Browsing by Author "Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z"

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Exploitation of mangliculous marine fungi, Amarenographium solium, for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their activity against multiple drug-resistant bacteria
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024-01) Hodhod, Mohamed S; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Al Munqedhi, Bandar M; Elzein, Abdalla; Abdelmalik, Abdelmalik M
The green synthesis pathway for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) used in bacterial treatment is regarded as crucial because of its cost-effectiveness, nontoxicity, and eco-friendliness. During the present work, the mangliculous marine fungi Amarenographium solium isolated from the Arabian Gulf Coast of Saudi Arabia were utilized for the synthesis of AgNP, through the bio-reduction of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. The success in AgNP synthesis was visually identified by the development of dark brown color in the cell-free filtrate and was further con- firmed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, which showed a peak at 425 nm. The AgNPs produced were further characterized using X-ray diffraction data analysis that proved the bioreduction of silver to 20 nm, and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles with an average mean size of 12 nm. The optimization reaction parameters of temperature, pH, and metal salt concentration were carried out and resulted in a combination of 30°C, 7 and 1.5 mM, respectively, for rapid and maximum yield production. The antibacterial activity of the produced nanoparticles was evaluated using the two-fold microdilution method and showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 9.375 μg/mL of AgNP against multiple drugresistant bacterial strains.
Foliar application of silicon and boron improves boll retention, lint yield and fiber quality traits of transgenic cotton
(Elsevier BV, 2023-08) Abbas, Azhar; Sattar, Abdul; Ul-Allah, Sami; Sher, Ahmad; Ijaz, Muhammad; Abbas, Tahira; Irfan, Muhammad; Ullah, Sami; Buttf, Madiha; Javaid, Muhammad Mansoor; Kim, Yon; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Elshikh, Mohamed S; Hodhod, Mohamed S
Background: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop that has a widespread cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions globally. The decline in cotton production over the last two decades may be attributed to the effects of climate change and imbalances in mineral nutrition. However, mineral nutrition, particularly micronutrients has been less focused in cotton production. Silicon (Si) and boron (B) are considered crucial micronutrients that play diverse functions in the physiological and biochemical development of plants, as well as in enhancing their resistance to abiotic stress. Methods: The present study investigated the impact of individual and combined foliar application of Si and B on the development of transgenic (Bt) cotton, as well as their impacts on boll retention, seed cotton production, and fiber quality indicators. Treatments included individual application of 2.0- and 4.0-mM Si and 0.5- and 1.0-mM B, and combined application 2.0 mM Si + 0.5 mM B, 2.0 mM Si + 1.0 mM B, 4 mM Si + 0.5 mM B and 4.0 mM Si + 1.0 mM B. Water spray and no foliar application were regarded as controls for comparison. Results: Combined application of 4 mM Si + 1.0 mM B resulted in the highest ginning out turn (39%), fiber uniformity (83%) and fiber length (28 mm). The longest plant height and the highest number of closed bolls per plant were recorded with sole application of 0.5 mM B, while sole application of 1 mM B pro- duced the highest number of monopodial branches (20.26), sympodial branches (33.53) and total number of bolls (37.03) per plant. The highest boll weight (18.39 g), boll retention (64.38%) and seed cotton yield (1253.7 kg ha 1 ) were recorded for sole application of 1.0 mM B. Conclusion: The results revealed that combined foliar application of 4.0 mM Si + 0.5 or 1.0 0.5 mM fiber quality traits, whereas sole application of 1.0 mM B improved growth and yield related traits. Therefore, B and Si can be applied in combination to improve the fiber quality, whereas sole application of B could increase yield-related traits.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Amino Acid Transporter Gene Family Revealed That the Allele Unique to the Aus Variety Is Associated with Amino Acid Permease 17 (OsAAP17) Amplifies Both the Tiller Count and Yield in Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
(MDPI AG, 2023-10) Nayak, Itishree; Sahoo, Bijayalaxmi; Pradhan, Chinmay; Balasubramaniasai, Cayalvizhi; Prabhukarthikeyan, Seenichamy Rathinam; Katara, Jawahar Lal; Meher, Jitendriya; Chung, Sang-Min; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Hodhod, Mohamed S; Kherawat, Bhagwat Singh; Parameswaran, Chidambaranathan; Kesawat, Mahipal Singh; Samantaray, Sanghamitra
