Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) has been identified by the New Zealand dairy sector as an option for reducing nitrogen losses from grazed pastures. However, there is growing concern over its poor persistence. Reports have suggested that plantain doesn’t tolerate waterlogged soils, however there is little scientific evidence to support those claims. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of waterlogging on plantain growth and survival. In a glasshouse, three water treatments were applied to plantain plants in pots: control (optimal watering), wet (soil at field capacity), and waterlogged (water table 5cm below the surface) for 39 days, before 27 days under control watering. Leaf elongation and photosynthesis were measured during the experiment. The mean leaf elongation rate of waterlogged plants was 37% lower than control plants during the stress period, but not significantly different than control plants during the recovery period. Waterlogging reduced the rate of photosynthesis in plantain leaves by 15% on average in comparison with control watering during the stress period, however waterlogged and control plants had a similar mean photosynthesis rate during the recovery period. The results show that plantain growth and photosynthesis were significantly limited under waterlogging, however the rapid recovery of these processes following the removal of stress suggests that important physiological functions remained in-tact under waterlogging, possibly due to a tolerance mechanism. These findings suggest that while waterlogging may cause limitations for plantain growth, there is no evidence to suggest that it could cause irreversible damage to plants and thus prevent their recovery.

The global population is increasing at an alarming rate and is predictable to rise by 70% up to 2050 and thus has increased the demand for continuous food supply. Growing industrialization and population size has continuously leads to shortage of agricultural land and water. Thus in order to enhance plant growth and yield, excessive chemical fertilizers has been used by growers which ultimately lead to considerable damages on environment as well as human and animal health. Nanotechnology using nanoscience can be used as a potential source for the development of processes and products that are hardly possible to develop through conventional methods. Nanoparticles can alter the physical and chemical properties in comparison with their bulk analogues and have superior application strategies and plays a substantial role in the production of crops.

Copper nanoparticles with size ranges between 1–100 nm in diameter can be synthesised in a variety of ways such as physical, chemical and biological methods. Keeping in mind the toxic chemicals and extreme conditions required in the chemical and physical methods, biological method using Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacter (PGPR) is preferred for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles. Biologically synthesized copper nanoparticle is more economic and eco-friendly with high stability and yield. On application of copper nanoparticle on seeds of chickpea and mung at various concentrations, it was observed that an optimal concentration is found to be suitable to improve the seed germination and growth of legume plant in a non-toxic way.

Nanotechnology is the science of synthesis of nanomaterials which has gained enormous consideration worldwide because of its various applications such as target drug delivery, biomedicine, environmental remediation, and antimicrobial progress. Globally, the significance and demand for environment-friendly technologies have grown, which has accelerated the advancement of techniques for creating nanoparticles utilizing biological agents. Biogenic synthesis of metal nanoparticles is a more reliable method than any other green synthesis process due to their high growth rate, ease of cultivation, and ability to grow in ambient temperature, pH, and pressure conditions. Silver nanoparticles are the most vital nanomaterials among other metallic nanoparticles due to their unique properties in various fields. The present study shows the microbial synthesis of silver nanoparticles from plant growth-promoting bacteria(PGPR). The synthesized silver nanoparticles were visually confirmed by color change from colorless to reddish brown. Further, synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed by UV-Vis Spectrophotometric analysis showing an absorbance peak at 440nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms the components responsible for the prolonged stability of silver nanoparticles. The external morphology of synthesized silver nanoparticles was tested using the FE-SEM technique. The effect of synthesized silver nanoparticles was tested on the growth curve of plant growth-promoting bacteria using the macro dilution method. It was observed that biogenic silver nanoparticles promote the growth of PGPR. Additionally, it can be a highly effective replacement for traditional and chemical approaches for plant growth promotion.

