Assessment of air pollution tolerance potential of selected dicot tree species for urban forestry.

Air pollution is one of the killers of our age especially for the urban areas. Urban forestry which involves planting more trees has been considered as one of the prominent strategies to mitigate air pollution. Identification of trees tolerant to air pollution is important for plantation drives being organized across the country. The present study aimed to compare the air pollution tolerance potential of 46 tree species growing in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus, Amritsar, using two indices, viz., Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). APTI is based on four biochemical parameters, viz., relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid contents of leaf samples, whereas API takes into consideration morphological and socioeconomic values of plant species along with their APTI. Based on APTI values calculated for 46 tree species, only 2 tree species, viz., Psidium guajava (46.26) and Cassia fistula (41.83), were found to be tolerant to air pollution, while 25 species showed intermediate tolerance. API scores revealed one tree species, namely, P. guajava, as an excellent performer, 8 species as very good performers, and 28 species as moderate to good performers against air pollution. In conclusion, tree species like Alstonia scholaris, C. fistula, Ficus tsjakela, Grevillea robusta, Kigelia africana, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, P. guajava, Pongamia pinnata, Pterospermum acerifolium, Putranjiva roxburghii, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, and Toona ciliata can be considered as most desirable for plantations in areas around GNDU campus.

First report of tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and detection of other viruses in field-grown tomatoes in North-Western region of India.

Tomato crop is known to be infected by large number of viruses across the globe causing severe losses in its yield. Accurate information on the distribution and incidence of different viruses is essential to implement virus control strategies. This study provides information on prevalence and distribution of different viruses infecting tomato crop in North-western region of India. Leaf samples of 76 symptomatic tomato and 30 symptomatic and asymptomatic plants of Chenopodium sp. (weed) were collected from eight villages. DAS-ELISA and/or RT-PCR/PCR were used to detect occurrence of nineteen viruses and one viroid in tomatoes. Nine viruses viz. cucumber mosaic virus, groundnut bud necrosis virus, potato virus M, potato virus S, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tomato chlorosis virus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus and tomato mosaic virus were detected in 58 of 76 tomato samples. Detection of viruses was confirmed by cloning of specific amplicons followed by sequencing and submission of sequences to the GenBank database. None of the targeted pathogens were found in collected weed samples. Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) was the most prevalent virus (64.47%) followed by potato virus Y (PVY) (23.68%). Double, triple, quadruple and quintuple infections were also noticed. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences was also carried out. Nine viruses infecting tomato crop from North-western region of India were detected. ToLCNDV was most prevalent with highest incidence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ToCV on tomato from India. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-022-00801-y.

Spatiotemporal assessment of potentially toxic elements in sediments and roadside soil samples and associated ecological risk in Ropar wetland and its environs.

Sediments from banks of the Sutlej River and roadside soils from vicinity of Ropar wetland (collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, 2013) were analysed to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs, viz. arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc), which when present in high concentrations may pose health hazards and ecological risk. Contamination factor, degree of contamination, modified degree of contamination, metal pollution index, pollution load index, enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and ecological risk index were also determined for these PTEs in the study area. Sediment and soil samples were found to be alkaline and non-saline (pH > 7.0; EC < 4500 µS cm-1) with sodium and potassium as major ions. Iron (mg kg-1) was found to be most abundant in sediments (1477.59-6512.45) and soils (922.64-12,455.00). Cadmium content in sediments exceeded the threshold value (0.99 mg kg-1) at 2 (pre-monsoon) and 3 (post-monsoon) sampling sites. In both seasons, cadmium (0.10-2.05) and cobalt (11.40-17.52) contents (mg kg-1) exceeded the threshold limits (0.06 and 8.00 respectively) in all roadside soils. Significant spatiotemporal variation (p ≤ 0.05) was observed for pH; EC; and calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc contents. Low to moderate potential ecological risk was observed for both roadside soils (31.80-213.82) and sediments (41.47-236.73). Contamination factor, enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index for cadmium were highest in roadside soils (6.84, 46.91 and 2.19, respectively) and sediments (7.64, 167.46 and 2.35, respectively) due to settlement of coal fly ash released from the industrial setups, on sediments/soils of the study area.

Assessment of Metal(loid) Contamination and Genotoxic Potential of Agricultural Soils.

