DNA damage analysis concerning GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism in gold jewellery workers from Peshawar Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the genotoxic effects of gold jewellery fumes and its association with GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms.     

Interactive role of zinc and iron lysine on Spinacia oleracea L. growth,photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity irrigated with tannery wastewater

AbstractUntreated wastewater contains toxic amounts of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), which poses a serious threat to the growth and physiology of plants when used in irrigation. Though, Cr is among the most widespread toxic trace elements found in agricultural soils due to various anthropogenic activities. To explore the interactive effects of micronutrients with amino acid chelators [iron-lysine (Fe-lys) and zinc-lysine (Zn-lys)], pot experiments were conducted in a controlled environment, using spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plant irrigated with tannery wastewater. S. oleracea was treated without Fe and Zn-lys (0 mg/L Zn-lys and 0 mg/L Fe-lys) and also treated with various combinations of (interactive application) Fe and Zn-lys (10 mg/L Zn-lys and 5 mg/L Fe-lys), when cultivated at different levels [0 (control) 33, 66 and 100%) of tannery wastewater in the soil having a toxic level of Cr in it. According to the results, we have found that, high concentration of Cr in the soil significantly (P < 0.05) reduced plant height, fresh biomass of roots and leaves, dry biomass of roots and leaves, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, total chlorophyll contents, carotenoid contents, transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis (PN), and water use efficiency (WUE) and the contents of Zn and Fe in the plant organs without foliar application of Zn and Fe-lys. Moreover, phytotoxicity of Cr increased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the plant organs (roots and leaves), which induced oxidative damage in S. oleracea manifested by the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and membrane leakage. The negative effects of Cr toxicity could be overturned by Zn and Fe-lys application, which significantly (P < 0.05) increase plant growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, and gaseous exchange attributes by reducing oxidative stress (H₂O₂, MDA, EL) and increasing the activities of various antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Furthermore, the supplementation of Zn and Fe-lys increased the contents of essential nutrients (Fe and Zn) and decreased the content of Cr in all plant parts compared to the plants cultivated in tannery wastewater without application of Fe-lys. Taken together, foliar supplementation of Zn and Fe-lys alleviates Cr toxicity in S. oleracea by increased morpho-physiological attributes of the plants, decreased Cr contents and increased micronutrients uptake by the soil, and can be an effective in heavy metal toxicity remedial approach for other crops.Graphic abstract     

Changes in Compositional Properties during Fruit Development and On-Tree Ripening of Two Common Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars

The objective of the present study was to investigate the variations in some major primary (sugars and organic acids) and secondary (phenolics, β-carotene) metabolite contents during fruit development and ripening in two important apricot cultivars (Hacıhaliloğlu and Kabaaşı). The changes in the compositional properties of two apricot cultivars were monitored during fruit development with one-week intervals from 56 to 119 days after blossom. During fruit development, the contents of organic acids and phenolics decreased whereas that of sucrose and sorbitol increased. p-Coumaric acid was the only phenolic compound which increased in concentration during fruit development regardless of the cultivar. The content of the other phenolic compounds decreased in a cultivar-dependent manner. The β-carotene content of the cultivars showed distinct patterns of change such that 3 fold increase in β-carotene content of Kabaaşı cultivar was observed whereas the β-carotene content of the Hacıhaliloğlu cultivar did not show any significant change during fruit development.     

Contribution to ITS phylogeny of the Brassicaceae, with special reference to some Asian taxa

Sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for 189 accessions representing 184 species in 121 genera of Brassicaceae were used to determine monophyly of tribes and genera, tribal boundaries, and component genera. Parsimony analysis and Bayesian inference suggest that the tribes Camelineae and Arabideae are polyphyletic and should be subdivided into smaller tribes. The study also supports the recent recognition of the new tribes Aphragmeae, Biscutelleae, Buniadeae, Calepineae, Conringieae, Dontostemoneae, Erysimeae, Malcolmieae, Megacarpaeeae, and Turritideae. The data argue for the placement of Borodinia in the tribe Boechereae, Litwinowia and Pseudoclausia in the Chorisporeae, Atelanthera and Streptoloma in the Euclidieae, and Megacarpaea and Pugionium in the Megacarpaeeae, and exclusion of Asperuginoides, Didymophysa, and Ptilotrichum from the Alysseae, Macropodium, Pseudoturritis, and Stevenia from the Arabideae, and Crucihimalaya, Irenepharsus, Pachycladon, and Turritis from the Camelineae. Finally, the findings support the expansion of Stevenia to include both Berteroella and Ptilotrichum, Sterigmostemum to include Oreoloma and one species of Anchonium, Crucihimalaya to include Transberingia and several species of Arabis, and Parrya to include Pseudoclausia. The data also suggest that Calymmatium and Olimarabidopsis may be congeneric.     

Revision and tribal placement of the Argentinean genus Parodiodoxa (Brassicaceae)

Parodiodoxa is a monotypic genus of Brassicaceae endemic to northwestern Argentina. It is poorly known and until now remained the only South American genus of the family that had not been assigned to a particular tribe. Sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and the chloroplast trnL intron/trnL-F spacer region were used in this study to determine the systematic position of Parodiodoxa. For this purpose, taxa were sampled both at the tribal and generic levels. Results from tribal-level sampling support the inclusion of Parodiodoxa in the tribe Thelypodieae, whereas those at the generic level reveal a relationship to Weberbauera (W. rosulans and W. herzogii). Topologies within the Thelypodieae were poorly resolved, in agreement with previous studies. Morphological characteristics of Parodiodoxa are also discussed in relation to other genera of the tribe.     

Effects of soaking seeds in exogenous vitamins on active oxygen metabolism and seedling growth under low-temperature stress

This study investigated the influence of the exogenous application of vitamin B2 (V_B2), B12 (V_B12), biotin (V_H), and nicotinic acid (V_PP) on oxygen production in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings at 5 °C for day 1, 3, 5 and 7. The seeds were soaked in V_B2, V_B12, V_H, and V_PP solutions for 24 h at the concentration of 100 mg/L, and control was soaked in distilled water. A total of 50 seeds were used for each treatment in germination boxes was repeated three times. The germination box was placed in a hypothermic incubator for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days in the dark at 5 °C, then moved to a plant growth room and kept for seven days. Compared with the V_H and V_PP treatments, the V_B2 and V_B12 treatments had higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, proline, and soluble sugars. The V_B2 and V_B12 treatments also increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) than other treatments. The V_B2 and V_B12 treatments reduced the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂^–), superoxide anion (O₂^–), and the damage of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cells, increased the stability of the cell membrane and the content of cell osmoregulation substances. Moreover, V_B2 and V_B12 had higher seedling growth, germination rate, and index. Treatments V_B2 and V_B12 could promote maize seed germination and growth under low-temperature stress. Exogenous vitamins in crop production can be a valuable tool for protecting plants against low-temperature stress.