Hasil untuk "Botany"

Mohamed A. M. El-Tabakh, Ahmed Z. I. Shehata, Ahmed M. Sadek et al.

Abstract To develop economically viable and environmentally benign methodologies for organic reactions and reveal the practical utility of transitional natural compounds and their derivatives. In addition, a new research method to conduct docking studies against nuclear factors sheds light on the theoretical mechanism of action of Phlomis aurea extracts as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and repellent. The pharmacological potential of Phlomis aurea is investigated in this research by analysing its aqueous and petroleum ether extracts. So, to evaluate antioxidant activity, the DPPH scavenging test was used and compared against ascorbic acid; aqueous extract showed noteworthy activity. Both extracts demonstrated noteworthy efficacy against various pathogens, such as Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The anti-cancer activity was also assessed using in-vitro assay on a standard cell line (Wi38) and two cancer cell lines (MDA and HepG2). The sensitivity of starving female An. pharoensis to the studied extracts was higher than that of Cx. pipiens, suggesting that these extracts may have potential applications in vector control. Docking study against nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) (PDB ID: 3wn7), topoisomerase IV (PDB ID: 7lhz), COX protein (PDB ID: 6y3c), and Odorant Binding Protein 7 (OBP7) (PDB ID: 3r1o), to shed light on the theoretical mechanism expected as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and repellent effects against mosquitoes respectively, for galic acid as most significantly quantifying compounds on both extracts; highlighting the predicted mechanism of the proposed in-vitro assay, and confirming the present result.

Danai Kotoula, Eleni G. Papazoglou, Garifalia Economou et al.

The aim of this study was to assess the phytoremediation potential of fiber flax (<i>Linum usitatissimatum</i> L., var. Calista) cultivated in a soil contaminated with multiple metals, under real field conditions. A two-year (2022 and 2023) field experiment was conducted in a site contaminated with elevated concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn due to mining and metallurgical activities. Three different nitrogen fertilization levels were tested (N0: 0 kg N ha⁻¹, N1: 30 kg N ha⁻¹, N2: 60 kg N ha⁻¹), and both spring and winter sowings were conducted. At full maturity, growth parameters and yields were measured. The phytoremediation potential of flax was assessed in terms of the metal concentrations in the above-ground biomass and of the metal uptake (i.e., the potential removal of the soil metals in g ha⁻¹ and per year). Flax demonstrated a shorter growth cycle, with shorter and thicker plants and higher yields when sown in spring compared to winter sowing. Plant growth and productivity were not evidently influenced by additional nitrogen fertilization during plant growth. The cadmium bioaccumulation factor was 1.06, indicating that flax accumulates this metal. For Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn, the corresponding values were 0.0, 0.04, 0.004, and 0.02, suggesting that this crop excludes these metals. The order of the higher uptake in plant tissues was as follows: Zn > Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni. In conclusion, flax demonstrated tolerance to heavy metals in the soil, effectively supporting soil restoration through cultivation. Additionally, flax showed potential as a cadmium accumulator while excluding nickel, copper, lead, and zinc.

Emmanuel Ehinmitan, Turoop Losenge, Edward Mamati et al.

The extensive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in conventional agriculture has raised significant environmental and health issues, including the emergence of resistant pests and pathogens. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) present a sustainable alternative, offering dual benefits as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. This review delves into the mechanisms by which PGPR enhance plant growth, including nutrient solubilization, phytohormone production, and pathogen suppression. PGPR’s commercial viability and application, particularly under abiotic stress conditions, are also examined. PGPR improves plant growth directly by enhancing nutrient uptake and producing growth-promoting substances and indirectly by inhibiting phytopathogens through mechanisms such as siderophore production and the secretion of lytic enzymes. Despite their potential, the commercialization of PGPR faces challenges, including strain specificity, formulation stability, and regulatory barriers. The review highlights the need for ongoing research to deepen our understanding of plant-microbe interactions and develop more robust PGPR formulations. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for integrating PGPR into mainstream agricultural practices and reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals. The successful adoption of PGPR could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices, promoting healthier crops and ecosystems.

Jyoti Chauhan, MD Prathibha, Prabha Singh et al.

Photosynthesis is crucial for sustaining life on this planet and necessary for plant growth and development. Abiotic stresses such as high and low temperatures, and excess, or deficit of water limit the crucial plant processes, thus threatening the global food security. However, recent molecular approaches allowed elucidation of the photosynthetic components/compounds and their efficiency under stress conditions. In the present scenario, these approaches are not enough to reduce the yield penalty due to the reduction in photosynthetic efficiency. Therefore, comprehensive data on plant behavior and stress crosstalk networks could assist in understanding the in-depth mechanism of photosynthesis. In recent years, information regarding crosstalk, signaling characterization of candidate genes, and responses to multiple stressors have advanced our knowledge to understand the mechanism of photosynthesis. Therefore, in this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of various studies conducted on photosynthesis under multiple abiotic stress factors that affect the photosynthetic efficiency of a plant. We also discuss the role of crosstalk signaling compounds (plant growth regulators and micro RNAs) for an in-depth understanding of the photosynthesis mechanism. Finally, based on our gathered data set, the mechanism of damage and adaptive response of photosynthesis under multiple stressors are explained to enhance the scientific community's knowledge toward boosting photosynthesis and to accelerate stress tolerance strategies for crop improvement.

Martin Hessling, Ben Sicks, Anna-Maria Gierke et al.

(1) Background: Hand hygiene with chemical disinfectants is an important measure to reduce the spread of infections, but frequent use can cause skin irritation. In recent years, it has become widely accepted that visible light can also have an antimicrobial effect, and visible light has even been applied to the disinfection of wounds. The present study aims to evaluate whether hand disinfection with visible light is a realistic alternative to chemical disinfectants. (2) Methods: Human hands were irradiated with a dose of 10 or 33 J/cm² of visible violet light (405 nm) for 3 or 10 min, respectively. The reducing effect of the visible violet light was determined by comparing the contact agar plate results of irradiated and non-irradiated hands. Comparative experiments with a conventional hand disinfecting gel were also performed. Applicable standards were consulted to evaluate skin exposure to the irradiation. (3) Results: Irradiation of the hands with 10 and 33 J/cm² resulted in an average reduction of microorganisms on the skin of 0.43 and 0.76 log-levels, respectively. These disinfection results with visible violet light are far behind those of the disinfectant gel, which achieved a reduction of 2.17 log-levels. Additionally, due to legal limits, a 3-min irradiation can only be performed five times per day and a 10-min procedure only once. (4) Conclusion: Since the irradiation doses applied up to now have not provided a substantial antimicrobial effect, and since an increase in the dose in a short time period is not arbitrarily possible without heating the hand unpleasantly, visible light of 405 nm seems rather unsuitable for repeated hand disinfection.

Hakan Çelebi, Tolga Bahadır, İsmail Şimşek et al.

All over the world, environmental engineers, environmental biologists, biochemists, and other scientists are concerned about environmental pollution. In particular, different treatment technologies and applications in terms of water and soil health have been investigated for years. Studies show that the bioprocess (biosorption, bioremediation, bioaccumulation, etc.) approach is more advantageous (economical, easy design, and environmentally friendly, etc.) than many treatment methods. Thanks to these advantages, bioprocesses have been preferred for the removal of different pollutants in the receiving environment. Effective microorganisms (EMOs) are defined as mixed cultures of advantageous and naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used as vaccine material. An EMO is a natural fermentation product that is not chemically or genetically modified in the form of a concentrated solution. An EMO consists of 10 species, including photosynthetic (<i>Rhodopseudomonas palustrus</i> and <i>Rhodobacter spaeroides</i>, etc.) and lactic acid (<i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i>, <i>Lactobacillus casei</i> and <i>Streptoccus lactis</i>, etc.) bacterial groups, yeasts (<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> and <i>Candida utilis</i>, etc.), actinomycetes, and fermenting fungi The main components of an EMO are lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and photosynthetic bacteria. In a liquid solution, they are in harmony. This article aims to review the literature on “Effective Microorganisms (EMOs)” from different scientific databases and discuss the effectiveness of using EMOs for bioprocess.

