With the ongoing climate change scenario and alarmingly increased land degradation, understanding complex interactions of drought stress and organic fertilizers on morpho-physiological traits and dynamics of nutrient concentration is pivotal for sustainable production leafy vegetables such as mustard (Brassica juncea). Thus, this study evaluated the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizers on B. juncea growth, physiology, and dynamics of nutrient concentration at the vegetative stage. The plants were exposed to three water stress levels (well-watered (100% field capacity, FC), mild (50% FC), and severe (25% FC) supplemented with three organic fertilizers (chitosan, ultra green, and home-grown natural vegetable foods) either individually or in combination during the vegetative growth stage. Water stress had a negative effect on growth and physiological traits, and macro- and micronutrients of mustard. However, the ameliorative effects of fertilizer application were revealed by improved plant height, leaf area, relative water content, membrane stability index, and chlorophyll content from 9.7% to 26.9%, 28% to 32.72%, 7.97% to 39.51%, 7.93% to 39.66%, and 29.68% to 56.53%, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of soil moisture level, fertilizer type and their interaction on content of macronutrients (Ca, K, P, N, C, S, Na, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn) in mustard leaves. However, there was no significant effect detected for Cu across all factors as well the interaction effect on Mn. Overall, our results indicated that application of organic fertilizers enables mustard plant to withstand the deleterious effect of drought stress, resulting in improved growth and physiological traits as well as leaf nutrient content.

Microbes like bacteria and fungi are crucial for host plant growth and development. However, environmental factors and host genotypes can influence microbiome composition and diversity in plants such as industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Herein, we evaluated the endophytic and rhizosphere microbial communities of two cannabidiol (CBD; Sweet Sensi and Cherry Wine) and two fibers (American Victory and Unknown). The four hemp varieties showed significant variations in microbiome diversity. The roots had significantly abundant fungal and bacterial endophyte diversity indices, whereas the stem had higher fungal than bacterial diversity. Interestingly, the soil system showed no significant diversity variation across CBD vs. fiber genotypes. In fungal phyla, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were significantly more abundant in roots and stems than leaves in CBD-rich genotypes compared to fiber-rich genotypes. The highly abundant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. We found 16 and 11 core-microbiome bacterial and fungal species across genotypes. Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus were the core bacteria of fiber genotypes with high abundance compared to CBD genotypes. Contrarily, Microbacterium, and Rhizobium were significantly higher in CBD than fiber. The Alternaria and Gibberella formed a core-fungal microbiome of fiber-genotype than CBD. Contrarily, Penicillium, and Nigrospora were significantly more abundant in CBD than fiber genotypes. In conclusion, specific hemp genotypes recruit specialized microbial communities in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Utilizing the core-microbiome species can help to maintain and improve the growth of hemp plants and to target specialized traits of the genotype.

Obesity is a chronic disease affecting both adults and children worldwide. One major cause of obesity is high-calorie intake due to overconsumption of foods rich in fat and carbohydrates. Hence, obesity can be controlled by controlling the diet and by other lifestyle changes that increase energy expenditure. However, this is not always possible for individuals who are already overweight and suffering from other diseases. Therefore, certain drugs have been developed to assist with weight reduction. One major avenue for drug development involves the inhibition of enzymes that break down fat and carbohydrates from the diet. This can reduce the bioavailability and absorption of dietary lipids and carbohydrates, allowing for the management of obesity. Although there are synthetic drugs available on the market to inhibit these enzymes, plant-based natural drugs may provide a better alternative to treat obesity due to fewer side effects and a lower cost. In this review, different methods that can be used to screen medicinal plant extracts for inhibitors of those digestive enzymes and certain limitations of those methods are discussed. Currently, there is limited research on the effects of varying conditions on enzyme assays, and this is an area that can be addressed in future research.

The growing demand for efficient sustainable biocatalysts for industrial applications has driven the exploration of extremozymes from extremophiles, particularly those thriving in geothermal environments. This study aimed to isolate and characterize extracellular amylase-producing thermophilic bacteria from the Nelumwewa geothermal spring in Sri Lanka, an underexplored ecosystem. Among the isolated thermophilic bacterial strains, NW2 isolates exhibited a prominent extracellular amylase activity. Molecular characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the close phylogenetic relationship between NW2 and Thermaerobacillus caldiproteolyticus, which is well-known for thermostable proteases. Biochemical assays revealed optimal amylase activity of NW2 isolate at 60 °C and pH 8.0, with a crude enzyme activity of 0.85 U/mL. The enzyme demonstrated efficient hydrolysis of raw cassava starch, highlighting its potential for industrial applications in food, biofuel, and detergent industries. This study reports the first T. caldiproteolyticus-like strain from Sri Lanka with significant extracellular amylase activity, emphasizing the biotechnological potential of geothermal springs as sources of novel extremozymes. These findings contribute to the growing repository of thermostable enzymes, highlighting the need for further exploration of Sri Lanka’s geothermal microbial diversity for industrial biocatalysts.

Three new species of Mitrephora (Blume) Hook. f. & Thomson, M. clemensiorum, M. vittata and M. woodii, are described from Sabah, Malaysia. Mitrephora clemensiorum is related to M. korthalsiana Miq., but is distinguished by having long inflorescences, long flowering and fruiting pedicels, and fruits with sessile monocarps. Mitrephora vittata is related to M. reflexa Merr., but has lanceolate, subcoriaceous leaves, and densely pubescent inflorescence rachides, flowering pedicels and bracts. Mitrephora woodii is similar to M. heyneana (Hook. f. & Thomson) Thwaites, but has smaller flowers and fruits with sessile monocarps. © 2001 The Linnean Society of London.link_to_subscribed_fulltex