Search Results (1,730)

Estuarine and river-influenced coastal ecosystems are recognized as important sinks and channels for transfer of heavy metals into the marine environment. Continuous intake of metal pollutants could create chronic exposure situations, perhaps leading to molecular and cellular damage to resident biota, even if environmental concentrations are within regulatory limits. Thus, the incorporation of molecular and genotoxicity biomarkers into environmental monitoring programs has received growing interest, as changes in gene expression are among the earliest detectable responses to pollutant stress and may precede genotoxic effects, including DNA damage, at higher or prolonged levels of contaminant exposure. The present study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metals in the coastal zone where the Deliçay River flows into the Gulf of Iskenderun in the extreme northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Türkiye, and to investigate the genotoxic effects in the euryhaline ray-finned fish golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus). In this study, seasonal water samples (n = 3 per site per season) and C. auratus specimens (n = 10 per site per season; total n = 80) were collected from a reference site and the Deliçay estuary. Water samples were analyzed for metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) and fish samples were analyzed with the micronucleus (MN) test for determining nuclear abnormalities and the comet test for DNA damage levels. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Pb in seawater exceeded the Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) thresholds during the summer and autumn seasons, as well as in terms of annual mean values, indicating a potential chronic ecological risk to marine organisms. From the results of the micronucleus test performed in the present study, the highest MN frequencies (10.16 ± 0.15%) and other erythrocytic nuclear anomalies [kidney-shaped (10.36 ± 0.32%), binucleated (14.20 ± 0.10%), notched (14.63 ± 0.20%), lobed (15.43 ± 0.11%), and budded (15.33 ± 0.15%)] were found along the studied coastal zone in summer season. Results of the comet test, supporting the micronucleus test results, showed the highest percentages of DNA damage determined in all seasons in the gill and liver tissues of fish sampled in the studied coastal zone. This study is the first to evaluate the effects of heavy metal-induced genotoxic stress on ecological integrity in this coastal zone using a biomarker-based approach, and the results underscore the need for comprehensive environmental monitoring and pollution reduction strategies to protect ecosystem health. Full article

Global poultry consumption continues to rise, while worldwide bans on in-feed antibiotic growth promoters raise an urgent requirement for eco-friendly alternatives to guarantee production efficiency and food safety. Probiotics, live beneficial microorganisms that improve host intestinal health, are reviewed. We elaborate four core functional pathways of probiotics: competitive exclusion of pathogens, enhancement of intestinal barrier integrity, immune modulation and regulation of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. Their mitigating effects against heat stress, suboptimal rearing environments, mycotoxin contamination, heavy metal exposure and immune stress are analyzed. We further evaluate the capacity of single and compound probiotics to control major poultry diseases. Early-life intervention strategies and innovative preparations (multistrain probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics) are systematically summarized. Critical bottlenecks restricting industrial translation are highlighted, including empirical strain combination, non-standardized administration protocols, divergent evaluation indicators and single-factor laboratory challenge models inconsistent with actual farm conditions. Finally, we propose future research directions covering multi-omics-assisted strain screening, optimized delivery technology, unified industrial quality control standards and field verification under compound stress. This review offers integrated references for mechanistic research, strain development and precise industrial application of probiotics in sustainable antibiotic-free poultry breeding. Full article

Sulfur is an essential nutrient involved in plant growth, redox regulation, and responses to environmental stresses. Sulfate transporters (SULTRs) control sulfate uptake and distribution, thereby affecting sulfur availability for metabolic processes and stress adaptation. However, the characteristics and stress-responsive functions of SULTRs in the halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum remain unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized the SULTR family in S. portulacastrum through phylogenetic analysis, gene structure comparison, conserved motif analysis, promoter characterization, synteny analysis, and expression profiling. A total of 22 SpSULTRs were identified and classified into three subfamilies. Most SpSULTRs contained conserved Sulfate_transp and STAS domains and were predicted to localize to the plasma membrane. Transcriptome analysis combined with qRT-PCR validation revealed that SpSULTRs displayed diverse tissue-specific expression patterns under salt, cadmium, and copper stresses. Of these, SpSULTR3;1 and SpSULTR3;2 showed strong responses to salt stress and were mainly expressed in leaves. Protein interaction predictions suggested that these two transporters may be associated with sulfur assimilation, antioxidant metabolism, and stress-related pathways. These results reveal the structural diversification and stress-responsive characteristics of the SULTR family in S. portulacastrum and provide a basis for further investigation of sulfur transport mechanisms underlying halophyte adaptation. Full article

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils threatens food security and ecosystem sustainability worldwide. Microbial inoculants have been widely used to alleviate heavy metal phytotoxicity, yet the factors determining their efficacy remain unclear. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 774 paired observations from 70 studies to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation on plant performance under heavy metal stress. Overall, microbial inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, with greater benefits under higher levels of metal stress. Combined bacterial and fungal inoculation consistently outperformed single inoculations, while non-mycorrhizal beneficial fungi produced the strongest positive effects among individual inoculants. Soil organic carbon and sand content were positively associated with inoculation efficacy, whereas mean annual temperature was negatively associated with inoculation efficacy. Our results demonstrate that microbial inoculation is an effective strategy for enhancing plant tolerance to heavy metal stress and that its efficacy is strongly influenced by inoculation strategy and soil properties. These findings provide a quantitative basis for optimizing microbial-assisted remediation and developing context-specific management strategies for contaminated agricultural soils. Full article

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, with nutritional functions and abiotic stress regulation capacity, and has been confirmed to alleviate heavy metal toxicity and inhibit its accumulation in crops. Soil lead contamination has become a prominent environmental safety problem in agricultural production, particularly in South China, and lead over-standard in edible crops poses irreversible threats to the human nervous system and blood circulation through food chain transmission. As an efficient exogenous antagonist, Se can comprehensively regulate the absorption, translocation, and compartmentalization of lead in soil–plant systems. This review systematically summarizes the interactive effects of soil physicochemical properties, crop genotypes, and Se speciation on plant lead uptake, and focuses on phytochelatin synthase (PCS), the core rate-limiting enzyme for intracellular heavy metal chelation, to elucidate the molecular cascade of Se-mediated PCS-dependent lead detoxification. We further outline multi-pathway agronomic Se applications for lead reduction; analyze key limiting factors, including Se concentration, application method, and rhizosphere microbial community; and discuss contradictory results and unresolved questions in existing studies. Current evidence confirms that appropriate Se treatment increases glutathione (GSH) content via antioxidant system regulation, upregulates PCS gene transcription and activity, promotes phytochelatins (PCs) polymerization, and forms stable PC-Pb complexes sequestered in vacuoles to reduce cytoplasmic lead mobility. Additionally, Se reshapes rhizosphere microbial community composition to lower soil Pb²⁺ bioavailability and enhances lignin and pectin biosynthesis in root cell walls to physically block root Pb²⁺ influx. Nevertheless, critical knowledge gaps remain unaddressed: (1) upstream signal transduction cascades triggering Se-induced differential PCS expression; (2) precise Pb²⁺ binding sites and affinity of PC oligomers; (3) valence-dependent disparities in selenate, selenite, and nano-Se (SeNPs) modulating PCS activity; and (4) standardized field Se fertilization protocols tailored to staple and tropical tuber crops such as cassava. This review provides systematic theoretical reference and technical foundations for dissecting Se-Pb antagonistic molecular networks, developing Se-enriched low Pb²⁺ functional fertilizers, and mitigating Pb²⁺ contamination risk in agricultural commodities. Full article

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought, heat, and heavy metal toxicity, which strongly threaten productivity, quality, and market value in horticultural crops. Although plant biostimulants have been widely reviewed in agronomic crops, their role in horticultural systems remains less comprehensively synthesized, particularly across different crop groups, stress types, application methods, and molecular response mechanisms. This review addresses this gap by systematically compiling current evidence on the use of biostimulants to improve abiotic stress resilience in horticultural crops, with particular emphasis on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and recently emerging molecular responses, especially transcriptomic evidence with supporting metabolomic information where available. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using two searches covering 2016–2025 for morphological/physiological responses and 2021–2025 for molecular/genetic responses. Of 780 records initially identified, 134 studies met the inclusion criteria. Across these studies, the most frequently evaluated biostimulants were seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic substances, protein hydrolysates, and microbial inoculants, particularly PGPR and AMF. Biostimulant application consistently improved stress tolerance by enhancing antioxidant capacity, osmotic adjustment, nutrient use efficiency, cell wall strengthening, and hormonal regulation. Foliar applications were frequently used for rapid mitigation of drought- and heat-induced canopy-level physiological responses, whereas soil/root-zone application was more common for salinity and heavy metal stress. Emerging molecular evidence, dominated by transcriptomic studies and supported by limited metabolomic data, indicates that biostimulants may induce molecular priming through stress-responsive gene networks and associated metabolic adjustments. Overall, biostimulants show strong potential to improve abiotic stress resilience in horticultural crops, but broader adoption is constrained by variable efficacy, limited mechanistic validation, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks. Future research should prioritize multi-environment validation and functional genetics to support more reliable and targeted biostimulant use. Full article

