Search Results (463)

Soil salinization constitutes a major constraint on global agricultural production, with marked divergence in salt adaptation strategies between salt-tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare) and salt-sensitive rice (Oryza sativa). This study systematically investigated the evolution and functional specialization of the C3HC4-type RING zinc finger gene family, known to mediate abiotic stress responses through E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, in these contrasting cereal species. Through comparative genomics, we identified 123 HvC3HC4 genes and 90 OsC3HC4 genes, phylogenetically classified into four conserved subgroups. Differences in C3HC4 genes in phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, motif composition, gene duplication events, and cis-elements in the promoter region were observed between barley and rice. Moreover, HvC3HC4s in barley tissues preferentially adopted an energy-conserving strategy, which may be a key mechanism for barley’s higher salt tolerance. Additionally, we found that C3HC4 genes were evolutionarily conserved in salt-tolerant species. The current results reveal striking differences in salt tolerance between barley and rice mediated by the C3HC4 gene family and offer valuable insight for potential genetic engineering applications in improving crop resilience to salinity stress. Full article

Water supply and sewage drainage pipes have a critical role to play in the provision of clean water and sanitation, and pipe material selection influences infrastructure life, water quality, and microbial communities. Zinc-containing compounds are highly valued due to their mechanical properties, anticorrosion behavior, and antimicrobial properties. However, the effect of zinc salts, such as zinc sulfate heptahydrate and zinc chloride, on biofilm-forming bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, is not well established. This study investigates the antibacterial properties of these zinc salts under simulated pipeline conditions using minimum inhibitory concentration assays, biofilm production assays, and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Findings indicate that zinc chloride is more antimicrobial due to its higher solubility and bioavailability of Zn²⁺ ions. At higher concentrations, zinc salts inhibit the development of a biofilm, whereas sub-inhibitory concentrations enhance the growth of biofilm, suggesting a stress response in bacteria. zinc chloride also enhances antibiotic efficacy against E. coli but induces resistance in E. faecalis. These findings highlight the dual role of zinc salts in preventing biofilm formation and modulating antimicrobial resistance, necessitating further research to optimize material selection for water distribution networks and mitigate biofilm-associated risks in pipeline systems. Full article

The eight new copper(II), nickel(II), zinc(II), and iron(III) coordination compounds [Cu(L)Cl]₂ (1), [Cu(L)Br]₂ (2), [Cu(L)(NO₃)]₂ (3), [Cu(phen)(L)]NO₃ (4), [Ni(HL)₂](NO₃)₂·H₂O (5), [Ni(HL)₂]Cl₂ (6), [Zn(L)₂]·0.125H₂O (7), and [Fe(L)₂]Cl (8), where HL stands for 2-benzoylpyridine 4-allylthiosemicarbazone, were synthesized and characterized. ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and FTIR spectroscopies were used for characterization of the HL thiosemicarbazone. The elemental analysis, the FTIR spectroscopy, and the study of molar electrical conductivity were used for characterization of the coordination compounds 1–8. Also, the crystal structures of HL, its salts ([H₂L]Cl; [H₂L]NO₃), and complexes 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 5, 7, 8 have mononuclear structures, while copper(II) complexes 1 and 3 have a dimeric structure with the sulfur atoms of the thiosemicarbazone ligand bridging two copper atoms together. Thiosemicarbazone HL and the complexes manifest antibacterial and antifungal activities. The studied substances are more active towards Gram-negative bacteria than towards Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Complex 1 is the most active one towards Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans, while the introduction of 1,10-phenanthroline into the inner sphere enhances the activity towards Gram-negative bacteria. Thiosemicarbazone and complexes 6 and 7 manifest antiradical activity that exceeds the activity of Trolox. HL and complex 1 manifest antiproliferative activity towards HL-60 cancer cells which exceeds the activity of their analogs with 2-formyl-/2-acetylpyridine 4-allylthiosemicarbazone. Full article

Non-conventional water sources (saline and brackish water) are viable options for crop cultivation. Current salt-tolerance research largely focuses on Na⁺ and Cl⁻, while other ions in these waters remain ill-understood. Synthetic seawater was a representative of saline and brackish water in a Design of Experiments (DoE) treatment design used to evaluate the effects of factors [synthetic seawater (0, 15, 30, or 45%, v/v, Instant Ocean^®), total inorganic nitrogen (0, 14, or 28 mM; 1 NH₄⁺:8 NO₃⁻ ratio), potassium (0, 9, or 21 mM), calcium (0, 2, or 5 mM), silicon (0, 0.03, or 0.09 mM) and zinc (0, 0.05, or 2 mM)] on seedlings for two varieties of Brassica juncea [‘Carolina Broadleaf’ (CB) and ‘Florida Broadleaf’ (FB)] using a hydroponic assay. In 30–45% synthetic seawater, 0.09 mM of silicon or 2 mM of calcium alleviated salt stress. In FB, 0.04–0.06 mM of silicon was optimal for the production of new leaves. The CB variety showed greater production of new leaves with 0.09 mM of silicon and 28 mM of potassium. Potassium and calcium are components of seawater, and a sodium chloride assay would not account for their interactions without a multivariate approach to evaluate salt tolerance. The seedling assay identified factors and established criteria for larger-scale harvest experiments. Full article

Salinity has significant impacts on crops, a problem that is exacerbated under climate change conditions. For this reason, research is focused on possible ways to mitigate the impacts by adapting cultivation methods such as administering appropriate materials or formulations to plants. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of calcium (Ca²⁺) supplementation on the growth, physiology, and chemical composition of pomegranate plants (Punica granatum L. cv. ‘Wonderful’) grown under salinity stress. Young self-rooted plants were cultivated in pots containing a sand/perlite (1:1) mixture and irrigated with Hoagland’s nutrient solution amended with NaCl (0, 60, or 120 mM) and CaCl₂·2H₂O (0 or 10 mM). Salinity significantly reduced the fresh and dry weight of aboveground tissues; photosynthetic performance; chlorophyll content; and potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations, particularly under high NaCl levels. Sodium (Na) accumulation increased in all plant parts, while nitrogen (N), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were elevated in basal leaves. Calcium supplementation mitigated several of these adverse effects, especially under moderate salinity. It helped maintain leaf biomass, supported K⁺ retention in roots, partially improved chlorophyll concentration, and limited Na⁺ accumulation in certain tissues. However, Ca²⁺ application did not consistently reverse the negative impacts of severe salinity (120 mM NaCl), and in some cases, interactions between Ca²⁺ and other nutrients such as Mg²⁺ were antagonistic. These findings confirm the inherent salt tolerance of pomegranate and demonstrate that calcium plays a partially protective role under salinity, particularly at moderate stress levels. Further research is needed to optimize Ca²⁺ use in saline agriculture and enhance sustainable cultivation of pomegranate in salt-affected soils. Full article

C2H2 zinc finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) constitute one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, playing crucial roles in growth, development, and stress responses. Here, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of C2H2-ZFPs in foxtail millet (Setaria italica v2.0), identifying 67 members that were unevenly distributed across all nine chromosomes. Most SiC2H2 proteins were predicted to be alkaline, stable, and nuclear-localized, with the exception of SiC2H2-11 and SiC2H2-66, which were chloroplast-targeted. Phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice) homologs classified these genes into seven distinct subfamilies, each containing the characteristic motif1 domain. Evolutionary studies revealed 14 segmental duplication events and strong syntenic conservation with Triticum aestivum (wheat, 163 orthologous pairs), suggesting conserved functions during evolution. Promoter analysis identified multiple cis-acting elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and stress adaptation. Transcriptome profiling and qPCR validation in the YuGu 56 cultivar identified several stress-responsive candidates, including SiC2H2-35 and SiC2H2-58 (salt tolerance), as well as SiC2H2-23 (5.19-fold induction under salt stress) and SiC2H2-32 (5.47-fold induction under drought). This study provides some valuable insights into the C2H2-ZFP family in foxtail millet and highlights potential genetic markers for improving stress resilience through molecular breeding approaches. Full article