Amino acid transporters (AATs) play a crucial role in facilitating the movement of amino acids across cellular membranes, which is vital for the growth and development of plants. Amino acid permease (AAP), which belongs to the AAT family, has been the subject of extensive functional research in plants. Although its importance is recognized, a comprehensive grasp of this family’s dynamics in indica rice remains lacking. In this investigation, a total of 27 AAP genes were identified in the genome of indica rice. Further, the phylogenetic analysis unveiled that the 69 AAP genes from both the model species and other plant species could be classified into 16 distinct subfamilies. The analysis of chromosomal mapping revealed an uneven distribution of the 27 OsAAP genes across the 12 rice chromosomes. Notably, the OsAAP family displayed a total of 10 duplicated gene pairs, along with the identification of numerous conserved motifs. The examination of cis-elements within OsAAP genes unveiled that their promoters contain cis-elements related to phytohormones, plant growth and development, as well as stress responses. Additionally, transcriptome profiling demonstrated that a substantial portion of these genes exhibited responsiveness to various hormones, with their activation spanning multiple tissues and developmental stages in rice. The study identified miRNAs with a specific affinity for OsAAP genes. Out of the 27 OsAAP genes investigated, seventeen were discovered to be targeted by a total of forty-three miRNAs. Furthermore, the aus allele of OsAAP3 that we named OsAAP17 was validated for its effect on productive tillers and yield, and seventeen genetic variants of OsAAP17 were found to be associated with a culm number in indica rice. In addition, indica rice varieties were monomorphic, while aus genotypes displayed polymorphism for OsAAP17 gene-specific in/dels. Moreover, in Season II (rabi season), it was found that the aus allele of OsAAP17 increased the number of productive tillers and the single plant yield by 22.55% and 9.67%, respectively, in a recombinant inbred population created by crossing N22 and JR 201. Remarkably, this enhancement was more pronounced during the dry cultivation season, highlighting the influence of environmental factors in the regulation of tiller numbers mediated by OsAAP17.
Green synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of antibacterial activities of cobalt nanoparticles produced by marine fungal species Periconia prolifica
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2023-10) Hodhod, Mohamed S; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; AlMunqedhi, Bandar M; Elzein, Abdalla
Bio-nanotechnology provided an ecofriendly synth- esis route for various metal nanoparticles by utilizing dif- ferent biological systems, especially microorganisms, which act as an alternative to the physical and chemical methods. Cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) were synthesized by Periconia prolifica (Anast.) from intertidal decayed wood samples from the mangrove tree Avicennia marina (Forsk.) of Tarout Island, located in the Arabian Gulf Sea of Saudi Arabia. CoNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscope. The extract of the culture of P. prolifica was used as a bio-reductant agent, during which the culturing process proved to have great potential to be applied on an industrial scale, as it was a time-saving, inex- pensive, and adequate amount of biomass being produced at the end of the process. A preliminary antibacterial test against one Gram-positive resistant bacteria (i.e., Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other Gram-negative resistant bacteria was performed using a disk diffusion assay. The antibacterial results witnessed the key role that metal size plays in causing higher activity and also in causing severe damage to the bacterial cells by inactivating its membrane permeability, leading to bacterial cell death.
Humic Acid and Selenium Supplementation Modulate the Growth and Antioxidant Potential of Chili under Cadmium Stress
(MDPI AG, 2023-10) Zohaib, Muhammad; Ashraf, Kamran; Fatima, Komal; Sultan, Khawar; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Hodhod, Mohamed S; Zaman, Qamar uz
Maximizing food production under adverse conditions is a major challenge to food security and sustainability in the face of population growth and climatic change. The use of amendments applied as a supplement under adverse conditions may play a significant role in the mitigation of biotic and abiotic stress. This study aimed to explore the morpho-physio-biochemical changes in chili in response to cadmium (Cd) stress. The present study investigated the effects of foliar-applied selenium (Na2SeO4 ) (3 µM) and soil-applied humic acid (250 mg kg−1 w/w soil) in the sole and synergistic form under varying levels of cadmium stress (0, 2, and 4 mM using CdCl2 ) in chili. Results revealed that a linear decrease was noticed in the growth, biomass, and phenological attributes of chili plants by increasing the Cd stress. More reduction was noticed at the higher levels of Cd stress as compared to control due lowering plant dry weight (18.15 and 39.67%), relative water content (RWC) (10.73 and 24.17%), total chlorophyll concentrations (16.01 and 31.44%) and increased electrolyte leakage (49.44 and 129.35%) and malonaldehyde contents (MDA) (68.41 and 104.04%). Dry biomass significantly increased with humic acid and selenium treatments, regardless of cadmium level. The reduced enzymatic activities associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification, underscores the pivotal role of Se and humic acid in maintaining redox homeostasis. The combined effect of selenium and humic acid proved better results as compared to the sole application in minimizing Cd uptake in roots and fruit. This study demonstrates that the application of humic acid and selenium activates physio-biochemical defense responses against cadmium stress in chili plants and provides significant pavement for the cultivation of chili in cadmium-containing soils with a target of high-yielding and quality.
