Molecular basis of Iron Biofortification in crop plants; A step towards sustainability

Iron is one of the most important micronutrients for crop plants due to its use in important physiological processes such as photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, metal homeostasis, and chlorophyll synthesis. Crop plants have adapted different strategies for uptake, transport, accumulation, and storage of iron in tissues and organs which later can be consumed by humans. Estimates indicate that about 2 billion people (33% of human population) are at risk of iron deficiency in which infants, children, and pregnant women are potentially compromised. Biofortification refers to the increase in concentration of micronutrients in edible parts of plants and understanding the pathways for iron accumulation in plants is necessary for breeding iron‐enriched crops. Iron‐biofortified crops are also one of the key factors in achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development goals. This review article covers different strategies of iron acquisition and transport in plants, its bioavailability, coping with the iron deficiency as a global perspective, the current status of iron biofortification, and how breeding future biofortified crops could be helpful in combating the said issue in a sustainable manner.     

Identification of immunogenic proteins associated with protection against haemorrhagic septicaemia after vaccination of calves with a live-attenuated aroA derivative of Pasteurella multocida B:2

Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2 is the causative agent of haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), a fatal disease of cattle and buffaloes. As a step towards the identification of individual antigens that may protect against HS, proteins present in a sonicated cell extract (SCE) and outer-membrane protein (OMP) preparation of a wild-type P. multocida serotype B:2 were investigated by immunoblotting with sera from calves which had been protected against challenge with a virulent strain of P. multocida B:2 by vaccination with a live-attenuated aroA derivative of the challenge strain. Five proteins in SCE, of approximately 50, 37, 30, 26 and 16 kDa, were recognised by the sera. In an OMP preparation, two bands, at 37 and 50 kDa, were recognised as strongly immunogenic. Mass spectrometry analysis of proteins corresponding in size to those detected by immunoblotting identified the 37 kDa band as OmpA, but the band at 50 kDa was not identified with certainty. A major 30 kDa OMP, identified as OmpH, was not strongly immunogenic.     

Simulation of 1D surface and 2D subsurface water flow and nitrate transport in alternate and conventional furrow fertigation

Increasing water and fertilizer productivity stands as a relevant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Alternate furrow irrigation and surface fertigation have long been identified as water and fertilizer conserving techniques in agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to simulate water flow and fertilizer transport in the soil surface and in the soil profile for variable and fixed alternate furrow fertigation and for conventional furrow fertigation. An experimental data set was used to calibrate and validate two simulation models: a 1D surface fertigation model and the 2D subsurface water and solute transfer model HYDRUS-2D. Both models were combined to simulate the fertigation process in furrow irrigation. The surface fertigation model could successfully simulate runoff discharge and nitrate concentration for all irrigation treatments. Six soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters were inversely estimated using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization technique. The outcome of this process calibrated HYDRUS-2D to the observed field data. HYDRUS-2D was run in validation mode, simulating water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profiles of the wet furrows, ridges and dry furrows at the upstream, middle and downstream parts of the experimental field. This model produced adequate agreement between measured and predicted soil water content and nitrate concentration. The combined model stands as a valuable tool to better design and manage fertigation in alternate and conventional furrow irrigation.     

Toxic effects of indoxacarb on gill and kidney histopathology and biochemical indicators in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical and histopathological effects of indoxacarb on an economic fish species Cyprinus carpio. The fish were divided into four triplicated groups exposed to either of 0% (control), 5% (0.75 mg/L), 10% (1.5 mg/L) or 20% (3 mg/L) of the pesticide LC₅₀. Blood sampling was performed after 7, 14 and 21 days exposure. There were no changes in blood calcium levels at any times. In the indoxacarb‐treated fish, chloride levels decreased at the first and increased at the second sampling compared to the control. In 3 mg/L treatment, phosphorus increased significantly after 7 days compared to the control. Plasma glucose levels decreased significantly at the 7th and 14th days sampling; however, it increased at the 21st day. After 7 days, creatinine level in 3 mg/L treatment was significantly lower than the control; however, the creatinine levels of indoxacarb treatments were higher than the control at the 21st day. The indoxacarb‐treated fish had higher plasma urea levels compared to the control at the 7th day. At the 21st day, plasma urea level at 3 mg/L was significantly lower than the control treatment. Edema, Lamellar curling, hyperplasia, lamellar fusion and hyperaemia were observed in the indoxacarb‐treated fish gill. Tubular necrosis, hematopoietic necrosis, melanomacrophage aggregates, Bowman's capsule edema, glomerulus degeneration and hyperaemia were observed in the indoxacarb‐treated fish kidney. Generally, sublethal concentrations of indoxacarb cause stress, hydromineral imbalance, metabolism alteration and gill and kidney damages in common carp.