Effect of excess boron on growth, membrane stability, and functional groups of tomato seedlings

With the scarcity of good quality water, plants like tomatoes will be more susceptible to excess boron (EB) in Mediterranean regions. The effects of EB on the growth, free, semi-bound, and bound boron (B) concentrations, and macromolecules of the Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar Castle Rock, were investigated in this study. Seedlings were exposed to four levels of EB using boric acid. The results manifested that EB inhibited tomato growth, total water content, and photosynthetic pigments. EB harmed the membrane stability, as seen by increased potassium (K) leakage, UV absorbance metabolites, and electrolyte conductivity (EC) in leaf disc solution. EB raised concentrations of free, semi-bound, and bound forms of B in seedlings. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data revealed that EB induced uneven wax deposition, altered the shape of cell walls, and lowered cellulose synthesis in seedlings. EB affected the amide I and amide II indicating damage to the protein pools. These results provide new insights into understanding the specific effects of EB on the functional groups of different macromolecules of tomato seedlings

Phyto-remedial of excessive copper and evaluation of its impact on the metabolic activity of Zea mays

Maize is diagnosed as a heavy metal (HM) accumulator, while the tolerance mechanism is not sufficiently known. A hydroponic experiment was performed to test the ability of maize plants to tolerate and accumulate Cu. Excess copper treatments (ECu; 5 and 10 μM CuSO4) considerably reduced plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activity. However, ECu significantly enhanced catalase (CAT) activity. ECu treatments reduced the leaf membrane integrity as indicated by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves. Proline and phenolic contents were considerably increased in maize organelles by ECu toxicity. ECu treatments considerably stimulated free amino acid (FAA) accumulation, total-soluble proteins (TSPs), and K in shoots, whereas these parameters did not change in the roots. Applications of CuSO4 did not affect the accumulation of total soluble sugars (TSSs) in shoots, while this accumulation enhanced in roots. CuSO4 treatments significantly increased the Cu concentration and uptake but decreased the Cu translocation factor (TF) and bioaccumulation factor (BF). Structural components such as cell wall components, proteins, lipids, and sugars were affected by ECu stress, as shown by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. These results give a new insight into the strategy, which maize can use to treat the Cu-polluted environment as Cu accumulates within seedling tissues and the seedling can protect itself from ECu stress

Evaluation of some bean lines tolerance to alkaline soil

Introduction: In less arid climates, salts are less concentrated and sodium dominates in carbonate and bicarbonate forms, which enhance the formation of alkaline soils. The development and identification of salt-tolerant crop cultivars or lines would complement salt management programs to improve the productivity and yields of salt stressed plants.Materials and methods: This work was to study the evaluation of alkalinity tolerance of some bean lines grown under different levels of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to select the most alkalinity tolerant lines versus the most-sensitive ones out of 6 lines of the test plants.Results: The symptoms induced by alkalinity included reduction in root, shoot growth, and leaf area which were more severe in some bean lines. Potassium leakage was severely affected by alkalinity in some lines at all tested levels, while in some others a moderate damage was manifested only at the higher levels. The increase in Na2CO3 level was associated with a gradual fall in chlorophyll a and b biosynthesis of all the test bean lines. However, alkalinity at low and moderate levels had a favorable effect on the biosynthesis of carotenoids in all the test bean lines. The increase in Na2CO3 supply had a considerable stimulatory effect on sodium accumulation, while potassium accumulation fluctuated in organs of bean lines.Conclusion: Assiut 1104 out of all the different lines investigated was found to display the lowest sensitivity to alkalinity stress, while Assiut 12/104 was the most sensitive one