Hania Benmebarek, Karima Kharroub

Halophiles are microorganisms that inhabit saline and hypersaline environments, requiring salinity to survive in such extreme conditions. These microorganisms are mainly researched for their biotechnological potential. This study aims to investigate the phenology of the studied strain, <i>Idiomarina loihiensis</i>, and to demonstrate its extracellular proteolytic activity, as well as the production of a protease via batch fermentation in halophilic microorganisms. Macroscopic studies revealed small colonies (≤5 mm) with a convex spherical structure, regular outline, smooth surface, and color ranging from beige to opaque cream. Protease production was investigated in high-salinity conditions with a moderately halophilic bacterium using basal media with varying nitrogen sources. This study found that the highest proteolytic activity occurred in media with tryptone and casein peptone as nitrogen sources, at pH 10, a temperature of 70 °C, and 22.5% salt concentration. The results also demonstrated that the studied protease was a thermostable enzyme.

Breno Martins de Deus, Conceição Fernandes, Adriana K. Molina et al.

Consumer demand for natural and healthier products has led to an increasing interest in the bioactive and therapeutic properties of plant extracts. In this study, we evaluated the phenolic compounds profile, bioactivities, and toxicities of plant extracts from eight European flora species, including <i>Calendula officinalis</i> L., <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (L.) Hull, <i>Hippophae rhamnoides</i> L., <i>Juglans regia</i> L., <i>Mentha cervina</i> L., <i>Rubus idaeus</i> L., <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L., and <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. The aim was to identify potential preservatives of natural origin. Phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Caffeic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, flavonols, and flavones were the major phenolic compounds identified. The total phenolic content varied from 16.0 ± 0.2 (<i>V. vinifera</i>) to 123 ± 2 mg/g (<i>H. rhamnoides</i>) of dry extract. All extracts showed antioxidant potential and exhibited activity against some of the microorganisms tested. <i>S. nigra</i> showed the highest activity in the inhibition of oxidative hemolysis (OxHLIA) assay and <i>H. rhamnoides</i>, notably, had the lowest IC₅₀ values in TBARS and DPPH assays, as well as the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Regarding in vitro cytotoxicity, in tumor and non-tumor cell lines, although some extracts revealed toxicity against normal cells, it was found that the samples <i>C. vulgaris</i>, <i>V. vinifera</i> and <i>R. idaeus</i> might be used against tumor cells since the active concentration is much lower than the one causing toxicity. In vivo acute toxicity tests using <i>Artemia franciscana</i> suggest low toxicity for most extracts, with LC₅₀ > 400 mg/L. These results showed the potential of the studied extracts as natural preservatives, given their richness in compounds with bioactive properties, highlight their potential value to the production chain.

Fabrizio Araniti, Bhakti Prinsi, Luca Espen

In the present study, the mode of action of coumarin using the germination process as a target was investigated. A dose–response curve, built using a range of concentrations from 0 to 800 µM, allowed us to identify a key concentration (400 µM) inhibiting the germination process, reducing its speed without compromising seed development. Successively, short time-course (0–48 h) experiments were carried out to evaluate the biochemical and metabolic processes involved in coumarin-induced germination delay. The results pointed out that coumarin delayed K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ reabsorption, suggesting a late membrane reorganisation. Similarly, seed respiration was inhibited during the first 24 h but recovered after 48 h. Those results agreed with ATP levels, which followed the same trend. In addition, the untargeted metabolomic analysis allowed to identify, among the pathways significantly impacted by the treatment, amino acids metabolism, the TCA cycle, and the glyoxylate pathway. The results highlighted that coumarin was able to interact with membranes reorganisation, delaying them and reducing the production of ATP, as also supported by pathway analysis and cell respiration. The in vivo ³¹P-NMR analysis supported the hypothesis that the concentration chosen was able to affect plant metabolism, maintaining, on the other hand, its viability, which is extremely important for studying natural compounds’ mode of action.

