The bacterial strain Pseudomonas qingdaonensis BD1 and the clay mineral Illite have demonstrated individual potential in stress mitigation; however, their combined impact on soybean performance under salt stress are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the combined application of BD1 and Illite in enhancing salt stress tolerance in soybean. The survival of BD1 was tested across a range of NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM) and Illite concentrations (0-7%), with maximum growth observed at 100 mM NaCl and 3% Illite. The treatments were applied independently, and the combined treatment of BD1 and Illite was most effective in mitigating the salt stress. Their co-application significantly enhanced the plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency under salt stress. This combination (BD1+Illite) also reduced oxidative stress by lowering hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, likely due to elevated antioxidant enzyme activity. Ion analysis revealed that BD1+ Illite reduced Na + accumulation by 26.7%, while increasing K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and phosphorus uptake by 46.5%, 52.7%, 29%, and 28.7%, respectively. Additionally, their co-application decreased abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) by 40% and 20.3%, respectively, whereas jasmonic acid (JA) increased by 44.4%, indicating a favourable hormonal shift. Enhanced accumulation of sugars, organic acids and amino acids further contributed to osmotic adjustment. Gene expression analyses revealed upregulation of GmCYP707A2, GmSALT3, GmLAX1, GmLAX3 and GmNHX1 and downregulation of GmNCED3, GmCLC1, and GmPAL1, supporting improved stress adaptation. In summary, while BD1 and Illite individually alleviated salt stress, their co-application resulted in the most effective and consistent improvement in salt stress tolerance in soybean plants primarily through enhanced antioxidant capacity, improved ion homeostasis, hormone regulation, and stress-responsive gene expression. Thus, their combined use represents a promising and sustainable amendment for agriculture in salt-affected environments.

The safety of drinking water and irrigation supplies depends on groundwater quality, which is vulnerable to geogenic contaminants that are challenging to predict. The concurrent release and accumulation of geogenic arsenic (As) and iron (Fe) in freshwater systems pose significant global environmental challenges, and their co-occurrence, dynamics and source linkages remain poorly understood. This study investigated the spatial distribution, co-occurrence, hydrogeochemical associations, and health risks of As and Fe in groundwater samples (n = 74) collected from shallow (<19.8 m) and deep (>19.8 m) aquifers in Shorkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Results revealed that As concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 22.3 & micro;g L-1, with 19% of samples exceeding the permissible limit set by WHO (10 & micro;g L-1), while none of the samples surpassed the Pak-EPA threshold (50 & micro;g L-1). Iron levels varied between 0 and 218 & micro;g L-1, with higher mean concentrations (Fe: 74 & micro;g L-1) in deep aquifers than in shallow ones (Fe: 66 & micro;g L-1). Health risk assessments demonstrated carcinogenic potential, with cancer risk (CR) values exceeding the acceptable threshold (CR > 0.0001) for both adults (0.0034) and children (0.005). The hazard quotient (HQ) and average daily dose (ADD) values further indicated non-carcinogenic risks, particularly for children (HQ: 0.5; ADD: 0.0002 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.80) between As and Fe highlighted the critical role of Fe-(hydr)oxide mineral dissolution in mobilizing As into groundwater. This study emphasizes the need to address chronic exposure risks and advocates for comprehensive source identification for sustainable groundwater management. This work advances the understanding of As-Fe synergies in alluvial aquifers and provides a framework for assessing similar geogenic contamination in vulnerable regions globally.

Plant-based iron oxide nanoparticles (PIONs) were evaluated for regulating arsenic (As) stress responses and detoxification mechanisms in maize (Zea mays L.) under controlled conditions. A 40-day pot experiment was conducted using washed sand supplemented at sowing with sodium arsenate (30 mg As kg⁻1) and foliar PIONs green-synthesized using Pinus roxburghii needle extract (100, 300, and 500 mg L⁻1; three sprays at weekly intervals). PIONs improved maize growth and physiology, increasing root length from 23.77 cm (control) to > 34 cm at the highest PION dose and enhancing chlorophyll a and b to 0.85 and 1.75 mg g⁻1 FW, respectively. PIONs also elevated stress metabolites (proline, soluble sugars, amino acids, phenolics) and antioxidant enzymes (APX, CAT, POD, SOD), indicating strengthened redox regulation. A key finding was the dual effect of PIONs on As accumulation: PIONs alone increased tissue As, with root As rising from 1.60 to 2.70 mg kg⁻1 (+ 68.8

The extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, of which humans and animals metabolize less than 30

Plant-mediated nanoparticles are being investigated for metabolic disorders, but therapeutic gains from full-dose co-administration should be distinguished from true pharmacological synergy. This study compared the antidiabetic effects of Cymbopogon citratus leaf ethanolic extract (LEE), biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their combination in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. AgNPs were synthesized using LEE as a reducing and capping agent and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The AgNPs showed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 432 nm, mean hydrodynamic diameter of 38.2 ± 4.6 nm, zeta potential of -28.4 ± 3.1 mV, and predominantly spherical morphology. Diabetic mice received metformin, LEE, AgNPs, or LEE + AgNPs for 28 days, followed by evaluation of glycaemic, oxidative, lipid, hepatorenal, haematological, pancreatic histopathological, and integrated biomarker recovery responses. The combination group recorded fasting blood glucose of 128.0 ± 3.0 mg/dL and HbA1c of 6.5 ± 0.1%, compared with 141.0 ± 5.7 mg/dL and 7.3 ± 0.1%, respectively, in the AgNP group. Although combined administration produced the highest integrated biomarker recovery index (80.61 ± 0.61%), additional improvements over AgNP monotherapy were limited or nonsignificant across several endpoints. Pancreatic histopathology also showed improved islet area, cellular density, and lesion scores following treatment. Co-administration produced endpoint-specific additional benefits but did not demonstrate pharmacological synergy. Further route-matched dose-response studies, mechanistic validation, nanoparticle biodistribution, and long-term biosafety assessment are required.

2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), the key volatile compound responsible for aroma in aromatic rice, is highly susceptible to abiotic stresses such as cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, the potential role of molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes (MoS2FL) in regulating antioxidant defense and 2-AP biosynthesis under Cd stress remains largely unexplored. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of foliar MoS2FL application on antioxidant defense, aroma formation, and Cd-stress mitigation in two fragrant rice cultivars, Meixiangzhan-2 and Basmati, grown in Cd-contaminated soil (50 mg kg-1). Cadmium stress significantly reduced key enzymes and precursors involved during 2-AP biosynthesis, including Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), Δ1-pyrroline, pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C), diamine oxidase (DAO) and proline dehydrogenase (PRODH), along with downregulation of their associated genes. In contrast, foliar application of MoS2FL was associated with reduced Cd-induced oxidative stress, as indicated by increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Moreover, MoS2FL increased precursor accumulation, enzymatic activities, and transcript abundance of genes associated with 2-AP biosynthesis, whereas gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity, and BADH2 gene expression were significantly reduced. Consequently, MoS2FL application significantly increased 2-AP content by 44.47% in Meixiangzhan-2 and 39.94% in Basmati under Cd stress. These findings suggest that MoS2 nanoflakes may serve as a promising nano-enabled strategy to enhance antioxidant defense, improve aroma quality, and mitigate cadmium stress in fragrant rice, potentially through changes associated with the 2-AP biosynthesis pathway. This study highlights the potential application of nanomaterials in improving crop quality and stress resilience in sustainable agricultural systems.

This study investigates the ultraviolet light (UV) activated photocatalytic degradation of a recalcitrant herbicide chlortoluron by using ferrite and biochar-based nanostructured photocatalysts (CuFe2O4/BC, NiFe2O4/BC, CuFe2O4/NiFe2O4/BC, and CuFe2O4/BC/nZVI). The photocatalytic degradation experiments were conducted in a 700 mL reactor equipped with an internally mounted UV lamp. Materials were thoroughly characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, EDX techniques, and UV/Vis-based band gap energy analysis. Characterization results revealed the successful preparation of the composites and the stability of the materials. Experimental results revealed that the ternary ferrites and the ferrites containing nano-ZVI showed a decline in their efficiency as compared with CuFe2O4/BC and NiFe2O4/BC. For the optimized CuFe2O4/BC system, the photocatalytic activity was found to be high (99%) for chlortoluron degradation from water by pulsing the UV light. The important parameters were also optimized to achieve the desired photocatalytic activity. For the optimized system, the parameters were set to pH 7, a catalyst dosage of 0.3 g/L, and a nitrogen atmosphere to extend the lifetime of the hydrated electron (e-aq) by minimizing oxidation. The presence of competitive ions such as NO3-/NO2- and humic acid led to a decline in chlortoluron removal from water, while other conditions remained the same. The pulsed activation process saved energy consumption (83.3%) as compared to traditional continuous UV-based degradation while maintaining the same efficiency, which will be beneficial in large-scale use. Mechanistic evidence for the reductive degradation pathway through systematic scavenger experiments confirmed the dechlorination as the primary degradation.

Heavy metal (HM) toxicity is a major constraint for plants, soils, and the environment. Thus, eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies are needed to mitigate HM stress. The bacterial strain Pseudomonas qingdaonensis BD1 and the clay mineral Illite have been identified as promising agents for alleviating lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) stress in soybean. However, their synergistic effects on soybean under combined metal stress (Pb+As+Cd) remain underexplored. In this study, soybean plants grown under controlled conditions were treated with BD1 isolates and 3 % Illite to counter the phytotoxic effects of Pb, As, and Cd (1.5 mM each). HM stress impaired soybean growth by increasing oxidative damage and disrupting photosynthetic functioning, whereas the co-administration of BD1 +Illite restored morpho-physiological performance, including improved chlorophyll (Chl a and Chl b) content, enhanced maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), and increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn), indicating effective protection of the photosynthetic apparatus under stress conditions. These physiological improvements were accompanied by enhanced key enzymatic antioxidant activities, including SOD (218.3 %), CAT (84.5 %), POD (57.5 %), and APX (60.9 %), as well as the non-enzymatic antioxidant GSH (108.2 %). These improvements led to reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. BD1 +Illite also increased the accumulation of sugars and free amino acids, improved the uptake of Ca, K, and Si, and simultaneously reduced Cd, As, and Pb accumulation. Moreover, the treatment modulated phytohormone levels by decreasing abscisic acid (40.3 %) and salicylic acid (13.8 %) while increasing jasmonic acid (44.3 %). BD1 +Illite downregulated GmNCED3 and GmPAL1, but upregulated GmCYP707A2, GmLAX1, and GmCDPK5. Metal ion homeostasis and detoxification-related genes (GmNRAMP5A, GmMT1, GmMT2, GmPCS1, and GmWRKY142) were also differentially expressed, indicating coordinated responses that enhance HM tolerance in soybean. Overall, these findings highlight plant-microbe interaction-based, eco-friendly, and cost-effective strategies to reduce HM toxicity in soybean and other legumes.

Bull fertility impacts herd fertility, but accurately predicting male fertility from sperm characteristics is difficult once extremes are removed. The objectives of this study were identification, relative quantification, and comparison of sperm head plasma membrane (HPM) proteomics in bulls of differing bull fertility index (BFI). HPM from one fresh ejaculate from 16 Holstein bulls (8 each high and low fertility) was extracted, digested and assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The MS spectra were aligned to UniProtKB mammals, identified, and characterized by Spectrum Mill. Mass Profiler Professional statistical analysis of the 22,117 total proteins identified in all bulls, after database search, revealed 67 proteins [unique plus homologous, 1% false discovery rate] whose abundance differed at least 2-fold (differentially abundant proteins, DAPs) between the 3 bulls each with highest and lowest BFI [high fertility (HF) BFI 105.66 ± 0.54 > low fertility (LF) BFI 91.33 ± 1.44; p < 0.01]. Gene ontology assigned the 48 DAPS increased in HF to sperm-specific function and fertility-related mechanisms, and the 19 HF-decreased DAPs primarily to catalytic and transporter activity. Meta analysis and linear regression each confirmed that the BFI of the 6 HF/LF bulls significantly correlated to the DAPS (regression r2 = 0.65 to 0.97, p ≤ 0.05), but importantly in the 16-bull population, linear regression found that 38 of the HF-increased DAPS positively correlated to BFI (r2 = 0.29 to 0.66; p ≤ 0.05), and 4 of the HF-decreased DAPS negatively correlated (r2 = 0.26 to 0.44; p ≤ 0.05). In summary, this study identified HPM proteins with important roles in sperm fertilization and significant correlations with bull fertility.

