The response of maize (Zea mays L.) plant assisted with bacterial consortium and fertilizer under oily sludge

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of PGPR consortium and fertilizer alone and in combination on the physiology of maize grown under oily sludge stress environment as well on the soil nutrient status. Consortium was prepared from Bacillus cereus (Acc KR232400), Bacillus altitudinis (Acc KF859970), Comamonas (Delftia) belonging to family Comamonadacea (Acc KF859971) and Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia (Acc KF859973). The experiment was conducted in pots with complete randomized design with four replicates and kept in field. Oily sludge was mixed in ml and Ammonium nitrate and Diammonium phosphate (DAP) were added at 70 ug/g and 7ug/g at sowing. The plant was harvested at 21 d for estimation of protein, proline and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). To study the degradation, total petroleum hydrocarbon was extracted by soxhelt extraction and extract was analyzed by GC-FID at different period after incubation. Combined application of consortium and fertilizer enhanced the germination %, protein and, proline content by 90,130 and 99% higher than untreated maize plants. Bioavailability of macro and micro nutrient was also enhanced with consortium and fertilizer in oily sludge. The consortium and fertilizer in combined treatment decreased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase dismutase (POD) of the maize leaves grown in oily sludge. Degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPHs) was 59% higher in combined application of consortium and fertilizer than untreated maize at 3 d. The bacterial consortium can enhanced the maize tolerance to oily sludge and enhanced degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPHs). The maize can be considered as tolerant plant species to remediate oily sludge contaminated soils.     

Proximate composition and elemental analysis in soft tissues of freshwater mussels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anodonta anatina</Emphasis>) from the Chashma Lake,River Indus Pakistan

Background

Aquatic invertebrates are playing an important role in assessment of the water contaminants and also serve as a major component of food chain. Freshwater mussels are considered to be the good bioindicator species of aquatic environment and widely used to determine the metals load.

Methods

Proximate composition and elemental analysis were carried out in edible (foot, mantle) and non-edible portion (gills) of freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina) harvested from various site of Chashma Lake, River Indus Pakistan.

Results

The nutritional components were varied among the studied portion and muscular foot found to be the best part for consumption. Protein and fat contents were significantly higher in foot (15.90±0.88%, 1.19±0.26%) as compared to mantle (10.78±2.24%, 0.27±0.09%) and gills (6.44±1.22%, 0.53±0.15%) respectively. For the macro minerals mantle had high concentration of Ca (46838±984 mg/kg), Na (2706±343 mg/kg), P (6921±1063 mg/kg) and Mn (7207±1046 mg/kg) as compared to foot.

Conclusions

Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr) concentration in edible portions were lower than the permissible limit by WHO whereas the concentration of Pb was slightly higher than the recommended value that might be the risk for the consumers. Being filter feeder gills accumulated the high concentration of all the metals and found to be the key portion for biomonitoring studies. Freshwater mussels of Chashma Lake Indus River are the rich source of protein and all the other micro and macro minerals therefore could be used as an excellent source of food.

     

Safety of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway for Patients Undergoing Open Hepatic Resection

Background

Enhanced recovery pathways (ERP) have not been widely implemented for hepatic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of an ERP for patients undergoing open hepatic resection.

Methods

A single-surgeon, retrospective observational cohort study was performed comparing the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing open hepatic resection treated before and after implementation of an ERP. Morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared between pre-ERP and ERP groups.

Results

126 patients (pre-ERP n = 73, ERP n = 53) were identified for the study. Patient characteristics and operative details were similar between groups. Overall complication rate was similar between pre-ERP and ERP groups (37% vs. 28%, p = 0.343). Before and after pathway implementation, the median LOS was similar, 5 (IQR 4–7) vs. 5 (IQR 4–6) days, p = 0.708. After adjusting for age, type of liver resection, and ASA, the ERP group had no increased risk of major complication (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.14–1.02, p = 0.055) or LOS greater than 5 days (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.56–2.62, p = 0.627).

Conclusions

Routine use of a multimodal ERP is safe and is not associated with increased postoperative morbidity after open hepatic resection.     

Convective Flow of Sisko Fluid over a Bidirectional Stretching Surface

The present investigation focuses the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the steady three-dimensional Sisko fluid driven by a bidirectional stretching sheet. The modeled partial differential equations are reduced to coupled ordinary differential equations by a suitable transformation. The resulting equations are solved numerically by the shooting method using adaptive Runge Kutta algorithm in combination with Newton''s method in the domain [0,∞). The numerical results for the velocity and temperature fields are graphically presented and effects of the relevant parameters are discussed in detail. Moreover, the skin-friction coefficient and local Nusselt number for different values of the power-law index and stretching ratio parameter are presented through tabulated data. The numerical results are also verified with the results obtained analytically by the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Additionally, the results are validated with previously published pertinent literature as a limiting case of the problem.     

