Orange peel-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles with antioxidant and antitumor activities.

Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) is a common fruit crop widely distributed worldwide with the peel of its fruits representing about 50% of fruit mass. In the current study, orange peel was employed to mediate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a low-cost green approach.

Plackett-Burman screening of physico-chemical variables affecting Citrus peel-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity.

With the growing resistance of pathogenic microbes to traditional drugs, biogenic silver nanoparticles (SNPs) have recently drawn attention as potent antimicrobial agents. In the present study, SNPs synthesized with the aid of orange (Citrus sinensis) peel were engineered by screening variables affecting their properties via Plackett-Burman design. Among the variables screened (temperature, pH, shaking speed, incubation time, peel extract concentration, AgNO concentration and extract/AgNO volume ratio), pH was the only variable with significant effect on SNPs synthesis.

Effect of drought on yield of ten wheat cultivars linked with their flag leaf water status, fatty acid profile and shoot vigor at heading.

Flag leaf and shoot growth at heading stage as well as ultimate yield capacity of ten wheat cultivars were assessed in a pot experiment under normal and drought conditions. Drought was imposed by withholding 25% of field capacity from the 45- day old plants for 21 days followed by normal irrigation until maturity. Leaf succulence degree and stomatal opening area as well as shoot biomass, density and distribution decreased in all cultivars in response to drought but to different degrees.

Drought-induced change in yield capacity of ten wheat cultivars in relation to their vegetative characteristics at heading stage.

Ten wheat ( L.) cultivars were tested in a semi-field experiment for drought response in terms of their flag leaf vigor, whole shoot growth and ultimate yield capacity. At booting stage, 25% of field capacity was held for 3 weeks, then the plants were normally irrigated.