INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT AND ENVIRONMENT

Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Herbaceous Taxa of Faquir Gojri of Dhara Catchment, Jammu and Kashmir

Gousiya Majeed, Syed Aasif Hussain Andrabi, Rayees Afzal Mir — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To study impact of Anthropogenic Activities on herbaceous taxa of Faquir Gojri of Dhara catchment a study was carried out during 2021−2022. The main objective of study was impact of Anthropogenic Activities on phytodiversity and nutrient status of soil of Faquir Gojar of Dhara catchment under anthropogenic activities. The study conducted during two seasons viz., summer and autumn. Absence of Viola odorata Linn*and Sisymbrium irio Linn*, Oxytropis cachemiriana Cambess,* Origanum vulgare Linn,* Stachys floccosa Benth.*during summer and Sisymbrium irio Linn*, Oxytropis cachemiriana Cambess* Stachys floccosa Benth*And Rumex acetosa Linn* were lacking in Anthropogenic area during autumn. However, analysis of cumulative data of summer and autumn revealed absence of Viola odorata Linn*, Sisymbrium irio Linn*, Oxytropis cachemiriana Cambess* Origanum vulgare Linn* Rumex acetosa Linn* Stachys floccosa Benth* in Anthropogenic area of Faquir Gojari. 22 species belonging to 18 genera and 11 families were found growing in anthropogenic area against 36 species pertaining to 32 genera and 18 families in forest area. Members of (Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae and Violaceae) were absent in anthropogenic area in summer and Members of (Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Polygonaceae) were absent in anthropogenic area in autumn

Chili Leaf Curl Virus: A Common Threat in Chili (Capsicum annum var. annum) Cultivation

Abhinav Singh Abhinav Singh — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop that is susceptible to around 45 viruses. Among these, 24 are known to occur naturally, while the remaining can infect plants only through artificial inoculation. Out of the 24 naturally occurring viruses in chili, approximately 11 have been reported in India. The most serious of these is the chili leaf curl virus (LCV), which can lead to yield losses of up to 100% in severe cases. This disease is caused by begomovirus, which can be identified by distinct symptoms such as yellowing of veins, mosaic-like yellow patterns, and curling of leaves. Efforts to control chili LCV through cultural practices or chemical methods have largely been unsuccessful. This review highlights the key biotic and abiotic challenges in chili farming and explores mitigation strategies. Prioritizing the development of advanced cultivation techniques, addressing climate-related stressors, and implementing integrated pest and disease management practices is crucial. Among the most effective strategies to combat these viruses is the cultivation of resistant varieties. Both cultivated and wild lines have provided sources of resistance to various viruses, and numerous virus-resistant lines have already been released for cultivation.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Tobacco Farming in Bangladesh

Anupam Roy, Sabrina Naz, M.G. Mostafa — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Tobacco farming is relatively economically profitable compared to other field crops but has many negative environmental impacts. The
study was conducted to compare the socioeconomic conditions of tobacco farmers (TF) and non-tobacco farmers (NTF) and explore the
environmental impacts of tobacco farming. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. The average monthly household
income of TF (Tk18052 ± 1552) was significantly higher than NTF (Tk15980 ± 2235), which made TF more empowered than NTF in terms
of housing conditions, weekly fish/meat consumption, and Eid/festival expenditure. Although there were no significant differences
between the two groups on credit borrowing, residential ownership, television and freeze ownership, cellphone and internet use, drinking
water sources, and type of latrine used. In 2021, total GHG emissions from tobacco farming in Bangladesh (Global warming potential
for a 100-year time horizon) (710664 ± 19414) tCO2e, which was 0.26% of total national annual emissions. That is, about (7.7 ± 0.21)
kg of CO2e was emitted to produce one kg of tobacco leaves in Bangladesh. Disruption of family peace and happiness, increase in fire
incidence, and increase in nicotine addiction among the youth and adolescents of tobacco farm families were the direst social problems
caused by tobacco cultivation. Increased perspiration, weakness and fatigue, and headache were the most common symptoms of GTS
effects. The prevalence of GTS effects largely depended on the nutritional status, age, and gender of the farmers. Although tobacco
cultivation made TF relatively safer in socioeconomic conditions compared to NTF, it caused health damage to the farmers as well as
degradation of the physical, biological, social, and cultural environment. Governments should develop strategies to improve farmers’
livelihoods or switch to more profitable cash crops.

Plant Phenotyping using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): A Comprehensive Review

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Phenotyping plays an important role in agricultural research for determining the various traits of plants. To investigate the inheritance and expression patterns of the genome and discover how genomic and phenotypic information is related to boosting agricultural output, it is important to precisely and rapidly gather phenotypic information of plants or cells in various conditions. Manually measuring, processing, and analyzing the data of plant phenotypes such as yield, biomass, leaf color, size, plant height, chlorophyll, and density is a laborious and time-consuming procedure. To overcome such issues and precisely execute high-throughput phenotyping and analysis, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been developed. This review focuses on the benefits of UAV-based remote sensing of various features utilizing different phenotyping sensors. The phenotyping sensors and UAV platforms are briefly introduced in this study. A more thorough introduction and summary of the uses of UAVs to collect and evaluate plant phenotypic characteristics is provided. Furthermore, the future prospects and the challenges of phenotype information through UAVs are also discussed. It aims to inform readers and researchers about the existing uses of UAVs for high-throughput phenotyping as well as the methodology used in the studies. The review proposes the applications of UAVs for advancements in agriculture to meet future needs.

A Comprehensive Review of Biofilm Composition and Factors Affecting Efficacy in Microbial Bioremediation

Ligi Lambert D Rosario, Sona S Dev — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Biofilm-mediated bioremediation deploys the natural capabilities of microbial communities to remove environmental pollutants, offering a resilient and efficient means of pollutant degradation. This review highlights the critical role of biofilms in environmental pollution control, emphasizing their structural and functional attributes. Biofilms, complex assemblies of microorganisms, demonstrate superior capacity to absorb, immobilize, and degrade contaminants compared to planktonic cells. Key topics include biofilm formation, diversity, and the biochemical pathways utilized for pollutant breakdown. Applications include organic pollutant degradation, heavy metal detoxification, and the treatment of new pollutants such as microplastics and medications. Factors influencing biofilm efficacy, including environmental conditions and maturity, are examined alongside challenges such as resistance, stability issues, and limitations in large-scale applications. The utilization of genetically modified microbes, advancements in synthetic biology and biofilm engineering, and the combination of biofilm-mediated bioremediation with other technologies are the main topics of future research.

Heterosis and Combining Ability in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.): A Review

Prashant Shrivastav, Muzeev Ahmad, Satish Yadav, Rizwan Ali, Abhijeet Srivastava — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This review investigates the intricate dynamics of heterosis and combining ability in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), elucidating their implications in breeding strategies for this economically important vegetable crop. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, manifests in offspring displaying superior traits compared to their parents, offering increased yield potential, disease resistance, and adaptability. Understanding the genetic underpinnings of heterosis is pivotal for exploiting hybrid vigor effectively in brinjal breeding. Additionally, the concept of combining ability, reflecting the contribution of parental genotypes to desirable trait expression in offspring, is crucial for hybrid development. Various genetic and molecular mechanisms, including dominance, overdominance, epistasis, and genomic imprinting, influence heterosis and combining ability in brinjal. The review emphasizes the importance of proper parental selection, breeding methods, and environmental factors in optimizing these phenomena, proposing the integration of traditional and modern breeding approaches for enhanced brinjal productivity, quality, and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The review assists brinjal breeding programs greatly through developing fundamental knowledge in heterosis and combining ability that deals with yield, disease resistance, and adaptability traits. Consequently, this review has provided a conceptualized account of how these traits have been successfully shaped by the key preconditions of parental selection, breeding techniques, and environments to provide new strategies for advancing the breeding of this important crop species.”

Toxicity of Chromium and Cadmium in Plants and Their Remediation: A Comprehensive Review

Swati Singh, Afreez Naaz, Rahul Verma, Amit Kumar Singh — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Minerals in threshold amounts are indispensable for plants. Some of them are non-essential and have heavier atomic masses known as ‘Heavy metals’ due to high reactivity, they can retard plant growth, the process of aging and the process of energy generation hence retardation in plant growth is the main symptom of heavy metal toxicity. Heavy metal toxicity stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are generated by diverse environmental distresses like elevated light intensity, temperature, water scarcity, salt stress, nutrient scarcity and attack of disease-causing agents. Plants are usually adapted to contrive against the toxicity of the various heavy metals by activating different concentrations of some enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative compounds. Different traditional methods of palliation include pyrolysis of soil, in situ substantiation, landfill, soil washing off and soil solidification. Toxicity from the soil can be reduced by using some plants and microbes by the process of phytoremediation. Among the various heavy metals, the two metals (Cadmium and Chromium) need high concern because a very low amount of these metals are highly toxic for all living beings.

Enhancing Crop Production using Streptomyces sp. NCIM 5814 for Simultaneous Biocontrol of Erwinia carotovora, Xanthomanas campestris and Xanthomonas axonopodis

Saket Mishra, Tanim Arpit Singh, Anjana Jajoo, Sheetal Bhasin — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bacterial infections caused by phytopathogens like Erwinia carotovora (Ec), Xanthomonas campestris (Xc) and Xanthomans axonopodis (Xa) detoriate important crops like rice, tomato, pomergranate, chilli, citrus crops, and other vegetables causing loss in food produce and economy. The rapid propogation of these phytopathogens make it difficult to control their spread. The chemicals in form of pesticides and insecticides worsen the situation and cause negative impact on soil productivity, environment and human health. To overcome this, microbial agents like actinobacteria are being employed as source of sustainable farming. In the present study 76 actinobacteria were isolated and tested for their ability to control Ec, Xc and Xa. The primary screening revealed 12 potential isolates that could counter all three pathogens. Isolate P2 and T2 exhibited highest inhibition zone against all three pathogens in secondary screening. The 16S rRNA study revealed that both actinobacterial species were closely related with Streptomyces erumpens. In-vivo treatment of the antibiotic produced by actinobacterial isolate P2 was carried out on Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum frutscens in field conditions. The plants infected with phytopathogen were treated using crude antibiotic extract (CAE) that protected the plant from disease and also improved its growth. It was observed that the shoot length of treated plants were 33-37% higher in Capsicum frutscens. The CAE enhanced the plant weight by 69-135% in Solanum lycopersicum and 22-114% in Capsicum frutscens. The CAE also promoted branching and fruiting in both chilli and tomato plants suggesting its possible utilization as biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture.

Arsenic Fractionation in Paddy Field Soil of Middle and Lower Ganga Plain in Relation to Soil Physico-chemistry

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenic (As) pollution in paddy field through geogenically contaminated irrigation water is a big challenge in many countries. Soil physico-chemistry is crucial in As accumulation in soil as well as its release in soil solution. To assess potential toxic effect of As on crops and to humans it is essential to determine the availability of As in soil solution. In this study, fractionation of As was performed in As contaminated paddy field soils from Uttar Pradesh i.e. Middle Ganga Plain (MGP) and West Bengal i.e. Lower Ganga Plain (LGP) and analyzed in relation to soil properties. The percent of total As extracted was 0.87 to 6.5% as water soluble, 0.13 to 4.8% exchangeable, 6.8 to 14% specifically sorbed and 11 to 21% As in amorphous Fe oxide associated. Most of the As (57 to 79 %) was found in crystalline Fe oxide and residual fraction i.e. incorporated in minerals. The concentration of As in soil and its release in different fractions was strongly correlated to the soil properties. Higher clay content, high Fe and Ca and low P and S seems the main factors for accumulation of As in soil of LGP. The primary causes of the high release of As, particularly in water soluble and amorphous Fe oxide associated As, appeared to be high TOC, alkaline pH, and high EC. Conversely, the soils of MGP were more sandy, low in TOC and OM, and have relatively higher available P and S causing a higher release of exchangeable and specifically sorbed As. Although amorphous Fe oxide was the primary As binding fraction in both soils, it would be a substantial source of accessible As in a reducing environment.

The Relationship Between Landscape Metrics and Human Interventions on the Floristic Structure and Composition of the Community Reserves of Meghalaya, India