ESTIMATE EQUILIBRIUM MICROECONOMIC MODEL OF WHEAT IN EGYPT

The main objectives of the research were to identify the size of wheat gap and find the appropriate solutions to apply  wheat self-sufficiency in the near future through  designing micro economic equilibrium model for wheat during the period (1995-2013) the model may identify the change in government revenues, the change in foreign exchange earnings and the rate of tariff,  the coefficient of the tariff and the change in surplus producers, the change in the surplus of consumers, efficiency indicators of a return or social loss in production and yield,  and social loss in consumption and total return.   The study predicted increasing in government loss about LE 13.287 billion in 2014 to about LE 20.11 billion, increasing in foreign exchange earnings of about LE 11.64 billion in 2014 to about 18.07 billion pounds, and it also expected to increase in the implicit tax (of the tariff rate) by the domestic producer of about 0.17 in 2014 to about 0.25. The study also predicted continuing socio loss in production to reach about LE 1.92 billion in 2020 because of continued rising in production costs, which is expected to reach about LE 5707 per acre in 2020 with increase ratio about 18.32% compared to 2013. It was also expected to continue growing consumer surplus to reach around LE 10.7 billion in 2020 and because of the government's continued support in the bread system

Targeting Some Key Metalloproteinases by Nano-Naringenin and <i>Amphora coffeaeformis</i> as a Novel Strategy for Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Rats

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents the highest degenerative disorder. Because cartilage erosion is a common pathological alteration in OA, targeting some key metalloproteinases such as MMP-3, ADAMTS-5 besides their inhibitor TIMP-3 by natural products, could be an effective strategy to protect against osteoarthritis. Forty female Wister rats were categorized into five equal groups. Control, osteoarthritic (OA) (monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) 2 mg/50 µL saline, single intra-articular injection), OA+ indomethacin (2 mg/kg/daily/orally), OA+ nano-naringenin (25 mg/kg/daily/orally), and OA+ Amphora coffeaeformis (772 mg/kg/daily/orally). Treatments were initiated on the 8th day after osteoarthritis induction and continued for 28 days thereafter. Finally, blood and knee joint samples were collected from all rats for biochemical and histopathological evaluations. The current study showed that MIA induced oxidative stress, which resulted in changes in the inflammatory joint markers associated with increased right knee diameter and higher clinical scores for lameness. Amphora coffeaeformis followed by nano-naringenin exhibited a potential anti-arthritic activity by reducing the concentrations of serum MMP-3, ADAMTS-5, and joint MDA and increasing the levels of serum TIMP-3 and joint GSH, similar to indomethacin. The histopathological results confirmed these outcomes. In conclusion, Amphora coffeaeformis and nano-naringenin can be considered as natural therapeutic agents for osteoarthritis owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

Targeting Some Key Metalloproteinases by Nano-Naringenin and Amphora coffeaeformis as a Novel Strategy for Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Rats

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents the highest degenerative disorder. Because cartilage erosion is a common pathological alteration in OA, targeting some key metalloproteinases such as MMP-3, ADAMTS-5 besides their inhibitor TIMP-3 by natural products, could be an effective strategy to protect against osteoarthritis. Forty female Wister rats were categorized into five equal groups. Control, osteoarthritic (OA) (monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) 2 mg/50 µL saline, single intra-articular injection), OA+ indomethacin (2 mg/kg/daily/orally), OA+ nano-naringenin (25 mg/kg/daily/orally), and OA+ Amphora coffeaeformis (772 mg/kg/daily/orally). Treatments were initiated on the 8th day after osteoarthritis induction and continued for 28 days thereafter. Finally, blood and knee joint samples were collected from all rats for biochemical and histopathological evaluations. The current study showed that MIA induced oxidative stress, which resulted in changes in the inflammatory joint markers associated with increased right knee diameter and higher clinical scores for lameness. Amphora coffeaeformis followed by nano-naringenin exhibited a potential anti-arthritic activity by reducing the concentrations of serum MMP-3, ADAMTS-5, and joint MDA and increasing the levels of serum TIMP-3 and joint GSH, similar to indomethacin. The histopathological results confirmed these outcomes. In conclusion, Amphora coffeaeformis and nano-naringenin can be considered as natural therapeutic agents for osteoarthritis owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population