Salinity is one of the common environmental stressors that negatively affect the plant growth, physiological processes and bioactive compounds production in medicinal and ornamental plants. Tagetes erecta L. (African marigold) is an important medicinal and ornamental plant, recognized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial and pharmaceutical activities primarily due to its phenolic and flavonoid constituents. The present study investigated the effect of salinity stress (0 and 60 mM NaCl) and foliar application of salicylic acid (SA; 0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 mM) on growth, flowering, biochemical traits, antioxidant activity and antibacterial properties of T. erecta. Salinity significantly reduced vegetative growth, flowering performance, carbohydrate accumulation, mineral nutrient content, and chlorophyll concentration, but increased proline accumulation and phenolic biosynthesis. Foliar application of SA alleviated salinity-induced adverse effects and improved plant performance under saline and non-saline conditions. The 0.05 mM SA treatment showed the maximum plant height, biomass production, flower yield, carbohydrate content, potassium and calcium concentrations, total phenolics, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and β-carotene–linoleic acid antioxidant activity. Moreover, leaf extracts of plants treated with 60 mM NaCl and 0.05 mM SA exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with the lowest MIC and MBC values. The results showed that moderate salinity could induce the accumulation of bioactive compounds in T. erecta, and exogenous SA further improved stress tolerance and medicinal value by improving antioxidant capacity, phenolic metabolism and antimicrobial activity. The present results highlight the potential use of SA as an efficient biostimulant to improve the commercial and pharmaceutical quality of marigold grown under saline conditions

This study evaluated the physiological performance, electrolyte leakage, and mineral content of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) and rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) one-year-old seedlings under control and water- deficient conditions for 12 days. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with two treatments and three replications. Under water deficit stress, sodium content in leaves increased by 39.42% in rough lemon compared to 35.81% in trifoliate orange leaves. Conversely, trifoliate orange roots reduced sodium levels more than rough lemon (27.27% vs. 23.03%). Leaves and roots of both rootstocks lost chloride content under water deficit stress, with rough lemon showing a stronger decrease than trifoliate orange (9.97% vs. 8.85% in leaves and 8.03% vs. 6.78% in roots). Calcium content in both rootstocks' leaves and roots increased under water deficit stress. In leaves, the increase was greater in trifoliate orange (11.58%) compared to rough lemon (10.59%), while in roots, rough lemon had a larger increase than trifoliate orange (22.89% vs. 21.39%). Under drought stress, trifoliate orange exhibited lower nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in leaves and roots compared to rough lemon, except for potassium content in roots (51.29% vs. 50.60%, 27.28% vs. 25.64%, 47.55% vs. 44.08%, and 33.63% vs. 33.42%). Under water deficit stress, trifoliate orange leaves and roots leaked more electrolytes than rough lemon leaves and roots (72.94% vs. 53.42% and 54.90% vs. 34.07%). On day 12 of the study, both rootstocks had a higher plant height, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, and diameter than on day zero, regardless of water treatment. However, rough lemon increased more than trifoliate orange, except for plant dry weight (18.49% vs. 14.32% for plant height, 9.04% vs. 8.03% for root length, 14.05% vs. 12.35% for plant fresh weight, 16.34% vs. 17.59% for plant dry weight, and 16.28% vs. 11.42% for plant diameter). Water deficit decreased leaf greenness in both rootstocks, but trifoliate orange decreased more than rough lemon (27.77% vs. 50.16%). Our results indicate that rough lemon plants cope better with short-term water deficit by maintaining growth and mineral balance.

This study investigated the effects of different NaCl concentrations (0–200 mmol L-1) and 250 µmol L-1 melatonin treatments on radish seed germination under salt stress. Results demonstrated that salt stress adversely affected germination-related parameters in a concentration-dependent manner. Germination potential, rate, index, and vigor index decreased progressively with increasing NaCl, with severe reductions observed at 200 mmol L-1. Fresh weight, dry weight, hypocotyl length, root length, and shoot length also declined significantly under high salt stress. In contrast, melatonin application mitigated salt-induced inhibition, particularly at moderate to high salt concentrations (100–200 mmol L-1), though mild inhibition occurred at 50 mmol L-1. Melatonin increased germination potential by 47%, germination rate by up to 117%, and vigor index by as much as 817% under 200 mmol L-1 salt stress, demonstrating a concentration-dependent promotion effect. Seedling biomass parameters such as fresh weight, dry weight, and organ lengths (hypocotyl, root, shoot) were significantly enhanced by melatonin under moderate to high salt conditions, while showing mild inhibition only at 50 mmol L-1. These findings reveal the protective function of melatonin in preserving seed germination under salt stress.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint in alkaline soils, where high pH promotes the formation of insoluble calcium phosphate compounds, thereby reducing P availability to plants. This limited phosphorus accessibility restricts root uptake, disrupts physiological processes, and ultimately reduces crop productivity, highlighting the need for efficient strategies to enhance P availability and use efficiency. The present study evaluated the effects of different phosphatic fertilizer and organic manure combinations, including single super phosphate (SSP) alone (100%), SSP (25%) + farmyard manure (FYM) (75%), SSP (50%) + FYM (50%), SSP (75%) + FYM (25%), and FYM alone (100%), with and without phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) inoculation on wheat growth, physiological traits, and phosphorus use efficiency. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that, compared with the control (no SSP, no FYM, no PSB), the full SSP + PSB treatment significantly improved plant performance by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by 50.7% and 55.2%, respectively. It also increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 81.4%, stomatal conductance (gs) by 90%, water use efficiency (WUE) by 39.8%, and chlorophyll a and b contents by 66.7% and 61.5%, respectively. Moreover, total phosphorus uptake and phosphorus use efficiency increased by 212.5% and 325%, respectively, under full SSP + PSB application. In conclusion, treatments combining SSP with FYM and PSB are recommended to improve wheat growth when cultivated in P-deficient soil. Further field-scale studies are required to validate this combination as an effective amendment for mitigating phosphorus stress

Sulfotransferases (SOTs) play a crucial role in regulating secondary metabolism and responding to abiotic stress in plants; however, systematic studies on SOTs in peppers (Capsicum annuum) remain limited. To investigate the compositional characteristics of the pepper SOT gene family and its response mechanisms to high- and low-temperature stresses, this study utilized whole-genome data from the “Zhangshugang” pepper variety to identify and analyze the structure of SOT gene family members. Additionally, transcriptomic data from the PepperHub database were integrated to examine their expression patterns across different tissues and under temperature stress conditions. The results indicated that 25 CaSOT family members were identified in the Capsicum genome, distributed across 6 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the CaSOT genes into four subfamilies, with high consistency in gene structure and conserved motif composition among different subfamilies. The colinearity of CaSOT genes with potato was stronger than that of Arabidopsis, reflecting the evolutionary affinity among Solanaceae crops. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoter region revealed that the CaSOT gene promoter was rich in elements associated with light response, hormone response, and abiotic stress conditions such as high and low temperatures. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses revealed significant expression differences in CaSOT genes under temperature stresses conditions at different time points. Some CaSOT genes were associated with high- or low-temperature stress, e.g. CaSOT6, CaSOT7, CaSOT2, CaSOT12, CaSOT18, CaSOT22 and CaSOT14. This study provides important theoretical foundations and candidate gene resources for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of temperature stress responses in pepper and for molecular breeding aimed at enhancing stress tolerance.