Metal-tolerant morganella morganii isolates can potentially mediate nickel stress tolerance in Arabidopsis by upregulating antioxidative enzyme activities
(Landes Bioscience, 2024-03) Naqqash, Tahir; Aziz, Aeman; Baber, Muhammad; Shahid, Muhammad; Sajid, Muhammad; Emanuele, Radicetti; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Hodhod, Mohamed S; Haider, Ghulam
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have been utilized to immobilize heavy metals, limiting their translocation in metal contaminated settings. However, studies on the mechanisms and interactions that elucidate how PGPRs mediate Nickel (Ni) tolerance in plants are rare. Thus, in this study we investigated how two pre-characterized heavy metal tolerant isolates of Morganella morganii (ABT9 and ABT3) improve Ni stress tolerance in Arabidopsis while enhancing its growth and yield. Arabidopsis seedlings were grown for five weeks in control/Ni contaminated (control, 1.5 mM and 2.5 mM) potted soil, in the presence or absence of PGPRs. Plant growth characteristics, quantum yield, and antioxidative enzymatic activities were analyzed to assess the influence of PGPRs on plant physiology. Oxidative stress tolerance was quantified by measuring MDA accumulation in Arabidopsis plants. As expected, Ni stress substantially reduced plant growth (shoot and root fresh weight by 53.25% and 58.77%, dry weight by 49.80% and 57.41% and length by 47.16% and 64.63% over control), chlorophyll content and quantum yield (by 40.21% and 54.37% over control). It also increased MDA content by 84.28% at higher (2.5 mM) Ni concentrations. In contrast, inoculation with M. morganii led to significant improvements in leaf chlorophyll,quantumyield,andArabidopsisbiomassproduction.ThemitigationofadverseeffectsofNistressonbiomassobservedinM. morganii-inoculatedplantswasattributedtotheenhancementofantioxidative enzyme activities compared to Ni-treated plants. This upregulation of the antioxidative defensemechanism mitigated Ni-induced oxidativestress, leadingto improved performance ofthe photosyntheticmachinery,which, inturn,enhanced chlorophyll content andquantumyield.Understandingtheunderlyingmechanismsofthesetolerance-inducingprocesseswillhelptocompletethepictureofPGP s- mediateddefensesignaling.Thus,itsuggeststhatM. morganii PGP scandidatecanpotentiallybeutilizedforplantgrowthpromotionbyreducingoxidativestressviaupregulatingantioxidantdefensesystemsinNi-contaminatedsoilsandreducingNimetaluptake.
Microbial dynamics and dehydrogenase activity in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) rhizospheres: Impacts on growth and soil health across different soil types
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024-03) Suliman, Kamal Hassan; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Abdelmalik, Abdelmalik M; AlMunqedhi, Bandar M; Elzein, Abdalla; Hodhod, Mohamed S
The dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in the rhizospheres of tomatoes grown in different soil types – Khor Abu-Habil (KA), Bara (B), and Greenhouse (Gr) – in North Kordofan, Sudan, was determined. In addition, the abundance of soil microbes in the tomato rhizospheres during the two growth stages, after 45 and 90 days (short and long term), was analyzed. The KA site (clay soil) showed the highest DHA (81.79 CFUs/g) followed by the B site (63.76 CFUs/g) (sandy loam) after 90 days of sowing, and the Gr site showed the lowest DHA (44.50 CFUs/g) (loamy sand soil) after 45 days. Moreover, the presence of high microbial activity (total density counts, total fungi, phosphatesolubilizing bacteria, Streptomycetes sp., Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., and Pseudomonas sp. density counts) after 90 days and minimum microbial abundance after 45 days were identified at all sites. The measured growth parameters of fresh and dry weight, in addition to the rootto-shoot ratio, increased significantly at the same KA site dominated by a higher microbial density after 90 days. During the long term, the growth stage was positively affected by the abundance of adapted microbials that improve and enhance plant growth.
Remediation of wastewater by biosynthesized manganese oxide nanoparticles and its effects on development of wheat seedlings
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-12) Ishfaq, Aneeza; Shahid, Muhammad; Nawaz, Muhammad; Ibrar, Danish; Hussain, Sabir; Shahzad, Tanvir; Mahmood, Faisal; Rais, Afroz; Gul, Safia; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Hodhod, Mohamed S; Khan, Shahbaz
Introduction: Nanoparticles play a vital role in environmental remediation on a global scale. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand to utilize nanoparticles in wastewater treatment due to their remarkable physiochemical properties. Methods: In the current study, manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs) were synthesized from the Bacillus flexus strain and characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results: The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of biosynthesized MnO-NPs to treat wastewater. Results showed the photocatalytic degradation and adsorption potential of MnO-NPs for chemical oxygen demand, sulfate, and phosphate were 79%, 64%, and 64.5%, respectively, depicting the potential of MnO-NPs to effectively reduce pollutants in wastewater. The treated wastewater was further utilized for the cultivation of wheat seedlings through a pot experiment. It was observed that the application of treated wastewater showed a significant increase in growth, physiological, and antioxidant attributes. However, the application of treated wastewater led to a significant decrease in oxidative stress by 40%. Discussion: It can be concluded that the application of MnO-NPs is a promising choice to treat wastewater as it has the potential to enhance the growth, physiological, and antioxidant activities of wheat seedlings.
A source of resistance against yellow mosaic disease in soybeans correlates with a novel mutation in a resistance gene
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-11) Rahman, Saleem Ur; Raza, Ghulam; Naqvi, Rubab Zahra; McCoy, Evan; Hammad, Muhammed; LaFayette, Peter; Parrott, Wayne Allen; Amin, Imran; Mukhtar, Zahid; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z; Hodhod, Mohamed S; Mansoor, Shahid
Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is one of the major devastating constraints to soybean production in Pakistan. In the present study, we report the identification of resistant soybean germplasm and a novel mutation linked with disease susceptibility. Diverse soybean germplasm were screened to identify YMDresistant lines under natural field conditions during 2016-2020. The severity of YMD was recorded based on symptoms and was grouped according to the disease rating scale, which ranges from 0 to 5, and named as highly resistant (HR), moderately resistant (MR), resistant (R), susceptible (S), moderately susceptible (MS), and highly susceptible (HS), respectively. A HR plant named “NBG-SG Soybean” was identified, which showed stable resistance for 5 years (2016- 2020) at the experimental field of the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan, a location that is a hot spot area for virus infection. HS soybean germplasm were also identified as NBG-47 (PI628963), NBG-117 (PI548655), SPS-C1 (PI553045), SPS-C9 (PI639187), and cv. NARC-2021. The YMD adversely affected the yield and a significant difference was found in the potential yield of NBG-SG-soybean (3.46 ± 0.13a t/ha) with HS soybean germplasm NARC-2021 (0.44 ± 0.01c t/ha) and NBG-117 (1.12 ± 0.01d t/ ha), respectively. The YMD incidence was also measured each year (2016-2020) and data showed a significant difference in the percent disease incidence in the year 2016 and 2018 and a decrease after 2019 when resistant lines were planted. The resistance in NBG-SG soybean was further confirmed by testing for an already known mutation (SNP at 149t h position) for YMD in the Glyma.18G025100 gene of soybean. The susceptible soybean germplasm in the field was found positive for the said mutation. Moreover, an ortholog of the CYR-1 viral resistance gene from black gram was identified in soybean asGlyma.13G194500, which has a novel deletion (28bp/90bp) in the 5`UTR of susceptible germplasm. The characterized soybean lines from this study will assist in starting soybean breeding programs for YMD resistance. This is the first study regarding screening and molecular analysis of soybean germplasm for YMD resistance.