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Water stress, even at light or moderate levels, can negatively affect wheat physiology by altering gas exchange and photosynthetic pigments, thereby restricting growth, while severe stress further amplifies these effects and leads to more pronounced yield reductions. Foliar application of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) may help mitigate some of these detrimental effects on wheat’s physiological and agronomic traits, as evaluated over two growing seasons at a single location. To test this hypothesis, two field experiments were conducted during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 winter seasons at the Experimental Farm in Al-Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia. The study evaluated the response of eight wheat genotypes to foliar-applied SiNPs under three irrigation regimes representing full, moderate, and severe water stress conditions. Agronomic and physiological characteristics of wheat were negatively affected by moderate and severe water stress. In comparison to the untreated control, the application of 100 and 200 mg L −1 of SiNPs, particularly at the higher concentration, alleviated some of the negative effects of water stress on various physiological and yield traits, with Giza 171, SOKOLL, and Giza 168 showing the most pronounced improvements. In the same context, under severe water stress, SiNP application improved net photosynthesis (up to 57.19%), transpiration rate (up to 36.20%), stomatal conductance (up to 31.34%), intercellular CO 2 concentration (up to 34.21%), water use efficiency (up to 15.69%), relative water content (up to 38.16%), chlorophyll content (up to 37.51%), spikes per plant (up to 50.80%), grains per spike (up to 56.52%), and grain yield per hectare (up to 50.33%). These results demonstrate the potential of SiNP application to improve drought tolerance in wheat genotypes under the specific agro-ecological conditions of Al-Dawadmi and highlight genotype-specific responses, particularly in Giza 171 and SOKOLL. While confirming previous findings on the role of silicon in mitigating drought stress, this study provides novel insights into the differential responses of wheat genotypes in an arid environment. However, further multi-location and long-term trials are needed to validate these effects and to assess environmental safety, soil accumulation, and practical feasibility.

In light of the multitude of olive trees cultivated and the lack of the genetic diversity of available genotypes to select varieties and lines that are characterized by high diversity and better performance under the corresponding conditions, A comparison analysis of the genotyping and morphological characteristics of eight olive cultivars growing in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf region was conducted and analyzed. Morpho-anatomical and chemical characteristics along with both inter-simple-sequence repeats (ISSRs) and start-codon-targeted (SCoT) markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity among eight olive varieties in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Analyses of 27 morphological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics concluded the existence of genetic differences among the studied varieties. Moreover, six ISSR and eight SCoT primer combinations produced a total of 48 loci, of which 18 (10 ISSR and 8 SCoT) were polymorphic. The average polymorphism information content (PIC values of 0.48 and 0.44, respectively) and marker index (MI of 0.79 and 0.48, respectively) detected for ISSR and SCoT markers revealed the prevalence of high genetic diversity among the studied olive varieties. Based on chemical and anatomical characteristics and the selected molecular markers, the eight olive cultivars were grouped into two distinct clusters. Clusters in the adjacent joint dendrogram produced using ISSR, SCoT and combined data were similar, and grouped all individuals into two groups. However, the dendrogram generated on the basis of SCoT separated individuals into subgroups containing at least two varieties. The findings showed that both methods were effective in assessing diversity, and that SCoT markers can be used as a reliable and informative method for assessing genetic diversity and relationships among olive varieties and can serve as a complementary tool to provide a more complete understanding of the genetic diversity available in Olea europaea populations in Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to employ GC–MS to assess the chemical composition of MeOH leaf extracts of R. officinalis and A. indica and evaluate their insecticidal, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Twelve components, representing 98.61% and 100% of the total volatile compounds, were deduced from the extracted R. officinalis and A. indica , respectively, using this method. In R. officinalis extract, limonene is typically positioned as the main component (23.03%), while the main chemicals identified in A. indica extract were methyl (E)-octadec-13-enoate (23.20%) and (2R)-1,3,8-trimethyl-4-propyl-5-ethyl-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-methoxycardonylethyl-6-methylenecarbonyl-porphyrin (23.03%). Both extracts of R. officinalis and A. indica exhibited different toxicity against the stored grain pest T. castaneum , with LC 50 values of 1.470 and 2.588 mg/ml, respectively. Additionally, after 4 and 5 h of treatment at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml, the A. indica extract showed the highest levels of repellent action (81.4% and 93.4%), and the R. officinalis extract showed a good repellent rate (64.9% and 80.7%) against T. castenum larvae. With an IC 50 value of 35.83 and 28.68 mg/L and a radical scavenging activity percentage of 67.76% and 72.35%, the leaf extract was found to be the most potent plant extract when tested for DPPH antioxidant activity. Overall results showed that MeOH extracts of R. officinalis and A. indica were more effective against S. aureus than E. coli . To determine how the investigated chemicals attach to the active sites of E. coli DNA gyrase A and S . aureus undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase, docking studies were carried out. The consensus score analysis showed that limonene exhibits the best binding energy with both enzymes in docking analysis and more stability in molecular dynamics simulations. The RMSD was obtained at 20.6 and 4.199 (Kcal/mole). The two compounds were successfully used in molecular dynamics simulation research to generate stable complexes with DNA gyrase A.

