurvate against strains of S. aureus and C. neoformans. These plant extracts' Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was discerned via the agar well diffusion assay, microbroth dilution assay, and MTT reduction assay. Results: Notably, the n-hexane extracts of B. nobilis and C. ternata exhibited robust activity against S. aureus strains, with 100 mg/mL concentrations yielding inhibition zones measuring 12.1-13.1 mm and 13.1-15.1 mm, respectively. Correspondingly, the methanolic extracts (100 mg/mL) of B. nobilis, C. ternata, C. cataractarum, and B. recurvata presented notable antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, as evidenced by zones of inhibition measuring 14.25 mm, 13.25 mm, 16.25 mm, and 17.35 mm, respectively. Microbroth dilution assays revealed that the MIC of CT and BN plants against S. aureus ranged from 0.78 to 3.125 mg/mL and 1.56-12.5 mg/mL, respectively, with a consequential MIC index of 0.1248 for BN and CT plants against S. aureus. The nhexane extract of B. nobilis and C. ternata showed antibacterial activity against pathogenic S. aureus. Similarly, the methanolic extracts of B. nobilis, C. ternata, C. cataractarum, and B. recurvata exhibited potent antifungal activity against C. neoformans. Conclusion: This study postulates indigenous plant-derived extracts as potent and multifaceted antifungal and antibacterial resources for antimicrobial development.