Salt stress is one of the most significant abiotic stresses that substantially negatively impact plant growth and productivity. However, a slew of research thus far has investigated the ameliorating properties of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and their potential to improve plant tolerance to salt stress. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the role of mycorrhizal inocula obtained from Sabkha (S-AMF) and non-Sabkha (NS-AMF) habitats of Saudi Arabia on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical behaviors of the Lasiurus scindicus plant. For this reason, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from Sabkha and non-Sabkha soils were treated with salinity-exposed L. scindicus. The results revealed that the AMF-treated plants had higher growth metrics and increased synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, which were reduced by salt stress. Furthermore, the application of AM symbiosis induced an increase in the activities of the antioxidant system, which resulted in a reduction of the plant oxidative damage. It was also found that the increased accumulation of proline and phenols acted as a protective measure. However, plants inoculated with S-AMF had the highest ameliorating responses on all the studied parameters compared to NS-AMF. This could be attributed to the presence of habitat-specific AMF, which may have induced adaptive plasticity in plants to tolerate or resist extreme salinity. However, further study in exploring the S-AMF diversity is needed to make it an ecofriendly choice for the restoration of salinity-affected ecosystems.
Pollen is a male flower gametophyte located in the anthers of stamens in angiosperms and a considerable source of compounds with health protective potential. In the present work, phytochemical screening was carried out as well as analysis of the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of pollen extracts from Micromeria fruticosa, Achillea fragrantissima, and Phoenix dactylifera growing wild in Palestine. Phytochemical screening examined the total flavonol, flavone and phenolic content. The DPPH (1,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods were used to assess antioxidant propriety, and disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration tests were used to test the pollen extract’s antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates. The highest level of total phenolic was found in the extract of Micromeria fruticosa (56.78 ± 0.49 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent)/g). The flavone and flavonol content of samples ranged from 2.48 ± 0.05 to 8.03 ± 0.01 mg QE (Quercetin Equivalent)/g. Micromeria fruticosa pollen with IC50 values of 0.047 and 0.039 mg/mL in the DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively, showed the greatest radical scavenging action. In addition, this pollen showed a mild antibacterial action against the microorganisms studied, with MICs varying from 0.625 to 10 mg/mL and inhibition diameters ranging from 13.66 ± 1.5 to 16.33 ± 1.5 mm.
Anchusa italica Retz has been used for a long time in phytotherapy. The aim of the present study was to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of extracts from the leaves and roots of Anchusa italica Retz. We first determined the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids using Folin–Ciocalteu reagents and aluminum chloride (AlCl3). The antioxidant activity was determined using three methods: reducing power (FRAP), 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The antimicrobial activity was investigated against four strains of Escherichia coli, two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and one fungal strain of Candida albicans. The results showed that the root extract was rich in polyphenols (43.29 mg GAE/g extract), while the leave extract was rich in flavonoids (28.88 mg QE/g extract). The FRAP assay showed a strong iron reduction capacity for the root extract (IC50 of 0.11 µg/mL) in comparison to ascorbic acid (IC50 of 0.121 µg/mL). The DPPH test determined an IC50 of 0.11 µg/mL for the root extract and an IC50 of 0.14 µg/mL for the leaf extract. These values are low compared to those for ascorbic acid (IC50 of 0.16 µg/mL) and BHT (IC50 0.20 µg/mL). The TAC values of the leaf and root extracts were 0.51 and 0.98 mg AAE/g extract, respectively. In vitro, the extract showed inhibitory activity against all strains studied, with diameters of zones of inhibition in the range of 11.00–16.00 mm for the root extract and 11.67–14.33 mm for the leaf extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration was recorded for the leaf extract against E. coli (ATB:57), corresponding to 5 mg/mL. Overall, this research indicates that the extracts of Anchusa italica Retz roots and leaves exert significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities, probably because of the high content of flavonoids and polyphenols.
Human influence on the climate change is evident, and the current rate of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases will have widespread impacts on natural ecosystems. Moreover, as global mean temperatures continue to rise; it is pivotal to develop strategies to conserve species and habitats that are vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, the current study assessed the effect of changing climate on fruiting time and phenological plasticity in Berberis lycium Royle at Manoor Valley of Northern Pakistan. Further, these changes in fruiting behavior were correlated with temperature changes over the years. Five varying altitudinal sites of Manoor Valley were selected viz. Kot, Baila Manoor, Banrhi, Siri and Shamal Pata which range between 1807-2390 m.a.s.l. Observational data on phenological stage of B. lycium were recorded in May-October of 2015-17. Ten individuals plant were randomly selected at each altitudinal site and the data recorded. Notable traits were; cover, number of mature fruits and number of immature fruits. GPS was used to record elevation, aspect and position of the plant species and other environmental gradients were measured with the help of weather station. The results were validated using the ordination pattern. Significant changes were observed in all parameters of the species. The results indicated highest gain for bioclimatic variable (bio-9, mean temperature of the driest quarter). The data also indicates that B. lycium is highly sensitive to changes in altitude and temperature; it may be adapting to the gradual temperature change over long periods of time by altering the fruiting time or by adjusting to new altitudinal ranges. Furthermore, new phenology patterns and variations of fruiting period in B. lycium might be the indication of the raise in global temperature.
The control of Parlatoria pergandii (Comstock, 1881) was studied in citrus orchards at Belksiri (Gharb area), Morocco. Three concentrations of Spirotetramat (T0 = 0 L/Ha, T1 = 0.625 L/Ha, T2 = 0.755 L/Ha, and T3 = 1 L/Ha) were applied to 4 ha of Valencia late orchard (each dose for 1 ha of citrus). The insecticidal of Spirotetramat was evaluated on two stages of larvae (L1 and L2) of P. pergandii and three stages of females, F1, F2, and F3. Similarly, the rates of parasitism by Aphytis hispanicus on the females of three different stages were monitored to evaluate the impact of Spirotetramat on this natural enemy. Results showed that Spirotetramat was more effective on larvae than females. Of the females, 26.04% were parasitized, 65.81% were inhibited, and only 8.15% were intact after the treatment period. Of the larvae, 79.73% were inhibited, and only 20.27% survived after the treatment period. Finally, our study highlights that all the tested concentrations of this product were effective on the population of P. pergandii. On the other hand, this product showed a less negative impact on the parasitized females with the low concentration (0.625 L/Ha) compared to the high concentrations of the pesticide (T2 = 0.755 L/Ha and T3 = 1 L/Ha), especially for the female stages F2 and F3. Moreover, the impact on the water table will be less severe with a low concentration.
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