In the development of sustainable agriculture, nanotechnology has shown promise in resolving abiotic issues, especially those pertaining to salt stress and heavy metal tolerance. To validate the spherical morphology and crystalline framework of the synthesized nanomaterials, investigators deployed X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Subsequent dimensional analysis via ImageJ software revealed mean diameters of 34.1 nm for the selenium/copper oxide nanoparticles (Se/CuO NPs) and 33.8 nm for the isolated selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs). The production of these particles relied on a highly cost-effective and accessible green synthesis protocol, specifically utilizing an extract derived from Mentha viridis L. (mint leaves). The selenium/copper oxide nanoparticles demonstrated strong antibacterial and antioxidant qualities as well as plant growth-promoting effects when exposed to salt and heavy metals at the same time. Alfalfa plants' morphological characteristics and biochemical markers (pigments, proteins, carbohydrates, proline, and antioxidant enzymes), which normally decline under stressful circumstances, were enhanced by the addition of selenium/copper oxide nanoparticles. In comparison to Se nanoparticles, the Se/CuO nanoparticles demonstrated greater inhibition zones against Enterococcus faecalis bacteria, up to 40 mm, according to antimicrobial testing. Remarkably, lead levels were lowered by 25.12% when Se/CuO nanoparticles were present at a concentration of 50 ppm. Additionally, they showed greater antioxidant capacity than Se nanoparticles. These findings highlight the viability of employing bioengineered bimetallic nanoparticles to improve clover plant resilience and reduce stress.

 

Water stress is one of the main environmental factors that limit the productivity and medicinal quality of ornamental and medicinal plants. The present research evaluated the effect of long term irrigation intervals and salicylic acid (SA) application on growth, biochemical composition, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial potential of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. (Apocynaceae). Plants were watered at two intervals namely 2 days (2DWI) and 6 days (6DWI) along with foliar application of SA at different concentration (0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 mM). The prolonged irrigation interval significantly reduced vegetative growth and flowering attributes such as leaf number, leaf area, plant dry weight, plant height and flower number per plant. On the other hand, drought stress led to increased total carbohydrates, proline accumulation, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also improved under water-stress conditions. Foliar application of SA significantly alleviated the negative impact of drought stress and improved all growth parameters studied in the two irrigation regimes. The highest concentration of SA (0.10 mM) showed the most favourable improvements in vegetative growth, chlorophyll content and flower production. Furthermore, SA treatment increased antioxidant capacity by decreasing DPPH and β-carotene-linoleic acid IC50 values and increasing phenolic accumulation. Leaf extracts of C. roseus showed considerable antibacterial and antifungal activities, which were improved further with longer irrigation intervals and SA application. In general, the strongest antimicrobial activity was observed under 6DWI combined with 0.10 mM SA. The results indicate that controlled water stress enhanced the accumulation of bioactive compounds in C. roseus. Exogenous SA application could effectively alleviate the inhibition of growth and improve the physiological performance, antioxidant defence and medicinal value under drought stress. SA application could serve as a sustainable agronomic strategy for maintaining medicinal plant productivity and improving phytochemical quality under water-limited conditions, thereby supporting sustainable cultivation practices in arid and semi-arid regions

 

 

Fine roots (φ ≤ 2) play an important role in underground ecological processes in plants; however, their adaptation strategy to the soil environment is unclear. In this study, differences in fine root morphology, biomass, productivity, and decomposition and turnover rates of 5 different tree species: Ligustrum lucidum, Salix matsudana, Sapium sebifera, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Quercus virginiana, on newly reclaimed saline-alkali coastal land were investigated via the root drill continuous sampling method. Influencing soil physicochemical factors were also investigated. R. pseudoacacia had the greatest specific root length and surface area; root density and productivity were greatest in L. lucidum fine root decomposition was highest in S. sebifera and S. matsudana had the greatest turnover rate. Redundancy analyses of the relationships between fine root traits and soil physicochemical properties revealed that soil electrical conductivity, moisture, temperature, total N, and organic matter were the main factors influencing fine root traits. Based on differences in fine root functional traits and adaptation to coastal saline-alkali soils, the species recommended for restoration planting were ranked as LI, SA, SM, RP, and QV, in descending order. These findings provide a scientific basis and technical support for greening tree species screening and ecological restoration in coastal saline-alkali soils.

