The World’s major abiotic stress is salinity stress, which affects over 833 million hectares of agricultural lands and risks food security by reducing crop yields and interfering with plant physiological systems. It has been predicted that salinity stress will affect about 50

Metal-based nanoparticles are known for their ecotoxicological and phytotoxic effects, impairing plant growth and development. However, several nanoparticles, including those of zinc, are essential for proper plant growth and could be beneficial at low concentrations. Compared to other metal-NPs, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are less harmful to plants and advantageous to soil microflora. Bioinoculants are also very helpful for plant growth and development. Therefore, biofertilizer combined with ZnO NPs can be used to create nano-biofertilizer. In this study, was utilized for the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. The filtrate obtained from was incorporated with zinc sulfate salt (1mM) to synthesize ZnO NPs. The formation of a white precipitate confirmed that zinc oxide nanoparticles had been synthesised. Several analytical methods were employed to characterize the ZnO nanoparticles, such as UV spectroscopy (352 nm), particle size analysis (100 nm), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ZnO stretching between 600 − 450 cm-1). Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated the presence of, Zn (76.3%) and O (55%), confirming ZnO NPs presence. Afterwards, the interaction of ZnO nanoparticles with MB17a was examined. The interaction showed that the growth of increased when ZnO NPs were applied up to a 10 mM concentration, along with increases in all plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) activities. Integrated application of ZnO nanoparticles and rhizobium enhanced the grain yield of the mung bean crop. Thus, co-application of strain and ZnO nanoparticles could be a breakthrough for the stability of bioinoculants and sustainable agricultural production.

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2022 to evaluate the effect of fertilizer levels on the fodder yield and quality of sorghum genotypes in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of two single-cut forage sorghum cultivars (HJ 541 and Duggi) and seven different fertilizer treatments comprising control, 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 100% RDF, 150% RDF, RDF minus N, RDF minus P, and RDF minus K. Sorghum variety HJ 541 demonstrated superior characteristics for parameters like green fodder yield (GFY), crude protein (CP), crude fat, Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Acid detergent fibre (ADF), crude fibre (CF), hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium. Fertilizer levels also played a crucial role, with higher CP and crude fat and lower NDF, ADF, and CF recorded at 150% RDF, on par with 100% RDF. The variety HJ 541 performed better than Duggi (a local cultivar) in yield and quality parameters under the experimental conditions studied. The present study provides better insights into their performance and enables the effective utilization of the outcome, contributing to the ongoing research in this area.

This research describes a sustainable approach to the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures by using Aloe vera as a green reducing agent, with the aim of their use in asymmetric supercapacitor configurations. CuO nanoparticles were synthesized in the alkaline environment (pH 12) and the as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized using different techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) surface area measurements, and electrochemical techniques such as galvanostatic charging-discharging, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic-voltammetry (CV) for the analysis of their structure, morphology, and optical and electrochemical properties. The results revealed the successful fabrication of CuO nanoparticles with uniform morphology and a porous architecture with a high specific surface area of 19.6 m(2) g(-1), which contributed to acapacitance of 280 F g(-1) at 1 mV s(-1) sweep rate. The as-fabricated asymmetric device (CuO//AC) exhibited excellent performance, with a capacitance of 112 F g(-1) at a scan rate of 1 mV s(-1). After 10 000 CV cycles at 200 mV s(-1), it retained 78.2% of its original capacitance, indicating prolonged functional reliability. These findings demonstrate that synthesizing CuO nanoparticles using Aloe vera is an environmentally friendly and sustainable strategies, exhibit excellent supercapacitor performance, indicating good candidate for use in ecofriendly energy storage applications.

