Use of Plantago ovata Forsk leaf (also known as blond plantain or isabgol) extract is a novel approach for ameliorating water stress in various agronomic crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). To examine the potential roles of P. ovata extract (0, 20 and 40%) in increasing seed germination, plant growth, photosynthetic measurements, stomatal properties, oxidative stress and antioxidant response, ions uptake and the relationship between studied parameters, we investigated the impacts of its short-term seed priming on Z. mays L. elite cultivar “Cimmyt-Pak” under a control environment and a water deficit stress environment (induced by PEG). It was evident that water deficit stress conditions induced a negative impact on plant growth, stomatal properties and ion uptake in different organs of Z. mays. The decrease in growth-related attributes might be due to overproduction of oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) initiation, and electrolyte leakage (%), which was also overcome by the enzymatic antioxidants, i.e., superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and non-enzymatic antioxidants, which increased under the water stress environment. However, seed priming with P. ovata extract positively increased germination rate and growth profile, and protected photosynthetic apparatus and stomatal properties by decreasing oxidative stress indicators and increasing activities of antioxidant compounds. Our results also depicted that the optimum concentration of P. ovata extract for Z. mays seedlings under water stress conditions was 20%, while a further increase in P. ovata extract (40%) induced a non-significant negative impact on growth and biomass of Z. mays seedling. In addition, the effect was more promising on Z. mays seedlings when grown under controlled conditions. Here, we concluded that the understanding of the role of seed priming with P. ovata extract in the increment of growth-related attributes, photosynthetic apparatus (Pn, Gs, Ts and Ci) and nutrient uptake (Ca2+, Fe2+, P and Mg2+) introduces new possibilities for their effective use in water deficit stress environments and shows a promising foundation for Z. mays tolerance against water deficit stress conditions.

The boron (B) concentration surpasses the plant need in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, resulting in phyto-toxicity. Salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenous signaling molecule responsible for stress tolerance in plants and is a potential candidate for ameliorating B toxicity. In this study, the effects of seed priming with SA (0, 50, 100 and 150 µM for 12 h) on the growth, pigmentation and mineral concentrations of maize (Zea mays L.) grown under B toxicity were investigated. One-week old seedlings were subjected to soil spiked with B (0, 15 and 30 mg kg−1 soil) as boric acid. Elevating concentrations of B reduced the root and shoot length, but these losses were significantly restored in plants raised from seeds primed with 100 µM of SA. The B application decreased the root and shoot fresh/dry biomasses significantly at 30 mg kg−1 soil. The chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased with increasing levels of B, while the contents of anthocyanin, H2O2, ascorbic acid (ASA) and glycinebetaine (GB) were enhanced. The root K and Ca contents were significantly increased, while a reduction in the shoot K contents was recorded. The nitrate concentration was significantly higher in the shoot as compared to the root under applied B toxic regimes. However, all of these B toxicity effects were diminished with 100 µM SA applications. The current study outcomes suggested that the exogenously applied SA modulates the response of plants grown under B toxic conditions, and hence could be used as a plant growth regulator to stimulate plant growth and enhance mineral nutrient uptake under B-stressed conditions.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important staple foods. High concentration of sodium chloride severely affects plants in general and wheat in specific. In this study the ameliorative effects of ascorbic acid (AsA) against sodium chloride stress were investigated in two commercial wheat cultivars (Galaxy 2013 and Akbar 2019). Experiments were conducted in three replicates. Two levels of salt (0, 150 mM) along with exogenous application of ascorbic acid (0, 30 mM, 60 mM) were applied at three leaves seedling stage. At the establishment of treatments, data regarding physiological, biochemical and yield attributes were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. The application of AsA significantly (p≤0.05) improved growth, yield and key physiological attributes in tested wheat varieties under salinity stress. Overall wheat genotype Akbar 2019 showed better growth under salt stress. It is concluded from this study that AsA may be used to mitigate salinity effects in wheat.

Water shortage is one of the major limiting factors of crop productivity worldwide. This study was planned to explore the impact of Capparis decidua stem extract on wheat varieties (FSD-2008, 12066 and 13348) under water stress condition. Water deficit condition negatively impacted the seedling germination, growth, photosynthetic pigments and ions uptake capacity. Water limited condition significantly (p≤0.05) increased time to attain 50% germination, lipid peroxidation, H2O2 and enhanced the antioxidant mechanism to overcome the oxidative stress. Different concentrations of C. decidua extract i.e. Not Soaking (NS), 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% were used for seed priming. It improved the negative effects of water stress and amended plant germination and growth by enhancing photosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging mechanism. The 20% and 30% C. decidua stem extract remained effective in mitigating the induced water stress effects in the tested cultivars. It was found that C. decidua stem extract significantly (p≤0.05) improved germination, growth Mg+2 and Fe+2 uptake in the wheat varieties under study. It is concluded that C. decidua phytoextract is an influential agent to ameliorate water stress effects in wheat at early growth stage.

Eggplant/Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is the most significant and widely consumed as nutritious vegetable. Fusarium wilt is the major destructive disease in most of the vegetable growing regions of Pakistan. The research was conducted to assess fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae from eggplant in field and in-vitro efficacy of numerous plant extracts. In current research, three treatments (T) i.e; shincar, flumax, Topsin-M, along with control were used at recommended dose with three consecutive sprays, on comparison of disease incidence with control, the Shincar showed 21.03% disease incidence, Topsin-M showed 31.94% disease incidence and the Flumax was close to control as it showed the least effect against the Fusarium wilt by showing 35.85% disease incidence. Furthermore, for plant extracts, poisoned food technique was used in the lab. The results were significant for all treatments (T), concentrations of (C), days (D) and their interactions (T x D), (T x C) and (C x D). Zingiber officinale showed less growth of colony (1.28cm) following Allium sativum (1.62cm), Datura stramonium (2.17cm), Eucalyptus globulus (2.50cm), Azadirachta indica (2.76cm) compared to control, respectively. Results of the present study showed a significant decrease in fungal growth of tested fungicides such as Shincar (Carbendazim) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger).