Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Assessment and analysis of plant vegetation under oil palm from 2000 and 2017 plantation
Full text linkIntensive use of chemicals in agricultural cultivation such as fertilizers and pesticides has caused a decline in plant diversity in agricultural ecosystems in recent decades. This study aims to determine the diversity of weeds and dominant weeds in oil palm plantations in the planting years 2000 and 2017. The research was carried out from January to June 2023 at the oil palm plantation PT Perkebunan Nasional III, Kebun Sei Putih, North Sumatra using the 1 m ? 1 m quadratic method. In oil palm stands in the 2000 planting year, the grass weed Cirtococcum oxyphyllum was found as the dominant weed with a high importance index and Summed Dominance Ratio (SDR), while in oil palm stands in the 2017 planting year, the broadleaf weed Ageratum conyzoides was found as the dominant weed. Species diversity (H\u27) under oil palm stands in the 2000 planting year ranged between 0.67-1.61, which means that species diversity is low to moderate, and in 2017 planting year ranged between 1.34-1.64, which means that species diversity is moderate. The community coefficient value for both planting years was low, namely below 75 percent, which means that the weed community in both planting years was very diverse
Lighting design affects the uniformity and growth of plants in a vertical farming system
Full text linkLight is essential for plant production and has various effects on plant quality. Vertical farms typically use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources. However, the cost of LEDs varies with wattage and the initial installation costs are generally high. Therefore, to explore more cost-effective LED designs, we aimed to investigate the impact of red LED chips density on light distribution and plant growth under the same total electricity consumption. To this end, we exposed baby leaf soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.; 5 days) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala; 18 days) to LEDs light with different arrangements of red and white chips. Plants were exposed to either 2 W chips with a red: white ratio of 4: 64 (2W4R treatment) or 1 W chips with a red: white ratio of 8: 64 (1W8R treatment) across the entire LED bar. We observed that the distribution of red light in the cultivation room differed depending on the density of the red LED chips. We found that arranging low-power red LED chips at narrow intervals resulted in uniform light distribution across the entire cultivation bed, positively affecting crop growth. Baby leaf soybean and kale exhibited uniform growth under 1W8R and growth was particularly enhanced in kale. This may be because of the dense leaf structure of kale, which promotes photosynthesis under a uniform light environment. The results of this study demonstrate that a favorable light environment can be created by altering the position and distribution of red LED chips, thereby inducing uniform growth in plants
Co-expression network analysis for identification of candidate genes regulating phosphorus use efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Full text linkPhosphorus (P) is a crucial nutrient for plants, but its deficiency can significantly reduce crop yields, especially in wheat. To understand the genetic basis of Phosphorus Use Efficiency (PUE) in wheat, we analyzed the gene expression patterns of plants under phosphorus stress. We identified and analyzed 1194 differentially expressed genes, constructing a network of these genes through cytoscape. We have extracted 26 hub genes from this network, which are key players in PUE. These hub genes are involved in various biological processes related to phosphorus uptake, transport and utilization, as revealed by KEGG pathway analysis. Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying PUE in wheat and may contribute to the development of strategies for improving crop yields in phosphorus-deficient environments
Chemical constituents and pharmacological potential of Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Lamiaceae): A review
Full text linkGmelina arborea Roxb. has been widely used in traditional medicine and is considered a vital component of Brihatpanchamoolya. It is also commonly used in modern medicine due to its rich content of phytochemicals. The primary consitutents include lignans, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and other bioactive compounds. Notably, the roots of Gmelina arborea contain glycosides, particulary flavone glycosides such as apigenin-7-rutinoside, luteolin-7-glucuronide, sitosterol, quercetin and apigenin. The leaves are rich in iridoid glycosides, flavonoids and sterols. The stem contains several lignans, including gmelanone, iso-arboreal, paulownin and gmelinol. Additionally, the flower contains verbascoside, a compound belonging to the class of iridoid glycosides. This species has diverse pharmaceutical applications, including anti-inflammatory properties. It also exhibits a wide range of beneficial effects, such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-tumour, cardioprotective, anticonvulsant and antihyperlipidemic activities. This study aims to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern research by examining the pharmacological and phytochemical properties of G. arborea. A comprehensive review was conducted using well-known academic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. The findings were summarized and documented using bibliographic information, which may pay the way for future researcher in this area
A systems biology-based study to assess the effects of TNF-alpha ± apigenin in triple-negative breast cancer cell line
Full text linkTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Various treatment methods are available for breast cancer, but therapies with minimal toxic side effects are particularly important. This study computationally investigates the impact of apigenin, a compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, on the TNBC cell line. The GSE120550 dataset was retrieved from the NCBI-GEO database. BRB-ArrayTools were used for pre- and post-processing to identify significantly differentially expressed genes. Additionally, the DAVID web server was utilized to analyze three main components: "biological process," "cellular component," and "molecular function," along with the KEGG signaling pathway. Finally, a Venn diagram was employed to thoroughly investigate the number of shared genes among 15 groups derived from 6 compared sample sets. The primary analysis of 6 pairs of samples revealed significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were prioritized using the TOPPgene web server. These identified genes, playing key roles in inhibiting the progression of BC, are involved in various signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis highlighted the biomarkers associated with the inhibitory effects of apigenin across the 15 sets derived from the 6 sample pairs. The findings of this study confirm the inhibitory effects of apigenin, with no toxic side effects, on patients with TNBC. This natural compound holds promise for future therapeutics and novel drug designs
Do calcareous soils affect morphological and physiological characteristics of maize hybrids and their iron efficiency?
Full text linkMaize (Zea mays L.) is the third most cultivated cereal crop in the world after wheat and rice. Soil calcareousness is the key growth limiting factor causing a substantial decline in plant growth and yield in many arid and semiarid regions globally. This study aimed to understand the variability in morphological and physiological traits among maize hybrids as well as their iron (Fe) efficiency on calcareous soils. Five ruling maize hybrids [COH (M) 6, COH (M) 7, COH (M) 8, COH (M) 9 and COH (M) 10] and their six inbreds [UMI 1200, UMI 1201, UMI 1205, UMI 1210, UMI 1220, and UMI 1230] were evaluated on three calcareous soils having various free CaCO3 content (6.23 to 17.3%) with and without Fe supply. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Soil Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, in 2019. Soil calcareousness reduced the morphological and photosynthetic parameters of all the maize hybrids, and the reduction was more in highly calcareous soils (17.3%). Significant variation in Fe efficiency among maize hybrids was observed and shows good association with physiological and photosynthetic characteristics. The maize hybrids COH (M) 6, COH (M) 8, and COH (M) 7 record higher growth attributes, photosynthetic parameters, and active Fe content with better Fe efficiency. Lower Fe efficiency was noted with inbreds UMI 1230 and UMI 1220. The study showed that maize hybrids and their inbreds were sensitive to higher soil calcareousness, but the magnitude of differences varied with genotypes
In vitro rooting development and ex vitro acclimatization for Rosa damascena Mill. plant regeneration using auxin treatments
Full text linkR. damascena, renowned for its aromatic essence, holds immense significance in various industries, including perfumery and cosmetics. However, its propagation presents challenges due to its recalcitrant nature. This study aimed to investigate micropropagation in vitro from single nodes as an alternative to traditional cutting methods, focusing on enhancing plant material preservation. Nodal explants were subjected to different auxin treatments (Indole-3-butyric-acid at T1:0.1, T2:0.5, and T3:1 mg/L; Indole-3-acetic-acid at T4:0.1, T5:0.5, and T6:1 mg/L; and 1-Naphthaleneacetic-acid at T7:0.5, T8:1, and T9:1.5 mg/L) to assess rooting efficiency and subsequent plant development. Results revealed a significant increase in rooting rate, with the highest rooting rate observed in the T3 treatment (97.22%) with 1 mg/L of IBA after 12 weeks of incubation. Moreover, the mortality rate varied significantly among treatments, with the highest rate observed in the control group (55.56%). The bud break rate was significantly higher in the T3 treatment compared to other treatments (100%). Correlations between morphological traits unveiled intricate relationships, highlighting the influence of auxin type and concentration on various parameters such as mortality and bud break rate. During the acclimatization process, a substrate composed of perlite, peat, and sand in a ratio of 3:1:1 (v/v/v) was utilized. The IBA-treated plants demonstrated superior growth, with an average apical growth of (2.84 cm) and a leaf area of (20.95 cm²) after 6 weeks. Our findings provide valuable insights into optimizing micropropagation techniques for R. damascena, thereby contributing to sustainable cultivation practices and meeting the increasing demand for this prized botanical resource
Isolation, identification, and in silico characterisation of antimicrobial peptides from mangrove plants, Suaeda nigra and Suaeda maritima
Full text linkInfectious diseases continue to be the primary cause of death, representing a significant public health issue globally. While antibiotics are an effective remedy, bacterial infections have developed resistance to these drugs, resulting in antibiotic treatment failure. Hence there is a quest for novel antibacterial agents from natural sources, including plants and other creatures. Plants possess the tendency to synthesise substances to defend themselves from challenging surroundings. This has prompted the investigation of antimicrobial peptides that are commonly derived and possess strong efficacy against pathogens. Moreover, the utilisation of mangroves in traditional medicine is garnering significant attention due to its reputation as an exceptional reservoir of bioactive substances for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and others. Therefore, the current study concentrated on identifying the antimicrobial peptides from Suaeda nigra and Suaeda maritima. The analysis of leaf proteomes in S. nigra and S. maritima showed that the 15 and 20 KDa peptides exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, which were identified as Alpha-2-purothionin precursor and Vicin-like antimicrobial peptides-2-2-like proteins. The physicochemical characterization of Alpha-2-purothionin and Vicin-like antimicrobial peptides shows respective molecular weights of 14557.8 and 16353.78 Da. As well as their pI values were calculated as 5.13 and 6.11. The 3D structural analysis revealed that the Alpha-2-purothionin precursor and Vicin-like antimicrobial peptides showed an accurate model more similar to the templates PDB ID: 1nbl and PDB ID: 1fxzA. This study concluded that the identified proteins have significant antimicrobial potential against bacterial and fungal species, and their predicted structures were reliable
Unveiling genetic variation in Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) germplasm: A combined approach of morphological characterization and multivariate analysis
Full text linkCotton (Gossypium sp.) is a commercial crop that is predominantly grown in tropical and subtropical regions, with India emerging as the largest producer globally. This study focused on the genetic diversity and morphological characterization of Gossypium barbadense L., the second most cultivated cotton species. Comprehensive data encompassing qualitative and quantitative traits, spanning morphological attributes to yield-contributing parameters were documented and analyzed using appropriate statistical analysis. The findings indicate the significance of specific attributes, viz., the number of monopodia and sympodia per plant, boll weight and fiber fineness, which emerged as highly reliable markers for selection. These traits exhibit elevated genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, along with substantial heritability and genetic advance as a percent of the mean. Based on per se performance, genotypes SBS 66, SBS 79 and EC 98254 will serve as a source for the selection of parents for improving traits viz., boll weight, upper half mean length, fibre fineness and single plant yield. Principal component analysis divided the total variance into 14 components and cluster analysis segregated the germplasm into 5 distinct clusters, highlighting the substantial genetic variation and the genotypes 3530, CBS 202, ERB 4488 and EGYPTIAN, which can be used as parents in the future breeding programme
Botanical and SFE aided need base systemic scientific inaugurate of Delphinium denudatum root Wall. an unexplored jeopardise medicinal plant
Full text linkThe endangered medicinal plant Delphinium denudatum Wall. is widely recognized by the medical community for its potential in treating neurological disorders. Despite its known health benefits, it has not been thoroughly investigated. Further research is required using scientifically recognized analytical techniques to fully explore its therapeutic potential. The use of traditional methods for extracting botanicals raises concerns about both environmental damage and potential health risks due to the extensive use of organic solvents. In response to these issues, this research utilizes environmentally-conscious and eco-friendly methods for botanical extraction. Recently, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has emerged as a preferred technique for extracting plant material due to its high efficiency and yield. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the solvent of choice in SFE because of its effective diffusion into plant material at low temperatures, as well as its environmentally friendly properties. In this study, the optimal conditions for SFE were determined to be a pressure of 200 bar, a temperature of 80 °C and a CO2 flow rate of 15 g. min-1 to achieve to achieve maximum yield of Delphinium root extract (DRE). The result demonstrated that SFE produced an optimal extract yield with three productivity levels: level-I (0.8 % w/w), level-II (1.2 % w/w) and level-III (0.95 % w/w). Furthermore, a botanical examination verified the integrity of cell structures, while physicochemical evaluations help establish quality standards for the extract. Phytometabolites mapping of the SFE- derived DRE was performed using HPTLC under various conditions, including daylight, postderivatization and at 254 nm and 366 nm. Additionally, community reports validated the effectiveness of DDR against harmful microorganisms, with zones of inhibition observed against Staphylococcus aureus (ZI: 5.21 ± 0.29); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZI: 7.48 ± 0.53); Aspergillus niger (ZI: 8.15 ± 0.9) at concentrations of 100 ?g mL-1 and 500 ?g mL-1 of the DRE respectively. In conclusion, this research strongly supports the use of D. denudatum extracts obtained via SFE as a potential treatment for various pathogenic disease. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous scientific evidence documenting the successful extraction of D. denudatum using SFE. Additionally, the protective properties of SFE-derived DRE against pathogenic microorganisms had not been previously explored. Thus, the present study identifies D. denudatum as a promising candidate for the development of drugs to combat pathogenic infections