Melatonin as a multifaceted stress protector in rice: Mechanisms, synergies, and knowledge gaps.

Rice productivity, a cornerstone of global food security, is increasingly threatened by a spectrum of abiotic and biotic stressors, including heavy metal toxicity, salinity, drought, temperature extremes, flooding/water logging, nutrient deficiencies, and pathogens or pest infestations. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), also referred to as phytomelatonin, was first identified in plants in 1995 and has since emerged as a potent antioxidant and versatile signaling molecule. It plays a critical role in integrating hormonal networks and modulating stress responses in plants, including rice.

Earthworms under threat: assessing the environmental impact of cyhalofop-butyl herbicide on soil health and ecosystem sustainability.

Cyhalofop-butyl (CyB) is a widely used selective aryloxyphenoxypropionate (AOPPs) herbicide that is primarily applied in paddy fields to control barnyard grass. Despite its extensive use, concerns regarding its ecotoxicological effects on non-target invertebrate organisms, such as earthworm, remain largely unexplored. This study examined the chronic toxicity of CyB on within the soil.

Exploring the nutrient nexus in environmental systems: Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling, removal, recovery, and management.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are essential macronutrients that underpin critical biogeochemical processes, sustaining ecosystem functionality and productivity. However, anthropogenic activities, including agricultural intensification, industrial expansion, and urban development, have substantially disrupted their natural cycles. This disruption has led to the excessive accumulation of N and P across environmental matrices such as soil, water, and the atmosphere, resulting in significant ecological degradation.

Enantioselective transplacental transfer of xenobiotics: mechanisms, plasma protein binding, and health implications for fetal development.

The transplacental transfer of xenobiotics, particularly in an enantioselective manner, is a critical and evolving area of developmental toxicology. Pregnant women, as a highly vulnerable population, are frequently exposed to pervasive chiral chemicals that can cross the placenta, with the placenta serving as an enantioselective barrier. Despite significant research on enantioselective transfer of xenobiotics using various models (in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro), a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of xenobiotics-plasma protein binding remains lacking.

Perinatal exposure to 4-hydroxy-4'-isopropoxydiphenylsulfone alters the adipogenesis in adult mice: A sex-specific study.

4-hydroxy-4'-isopropoxydiphenylsulfone (BPSIP), a common alternative to bisphenol A (BPA), has been detected in breast milk and across placental barriers. However, the long-term impacts of perinatal exposure to BPSIP on adipogenesis and susceptibility to metabolic disorders later in life remain poorly understood. This study explored the effects of early-life BPSIP exposure on obesity and metabolic dysfunction in a diet-induced obesity model.

Alleviation of salt stress in strawberries by hydrogen-rich water: Physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses.

The increasing impacts of climate change and intensified human activities exacerbate soil salinization, posing significant challenges to agricultural productivity. Therefore, addressing salt stress in crops is a critical area of research. In this study, strawberry seedlings (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.

Multifaceted role of selenium in plant physiology and stress resilience: A review.

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring element in both seleniferous and non-seleniferous soils. Plants absorb Se in a variety of ways, mainly as selenate (SeO), selenite (SeO), and organic compounds such as selenomethionine (SeMet). Selenium significantly impacts plant growth, development, and stress responses.

Early-Life Exposure to 4-Hydroxy-4'-Isopropoxydiphenylsulfone Induces Behavioral Deficits Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mice.

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) during gestation and lactation is considered to be a potential risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in both humans and animals. As a novel alternative to BPA, 4-hydroxy-4'-isopropoxydiphenylsulfone (BPSIP) is frequently detected in breast milk and placental barrier systems, suggesting potential transmission from the mother to offspring and increased risk of exposure. Gestation and lactation are critical periods for central nervous system development, which are vulnerable to certain environmental pollutants.

A dose-dependent effect of UV-328 on photosynthesis: Exploring light harvesting and UV-B sensing mechanisms.

Benzotriazole ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers (BUVs) have emerged as significant environmental contaminants, frequently detected in various ecosystems. While the toxicity of BUVs to aquatic organisms is well-documented, studies on their impact on plant life are scarce. Plants are crucial as they provide the primary source of energy and organic matter in ecosystems through photosynthesis.

Combined effects of cadmium and sulfamethoxazole on Eisenia fetida: Insights into accumulation, subcellular partitioning, biomarkers and toxicological responses.

Cadmium (Cd) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) frequently coexist in farmlands, yet their synergistic toxicological impacts on terrestrial invertebrates remain unexplored. In this study, earthworms were exposed to artificial soils percolated with Cd (5 mg/kg), SMX (5 mg/kg) or combination of them for 7 days, followed by a 12-day elimination phase in uncontaminated soil. The uptake of Cd and SMX by the earthworms, along with their subcellular distribution, was meticulously analyzed.

Deciphering the mechanistic role of Bacillus paramycoides (PM51) and Bacillus tequilensis (PM52) in bio-sorption and phyto-assimilation of Cadmium via Linum usitatissimum L. Seedlings.

Three Cd resistant bacterium's minimal inhibition concentrations were assessed and their percentages of Cd accumulation were determined by measurements using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results revealed that two isolates Bacillus paramycoides (PM51) and Bacillus tequilensis (PM52), identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing, showed a higher percentage of Cd accumulation i.e.

Exposure to Short- and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Nested Case-Control Study in Eastern China.

Toxicological studies have indicated that exposure to chlorinated paraffins (CPs) may disrupt intracellular glucose and energy metabolism. However, limited information exists regarding the impact of human CP exposure on glucose homeostasis and its potential association with an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Here, we conducted a prospective study with a nested case-control design to evaluate the link between short- and medium-chain CP (SCCPs and MCCPs) exposures during pregnancy and the risk of GDM.

Depth distribution of nano- and microplastics and their contribution to carbon storage in Chinese agricultural soils.

The extensive and prolonged utilization of plastic materials in agriculture has primarily led to the accumulation of nano- and microplastics (NMPs, ≤5 mm) in farmland soils. The spatial-vertical distribution of NMPs mass concentrations and their impact on the national agricultural soil carbon reservoir remain unexamined. In this study, we quantified the residual mass concentrations of six prevalent plastic types in farmland soils around China using the double-shot model of thermal desorption/pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD/Py-GC-MS).

Unveiling novel pathways and key contributors in the nitrogen cycle: Validation of enrichment and taxonomic characterization of oxygenic denitrifying microorganisms in environmental samples.

Microorganisms play a crucial role in both the nitrogen cycle and greenhouse gas emissions. A recent discovery has unveiled a new denitrification pathway called oxygenic denitrification, entailing the enzymatic reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide (NO) by a putative nitric oxide dismutase (nod) enzyme. In this study, the presence of the nod gene was detected and subsequently enriched in anaerobic-activated sludge, farmland soil, and paddy soil samples.

Abiogenic silicon: Interaction with potentially toxic elements and its ecological significance in soil and plant systems.

Abiogenic silicon (Si), though deemed a quasi-nutrient, remains largely inaccessible to plants due to its prevalence within mineral ores. Nevertheless, the influence of Si extends across a spectrum of pivotal plant processes. Si emerges as a versatile boon for plants, conferring a plethora of advantages.

Trophodynamics of halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) in aquatic food webs.

Halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) represent hazardous and persistent compounds characterized by their capacity to accumulate within organisms and endure in the environment. These substances are frequently transmitted through aquatic food webs, engendering potential hazards to ecosystems and human well-being. The trophodynamics of HOPs in aquatic food webs has garnered worldwide attention within the scientific community.

Pleiotropic melatonin-mediated responses on growth and cadmium phytoextraction of Brassica napus: A bioecological trial for enhancing phytoremediation of soil cadmium.

Melatonin (MT) has recently gained significant scientific interest, though its mechanism of action in enhancing plant vigor, cadmium (Cd) tolerance, and Cd phytoremediation processes are poorly understood. Therefore, here we investigated the beneficial role of MT in improving growth and Cd remediation potential of rapeseed (Brassica napus). Plants, with or without MT (200 µM L), were subjected to Cd stress (30 mg kg).

Unraveling the role of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a corn-soil system: Plant growth, oxidative stress and heavy metal(loid)s behavior.

In the age of nanotechnological advancement, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are drawing global attention. However, few studies have been published on the crop growth responses to CNTs in heavy metal(loid)s contaminated environments. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on plant development, oxidative stress, and heavy metal(loid)s behavior in a corn-soil system.

Mechanisms of N, N-dimethylacetamide-facilitated n-hexane removal in a rotating drum biofilter packed with bamboo charcoal-polyurethane composite.

n-Hexane and N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) are two major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) discharged from the pharmaceutical industry. To enhance DMAC-facilitated n-hexane removal, we investigated the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants in a rotating drum biofilter packed with bamboo charcoal-polyurethane composite. After adding 800 mg·L DMAC, the n-hexane removal efficiency increased from 59.

Melatonin enhanced oilseed rape growth and mitigated Cd stress risk: A novel trial for reducing Cd accumulation by bioenergy crops.

Melatonin (M) is a pleiotropic molecule that improves plant growth and increases heavy metal tolerance. The role of M for improving plant growth and tolerance under cadmium (Cd) stress, and mitigation of Cd-induced toxicity has not yet been sufficiently examined. Therefore, here we conducted a glasshouse experiment to explore the influence of various M dosages on Cd detoxification and stress-tolerance responses of Brassica napus under high Cd content (30 mg kg).

Controllable synthesis and stabilization of -mediated copper oxide nanoparticles for the management of Fusarium wilt on musk melon.

Unlabelled: Excessive use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers poses a serious threat to ecoenvironment sustainability and human health. Nano pesticides or Nano fungicides have attained great attention in the field of agriculture due to their unique characteristics, by improving crop growth with enhancing pathogenesis-related defense system. However, there is a need to develop a sustainable mechanism for the synthesis of fungicides which replace the chemical pesticides to avoid their hazardous impact.