Heat stress is a threat to maize growth, development, and productivity. The application of compost extract and vermiwash has been proven to be an efficient approach to combat the heat-induced growth and developmental limitation of maize crop and to promote sustainable crop production. Maize is a significant cereal crop and its yield is significantly reduced due to heat stress. Thermotolerance in the maize crop can be improved by the application of exogenously applied compost extract and vermiwash. With the objective to cope with heat stress, a wire-house experiment was performed where two maize hybrids, viz., YH-5507 and DK-6724 (heat-tolerant and -sensitive hybrids, respectively) were grown in pots under heat stress and control conditions. Five exogenously applied organic amendments levels C0 (control, no amendment), CE1 (8% compost extract), CE2 (10% compost extract), VW1 (6% vermiwash) and VW2 (8% vermiwash), were used in soil-filled pots under heat stress and control conditions. The data depicted that compared with control condition, heat stress recorded a significant reduction in morphological, physiological, biochemical and nutritional attributes. Nonetheless, it was observed that exogenously applied compost extract and vermiwash, particularly VW1 and CE2 followed by VW2 ameliorated the negative effects of heat stress. Under heat stress condition, a significant and positive influence on all attributes was recorded for VW1 treatment, which increased nitrate by 22.54%, phosphate by 32.60%, sulphate by 81.45%, SOD by 35.41%, POD by 49.41% and CAT by 36.19%, on average of two maize hybrids, compared to control condition. Among hybrids, YH-5507 showed comparatively more resistance against heat stress. The findings of this work revealed that heat stress drastically decreased the growth and productivity of maize; however, exogenously applied compost extract and vermiwash positively influenced the performance of maize hybrids

In this study, fatty acids and mineral analyses were determined in the leaves and bulbs of the Gladiolus humilis and Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum. Mineral and fatty acid analyses were determined using an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and gas chromatography (GC). It was determined that the levels of myristic acid 10.39%), palmitic acid (20.14%), stearic acid (10.48%), oleic acid (13.62%), linoleic acid (13.62%), alpha-linolenic acid (10.42%) and docosahexaenoic acid (4.52%) are the major fatty acid components of the Gladiolus humilis leaf. In the bulb of the Gladiolus humilis, the levels of tridecanoic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid were detected as 8.84%, 18.77%, 41.40% and 11.09%, respectively. While palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid are the major fatty acids in the leaves of the Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum; they were detected as 24.11%, 6.77%, 11.55% and 11.20% respectively. In the bulb of the Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum, palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid are determined to be 16.33%, 4.26% and 48.17%, respectively. In the leaves of Gladiolus humilis Ni, Ba, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, K and Na are 1.22, 139.04, 232.95, 2.55, 227.85, 101.19, 43.68, 3.71 (μg/g), 43.85 and 0.10 (mg/g), respectively. In the bulb, Ni, Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, K and Na are determined as 0.60, 12.77, 0.56, 12.21, 8.33, 19.43, 0.94 (μg/g), 22.78 and 0.04 (mg/g). Similarly Ni, Ba, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, K and Na in the Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum leaf, were determined to be 4.05, 46.65, 1523, 3.85, 781.41, 131.57, 29.81, 12.51, 71 (μg/g), 44.96 and 0.23 (mg/g), respectively. In the Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum bulb, Ni, Ba, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, K and Na are 0.14, 13.40, 4.24, 1.97, 17.08, 1.36, 21.37, 1.46 (μg/g), 11.64 and 0.03 (mg/g), respectively.

Fatty acid and element levels of Gladiolus humilis and Ixiolirion tataricum var. tataricum have been reported in detail for the first time. This study may be important for medical studies in the future.

 

Most of the wheat breeding programs aim to develop new disease-resistant and widely adopted high-yielding genotypes to enhance food security. The current research work was conducted using the line-by-tester method to investigate genetic divergence, combining ability and inheritance pattern for important traits. Eight wheat lines (PR-137, PR-138, PR-139, Inqilab-91, Auqab-2000, SKD-1, Tajaban, and Benazir-13) and five testers (T-11, Borluog-100, Pirsabaq-15, Zarghoon-21 and Taskeen-22), and their resultant 40 F1 and F2 generations were grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Highly significant (p≤0.01) differences were observed among genotypes for all the traits. For the earliness trait, the best general combiner in parental genotypes was PR-137 and T-11. Moreover, the best specific F1 combinations were PR-13×Zarghoon-21and SKD-1×Borlaug-100, whereas Inqilab-91×T-11 was the best specific combiner in the F2 generation. Wheat genotype PR-137 was the best general combiner for spike length, whereas PR-139×T-11 and Tajaban×Pirsabak-15 cross combinations were good specific combiners in F1 and F2 populations, respectively. For 1000-grain weight, Tajaban was the best general combiner, while cross Tajaban×Taskeen-22 had the best SCA in the F1 cross. However, cross combinations PR-137×Borlaug-100 had the best SCA in the F2 cross. For grain yield, parental genotype, i.e. PR-137, had the best GCA, while F1 cross combinations, i.e. Inqilab-91×Borlaug-100, along with F2 cross Tajaban×Borlaug-100, were reported with promising SCA. However, for spikelets spike-1 wheat cultivars, i.e., PR-139 was the best general combiner, while Tajaban×Borlaug-100 and SKD-1×Pirsabak-15 were promising specific combiners in F1 and F2 generation, respectively. Likewise, for biological yield, PR-137 was a promising general combiner. Moreover, cross combinations Benazir-13×Zarghoon-21 among F1 hybrids and Auqab-2000×T-11 in F2 populations were the best specific combiners for biomass yield. The ratios of GCA to SCA variances and degree of dominance showed that the inheritance of all traits except days to heading was controlled by non-additive gene action. Therefore, selection for these traits could be done in later generations for better results.

