Revisiting the emerging pathosystem of rice sheath blight: deciphering the virulence, host range, and rice genotype-based resistance.

Sheath blight, caused by AG1 IA, is a challenging disease of rice worldwide. In the current study, nine isolates, within the anastomosis group AG-1 IA, were isolated, characterized based on their macroscopic and microscopic features, as well as their ability to produce cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs), and further molecularly identified via ITS sequencing. Although all isolates were pathogenic and produced typical sheath blight symptoms the susceptible rice cultivar, Sakha 101, AG1 IA -isolate SHBP9 was the most aggressive isolate.

Non-proteinogenic amino acids mitigate oxidative stress and enhance the resistance of common bean plants against .

White mold, caused by the necrotrophic fungus , is a challenging disease to common bean cultivation worldwide. In the current study, two non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs), -aminobutyric acid (GABA) and -alanine, were suggested as innovative environmentally acceptable alternatives for more sustainable management of white mold disease. , GABA and -alanine individually demonstrated potent dose-dependent fungistatic activity and effectively impeded the radial growth and development of mycelium.

The impact of corporate environmental disclosure practices and board attributes on sustainability: Empirical evidence from Asia and Europe.

This study analyzes the impact of environmental disclosure, board attributes, and firms' specifics on the levels of environmental and ESG performance in Europe and Asia. The study utilizes secondary data from Refinitiv Eikon database for 8094 firms for the period between 2016 and 2021. The study employs panel data analysis using fixed effect models to estimate the results.

Hydroxylated Cinnamates Enhance Tomato Resilience to , the Causal Agent of Early Blight Disease, and Stimulate Growth and Yield Traits.

The important vegetable crop, tomato, is challenged with numerous abiotic and biotic stressors, particularly the newly emerged fungicide-resistant strains of phytopathogenic fungi such as , the causal agent of early blight disease. The current study investigated the potential antifungal activity of four cinnamate derivatives including cinnamic acid, -coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid against . Our in vitro findings showed that all tested compounds exhibited dose-dependent fungistatic action against when their concentrations were increased from 0.

Geographical Correlation and Genetic Diversity of Newly Emerged Races within the Ug99 Lineage of Stem Rust Pathogen, f. sp. , in Different Wheat-Producing Areas.

Wheat stem rust caused by f. sp. is one of the most destructive wheat diseases worldwide.

Correction: Alnusairi et al. Exogenous Nitric Oxide Reinforces Photosynthetic Efficiency, Osmolyte, Mineral Uptake, Antioxidant, Expression of Stress-Responsive Genes and Ameliorates the Effects of Salinity Stress in Wheat. 2021, , 1693.

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Investigating the Phenotypic Plasticity of the Invasive Weed L.

Phenotypic plasticity is frequently highlighted as a key factor in plant invasiveness, as it enables invasive species to adapt to diverse, complicated habitats. is one of the most common aggressive species that threaten different crops around the world. Phenotypic plasticity in was investigated by comparing variation in germination, vegetative macromorphology, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal complexes, and seed micromorphological traits of 35 samples collected from 35 different localities.

Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles Induce Innate Immune Responses and Activate Antioxidant Machinery in Wheat Against .

The phytopathogenic basidiomycetous fungus, , has a wide range of host plants including members of the family Poaceae, causing damping-off and root rot diseases. In this study, we biosynthesized spherical-shaped silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO NPs; sized between 9.92 and 19.

Soil Amendment Using Biochar and Application of K-Humate Enhance the Growth, Productivity, and Nutritional Value of Onion ( L.) under Deficit Irrigation Conditions.

Water scarcity, due to physical shortage or inadequate access, is a major global challenge that severely affects agricultural productivity and sustainability. Deficit irrigation is a promising strategy to overcome water scarcity, particularly in arid and semiarid regions with limited freshwater resources. However, precise application of deficit irrigation requires a better understanding of the plant response to water/drought stress.

Durability of Adult Plant Resistance Gene in Partial Resistance Behavior of Wheat () Genotypes with Different Degrees of Tolerance to Stripe Rust Disease, Caused by f. sp. : A Five-Year Study.

Adult plant resistance in wheat is an achievement of the breeding objective because of its durability in comparison with race-specific resistance. Partial resistance to wheat stripe rust disease was evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions during the period from 2016 to 2021. Misr 3, Sakha 95, and Giza 171 were the highest effective wheat genotypes against f.

The Integrated Amendment of Sodic-Saline Soils Using Biochar and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Enhances Maize ( L.) Resilience to Water Salinity.

The utilization of low-quality water or slightly saline water in sodic-saline soil is a major global conundrum that severely impacts agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semiarid regions with limited freshwater resources. Herein, we proposed an integrated amendment strategy for sodic-saline soil using biochar and/or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; SARS 10 and MG209738) to alleviate the adverse impacts of saline water on the growth, physiology, and productivity of maize ( L.), as well as the soil properties and nutrient uptake during two successive seasons (2018 and 2019).

Anticryptosporidium Efficacy of and Leaves Extract in Immunocompromised Mice Associated with Biochemical Characters and Antioxidative System.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite ( and ) known as a parasite of humans, especially children and immunocompromised patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a mixture of fig and olive leaf extracts as an alternative medicinal plant. Parasitological examination for oocysts in the stool and histopathological alterations in the small intestines were examined.

Exogenous Nitric Oxide Reinforces Photosynthetic Efficiency, Osmolyte, Mineral Uptake, Antioxidant, Expression of Stress-Responsive Genes and Ameliorates the Effects of Salinity Stress in Wheat.