Lead (Pb) is a widespread environmental pollutant that induces systemic toxicity in aquatic organisms primarily through oxidative stress, hematological disruption, and immune dysfunction. This study investigated the protective effects of ellagic acid (EA) against Pb-induced toxicity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) using a multi-biomarker approach and molecular docking. Fish were assigned to six experimental groups: control, EA-treated, Pb-I, Pb-I + EA, Pb-II, and Pb-II + EA. Fish in the Pb-I and Pb-II groups were exposed to 2.5 and 5 mg/L Pb, respectively, while EA was administered via diet at 100 mg/kg for 14 days. At the end of the exposure period, hematological indices, innate immune parameters, and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed in blood, liver, kidney, and gill tissues. Pb exposure caused marked hematological impairment, suppressed immune responses, increased malondialdehyde levels, and disrupted antioxidant defense by reducing SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and GSH levels while increasing GST activity. In contrast, dietary EA supplementation significantly mitigated Pb-induced alterations, improved hematological and immunological responses, reduced lipid peroxidation, restored antioxidant capacity, and normalized GST activity to control levels. Molecular docking analyses further showed that EA interacts with hemoglobin and immunoglobulin M, supporting its potential role in preserving oxygen transport and immune functions under Pb-induced stress. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Pb-induced toxicity involves coordinated disruption of redox homeostasis and immune function, whereas EA exerts a multi-target protective effect through biochemical and molecular mechanisms. This study provides mechanistic insight into chemical–biological interactions and supports the potential application of natural bioactive compounds in mitigating heavy metal-induced toxicity. Full article

This research investigated the extraction and purification of melanin from the Ophiocordyceps sinensis TZ8-1; characterized its structural properties; and evaluated its safety, photoprotective efficacy, and ability to mitigate heavy metals. The results demonstrated that the spectral features of TZ8-1 melanin were consistent with those of synthetic melanin, confirming its classification as typical eumelanin. The safety assessment indicated that TZ8-1 melanin has relatively low toxicity to four types of normal human cells, and based on the results of acute oral toxicity tests, this substance showed high safety for experimental animals. Photoprotection studies showed that TZ8-1 melanin effectively suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and significantly improved cell viability post-ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure. Heavy metal mitigation experiments showed that TZ8-1 melanin reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, increased glutathione (GSH) concentrations, and enhanced cell survival rates in heavy metal-exposed conditions. Full article

Freeze–thaw cycling can strongly disturb the pore-water environment, soil fabric, and contaminant mobility of heavy-metal-contaminated loess, thereby threatening the long-term effectiveness of stabilization treatments in seasonally frozen regions. This study investigated the coupled hydro-environmental and geotechnical performance of Pb-contaminated loess (untreated control group, CK) treated with microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), graphene (GR)-assisted MICP, and graphene oxide (GO)-assisted MICP under controlled freeze–thaw cycles. One-dimensional consolidation tests, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests, zeta-potential measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were conducted to evaluate compressibility evolution, Pb leaching behavior, interfacial electrochemical characteristics, mineralogical changes, and microstructural mechanisms. After 9 days of mineralization, MICP reduced the Pb leaching concentration from 38.05 to 23.00 mg L⁻¹, achieving a 39.55% reduction compared with untreated Pb-contaminated loess. Freeze–thaw cycling increased the susceptibility of treated loess to structural degradation and pore collapse, especially under medium to high vertical stresses. Nevertheless, the void ratio generally followed the order of CK > MICP > MICP + GR > MICP + GO under comparable loading and freeze–thaw conditions, indicating progressively enhanced resistance to compressive deformation. GR-assisted MICP showed an optimum dosage of approximately 1.0%, beyond which Pb leaching increased because of sheet restacking, agglomeration, and non-uniform biomineralization. In contrast, under up to 13 freeze–thaw cycles, GO-assisted MICP maintained the lowest void ratio and the most stable Pb immobilization performance among all treatments, demonstrating improved resistance against freeze–thaw-induced structural degradation. The results suggest that GO-assisted MICP can simultaneously improve Pb leaching control and soil-fabric stability, providing a promising low-carbon strategy for remediating heavy-metal-contaminated loess exposed to water-mediated freeze–thaw disturbance. Full article

