Polycyclic Hydrocarbons Vol. 1. Pp. xxvi + 487. 126S. (With a chapter on carcinogenesis by Regina Schoental.) Vol. 2. Pp. lvii + 487. 140s. By E. Clar. (London and New York: Academic Press; Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1964.)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

A chimeric gene was constructed consisting of the promoter of the nopaline synthase gene of Agrobacterium and the structural gene of the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase of Tn5. This chimeric gene was recombined into the T-DNA of Agrobacterium. When this strain was used in a cocultivation experiment, transformed calli could be selected out of a pool of non-transformed calli when kanamycin was added into the growing medium

Chimeric genes as dominant selectable markers in plant cells

Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture. The potential uses and benefits of nanotechnology are enormous. The current global population is nearly 7 */billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of environmental impacts or political instability, while in the developed world there is surplus of food. For developing countries, the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also maximize yield. The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials, information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well publicized. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is also getting attention nowadays. Investments in agriculture and food nanotechnologies carry increasing weight because their potential benefits range from improved food quality and safety to reduced agricultural inputs and improved processing and nutrition. While most investment is made primarily in developed countries, research advancements provide glimpses of potential applications in agricultural, food, and water safety that could have significant impacts on rural populations in developing countries. This review is concentrated on modern strategies used for the management of water, pesticides, limitations in the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nano-materials in sustainable agriculture management as modern approaches of nanotechnology. 
 
   
 
 Key words: Agriculture, nanotechnology, nanofertilizer, nanoencapsulation, nanoherbicides.

Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: Present concerns and future aspects

Nanotechnology in agriculture: Current status, challenges and future opportunities

In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained tremendous attention attributed to their unique properties. Notably, evidence has shown that zinc is an important nutrient in living organisms. As such, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes including bacteria, fungi and yeast are exploited for the synthesis of ZnO NPs by using microbial cells or enzyme, protein and other biomolecules compounds in either an intracellular or extracellular route. ZnO NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties, however, the properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are depended upon on their size and shape, which make them specific for various applications. Nevertheless, the desired size and shape of NPs can be obtained through the optimization process of microbes mediated synthesis by manipulating their reaction conditions. It should be noted that ZnO NPs are synthesized by various chemical and physical methods. Nonetheless, these methods are expensive and not environmentally friendly. On that account, the microbes mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs have rapidly evolved recently where the microbes are cleaner, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biocompatible as the alternatives to chemical and physical practices. Moreover, zinc in the form of NPs is more effective than their bulk counterparts and thus, they have been explored for many potential applications including in animals industry. Notably, with the advent of multi-drug resistant strains, ZnO NPs have emerged as the potential antimicrobial agents. This is mainly due to their superior properties in combating a broad spectrum of pathogens. Moreover, zinc is known as an essential trace element for most of the biological function in the animal’s body. As such, the applications of ZnO NPs have been reported to significantly enhance the health and production of the farm animals. Thus, this paper reviews the biological synthesis of ZnO NPs by the microbes, the mechanisms of the biological synthesis, parameters for the optimization process and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and feed supplement in the animal industry as well as their toxicological hazards on animals.

/pdf/microbial-synthesis-of-zinc-oxide-nanoparticles-and-their-58qajgqkov.pdf

Microbial synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and a feed supplement in animal industry: a review

New approach to soil management focusing on soil health and air quality: one earth one life (critical review)

Salinity stress had a direct impact on rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and physiological features throughout the early stages of development. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in the rice germination stage during salinity stress because the germination and seedling stage is critical for the correct development and growth of plants. The different concentrations of NaCl and ZnO NPs (T1 -60 mM NaCl, T2 -80 mM NaCl, T3 -100 mM NaCl, T4 -60 mM NaCl+50 ppm ZnO NPs, T5 -80 mM NaCl+50 ppm ZnO NPs and T6 -100 mM NaCl+50 ppm ZnO NPs) improve the germination rate in rice during salinity stress. We conducted our experiment in a landrace of rice Kargi and salinity tolerance rice variety CSR 30. The current study’s findings reveal that ZnO NPs have a significant effect in reducing salt stress during rice germination.

/pdf/effects-of-zinc-oxide-nanoparticles-for-promoting-seed-2tf2b150.pdf

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles for promoting seed germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under salinity stress

Exploring geochemical distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in wetland and agricultural soils and associated health risks

A Novel Study on Anionic Surfactant Degradation Potential of Psychrophillic and Psychrotolerant Pseudomonas spp. Identified from Surfactant-contaminated River Water.

Advanced agronomic methods, urbanisation, and industrial expansion contaminate air, water and soil, globally. Agricultural and industrial activities threaten living biota, causing biodiversity loss and serious diseases. Strategies such as bioremediation and physiochemical remediation have not been effectively beneficial at treating pollutants. Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) such as copper, zinc, silver, gold, etc., in various nanoformulations and nanocomposites are used more and more as they effectively resist the uptake of toxic compounds via plants by facilitating their immobilisation. According to studies, bio-based NP synthesis is a recent and agroecologically friendly approach for remediating environmental waste, which is effective against carcinogens, heavy metal contamination, treating marine water polluted with excessive concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen and harmful algae, and hazardous dye- and pesticide-contaminated water. Biogenic resources such as bacteria, fungi, algae and plants are extensively used for the biosynthesis of NPs, particularly metallic NPs. Strategies involving green synthesis of NPs are nontoxic and could be employed for commercial scale production. Here, the focus is on the green synthesis of NPs for reduction of hazardous wastes to help with the clean-up process.

/pdf/bioremediation-of-hazardous-wastes-using-green-synthesis-of-kldbpws2.pdf

Vishnu D. Rajput

Papers

New approach to soil management focusing on soil health and air quality: one earth one life (critical review)

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles for promoting seed germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under salinity stress

Exploring geochemical distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in wetland and agricultural soils and associated health risks

A Novel Study on Anionic Surfactant Degradation Potential of Psychrophillic and Psychrotolerant Pseudomonas spp. Identified from Surfactant-contaminated River Water.

Bioremediation of Hazardous Wastes Using Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles