Title: Enhancing the Physiological and Biochemical Potential of Praecitrullus fistulosus L. through Synergistic Action of Biochar and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

Authors: Sundas Sana, Ayesha Binyamin, Musarrat Ramzan, Jawaria Jameel, Asma Hanif, Zahoor Ahmad, Abeer Hashem, Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada & Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah.

Year: 2024

Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01894-8

Abstract: In contemporary farming practices, biochar along with nano-priming of seeds has become a significant application for improving soil fertility, germination, and seedling vigor. A pot experiment was performed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement and replicated thrice. Biochar was mixed in soil with (0.1%) and (0.2%) per 5 kg pot size for one week before seeds sowing. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were used for the nano-priming of tinda seeds. Round gourd seeds were nano-primed with ZnO NP (20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg) and were sown in biochar-mixed soil. Shoot length, root length, and shoot fresh weight were maximum in T3 (0.1% biochar with 60 mg ZnO) as compared to control and other treatment groups. Photosynthetic pigments have not shown any significant increase under treated conditions as compared to control tinda plants. Physiological attributes were significantly increased as compared to non-treated plants. Total soluble sugars and proline were highest in T4 (0.2% biochar with 20 mg ZnO) compared to other treatment groups. Antioxidant enzyme catalase showed an increase in content with T1 (0.1% biochar with 20 mg ZnO), followed by, T2 (0.1% biochar with 40 mg ZnO), T3 (0.1% biochar with 60 mg ZnO) and least in T6 (0.2% biochar with 60 mg ZnO). Maximum peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was observed in T6 (0.2% biochar with 60 mg ZnO) as compared to other treatments. Move over, it is recommended to use biochar in soil and green ZnO nanoparticles as priming agents for improvement in the growth and productivity of round gourd plants.

Title: Effect of salinity on growth and biochemical responses of brinjal varieties: implications for salt tolerance and antioxidant mechanisms.

Authors: Jawaria Jameel, Tauseef Anwar, Saadat Majeed, Huma Qureshi, Ejaz Hussain Siddiqi, Sundas Sana, Wajid Zaman & Hayssam M. Ali.

Year: 2024

Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-04836-9

Abstract: Salinity poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, impacting crops’ growth, morphology and biochemical parameters. A pot experiment of three months was conducted between February to April 2023 in the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Four brinjal (eggplant) varieties: ICS-BR-1351, HBR-313-D, HBR-314-E, and HBR-334-D were selected and assessed for the effects of salinity on various growth and biochemical attributes. The experiment was completely randomized in design with three replicates each. This study revealed that increased salinity significantly reduced the shoot length, root length, and leaf number across all varieties, with maximum adverse effects observed at a 300mM NaCl concentration. Among the tested varieties, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated superior performance in most growth parameters, suggesting potential salt tolerance. Biochemically, salinity decreased chlorophyll content across all varieties, with the sharpest decline observed at the highest salt concentration. V4 (HBR-334-D) showed a 57% decrease in chlorophyll followed by V3 (HBR-314-E) at 56%, V2 (HBR-313-D) at 54%, and V1 (ICS-BR-1351) at 33% decrease at maximum salt levels as compared to control. Conversely, carotenoid content increased up to -42.11% in V3 followed by V2 at -81.48%, V4 at -94.11%, and − 233% in V1 at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to respective controls. V3 (HBR-314-E) has the maximum value for carotenoids while V1 has the lowest value for carotenoids as compared to the other three brinjal varieties. In addition to pigments, the study indicated a salinity-induced decrease in total proteins and total soluble sugar, whereas total amino acids and flavonoids increased. Total proteins showed a decrease in V2 (49.46%) followed by V3 (36.44%), V4 (53.42%), and V1 (53.79%) at maximum salt concentration as compared to plants treated with tap water only. Whereas, total soluble sugars showed a decrease of 52.07% in V3, 41.53% in V2, 19.49% in V1, and 18.99% in V4 at the highest salt level. While discussing total amino acid, plants showed a -9.64% increase in V1 as compared to V4 (-31.10%), V2 (-36.62%), and V3 (-22.61%) with high salt levels in comparison with controls. Plant flavonoid content increased in V3 (-15.61%), V2 (-19.03%), V4 (-18.27%) and V1 (-27.85%) at 300mM salt concentration. Notably, salinity elevated the content of anthocyanin, lycopene, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) across all varieties. Antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase also increased under salt stress, suggesting an adaptive response to combat oxidative damage. However, V3 (HBR-314-E) has shown an increase in anthocyanin at -80.00%, lycopene at -24.81%, MDA at -168.04%, hydrogen peroxide at -24.22%, POD at -10.71%, CAT as-36.63 and SOD as -99.14% at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to control and other varieties. The enhanced accumulation of antioxidants and other protective compounds suggests an adaptive mechanism in brinjal to combat salt-induced oxidative stress. The salt tolerance of different brinjal varieties was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA), and the order of salt tolerance was V1 (ICS-BR-1351) > V4 (HBR-334-D), > V2 (HBR-313-D) > V3 (HBR-314-E). Among the varieties studied, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated resilience against saline conditions, potentially offering a promising candidate for saline-prone agricultural areas.

Title:Perspectives of Nanoparticles as Priming Agents for Amelioration of Abiotic Stresses in Crops.

Authors:Zahoor Ahmad, Ejaz Ahmad Waraich, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Amir Aziz, Amber Raza, Sundas Sana, Jawaria Jameel, Hira Nawaz, Muhammad Ahmad, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shehar Bano.

