935 results match your criteria: "College of Food and Agricultural Sciences[Affiliation]"

This study aimed at co-encapsulating borage seed oil (BSO)- and peppermint oil (PO) blends in ultrasound-assisted complex nanoparticles stabilized by soy protein isolate (SPI) and purity gum ultra (PGU) in different ratios: SPI/PGU-1:0 (NP), 0:1 (NP), 1:1 (NP), 1:3 (NP), and 3:1 (NP). The BSO- and PO-loaded SPI/PGU complex nanoparticles (BP-loaded SPNPs) coded as NP (SPI-PGU-1:3) revealed a zeta potential of -33.27 mV, a PDI of 0.

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Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are used in several sectors as antitumor, antimicrobial, and environmental adsorbents. Thus, the present research objective was the production of bacterial-SeNPs as an active and environmentally-friendly antibacterial and adsorbent agents and application into novel nanocomposite filter. From a total of 25 samples (soil, wastewater, and water) obtained from different locations in Egypt, 60 selenium-resistant bacterial isolates were obtained (on a mineral salt medium supplemented with selenium ions).

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Nutrients and water are important ecophysiological components for apples' development and productivity. The combination of high-density plantation, drip irrigation, and weekly fertigation not only conserves irrigation water, but also reduces cultivation costs compared to conventional methods. Leaf nutrient analysis provides insight into nutrient levels and assists in determining irrigation and fertigation schedules.

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Every year, unfavorable environmental factors significantly affect crop productivity and threaten food security. Plants are sessile; they cannot move to escape unfavorable environmental conditions, and therefore, they activate a variety of defense pathways. Among them are processes regulated by stress-associated proteins (SAPs).

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Article Synopsis
  • Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a useful substance in tissue engineering and pharmaceutical research, derived from cattle blood.
  • This study investigated how different polyols affect the phase separation of a mixture of Triton X-100 (TX-100) and BSA, finding that polyols significantly lower the cloud point (CP) of the mixture, with solubility varying based on the type of polyol used.
  • Results indicated that electrostatic forces are dominant at lower concentrations of polyols, while higher concentrations shift interactions to hydrophobic forces; molecular docking confirmed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between TX-100 and BSA.
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Ficus auriculata Lour. (Moraceae) is an underutilized wild edible fruit widely consumed for its nutritional properties. The present study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties of the F.

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The pollution of heavy metals (HMs) is a major environmental concern for agricultural farming communities due to water scarcity, which forces farmers to use wastewater for irrigation purposes in Pakistan. Vegetables grown around the cities are irrigated with domestic and industrial wastewater from areas near mining, paint, and ceramic industries that pollute edible parts of crops with various HMs. Cadmium (Cd) is an extremely toxic metal in arable soil that enters the food chain and damages the native biota, ultimately causing a reduction in plant growth and development.

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Recently, Saudi growers have expanded their production of organic, soilless-grown strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), but their production shows many difficulties associated with disease susceptibility. In October 2021, 45% of strawberry plants cv.

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  • Anise seeds hold nutritional and therapeutic value, making them beneficial for both animal and human health; this study explores ways to enhance their nutritional and biological properties.
  • Researchers investigated the effects of an endophytic strain, JW0824, isolated from a medicinal plant in Saudi Arabia, on four varieties of anise seeds from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Morocco, and found significant increases in seed weight and oil yields.
  • The study showed that biofortification led to increases in various beneficial compounds like proteins, sugars, flavonoids, and vitamins, particularly in the Egyptian and Tunisian varieties, suggesting that this endophyte could be used to improve seed quality and agricultural practices.
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The evolution of chemosensory receptors is key for the adaptation of animals to their environment. Recent knowledge acquired on the tri-dimensional structure of insect odorant receptors makes it possible to study the link between modifications in the receptor structure and evolution of response spectra in more depth. We investigated this question in palm weevils, several species of which are well-known invasive pests of ornamental or cultivated palm trees worldwide.

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T2 RNases are transferase-type enzymes distributed across phyla, crucial for breaking down single-stranded RNA molecules. In addition to their canonical function, several T2 enzymes exhibit pleiotropic roles, contributing to various biological processes, such as the immune response in invertebrates and vertebrates. This study aims at characterizing RNASET2 in the larvae of black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, which are used for organic waste reduction and the production of valuable insect biomolecules for feed formulation and other applications.

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Adding organic soil amendments can improve the physical and hydrological properties of soil, subsequently enhancing fertility for better crop production. In this study, spent Arabica and Columbian coffee wastes and their respective biochars were evaluated as soil amendments to improve the physical and hydrological properties of loamy sand soil and enhance maize (Zea mays L.) crop growth.

