Bushra Khan

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (1834) (Himalayan Mayapple), a key Himalayan medicinal plant and source of podophyllotoxin for anticancer drugs, is declining due to overharvesting, habitat loss, and climate change. This study, conducted from May to September 2024 across nine populations in Swat, Pakistan, assessed its ethnobotanical importance and conservation status. A total of 331 participants (270 individual surveys + 61 group discussions) were included. Using ethnobotanical surveys, IUCN-CMP threat frameworks, and spatial analysis, results showed high cultural value (Use Value = 0.63–0.92) and strong consensus for rheumatism (ICF = 0.91) and fever (ICF = 0.89). Fidelity levels were 94% for rheumatism and 88% for fever. Only 35% of respondents demonstrated conservation awareness. Overharvesting was the main threat, followed by habitat degradation and climate change. The species showed restricted distribution (EOO = 4250 km²; AOO = 295 km²), high fragmentation (0.68), and a 35% population decline over 10 years. It is assessed as Endangered (EN B1ab (iii, v)). This study provides the first integrated ethnobotanical–GIS assessment of P. hexandrum in the Hindu Kush–Himalaya region of Pakistan, offering measurable conservation baselines and community perception data previously unavailable. Findings align with global medicinal plant decline trends and support integration with CBD, SDGs (3 and 15), and potential CITES listing. Urgent conservation actions are required, including community-based management, habitat restoration, sustainable harvesting, ex situ conservation, and policy enforcement.

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, also known as Podophyllum emodi Wall, holds significant ecological, ornamental, and medicinal values. However, it has become endangered due to overexploitation, prolonged seed dormancy, slow natural regeneration, and climate change. This study developed an efficient in vitro protocol for callogenesis and micropropagation of P. hexandrum to conserve germplasm in in vitro conditions. Callus formation from various plant parts, including the leaf, stem, rhizome, radicle, and cotyledon, was induced using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The combination of benzyladenine at 1 mg L⁻¹ and 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid at 3 mg L⁻¹ was optimal for biomass production, yielding 215.88 ± 0.31 mg, with growth per gram at 8.32 ± 0.32 and a growth rate of 13.62 ± 0.25 mg/day on MS medium. For shoot proliferation, benzyladenine (3.5 mg L⁻¹) and naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg L⁻¹) combined with activated charcoal showed the highest shoot induction percentage per explant. For shoot regeneration from calluses, 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg L⁻¹) and thidiazuron (2 mg L⁻¹) were most effective, producing superior shoot length, number of regenerations, and regeneration percentage. Root induction was successful with α-naphthalene acetic acid supplementation (0.5 to 1.5 mg L⁻¹) in MS medium, resulting in the highest number per explant (4.08 ± 0.08), length (5.45 ± 0.15 cm), and rooting rate (87.00 ± 1.66%) of roots in plantlets. Subculturing for callus culture was performed every 28 days for up to four subcultures to prevent nutrient depletion and toxic metabolite accumulation, ensuring tissue health and viability. Continuous subculturing of callus on MS medium maintained healthy P. hexandrum germplasm in vitro. Overall, this micropropagation protocol provides a rapid system for conserving P. hexandrum germplasm.

This research study focused on the primary freshwater surface sources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan—Swat and Kabul rivers. The study aimed to assess microplastic (MP) contamination of fish in the Swat and Kabul rivers. Understanding this contamination is vital for evaluating the environmental and health risks associated with consuming contaminated fish and contributing to the ongoing conservation efforts. The study’s objective was to investigate the presence of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of fish and to delineate the identified MP types. Samples of local dominant fish (Schizothorax plagiostomus [Swatay] and Racoma labiata [Chunr], Cyprinus carpio [Common Carp], and Clupisoma naziri [Sher Mayai]) were collected, and their body weight and length assessed to gauge the overall health. The GIT samples were processed, digested and filtered before microscopic examination to detect MPs. Subsequently, the identified MPs were subjected to attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for characterization by analyzing their absorption bands. Results of the study showed the presence of MPs in fish samples, predominantly identified as polyethylene (PE), with polypropylene (PP) being the subsequently prevalent plastic type, which manifested fish contamination with MPs. The study revealed MP pollution in both Swat and Kabul rivers, with fish ingesting these particles. This poses potential health risks for fish and health of the ecosystem.

