Maize is one of the most economically important cereal crops worldwide. Salinity coupled with waterlogging is a major challenge for successful crop production. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and impacts of individual and combined salinity and waterlogging stress on the morpho-physio-biochemical and molecular responses and oxidative metabolism of maize during stress and recovery periods is essential. The present study was carried out to assess the response of four hybrid maize cultivars viz. DK-6142, FH-1231, FH-949, and MALKA-2016 under individual and combined salinity and waterlogging conditions. The treatments comprised the control (no stress), NaCl (salinity with 10 dSm⁻¹), WL (waterlogged conditions with 3 cm flooding), and NaCl + WL (combined salinity and waterlogging stress). The data regarding morpho-physiological attributes were collected at 22 days after sowing (DAS; stress phase) and 30 DAS (recovery phase). The results revealed that both stresses, either individually or in combination, substantially reduced the root-shoot length, root-shoot fresh and dry weights, leaf width, and the number of leaves per plant as well as the leaf chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids contents; however, the inhibitory effects were more severe in combined stresses than for individual stress factors in many cultivars. Both individual and combined stress conditions enhanced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, whereas the antioxidant enzyme activities, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), remained higher under stress conditions compared to the control. The expression levels of antioxidant genes (CAT and POD) were also upregulated under stress conditions. All of the cultivars recovered better from individual stresses than combined stress conditions; however, the hybrid DK-6142 performed better than the other maize hybrids under stress conditions and showed faster recovery.

Salinity and alkalinity stresses are common in arid and semiarid climates. Both these stresses not only retard crop growth but also cause a severe reduction in yields. The present experiment was performed to investigate the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic responses of two maize hybrids (FH-1231 and DK-6714) to salinity and alkalinity stresses. The treatments were comprised of salt stress (NaCl:Na₂SO₄ at a 9:1 ratio), alkaline stress (NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃ at a 9:1 ratio), and an unstressed control. The results indicated that salinity and alkalinity significantly reduced shoot fresh weight by 50% and 70%, root fresh weight by 38% and 50%, root dry weight by 69% and 93%, seedling length by 18% and 30%, number of leaves by 27% and 39%, and maximum leaf width by 17% and 24%, respectively, across the two hybrids compared with control, indicating that alkalinity had a greater effect than salinity. Likewise, both the stresses, particularly alkalinity, significantly decreased K⁺ ion accumulation and chlorophyll content and increased the lipid peroxidation rate, sodium (Na⁺) concentration, the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Salinity and alkalinity stresses also induced the expression levels of antioxidant genes (SOD, CAT, POD, APX); however, salinity showed less effect than alkalinity stress. Similarly, hybrid DK-6714 performed comparatively better than FH-1231 with regard to seedling growth, antioxidant activities, and biochemical attributes under stress conditions. Thus, DK-6714 is recommended as a suitable hybrid for soils affected with salt-alkalization.

Amino acid transporters (AATs) are integral membrane proteins and have several functions, including transporting amino acids across cellular membranes. They are critical for plant growth and development. This study comprehensively identified AAT-encoding genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which is an important vegetable crop and serves as a model for fleshy fruit development. In this study, 88 genes were identified in the S. lycopersicum genome and grouped into 12 subfamilies, based on previously identified AATs in Arabidopsis, rice (Oryza sativa), and potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants. Chromosomal localization revealed that S. lycopersicum AAT (SlAAT) genes are distributed on the 12 S. lycopersicum chromosomes. Segmental duplication events contribute mainly to the expansion of SlAAT genes and about 32% (29 genes) of SlAAT genes were found to originate from this type of event. Expression profiles of SlAAT genes in various tissues of S. lycopersicum using RNA sequencing data from the Tomato Functional Genomics Database showed that SlAAT genes exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns. Comprehensive data generated in this study will provide a platform for further studies on the SlAAT gene family and will facilitate the functional characterization of SlAAT genes.

This study aimed to evaluate the total phenol, flavonoid, and individual phenolic acid contents and the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanol extracts from Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia. Spectrophotometry and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used for chemical analyses, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was conducted to determine the antioxidant activity. The cytotoxic activity was assessed against MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), A2780 (human ovary adenocarcinoma), HT29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), and MRC5 (normal human fetal lung fibroblast) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The total content of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the studied dry leaf, stem bark, twig, and fruit extracts were between 13.14 and 22.94 mg·GAE g⁻¹ dry weight, 8.03 and 12.72 mg·QE g⁻¹ dry weight, and 75.59% and 83.96%, respectively. Ten individual phenolic acids were quantified in the studied plant parts. The prominent phenolic acid was p-hydroxybenzoic acid, followed by vanillic acid. Methanolic fruit extracts exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against MCF7 (IC₅₀: 21.11 μg·mL⁻¹). Additionally, A2780 cell lines responded very well to all the extracts, with an IC₅₀ from 8.16 to 13.72 μg·mL⁻¹, except for the fruit extract, which was 47.39 μg·mL⁻¹. The leaf extract showed significant cytotoxicity against HT29 cell lines, with an IC₅₀ of 8.81 μg·mL⁻¹. All extracts showed IC₅₀ values ranging from 24.68 to 56.15 μg·mL⁻¹ on normal cells. Further examination of the plant parts in this study could identify compounds accounting for the observed antioxidant and cytotoxic activities and might represent potential novel anticancer drugs.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is among the earliest crops to be cultivated and is also considered a crucial staple crop. Nevertheless, the negative effects of abiotic stress on both the quality and productivity of barley are significant. Nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCEDs) are rate-limiting enzymes in plants that cleave carotenoids and produce abscisic acid (ABA). The poor utilization of barley NCEDs in stress-resistant genetic breeding is due to the lack of appropriate information about their potential function in abiotic stress. The current study revealed five NCED genes in the barley genome (HvNCED1—HvNCED5), which are distributed unevenly on barley chromosomes. The PF03055 domain is present in all HvNCEDs, and they encode 413~643 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NCED genes were categorized into three distinct clades, confirming the homology of NCED genes between H. vulgare L., Arabidopsis thaliana L., and Oryza sativa L. Expression analysis revealed that HvNCED1 is significantly upregulated under high salt stress, indicating its potential role in enhancing salt tolerance. In contrast, HvNCED3 and HvNCED4 exhibited downregulation, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism in response to varying salt stress levels. These findings will enhance our comprehension of the genetic composition and evolutionary development of the HvNCED gene family and provide a basis for future research on their role in response to salt-induced stress.