The onion is a crucial vegetable that is widely utilized in households. The onion bulb boasts a rich composition of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. However, an imbalanced fertilization, particularly concerning phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn), poses a significant challenge to sustainable onion production and quality. Notably, these two nutrients exhibit an antagonistic effect within the plant. This study aims to unravel interactive effects of P and Zn, seeking optimal levels to enhance onion yield and quality traits. Therefore, the current study was conducted to check the interactive effect of three Zn doses (5, 10, and 15 kg Zn ha-1) and five P doses (75, 100, 125, 150, and 175 kg P ha-1) on the onion growth, yield and quality traits. Results indicated that the combined application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 with 150 kg P ha-1 yielded superior outcomes, including increased leaf length (39.3 cm), plant height (58.3 cm), leaf width (1.54 cm), leaf density (8.89 plant-1), number of rings (10.3 rings bulb-1), and onion yield (26.5 ton ha-1). Furthermore, simultaneous application demonstrated the highest Zn and P concentrations in leaves (0.31 mg kg-1 and 2.06 mg kg-1, respectively) and bulbs (0.33 mg kg-1 and 2.34 mg kg-1, respectively).  Furthermore, application of Zn and P also significantly affected bulbs skin color and foliage color. The findings of this study conclude that the simultaneous application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 and 150 kg P ha-1 is the best management practice for onion cultivation to achieve higher growth, yield, and quality traits in onions

 

Maize stands as one of the significant grain crops to meet the food demands of rapidly growing population amid diminishing natural resources. Therefore, developing high yielding maize hybrids, particularly in challenging climatic conditions, is crucial for ensuring food security. The present study assessed the performance of maize hybrids across variable environments. Thirty hybrids were sown in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in two environments (Faisalabad E1 and Sahiwal E2) during 2021. Analysis of variance revealed significant variation among hybrids for most traits except plant height (PH) and ear height (ErH). The G×E interaction was significant for grain yield GY (4.6 × 10⁶ **), cob length CL (4.5*), cob girth CG (0.2**), No. of grains/row GR (17.8**) and 1000 grain weight GWt (15.7**). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationship of GY with CG (0.41*), CL (0.53**), PH (0.52**), ErH (0.37*) at E1, while only PH (0.49**) was positively correlated with GY at E2. Various GGE biplots, utilizing the first two principal components (PCs), were generated to elucidate the G×E interaction. The first two PCs for GY accounted for 74.63% and 25.37%. Based on PH, ErH, CL, CG, GR, GWt, DS and Shell, genotypes G11, G25, G3, G4, G7, G11, G16 and G8 were recognized as the most stable, respectively. Genotype G14 showed the highest stability in E1 and G11 in E2, whereas G16 consistently emerged as the most stable and high-yielding hybrid in both environments. Environment E1 was most representative; making it suitable for hybrid evaluation.

 

Due to the implementation of a relatively strict tobacco monopoly policy in China, every local government controls the tobacco planting area according to the allocated indicators. In the process of large-scale tobacco cultivation, how to quickly and cost-effectively predict the area of pre-planted tobacco by local tobacco farmers every year before seedling transplanting, timely detect phenomena of over-planting or under-planting, and taking corresponding remedial measures, is an important topic that needs to be studied. This work intends to comprehensively utilize spatial sampling, remote sensing interpretation, and deep learning techniques for estimating the large-scale tobacco planting area. Firstly, it combines Support Vector Machines (SVM) and medium-resolution multispectral satellite remote sensing images to estimate the area of film-mulched farmlands across the whole experimental regions, and calculates the proportion of film-mulched farmland through the existing farmland layer. Secondly, the whole experimental regions are divided into groups based on township administrative boundaries, and the most representative townships are selected for further analysis through cluster sampling. Then, within the representative township areas, spline sampling was conducted, and existing tobacco cultivation monitoring grids were selected as the spline sampling areas. An extraction method for film-mulched tobacco fields (FMTF) based on an improved Unet network (EMFMTFIUN) is proposed. The EMFMTFIUN network and high-resolution satellite images were used to extract FMTF in the spline sampling areas, distinguishing between FMTF and non- FMTF, and then calculating the proportion of FMTF in representative townships. Finally, based on the total area of farmlands, the proportion of film-mulched farmlands in the whole experimental regions, and the proportion of FMTF in representative townships, the area of FMTF and the total tobacco planting area in the whole experimental regions were calculated, and a corresponding SaaS (Software as a Service) cloud service platform for tobacco planting area estimation is constructed. Taking Guangze County in Fujian Province as an example, experimental results compared with other 7 representative algorithm models (DeeplabV3+, Hrnet, Pspnet, SegFormer, Attention-Unet, ResUnet and Unet++), using the EMFMTFIUN model to extract FMTF in the spline sampling regions (monitoring grids) in the county from 2022 to 2025 achieves higher accuracy (with an average of over 97.0%). The average estimation accuracy of the total tobacco cultivation area in the county from 2022 to 2025 reaches 96.91%, with an average estimation time consumption of 118.8 seconds. This effectively improves the accuracy and efficiency of large-scale tobacco planting area estimation, meets the relevant requirements of local tobacco management departments, and has good promotion and application value.