 

 

Water chestnut is an aquatic species belonging to Lythraceae family, widely valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. DNA barcoding is an efficient technique which requires minimal tissue sample for species recognition. The aim of this work was the precise identification and phylogenetic assessment of Water chestnut based on ITS2 DNA barcode. DNA was isolated using the GeneJet plant genomic DNA kit and quantified via a Nano - drop microvolume spectrophotometer, and assessed for quality by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. The nuclear molecular marker, ITS2 was amplified through for PCR. The ITS2 amplicons were purified and subjected to Sanger sequencing. The sequence was then aligned using Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) to identify conserved regions. This conserved ITS2 region was used for species identification through NCBI’s BLAST, confirming the species as Trapa natans L. by achieving a 99.41% correct identification rate. Phylogenetic tree based analysis was performed using MEGA6 with the ITS2 barcode, revealing a close relationship between Trapa natans L. Trapa acornis Osbeck., Trapa jeholensis Nakai., Trapa natans L. var. Bispinosa (Roxb.) Makino and Trapa natans L. var. Quadrispinosa (Roxb.) Makino, indicated by a branch length of 0.0000 at their nodes. This confirms ITS2 as a powerful nuclear barcoding region for identifying Trapa species and its utility for analysing and managing Trapa germplasm collections due to its biparental inheritance. But ITS2 does not elucidate cytoplasmic inheritance patterns due to lack of complementary cpDNA marker data. Future studies should employ “Integrative Taxonomy”, combining ITS2 data with chloroplast markers to detect natural hybridization and maternal lineages

Globally, the risks, environmental and health-wise, posed by soil contamination with heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb) and aluminum (Al), is significant. The use of ornamental plants, in phytoextraction, as a remedy strategy against this contamination is not only aesthetically viable but also a sustainable strategy. Two ornamental species: Bougainvillea spectabilis and Zinnia elegans were evaluated in this study for their potential to extract Pb and Al from contaminated soil. The study also assessed the role of organic fertilizer (5% farmyard manure) in boosting their phytoextraction efficiency. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, plants were subjected to three concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg kg⁻¹) each of Pb (as Pb(NO₃)₂) and Al (as AlCl₂), with or without organic amendment. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters were measured six weeks post-treatment conditions. The results revealed that both Pb and Al significantly (p≤ 0.05) led to reduction in the plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and biomass in both species. These adverse effects were, however, ameliorated by the use of organic fertilizer as growth parameters were improved by up to 28%. Physiological parameters like, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and total chlorophyll content, were also affected negatively by the heavy metal soil contamination. These indicators, nevertheless, were also ameliorated with the of organic amendment. The increase in metal accumulation in shoots and roots was proportional with rising external concentrations. Comparatively, the shoots recorded higher accumulation than roots. The translocation factor (TF) was increased by up to 75% in B. spectabilis and 72% in Z. elegans as organic fertilizer further improved metal uptake and translocation. Taken together, these results upholds that organic fertilizer greatly promotes the growth, physiology, and metal-accumulating capability of both B. spectabilis and Z. elegans. Therefore, this investigation lends credence to the adoption of organic-amended ornamental plants as an efficient, sustainable panacea for the phytoextraction of Pb and Al from contaminated soils, while combining remediation with ecological and aesthetic advantage.