Year: 2024

Link: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003376446-7

Abstract: Globally, abiotic stresses (drought, heat, chilling, salinity, heavy metals toxicity, water logging, eroded soils and nutrient imbalance) have posed a serious challenge to crop production systems. The changing climate scenario and global warming have further aggravated the intensity and frequency of abiotic stress (AS) incidences which have reduced crop yield and quality. Seed priming (SP) which entails pre-sowing seed treatment with a priming agent might serve as a biologically viable strategy to ameliorate adverse effects of sub-optimal environments. Different seed priming agents applied as nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to exhibit improved efficacy in terms of mitigating the deleterious impacts of stressful environments. This chapter synthesizes the latest research on the deleterious effects of abiotic stresses on the morphological and physiological functioning of crop plants along with summarizing plant responses to unfavourable growth conditions. Moreover, recent advances in NPs’ role in improving plant survival under AS for achieving better yields and nutritional quality of field crops have been objectively elaborated.

Title:Alleviation of NaCl stress in tomato varieties by promoting morpho-physiological attributes and biochemical characters.

Authors: Jawaria Jameel, Tauseef Anwar, Ejaz Hussain Siddiqi, Sarah Owdah Alomrani.

Year: 2024

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112496

Abstract: Salinity is a significant abiotic stress, affecting plant growth and productivity during all plant developmental stages. Soil salinization due to climate change is increasing crop loss every year. Salinity is considered the most important abiotic stress limiting crop production and plants are known to be able to continue to survive under this stress by involving many mechanisms. Vegetable crops face huge yield losses due to abiotic stress. Salt stress creates physiological drought in plants affecting morphology and alters physiological functions that harm plants through various processes. Tomato is an essential annual crop providing human food worldwide. It is estimated that by the year 2050 > 50% of the arable land will become saline and, in this respect, in recent years, researchers have focused their attention on studying how tomato plants behave under various saline conditions. This study was conducted to observe the effects of NaCl salinity on four tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) varieties in a pot experiment. Morphological and physio-biochemical properties of four tomato varieties (Rio Grande, Nadir, Bonita, and 19299) were exposed to NaCl-salinity (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM) through irrigation. All the varieties have differential responses to different levels of salt. Salinity stress reduced growth parameters in all varieties as compared to control plants. Plant Variety 4 (19299) showed significantly increased growth (root length, shoot length, number of roots, number of leaves, leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight) and physiological attributes (photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars, and total proteins) as compared to other varieties. Variety 4 (19299) has better protection against salt stress by increasing pigment content and enzymatic activity under salt stress. Antioxidants (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) were increased to maximum in variety 3 (Bonita) which is the most susceptible variety among all other varieties. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, lycopene, anthocyanin, and H₂O₂ also increased in Variety 3 as compared to other varieties and control plants. Bonita variety showed maximum reduction in root length, shoot length, number of roots, fresh and dry matter content as well as in leaf area while comparing with other three varieties. The study revealed that the 19299 variety is salt tolerant, Rio Grande and Nadir are intermediates while the Bonita variety is susceptible to salt stress.

Title:Climate Change and Global Crop Production.

Authors: Zahoor Ahmad, Tanveer Ahmad, Asim Abbasi, Ejaz Ahmad Waraich, Aiman Hina, Tasmeya Ishfaq, Sumaira Maqsood, Ramish Saleem, Musarrat Ramzan, Sundas Sana & Jawaria Jameel.

Year: 2023

Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37424-1_2

Abstract: Climate has a substantial impact on human health, livelihood, food, and infrastructure. However, rapid shifts in climatic conditions threaten the survival of all living creatures. The current abnormalities in precipitation and temperature are leading to nonprofitable agricultural production, food insecurity, and depletion of natural genetic resources. The changing trends towards diversified diets have posed greater challenges for producers in meeting the consumers’ demands, necessitating a consistent and reliable food supply. Unfortunately, the current scenario of climatic variation has made it hard to put enough food on the table. Because of flooding, droughts, and salinity stress, a large number of staple crops and their by-products get wasted. Similarly, low production of cash crops also lowers the import–export values and affects the national economy. A few preventive measures could be taken to address the challenges of climatic irregularities. Examples include the use of elite genotypes, changing harvest dates, sowing either late or early, and cultivating new crops rather than just the usual ones. It is compulsory to test, validate, and devise a climate-resilient cropping system. In contrast, growers must participate in different activities to determine adoption-related barriers and generate alternative options. These approaches will minimize insect pest infestation, prevent diseases, improve soil fertility, increase water use efficiency, and, above all, help in developing defense mechanisms against climate change. The yields of major crops have been declining, so efforts have been put into converting marginal lands into agricultural lands to compensate for this. However, this practice ultimately degrades the land and threatens the existence of biodiversity in both domestic and wild species. This could affect future attempts to address climate risk. Recently, efforts have been made to improve the operating system at farms by modifying the percentage of pesticide and fertilizer usage, their method of application (foliar/ground), the introduction of the sprinkler irrigation technique, and the use of certified seeds to improve both plant growth and soil fertility. By adhering to these practices, farmers are hoping to be able to deal with climatic variations in a significantly more effective manner. In addition, decision-makers establishing appropriate policies and interventions for climate-smart agricultural production approaches and methods must carefully examine the macroeconomic, social, and ecological interventions. At the same time, policies that encourage unsustainable production and aggravate environmental issues must also be abolished. Moreover, more funding for research, notably action research, is required to deal with forthcoming climate-related threats.