Soil, a connecting link between biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystem, receives different kinds of pollutants through various point and nonpoint sources. Among different sources of soil pollution, contaminated irrigation water is one of the most prominent sources affecting soils throughout the globe. The irrigation water (both surface and groundwater) is increasingly getting polluted with contaminants such as metal(loid)s due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study was conducted to analyze metal(loid) contents in agricultural soil samples (N = 24) collected from fields along the banks of rivers Beas and Sutlej flowing through Punjab state of India, using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectroscopy. The soil samples were also analyzed for their genotoxic potential using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The rivers Beas and Sutlej are contaminated with municipal and industrial effluents in different parts of Punjab. The soil samples analyzed were found to have higher contents of arsenic, cobalt and chromium in comparison with the reference values given by various international agencies. Pollution assessment using different indices like index of geo-accumulation, enrichment factor and contamination factor revealed that the soil samples were highly polluted with cobalt and arsenic. The Allium cepa assay revealed that maximum genotoxicity was found in soil samples having higher contents of As and Co. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlation between the different metal(loid)s which indicated common sources of these metal(loid)s. Therefore, efforts must be taken to reduce the levels of these metal(loid)s in these agricultural soils.

Investigation of metal concentrations in roadside soils and plants in urban areas of Amritsar, Punjab, India, under different traffic densities.

Vehicular emissions containing traces of different heavy metals are known to cause significant contamination of roadside soils and plants. The present study was conducted to investigate the heavy metal concentrations in roadside soil and plant samples (Alstonia scholaris, Nerium oleander, Tabernaemontana divaricata, and Thevetia peruviana) collected from urban areas of Amritsar city of Punjab, India, under different traffic densities. The soil and plant samples were collected in pre- and post-monsoon seasons from seven roadside sites under varying levels of traffic density and analyzed for four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn). In addition to that, total protein and carotenoid contents in plant samples were also determined. pH and electrical conductivity analysis of roadside soil samples revealed slight to strongly alkaline and non-saline nature of soil. Significant reduction in contents of total proteins and carotenoids was observed in plants collected from sites with moderate to high traffic density. The trend of heavy metal contents in plants and their corresponding soil samples was observed to be Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd for both the seasons. Index of geo-accumulation indicated moderate contamination of soil with metals analyzed, while bio-accumulation factor (BAF) showed both absorption and accumulation of metals in plants under study. The study revealed significant contamination of roadside soil and plants of Amritsar city which was linked to vehicular emissions posing potential risk to human health.

Contamination of rice crop with potentially toxic elements and associated human health risks-a review.

Production of rice, a major staple food crop, should be maintained both quantitatively and qualitatively to assure global food security. In recent decades, various natural (biogeochemical weathering of rocks) and anthropogenic (increased application of agrochemicals, solid and liquid waste discharges from domestic and industrial areas, vehicular pollution, etc.) activities have deteriorated soil and water resources by contributing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) to the environment. Shortage of land resources and requirements of the ever-increasing human population has led to increasing global trend of rice cultivation in contaminated soils, causing accumulation of various PTEs such as arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in rice crop, especially in the grains. Rice plants uptake and accumulate PTEs leading to their entry into the food chain. Consumption of rice contaminated with PTEs disturbs the human metabolism as PTEs interfere with different physiological/molecular mechanisms causing various health problems such as weak bones; skin problems; respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, reproductive, and hepatic disorders; and cancer. Possible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks have been determined in some studies by following the guidelines provided by various governmental or non-governmental agencies. Considering these facts, the present study was conducted to give a broader perspective on rice contamination with various potentially toxic elements, their bioconcentration in rice, associated health risks in human beings, and strategies for bioremediation of soil and water resources to eliminate PTEs.

Physico-chemical characterization and topological analysis of pathogenesis-related proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa using in-silico approaches.

Plants are constantly under the threat of various biotic and abiotic stress conditions and to overcome these stresses, they have evolved multiple mechanisms including systematic accumulation of different phytohormones, phytoalexins and pathogenesis related (PR) proteins. PR proteins are cluster of proteins with low molecular weight which get incited in plants under different stresses. In this paper, in-silico approaches are used to compare the physico-chemical properties of 6 PR proteins (PR1, PR2, PR5, PR9, PR10, PR12) of Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. Topological analysis revealed the presence of transmembrane localization of PR2 and absence of transmembrane domain in PR10 of both model plants studied. Amino acid composition shows the dominance of small aliphatic amino acids i.e. alanine, glycine and serine in both plants studied. These results highlights the similarities and differences between PRs of both model plants, which provides clue towards their diversified roles in plants.

CpGDB : A Comprehensive Database of Chloroplast Genomes.

Chloroplast Genome Database (CpGDB) is user friendly, web-based, freely available and dynamic relational database which provides a platform for researchers to search and download complete chloroplast genome sequences, individual gene sequences and feature records of plant species belonging to same or different families of spermatophytes. Presently, the database consists of genome sequences, individual gene sequences and feature records of chloroplast genomes of 3823 plant species belonging to 1527 genera from 256 families, which will be updated regularly with the availability of new sequences at NCBI. Extensive data mining of feature records from GenBank files, uniform nomenclature for majority of genes, enriched intron/exon feature records makes CpGDB a valuable resource for studies in chloroplast genomics while complementing existing chloroplast databases.

Contamination of vegetables with heavy metals across the globe: hampering food security goal.

Food Security is a multifaceted aspect covering nutrition, availability, sufficiency, accessibility and safety. Millennium Development Goals as framed by United Nations focused to attain food security for all. The biggest hindrance in attaining food security was less productivity due to lack of enough resources. In order to increase the availability and produce sufficient food, malpractices like growing food on contaminated land or using untreated wastewater for irrigation came into play. Such practices have led to the transfer of heavy metals, pathogens and other harmful toxins to food crops. Various studies across the world have documented high concentration of heavy metals in vegetable crops. Root tubers and succulent stems are hyperaccumulators of heavy metals and thus tend to pose health hazard to the consuming population. In many instances the content of toxic metals in vegetables is much beyond permissible limits. Hazard quotient assessment in various studies has shown that consumption of these vegetables can be toxic to both adults and children. So, the question arises are we really attaining the global food security? There is a need to find a solution to produce sufficient, safe and nutritious food for the civilization so as to meet the goal of "zero hunger".

Potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health hazards of metal(loid)s in food grains.

Metal(loid) contamination of vital food grains such as wheat and rice is a very serious problem throughout the world because consumption of such contaminated food can lead to severe health effects in humans. Metal(loid) contamination of food crops can occur from different sources such as contaminated soil, irrigation water, and aerial deposition. Therefore, the present study was conducted to analyze potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health impacts posed by different metal(loid)s (As Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) via consumption of wheat and rice grown on metal(loid)-contaminated soils in areas around rivers (Beas and Sutlej) of Punjab, India. Among the metal(loid)s analyzed in wheat and rice samples, contents of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb were found to be above the international (FAO/WHO and EU) maximum permissible limits. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment of individual metal(loid)s revealed that As posed highest risk followed by Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb. The values of indices calculated for analysis of combined non-carcinogenic, i.e., (hazard index; range 3.49-15.94) and carcinogenic (total carcinogenic risk index; range 8.30 × 10-4-131.62 × 10-4) risks for both crops were found to be many fold higher than the prescribed limits of 1.0 and 1.0 × 10-4, respectively. Thus, the analysis of combined risks posed by metal(loid)s indicated that human population consuming wheat and rice from the study area faced both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Therefore, immediate steps must be taken to reduce the levels of metal(loid)s in wheat and rice from the study area.

Appraisal of heavy metal contents in groundwater and associated health hazards posed to human population of Ropar wetland, Punjab, India and its environs.

Heavy metals are well recognised for their toxicity and pose human health risks even at very low levels. In the present work, groundwater from Ropar wetland, Punjab, India and its environs (18 sites), were analysed for physico-chemical parameters, water quality indices, heavy metal contents (cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead and zinc) and possible health risks posed to adults and children during summer and winter seasons. Groundwater was slightly-alkaline, non-saline and hard which may be suitable for irrigation purposes. Among 18 samples, 7 and 9 samples in summer; 8 and 18 samples in winter exceeded BIS acceptable limits (mg L-1) of 0.003 and 0.05 for cadmium and chromium, respectively. Mean non-cancer hazard quotients for cobalt (5.09-7.63) were >1. Mean hazard indices for cumulative risks posed by all heavy metals (6.00-10.11) were also >1. These results indicated higher risk of non-cancerous health problems in residents of the study area. Chromium was found to pose significant possible cancer risk (1.20-2.99 cases/1000 persons). Children were more prone to health problems than adults due to their lower body weight with greater risk in winters, which may be attributed to higher contamination of heavy metals in groundwater after leaching during monsoons. The results of water quality analysis and risk assessment indicated that the groundwater suffered from significant contamination and if used for long-term without pre-treatment, may pose serious health risks to human population via drinking water and irrigation of agricultural fields due to bioconcentration of heavy metals in food crops cultivated in those fields.

Potential ecological risks of metal(loid)s in riverine floodplain soils.

The quality of soils under different land uses is getting deteriorated throughout the world due to various anthropogenic activities. This deterioration is highly complex in riverine floodplain areas due to contamination by multiple point and non-point sources and change in seasons. Therefore, a study was conducted to analyze seasonal (pre and post-monsoon) variations in physico-chemical characteristics, contents of metal(loid)s (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn) in riverine floodplain soils under three land uses (agricultural, riverbank and roadside) from areas around the rivers Beas and Sutlej in Punjab, India. Further, analysis was done to assess the ecological and genotoxic risks (Allium cepa genotoxicity assay) posed by metal(loid)s in these soils. It was observed that soil samples under the three land uses were slightly alkaline (pre-monsoon) to acidic (post-monsoon) in nature with sandy texture and low soil organic matter. The levels of most metal(loid)s increased in post-monsoon soil samples under the three land uses, which was attributed to increase in soil organic matter, silt and clay contents in post-monsoon samples due to precipitation, flooding and sedimentation. The ecological Risk Index (58.3-104.5) and Modified Risk Index (145.2-178.9) calculated to analyze the level of ecological risks of metal(loid)s revealed that As, Cd and Sb posed moderate to considerable ecological risks in the agricultural and roadside soils in both seasons. Allium cepa genotoxicity assay indicated that the metal(loid)s in studied soils can cause genotoxic effects in biological systems. Therefore, various steps such as reduction in use of agrochemicals, promotion of organic agricultural methods and decontamination of soils using techniques such as phytoremediation etc must be taken to ensure reduction and containment of metal(loid)s in such riverine floodplain areas.

Bioactivities of phytochemicals present in tomato.

Tomato is a wonder fruit fortified with health-promoting phytochemicals that are beneficial in preventing important chronic degenerative disorders. Tomato is a good source of phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids (lycopene, α, and ß carotene), vitamins (ascorbic acid and vitamin A) and glycoalkaloids (tomatine). Bioactive constituents present in tomato have antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic activities. Health promoting bioactivities of tomatoes make them useful ingredient for the development of functional foods. Protective role of tomato (lycopene as a potent antioxidant) in humans against various degenerative diseases are known throughout the world. Intake of tomato is inversely related to the incidence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ageing and many other health problems. Bioavailability of phytoconstituents in tomato is generally not affected by routine cooking processes making it even more beneficial for human consumption. The present review provides collective information of phytochemicals in tomato along with discussing their bioactivities and possible health benefits.

Estimation of arsenic, manganese and iron in mustard seeds, maize grains, groundwater and associated human health risks in Ropar wetland, Punjab, India, and its adjoining areas.

Present study was conducted to estimate the bioconcentration of total arsenic (t-As), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) in mustard seeds and maize grains cultivated in agricultural fields of Ropar wetland and its surroundings. Possible health risks posed to residents of study area via daily dietary intake of inorganic arsenic (i-As), manganese and iron via consumption of mustard seeds, maize grains and groundwater were also assessed. i-As content was determined form t-As using relevant conversion factor (i-As = t-As in groundwater and i-As = 70% t-As in food crops). Mustard seeds acted as accumulator of arsenic as mean bioconcentration factor (BCF) was > 1 for 66.67% of the samples. BCFs of t-As, Mn and Fe for mustard seeds and maize grains varied logarithmically with their respective concentrations in soil samples, except BCF for Mn in mustard seeds, which followed a linear model. Hazard quotient and hazard index values of i-As, Mn and Fe were found to be > 1 for mustard seeds and groundwater samples. Possible cancer risk was determined for i-As in mustard seeds, maize grains and groundwater samples > 1.00E-06. These results indicated that daily dietary intake of mustard seeds, maize grains and groundwater contaminated with i-As, Mn and Fe is highly unsafe as it may cause a high possibility of appearance of cancerous and non-cancerous health problems in human population of study area.

Heavy metal contamination in soil, food crops and associated health risks for residents of Ropar wetland, Punjab, India and its environs.

In the present study, an assessment of heavy metal content in soil and food crops (wheat, rice, maize grains and mustard seeds) and associated health risks was carried out for residents of Ropar wetland and its environs. All the soil samples had high cadmium and cobalt contents, whereas, all crop samples had high contents of cobalt and lead. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis indicated that rice grains act as hyper-accumulators of chromium (BCF = 17.98) and copper (BCF = 10.91), whereas, maize grains act as hyper-accumulators of copper (BCF = 30.43). One-way ANOVA suggested that heavy metal content in food crops varied significantly at p ≤ 0.05 for different sites, indicating anthropogenic contribution of heavy metals in agricultural fields. Dietary intake of cobalt via all food crops posed higher non-cancer health risk to residents in comparison to other heavy metals. Chromium posed highest cancer risk through consumption of wheat grains, being staple diet in study area.

