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The excess of the chemical fertilizers not only causes the environmental pollution but also has many deteriorating effects including global warming and alteration of soil microbial diversity. In conventional researches, chemical fertilizers and their concentrations are selected based on the knowledge of experts involved in the projects, which this kind of models are usually subjective. Therefore, the present study aimed to introduce the optimal concentrations of three macro elements including nitrogen (0, 100, and 200 g), potassium (0, 100, 200, and 300 g), and magnesium (0, 50, and 100 g) on fruit yield (FY), fruit length (FL), and number of rows per spike (NRPS) of greenhouse banana using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc LSD test and two well-known artificial neural networks (ANNs) including multilayer perceptron (MLP) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN). According to the results of ANOVA, the highest mean value of the FY was obtained with 200 g of N, 300 g of K, and 50 g of Mg. Based on the results of the present study, the both ANNs models had high predictive accuracy (R 2 = 0.66–0.99) in the both training and testing data for the FY, FL, and NRPS. However, the GRNN model had better performance than MLP model for modeling and predicting the three characters of greenhouse banana. Therefore, genetic algorithm (GA) was subjected to the GRNN model in order to find the optimal amounts of N, K, and Mg for achieving the high amounts of the FY, FL, and NRPS. The GRNN-GA hybrid model confirmed that high yield of the plant could be achieved by reducing chemical fertilizers including nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium by 65, 44, and 62%, respectively, in compared to traditional method.

In the present study, an eco-friendly process was made for the rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa . The process was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These green silver nanoparticles (NPs) were used for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity on seed germination and growth parameters in plants. Accordingly, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, seven concentrations of green silver NPs and nine levels of NaCl:CaCl were apptoed on seeds for germination, and their effects were evaluated. In the second experiment, three concentrations of green silver NPs and NaCl were hypothesized to affect plant growth parameters. Seed germination, plant height, leaf, and root fresh and dry weights, as well as relative water content (RWC), decreased significantly under salt stress. However, green silver NPs intervened by alleviating the adverse effects of stress. Accordingly, green silver NPs were beneficial due to (1) activation of the antioxidant system by enhancing antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD); (2) increase in the amounts of proline, soluble sugars and carbohydrates for osmoprotection; (3) improvements in flavonoid and anthocyanin contents. Real-time PCR showed that flavonoid and anthocyanin contents increased because of higher expressions in chalcone synthase ( CHS ), flavanone 3‐hydroxylase ( F3H ), and anthocyanidin synthase ( ANS ) genes. In conclusion, green silver NPs offered an eco-friendly application for further research on agricultural development.

This study explored the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenol content of aerial parts from 25 accessions of three Achillea species ( Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch, Achillea vermicularis Trin., and Achillea tenuifolia Lam.). The plants were collected from various natural habitats across Iran, encompassing regions such as Central, Western, Southern, Northern, Western, and Northwestern parts of the country. Subsequently, they were grown together under field conditions. The study revealed significant variation in essential oil yields among accessions of A. wilhelmsii , ranging from 0.01 to 0.107%, A. vermicularis with a range of 0.075 to 1.5%, and A. tenuifolia showing a variation of 0.1 to 2%. The study utilized Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, revealing 75, 49, and 75 compounds in the essential oils of A. wilhelmsii , A. tenuifolia , and A. vermicularis , respectively. Major components included camphor, 1,8-cineole, anethole, α-pinene, and phytol in A. wilhelmsii , 1,8-cineole, camphor, levo-carvone, and δ-terpinene in A. vermicularis , and β-cubebene, elixene, β-sesquiphellandrene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and δ-terpinene in A. tenuifolia . The essential oil compositions of A. wilhelmsii and A. vermicularis were predominantly characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes, whereas that of A. tenuifolia was characterized by sesquiterpenes. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three clusters, with A. tenuifolia forming a distinct group. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) triplot (62.21% of total variance) confirmed these results and provided insights into compound contributions. Furthermore, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the accessions of three species were assessed over 2 years. A. tenuifolia exhibited the highest levels in both categories, with statistically significant linear regression between antioxidant activity and total phenol content for A. tenuifolia and A. wilhelmsii . These findings emphasize significant phytochemical diversity within Achillea species, positioning them as promising natural sources of antioxidants. Further exploration and selection of specific accessions within each species are crucial for unlocking their medicinal potential and supporting cultivation and conservation efforts.

