Taify Pomegranate Juice (TPJ) Abrogates Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress Through the Regulation of Antioxidant Activity, Inflammation, and Apoptosis-Associated Genes.

Acrylamide (ACR) has various effects on biological systems, including oxidative stress and its associated metabolic disorders. Previous research reports that plants growing at high altitude have a different profile of antioxidants. In the current report, the Taify pomegranate juice (TPJ) of the Taify pomegranate growing at the Taif region (high altitude), Saudi Arabia, was investigated for its protective activity from ACR-induced oxidative stress. Rats were treated with ACR, TPJ, or TPJ+ACR, and various assays, including blood chemistry, liver function biomarkers, gene expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress regulatory genes, inflammation biomarkers, and apoptosis, were estimated using biochemical, real-time PCR, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analysis. TPJ showed a protective function of ACR-induced alteration of AST, ALT, GGT, urea, total proteins, albumin, MDA, and NO. It also increased the level of the endogenous antioxidative enzymes, including SOD, catalase, and GSH. It showed anti-inflammatory activity by reduction the TNF-α, IL-6 secretion and the enhancing of IL-10 levels. At the gene expression level, TPJ upregulated the expression of endogenous antioxidant genes (SOD and catalase) and of antioxidant-regulating genes Nrf2 and HO-1; downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes TGF-ß1, COX2, and the apoptotic gene caspase-3; and upregulated the expression of antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. At the histological level, TPJ showed a protective effect from the ACR-induced hepatic histological damage. Results of this study conclude that TPJ has a protective effect from ACR-induced oxidative stress and its associated metabolic alterations through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

The prevalence and intensity of external parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Egypt with special reference to the role of deltamethrin as insecticidal agent.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and intensity of external parasites in domestic pigeons in Giza, Egypt, from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 300 domestic pigeons (25 pigeons per month) were examined. The birds were divided into groups based on their age. The oxidative stress parameters; serum zinc concentration, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum Nitric oxide were evaluated in single and mixed external parasitic infestations. The prevalence of external parasites in examined pigeons was 80.3%. The detected parasites were Pseudolynchia canariensis (P. canariensis), Hippobosca equina (H. equina), Columbicola columbae (C. columbae), Menopon gallinae (M. gallinae), Knemidocoptes species (spp.) and Dermanyssus gallinae (D. gallinae); their incidences were 41.6, 26, 7, 5,0.33 and 0.33%, respectively. The highest infestation was recorded in both spring and summer. . The incidence of disease was higher in squabs and young birds than in adults. The mixed external parasitic infestation was recorded in this study. The infected birds showed decreased serum zinc concentration and elevated MDA and serum Nitric oxide levels. In conclusion, regular monthly treatment with deltamethrin is recommended as an effective drug in the treatment of the infested birds and succeeded in reducing the incidence of externalparasites in the treated birds; in addition, pigeon management measures must be implemented to reduce the risk of external parasites.

Biological silicon nanoparticles maximize the efficiency of nematicides against biotic stress induced by Meloidogyne incognita in eggplant.

Nemours effective management tactics were used to reduce world crop losses caused by plant-parasitic nematodes. Nowadays the metallic nanoparticles are easily developed with desired size and shape. Nanoparticles (NPs) technology becomes a recognized need for researchers. Ecofriendly and biosafe SiNPs are developed from microorganisms. Recently, silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) have gained novel pesticide properties against numerous agricultural pests. This study assessed the biosynthesis of SiNPs from Fusarium oxysporum SM5. The obtained SiNPs were spherical with a size of 45 nm and a negative charge of -25.65. The nematocidal effect of SiNPs against egg hatching and second-stage juveniles (J2) of root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne incognita) was evaluated on eggplant,Solanum melongena L. plants. In vitro, all tested SiNPs concentrations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) inhibited the percentage of egg hatching at a different time of exposure than control. Meanwhile, after 72 h, the percent mortality of J2 ranged from 87.00 % to 98.50 %, with SiNPs (100 and 200 ppm). The combination between SiNPs and the half-recommended doses (0.5 RD) of commercial nematicides namely,  fenamiphos (Femax 40 % EC)R, nemathorin (Fosthiazate 10 % WG) R, and fosthiazate (krenkel 75 % EC) R confirmed the increase of egg hatching inhibition and J2 mortality after exposure to SiNPs (100 ppm) mixed with 0.5 RD of synthetic nematicides. The findings suggest that the combination between SiNPs, and 0.5 RD of nematicides reduced nematode reproduction, gall formation, egg masses on roots and final population of J2 in the soil. Therefore, improving the plant growth parameters by reducing the M. incognita population.

Toxicity, Deterrent and Repellent Activities of Four Essential Oils on Aphis punicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Chemical insecticides have many harmful effects, including as foodborne residues and environmental contaminants, as well as side effects on natural enemies and serious risks for human health. The use of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) as effective bio-agents has become an essential component of integrated pest management. In this study, the contact toxicity, deterrent, and repellent activities were evaluated for essential oils obtained from Mentha piperita, Mentha longifolia, Salvia officinalis, and Salvia rosmarinus, grown at high altitudes in the Taif region, KSA, on Aphis punicae. Furthermore, the toxicity of these EOs against the predator Coccinella undecimpunctata was estimated. A total of 17, 14, 16, and 26 compounds were identified in the EOs of M. piperita, M. longifolia, S. officinalis, and S. rosmarinus, respectively. They showed a variation in the major compounds: M. piperita (Carvone, 61.16%), M. longifolia (Pulegone, 48.6%), S. officinalis (Eucalyptol, 33.52%), and S. rosmarinus (α-pinene, 36.65%). A contact toxicity test on A. punicae imago and C. undecimpunctata larvae showed that LC50 were approximately four-fold greater for all tested EOs towards aphids compared to towards the predator, while the two species of Salvia sp. were more effective than the other two species of Mentha sp. The LC50 values on A. punicae ranged from 1.57 to 2.97 µg/mL, while on C. undecimpunctata larvae, they ranged from 5.96 to 10.33 µg/mL. Furthermore, the EOs of two species of Salvia sp. showed excellent repellence and deterrence against A. punicae. In conclusion, the tested EOs, especially those from Salvia sp., have been shown to be promising natural aphicides, repellent, and deterrent against A. punicae, and they are safe for important insect predators.

Field Evaluation of Native Fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin Against some Piercing-Sucking Insects on the Grapevine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Taify cultivar of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the second important economical fruit after pomegranate at high altitudes of the Taif region in Saudi Arabia. The grapevine trees are infested with different piercing-sucking insect pests especially aphids, whiteflies and thrips. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an indigenous endophytic entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana to control the important piercing-sucking insect pests on grapevines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This investigation was carried out through 5, 10 and 15 day intervals between sprays for controlling Aphis illinoisensis, Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis with a concentration of 6×106 conidia mL-1 under field conditions. RESULTS: The higher infestation in the untreated control was by aphids followed by whitefly and thrips. At the end of the experiment in the treated trees, aphid and whitefly reduction percentages with 5 day intervals of sprays (98.5 and 96.12%, respectively) were not significantly different from 10 day intervals (95.17 and 91.81%, respectively) while these reductions were significantly higher than the reduction occurred by 15 day intervals of sprays (65.93 and 44.51%, respectively). Meanwhile, the 3 intervals of sprays did not differ significantly in the thrips reduction occurred by them with a range from 93.62-96.46%. CONCLUSION: This indigenous B. bassiana as 6×106 conidia mL-1 with 10 day intervals of the spray-on grapevine can suppress the piercing-sucking insect pests. This also will participate in grapevine organic production and furthermore, it could replace the chemical treatment.