Viroid diseases are prevalent in all grapevine-cultivating regions around the world, affecting fruit quality and yield and posing a significant threat to global grapevine production. Meristem culture is a highly effective method for eliminating pathogens in In vitro  propagated crops like grapevine. In this study, we present a protocol for producing GYSVd-2-free grapevine plantlets through apical meristem tip culture from indirect or direct organogenesis. Three different apical meristem sizes (0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm) were excised and cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of cytokinin and auxin to determine the optimum size for viroid elimination. The RT-PCR analysis (indexing) was conducted on meristem- or callus-derived shoots of varying sizes (0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm). The study reveals that the 0.5 mm size was optimal for the GYSVd-2 elimination via indirect or direct organogenesis. The current research focused GYSVd-2 on detecting and eliminating in Pakistani grapevine cultivars to produce certified, healthy, viroid-free plantlets, with the potential to improve viroid-free plant production in the viticulture industry.  Our investigation provides evidence that the efficiency of viroid elimination through apical meristem tip culture is an effective method for producing viroid-free grapevines in the future

 

Soil salinity significantly limits agricultural productivity, necessitating innovative microbial solutions to enhance plant resilience while minimizing chemical inputs. This study highlights the phytotherapeutic potential of native halotolerant Bacillus spp. isolated from extreme saline environments as a biofertilizer and sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides. Selected Bacillus strains demonstrated multiple plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and maintenance of redox homeostasis under saline stress. Their biocontrol capabilities were evidenced by inhibition of pathogenic fungi through mechanisms such as siderophore-mediated iron chelation and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production. Five strains notably enhanced plant stress tolerance, underscoring their dual role in improving crop productivity in salt-affected soils and managing phytopathogenic fungi, including Fusarium acuminatum, F. equiseti, Aspergillus mega, Alternaria sp. and Botrytis cinerea. These findings offer a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture by integrating extremophile Bacillus spp. as an effective phytotherapeutic agent to mitigate salinity stress and plant diseases.

 

The Crisp plum series is popular in the southwest of China, especially in Chongqing, where not all areas are suitable for its growth. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element for human health, typically transfers from soil to food, making soil Se content a key consideration. Using MaxEnt and ArcGIS, we analyzed 186 planting sites and 19 bioclimatic variables and one altitude variable to model suitable growing areas. Results showed that moderate-suitable areas were the largest, covering approximately 4.93×104 km2 (59.54% of the total region). High-suitable areas were limited to northeastern Chongqing, covering only 0.26 ×104 km2 (3.21%). Key factors influencing the suitability of crisp plum series included seasonal temperature change, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, and precipitation of the driest quarter. Although Nanchuan District has the highest reported soil Se content in Chongqing, it primarily falls within the moderate-suitable class (mainly in the northwest), while low-suitable and unsuitable areas fall within the southeast. Se content in sampled fruits ranged from 3.8 to 9.1 μg/kg FW, below China’s standard for naturally selenium-enriched fruits (10-500 μg/kg FW). This study provides critical insights for optimizing crisp plum cultivation and guiding future production of naturally selenium-containing fruits in Chongqing region.

 

Pakistan, a developing country, has a large population with limited access to the modern facilities especially in rural areas. Local communities rely heavily on indigenous flora for medicinal, household and culinary purposes. Therefore, documenting this traditional knowledge is of great importance. In this context, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Kot Jamel, Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) being an Asian context. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to local inhabitants to document ethnobotanical uses of plants. A total of 101 plant species were recorded belonging to 52 families, with Fabaceae representing the most dominant family in terms of species richness. Among the documented species, Coriandrum sativum L. was the most frequently cited plant by respondents, while Ficus religiosa L., showed the highest use value, particularly among wild species, Xanthium strumarium L. also exhibited considerable cultural importance. Respiratory and digestive disorders were among the most commonly treated ailments using traditional plant remedies, reflecting strong community consensus regarding their therapeutic applications.  Comparative analysis indicated moderate similarity with previous published ethnobotanical studies indicating distinct cultural variations in plant utilization. This study highlights the deep-rooted dependence of local communities on natural vegetation for healthcare, culinary, household and small-scale industrial purposes. The majority of the population continues to rely on plant-based traditional practices rather than modern healthcare approaches, reflecting strong cultural trust in their accessibility and effectiveness. Furthermore, these findings suggested that traditional medicinal knowledge exhibits both significant regional commonalities and pronounced cultural divergence

Pakistan is rich in medicinal plant resources and harnessing these local pharmaceutical resources can help reduce the country’s reliance on imported plant-based medications, leading to significant cost savings. This review provides timely insights into how plant based compounds contribute to the diabetes management. Beyond therapeutic potential the phytocompound holds economic value and minimum side effects. However, the literature is scanty regarding the potential of Pakistan’s indigenous medicinal plants for diabetes management across different geographic regions. This review summarizes the scattered data on native antidiabetic plants, highlighting their bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties to support future research and development in this area. It specifically examines key medicinal plants, including Bitter Apple/Burambba (Citrullus colocynthis), Paneer (Withania coagulans), Kunwar Boti (Aloe barbadensis), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia), Green Tea (Camellia sinensis), and Garlic (Allium sativum). This study provides comprehensive understanding of antidiabetic properties of different plant parts, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits/seeds, and assessing their flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, tannin, steroid, glycoside, and carbohydrate content. Serving as a foundational reference for future pharmacological and clinical research and offers novel insights into the integration of indigenous medicinal flora with evidence based diabetes management strategies.

Forests are the cradle of life on earth for both humans and wildlife. Humans' survivals and livelihood on this fragile planet depends on forest structure and composition. Disentangling differences in forest structure and composition between Swat moist–temperate forest and Shangla moist–temperate forest was ascertained using the quadrat method. Tree density, diameter, height, diversity index, basal area, IVI, DBH, and regeneration status in moist–temperate forest's structure and composition of Swat and Shangla were examined to identify significant differences in forest structure and composition. The data was collected on above aspects from 18 random sample plots having a size of 500 m2 (20m x 25m), spread over six forest subdivisions (3 sample plots in each study site). The results revealed that forest stand density in both districts ranged from 660 to 800 trees/ha and the species number ranged from 2 to 11 in Swat district, and 4 to 12 in Shangla. The IVI ranged from 2.10 to 90.80% in Swat district, whereas in Shangla district it was 0.20 to 71.10%. Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) was the most dominant species in Swat and Ailanthus glandulosa (tree of heaven) in Shangla moist–temperate forest. Tree diversity index (H’ = 3.109) and species richness (R1 = 2.840) was higher, and species evenness (E1 = 0.966) was lower in Swat moist–temperate. The regeneration rates in Swat moist-temperate forests ranged between 781 and 2,031 seedlings/ha, and in Shangla moist-temperate forests ranged between 625 and 2,187 seedlings/ha, which illustrates that Swat moist-temperate forests are richer in regeneration than Shangla moist-temperate forests. The findings of this study indicated that Swat forest was characterized by greater species diversity and species richness as well as greater IVI, DBH, mean height, and regeneration than Shangla forest

The development of Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea) and canola (Brassica napus) cultivars with low erucic acid and glucosinolate content is a primary objective for plant breeders. This study aimed to identify genotypes with reduced levels of erucic acid and glucosinolates by evaluating 20 Brassica juncea and 30 Brassica napus accessions, for phenotypic traits; oil content, erucic acid percentage, and glucosinolate content. For the molecular analysis, DNA was extracted and amplified using four SSR markers: sS1702, Ra3E05, Na10C01, and sR7178.

