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In this study, the crude extract of natural Loropetalum chinense (LoE) was prepared using a simple ethanol leaching approach. Preliminary evaluations of the safening effect of LoE in both agar and soil media demonstrated its ability to protect rice seedlings from damage induced by the herbicide pretilachlor (Pre). Specifically, treatment with LoE at 50 mg/L resulted in a 40.35% increase in root length and a 25.11% increase in plant height. In contrast, treatment at 100 mg/L led to a 36.85% increase in fresh weight, demonstrating effectiveness comparable to that of the commercial safener fenclorim (Fen). Moreover, compared to rice seedlings treated with Pre alone, LoE significantly increased the levels of glutathione (GSH) and enhanced the activities of several important enzymes: glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The mechanism of action for LoE appears to involve enhancing GST activity to accelerate the metabolism of Pre and improving herbicide tolerance by activating antioxidant enzymes. Overall, LoE shows promise as a potential eco-friendly, plant-derived herbicide safener candidate for pretilachlor. For practical commercial application, further efforts should focus on (i) clarifying the phytochemical profile of LoE extracts, and (ii) conducting in-depth assessments of LoE’s mechanisms of action, including studies on degradation kinetics and metabolite formation.

Untreated release of toxic synthetic and colorful dyes is a serious threat to the environment. Every year, several thousand gallons of dyes are being disposed into the water resources without any sustainable detoxification. The accumulation of hazardous dyes in the environment poses a severe threat to the human health, flora, fauna, and microflora. Therefore, in the present study, a lignin peroxidase enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescence LiP-RL5 has been employed for the maximal detoxification of selected commercially used dyes. The enzyme production from the microorganism was enhanced ~ 20 folds using statistical optimization tool, response surface methodology. Four different combinations (pH, production time, seed age, and inoculum size) were found to be crucial for the higher production of LiP. The crude enzyme showed decolorization action on commonly used commercial dyes such as Crystal violet, Congo red, Malachite green, and Coomassie brilliant blue. Successful toxicity mitigation of these dyes culminated in the improved seed germination in three plant species, Vigna radiate (20-60%), Cicer arietinum (20-40%), and Phaseolus vulgaris (10-25%). The LiP treated dyes also exhibit reduced bactericidal effects against four common resident microbial species, Escherichia coli (2-10 mm), Bacillus sp. (4-8 mm), Pseudomonas sp. (2-8 mm), and Lactobacillus sp. (2-10 mm). Therefore, apart from the tremendous industrial applications, the LiP from Pseudomonas fluorescence LiP-RL5 could be a potential biocatalyst for the detoxification of synthetic dyes.

Agar have long been used as a growth media for plants. Here, we made agar media with embedded fluidic channels to study the effect of exposure to nutrient solution on root growth and pull-out force. Black Eye bean ( Vigna Unguiculata ) and Mung bean ( Vigna Radiata ) were used in this study due to their rapid root development. Agar media were fabricated using casting process with removable cores to form channels which were subsequently filled with nutrient solution. Upon germination, beans were transplanted onto the agar media and allowed to grow. Pull-out force was determined at 96, 120 and 144 h after germination by applying a force on the hypocotyl above the gel surface. The effect of nutrients was investigated by comparing corresponding data obtained from control plants which have not been exposed to nutrient solution. Pull-out force of Black Eye bean plantlets grown in agar with nutrient solution in channels was greater than those grown in gel without nutrients and was 110% greater after 144 h of germination. Pull-out force of Mung bean plantlets grown in agar with and without nutrient solution was similar. Tap root lengths of Black Eye bean and Mung Bean plantlets grown in agar with nutrient solution are shorter than those grown without nutrient. 

Zinc (Zn) is a natural component of soil in terrestrial environments and is a vital element for plant growth, as it performs imperative functions in numerous metabolic pathways. However, potentially noxious levels of Zn in soils can result in various alterations in plants like reduced growth, photosynthetic and respiratory rate, imbalanced mineral nutrition and enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species. Zn enters into soils through various sources, such as weathering of rocks, forest fires, volcanoes, mining and smelting activities, manure, sewage sludge and phosphatic fertilizers. The rising alarm in environmental facet, as well as, the narrow gap between Zn essentiality and toxicity in plants has drawn the attention of the scientific community to its effects on plants and crucial role in agricultural sustainability. Hence, this review focuses on the most recent updates about various physiological and biochemical functions perturbed by high levels of Zn, its mechanisms of uptake and transport as well as molecular aspects of surplus Zn homeostasis in plants. Moreover, this review attempts to understand the mechanisms of Zn toxicity in plants and to present novel perspectives intended to drive future investigations on the topic. The findings will further throw light on various mechanisms adopted by plants to cope with Zn stress which will be of great significance to breeders for enhancing tolerance to Zn contamination.

Nanotechnology was well developed during past decades and implemented in a broad range of industrial applications, which led to an inevitable release of nanomaterials into the environment and ecosystem. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most commonly used nanomaterials in various fields, especially in the agricultural sector. Plants are the basic component of the ecosystem and the most important source of food for mankind; therefore, understanding the impacts of AgNPs on plant growth and development is crucial for the evaluation of potential environmental risks on food safety and human health imposed by AgNPs. The present review summarizes uptake, translocation, and accumulation of AgNPs in plants, and exemplifies the phytotoxicity of AgNPs on plants at morphological, physiological, cellular, and molecular levels. It also focuses on the current understanding of phytotoxicity mechanisms via which AgNPs exert their toxicity on plants. In addition, the tolerance mechanisms underlying survival strategy that plants adopt to cope with adverse effects of AgNPs are discussed.

The current state of heavy metal (HM) environmental pollution problems was considered in the review: the effects of HMs on the vital activity of plants and the functioning of their antioxidant system, including phenolic antioxidants. The latter performs an important function in the distribution and binding of metals, as well as HM detoxification in the plant organism. Much attention was focused on cadmium (Cd) ions as one of the most toxic elements for plants. The data on the accumulation of HMs, including Cd in the soil, the entry into plants, and the effect on their various physiological and biochemical processes (photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and water regime) were analyzed. Some aspects of HMs, including Cd, inactivation in plant tissues, and cell compartments, are considered, as well as the functioning of various metabolic pathways at the stage of the stress reaction of plant cells under the action of pollutants. The data on the effect of HMs on the antioxidant system of plants, the accumulation of low molecular weight phenolic bioantioxidants, and their role as ligand inactivators were summarized. The issues of polyphenol biosynthesis regulation under cadmium stress were considered. Understanding the physiological and biochemical role of low molecular antioxidants of phenolic nature under metal-induced stress is important in assessing the effect/aftereffect of Cd on various plant objects—the producers of these secondary metabolites are widely used for the health saving of the world’s population. This review reflects the latest achievements in the field of studying the influence of HMs, including Cd, on various physiological and biochemical processes of the plant organism and enriches our knowledge about the multifunctional role of polyphenols, as one of the most common secondary metabolites, in the formation of plant resistance and adaptation.

The selectivity of imazamox, in two commercial formulations, was tested on two green pea varieties at two locations in 2017. The field trials were conducted following the OEPP/EPPO standard methods for selectivity testing. Both herbicides were applied at two rates: the maximum recommended dose (1.2 l/ha) and twice the recommended dose (2.4 l/ha). Visual assessments were performed during the growing season and plant height was measured when growth was significantly reduced. At harvest, both quantitative and qualitative yield parameters were measured, including seed yield, tenderometer index and seed size. The results indicate that under irrigation, imazamox has increased residual activity, leading to significant phytotoxicity. This is reflected in reduced vegetative growth, delayed generative development (flowering) and postponed harvest, with negative effects on both quantitative and qualitative yield parameters.

Dye-contaminated industrial effluents pose a serious environmental impact and need immediate attention. Due to the significant role of Dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs) producing ligninolytic bacteria in the degradation of various industrial dyes, ligninolytic bacteria were isolated from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, and screened for their DyP activities. Six out of 12 isolated bacteria (SDP1-12) showed DyP activity. SDP6 having highest DyPase activity of 2.67 U/mL/min, was identified as Bacillus cereus through biochemical and 16 S rRNA sequence analyses. B. cereus SDP6 was able to degrade alkali lignin (55.74%) and decolorize76.49% of methylene blue (MB) compared to crystal violet, brilliant green, malachite green, and azure B with decolorization percentages of 60.85%, 56.79%, 32.69%, and 55.13% respectively. Optimization by Response Surface Methodology enhanced decolourization of MB upto 83.15% with an increase of 1.08 times from unoptimized conditions. Decolourization of MB by B. cereus SDP6 best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, exhibited decolourization of 285.71 mg/L MB. Bacterium-treated MB showed spectral shifts in spectral analyses, indicating degradation of MB, which was evident from the phytotoxicity studies. The present study revealed that B. cereus SDP6 is a non-pathogenic and non-antibiotic-resistant bacteria offering efficient degradation of dye-contaminated industrial effluents.

In recent decades, environmental pollution with chromium (Cr) has gained significant attention. Although chromium (Cr) can exist in a variety of different oxidation states and is a polyvalent element, only trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] are found frequently in the natural environment. In the current review, we summarize the biogeochemical procedures that regulate Cr(VI) mobilization, accumulation, bioavailability, toxicity in soils, and probable risks to ecosystem are also highlighted. Plants growing in Cr(VI)-contaminated soils show reduced growth and development with lower agricultural production and quality. Furthermore, Cr(VI) exposure causes oxidative stress due to the production of free radicals which modifies plant morpho-physiological and biochemical processes at tissue and cellular levels. However, plants may develop extensive cellular and physiological defensive mechanisms in response to Cr(VI) toxicity to ensure their survival. To cope with Cr(VI) toxicity, plants either avoid absorbing Cr(VI) from the soil or turn on the detoxifying mechanism, which involves producing antioxidants (both enzymatic and non-enzymatic) for scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, this review also highlights recent knowledge of remediation approaches i.e., bioremediation/phytoremediation, or remediation by using microbes exogenous use of organic amendments (biochar, manure, and compost), and nano-remediation supplements, which significantly remediate Cr(VI)-contaminated soil/water and lessen possible health and environmental challenges. Future research needs and knowledge gaps are also covered. The review’s observations should aid in the development of creative and useful methods for limiting Cr(VI) bioavailability, toxicity and sustainably managing Cr(VI)-polluted soils/water, by clear understanding of mechanistic basis of Cr(VI) toxicity, signaling pathways, and tolerance mechanisms; hence reducing its hazards to the environment.