Nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer enhances the growth and productivity of wheat plants grown in sandy soil

Nanofertilizers have become a pioneer approach in agriculture research nowadays. In this paper we investigate the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) for wheat plants by foliar uptake. Chiotsan-NPK nanoparticles were easily applied to leaf surfaces and entered the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems. The uptake and translocation of nanoparticles inside wheat plants was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that nano particles were taken up and transported through phloem tissues. Treatment of wheat plants grown on sandy soil with nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer induced significant increases in harvest index, crop index and mobilization index of the determined wheat yield variables, as compared with control yield variables of wheat plants treated with normal non-fertilized and normal fertilized NPK. The life cycle of the nano-fertilized wheat plants was shorter than normal-fertilized wheat plants with the ratio of 23.5% (130 days compared with 170 days for yield production from date of sowing). Thus, accelerating plant growth and productivity by application of nanofertilizers can open new perspectives in agricultural practice. However, the response of plants to nanofertilizers varies with the type of plant species, their growth stages and nature of nanomaterials

Extra-cellular matrix proteins induce matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity and increase airway smooth muscle contraction in asthma

Airway remodelling describes the histopathological changes leading to fixed airway obstruction in patients with asthma and includes extra-cellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is present in remodelled airways but its relationship with ECM proteins and the resulting functional consequences are unknown. We used airway smooth muscle cells (ASM) and bronchial biopsies from control donors and patients with asthma to examine the regulation of MMP-1 by ECM in ASM cells and the effect of MMP-1 on ASM contraction. Collagen-I and tenascin-C induced MMP-1 protein expression, which for tenascin-C, was greater in asthma derived ASM cells. Tenascin-C induced MMP-1 expression was dependent on ERK1/2, JNK and p38 MAPK activation and attenuated by function blocking antibodies against the β1 and β3 integrin subunits. Tenascin-C and MMP-1 were not expressed in normal airways but co-localised in the ASM bundles and reticular basement membrane of patients with asthma. Further, ECM from asthma derived ASM cells stimulated MMP-1 expression to a greater degree than ECM from normal ASM. Bradykinin induced contraction of ASM cells seeded in 3D collagen gels was reduced by the MMP inhibitor ilomastat and by siRNA knockdown of MMP-1. In summary, the induction of MMP-1 in ASM cells by tenascin-C occurs in part via integrin mediated MAPK signalling. MMP-1 and tenascin-C are co-localised in the smooth muscle bundles of patients with asthma where this interaction may contribute to enhanced airway contraction. Our findings suggest that ECM changes in airway remodelling via MMP-1 could contribute to an environment promoting greater airway narrowing in response to broncho-constrictor stimuli and worsening asthma symptoms

Microtubule Dynamics Regulate Cyclic Stretch-Induced Cell Alignment in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Microtubules are structural components of the cytoskeleton that determine cell shape, polarity, and motility in cooperation with the actin filaments. In order to determine the role of microtubules in cell alignment, human airway smooth muscle cells were exposed to cyclic uniaxial stretch. Human airway smooth muscle cells, cultured on type I collagen-coated elastic silicone membranes, were stretched uniaxially (20% in strain, 30 cycles/min) for 2 h. The population of airway smooth muscle cells which were originally oriented randomly aligned near perpendicular to the stretch axis in a time-dependent manner. However, when the cells treated with microtubule disruptors, nocodazole and colchicine, were subjected to the same cyclic uniaxial stretch, the cells failed to align. Lack of alignment was also observed for airway smooth muscle cells treated with a microtubule stabilizer, paclitaxel. To understand the intracellular mechanisms involved, we developed a computational model in which microtubule polymerization and attachment to focal adhesions were regulated by the preexisting tensile stress, pre-stress, on actin stress fibers. We demonstrate that microtubules play a central role in cell re-orientation when cells experience cyclic uniaxial stretching. Our findings further suggest that cell alignment and cytoskeletal reorganization in response to cyclic stretch results from the ability of the microtubule-stress fiber assembly to maintain a homeostatic strain on the stress fiber at focal adhesions. The mechanism of stretch-induced alignment we uncovered is likely involved in various airway functions as well as in the pathophysiology of airway remodeling in asthma

Nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer enhances the growth and productivity of wheat plants grown in sandy soil