Iron deficiency is a significant abiotic stress that hampers plant growth and productivity, threatening food security. While plants employ physiological and biochemical mechanisms to cope with iron deficiency, these adaptations often come at the cost of growth. Iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) have garnered attention in agriculture due to their eco-friendly nature, affordability, and potential as biofertilizers. This study explores the impact of Fe-NPs synthesized from ferric chloride (FeCl3·6H2O) and ferrous chloride (FeCl2·4H2O) on mitigating iron deficiency in Sorghum bicolor. Synthesized Fe-NPs, approximately 104 nm in size, spherical, and highly agglomerated, were used to prime sorghum seeds at 10, 50, and 100 mg/L concentrations. After germination, seedlings were grown in nutrient media until the three-leaf stage and assessed for physiological and biochemical changes. Iron deficiency in control plants resulted in reduced shoot and root lengths, biomass (fresh and dry weights), and chlorophyll content, alongside increased oxidative stress markers (H2O2 and MDA) and osmolyte accumulation (proline). Seed priming with Fe-NPs significantly improved plant growth parameters, enhanced chlorophyll content, and mitigated oxidative damage by reducing ROS generation and osmolyte levels. Additionally, Fe-NPs prevented biomolecule degradation by enhancing nutrient uptake and osmoregulation. This study demonstrates that Fe-NPs can effectively alleviate iron deficiency stress in sorghum, promoting growth and safeguarding against oxidative damage.

Aquaculture is becoming more and more demanding every day. However, high mortality rates in aquaculture systems, primarily attributed to pathogenic microorganisms, remain a major limitation to productivity. Probiotic supplementation, either through feed or water, has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance fish health, immunity, and growth performance. The present study focused on the isolation and characterization of bacteriocin-producing bacteria from agro-waste sources including fruit and vegetable peel wastes and rhizospheric soil samples. A total of 180 bacterial isolates were screened based on cell morphology, Gram staining, catalase activity, and their tolerance to variable environmental conditions, including temperature, pH, ethanol, NaCl, bile salts, and phenol. Nine potential isolates were identified using biochemical and molecular characterization, out of which six were Lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These LAB isolates demonstrated probiotic properties including broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains, absence of abnormal antibiotic resistance, non-hemolytic behavior, antioxidant activity and absence of biogenic amine production. Among these, the most promising isolates exhibited high cell surface hydrophobicity (90.05

This study presents the comparative and preliminary phytochemical analysis of essential oils extracted from 5 different Ocimum species, including Ocimum basilicum Linn, Ocimum canum Sims, Ocimum citriodorum, Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Ocimum sanctum Linn. The gas chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry was employed for the screening of the different metabolites. The present study investigates a total number of 111 bioactive compounds which were identified across the five Ocimum species, with O. citriodorum exhibiting the highest diversity. The analysis revealed significant variations in the chemical profiles, attributed to differing eco-climatic conditions. Key bioactive compounds, such as α-pinene, linalool and caryophyllene, were consistently found across species. The study also mapped these compounds to metabolic pathways, highlighting their roles in monoterpenoid, phenylpropanoid and sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. Detailed analysis of O. basilicum, O. citriodorum, O. sanctum, O. canum and O. gratissimum oils demonstrated unique metabolic properties, with each species showing distinct pathway activations and dominant compounds. The findings were validated using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis, confirming the species' chemical diversity and distinct clustering. This comprehensive characterization enhances our understanding of Ocimum spp. essential oils, offering valuable insights for their pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic applications.

Salinity stress significantly limits eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) production, yet comprehensive studies on its tolerance mechanisms at the seedling stage remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the salinity tolerance in 32 eggplant genotypes and elucidate the underlying physiological and biochemical adaptations to salt stress. Seedlings were subjected to three salinity levels (0, 8, and 12 dS/m NaCl) in a completely randomized design. After ten days of treatment, the genotypes were classified based upon symptom severity. Two genotypes (S9 and S15) showed higher tolerance, 28 genotypes showed moderate tolerance, while two genotypes (S7 and S12) were found to be highly sensitive. Notably, none of the genotypes survived at 12 dS/m, indicating a moderate tolerance level in eggplant. To explore the mechanistic basis of tolerance, four contrasting genotypes (S9, S15, S7, and S12) were further analyzed under 8 dS/m salinity stress for 4 and 8 days. Tolerant genotypes demonstrated enhanced antioxidant defense, as evidenced by increased activity of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, reduced oxidative stress indicators, better membrane stability, and stable photosynthetic pigment levels. In contrast, sensitive genotypes exhibited elevated stress markers and greater oxidative damage. Gene expression analysis (qRT-PCR) of five key antioxidant-related genes aligned with enzymatic findings, confirming a molecular basis for physiological responses. Ion homeostasis (K+, Na+, and Ca2+) was better regulated in tolerant genotypes, while proline and glycine betaine accumulation was a common osmotic adjustment strategy, across all the genotypes. The findings of this study led to identify two potential eggplant genotypes (S9 and S15), which can be useful for breeding salt-tolerant eggplant varieties. The findings also underscore the pivotal role of the Ascorbate-Glutathione cycle in mitigating salinity stress.

This paper presents the co-immobilization of three enzymes-laccase, cellulase, and xylanase-on chitosan-magnetite nanoparticle beads, with process parameters optimized using response surface methodology on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan-magnetite beads. The optimization achieved an impressive immobilization yield of 95.25%. Following immobilization on chitosan-magnetite beads (CMBs), the kinetic properties (Km and Vmax), as well as the optimal pH and temperature, were significantly enhanced. The immobilized LCX demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining 51% of its initial activity after five consecutive cycles, and could be easily recovered using an external magnet. Maximum digestibility of cellulose (% Dc), hemicellulose (% DH), and lignin (% DL) was observed when 10 g of pretreated wheat bran was treated with 20 LCX-loaded CMBs at 40 °C for 60 minutes. The digestibility values for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were 42.10 ± 1.85%, 52.30 ± 2.05%, and 18.12 ± 0.96%, respectively, using immobilized LCX-CMBs-1.0 to 1.5 times higher than those obtained with free enzymes. Additionally, the yield of reducing sugars was 62.17% for immobilized LCX compared to 46.06% for free LCX. The immobilization on CMBs offers an easily removable and cost-effective solution for various industrial applications.

Proteases represent 60% of the enzyme market and around 66% of the proteases are derived from the microbial sources. In the present study, protease enzyme was produced from bacterial isolate Ochrobactrum anthropi KTP9 under submerged fermentation having 17.43 IU/mL activity and 3.626 mg/ml of protein content. Ammonium sulphate precipitation increased the specific activity from 4.80 to 22.45 IU/ ml with 4.67 purification fold. Free protease has optimum pH 8.0, temperature 35 °C and found stable upto 28 days on storage at 4 °C. The immobilization yield and immobilization efficiency were found as 40.54% and 89.72%, respectively. Upon immobilization, shift in temperature (35 to 45 °C) and pH optima (8.0 to 10.0) was observed as compared to free protease. The immobilized protease was found to retain 50% residual activity upto 35 days of storage at 4 °C. Immobilization enzyme can be reused upto 6 cycles with 50% residual activity. The immobilized protease showed 76% protein hydrolysis in 120 min as compare to free KTP9 protease.

Lignocellulosic biomass; significantly vital, inexpensive and widely existing feedstock, comprising of agro waste/ agro residues, forestry and solid wastes for fuel production and value-added material formation. Lignocellulosic biomass assists in decreased requirement of fossil fuels thus reducing environmental pollution. Economically, lignocellulosic biomass can be formed rapidly and at low cost. Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising alternative to fossil fuels to meet the raw material needs of industrial production and contribute to the transition from linear to industrial cycles to meet international labour standards. In this book chapter, we have discussed structural complexity of lignocellulosic biomass and different biomass conversion methods. along with merits and demerits of pretreatment methods