Salinity stress is one of the major environmental constraints responsible for a reduction in agricultural productivity. This study investigated the effect of exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO) (50 μM and 100 μM) in protecting wheat plants from NaCl-induced oxidative damage by modulating protective mechanisms, including osmolyte accumulation and the antioxidant system. Exogenously sourced NO proved effective in ameliorating the deleterious effects of salinity on the growth parameters studied.

New Insights of Potassium Sources Impacts as Foliar Application on 'Canino' Apricot Fruit Yield, Fruit Anatomy, Quality and Storability.

This is the first report to study the impacts of potassium sources on apricot fruit yield, quality and storability as a preharvest foliar application. Five sources of potassium (K-humate, K-sulphate, K-nitrate, K-silicate and K-citrate), plus water as a control treatment, were applied individually at 0.2% three times on 'Canino' apricot over the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Global vaccine action plan lessons learned I: Recommendations for the next decade.

The Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2020 (GVAP) was developed to realize the ambitions of the Decade of Vaccines - that all individuals and communities enjoy lives free from vaccine-preventable diseases. It included a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation/accountability framework to assess progress towards global targets with recommendations for corrective actions. While many of the GVAP targets are very unlikely to be met by the end of 2020, substantial progress has nevertheless been made, establishing a strong foundation for a successor global immunization strategy, the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).

Silicon Foliar Application Mitigates Salt Stress in Sweet Pepper Plants by Enhancing Water Status, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Fruit Yield.

Silicon is one of the most significant elements in plants under abiotic stress, so we investigated the role of silicon in alleviation of the detrimental effects of salinity at two concentrations (1500 and 3000 ppm sodium chloride) in sweet pepper plants in two seasons (2018 and 2019). Our results indicated that relative water content, concentrations of chlorophyll a and b, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents, number of fruits plant, fruit fresh weight plant (g) and fruit yield (ton hectare) significantly decreased in salt-stressed sweet pepper plants as compared to control plants. In addition, electrolyte leakage, proline, lipid peroxidation, superoxide (O) and hydrogen peroxide (HO) levels, soluble sugars, sucrose, and starch content as well as sodium content significantly increased under salinity conditions.

Exogenous Ascorbic Acid Induced Chilling Tolerance in Tomato Plants Through Modulating Metabolism, Osmolytes, Antioxidants, and Transcriptional Regulation of Catalase and Heat Shock Proteins.

Chilling, a sort of cold stress, is a typical abiotic ecological stress that impacts the development as well as the growth of crops. The present study was carried to investigate the role of ascorbic acid root priming in enhancing tolerance of tomato seedlings against acute chilling stress. The treatments included untreated control, ascorbic acid-treated plants (AsA; 0.

How Labor Laws Can Transform Health Systems: The Case of Saudi Arabia.

-In 1999, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enacted a law that compels private employers to cover non-Saudi employees with health insurance. In the 16 years that followed, the health sector in the Kingdom has seen a dramatic shift in how services are provided and paid for, and the change continues at an accelerated speed. Based on interviews with 12 large private sector providers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar, we found that a labor law enacted in 1999 led to rapid expansion of the insured population, both expatriates and Saudis, which led to a drastic change in how hospitals and other facilities are paid, and considerable more consistency in revenue stream.

Meningococcal serogroup C serum and salivary antibody responses to meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine in Saudi Arabian adolescents previously vaccinated with bivalent and quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Following repeated polysaccharide vaccination, reduced immune responses have been reported, but there are limited data on the mucosal response of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PSV) or meningococcal conjugate vaccination. Saudi Arabian adolescents (aged 16-19 years) who had previously been vaccinated with ≥1 dose of bivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine and 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide (MPSV4) were enrolled in a controlled, randomised, and modified observer-blind study (collectively termed the PSV-exposed group). The PSV-exposed group was randomised to receive either quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) (PSV-exposed/MCV4 group) or MPSV4 (PSV-exposed/MPSV4 group), and a PSV-naïve group received MCV4.

Safety and immunogenicity of a meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine in five- to eight-year-old Saudi Arabian children previously vaccinated with two doses of a meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine.

Saudi Arabian children respond poorly to 2 doses of meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) when given before 2 years of age. This study examined whether such children were able to respond to 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (MCV4) when they were older. Saudi Arabian children 5 to 8 years of age who had previously been vaccinated with 2 doses of MPSV4 when they were under 2 years of age (termed the prior-MPSV4 group) were enrolled in a controlled, open-label, multicenter study.

Immunogenicity and safety of a meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine in Saudi Arabian adolescents previously vaccinated with one dose of bivalent and quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines: a phase III, controlled, randomized, and modified blind-observer study.

Reduced immune responses to repeated polysaccharide vaccination have been previously reported, but there are limited immunogenicity data on the use of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PSV) followed by meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Saudi Arabian adolescents (aged 16 to 19 years) who had previously been vaccinated with ≥1 dose of bivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine and 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide (MPSV4) were enrolled in a controlled, randomized, and modified observer-blind study (collectively termed the PSV-exposed group). The PSV-exposed group was randomized to receive either quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) (n = 145 PSV-exposed/MCV4 group) or MPSV4 (n = 142 PSV-exposed/MPSV4 group), and a PSV-naïve group received MCV4 (n = 163).

Smoking in Saudi Arabia and its relation to coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The health hazards related to smoking are well known. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite rejection of smoking by the Saudi community, we are still seeing smokers in our population.