Novel Insights into Exogenous Phytohormones: Central Regulators in the Modulation of Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses in Rice under Metal(loid) Stress.

Rice () is a research model for monocotyledonous plants. Rice is also one of the major staple foods and the primary crop for more than half of the world's population. Increasing industrial activities and the use of different fertilizers and pesticides containing heavy metals (HMs) contribute to the contamination of agriculture fields.

Silicon-Induced Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Regulation in L. under Low-Temperature Stress.

Climate changes abruptly affect optimum growth temperatures, leading to a negative influence on plant physiology and productivity. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of low-temperature stress effects on date palm growth and physiological indicators under the exogenous application of silicon (Si). Date palm seedlings were treated with Si (1.

Characterization of the Seed Biopriming, Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity-Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Hypersaline Habitats.

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions. Plant growth-promoting fungi can help plants thrive in stressful conditions. In this study, we isolated and characterized 26 halophilic fungi (endophytic, rhizospheric, and soil) from the coastal region of Muscat, Oman, for plant growth-promoting activities.

Enhancing the Activity of Carboxymethyl Cellulase Enzyme Using Highly Stable Selenium Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Y4.

The inorganic selenium is absorbed and utilized inefficiently, and the range between toxicity and demand is narrow, so the application is strictly limited. Selenium nanoparticles have higher bioactivity and biosafety properties, including increased antioxidant and anticancer properties. Thus, producing and applying eco-friendly, non-toxic selenium nanoparticles in feed additives is crucial.

Harmony but Not Uniformity: Role of Strigolactone in Plants.

Strigolactones (SLs) represent an important new plant hormone class marked by their multifunctional roles in plants and rhizosphere interactions, which stimulate hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and seed germination of root parasitic plants. SLs have been broadly implicated in regulating root growth, shoot architecture, leaf senescence, nodulation, and legume-symbionts interaction, as well as a response to various external stimuli, such as abiotic and biotic stresses. These functional properties of SLs enable the genetic engineering of crop plants to improve crop yield and productivity.

Outcomes of Propeller Flap in Eyelid Reconstruction.

The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the outcomes of reconstruction in small-to-moderate-sized benign tumors of eyelids by using the propeller flap technique. Propeller flaps have been used by plastic surgeons for facial reconstruction and other body parts. However, very few oculoplastic surgeons have utilized this technique in eyelid reconstructive surgeries.

Development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system in Talaromyces marneffei.

Talaromyces marneffei is an important pathogenic thermally dimorphic fungus causing systemic talaromycosis mainly prevalent in Southeast Asia. The dimorphic transition between mycelium and yeast is considered crucial for the pathogenicity of T. marneffei.

Outcomes of secondary autologus dermo-fat orbital implants in anophthalmic sockets.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of secondary autologous dermis-fat graft as an orbital implant in anophthalmic sockets.

Methods: In this prospective study, which was conducted at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi, between January 2015 and January 2020, we evaluated 12 patients between the ages of four and 60 years. Most of the adults were victims of trauma, whereas children were known cases of retinoblastoma or trauma and all underwent enucleation.

Characterization of mycotoxins from entomopathogenic fungi (Cordyceps fumosorosea) and their toxic effects to the development of asian citrus psyllid reared on healthy and diseased citrus plants.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) produce multiple mycotoxins, which play an essential role in improving fungal pathogenesis and virulence. To characterize various mycotoxins from the crude methanol extract of Cordyceps fumosorosea, a major EPF against various insect pests, we performed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF MS) technique, and all compounds were identified through molecular mass and formulae. Bassianolide was assessed against the nymphs and adults of Diaphorina citri reared on healthy and Huánglóngbìng (HLB)-diseased Citrus spp.

Selective Growth of Stacking Fault Free ⟨100⟩ Nanowires on a Polycrystalline Substrate for Energy Conversion Application.

Cubic semiconductor nanowires grown along ⟨100⟩ directions have been reported to be promising for optoelectronics and energy conversion applications, owing to their pure zinc-blende structure without any stacking fault. But, until date, only limited success has been achieved in growing ⟨100⟩ oriented nanowires. Here we report the selective growth of stacking fault free ⟨100⟩ nanowires on a commercial transparent conductive polycrystalline fluorine-doped SnO (FTO) glass substrate via a simple and cost-effective chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method.

Expression and functional analysis of P450 gene induced tolerance/resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin in quercetin fed larvae of beet armyworm (Hübner).

Beet armyworm, (Hübner) is an agronomical important and most devastating polyphagous pest that damages a variety of crops around the globe including China. Quercetin is one of the abundant dietary flavonoids and the important defense allelochemicals in plants. Therefore, the changes in insect detoxification enzymes activities in response to plants allelochemicals may result increased the sensitivity to insecticides.

RNA interference-mediated knockdown of a cytochrome P450 gene enhanced the toxicity of α-cypermethrin in xanthotoxin-fed larvae of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner).

The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) is a highly polyphagous agricultural pest that is distributed worldwide. However, the adaptive mechanisms of S. exigua for various insecticides and defensive substances in host plants are unknown.

Knock-Down of Gossypol-Inducing Cytochrome P450 Genes Reduced Deltamethrin Sensitivity in (Hübner).

Plants employ an intricate and dynamic defense system that includes physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms to counteract the effects of herbivorous attacks. In addition to their tolerance to phytotoxins, beet armyworm has quickly developed resistance to deltamethrin; a widely used pyrethroid insecticide in cotton fields. The lethal concentration (LC) required to kill 50% of the population of deltamethrin to gossypol-fed larvae was 2.

Sub-lethal effects of lufenuron exposure on spotted bollworm Earias vittella (Fab): key biological traits and detoxification enzymes activity.

Spotted bollworm, Earias vittella, is one of the most serious and devastating insect pests of vegetables and cotton. Currently, insecticides are necessary for its control in nearly all crop systems. In this paper, we evaluate the sub-lethal effects of lufenuron on biological traits and activity of detoxification enzymes: cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, esterase, and glutathione S-transeferase (GST) in second instar larvae of E.

Interaction-Dependent Interfacial Charge-Transfer Behavior in Solar Water-Splitting Systems.

Dual-band-gap systems are promising for solar water splitting due to their excellent light-harvesting capability and high charge-separation efficiency. However, a fundamental understanding of interfacial charge-transfer behavior in the dual-band-gap configuration is still incomplete. Taking CdS/reduced graphene oxide (CdS/RGO) nanoheterojunctions as a model solar water splitting system, we attempt here to highlight the interaction-dependent interfacial charge-transfer behavior based on both experimental observations and theoretical calculations.

Antibacterial Carbon-Based Nanomaterials.

The emergence and global spread of bacterial resistance to currently available antibiotics underscore the urgent need for new alternative antibacterial agents. Recent studies on the application of nanomaterials as antibacterial agents have demonstrated their great potential for management of infectious diseases. Among these antibacterial nanomaterials, carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) have attracted much attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and relatively higher biosafety.

Vertically Aligned Porous Organic Semiconductor Nanorod Array Photoanodes for Efficient Charge Utilization.

Because of inefficient charge utilization caused by localized π-electron conjugation and large exciton binding energy, the photoelectrochemical water-splitting efficiency of organic polymers is seriously limited. Taking the graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) polymer as an example, we report a novel photoanode based on a vertically aligned g-CN porous nanorod (PNR) array prepared in situ, using a thermal polycondensation approach, with anodic aluminum oxide as the template. The g-CN PNR array exhibits an excellent photocurrent density of 120.

Gossypol-induced fitness gain and increased resistance to deltamethrin in beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner).

Background: In plant-insect interactions, phytotoxins such as gossypol, exert a defensive role on behalf of the plant by interfering with the essential metabolic, biochemical and physiological pathways of herbivorous insects. The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), is a key pest for many important crops including a range of vegetables, ornamentals, and cotton. In this study, we investigated how resistance to deltamethrin relates to enzyme activity in gossypol-pretreated larvae of S.

Facile Integration between Si and Catalyst for High-Performance Photoanodes by a Multifunctional Bridging Layer.

Designing high-quality interfaces is crucial for high-performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting devices. Here, we demonstrate a facile integration between polycrystalline np-Si and NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheet array by a partially activated Ni (Ni/NiO) bridging layer for the excellent PEC water oxidation. In this model system, the thermally deposited Ni interlayer protects Si against corrosion and makes good contact with Si, and NiO has a high capacity of hole accumulation and strong bonding with the electrodeposited NiFe-LDH due to the similarity in material composition and structure, facilitating transfer of accumulated holes to the catalyst.

Microscopic cuticle structure comparison of pupal melanic and wild strain of Spodoptera exigua and their gene expression profiles in three time points.

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), is one of the major crop pests and is a target for current pest control approaches using insecticides. S. exigua melanic mutants (SEM) spontaneously occurred in the S.

Sacrificial Interlayer for Promoting Charge Transport in Hematite Photoanode.

The semiconductor/electrolyte interface plays a crucial role in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting devices as it determines both thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the photoelectrode. Interfacial engineering is central for the device performance improvement. Taking the cheap and stable hematite (α-FeO) wormlike nanostructure photoanode as a model system, we design a facile sacrificial interlayer approach to suppress the crystal overgrowth and realize Ti doping into the crystal lattice of α-FeO in one annealing step as well as to avoid the consequent anodic shift of the photocurrent onset potential, ultimately achieving five times increase in its water oxidation photocurrent compared to the bare hematite by promoting the transport of charge carriers, including both separation of photogenerated charge carriers within the bulk semiconductor and transfer of holes across the semiconductor-electrolyte interface.

Isolation and functional identification of three cuticle protein genes during metamorphosis of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua.

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), is one of the major crop pests and is a target for current pest control approaches using insecticides. In this study three cuticular protein genes CPG316, CPG860 and CPG4855 have been cloned from 0 h pupal integument of S. exigua through race PCR Strategy.

Expression and functional analysis of the lysine decarboxylase and copper amine oxidase genes from the endophytic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026.

Huperzine A (HupA) isolated from Huperzia serrata is an important compound used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, HupA was reported in various endophytic fungi, with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026 previously isolated from H. serrata shown to produce HupA.

Osmoregulation and antioxidant production in maize under combined cadmium and arsenic stress.

An investigation was carried out to examine the combined and individual effects of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) stress on osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant activities, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production at different growth stages (45, 60, 75, 90 days after sowing (DAS)) of two maize cultivars viz., Dong Dan 80 and Run Nong 35. The Cd (100 μM) and As (200 μM) were applied separately as well as in combination (Cd + As) at 30 DAS.