Naji Hasan Noor, Ali Shafiq Shatha, AkramThabit Zaid
{"title":"Investigating the biological activity and biofilm inhibition of purified Pichia kudriavzevii killer toxin (PkKt) against pathogenic bacterial as a promising substance for food preservation","authors":"Naji Hasan Noor, Ali Shafiq Shatha, AkramThabit Zaid","doi":"10.14719/pst.3970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3970","url":null,"abstract":"Killer toxins (PkKT) produced by yeasts exhibit antimicrobial effects against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. This study aimed to extract, purify, and characterize the killer toxin from Pichia kudriavzevii killer toxin (PkKT) and evaluate its antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential. PkKT was produced as a killer toxins and was purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified PkKT showed a molecular weight of 36 kDa. Antimicrobial testing revealed significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using well diffusion assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 16-128 ?g/mL, while the sub-MIC was determined to be 8-64 ?g/mL depending on the pathogen. At sub-MIC levels, PkKT exhibited a 66-89% reduction of biofilm formation in all tested species. S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and A. baumannii showed the highest MIC of 128 and 64 ?g/mL sub-MIC, while E. coli and K. pneumoniae were most susceptible with MIC of 16 ?g/mL and sub-MIC of 8 ?g/mL. In conclusion, the purified PkKT toxin displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against common healthcare-associated pathogens. These findings reveal the potential of PkKT as a therapeutic agent to prevent or treat biofilm-associated infections.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141920775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pranav Anil Patil, Rajeev Kumar Gupta, S. Sreethu, Shaifali
{"title":"Eco-designing of nano-materials to enhance crop productivity and improve soil remediation","authors":"Pranav Anil Patil, Rajeev Kumar Gupta, S. Sreethu, Shaifali","doi":"10.14719/pst.3536","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3536","url":null,"abstract":"The advent of climate change has presented unprecedented challenges to global agricultural systems. Advanced nano-engineering is a valuable tool for promoting sustainability and enhancing crop productivity to ensure food security. Nanotechnology, in particular, is a technology that can be beneficial for crop production. It can minimize losses in resources, improve the targeted and controlled delivery of fertilizers or agrochemicals based on specific needs, prolong the effectiveness of agrochemicals, and reduce recommended dosages and associated losses to boost agricultural productivity. Additionally, nanotechnology's unique characteristics of high reactivity, selectivity, and versatility make it highly promising for addressing complex issues and developing innovative approaches for soil remediation. Nano-particles enhance growth, expedite crop maturation, and enhance a plant's resilience to stress, becoming valuable instruments in regions susceptible to drought and flooding. In addition, they possess the ability to eliminate toxic contaminants, specifically heavy metals and pesticide residues. Nano-particles have a reduced long-term impact on the environment, humans, and plants compared to normal agrochemicals. This review will be highly valuable for future researchers as they strive to understand and harness the potential of nano-materials for enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141921521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of heavy metals on the physiological responses in Chaemocostus cuspidatus","authors":"Dixit Versha, B.T Manjunath","doi":"10.14719/pst.3715","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3715","url":null,"abstract":"Chamaecostus cuspidatus (insulin plant) is a medicinally important plant used in several medicines and as dietary supplements. Leaves of this plant have been used to treat diabetes since ancient times. Photosynthesis is a crucial aspect of plant physiology, ultimately affecting plant growth and metabolite production. In the current study, the plant was grown in controlled polyhouse conditions and treated with three heavy metals (Pb, Cr, and Cu). Five different concentrations (Pb and Cr- 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ppm and for Cu- 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 ppm) of each metal were used for the treatment. Non-destructive methods were used for the study of physiological aspects of plants. CI-340 Handheld Photosynthesis System and CI-710s SpectraVue Leaf Spectrometer were used to measure approx 10 different parameters. Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was highest in Cu 100 (52.733 ± 0.466) treated plants. The highest Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) values were observed in Cr 200 (38.65 ± 0.384). The transpiration rate (E) was found to be highest in Cu 125 (0.846 ± 0.0202). Total chlorophyll content (CPHLT) and Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI) were also measured, and it was found to be highest in Cu 75 (30.344 ± 0.262) and Pb 150 (11.979 ± 0.231), respectively. Water Band Index (WBI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Anthocyanin Reflectance Index 2 (ARI 2), and Carotenoid Reflectance Index 2 (CRI 2) were also measured and analyzed for all the treatment groups along with control for each set. Statistical analysis represents significant differences among all the treated and control plants. These indices represent plant physiology, growth, and vegetative health of plants. Further biochemical and metabolite level studies can be done to further understand the effect of heavy metals on plant growth and metabolite production.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141921603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Koya Madhuri Mani, M. Ameena, K. Anith, P. G. Pratheesh, S. Adarsh, Shanavas Shifina
