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Across the planet, winter de-icing practices have caused secondary salinization of freshwater habitats. Many amphibians are vulnerable because of permeable skin and reliance on small ponds, where salinity can be high. Early developmental stages of amphibians are especially sensitive to salt, and larvae developing in salt-polluted environments must osmoregulate through ion exchange in gills. Though ionoregulation in amphibian gills is generally understood, the role of gill morphology remains poorly described. Yet gill structure should affect ionoregulatory capacity, for instance in terms of available surface area. As larval amphibian gills also play critical roles in gas exchange and foraging, changes in gill morphology from salt pollution potentially affect not only osmoregulation, but also respiration and feeding. Here, we used an exposure experiment to quantify salinity effects on larval gill morphology in wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). We measured a suite of morphological traits on gill tufts—where ionoregulation and gas exchange occur—and on gill filters used in feeding. Larvae raised in elevated salinity developed larger gill tufts but with lower surface area to volume ratio. Epithelial cells on these tufts were less circular but occurred at higher densities. Gill filters showed increased spacing, likely reducing feeding efficiency. Many morphological gill traits responded quadratically, suggesting that salinity might induce plasticity in gills at intermediate concentrations until energetic demands exceed plasticity. Together, these changes likely diminish ionoregulatory and respiratory functionality of gill tufts, and compromise feeding functionality of gill filters. Thus, a singular change in aquatic environment from a widespread pollutant appears to generate a suite of consequences via changes in gill morphology. Critically, these changes in traits likely compound the severity of fitness impacts in populations dwelling in salinized environments, whereby ionoregulatory energetic demands should increase respiratory and foraging demands, but in individuals who possess structures poorly adapted for these functions. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

The green, sustainable, and inexpensive creation of novel materials, primarily nanoparticles, with effective energy-storing properties, is key to addressing both the rising demand for energy storage and the mounting environmental concerns throughout the world. Here, an orange peel extract is used to make cobalt oxide nanoparticles from cobalt nitrate hexahydrate. The orange peel extract has Citrus reticulata, which is a key biological component that acts as a ligand and a reducing agent during the formation of nanoparticles. Additionally, the same nanoparticles were also obtained from various precursors for phase and electrochemical behavior comparisons. The prepared Co-nanoparticles were also sulfurized and phosphorized to enhance the electrochemical properties. The synthesized samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques. The cobalt oxide nanoparticle showed a specific capacitance of 90 F/g at 1 A/g, whereas the cobalt sulfide and phosphide samples delivered an improved specific capacitance of 98 F/g and 185 F/g at 1 A/g. The phosphide-based nanoparticles offer more than 85% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. This study offers a green strategy to prepare nanostructured materials for energy applications.

Composites of MnO2/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using different weight ratios of MWCNTs: KMnO4 (1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, and 1:25) using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The synthesized materials were physically characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) BET, and thermogravimetric analysis. TEM and SEM studies indicate that MnO2 is homogeneously entangled with MWCNTs. The electrochemical performance evaluation was performed in a 3-electrode system using MnO2/MWCNT electrodes coated onto a Ni mesh as the working electrode, a Pt foil as the counter electrode, and Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode. The specific capacitance was obtained from charge–discharge studies at varying current densities between 0.5 and 5 A/g. The specific capacitance of MWCNT-KMnO4 (1:10, 1:15, and 1:25) samples was obtained as 114, 164, and 100 F/g, respectively, at a current density of 1 A/g.

Herein, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were biogenically synthesized using plant (Artemisia vulgaris) extracts. The biogenic NPs were subsequently evaluated in vitro for antifungal activity (200 mg/L) against Fusarium virguliforme (FV; the cause of soybean sudden death), and for crop protection (200–500 mg/L) in FV-infested soybean. ZnONPs exhibited 3.8-, 2.5-, and 4.9 -fold greater in vitro antifungal activity, compared to Zn or Cu acetate salt, the Artemisia extract, and a commercial fungicide (Medalion Fludioxon), respectively. The corresponding CuONP values were 1.2-, 1.0-, and 2.2 -fold, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant morpho-anatomical damage to fungal mycelia and conidia. NP-treated FV lost their hyphal turgidity and uniformity and appeared structurally compromised. ZnONP caused shriveled and broken mycelia lacking conidia, while CuONP caused collapsed mycelia with shriveled and disfigured conidia. In soybean, 200 mg/L of both NPs enhanced growth by 13%, compared to diseased controls, in both soil and foliar exposures. Leaf SEM showed fungal colonization of different infection sites, including the glandular trichome, palisade parenchyma, and vasculature. Foliar application of ZnONP resulted in the deposition of particulate ZnO on the leaf surface and stomatal interiors, likely leading to particle and ion entry via several pathways, including ion diffusion across the cuticle/stomata. SEM also suggested that ZnO/CuO NPs trigger structural reinforcement and anatomical defense responses in both leaves and roots against fungal infection. Collectively, these findings provide important insights into novel and effective mechanisms of crop protection against fungal pathogens by plant-engineered metal oxide nanoparticles, thereby contributing to the sustainability of nano-enabled agriculture.

The plant epidermis is a single layer of cells covering all plant organs. How pathogens overcome this barrier and enter plants is an important aspect of plant–pathogen interactions. For bacterial plant pathogens, known entry points include natural openings, such as stomata, hydathodes, and mechanical injuries caused by insect feeding, wind damage, or hailstorms. Here, we report that the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora enters apple leaves through naturally occurring wounds caused by the abscission of trichomes during the course of leaf development. Through macroscopic and microscopic observations, we depicted a clear invasion path for E. amylovora cells, from epiphytic growth on glandular trichomes (GT) and non-glandular trichomes (NT) to entry through wounds caused by abscised trichomes, into the epithem, and subsequent spread through xylem. We further observed that GT and NT undergo an abscission process, and that the amount of naturally occurring wounds during abscission is associated with the increase in E. amylovora population. Key genes important for the colonization of GT and NT were identified. The contribution of the type III secretion system and amylovoran biosynthesis during GT colonization was validated. Our findings propose a novel host entry mechanism of plant pathogenic bacteria through naturally occurring wounds during the abscission of plant surface structures. © 2025 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

CuS and CuS-rGO nanocomposites were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The synthesized CuS and rGO-CuS nanocomposite materials were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and were evaluated electrochemically for supercapacitor applications. The specific capacitance of CuS was determined to be 207 F/g, 150 F/g, and 97 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g, 5 A/g, and 20 A/g, respectively. The rGO-CuS nanocomposite showed improved specific capacitance of 350 F/g, 251 F/g, and 149 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g, 5 A/g, and 20 A/g, respectively.