Food insecurity has become a pressing issue on a worldwide scale as the globe plows through a food crisis. The disastrous impact of this menace has been exacerbated by climate change, frequent conflicts, pandemic outbreaks, and the global economic recession, which have been prevalent in recent years. Although food insecurity prevails globally, it is especially critical in some regions in Africa, East and Southeast Asia, and South America. Several efforts have been made to curb food insecurity; however, none have been able to curtail it sufficiently. Genetic engineering of crops is a fast-growing technology that could be a viable tool for mitigating food insecurity. Crop varieties resistant to pests and diseases, abiotic stress, spoilage, or specific herbicides have been developed using this technology. Crops have been modified for increased yield, nutritional content, essential vitamins, and micro-mineral fortification. More intriguing is the advent of plant-derived edible vaccines, which prove equally effective and significantly affordable. However, in many countries, government policies pose a limiting factor for the acceptance of this technology. This article discusses the genetic modification of crops, highlighting its origins, methods, applications, achievements, impact, acceptance, distribution, and potential as a viable antidote to global food insecurity.

Agriculture is pivotalin feeding the world's growing population. However, it also poses significant ecological challenges that demand attention. This paper aims to explore the impacts of agricultural practices on the environment and propose sustainable solutions to mitigate these problems.The ecological problems of agriculture encompass various aspects, including land degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and the excessive use of agrochemicals. These issues have far-reaching consequences, such as soil erosion, depletion of natural resources, disruption of ecosystems, and climate change.To address these challenges, sustainable agricultural practices offer promising solutions. These include the adoption of precision farming techniques, such as site-specific nutrient management and precision irrigation, to optimize resource utilization and minimize environmental impacts. Conservation agriculture practices, such as minimal tillage and cover cropping, can enhance soil health, reduce erosion, and promote biodiversity conservation.Furthermore, agroecological approaches that integrate ecological principles into farming systems can enhance resilience, increase biodiversity, and improve ecosystem services. Organic farming, agroforestry, and integrated pest management are examples of such practices that reduce chemical inputs, preserve biodiversity, and promote natural pest control.Additionally, promoting sustainable intensification through the use of innovative technologies, such as precision agriculture, biofortification, and genetically modified crops with reduced environmental footprints, can contribute to sustainable agriculture.Overall, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices holds promise for addressing the ecological problems associated with agriculture while ensuring food security and environmental sustainability. However, their successful implementation requires supportive policies, knowledge dissemination, and stakeholder engagement across the agricultural sector.

The Allium cepa assay represents a crucial in vivo model for evaluating the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of substances. This study investigated the cytogenotoxicity of mercury chloride (HgCl₂), a laboratory disinfectant and catalyst, using the Allium cepa assay. Mitotic slides were prepared from onion root tip cells grown on media supplemented with different concentrations of HgCl₂ (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0%). The slides were observed to evaluate cytogenotoxicity based on the assessment of the mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, clastogenic effect, and root length. The results showed that the concentrations used are harmful to the cell, leading to adverse impacts on the mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, root growth, and chromosome structure. Different chromosomal aberrations, such as bridge formation, fragmentation fragments, wandering chromosomes, stickiness, binucleate cells, and micronucleus formation, were detected depending on the concentration. Although lower concentrations (0.2–0.4%) had fewer effects on the cells, they still had a significant cytogenotoxic effect (p < 0.05) compared to that of the control (0.0%). The higher the concentration, the greater the effects on clastogenic changes. The abnormalities in both mitotic spread and root growth indicate that mercury chloride is cytotoxic even at low concentrations and can cause mito-depressive effects at higher concentrations. The results of this investigation can be used as a guide to guarantee sufficient safety precautions for people and organs during the regular use of HgCl₂.

