Genetic diversity, chemical constituents and anatomical analysis of eight popular Olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia.

In light of the multitude of olive trees cultivated and the lack of the genetic diversity of available genotypes to select varieties and lines that are characterized by high diversity and better performance under the corresponding conditions, A comparison analysis of the genotyping and morphological characteristics of eight olive cultivars growing in Saudi Arabia's Al-Jouf region was conducted and analyzed. Morpho-anatomical and chemical characteristics along with both inter-simple-sequence repeats (ISSRs) and start-codon-targeted (SCoT) markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity among eight olive varieties in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Analyses of 27 morphological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics concluded the existence of genetic differences among the studied varieties. Moreover, six ISSR and eight SCoT primer combinations produced a total of 48 loci, of which 18 (10 ISSR and 8 SCoT) were polymorphic. The average polymorphism information content (PIC values of 0.48 and 0.44, respectively) and marker index (MI of 0.79 and 0.48, respectively) detected for ISSR and SCoT markers revealed the prevalence of high genetic diversity among the studied olive varieties. Based on chemical and anatomical characteristics and the selected molecular markers, the eight olive cultivars were grouped into two distinct clusters. Clusters in the adjacent joint dendrogram produced using ISSR, SCoT and combined data were similar, and grouped all individuals into two groups. However, the dendrogram generated on the basis of SCoT separated individuals into subgroups containing at least two varieties. The findings showed that both methods were effective in assessing diversity, and that SCoT markers can be used as a reliable and informative method for assessing genetic diversity and relationships among olive varieties and can serve as a complementary tool to provide a more complete understanding of the genetic diversity available in Olea europaea populations in Saudi Arabia.

Correction to "Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09495.].

Recent advances in genome editing strategies for balancing growth and defence in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum).

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum ) has gained more attention worldwide in recent decades because of its importance as a bioenergy resource and in producing table sugar. However, the production capabilities of conventional varieties are being challenged by the changing climates, which struggle to meet the escalating demands of the growing global population. Genome editing has emerged as a pivotal field that offers groundbreaking solutions in agriculture and beyond. It includes inserting, removing or replacing DNA in an organism's genome. Various approaches are employed to enhance crop yields and resilience in harsh climates. These techniques include zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated protein (CRISPR/Cas). Among these, CRISPR/Cas is one of the most promising and rapidly advancing fields. With the help of these techniques, several crops like rice (Oryza sativa ), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ), maize (Zea mays ), barley (Hordeum vulgare ) and sugarcane have been improved to be resistant to viral diseases. This review describes recent advances in genome editing with a particular focus on sugarcane and focuses on the advantages and limitations of these approaches while also considering the regulatory and ethical implications across different countries. It also offers insights into future prospects and the application of these approaches in agriculture.

Mitigation of Salinity Stress and Lead Toxicity in Maize by Exogenous Application of the Sorghum Water Extract.

The increased concentration of lead (Pb) in soils is a serious threat to human beings and plants all over the world. Salinity stress is also a major issue across the globe, which limits crop productivity. The use of allelochemicals has become an effective strategy to mitigate the toxic effects of abiotic stresses. Sorghum is an important crop grown across the globe, and it also possesses an appreciably allelopathic potential. Therefore, this study was planned to determine the impacts of the sorghum water extract (SWE) on improving maize growth under Pb and salinity stress. The experiment included different treatments; control, SWE (3%), and different levels of Pb and salinity stress; T1: control, T2: 50 mM NaCl, T3: 100 mM NaCl, T4: 250 µM Pb, and T5: 500 µM Pb. Lead and salinity stress reduced the maize growth by the genesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as evidenced by higher production of malondialdehyde (MDA: 39.1 and 32.28%) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 20.62 and 17.81%). Spraying plants with SWE improved the maize growth by increasing antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidase: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD and superoxide dismutase: SOD), photosynthetic pigments, relative water contents (RWC), osmolyte accumulation (proline, total soluble proteins: TSP, free amino acids: FAA), potassium accumulation, and decreasing MDA, H2O2, sodium, chloride, and Pb accumulation. In conclusion, the application of SWE mitigates adverse impacts of Pb and salinity stresses by improving chlorophyll synthesis and osmolyte accumulation, activating the antioxidant defense system, and preventing the entry of toxic ions.

Silicon a key player to mitigate chromium toxicity in plants: Mechanisms and future prospective.

