The rhizosphere, a narrow region of soil surrounding plant roots, is an environment rich in microbial diversity that profoundly influences plants’ health, growth, and agricultural productivity. This microbial community, known as the rhizosphere microbiome, consists of a complex array of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and other microorganisms that engage in complex interactions with plant roots. These microorganisms contribute to nutrient cycling, mineral uptake facilitation, and protection against soil-borne pathogens, thereby promoting plant growth and resilience towards biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, microbial signaling molecules, including phytohormones such as auxins, cytokinin, gibberellins, ethylene, and abscisic acid, play a pivotal role in regulating these interactions by modulating plants’ responses to environmental stressors. Recent advancements in microbiomics have enabled a deeper understanding of the rhizosphere’s diversity, composition, and functions, paving the way for more sustainable agricultural practices. By harnessing the potential of the rhizosphere microbiome, innovative strategies can be developed to reduce dependency on synthetic agrochemicals, enhance soil fertility, and increase crop yields. This review discusses the diversity and mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions, focusing on the role of microbial signaling molecules, and explores their applications in promoting agricultural sustainability. The insights gained from microbiomics studies can revolutionize farming practices by reducing dependency on chemical inputs, enhancing crop productivity, and nurturing soil health and environmental sustainability.

Three π-electron rich fluorescent supramolecular polymers (1–3) have been synthesized incorporating 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol groups in reasonable yield by employing Sonagashira coupling. They were characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C), ESI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses [1 = 1-(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)pyrene; 2 = 9,10-bis(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)anthracene; 3 = 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)pyrene]. Single crystal structures of 1–3 indicated that the incorporation of hydroxy (–OH) groups on the peripheral of the fluorophores helps them to self-associate into an infinite supramolecular polymeric network via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the adjacent discrete fluorophore units. All these compounds showed fluorescence characteristics in chloroform solution due to the extended π-conjugation and were used as selective fluorescent sensors for the detection of electron deficient nitroaromatics. The changes in photophysical properties of fluorophores (1–3) upon complex formation with electron deficient nitroaromatic explosives were studied in chloroform solution by using fluorescence spectroscopy. All these fluorophores showed the largest quenching response with moderate selectivity for nitroaromatics over various other electron deficient/rich aromatic compounds tested (Chart 1). Analysis of the fluorescence titration profile of 9,10-bis(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)anthracene fluorophore (2) with 1,3,5-trinitrotoluene/2,4-dinitrotoluene provided evidence that this particular fluorophore detects nitroaromatics in the nanomolar range [2.0 ppb for TNT, 13.7 ppb for DNT]. Moreover, sharp visual color change was observed upon mixing nitroaromatic (DNT) with fluorophores (1–3) both in solution as well as in solid phase. Furthermore, the vapor-phase sensing study of thin film of fluorophores (1–3) showed efficient quenching responses for DNT and this sensing process is reproducible. Selective fluorescence quenching response including a sharp visual color change for nitroaromatics make these tested fluorophores (1–3) as potential sensors for nitroaromatic compounds with a detection limit of ppb level.

About 10% of the world’s workforce is directly dependent on agriculture for income and about 99% of food consumed by humans comes from farming. Agriculture is highly climate dependent and with global warming and rapidly changing weather it has become necessary to closely monitor the environment of growing crops for maximizing output as well as increasing food security while minimizing resource usage. In this study, we developed a low cost system which will monitor the temperature, humidity, light intensity and soil moisture of crops and send it to an online server for storage and analysis, based on this data the system can control actuators to control the growth parameters. The three tier system architecture consists of sensors and actuators on the lower level followed by an 8-bit AVR microcontroller which is used for data acquisition and processing topped by an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module which communicates with the internet server. The system uses relay to control actuators such as pumps to irrigate the fields; online weather data is used to optimize the irrigation cycles. The prototyped system was subject to several tests, the experimental results express the systems reliability and accuracy which accentuate its feasibility in real-world applications.

Waste collection services, today, are exhausted and unable to bear the burden of rising cities. It is one of the biggest ongoing challenges, being faced by developing economies, where a large variety of goods ranging from cars to metal and hardware end up in inadequately managed and uncontrolled dumpsites, spreading diseases and increasing pollution. However, most of these plans have been able to manage waste once it has already been created. We, therefore, propose a system through a mobile application associated with a Smart Trash Bin. The main aim of this application is to reduce human resources and efforts along with the enhancements of a smart city vision. At regular intervals dustbin will be squashed. Once these smart bins are implemented on a large scale, by replacing our traditional bins present today, waste can be managed efficiently as it avoids unnecessary lumping of wastes on roadside. Breeding of insects and mosquitoes can create nuisance around promoting unclean environment. This may even cause dreadful diseases.