Journal of King Saud University - Science最新文献

Background

Black rats (Rattus rattus; Rodentia: Muridae) cause significant damage to agricultural and human health, and they are considered a reservoir for a variety of diseases.

Objectives

The current study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of oral anticoagulants derived from Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb. to these dangerous animals.

Method

Four selected doses (100, 150, 200 and 300 mg/day/kg of individual weight) and one control were utilized, with 10 repetitions of each dose (5 ♂ and 5 ♀). The extract was powdered on dates as bait.

Results

UPLC-ESI/MS-MS chromatography identified three distinct coumarins (coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and 4-hydroxycoumarin). The results showed that the fourth dose used caused the highest number of deaths (100 % after three days of treatment). In contrast, after 48 h of therapy, all rats examined showed lethargy, anorexia and unconsciousness, followed by rapid death at 72 h in the treated individuals. The LD₅₀ was recorded at 146.4 mg.kg⁻¹ with a LT₅₀ of 59.37 h. At the end of the experiment, the autopsies of all deceased individuals allowed us to observe the bleeding of their internal organs. The analysis of PT and aPTT demonstrated that the halophyte under investigation possesses anticoagulant activity that increased with the concentration. Histological sections of the liver revealed cellular alteration and significant necrosis. As well, the kidneys had vascular occlusion with an inflammatory filtrate.

Conclusions

To reduce food losses and wastes caused by these pests, H. strobilaceum will be an important plant for use in protecting against invasive rodents, especially in environmental and stored product programs focused at eradicating rodent pests.

This study investigates the heat and mass transmission behavior in an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) movement of nanofluids over an inclined permeable surface, with applications in enhancing thermal management systems such as automotive cooling and industrial heat exchangers. The model specifically examines the consequence of thermal diffusion (Soret effect) and buoyant forces on Cu and TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in engine oil. The governing equations, comprising velocity, energy, and concentration equations, are recast into nonlinear ODEs manipulating similitude adaptations. These ODEs are then solved through a standard perturbation method under appropriate boundary conditions. The key findings indicate that enhancing thermal radiation diminishes the velocity and temperature profiles, while raising chemical reaction rates decrease concentration levels. Additionally, higher Soret parameter values are associated with increased velocity and concentration. Quantitatively, TiO2-engine oil nanofluids exhibit a 15% higher velocity compared to Cu-engine oil nanofluids, highlighting the superior performance of TiO2 in dynamic thermal systems. Furthermore, numerical outcomes for the local skin contention, Nusselt numeral, and Sherwood digit are tabulated to illustrate the consequence of material properties. The outcomes of this study are particularly beneficial in optimizing the design of heat exchangers, improving fuel efficiency in automotive engines, and enhancing industrial processes where precise thermal control is critical.

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that severely affects crop production in different regions of the globe. Barley is an essential cereal crop and there is a significant genetic variation among barley varieties for tolerance towards salt stress. Understanding of salinity tolerance mechanisms assists in developing salt tolerant barley varieties in a hydroponics experiment. There were twelve barley varieties and two NaCl stress levels (Control, 100 and 200 mM) in this study. The nursery of barley was seeded in sand and at two-leaf stage; plants were transplanted into hydroponic tubs. The plants were grown under salt stress for 65 days and data regarding several morpho-physiological parameters were collected. The statistical analysis of the collected data was implemented by using completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement. Exposure to NaCl stress significantly reduced shoot and root growth and relative leaf water contents (RLWC), while increasing Na⁺ concentration, with B-9006 showing the highest root dry weight (0.39 g) and YSM1 recorded the lowest root dry weight (0.10 g) under 100 mM NaCl. The maximum (232 ppm) Na⁺ concentration in leaf sap was observed in variety B-15011 (70 % from control) and minimum was observed in B-15018. Maximum K⁺ mM concentration in leaf sap was found as 72 % in Aia-03 and minimum was observed as 50 % in B-15035. At stress level of 200 mM, highest shoot dry weight (2.52 g) was observed in ZP2 (73 % decreased from control) while minimum shoot dry weight (0.19 g) (96 % decrease from control) was recorded in Franklin genotype. Maximum root dry weight (0.24 g) was observed in B-9006 genotype while minimum root dry weight (0.04 g) was recorded in Gairdner. Maximum K⁺/Na⁺ ratio (1.20) was recorded in B-15018 and minimum (0.14) was seen in B-15035. Therefore, based on our results, barley genotypes can be classified into salt-tolerant (B-9006, B-15018, Yerong, Aia-03), salt-sensitive (Gairdner, Franklin, B-15035, B-05011), and moderately tolerant groups at both 100 and 200 mM NaCl levels.