Polyphenols in Food: Cancer Prevention and Apoptosis Induction.

Polyphenols are a group of water-soluble organic compounds, mainly of natural origin. The compounds having about 5-7 aromatic rings and more than 12 phenolic hydroxyl groups are classified as polyphenols. These are the antioxidants which protect the body from oxidative damage. In plants, they are the secondary metabolites produced as a defense mechanism against stress factors. Antioxidant property of polyphenols is suggested to provide protection against many diseases associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), including cancer. Various studies carried out across the world have suggested that polyphenols can inhibit the tumor generation, induce apoptosis in cancer cells and interfere in progression of tumors. This group of wonder compounds is present in surplus in natural plants and food products. Intake of polyphenols through diet can scavenge ROS and thus can help in cancer prevention. The plant derived products can also be used along with conventional chemotherapy to enhance the chemopreventive effects. The present review focuses on various in vitro and in vivo studies carried out to assess the anti-carcinogenic potential of polyphenols present in our food. Also, the pathways involved in cancer chemopreventive effects of various subclasses (flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes and phenolic acids) of polyphenols are discussed.

In-silico analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements of pathogenesis-related proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa.

Pathogenesis related (PR) proteins are low molecular weight family of proteins induced in plants under various biotic and abiotic stresses. They play an important role in plant-defense mechanism. PRs have wide range of functions, acting as hydrolases, peroxidases, chitinases, anti-fungal, protease inhibitors etc. In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze promoter regions of PR1, PR2, PR5, PR9, PR10 and PR12 of Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. Analysis of cis-element distribution revealed the functional multiplicity of PRs and provides insight into the gene regulation. CpG islands are observed only in rice PRs, which indicates that monocot genome contains more GC rich motifs than dicots. Tandem repeats were also observed in 5' UTR of PR genes. Thus, the present study provides an understanding of regulation of PR genes and their versatile roles in plants.

Assessment of arsenic content in soil, rice grains and groundwater and associated health risks in human population from Ropar wetland, India, and its vicinity.

In the present study, potential health risks posed to human population from Ropar wetland and its vicinity, by consumption of inorganic arsenic (i-As) via arsenic contaminated rice grains and groundwater, were assessed. Total arsenic (t-As) in soil and rice grains were found in the range of 0.06-0.11 mg/kg and 0.03-0.33 mg/kg, respectively, on dry weight basis. Total arsenic in groundwater was in the range of 2.31-15.91 µg/L. i-As was calculated from t-As using relevant conversion factors. Rice plants were found to be arsenic accumulators as bioconcentration factor (BCF) was observed to be >1 in 75% of rice grain samples. Further, correlation analysis revealed that arsenic accumulation in rice grains decreased with increase in the electrical conductivity of soil. One-way ANOVA, cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicated that both geogenic and anthropogenic sources affected t-As in soil and groundwater. Hazard index and total cancer risk estimated for individuals from the study area were above the USEPA limits of 1.00 and 1.00 × 10-6, respectively. Kruskal-Wallis H test indicated that groundwater intake posed significantly higher health risk than rice grain consumption (χ 2(1) = 17.280, p = 0.00003).

Evaluation of air pollution tolerance index and anticipated performance index of plants and their application in development of green space along the urban areas.

Air pollution due to vehicular emissions has become one of the most serious problems in the whole world and has resulted in huge threat to both the environment and the health of living organisms (plants, humans, animals, microorganisms). Plants growing along the roadsides get affected at the maximum as they are the primary recipients to different air pollutants and show varied levels of tolerance and sensitivity. Taking this into account, the present work was based on assessment of seasonal variation in air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) of four roadside plants, namely, Alstonia scholaris, Nerium oleander, Tabernaemontana coronaria, and Thevetia peruviana belonging to family Apocynaceae. APTI was calculated by the determination of four important biochemical parameters, viz., pH, relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll (TChl), and ascorbic acid (AsA) content of leaves. The leaf samples were collected from plants growing at seven different sites of Amritsar (Punjab), India, for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Highest APTI (82.14) was reported in N. oleander during the pre-monsoon season while the lowest was recorded in T. coronaria (18.59) in the post-monsoon season. On the basis of API score, A. scholaris was anticipated to be an excellent performer during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons followed by N. oleander, T. coronaria, and T. peruviana. Linear regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient depicted significant positive correlation between APTI and ascorbic acid content during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.