Using the water footprint (WF) approach to evaluate the water-use efficiency in agricultural production is crucial for assessing the sustainable use of water resources and mitigating water scarcity and pollution. This study calculated the blue, grey, green and total water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 and compared the water footprint values at the provincial and municipal scales. In addition, this study analyzed the spatial variation and drivers of the water footprint. The results show that the average water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 were 1.78 m³kg⁻¹ and 2.00 m³kg⁻¹, out of which the grey water footprint contributed the most, accounting for 55.19% and 49.85% of the total water footprint, respectively, while the blue water footprint contributed the least, accounting for only 17.44% and 18.68% of the total water footprint. At the provincial level, the water footprint of spring maize production in Northeast China was spatially clustered, with the lowest total water footprint in Heilongjiang Province and the highest total water footprint in Jilin Province. The spatial distribution difference of the spring maize unit yield was the fundamental factor explaining the difference in the water footprint. The precipitation, surface water resources, average temperature, effective irrigated area and the proportion of effective irrigated area also had impacts on the water footprint. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the distribution of spring maize production in Northeast China, formulating appropriate sustainable water resource management plans, improving water-use efficiency and realizing sustainable water resource management in Northeast China.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that significantly threatens plants and the environment. Its toxicity in plants can result in various adverse effects, including reduced growth, altered metabolism, and cell damage. Cadmium can also interfere with nutrient uptake, particularly zinc (Zn), leading to Zn deficiency and further exacerbating Cd toxicity. On the other hand, foliar application of zinc might be a useful strategy to mitigate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. Hence, a pot experiment was conducted with three replications. The wheat plants were treated with various concentrations of Zn as a foliar spray (control, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5%) in Cd-spiked soil in pots. The results showed that foliar use of Zn at 0.4 or 0.5% resulted in higher plant height, grain yield, and dry matter yield than the control group. Using Zn as foliar spray enriched shoot and grain Zn content while reducing Cd content in the shoot and grain. The leaf’s electrolyte leakage (EL) decreased by 15.4, 29.8, 40.7, and 45.9% in the Zn 0.1%, Zn 0.2%, Zn 0.4%, and Zn 0.5% treatments, respectively, compared to the control treatment. Regarding superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Zn 0.5% treatment showed a decrease of 42.9% over control. Specifically, the Zn 0.1% showed a 27.2%, Zn 0.2% showed a 56.8%, Zn 0.4% showed a 91.1%, and Zn 0.5% showed a 133.7% increase in total chlorophyll content than control. Based on the results, it is recommended that 0.4% Zn solution may be used for foliar application for enhancing crop productivity and Zn concentration in plants under high Cd stress. Additionally, continued research on the mechanisms of cadmium uptake, transport, and detoxification in plants may lead to the identification of new targets for intervention.

Toxicity induced by heavy metals is a major concern in agriculture as it decreases crops’ growth and yield and leads to the deterioration of food quality. Recently, activated carbon has been identified as a possible solution. It can potentially improve crop nutrition and immobilize heavy metals in soil. That is why a glasshouse trial was conducted to investigate the effects of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on spinach growth and the availability of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) in artificially contaminated soil. The soil was placed in pots and contaminated with Cd and Cr at a rate of 10 mg kg–1. Biochar was added to the soil at concentrations of 0 (control), 0 (contaminated control), 100, 150, and 200 g, and 10-day-old nursery spinach plants were transplanted to the pots. The results showed that applying 200 g of biochar significantly increased shoot weight (235 g), soil pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter. The highest levels of Cd (27.71 mg kg–1) and Cr (20.44 mg kg–1) were observed in the contaminated control pots, while the lowest levels of Cd (16.80 mg kg–1) and Cr (9.80 mg kg–1) were found in pots treated with 200 g of biochar (2%). Similarly, the highest levels of Cd (35.80 mg kg–1) and Cr (40.24 mg kg–1) in the roots were found in the contaminated control pots, while the lowest levels of Cd (19.26 mg kg–1) and Cr (21.34 mg kg–1) were observed in pots treated with 200 g of biochar. Biochar application at a rate of 2% can immobilize Cd and Cr in the soil and improve chlorophyll contents, carotenoids, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance in spinach in Cd- and Cr-contaminated soils. Further long-term field studies will be necessary to determine the feasibility of applying biochar as an organic amendment for enhancing spinach growth and reducing Cd and Cr bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Less phosphorus (P) availability in calcareous alkaline soils is one of the major problems in achieving an optimum crop yield. Its deficiency in plants adversely affects growth and yield attributes. To overcome this issue, growers incorporate inorganic P fertilizers. However, the need for time in the sustainable management of soil fertility in terms of P. Farmyard manure (FYM) application is one of the most popular organic amendments in this regard. Thus, the current study was conducted to explore the best application rate of FYM in combination with inorganic P fertilizer single super phosphate (SSP). There were six treatments i.e., control (0F), 100%SSP (100P), 25% FYM and 75% SSP (25F+75P), 50% FYM and 50% SSP (50F+50P), 75% FYM and 25% SSP (75F+25P), and 100% FYM (100F+0P), applied in three replications. The design of the experiment was a randomized complete block design. For assessment of treatment response, two wheat cultivars (V1 = Pirsabak and V2 = Atta Habib) were used. Results showed that the application of 50F+50P significantly improved the plant height (20.69 and 32.01%), spike/m² (35.19 and 30.10%), grain (41.10 and 38.16%), and leaf P (49.82 and 71.32%) compared to control in V1 and V2, respectively. A significant improvement in the grain and the biological yield of wheat V2 also validated the efficacious functioning of 50F+50P over control. In conclusion, 50F+50P has the potential to enhance wheat growth and nutrient concentration over control. More investigations are required for a more precise and balanced synchronization of FYM and SSP for the achievement of maximum wheat yield.