Responses of soil microbial biomass, microbial entropy and soil-microorganism stoichiometry imbalance to different utilization patterns in the artificial grassland of karst desertification area

Different utilization patterns can alter the C, N, P cycles and their ecological stoichiometry characteristics in grassland soils. However, the effects of different utilization patterns on soil microbial biomass, microbial entropy and soil-microorganism stoichiometry imbalance of artificial grassland are not clear. So this study was took different utilization patterns of artificial grassland [i.e., grazing grassland (GG), mowing grassland (MG), enclosed grassland (EG)] as the research object to investigate responses of soil microbial biomass, microbial entropy and soil-microorganism stoichiometry imbalance to different utilization patterns in the karst rocky desertification control area. We found that the contents of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were highest in GG, and the content of microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) was highest in EG. Soil microbial biomass entropy carbon (qMBC) and soil microbial biomass entropy nitrogen (qMBN) of GG and MG were higher than those of EG, but soil microbial biomass entropy phosphorus (qMBP) was opposite. C:N stoichiometry imbalance (C:Nimb) was EG > GG > MG, C:P stoichiometry imbalance (C:Pimb) was EG > MG > GG, N:P stoichiometry imbalance (N:Pimb) was MG > EG > GG. MBN was significantly positive correlated with C:Nimb and C:Pimb, MBC was significantly negative correlated with C:Pimb, MBP was significantly negative correlated with N:Pimb. The redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that N:Pimb (p = 0.014), C:Nimb (p = 0.014), and C:P in the soil (C:Psoil, p = 0.028) had the most significant effect on microbial entropy. EG had a significant effect on soil microbial biomass and microbial entropy. The results of this study can directly or indirectly reflect the grassland soil quality under different utilization patterns in the karst rocky desertification area, which has a certain reference value for the degraded ecosystem restoration

Development and characterization of efficient k-solubilizing rhizobacteria and mesorhizobial inoculants for chickpea

The use of mineral fertilizers has long been associated with the improved growth of crop plants as well as increased yield potential per unit area. However, the incessant practice of imbalanced fertilizers application has increased the economic and environmental costs for the agricultural sector. The deficiency of potassium (K) has been identified as a primary crop production challenge in certain semi-arid regions where soil-K reserves are increasingly being depleted. This study aimed to isolate and characterize K-solubilizing bacterial strains from the rhizosphere and root nodules of chickpea. Initially, 50 rhizobacterial strains and 50 rhizobial strains were isolated using Aleksandrov’s medium. Each of these collections was narrowed down to 25 strains, following a rigorous qualitative screening based on different physiological, morphological and biochemical tests. From these, five strains each of rhizosphere and nodule origins were selected based on qualitative as well quantitative determination of various growth promoting traits. In addition to efficient potassium and phosphate solubilization, the selected strains displayed better growth conditions, as evident by glucose substrate use at 25◦C and pH 7. In this study, we found that strains SKB3 (rhizosphere) and JKR7 (rhizobia) were the most efficient K-solubilizers. Additionally, they possessed diverse plant growth promoting traits such as root colonization, the synthesis of siderophores, exopolysaccharides, chitinase activity, indole-acetic acid production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity. Overall, our results suggest that the application of bacterial K-solubilizers could be employed as a useful K-supplement in K-limited agroecosystems. Moreover, the use of these K-solubilizers may help lead in alleviating the negative environmental impacts associated with chemical fertilizer.I am very grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work during this project, especially the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, the Soil & Water Sciences Department (SWD), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, USA, and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad, Pakistan. Each of the members of the SWD, IFAS, University of Florida, USA, specifically L.Q. Ma, Letuzia Maria De Oliveira and Evandro Da Silva have provided me with extensive personal and professional guidance and have taught me a great deal about both scientific research and life in general during my six months stay there under International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP), HEC, Pakistan. The authors would also like to extend their sincere appreciation to the acknowledgment of the research supporting project (RSP-2021/95, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Antifungal Potential of Aqueous Extract of Boswellia carteri

To assess the antifungal activity of the crude aqueous extract of B. carteri. Three independent concentrations (1%, 2.5%, and 5%) of the crude aqueous extract of B. carteri were tested for their in vitro activity against selected fungal strains. The treated (5% concentration) and untreated A. alternata samples were analyzed for morphological changes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry of the extract was done to identify the phytoconstituents responsible for the antifungal activity. Results showed that the crude aqueous extract of B. carteri inhibited the growth of all the selected fungal species. The percentage of mycelial growth of the tested fungi decreased as the concentration of the aqueous extract increased from 1% to 5%. SEM-based studies of A. alternata treated with 5% showed significant morphological changes including shrunken hyphae, membrane disintegration, and distorted conidial structures compared to the untreated fungal cells. The crude aqueous extract of B. carteri has the potential to be used as a natural and effective fungicidal agent for controlling the growth of pathogenic fungi

