Saraj Bahadur

Oenothera laciniata Hill (Onagraceae), cutleaf evening primrose, is a rarely reported species from Pakistan using integrative taxonomy. First field collections from Swabi revealed diagnostic characters including deeply lobed leaves, yellow ephemeral flowers, elongated floral tubes, and cylindrical capsules. Chloroplast rbcL sequences confirmed identity. Global records show a broad but discontinuous distribution across North America, Europe, and East Asia, with sparse occurrences in Africa, South America, Australia, and South Asia, including eight verified records from Pakistan. Climatic analyses showed a narrow temperature niche (mean 17.69°C ± 3.41 SD; range 3.08°C–26.20°C), with a strong latitudinal relationship ( R ² = 0.133), while longitudinal influence was weak ( R ² = 0.003). Hydroclimatic analyses revealed a broader precipitation niche (mean 735.84 mm ± 385.58 SD; range 149–2917 mm), with occurrences in semi‐arid to sub‐humid regions, avoiding extreme arid and hyper‐humid environments. Precipitation variation was governed by longitude (adjusted R ² = 0.100). These findings suggest that although the species possesses high dispersal capacity, its realized distribution remains structured by temperature and precipitation constraints. This study expands Pakistan's floristic diversity, provides the confirmed record of O. laciniata from South Asia, and highlights the importance of combining taxonomy with DNA barcoding for documenting overlooked alien species.

This study presents an eco‐taxonomic and hydrochemical assessment of algal communities in Palai Dam, Charsadda, Pakistan. Samples collected from three sites between September and November 2025 were analyzed to evaluate species diversity and its relationship with physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. A total of 34 algal species were identified across three phyla: Chlorophyta (28 species), Bacillariophyta (3), and Cyanoprokaryota (3), with Chlorophyta dominating, indicating favorable conditions such as adequate light and moderate nutrient levels. The presence of Oscillatoria spp. suggests localized nutrient enrichment, while low diatom diversity reflects habitat‐specific limitations. Physicochemical parameters, including pH (7.41–7.88), total dissolved solids (390–396 mg/L), and other ions, remained within acceptable limits, indicating overall water quality stability despite some spatial variability. Bacteriological analysis showed elevated total plate counts at one site but no coliform contamination, suggesting the absence of recent fecal pollution. Overall, the findings indicate that Palai Dam is a stable freshwater system with diverse algal communities. The coexistence of sensitive and tolerant taxa highlights ecological balance and supports the use of algae as reliable bioindicators for water quality monitoring.

RNA recognition motif (RRM)-containing proteins are important regulators involved in diverse cellular processes, including splicing, stability, transport, and translation of transcripts. However, their comprehensive characterization remains limited in perennial tropical crops like Cocos nucifera. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of RRM genes in coconut, identifying a total of 326 CnRRM genes. Phylogenetic classification based on complete RRM domain sequences grouped these proteins into eleven clades (I–XI), each exhibiting distinct variations in motif length and domain architecture. Transcriptome profiling revealed diverse expression patterns across coconut tissues, ranging from constitutive to highly tissue-specific. The CnHRLP1 gene, encoding an hnRNP-like multi-RRM protein, was selected for further functional analysis. Subcellular localization showed that the CnHRLP1 protein is predominantly nuclear, and its constitutive overexpression in Arabidopsis led to a severe dwarf phenotype. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that CnHRLP1 overexpression broadly reshaped the transcriptome. KEGG pathway enrichment highlighted a significant impact on plant hormone signaling, particularly the gibberellin (GA) pathway. CnHRLP1 overexpression induced the coordinated downregulation of key GA biosynthetic genes (KO, KAO1/2, GA20ox, GA3ox) and the upregulation of GA catabolic genes (GA2ox2/6), suggesting its role in modulating GA homeostasis. In conclusion, this study provides a genomic and functional overview of the coconut RRM protein family and establishes that the hnRNP-like protein CnHRLP1 functions as a transcriptional regulator that inhibits vegetative growth, potentially through the suppression of gibberellin biosynthesis.

Plant-to-plant interactions are essential for structuring plant communities and supporting adaptation in nutrient-poor, seasonally dry environments. This study examined the interactions between moss Leucobryum aduncum Dozy & Molk and Oreocharis hainanensis by analyzing microbial communities and physicochemical parameters across various sample types. These included soil [bare (B), O. hainanensis (O), moss (M), and moss + O. hainanensis (MO)], rhizosphere soil [O. hainanensis (ORS), moss (MRS), and moss + O. hainanensis (MORS)], and root [O. hainanensis (OHR), moss (MR), and moss + O. hainanensis (MOR)] using metagenomics sequencing across dry and wet seasons in limestone habitats on Hainan Island. During the dry season, combined plant samples MOR, MO, and MORS showed higher nutrients, supported by microbes that enhance nutrient turnover, which may indicate facilitation. Conversely, during the wet season, increased moisture leads to decreased nutrient levels and microbial communities shift, associated with slower nutrient turnover in combined plant samples, which may reflect competition. According to KEGG analysis, an increase in oxidative phosphorylation and ABC transporters in the dry season supported the facilitative interaction, while quorum sensing and two-component systems supported the competitive interaction in the wet season. These findings show how shifts between facilitation and competition arise from seasonal conditions and microbes in the limestone ecosystem.

Increasing soil and water salinity threatens global agriculture, particularly affecting rice. This study investigated the residual effects of microbial biochar and nitrogen fertilizer in mitigating salt stress in paddy soil and regulating the biochemical characteristics of rice plants. Two rice varieties, Shuang Liang You 138 (SLY138), a salt-tolerant, and Jing Liang You 534 (JLY534), a salt-sensitive, were grown under 0.4 ds/m EC (S0) and 6.84 ds/m EC (S1) in a glass house under controlled conditions. Three types of biochar—rice straw biochar (BC), fungal biochar (BF), and bacterial biochar (BB)—were applied alongside two nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (60 kg ha⁻¹ and 120 kg ha⁻¹) in a previous study. The required salinity levels were maintained in respective pots through the application of saline irrigation water. Results showed that residual effects of microbial biochars (BF and BB) had higher salt mitigation efficiency than sole BC. The combination of BB and N fertilizer (BB + N120) significantly decreased soil pH by 23.45% and Na⁺ levels by 46.85%, creating a more conducive environment for rice growth by enhancing beneficial microbial abundance and decreasing pathogenic fungi in saline soil. Microbial biochars (BF and BB) positively improved soil properties (physicochemical) and biochemical and physiological properties of plants, ultimately rice growth. SLY138 significantly had a less severe response to salt stress compared to JLY534. The mitigation effects of BB + N120 kg ha⁻¹ were particularly favorable for SLY138. In summary, the combined residual effect of BF and BB with N120 kg ha⁻¹, especially bacterial biochar (BB), played a positive role in alleviating salt stress on rice growth, suggesting its potential utility for enhancing rice yield in paddy fields.