Nanofertilizers have become a pioneer approach in agriculture research nowadays. In this paper we investigate the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) for wheat plants by foliar uptake. Chiotsan-NPK nanoparticles were easily applied to leaf surfaces and entered the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems. The uptake and translocation of nanoparticles inside wheat plants was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that nano particles were taken up and transported through phloem tissues. Treatment of wheat plants grown on sandy soil with nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer induced significant increases in harvest index, crop index and mobilization index of the determined wheat yield variables, as compared with control yield variables of wheat plants treated with normal non-fertilized and normal fertilized NPK. The life cycle of the nano-fertilized wheat plants was shorter than normal-fertilized wheat plants with the ratio of 23.5% (130 days compared with 170 days for yield production from date of sowing). Thus, accelerating plant growth and productivity by application of nanofertilizers can open new perspectives in agricultural practice. However, the response of plants to nanofertilizers varies with the type of plant species, their growth stages and nature of nanomaterials

Nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer enhances the growth and productivity of wheat plants grown in sandy soil

Nanofertilizers have become a pioneer approach in agriculture research nowadays. In this paper we investigate the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) for wheat plants by foliar uptake. Chiotsan-NPK nanoparticles were easily applied to leaf surfaces and entered the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems. The uptake and translocation of nanoparticles inside wheat plants was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that nano particles were taken up and transported through phloem tissues. Treatment of wheat plants grown on sandy soil with nano chitosan-NPK fertilizer induced significant increases in harvest index, crop index and mobilization index of the determined wheat yield variables, as compared with control yield variables of wheat plants treated with normal non-fertilized and normal fertilized NPK. The life cycle of the nano-fertilized wheat plants was shorter than normal-fertilized wheat plants with the ratio of 23.5% (130 days compared with 170 days for yield production from date of sowing). Thus, accelerating plant growth and productivity by application of nanofertilizers can open new perspectives in agricultural practice. However, the response of plants to nanofertilizers varies with the type of plant species, their growth stages and nature of nanomaterials

نمو وأيض وملاءمة النباتات لظروف الاجهاد المختلفة 5 - تأثير الملوحة على الأحماض الدهنية في بذور الكتان والقطن والخروع النابتة

The same three fatty acids were detected in flax, cotton and castor bean seeds: myristic, plamitic and oleic. In addition, linoleic was found in flax and lauric and stearic in castor bean. The seeds were germinated over a period of 12 days and showed variable changes in the major fatty acids. In the three seeds, salinization with 0.5% and 1.0% NaCI led to decreases or increases in the contents of certain fatty acids. Also disappearance of certain fatty acids was accompanied by appearance of others.يهدف هذا البحث إلى دراسة أثر الملوحة على محتوى الأحماض الدهنية في زيوت بذور الكتان والقطن والخروع أثناء انباتها لمدة اثنى عشر يوما . ففي البذور الثلاثة المستنبتة في الماء ، وجدت أحماض الميرستيك والبالمتيك والأولييك ، وبالإضافة إلى ذلك فقد أمكن فصل حمض اللينولييك من بذور الكتان ، وحمضي اللوريك والاستياريك من بذور الخروع النابتة . أدت المعاملة بمحاليل كلوريد الصوديوم (0.5%،1%) إلى تغيرات ملحوظة ومختلفة في محتوى الأحماض الدهنية الأساسية وذلك بالمقارنة إلى محتوى هذه الأحماض في البذور المستنبتة في الماء . فعلى حين نقص محتوى بعض الأحماض ، وجدت زيادة في محتوى البعض الآخر ، وبالإضافة إلى ذلك فقد كان اختفاء بعض الأحماض الدهنية مقرونا بظهور أحماض أخرى جديدة

نمو وأيض وملاءمة النباتات لظروف الإجهاد المختلفة 7 - أثر الملوحة على تنفس نباتات الفاصوليا والذرة ومحتواها من النيتروجين والبرولين

Carbon dioxide production by seedlings, whole plants and leaves of French bean and of maize showed progressively greater increases with increasing concentrations of Na2S04 added to the basal medium. Also, in response to salinization, marked changes in the total amount and in the relative composition of the nitrogen pool were observed. Thus, whereas proline as well as amino- and total soluble -N contents increased, contents of protein- and total -N decreased; the magnitude of these changes appeared to be a function of the concentration of Na2S04 used. Irregular changes were observed for ammonia- and nitrate-Nفي هذا البحث ، وجد أن إضافة ملح كبريتات الصوديوم إلى الأوساط الغذائية لنباتي الفاصوليا والذرة ، أدت إلى زيادات واضحة في تنفس البادرات والنباتات الكاملة وكذلك الأوراق ، وكانت هذه الزيادات أكثر وضوحا بزيادة تركيز الملح في الأوساط الغذائية . ولقد أمكن تفسير الزيادة في التنفس استنادا إلى عمليات الفسفرة داخل الخلايا نتيجة لزيادة امتصاص أيونات الصوديوم وتراكمهما . ولقد أوضحت نتائج التجارب أن هناك تغيرات ملحوظة في المحتوى الكلي والجزئي للمواد النيتروجينية ، فعلى حين تزايدت كميات البرولين والأحماض الأمينية والنيتروجين الكلي الذائب ، لوحظ تناقصا في المحتوى البروتيني والمحتوى الكلي للنيتروجين . ولقد لوحظ أن قيمة هذه التغيرات قد اعتمدت على تركيز كبريتات الصوديوم وعلى النبات المستخدم. ولقد أوضحت نتائج التجارب أن هناك تغيرات ملحوظة في المحتوى الكلي والجزئي للمواد النيتروجينية ، فعلى حين تزايدت كميات البرولين والأحماض الأمينية والنيتروجين الكلي الذائب ، لوحظ تناقصا في المحتوى البروتيني والمحتوى الكلي للنيتروجين . ولقد لوحظ أن قيمة هذه التغيرات قد اعتمدت على تركيز كبريتات الصوديوم وعلى النبات المستخدم

نمو وأيض وملاءمة النباتات لظروف الاجهاد المختلفه 6 - التأثيرات المميزة لكبريتات الصوديوم على النمو والمحتوى المعدني لنباتات الفاصوليا والذرة

Seeds of Phaseolus and Zea were germinated and then cultured either in Hoagland nutrient solution (1/4-strength) by itself or in combination with different concentrations of Na^SC^. Salinization induced, in general, varied reductions in water content and dry matter accumulation of both Phaseolus and Zea seedlings, whole plants and leaves. On the other hand, the decrease in growth of both plants appeared to be consistent with the accumulation of Na'1- and Mg24' that occurred concurrently with a reduction in K4' and Ca24' contents of seedlings, whole plants and leaves.في هذا البحث ، وجد ان إضافة ملح كبريتات الصوديوم إلى الأوساط الغذائية لنباتي الفاصوليا والذرة ، أدت إلى زيادات واضحة في تنفس البادرات والنباتات الكاملة وكذلك الأوراق ، وكانت هذه الزيادات أكثر وضوحا بزيادة تركيز الملح في الأوساط الغذائية . ولقد أمكن تفسير الزيادة في التنفس استنادا إلى عمليات الفسفرة داخل الخلايا نتيجة لزيادة امتصاص أيونات الصوديوم وتراكمها . ‏ولقد أوضحت نتائج التجارب أن هناك تغيرات ملحوظة في المحتوى الكلي والجزئي للمواد النيتروجينية ، فعلى حين تزايدت كميات البرولين والأحماض الأمينينة والنيتروجين الكلي الذائب ، لوحظ تناقصا في المحتوى البروتيني والمحتوى الكلي للنيتروجين . ولقد لوحظ أن قيمة هذه التغيرات قد اعتمدت على تركيز كبريتات الصوديوم وعلى النبات المستخدم

نمو وأيض وملاءمة النباتات لظروف الاجهاد المختلفة 12 - تراكم المواد الكربوايدراتية والحمضية في الفاصوليا والذرة المعاملة بكبرتيات الصوديوم

Phaseolus vulgaris and Zea mays seedlings and plants were cultured on quarter-strength Hoagland nutrient medium with or without increasing concentrations of Na^SO^. Sodium sulphate increased the levels of reducing sugars whereas sucrose and polysaccharides decreased in the treated seedlings, whole plants and leaves."<-ketoglularic and certain carboxylic acids of the Krebs cycle increased in all seedlings and plants in response to the various salt concentrations used, with the exception of puruvate,o(-ketoglutarate and succinate which decreased in the salinized Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings. The present results with Na;SO^ are discussed in relation to the effect of salinity in other plant species and appear to be broadly in agreement with those other studies.تم إنماء بادرات ونباتات الفاصوليا والذرة على محلول هوجلاند المغذى ( ربع التركيز الكامل ) إما منفردا أو مضافا إليه تركيزات متدرجة من ملح كبريتات الصوديوم . ولقد أدت هذه المعاملات إلى زيادات طردية في السكرات المختزلة بينما لوحظ نقص في السكروز وعديدات التسكر في البادرات والنباتات الكاملة والأوراق . كذلك أدت معاملة بادرات ونباتات الفاصوليا والذرة بالتركيزات المختلفة من الملح إلى زيادات في حمض الفاكيتوجلوتاريك وكدلك بعض الاحماض الكربوكسيلية لدورة كربس ماعدا حمض البروفيك وحمض الفاكيتوجلوتاريك وحمض السكسنيك والتي لخصت في بادرات الفاصوليا تحت تأثير التركيزات المختلفة من الملح . ولقد نوقشت هذه النتائج في ضوء نتائج الاخرين ، وفي ضوء ما هو معروف حاليا عن ميكانيكية التوازن الأزموزي في الخلايا النباتية