A fast, reliable, low-cost, and efficient method for the recovery of xylan from agro-residue materials is needed to improve the use of xylan in industrial processes. Xylan was extracted from two agrowastes (corncobs and wheat bran) using a cost-effective alkali extraction method. The characteristic band patterns and bending vibrations associated with hemicellulose and beta glycoside linkage could be seen in the corncob-extracted xylan (CCEx) and wheatbran-extracted xylan (WBEx). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the extracted xylans consisted of aggregated and nonaggregated particles with irregular morphology and rough surfaces. Particle-size analysis displayed average sizes of 205.6, 210.8, and 794.2 nm for commercial beechwood xylan (Bx), CCEx, and WBEx, respectively. Alkali extraction was performed with different concentrations of NaOH, from 5% to 20%, with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20. It was found that 82.90 and 76.77% of xylan were extracted from corncob and wheat bran, respectively, which represents a higher yield obtained in a shorter duration in comparison with studies in the literature. The enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat bran and corncob that used 250 IU/mL of Enterobacter hormaechie KS1 xylanase yielded 334.38 and 162.35 mg/g of xylooligosaccharides. Their properties were studied and were found to be very similar to those of commercial xylan. They could reduce costs if applied in industry.

An innovative ssDNA aptamer-mediated colorimetric biosensor utilizing an ultra-small dot assay has been developed for the ultra-sensitive detection of acetamiprid, a hazardous insecticide widely used in agriculture. This "Dot assay" leverages ultra-low volumes of less than 20 mu L, allowing for rapid visual detection within seconds and addressing the urgent need for accessible and efficient detection methods. Through a nonimmobilized graphene oxide-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) approach, a specific 79-mer aptamer (Apt-SS5) was identified after 15 enrichment cycles. The Apt-SS5 aptamer demonstrated a remarkable binding affinity for acetamiprid, with a melting temperature (Tm) of 53 degrees C and a Gibbs free energy (Delta G) of -7.24 kcal/mol at 37 degrees C. Notably, the binding pocket is formed by nucleotides C-16 to T-32, with critical interactions occurring at C-10, C-16, G-25, A-26, G-27, G-28, and A-29. The optimized colorimetric assay achieved an impressive limit of detection (LOD) of 0.039 ppb and resulted in a significant reduction in assay costs. The target specificity and cross-reactivity of Apt-SS5 were tested against other pesticides, including imidacloprid, thiachloprid, thiamethoxam, chlorpyrifos, pyriproxyfen, and chlorantraniliprole, with no significant color change observed for these non-targets. In contrast, a clear visual color change was noted in the presence of acetamiprid, confirming the aptamer's high specificity. Additionally, the aptasensor proved effective for testing river and water samples, yielding recovery rates of 84.40 % to 101.66 %. This innovative approach enhances sensitivity and simplifies the detection process, paving the way for rapid screening of pesticide residues in various samples.

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) comprising of wheat bran, coconut husk, rice husk, cereals straw, and other hardwood and softwoods is a good source for the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) (prebiotic). XOS produced are nondigestible carbohydrates being stable under stomach pH and digestive enzymes so they can be easily delivered to the intestine in native form, thus stimulating the growth of probiotics. Here we review about the raw material, production, purification, and application of XOS with health benefits. Importance of XOS being valuable food ingredient is increasing as they perform a variety of functions, including reduction in cholesterol levels, gastrointestinal health maintenance, anticancer and antioxidant properties, and modulation of immune system. We also discuss the different characterization methods which are necessary to determine the degree of polymerization (DP) of XOS. Low DP (xylobiose and xylotriose) is usually preferred for the application of XOS in various sectors. This review emphasizes the growing significance of XOS as a prebiotic, serving as nourishment for probiotics.