Chromium is a serious heavy metal (HM) and its concentration in plant-soil interface is soaring due to anthropogenic activities, unregulated disposals, and lack of efficient treatments. High concentration of Cr is toxic to ecosystems and human health. Cr stress also diminishes the plant performance by changing the plant's vegetative and reproductive development that ultimately affects sustainable crop production. Silicon (Si) is the second-most prevalent element in the crust of the planet, and has demonstrated a remarkable potential to minimize the HM toxicity. Amending soils with Si mitigates adverse effects of Cr by improving plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular functioning and ensuring better Cr immobilization, compartmentation, and co-precipitation. However, there is no comprehensive review on the role of Si to mitigate Cr toxicity in plants. Thus, in this present review; the discussion has been carried on; 1) the source of Cr, 2) underlying mechanisms of Cr uptake by plants, 3) how Si affects the plant functioning to reduce Cr toxicity, 4) how Si can cause immobilization, compartmentation, and co-precipitation 5) strategies to improve Si accumulation in plants to counter Cr toxicity. We also discussed the knowledge gaps and future research needs. The present review reports up-to-date knowledge about the role of Si to mitigate Cr toxicity and it will help to get better crop productivity in Cr-contaminated soils. The findings of the current review will educate the readers on Si functions in reducing Cr toxicity and will offer new ideas to develop Cr tolerance in plants through the use of Si.

Ethnomedicinal evaluation of medicinal plants used for therapies by men and women in rural and urban communities in Makkah district.

For the first time, differences in ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants between men and women, as well as tribal and urban populations in the Makkah district, are investigated. The current research aims to provide responses to the following questions: (1) According to tribal and urban cultures, which medicinal plants are used by Saudis in Makkah? (2) In view of demographic differences, how much do male and female use medicinal plants? (3) Are the plants utilized by male and female considerably various? And, (4), how do men and women learn about therapeutic plants? Methods: Ethnomedicinal study was carried out in Makkah and its adjacent villages from September 2022 to January 2023. To document local medicinal plants, individuals used free-listing, semi-structured interviews, and an online survey form. In all, 59 male and 62 female were questioned face-to-face, and 239 participants completed the questionnaire, with 110 men and 129 women responding. Results: A total of 92 local folks for medicinal plants have been recorded, covering 88 different plant species belong to 36 families. Men cited 69 plants (34 families), whereas women referenced 64. (33 plant families). Males and females know in comparable ways, although they employ different medicinal herbs to remedy a variety of diseases. Conclusions: The use of medicinal plants by Saudis in Makkah is dependent on gendered social roles and experiences, as well as population structure. Education and urbanization exert a greater impact on the preference for biomedical or traditional medicinal usage.

How Does Zinc Improve Salinity Tolerance? Mechanisms and Future Prospects.

Salinity stress (SS) is a serious abiotic stress and a major constraint to agricultural productivity across the globe. High SS negatively affects plant growth and yield by altering soil physio-chemical properties and plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes. The application of micronutrients is considered an important practice to mitigate the adverse effects of SS. Zinc (Zn) is an important nutrient that plays an imperative role in plant growth, and it could also help alleviate the effects of salt stress. Zn application improves seed germination, seedling growth, water uptake, plant water relations, nutrient uptake, and nutrient homeostasis, therefore improving plant performance and saline conditions. Zn application also protects the photosynthetic apparatus from salinity-induced oxidative stress and improves stomata movement, chlorophyll synthesis, carbon fixation, and osmolytes and hormone accumulation. Moreover, Zn application also increases the synthesis of secondary metabolites and the expression of stress responsive genes and stimulates antioxidant activities to counter the toxic effects of salt stress. Therefore, to better understand the role of Zn in plants under SS, we have discussed the various mechanisms by which Zn induces salinity tolerance in plants. We have also identified diverse research gaps that must be filled in future research programs. The present review article will fill the knowledge gaps on the role of Zn in mitigating salinity stress. This review will also help readers to learn more about the role of Zn and will provide new suggestions on how this knowledge can be used to develop salt tolerance in plants by using Zn.

Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiling of DUF668 Genes in Glycine max under Salt Stress.

The DUF668 gene performs a critical role in mitigating the impact of abiotic stress factors. In this study, we identified 30 DUF668 genes in a soybean genome, distributed across fifteen chromosomes. The phylogenetic analysis classified the DUF668 genes into three groups (group I, group II, and group III). Interestingly, gene structure analysis illustrated that several GmDUF668 genes were without introns. Furthermore, the subcellular localization results suggested that GmDUF668 proteins were present in the nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane. GmDUF668 promoters were analyzed in silico to gain insight into the presence of regulatory sequences for TFs binding. The expression profiling illustrated that GmDUF668 genes showed expression in leaves, roots, nodules, and flowers. To investigate their response to salt stress, we utilized the RNA sequencing data of GmDUF668 genes. The results unveiled that GmDUF668-8, GmDUF668-20, and GmDUF668-30 genes were upregulated against salt stress treatment. We further validated these findings using qRT-PCR analysis. These findings provide a scientific basis to explore the functions of GmDUF668 genes against different stress conditions.

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity, genotoxic, and cytotoxic effects of the ethanolic leaves extract of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet using in vitro assays.

Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet belongs to the Malvaceae family and is a perennial shrub commonly known as Indian mallow, which is distributed in tropical regions and many different areas in Saudi Arabia. A. hirtum is an economically and a medicinally useful plant in different zones of the world for healing various diseases. The current research explores the in vitro antioxidant characteristics and cytotoxic and genotoxic potential effects of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. hirtum (LEAH). Mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN), and chromosomal aberration (CA) tests were performed in Allium cepa, and MTT assays were performed using human dermal fibroblast, adult (HDFa) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The comet assay was used to assess the genotoxic effect of LEAH. The antioxidant activity of LEAH was evaluated by DPPH and superoxide anion free radical scavenging assays. The results revealed that the cytotoxic effects of LEAH on Allium cepa were significantly changed in an inverse relationship with MI (general average for 3 times 0.275) and a direct relationship with MNs and CAs against concentration and treatment time, for highest concentration 1.351 mg/ml were 0.74 and 1.81 respectively. In addition, the MTT test revealed a dose-dependent cytotoxic impact, with the % cell viability decreasing as the concentration of LEAH increased, the lowest % cell viability (19.54) and highest inhibition (80.46) were obtained with 4.40 mg/ml of LEAH. In general, the results indicated that A. hirtum has a damaging effect at high doses; however, a cell safe effect, and a strong antioxidant and DNA protective effect at carefully calculated doses was observed. This provides credibility to justify its general therapeutic activity. Moreover, future studies should identify bioactive molecules and their molecular mechanisms responsible for potential therapies.

Silicon Induces Heat and Salinity Tolerance in Wheat by Increasing Antioxidant Activities, Photosynthetic Activity, Nutrient Homeostasis, and Osmo-Protectant Synthesis.

Modern agriculture is facing the challenges of salinity and heat stresses, which pose a serious threat to crop productivity and global food security. Thus, it is necessary to develop the appropriate measures to minimize the impacts of these serious stresses on field crops. Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element on earth and has been recognized as an important substance to mitigate the adverse effects of abiotic stresses. Thus, the present study determined the role of Si in mitigating adverse impacts of salinity stress (SS) and heat stress (HS) on wheat crop. This study examined response of different wheat genotypes, namely Akbar-2019, Subhani-2021, and Faisalabad-2008, under different treatments: control, SS (8 dSm-1), HS, SS + HS, control + Si, SS + Si, HS+ Si, and SS + HS+ Si. This study's findings reveal that HS and SS caused a significant decrease in the growth and yield of wheat by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production; sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) accumulation; and decreasing relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll and carotenoid content, total soluble proteins (TSP), and free amino acids (FAA), as well as nutrient uptake (potassium, K; calcium, Ca; and magnesium, Mg). However, Si application offsets the negative effects of both salinity and HS and improved the growth and yield of wheat by increasing chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, RWC, antioxidant activity, TSP, FAA accumulation, and nutrient uptake (Ca, K, and Mg); decreasing EL, electrolyte leakage, MDA, and H2O2; and restricting the uptake of Na+ and Cl-. Thus, the application of Si could be an important approach to improve wheat growth and yield under normal and combined saline and HS conditions by improving plant physiological functioning, antioxidant activities, nutrient homeostasis, and osmolyte accumulation.

Omics-assisted characterization of two-component system genes from Gossypium Raimondii in response to salinity and molecular interaction with abscisic acid.

The two-component system (TCS) genes are involved in a wide range of physiological processes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In plants, the TCS elements help in a variety of functions, including cell proliferation, response to abiotic and biotic stresses, leaf senescence, nutritional signaling, and division of chloroplasts. Three different kinds of proteins make up the TCS system in plants. These are known as HKs (histidine kinases), HPs (histidine phosphotransfer), and RRs (response regulators). We investigated the genome of Gossypium raimondii and discovered a total of 59 GrTCS candidates, which include 23 members of the HK family, 8 members of the HP family, and 28 members of the RR family. RR candidates are further classified as type-A (6 members), type-B (11 members), type-C (2 members), and pseudo-RRs (9 members). The GrTCS genes were analyzed in comparison with the TCS components of other plant species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Cicer arietinum, Sorghum bicolor, Glycine max, and Oryza sativa. This analysis revealed both conservation and changes in their structures. We identified 5 pairs of GrTCS syntenic homologs in the G. raimondii genome. All 59 TCS genes in G. raimondii are located on all thirteen chromosomes. The GrTCS promoter regions have several cis-regulatory elements, which function as switches and respond to a wide variety of abiotic stresses. RNA-seq and real-time qPCR analysis showed that the majority of GrTCS genes are differentially regulated in response to salt and cold stress. 3D structures of GrTCS proteins were predicted to reveal the specific function. GrTCSs were docked with abscisic acid to assess their binding interactions. This research establishes the groundwork for future functional studies of TCS elements in G. raimondii, which will further focus on stress resistance and overall development.

Organic Amendments Improved the Productivity and Bio-Fortification of Fine Rice by Improving Physiological Responses and Nutrient Homeostasis under Salinity Stress.

Salinity stress (SS) is major abiotic stress that is seriously limiting crop production across the globe. The application of organic amendments (OA) mitigate the effects of salinity and improves soil health and crop production on a sustainable basis. However, limited studies are conducted to determine the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) and press mud (PM) on the performance of rice crop. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the impacts of FYM and PM on the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop under SS. The experiment was comprised of SS levels; control, 6 and 12 dS m-1 SS and OA; control, FYM: 5%, press mud 5% and combination of FYM (5%) + PM (5%). Soil salinity imposed deleterious impacts on the growth, yield, and grain quality of rice, however, OA appreciably offset the deleterious impacts of SS and improved the growth, yield, and grain bio-fortification of rice crop. The combined application of FYM + PM improved the growth and yield of rice through an increase in chlorophyll contents, leaf water contents, anti-oxidant activities (ascorbate peroxidise: APX; catalase: CAT, peroxidise: POD and ascorbic acid: AsA), K+ accumulation and decrease in Na+/K+ ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Na+ accumulation. Moreover, the combined application of FYM + PM significantly improved the grain protein (5.84% and 12.90%), grain iron (40.95% and 42.37%), and grain zinc contents (36.81% and 50.93%) at 6 and 12 dS m-1 SS. Therefore, this study suggested that the application of FYM and PM augmented the growth, yield, physiology, biochemistry, and grain bio-fortification of rice and proved to be a good practice for better rice production in salt-affected soils.

Molecular Tools and Their Applications in Developing Salt-Tolerant Soybean (Glycine max L.) Cultivars.

Abiotic stresses are one of the significant threats to soybean (Glycine max L.) growth and yields worldwide. Soybean has a crucial role in the global food supply chain and food security and contributes the main protein share compared to other crops. Hence, there is a vast scientific saddle on soybean researchers to develop tolerant genotypes to meet the growing need of food for the huge population. A large portion of cultivated land is damaged by salinity stress, and the situation worsens yearly. In past years, many attempts have increased soybean resilience to salinity stress. Different molecular techniques such as quantitative trait loci mapping (QTL), genetic engineering, transcriptome, transcription factor analysis (TFs), CRISPR/Cas9, as well as other conventional methods are used for the breeding of salt-tolerant cultivars of soybean to safeguard its yield under changing environments. These powerful genetic tools ensure sustainable soybean yields, preserving genetic variability for future use. Only a few reports about a detailed overview of soybean salinity tolerance have been published. Therefore, this review focuses on a detailed overview of several molecular techniques for soybean salinity tolerance and draws a future research direction. Thus, the updated review will provide complete guidelines for researchers working on the genetic mechanism of salinity tolerance in soybean.

Characterization of salt tolerant wheat genotypes by using morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis.

Food security is facing a major threat from salinity and there is a need to develop salt tolerant crop varieties to ensure that the demand for food from the world's increasing population is met. Salinity mostly occurs in arid and semi-arid regions. It may cause many adverse physiological effects on plants, i.e., toxic ion accumulation, disturbed osmotic potential, and decreased crop yield. The present study aimed to investigate the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic parameters of wheat genotypes under salt stress. Six wheat genotypes were screened for salt tolerance at the seedling and maturity stage. Seeds were sown at 0 and 150 mM of salinity level. Biochemical traits, i.e., shoot/root fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a/b and total chlorophyll contents, shoot nitrogen, shoot phosphorus, proline, and carbohydrates were measured. Wheat genotypes showed a significant increase in free amino acids, shoot nitrogen, and total soluble proteins under saline conditions. Higher Na+/K+ ratio and free amino acids were estimated under 150 mM NaCl treatment in Pasban-90 and found to be the most salt-tolerant genotype. By contrast, reduced proline, total chlorophyll, and Na+/K+ ratio were found in Kohistan-97 marking it to be sensitive to stress. Expression analysis of HKTs genes was performed to validate the results of two contrasting genotypes. The differential expression of HKT2; 1 and HKT2; 3 explained the tissue and genotype specific epigenetic variations. Our findings indicated that these selected genotypes can be further used for molecular studies to find out QTLs/genes related to salinity. This suggests that, in contrasting wheat genotypes, there is a differentially induced defense response to salt stress, indicating a functional correlation between salt stress tolerance and differential expression pattern in wheat.

Molecular tools, potential frontiers for enhancing salinity tolerance in rice: A critical review and future prospective.

Improvement of salinity tolerance in rice can minimize the stress-induced yield losses. Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of Asia's most widely consumed crops, native to the subtropical regions, and is generally associated with sensitivity to salinity stress episodes. Salt-tolerant rice genotypes have been developed using conventional breeding methods; however, the success ratio is limited because of the complex nature of the trait and the high cost of development. The narrow genetic base of rice limited the success of conventional breeding methods. Hence, it is critical to launch the molecular tools for screening rice novel germplasm for salt-tolerant genes. In this regard, the latest molecular techniques like quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genetic engineering (GE), transcription factors (TFs) analysis, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are reliable for incorporating the salt tolerance in rice at the molecular level. Large-scale use of these potent genetic approaches leads to identifying and editing several genes/alleles, and QTL/genes are accountable for holding the genetic mechanism of salinity tolerance in rice. Continuous breeding practices resulted in a huge decline in rice genetic diversity, which is a great worry for global food security. However, molecular breeding tools are the only way to conserve genetic diversity by exploring wild germplasm for desired genes in salt tolerance breeding programs. In this review, we have compiled the logical evidences of successful applications of potent molecular tools for boosting salinity tolerance in rice, their limitations, and future prospects. This well-organized information would assist future researchers in understanding the genetic improvement of salinity tolerance in rice.

The Critical Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve Drought Tolerance and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crops.

Drought stress (DS) is a serious abiotic stress and a major concern across the globe as its intensity is continuously climbing. Therefore, it is direly needed to develop new management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of DS to ensure better crop productivity and food security. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has emerged as an important approach in recent years to improve crop productivity under DS conditions. AMF establishes a relationship with 80% of land plants and it induces pronounced impacts on plant growth and provides protection to plants from abiotic stress. Drought stress significantly reduces plant growth and development by inducing oxidative stress, disturbing membrane integrity, plant water relations, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic activity, photosynthetic apparatus, and anti-oxidant activities. However, AMF can significantly improve the plant tolerance against DS. AMF maintains membrane integrity, improves plant water contents, nutrient and water uptake, and water use efficiency (WUE) therefore, improve the plant growth under DS. Moreover, AMF also protects the photosynthetic apparatus from drought-induced oxidative stress and improves photosynthetic efficiency, osmolytes, phenols and hormone accumulation, and reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing anti-oxidant activities and gene expression which provide the tolerance to plants against DS. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the role of AMF in plants grown under DS. This review presented the different functions of AMF in different responses of plants under DS. We have provided a detailed picture of the different mechanisms mediated by AMF to induce drought tolerance in plants. Moreover, we also identified the potential research gaps that must be fulfilled for a promising future for AMF. Lastly, nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient needed for plant growth and development, however, the efficiency of applied N fertilizers is quite low. Therefore, we also present the information on how AMF improves N uptake and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in plants.

Trehalose: a promising osmo-protectant against salinity stress-physiological and molecular mechanisms and future prospective.

Salt stress is one of the leading threats to crop growth and productivity across the globe. Salt stress induces serious alterations in plant physiological, metabolic, biochemical functioning and it also disturbs antioxidant activities, cellular membranes, photosynthetic performance, nutrient uptake and plant water uptake and resulting in a significant reduction in growth and production. The application of osmoprotectants is considered as an important strategy to induce salt tolerance in plants. Trehalose (Tre) has emerged an excellent osmolyte to induce salinity tolerance and it got considerable attention in recent times. Under salinity stress, Tre helps to maintain the membrane integrity, and improves plant water relations, nutrient uptake and reduces the electrolyte leakage and lipid per-oxidation. Tre also improves gas exchange characteristics, protects the photosynthetic apparatus from salinity induced oxidative damages and brings ultra-structure changes in the plant body to induce salinity tolerance. Moreover, Tre also improves antioxidant activities and expression of stress responsive proteins and genes and confers salt tolerance in plants. Additionally, Tre is also involved in signaling association with signaling molecules and phytohormones and resultantly improved the plant performance under salt stress. Thus, it is interesting to understand the role of Tre in mediating the salinity tolerance in plants. Therefore, in this review we have summarized the different physiological and molecular roles of Tre to induce salt tolerance in plants. Moreover, we have also provided the information on Tre cross-talk with various osmolytes and hormones, and its role in stress responsive genes and antioxidant activities. Lastly, we also shed light on research gaps that need to be addressed in future studies. Therefore, this review will help the scientists to learn more about the Tre in changing climate conditions and it will also provide new insights to insights that could be used to develop salinity tolerance in plants.

Improving Drought Stress Tolerance in Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) Using Molecular Techniques.

Ramie is one of the most significant fiber crops and contributes to good quality fiber. Drought stress (DS) is one of the most devastating abiotic factors which is accountable for a substantial loss in crop growth and production and disturbing sustainable crop production. DS impairs growth, plant water relation, and nutrient uptake. Ramie has evolved a series of defense responses to cope with DS. There are numerous genes regulating the drought tolerance (DT) mechanism in ramie. The morphological and physiological mechanism of DT is well-studied; however, modified methods would be more effective. The use of novel genome editing tools like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is being used to edit the recessive genes in crops to modify their function. The transgenic approaches are used to develop several drought-tolerant varieties in ramie, and further identification of tolerant genes is needed for an effective breeding plan. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping, transcription factors (TFs) and speed breeding are highly studied techniques, and these would lead to the development of drought-resilient ramie cultivars. The use of hormones in enhancing crop growth and development under water scarcity circumstances is critical; however, using different concentrations and testing genotypes in changing environments would be helpful to sort the tolerant genotypes. Since plants use various ways to counter DS, investigating mechanisms of DT in plants will lead to improved DT in ramie. This critical review summarized the recent advancements on DT in ramie using novel molecular techniques. This information would help ramie breeders to conduct research studies and develop drought tolerant ramie cultivars.

Assessing the Synergistic Activity of Clarithromycin and Therapeutic Oils Encapsulated in Sodium Alginate Based Floating Microbeads.

We developed alginate-based floating microbeads of clarithromycin with therapeutic oils for the possible eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections by enhancing the residence time of the carrier at the site of infection. In pursuit of this endeavor, the alginate was blended with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) as an interpenetrating polymer to develop beads by ionotropic gelation using calcium carbonate as a gas generating agent. The developed microbeads remained buoyant under gastric conditions for 24 h. These microbeads initially swelled and afterwards decreased in size, possibly due to the erosion of the polymer. Furthermore, swelling was also affected by the type of encapsulated oil, i.e., swelling decreased with increasing concentrations of eucalyptus oil and increased with increasing concentrations of oleic acid. Antibacterial assays of the formulations showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli); these assays also showed synergistic activity between clarithromycin and therapeutic oils as evident from the higher zone of inhibition of the microbeads as compared to the pure drug and oils. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a smoother surface for oleic acid containing the formulation as compared to eucalyptus oil containing the formulation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the development of a stable formulation, while Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) studies did not reveal any interaction between the polymers and the active ingredients. Optimized formulations (CLM3 and CLM6) were designed to release the drug in a controlled manner in gastric media by Fickian diffusion. Conclusively, the developed microbeads are a promising carrier to overcome the narrow therapeutic index and low bioavailability of clarithromycin, while the presence of therapeutic oils will produce synergistic effects with the drug to eradicate infection effectively.