The rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, is the major bottleneck in aerobic and direct-seeded rice cultivation. Host plant resistance is an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective approach to mitigate damage caused by M. graminicola. Considering the limited availability of genetic resources in Asian rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars, exploration of novel sources of resistance to M. graminicola is necessary. In the present study, we screened 192 diverse wild rice accessions from nine species (Oryza longistaminata, O. barthii, O. glaberrima, O. meridionalis, O. nivara, O. punctata, O. officinalis, O. glumaepatula and O. rufipogon) to identify sources of resistance to M. graminicola. Based on gall number and multiplication factor, two immune and 25 resistant accessions were identified. 'Pusa Basmati 1121' and 'W-27-1' displayed the highest number of galls per root system and multiplication factor, whereas 'NW-1' and 'NW-17' had the lowest. Further examination of nematode development suggested that M. graminicola penetrated less often into highly resistant varieties, and, if they penetrated, the juveniles failed to develop into females. Multi-variate analysis was used to investigate the diversity among the wild rice accession for M. graminicola resistance. Analyses showed that the 192 wild accessions of rice could be divided into six clusters based upon their resistance levels. Thirty-four wild accessions exhibited high resistance to M. graminicola, while most accessions showed susceptibility. Analysis of 49 resistant accessions in soil assay correlated very strongly with the identical accessions in 'PF-127' assay using the same parameters, indicating the high reproducibility of 'PF-127'based assay. The resistant accessions identified in the current study would be a useful resource for studying genetics and the mechanism of resistance to M. graminicola.

Biochar provides a sustainable carbon sequestration technology, an effective fertilizer in agriculture, a step forward for the profitable and safe disposal of bio-wastes, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and global warming, and a renewable energy source. Using biochar as a bitumen modifier in asphalt pavement construction is under active research. It can prove a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, provided it meets the efficiency, strength, and economy challenge. This review focused on the available literature on utilizing biochar as a bitumen modifier for the construction of asphaltic roads. The studies show that biochar's physical and chemical nature has helped project it as a promising bitumen modifier. The biochar, being porous and fibrous, provides a strong, stiff frame in the asphaltic mast and results in the enhancement of both stiffening point and viscosity. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in penetration or increased deformation resistance. This is perhaps the reason for the high performance of biochar-modified asphalt at high temperatures. The increase in viscosity of asphaltic masts was also observed due to biochar amendment, making asphalt more sensitive to temperature. The two important factors, the complex modulus and the rutting factor of the asphalt, were noticed to increase with the addition of 10% biochar. The biochar amendments of up to 20% increased fatigue resistance temperature by 4.6 degrees C. The improvement in the resistance to deformation at high temperatures, probably due to a reduction of phase angle due to adding biochar, is also seen as a significant function of biochar. However, biochar applicability in the field is mainly related to its cost efficiency and performance as a bitumen modifier for asphaltic pavements. So far as the cost economy is concerned, the mean price for biochar (as per available literature) was very high, from $2.65 to $0.09/kg for blended biochar. The price was as high as $3.29/kg in the Philippines to $0.08/kg in India and in the US to $13.48/kg, implying that the market price of biochar is variable worldwide and dependent mainly on the biochar feedstock, cost of labor/living of the area and land costs. On the other hand, its efficiency has not yet been satisfactory at low temperatures. The other noticeable limitations that need to be explored in further research are long-term effects on strength, rutting resistance, and ageing. Also, field studies to support the research and, more importantly, cost economy viz-a-viz other available modifiers need exploration.

Damping-off disease in chili (Capsicum annum L.) cultivation is a significant global issue, severely affecting seeds, seedlings, and young plants, regardless of the location of cultivation, whether in greenhouses or open fields. Despite chili being a widely popular vegetable used in various cuisines globally, farmers face challenges in meeting the growing demand due to the extensive damage caused by this disease, ranging from 20 to 85%. The shelf life and quality of mature pods are also severely affected. Damping-off disease is mainly caused by soil-borne fungus from the Pythium species, with additional contributions from Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia species. These pathogens' adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and resistance to synthetic fungicides make controlling damping-off on a commercial scale challenging. However, integrated disease management has shown promising results as a remedial approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. In this review, we broadly discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the importance and efficacy of integrated disease management techniques, along with future prospects in unexplored areas, such as host-pathogen interaction and sustainable disease control measures. The information in this review aims to assist chili growers in understanding the epidemiology and management of damping-off in chili cultivation.