In this study, the genomic variation characteristics of Vidal grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Vidal) and its bud sports based on the VvAADC gene were systematically analyzed using whole-genome resequencing technology. Through integrated analysis of whole-genome resequencing and metabolomic data, this study explicitly identified two core genes directly regulating 2-phenylethanol synthesis (VvAADC: aromatic amino acid decarboxylase; VvPDC: phenylalanine decarboxylase). These two genes form a physically linked "metabolic gene cluster" in the 23.5-24.1 Mb interval of chromosome 5, synergistically regulating the conversion of phenylalanine to 2-phenylethanol. In addition, 58 variant genes were screened in the phenylalanine metabolism pathway (vvi00940) (FDR=1.2×10⁻⁵); these genes are mainly involved in key downstream steps of the pathway, such as "aromatic amino acid decarboxylation" and "aldehyde reduction", indirectly affecting the synthesis efficiency of 2-phenylethanol. Furthermore, their molecular associations with 2-phenylethanol synthesis were explored by integrating metabolomic data with genomic data. The results revealed 5,147,177 and 5,118,467 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci in the wild-type and bud sport materials, respectively, with unique SNPs accounting for 4.06% and 3.52%. Non-synonymous mutations in coding sequence regions reached 51.48%, significantly affecting gene function. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses indicated that differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in phenylalanine metabolism (vvi00940), vacuolar membrane transport (GO:0005774), and heat shock protein binding (GO:0031072). Notably, a C>T mutation (rs102345) in the VvAADC gene (Chr5:23.5–24.1 Mb) enhanced phenylalanine decarboxylase activity by 3.2-fold (p

Molecular evidence suggested that the Saussurea DC. (s. l.) was not a monophyletic genus. Number of small genera were splitted from Saussurea (s. l.) to make it monophyletic. However, recent molecular studies based on molecular evidences (Hyb. Seq data) revised generic boundaries of the subtribe Saussurinae (Cardueae – Asteraceae) which resulted in the merger of these small/ satellite genera with the genus Jurinea Cass. or Dolomiaea DC. Most of the taxa formerly treated under the genera such as Himalaiella and Lipschitziella are now transferred under the genus Jurinea. However, few taxa are still left which need new combination. In the present paper five new combinations in the genus Jurinea are proposed.

 

Duranta erecta L., commonly known as ‘Golden Dewdrop’ or ‘Skyflower’, is a widely cultivated ornamental shrub valued for its aesthetic appeal in various regions, including Nigeria. However, its taxonomy and nomenclature have been subject to considerable ambiguity. This study examines the leaf epidermal morphology and stomatal characteristics of eight distinct forms of D. erecta (Thorny Green, Yellow Bush, Plain Yellow, Broad Green 1, Broad Green 2, Green Bush, Variegated Yellow, and Variegated White) to assess their taxonomic relevance. Freshly collected leaves were used to prepare temporary and permanent slides of both abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Standard anatomical techniques were employed for both qualitative and quantitative analyses, and photomicrographs were captured using a light microscope fitted with an Amscope digital camera. All forms were found to be hypostomatic, with stomata restricted to the abaxial surface. The epidermal cells were generally irregular, except in Variegated Yellow, which displayed pentagonal cells on the adaxial side. Anticlinal walls ranged from straight to curved and sinuate. Anisocytic stomatal complexes were common across all forms, with additional tetracytic and paracytic types present in some. Both multicellular peltate glandular and unicellular non-glandular trichomes were observed, predominantly on the abaxial surface. Quantitative data revealed significant inter-form variation in stomatal density, stomatal index, epidermal cell size, and trichome density. Yellow Bush and Plain Yellow had the highest stomatal densities, while Green Bush and Variegated White had the lowest. Broad Green 1 exhibited the largest epidermal cells, whereas Green Bush had the smallest. Trichome density was highest in Yellow Bush and lowest in Variegated Yellow. These anatomical differences highlight the taxonomic utility of leaf epidermal and stomata features in distinguishing forms of Duranta erecta.