Honey bee colonies play a vital role in ecosystem stability and global food security. Together with bumble bees and other wild bee species, they form a diverse pollinator community that is particularly vulnerable to environmental pollution. Among stressors, environmental xenobiotics including heavy metals, metalloids, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and emerging contaminants such as microplastics pose a growing concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential and capacity to trigger oxidative stress and interact with pathogens, nutritional stress and climate-related extremes. The antioxidant defense system, encompassing enzymatic components (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-dependent enzymes and glutathione-S-transferase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants, represents a key protective mechanism, and its disruption leads to redox imbalance, immunosuppression, and behavioral alterations that can reduce honey bee colony vitality. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the sources, exposure pathways and toxicological effects of major environmental xenobiotics on the antioxidant defense systems of honey bees, with particular emphasis on oxidative-stress biomarkers for early detection of sublethal impairment in field and experimental settings. Where available, evidence from bumble bees and other wild bees is considered to place findings in a broader pollinator-health context and to highlight taxa-specific sensitivities. Work should now concentrate on a validated core panel of redox biomarkers, on chronic multi-stressor exposures that include PFAS and plastic particles, and on biomarker baselines for bumble bees and solitary bees tied to colony- or population-level endpoints. Full article

While individual Si-nutrient interactions have been reviewed separately, a comparative analysis of multiple Si-element interactions remains lacking. This review compares current knowledge on co-application of Si with selenium (Se), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), focusing on stress tolerance, nutrient homeostasis, physiological responses, secondary metabolism and agronomic relevance. The evidence indicates that combining Si with these elements helps maintain reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, strengthen antioxidant defenses, stabilize photosynthetic function and improve nutrient uptake, translocation and use efficiency. Responses depend on plant species, nutrient form, application strategy and environmental conditions; at the metabolic level, Si-based combinations affect the synthesis of phenolic compounds, amino acids and sulphur-containing metabolites. Si-Se and Si-Fe proved most effective under heavy-metal stress, through regulation of metal transport, detoxification and sequestration, and Si-S and Si-Zn under drought, salinity and nutrient-deficient conditions, by enhancing osmotic adjustment, nutrient-use efficiency, ionic homeostasis and photosynthetic performance. Agronomically, these interactions can increase crop productivity, nutritional value and biofortification potential, and mitigate toxic-element accumulation in edible parts. Knowledge gaps remain regarding molecular regulation, variability among species and environments, and the long-term effectiveness of nanoparticle formulations. Since most evidence comes from hydroponic, pot and greenhouse studies, standardized field experiments are needed to assess agronomic relevance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Environmental factors, including heavy metals such as cadmium, are increasingly recognized as important contributors to hypertension beyond traditional risk factors. To date, the role of angiotensin and alpha-adrenergic receptors in hypertension induced by cadmium exposure has been explored. However, the involvement of thromboxane A2 receptors in vascular hyperreactivity and hypertension in rats with chronic cadmium administration is unknown. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate changes in vascular reactivity due to the action of thromboxane A2 in isolated aortas from hypertension induced by chronic administration of cadmium (HICAD) rats and whether this effect is associated with changes in the redox balance. Aortas were homogenized in phosphate buffer to assess oxidative stress and vascular reactivity. MDA, 4-HDAs, GPx, and GR were quantified spectrophotometrically. Aortic rings were used for vasodilator and vasoconstrictor responses, evaluating NADPH oxidase involvement using apocynin. Results: We found that in aortas from HICAD rats there was: (1) a significant increase in malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (2 to 4-fold), as well as a significant reduction in glutathione reductase (~50%), and (2) a significant 35% increase in the vasoconstrictor response to U46619 (thromboxane A2 analogue), but no significant changes (~2%) when incubated with an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. Conclusions: The increase in the vasoconstrictor response to thromboxane A2 can be measured by the increase in oxidative stress and the involvement of NADPH oxidase. Full article

Biotic stresses (pest feeding, pathogenic fungal/bacterial/viral infection) and diverse abiotic stresses (extreme temperature, drought, waterlogging, saline–alkali soil, heavy metal pollution, nutrient deficiency, UV-B, ozone) severely restrict crop growth and global agricultural yield. Lipids act as core membrane structural constituents and vital secondary signaling messengers, executing multi-layered adaptive balancing functions during cell-type interactive stress acclimation, rather than uniform whole-plant lipid responses. They sustain membrane structural integrity across distinct cell populations, serve as synthetic precursors of bioactive signaling molecules, and trigger cascaded transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming upon environmental stimuli to rebalance physiological status among different cell types. This review systematically summarizes cell-type interactive lipid-mediated plant defense and acclimation balance mechanisms across biotic and abiotic stress contexts. We elaborate the biological functions of fatty acids, phospholipids, galactolipids, sphingolipids and their derivatives (jasmonate, salicylic acid, phosphatidic acid, oxylipin) in stress signal transduction and antioxidant defense and strictly distinguish two categories of lipid changes under all stress types: active adaptive lipid remodeling and passive stress-induced lipid oxidative damage. Key contents include stress-triggered cell-type-specific membrane lipid remodeling, the hierarchical transcriptional regulatory network mediated by WRI1, LEC1, PHR, MADS and other transcription factors governing oil metabolism, as well as crosstalk between lipid metabolism and compartmentalized reactive oxygen species (reactive oxygen species (ROS)) signaling. We further compare conserved lipid-regulatory modules and species-specific divergent responses across model plants and economic oilseed crops, integrating state-of-the-art targeted/untargeted lipidomics, single-cell spatial lipidomics and multi-omics joint breeding strategies to improve multi-stress tolerance in oilseed crops. By consolidating global research progress up to 2025, including the two latest 2026 cross-species meta-analysis reviews, this review provides systematic theoretical support and operable multi-level technical frameworks for genetic engineering targeting conserved lipid pathways to breed stress-resilient high-oil crop germplasm, and highlights reliable lipid stress biomarker screening as a promising translational research direction. Full article

While mining provides critical raw materials for modern infrastructure and the energy transition, it leaves behind severe environmental damages, such as soil mercury (Hg) contamination. In the present study, we present the first study evaluating the relationship of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus arhizus with Trifolium repens (white clover) as a novel nature-based mycoremediation strategy for mercury-stressed soils. Through a controlled 2 × 2 factorial experiment over six months, we demonstrate that P. arhizus significantly enhances both plant biomass and heavy-metal tolerance. Inoculation achieved a 9.53% reduction in soil Hg and drove a dramatic 53% increase in stem growth under Hg stress (compared to 36% in non-contaminated conditions) once the extraradicular mycelial network was established. Furthermore, we report novel soil-chemistry dynamics under Hg stress, including a 16% shift in electrical conductivity alongside unexpected increases in the available potassium (+9%) and phosphorus (+3%). These findings present first results for a novel approach of mycoremediation by incorporating P. arhizus into T. repens co-cultivation as a viable remediation strategy, prior to field-scale remediation. Full article

Uranium mining and processing have resulted in widespread environmental contamination by radionuclides and associated heavy metals, creating long-term ecological challenges because of their persistence, mobility, and bioavailability. The aim of this review is to evaluate knowledge on the uptake, accumulation, and biological effects of radionuclides and associated heavy metals in plants, identify the environmental factors governing their bioavailability, and assess recent advances in phytoremediation strategies for the sustainable restoration of uranium-contaminated ecosystems. A critical analysis of the published literature was conducted to evaluate contaminant sources, environmental factors regulating bioavailability, root and foliar uptake pathways, internal transport mechanisms, morphological, physiological, and biochemical biomarkers of plant stress, and phytoremediation approaches. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that plant responses occur at multiple levels of biological organization, including alterations in growth and anatomy, disturbances in photosynthesis and nutrient metabolism, and activation of antioxidant defense systems. Integrating these biomarkers provides a more comprehensive assessment of contaminant-induced stress than individual indicators alone. The literature further indicates that phytostabilization and phytoextraction, particularly when combined with soil amendments and beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms, represent promising approaches for reducing contaminant mobility and supporting ecosystem restoration. However, important knowledge gaps remain regarding native plant species and long-term field validation in uranium mining regions. This review provides a scientific basis for improving ecological monitoring, environmental risk assessment, and sustainable rehabilitation of uranium-contaminated ecosystems. Full article