Zinc (Zn) deficiency is common on calcareous soils due to fixation with soil components and precipitation with other ions. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) may serve a better source of Zn for improved growth and biofortification in maize grains. Pot and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles in comparison with conventional Zn fertilizer (ZnSO₄) on growth and grain Zn contents of maize. In both experiments, Zn application improved growth and physiological parameters of plants; however, maximum improvement was observed in treatments receiving ZnSO₄ (soluble) or ZnO nanoparticles (insoluble source of Zn). Application of ZnO nanoparticles also improved Zn concentration in shoots as well as in grains in field experiment. In field experiment, Zn partitioning was also calculated and interestingly it is found that Zn concentration at maturity stages was reduced in stem and mature leaves. Maximum Zn concentration (~80 mg kg⁻¹) was observed in young leaves at vegetative growth stage in treatments receiving ZnO nanoparticles. Foliar applied ZnO NPs showed maximum increase in grain Zn concentration (82%). It is concluded that ZnO NPs improved maize growth, yield and grain Zn contents. Being cheaper and efficient source, it can be used for Zn biofortification.

The main objective of this study was to determine the possible effects of Nigella sativa on immune-response and pathogenesis of H9N2 avian influenza virus in turkeys. The experiment was performed on 130 non-vaccinated mixed-sex turkey poults, divided into five experimental groups of 30 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control while group B was kept as infected and non-treated positive control. Turkeys in groups A and B received normal commercial feed while turkeys of groups C, D and E were fed on diets containing 2%, 4% and 4% NS seeds, respectively, from day one through the entire experiment period. All groups were challenged with H9N2 AIV at 4th week of age except group A. Infected turkeys showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in turkeys of the group B. All infected turkeys showed positive results for virus shedding; however, the pattern of virus shedding was different, and with turkeys of the group B showing pronounced virus secretion than the turkeys in other groups receiving different levels of NS. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titer against H9N2 AIV in turkeys fed 6% NS seeds shows the immunomodulatory nature of NS. Similarly, increased cytokine gene expression suggests antiviral behavior of NS especially in dose dependent manner, leading to suppressed pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses. However, reduced virus shedding and enhanced immune responses were more pronounced in those turkeys received NS at the rate of 4% and 6%. This study showed that supplement of NS would significantly enhance immune responsiveness and suppress pathogenicity of influenza viruses in turkeys

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development. The application of a balanced and optimal amount of N is required for sustainable plant yield. For this, different N sources and forms are used, that including ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻). These are the main sources for N uptake by plants where NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratios have a significant effect on the biomass, quality and metabolites composition of lettuce grown in soil, substrate and hydroponic cultivation systems. A limited supply of N resulted in the reduction in the biomass, quality and overall yield of lettuce. Additionally, different types of metabolites were produced with varying concentrations of N sources and can be used as metabolic markers to improve the N use efficiency. To investigate the differential metabolic activity, we planted lettuce with different NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100%) and a control (no additional N applied) in soil, substrate and hydroponic cultivation systems. The results revealed that the 25% NH₄^+/75% NO₃⁻ ratio increased the relative chlorophyll contents as well as the biomass of lettuce in all cultivation systems. However, lettuce grown in the hydroponic cultivation system showed the best results. The concentration of essential amino acids including alanine, valine, leucine, lysine, proline and serine increased in soil and hydroponically grown lettuce treated with the 25% NH₄^+/75% NO₃⁻ ratio. The taste and quality-related compounds in lettuce showed maximum relative abundance with the 25% NH₄^+/75% NO₃⁻ ratio, except ascorbate (grown in soil) and lactupicrin (grown in substrate), which showed maximum relative abundance in the 50% NH₄^+/50% NO₃⁻ ratio and control treatments, respectively. Moreover, 1-O-caffeoylglucose, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid, aesculetin and quercetin-3-galactoside were increased by the application of the 100% NH₄^+/0% NO₃⁻ ratio in soil-grown lettuce. The 25% NH₄^+/75% NO₃⁻ ratio was more suitable in the hydroponic cultivation system to obtain increased lettuce biomass. The metabolic profiling of lettuce showed different behaviors when applying different NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratios. Therefore, the majority of the parameters were largely influenced by the 25% NH₄^+/75% NO₃⁻ ratio, which resulted in the hyper-accumulation of health-promoting compounds in lettuce. In conclusion, the optimal N applications improve the quality of lettuce grown in soil, substrate and hydroponic cultivation systems which ultimately boost the nutritional value of lettuce.