Biotic and abiotic stresses have emerged as major constraints to agricultural production, causing irreversible adverse impacts on agricultural production systems and thus posing a threat to food security. In this study, a new strain of Bacillus subtilis DNYB-S1 was isolated from soil contaminated with Fusarium wilt. It was found that artificially synthetic flora (YJ-1) [Enterobacter sp. DNB-S2 and Rhodococcus pyridinovorans DNHP-S2, DNYB-S1] could effectively mitigate both biotic (Fusarium wilt) and abiotic (phthalates) sources of stresses, with the inhibition rate of YJ-1 resistant to wilt being 71.25% and synergistic degradation of 500 mg/L PAEs was 91.23%. The adaptive difference of YJ-1 was 0.59 and the ecological niche overlap value was -0.05 as determined by Lotka-Volterra modeling. These results indicate that YJ-1 has good ecological stability. The major degradation intermediates included 2-ethylhexyl benzoate (EHBA), phthalic acid (PA), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and butyl benzoate, suggesting that YJ-1 can provide a more efficient pathway for PAEs degradation. In addition, there was metabolic mutualism among the strains that will selectively utilize the provided carbon source (some metabolites of PAEs) for growth. The pot experiment showed that YJ-1 with cucumber reduced the incidence of cucumber wilt by 45.31%. YJ-1 could reduce the concentration of PAEs (DBP: DEHP = 1:1) in soil species from 30 mg/kg to 4.26 mg/kg within 35 d, with a degradation efficiency of 85.81%. Meanwhile, the concentration of PAEs in cucumber was reduced to 0.01 mg/kg, indicating that YJ-1 is directly involved in the degradation of soil PAEs and the enhancement of plant immunity. In conclusion, this study provides a new perspective for the development of customized microbiomes for phytoremediation under combined biotic-abiotic stresses in agricultural production processes.

The paper provides and comments on the results of studies of the effect of sandstone-based abrasives and quartz sand alone on the wear of martensitic surfaces of wear-resistant steels. The wear process was examined on a ring-on-ring test rig seeking to determine the mass decrement parameter which characterised wear. In addition, SEM microscopy, optical profilometry and XRF analysis were used to analyse the abrasives used and damaged surfaces. The tests were conducted for three sandstone varieties, Carboniferous, Permian, and Cretaceous, and they made it possible to determine that the most intense process of deterioration of wear-resistant steels took place in the presence of quartz sand grain, while less intense wear was observed in the case of sandstone-based abrasives. The mass decrement values established in the presence of the sandstones in question did not differ significantly between individual sandstone varieties. Based on a surface damage analysis, the basic damage mechanism was found to be micro-scratching; however, with regard to the sandstones examined, it was also determined that individual grains could be pressed into surface irregularities and that films of soft hematite cement developed in the Permian sandstone and that inclusions of carbonaceous matter were formed in the Carboniferous sandstone. With reference to the wear process observations, a wear model was described for the surface of the steels examined in the presence of sandstone-based abrasives. This model presents the possibility of capturing wear products by unstable binder layers and changing the form of wear from three-body to two-body.

More information is needed to fully comprehend how acid mine drainage (AMD) affects the phototransformation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in karst water and sewage -irrigated farmland soil with abundant carbonate rocks (CaCO 3 ) due to increasing pollution of AMD formed from pyrite (FeS 2 ). The results showed FeS 2 accelerated the inactivation of ARB with an inactivation of 8.7 log. Notably, extracellular and intracellular ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) also experienced rapid degradation. Additionally, the pH of the solution buffered by CaCO 3 significantly influenced the photo -inactivation of ARB. The Fe 2 + in neutral solution was present in Fe(II) coordination with strong reducing potential and played a crucial role in generating center dot OH (7.0 mu M), which caused severe damage to ARB, ARGs, and MGEs. The center dot OH induced by photo -Fenton of FeS 2 posed pressure to ARB, promoting oxidative stress response and increasing generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately damaging cell membranes, proteins and DNA. Moreover, FeS 2 contributed to a decrease in MIC of ARB from 24 mg/L to 4 mg/L. These findings highlight the importance of AMD in influencing karst water and sewage -irrigated farmland soil ecosystems. They are also critical in advancing the utilization of FeS 2 to inactivate pathogenic bacteria.

The present world faces a new threat of ancient microbes and resistomes that are locked in the cryosphere and now releasing upon thawing due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The cryosphere act as the best preserving place for these microbes and resistomes that stay alive for millions of years. Current reviews extensively discussed whether the resurrection of microbes and resistomes existing in these pristine environments is true or just a hype. Release of these ancient microorganisms and naked DNA is of great concern for society as these microbes can either cause infections directly or they can interact with contemporary microorganisms and affect their fitness, survival, and mutation rate. Moreover, the contemporary microorganisms may uptake the unlocked naked DNA, which might transform non-pathogenic microorganisms into deadly antibiotic-resistant microbes. Additionally, the resurrection of glacial microorganisms can cause adverse effects on ecosystems downstream. The release of glacial pathogens and naked DNA is real and can lead to fatal outbreaks; therefore, we must prepare ourselves for the possible reemergence of diseases caused by these microbes. This study provides a scientific base for the adoption of actions by international cooperation to develop preventive measures.