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Pyrolysed maize feedstock utilization in combination with Trichoderma viride against Macrophomina phaseolina.

Sci Rep

August 2024

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Maize cultivation is under the growing threat of charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina). Chemical control of diseases imparts serious health hazards to humans and the ecosystem. Biochar as an alternative disease management approach has been under consideration of the researchers for some time now.

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Background: Concurrent infections or co-infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are quite rampant in paediatrics living in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, and if left untreated, can result in severe complications and hence must be addressed to ensure their health and well-being.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic and H. pylori co-infections and associated factors among paediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who attended the Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH), Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia, from September to November 2020.

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Interaction between a surface active ionic liquid (IL) viz. 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Dmim][Cl] with three novel amino acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DES, consisting of choline chloride and l-methionine (DES1), l-phenylalanine (DES2), and l-glutamine (DES3) in a 1: 2 mol ratio) is studied. Several techniques, including surface tension, fluorescence, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), were used to investigate the key micellar properties and intermolecular interactions between the IL and DESs.

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The management of groundwater systems is essential for nations that rely on groundwater as the principal source of communal water supply (e.g., Mohmand District of Pakistan).

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This study explores the use of algae for phycoremediation, focusing on how and detoxify water contaminated with captan, a common fungicide. The efficiency of these species in absorbing captan and the associated biochemical changes were evaluated to assess their potential for environmental protection. Microalgae were exposed to captan concentrations of 15 and 30 mg/L, and various parameters, including captan uptake, chlorophyll (Chl) a, carotenoid levels, and changes in metabolic profiles (soluble carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acids), were measured.

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Bio-perfume guns: Antifungal volatile activity of Bacillus sp. LNXM12 against postharvest pathogen Botrytis cinerea in tomato and strawberry.

Pestic Biochem Physiol

August 2024

Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Gray mold disease, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, is a significant threat to fruits like strawberries and tomatoes, prompting research on using Bacillus spp. volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as eco-friendly biocontrol agents.
  • In vitro tests showed that VOCs from Bacillus sp. LNXM12 were the most effective, inhibiting fungal growth by 61.2% and demonstrating a higher control efficacy on infected fruits compared to other strains.
  • Further analysis identified 22 VOCs, with synthetic compounds ethyloctynol and 3-methyl-2-pentanone (3M2P) showing strong inhibition of fungal growth and downregulating virulence genes in B. cinerea
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Medicinal herbs used in traditional diabetes treatment are a rich source of anti-diabetic compounds. Pancreatic α-amylase inhibitors offer an effective strategy to reduce postprandial hyperglycemic levels via control of starch degradation. In this context, our study for the first time investigates the effect of stamens extracts on α-amylase inhibition.

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Genomic distinctiveness and recombination in tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV-BG) isolates infecting bitter gourd.

3 Biotech

August 2024

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Article Synopsis
  • Two begomoviruses, ToLCNDV and BgYMV, infect bitter gourd in India, with ToLCNDV being the more prevalent strain at 92.43%.
  • The ToLCNDV variants identified in this study show only 88% genetic similarity to other ToLCNDV isolates and have unique protein sequences that differentiate them from other geminiviruses.
  • Recombination analysis indicates that these isolates are distinct enough to warrant the designation of a new strain, ToLCNDV-BG, due to their unique genomic characteristics.
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The present study aimed to evaluate antidiarrheal potential of prickly pear cladode and its hepatoprotective role in different groups of diarrhea-induced mice. Mice received cefixime (4 mg/kg of bw) and different concentrations of aqueous cladode extract (250 mg/kg of bw, 500 mg/kg of bw and 1000 mg/kg of bw). Feces ATCC 19430 was used to assess antidiarrheal potential and hematological, biochemical parameters, and histopathological analyses were carried out for 17 days.

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Insects are impacted by pollutants in their environments and food sources. Herein, we set out a semi-field study to assess the impact of environmental heavy metal contamination on developmental parameters, energy reserves, and acidic and alkaline phosphatases in the larval Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Castor leaves from contaminated and uncontaminated (reference site) areas were fed to A.

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Morpho-anatomical studies of family lamiaceae species of district Lahore, Punjab: a revision to flora of Pakistan.

BMC Plant Biol

July 2024

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on analyzing the leaf epidermal characteristics of fifteen Lamiaceae species in Lahore to refine their classification and understanding within the flora of Pakistan, which previously lacked detailed information on these species.
  • Various anatomical features, such as cell shapes, stomatal types, and trichome characteristics, were assessed using light and scanning electron microscopy, revealing significant variability among the species.
  • Key findings included specific types of stomata and trichomes unique to certain species, which may aid in identifying and differentiating these plants within the Lamiaceae family.
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