Weeds are a problem in agriculture because they compete with the crops for resources, causing losses in food production. Due to the recent necessity to change the paradigm to sustainable agriculture, it is necessary to develop alternatives to chemical herbicides. One alternative is bioherbicides based on microorganisms and their compounds. The present study evaluated the herbicidal activity in preemergence of metabolites from Colletotrichum spp. on the indicator species Sorghum bicolor as narrow-leaf weed and Phaseolus vulgaris as broad-leaf weed. Furthermore, were identified the compounds present in metabolites. The Mycology and Biotechnology Laboratory of Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro provided the fungal strains. The metabolites were produced by liquid fermentation filtered with filters of 0.22 µm. The herbicidal activity was evaluated by placing the seeds in Petri dishes on filter paper previously soaked with the treatments. The treatments were concentrations of 6.2 to 100% of metabolites and an absolute witness; In this bioassay three replicates for each treatment were used. The metabolite compounds were characterized with analytical HPLC-ESI-MS, detection of auxins, and the enzymatic activity of celluloses. The metabolites presented herbicidal activity with an inhibition rate of the hypocotyl and radicle of 50 % and 67 % respectively at a concentration of 6.2 % on S. bicolor. In comparison, in P. vulgaris the inhibition rate of hypocotyl and radicle overcame 50 % at a concentration of 50 %. Regarding the germination rate, the metabolites were more efficient in S. bicolor. This study demonstrates the herbicidal effect in preemergence of the metabolites from Colletotrichum spp. and their possible application as a preemergence bioherbicide.

Mushrooms, including truffles, are receiving particular and increasing attention as a new source of valuable biotherapeutics, which are also useful from an ecological and socio-economic point of view. The aim of the current study is the valorization of a species of desert truffle, Terfezia claveryi Chatin from Algeria, used in traditional therapy too. The myco-chemical constituents, polyphenol, flavonoid and condensed tannin composition were investigated. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was examined using the heat denaturation protein inhibition method. Myco-chemical tests presented a very interesting richness in terms of secondary metabolites with variable rates, especially Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, anthraquinones, coumarins, free quinones and terpenoids. The polyphenol, flavonoid and condensed tannin contents of the hydro-methanol extract were respectively: 82,27 ± 1,44 µg GAE/mg, 14,94 ± 0,98 µg CE/mg, 27,50 ± 2,50 µg CE/mg. The extract of this species of desert truffle at the 1.5 mg/ml level showed an inhibition percentage of denaturation 83.53± 1.57 % compared for that 98.43± 0.52 % for the diclofenac sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used as a standard in this study, these results appear very promising. This research revealed its interesting anti-inflammatory properties, which confirms its value in traditional use. More research is required, to identify the main bio-compounds responsible for this remarkable potency, and their mechanism of effect.

Mushrooms have long been valued for their sensory appeal and culinary qualities, deeply ingrained in human culture since ancient times. Today, the consumption of these macrofungi remains popular due to their valuable dietary benefits and long term health effects for the daily consumer [1]. Montesinho Natural Park, a mountainous region known for its mycological diversity, boasts over two hundred edible mushroom species rich in proteins, carbohydrates (such as polysaccharides and fibers), and minerals [2, 3, 4, 5]. The food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries extensively exploit these mushrooms for their nutritional properties [6]. However, their availability is compromised by seasonality and climate change impacts on forest composition, leading to a decline in mushroom diversity [7]. Unsustainable harvesting practices and illegal trade further contribute to the limited availability of these fungi, posing risks to ecosystems. To address these issues, cultivating edible mushrooms in a controlled setting using forest substrate preserves the species' unique characteristics. A comprehensive and deep review on the nutritional, chemical, and bioactive characterization will ensure the quality of cultivated species and building consumer confidence [8] and boost sustainable mushroom cultivation that supports biodiversity preservation in regions like Montesinho Natural Park. By responsibly meeting the demand for mushrooms, it is possible to protect natural habitats and promote overall ecosystem sustainability.

World population is estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 which will greatly increase the demand for food. Agricultural sector is facing several challenges mostly related to the negative impact of non-sustainable farming practices and climate change on soil fertility and health which impairs crop growth and yield. To foster crop productivity, there is a need to invest in research and on the development of new biotechnological tools to increase plant growth and resilience. Among sustainable strategies is the use of microbial-based tools, such as biofertilizers.

The aim of this work was to characterize bacterial strains for their multiple plant growth promoting traits, including P-solubilization and N₂ fixation ability, as well as the production of ammonia and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The bacterial strains Arthrobacter nicotinovorans EAPAA, Pseudomonas fluorescens S3X, Pseudomonas azotoformans IR1-5 and Bacillus aryabhattai LS1-2 presented the best plant growth promoting traits. These strains were tested for their biocompatibility and different bacterial consortia were inoculated on maize in a short-term greenhouse pot experiment.

