Effects of the Rhizosphere Fungus Cunninghamella bertholletiae on the Solanum lycopersicum Response to Diverse Abiotic Stresses

This study examined the efficiency of fungal strain (Cunninghamella bertholletiae) isolated from the rhizosphere of Solanum lycopersicum to reduce symptoms of salinity, drought and heavy metal stresses in tomato plants. In vitro evaluation of C. bertholletiae demonstrated its ability to produce indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA), ammonia and tolerate varied abiotic stresses on solid media. Tomato plants at 33 days’ old, inoculated with or without C. bertholletiae, were treated with 1.5% sodium chloride, 25% polyethylene glycol, 3 mM cadmium and 3 mM lead for 10 days, and the impact of C. bertholletiae on plant performance was investigated. Inoculation with C. bertholletiae enhanced plant biomass and growth attributes in stressed plants. In addition, C. bertholletiae modulated the physiochemical apparatus of stressed plants by raising chlorophyll, carotenoid, glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents, and reducing hydrogen peroxide, protein, lipid metabolism, amino acid, antioxidant activities, and abscisic acid. Gene expression analysis showed enhanced expression of SlCDF3 and SlICS genes and reduced expression of SlACCase, SlAOS, SlGRAS6, SlRBOHD, SlRING1, SlTAF1, and SlZH13 genes following C. bertholletiae application. In conclusion, our study supports the potential of C. bertholletiae as a biofertilizer to reduce plant damage, improve crop endurance and remediation under stress conditions

Ampelopsin Confers Endurance and Rehabilitation Mechanisms in Glycine max cv. Sowonkong under Multiple Abiotic Stresses

The present investigation aims to perceive the effect of exogenous ampelopsin treatment on salinity and heavy metal damaged soybean seedlings (Glycine max L.) in terms of physiochemical and molecular responses. Screening of numerous ampelopsin concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10 and 25 μM) on soybean seedling growth indicated that the 1 μM concentration displayed an increase in agronomic traits. The study also determined how ampelopsin application could recover salinity and heavy metal damaged plants. Soybean seedlings were irrigated with water, 1.5% NaCl or 3 mM chosen heavy metals for 12 days. Our results showed that the application of ampelopsin raised survival of the 45-day old salinity and heavy metal stressed soybean plants. The ampelopsin treated plants sustained high chlorophyll, protein, amino acid, fatty acid, salicylic acid, sugar, antioxidant activities and proline contents, and displayed low hydrogen peroxide, lipid metabolism, and abscisic acid contents under unfavorable status. A gene expression survey revealed that ampelopsin application led to the improved expression of GmNAC109, GmFDL19, GmFAD3, GmAPX, GmWRKY12, GmWRKY142, and GmSAP16 genes, and reduced the expression of the GmERF75 gene. This study suggests irrigation with ampelopsin can alleviate plant damage and improve plant yield under stress conditions, especially those including salinity and heavy metals

Actinomucor elegans and Podospora bulbillosa Positively Improves Endurance to Water Deficit and Salinity Stresses in Tomato Plants

Fungal strains isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy Solanum lycopersicum were examined to mitigate symptoms of drought and salinity stresses. The fungal strains were identified as Actinomucor elegans and Podospora bulbillosa based on their DNA sequencing and morphological analysis. Additionally, the fungal strains were assayed for a number of plant growth promoting traits and abiotic stresses on solid media. Moreover, a greenhouse experiment was conducted and tomato seedlings were treated with 25% PEG or 1.5% NaCl for 12 days, and the impact of plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF) on tomato seedling performance under these conditions was examined. PGPF application raised the survival of the stressed tomato plants, which was evidenced by higher physiological and biochemical processes. The PGPF-inoculated plants exhibited higher chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein, amino acid, antioxidant activities, salicylic acid, glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents, and showed lower hydrogen peroxide, and lipid metabolism relative to control plants under stress. Analysis using gene expression showed enhanced expression of SlF3H gene and reduced expression of SlNCED1, SlDEAD31, SlbZIP38, and SlGRAS10 genes following PGPFs application. Overall, the outcomes of this study elucidate the function of these fungal strains and present candidates with potential implementation as biofertilizers and in promoting plant stress endurance

454-Pyrosequencing reveals variable fungal diversity across farming systems

Oasis farming system is common in some parts of the world, especially in the Arabian Peninsula and several African countries. In Oman, the farming system in the majority of farms follows a semi-oasis farming system, which is characterized by growing multiple crops mainly for home consumption, but also for local market. This study was conducted to investigate fungal diversity using pyrosequencing approach in soils from a farm utilizing a semi-oasis farming system (SOF) which is cultivated with date palms, acid limes and cucumbers. Fungal diversity from this farm was compared to that from an organic farm (OR) growing cucumbers and tomatoes. Fungal diversity was found to be variable among different crops in the same farm. The observed OTUs, Chao1 richness estimates and Shannon diversity values indicated that soils from date palms and acid limes have higher fungal diversity compared to soil from cucumbers (SOF). In addition, they also indicated that the level of fungal diversity is higher in the rhizosphere of cucumbers grown in OR compared to SOF. Ascomycota was the most dominant phylum in most of the samples from the OR and SOF farms. Other dominant phyla are Microsporidia, Chytridiomycota and Basidiomycota. The differential level of fungal diversity within the SOF could be related to the variation in the cultural practices employed for each crop

The novel approach of catalytic interesterification, hydrolysis and transesterification of Pongamia pinnata oil

The properties of biodiesel are completely dependent on the fatty acid profile of feedstock oils. Several feedstocks are not in use for biodiesel production because of the presence of unsuitable fatty acids in their oils. The present study was conducted to overcome this problem by the utilization of interesterification and hydrolysis processes. The present study reports biodiesel with much better cold flow properties than previous studies. Fatty acids present in Pongamia pinnata oil were optimized via interesterification and hydrolysis treatment of feedstock prior to alkali-catalyzed transesterification. The physiochemical properties of fuel were evaluated by standard test methods and the results were compared with EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. Biodiesel composition was analyzed by a gas chromatographic analysis. The density, saponification and iodine values of the biodiesel derived from treated and non-treated oil were found to be within the range recommended by the international fuel standards. The acid values of biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated fractions were high (0.7–0.8 mg of KOH/g of oil), as compared to the biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated pure oil. The cloud points and pour points of biodiesel produced from hydrolyzed and interesterified oil were in the range of (8.1 to −9.6 °C) and (2.03 to −12.5 °C), respectively, while those of non-treated oil were in the range of (13.37 to −1.53 °C). These results indicate that treatments of oil specifically improved the low-temperature properties of biodiesel

Enhancing functionalities in nanocomposites for effective dye removal from wastewater: isothermal, kinetic and thermodynamic aspects

The adsorption process combined with electrocoagulation is a highly effective technique for dye removal. Calcinized and non-calcinized composites based on bentonite and sodium zeolite were prepared for adsorptive removal of Foron EBL blue, Terasil brown 2RFL, Torque blue PG, and Orange P3R dyes. Factors affecting the adsorption process, such as contact time, initial dye concentration, and temperature, were also explored in this study. Equilibrium data of natural clay composites was explained by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin Radushkevich isotherm, Harkin Jura, and Temkin isothermal models. Harkin Jura isotherm model best fitted on the adsorption mechanism compared to Langmuir and Temkin isotherm model. Morphology of clay-based adsorbents and functional group arrangement were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The calcinized nano-composite material exhibited better adsorption capacity than non-calcinized nano-composite and could be employed as a low-cost alternative for dye removal

Enhancing Functionalities in Nanocomposites for Effective Dye Removal from Wastewater: Isothermal, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects

The adsorption process combined with electrocoagulation is a highly effective technique for dye removal. Calcinized and non-calcinized composites based on bentonite and sodium zeolite were prepared for adsorptive removal of Foron EBL blue, Terasil brown 2RFL, Torque blue PG, and Orange P3R dyes. Factors affecting the adsorption process, such as contact time, initial dye concentration, and temperature, were also explored in this study. Equilibrium data of natural clay composites was explained by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin Radushkevich isotherm, Harkin Jura, and Temkin isothermal models. Harkin Jura isotherm model best fitted on the adsorption mechanism compared to Langmuir and Temkin isotherm model. Morphology of clay-based adsorbents and functional group arrangement were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The calcinized nano-composite material exhibited better adsorption capacity than non-calcinized nano-composite and could be employed as a low-cost alternative for dye removal

The Novel Approach of Catalytic Interesterification, Hydrolysis and Transesterification of Pongamia pinnata Oil

The properties of biodiesel are completely dependent on the fatty acid profile of feedstock oils. Several feedstocks are not in use for biodiesel production because of the presence of unsuitable fatty acids in their oils. The present study was conducted to overcome this problem by the utilization of interesterification and hydrolysis processes. The present study reports biodiesel with much better cold flow properties than previous studies. Fatty acids present in Pongamia pinnata oil were optimized via interesterification and hydrolysis treatment of feedstock prior to alkali-catalyzed transesterification. The physiochemical properties of fuel were evaluated by standard test methods and the results were compared with EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. Biodiesel composition was analyzed by a gas chromatographic analysis. The density, saponification and iodine values of the biodiesel derived from treated and non-treated oil were found to be within the range recommended by the international fuel standards. The acid values of biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated fractions were high (0.7–0.8 mg of KOH/g of oil), as compared to the biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated pure oil. The cloud points and pour points of biodiesel produced from hydrolyzed and interesterified oil were in the range of (8.1 to −9.6 °C) and (2.03 to −12.5 °C), respectively, while those of non-treated oil were in the range of (13.37 to −1.53 °C). These results indicate that treatments of oil specifically improved the low-temperature properties of biodiesel

Green nanocomposite for the adsorption of toxic dyes removal from colored waters

The discharge of dyes from textile industries led to a broad range of toxicological and environmental effects, posing severe health issues for humans and animals worldwide. These dyes are highly stable and, if not adequately treated, remain in the environment for extended periods. Adsorption, the most efficient and cost-effective method, offers unique advantages for using natural adsorbents, such as marble waste composites, for dye removal. The easy availability of marble waste, its low cost, its eco-friendly nature, its ease of operation, its simplicity of design, its flexibility, and its great affinity for dyes make it a suitable option for dye removal. Golden marble waste nanocomposites are prepared for dye removal. The results from the studies suggested that treated golden marble composite materials exhibit better adsorption efficiency (224.8, 299.5, and 369.2 mg/g) for adsorptive removal of dyes than untreated golden marble composite materials (114.4 mg/g). This research also used isothermic and kinetic models to evaluate the effects of numerous parameters, for example, the initial dye concentration, pH, time, temperature, and adsorbent dose. The highest removal of 369.9 mg/g was achieved during the present study for blue dye at an optimized pH of 7 and a temperature of 30 °C. It was observed that golden marble waste composites gave better R2 (0.99) values for second-order kinetics in the kinetic model. Results obtained from comparing Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin, and Herkin Jura isotherms showed that the R2 values of the Langmuir isotherm for Foron red (0.97), the Temkin isotherm for Foron blue (0.98), and the Freundlich isotherm for Foron black dye (0.97) fit on adsorption for both treated and untreated composites. Characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), are also discussed for the structural determination of golden marble waste composites

Advanced treatment of direct dye wastewater using novel composites produced from hoshanar and sunny grey waste

The present project is designed to investigate the potential of hoshanar and sunny grey marble wastes to remove direct violet 51 dye from wastewater using adsorption process. The effect of different parameters such as pH, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and contact time were studied to optimize the results of adsorption process. Different isothermic models (Temkin, Langmuir isotherm, Freundlich isotherm, Harkin Jura, and Dubinin-Radushkevich models) and kinetic models (pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order) were employed to adsorption data to find out the best fit model, i.e., Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order model. Marble waste composites were also characterized by using different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine chemical arrangements, structure, and functional groups of adsorbents. Hoshanar treated with a mixture of potassium ferricyanide, and sodium meta silicate showed maximum adsorption capacity of 105.31 mg/g as compared to untreated hoshanar (67.19.45 mg/g). So, the conversion of HM into HMPS makes it an affordable, efficient, and available adsorbent for wastewater treatment