Dong-ru Kang, Si-lan Dai, Zi-cheng Wang

Dynamic changes in DNA methylation regulate the expression of genes and play important roles especially in the flowering processes of higher plants. Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein could specifically recognize hypermethylated regions in the genome, thus MBD sequencing technology and CpG islands analysis of the sequences were used to identify candidate genes that were regulated by DNA methylation, in particular the flowering induction stage of Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium. MBD-seq identified 89 candidate genes which included 49 genes exhibiting changes in DNA methylation status during floral induction. Based on CpG islands analysis of the sequences, 27 candidate genes were selected that may be regulated by DNA methylation. The expression levels of 30 candidate genes and nine key genes were determined by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR during floral induction (7D), four genes (ClFT, ClMET, DFL and ClWRKY21) were similarly up-regulated. Methylation-specific PCR analysis also indicated that there were changes in the DNA methylation status in the DFL and ClWRKY21. The changes in the DNA methylation status during the induction phase of flowering may lead to changes in gene expression. In this study, a set of genes were identified that are proposed to be involved in floral induction and two key genes were identified (DFL, ClWRKY21) that were regulated by DNA methylation during the flowering process of C. lavandulifolium.

Maria A. Gómez, Gabriela G. Puebla, Mercedes B. Prámparo et al.

In a study of fossil seeds recovered from the La Cantera Formation, Early Cretaceous, San Luis Basin, we establish a new species, Carpolithus volantus, and describe other specimens attributed to Carpolithus spp. and Ephedra canterata. The botanical affinity of winged seeds assigned to Carpolithus volantus is discussed in relation to the fossil flora recovered from this formation. Based on the abundance of Gnetales in the San Luis Basin (pollen grains, reproductive and vegetative structures assigned to Ephedra), we propose that Carpolithus volantus is affiliated with Gnetales (Weltwitschia). We suggest that Carpolithus spp. seeds may be angiospermous, because this group, represented by leaves and flowers, dominates the fossil macroflora of the La Cantera Formation. Micro- and macrofloral analyses of the La Cantera Formation and an assessment of available dispersal vectors suggests that wind (anemochory) and water (hydrochory) may have been the most important dispersal strategies for these seeds. The abundance and small size of seeds recovered from the La Cantera Formation, together with their morphological characters, such as the presence of wings in Carpolithus volantus, also favour abiotic mechanisms of dispersal such as anemochory or hydrochory.

Li-Na Ding, Shou-Lai Gu, Fu-Ge Zhu et al.

Abstract Background Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are the main composition of plant seed oil. Long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetases (LACSs) catalyze the synthesis of long-chain acyl-coenzyme A, which is one of the primary substrates for TAG synthesis. In Arabidopsis, the LACS gene family contains nine members, among which LACS1 and LACS9 have overlapping functions in TAG biosynthesis. However, functional characterization of LACS proteins in rapeseed have been rarely reported. Results An orthologue of the Arabidopsis LACS2 gene (BnLACS2) that is highly expressed in developing seeds was identified in rapeseed (Brassica napus). The BnLACS2-GFP fusion protein was mainly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, where TAG biosynthesis occurs. Interestingly, overexpression of the BnLACS2 gene resulted in significantly higher oil contents in transgenic rapeseed plants compared to wild type, while BnLACS2-RNAi transgenic rapeseed plants had decreased oil contents. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR expression data revealed that the expression of several genes involved in glycolysis, as well as fatty acid (FA) and lipid biosynthesis, was also affected in transgenic plants. Conclusions A long chain acyl-CoA synthetase, BnLACS2, located in the endoplasmic reticulum was identified in B. napus. Overexpression of BnLACS2 in yeast and rapeseed could increase oil content, while BnLACS2-RNAi transgenic rapeseed plants exhibited decreased oil content. Furthermore, BnLACS2 transcription increased the expression of genes involved in glycolysis, and FA and lipid synthesis in developing seeds. These results suggested that BnLACS2 is an important factor for seed oil production in B. napus.

Dibakar Ghosh, Koushik Brahmachari, Marian Brestic et al.

Increasing productivity of maize while decreasing production costs and maintaining soil health are emerging challenges for the rice–maize system in South Asia. A range of integrated nutrient and weed management practices were tested in winter maize for their effects on yield, profitability, and soil health. The nutrient management treatments were a partial substitution of nitrogen with bulky (Farmyard manure; vermicompost) and concentrated organic manures (<i>Brassicaceous</i> seed meal, BSM; neem cake), whereas weed management practices compared chemical controls only versus an integrated approach. The N supplementation through BSM diminished the weed growth by reducing weed N uptake, and enhanced the maize crop uptake of nutrients. As compared to the sole chemical approach, atrazine-applied pre-emergence followed by hoeing reduced weed density by 58 and 67% in years 1 and 2, respectively. The N supplementation through BSM resulted in the maximum yield of maize grain (6.13 and 6.50 t ha⁻¹ in year 1 and year 2, respectively) and this treatment increased yield in year 2 compared to N application through synthetic fertilizer. Hoeing in conjugation with herbicide enhanced the maize grain yield by 9% over herbicide alone. The maximum net return and economic efficiency were achieved with the application of BSM for N supplementation, together with the integrated weed management practice.

Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud, Hassan H. A. Mostafa

Crop production is challenged in our world by increasing food demands, decrease natural resource bases and climatic change. Nowadays plant growth regulators works like fertilizers in increasing plant growth production efficiency and needed to produce in large industrial scale. Fermentation condition and medium constituents can significantly affect on the product production and designing an acceptable fermentation medium is critical importance. In this paper Fusarium sp. could be considered as promising indole-3-acetic acid producers with the ability to improve the production using statistical methods. The results showed that fermentation type, incubation temperature and L-tryptophan were the most influencing parameters on the production. Maximum IAA production by Fusarium oxysporum was 300.4 mg/l obtained under the fermentation conditions: temperature at 25oC, incubation period 5 days, pH 7, inoculums size 2%, shaking rate at 150 rpm and medium constituents: Glucose 40 g/l, yeast extract 3 g/l, L-tryptophan 1 g/l, KH2PO4 2 g/l, NaNO3 4 g/l, MgSO4·7H2O 0.1 g/l with regression analysis (R2) 99.67% and 2.12-fold increase in comparison to the production of the original level (142 mg/l). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1012348

C. V. Dillewijn

T. Reynolds, R. Schultes, A. Hofmann

T. Whitaker, G. Davis

P. Carter

Warren B. Chatwin, Kyrie K. Carpenter, Felix R. Jimenez et al.

Premise of the study: The American Cross Timbers forest ecosystem runs from southeastern Kansas to Central Texas and is primarily composed of post oak (<i>Quercus stellata</i>). This old-growth forest currently occupies only about 2% of its ancestral range. To facilitate genetic research on this species, we developed microsatellite primers specific to post oak from reduced genomic libraries. Methods and Results: Two <i>Q. stellata</i> individuals, sampled from the northern and southern range of the post oak forest, were subject to genomic reduction and 454 pyrosequencing. Bioinformatic analysis identified putative microsatellites from which 12 polymorphic primer sets were screened on three populations. The number of alleles observed ranged from five to 20 across all populations, while observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.05 to 0.833 and 0.236 to 0.893, respectively, within individual populations. Conclusions: We report the development of microsatellite markers, specific to post oak, to aid the study of genetic diversity and population structure of extant forest remnants.

Barbara Sudnik-Wójcikowska

The cartogramms of the species distribution within Warsaw were compared to the anthropopressure zones distinguished conventionally. Floras of individual zones differboth quantitatively and qualitatively. Some species are more confined to specific zones some have even an indicator value. The most interesting taxa are those found in sites where anthropopressure is the greatest.