High polymorphism was observed reflecting substantial genetic diversity. Among these markers, Ra3E05 demonstrated the highest polymorphism with a PIC value of 0.861. The major allele frequency across the total 50 accessions ranged from 0.52 to 0.79. Notably, genotype BN-003 exhibited the highest major allele frequency of 0.79 but had the lowest PIC value of 0.2743, indicating least polymorphism and genetic diversity in this genotype. Principal Component Analysis was employed to explore the genotype-traits relationship, as well as to assess inter-trait correlations. The biplot revealed a negative correlation between glucosinolate content and erucic acid levels. Additionally, seed oil content showed a negative correlation with erucic acid and glucosinolates. Of all the 50 genotypes,  BN-003 recorded least amount of erucic acid 0.05%, whereas,  the genotypes “Super canola” and “BN-013” recorded lowest glucosinolates 24 μmol/g with high oil percentage 42.25% and 40.93% respectively. The identified genotypes, particularly Super canola and BN-013, are promising candidates for future breeding programs amid cultivar development contaning low erucic acid and glucosinolates content.

 

Panicle length represents a key yield-related trait in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Elucidating the genetic basis of panicle length and identifying key regulatory genes are of great significance for high-yield molecular breeding in sorghum. In this study, two sorghum maintainer lines with significantly different panicle lengths, 01-26B and 7009B, were used as parents to construct an F2 segregating population, and phenotypic investigation and genetic analysis of panicle length were conducted. The results showed that panicle length in the F2 population exhibited a continuous distribution with obvious transgressive segregation, indicating that this trait is controlled by multiple genes and conforms to the characteristics of quantitative inheritance. Based on individuals with extreme panicle length phenotypes in the F₂ population, long-panicle and short-panicle bulks were constructed, and bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) was performed on the two parents and the bulks. At the 95% confidence level, a total of 14 key SNP loci significantly associated with panicle length were identified, which were distributed on chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 9, and 10. Among them, a nonsynonymous mutation located at 8,814,444 bp on chromosome 7 was identified in the exon region of the gene LOC8071181, which encodes an ECERIFERUM 26-like protein involved in the elongation of very long-chain fatty acids. It is speculated that this gene may indirectly regulate panicle rachis development by affecting wax biosynthesis or cell membrane stability. This study provides a theoretical basis and valuable genetic resources for elucidating the genetic mechanism of panicle length and for marker-assisted breeding in sorghum.

The phyllosphere is a distinctive habitat that hosts diverse microbial communities. Plant species and environmental factors determine the microbial diversity, which subsequently regulates the growth and metabolism of host plants. This study analyzed the relationship between tobacco leaves and their phyllosphere microbiome by determining the bacterial biodiversity of various tobacco varieties and evaluating its impact on metabolic pathways. For this purpose, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted, and in silico functional annotation was performed. The results indicated substantial variations in the α-diversity of bacteriomes among seven tested tobacco varieties. Proteobacteria were identified as the dominant phylum, with a relative abundance ranging from 74.4% to 98.2% across all varieties. Pseudomonas emerged as a predominant genus at the genus level, comprising 16.7% to 77.7% of the microbial communities. Fifty-four genera (22.7% of the detected genera) were shared among all tobacco varieties. The number of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) ranged from 16 to 130 across tobacco varieties, with 68 OTUs (13.7%) shared among all seven varieties. Metabolic analysis revealed that carbohydrate metabolism was the predominant pathway, accounting for 19.0% to 20.0% of all metabolic pathways. These findings highlight the intricate relationship between tobacco varieties and their phyllosphere microbiome, providing insights into microbial diversity and functional potential.

 

This study explores the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract from the leaves of an invasive species Nicotiana glauca. The synthesized AgNPs were thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DLS analysis confirmed the nanoparticles' monodispersity and stability, with an observed mean hydrodynamic diameter of 60.00 nm. XRD patterns indicated a face-centered cubic crystalline structure, with an average crystallite size of 42.58 nm. TEM imaging revealed that the nanoparticles were predominantly spherical, with sizes ranging from 50 nm to 55 nm. The AgNPs exhibited significant antifungal activity, with the largest inhibition zone measuring 26.0 mm against Fusarium solani, followed by 23.1 mm for Aspergillus niger. This study demonstrates that silver nanoparticles synthesized from Nicotiana glauca leaf extract possess potent antifungal efficacy against key pathogens and exemplify a sustainable approach by valorizing an invasive plant for eco-friendly nanotechnolog Furthermore, this study highlights the innovative use of invasive plant species like N. glauca as a sustainable, environmentally friendly resource for nanoparticle production. By promoting green nanotechnology, this work contributes to biodiversity conservation efforts while providing a practical approach to managing invasive alien plants.