Evaluation of Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Cytotoxic Activity of Laurus nobilis L Grown in Saudi Arabia

Present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activity of Laurus nobilis grown in Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia. Dried leaves of L. nobilis were extracted with various solvent with increasing polarities. Solvent extracts exhibited variable inhibition zones against bacterial pathogens, however all the solvent extracts showed significant inhibition against fungal pathogens. Acetone extracts had the largest inhibition zone against Streptococcus pnemoniae (37.16 ± 0.23 mm) while ethanol and methanol extract showed the most efficient percentage inhibition against mycelial growth of Alternaria alternata (91.33 ± 0.47; 90.66 ± 0.94).High cytotoxicity was demonstrated by methanol and aqueous extracts (IC50 14.90µg/ml, 24.56 µg/ml), while acetone extracts showed moderate effects on cell inhibition (IC50 41.43µg/ml).The significant activity shown by the bay leaf extracts could be attributed to monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, phenylpropanoids, phenols, and other important phytoconstituents identified in GC- MS and FTIR studies. Our findings clearly show significant antifungal, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of solvent extracts of bay leaves, which could be attributed to the presence of wide range of phytochemicals. Since plants derived natural products are less toxic, cheaper, and have negligible side effects, they would serve as an excellent alternative to antimicrobial and chemotherapeutic drugs

Environmental Drivers of Landscape Fragmentation Influence Intraspecific Leaf Traits in Forest Ecosystem

Habitat fragmentation threatens the sustainability of ecological restoration. Understanding the variation in intraspecific traits helped to reveal the functional resource-use strategies of plants in response to environmental changes. We sampled different landscape types of forest configurations, where the most widespread species was Robinia pseudoacacia. From each plot, from two to five R. pseudoacacia individuals were selected for further examinations. Plant development and leaf traits—leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf thickness (Lth)—were measured in 135 individuals in total. The effects of plant development and landscape fragmentation on R. pseudoacacia leaf traits were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. The environmental factors explained the changes in leaf traits of R. pseudoacacia individuals, and the effect of stand type was the most significant. Compared with continuous forests, R. pseudoacacia individuals in fragmented forests adopted a more conservative resource-use strategy, with smaller LA and SLA and larger Lth and LDMC values. With an increase in landscape heterogeneity, SLA increased and LDMC decreased. In conclusion, the occurrence of landscape fragmentation plays a substantial role in inducing changes in leaf characteristics. The restoration of fragmented forests to continuous forests requires the appropriate addition of land-use types and systematic adjustment of landscape configurations

Antifungal, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Aqueous Extracts of Mace-Arils of Myristica fragrans

In the present study, mace-mediated silver nanoparticles (mace-AgNPs) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated against an array of pathogenic microorganisms. Mace, the arils of Myristica fragrans, are a rich source of several bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and aromatic compounds. During nano synthesis, the bioactive compounds in mace aqueous extracts serve as excellent bio reductants, stabilizers, and capping agents. The UV-VIS spectroscopy of the synthesized NPs showed an intense and broad SPR absorption peak at 456 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed the size with a Z average of 50 nm, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies depicted the round shape and small size of the NPs, which ranged between 5–28 nm. The peaks related to important functional groups, such as phenols, alcohols, carbonyl groups, amides, alkanes and alkenes, were obtained on a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum. The peak at 3 keV on the energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDX) validated the presence of silver (Ag). Mace-silver nanoparticles exhibited potent antifungal and antibacterial activity against several pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, the synthesized mace-AgNPs displayed an excellent cytotoxic effect against the human cervical cancer cell line. The mace-AgNPs demonstrated robust antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activity, indicating that the mace-AgNPs might be used in the agrochemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, and biomedical applications. However, future studies to understand its mode of action are needed

Ameliorative Effect of Beta vulgaris Root Extract on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Liver Injury in Rats

Exposure to organophosphorus insecticides causes several health problems to animals and humans. Red beetroot (RBR) is rich in antioxidant ingredients and possesses a promising hepatoprotective activity. This study evaluated the potential of RBR extract to prevent chlorpyrifos (CPF)-induced liver injury, with an emphasis on oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. Rats received 10 mg/kg CPF and were treated with 300 mg/kg RBR extract for 28 days. CPF caused liver injury evidenced by elevated serum levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin, along with several histological alterations. Hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased in CPF-intoxicated rats. RBR prevented CPF-induced histological alterations, and ameliorated liver function, LPO, NO, iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. RBR boosted glutathione and antioxidant enzymes, and increased Nrf2 expression. In addition, RBR diminished Bax and caspase-3, and increased Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, RBR prevented CPF-induced liver injury via attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. RBR enhanced antioxidant defenses, suggesting that it could be used as a potential therapeutic intervention to minimize CPF hepatotoxicity

