Khaled A. El-Tarabily

Introduction: Avian chlamydiosis (psittacosis), caused by Chlamydia psittaci , is a contagious bacterial disease of birds with significant economic and zoonotic importance. The infection spreads among avian species and to humans through contaminated secretions, feces, fomites, and close contact, posing challenges to poultry health and public health. Methods: In the present study, at 1 day old, 90 birds (two chicken groups [one challenged positive control and the other kept unchallenged negative control], ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails) were divided into six equal groups (15 birds/group [species]). The birds were reared in a controlled environment on a deep-litter system, with conditions adjusted to their requirements. On the 7th day of age, the first broiler group (G1) was inoculated in both nostrils with 0.2 ml of C. psittaci at 10 ⁶ inclusion-forming units (IFU) ml ⁻¹ . The other four groups of avian species, other than chickens, remained uninfected. When clinical signs appeared in broiler chicks, three infected chicks were transferred to each of the four experimental groups, while the second chicken remained in an unchallenged negative control group. Results: Clinical signs appeared within 3–5 days post-contact. Turkeys showed the highest overall clinical susceptibility, where depression was observed in 14 of 15 birds (93.3%) and respiratory signs in 13 of 15 birds (86.7%), compared with 6 of 15 birds (40%) in chickens. Ducks, pigeons, and quails showed the lowest susceptibility, with only 5 of 15 birds (33.3%) affected. Postmortem (PM) lesions followed a similar pattern, with turkeys showing the most severe pathological changes. Histopathological examination confirmed inflammatory and degenerative alterations in several organs, particularly in turkeys and ducks. Molecular detection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed bacterial shedding. Discussion: The current findings indicate that turkeys were the most susceptible species to C. psittaci infection, while chickens showed moderate susceptibility, with responses relatively comparable to ducks, pigeons, and quail, which showed the lowest percentage. Notably, turkeys were the first species to develop clinical signs and exhibited the most severe pathological lesions among the avian species examined. Therefore, it is advisable to enhance biosecurity protocols on mixed-species poultry farms, prioritize surveillance of turkeys given their heightened vulnerability, implement regular molecular monitoring to detect infections early, and segregate avian species during outbreaks to mitigate transmission.

A correction refers to a change to their article that the author wishes to publish after publication. The publication of this article is subject to Frontiers' editorial approval.Instructions:• Please read through all the templates before choosing • Pick the most relevant text template(s) from the following page and delete all others.• Edit the text as necessary, ensuring that the original incorrect text is included for the record, please see the below. • Please do not use any extra formatting when editing the templates, and only modify the red text unless absolutely necessary • Submit to Frontiers following the instructions on this page.When the original text contained incorrect information, to preserve the scientific record, please include that text when editing the below templates. For example:There was a mistake in the Funding statement, an incorrect number was used.The correct number is "2015C03Bd051.". The publisher apologizes for this mistake.The original version of this article has been updated. 2022) The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase-producing Streptomyces violaceoruber UAE1 can provide protection from sudden decline syndrome on date palm. Front. Plant Sci. 13:904166. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.904166.The title of this article was erroneously given as: The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminaseproducing Streptomyces violaceoruber UAE1 can provide protection from sudden decline syndrome on date palm. The correct title of the article is The ACC deaminase-producing Streptomyces violaceoruber UAE1 can provide protection from sudden decline syndrome on date palm. The original version of this article has been updated. "… All in vivo experiments were conducted on three independent occasions to confirm reproducibility. Two independent greenhouse runs (8 plants per treatment per run) were pooled for statistical analysis (n = 16 plants per treatment) after confirming similar results across runs. …" The original version of this article has been updated.[… Similar results were obtained in each replicate. For the fungal spore counts and DSI against F. solani, eight replicates for each experiment were examined. Data represent the mean ± SE from 16 plants.ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test were used to determine the statistical significance at P < 0.05..A correction has been made to the section [Materials and methods, Statistical analysis, Paragraph 2]: "… Each experiment included eight plants per treatment, resulting in a total of 16 plants per treatment. Data are presented as mean ± SE. Data were first analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, and treatment means were then compared using Duncan's multiple range test at a significance level of P < 0.05. Mean values followed by the same letter are not significantly different, whereas those followed by different letters are significantly different from each other. …" The original version of this article has been updated.

Salinity stress restricts the growth and productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a salt-sensitive legume. This study evaluated the foliar application of nanoparticle (NP) formulations to alleviate salt stress under moderate soil salinity (EC 7.71-7.83 dS m⁻¹). A two-season field experiment tested foliar sprays with salicylic acid (SA), silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs), chitosan nanoparticles (Ch-NPs), chitosan-silicon nanoparticles [Ch-Si (NPs)], and Ch-Si (NPs) + SA. Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, osmoprotectants, nutrient content, and pod yield were measured. Salinity stress reduced plant growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and nutrient balance while increasing oxidative damage. All treatments mitigated these effects, with Ch-Si (NPs) + SA showing the greatest improvement. Compared with the saline control, this treatment increased shoot dry weight and green pod yield by approximately twofold and enhanced net photosynthetic rate by about 40%. Leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratios increased by 113.9%-126.3%, while Na⁺ content decreased by 37.2%-39.9%, electrolyte leakage by 44.7%-46.7%, and malondialdehyde by 55.8%-59.0% across both seasons. Ch-Si (NPs) + SA also increased activities of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase) and levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (proline, ascorbate, glutathione, α-tocopherol) compared with the control. Foliar application of Ch-Si (NPs) + SA was associated with improved physiological performance, oxidative balance, and yield of common bean grown under saline field conditions. This combination may offer a promising biostimulant strategy for legume production in salt-affected soils, though further research is needed to establish broader applicability and long-term effects.