The inoculation of maize plants with the different consortia fostered shoot biomass and elongation, suggesting their ability to be used as biofertilizers. However, more research should be carried out to evaluate their use in sustainable agriculture under reduced chemical fertilization conditions.

Monitoring of wheat crop growth plays a crucial role in ensuring effective agricultural management and enhancing food security. Valuable insights into the spatial distribution and various growth stages of wheat crop can be obtained through the combination of multi spectral remote sensing datasets, data analysis, and ground-truth verification. This work aims to monitor the wheat crop at the farm le­vel in the Bathinda district of India during the agricultural ye­ar 2022-23. It involves collecting and analyzing multispe­ctral satellite data collected and analyzed over five­ selected farmlands in study region. Preprocessing of the multispe­ctral satellite data is performed including radiometric and atmosphe­ric corrections. The wheat crop’s health and growth are examined by utilizing various indices such as Land Surface Water Index (LSWI), Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) retrieved from the time series remote sensing datasets. Furthermore, wheat crop monitoring is performed fortnightly data to encompass its health, moisture­ levels, and growth stages for individual farmland. Different farmlands have shown varying LSWI, NDRE, and NDVI values. Variations in crop growth and productivity were observe­d among farmlands due to differe­nces in soil properties and sowing date­s. The findings from this study offer valuable­ insights into the importance of timely sowing, crop he­alth monitoring, irrigation management, and soil suitability in optimizing wheat crop production.

Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty but agriculture-driven growth, poverty reduction, and food security are at risk. Plant diseases and insect pests are major limiting factors that reduce crop production worldwide. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a serious pest of agricultural crops and the use of silicon (Si) has shown promise in various crops due to its capability of changing plant defenses. Present investigations were carried out for the management of FAW on maize and its effects on the biology of fall armyworm under laboratory conditions. In field trials Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was evaluated at three concentrations i.e. 400, 800, and 1200 ppm against maize FAW. Foliar and drenching application of silicon dioxide at the maximum concentration (1200 ppm) exhibited significant results with minimum FAW population followed by 800 and 400 ppm respectively. In 2^nd complement of the research the biological parameters of fall armyworm were assessed under in vitro conditions by feeding larvae with silicon-treated leaves. Results revealed that the larvae survival rate was minimum (36%) at maximum silicon application in comparison to control (95%). The pupal duration was increased to 13.66 days as compared to the control with 7.66 days. Moreover, the adult longevity was also reduced to 7.67 days and fecundity was reduced to 254 eggs in comparison to the control with 512 eggs. Silicon had a significant effect on the biology of fall armyworm and its application can be a potential management technique for fall armyworm.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human health acting as an antioxidant, helping reduce the risk of chronic and cardiovascular diseases, etc. Enrichment of hydroponic nutrient solution with Se is one of the ways for the enhancement of Se in leafy vegetables. The study aimed to determine the responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, ‘Little Gem’) cultivated under different white (3000K, 3500K, 4000K) light-emitting diodes (LED) lighting to Se content in hydroponic solution. The photon flux density (PFD), photoperiod, temperature, and relative humidity in the growth chamber were maintained at 220 mmol m^-2 s^-1, 18 h, 21/17±2°C, and 60±5%, respectively. Se (1 ppm) experiment was performed using sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄). Results showed that the significantly higher Se content and translocation factor was determined under 3500K LEDs. Meanwhile, the bioconcentration factor was lower under this lighting. Se negatively affected sulphur content under whole white LEDs lighting but had no significant impact on other mineral element content. Lettuce growth was more dependent on light but not Se content in the hydroponic solution. The most positive effect on their growth was determined under 3000K LEDs. The highest content of fructose and glucose was under 3500 LEDs. Se exposure increased DPPH under 4000K LEDs but did not affect FRAP and ABTS under whole white LED lighting. These results suggest that Se and 3500K LEDs lighting interaction is most suitable for cultivating selenium-biofortified lettuce. Acknowledgements: This project has received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. S-MIP-19-2.