Influence of intraspecific competition stress on soil fungal diversity and composition in relation to tree growth and soil fertility in Sub-Tropical soils under Chinese fir monoculture

Soil microorganisms provide valuable ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, soil remediation, and biotic and abiotic stress resistance. There is increasing interest in exploring total belowground biodiversity across ecological scales to understand better how different ecological aspects, such as stand density, soil properties, soil depth, and plant growth parameters, influence belowground communities. In various environments, microbial components of belowground communities, such as soil fungi, respond differently to soil features; however, little is known about their response to standing density and vertical soil profiles in a Chinese fir monoculture plantation. This research examined the assemblage of soil fungal communities in different density stands (high, intermediate, and low) and soil depth profiles (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). This research also looked into the relationship between soil fungi and tree canopy characteristics (mean tilt angle of the leaf (MTA), leaf area index (LAI), and canopy openness index (DIFN)), and general growth parameters, such as diameter, height, and biomass. The results showed that low-density stand soil had higher fungal alpha diversity than intermediate- and high-density stand soils. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucromycota, and Mortierellomycota were the most common phyla of the soil fungal communities, in that order. Saitozyma, Penicillium, Umbelopsis, and Talaromyces were the most abundant fungal genera. Stand density composition was the dominant factor in changing fungal community structure compared to soil properties and soil depth profiles. The most significant soil elements in soil fungal community alterations were macronutrients. In addition, the canopy openness index and fungal community structure have a positive association in the low-density stand. Soil biota is a nutrient cycling driver that can promote better plant growth in forest ecosystems by supporting nutrient cycling. Hence, this research will be critical in understanding soil fungal dynamics, improving stand growth and productivity, and improving soil quality in intensively managed Chinese fir plantations.Fujian Forestry Bureau | Ref. 2020TG19Fujian Provincial Colleges and University Engineering Research Center of Plantation Sustainable management | Ref. PTJH18009King Saud University, Riyadh | Ref. RSP-2021/9

Antimicrobial Potential of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Aaronsohnia factorovskyi Extract

The green biosynthesis of nanoparticles by plant extracts is an attractive and promising technique for medicinal applications. In the current study, we chose one of the daisy plants, Aaronsohnia factorovskyi (which grows in the Najd region, Saudi Arabia), to investigate its anti-microbial efficacy, in combination with silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillussubtilis (Gram-positive), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, (Gram-negative) using the disc diffusion method, while the antifungal activity was assessed against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Helminthosporiumrostratum, and Alternariaalternata. The potential phytoconstituents of the plant extracts were identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques, the Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques, and Zeta potential analysis. The current study revealed the ability of the tested plant extract to convert silver ions to silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of 104–140 nm. Biogenic Aaronsohnia factorovskyi-silver nanoparticles (AF-AgNPs) showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone diameter to 19.00 ± 2.94 mm, and antifungal activity against Fusarium solani, which reduced the growth of fungal yarn to 1.5 mm. The innovation of the present study is that the green synthesis of NPs, which is simple, cost-effective, provides stable nano-materials, and can be an alternative for the large-scale synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Red Beetroot Extract Abrogates Chlorpyrifos-Induced Cortical Damage in Rats

Organophosphorus insecticides including chlorpyrifos (CPF) are mainly used for agriculture, household, and military purposes; their application is associated with various adverse reactions in animals and humans. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of red beetroot methanolic extract (RBR) against CPF-induced cortical damage. Twenty-eight adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups (n=7 in each group): the control group was administered physiological saline (0.9% NaCl), the CPF group was administered CPF (10 mg/kg), the RBR group was administered RBR (300 mg/kg), and the RBR+CPF group was treated with RBR (300 mg/kg) 1 hr before CPF (10 mg/kg) supplementation. All groups were treated for 28 days. Rats exposed to CPF exhibited a significant decrease in cortical acetylcholinesterase activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor and a decrease in glial fibrillary acidic protein. CPF intoxication increased lipid peroxidation, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and nitric oxide production. This was accompanied by a decrease in glutathione content and in the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the cortical tissue. Additionally, CPF enhanced inflammatory response, indicated by increased levels and expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. CPF triggered neuronal apoptosis by upregulating Bax and caspase-3 and downregulating Bcl-2. However, RBR reversed the induced neuronal alterations following CPF intoxication. Our findings suggest that RBR can minimize and prevent CPF neurotoxicity through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities