Review
Engineering, Environmental
Lili Qu, Jiayang Xu, Zhihua Dai, Ali Mohamed Elyamine, Wuxing Huang, Dan Han, Bingjun Dang, Zicheng Xu, Wei Jia
Summary: Selenium (Se) is essential for humans and beneficial for plants, but high doses can be hazardous. This review summarizes sources and concentrations of Se in soils, factors influencing its bioavailability, mechanisms of uptake and translocation in plants, detoxification strategies, and remediation strategies for Se pollution. High Se concentrations are mainly due to wastewater discharge and industrial waste dumping. Selenate (Se [VI]) and selenite (Se [IV]) are the primary forms of Se absorbed by plants. Soil conditions such as pH, redox potential, organic matter, and microorganisms affect Se bioavailability. Excessive Se in plants interferes with element uptake, depresses pigment biosynthesis, generates oxidative damage, and causes genotoxicity. To mitigate Se toxicity, plants employ strategies such as activating antioxidant defense systems and sequestering excess Se in vacuoles. Remediation strategies include phytoremediation, organic matter amendment, microbial remediation, adsorption techniques, and chemical reduction technologies. This review expands knowledge on Se toxicity/detoxification in soil-plant systems and provides valuable insights into remediation strategies for Se pollution.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Li Chen, Jin-rong Liu, Wei-fang Hu, Jing Gao, Jin-yan Yang
Summary: Vanadium(V) is an important industrial component, but can be toxic to organisms at high levels. It mainly accumulates in plant roots, with some plants accumulating high levels of V in aboveground tissues. Low levels of V have beneficial effects on plants, while excessive V can cause various harmful effects.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pooja Inder Sevak, Bhupendra Kishanprasad Pushkar, Pooja Nana Kapadne
Summary: Lead pollution remains a long-standing and unresolved health issue, requiring advanced remediation strategies. Bacteria can effectively clean polluted environments through bioremediation techniques, but their growth is limited by environmental conditions, nutrient availability, and the presence of other pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Toxicology
Miaomiao Yu, Jiajia Chen, Zhifei Xu, Bo Yang, Qiaojun He, Peihua Luo, Hao Yan, Xiaochun Yang
Summary: The PI3K signalling pathway regulates vital cellular processes and plays a crucial role in cancer development. However, the clinical application of PI3K inhibitors is limited due to severe adverse effects. The underlying mechanisms of these toxicities are unclear, and current management involves symptomatic treatment and discontinuation of the inhibitors. Therefore, it is necessary to understand these adverse events comprehensively and establish effective management guidelines for the safe use of PI3K inhibitors.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yaohua Huang, Wenping Zhang, Shimei Pang, Junmin Chen, Pankaj Bhatt, Sandhya Mishra, Shaohua Chen
Summary: Chlorpyrifos is widely used as an insecticide, but its long-term and irregular applications have caused environmental pollution and toxic effects on non-target organisms. Microbial metabolism-based bioremediation is an effective strategy to remove chlorpyrifos residues.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Usman Zulfiqar, Fasih Ullah Haider, Muhammad Faisal Maqsood, Waqas Mohy-Ud-Din, Muhammad Shabaan, Muhammad Ahmad, Muhammad Kaleem, Muhammad Ishfaq, Zoya Aslam, Babar Shahzad
Summary: Soil contamination with cadmium is a major concern in developing countries due to its non-biodegradability and potential harm to the ecosystem. Conventional physicochemical methods for removing cadmium from soil are costly and environmentally unfriendly. Bioremediation techniques using plants and beneficial microbes provide a cutting-edge approach for restoring contaminated soils. This review explores the bioremediation capabilities of bacteria and fungi, as well as the tolerance and detoxification mechanisms of microorganisms towards metals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hesham F. Alharby, Muhammad Rizwan, Azka Iftikhar, Khalid Mahmud Hussaini, Muhammad Zia Ur Rehman, Atif A. Bamagoos, Basmah M. Alharbi, Muhammad Asrar, Tahira Yasmeen, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: The study showed that TiO2 NPs can enhance plant growth, chlorophyll contents, and nutrient concentrations in tissues, with the highest level (600 mg/kg) showing a decrease in these parameters. The NPs also increased antioxidant activities and reduced oxidative stress in leaves. Foliar GA improved growth, yield, nutrients, and antioxidant activities while reducing oxidative stress compared to only NPs treatments.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bing Shan, Ruixia Hao, Junman Zhang, Jiani Li, Yubo Ye, Anhuai Lu
Summary: High concentrations of lead in agricultural soil and wastewater pose a significant threat to the ecosystem and living organisms. Microbial remediation has emerged as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to conventional Pb-remediation techniques. This review summarizes recent advances in the Pb-remediation mechanisms of bacteria, fungi, and microalgae, including biosorption, bioprecipitation, biomineralization, and bioaccumulation. The paper also discusses the molecular-level tolerance mechanisms of microbes to Pb and highlights the challenges and prospects of microbial remediation for Pb-polluted environments.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Sandhya Mishra, Ziqiu Lin, Shimei Pang, Yuming Zhang, Pankaj Bhatt, Shaohua Chen
Summary: Heavy metal toxicity is a pressing ecological issue affecting ecosystems, with conventional approaches being unsuitable for remediation due to environmental concerns. Biosurfactant-based bioremediation offers a promising, sustainable solution with potential for effective removal of heavy metal pollutants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Khushhal Kumar, Devinder Singh
Summary: Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in small quantities in the earth's crust. It is non-biodegradable and can accumulate in the environment, causing neurotoxicity and developmental changes. Bioremediation, using bacteria, algae, and fungi, has been proven effective in reducing lead concentration. This review focuses on the toxicity, fate, and microbial degradation of lead in the environment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Qingliang Cui, Zhiqin Zhang, Jingzi Beiyuan, Yongxing Cui, Li Chen, Hansong Chen, Linchuan Fang
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive understanding of diverse sources of uranium contamination in soils and their spatial variations globally. The biogeochemical transformation and bioavailability of uranium in soil are greatly influenced by factors including redox potential, pH, metal (hydr)oxides, organic matter, and microorganisms. The toxicity and detoxification mechanisms of uranium in plants and microorganisms have been extensively studied, and further research should focus on molecular mechanisms using omics techniques. The mechanisms and applicability of phytoremediation and microbial bioremediation for uranium-contaminated soils were also summarized.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Safa Yaseen Taha, Asia Fadhile Almansoory, Israa Abdulwahab Al-Baldawi, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah, Nur 'Izzati Ismail, Mohammad Hazaimeh, Siti Shilatul Najwa Sharuddin
Summary: Constructed wetlands have the potential to be used for treating various types of polluted water in Iraq, including industrial wastewater. This study tested a hybrid constructed wetland system and found that the presence of plants and substrate significantly improved the removal efficiency of pollutants.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Turlough F. Guerin
Summary: The study developed laboratory prototypes for treating industrial site contamination, successfully applying the bioflushing prototype in the field and scaling it up to commercial clean-up. Despite residual solvents hotspots and subsurface heterogeneity, soil concentrations were substantially decreased below the initial assessment after 600 days treatment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiv Bolan, Balaji Seshadri, Ian Grainge, Nicholas J. Talley, Ravi Naidu
Summary: This study investigated the impact of gut microbes on the bioaccessibility of lead in soil, finding that gut microbes can decrease the bioaccessibility of lead, particularly at low pH values. Additionally, the study revealed that lead adsorption by gut microbes increased at higher pH levels, with Escherichia coli adsorbing more lead than Lactobacillus species.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Saurabh Kumar, Arbind Kumar Choudhary, Deep Chandra Suyal, Govind Makarana, Reeta Goel
Summary: Arsenic, a toxic metalloid, poses a serious threat to food safety and security as it accumulates in food grains due to contaminated agricultural land. Exploration of arsenic-resistant PGPR for crop production is an environment-friendly approach, but its real-time performance depends on various factors. A detailed analysis of mechanisms and constraints is necessary to fully utilize the potential of available arsenic-resistant PGPR germplasm.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Chao Li, Wen Chu, Rafaqat Ali Gill, Shifei Sang, Yuqin Shi, Xuezhi Hu, Yuting Yang, Qamar U. Zaman, Baohong Zhang
Summary: In the past decade, significant progress has been made in developing versatile CRISPR/Cas nucleases and precise genome editors. Computer-assisted tools have played a crucial role in designing sgRNA and analyzing CRISPR/Cas-induced mutations. This review provides insights into the different features of CRISPR/Cas tools, the usage of computer-assisted tools, and the limitations and suggestions for further optimization.
GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Sarwar, Muhammad Farrukh Saleem, Siraj Ahmed, Hamza Maqsood, Saddam Hussain, Muhammad Ashfaq Wahid, Muhammad Kashif Munir, Muhammad Zafar, Najeeb Ullah, Ali Khoddami
Summary: This study explores the protective effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on grain yield in wheat crops exposed to heat stress. The results show that H2O2 treatment can increase chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate, protect cellular membranes from heat injury, and improve grain yield. Particularly, the application of exogenous H2O2 during terminal heat stress significantly improves wheat performance.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ahmed M. El-Sawah, Ghada G. Abdel-Fattah, Paul Holford, Shereen Magdy Korany, Emad A. Alsherif, Hamada AbdElgawad, Zaid Ulhassan, Izabela Josko, Basharat Ali, Mohamed S. Sheteiwy
Summary: Inoculation with Funneliformis constrictum enhances salt stress tolerance in maize plants by promoting growth and photosynthesis, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating polyamine metabolism. Therefore, it can be regarded as a practical strategy to alleviate salinity stress.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Skhawat Ali, Rafaqat A. Gill, Zaid Ulhassan, Na Zhang, Saddam Hussain, Kangni Zhang, Qian Huang, Muhammad Sagir, Muhammad Bilal Tahir, Muhammad B. Gill, Theodore M. Mwamba, Basharat Ali, Weijun Zhou
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanisms of exogenously applied melatonin (MT) on Brassica napus plants under cobalt (Co) stress. The results showed that MT could minimize oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation, and maintain membrane integrity. Additionally, MT enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, regulated gene expression, and reduced Co accumulation in the roots. These findings indicated that exogenous MT improved plant morphology, photosynthetic apparatus, osmotic adjustments, and antioxidant defense systems by enhancing Co-detoxification.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Najeeb Ullah, Jack Christopher, Troy Frederiks, Shangyu Ma, Daniel K. Y. Tan, Karine Chenu
Summary: Wheat is highly sensitive to heat shocks and their timing. A photoperiod-extension method (PEM) was developed to screen wheat genotypes at matched developmental stages. The PEM method showed stronger correlations between grain weight and heat stress compared to conventional field screening. The quadrat sampling technique was found to be more suitable for high-throughput phenotyping.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Juanjuan Li, Na Zhang, Yingying Zhou, Qian Huang, Jiahao Xu, Haiyan Cen, Basharat Ali, Bixian Shi, Ling Xu, Chong Yang, Weijun Zhou
Summary: This study identified 117 bZIP genes and their evolutionary role in sunflower, providing insights into their potential functions in growth, development, and stress response. The expression analysis showed that some genes were specifically triggered under different stresses, suggesting their crucial role in stress response.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jie Zheng, Aziz Khan, Bujin Zhou, Qiong Zhou, Najeeb Ullah, Xiangjun Kong, Muhammad Jawad Umer, Yiding Liu, Fang Liu, Ruiyang Zhou
Summary: Using advanced analytical approaches, the molecular pathways regulating CMS induction and fertility restoration in cotton were elucidated. The study revealed that CMS anthers had a relatively indistinct inner ridge of mitochondria and accumulated significantly higher levels of reactive oxygen species than the maintainer line. At the protein level, CMS anthers showed higher expression of Abrin and lower expression of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes and histone acetyltransferase. These findings suggest that abnormal mitochondrial ribosome gene sequence and high expression of ribosome-inactivating protein Abrin damaged the mitochondrial membrane and inhibited energy supply, leading to pollen sterility in CMS line LD6A.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aziz Khan, Zheng Jie, Kong Xiangjun, Najeeb Ullah, Aidan W. Short, Yong Diao, Ruiyang Zhou, You-Cai Xiong
Summary: Melatonin, a hormone found in plants and animals, plays a role in protecting plants from oxidative damage caused by abiotic stress. This study examined the physiological and molecular mechanisms of melatonin-induced cadmium (Cd) stress tolerance and detoxification in cotton seedlings. The presence of melatonin in seedlings subjected to Cd stress helped maintain leaf photosynthetic capacity and improved growth and leaf functioning. The downregulation of Cd transporter genes in roots further inhibited the transport of Cd ions to leaf tissues. Melatonin also protected cotton seedlings from Cd-induced oxidative injury and activated signaling pathways related to stomatal adjustment and photosynthesis. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of melatonin-mediated Cd stress tolerance and its potential application in crop improvement.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Yahya, Jingyang Tong, Liaqut Shah, Sana Ullah Khan, Ahmad Ali, Alam Sher, Najeeb Ullah, Abdul Waheed
Summary: Nutrient deficiency in crops leads to decreased growth and end-yield penalties. Adequate nitrogen supply is crucial for sustaining crop productivity, but excessive use can be detrimental to the environment and costly. Crop breeders have been working on improving nitrogen-use efficiency, and this article summarizes recent progress in identifying genes, pathways, and symbiosis that can enhance nitrogen acquisition.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zishu Xu, Jianmin Pan, Najeeb Ullah, Yi Duan, Ruiyong Hao, Juanjuan Li, Qian Huang, Ling Xu
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of using a plant growth regulator, 5-aminolevolinic acid (ALA), to enhance the remediation of chromium (Cr)-contaminated soils by sunflower plants. The results showed that ALA promoted plant growth and ameliorated cellular injury from Cr stress by modulating antioxidant enzymes and eliminating reactive oxygen species.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sadam Hussain, Muhammad Asad Naseer, Ru Guo, Fei Han, Basharat Ali, Xiaoli Chen, Xiaolong Ren, Saud Alamri
Summary: Intercropping is a sustainable practice for enhancing crop productivity and water use efficiency under rainfed conditions. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of different crop rows and nitrogen application on the physiological, yield, and related traits of wheat/maize relay-strip intercropping. Results showed that intercropping significantly improved land use efficiency and grain yield of both crops, especially with nitrogen application.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan Fang, Jingyao Huang, Weiwei Sun, Najeeb Ullah, Suwen Jin, Youhong Song
Summary: Based on climate data from 1999 to 2020, it was found that the precipitation during different growth stages of winter wheat in the Huai river region of China is unevenly distributed. The critical periods of jointing and booting have less precipitation, while the heading-filling and maturation stages have a large fluctuation range of precipitation, leading to the risk of flood and drought. These findings provide a foundation for guiding winter wheat cropping in the region.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Khurram Ziaf, Muhammad Awais Ghani, Iftikhar Ahmad, Raheel Anwar, Basharat Ali, Yasir Majeed, Amir Shakeel, Mudassar Iqbal, Abbu Zaid
Summary: Cadmium contamination negatively affects the growth and yield of pea plants, although varietal responses differ. Among the pea varieties tested in this study, Supreme, Green Cross, Green Gold, and Lina performed better under mild cadmium contamination conditions.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Shahid Hassan, Nargis Naz, Habib Ali, Basharat Ali, Muhammad Akram, Rashid Iqbal, Sidra Ajmal, Baber Ali, Sezai Ercisli, Kirill S. S. Golokhvast, Zeshan Hassan
Summary: Weed infestation reduces crop production, and though synthetic herbicides offer a quick solution, they pose hazards to humans and generate resistance. Allelopathy, on the other hand, is an environmentally friendly weed control method that increases crop yield and decreases dependency on synthetic chemicals.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ali Raza Khan, Wardah Azhar, Xingming Fan, Zaid Ulhassan, Abdul Salam, Muhammad Ashraf, Yihua Liu, Yinbo Gan
Summary: This review comprehensively discusses the role of ZnO NPs in alleviating various abiotic stresses in plants and explores their important positive potential in plant growth and development. Furthermore, it addresses research gaps in earlier studies and future challenges, providing recommendations for future research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
