Abstract. Ecological niche modeling (and the related species distribution modeling) has been used as a tool with which to assess potential impacts of climate change processes on geographic distributions of species. However, the factors introducing variation into niche modeling outcomes are not well understood: To this end, we used seven algorithms to develop models (Maxent, GARP, BIOCLIM, artificial neural networks, support-vector machines, climate envelope, and environmental distance) to estimate the potential geographic distribution of olives (Olea europaea sensu lato, including Olea ferruginea) under two climatic data sets (current 2000 and future 2050). Five general circulation models and two representative concentration pathway scenarios were used as predictor variables in future projections of the geographic potential of this species; models were fit at global extents (10 0 spatial resolution) but transferred and interpreted for a region of particular interest in Central Asia, which largely avoids problems with truncation of niche estimates. We found marked differences among approaches in predicted distributions and model performance, as well as in the future distributional pattern reconstructed, from one algorithm to another. These general approaches, when model-to-model variation is managed appropriately, appear promising in predicting the potential geographic distribution of O. europaea sensu lato and thus can be an effective tool in restoration and conservation planning for wild populations, as well as possible commercial plantations of this species.

Some rhizobacteria have demonstrated a noteworthy role in regulation of plant growth and biomass production under biotic and abiotic stresses. The present study was intended to explicate the ameliorative consequences of halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (HPGPR) on growth of capsicum plants subjected to salt stress. Salt stress was ascertained by supplementing 1 and 2 g NaCl kg soil. The HPGPR positively invigorated growth attributes, chlorophyll, protein contents, and water use efficiency (WUE) of supplemented capsicum plants under salinity stress conditions. Bacillus fortis strain SSB21 caused highest significant increase in shoot length, root length, and fresh and dry biomass production of capsicum plants grown under saline conditions. This multi-trait bacterium also increased biosynthesis of proline and up-regulated the expression profiles of stress related genes including CAPIP2, CaKR1, CaOSM1, and CAChi2. On the other hand, B. fortis strain SSB21 inoculated plants exhibited reduced level of ethylene, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). All these together contribute to activate physiological and biochemical processes involved in the mitigation of the salinity induced stress in capsicum plants.

Sustainable urbanization is a challenge to human beings in the modern era of technology. Cities all over the world are facing several problems due to urbanization and industrialization. Urban problems could be assessed through development of indices of urban sustainability on the basis of its three dimensions: environment, economics and social. The present study was conducted to identify indicators to develop indices for assessment of sustainability in some populated cities of Punjab. The study focused on the indicators based on environmental, economic and social development to develop a rational indicator system on the basis of secondary data collected from 2004 to 2014. A total of 40 indicators were identified to assess the urban sustainability progress in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad cities. The result of the sub-indices indicated that poor performance was evident in the environmental sector, rather than in the economic and social sectors. The cities scored between 0.27 and 0.58 in environmental dimensions, showing a decreasing trend from 2004 to 2014. The declining trend of indices was due to population influx, rapid urbanization, reduction in green areas, industrialization, high level of atmospheric and water pollutants. In case of the economic sector, an increasing trend was observed which indicates the gradual improvement in living standards of people. In the social dimensions of the indicator system, less variations were observed among the cities and ranged between 0.49 and 0.58. Overall, the results of the urban sustainability index showed score was ranges between 0.41 to 0.52. None of the Punjab cities attained the position as a sustainable city (0.75) Lahore (0.52) and Faisalabad (0.52) were ranked as moderately sustainable cities, whereas, Rawalpindi (0.48), Gujranwala (0.47) and Multan (0.41) were ranked as weak sustainable cities. The study highlighted that the urban sustainability indicator system could be useful to determine the existing sustainability in cities of the developing countries for better resource management practices.

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The current research was performed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus megaterium MCR-8 on mitigation of nickel (Ni) stress in Vinca rosea grown on Ni-contaminated soil (50, 100, and 200 mg Ni kg soil). The treated plants exhibited reduced growth, biomass, gas exchange capacity, and chlorophyll (Chl) content under Ni stress. The inoculated plants growing in Ni-contaminated media exhibited relatively higher growth, total soluble protein, and proline contents. Similarly, bacterial inoculation improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) under Ni stress. The Ni stress alleviation in inoculated plants was attributed to the reduced level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (HO), enhanced synthesis of protein, proline, phenols, and flavonides in conjunction with improved activity of antioxidant enzymes. The growth-promoting characteristics of microbe such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD) and phosphate solubilization activity, siderophore, and auxin production capability also improved the growth and stress mitigation in inoculated plants. Furthermore, the inoculated plants exhibited higher value for bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and resulted in higher loss of Ni content from soil. The current results exhibited the beneficial role of B. megaterium MCR-8 regarding stress alleviation and Ni phytoextraction by V. rosea.

Plants must cope with the stress conditions to survive. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria can improve plant growth either directly or indirectly under stress conditions. However, the possible mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that Bacillus megaterium strain A12 (BMA12) maintains hormonal and redox homeostasis and restores the photosynthetic efficacy of tomato plants through multiple mechanisms to survive under salinity stress conditions. Tomato plants were cocultivated with BMA12 under saline conditions. The application of BMA12 significantly increased plant growth and photosynthetic capacity. BMA12 decreased production of ROS and ethylene but increased expression levels of selected genes responsible for repairing of damaged photosynthetic apparatus and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Furthermore, BMA12 significantly altered metabolic profile to restore perturbations of tomato plant physiology impaired with salinity stress. This study proves that BMA12 can be used in the conventional agriculture system in the salinity effected fields.

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