Priming of field-sown rice seed enhances germination, seedling establishment, allometry and yield

Poor seedling establishment is a major deterrent in adopting direct seeding of rice. Seed priming to obtain better crop stand could be an attractive approach. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of seed priming strategies on the improved agronomic characters of direct-sown rice. Seed priming strategies were: hydropriming for 48 h, osmohardening with KCl or CaCl₂ for 24 h, ascorbate priming for 48 h and seed hardening for 24 h, pre-germination (traditional soaking for nursery raising) and untreated control. Seed priming improved germination and emergence, allometry, kernel yield, and its quality, whilst pre-germination displayed poor and erratic emergence of seedling followed by poor plant performance. Faster and uniform emergence was due to improved α-amylase activity, which increased the level of soluble sugars in the primed kernels. Osmohardening with KCl gave greater kernel and straw yield and harvest index, followed by that of CaCl₂, hardening and ascorbate priming. Improved yield was attributed principally to number of fertile tillers and 1000 kernel weight. A positive correlation between mean emergence time and days to heading, while a negative one between kernel yield and harvest index suggested long-term effects of seed priming on plant growth and development. The results suggest that physiological changes produced by osmohardening enhanced the starch hydrolysis and made more sugars available for embryo growth, vigorous seedling production and, later on, improved allometric, kernel yield and quality attributes.     

Morphological and physiological response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to natural and synthetic cytokinin sources: a comparative study

Among the natural plant growth stimulants, moringa has attained enormous attention due to its leaf composition being enriched with cytokinin, antioxidants and minerals. Exogenous application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) improves productivity in many crops. This study investigated the potential of MLE with different dilutions, i.e., MLE0, MLE10, MLE20 and MLE30 (0, 10, 20 and 30 times diluted in water, respectively) to improve the performance of tomato. Foliage-applied water and benzylaminopurine (BAP, 50 mg L^?1) were taken as controls. Among treatments, foliar-applied MLE30 produced maximum vegetative and flowering branches, number of flowers and heaviest fruits per plant of tomato in comparison with synthetic BAP and other treatments. A similar increase in vegetative and flowering branches was recorded for root-applied MLE20 including BAP. Foliage-applied MLE30 also increased chlorophyll (a) pigments and leaf total soluble proteins than other stimulants used. This increase was followed by enhanced antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), total phenolics in leaves and fruit lycopene contents of tomato. In general, foliar application of MLE30 was more effective as natural biostimulant to improve growth, productivity and fruit quality of tomato as compared to synthetic BAP and its root application.     

Multiple Diverse Circoviruses Infect Farm Animals and Are Commonly Found in Human and Chimpanzee Feces

