An APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor transcription factor GmCRF4a regulates plant height and auxin biosynthesis in soybean

Plant height is one of the key agronomic traits affecting soybean yield. The cytokinin response factors (CRFs), as a branch of the APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) super gene family, have been reported to play important roles in regulating plant growth and development. However, their functions in soybean remain unknown. This study characterized a soybean CRF gene named GmCRF4a by comparing the performance of the homozygous Gmcrf4a-1 mutant, GmCRF4a overexpression (OX) and co-silencing (CS) lines. Phenotypic analysis showed that overexpression of GmCRF4a resulted in taller hypocotyls and epicotyls, more main stem nodes, and higher plant height. While down-regulation of GmCRF4a conferred shorter hypocotyls and epicotyls, as well as a reduction in plant height. The histological analysis results demonstrated that GmCRF4a promotes epicotyl elongation primarily by increasing cell length. Furthermore, GmCRF4a is required for the expression of GmYUCs genes to elevate endogenous auxin levels, which may subsequently enhance stem elongation. Taken together, these observations describe a novel regulatory mechanism in soybean, and provide the basis for elucidating the function of GmCRF4a in auxin biosynthesis pathway and plant heigh regulation in plants.

Control of foliar phytoparasitic nematodes through sustainable natural materials: Current progress and challenges

Nematodes are hidden enemies that inhibit the entire ecosystem causing adverse effects on animals and plants, leading to economic losses. Management of foliar phytoparasitic nematodes is an excruciating task. Various approaches were used to control nematodes dispersal, i.e., traditional practices, resistant cultivars, plant extract, compost, biofumigants, induced resistance, nano-biotechnology applications, and chemical control. This study reviews the various strategies adopted in combating plant-parasitic nematodes while examining the benefits and challenges. The significant awareness of biological and environmental factors determines the effectiveness of nematode control, where the incorporation of alternative methods to reduce the nematodes population in plants with increasing crop yield. The researchers were interested in explaining the fundamental molecular mechanisms, providing an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the sustainable management of nematodes in croplands. Eco-friendly pesticides are effective as a sustainable nematodes management tool and safe for humans. The current review presents the eco-friendly methods in controlling nematodes to minimize yield losses, and benefit the agricultural production efficiency and the environment.

Vital roles of sustainable nano-fertilizers in improving plant quality and quantity-an updated review

Nanotechnology has received much attention because of its distinctive properties and many applications in various fields. Nanotechnology is a new approach to increase agricultural production with premium quality, environmental safety, biological support, and financial stability. Ecofriendly technology is becoming progressively important in modern agricultural applications as alternatives to traditional fertilizers and pesticides. Nanotechnology offers an alternative solution to overcome the disadvantages of conventional agriculture. Therefore, recent developments in using nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture should be studied. This review presented a novel overview about the biosynthesis of NPs, using NPs as nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides, the applications of NPs in agriculture, and their role in enhancing the function of biofactors. We also, show recent studies on NPs-plant interactions, the fate and safety of nanomaterials in plants, and NPs' function in alleviating the adverse effects of abiotic stress and heavy metal toxicity. Nano-fertilizers are essential to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers and reduce their antagonistic effects on the environment. Nano-fertilizers are more reactive, can penetrate the epidermis allowing for gradual release, and targeted distribution, and thus reducing nutrients surplus, enhancing nutrient use efficiency. We also, concluded that NPs are crucial in alleviating abiotic stress and heavy metal toxicity. However, some studies reported the toxic effects of NPs on higher plants by induction of oxidative stress signals via depositing NPs on the cell surface and in organelles. The knowledge in our review article is critical in defining limitations and future perspectives of using nano-fertilizers as an alternative to conventional fertilizers.

The nitrogen and phosphorus footprints of food products in Yemen over the last 57 years

Food nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) footprints are indicators for determining the losses of N and P over food production (FP) and food consumption (FC) chain. Yemen is an interesting case because, given the country's heavy dependence on food imports, food insecurity, and poverty, the N footprint (NF) and P footprint (PF) could affect its future development. However, NF and PF over time have not yet been studied in Yemen. Therefore, this is the first paper to compute the NF and PF in Arabian Peninsula (a case study from Yemen) by an adjusted model of N-Calculator, by computing virtual N (VNFs) and virtual P (VPFs) factors for main foodstuffs. The NF (kg N cap^-1 year^-1) and PF (kg P cap^-1 year^-1) elevated from 5.56 and 1.20 in the 1960s to 15.2 and 4.79 during 2011-2017, respectively, while the national NF (Gg [10⁹ g] N year^-1) and national PF (Gg P year^-1) increased from 27.7 and 6.77 in the 1960s to 358 and 122 during 2011-2017, respectively. Cereal was the largest contributor to the NF and PF in Yemen over the past 57 years. FP contributes approximately 80% and 86% of the total NF and PF during 2011-2017. Therefore, if possible, the best way for consumers and farmers in Yemen to decrease NF and PF is to focus efforts on increasing FP and FC of foodstuffs with less VNFs and VPFs. The consumption of vegetable-fruit, legumes, starchy, eggs, poultry, and fish should be increased as their NF and PF are low. However, people in Yemen suffer from shortage of resources and lack of awareness, and thus they do not have the opportunity to choose foodstuffs that are low in NF and PF. Accordingly, policymakers should encourage integrated approaches that introduce powerful tools for controlling crop and livestock production in conjunction with enhancements in nutrient use efficiency.

Large batch production of Galactooligosaccharides using β-glucosidase immobilized on chitosan-functionalized magnetic nanoparticle

β-glucosidase (BglA) immobilization from Thermotoga maritima on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalized with chitosan (Cs) were efficiently investigated to improve lactose conversion and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) production. We used a batch method in order to improve the conversion of lactose to GOS. The efficiency and yield of immobilization were 79% and immobilized BglA was effectively recycled via a magnetic separation procedure through a batch-wise GOS with no activity lessening. Furthermore, analyses were done through screening kinetics of enzyme activity, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proposed methodology of immobilization shows a potential application as it is stable which was proved through many methods including pH, temperature, heat treatment, storage, and kinetics of the enzyme. GOS and residual enzyme activity showed to be 28.76 and 40.44%, respectively. However, free enzyme synthesis of GOS yield was just 24% after 12 hr. This study proposed applying magnet in the immobilization process of BglA on Cs-MNPs to produce GOS as new method for immobilizing enzyme in a biostable and cost-efficient way. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This paper focus on immobilization of BglA from T. maritima onto MNPs functionalized with CS to investigate their further possibility improving lactose conversion and GOS production. Interestingly, a successful immobilization of Tm-BglA on the substrates were achieved in Cs-MNPs. The obtained results from enzyme activity, SDS-PAGE, FT-IR, and TEM showed that the high binding capacity of BglA to Cs-MNPs was successfully obtained. Furthermore, the binding efficiency calculation indicated that the immobilized BglA-Cs-MNPs conserved 40.44% of its native activity at the end of its 6th repeated use. In addition, magnetic separation technique was successfully employed for reuse of the immobilized BglA for repetitive batch-wise GOS without significant loss of activity.