{"title":"Altered physiological response in drought stressed rice plants upon root colonization with the beneficial endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica under field conditions","authors":"Koya Madhuri Mani, M. Ameena, K. Anith, P. G. Pratheesh, S. Adarsh, Shanavas Shifina","doi":"10.14719/pst.4140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4140","url":null,"abstract":"We studied the physiological and biochemical responses of rice plants colonized by the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica under varying moisture stress levels that consisted of ideal (non-stress), mild, moderate, severe, very severe, and extremely severe stress imposed by altering depth of irrigation and frequency in a summer field crop. Colonization by P. indica exhibited distinctive drought defensive effects characterized by the enhanced production of proline, which contributed to improved plant resilience to drought stress, alleviating the harmful oxidative stress. In colonized plants that were under extremely severe stress, proline levels in leaf tissues rose by 18% during panicle initiation (PI) and by 21% during the flowering stage, compared to the uninoculated plants. P. indica colonization also enhanced the relative leaf water content and cell membrane stability in plants. Under extremely severe stress, colonized plants displayed improved cell membrane stability (57% and 48%) at PI and flowering, representing 29% and 8% improvement, respectively, over the non-colonized plants under stress. Endophyte colonized plants demonstrated increased resistance to drought stress with enhanced chlorophyll stability when compared to stressed plants that were not colonized. Fungal colonization also enhanced the growth and resilience of rice plants under drought, resulting in a remarkable 37% increase in grain yield compared to non-colonized plants.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141924355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ethnobotanical Research in Bangladesh – A Review","authors":"M. K. Alam, A. K. M. G. Sarwar","doi":"10.14719/pst.3372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3372","url":null,"abstract":"The ethnobotanical studies focus on how people of a specific culture, group, tribe, or geographic area make use of native (indigenous) plants. This paper reports the status of ethnobotanical knowledge from a historical perspective in recent years in the relatively small and diversity-rich territory of Bangladesh. Ethnobotanical research is now getting more focused on new areas such as ecosystem services, pharmaceutical prospecting, the growth of traditional medicine, value-added plant products, domestication of new crops, and raising awareness of the importance of biological diversity for resource management, environmental education, and conservation. We have also discussed some further thrust areas, constraints, and prospects of ethnobotanical research and mainstreaming ethnobotanical knowledge in national planning processes.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141928396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changes in amino acid levels and their effects on parthenocarpic fruit formation in young Barhi date palms Phoenix dactylifera L. derived from tissue culture","authors":"A. G. Salah, A. S. Aqeel, M. A. Khairullah","doi":"10.14719/pst.3982","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3982","url":null,"abstract":"This research aims to analyse the quantities of non-essential amino acids (histidine, arginine, alanine, cysteine and tyrosine) and essential amino acids (aspartic, glutamine, serine, glycine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and lysine) in the leaves of three different date palm phenotypes. These phenotypes are derived through tissue culture from and parthenocarpic fruits (shees) produces, normal fruits (normal) produce and propagated by offshoots of normal fruits (vegetal) produces. This study focuses on three distinct stages: pre-flowering, flowering and fruiting. The amino acid levels were determined using HPLC. Results of this study indicate that the shees phenotype has the lowest levels of amino acids compared with the normal and vegetal phenotypes. Most amino acids exhibit a consistent trend throughout the examined stages, with levels declining from the pre-flowering stage to the flowering stage, but show an increase in the fruiting stage compared with the preceding stage. In addition, the results reveal that methionine is absent in the shees phenotype during all stages of the study but present at high levels in the vegetal and normal phenotypes. These results indicate that the metabolism of amino acids varies among different phenotypes of date palms. This variation directly or indirectly affects the development of parthenocarpic fruits in date palms of the Barhi cultivar derived from tissue culture during the juvenile period.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141925848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of exogenous ascorbic acid and putrescine on vegetative, root system morphology and chemical composition of clementine Mandarin saplings","authors":"Taghreed Ali Hilal, Thamer H. R. Al - Falahy","doi":"10.14719/pst.4075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4075","url":null,"abstract":"Spraying with antioxidants and polyamines is one of the techniques that contribute to improving vegetative growth and the architectural structure of the roots, in addition to improving the chemical content of the plant. The objective of the study was to enhance the traits related to vegetative growth, root development, and chemical composition of one-year-old Clementine mandarin saplings. This was achieved by applying ascorbic acid through foliar application at different concentrations (0,300, 600, 900 mg/L) and utilizing three concentrations of putrescine (0,75,150 mg/L). The results showed that most of the growth indicators in terms of main shoot number, main shoot length, vegetative dry weight, taproot length, secondary lateral roots number, secondary lateral roots length, roots system dry weight, chlorophyll, and vitamin C content in leaf, and shoots carbohydrate content were significantly increased with increasing concentration. The ascorbic acid is more effective at 900 mg/L than other concentrations, whereas putrescine was more effective at 150 mg/L, contrasted with 75 mg/L and control.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141927197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Priya M Karthigai, K. Poonkodi, C. Ragupathi, R. Rathinam, E. Jayanthi
