Plants activate their defence mechanisms to prevent damage caused by environmental stimuli through signaling pathways controlled by growth regulators. These stresses adversely affect plants' growth, disrupting the genetic control of cellular pathways and altering their metabolism, physiology and morphology. Auxin influences phenotypic plasticity under optimal and unfavourable growth conditions. This review discusses the progress in the research on auxin-mediated stress alleviation in response to abiotic stresses in plants. Then, a brief presentation of studies emphasizing the significance of auxin-producing actinobacteria and how microbial auxin promotes plant development and stress tolerance. Then, the review probes the importance of actinobacteria strains as auxin metabolic engineers and their use as natural auxin suppliers in agriculture. Finally, the review explores future biotechnology possibilities through small-scale, large-scale production and agriculture's gradual banishment of chemical phytosanitary inputs.

The pathogenicity of two isolates (FS1 and FS2) of the Fusarium solani isolated from diseased chickpea plants harvested from two different regions from Morocco, which were identified morphologically and molecular, was evaluated as the severity, incidence and index of the disease. The results show that the two isolates tested were able to induce symptoms in both parts of the plant (root and aerial), of the seven chickpea varieties (‘Garbanzo’, ‘Farihane’, ‘Moubarak’, ‘Douyet’, ‘Rizki’, ‘Arifi’ and ‘Zahour’), which were associated with a reduction in all measured agronomic parameters. However, the intensity of the symptoms depends on the combination of the variety and the isolate of Fusarium. It appears that the FS2 isolate affected the ‘Moubarak’ variety much more, while the pathogenicity of the FS2 isolate was more pronounced on the ‘Rizki’ variety. The increase in the leaf damage index as a function of time is due to the evolution of leaf yellowing through several physiological stages (necrosis, stunting, wilting, leaf fall), before causing plant death. At the end of the experiment, the re-isolation of the two Fusarium isolates from the four vegetative parts of all inoculated varieties was positive.

Cannabis sativa L. commonly known as ‘Kif’, is a medicinal plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family (Cannabis genus). It is used in traditional folk medicine to treat several diseases. The recent legalization of cannabis use for medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial purpose in Morocco (law 13.21), has enabled us to assess the potential acute toxicity of extract from its female plant co-products in Swiss mice. In this experimentation, 3 different extraction methods (maceration, decoction, and sonication) were used to determine the efficacy of cannabis extracts and investigate their acute toxicity in mice over a period of 14 days. Decoction showed the highest efficacy (19.7%), followed by maceration (16.2%), and finally sonication (5.4%). Regarding the toxicity results of the oral gavage administration dose at 2,000 mg kg-1, there were no recorded deaths and no changes in the internal organs (kidneys and liver) between treated and control groups of both male and female mice. We also found that body weight of female mice treated by decoction and maceration extracts decreased significantly compared to those treated with sonication extract throughout the experimental period, when treated and untreated male mice show no significant changes (p-value < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the LD50 may be greater than 2.000 mg kg-1. Nevertheless, the extracts showed signs of low-level toxicity such as drowsiness, hypoactivity, and tachycardia. Further studies to determine the phytochemical composition of the three extracts of C. sativa and assess the chronic and sub-chronic toxicity should be carried out.

The change of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of plants extracts are widely attributed to numerous conditions and parameters viz. geographical conditions, type of extraction, and type of extract. Thus, this study was the first one conducted to evaluate the phenolic composition, the content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, and the antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of M. vulgare aerial part collected in three development stages (before flowering, during flowering, and after flowering periods). Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods of precipitation and coloration reactions. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidins contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminum chloride colorimetric method, and vanillin method, respectively. The antioxidant activity was assessed by two methods: DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity. Preliminarily phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, essential oil, cardiac glucosides, sterols and triterpenes, and the absence of alkaloids. In addition, tannins were absence in March and present in May and July. The total phenol content of M. vulgare extracts showed a highest flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents during flowering period (1.644 mg QE.g-1 extract, and 0.195 mg CE.g-1 extract, respectively) while polyphenol content was highest before flowering period (0.043 mg GAE.g-1 extract). Afterward, M. vulgare methanolic extract exhibited a potent antioxidant activity during flowering period with an IC50 value of 2.23 mg.ml-1. From the current study, this plant contains natural antioxidant substances which can be used as antioxidant agents to treat several diseases.

The employment of biotechnological methods in conservation and multiplication of promissory genotypes of coffee is significant, but one of the limitations is the management of vitroplants during the adaptation phase. The aim of this research was to analyse the response of an F1 hybrid seedlings of coffee to the acclimatization phase with the application of new biofertilizers, respectively Pectimorf® and Viyoya®. As plant material seedlings of hybrid F1 H-434 obtained by somatic embryogenesis were used. The effect of Pectimorf® was determined in interaction with Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae. In the second experiment, the growth and development of coffee seedlings was evaluated, with a biofertilizer based on efficient microorganisms (Viyoya®) combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The study was carried out under greenhouse temperature of 25 °C and relative humidity of 75%. The results showed positive responses to the acclimatization of the seedlings with the bioproducts, in nutrition and growth. Concentrations of 10-20 mg L-1 of Pectimorf® guaranteed significant average increases for height, stem diameter and pairs of leaves, in combination with the R. intraradices strain (T3, T5). In addition, it had been seen that a favourable percentage of infestation was obtained in the soil used. The treatments with 1 and 3 mL of Viyoya® in combination with the AMF strains showed an increase in the indicators of plant height, leaf pairs and stem diameter, as well as the leaf area, the values being higher when applying 3 mL of Viyoya® (T3, T4, T5, T6). These results demonstrate the usefulness of plant growth promoting products in the acclimatization phase of an F1 hybrid seedlings of coffee.

The objective was to evaluate and compare the precision of estimation of dasometric variables, survey times and costs of two sampling methods versus a census, applied to a natural even-age mass of Pinus arizonica Engelm. in the municipality of Guachochi, Chihuahua, Mexico. Nine fixed-dimension and nine variable-dimension sites were performed with Bitterlich's angular sampling at coincident sample points. Times from start to finish were taken by site and technicians from the State were surveyed to determine sampling costs. ANOVA tests were developed at a significance level of 0.05, comparing both methods with the census. The results indicate that, in both samplings, the number of trees per hectare does not present statistical differences with respect to the census. The basal area by both methods was not statistically different, however, fixed dimensions present an error greater than 5%. Finally, the volume per hectare estimated was similar to that of the census, according to the rates carried out, greater precision was found by the variable area method (error=0.03%). The execution time showed significant differences (p=0.0001), the fixed dimension site required a mean time of 44 minutes and the variable dimension one 10 minutes 26 seconds. The total costs are 679.90 and 654.33 Euro to sample nine fixed-dimension and nine variable-dimension sites respectively, showing significant differences (p=0.0008). It is concluded that both methods are statistically acceptable for the variables evaluated in the type of forest mass studied.

Heavy metals including nickel have adverse effects on hematological system and red blood cells antioxidant defense. The purpose of the study is to examine the possible corrective effect of fig (Ficus carica L.) extract (FCE) on hematological parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities in red blood cells of rats exposed to sub-lethal concentration of nickel. Male Wistar rats were exposed to nickel chloride (10 mg/kg) and then treated or no with FCE (350 mg/kg) for 4-weeks. The intoxication induces alteration of haematological parameters and enhances blood haemolysis, generates oxidative stress induced decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities and depletion in reduced glutathione levels in intoxicated group compared to the control group. The oral administration of FCE increase significantly hemoglobin levels (Hb), red blood cells count (RBC), hematocrit (Ht) and decreases white blood cells counts (WBC), and platelets in F. carica treated groups, and also the extract increase the GSH-Px and SOD antioxidant activity, GSH reserves in red blood cells, and reduces lipids peroxidation. The present study concludes that fig fruits may exhibit potent antioxidant potential for erythrocytes and have a positive effect on hematological system.

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 1, Volume 15, 2023: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting research or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like activities of the dichloromethane/methanol extract of Crateva adansonii in mice exposed to chronic mild stress; Elemental impact on antibacterial study of hydroalcoholic leaves extract of Belosynapsis vivipara; Flow cytometry and chromosome numbers variation in argan tree Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels; Assessment of analgesic properties of alcohol and aqueous extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica flowers; Chemical composition of Vitex agnus-castus L. flowers collected from populations distributed in Aydin, Türkiye; Phytochemical studies and in vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of some medicinal and aromatic plants from Morocco; Antioxidant capacity and nutraceutical compounds content of six common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties harvested in Morelos, Mexico; Impact of magnetization of irrigation water on growth, yield and nutritional qualities of tomato under deficit irrigation.

The current research work explores the production of silver nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of Delonix regia (Boj. ex Hook.) Raf. (Angiosperms; Fabaceae) shoots for the bioreduction of Ag metal and its antimicrobial activity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to evaluate the produced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Both antibacterial and antifungal activity were examined against bacterial and fungal pathogens, viz., Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, and fungal strains, viz., Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger. The presence of silver nanoparticles was observed by the color change, i.e., from pale yellow to dark brown. The zeta potential observed for the produced nanoparticle is -18mv. The SEM and XRD revealed the size of synthesized AgNPs, i.e., 35nm and SEM size lies in the range of 40-60 nm. UV-visible absorption spectra were found at wavelength 425 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles are cost-efficient and could be an alternative procedure for the peculiar production of nanoparticles and also act as potential antimicrobial agents.

Argania spinosa L. Skeels is an endemic species of west-central Morocco, which is characterized by a high diversity of morphological and genetic traits. It constitutes a natural resource for oleo-agro-sylvo-pastoral uses. All conservation and genetic breeding strategies aimed to domesticate argan require a good knowledge of the plant material. However, several studies focused on agronomical, morphological, phytochemical, and molecular characterization, while the cytogenetic aspects were less investigated. The objective of this work is to identify the chromosome number and ploidy level on the national argan collection at the Agadir Regional Agronomic Research Center, Morocco. The determination of the chromosome number was carried out on root tips of germinated seeds collected from five trees genotypes selected on various morphological aspects. As a result, chromosome count on active root tip cells showed variation in the number (2n = 20; 2n = 22; 2n = 24) with a stable ploidy level (2n = 2x) that is confirmed by flow cytometry. These results combine two previous findings (2n=20, 2n=24) and reveal a third existence of twenty-two chromosome. As a conclusion, A. spinosa has three chromosomal numbers which represent the genetic diversity of the chromosomal number that this species exhibits. More studies are required to explain this variation on chromosome numbers for future breeding programs and to avoid incompatibilities.