 

The leaf surface micromorphology of wild Pyrus communis L. was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Secretory structures (colleters) were identified on the apical and lateral teeth of leaf blades and stipules. Cuticular folds were present on both the surfaces, more developed near stomata and veins. Leaves are hypostomatic, with stomata approximating the stephanocytic type. Leaves of P. communis exhibited stomatal dimorphism even at the intrabud stage, featuring larger primary stomata surrounded by smaller secondary stomata. Leaf size and shape varied considerably across the specimens from southern Russia, the Caucasus, and Crimea. Factor analysis revealed two main groups of correlated variables: one related to leaf size (petiole length, blade length and width) and another to leaf morphology (apex elongation, margin, and blade shape). The study revealed novel micromorphological characteristics with diagnostic potential for discriminating closely related Pyrus species.

 

Non-native aquatic plant species have had significant ecological and physical effects on a diversity of wetland settings in China, where non-native species are well-known for their ecological dis-placements and the changes they have caused in various wetland categories. Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitch.), a floating aquatic fern native to South America, is one of the most noxious invasive weeds widely introduced in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Recently, this species has been introduced and has become widespread in south China. In this study, we review and summarize the baseline information (introduction pathway, distribution status, uses, ecological impacts, and management) available for giant salvinia in China by field investigations and literature review. Giant salvinia was first introduced in China as aquarium plant, and has established naturalized populations in 14 Provincial-level administrative regions. Now, giant salvinia become a potential threat the native biodiversity, grain production, and human health. This study provides valuable information and recommendations for managing and controlling giant salvinia in tropical and subtropical regions.

 

Iran has a unique geobotanical position among the Middle Eastern countries. Sosan is located in the easternmost point of Khuzestan province. This region is one of the wealthiest plant habitats, and this study aimed to determine the dependence of plants from the phytogeographic perspective on different vegetation zones. For this study, field data were obtained using 1500 sample plots in a systematic random grid. Plant life forms were determined using the Raunkiaer method, and the geographical distribution of species was determined based on the vegetation zones classified by Zohary and Takhtjan. The results of this study showed that 169 plant species belonging to 127 genera and 50 families were identified. The Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae families were the most important in this study. The study of life forms showed that therophytes (37.29%), hemicryptophytes (32.54%), phanerophytes (17.75%), cryptophytes (7.1%), and chamaephytes (5.32%), most important life forms of the plant. Also, the geographical distribution study showed that Irano-Turanian (58.6%), Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean (11.2%), Irano-Turanian, Sahara-Sindian (7.7%), and Irano-Turanian, Euro-Siberian (7.1%) were identified as the most important chorotypes in this region. The IUCN index study showed that the most critical group in this region is the data-deficient species. In this study, the species without information (88.57%), the species at risk (7.7%), the species of least concern (2.95%), the species vulnerable (1.18%), and the species in danger (0.59%) of the species identified in this protected area

Tharparkar District is the part of the Thar Desert, situated within Sindh Province, Pakistan. The area is inhabited by a population of more than 1.77 million individuals, predominantly residing in rural settings and depending on livestock rearing and rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. The Thar Desert (Tharparkar) is facing growing threats to its biodiversity because of new development in the area. For this reason, a detailed study was needed to examine plant community. This study aimed to assess plant diversity and identify threatened taxa of the study area. Surveys were conducted at sixty-four distinct sites encompassing various habitat types, in three separate phases. Plant data were collected using ten quadrats with a radius of 12.6 feet at each site, and the structure of plant communities was analysed. Forty-two plant families were identified, with grasses (Poaceae) being the most dominant, followed by Fabaceae and Malvaceae. The vegetation of the Tharparkar Desert was found to be dominated by perennial herbaceous species, accounting for around 62% of the total community, while trees and shrubs comprised less than 25%. TWINSPAN classification clustered the vegetation plots based on the soil and identified 27 plant groups. It recognized Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Aerva javanica, and Prosopis cineraria as indicator species of sandy deserts. A significant proportion of the plants were Therophytes and Phanerophytes. Acacia senegal, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Prosopis juliflora , and Ziziphus nummularia were the core tree and shrub species. The study area is home to two globally endangered plant species. Commiphora wightii (Gugar) and Tecomella undulata (Desert Teak) are listed as critically endangered (CR) and endangered (EN) taxa, respectively, in the IUCN red list species. Many species, including Justicia vahlii, Farsetia hemaltoni, Blepharis scindica, Acacia leucophloea, Moringa concanensis and Sterculia urens are on the verge of local extinction due to overuse for medicinal or commercial purposes. The study findings highlight the pressing need for the implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan aimed at safeguarding species of special concern within the study area. Key priority actions to be undertaken include identification of biodiversity hotspots and community-based strategies for conservation of species to mitigate the impact on the natural ecosystem

