Aligarh Muslim University

About: Aligarh Muslim University is a education organization based out in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 8218 authors who have published 16416 publications receiving 289068 citations. The organization is also known as: AMU.

Recent trends in disposal and treatment technologies of emerging-pollutants- A critical review

Abstract: Recently pharmaceuticals are emerging as a major source of pollution for the environment. It has been well observed that the effluent discharge from hospitals has an eminent quantity of chemical waste as antibiotics, disinfectants and other treatments wastes. Pharmaceutical effluents are bioactive and their existence in the environment has been found harmful to both aquatic life and humans. In developing countries, untreated wastewaters are discharged to local water bodies by just following the local regulations. The current global challenges including high population growth rate and climate change have contributed to the widespread epidemics and emergence of diseases. Besides intractable and decaying antibiotic system, hospitals emit pathogenic waste during treatment process that can lead to situations where a total ban on hospital effluent are needed, for instance in multiple cases where discharge lead to strain on nature and quality of water. In case of pharmaceutical residues, it has been observed that only 18–32% of the pharmaceutical residues could be degraded by the secondary treatment of these seven technologies and it has been increased to 30–65% by tertiary treatment. As far as the pharmaceutical residues are concerned, it has been observed that MBR removes the residues with the efficiency of 28–100%, varying for each pharmaceutical. This paper reviews the existing treatment processes, their advantages and future perspective of this emerging area.

Role of Nanoparticles in Plants

Abstract: Nanotechnology opens a large scope of novel application in the fields of biotechnology and agricultural industries, because nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physicochemical properties, i.e., high surface area, high reactivity, tunable pore size, and particle morphology. Nanoparticles can serve as “magic bullets”, containing herbicides, nano-pesticide fertilizers, or genes, which target specific cellular organelles in plant to release their content. Despite the plenty of information available on the toxicity of nanoparticles to plant system, few studies have been conducted on mechanisms, by which nanoparticles exert their effect on plant growth and development. Therefore, the present review highlights the key role of nanoparticles in plants. Moreover, nanoscience contributes new ideas leading us to understand the suitable mode of action of nanoparticles in plants. The appropriate elucidation of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanism of nanoparticles in plant leads to better plant growth and development.

Ethylene reverses photosynthetic inhibition by nickel and zinc in mustard through changes in PS II activity, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, and antioxidant metabolism.

Abstract: We investigated the influence of exogenously sourced ethylene (200 μL L(-1) ethephon) in the protection of photosynthesis against 200 mg kg(-1) soil each of nickel (Ni)- and zinc (Zn)-accrued stress in mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Plants grown with Ni or Zn but without ethephon exhibited increased activity of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase, and ethylene with increased oxidative stress measured as H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation compared with control plants. The oxidative stress in Ni-grown plants was higher than Zn-grown plants. Under metal stress, ethylene protected photosynthetic potential by efficient PS II activity and through increased activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (P-NUE). Application of 200 μL L(-1) ethephon to Ni- or Zn-grown plants significantly alleviated toxicity and reduced the oxidative stress to a greater extent together with the improved net photosynthesis due to induced activity of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione (GSH) reductase, resulting in increased production of reduced GSH. Ethylene formation resulting from ethephon application alleviated Ni and Zn stress by reducing oxidative stress caused by stress ethylene production and maintained increased GSH pool. The involvement of ethylene in reversal of photosynthetic inhibition by Ni and Zn stress was related to the changes in PS II activity, P-NUE, and antioxidant capacity was confirmed using ethylene action inhibitor, norbornadiene.