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Community Reserves (CRs) are a unique category of protected areas managed by local communities, playing a crucial role in biodiversity conservation. However, the impact of landscape matrices and human intervention on vegetation in these reserves remains less explored. This study examines the relationship between landscape structure, human interventions, and vegetation in 30 CRs across Meghalaya, India, each associated with local villages and clans. Vegetation data were collected using stratified random sampling techniques, and indices such as Shannon, Simpson, and Evenness were calculated. For spatial analysis, Sentinel-2 imagery was utilized, with land use and land cover classification to gather landscape information by using QGIS tool. The classified data were further analysed using landscape metrics in FRAGSTAT software. The data on vegetation composition, landscape metrics, and the human disturbance index were then analysed for correlations. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was performed using R software to explore these relationships. Plant diversity varied significantly, with Shannon indices ranging from 2.147 (Mikadogre CR) to 3.845 (Kur Pyrtuh CR). Simpson indices were generally high (>0.8), indicating low species dominance. Evenness ranged from 0.153 (Sakalgre CR) to 0.557 (Kur Pyrtuh CR). Human intervention index varied from 0 (e.g., Chyrmang CR) to 6 (e.g., Jirang CR), with most reserves showing low to moderate levels of disturbance. CCA analysis revealed that 69.08% of the variation in vegetation indices is strongly associated with landscape metrics (Total Area, Number of Patches, Patch Density, Least Patch Index, Total Edge, Edge Density, Least Shape Index, Area Mean, Area Range, Landscape Division Index, Effective Mesh Size, Splitting Index, Patch Richness) and human intervention. The results suggest that CRs with more complex patch shapes tend to support higher plant species diversity. These findings have significant implications for CR management.

Statistical Interpretation of Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in Microflora of Rhizosphere and Rhizoplane Induced by Foliar Spray of Gibberellic Acid at Different Growth Stages of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Shalini G. Pratap, Vinod Kumar, Pokhraj Sahu, DPramod Kumar Singh — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Chickpea (Cicer ariatinum L.) is the third most important pulse crop in the world while in India it was cultivated in a 9 million hectares area which is 90% of the world's production. To assess the quantitative and qualitative effect of foliar spray of Gibberellic Acid (GA) on mycoflora of rhizosphere and rhizoplane of chickpea in different growth stages. The foliar spray of GA i.e. control (without GA), 25 (low), 50 (medium), and 100 ppm (high) concentrations were applied in a complete randomized design at the different growth stages of chickpea i.e. pre-flowering, flowering, and fruiting stage. Different quantitative and qualitative parameters were assessed and statistical interpretation was done. The number of fungal species in both i.e. rhizosphere and rhizoplane was significantly decreased on increasing GA concentration. In the rhizosphere, a significant decrease was observed at the high dose in a pre-flowering stage while the flowering stage showed at medium and high doses but the fruiting stage was observed in all treatments. In rhizoplane, a significant decrease was observed at all treatments in the pre-flowering stage while in the flowering stage observed only at high doses but non-significant in the fruiting stage. A similar trend was also observed in the case of the number of root nodules and shoot length. The amino acids and sugars decreased in number with the age of plant growth. Fungal species loading was moderate and weak loading with 88% and 91% variance for both rhizosphere and rhizoplane and showed significant correlation.

New Records and Checklist of Lichens from Punjab, India

Naincy, Gaurav K Mishra, Nakul Bhardwaj, Astha Bhatia, Dalip K. Upreti — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The paper enumerates a total of 68 species of lichens belonging to 31 genera and 19 families from the state of Punjab, of these Chaenotheca brunneola and Phaeophyscia insignis are new records for Indian lichen biota. The study utilizes visual aids such as a heatmap with dendrogram, depicting the presence or absence of lichen species and families across different districts of Punjab. A polar heatmap with dendrogram illustrates the distribution of lichen taxa across these districts, while a pie chart with distinct radius spokes showcases the presence of lichen taxa within different elevation ranges. In the present study an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive checklist of lichens from Punjab along with the identification key and detailed description of new records.

Pollen Morphological Variations in Hybrids of Hibiscus rosasinensis L.: Implications for Palyno-taxonomy

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Human-induced cross-pollination is widely done in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (family Malvaceae), an ornamental perennial plant, for its beautiful flower colors. Pollen morphometrical study of 15 hybrids were studied using light microscopy (LM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to document the ultrastructure of pollen and to facilitate palynological studies. The shape of all the grains is radially symmetrical, sub-spheroidal and apolar measuring from 35 to 70 μm in size. However, variations in pollen shape from spheroidal, prolate spheroidal and sub-prolate have been observed. The aperture in all the specimens is pantoporate which is typical of its family. The pollen surface is echinate (grains having spines) in all the hybrids. The details of exine ornamentation, spine morphological variations and size using FESEM and CLSM majorly show high variability in all the 15 hybrids. The exine thickness varied between 1 to 4 μm with length varying from 5 to 10 μm. The bifurcated and branched echinae, spinules were observed in Hibiscus hybrids. The pollen size significantly correlates with the length of the spine and the color of the flower obtained after cross-pollination. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows significant variability in polar axis/polar length, equatorial diameter, pore length, pore width, spine length, spine width and spine base, which identifies morphological characters within the hybrids. We infer that size, shape, and spine length in pollen distinguishes Hibiscus and its hybrids from other genus in the family. All the studied hybrids show high variability in spine index and branching pattern. The study provides information to strengthen taxonomic and palynological studies and in understanding the pollen morphometrical variability in natural and man-made plant hybrids.