Background Achillea L., a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, has a global distribution and has been employed for its therapeutic properties since ancient times. Different species within the Achillea genus are frequently employed to tackle various health concerns. While there has been considerable research conducted on the bioactive compounds found in these plants and their corresponding biological activities, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of their mineral composition. Therefore, the present study aimed to systematically evaluate the mineral profile within and across three Achillea species, namely A. vermicularis , A. wilhelmsii , and A. tenuifolia . The study focused on the analysis of eight minerals, namely Fe, Cd, K, Ca, Pb, Mg, Cu, and P, over a span of two crop years. Results Based on the results, the mineral composition varied significantly among the species and accessions. In the study, the K (3.9–4.48%) content in all three examined species was found to be abundant. Comparatively, the Fe content in the A. wilhelmsii (952 mg/kg) and A. vermicularis (1047 mg/kg) species was more than double that of the A. tenuifolia (390 mg/kg) species. The Cu content, on the other hand, demonstrated similar levels across all three species. The highest concentrations of Mg (0.59%), Ca (1.79%), and P (0.62%) were observed in A. wilhelmsii , A. tenuifolia , and A. vermicularis species, respectively. Notably, A. tenuifolia species exhibited the lowest level of Pb, while the A. vermicularis species had the lowest level of Cd. In the studied plants, the minerals were found to have the following concentration order: K > Ca > P > Mg > Fe > Cu > Pb > Cd. The cluster analysis categorized the 25 accessions into three distinct groups, revealing no similarity among accessions within each species. The PCA plot, utilizing the first two PC, validated approximately 46% of the total variance. This confirmation solidified the outcomes derived from the cluster analysis. Conclusions In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the mineral composition of Achillea species, highlighting the variability among species and accessions. The findings contribute to our understanding of the nutritional and therapeutic potential of these plants and can guide future research on their cultivation and utilization in various applications.

Letter to the Editor

This study investigated the mitigating effects of spermidine on salinity-stressed yarrow plants ( Achillea millefolium L.), an economically important medicinal crop. Plants were treated with four salinity levels (0, 30, 60, 90 mM NaCl) and three spermidine concentrations (0, 1.5, 3 μM). Salinity induced electrolyte leakage in a dose-dependent manner, increasing from 22% at 30 mM to 56% at 90 mM NaCl without spermidine. However, 1.5 μM spermidine significantly reduced leakage across salinities by 1.35–11.2% relative to untreated stressed plants. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids) also exhibited salinity- and spermidine-modulated responses. While salinity decreased chlorophyll a, both spermidine concentrations increased chlorophyll b and carotenoids under most saline conditions. Salinity and spermidine synergistically elevated osmoprotectants proline and total carbohydrates, with 3 μM spermidine augmenting proline and carbohydrates up to 14.4% and 13.1% at 90 mM NaCl, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes CAT, POD and APX displayed complex regulation influenced by treatment factors. Moreover, salinity stress and spermidine also influenced the expression of linalool and pinene synthetase genes, with the highest expression levels observed under 90 mM salt stress and the application of 3 μM spermidine. The findings provide valuable insights into the responses of yarrow plants to salinity stress and highlight the potential of spermidine in mitigating the adverse effects of salinity stress.

Understanding how plant traits evolve in response to environmental gradients is critical for elucidating mechanisms of local adaptation. This study investigated trait variation in Achillea wilhelmsii accessions from eight climatically diverse Iranian locations after cultivation under uniform conditions. Key traits—plant size, biomass, and phosphorus content—reflect adaptive divergence along an integrated environmental gradient (PCA1) derived from temperature, precipitation, and altitude. Warmer/drier, lower-altitude conditions corresponded with reduced phosphorus uptake and smaller plant size, while cooler/wetter, higher-altitude conditions favored increased phosphorus absorption and larger plant size. Principal component analyses revealed that 62.85% of observed trait variation arises from evolutionary responses via genetic divergence, driven by natural selection across environmental gradients. Populations from colder, high-altitude sites (positive PCA1 scores) evolved enhanced phosphorus uptake, likely due to selection on pre-existing genetic variation for cold tolerance, facilitating larger plant sizes. These patterns highlight how adaptation, as an inherent capacity of plants to respond to selection pressures, shapes trait divergence under environmental heterogeneity. Future studies should dissect the genetic architecture linking phosphorus metabolism, environmental gradients, and plant size evolution.

Background Blackberries and raspberries are nutritionally rich fruits, yet comprehensive studies assessing both mineral composition and antioxidant activity across diverse genotypes—particularly in Iran—remain limited. This study addresses this gap as the first to systematically evaluate twelve raspberry and blackberry cultivars cultivated in northern Iran, providing novel insights into genotype-specific variations in micronutrients (K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu) and antioxidant profiles (DPPH, FRAP). Results Distinct genotypic groupings emerged via cluster analysis, with blackberries (TripleCrown, French, Reuben) and raspberries (e.g., Saanich, KiwiGold) forming separate clusters. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed three components explaining 77% of variance, highlighting strong correlations between genotype, minerals, and antioxidants. Potassium dominated mineral content (0.73–1.21%), with raspberry ‘Summit’ (1.21%) and ‘KiwiGold’ (1.08%) as top performers. Remarkably, the raspberry cultivar ‘Saanich’ demonstrated exceptional levels of iron (159.5 ppm) and manganese (10.5 ppm), surpassing those of other cultivars. Blackberries surpassed raspberries in antioxidant activity: DPPH values ranged from 184.43 µg/ml (‘TripleCrown’) to 316.02 µg/ml (‘Encore’), while FRAP results showed blackberry ‘TripleCrown’ (17.28 mg Fe²⁺/g DW) outperforming raspberries by 36–57%. Conclusion This research highlights the potential of selected cultivars to enhance dietary intake of essential minerals, supporting both consumer health and breeding efforts aimed at improving nutritional quality in berry cultivars.

Primary diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma of the seminal vesicles is rare but treatable. Multimodal imaging and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in a 68‐year‐old male. Eight cycles of R‐CHOP chemotherapy achieved a favorable outcome, emphasizing early intervention in atypical pelvic masses.

Salinity substantially affects plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. Plants adopt several biochemical mechanisms including regulation of antioxidant biosynthesis to protect themselves against the toxic effects induced by the stress. One-year-old pistachio rootstock exhibiting different degrees of salinity tolerance were subjected to sodium chloride induced stress to identify genetic diversity among cultivated pistachio rootstock for their antioxidant responses, and to determine the correlation of these enzymes to salinity stress. Leaves and roots were harvested following NaCl-induced stress. The results showed that a higher concentration of NaCl treatment induced oxidative stress in the leaf tissue and to a lesser extent in the roots. Both tissues showed an increase in ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. Responses of antioxidant enzymes were cultivar dependent, as well as temporal and dependent on the salinity level. Linear and quadratic regression model analysis revealed significant correlation of enzyme activities to salinity treatment in both tissues. The variation in salinity tolerance reflected their capabilities in orchestrating antioxidant enzymes at the roots and harmonized across the cell membranes of the leaves. This study provides a better understanding of root and leaf coordination in regulating the antioxidant enzymes to NaCl induced oxidative stress.