Salinity is a widespread abiotic stress that devastatingly impacts wheat growth and restricts its productivity worldwide. The present study is aimed at elucidating biochemical, physiological, anatomical, gene expression analysis, and agronomic responses of three diverse wheat genotypes to different salinity levels. A salinity treatment of 5000 and 7000 ppm gradually reduced photosynthetic pigments, anatomical root and leaf measurements and agronomic traits of all evaluated wheat genotypes (Ismailia line, Misr 1, and Misr 3). In addition, increasing salinity levels substantially decreased all anatomical root and leaf measurements except sclerenchyma tissue upper and lower vascular bundle thickness compared with unstressed plants. However, proline content in stressed plants was stimulated by increasing salinity levels in all evaluated wheat genotypes. Moreover, Na+ ions content and antioxidant enzyme activities in stressed leaves increased the high level of salinity in all genotypes. The evaluated wheat genotypes demonstrated substantial variations in all studied characters. The Ismailia line exhibited the uppermost performance in photosynthetic pigments under both salinity levels. Additionally, the Ismailia line was superior in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes followed by Misr 1. Moreover, the Ismailia line recorded the maximum anatomical root and leaf measurements under salinity stress, which enhanced its tolerance to salinity stress. The Ismailia line and Misr 3 presented high up-regulation of H+ATPase, NHX2 HAK, and HKT genes in the root and leaf under both salinity levels. The positive physiological, anatomical, and molecular responses of the Ismailia line under salinity stress were reflected on agronomic performance and exhibited superior values of all evaluated agronomic traits.

Durum and bread wheat are well adapted to the Mediterranean Basin. Twenty-three genotypes of each species were grown to evaluate the intra- and inter-genetic diversity based on omega ( ω ), gamma ( γ ) and alpha ( α )-gliadin profiles. To achieve this purpose, the endosperm storage proteins (both gliadins and glutenins) were extracted from wheat grains and electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)–polyacrylamide gels. The results of SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed nine polymorphic loci out of 16 loci with durum wheat genotypes and nine polymorphic loci out of 18 loci with bead wheat genotypes. The polymorphisms revealed by the SDS-PAGE were 56% and 50% in durum and bread wheat genotypes, respectively. Using the cluster analysis, the durum wheat genotypes were clustered into five groups, while the bread wheat genotypes were grouped into six clusters using un-weighed pair group mean analyses based on ω , γ , and α -gliadins profiles. The 46 durum and bread wheat genotypes were grouped into seven clusters based on the combined ω , γ , and α -gliadins profiles revealed by the SDS-PAGE. The in silico analysis determined the intra-genetic diversity between bread and durum wheat based on the sequences of ω , γ , and α -gliadins. The alignment of ω -gliadin revealed the highest polymorphism (52.1%) between bread and durum wheat, meanwhile, the alignment of γ and α -gliadins revealed very low polymorphism 6.6% and 15.4%, respectively. According to computational studies, all gliadins contain a lot of glutamine and proline residues. The analysis revealed that the bread wheat possessed ω and γ -gliadins with a lower content of proline and a higher content of glutamine than durum wheat. In contrast, durum wheat possessed α -gliadin with a lower content of proline and a higher content of glutamine than bread wheat. In conclusion, the SDS-PAGE, in silico and computational analyses are effective tools to determine the intra- and inter-genetic diversity in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat genotypes based on ω , γ , and α -gliadins profiles.