{"title":"Seasonal variation in chemical compositions and biological activities of essential oils extracted from Ageratum conyzoides L. - grown in Western Ghats Region-South India","authors":"Priya M Karthigai, K. Poonkodi, C. Ragupathi, R. Rathinam, E. Jayanthi","doi":"10.14719/pst.4332","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4332","url":null,"abstract":"The study aimed to characterize the influence of seasonal variation on the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils extracted from the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. (A. conyzoides). Essential oils were extracted in summer (May), winter (January), and autumn (September) by hydrodistillation. GC/MS identified the volatiles compounds. The major compounds present in the essential oils across the three different seasons were Precocene II (29.44, 39.8 and 43.90%), Precocene I (32.17, 22.8 and 20.14%), and Caryophyllene oxide (9.09, 11.50 and 10.2%), followed by Carvone Hydrate (4.39, 4.65 and 3.65%) and Germacrene D (2.42, 2.25 and 2.76%). Biological activities such as in-vitro antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial activities were evaluated. The essential oil from A. conyzoides leaves exhibited strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 34.17 µg/mL for DPPH and 33.47 µg/mL for ABTS assays in summer; 99.92 µg/mL for DPPH and 26.40 µg/ mL for ABTS in winter; and 96.47 µg/mL for DPPH and 78.59 µg/mL for ABTS in autumn. The essential oil showed significant anticancer activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line with IC50 value of 122±0.05 µg/mL in summer, 86.50±0.05 µg/mL in winter, and 148.38 ± 1.15 µg/mL in autumn, compared to and Etoposide at 30 µg/mL. The antibacterial activity against two gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria is moderate to good. \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141926573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Lissy Vargheese, S. Saravanan, S. J. Hepziba, S. Prem Kumari, A. K. Pushpam, M. A. Pillai
{"title":"Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in the BC2F2 population of groundnut","authors":"Rachel Lissy Vargheese, S. Saravanan, S. J. Hepziba, S. Prem Kumari, A. K. Pushpam, M. A. Pillai","doi":"10.14719/pst.3282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3282","url":null,"abstract":"The present study was carried out in the backcross population of groundnut involving TMV 7 and ICG 15419. Allele-specific primers were used to screen the population for high oleic acid and a total of 11 yield-contributing traits were included in this study. The number of primary and secondary branches had higher estimates of PCV and GCV whereas pod yield per plant had moderate PCV but low GCV. Along with the variability parameters, plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, pod width, 100 pod weight, oleic acid content and linoleic acid content had good estimates of heritability and genetic advance as a percent of the mean, whereas pod yield per plant had moderate and low, heritability and GAM respectively, with a negatively significant skewed distribution. Association analysis exhibited a positive correlation between the number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, pod length and 100 pod weight with pod yield per plant and it was evident that oleic acid was indirectly proportional to linoleic acid content. Hundred pod weights had the highest direct effect on pod yield per plant. Selection based on traits with a better relationship with pod yield per plant and moderate to high estimates of PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advancement would help in accelerating the groundnut improvement program. High oleic, low linolenic lines of BC2F2 with better pod yield would be forwarded to the next generation.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140987018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Study the hepatoprotective effect of the methanolic extract of Plumbago auriculata Lam. against CCl4-induced hepatocyte damage in mice","authors":"Massara Nazar Ahmed, A. Khamees","doi":"10.14719/pst.3572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3572","url":null,"abstract":"The liver is an important organ in the body; its diseases are considered the major causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. Hepatotoxic chemicals cause damage to liver cells. Medicinal plants have a powerful hepatoprotective effect. This study has been aimed to assess the potential hepatoprotective effect of the methanolic extract of Plumbago auriculata Lam. against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- induced hepatocyte damage in albino mice. The methanolic extract of the plant was subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis to determine the presence of secondary metabolites according to standard protocols. The acute toxicity study was carried out to measure the LD50. Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups treated intraperitoneally (IP) once daily for 7 days; the first group was a negative control, while the second group, considered as a CCl4 model, received a single dose of carbon tetrachloride during the last day. The third group received 500 mg/kg of body weight of methanolic extract of P. auriculata, and the last group received 100 mg/kg of body weight of standard silymarin, after 2 h of treatment, on the last day, all animals (except negative control group) have received CCl4 at a dose of 1 mL/kg of body weight. Biochemical analysis of collected blood and histopathological examination were performed. Results revealed that the preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of the plant confirmed the presence of many biologically active secondary metabolites like flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides and phenols and LD50 of the extract was 2.5 g/kg. The CCl4- intoxicated mice showed an increase in biochemical enzyme levels (ALT and AST) compared with the negative control group. The extract of 500 mg/kg revealed a significant reduction (p ? 0.05) in enzyme activities. The histopathological analysis of plant extract and silymarin-treated groups revealed a decrease in the pathological features compared with the CCl4-intoxicated group. It was concluded that the extract of P. auriculata has a significant effect on hepatoprotection against CCl4-induced hepatocyte damage and this may be because of the combined effects of the bioactive compositions of plant extract.","PeriodicalId":20236,"journal":{"name":"Plant Science Today","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140986636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}