The present study was designed to check the role of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on physiological, biochemical parameters and antioxidants of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under heat stress. Plant extract of Moringa oleifera was used for AgNPs synthesis followed by characterization through UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM, XRD and Zeta analyser. Heat stress was applied in range of 35-40°C for 3 hrs/ day for 3 days to wheat plants at trifoliate stage. Heat stress decreased the RWC (13.2%), MSI (16.3%), chl a (5.2%), chl b (4.1%) and TCCs (9.9%). Wheat plants treated with AgNPs showed significant increase in RWC (12.2%), MSI (26.5%), chl a (10%), chl b (16.4%), TCCs (19%), TPC (2.4%), TFC (2.5%), TASC (2.5%), SOD (1.3%), POX (1.5%), CAT (1.8%), APX (1.2%) and GPX (1.4%), under heat stress. Lower concentration of AgNPs (50 mg/l) decreased the sugar (5.8%) and proline contents (4%), while increase was observed in higher AgNPs concentrations. Overall, AgNPs treatment enhanced thermo-tolerance in wheat plants, but the mechanism of AgNPs action needs further investigation at genome and proteome level in wheat plants under heat stress.

HighlightsSmoke produced from plants waste material is more efficient, cost effective, vegetative growth promoter, inexpensive, rapid and most appropriate eco-friendly bio-fertilizer in sustainable agriculture.Plant derived smoke was generated by burning of plant material (leaf, straws etc) in a specially designed furnace.Four level of plant derived smoke (1 h, 2 h, 3 h & 4 h) along with control were tested on four wheat cultivars in CRD repeated pot experiment.Plant derived smoke exposure applied for short time i.e. 1 h & 2 h induced significant results as compared to prolonged PDS exposure.

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Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex sweet belongs to Family Geraniaceae, distributed in Himalaya region of Pakistan. It is highly medicinal. It is native to Pakistan due to its restricted geographic ranges, specific habitats and anthropogenic activities more than 75% population has been reduced. Major threats are grazing of pasture, forest encroachment, soil-slope erosion, poverty, forest fire, illegal trade, habitat loss, invasive species and the lack of adequate training. In this review efforts are made to document the conservation status of important medicinal plant G. wallichianum. It is most threatened species and deserves special attention. Due to insufficient information, there is no organization strategy for conservation of this plant. With great ethnomedicinal value of this plant species draw the attention of the researchers to conserve it. Several conservation studies and efforts are making to conserve it, but comprehensive and long lasting conservation policies are necessary to ensure its conservation.

The research work was arranged to check the role of AgNPs and silver ions on callus cells of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. cv CP-77,400). AgNPs were synthesized chemically and characterized by UV-Vis spectra, XRD and SEM. AgNPs and silver ions were applied in various concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60 ppm) to sugarcane calli and the induced stress was characterized by studying various morphological and biochemical parameters. AgNPs and silver ions treatments produced high levels of malondialdehyde, proline, proteins, TP and TF contents. Similarly, CAT, SOD and POX activity was also significant in both treatments. The lower concentration of AgNPs and silver ions (20 ppm) provided maximum intracellular GSH level. This work mainly showed effects of AgNPs and silver ions on sugarcane calli in terms of morphological aberrations and cell membrane damage due to severe oxidative stress and production of enhanced levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as self-defence to tolerate oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species. These preliminary findings will provide the way to study ecotoxicity mechanism of the metal ions and NPs in medicine industry and in vitro toxicity research. Furthermore, silver ions alone and their chemically synthesised AgNPs can be used for various biomedical applications in future.