Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a primary food source for a substantial portion of the world's population, faces a serious threat from bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), leading to considerable yield reductions. The excessive use of synthetic pesticides not only affects soil health but also disrupts the community of organisms living in the soil. While some pesticides degrade quickly, others persist, leading to long-term environmental damage. To address these challenges, the aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna), was investigated as a sustainable alternative for controlling Xoo. The extract was prepared using a Soxhlet apparatus, and its antibacterial activity was assessed via zone of inhibition assays and bacterial growth inhibition studies. The results revealed significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 9.1 +/- 0.76 mm at 25 mu g/ml, 14.16 +/- 1.04 mm at 50 mu g/ml, and 15.5 +/- 1.31 mm at 100 mu g/ml. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanism of the T. arjuna extract was investigated using computational approaches. For this molecular docking of CbsA, LipA, T3SEs, PDF, and Ddl was conducted with the phytochemicals of T. arjuna. Further molecular dynamics simulation analysis shows that 3-Hydroxyspirost-8-en-11-one can inhibit Ddl and CbsA, while 9-Oximino-2,7-diethoxyfluorene and 2-Naphthalene methanol can interact with T3SEs and PDF, respectively resulting inhibition of growth of Xoo. These findings highlight T. arjuna's potential as an eco-friendly, natural pesticide to combat Xoo, offering a sustainable solution to reduce the reliance on synthetic pesticides and their detrimental environmental impact. Further field studies are needed to confirm these results.

Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) are gaining attention as promising components of nanopesticides, offering innovative solutions to enhance agricultural pest management while addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional pesticides. MNPs, such as silver, copper, zinc, nickel, gold, iron, aluminum, and titanium, exhibit unique nanoscale properties. These properties enable the formulation of MNPs for controlled and sustained release, thereby reducing application frequency and minimizing environmental runoff. This controlled release mechanism not only improves pest management efficacy but also reduces risks to non-target organisms and beneficial species, aligning with the principles of sustainable crop protection. This review examines nanopesticides based on their specific targets, such as nanoinsecticide, nanobactericide, nanofungicide, nanonematicide, and nanoviricide. It also explores the mechanisms of action of metal-based nanoparticles, including physical disruption, chemical interactions, and biological processes. Additionally, the review details how MNPs compromise cellular integrity through mechanisms such as membrane damage, DNA disruption, mitochondrial impairment, and protein denaturation. Despite these advantages, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning the environmental impact of MNPs, their long-term effects on soil health and ecosystem dynamics, and potential risks to human safety. Addressing these challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of MNPs in sustainable agriculture.

Microorganisms cause microbiologically influenced corrosion, for the prevention of which bactericide inhibitors are used. The aim of the work was to study in vitro the sensitivity of SRB Desulfovibrio oryzae NUChC SRB1 to different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and evaluate the indicators of the microbial corrosion of steel induced by this bacterium in the presence of the pharmaceutical drugs DMSO and paracetamol. The sensitivity of SRB D. oryzae to 1-100% DMSO (v/v) was studied via the dilution method in Postgate's C liquid medium. The corrosion activity of D. oryzae against steel 3 was investigated under DMSO and paracetamol treatment at a final concentration of 45% (v/v) and 0.2% (w/v), respectively, according to the ability of bacteria to form a biofilm on the surface of the steel samples (via the crystal violet method) and the effect on the corrosion rate (via the gravimetric method). It was revealed that DMSO affected D. oryzae NUChC SRB1 and exhibited bactericidal properties (at a concentration range of 10-100%, v/v) and antibiofilm properties (at a concentration of 45%, v/v). Despite its antibiofilm properties confirmed by the reduction in bacterial biofilm mass, anticorrosion features were not observed in the model 35-day conditions of the microbial corrosion of steel in an anaerobic environment with bacterial sulfate reduction. Paracetamol (0.2%, w/v) did not affect biofilm formation by SRB under these conditions, and significantly contributed to an increase in the rate of the microbial corrosion of steel. The prospect of further research is to assess the effect of DMSO and paracetamol on the indicators of microbial corrosion induced by SRB under the influence of the concentrations of these compounds found in wastewater, to clarify the possible additional causes of damage to the equipment of treatment plants. Further research should also be directed at investigating the antimicrobial properties of complexes of compounds with DMSO, which should be considered as an ecological solution to the problem of microbiologically influenced corrosion prevention.