Fungal biodegradation and removal of cyanobacteria and microcystins: potential applications and research needs

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCB) have severe impacts on marine and freshwater systems worldwide. They cause oxygen depletion and produce potent...     

Exploring the potential effect of Achnatherum splendens L.–derived biochar treated with phosphoric acid on bioavailability of cadmium and wheat growth in contaminated soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biochar remediation efficiency could be enhanced through numerous treatments such as acids treatment. Still, there has little work done on...     

Foliar use of TiO2-nanoparticles for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivation on sewage sludge–amended soils: biochemical response and heavy metal accumulation

Considering its richness in organic and inorganic mineral nutrients, the recycling of sewage sludge (SS) is highly considered as a soil supplement in agriculture. However, the fate of hazardous heavy metal accumulation in the crops cultivated in SS amended soils is always a source of concern. Since nanoparticles are widely recognized to reduce heavy metal uptake by crop plants; thus, the present experiment deals with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivation under the combined application of SS and TiO₂-nanoparticles (NPs). Triplicated pot experiments were conducted using different doses of SS and TiO₂-NPs such as 0 g/kg SS (control), 50 g/kg SS, 50 g/kg SS?+?TiO₂, 100 g/kg SS, and 100 g/kg SS?+?TiO₂, respectively. The findings of this study indicated that among the doses of treatment combinations investigated, 100 g/kg SS?+?TiO₂ showed a significant (p?<?0.05) increase in the okra plant yield (287.87?±?4.06 g/plant) and other biochemical parameters such as fruit length (13.97?±?0.54 cm), plant height (75.05?±?3.18 cm), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 110.68?±?3.11 μ/mg), catalase (CAT: 81.32?±?3.52 μ/mg), and chlorophyll content (3.12?±?0.05 mg/g fwt.). Also, the maximum contents of six heavy metals in the soil and cultivated okra plant tissues (fruit, stem, and root regions) followed the order of Fe?>?Mn?>?Cu?>?Zn?>?Cr?>?Cd using the same treatment. Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment indicated that foliar application of TiO₂-NPs significantly reduced the fate of heavy metal accumulation under higher doses of SS application. Therefore, the findings of this study suggested that the combined use of SS and TiO₂-NPs may be useful in ameliorating the negative consequences of heavy metal accumulation in cultivated okra crops.

     

Simultaneous biodegradation of harmful Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and cylindrospermopsin toxin in batch culture by single Bacillus strain

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study investigates the capability of a Bacillus flexus strain isolated from decayed cyanobacterial blooms for the bioremediation of...