Itaconic acid is one of industrially important organic acid produced by fungi.It is an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, which can be used as a replacement for petroleum base chemicals.It can be used as monomer in synthesis of biodegradable polymer such as synthesis of fibre, plastics, detergents, rubber, lubricants and bioactive compounds.In this study, thirty five fungal isolates were retrieved from soil samples collected from different sites of Hisar (Agri-tourism Centre, HAU fields CCSHAU Hisar and field of Khanda Kheri, Hisar).Six isolates were selected on the basis of primary screening for organic acid production done on Czapek Dox agar/Potato dextrose agar using bromocresol green as pH indicator.Selected fungal isolates were observed under microscop e for morphological characteristics.Fungal isolate ITA27 which was Aspergillus sp. on basis of morphological characteristics was selected for production of itaconic acid under submerged fermentation.HPLC analysis of itaconic acid produced by fungal ITA27 showed peak having similarity to standard itaconic acid.Fungal isolates ITA27 showed production of 1.28g/l itaconic acid after incubation period of 8 days.

The study has been designed to isolate xylanase-producing bacteria and parametric optimization for maximum production. The xylanase was utilized for enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat bran (WB) and wheat bran extracted xylan (WBEx) to obtain xylooligosaccharides. The research was planned for value addition in the agriculture sector with low-cost enzyme production and its utilization in prebiotic production from agro-residue. The xylanase obtained from the new isolate Bacillus australimaris KS2 was optimized with 2.0% of 24 h inoculum supplemented with 2.0% wheat bran at pH 7, 35 degrees C for 48 h with an agitation rate of 150 rpm. There was a 2.96-fold increase in xylanase activity from its initial (2997.07 IU/mL) activity to the optimized condition (8873.07 IU/mL). The maximum reducing sugar production over enzymatically hydrolyzed WB was found after 8 h of reaction time at pH 5, 55 degrees C with 375 units of enzyme. In the case of enzymatically hydrolyzed WBEx, the maximum production of 588 mg/g was achieved after 16 h at pH 6 and 55 degrees C of reaction temperature at the same amount of enzyme dose. The results demonstrated that the new isolate Bacillus australimaris KS2 was an efficient xylanase producer. Xylooligosaccharides produced through enzymatic hydrolysis of WBEx showed good prebiotic potential over Lacto-bacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

Developing antimicrobial resistance by microorganism is one of the major concerns of modern society. The emergence of antimicrobials resistance in bacteria against commonly used effective antibiotics results in the need for stronger and costly therapy. Nanoparticles seem to be a viable solution to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. As the most of the nanoparticles was use more than one mechanism to kill microorganism. Here, the study was planned to synthesize plant extract mediated CuO nanoparticles with antimicrobial property using green synthesis method. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using the UV–vis spectrophotometer, Scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy. Schefflera arboricola based synthesized nanoparticles were shows antimicrobial activity against gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) and Gram positive (B. subtilis,) group of bacteria. Human blood lymphocytes shows normal growth when in presence of Schefflera arboricola leaves extract based synthesized nanoparticles.

Abstract Itaconic acid is one of industrially important organic acid having wide application in environmental protection, food and textile industries. Microorganisms mainly fungi have vast potential to be exploited for itaconic acid production. But low yield and higher cost of production are major drawback creating a settle back for industrial production. This problem can be solved by using low cost organic waste as substrate. This review summarizes recent research on production of itaconic acid using organic wastes, microorganisms involved, extraction, application and problem faced during utilization of agro-industrial wastes.

Nanoparticles can be synthesized by various chemical, physical, or biological methods. Chemical and physical methods have certain drawbacks such as time consuming, high cost, high energy requirement, low yield and also produces hazardous chemicals which will be harmful to environment. Bio-synthesis seems a possible solution for the environment friendly synthesis of nanoparticles with enhances stability and clean synthesis technology to minimize environment and health associated risk. Bio nanotechnology encourages replacement of existing products with new environment friendly nano-products. Present study reports, the plant-based synthesis of magnesium nanoparticles with Syzygium aromaticum and their characterized with Dynamic Light scattering, Scanning Electron Microscope, UV-spectrophotometer and Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR). Bio-synthesized nanoparticles show promising antimicrobial activity against Gram + ve (Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram -ve bacteria (Escherichia coli) group of Microorganisms.