Murodjon Yaxshimuratov

The hair‐like structures on the surface of plants are known as trichomes, and they play a number of physiological and ecological roles including protection against herbivores, minimizing water loss, and modifying gas exchange. This review provides an extensive overview of the phytotomy diversity of plant trichomes of 82 species, focusing on angiosperm species. The data compiled reveal a rich diversity of trichomes within the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Solanaceae, among others. The review demonstrated that the greatest trichome occurrence came from Lamiaceae (17.4%), Solanaceae (16.3%), and Asteraceae (14%) while the least occurred in families at 10%. Regarding trichome morphologies glandular types prevailed (45.1%), with capitate (15.7%) and simple (15.2%) being the most occurring subtypes. The trichomes on these species include all glandular and non‐glandular trichomes. Glandular trichomes may be unicellular or multicellular, and often include capitate and peltate types; these are very common and have a substantial role in the secretion of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolics. Non‐glandular trichomes, may be unicellular or multicellular, and with further subtypes as simple, stellate, peltate, scales or dendritic. They, contribute to mechanical defense and reduce water loss. The localization and structure of the trichomes and their secondary metabolites vary between species and organs, although leaves, stems, flowers and fruits are common sites, and they are more frequent in the leaves. The conducted literature review underscores the functional and ecological importance of trichomes on angiosperms as revealed by the selection of the reviewed literature, which is key to the survival of a plant species and its interactions with the environment and endurance under unfavorable climatic conditions.

The ability of synthetic plastics to resist decomposition by microbes renders their resistance to environmental degradation a major global issue of concern. The possibility of exploring microbial consortia capable of degrading these polymers is a feasible approach to curb the accumulation of plastic. This work is focused to investigate the capability of naturally occurring microbial consortia to degrade polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics (MPs). Patterns of degradation were also different and depended on the consortia: At 27 months, Consortium A, which comprised of Mucor, Penicillium and Serratia (Yersiniaceae), degraded PP by approximately 30% and Consortium B which included Enterobacter and Aspergillus degraded PS by approximately 40%. Bacteria-fungal interaction synergies promoted enzymatic cleavage and oxidative surface modification during degradation. Our results offer a potential ecological framework of sustainable biodegradation of resistant plastics, which offers a model of polymer-microbe specificity that explains collaborative and adaptive processes of microbial consortia.

Polypropylene (PP) which comes in both low and high densities is one of the most widely used polymers (18.85%). PP is extensively used in various industries but poses environmental threats due to its resistance to recycling and slow biodegradation. To address this, innovative methods for conversion of PP waste into beneficial products and energy are necessary. "Polypropylene waste valorization" encompasses advanced techniques like microbial degradation, chemical recycling, photocatalysis, and pyrolysis, along with mechanical recycling. While only a few microbes have been identified for PP breakdown whereas pyrolysis produces valuable liquid fuel. Only a small number of microbes, including Rhodococcus sp., Phanerochaete chrysoporium, Bacillus sp., and Brevibacillus sp., have been documented to breakdown PP. PP pyrolysis leads to a liquid product known as “pyrolysis oil” that is used as an alternative fuel for various applications. The environmental impact of producing PP is reduced by reducing plastic waste through effective valorization methods. The production of secondary materials or chemicals from PP trash also helps to save resources, save energy, and lessen reliance on fossil fuels. These valorization methods reduce environmental impact, conserve resources, and potentially create jobs. However, challenges like low conversion rates and catalyst deactivation persist. This review focuses on comprehensive research into PP valorization by bacteria and fungi, including pre-treatment methods like ultraviolet radiation and varying environmental conditions.