The recent emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms and the prevalence of cancer diseases are both presenting substantial global public health concerns. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted significant attention and are increasingly employed in diverse biomedical applications as agents with antimicrobial and anticancer properties. The study herein focused on the biogenic synthesis of AgNPs employing the cell-free filtrate of the soil-derived bacterium Streptomyces pratensis as a reducing agent. AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, FE-SEM, and TEM. The study assessed both the antibacterial and anticandidal modes of action, along with the potential anticancer properties of the biosynthesized AgNPs. The spherical, 17-44-nm biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated strong antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against pandrug-resistant (PDR) Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae and pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, both of which were isolated from immunosuppressed patients. Dose-dependent interactions between the AgNPs and their anticancer activity were observed. The IC50 values of the AgNPs against the hepatocellular (HepG2) and colon carcinoma (HCT-116) cancer cell lines were approximately 16.5 mu g/mL and 11.5 mu g/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the antimicrobial mechanism of action of AgNPs revealed distinct leakage of sugar, DNA, and proteins from the cell membrane of both K. pneumoniae and C. albicans, as well as increased ROS generation. Moreover, the TEM micrographs depicted the distortion and damage experienced by the microbial cells after exposure to AgNPs. The findings of the current study suggest that biosynthesized AgNPs have the potential to serve as alternative therapeutic agents for combating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae, the yeast C. albicans, in addition to HepG2 and HCT-116 cells.

This study was designed to investigate the role of Morganella morganii strains in alleviating Cd stress in Arabidopsis seedlings under controlled conditions. Both M. morganii strains ABT3 (ON316873) and ABT9 (ON316874) strains isolated from salt-affected areas showed higher resistance against Cd and possess plant growth-promoting traits such as nitrogen fixation, indole-acetic acid production, ammonia production, phosphate solubilization, and, catalase, gelatinase and protease enzyme production. Plant inoculation assay showed that varying concentration of Cd (1.5 mM and 2.5 mM) significantly reduced Arabidopsis growth, quantum yield (56.70%-66.49%), and chlorophyll content (31.90%-42.70%). Cd toxicity also triggered different associations between lipid peroxidation (43.61%-69.77%) and enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms. However, when both strains were applied to the Arabidopsis seedlings, the shoot and root length and fresh and dry weights were improved in the control and Cd-stressed plants. Moreover, both strains enhanced the resistance against Cd stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities [catalase (19.47%-27.39%) and peroxidase (37.50%-48.07%)]that ultimately cause a substantial reduction in lipid peroxidation (27.71%-41.90%). Both strains particularly ABT3 also showed positive results in improving quantum yield (73.84%-98.64%) and chlorophyll content (41.13%-48.63%), thus increasing the growth of Arabidopsis seedlings. The study suggests that PGPR can protect plants from Cd toxicity, and Cd-tolerant rhizobacterial strains can remediate heavy metal polluted sites and improve plant growth. In order to develop sustainable and effective agricultural techniques in areas polluted with heavy metals, it is important to have a deeper understanding of the characteristics of metal-resistant PGPR. Hence, this study focuses on the efficacy of M. morganii in promoting the growth and increasing the photosynthetic pigments of Arabidopsis seedlings under Cd toxicity.

This paper investigates the effects of incorporating dispersed fibrous reinforcement in hydraulically bound granular 0/16-mm mixtures. The evaluated fibrous reinforcement comprised a mixture of polypropylene and alkali-resistant glass fibers in a 1:2 weight ratio. The fibrous reinforcement was added to the mixtures in amounts of 0.05% and 0.10% by weight. The prepared mixtures utilized 1% of CEM II/B-V 32.5 R Portland cement together with 3.5%, 7%, and 14% of fly ash, characterized by a high content of reactive calcium oxide. It was found that the fibrous additives had only a small effect on the maximum dry densities and virtually none on the optimum moisture contents of the mixtures. The use of the fiber mix significantly improved the compressive strength of the reinforced samples resulting after 42 days of curing, with a performance comparable to a reference mixture bound with 8% of Portland cement. The addition of fibrous reinforcement increased the indirect tensile strength of the mixtures by up to 300%, resulting in a performance similar to that of a reference mixture with 5% of Portland cement. It was found that the use of this particular fibrous reinforcement significantly improved the performance of predominantly fly-ash-bound granular mixtures, allowing the reduction in cement content used in this type of material.