Wheat productivity in irrigated arid and semi-arid regions is constrained by low soil fertility and inefficient use of mineral fertilizers. A process-level

Introduction: Drought stress severely constrains global crop production, limiting growth, yield, and fruit quality. This study evaluated the efficacy of foliar-applied melatonin (MT) in enhancing drought tolerance in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) by modulating physiological and biochemical responses. Methods: A two-season field experiment employed a split-plot design with three replications, testing two irrigation regimes [full irrigation (FI; 100% crop evapotranspiration, ETc) and deficit irrigation (DI; 60% ETc)], combined with five foliar MT concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM) applied as foliar sprays. Results: DI alone significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) reduced plant height (26.9%), total yield (44.0%), soil plant analysis development (SPAD) chlorophyll value (41.7%), and relative water content (RWC; 28.6%) compared to well-watered controls. Exogenous MT at 100 µM significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) alleviated these effects under DI, increasing plant height by 32.9%, total yield by 51.8%, SPAD value by 51.1%, and RWC by 31.0% relative to untreated stressed plants. MT application enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and preserved leaf integrity, reflected in reduced electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content. These improvements stemmed from effective reactive oxygen species (H ₂ O ₂ and O ₂ ^•– ) detoxification, accompanied by a significant ( P ≤ 0.05) upregulation of enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR)] and accumulation of non-enzymatic osmoprotectants including proline, ascorbate, α-tocopherol, glutathione, and total soluble sugars. The FI + 100 μM MT treatment yielded the highest fruit production (5.31 kg plant ^-1 ). Discussion: These findings establish foliar MT application at 100 μM as an effective biostimulant strategy for sustaining tomato productivity under water-limited conditions, operating through coordinated key physiological and biochemical defense mechanisms. This approach offers a practical pathway toward more resilient crop production in water-scarce environments.

Fusarium oxysporum , the causal agent of root rot and vascular wilt in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), represents a substantial risk to legume cultivation. The current study offers a comparative examination of the antifungal efficacy of agro-industrial wastes from cumin ( Cuminum cyminum ), anise ( Pimpinella anisum ), and banana peel ( Musa paradisiaca ), and their green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), against F. oxysporum infecting P. vulgaris . The biosynthesized AgNPs were found to be spherical with tiny sizes ranging from 20, 25, and 35 nm for cumin-AgNPs, anise-AgNPs, and banana peel-AgNPs, respectively. The agro-industrial waste extracts revealed a diverse range of bioactive compounds that served as reducing agents. In vitro antifungal activity revealed a dose-dependent suppression of F. oxysporum mycelial proliferation. The half-maximal effective concentrations (EC ₅₀ ) for the crude extracts ranged from 125 to 200 µg/mL. AgNPs showed markedly improved EC ₅₀ values, ranging from 62.5 µg/mL in cumin-AgNPs to 100 µg/mL in banana-AgNPs. In vivo greenhouse experiments on infected P. vulgaris demonstrated that all treatments significantly decreased disease severity. Soil drench application of agro-industrial waste extracts reduced disease severity to 59.64% (cumin waste), 66.52% (anise waste), and 74.86% (banana peel), compared with 85.14% in the infected control. The AgNPs fabricated from agro-industrial wastes offered enhanced protection, decreased disease severity to 36.17% (cumin-AgNPs), 43.30% (anise-AgNPs), and 51.52% (banana peel-AgNPs). The applications significantly alleviated the physiological and oxidative stress caused by F. oxysporum . The cumin-AgNPs treatment significantly restored chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content to 2.45 and 0.92 mg/g, respectively, comparable to the healthy control (2.50 and 0.95 mg/g) and much higher than the infected control (1.10 and 0.40 mg/g). Moreover, it triggered a defense response, markedly enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, in the treated plant compared with the infected control. The current findings clearly indicate that AgNPs synthesized from agro-industrial wastes could serve as effective, sustainable nanobiopesticides, surpassing the use of a single agro-industrial waste for the integrated management of Fusarium root rot and vascular wilt in common beans.

Introduction: The organic food sector is expanding globally, driven by growing consumer concerns about health, food safety, and environmental sustainability. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), organic vegetables represent a niche yet emerging market segment. However, empirical evidence on residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward organic vegetables remains limited. This study investigates the key drivers and barriers influencing organic vegetable consumption among adult residents in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 involving 408 UAE residents aged 18 years and older. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and KAP related to organic vegetables. Instrument reliability was confirmed (Cronbach's alpha = 0.8). Statistical analyses included nonparametric tests, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, correlation analyses, and regression analyses, all conducted at the 0.05 significance level. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge of organic vegetables (mean score = 1.18), with 29.7% exhibiting excellent knowledge. Attitudes were predominantly positive (mean = 2.70), and 68.5% of respondents held very good or excellent attitudes. Practices were also favorable (mean = 2.83), with 70.6% reporting very good or excellent engagement. Health benefits, environmental concerns, and food safety emerged as primary motivators. Higher education was significantly associated with better knowledge and practices ( P = 0.01), while age influenced attitudes ( P = 0.006) and practices ( P = 0.048). Key barriers included high prices and limited product availability. Discussion: Although UAE consumers hold positive attitudes toward organic vegetables and engage reasonably well with them, structural barriers, particularly affordability and accessibility, impede broader market growth. Education plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable consumption behaviors. Policy interventions, including awareness campaigns and improved market infrastructure, are essential to foster organic food adoption and support the transition toward more sustainable food systems in the UAE.