Ex-situ Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil Using Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus Consortium: A Phytotoxicity Assessment

Virendra Kumar Vaishnav, Tanushree Chatterjee, Manisha Agrawal — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Pollution by arsenic, lead, and mercury poses an environmental and health risk. Microbial bioremediation is an environmentally benign process for remediating contaminated soils. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of two bacterial strains isolated and identified from the soil at Gevra coal mine, Korba, and Mand coalfield, Raigarh: Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus on the rate of depollution of arsenic, lead, and mercury-contaminated soils. To test this effect, sterile soil was bioaugmented with B. cereus and M. luteus strains individually and in combination for 25 days at 30˚C. The bioaugmentation of the sterile soil with a mixture of B. cereus and M. luteus strains resulted in the highest rate of reduction of Pb²⁺ (80.33%), Hg²⁺ (79.42%), and As³⁺ (74.77%) compared to the rate of bioaugmentation by each bacterial strain individually. These findings are supported by the study of sterile soil, which revealed an increase in the mobility and bioavailability of Pb²⁺, As³⁺, and Hg²⁺. Ecotoxicological responses indicated lower heavy metal concentrations were not associated with lower soil toxicity. These promising results provide another perspective for a soil bioremediation bioprocess that employs bacterial bioremediation.

Intraspecific Morpho-Anatomical Study of Piper betle L. from South West Bengal, India: A Systematic Approach

Santanu Dash, Sayantan Tripathi, Amal Kumar Mondal, Amal Kumar Mondal — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Piper betle L. is an economically noteworthy species from West Bengal. A bunch of its varieties are cultivated throughout the southern part of West Bengal for their commercial and medicinal values. This study aspires to establish a systematic interrelationship among these taxa for better understanding in the future. Characterization based on morpho-anatomical attributes was performed to realize the correlation among them. The necessity of scientific identification and classification of this species at the intraspecific level is understood. This study has revealed P. betle var. calcuttia bangla and P. betle var. kali bangla share maximum similarity between them based on the morpho-anatomical features. On the other hand, P. betle var. meetha and P. betle var. sanchi has shown a lot of parity between them, especially in having stronger laminar aroma and floral traits.

Bioactives of Dendrophthoe trigona (Wt. & Arn.) Danser for its Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The natural phenolic compound 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol, commonly known as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and the fatty acid pentadecanoic acid was isolated from the methanol extract of Dendrophthoe trigona leaves, which parasitize Ficus benghalensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectral (MS) analyses. This study assesses the total phenolic content, as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the isolated compounds. The total phenolic content for BHT and pentadecanoic acid was found to be 65.09 ± 0.24 and 52.47 ± 0.17 μg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE), respectively. In antioxidant assays, BHT exhibited greater activity than pentadecanoic acid, with both compounds demonstrating effectiveness comparable to standard ascorbic acid. Additionally, pentadecanoic acid showed superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli compared to BHT. These results indicate that D. trigona could serve as a natural source for the production of BHT and antimicrobial agents.

Impact of Land Use Changes on Ecosystem Services and Habitat Integrity: A Case Study of Majuli River Island, India

Virender Singh, Asha Sharma, Shukla Acharjee, BK Handique — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The assessment of ecosystem services is a popular subject in India and internationally, yet a consistent system of evaluation indicators and methods is still lacking. Utilizing a framework of evaluation criteria for ecosystem services, extensive data collected over the years from forest resource inventories and public sources were used to perform a comprehensive and dynamic assessment of the quantity and value of ecosystem services on Majuli Island. The ecosystem services of any environment vary depending on local people’s awareness. Majuli is the world’s biggest inhabited river island by area and the world’s ninth most populous river island. Furthermore, Majuli is vulnerable to climate change and global warming, which are diminishing the ecosystem services of India’s biggest populated river island. A broad study of the ecosystem services of a landscape is beneficial for framing policies and formal laws to ensure sustainable development for sustainable development of degrading ecosystems shortly and to secure the socioeconomic status of local people. There is an increase of 3061 km2 in human settlement from 2002 to 2012. Again, from 2012 to 2022 human settlements have increased to 3136.28 km2. Similarly, the area of agricultural land has increased by 15,917 km2 in 20 years, from 2002 to 2022. To compromise this increase in agricultural and human settlement areas, natural habitat has decreased by 22,683 km2 from 2002 to 2022. The most significant increase was observed in the ecosystem service value related to food production (agriculture). However, throughout the study periods, the values of the other 16 categories of ecosystem services declined to various extents. The results of this research are crucial for decisionmakers and land-use planners who require site-specific information on how land use and land cover (LULC) impact ecosystem services. This study indicates that the total and specific ecosystem service values have decreased during the periods examined, largely due to a considerable rise in agricultural and built-up areas, primarily at the detriment of natural habitats. Therefore, it is vital to reverse the trend of diminishing natural habitats to maintain and protect the ecosystem service values of Majuli Island.

Screening of Sarjoo 52 Derived M2 Population for Drought Stress by Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) at Seedling Stage in Rice

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The global population, currently at 8.2 billion, is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, intensifying the demand for staple foods like rice. Rice cultivation, a critical component of Asian diets, requires 2000 to 5000 liters of water per kilogram, making it highly vulnerable to water scarcity. Factors such as climate change and soil conditions significantly affect rice yield. To overcome the yield loss of rice due to drought stress, we developed a mutagenized population of population of Sarjoo 52 rice. Whose screening for drought tolerance was done at the seedling stage through polyethylene glycol 6000. These lines were subjected to varying concentrations of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 6000 5, 10, 15, 20% (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 bar) to simulate drought stress. Observations of germination percentage, shoot length, root length, and root-to-shoot length ratio were assessed using a two-factorial, completely randomized design (CRD). Among the tested lines, ten mutants (SDTC-66, SDTC-68, SDTC-20, SDTC-28, SDTC-36, SDTC-35, SDTC-65, SDTB-1, SDTB-11, and SDTB-12) exhibited superior performance, with SDTC-66 demonstrating the most robust drought tolerance across all traits. These lines showed the potential of mutant rice lines in mitigating the impact of drought on rice production and ensuring food security. These can also be used in future breeding programs after further screening.

Health Care Application of Phytodiversity in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Yogendra Kumar — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Human is always dependent on plant for their basic necessities and good health. There are several ancient records for the utilization of medicinal plants to treat various ailments. Considering the fact, present investigation was conducted in rural parts of Saharanpur district of western Uttar Pradesh for documenting floristic diversity being used for managing diseases. Survey documented 61 dicotyledonous plants belonging to Polypetalae that were ethno-medicinally important based on the personal interview conducted in local population and communities. The plant specimens were collected in all the seasons, identified and their herbarium was prepared. The plants mainly belonged to family Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Cucurbitaceae. People mostly used leaves as well as seeds, roots, fruits, flowers and stem as source of medicine. Rich plant diversity is an asset to the region however, lack of awareness, overexploitation, grazing, habitat destruction and improper harvesting are some serious issues responsible for rapid decline of medicinal plant resources. It is need of the time to promote sustainable utilization in order to conserve valuable medicinal flora in the study area.

Sugar Profiling and Antinutrient Analysis in Four Unexplored Wild Edible Fruits of Odisha