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, heat, and nutrient imbalances, severely constrain cereal crop productivity and pose a growing threat to global food security under climate change. While traditional breeding has contributed to crop improvement, its limited speed and resolution necessitate the integration of advanced biotechnological approaches. Recent developments in genome editing, particularly CRISPR/Cas systems, alongside marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and multi-omics technologies, have enabled precise manipulation of stress-responsive genes and accelerated trait discovery in major cereals such as wheat, rice, and maize. This review synthesises current advances in the physiological, molecular, and genomic mechanisms underlying abiotic stress tolerance, with a particular emphasis on integrative frameworks that combine genomics, phenomics, and computational approaches. Importantly, emerging constraints associated with genome editing, including off-target effects, delivery challenges, and mosaicism, highlight the need for complementary strategies. The integration of pangenomics, high-throughput phenotyping, artificial intelligence-assisted selection, and speed breeding represents a transformative shift toward systems-level crop improvement. Overall, this review proposes that future progress in developing climate-resilient cereals will depend not on individual technologies alone, but on their coordinated deployment within holistic, data-driven breeding pipelines capable of addressing complex and dynamic stress environments.

The present study comparatively evaluated green- and chemically synthesized ZnO NPs for their potential to mitigate Cr-induced stress in sunflower. Green ZnO NPs were synthesized using Morus alba leaf extract and compared with chemically synthesized ZnO NPs through UV–Visible and FTIR spectroscopic characterization. Sunflower plants were subjected to different ZnO NP concentrations and Cr stress treatments, and responses were assessed using chlorophyll pigments, proline, protein, soluble sugar, membrane stability index (MSI), root and shoot length, and fresh and dry biomass. Treatment effects were highly significant (P < 0.01) for all measured traits, demonstrating pronounced treatment-dependent variation. Substantial variability was observed for MSI (CV = 74.34%), Chl_a (62.18%), and dry weight (51.29%), whereas sugar showed comparatively low variation (10.48%). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations among total chlorophyll, MSI, growth, and biomass traits, with TChl strongly correlated with Chl_a (r = 0.97), Chl_b (r = 0.92), shoot length (r = 0.91), dry weight (r = 0.91), and MSI (r = 0.90). Principal component analysis explained 93.7% of the total variation through the first two components, with chlorophyll, growth, biomass, and MSI contributing predominantly to PC1. Hierarchical clustering further differentiated treatments according to their integrated physiological responses, with the 100-ppm green-synthesized ZnO NP treatment showing the strongest overall association with favorable growth, chlorophyll, biomass, and membrane stability responses. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that ZnO nanoparticle application can substantially modify sunflower responses to Cr stress and highlight green synthesis as a promising approach for developing more sustainable nanomaterials for stress-resilient crop production.

The long-term intensive cultivation in apple orchards has led to certain heavy metals accumulation yet the relative contributions of fertilizer inputs versus atmospheric deposition remain poorly resolved. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the effect of long-term cultivation on heavy metal pollution in soils of apple orchards, for safe and sustainable fruit production. Unlike the most studies that analyzed only surface soils, this study compares two soil depths with multiple cultivation-age classes and deep-profile background values, supported by positive matrix factorization (PMF) modeling, to distinguish fertilizer-derived and atmospheric sources. A total number of 128 soil samples were collected from two depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) in apple orchards of varying ages up to 30 years. Overall, the soil pH was alkaline with high soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and heavy metal contents. The concentrations of Hg, Cu, and Pb in orchard soils significantly increased with cultivation age at rates of 0.00165 mg kg−1, 0.244 mg kg−1, and 0.208 mg kg−1 per year (equivalent to 4.34%, 0.88%, and 1.11% per year relative to background levels), respectively, while Zn, As, and Cr showed no significant accumulation over time. The cumulative pollution load index of heavy metals was at moderate level in both depths (1.10 and 1.05 respectively). The single heavy metals pollution load index was variable Pb pollution load was high at 0–20 cm depth and Hg at 20–40 cm depth. The cumulative ecological risk index was at considerable level at both depths. However, the single ecological risk index of Hg was only at moderate level. Hg ecological risk is dominated by atmospheric deposition, while Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Cr are fertilizer-driven. Ecological risk is based on total concentrations; bioavailability was not measured. The PMF model identified inorganic and organic fertilizers as the major contributing factors in Cu, Zn, As, Pb and Cr accumulation, whereas Hg accumulation was mainly due to atmospheric deposition. The study suggests regulating the use of fertilizers inputs and implementing control and remediation practices for sustainable fruit production in apple orchards.

Micro-RNA268 (miR268) plays an important role in modulating plant responses to different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Zinc (Zn) has an essential physiological role in plants and is often deficient in crops. A study was conducted under controlled lowland (flooded) rice cultivation conditions to investigate the potential role of miR268 overexpression in modulating rice seedling resilience and yield in response to foliar Zn application. The rice seedlings were exposed to different Zn supplementation treatments: control (without zinc application), root dipping of seedlings in 0.5% zinc solution, basal application (30 kg ha-1), and foliar applications of Zn (0.5%) at 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days of transplantation. Different parameters such as growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, and yield metrics were systematically evaluated post-harvest. The study demonstrated that miR268 overexpression enhanced Zn uptake, with foliar Zn application (90 days) yielding the highest chlorophyll content (1.85%) and lowest oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA: 1.25 nmol g-1 fresh weight, FW). Basal Zn application resulted in maximal Zn accumulation (roots: 29.6 & micro;g g-1 dry weight, DW; shoots: 37.5 & micro;g g-1 DW) and a 15.5% increase in 1000-kernel weight. These findings confirm miR268's central role in Zn homeostasis: foliar Zn at 90 days was most effective for enhancing photosynthesis and reducing oxidative stress, whereas basal application was superior for maximizing Zn accumulation and grains weight. Therefore, the optimal method depends on the target outcome, foliar application for stress protection or basal application for yield improvement-thus providing flexible management for Zn-deficient soils.

Algae have emerged as versatile biostimulants and biofertilizers with significant potential to enhance crop productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, and tolerance to environmental stressors. This review synthesizes current knowledge on algal biodiversity relevant to agriculture, and their physiological, biochemical, and metabolic attributes and research gaps for sustainable agriculture. Reported applications demonstrate yield improvements typically ranging from 10% to 40%, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, and partial replacement of synthetic fertilizers, including nitrogen-fixing 20-30 kg N ha-1 season-1 by cyanobacteria. Algal applications have also demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, heavy metal toxicity, and temperature, through improving antioxidant activities (30-80%), water-use efficiency, phytohormones, and stress response transcription factors, under both controlled and field conditions. In addition, algae-base nanoparticles (iron oxide, silica or ZnO, and silver) enhance plant productivity and stress mitigation, promoting both molecular and biochemical channels. This review integrates mechanistic insights with agronomic outcomes, and discusses practical considerations, including formulation strategies, delivery methods, cultivation systems, and scalability. Environmental performance such as reduced reliance on synthetic inputs and improved resource-use efficiency, are also highlighted. However, challenges related to production costs, regulatory uncertainties, compositional variability, and inconsistent field performance remain key barriers to large-scale adoption. Overall, algae-based technologies represent a promising pathway toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Cellulases produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa play an important role in various industries, including biofuel, textile and animal feed industries. For this, the samples of different vegetable wastes were collected and used for the isolation of cellulase producing bacteria and were assessed for cellulolytic activity by the Congo red staining method in recent studies. The isolate obtained from potato peel exhibited the highest cellulase activity among all isolates. The isolate was identified molecularly using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and was found to be most closely related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Optimization studies indicated that cellulase production was highest under specific pH and temperature conditions and wheat bran was found to be an effective substrate supplement for cellulase production. The enzyme was partially purified by means of Gel Filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE showed the molecular weight of the partially purified enzyme to be about 58kDa.Furthermore, the purified cellulase was applied to cotton fabric, resulting in improved surface smoothness, reduced fuzz and pilling, and enhanced overall fabric quality.