This study delves into the novel utilization of Aristolochia manshuriensis cultured cells for extracellular silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis without the need for additional substances. The presence of elemental silver has been verified using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, while distinct surface plasmon resonance peaks were revealed by UV-Vis spectra. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy indicated that the AgNPs, ranging in size from 10 to 40 nm, exhibited a spherical morphology. Fourier-transform infrared analysis validated the abilty of A. manshuriensis extract components to serve as both reducing and capping agents for metal ions. In the context of cytotoxicity on embryonic fibroblast (NIH 3T3) and mouse neuroblastoma (N2A) cells, AgNPs demonstrated varying effects. Specifically, nanoparticles derived from callus cultures exhibited an IC₅₀ of 2.8 µg/mL, effectively inhibiting N2A growth, whereas AgNPs sourced from hairy roots only achieved this only at concentrations of 50 µg/mL and above. Notably, all studied AgNPs’ treatment-induced cytotoxicity in fibroblast cells, yielding IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.2 to 36.3 µg/mL. Furthermore, the findings unveiled the efficacy of the synthesized AgNPs against pathogenic microorganisms impacting both plants and animals, including Agrobacterium rhizogenes, A. tumefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. These findings underscore the effectiveness of biotechnological methodologies in offering advanced and enhanced green nanotechnology alternatives for generating nanoparticles with applications in combating cancer and infectious disorders.

The savanna isconsidered an exclusively tropical biome, largely found in Africa. It comprises of grasslands with scattered trees that are sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The savanna biome covers more than 86% of Nigeria's vegetation cover. There are three major savanna belts in Nigeria, namely: the Guinea savanna, the Sudan savanna, and the Sahel savanna. The Guinea savanna is the most extensive ecological zone, covering more than half of the country’s land area. It has typically short trees and tall grasses and is the most luxuriant of the Savannah vegetation belts in Nigeria. The Sudan savanna belt is found in the northern parts of Nigeria. The Sudan savanna is characterised by high rainfall variability, frequent droughts, and poor soil fertility. The Sahel savanna is found in the extreme northwest and northeast of the country. It has sparse vegetation that is dependent on uncertain rainfall, dominantly grasses with discontinuous shrubs and scattered trees, which are often thorny, and extensive sparse grasses. Savannah plants are faced with some delimiting factors, such as seasonal drought, low water and nutrient availability, the impacts of regular fire, and herbivory, among others, which threaten their survival. This article discusses the Savanna biome in Nigeria, its indicator species, and the adaptative features exhibited by plants in the savanna to ensure their survival.

To mitigate food insecurity and the low economic status of amaranth farmers in south-west Nigeria, it is imperative to evaluate the predominant commercial A. hybridus cultivars using key yield and nutrient components to identify promising lines with optimum yield and nutritional quality. The current study evaluated five cultivars of Amaranthus hybridus in south-west Nigeria farms using key morphological, biochemical, and seed-proximate component parameters. The results revealed significant differences in the cultivars’ growth and yield indices. The number of leaves ranged from 16.40 to 29.48 ($\stackrel{-}{\mathrm{x}}$ = 22.10) with plant height ($\stackrel{-}{\mathrm{x}}$ = 50.28 cm), while other leaf metrics varied at maturity. Days to 50% flowering ranged from 49 to 90 days. Seed proximate composition also varied significantly. Carbohydrate content ranged from 65.01–76.28%, protein content 6.57–12.42%, ash content 2.73–3.59%, total polyphenols 23.36–29.64 mg/100 g GAE, and total antioxidants 31.6–181.59 mg/100 g AAE. The Pearson correlation matrix and path analysis showed significant relationships among the yield components. The phenotypic variance of the yield components mainly stemmed from environmental factors, indicating their crucial role in the traits’ expression. Careful evaluation of the cultivars revealed that AM-1 and AM-3 had the best growth and yield attributes. Additionally, the two cultivars showed a significant degree of relatedness, suggesting a common ancestor. They have the potential to increase productivity, farmers’ profitability, and consumers’ nutrient gain compared to other cultivars. They are recommended for cultivation and can be further crossed in breeding programs to develop superior lines.