 

Multidrug resistance (MDR) bacterial infections are a growing global health concern. As a result, there is a growing need to discover effective antimicrobial agents from non-conventional sources. In recent years, Cyanobacteria have received significant attention in basic and applied research due to their ability to produce wide range of bioactive metabolites with antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to isolate and characterize Cyanobacterial isolates from fresh water streams of Haripur city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. A total of 10 water samples were collected, from which 9 cyanobacterial isolates were cultured using BG-11 medium. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion method against 4 pathogens, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Among the isolates, 9 exhibited antimicrobial activity against at least one of the tested pathogens. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, the isolates were tentatively identified at the generic level as Oscillatoria spp. (50%), Nostoc spp. (30%), and Microcystis spp., (20%). Although species level identification and chemical characterization were not performed, the observed antimicrobial activity suggests that freshwater cyanobacteria may serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic relevance

A great deal of interest in studying plants has been sparked by scientific research due to their natural compounds that have been employed for medicinal purposes. Silene indica, a perennial herb that belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. This research explored the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial characteristics of S. indica var. indica to fully understand its wide range of therapeutic uses. The methanolic extract of S. indica var. indica was used for preliminary phytochemical investigation of reducing sugars, glycosides, proteins, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and phenols. Qualitative results revealed that S. indica var. indica contained significant primary (carbohydrate, proteins, essential oil, steroids) and secondary bioactive compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and phenols) which validate its traditional medicinal uses. Moreover, the DPPH free radical scavenging assay was used to examine the antioxidant property, and the agar well diffusion method was used to investigate the antibacterial capability against Escherichia coli and Enterococci. Results of antioxidant bioassay showed that n-Hexane fraction exhibited the highest inhibition (71.24%), followed by the aqueous fraction (60.7%).Antibacterial research exposed distinct inhibition zones at concentration ranging from 300-500 µg /mL. The higher inhibition percentage (80.1% and 89.47%) against Enterococci and E. coli was recorded in MeOH fraction. These findings suggested that Silene indica var. indica has a promising source of natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents that supports its traditional use in treating various ailments. Advance research is needed to explore its mechanisms of action and potential clinical applications.

 

Cecropia pachystachya Trécul, also known as embauba of the family Urticaceae, is traditionally used in Brazilian medicine to manage diabetes, asthma, and cough. Previous studies have highlighted its diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, leishmanicidal, antidepressant-like, antioxidant, and antinociceptive effects. However, its antineoplastic potential remains unexplored. This study investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of C. pachystachya extract (CPE) on human lung cancer cell lines (H460, A549, and H2023) and non-tumorigenic human foreskin fibroblasts (BJ cells). The extract exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity across all cancer cell lines while sparing non-cancerous BJ cells. Further analyses using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining indicated that the observed cytotoxicity was mediated through the induction of apoptosis rather than necrosis. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analysis identified chlorogenic acid (48%) and orientin (2.9%) as the major constituents of CPE. These findings suggest that C. pachystachya harbors bioactive compounds with selective anticancer properties, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.

 

Plant-associated microbial consortia represent an indispensable component of the phytobiome, regulating plant growth, yield, and ecological resilience to both abiotic and biotic stresses through complex interactions among roots, soil, and associated microbes. Beneficial microorganisms, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria PGPR, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and endophytes, enhance plant resistance to drought, salinity, heat, and pathogen attacks by regulating phytohormones, enhancing nutrient and water acquisition, and activating antioxidant and defense pathways. Strategies for microbiome optimization include microbial inoculants and synthetic microbial consortia, manipulation of root exudates, microbiome-aware breeding, and sustainable soil management practices that enhance microbial diversity and stability. Despite considerable progress, challenges remain in achieving consistent field-level performance due to issues of microbial specificity, persistence, and environmental variability. Emerging technologies such as integrated omics, systems biology, predictive modeling, and microbiome engineering offer new avenues for designing resilient and sustainable agroecosystems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on plant–microbiome interactions, highlights recent advances in microbiome optimization, and discusses future strategies for leveraging beneficial microbes to improve plant stress tolerance and promote climate-smart farming.