A novel electrochemical DNA biosensor for transgenic soybean detection based on triple signal amplification.

The public discourse on the acceptability of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not only controversial, but also infused with highly emotional and moralizing rhetoric. Although the assessment of risks and benefits of GMOs must be a scientific exercise, many debates on this issue seem to remain impervious to scientific evidence. In many cases, the moral psychology attributes of the general public create incentives for both GMO opponents and proponents to pursue misleading public campaigns, which impede the comprehensive assessment of the full spectrum of the risks and benefits of GMOs. The ordonomic approach to economic ethics introduced in this research note is helpful for disentangling the socio-economic and moral components of the GMO debate by re- and deconstructing moral claims.

Rationalizing the GMO debate: The ordonomic approach to addressing agricultural myths

In the present study, a magnetic mimic multi-enzyme system was developed by encapsulating the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (AOPP) herbicide hydrolase QpeH and alcohol oxidase (AOx) in zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanocrystals with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MNPs) to detect AOPP herbicides. The structural, protein loading capacity and loading ratio, porosity, and magnetic properties of QpeH/AOx@mZIF-8 were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen sorption, and vibrating sample magnetometry. An AOPP herbicide colorimetric biosensor made with QpeH/AOx@mZIF-8 had the highest sensitivity toward quizalofop-P-ethyl (QpE) with a limit of detection of 8.2 μM. This system was suitable to detect two other AOPP herbicides, including fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (FpE) and haloxyfop-P-methyl (HpE). The practical application of the biosensor was verified through quantitative analysis of QpE residues in industrial wastewater and field soils. Furthermore, QpeH/AOx@mZIF-8 exhibited excellent long-term storage stability (at least 50 days), easy separation by magnet, and reusability (at least 10 cycles), supporting its promising role in simple and low-cost detection of AOPP herbicides in real environmental samples.

Magnetic ZIF-8-Based Mimic Multi-enzyme System as a Colorimetric Biosensor for Detection of Aryloxyphenoxypropionate Herbicides.

Designing a bifunctional catalyst with both highly selective C O hydrogenation ability and Lewis acid-catalyzed ring-rearrangement ability is highly important for the synthesis of the cyclopentanone motifs from furfural derivatives. Herein, a class of pyrochlore/Al2O3 composites (2.68 wt%Y2(Sn0.65Al0.35)2O7-δ/Al2O3, 7.74 wt%Y2(Sn0.65Al0.35)2O7-δ/Al2O3) with a onefold Lewis acidity and rich oxygen defects were synthesized via a dissolution-precipitation method. After the impregnation by Pd nanoparticles, the oxygen defect of pyrochlore/Al2O3 shows a bifunctional effect: they can adsorb C O, promoting the selective C O hydrogenation step and can enhance the accessibility of coordinatively unsaturated metal ions, providing Lewis acidic sites for the ring-rearrangement step. The composite-based catalysts show noticeably higher hydrogenation and hydrolysis rates than their corresponding single metal oxide-based catalysts (Pd/Al2O3, Pd/Y2Sn2O7). Finally, 7.74 wt%Y2(Sn0.65Al0.35)2O7-δ/Al2O3 shows a cyclopentanone yield of 98.1 % and a 3-hydroxymethyl cyclopentanone yield of 90.6 %. ATR-IR results verify the catalytic mechanism and emphasize the importance of oxygen defects.

Pyrochlore/Al2O3 composites supported Pd for the selective synthesis of cyclopentanones from biobased furfurals

Plants that release molecules affecting other plants are a source of potential bioherbicides. Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata Link), considered invasive worldwide, was found to be phytotoxic to various other plant species. Combining the search for alternative bioherbicides while reducing the spread of this invader by preventing seed formation is a good potential strategy to solve both agricultural and environmental problems. This study aimed to identify nonvolatile compounds from A. dealbata flowers and explore their phytotoxicity on the germination process and seedling and plant growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin). We identified methyl cinnamate and methyl anisate as potential phytotoxins in the extracts, but we used pure commercial molecules to conduct bioassays. Methyl cinnamate showed higher phytotoxicity than methyl anisate and was selected for further bioassays. Methyl cinnamate reduced guaiacol peroxidase activity by 57% and 85% in L. rigidum and lettuce, respectively, and α-amylase by 6% in L. rigidum. This compound also inhibited early stem and radicle growth of dicotyledonous lettuce (60% and 89%, respectively) and monocotyledonous L. rigidum (76% and 87%, respectively), both species having small seeds. However, wheat with a larger seed size was not affected by the phytotoxin. The results obtained indicate a potential bioherbicidal effect for methyl cinnamate, and its application might be useful in wheat crops infested by L. rigidum. We suggest that collecting A. dealbata flowers would prevent Acacia seed formation and thus play a role in invasive pest management, as well as serving as a source of potential herbicides to other species.

