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The plants are exposed to different abiotic stresses, including the salinity stress (SS) that negatively affect the growth, metabolism, physiological and biochemical processes. Thus, this study investigated the effect of diverse levels of foliar-applied GB (0 control, 50 mM and 100 mM) on maize growth, membrane stability, physiological and biochemical attributes, antioxidant enzymes and nutrients accumulation under different levels of SS (i.e., control, 6 dS m-1, 12 dS m-1). Salt stress diminished the root and shoot length, root and shoot biomass, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), relative water contents (RWC), soluble proteins (SP) and free amino acids; (FAA); and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, electrical conductivity (EC) and accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Na+ and Cl− ions. GB application significantly increased root and shoot growth, leaves per plant, shoots length, chlorophyll contents, gs, Pn and membrane stability by reducing MDA and H2O2 accumulation. Moreover, GB also increased the SP, FAA accumulation, activities of antioxidant enzymes and Na+ and Cl- exclusion by favouring Ca2+ and K+ accumulation. In conclusion, the foliar-applied GB increased Pn, gs, ant-oxidants activities, and accumulation of SP and FAA; and reduced the accretion of Na+ and Cl− by favouring the Ca2+ and K+ accretion which in turns improved growth under SS.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation is an emerging environmental hazard and has detrimental effects on plant growth and development. Salicylic acid (SA) is a well-known plant growth regulator that can initiate various molecular pathways to ameliorate Cd toxicity. The experiment was executed to scrutinize the mediatory role of SA to accelerate the defensive mechanism of mung bean in response to Cd stress. Mung bean plants were exposed to 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg Cd kg-1 of soil. Exogenous application of SA 0, 10-6 and 10-3 M was added prior flowering. Results exhibited that Cd stress considerably reduced the growth-related attributes i.e. shoot length, root length, fresh and dry biomass, total soluble protein, total amino acids, relative water contents and photosynthetic pigments. Cadmium stress showed a significant increase in antioxidants levels such as peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), ascorbic acid (AsA), and catalase (CAT) and promoted the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. However, exogenously applied SA significantly improved plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments under Cd stress. Moreover, SA improved the defensive system by enhancing antioxidants’ activities under the increasing concentration of Cd stress. Furthermore, SA reduced the Cd uptake, membrane damage and, H2O2 and MDA accumulation. The study's findings concluded that exogenous-applied SA enhanced plant growth, promoted the antioxidant activities, and reduced the oxidative damage in mung bean seedlings under Cd stress.

Salinity stress is a serious abiotic stress that negatively affect the crop growth and development. Mineral nutrient supplementation is considered as an effective strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity. Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient needed for plants and its application also an effective strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of salinity. Salinity stress disturbs plant physiological, and biochemical functions, antioxidant activities, cellular membranes, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake thereby cause significant reduction in plant growth and development. The application of N maintains membrane stability, plant water relations, leaf gas exchange characteristics, and protect the plants from oxidative damages which induce the salt tolerance in plants. Besides, this N also improves nutrient uptake and it also induce cellular signaling that mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants. In present review the mechanisms of N uptake and assimilation in plants under saline conditions are discussed. The present review provides information on how N mitigates ionic toxicity, and oxidative damages and maintains nutrient balance to counter the toxic effects of salinity stress in plants. This review will help the readers to learning more about the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants.

Soil alkalinity is a severe threat to crop production globally as it markedly retards plant growth. Different techniques are used to mitigate alkaline stress, but priming techniques are considered the most appropriate. The current study was carried out in complete randomized design (CRD) to evaluate the effect of different priming techniques on maize crop grown under different levels of alkalinity stress. The experiment was comprised of different treatments of alkalinity stress (AS) including, control, 6 dS m-1 and 12 dS m-1 and different priming techniques including control, hydro-priming (HP), osmo-priming (OP) with potassium nitrate: KNO3) and redox-priming (RP) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results indicated that alkalinity stress significantly reduced plant growth and biomass production and induced severe alterations in physiological attributes and antioxidant activities. Soil alkalinity significantly reduced the root and shoot growth and subsequent biomass production by increasing electrolyte leakage (70.60%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 31.65%), malondialdehyde (MDA: 46.23%) and sodium (Na+) accumulation (22.76%) and reduction in photosynthetic pigments, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins (TSP) and free amino acids, potassium (K+) accumulation. However, priming treatments significantly alleviated the alkalinity-induced toxic effects and improved plant growth. OP (KNO3) remained the top performing. It appreciably improved plant growth owing to the improved synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, better RWC (16.42%), TSP (138.28%), FAA (178.37%), and K+ accumulation (31.385) and improved antioxidant activities (APX and CAT) by favoring the Na+ exclusion and maintenance of optimum Na+/K+. In conclusion, KNO3 priming is an imperative seed priming practice to improve maize growth and biomass production under alkalinity stress.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency caused by inadequate dietary intake is a global nutritional problem, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, zinc biofortification of wheat and other cereal crops is being urgently addressed and highly prioritized as a research topic. A field study was planned to evaluate the influence of zinc application on grain yield, grain zinc content, and grain phytic acid concentrations of wheat cultivars, and the relationships between these parameters. Three wheat cultivars, C = Faisalabad-2008, C = Punjab-2011, and C = Millet-2011 were tested with five different methods of zinc application: T = control, T = seed priming, T = soil application, T = foliar application, and T = soil + foliar application. It was found that grain yield and grain zinc were positively correlated, whereas, grain phytic acid and grain zinc were significantly negatively correlated. Results also revealed that T , T , and T considerably increased grain yield; however, T only slightly enhanced grain yield. Grain zinc concentration increased from 33.1 and 33.7 mg kg in T to 62.3 and 63.1 mg kg in T in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, respectively. In particular, T markedly decreased grain phytic acid content; however, maximum concentration was recorded in T . Moreover, all the tested cultivars exhibited considerable variation in grain yield, grain zinc, and grain phytic acid content. In conclusion, T was found to be most suitable for both optimum grain yield and grain biofortification of wheat.