Both ZnO and BeO semiconductors crystallize in the hexagonal wurtzite (wz), cubic rock salt (rs), and zinc-blende (zb) phases, depending upon their growth conditions. Low-dimensional heterostructures ZnO/Be_xZn_1-xO and Be_xZn_1-xO ternary alloy-based devices have recently gained substantial interest to design/improve the operations of highly efficient and flexible nano- and micro-electronics. Attempts are being made to engineer different electronic devices to cover light emission over a wide range of wavelengths to meet the growing industrial needs in photonics, energy harvesting, and biomedical applications. For zb materials, both experimental and theoretical studies of lattice dynamics ${\mathsf{\omega }}_{\mathrm{j}}\left(\overrightarrow{\mathrm{q}}\right)$ have played crucial roles for understanding their optical and electronic properties. Except for zb ZnO, inelastic neutron scattering measurement of ${\mathsf{\omega }}_{\mathrm{j}}\left(\overrightarrow{\mathrm{q}}\right)$ for BeO is still lacking. For the Be_xZn_1-xO ternary alloys, no experimental and/or theoretical studies exist for comprehending their structural, vibrational, and thermodynamical traits (e.g., Debye temperature ${\mathsf{\Theta }}_{\mathrm{D}}\left(\mathrm{T}\right);$ specific heat ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{v}}\left(\mathrm{T}\right))$. By adopting a realistic rigid-ion model, we have meticulously simulated the results of lattice dynamics, and thermodynamic properties for both the binary zb ZnO, BeO and ternary Be_xZn_1-xO alloys. The theoretical results are compared/contrasted against the limited experimental data and/or ab initio calculations. We strongly feel that the phonon/thermodynamic features reported here will encourage spectroscopists to perform similar measurements and check our theoretical conjectures. Full article

The plant-specific PLATZ transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stresses. However, despite their functional significance, PLATZ genes remain poorly characterized in soybeans. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the GmPLATZ gene family and investigated their expression profiles under salt stress. We identified a total of 29 GmPLATZ genes in the soybean genome and systematically analyzed their physicochemical properties, conserved domains, evolutionary relationships, cis-acting elements, and expression regulation patterns. Subcellular localization predictions indicated nuclear localization for most GmPLATZs, except for GmPLATZ5 and GmPLATZ14, which showed dual chloroplast–nuclear localization. A gene family expansion analysis indicated that 21 segmental duplication events were the primary driver of GmPLATZ diversification. A phylogenetic analysis classified the GmPLATZ genes into four subgroups, while gene structure and motif analyses revealed conserved zinc-binding domains and identified multiple cis-acting elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and stress responses. Expression profiling showed tissue-specific expression patterns, with 13 GmPLATZ genes differentially expressed under salt stress, including root-preferential members (e.g., GmPLATZ1, GmPLATZ10) and leaf-preferential members (e.g., GmPLATZ8, GmPLATZ9). This study provides a theoretical basis for further investigation of GmPLATZ gene functions in soybean development and stress tolerance. Full article

The Dof (DNA-binding with one finger) domain protein family is a plant-specific zinc finger transcription factor family that plays a role in various biological processes in plants. However, research on Dof transcription factors in soybean (Glycine max) remains limited. In this study, we identified 79 putative soybean Dof genes, which are distributed across the entire genome. A comparative phylogenetic analysis of the Dof gene family in soybean, Arabidopsis, rice, maize, and Medicago revealed five major groups. The synteny relationship analysis showed a large number of gene duplication events in soybean. Twelve cis-acting elements were detected in the promoter region of the Dof gene, including five hormone response elements and several environmental response elements. Expression pattern analysis indicated that most Gmdof genes exhibited specific expression patterns. Nine genes in group V, which exhibited higher expression in the root, were identified as significantly responsive to salt stress through qRT-PCR. The possible biological functions of several Gmdof genes were discussed, including Gmdof11.2, Gmdof2.1, and Gmdof16.2. In summary, this study integrated phylogenetic analysis with genome-wide expression profiling to provide valuable information for understanding the functional characteristics of Dof genes in soybean. Full article

The essential micronutrient zinc is known to inhibit gastric acid secretion (GAS), where its homeostasis is strictly regulated. We hypothesized that the gastric bitter taste receptors, TAS2Rs, regulate the following: (i) zinc-modulated proton secretory activity (PSA) as a key mechanism of GAS and (ii) zinc homeostasis in immortalized parietal cells. To confirm this hypothesis, human gastric tumor cells (HGT-1) were exposed to 100–1000 µM of zinc salts for 30 min in order to quantitate their TAS2R-dependent PSA and intracellular zinc concentration using a fluorescence-based pH sensor and ICP-MS, respectively. Thereby, we identified TAS2R43 as a key player in parietal cell PSA and zinc homeostasis, with both conclusions being verified by a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout approach. Moreover, by regulating the zinc importer protein ZIP14, TAS2R43 proved to perform a protective role against excessive zinc accumulation in immortalized parietal cells. Full article

Plants dynamically regulate ions in the tree to defend against abiotic stresses such as drought and saline-alkali, However, it is not clear how ‘Junzao’ jujube regulates ions to maintain a normal life cycle under saline-alkali stress. Therefore, in this study, the roots of 10-year old steer jujube trees were watered using a saline and alkaline gradient solution simulating the main salt (NaCl) and alkali (NaHCO₃) of Aral with NaCl:NaHCO₃ = 3:1 gradient of 0, 60, 180, and 300 mM, and three jujube trees with uniform growth were taken as samples in each treatment plot, and the ion contents of potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and carbon (C) in each organ of the fruit at the dot red period (S1) and full-red period (S2) were determined, in order to elucidate the relationship between physiological adaptation mechanisms of saline-alkali tolerance and the characteristics of mineral nutrient uptake and utilisation in jujube fruit. The results showed that under saline-alkali stress, Na was stored in large quantities in the roots, Ca and Mg in the perennial branches at S1, Na and Fe in the leaves at S2, and K, Mg and Mn in the perennial branches. There was no significant difference in the distribution of C content in various organs of ‘Junzao’. Compared with CK (0 mM), under salinity stress, the K content in the leaves was significantly reduced at S1 and S2, and the K/Na ratios remained > 1.0. At S2, under medium and high concentrations of saline-alkali stress (180–300 mM), the K/Na is less than 1, and the ionic homeostasis was disrupted, and the leaves die and fall off, and the Na is excreted from the body. The selective transport coefficients SK/Na, SCa/Na and SMg/Na from root to leaf showed a downward trend at S1, but still maintained positive transport capacity. At S2, this stage is close to leaf fall, the nutrient transport coefficient is less than 1, and a large amount of nutrients are returned to the perennial branches and roots occurred. These results indicated that the mechanism of nutrient regulation and salt tolerance in jujube trees was different at different growth stages. Full article

This study introduces a newly synthesized Co(II) phthalocyanine complex (Co-Pc, 4) incorporating two (mercapto-terphenyl)thio-dione substituents, along with a detailed exploration of its structural, spectroscopic, and binding characteristics. The key precursor, 4-[(4′′-mercapto-[1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl]-4-yl)thio]phthalonitrile (compound 3), was first obtained and subsequently used to construct the phthalocyanine macrocycle through cyclotetramerization in the presence of cobalt and zinc salts under heat and vacuum in dimethylformamide. The resulting compounds (3 and 4) were characterized using a comprehensive array of analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, and Q-TOF mass spectrometry. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were employed to elucidate the electronic structure and geometrical features of Co-Pc 4, providing theoretical support for the experimental findings. The integration of theoretical and experimental findings provides in-depth insight into the electronic behavior and reactivity of compound 4, highlighting its promise as a candidate for photovoltaic applications. Further studies may investigate how structural modifications influence these properties, potentially leading to improved device performance. Full article

This research focused on the development of an edible coat made of corn waste arabinoxylan enriched with nanohybrids of zinc layered hydroxide salt and thymol (ZnHSL, ZnHSL-T). The crystallographic phase was confirmed with XRD (ICDD card 07-0155) and SEM. Filmogenic solutions prepared with the polysaccharide (AX) containing thymol (T), ZnHSL, and ZnHSL-T (AXT, AXH, and AXHT, respectively) were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, color, thickness, transparency, and moisture content, where AXHT exhibited the thinnest layer. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the coatings was evaluated by the inhibition of ABTS radical, proving that thymol was present in the filmogenic solutions with inhibitions of 90%. Also, edible coatings were applied on cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and stored for 12 days, a period during which physicochemical properties (weight loss, color, lycopene content, soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity) and Salmonella survival (serovar Enteritidis, Typhimurium, and Montevideo) were evaluated. Results demonstrated that AXHT had less weight loss than the control, and the other physicochemical properties of tomatoes were preserved. Regarding pathogen adherence, AXHT reduced the bacterial survival for Salmonella Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Montevideo in 25, 30, and 45%, respectively, by day 12. The findings of this research demonstrate the application of nanotechnology to biopolymers, enabling the production of safer foods with acceptable quality parameters for consumers. Full article

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is an important economic plant. With its wild populations on the brink of extinction and the area of salinized soil increasing sharply, farmers have gradually used saline soil to carry out artificial cultivation of the licorice. However, the salt stress has led to a significant decrease in the yield and quality of its medicinal organ (root), seriously restricting the sustainable development of the licorice industry. Therefore, we investigated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as a nano-fertilizer to enhance root biomass and bioactive compound accumulation under salinity. Our results indicate that under 160 mM NaCl stress, the application of 30 mg/kg ZnO NPs increased the root biomass of the licorice and the contents of glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhizin, and total flavonoids in the roots by 182%, 158%, 87%, and 201%, respectively. And the ZnO treatment made the enzyme activities of SOD, CAT, and POD exhibit increase, and made the levels of superoxide anions, electrolyte leakage, soluble sugar, and proline reduce. These results demonstrate that ZnO NPs not only enhance salt tolerance but also redirect metabolic resources toward medicinal compound biosynthesis. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for utilizing nanotechnology to sustainably cultivate the licorice in marginal saline environments, bridging agricultural productivity and pharmacological value. Full article

In this work, the effect of the palladium precursor on the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) performance of lignin-based electrospun carbon fibers was studied. The fibers were spun from a lignin-ethanol solution free of any binder, where different Pd salts were added at two concentration levels. The system implemented to perform the spinning was a coaxial setup in which the internal flow contains the precursor dispersion with the metallic precursor, and ethanol was used as external flow to help fiber formation and prevent drying before generating the Taylor cone. The obtained cloths were thermostabilized in air at 200 °C and carbonized in nitrogen at 900 °C. The resulting carbon fibers were characterized by physicochemical and electrochemical techniques. The palladium precursor significantly affects nanoparticle distribution and size, fiber diameter, pore distribution, surface area and electrochemical behavior. The fibers prepared with palladium acetylacetonate at high Pd loading and carbonized at 900 °C under a CO₂ atmosphere showed high mechanical stability and the best ORR activity, showing near total selectivity towards the 4-electron path. These features are comparable to those of the commercial Pt/C catalyst but much lower metal loading (10.6 wt.% vs. 20 wt.%). The most promising fibers have been evaluated as cathodes in a zinc–air battery, delivering astonishing stability results that surpassed the performance of commercial Pt/C materials in both charging and discharging processes. Full article