Anusha Pulavarty

Peatlands play a critical role in global carbon sequestration, yet widespread drainage and land-use change have disrupted their hydrology and soil biological integrity, accelerating peat decomposition and greenhouse gas emissions. Rewetting is increasingly promoted as a key restoration strategy, but its effectiveness in re-establishing belowground ecological structure remains insufficiently understood. This study assessed the response of nematode-based soil food webs across a broad range of peatland habitats, including intact bogs, degraded systems, rewetted and non-rewetted managed peatlands, fens, wasted peatlands, and semi-natural sites, using a combination of morphological identification and DNA-based molecular sequencing. Nematode community composition and functional structure were evaluated using Enrichment Index (EI) and Structure Index (SI) diagnostics. Intact bog habitats consistently exhibited higher SI and lower EI values, reflecting well-structured food webs dominated by fungal-associated and higher trophic nematode families, including Dorylaimidae and Qudsianematidae. In contrast, degraded and non-rewetted peatlands showed simplified food webs characterized by elevated EI and dominance of opportunistic bacterial-feeding families such as Rhabditidae and Cephalobidae. Rewetted sites generally exhibited reduced EI relative to non-rewetted counterparts, indicating dampened nutrient enrichment and microbial pulses following hydrological restoration; however, SI values remained low in the short term, suggesting limited recovery of higher trophic complexity. Comparisons between morphological and molecular datasets revealed strong concordance at the family level for dominant taxa, while molecular sequencing detected additional rare and cryptic nematode families not consistently recovered through morphology alone, underscoring the complementarity of both approaches. Fen peatlands displayed higher EI values consistent with naturally greater nutrient availability, whereas wasted peatlands supported persistently impoverished food webs regardless of management. Overall, the results demonstrate that rewetting effectively stabilizes nutrient dynamics and initiates early recovery of soil food web functioning, but full restoration of trophic complexity requires long-term ecological recovery. Integrating hydrological restoration with biological monitoring is therefore essential for maximizing peatland carbon storage and climate mitigation potential.

Two formulations of Alltech Crop Science products (ACS), a proprietary blend of fermentation products and plant extracts with micronutrients (ACS5075), and a microbial based product (ACS3048), were tested to understand (1) their impact on the tomato plant immune response and (2) whether they are priming a resistance response in plants against root knot nematodes (RKN). Research findings reported previously indicate that tomato plants pre-treated with ACS5075 and ACS3048 were found less sensitive to Meloidogyne javanica infection. In the current study, the expression of six defence-related genes (PR-1, PR-3, PR-5T, ACO, CAT and JERF 3), relative to a housekeeping gene, were monitored via RT-PCR. Results suggest that the treatment with ACS5075 enhanced ACO and PR-1 gene expression levels, both post- treatment and post-infection with M. javanica. Reduced M. javanica infestation that was reported in the previous study could be attributed to the increased expression of these genes in the ACS5075-treated plants. Tomato plants treated with ACS3048, but without RKN infection, also demonstrated higher levels of ACO and PR-1 gene expression. Subsequently, 2D-gel electrophoresis was performed to study the differential protein expression in leaf tissues of treated tomato plants in an effort to elucidate a possible mechanism of action for these products. Protein spot 1 was identified as ‘disease resistance protein RPP13-like’, protein spot 2 as ‘phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase 2’, spot 3 as ‘protein SABRE like’ and protein spot 4 as ‘uncharacterized protein’. Overall research findings indicate that the ACS products could be used as plant immunity-boosting agents, as they play a significant role in the expression of certain genes and proteins associated with plant defence.

Plant parasitic nematodes are a major problem for growers worldwide, causing severe crop losses. Several conventional strategies, such as chemical nematicides and biofumigation, have been employed in the past to manage their infection in plants and spread in soils. However, the search for the most sustainable and environmentally safe practices is still ongoing. This review summarises information on plant parasitic nematodes, their distribution, and their interaction with their host plants, along with various approaches to manage their infestations. It also focuses on the application of microbial and fermentation-based bionematicides that have not only been successful in controlling nematode infection but have also led to plant growth promotion and proven to be environmentally safe. Studies with new information on the relative abundance of plant parasitic nematodes in two agricultural sites in the Republic of Ireland are also reported. This review, with the information it provides, will help to generate an up-to-date knowledge base on plant parasitic nematodes and their management practices.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are highly damaging pests with broad host range causing crop yield loss of about 30% in susceptible crop varieties annually. Natural-based products for RKN management have gained a lot of interest due to the harmful effects of conventional chemical nematicides. Two Alltech Crop Science products, (ACS5075 and ACS3048), were evaluated against the RKN Meloidogyne javanica. Attraction assays were performed by adding either product to 20% (w/v) Pluronic F-127 gel to study the behaviour of RKN second-stage juveniles (J2) towards host roots. ACS5075 completely inhibited attraction of RKN juveniles towards roots when compared to ACS3048 (7 ± 1 juveniles) or the control (8 ± 0.5 juveniles). Pot trials were also conducted for 2 months, where several combinations of products were assessed to determine their impact on egg masses and plant development. The ACS5075 treatment caused a significant reduction in egg masses (2.04 and 1.4 fold) when applied at 1% and 3% (p ≤ 0.05), respectively, compared to inoculated control. Correlation studies (r = −0.414) clearly depicted positive contribution of the product towards plant growth while reducing egg mass formation. A combination of 3% ACS5075 and 3 g ACS3048 behaved similarly. It is concluded that these products could potentially provide promising alternatives for sustainable RKN management. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Bamboos are potential species for reclamation of saline soils and water. In this study, the performances of three bamboo species, namely Dendrocalamus strictus (S1), Dendrocalamus longispathus (S2) and Bambusa bambos (S3), were investigated for salinity stress tolerance. After 14 days of treatment with 100 mM NaCl, reduction in shoot length was 66%, 100%, 77%, root length was 77%, 100%, 57%, number of leaves was 50%, 100%, 73% and fresh weight was 30%, 72%, 14% in S1, S2 and S3 species, respectively. Relative water content (RWC) in S1 and S3 species was 1.26 and 1.07 folds higher in 50 mM NaCl in comparison to control. In S2 species, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll_a and chlorophyll_b degradation were the highest (40.4%, 42.7%, 16.32%, respectively) in comparison to S3 (18.18%, 23%, 16.4%) and S1 (23.5%, 25%, 19.17%) species. In S3 and S1 species, the Chl_a/Chl_b ratio was maintained showing stabilisation of the net photosynthetic rate. Proline played a more important role than glycine betaine for salt tolerance of these bamboo species. On account of vegetative growth, proline accumulation and RWC, it is inferred that S1 and S3 species are salt tolerant while S2 is a sensitive species. Abbreviations: SL: shoot length; RL: root length; NL: number of leaves; FW: fresh weight; RWC: relative water content; Chl_a: chlorophyll_a; Chl_b: chlorophyll_b; TC: total chlorophyll; GB: glycine betaine