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers for improving crop productivity and fruit quality; however, comparative field evaluations of commercial and locally developed multi-strain formulations remain limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the comparative effects of two commercial (TB1 and TB2) and four non-commercial (BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4) PGPR combinations, together with a mineral fertilizer treatment (G) and an untreated control (O), on the yield, vegetative growth, and fruit quality of 'Gülpembe' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The trial was established under field conditions in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and fifteen plants per replicate. The bacterial combinations contained strains of Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pantoea agglomerans, selected on the basis of complementary plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore production, biological nitrogen fixation and induction of systemic resistance. The parameters evaluated included total fruit yield, plant height, stem (collar) diameter, average fruit weight, fruit chroma and hue angle, fruit firmness, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (°Brix), lycopene content, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Combined application of PGPR significantly improved vegetative growth, yield, and quality as compared with the control.  Notably, the performance of non-commercial four-strain combinations BS3 and BS4 was equal or better than the commercially available PGPR and conventional mineral fertilizers for all traits like lycopene content, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity and total soluble solids (TSS). These results suggest that locally characterized multi-strain PGPR combinations are effective biofertilizers for sustainable tomato production. Moreover, these biofertilizers were cost-effective and environment friendly alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers

Nano-fertilizers have emerged as a promising tool for enhancing crop productivity and quality. However, the comparative effects of different nano-nutrient formulations and application methods remain mainly unexplored, particularly in crops such as leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum L.). The current study addresses this research gap by investigating the response of leek shoots to sulfur (S) and iron (Fe) nano-fertilizers applied individually and in combination using two distinct methods: foliar application and fertigation. We hypothesized that the combined application of sulfur and iron nano-fertilizers would enhance leek growth and biochemical attributes more effectively than individual nano-fertilizer treatments, and that nutrient delivery method would significantly influence plant responses. Despite increasing interest in nano-fertilizers, limited information is available regarding the combined use of sulfur and iron nanoparticles in leek cultivation, particularly under different nutrient delivery systems such as foliar application and fertigation. The experiment was conducted during the 2023-2024 growing season in a dedicated nursery located in the Al-Hay Al-Asri area in the center of Al Diwaniyah Governorate. A two-factor factorial experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The first factor consisted of four nano-fertilizer treatments (control, nano-S, nano-Fe, and nano-S+Fe), while the second factor comprised four application treatments, namely foliar application once, foliar application twice, fertigation once, and fertigation twice.  Key morphological parameters, including plant height, number of leaves per plant, total leaf area, fresh shoot weight, and leaf chlorophyll content, were significantly improved in plants treated with nano-fertilizers compared to the control group. Notably, the combined treatment with foliar sulfur and iron resulted highest plant height (37.26 cm) and leaf number (14.10 leaf plant-1), while fertigation resulted higher plant heights compared to foliar spray. Additionally, twice foliar spray of nano-fertilizer significantly improved fresh shoot weight and chlorophyll content. Biochemical analysis also showed significant improvements in the contents of total protein, soluble sugars, total phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenes. The nano combined (S + Fe) achieved peak levels of total protein (8.56% with twice fertigation) and soluble sugars (14.55% by one fertigation). Total phenolic, flavonoid and terpene contents were significantly higher in nano-fertilizer treated plants compared to control, especially when applied through fertigation. The enhancement of growth, photosynthetic pigments, primary and secondary metabolites suggested that sulfur and iron nano-fertilizers improved both physiological performance and biochemical functionality of leek plants. These responses may be attributed to improved nutrient availability and uptake efficiency associated with nano-scale nutrient delivery. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sulfur and iron nano-fertilizers can effectively enhance growth performance, physiological status, and biochemical quality of leek, with treatment efficacy varying according to nutrient combination and application method