Circoviruses are known to infect birds and pigs and can cause a wide range of severe symptoms with significant economic impact. Using viral metagenomics, we identified circovirus-like DNA sequences and characterized 15 circular viral DNA genomes in stool samples from humans in Pakistan, Nigeria, Tunisia, and the United States and from wild chimpanzees. Distinct genomic features and phylogenetic analysis indicate that some viral genomes were part of a previously unrecognized genus in the Circoviridae family we tentatively named “Cyclovirus” whose genetic diversity is comparable to that of all the known species in the Circovirus genus. Circoviridae detection in the stools of U.S. adults was limited to porcine circoviruses which were also found in most U.S. pork products. To determine whether the divergent cycloviruses found in non-U.S. human stools were of dietary origin, we genetically compared them to the cycloviruses in muscle tissue samples of commonly eaten farm animals in Pakistan and Nigeria. Limited genetic overlap between cycloviruses in human stool samples and local cow, goat, sheep, camel, and chicken meat samples indicated that the majority of the 25 Cyclovirus species identified might be human viruses. We show that the genetic diversity of small circular DNA viral genomes in various mammals, including humans, is significantly larger than previously recognized, and frequent exposure through meat consumption and contact with animal or human feces provides ample opportunities for cyclovirus transmission. Determining the role of cycloviruses, found in 7 to 17% of non-U.S. human stools and 3 to 55% of non-U.S. meat samples tested, in both human and animal diseases is now facilitated by knowledge of their genomes.Animal viruses with small, circular, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomes comprise the Circoviridae family and the Anellovirus genus, while viruses in the Geminiviridae and Nanoviridae families infect plants (3, 25, 34, 37, 40). The genomes of these small viruses without a lipid envelope replicate through a rolling-circle mechanism, possibly sharing a common origin with bacterial plasmids (6), and show high recombination and nucleotide substitution rates (7, 19).The Circoviridae family consists of the Circovirus genus whose member species are currently known to infect only birds and pigs, and the Gyrovirus genus, including a single species, Chicken anemia virus (CAV). Circoviruses infect several avian groups, including parrots, pigeons, gulls, anserids (ducks, geese, and swans), and numerous passerines (ravens, canaries, finches, and starlings) (12, 15, 16, 22, 26, 31, 35, 38, 39). Avian circoviruses have been associated with a variety of symptoms, including developmental abnormalities, lymphoid depletion, and immunosuppression (22, 26, 28, 35, 39). Mammalian circoviruses include only two closely related species, Porcine circovirus 1 and 2 (PCV1 and PCV2, respectively), infecting pigs (21). PCV2 has been associated with porcine circovirus-associated diseases, which can manifest as a systemic disease, respiratory disease complex, enteric disease, porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome or as reproductive problems, causing great losses in the pork industry (1, 29, 32). Circovirus infections are thought to occur mainly through fecal-oral transmission (37).We describe here highly diverse, circovirus-like, circular DNA viral genomes discovered in human and chimpanzee stool samples, and we propose their inclusion in a new genus of the Circoviridae family that we tentatively name “Cyclovirus” pending review by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Cycloviruses were also found to be prevalent in the muscle tissue of farm animals, such as chickens, cows, sheep, goats, and camels. The cyclovirus species found in human stool samples and in animal meat samples showed limited genetic overlap, suggesting that most of the cycloviruses found in human stool samples are not from consumed animal meat. Rather, these cycloviruses in human stools might cause human enteric infections. The presence of cycloviruses in human stool samples and in farm animal tissue also suggests the potential for frequent cross-species exposure and zoonotic transmissions.     

Nitric oxide-mediated regulation of oxidative stress in plants under metal stress: a review on molecular and biochemical aspects

Given their sessile nature, plants continuously face unfavorable conditions throughout their life cycle, including water scarcity, extreme temperatures and soil pollution. Among all, metal(loid)s are one of the main classes of contaminants worldwide, posing a serious threat to plant growth and development. When in excess, metals which include both essential and non-essential elements, quickly become phytotoxic, inducing the occurrence of oxidative stress. In this way, in order to ensure food production and safety, attempts to enhance plant tolerance to metal(loid)s are urgently needed. Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as a signaling molecule, highly involved in multiple physiological events, like the response of plants to abiotic stress. Thus, substantial efforts have been made to assess NO potential in alleviating metal-induced oxidative stress in plants. In this review, an updated overview of NO-mediated protection against metal toxicity is provided. After carefully reviewing NO biosynthetic pathways, focus was given to the interaction between NO and the redox homeostasis followed by photosynthetic performance of plants under metal excess.     

Comparative plastid genomics of Pinus species: Insights into sequence variations and phylogenetic relationships

Pinus L. is the largest genus of conifers and provides a classical model for studying species divergence and phylogenetic evolution by gymnosperms. However, our poor understanding of sequence divergence in the whole plastid genomes of Pinus species severely hinders studies of their evolution and phylogeny. Thus, we analyzed the sequences of 97 Pinus plastid genomes, including four newly sequenced genomes and 93 previously published plastomes, to explore the evolution and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Pinus. The complete chloroplast genomes of Pinus species ranged in size from 109 640 bp (P. cembra L.) to 121 976 bp (P. glabra Walter), and these genomes comprised circular DNA molecules in a similar manner to those of most gymnosperms. We identified 9108 repeats where most of the repeats comprised the dispersed type with 3983 (44%), followed by tandem repeats with 2999 (33%), and then palindromic repeats with 2126 (23%). Sixteen divergence hotspot regions were identified in Pinus plastid genomes, which could be useful molecular markers for future population genetics studies. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pinus species could be divided into two diverged clades comprising the subgenera Strobus (single needle section) and Pinus (double needles section). Molecular dating suggested that the genus Pinus originated approximately 130.38 Mya during the late Cretaceous. The two subgenera subsequently split 85.86 Mya, which was largely consistent with the other molecular results based on partial DNA markers. These findings provide important insights into the sequence variations and phylogenetic evolution of Pinus plastid genomes.