S. Samal, S. Subhashree, A. Anjeela, U.C. Basak — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The availability of wild edible fruits (WEFs) is crucial for fulfilling the nutritional needs of Odisha’s tribes. This important study assessed the levels of antinutrients, specifically saponins, tannins, oxalates, and phytates in four key WEF species: Flacourtia jangomas, Grewia asiatica, Syzygium jambos, and Pithecellobium dulce. Additionally, it analyzed the sugar profiles, including total sugars, reducing sugars, and non-reducing sugars. Fruits were sourced from two distinct agroclimatic zones in Odisha. The North Central Plateau (NCP) and the East and South Eastern Coastal Plain (ESECP). These fresh fruits underwent rigorous spectral analysis using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to accurately determine their sugar profiles and antinutrient levels. Notably, Pithecellobium dulce displayed the lowest concentrations of total sugar (3.52 ± 0.01%) and non-reducing sugar (1.29 ± 1.54%), making it a potentially excellent choice for individuals managing diabetes. Conversely, Syzygium jambos exhibited the highest amounts of total sugar (13.08 ± 0.0041%) and reducing sugar (8.27 ± 1.20%), demonstrating its rich sweetness. Moreover, Grewia asiatica showed low levels of tannins (0.03 ± 0.0014 TAE g/g), saponins (0.04 ± 0.0088 g/g), and oxalates (6.16 ± 0.038 mg/g) from the NCP region. In contrast, Flacourtia jangomas from the ESECP region presented the greatest oxalate concentration (11.24 ± 0.03 mg/g). Furthermore, Syzygium jambos had the highest levels of phytates (8.31 ± 0.051 mg/g) and tannins (0.12 ± 0.003 TAE g/g), with Grewia asiatica following closely behind (6.58 ± 0.02 mg/g). These findings highlight the significant influence of geographic areas on the sugar profiles and antinutrient compositions of these fruits. Raising awareness about the nutritional benefits of these wild fruits can encourage healthier eating habits, benefiting the tribes of Odisha and promoting overall well-being.

Antimicrobial Activity of Plant-derived Pongamol and its Derivatives

Amrita Yadav, Ankesh Kumar Jaiswal, Rajiv Gupta, Narendra Kumar Singh — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Many plant-derived phytomolecules have antimicrobial properties, useful against drug-resistant pathogens. In this study, some new derivatives of pongamol were synthesized by treating pongamol with different reagents to produce pyrazole, oxazole, pyrimidine, and diazepine systems and evaluating their antibacterial activity against different strains of bacteria. Pongamol, a phytochemical from Tephrosia purpurea seeds and Pongamia pinnata oil, exhibits antibacterial properties and can serve as a model for synthesizing novel antimicrobial compounds with the potential for fewer side effects. The synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against different strains of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, using minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition methods, with clarithromycin as the standard drug. Compound A5 showed greater activity than clarithromycin against E. coli, while A2 and A3 have better activity than standard drugs in the case of S. aureus in a zone of inhibition. (A1-A5) have greater activity than standard drugs. In MIC, all compounds (A1-A5) are more active than the clarithromycin in P. aeruginosa.

Azolla filiculoides: A Promising Feedstock with Rapid Growth and High Nutritional Value

Shilpa P. Raikar, Umadevi K.M, Roopa M.C, Sharadadevi Kallimani — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Azolla filiculoides, a highly adaptable aquatic fern, holds immense significance across diverse domains owing to its unique characteristics and versatile applications. Cultivated in a controlled environment near Davangere, Karnataka, India, our study aimed to explore its potential uses and benefits. The cultivation was conducted in a pond situated in Mittlakalte village, measuring 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. Initially obtained from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Davangere, the culture thrived within a temperature range of 20-30°C, demonstrating rapid adaptation to the pond environment within 1-2 weeks. Molecular characterization using specific 18S RNA primers confirmed the species as A. filiculoides, a commonly cultivated variety, with sequencing results deposited in the GenBank database under accession number PP472463. Our study conducted a thorough analysis of key parameters of A. filiculoides, encompassing dry matter, moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extractives, calcium, phosphorus, and lignin. The results unveiled a dry matter content of 4.56% and a remarkably high moisture content of 95.44%, highlighting the plant's water-rich nature. A. filiculoides exhibited substantial levels of total ash (7.71%) and acid insoluble ash (6.43%), indicating its mineral composition and insoluble mineral fractions. Noteworthy was the significant crude protein content of 22.37%, suggesting its potential as a valuable protein source. Additionally, moderate levels of ether extract (3.00%) and crude fiber (9.69%) underscored its importance as a source of lipids and dietary fiber, respectively. Nitrogen-free extractives constituted 31.64% of the composition, emphasizing its substantial carbohydrate content and nutritional value. Moreover, the plant contained notable levels of essential minerals such as calcium (6.73%) and phosphorus (1.05%), enhancing its nutritional profile and suitability for various applications. The unexpected presence of lignin (3.5%) challenges previous assumptions and warrants further investigation into its implications for bioenergy production, livestock feed digestibility, and environmental remediation applications. Overall, our study offers valuable insights into the biochemical composition of A. filiculoides, highlighting its potential versatility in agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental management.