Mycorrhizal fungi are vital to forest health because they form symbiotic associations with the roots of over 90% of higher plants. This study aimed to explore the influence of environmental factors on mycorrhizal fungi. This study was conducted in the Murree Forest Division, part of the lower western Himalaya, Pakistan, from April 2023 to November 2024. Fungal specimens were collected using the quantitative quadrat method (10 × 10 m). Climatic and soil data were collected using various instruments, and precipitation data were obtained from NASA's POWER Data Access Viewer. Multiple linear regression models were used for data analysis. The results identified 28 mycorrhizal fungi belonging to 12 families, with a notable diversity. The families Russulaceae (eight species) and Helvellaceae (four species) were the most species-rich, followed by Gomphaceae (three species); the other families had one to two species each. Regression analysis revealed that atmospheric humidity and phosphorus were the strongest positive predictors of mycorrhizal abundance. The soil model explained 96.78% of the variation (R² = 0.9678), whereas the environmental model explained 92.32% (adjusted R² = 0.9232). Although parameters such as EC, TDS, OM, N, brightness, and temperature showed visual trends, they were not statistically significant. This study concluded that atmospheric humidity and soil phosphorus significantly influence mycorrhizal fungal abundance. Future research should focus on long-term studies and predictive modeling to understand how climatic conditions affect mycorrhizal communities.

The cultivation of apple trees plays an irreplaceable strategic role within the world’s agricultural system. To mitigate the damaging effects of apple leaf diseases on crop production and food security, it is imperative to implement deep learning (DL)-driven automated systems for early diagnosis. Conventional DL models generally demand designing deep and extensive structures aimed at improving feature extraction performance, but this will lead to the cost of computational overhead. To address this problem, a lightweight leaf disease recognition model called CompConv-MobileViT (CC-MobileViT) is proposed in this paper. CC-MobileViT is an enhanced version of MobileViT, in which the standard convolution is superseded by the CompConv. Compared to MobileViT, the CC-MobileViT model achieves a 50% reduction in parameter count while maintaining the high detection accuracy of 98.10%, which outperforms the state-of-the-art DL models. Moreover, the model has been deployed on the mobile-based WeChat Mini Program, which provides farmers and researchers with the convenience of capturing or uploading images from their smartphones for real-time detection. Therefore, the proposed model strikes a favorable balance between the efficiency and accuracy of disease diagnosis.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous symbiotic organisms that are linked to approximately 80 percent of the plants on land, which have a principal role in plant nutrition and in the functioning of the ecosystem. The review summarizes the existing information about the nature, utilization characteristics, and practical importance of AM fungi in sustainable agricultural application. The AM fungi support plant growth, and productivity by enhancing uptake of vital nutrients especially phosphorus and micronutrients, due to large networks of hyphae which spread outside the root zone. They also control the main physiological functions, such as photosynthesis, transpiration and water relations, hence enhancing the performance of the plants in varying environmental conditions. Host genotype, soil characteristics, and environmental conditions are the factors that affect the functional diversity of AM fungi as an entity that dictates the colonization efficiency and symbiotic success. Moreover, AM fungi have been found to confer plant resistance to abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, heavy metal toxicity by responding to the said factor through nutrient modulation, metal sequestration, and control of stress-responsive signaling. They also have a positive impact on soil structure and help to bioremediate the contaminated soil, which is yet another ecological value of this group. Moreover, the use of AM fungi as biofertilizers and their role in increasing crop yield and quality is also discussed in this review. Although they have some benefits, the large-scale commercialization faces problems including difficulties in mass production, strain specificity, quality control, and regulation. All in all, AM fungi is an effective solution to sustainable agriculture, just more studies are required to improve the efficiency of the widespread use of this technology and its functionality in the fields