Background Reactive Red (RR) 141 dye is widely used in various industrial applications, but its environmental impact remains a growing concern. In this study, the phytotoxic and genotoxic effects of RR 141 dye on mung bean seedlings (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) were investigated, serving as a model for potential harm to plant systems.Methods and results Short-term (14 days) and long-term (60 days) experiments in paddy soil pot culture exposed mung bean seedlings to RR 141 dye. The dye delayed germination and hindered growth, significantly reducing germination percentage and seedling vigor index (SVI) at concentrations of 50 and 100 ml/L. In short-term exposure, plumule and radical lengths dose-dependently decreased, while long-term exposure affected plant length and grain weight, leaving pod-related parameters unaffected. To evaluate genotoxicity, high annealing temperature-random amplified polymorphic DNA (HAT-RAPD) analysis was employed with five RAPD primers having 58-75% GC content. It detected polymorphic band patterns, generating 116 bands (433 to 2857 bp) in plant leaves exposed to the dye. Polymorphisms indicated the appearance/disappearance of DNA bands in both concentrations, with decreased genomic template stability (GTS) values suggesting DNA damage and mutation.Conclusion These findings demonstrate that RR 141 dye has a significant impact on genomic template stability (GTS) and exhibits phytotoxic and genotoxic responses in mung bean seedlings. This research underscores the potential of RR 141 dye to act as a harmful agent within plant model systems, highlighting the need for further assessment of its environmental implications.

Green soybean (edamame), an early-harvested soybean, is a popular vegetable in Asia and is recognised as a healthy vegetable in the other parts of the world. In Japan, edamame yield has gradually decreased over the last 30 years, despite similar cultivation areas. Damage caused by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the main causes. We surveyed the distribution of SCN in different locations and found a wide distribution of SCN across Japan. Different control measures are available, such as chemical control using fumigants or a granular type of nematicide, solarisation, and rotation with non-host crops. We are developing a new type of biological control method, which comprises short-term field cultivation and soil incorporation of mung bean. This method not only decreases the SCN density in soil but also mitigates soil erosion and nitrate leaching. For future SCN control it is essential to establish an environmentally friendly management strategy.

Sustainable agriculture initiatives are needed to ensure the food security of the people all over the world. Soilless cultivation methods using hydrogels may give a revolutionary response as well as a more ecological and productive alternative to conventional farming. This study attempted extraction of pectin from the rind of albedo yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa Degener)and hydrogels from pectin and activated carbon was compared with pure pectin hydrogel; Pectin- Activated Carbon hydrogels (PAC) showed a microporous structure with excellent hydrophilicity and showed superior water holding capacity. Then the prepared hydrogels were examined with various instrumental techniques like FTIR, SEM, XRD, Raman, BET and rheological properties. In the BET analysis, PAC3 shows the highest surface area of 28.771 m2/g when compared to PAC0 at 15.063 m2/g. The germination experiments were performed using mung beans. This study provides an opportunity for the application of pectin hydrogels in agriculture field specifically for home garden or rooftop cultivation.