Salinity stress (SS) is a major and increasing abiotic stress adversely affecting plant growth and productivity across the globe. The application of organic amendments (OA) is considered to be an important practice to mitigate the adverse impacts of SS. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the impact of different OA on growth, physiology and anti-oxidant activities of maize plants grown under SS. The study was comprised of diverse SS levels; 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1, and different OA; control, cow manure (CM: 5%), sugarcane pressmud (SPM: 5%) and combination of CM (2.5%) + SPM (2.5%). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement having three replications. The results indicated that SS reduced the growth and biomass production, relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll contents, free amino acids (FAA), total soluble proteins (TSP) and increased the electrolyte leakage (EL: 40.92%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 68.49%), malondialdehyde (MDA: 42.13%), and catalase (CAT: 34.24%) and ascorbate peroxide (APX: 25.70%). The application of OA significantly improved the maize growth under SS. However, the application of SPM (5%) significantly increased growth and biomass production by decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and increasing RWC, chlorophyll, CAT, POD, and anthocyanin, TSP and FAA. These findings suggest that application of SPM improved the growth and biomass production of maize by improving anti-oxidant activities, photosynthetic pigments, TSP, FAA reducing lipid peroxidation and EL. 

Salinity stress (SS) is serious abiotic stress and a major limiting factor for crop productivity and global food security. In this context, the application of osmolytes is considered as an environmental friend approach to improve plant growth under SS. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the impact of foliar applied proline (Pro) and acetic acid (AA) on growth, yield, physiological traits, photosynthetic pigments, ionic homeostasis and antioxidant activities of wheat under SS. The study contained SS levels 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 and foliar spray of Pro and AA; water spray, Pro (75 mM), AA (15 mM) and AA (30 mM). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement. Salinity stress significantly reduced wheat growth and yield, by decreasing relative water contents (-49.07%), photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids (FAA: -44.79%), total soluble proteins (TSP: -15.94%) and increasing the electrolyte leakage (EL: +27.28%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: +51.86%), and malondialdehyde (MDA: +36.91%) accumulation. The foliar spray of Pro and AA markedly improved the wheat growth and productivity through enhanced photosynthetic pigments, RWC, FAA, TSP, antioxidant activities (catalase: CAT, ascorbate peroxide: APX: peroxidase: POD), K+ and Ca2+ uptake and decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and restricted entry of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-1).  Therefore, foliar application of AA and Pro effectively improves the growth and yield of wheat under SS by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, and maintaining ionic homeostasis and physiological performance.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential needed for the growth and development of plants, however, Zn is continuously increasing in our soils which is decreasing crop production. Further, the crops grown on Zn-deficient soils also contains a low amount of Zn which is also a major reason for Zn deficiency in humans. So, it is mandatory to supply the Zn to fulfil the crop needs with a corresponding increase in grain Zn. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the impact of different rates of foliar applied Zn at different growth stages on the growth, yield, quality, and Zn bio-fortification of fine rice. The study comprised foliar application of distilled water (control), foliar applied Zn @ 0.5% at stem elongation stage + booting stage, foliar applied Zn @ 1.0% at stem elongation stage + booting stage, foliar applied Zn @ 0.5% at booting stage and milking stage, foliar applied Zn @ 1.0% at booting stage and milking stage, foliar applied Zn @ 0.5% at milking stage + dough stage and applied Zn @ 1.0% at milking stage + dough stage. The results indicated Zn applied different growth stages significantly improved, productivity and Zn bio-fortification of rice crop. The maximum LAI, LAD, CGR, fertile tillers, 1000 KW, kernel yield, biomass yield, HI, chlorophyll concentration, relative water content (RWC), and antioxidant activities were observed with foliar applied Zn (0.5%) at booting and milking stage and lowest values of all these traits were observed in control. Likewise, the maximum kernel protein, amylose, kernel length and width, and grain Zn concentration was Zn (0.5%) at the booting and milking stage, and minimum kernel protein, amylose, kernel length, and width, and grain Zn concentration was noted in control. The current study findings suggested that foliar-applied Zn (0.5%) at the booting and milking stage could be an important practice to get better productivity, quality, and grain Zn bio-fortification of rice in semi-arid conditions.

Background Salinity stress (SS) is a serious detrimental factor for crop growth and productivity and its intensity it is continuously increasing which is posing serious threat to global food security. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) priming has emerged as an excellent strategy to mitigate the adverse impacts of SS. However, the role of H 2 O 2 priming in mitigating the salinity induced toxicity is not fully explored. Methods and results Therefore, in this context the present study was conducted in complete randomized design (CRD) in factorial combination to determine the impact of H 2 O 2 priming on germination, growth, physiological and biochemical traits, osmo-regulating compounds, hormonal balance and ionic homeostasis. The experiment was based on different levels of SS; control, 6 and 12 dS m −1 SS and priming treatments, control and H 2 O 2 priming (2%). Salinity stress significantly reduced the growth, leaf water status (− 15.55%), calcium (Ca 2+ ), potassium (K + ) and magnesium (Mg 2+ ) accumulation and increased malondialdehyde (MDA: + 29.95%), H 2 O 2 (+ 21.48%) contents, osmo-regulating compounds (proline, soluble sugars), indole acetic acid (IAA), anti-oxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidase: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD and ascorbic acid: AsA) and accumulation of sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl − . ). H 2 O 2 priming effectively reduced the effects of SS on germination and growth and strengthen the anti-oxidant activities through reduced MDA (− 12.36%) and H 2 O 2 (− 21.13%) and increasing leaf water status (16.90%), soluble protein (+ 71.32%), free amino acids (+ 26.41%), proline (+ 49.18%), soluble sugars (+ 71.02%), IAA (+ 57.59%) and gibberlic acid (GA) (+ 21.11%). Above all, H 2 O 2 priming reduced the massive entry of noxious ions (Na + and Cl − ) while increased the entry of Ca 2+ , K + and Mg 2+ thus improved the plant performance under SS. Conclusion In conclusion H 2 O 2 priming was proved beneficial for improving maize growth under SS thorough enhanced anti-oxidant activities, photosynthetic pigments, leaf water status, accumulation of osmo-regulating compounds, hormonal balance and ionic homeostasis.

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of neonatal gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality. Early prediction of the need for surgical intervention remains challenging due to reliance on late clinical or radiological signs. The C-reactive protein and albumin ratio (CRP/Albumin), reflecting both inflammation and nutritional status, may serve as a dynamic biomarker to guide timely surgical decision-making.  Objective The main objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic utility of the CRP/Albumin ratio, and its temporal progression over the first three days of illness, in predicting surgical intervention and mortality in neonates. Methods In this prospective cohort study at a tertiary care hospital, Lahore, 66 neonates diagnosed with Bell's Stage I-IIIa NEC were enrolled over a year. CRP and albumin levels were measured daily for three consecutive days, and the CRP/Albumin ratio was calculated. Patients were grouped into progression trends: decreasing, increasing, stable, or variable. Outcomes included surgical intervention and mortality. Statistical analysis included receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and comparative group analysis.  Results Among 66 neonates (mean gestational age: 37.2 ± 3.2 weeks), 42.4% required surgery. Neonates with an increasing CRP/Albumin ratio trend had a significantly higher rate of surgical intervention (89.5%) and mortality (26.3%) compared to those with a decreasing trend (8.1% surgery and 2.6% mortality) (p < 0.001). The CRP/Albumin ratio demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy for surgery, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.926, 0.954, and 0.959 on Days 1-3, respectively. Optimal cut-offs on Days 2 and 3 yielded sensitivities and specificities above 85%. Serial monitoring of the ratio outperformed single-time-point measurements in prognostic value.  Conclusions CRP/Albumin is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective biomarker that can lead to early identification of neonates at risk of surgical intervention and poor outcomes in NEC. Monitoring its temporal progression, rather than relying on single measurements, appears to enhance its predictive accuracy and may support timely decision-making in clinical settings.