The Role of Herb and Shrubs in the Cycling of Elements in a Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest in North-West India

Vivek Mishra, Atar Singh Yadav, Ritu Mathur — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Bala fort tropical dry deciduous forest in the Aravali ranges is located in Rajasthan state in North-West India (27^o4^’ to 28^o4^’N and 76^o7^’ to 77^o13^’ E). These forests support a dense stratum of perennial herbs and shrubs under the relatively open tree canopy. Therefore, impact of a dominant herb and shrubs have been evaluated on the cycling of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Phosphorus in this forest. The percentage of Sodium was lower while that of other three elements was higher in the biomass of the selected species, in comparison to soil. Among the four plant species only the shrub Justicia adhatoda lost higher percentage of Sodium (0.268) than present in the soil (0.203). Grewia flavescens and Capparis sepiaria exhibited a tendency to retain Sodium in their plant body, however, through litter fall, the former returned higher amount of Sodium to soil. The herb, Achyranthes aspera exhibited unusually higher percentage of Potassium 4.464, 3.818 and 2.916 in leaves, stems and roots respectively than three shrub species. The percentage of Calcium was higher in the biomass and litter of shrubs than in the herb. Hence, the shrubs return large amount of Calcium to the soil than the herb. The herb Achyranthes aspera and the shrubs Justicia adhatoda and Grewia flavescens exhibited almost equal percentage of Phosphorus while Capparis sepiaria showed less percentage in biomass. The percentage of Phosphorus was higher in the litter of all the selected shrubs as compared to living biomass indicating its poor retranslocation during leaf shedding. On the basis of the standing crop, the herb Achyranthes aspera play important role in the nutrient cycling of Potassium and Phosphorus whereas the deciduous shrubs Justicia adhatoda and Grewia flavescens in Calcium and Phosphorus cycles. The deciduous shrubs Justicia adhatoda and Grewia flavescens contribute more than the evergreen shrub Capparis sepiaria in the nutrient cycling of this forest.

Unveiling the Interactive Dynamics: Urban Ecosystem Services in the Face of Climate Change

Annesha Ghosh, Bhanu Pandey, Madhoolika Agrawal, S. B. Agrawal — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the intricate connection between services provided by urban ecosystem and the risks concerning climate change. The role of urban ecosystems is pivotal in enhancing human well-being through providing benefits such as cleaner water, air, climate regulation, protecting biodiversity, and improving resident welfare. However, the enhancing impacts of changed climate, such as rising heat levels, floods, and habitat degradation, pose substantial risks to these services. It's imperative to take proactive measures to enhance the resilience of urban ecosystems and guarantee their ongoing support. Nature-based approaches such as green infrastructure are instrumental in mitigating the adversities of climate change and minimizing vulnerabilities. Striking a harmonious relationship between urban growth and the conservation of ecosystem services is vital for sustainable long-term goals. Embedding services of ecosystem into planning and policy structures is necessary for efficient climate change modifications in metropolitan city, municipal built-up town, downtown cosmopolitan and citified central areas. Nevertheless, challenges like gaps in knowledge, financial limitations, governance shortcomings, and social equity issues persist, highlighting the need for increased research, creative financing, better governance, and more inclusive decision-making processes. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders and greater investiture towards such services of ecosystems are crucial, along with factoring in climate change considerations while making policies for urban scheming and governance.

Study of Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Prepared Using Terminalia arjuna and its Synergistic Association with Tetracycline

Pratibha Shah, Samay Dwivedi — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The rising menace of antimicrobial resistance has invigorated the hunt for new lead molecules from natural products and furthered their application in synthesizing nanoparticles from them. In this study, the methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (TAE) was evaluated for its antibacterial potential, and its combined activity with tetracycline was screened. The antibacterial potency of TAE was confirmed by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration values (MIC). The MIC value recorded for TAE was 3.5 mg/mL, and for tetracycline, it was noted as 8.5 μg/mL by the agar dilution technique. The checkerboard method validated the synergistic association between TAE and Tetracycline after determining the Fractional inhibitory concentration index. Further, phytochemical screening of TAE was performed, and TAE was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The characterization of the AgNPs formed was done using the UV-vis spectrophotometric technique. The topology of TAE-AgNPs formed was studied using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique at IIT-Bombay, and it was observed that the particles formed were spherical, with a size range of 50 to 60 nm. The selected four test strains were inhibited by TAE-AgNPs, exhibiting inhibition zones with a range of 14.7 to 28.2 mm. Thus, it can be suggested that AgNPs formed using TAE had potent antibacterial activity.