Drought is one of the major environmental stresses that devastatingly impact squash development, growth, and productivity. Potassium silicate can attenuate the injuries caused by water stress. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the influence of three concentrations of potassium silicate; 10, 15, and 20 g/L on squash plants versus untreated control under three irrigation regimes; 100, 75, and 50% of estimated crop evapotranspiration (ET). The obtained results indicated that moderate (75% ET) or severe (50% ET) drought stress conditions gradually declined photosynthetic pigments, relative water content (RWC), mineral content, physiological parameters, and anatomical characteristics. These deleterious impacts were reflected on all growth and yield traits, i.e., plant height, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, and fruit yield. On the other hand, the antioxidant enzyme activities; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) significantly increased under severe drought stress at 50% ET followed by 75% ET. However, all evaluated exogenous applications of potassium silicate substantially enhanced photosynthetic pigments, RWC, N, P, and K content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and anatomical characters (periderm thickness, cortex thickness, midrib thickness, mesophyll thickness, number of xylem vessels per main vascular bundle, thickness of vascular bundle, thickness of collenchymatous tissue and upper epidermis, and thickness of collenchymatous tissue and lower epidermis). These desirable impacts were reflected in enhancing all growth and yield parameters. Conclusively, this study alludes that the exogenously applied of potassium silicate, particularly at 20 g/L, can alleviate the deleterious effects of drought stress and enhance the growth and productivity of squash plants, especially in arid environments.

Introduction: Toxic microcystins (MCs) produced by cyanoprokaryotes -particularly by the cosmopolitan cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa - pose adverse effects on aquatic organisms and their ecosystem and may also cause serious impacts on human health. These harmful monocyclic heptapeptides are the most prevalent cyanotoxins reported in freshwaters and must be eliminated for avoiding MCs release in receiving water bodies. Hence, this work aimed to test the efficacy of Moringa oleifera seeds water-based extract (MO) as a natural coagulant for removing cyanobacteria (especially M. aeruginosa ), microalgae, and its associated MCs from pre-treated municipal wastewaters. Methodology: Four different MO coagulant doses (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg L −1 ) were investigated for cyanobacteria and microalgae removal by conventional coagulation assays and morphology-based taxonomy studies. Additionally, water turbidity and chlorophyll a (Chl a ) content were also determined. Further, the presence and concentration of MCs soluble in water, remaining in the particulate fraction, and flocculated within the residual sludge were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Results: The treatment with MO at 100 mg L −1 substantially reduced the number of cyanobacterial and microalgal species in the treated samples (average removal rate of 93.8% and 86.9%, respectively). These results agreed with a ∼44% concomitant reduction in Chl a and ∼97% reduction in water turbidity (a surrogate marker for suspended solids content). Notably, MCs concentrations in the treated water were significantly lowered to 0.6 ± 0.1 µg L −1 after addition of 100 mg L −1 MO. This value is below the WHO recommended limits for MCs presence in drinking water (<1.0 µg L −1 ). Discussion: The present study provides promising insights into the applicability of MO as a cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable natural coagulant, particularly for using in developing countries, to eliminate harmful cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in municipal water treatment facilities.

Hybrid rice seed production predominantly relies on the pollen ability of restorer lines and the stigma properties of the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines. Improving the pollen ability and agronomic performance of restorer lines could be achieved using mutation to reinforce the outcrossing rate and seed set percentage of CMS lines. Two commercial restorer cultivars (Giza-178 and Giza-179) were treated with three different doses of gamma-ray; 200, 300, and 400 Gy. The derived mutant restorer lines were selfed and constantly evaluated with their corresponding parental cultivars until the M6 generation. Six promising mutant lines were chosen based on their performance to be evaluated with their parents for their pollen and agronomic characteristics. The novel-induced mutant restorer lines exhibited significant differences in all studied pollen and agronomic characteristics. The mutant restorer lines R4 and R7 exhibited superior desirable anther length (2.36 and 2.38 mm, in the same order), anther width (0.47 and 0.45 mm), pollen fertility (97.50 and 97.31%), basal pore length (218.8 and 299.5 mm), apical length (103.6 and 108.1), number of pollen grains per anther (1810 and 1832), plant height (121.8 and 115.9 cm), fertile tillers (23.50 and 18.89), number of spikelets per panicle (203.2 and 202.5), panicle length (25.34 and 24.26 cm), number of filled grains per panicle (195.5 and 191.8), seed set percentage (95.56 and 96.63%), and grain yield (11.01 and 11.36 t/ha). Based on the results of the first two seasons, the two novel promising restorers and their parental cultivars were crossed with four diverse CMS lines. The seed set percentage and hybrid seed production of the crossed CMS lines were evaluated for further two seasons. The results exposed that the combinations derived from restorer lines R4 and R7 with most of the evaluated CMS lines produced the uppermost seed set percentage outcrossing rate. Particularly in combination with CMS2, the restorer lines R4 and R7 displayed the highest seed set percentage (39.57 and 34.80%), number of tillers fertile per hill (25.31 and 23.32), seed yield (2.02 and 1.81 t/ha), and harvest index (23.88 and 22.66%). Conclusively, the derived gamma-ray-induced mutant restorer lines R4 and R7 could be exploited as a new source for ensuring desirable pollen and anther characteristics in order to improve the outcrossing rate of CMS lines and hybrid rice seed production.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1329431.].

Astragalus spp. has been used in herbal medicine to improve kidney endurance, as a heart tonic, a hepatoprotectant, a diabetic treatment, and a remedy for viral infections. Our research seeks to investigate the possible growth-stimulating properties of chitosan nanoparticles in comparison to iso-pentenyl adenosine (IPA), isopentenyladenine (2ip), 1-Naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA), and in-dole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in Astragalus spp. Plant tissue culture is a technique for reproducing whole plants, organs, tissues, or cells in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Phytohormones (natural or synthetic growth regulators) at appropriate phases of development or maturity can then be used to impact plant development. Callus induction methods, as well as shoot and root micropropagation protocols, were established on Astragalus spp. seeds. Ionic gelatination was used to create chitosan nanoparticles in this study. Molecular docking proved that chitosan showed an energy binding of -7.86 kcal/ mol against ERF-1 target site. Chitosan formed seven hydrogen bonds with Glu5, Gln282, Asn9, Lys16, Glu324 and Glu390. The bond lengths were 2.05, 1.95, 2.05, 2.02, 2.01, 1.90, and 1.84 Å. Among the various ratios and mixes of four growth regulators, a mixture of iso-pentenyl adenosine (IPA) and isopentenyladenine (2ip) with concentrations of 0.5 mg/L from each produced the highest Mean number of shoots (MNS) (17.5%) and Mean shoots length (MSL) (12.5 cm) (1.28%). The best mixture was 0.5 IPA plus 0.5 mg/L 2ip, which was tested on five plant samples; MNS achieved a maximum value of 22.5% in two subcultures, second and third, followed by 18.8% in the first subculture, 15.8% in the fourth subculture, and 13.8% in the fifth subculture. Also, MLS improved in all five subcultures, although the highest value was 15 cm with the second subculture and 13.8 cm with the fourth subculture. Auxins such as 1-Naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA) and In-dole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were applied to plant samples, with the maximum rooting reaching 100% and the root length improving to 14.4 cm in comparison to the control, where rooting and root length were 74% and 12.6 cm, respectively. Chitosan nanoparticles had an average particle size of roughly 60 ± 10 nm and a qua-si-spherical shape. Furthermore, the colloidal stability and surface characteristics of the as-prepared nanoparticles were studied using FT-IR and dynamic light scattering techniques. Chitosan NPs were utilized in various concentrations (0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/L), The best concentration was 0.5 mg/L stimulating rooting with 83.3%, 4.7 root/shoot number, and root length 6.4 cm.Key messageOur research seeks to investigate the possible growth-stimulating properties of chitosan nanoparticles in comparison to iso-pentenyl adenosine (IPA), isopentenyladenine (2ip), 1-Naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA), and in-dole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in Astragalus spp.