The risk of using synthetic insecticides to the environment, human health, and the emergence of new genera of pests resistant to that kind of drugs, have led to attention in natural compounds. The present study aimed at evaluating the insecticidal activity of 0.25–6 mg/cm² of basil (Ocimum basilicum), black seeds (Nigella sativa), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils (EOs) against one of the major stored product pests, Sitophilus oryzae (L.). This was done by assessing mortality and repellent percentage assay in the adult stage, as well as analysing up and down-regulated genes associated with toxicity effect of selected EOs. The three studied EOs showed a toxic effect on S. oryzae; where O. basilicum and L. angustifolia EOs explicated 100% mortality at 6 mg/cm² after 48 and 24 h, respectively. The highest repellence activity was recorded for O. basilicum EO at 0.75 mg/cm² with value 82.3% after exposure time 5 h. In the highest dose (6 mg/cm²), the maximum up-regulated expression level of detoxification DEGs genes (CL1294 and CL 8) and cytochrome p45o gene (CYP4Q4) in Lavandula angustifolia EOs exhibited 8.32, 6.08, and 3.75 fold changes, respectively, as compared with 4.76 fold at 10 ppm malathion and 1.02 fold change in acetone control.

Tomatoes are usually consumed daily in the human diet. High temperatures reduce the number of tomato yields per year. Heat stress has been considered one of the most prominent causes of alterations in morphological and molecular characteristics in crops that decrease normal growth, production, and yield in diverse plants, including tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). In this study, we evaluated six tomato lines, namely G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6, at morphological, molecular, and cytological levels under heat stress. The average results of two seasons (2018 and 2019) clarified that the G6, G1, and G2 lines recorded the highest flowering values, as well as some fruit and vegetative growth traits. Furthermore, G6 and G2 had the maximum number of fruits/plant, whereas G2 and G1 produced the highest yield/plant under high temperatures. The number of chromosomes in all lines was 2n = 24, except for G5, in which the number was 2n = 26, whereas chromosome sizes were small, ranging from 323.08 to 464.48 µm. The G1 cultivar was a symmetrical cultivar (primitive), having the highest total form percentage (TF%) and symmetry index (Syi) values and the minimum karyotype asymmetry index (ASK) value, whereas G4 was asymmetrical (advanced). Molecular marker analysis demonstrated that intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers 49A, HB-14, 49A, 49B, and 89B presented the highest values for polymorphism percentage P%, marker index (MI), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), and polymorphism information content (PIC), respectively. In contrast, OP-A3, OP-B3, SCoT 2, and SCoT 12 primers showed the highest PIC, EMR, MI, P%, and resolving power (Rp) values across the studied random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and start codon-targeted (SCoT) primers. Moreover, ISSR revealed the highest number of unique specific markers (6), followed by RAPD (4) and SCoT (3) markers. Cluster analysis of combined cytological data and data relating to molecular marker attributes separated the G1, G2, and G3 lines into one group, whereas the other lines were clustered in another group. On the whole, the application of combined analysis using morphological, cytological, and molecular genetics techniques could be considered to provide suitable parameters for studying the evolution of the genetic divergence between the studied tomato lines.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a halophytic crop that can withstand a variety of abiotic stresses, including salt. The present research examined the mechanisms of salt tolerance in five different quinoa genotypes at four different salinity levels (control (60), 80, 120, and 160 mM NaCl). ISSR and SCoT analysis revealed high polymorphism percentages of 90.91% and 85.26%, respectively. Furthermore, ISSR 1 and SCoT 7 attained the greatest number of polymorphic amplicons (27 and 26), respectively. Notably, LINE-6 and M-28 genotypes demonstrated the greatest number of unique positive and negative amplicons (50 and 42) generated from ISSR and SCoT, respectively. Protein pattern analysis detected 11 bands with a polymorphism percentage 27.27% among the quinoa genotypes, with three unique bands distinguishable for the M-28 genotype. Similarity correlation indicated that the highest similarity was between S-10 and Regeolone-3 (0.657), while the lowest similarity was between M-28 and LINE-6 (0.44). Significant variations existed among the studied salinity treatments, genotypes, and the interactions between them. The highest and lowest values for all the studied morpho-physiological and biochemical traits were recorded at 60 and 160 mM NaCl concentrations, respectively, except for the Na and proline contents, which exhibited the opposite relationship. The M-28 genotype demonstrated the highest values for all studied characteristics, while the LINE-6 genotype represented the lowest in both seasons. On the other hand, mRNA transcript levels for CqSOS1 did not exhibit differential expression in roots and leaf tissues, while the expression of CqNHX1 was upregulated more in both tissues for the M-28 genotype than for the LINE-6 genotype, and its maximum induction was seen in the leaves. Overall, the genotypes M-28 and LINE-6 were identified as the most and least salinity-tolerant, respectively.

Fusarium solani is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes tomato root rot disease and yield losses in tomato production. The current study’s main goal is testing the antibacterial efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Thyme vulgaris essential oil (ThE-CsNPs) against F. solani in vitro and in vivo. GC-MS analysis was used to determine the chemical constituents of thyme EO. ThE-CsNPs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy before being physicochemically characterized using FT-IR. ThE-CsNPs were tested for antifungal activity against F. solani mycelial growth in vitro. A pot trial was conducted to determine the most effective dose of ThE-CsNPs on the morph/physiological characteristics of Solanum lycopersicum, as well as the severity of fusarium root rot. The relative gene expression of WRKY transcript factors and defense-associated genes were quantified in root tissues under all treatment conditions. In vitro results revealed that ThE-CsNPs (1%) had potent antifungal efficacy against F. solani radial mycelium growth. The expression of three WRKY transcription factors and three tomato defense-related genes was upregulated. Total phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant enzyme activity were all increased. The outfindings of this study strongly suggested the use of ThE-CsNPs in controlling fusarium root rot on tomatoes; however, other experiments remain necessary before they are recommended.

Presently, the bioprocessing of agricultural residues to various bioactive compounds is of great concern, with the potential to be used as plant growth promoters and as a reductive of various diseases. Lycopersiconesculentum, one of the most consumed crops in the human diet, is attacked by Fusarium wilt disease, so the main aim is to biocontrol the pathogen. Several fungal species were isolated from decayed maize stover (MS). Trichodermaasperellum was chosen based on its organic acid productivity and was molecularly identified (GenBank accession number is MW195019). Citric acid (CA) was the major detected organic acid by HPLC. In vitro, CA of T.asperellum at 75% completely repressed the growth of Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). In vivo, soaking tomato seeds in CA enhanced the seed germination and vigor index. T. asperellum and/or its CA suppressed the wilt disease caused by FOL compared to control. There was a proportional increment of plant growth and yield, as well as improvements in the biochemical parameters (chlorophyll pigments, total phenolic contents and peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities), suggesting targeting both the bioconversion of MS into CA and biological control of FOL.