/pdf/herbicidal-properties-of-the-commercial-formulation-of-1igehqyyxf.pdf

Herbicidal Properties of the Commercial Formulation of Methyl Cinnamate, a Natural Compound in the Invasive Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata)

The present study aims to evaluate the potential for the pollution of the environment by two herbicides (quizalofop-p-ethyl and cycloxydim), using the Allium test. The species in question is Allium cepa (onion, 2n = 16), one of the most common plant indicators of environmental pollution. The working method consisted of obtaining the meristematic roots of Allium cepa and their treatment with herbicides at three different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) for each herbicide for 24 h, for comparison with an untreated control. The results obtained from the cytological study indicated a strong cytotoxic and genotoxic effect for both herbicides, but especially for quizalofop-p-ethyl, where the mitotic index decreased from 30.2% (control) to 9.6% for the variant treated with 1.5% herbicide. In this case, a strong mitodepressive effect was shown by a highly significant percentage (35.4%) of chromosomal aberrations and nuclear alterations: stickiness, fragments, C-mitosis, lobulated nucleus, micronuclei, and nuclear erosion. The mitodepressive effect as well as the percentage of chromosomal aberrations increased with a higher herbicide concentration. The obtained results suggest the strong potential for pollution of the two herbicides, particularly at concentrations higher than 0.5%; therefore, we recommend caution in their use to avoid undesirable effects on the environment.

/pdf/determination-of-the-environmental-pollution-potential-of-1mlt7rp68n.pdf

Determination of the Environmental Pollution Potential of Some Herbicides by the Assessment of Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects on Allium cepa

The aim of this paper is to trace genetically modified soybean in food and feed products present on the Romanian market by using molecular extraction, identification and quantification methodologies. Nine samples (3 food samples, 5 soybean samples and 1 soybean meal) were analysed using the classical and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. DNA-genetically modified organism (GMO) was not detected in two of the three analysed samples (food products). However, it could be found in four samples ranging below the limit of 0.9%, and in three samples, above the limit of 0.9%. The results obtained through real-time PCR quantification show that DNA-RRS was detectable in different amounts in different samples: ranging between 0.27% and 9.36% in soy beans, and reaching 50.98% in soybean meal. The current research focuses on how products containing GMO above the limit (it is common knowledge that it is necessary to label the products containing more than 0.9% Genetically Modified DNA) are differentiated on the market with a view to labeling food and feed products in terms of the accidental presence of approved genetically modified plants. The benefits brought by genetic engineering in obtaining genetically modified organisms can be balanced with their public acceptance and with certain known or unknown risks that they can bring.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/5/1325/pdf

Detection and Quantification of Genetically Modified Soybean in Some Food and Feed Products. A Case Study on Products Available on Romanian Market

The influence of Al dopant on the structure, densification behavior and electrical conductivity of heavily doped Sm2Ti2O7

With the unprecedented development of the food
industry, food preservatives have gained a leading role in food processing. In
this study, investigations were carried out to assess the cytological effects
of potassium metabisulphite (PMB) to onion (Allium cepa), one of the
most used plants for determining the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of
different chemicals. Meristematic roots of A. cepa were treated with PMB
solutions in different concentrations, ranging from 10 mg/l to 35 mg/l for 6,
12 and 24 h alongside an untreated control. The quantified parameters for the
different concentrations of the PMB were mitotic index (MI %), mitosis phases
index (PI %) and total abnormalities index (TAI %) meaning chromosomal
aberrations and nuclear abnormalities. The results indicated that PMB reduced
MI in A. cepa with increasing the concentrations and time exposure as
compared with the untreated control. Thus, at concentration of 10 - 35 mg/l
PMB, these values were reduced from 8.34% to 4.81% (6 h); 7.18% to 2.35% (12 h)
and 4.12 to 1.43 (24 h). Also, the TAI value increased with increasing PMB
concentrations and time: 0.51% to 9.98% (6 h), 7.11% to 19.84% (12 h) and 17.79
to 41.21 (24 h). The types of abnormalities induced by PMB in A. cepa meristematic cells were micronucleus, C-metaphase, star anaphase, stickiness,
laggards, fragments, binucleated cells and pulverised nucleus. These alarming
findings indicate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of PMB to A. cepa and suggest necessity to adopt more natural alternatives for food preservation
in the future.

/pdf/assessment-of-cytological-effects-of-food-preservative-rqcmlssm00.pdf

Assessment of Cytological Effects of Food Preservative Potassium Metabisulphite to Allium cepa

This cytogenetic study evaluates the biostimulation potential of the aqueous extract of seabuckthorn fruits (AESF) in plant cells, using the Allium cepa species as a test plant. The effects were monitored both at the macroscopic and microscopically level. The onion bulbs were exposed to the action of different concentrations of AESF (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5%) for 72 h. The obtained results showed the positive effect induced by the aqueous extract on the growth of the meristematic roots, but only at concentrations ranging between 0.5–1.5%, when the average length of the roots had values between 2.51–3.40 cm, which means an increase compared to the untreated control with 3.71–40.49%. Within the same concentration range of the AESF, an effect of intensifying the mitotic activity was recorded. On the other hand, at the 2–2.5% concentration of the AESF, there was an inhibitory effect on the growth of meristematic roots. Additionally, concentrations ≥2% of AESF induced a cytotoxic and genotoxic effect through the occurrence of some chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities in A. cepa cells (sticky, laggards, ring chromosomes, and micronucleus). The obtained results suggest the biostimulation potential of the AESF for plant cells and the possibility of using it as an eco-friendly fertilizer.

E. Rosculete

Papers

Determination of the Environmental Pollution Potential of Some Herbicides by the Assessment of Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects on Allium cepa

Detection and Quantification of Genetically Modified Soybean in Some Food and Feed Products. A Case Study on Products Available on Romanian Market

The influence of Al dopant on the structure, densification behavior and electrical conductivity of heavily doped Sm2Ti2O7

Assessment of Cytological Effects of Food Preservative Potassium Metabisulphite to Allium cepa

Cytogenetic Study on the Biostimulation Potential of the Aqueous Fruit Extract of Hippophae rhamnoides for a Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystem.