Integral technique for evaluation and optimization of Ni (II) ions adsorption onto regenerated cellulose using response surface methodology

Paclitaxel and Caffeine-Taurine, New Colchicine Alternatives for Chromosomes Doubling in Maize Haploid Breeding

The doubled haploid (DH) technology is employed worldwide in various crop-breeding programs, especially maize. Still, restoring tassel fertility is measured as one of the major restrictive factors in producing DH lines. Colchicine, nitrous oxide, oryzalin, and amiprophosmethyl are common chromosome-doubling agents that aid in developing viable diploids (2n) from sterile haploids (n). Although colchicine is the most widely used polyploidy-inducing agent, it is highly toxic to mammals and plants. Therefore, there is a dire need to explore natural, non-toxic, or low-toxic cheaper and accessible substitutes with a higher survival and fertility rate. To the best of our knowledge, the advanced usage of human anticancer drugs "Paclitaxel (PTX)" and "Caffeine-Taurine (CAF-T)" for in vivo maize haploids doubling is being disclosed for the first time. These two antimitotic and antimicrotubular agents (PTX and CAF-T) were assessed under various treatment conditions compared to colchicine. As a result, the maximum actual doubling rates (ADR) for PTX versus colchicine in maize haploid seedlings were 42.1% (400 M, 16 h treatment) versus 31.9% (0.5 mM, 24 h treatment), respectively. In addition, the ADR in maize haploid seeds were CAF-T 20.0% (caffeine 2 g/L + taurine 12 g/L, 16 h), PTX 19.9% (100 μM, 24 h treatment), and colchicine 26.0% (2.0 mM, 8 h treatment). Moreover, the morphological and physiological by-effects in haploid plants by PTX were significantly lower than colchicine. Hence, PTX and CAF-T are better alternatives than the widely used traditional colchicine to improve chromosome-doubling in maize crop.

Agricultural waste of sugarcane bagasse as efficient adsorbent for lead and nickel removal from untreated wastewater: Biosorption, equilibrium isotherms, kinetics and desorption studies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of Pb (II) and Ni (II) from untreated waste water using sugarcane bagasse and possible desorption of the metal ions from the adsorbent for effective re-use. The effects of pH (4-6), temperature (30-70 °C), contact time (30-150 min) and adsorbent dosage (0.3-0.7 g) were examined. Optimum conditions for the removal efficiencies of Pb (89.31 %) and Ni (96.33 %) were pH, 6.0; temperature, 30 °C; contact time, 90 min. and adsorbent dosage, 0.5 g. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of Pb (II) and Ni (II) were 1.61 mg/g and 123.46 mg/g respectively, by fitting the equilibrium data to the Langmuir isotherm model. Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic models were best fitted for Pb (II) and Ni (II) uptake. Desorption of the metal ions from the metal-loaded bagasse was best performed by HNO3 with removal efficiency of 85.2 %. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse has a high potential for removal of heavy metals from waste water and can be re-used at any time after desorption without losing its efficiency.