Global climate variations, mainly extreme temperatures reduce crop production and contributed to global food insecurity. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) improve physiological efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, and assimilate partitioning in field crops. However, their influence on soybean (Glycine max L.) yield and seed quality is under-researched. This study investigates the synergistic effects of auxin (2,4-D) and gibberellin (GA₃) at 60 and 90 mg L⁻¹ concentrations. This study investigates the impact of phytohormones, specifically gibberellic acid (GA3) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), on the morphological and biochemical traits of soybean (Glycine max L.) through seed treatment and foliar application. These Growth regulators were applied through seed treatment at the time of sowing and foliar application at the time of flowering initiation stage. The experiment was designed using a RCBD arrangement and each block replicated thrice time. Seed treatment with 2,4-D at 90 mg/L showed that maximum plant height (116.80 cm), first node height (8.04 cm), No. of branches per plant (18.67), root length (18.12 cm) stem diameter (0.05 cm), no. of pods per plant (32.60), seed yield (1532.30 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (4109.30 ha⁻¹), and harvest index (39.36 %). The GA₃ (seed treatment) at conc. of 90 and 60 mg L⁻¹ resulted in a significantly increased no. of nodule fresh weight, nodules per plant, and dry weight respectively. But the no. of seeds per pod did not showed significant results throughout the study. However, the foliar applied of 2,4-D at 90 mg L⁻¹ resulted in significantly increased leaf area index (LAI) compared to the seed treatment. PGRs had a significant influence on quality traits. Thus, the application notably improved the potential of soybean and successful oilseed crop. Therefore, it is showed that using PGRs are extremely helpful for attaining higher growth, yield production, and improved quality of soybean.

Seaweeds are valuable sources of bioactive compounds in biomedicine, cosmetics, food, and pharmacology. The purpose of this investigation was to study the antimicrobial properties of organic solvent extracts from two red seaweed species (Melanothamnus somalensis & Gelidium omanense), and two brown seaweed species (Jolyna furcata & Nizamuddinia zanardinii) compiled from the southern coastline of Oman against several bacterial strains of global health concern (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). Five organic solvents were used sequentially to achieve extraction. The solvents were applied in the following order: hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol. Only the methanol extract of Nizamuddinia zanardinii (MeNZ) showed interesting antimicrobial activity; the inhibition zone was 13 ± 1 mm. Furthermore, MeNZ was fractionated, and fraction 1 (MeNZ-F1) was recognized to have antimicrobial activity; the inhibition zone was 14.66 ± 0.57 mm. The stock concentration exhibited higher antimicrobial activity compared to the diluted concentrations after 3 h of incubation. The TEM and SEM results indicated that E. coli treated with the active fraction exhibited irregular shape, rough surface, and leakage of cellular content. Additionally, ribosomes were clustered and directed toward the inner membrane of the bacteria, while the DNA clustered in the center of the cell. In conclusion, the methanol extract of Nizamuddinia zanardinii has shown high efficacy against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, it can be a valuable candidate for improving/developing antimicrobial drugs in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Background

Deficit irrigation exerts devastating effects on the productivity and economic returns of cotton crop, as well as carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from soil. Osmolytes play a significant role in facilitating the adaptation of cotton plants to abiotic stresses and improve productivity.

Methods

This study investigated the effects of different osmolytes (glycine betaine, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid 100 mg L⁻¹ each) and deficit irrigation (50 %-I₅₀, 75 %-I₇₅, and 100 %-I₁₀₀) on seed cotton yield, greenhouse gas emission (CO₂-C), emission factor (EFs) and economic returns of cotton in Southern Anatolia, Türkiye.

Results

Deficit irrigation and osmolyte treatment, both separately and in combination, had a substantial impact on seed cotton yield, CO₂-C emission and EFs. The lowest (3800 kg ha⁻¹) and the highest (4746 kg ha⁻¹) seed cotton yield was noted under I₅₀, and I₁₀₀ treatments, respectively. Similarly, no osmolyte application and application of glycine betaine resulted in the lowest (4097 kg ha⁻¹) and the highest (4545 kg ha⁻¹) seed cotton yield, respectively. The interactive effect indicated that application of glycine betaine and salicylic acid produced better yield than control treatment under all irrigation treatments. The lowest (1.55) and the highest (1.94 mg) CO₂-C emission (mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) was recorded for I₅₀, and I₁₀₀ treatments respectively. Likewise, the lowest (1.52) and the highest (2.19) daily carbon emission were recorded for salicylic acid and glycine betaine application, respectively. The lowest and the highest EFs values were observed for glycine betaine and ascorbic acid application, respectively. Application of glycine betaine resulted in the highest economic returns under all irrigation treatments which was comparable to salicylic acid, whereas the lower economic returns were recorded for control treatment.

Conclusion

It is concluded that application of glycine betaine can be used to improve seed cotton yield and economic returns under deficit irrigation. Similarly, glycine betaine proved helpful in reducing CO₂-C emission under deficit irrigation compared to normal irrigation.